bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction: Context of the Book
Authors: Pachauri Saroj , Pachauri Ash
Published: April 2022

On January 30, 2020, India reported the first case of COVID-19 in Kerala. The index case was identified as a student returning from Wuhan. As of February 3, 2020, a total of three cases were confirmed in Kerala. However, after a month the number of cases in the country increased dramatically. On March 14, 2020, India reported its first two COVID-19-related deaths. India’s case fatality ratio remained constant at 3.2 percent until June 9, 2020, when it dropped to 2.8 percent. On March 11, 2020, when WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, Indian authorities banned visas and non-essential travel from affected countries. Subsequently, all international passengers returning to India were required to go through a screening test.

On March 25, 2020, the Government of India imposed a sudden complete national lockdown for 21 days. After imposition of the lockdown, the government released several guidelines on protection measures such as making wearing face masks compulsory in public places, social distancing, and avoiding mass gatherings.

As on February 5, 2020, India had a testing capacity of only 11 laboratories for testing for COVID-19. But by June 12, 2020, it had ramped up its capacity to 885 laboratories that conducted more than 125 tests a day. However, India conducts remarkably fewer tests as compared to other countries.

After detecting the first case of COVID-19 on January 30, 2020, India experienced a delayed growth in its test count. Subsequently, however, India recorded a constantly increasing daily incidence rate. By December 30, 2020, the number of cases in India was recorded at 10.2 million. The authors provide a preview of all the chapters in the book.
‘I Just Want to Go Home’: What the Lockdown Meant for India’s Inter-state Migrant Workers
Authors: Philo Magdalene A. , Pathak Drishya , Mittal Komal
Published: April 2022

The authors provide a commentary on the inter-state migrant exodus that took place after the government imposed the national lockdown to control the transmission of COVID-19 infection. The lives of the inter-state migrant workers were seriously disrupted when the national lockdown was imposed. The authors bring into focus the inequalities of our times that resulted in serious human right violations. Migrant laborers were the hardest hit during the pandemic. Migrants and their families were pushed to starvation, deprivation, and destitution. The authors study this problem from a rights-based perspective.

The unprecedented lockdown resulted in a migrant frenzy. Millions of inter-state migrants, stripped of their livelihood, were forced to flood the roads across the country in the last desperate bid to return home to their villages. Many chose to walk for weeks and weeks covering thousands of miles in their desperation to get home.

The authors discuss the horror that migrants faced as they went through their journey. The nightmare that ensued was a severe violation of human rights. Bedraggled, starved, and exhausted, the exploitation and hardship that they endured along with their families continued over time.

The migrant crisis not only hit the headlines in India but also drew the attention of world media.
‘Go Hard, Go Early’: New Zealand’s COVID-19 Elimination Strategy
Authors: Rajan Rashmi Pachauri
Published: April 2022

The author describes how New Zealand successfully eliminated the virus. ‘Go ahead, Go early’ was New Zealand’s moto. Strict border controls and high compliance with lockdown measures proved to be effective in controlling the pandemic.

New Zealand’s official campaign ‘Unite Against COVID-19’, was later changed to ‘Unite for Recovery’ as the focus shifted from elimination to recovery. It has now changed back to ‘Unite for Recovery’ and this will remain until the international threat of COVID-19 is eliminated.

The strategy was guided by science and data. The government relied on public health advice and evolving evidence. And, of course, leadership played a crucial role. The Prime Minister was resolute, confident, and pragmatic. The messages she re-iterated at the daily press conferences became catch phrases. Discipline came to the fore. People did not complain. They did not protest. They simply followed the rules, placing utmost trust in their government and its clear communications. Trust in political leaders and health experts was the key reason for the success of the program. And kindness was the Mantra!

Amid the gloom and doom that our world is currently battling, God was spotted in New Zealand. Someone asked God ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Working from home, Bro’.
Learnings from Asia
Authors: Pachauri Saroj , Pachauri Ash
Published: April 2022

The authors draw learnings from Asia by examining the strategies employed by governments in countries that have successfully contained the pandemic. They study the policies and strategies implemented in Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, East Timor, and Mongolia, countries that successfully countered the ravages of COVID-19.

