bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online peer support training to promote adolescents’ emotional support skills, mental health and agency during COVID-19: Randomised controlled trial and qualitative evaluation
Authors: Pavarini Gabriela , Reardon Tessa , Hollowell Anja , Bennett Vanessa , Lawrance Emma ,   Peer Support Young People’s Advisory Group, Brooks-Hall Ellie , Foster-Estwick Ashley , Juma Damian Omari , Lewis Peter , Power Lucy , Rogers Maia , Pinfold Vanessa , Singh Ilina
Published: February 2022

Adolescents often look to their peers for emotional support, so it is critical that they are prepared to take on a supportive role, especially during a health crisis. Using a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN99248812, 28/05/2020), we tested the short-term efficacy of an online training programme to equip young people with skills to support to their peers’ mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2020, one-hundred UK adolescents (aged 16–18) recruited through social media were randomly allocated (1:1) to immediate 5-day peer support training or a wait-list, via an independently generated allocation sequence. Primary outcomes were indicators of ability to help others (motivation, perceived skills, frequency of help provided, compassion to others and connectedness to peers). Secondary outcomes included emotional symptoms, mental wellbeing, and indicators of agency (civic engagement and self-efficacy). We also collected qualitative reports of participants’ experience. Assessments were completed at baseline and 1 week post randomisation (primary endpoint), and up to 4 weeks post randomisation (training group only). The training increased support-giving skills, frequency of providing support, compassion and peer connectedness (medium–large-effect sizes), but not motivation to provide support, 1 week post randomisation, compared to controls. Gains in the training group were maintained 4 weeks post randomisation. Training also improved adolescents’ mental health and agency, and qualitative reports revealed further positive outcomes including increased self-care and empowerment. Leveraging digital platforms that are familiar to young people, peer support training has the potential to enable adolescents to support their own and their peers’ mental wellbeing during a health crisis.
Alveolar bone remodeling in virtually planned, bone-grafted vs non-grafted guided flapless implant surgery in the anterior maxilla: a cross-sectional retrospective follow-up study
Authors: Åkesson Fredrik , Zamure-Damberga Liene , Lundgren Stefan , Sjöström Mats
Published: February 2022

Purpose

In patients who underwent virtual planning and guided flapless implant surgery for teeth missing in the anterior maxilla, we compared buccal bone loss between those treated with and without autogenous bone augmentation.

Methods

Of 22 patients with teeth missing because of trauma or aplasia, 10 (18 implant sites) were reconstructed with buccally placed bone graft harvested from the mandibular ramus, and 12 were non-reconstructed (16 sites). Baseline cone-beam computed tomography allowed for implant planning using the NobelClinician® software and was performed again at 1 year after functional loading. The marginal bone level was assessed radiographically at post-implant baseline and at follow-up.

Results

At follow-up, buccal bone loss differed significantly between groups at the central level of the implant (p = 0.0005) but not at the coronal level (p = 0.329). The mean marginal bone level change was 0.6 mm, with no significant between-group difference (p = 0.876). The actual implant position often deviated in the vertical or sagittal plane by an average of 0.3–0.6 mm from the planned position.

Conclusion

Compared with non-reconstructed patients, reconstructed patients experienced significantly more buccal bone loss at the central level of implants. The groups did not differ at the coronal level or in marginal bone loss, possibly because of the more augmented bone at the central level among reconstructed patients. Differences between planned versus actual implant positions should be considered in situations of limited bone volume at the planned implant site.
Construction of $$C^2$$ Cubic Splines on Arbitrary Triangulations
Authors: Lyche Tom , Manni Carla , Speleers Hendrik
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we address the problem of constructing $$C^2$$

C
2

cubic spline functions on a given arbitrary triangulation $${\mathcal {T}}$$
T
. To this end, we endow every triangle of $${\mathcal {T}}$$
T
with a Wang–Shi macro-structure. The $$C^2$$

C
2

cubic space on such a refined triangulation has a stable dimension and optimal approximation power. Moreover, any spline function in this space can be locally built on each of the macro-triangles independently via Hermite interpolation. We provide a simplex spline basis for the space of $$C^2$$

C
2

cubics defined on a single macro-triangle which behaves like a Bernstein/B-spline basis over the triangle. The basis functions inherit recurrence relations and differentiation formulas from the simplex spline construction, they form a nonnegative partition of unity, they admit simple conditions for $$C^2$$

C
2

joins across the edges of neighboring triangles, and they enjoy a Marsden-like identity. Also, there is a single control net to facilitate control and early visualization of a spline function over the macro-triangle. Thanks to these properties, the complex geometry of the Wang–Shi macro-structure is transparent to the user. Stable global bases for the full space of $$C^2$$

