bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Returning love to Ancestors captured in the archives: Indigenous wellbeing, sovereignty and archival sovereignty
Authors: Thorpe Kirsten
Published: May 2024

This paper explores the holistic needs of First Nations people in the archives to control their cultural heritage materials with dignity and respect. It highlights the importance of the archives supporting Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. Indigenous people’s spiritual and emotional needs are addressed by considering the support for Indigenous people’s wellbeing in the archives. Models of social, emotional and cultural wellbeing are presented as alternatives to discussing the need for Indigenous cultural safety in the archives. A definition of Indigenous wellbeing, sovereignty and archival sovereignty provides an approach to caring for historical records with dignity and respect and a framework for the local care and protection of Indigenous people’s knowledge into the future. The concept of Returning Love to Ancestors Captured in the Archives (Thorpe 2022), extending the work of (Harkin 2019) and Baker et al. (2020), is offered as a significant reform needed in the approaches to managing historical archives. The paper concludes by sharing a case study of the In Living Memory photographic exhibition, drawn on images created by the former New South Wales Aborigines Welfare Board to demonstrate archival approaches supporting principles of trust, benefit sharing and reciprocal relationships. Combined, they respond to the pressing need for designing respectful archiving approaches for future generations that do not reproduce harm.
Updating knowledge of vegetation belts on a complex oceanic island after 20 years under the effect of climate change
Authors: García-Alvarado Juan José , Bello-Rodríguez Víctor , González-Mancebo Juana María , Del Arco Marcelino José
Published: May 2024

Climate change is causing major changes in terrestrial ecosystems and biomes around the world. This is particularly concerning in oceanic islands, considered reservoirs of biodiversity, even more in those with a significant altitudinal gradient and high complexity in the vegetation they potentially harbour. Here, in Tenerife (Canary Islands), we have evaluated the changes in potential vegetation belts during the last 20 years by comparing them with a previous study. Considering the intimate linkage between vegetation and climate, we used a methodology based on phytosociological knowledge, ordination techniques and geostatistics, using multivariate spatial interpolations of bioclimatic data. This has allowed us to spatially detect the variations experienced by eight vegetation units during the last 20 years and incorporating a set of vulnerability metrics. New bioclimatic and vegetation cartography are provided according to the current scenario studied (1990–2019). Our results indicate that summit vegetation, humid laurel forest and thermo-sclerophyllous woodland are the habitats that have experienced a very high area loss and mismatch index, strong changes, if we consider that we are only comparing a period of 20 years. Simultaneously, the more xeric vegetation belts, the dry laurel forest and the pine forest would have benefited from this new warmer and drier climate, by gaining area and experiencing strong upward movements. These changes have not been spatially uniform, indicating that the elevational gradient studied not explain completely our results, showing the influence of the complex island topography. Effective landscape management should consider current remnants, transition capacity and movement limitations to better understand current and future vegetation responses in a global change context.
A Preliminary Evaluation of an Online Parent Training Based on Self-Determination Theory Aimed at Digital Parenting
Authors: Mameli Consuelo , Albani Alessandra , Mazzetti Greta , Saccà Angela , Cavallini Francesca , Grazia Valentina
Published: May 2024

Background

In an age where technology is pervasive, parents may find it difficult to educate their children in a healthy use of digital devices.

Objective

In this preliminary study, we explore the potential value of an online Parent Training (PT) based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in fostering parents’ ability to regulate their children’s use of digital devices. We also investigate whether the expected improvements can be ascribed to the specific PT provided or may be linked to other forms of training.

Methods

Thirty-three parents and their 29 children participated in this study. Parents attended one of two PT, based on SDT or Behavior Therapy (BT), respectively. Participants filled in a self-report questionnaire before (T1) and after (T2) the PT sessions, and at a six-month follow-up (T3). The survey investigated parental autonomy support, structure, affiliation, behavioral strategies, and children’s digital device-related problem behaviors.

Results

Parents and children in the SDT-PT group reported an increase in their perceptions of parental structure and affiliation at T2 and T3, and a decrease in behavioral issues at T2; parents also reported higher values of autonomy support at T2 and T3. Compared with parents attending the BT-PT, those in the SDT-PT group reported higher perceptions of autonomy support, parental structure, and parental affiliation at T3.