The experience of these countries demonstrates the importance of strong leadership in mitigating the pandemic by harnessing the power of rapid response, evidence-based approaches, transparent communication, and partnerships in building a sustainable and successful pandemic response. The leaders of these countries acted decisively in the COVID-19 response with a whole of government approach. The presence of robust public health systems along with national institutions that can act swiftly to prevent the spread of infection was an essential prerequisite for containing the pandemic. The process of enforcing top-down programs was shifted to a multi-stakeholder, participatory approach. Strong and compassionate leadership was undoubtedly the defining trait of nations to navigate time-sensitive issues in today’s pandemic era. Their experiences showed that policies that addressed equity issues and were compatible with the cultural context had a more enduring impact. In countries, where large numbers of infections are still being reported, it is time that leaders acknowledge the importance of acting rapidly on the best available evidence, with transparency and responsibility that is particularly critical in low-income, fragile settings.
Malnutrition and COVID-19 in India
Authors: Khandelwal Shweta
Published: April 2022

While the world is battling the new coronavirus known as SARS-COV-2, public health and nutrition services in India are getting disrupted and derailed. It is pertinent not to overlook the existing gaps in our journey towards attaining the holistic sustainable development goals (SDGs). In fact, it is now well-established that comorbidities, especially malnutrition, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other respiratory or kidney problems exacerbate the pathogenesis of COVID-19 because of an already compromised immune system. The whole world is off track in achieving SDG 2, known as Zero Hunger, by 2030. At the current pace, approximately 17 countries including India will fail to even reach low hunger by 2030. India ranks 104 out of 117 countries as per the used metric, the global hunger index. Furthermore, these projections do not account for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may worsen hunger and undernutrition in the near term and affect countries’ trajectories into the future.

The author underscores the serious adverse impacts of COVID-19 on public health, nutrition, and food security in India and other low- and middle-income countries. Estimates show that 135 million persons were hungry before the pandemic. By the end of 2020, the number will likely increase to 265 million. India carries a heavy burden of multiple forms of malnutrition including undernutrition, hunger, micronutrient deficiencies as well as overweight, and obesity. India’s public health and nutritional policies must urgently address these problems. Measures taken by the government during the pandemic to counter its negative impact on the nutrition of women, children, migrant labor, and other vulnerable populations are enumerated. The response of the international community to tackle COVID-19 related nutritional challenges and India’s policy measures for ensuring nutrition and food security are discussed.
Non-perturbative thermal QCD at all temperatures: the case of mesonic screening masses
Authors: Dalla Brida Mattia , Giusti Leonardo , Harris Tim , Laudicina Davide , Pepe Michele
Published: April 2022

Abstract

We present a strategy based on the step-scaling technique to study non-perturbatively thermal QCD up to very high temperatures. As a first concrete application, we compute the flavour non-singlet meson screening masses at 12 temperatures covering the range from T ∼ 1 GeV up to ∼ 160 GeV in the theory with three massless quarks. The calculation is carried out by Monte Carlo simulations on the lattice by considering large spatial extensions in order to have negligible finite volume effects. For each temperature we have simulated 3 or 4 values of the lattice spacing, so as to perform the continuum limit extrapolation with confidence at a few permille accuracy. Chiral symmetry restoration manifests itself in our results through the degeneracy of the vector and the axial vector channels and of the scalar and the pseudoscalar ones. In the entire range of temperatures explored, the meson screening masses deviate from the free theory result, 2πT, by at most a few percent. These deviations, however, cannot be explained by the known leading term in the QCD coupling constant g up to the highest temperature, where other contributions are still very relevant. In particular the vector-pseudoscalar mass splitting turns out to be of O(g4) in the entire range explored, and it remains clearly visible up to the highest temperature, where the two screening masses are still significantly different within our numerical precision. The pattern of different contributions that we have found explains why it has been difficult in the past to match non-perturbative lattice results at T ∼ 1 GeV with the analytic behaviour at asymptotically high temperatures.
Exploring the θ-vacuum structure in the functional renormalization group approach
Authors: Fukushima Kenji , Shimazaki Takuya , Tanizaki Yuya
Published: April 2022

Abstract

We investigate the θ-vacuum structure and the ’t Hooft anomaly at θ = π in a simple quantum mechanical system on S1 to scrutinize the applicability of the functional renormalization group (fRG) approach. Even though the fRG is an exact formulation, a naive application of the fRG equation would miss contributions from the θ term due to the differential nature of the formulation. We first review this quantum mechanical system on S1 that is solvable with both the path integral and the canonical quantization. We discuss how to construct the quantum effective action including the θ dependence. Such an explicit calculation poses a subtle question of whether a Legendre transform is well defined or not for general systems with the sign problem. We then consider a deformed theory to relax the integral winding by introducing a wine-bottle potential with the finite depth ∝ g, so that the original S1 theory is recovered in the g → ∞ limit. We numerically solve the energy spectrum in the deformed theory as a function of g and θ in the canonical quantization. We test the efficacy of the simplest local potential approximation (LPA) in the fRG approach and find that the correct behavior of the ground state energy is well reproduced for small θ. When the energy level crossing is approached, the LPA flow breaks down and fails in describing the ground state degeneracy expected from the ’t Hooft anomaly. We finally turn back to the original theory and discuss an alternative formulation using the Villain lattice action. The analysis with the Villain lattice at θ = π indicates that the nonlocality of the effective action is crucial to capture the level crossing behavior of the ground states.
A Combinatorial Translation Principle and Diagram Combinatorics for the Symplectic Group
Authors: Li Henry , Tange Rudolf
Published: April 2022