C
2

cubics on the Wang–Shi refined triangulation $${\mathcal {T}}$$
T
are deduced from the local simplex spline basis by extending the concept of minimal determining sets.
Social Support and Linkage to HIV Care Following Routine HIV Testing in a Ugandan Refugee Settlement
Authors: Parrish Canada , Nelson Erica , Faustin Zikama , Stern Joshua , Kasozi Julius , Klabbers Robin , Masereka Simon , Tsai Alexander C. , Bassett Ingrid V. , O’Laughlin Kelli N.
Published: February 2022

We aimed to identify factors associated with linkage to care for individuals newly diagnosed with HIV in a refugee settlement. This study was conducted from October 2018 through January 2020 in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among individuals accessing routine HIV testing services. The survey included questions on demographic factors, physical and mental health conditions, social support, and HIV-related stigma. We collected GPS coordinates of the homes of individuals newly diagnosed with HIV. Associations with linkage to care were assessed using bivariate and multivariable analyses. Linkage to care was defined as clinic attendance within 90 days of a positive HIV test, not including the day of testing. Network analysis was used to estimate the travel distance between participants’ homes and HIV clinic and to spatially characterize participants living with HIV and their levels of social support. Of 219 participants diagnosed with HIV (out of 5,568 participants screened), 74.4% linked to HIV care. Those who reported higher social support had higher odds of linking to care compared with those who reported lower social support. On spatial analysis, lower levels of social support were most prevalent in Nakivale Refugee Settlement itself, with more robust social support southeast and west of the study area. Social support is a salient correlate of linkage to care for individuals living in refugee settlements and could be the focus of an intervention for improving uptake of HIV care services.
Flexible semi-amorphous carbon nitride films with outstanding electrochemical stability derived from soluble polymeric precursors
Authors: Dubov Oleg , Marcé Jaume Giralt , Fortuny Agusti , Fabregat Azael , Stüber Frank , Font Josep
Published: February 2022

Uniform flexible carbon nitride coatings have been synthesized by means of annealing of films, fabricated from soluble triazine-based polymeric precursors. The coatings exhibit fascinating electrochemical stability and drastically increase the capacitance of coated carbon cloth electrodes. Following the analogue with turbostratic carbons, typically produced by means of polymeric precursors pyrolysis, we demonstrate that annealing of dried nitrogen-rich polymeric films results in coatings, composed by nearly equal atomic quantities of carbon and nitrogen, according to elemental analysis, and exhibiting noticeable mechanical robustness. X-ray difffraction patterns and infrared spectra of the materials allow to characterize them as partially amorphous carbon nitride with presumably heptazinic structure. Annealed films exhibit extrinsic semiconducting behavior with optical bandgaps in the range from 1.71 to 1.99 eV and fairly good conductivity. The outstanding long-term electrochemical stability of annealed films makes them competitive with pyrolytic carbon, while much lower annealing temperatures allow preparation of nanocomposites with various particles. The precursor polymers were obtained by self-condensation of 2-amino-4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine and condensation of cyanuric chloride with 5-aminotetrazole and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5-carboxylic acid, respectively, in N,N-dimethylacetamide. The polymers contain mainly C–N skeletal bonds and can therefore be viewed as “extension” of typical carbon nitride precursors, like melamine or dicyandiamide, to polymeric structure.
Refitting the mirrors: on structural analogies in epistemology and action theory
Authors: Miracchi Lisa , Carter J. Adam
Published: February 2022

Structural analogies connect Williamson’s (Knowledge and its limits, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2000; Acting on knowledge. In: Carter JA, Gordon EC, Jarvis B (eds) Knowledge first: approaches in epistemology and mind, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 163–181, 2017) epistemology and action theory: for example, action is the direction-of-fit mirror image of knowledge, and knowledge stands to belief as action stands to intention. These structural analogies, for Williamson, are meant to illuminate more generally how ‘mirrors’ reversing direction of fit should be understood as connecting the spectrum of our cognitive and practically oriented mental states. This paper has two central aims, one negative and the other positive. The negative aim is to highlight some intractable problems with Williamson’s preferred analogical picture, which links the cognitive and the practical through the nexus of direction-of-fit mirroring. The positive aim of the paper is to propose a better alternative. In particular, we show that an achievement-theoretic proposal captures what is in common across the range of attitudes that exhibit the kind of structure that knowledge-belief, action-desire/intention do, while at the same time avoiding the problems shown to face Williamson’s proposed picture. Moreover, we draw attention to several key theoretical benefits of embracing our proposed achievement-theoretic picture, including some of the key benefits of the knowledge-first programme that Williamson’s own analogies were designed to secure.
Williamson on indicatives and suppositional heuristics
Authors: Berto Francesco
Published: February 2022