Conclusions

Despite several methodological limitations, including a small sample and the absence of a no-intervention control group, this study offers valuable insights for planning SDT-based interventions to support digital parenting, and triggers a series of considerations regarding psychological intervention sustainability.
Navigating virtual teams in generative AI-led learning: The moderation of team perceived virtuality
Authors: Darban Mehdi
Published: May 2024

This study advances the understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI)’s role, particularly that of conversational agents like ChatGPT, in augmenting team-based knowledge acquisition in virtual learning settings. Drawing on human-AI teams and anthropomorphism theories and addressing the gap in the literature on human-AI collaboration within virtual teams, this study examines a multi-level, longitudinal model using a sample of 344 graduate students from 48 student project teams in online project-based learning environments. Our model investigates the direct and interactional effects of AI characteristics —autonomy and explainability— and team perceived virtuality (TPV) on the learners’ knowledge-updating process. Findings indicate that embedding AI in learning teams supports knowledge acquisition and learning intentions. The results reveal that while AI explainability significantly enhances knowledge update perceptions, AI autonomy alone does not directly influence knowledge acquisition. Instead, the positive effect of AI autonomy on knowledge updating is contingent upon a high TPV within the team. These findings offer new theoretical insights into AI’s empowering role in educational contexts and provide practical guidance for integrating AI into virtual team learning. This research underlines the importance of designing AI tools with a focus on explainability and leveraging the synergy between AI autonomy and TPV to maximize learning outcomes.
Vortex shedding from bluff bodies: a conformal mapping approach
Authors: Matheswaran Vijay , DeLillo Thomas K. , Miller L. Scott
Published: May 2024

A model to calculate flow around bluff bodies of various geometries is presented. A conformal map between the plane of the bluff body and the plane of a unit circular cylinder is established by using a combination of Karman–Trefftz transformations and Fornberg’s method. Flow in the circle plane is calculated using the authors’ Hybrid Potential Flow (HPF) model and mapped back to the shape plane. By joining this calculated near-body flow with von Karman’s model for a vortex wake, forces due to vortex shedding and shedding frequencies are calculated. In this manner, a complete solution for the flow around bluff bodies of various geometries is established. Results for two shapes are presented, along with recommendations for further work.
Cohabitation and Marriage Formation in Times of Fertility Decline: The Case of Sweden in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Cantalini Stefano , Ohlsson-Wijk Sofi , Andersson Gunnar
Published: May 2024

Developments over time in the prevalence of marriage and cohabitation formation has long received much interest, but less is known about more recent developments for different population subgroups in European countries. This applies as well to Sweden, a country considered a forerunner in family-demographic change. In contrast, much attention has been paid to the falling birth rates during the 2010s, and explanations that focus on the role of increasing uncertainties. In the Swedish case, the fertility decline has been documented across all main socio-demographic subgroups. The objective of this study is to examine whether the same situation holds for first marriage and cohabitation formation during the 2010s and the exceptional years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on Swedish population registers, including with new cohabitation data, we present annual indices of first marriage formation (1991–2022) and cohabitation formation (2012–2022) across a number of socio-demographic strata. We demonstrate a continuous decline in first marriage formation since the early 2010s with an additional sharp dip during the pandemic and a post-pandemic recovery. In contrast, there was a remarkable stability in cohabitation formation during 2012–2022. Although socio-demographic groups differ in their overall levels of marriage and cohabitation formation, the recent trends are strikingly similar across groups. Cohabiting couples, across population subgroups, have become less inclined to transition their union status to a more committed level, as manifested by marriage or parenthood. This occurred in spite of a positive economic climate in the 2010s and stable family policies, indicating that other forces are at play.
Is Shame a Global Emotion?
Authors: Shield Madeleine
Published: May 2024