Let k be an algebraically closed field of characteristic p > 2. We compute the Weyl filtration multiplicities in indecomposable tilting modules and the decomposition numbers for the symplectic group over k in terms of cap-curl diagrams under the assumption that p is bigger than the greatest hook length in the largest partition involved. As a corollary we obtain the decomposition numbers for the Brauer algebra under the same assumptions. Our work combines ideas from work of Cox and De Visscher and work of Shalile with techniques from the representation theory of reductive groups.
Prediction of complications and surgery duration in primary TKA with high accuracy using machine learning with arthroplasty-specific data
Authors: Hinterwimmer Florian , Lazic Igor , Langer Severin , Suren Christian , Charitou Fiona , Hirschmann Michael T. , Matziolis Georg , Seidl Fritz , Pohlig Florian , Rueckert Daniel , Burgkart Rainer , von Eisenhart-Rothe Rüdiger
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The number of primary total knee arthroplasties (TKA) is expected to rise constantly. For patients and healthcare providers, the early identification of risk factors therefore becomes increasingly fundamental in the context of precision medicine. Others have already investigated the detection of risk factors by conducting literature reviews and applying conventional statistical methods. Since the prediction of events has been moderately accurate, a more comprehensive approach is needed. Machine learning (ML) algorithms have had ample success in many disciplines. However, these methods have not yet had a significant impact in orthopaedic research. The selection of a data source as well as the inclusion of relevant parameters is of utmost importance in this context. In this study, a standardized approach for ML in TKA to predict complications during surgery and an irregular surgery duration using data from two German arthroplasty-specific registries was evaluated.

Methods

The dataset is based on two initiatives of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery. A problem statement and initial parameters were defined. After screening, cleaning and preparation of these datasets, 864 cases of primary TKA (2016–2019) were gathered. The XGBoost algorithm was chosen and applied with a hyperparameter search, a cross validation and a loss weighting to cope with class imbalance. For final evaluation, several metrics (accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, AUC) were calculated.

Results

An accuracy of 92.0%, sensitivity of 34.8%, specificity of 95.8%, and AUC of 78.0% were achieved for predicting complications in primary TKA and 93.4%, 74.0%, 96.3%, and 91.6% for predicting irregular surgery duration, respectively. While traditional statistics (correlation coefficient) could not find any relevant correlation between any two parameters, the feature importance revealed several non-linear outcomes.

Conclusion

In this study, a feasible ML model to predict outcomes of primary TKA with very promising results was built. Complex correlations between parameters were detected, which could not be recognized by conventional statistical analysis. Arthroplasty-specific data were identified as relevant by the ML model and should be included in future clinical applications. Furthermore, an interdisciplinary interpretation as well as evaluation of the results by a data scientist and an orthopaedic surgeon are of paramount importance.

Level of evidence

Level IV.
Age estimation for two Mediterranean populations: rib histomorphometry applied to forensic identification and bone remodelling research
Authors: García-Donas Julieta G. , Paine Robert R. , Bonicelli Andrea , Kranioti Elena F.
Published: April 2022

Numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence bone remodelling rates and have shown to affect the accuracy of histological aging methods. The present study investigates the rib cortex from two Mediterranean skeletal collections exploring the development of population-specific standards for histomorphometric age-at-death estimation. Eighty-eight standard ribs from two samples, Cretans and Greek-Cypriots, were processed histologically. Thirteen raw and composite histomorphometric parameters were assessed and observer error tested. The correlation between age and the parameters and the differences between sex and population subsamples were explored through group comparisons and analysis of covariance. General linear models assessed through data fit indicators and cross-validation were generated from the total dataset, and by sex and population subsamples. Most of the histological variables showed a statistically significant correlation with age with some differences observed by sex and by sample. From the twelve models generated, the optimal model for the whole sample included osteon population density (OPD), osteon perimeter, and osteon circularity producing an error of 10.71 years. When sex and samples were separated, the best model selected included OPD and osteon perimeter producing an error of 8.07 years for Greek-Cypriots. This research demonstrates the feasibility of quantitative bone histology to estimate age, obtaining errors rates in accordance with macroscopic ageing techniques. Sex and sample population differences need further investigation and inter-population variation in remodelling rates is suggested. Moreover, this study contributes to the creation of population-specific standards for Cretans and Greek-Cypriots.
Dual-action benefits: global (action-inherent) and local (transient) sources of action prepotency underlying inhibition failures in multiple action control
Authors: Kürten Jens , Raettig Tim , Gutzeit Julian , Huestegge Lynn
Published: April 2022