Timothy Williamson has defended the claim that the semantics of the indicative ‘if’ is given by the material conditional. Putative counterexamples can be handled by better understanding the role played in our assessment of indicatives by a fallible cognitive heuristic, called the Suppositional Procedure. Williamson’s Suppositional Conjecture has it that the Suppositional Procedure is humans’ primary way of prospectively assessing conditionals. This paper raises some doubts on the Suppositional Procedure and Conjecture.
Can smoking cause impotence? a radiological retrospective cohort study comparing internal pudendal artery calcification on CT in male smokers versus non-smokers
Authors: Tong Emma , McDonnell Caoimhe , Hunter Kate , Sheahan Kevin , Torreggiani William C.
Published: February 2022

Background and aims

This retrospective cohort study evaluated the degree of pelvic inflow and internal pudendal artery (IPA) calcification in male smokers versus non-smokers. As erectile dysfunction (ED) is strongly associated with IPA vascular, we wanted to investigate radiologically if there was a statistically significant difference in the degree of IPA calcification in smokers and potentially be a contributing factor in the cause of ED.

Methods

CT studies of 100 men aged between 40 and 60 years of age were blindly reviewed and assigned a calcium score of their vascular calcification levels. We compared scores of 50 smokers versus 50 non-smokers. The Mann Whitney U test statistic was used to test for a statistical difference in calcification score between the smoking and non-smoking groups.

Results

Results show a statistically significant association between smoking and pelvic inflow and IPA calcification. The Mann Whitney U test demonstrated a statistically significant higher calcium score in the smoking group (mean = 4.8, SD 3.7), versus the non-smoking group, (mean = 1.8, SD 1.9) (U = 701.5, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This research is the first of its kind based on an extensive literature review. The association between vascular calcification and smoking is well established, in addition to the direct relationship of IPA calcification and ED. This unique study has demonstrated an increased rate of IPA calcification in smokers with a potential inferred association with ED. Findings represent a novel and useful deterrent for health authorities to include in anti-smoking campaigns.
Potted plants can remove the pollutant nitrogen dioxide indoors
Authors: Gubb Curtis , Blanusa Tijana , Griffiths Alistair , Pfrang Christian
Published: February 2022

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a significant pollutant in both outdoor and indoor environments with exposure linked to serious respiratory illnesses, decreased lung function and airway inflammation. Here, we investigate whether potted plants can contribute as a simple and cost-effective indoor air pollution mitigation technique. Our study investigates the ability of the combination of the three plant species Spathiphyllum wallisii ‘Verdi’, Dracaena fragrans ‘Golden Coast’ and Zamioculcas zamiifolia with two different growing media to remove in situ concentrations (100 ppb) of NO2 in real-time at two typical indoor light levels (0 and 500 lx) and in ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ growing media conditions. All studied ‘growing medium–plant systems’ were able to reduce NO2 concentrations representative of a polluted urban environment, but to varying degrees. The greatest NO2 removal measured inside a 150 L chamber over 1-h period in ‘wet’ growing media at ~ 500 lx was achieved by D. fragrans. When accounting for dilution, this would correspond to a removal of up to 3 ppb NO2 per m2 of leaf area over the 1-h test period and 0.62 ppb per potted plant over the same period when modelled for a small office (15 m3) in a highly polluted environment. Depending on building ventilation rates and NO2 concentration gradients at the indoor-outdoor interface that will vary massively between polluted urban and rural locations, potted plants offer clear potential to improve indoor air quality—in particular in confined indoor spaces that are poorly ventilated and/or located in highly polluted areas.
Neuromodulation and Eating Disorders
Authors: Gallop L. , Flynn M. , Campbell I.C. , Schmidt U.
Published: February 2022

Purpose of Review

We review recent evidence on the use of neuromodulation for treating eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. We evaluate studies on (a) modern non-invasive methods of brain stimulation, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), (b) electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and (c) more invasive techniques, including deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Recent Findings

Most reports on the clinical applications of neuromodulation in EDs are limited to case studies, case series and small clinical trials. The majority have focused on severe, enduring and hard-to-treat cases of AN. In this population, data suggest that both rTMS and DBS have therapeutic potential and are safe and acceptable.