The notion that shame is a global emotion, one which takes the whole self as its focus, has long enjoyed a near consensus in both the psychological and philosophical literature. Recently, however, a number of philosophers have questioned this conventional wisdom: on their view, most everyday instances of shame are not global, but are instead limited to a specific aspect of one’s identity. I argue that this objection stems from an overemphasis on the cognitive dimension of shame. Its proponents cannot make sense of global shame because they only understand the emotion in terms of an intellectual self-evaluation, where I am ashamed upon assessing myself to have disappointed a particular standard or ideal. However, when shame is understood as arising early on in life from one’s threatened connection with others, and as having affective, embodied, and unconscious aspects alongside its later cognitive ones, the intuition that it feels all-encompassing makes more sense. Our earliest experiences of shame, which are largely devoid of complex cognitive content, are global because they are experienced as casting doubt upon our lovability in general. It is only later, as cognition develops, that we learn to hang this sense of overall defectiveness, which is reawakened in subsequent shame experiences, onto specific parts of the self. While this might lead us in adulthood to intellectually understand our shame as having a local basis, such as a failed norm or ideal, its global phenomenology will remain.
Living with an artificial eye: qualitative insights into patient and family member experiences
Authors: Boele Florien W. , Kawalek Jessica Charlotte , Nicklin Emma , Gout Taras , Watson Judith M. ,   The PERSONAL-EYE-S Study Group, Woodward Amie , Coleman Elizabeth , Ronaldson Sarah , Zoltie Tim , Bartlett Paul , Wilson Laura , Walshaw Emma , Archer Tom , Chang Bernard , Kalantzis George , El-Hindy Nabil , Theaker Mike
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Artificial eye users (AEUs) can experience a negative impact on psychological and emotional wellbeing, including reduced social functioning, which may be a consequence of living with one eye removed, and/or of having a prosthetic eye. This may have wider consequences for their families. We aimed to explore what it means to live with a prosthetic eye, for both AEUs and their families—and how any quality of life (QoL) issues impact on their day-to-day functioning.

Methods

A subset of AEUs and their family members taking part in a feasibility randomised controlled trial comparing hand-painted to digitally printed artificial eyes were invited for semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative results related to trial participation are covered elsewhere. Here, we focus on QoL and day-to-day functioning.

Results

Twelve AEUs (eight males) and five spouses (one male) who had worn artificial eyes for 2–65 years took part, and four themes were identified. (1) Impact on day-to-day life: AEUs and their spouses have to adapt to (partial) sight loss, reduced levels of confidence, and social withdrawal. (2) Impact on psychological and emotional wellbeing: distress among AEUs and their spouses can be severe and prolonged, highlight unmet support needs. (3) Challenges with treatment experiences: AEUs experienced negative impact of fragmentation of care and long waiting times. (4) Worries about the future: AEUs mentioned fragility of remaining sight, and concerns around potential need for further treatment.

Conclusion

Patients and their family members experience negative impact of being an AEU on their everyday lives and quality of life. There is a potential role for psychosocial support services in supporting AEUs and their families even long after eye loss.
Pandemic Era Maternal Alexithymia and Burnout as Mediated by Self-Efficacy and Resilience
Authors: Scigala Konrad Dawid , Fabris Matteo Angelo Fabris , Zdankiewicz-Ścigała Elzbieta , Sikora Joanna , Longobardi Claudio
Published: May 2024

Parenting is considered a complex and stressful activity that is associated with the development of parental burnout, especially in the COVID -19 pandemic where mental health problems have a huge impact on individual lives and the division of family roles due to frequent closures. The aim of this study was to investigate whether various psychological characteristics such as alexithymia, resilience, and self-efficacy particularly influence the extent of parental burnout in mothers. For the study, 110 aged women qualified. Only mothers who had full-time jobs and worked from home were invited to participate in the study. Parental burnout was measured using the Parental Burnout Assessment. Level of alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale -20. Overall level of resilience as a personality trait was assessed with the Resilience Measurement Scale SPP -25. Beliefs about efficacy in dealing with difficult situations and obstacles were examined with the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale. The results show that alexithyms had significantly higher levels of burnout than non-alexithyms on the first and second measures. In addition, a significant increase in burnout levels over time was found in the alexithymic group. Alexithymia was a strong predictor of parental burnout and tends to predict a decrease in perceived self-efficacy, which in turn predicts an increase in parental burnout. Finally, alexithymia predicts increased parental burnout through lower psychological resilience. Parents with high levels of parental burnout feel overwhelmed by the stresses associated with their parenting role and often express doubts about their ability to be competent parents.
Photo-Physical Characteristics of Janus Green B in Different Solvents and its Interaction Mechanism with Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Gawad Sayed A. Abdel , Ghazy R. , Mansour S. , Ahmed Hala , Ghazy Ahmed R.
Published: May 2024