Previous research has shown that the simultaneous execution of two actions (instead of only one) is not necessarily more difficult but can actually be easier (less error-prone), in particular when executing one action requires the simultaneous inhibition of another action. Corresponding inhibitory demands are particularly challenging when the to-be-inhibited action is highly prepotent (i.e., characterized by a strong urge to be executed). Here, we study a range of important potential sources of such prepotency. Building on a previously established paradigm to elicit dual-action benefits, participants responded to stimuli with single actions (either manual button press or saccade) or dual actions (button press and saccade). Crucially, we compared blocks in which these response demands were randomly intermixed (mixed blocks) with pure blocks involving only one type of response demand. The results highlight the impact of global (action-inherent) sources of action prepotency, as reflected in more pronounced inhibitory failures in saccade vs. manual control, but also more local (transient) sources of influence, as reflected in a greater probability of inhibition failures following trials that required the to-be-inhibited type of action. In addition, sequential analyses revealed that inhibitory control (including its failure) is exerted at the level of response modality representations, not at the level of fully specified response representations. In sum, the study highlights important preconditions and mechanisms underlying the observation of dual-action benefits.
Bermuda grass latent virus in Australia: genome sequence, sequence variation, and new hosts
Authors: Tran Nga T. , Teo Ai Chin , Crew Kathleen S. , Thomas John E. , Campbell Paul R. , Geering Andrew D. W.
Published: April 2022

Bermuda grass latent virus (BGLV; genus Panicovirus) is identified for the first time in Australia and in only the second country after the USA. A full-length genome sequence was obtained, which has 97% nucleotide sequence identity to that of the species exemplar isolate. Surveys for BGLV, utilising a newly designed universal panicovirus RT-PCR assay for diagnosis, demonstrated widespread infection by this virus in a broad variety of Bermuda grass cultivars (Cynodon dactylon and C. dactylon × C. transvaalensis) grown in both New South Wales and Queensland. The virus was also detected in Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus), which are both important pasture grasses in subtropical Australia, and the latter is also grown as turf. Furthermore, the Rhodes grass plant, which had strong mosaic symptoms, was also infected with sugarcane mosaic virus, warranting further investigations as to whether synergistic interactions occur between these two viruses.
Diagnostic approach, therapeutic strategies, and surgical indications in intradural thoracic disc herniation associated with CSF leak, intracranial hypotension, and CNS superficial siderosis
Authors: Bonomo Giulio , Cusin Alberto , Rubiu Emanuele , Iess Guglielmo , Bonomo Roberta , Boncoraglio Giorgio Battista , Stanziano Mario , Ferroli Paolo
Published: April 2022

Background and purpose

Intradural disc herniation (IDH) can manifest with radicular or medullary syndrome. In about 15% of cases, IDH may be responsible, through a dural laceration, for a CSF leak, determining spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) and CNS superficial siderosis (CNSss). This paper attempts to present an overview on IDH as the cause for both CSF leak, and subsequent SIH, and CNSss, and to describe a peculiar clinical and neuroradiological scenario related to this condition.

Methods

A search on the PUBMED database was performed. Although the investigation did not rigorously follow the criteria for a systematic review (we consider only articles about thoracic IDH), nonetheless, the best quality evidence was pursued. Furthermore, an illustrative case was presented.

Results

A 69-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for slowly progressive gait disturbances and hearing impairment. Brain imaging revealed diffuse bilateral supratentorial and infratentorial superficial siderosis, mostly of the cerebellum, the eighth cranial nerves, and the brainstem. Spinal imaging disclosed a posterior disc herniation determining a dural tear at D6-D7. Lumbar puncture revealed low opening pressure and hemorrhagic CSF with siderophages. A posterior transdural herniectomy and dural sealing determined a stabilization of hearing and a significant improvement in both gait and balance.