High-quality clinical trials in different ED populations are needed which investigate different stimulation methods, sites and parameters, the use of neuromodulation as stand-alone and/or adjunctive treatment, as well as the mechanisms of action.
Numerical models of pressure-driven fluid percolation in rock salt: nucleation and propagation of flow pathways under variable stress conditions
Authors: Yoshioka Keita , Sattari Amir , Nest Mathias , Günther Ralf-Michael , Wuttke Frank , Fischer Thomas , Nagel Thomas
Published: February 2022

Success of our ongoing energy transition largely depends on subsurface exploitation. The subsurface can act as a “battery” to store energy dense fluids such as hydrogen, or a “host” to sequester unwanted substances such as carbon dioxide or radioactive waste. On the other hand, these operations cause the subsurface pressure and/or temperature to change and induce various (or cyclical) loadings to the surrounding formations. Their operational safety crucially hinges upon the subsurface integrity. The most imminent risk is nucleation of cracks that can lead to loss of mechanical integrity. Unlike hydraulic fracturing in geoenergy applications where one deliberately initiates cracks at certain targets, we normally design a system to avoid fracturing. At the designing stage, we thus have no prior knowledge of crack initiation locations or propagation paths. And, the computational designing tools should be able to assess the fracturing risk without such prior knowledge. In this study, we compared three computational approaches that do not require prescribed crack geometries—the discrete element method, the lattice element method, and the variational phase-field approach—against percolation experiments on rock salt. The experimental results show different fracture propagation paths depending on the boundary loads. The fracture geometries were reasonably matched by all approaches despite some differences in path irregularities. While the variational phase-field approach predicts relatively regular fracture paths, the paths predicted by the discrete and the lattice element methods are more irregular. These irregularities may seem more comparable to intergrain failure in real rocks, but they are also necessary triggers for fracture initiation in the discrete and the lattice element methods. In contrast, the fracture initiation in the variational phase-field approach is a realization of the energy minimization in the system, and the grain level descriptions are absent in the current formulation. These findings highlight their predictive capabilities and gaps to be bridged between the grain and continuum scales for field-scale applications.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Augments the Tolerance Towards Cerebral Stroke by Enhancing Neurovascular Repair Mechanism
Authors: Ghori Adnan , Prinz Vincent , Nieminen-Kehlä Melina , Bayerl Simon. H. , Kremenetskaia Irina , Riecke Jana , Krechel Hanna , Broggini Thomas , Scherschinski Lea , Licht Tamar , Keshet Eli , Vajkoczy Peter
Published: February 2022

The breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a critical event in the development of secondary brain injury after stroke. Among the cellular hallmarks in the acute phase after stroke are a downregulation of tight-junction molecules and the loss of microvascular pericyte coverage and endothelial sealing. Thus, a rapid repair of blood vessel integrity and re-stabilization of the BBB is considered an important strategy to reduce secondary brain damage. However, the mechanisms underlying BBB disruption remain poorly understood. Especially, the role of VEGF in this context remains inconclusive. With the conditional and reversible VEGF expression systems, we studied the time windows of deleterious and beneficial VEGF actions on blood vessel integrity in mice. Using genetic systems for gain of function and loss of function experiments, we activated and inhibited VEGF signaling prior and simultaneously to ischemic stroke onset. In both scenarios, VEGF seems to play a vital role in containing the stroke-induced damage after cerebral ischemia. We report that the transgenic overexpression of VEGF (GOF) prior to the stroke stabilizes the vasculature and prevents blood–brain barrier disruption in young and aged animals after stroke. Whereas inhibition of signals for endogenous VEGF (LOF) prior to stroke results in bigger infarction with massive brain swelling and enhanced BBB permeability, furthermore, activating or blocking VEGF signaling after ischemic stroke onset had comparable effects on BBB repair and cerebral edema. VEGF can function as an anti-permeability factor, and a VEGF-based therapy in the context of stroke prevention and recovery has an enormous potential.
The Challenges of Modern Economy on the Competencies of Knowledge Workers
Authors: Muzam John
Published: February 2022

The modern environment has seen drastic changes; competency management, a core corporate strategy that enables talents to be in line with corporate objectives, is becoming a crucial aspect in solving organisational challenges and a vital source of competitive advantage. Human resource management (HRM) adds value by developing a better competency approach when it fully understands the required competencies for its knowledge workers. The purpose of this article is to understand the overall perspective (required competencies, challenges, and skills gaps) of knowledge workers’ competencies in the modern economy. An expert panel research method was used, as it allows for more complex research that addresses both observed and unobserved determinants of skill and competency requirements. Based on competency management, the result indicates that critical thinking, interpersonal and emotional skills, inspection and monitoring skills, and basic digital skills are the key competencies required. The resulting consequences of the lack of these competencies are also mentioned.
A Study on the Conversion Method Based on Standard Pedestrian Equivalent Factors at Signalized Crosswalks in China
Authors: Zhang Hui-ling , Chen Yuan-qiang , Pang Xian-xian
Published: February 2022