Conclusions

The diagnostic workup of CNSss with suspected CNS leak demands whole neuraxis imaging, especially in cases presenting SIH or myelopathic symptoms. This may avoid delays in detection of IDH and spinal dural leaks. The different forms of treatment available depend on the type and severity of the clinical picture.
Symmetry breaking and effects of nutrient walkway in time-dependent bone remodeling incorporating poroelasticity
Authors: Esposito L. , Minutolo V. , Gargiulo P. , Fraldi M.
Published: April 2022

Bone is an extraordinary biological material that continuously adapts its hierarchical microstructure to respond to static and dynamic loads for offering optimal mechanical features, in terms of stiffness and toughness, across different scales, from the sub-microscopic constituents within osteons—where the cyclic activity of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes redesigns shape and percentage of mineral crystals and collagen fibers—up to the macroscopic level, with growth and remodeling processes that modify the architecture of both compact and porous bone districts. Despite the intrinsic complexity of the bone mechanobiology, involving coupling phenomena of micro-damage, nutrients supply driven by fluid flowing throughout hierarchical networks, and cells turnover, successful models and numerical algorithms have been presented in the literature to predict, at the macroscale, how bone remodels under mechanical stimuli, a fundamental issue in many medical applications such as optimization of femur prostheses and diagnosis of the risk fracture. Within this framework, one of the most classical strategies employed in the studies is the so-called Stanford’s law, which allows uploading the effect of the time-dependent load-induced stress stimulus into a biomechanical model to guess the bone structure evolution. In the present work, we generalize this approach by introducing the bone poroelasticity, thus incorporating in the model the role of the fluid content that, by driving nutrients and contributing to the removal of wastes of bone tissue cells, synergistically interacts with the classical stress fields to change homeostasis states, local saturation conditions, and reorients the bone density rate, in this way affecting growth and remodeling. Through two paradigmatic example applications, i.e. a cylindrical slice with internal prescribed displacements idealizing a tract of femoral diaphysis pushed out by the pressure exerted by a femur prosthesis and a bone element in a form of a bent beam, it is highlighted that the present model is capable to catch more realistically both the transition between spongy and cortical regions and the expected non-symmetrical evolution of bone tissue density in the medium–long term, unpredictable with the standard approach. A real study case of a femur is also considered at the end in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed remodeling algorithm.
Determinants of Inflation Expectations in the Euro Area
Authors: Moessner Richhild
Published: April 2022

Euro area inflation has been rising strongly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, giving rise to concerns that there could be second-round effects, with higher inflation leading to higher inflation expectations, which in turn lead to higher inflation. This could result in more persistent rises in inflation.
Strategies to achieve a carbon neutral society: a review
Authors: Chen Lin , Msigwa Goodluck , Yang Mingyu , Osman Ahmed I. , Fawzy Samer , Rooney David W. , Yap Pow-Seng
Published: April 2022

The increasing global industrialization and over-exploitation of fossil fuels has induced the release of greenhouse gases, leading to an increase in global temperature and causing environmental issues. There is therefore an urgent necessity to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Only 4.5% of countries have achieved carbon neutrality, and most countries are still planning to do so by 2050–2070. Moreover, synergies between different countries have hampered synergies between adaptation and mitigation policies, as well as their co-benefits. Here, we present a strategy to reach a carbon neutral economy by examining the outcome goals of the 26th summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26). Methods have been designed for mapping carbon emissions, such as input–output models, spatial systems, geographic information system maps, light detection and ranging techniques, and logarithmic mean divisia. We present decarbonization technologies and initiatives, and negative emissions technologies, and we discuss carbon trading and carbon tax. We propose plans for carbon neutrality such as shifting away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy, and the development of low-carbon technologies, low-carbon agriculture, changing dietary habits and increasing the value of food and agricultural waste. Developing resilient buildings and cities, introducing decentralized energy systems, and the electrification of the transportation sector is also necessary. We also review the life cycle analysis of carbon neutral systems.
Flock house virus as a vehicle for aphid Virus-induced gene silencing and a model for aphid biocontrol approaches
Authors: Jiang Jun , Erickson Anna , Qiao Wenjie , Matsumura Emilyn E. , Falk Bryce W.
Published: April 2022

Due to their high specificity and efficacy, RNA interference (RNAi)-based strategies have been used for fundamental functional genomics studies in a number of insects. However, its potential for translational applications in pest management is also of great interest. The lack of suitable RNAi triggering approaches, however, so far has largely precluded the implementation of RNAi-based approaches to target aphids. In this work, we first demonstrate that Flock House virus (FHV), an insect virus, can infect multiple aphid species, including the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (M. persicae), the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (R. maidis), and the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (R. padi), by both microinjection and oral feeding. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as an indicator, we showed that the defective interfering RNA (DI-634) of FHV RNA2, which is generated autonomously during wild-type (WT) virus replication, can carry foreign sequences, and further for their functional expression. More importantly, the engineered DI-634 was incorporated into virus particles in co-infections with WT FHV. Using FHV virions containing genetically modified DI-634, the accumulation levels of the M. persicae mRNAs for Cathepsin L (CatL) and Sugar Transporter 4 (ST4), were decreased by ~ 35% and ~ 30–50%, respectively when virions were injected intrathoracically into aphids. Finally, and of more practical relevance, oral acquisition of these engineered FHV virions caused lethality of M. persicae. In summary, as a proof-of-concept, our work demonstrates that FHV can be a valuable RNAi tool for fundamental research, and suggests opportunities for using engineered insect viruses as biological agents for aphid pest control.
Producer organizations as transition intermediaries? Insights from organic and conventional vegetable systems in Uruguay
Authors: Groot-Kormelinck Annemarie , Bijman Jos , Trienekens Jacques , Klerkx Laurens
Published: April 2022

Increased pressures on agri-food systems have indicated the importance of intermediaries to facilitate sustainability transitions. While producer organizations are acknowledged as intermediaries between individual producers and other food system actors, their role as sustainability transition intermediaries remains understudied. This paper explores the potential of producer organizations as transition intermediaries to support producers in their needs to adopt sustainable production practices. Ten cases of producer organizations in conventional (regime) and organic (niche) vegetable systems in Uruguay were studied qualitatively. Findings show that the classic intermediary roles that producer organizations fulfil in food systems also address the needs of producers in their transition to sustainable food systems. By providing organic inputs, organizing access to output markets, sharing knowledge, and facilitating sustainable production practices, producer organizations support producers within and across regime and niche. Producer organizations mostly function as implicit transition intermediaries, facilitated by their legitimacy among producers, their embeddedness in rural networks, and by refraining from taking a strong normative position. Producer organizations have the potential to be more explicit transition intermediaries, however this position comes with limitations. We provide policy recommendations to optimize the transition intermediary potential of producer organizations in their facilitation towards sustainable food systems.
Large-scale collaborative vehicle routing
Authors: Los Johan , Schulte Frederik , Gansterer Margaretha , Hartl Richard F. , Spaan Matthijs T. J. , Negenborn Rudy R.
Published: April 2022

Carriers can remarkably reduce transportation costs and emissions when they collaborate, for example through a platform. Such gains, however, have only been investigated for relatively small problem instances with low numbers of carriers. We develop auction-based methods for large-scale dynamic collaborative pickup and delivery problems, combining techniques of multi-agent systems and combinatorial auctions. We evaluate our approach in terms of both solution quality and possibilities of strategic behaviour using a real-world data set of over 12,000 orders. Hence, this study is (to the best of our knowledge) the first to assess the benefits of large-scale carrier cooperation and to propose an approach for it. First, we use iterative single-order auctions to investigate possible collaboration gains for increasing numbers of carriers. Our results show that travel costs can be reduced by up to 77% when 1000 carriers collaborate, largely increasing the gains that were previously observed in smaller-scale collaboration. We also ensure that individual rationality is guaranteed in each auction. Next, we compare this approach of multiple local auctions with an established central combinatorial auction mechanism and observe that the proposed approach performs better on large-scale instances. Furthermore, to improve solution quality, we integrate the two approaches by allowing small bundle auctions in the multi-agent system. We analyze the circumstances under which bundling is beneficial in a large-scale decentralized system and demonstrate that travel cost gains of up to 13% can be obtained for 1000 carriers. Finally, we investigate whether the system is vulnerable to cheating: we show that misrepresentation of true values by individual participants sometimes can benefit them at the cost of the collective. Although such strategic behaviour is not straightforward, we also discuss different means to prevent it.
Sustainable supply chain finance through digital platforms: a pathway to green entrepreneurship
Authors: Reza-Gharehbagh Raziyeh , Arisian Sobhan , Hafezalkotob Ashkan , Makui Ahmad
Published: April 2022

This paper studies the green new product development (GNPD) problem of a risk-averse capital constrained supply chain (SC). The SC is managed by an SME entrepreneur, seeking financial support from a multi-sided FinTech platform (MSP) to develop a portfolio of green and non-green products. The MSP offers the SC a combination of equity financing (EF) and debt financing (DF) facilities and must decide on the interest rate of its DF facility. Using a benchmark model, we first characterize the SC’s production and the MSP’s financing decisions under a deregulated scenario. Focusing on an alternative case with government intervention (i.e., hybrid environmental-green entrepreneurship policy), we next develop a three-level game theoretical model and sequentially characterize the decision-making behavior of government, MSP, and SC. The model outcomes are analyzed by considering the policy approach (i.e., economic influence vs. social welfare) and the platform’s risk attitude. The results reveal that, when coupled with an appropriate government intervention policy, a regulated scenario leads to a better outcome, particularly when the MSP is risk-neutral and strikes a right balance between the EF and DF. The win–win situation may not be realized when the MSP is risk-averse and the host government is merely focused on its economic influence. To successfully promote sustainable supply chain finance (SSCF) through digital platforms, policy makers are urged to leverage their legislative power and prioritize green entrepreneurship and social welfare over their financial maximization agenda.
ADC textural features in patients with single brain metastases improve clinical risk models
Authors: Nowosielski Martha , Goebel Georg , Iglseder Sarah , Steiger Ruth , Ritter Lukas , Stampfl Daniel , Heugenhauser Johanna , Kerschbaumer Johannes , Gizewski Elke R. , Freyschlag Christian F. , Stockhammer Guenther , Scherfler Christoph
Published: April 2022