In order to more accurately assess the pedestrian level of service (PLOS) of crosswalks and to more rationally design the pedestrian signal timing, a method of calculating the standard pedestrian equivalent (SPE) factors at the signalized crosswalk in China was proposed in this study by considering the differences in static and dynamic characteristics amongst pedestrians. Firstly, the pedestrians were classified into five types using the pedestrian field data collected at the 3 signalized crosswalks in Chongqing, China. Then, by considering the parameters selection of the pedestrian LOS at signalized crosswalks, the SPE method based on pedestrian delays was derived, and the calculation models of pedestrian delays were presented for different pedestrian arrival patterns. A case analysis was conducted using the methods proposed in this paper, and the results show that the SPE values for minors, young and middle-aged females, elderly males and elderly females were 1.213, 1.067, 1.229 and 1.348, respectively. In addition, the results of the in-situ application to the pedestrian signal timing at the signalized crosswalk were achieved. This research can provide reference for practice related to transportation fields such as pedestrian capacity analysis and pedestrian signal timing design.
On the identification of the effect of education on health: a comment on Fonseca et al. (2020)
Authors: Albarrán Pedro , Hidalgo-Hidalgo Marisa , Iturbe-Ormaetxe Iñigo
Published: February 2022

In this note we revisit the paper by Fonseca et al. (Series 11: 83-103, 2020) who find that education has a positive effect on health. They use several compulsory schooling reforms as instruments for education. Our objective is to replicate this causal finding, so we start by thoroughly discussing their identification strategy. In particular, we emphasize the importance of carefully defining birth cohort groups and using country-specific time trends. Once we take these issues into account, we show that the instrument they use is too weak.
HIV-1 and methamphetamine alter galectins -1, -3, and -9 in human monocyte-derived macrophages
Authors: Grabowska Kinga , Macur Katarzyna , Zieschang Sarah , Zaman Lubaba , Haverland Nicole , Schissel Andrew , Morsey Brenda , Fox Howard S. , Ciborowski Pawel
Published: February 2022

Macrophages are key elements of the innate immune system. Their HIV-1 infection is a complex process that involves multiple interacting factors and various steps and is further altered by exposure of infected cells to methamphetamine (Meth), a common drug of abuse in people living with HIV. This is reflected by dynamic changes in the intracellular and secreted proteomes of these cells. Quantification of these changes poses a challenge for experimental design and associated analytics. In this study, we measured the effect of Meth on expression of intracellular and secreted galectins-1, -3, and -9 in HIV-1 infected human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDM) using SWATH-MS, which was further followed by MRM targeted mass spectrometry validation. Cells were exposed to Meth either prior to or after infection. Our results are the first to perform comprehensive quantifications of galectins in primary hMDM cells during HIV-1 infection and Meth exposure a building foundation for future studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular pathology of hMDM resulting from viral infection and a drug of abuse—Meth.
Genetic diversity and population structure of the Western European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus: conservation status of populations in the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Araguas Rosa-Maria , Vidal Oriol , García Sergi , Sanz Núria
Published: February 2022

Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation and roadkill mortality are considered important threats to European hedgehogs. Habitat fragmentation isolates hedgehog populations and, as a consequence, reduces their genetic diversity and leads the populations to vulnerable situations. The hedgehog populations in the Iberian Peninsula represent the southern limit of the species. We used microsatellite markers to estimate the genetic diversity and population structure of Erinaceus europaeus on the Iberian Peninsula. The obtained results indicated the presence of two differentiated groups, north-western and north-eastern, which coincided with the distribution of the two phylogeographic mitochondrial lineages described in the Peninsula. Moreover, in the north-eastern group, three genetically different clusters (Girona, Central Catalonia and Zoo) were identified. The highest genetic diversity (Hs = 0.696) was detected in the north-western region. Significant genetic differentiation (FST range = 0.072–0.224) was found among the clusters, indicating that these groups are well differentiated and present low gene flow. We concluded that the north-western group is genetically stable, whereas in the north-eastern region, despite some contact among groups, some populations are isolated and vulnerable.
Simulation of an isolated system behavior at high RES penetration coupled with storage
Authors: Katsanevakis Athanasios , Konstantinidis Dimitris , Karagiannis Georgios , Ganias Athanasios , Karagiorgis George , Partasides George , Petrides Demetris , Ioannidou Maria , Delenta Maria-Eleni
Published: February 2022

The aim of the present work is to assess the overall benefits of applying electrical energy storage, especially to isolated grids, to harvest the underlying Renewable Energy Sources potential sustainably. One such case is Cyprus, where due to various technical constraints related to the isolated nature of the island’s electricity system, RES in the electricity sector can reach a maximum level assuming limited curtailments, as early as 2023–2024. To this end, simulations have been set up and run using the DISPA-SET tool to investigate the potential of new electricity storage facilities at effective accommodation of high Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) penetration, especially photovoltaics in the coming years. Results show that particularly in isolated grids, RET penetration has to be coupled with storage to avoid power curtailment and provide security to the whole system, reduce the energy not served and provide a long-term perspective for the decarbonaization in the electricity sector towards 2050 zero-emission targets.
Subjective memory complaints as a predictor of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Warren Samuel L. , Reid Edwina , Whitfield Paige , Moustafa Ahmed A.
Published: February 2022