Aims

In this retrospective study we performed a quantitative textural analysis of apparant diffusion coefficient (ADC) images derived from diffusion weighted MRI (DW-MRI) of single brain metastases (BM) patients from different primary tumors and tested whether these imaging parameters may improve established clinical risk models.

Methods

We identified 87 patients with single BM who had a DW-MRI at initial diagnosis. Applying image segmentation, volumes of contrast-enhanced lesions in T1 sequences, hyperintense T2 lesions (peritumoral border zone (T2PZ)) and tumor-free gray and white matter compartment (GMWMC) were generated and registered to corresponding ADC maps. ADC textural parameters were generated and a linear backward regression model was applied selecting imaging features in association with survival. A cox proportional hazard model with backward regression was fitted for the clinical prognostic models (diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment score (DS-GPA) and the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA)) including these imaging features.

Results

Thirty ADC textural parameters were generated and linear backward regression identified eight independent imaging parameters which in combination predicted survival. Five ADC texture features derived from T2PZ, the volume of the T2PZ, the normalized mean ADC of the GMWMC as well as the mean ADC slope of T2PZ. A cox backward regression including the DS-GPA, RPA and these eight parameters identified two MRI features which improved the two risk scores (HR = 1.14 [1.05;1.24] for normalized mean ADC GMWMC and HR = 0.87 [0.77;0.97]) for ADC 3D kurtosis of the T2PZ.)

Conclusions

Textural analysis of ADC maps in patients with single brain metastases improved established clinical risk models. These findings may aid to better understand the pathogenesis of BM and may allow selection of patients for new treatment options.
Incentives for Research Effort: An Evolutionary Model of Publication Markets with Double-Blind and Open Review
Authors: Radzvilas Mantas , De Pretis Francesco , Peden William , Tortoli Daniele , Osimani Barbara
Published: April 2022

Contemporary debates about scientific institutions and practice feature many proposed reforms. Most of these require increased efforts from scientists. But how do scientists’ incentives for effort interact? How can scientific institutions encourage scientists to invest effort in research? We explore these questions using a game-theoretic model of publication markets. We employ a base game between authors and reviewers, before assessing some of its tendencies by means of analysis and simulations. We compare how the effort expenditures of these groups interact in our model under a variety of settings, such as double-blind and open review systems. We make a number of findings, including that open review can increase the effort of authors in a range of circumstances and that these effects can manifest in a policy-relevant period of time. However, we find that open review’s impact on authors’ efforts is sensitive to the strength of several other influences.
Transcriptional responses of Daphnia magna exposed to Akaki river water
Authors: Talu Meron , Seyoum Asmerom , Yitayew Berhanu , AdaneMihret  , Aseffa Abraham , Jass Jana , Mamo Gezahegne , Olsson Per-Erik
Published: April 2022

Pollution of the aquatic environment is a global problem, with industrial waste, farming effluents, sewage, and wastewater as the main contributors. Many pollutants are biologically active at low concentrations, resulting in sublethal effects, which makes it a highly complex situation and difficult to assess. In many places, such as the Akaki river in Ethiopia, the pollution situation has resulted in streams with minimal presence of invertebrates or vertebrates. As it is difficult to perform a complete chemical analysis of the waters, the present study focused on using gene expression analysis as a biological end point to determine the effects of Akaki river contaminants. The present study was conducted using the small planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna with toxicogenomic molecular markers. Daphnia magna neonates were exposed to Akaki water samples collected from two different sites on the river and analyzed for mortality and expression of genes involved in different biological pathways. Despite the poor quality of Akaki river water, 48 h acute toxicity tests showed no mortality. Interestingly, analysis of sublethal toxicogenomic responses showed that exposure to Akaki water altered the expression of 25 out of 37 genes involved in metal regulation, immune response, oxidative stress, respiration, reproduction, and development. The toxicogenomic data gives insight into the mechanisms involved in causing potential adverse effects to aquatic biota harboring the Akaki river system.
Open-source software product line extraction processes: the ArgoUML-SPL and Phaser cases
Authors: Moreira Rodrigo André Ferreira , Assunção Wesley K. G. , Martinez Jabier , Figueiredo Eduardo
Published: April 2022