While there is a multitude of studies on mild cognitive impairment (MCI; more than 80,000 articles), subjective memory complaints (SMC) have received less attention as a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; less than 2000 articles). In this perspective review article, we argue that SMC should also be considered as another risk factor for the development of AD, and perhaps a pre-MCI condition. This recognition of SMC could help clinicians to identify individuals at risk of developing dementia and could provide protective treatment for them. Accordingly, in this perspective article, we review key studies that outline the nature of SMC, discuss how SMC is measured, explore SMC in MCI, introduce some approaches to SMC treatment, and we discuss future directions for SMC research. Overall, we argue that, like MCI, there should be more research on SMC as a risk factor for developing AD. Consequentially, we aim to highlight the need for further research on SMC and the condition’s role as a potential neuroprotector against AD (e.g., early-stage marker).
Sustaining the old world, or imagining a new one? The transformative literacies of the climate strikes
Authors: Bowman Benjamin , Germaine Chloé
Published: February 2022

In this article, we consider the climate strikes in the context of intergenerational narratives that de/limit young people’s political subjectivities and imaginaries concerning climate change. Considering the strikes alongside other youth-led responses to the crisis, we reconsider the question of young people’s climate change ‘literacy’ and posit that young people’s literacies are characteristically transformative. Despite their broadly transformative nature, however, the climate change literacies of young people remain bound up in a complex, adult-centred discursive framework that limits young people in various ways, including positioning them as objects of care or otherwise objectivising their activism. We advocate interdisciplinary thinking in support of creative and transformative pedagogies arising from and informed by the climate strikes, arguing that young people’s political subjectivities are indivisible from their cultural imaginaries. We advocate a step change in the way educators respond to the educational dimensions of climate strikes, as well as the educational opportunities this movement provides. Vitally, we include young people themselves in the category of educators and consider the ways the climate strikes represent an educational opportunity in which young people share, support and collaborate as educators and learners.
Legislation as a Social Process: Japanese Family Law and the Drafting of the Bill on the Hague Child Abduction Convention
Authors: Hamano Takeshi
Published: February 2022

When Japan signed the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the government enacted a new act to deal with international parental child abduction according to the Convention in the same year. The Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs were immediately in charge of making a draft Bill. Once the government and respective ministries had instantly set up the legal and administrative procedure for dealing with international family issue under the Convention, as some studies argue, simultaneous issues of the family in separation in Japan were underdeveloped. Employing a method of content analysis of the record of policy debates by authorities, observing both diplomatic and domestic frames referred in the debate in contrast, this paper highlights this law-making process delivered and elucidated continuous consecutive inquiries about radical questions of the current Japanese family law regarding the wellbeing of the changing families and their children in contemporary Japan.
Family life and the demographic transition in MENA countries: implications for social policy
Authors: Gilbert Neil , Ben Brik Anis
Published: February 2022

This paper reviews recent demographic and familial changes in the Middle East and North African countries (MENA), which parallel the developments associated with the second demographic transition that has transformed population profiles and family life in the more developed OECD countries. The emerging needs for family-oriented policies are analysed in relation to these changes. And the current levels of social protection in the MENA region are assessed along with the recent measures initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper offers evidence of the demographic transition underway in the region, as many countries are experiencing declining fertility rates combined with an increase in life expectancy, which creates a rising old age dependency ratio. This in turn adds an additional burden of elderly dependents on the working age population and on the state’s capacity to care for elderly dependents, which generates an increasing need to expand social protection in the MENA region.
A generalized model for dense axisymmetric grains flow with orientational diffusion
Authors: Amereh Meitham , Nadler Ben
Published: February 2022

The flow of non-spherical grains is strongly affected by the orientation of the grains, as observed in experiments and simulations. An existing model that predicts the orientation of grains as a function of the flow field and shape of the grains, is limited to homogenous orientational fields where the interaction of the grains with their surroundings is negligible. To address this limitation, we generalized the model to account for inhomogeneous orientational fields in the form of spatial non-convective orientational flux. The orientational flux accounts for the interactions of grains with their surroundings and the boundaries. The proposed model is used to study the influence of orientational diffusion and boundary conditions on the flow of dense granular material down an incline. It is shown that the boundary conditions can play a significant role in the orientation of grains in such flows.
Enhanced settling and dispersion of inertial particles in surface waves
Authors: DiBenedetto Michelle H. , Clark Laura K. , Pujara Nimish
Published: February 2022

Particulate matter in the environment, such as sediment, marine debris and plankton, is transported by surface waves. The transport of these inertial particles is different from that of fluid parcels described by Stokes drift. In this study, we consider the transport of negatively buoyant particles that settle in flow induced by surface waves as described by linear wave theory in arbitrary depth. We consider particles that fall under both a linear drag regime in the low Reynolds number limit and in a nonlinear drag regime in the transitional Reynolds number range. Based on an analysis of typical applications, we find that the nonlinear regime is the most widely applicable. From an expansion in the particle Stokes number, we find kinematic expressions for inertial particle motion in waves, and from a multiscale expansion in the dimensionless wave amplitude, we find expressions for the wave-averaged drift velocities. These drift velocities are analogous to Stokes drift and can be used in large-scale models that do not resolve surface waves. We find that the horizontal drift velocity is reduced relative to the Stokes drift of fluid parcels and that the vertical drift velocity is enhanced relative to the particle terminal settling velocity. We also demonstrate that a cloud of settling particles released simultaneously will disperse in the horizontal direction. Finally, we discuss the accuracy of our expressions by comparing against numerical simulations, which show excellent agreement, and against experimental data, which show the same trends.
Soliton solutions for a class of Schrödinger equations with a positive quasilinear term and critical growth
Authors: do Ó João Marcos , Gloss Elisandra , Severo Uberlandio
Published: February 2022

We consider the following class of quasilinear Schrödinger equations proposed in plasma physics and nonlinear optics $-\Delta u+V(x)u+\frac {\kappa }{2}[\Delta (u^{2})]u=h(u)$ in the whole two-dimensional Euclidean space. We establish the existence and qualitative properties of standing wave solutions for a broader class of nonlinear terms $h(s)$ with the critical exponential growth. We apply the dual approach to obtain solutions in the usual Sobolev space $H^{1}(\mathbb {R}^{2})$ when the parameter $\kappa >0$ is sufficiently small. Minimax techniques, Trudinger–Moser inequality and the Nash–Moser iteration method play an essential role in establishing our results.
An isotopic proxy for nitrogen redistribution from Alnus acuminata to wheat intercrop
Authors: Ukozehasi Celestin , Griffiths Howard
Published: February 2022

Direct belowground nitrogen (N) transfer has often been reported where plants with contrasting nutrients acquisition strategies (N2-fixing and non-fixing) co-occur, and there is still a gap in the knowledge of the extent of this transfer in the top soil under the field conditions. However, assessment under field conditions is challenging. We hypothesized a practical application of the analysis of natural abundance of δ15N supplemented with an isotopic mixing model ‘IsoSource’ to understand the relative direct contribution of N2-fixing Alnus acuminata to wheat intercrop (non-fixing) N isotopic signatures. A field experiment was conducted in an andic soil of high lands in northern Rwanda to quantitatively determine the proportional contribution of nitrogen by Alnus acuminata to wheat vegetative tissue isotope signatures at different distances from the trees (1 m, 3 m, 5 m, and 7 m). The study involved the measurements and analyses of natural abundance of stable isotopes δ15N and isotopic mixing modeling by IsoSource. Leaf samples were collected from twigs of 10 years old Alnus acuminata grown on the terrace-risers, along with soil samples (0–20 cm) and wheat flag leaf samples across terrace at 1 m, 3 m, 5 m, and 7 m from trees for isotopic measurement. The chlorophyll content index of wheat flag leaf at the four points across terrace was estimated by means of SPAD meter 502. The δ15N proportional contribution by Alnus acuminata to wheat was obtained through IsoSource analysis. We noted a significant (p < 0·01) gradient in depletion of wheat δ15N signatures moving further away from the tree line of Alnus acuminata. The wheat at 1 m from the trees exhibited the δ15N values closer to that of the tree, while at 7 m, the crop δ15N signature was significantly different from that of the tree. An isotopic mixing model ‘IsoSource’ indicated that the tree N may have provided 33·6 ± 4·3 % of the wheat intercrop N at 1 m distance from the trees. Therefore, this study shows that the understanding of field-based crop N and nutrient transfer in agroforestry may be enhanced by analysis of the physiological basis of stable isotopes signatures.
The Counter-Revolution's Patron: Rafael Trujillo versus Venezuela's Acción Democrática Governments, 1945–8
Authors: Moulton Aaron Coy
Published: February 2022

This article uncovers the myriad ways Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo destabilised Venezuelan politics between 1945 and 1948, the period known as the Trienio Adeco. In contrast to works focused on Trujillo's personal animosity towards Venezuelan President Rómulo Betancourt, this article argues that Trujillo sought to sabotage Venezuela's governments under Acción Democrática as part of his regional foreign policy targeting bastions of Dominican exiles, anti-Trujillo critics and democratic institutions. Trujillo financed an informal network of Venezuelan conspirators who produced propaganda and launched plots undermining the Adeco governments. With the 1948 military coup, Trujillo derailed democracy and gained a reliable ally in Latin America as those he had long backed entered influential posts and remained beholden to their former benefactor.
Contractualism, exclusionary reasons and the moral argument for theism
Authors: Rizzieri Aaron
Published: February 2022