Software Product Lines (SPLs) are rarely developed from scratch. Commonly, they emerge from one product when there is a need to create tailored variants, or from existing variants created in an ad-hoc way once their separated maintenance and evolution become challenging. Despite the vast literature about re-engineering systems into SPLs and related technical approaches, there is a lack of detailed analysis of the process itself and the effort involved. In this paper, we provide and analyze empirical data of the extraction processes of two open-source case studies, namely ArgoUML and Phaser. Both cases emerged from the transition of a monolithic system into an SPL. The analysis relies on information mined from the version control history of their respective source-code repositories and the discussion with developers that took part in the process. Unlike previous works that focused mostly on the structural results of the final SPL, the contribution of this study is an in-depth characterization of the processes. With this work, we aimed at providing a deeper understanding of the strategies for SPL extraction and their implications. Our results indicate that the source code changes can range from almost a fourth to over half of the total lines of code. Developers may or may not use branching strategies for feature extraction. Additionally, the problems faced during the extraction process may be due to lack of tool support, complexity on managing feature dependencies and issues with feature constraints. We made publicly available the datasets and the analysis scripts of both case studies to be used as a baseline for extractive SPL adoption research and practice.
A Qualitative Approach to Conceptual Spaces: Prototypes as Qualitative Atoms
Authors: Belastegui Javier
Published: April 2022

The aim of this paper is to propose a qualitative approach to the theory of conceptual spaces, in contrast to the usual metric framework. This requires qualitative notions of similarity, simple concepts, prototypes and conceptual categorisation. For this purpose, I will introduce three mathematical models for conceptual spaces. The first one is topological and has been proposed by Mormann. The other two are new and are based on atomistic orders and similarity relations. I will discuss how each of them deals with the Design Principles proposed by Douven and Gärdenfors and with further Adequacy Conditions. Despite being apparently different, I will show that these three models are mathematically equivalent. Finally, I will address three objections to the present approach. The first one says that the qualitative notion of a prototype is a bad analogue of the metric one. The second one suggests that, in contrast to the Voronoi construction, the function qualitatively representing the conceptual categorisation process is arbitrary. The last one appeals to Goodman’s companionship and imperfect community problems to show that there is a flaw in defining simple concepts from similarity relations.
Intercultural adjustment of internationally mobile academics working in Thailand
Authors: Schartner Alina , Young Tony Johnstone , Snodin Navaporn
Published: April 2022

Non-nationals constitute up to a quarter of the academic staff workforce of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) worldwide. Their motivations to ‘work abroad’, and their experiences of doing so, are, however, under-researched, especially where migration is to or within the global South. We report a study conducted among internationally mobile academics from a variety of countries working in Thailand. At policy level, Thailand aspires to increase the numbers of international staff and students in its HEIs, but with mixed success in terms of recruitment levels and the reported quality of the experience among these migrants. Conceptually, our study drew on a framework of intercultural adjustment defined as a multidimensional construct comprising psychological, sociocultural and professional/work aspects of the experience. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted to explore experiences of working in Thailand. Thematic analysis of findings showed that reported experiences mainly fell under the category of professional/work aspects of intercultural adjustment, although sociocultural issues were also important. The reported quality of experiences was mixed and generally more negative than positive in the key areas of professional and work adjustment. Specific challenges highlighted by participants related to issues with the work environment, most especially lingual-cultural problems and, crucially, a lack of secure status. We detail and discuss these findings and present recommendations for policy makers and HEIs, aspirant academic migrants, and for future research into global academic migration, particular as it relates to Thailand and other destinations for academic migration.
Uncovering potential barriers of using initial coin offerings to finance artistic projects
Authors: Knott Manuel , Strich Franz , Strunk Kim , Mayer Anne-Sophie
Published: April 2022

Artists make vital contributions to our society and lay the foundations for billion-dollar industries. However, these artists consistently struggle to acquire sufficient funding for their projects and their livelihood. New technology-supported possibilities for funding artists and their projects have emerged in recent years. Initial Coin Offering (ICO) is a novel form of reward-based tokenized crowdfunding. Although ICOs are promising as a way to fund artistic projects, they lack widespread adoption in the creative and cultural industry (CCI). Based on 35 qualitative in-depth interviews, we identify four barriers that hinder the funding of artistic projects through ICOs: legal shortcomings, investment restrictions, lack of consumer interest, and intermediaries’ resistance. Our research contributes to cultural finance and funding literature by disclosing barriers that impede a promising form of financing artistic projects. Further, we outline possible solutions to overcome them. We also contribute to the research about ICOs by showing that rather than reducing investment risks, these offerings merely shift them.