Moral reasons take precedence over non-moral reasons either by outweighing non-moral practical reasons, or by excluding such reasons. Several prominent defenders of the moral argument for theism have incorporated the outweighing thesis. They claim we have categorically binding moral duties only if we always have most reason to be ethical. Furthermore, we always have most reason to be ethical only if theism is true. On the contrary, I argue that the excluding reasons thesis is correct and that this undermines a key premise in moral arguments developed by C. Stephen Evans, C. Stephen Layman, and William Lane Craig.
Quaternion-based state-dependent differential Riccati equation for quadrotor drones: Regulation control problem in aerobatic flight
Authors: Nekoo Saeed Rafee , Acosta José Ángel , Ollero Anibal
Published: February 2022

The quaternion is a powerful and common tool to avoid singularity in rotational dynamics in three-dimensional (3D) space. Here it has been particularly used as an alternative to Euler angles and rotation matrix. The application of the quaternion is exercised in quadrotor modeling and control. It changes the dynamics and represents a singularity-free attitude model. Here for the first time (for the best knowledge of authors), the state-dependent differential Riccati equation (SDDRE) control has been implemented on the quaternion-based model of a quadcopter. The proposed control structure is capable of aerobatic flight, and the Pugachev’s Cobra maneuver is chosen to assess the capability of the quaternion-based SDDRE approach. The introduced control simulator is validated by comparison with conventional dynamics based on Euler angles, controlled using a proportional-derivative (PD) controller on a normal regulation flight. The simulator successfully performed the Cobra maneuver and also validated the proposed structure. The more precision in regulation along with lower energy consumption demonstrated the superiority of the introduced approach.
Mortuary dues in early sixteenth-century England
Authors: Cavill Paul
Published: February 2022

Mortuaries were death duties owed to parish priests. The early sixteenth century was a pivotal moment in their long history. In 1529, an act of parliament significantly altered these dues. This article explores mortuary practices in the preceding decades. It examines what mortuaries were, who gave them, and what purpose they served. The importance of local custom is emphasised. The article reconsiders the modern view that mortuary dues were generally disliked. A more complex attitude explains both why mortuaries were reformed and why they would survive for centuries thereafter. Mortuary dues exemplify the symbiotic relationship between law and custom.
Strategies for old age and agency of the elderly in towns of the Low Countries in the Renaissance
Authors: Zuijderduijn Jaco , Overlaet Kim
Published: February 2022

Contrary to what is sometimes assumed, the elderly in the distant past could not always rely on voluntary care. Therefore, some of them had to develop strategies to secure assistance during old age. We focus on towns in the Low Countries, where family ties were weak, and ageing individuals likely had to plan for old age. We show how members of the middling layers of society could use wills and retirement contracts to ensure care provided by both kin and non-kin, and also to secure living standards during their final years. By recording such contracts, the elderly remained in control of their lives, despite their advancing years.
Industriousness and its discontents: wages, workloads, and the mechanisation of papermaking, 1750–1820
Authors: Rosenband Leonard N.
Published: February 2022

This article considers how the capitalist practices and organisation of hand papermaking framed the coming of mechanised paper production during the Age of Revolutions. The lived experience of making paper by hand had been as tightly wrapped as the synchronised toil of its workers and the trade's wage system. Neither the ’industrial Enlightenment’ nor an ‘industrious revolution’ had transformed paper production. Instead, the papermaking machine drew on and unravelled a durable web of skilled toil, custom, compensation, worktime, and shopfloor relationships. In doing so, the inventor of this device, Nicolas-Louis Robert, imagined that it would offer the manufacturers unfettered sway over their shops; indeed, he privileged this purpose above efficiency and productivity. That mastery remained incomplete, however, as paper producers still required men who had mastered the trade's tacit knowledge about such matters as pulp, finish, and the proper weather for production.
Out of sight, out of mind? The proliferation of space debris and international law
Authors: Zannoni Diego
Published: February 2022

The quantity of man-made space objects, ranging from abandoned launch vehicle stages to fragmentation debris, is remarkable. At the time, the drafters of the Outer Space Treaty did not (and perhaps could not) anticipate how great the problem of debris in outer space would one day become. As a result, they only drafted general provisions for the protection of the space environment which are generally deemed insufficient. This article aims to demonstrate that both general rules of international law and the UNCOPUOS Debris Mitigation Guidelines come to the rescue in addressing the space debris issue as they complement and complete the general obligations contained in the Outer Space Treaty. Particular attention is paid to anti-satellite weapon tests, which have catastrophic consequences in terms of creating debris but nonetheless continue to be carried out. Finally, it ascertains whether an obligation on states to actively remove their space debris exists.