This work explores the effects of solvent polarity on Janus Green B (JGB) photophysical properties. The Lippert-Mataga, Billot, and Ravi equations were utilized to calculate the singlet-state excited dipole moments (µe) and ground state dipole moments (µg) using absorption and fluorescence spectra analyses. The results showed an increase in the former, which is suggestive of electronic structural alterations upon excitation. Analysis of fluorescence quantum yield values revealed that JGB’s environment had an impact on its emission characteristics; it was particularly sensitive to silver nanoparticles, suggesting possible interactions. While simulations of electron density, electrostatic potential, and energy gap (Eg) helped to understand the electronic structure of JGB, theoretical absorption spectra produced by Time Dependent Density Function Theory (TD-DFT) calculations offered insights into electronic transitions during absorption. To sum up, the present study contributes to our comprehension of the molecular behavior of JGB in various solvents by elucidating the intricate relationship among solvent polarity, molecular environment, and interactions with silver nanoparticles. Additionally, theoretical computations support the interpretation of experimental results.
Aging and Environmental Effects on the Superconductor $$\left[{{\text{Y}}}_{1\;-\;x}{{\text{Ca}}}_{x}\right]{{\text{SrBaCu}}}_{2.80}{\left({{\text{BO}}}_{3}\right)}_{0.20}{{\text{O}}}_{y}$$ with $$0.10\;\le\;x\;\le\;0.50$$
Authors: Bustamante Dominguez A. G. , Sanchez Cornejo H. E. , González J. C. , Ingo G. M. , Riccucci C. , Di Carlo G. , Pascucci M. , Aguiar J. Albino , Barnes C. H. W. , De Los Santos Valladares L.
Published: May 2024

The long-term (more than 20 years) aging effect and degradation study of a $$\left[{{\text{Y}}}_{1\;-\;x}{{\text{Ca}}}_{x}\right]{{\text{SrBaCu}}}_{2.80}{\left({{\text{BO}}}_{3}\right)}_{0.20}{{\text{O}}}_{y}$$

Y

1

-

x

Ca
x

SrBaCu

2.80

BO
3

0.20

O
y

powder ceramic superconductors with $$0.10\;\le\;x\;\le\;0.50$$

0.10

≤

x

≤

0.50

are studied by X-ray diffraction and DC Magnetic Property Measurement System (DC-MPMS-SQUID). The samples prepared by solid state reaction were well characterized and stored at normal conditions of pressure and temperature for more than 20 years. The aged samples present the formation of BaCO3 due to the exposure with the environment during that period. The temperature dependence of the magnetization under Hext = 10 Oe reveal that the superconducting state remains in the samples, except for that with x = 0.10, where a higher magnetic field (20 kOe) is required to be applied to observe a superconducting response. Remarkably, the samples show the same TC values despite the aging indicating that the magnetic alignment of the formed BaCO3 affects the magnetic propertied of the whole sample but not the superconducting alignment of the doped YBCO. This is also reflected in the $${\chi }^{-1}({\text{T}})$$

χ

-
1

(
T
)

plots at normal state, which show both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic contribution, in contrast to what was obtained in the pristine samples which only presented antiferromagnetic coupling. From M(H) loops, the critical current density values at 10 K are obtained by using the critical Bean model in order to estimate the transport capabilities of the aged powders.
Evaluation of the terrestrial radionuclides and the occupational effective doses at a phosphate mills
Authors: Nasr Amal S.
Published: May 2024

Phosphate rocks are the raw materials for fertilizer production. This study aims to evaluate the occupational radiological hazards associated with phosphate rock processing. The average activity concentrations were 825 ± 41, 166 ± 8.3, 12 ± 0.6, and 1333 ± 67 (Bq/kg) for U-238, Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 respectively. All these concentrations are typical for phosphate rocks. The average absorbed dose rate is 139 ± 7 (nGy/h), which is higher than the worldwide average, reflecting the relative high concentrations of U-238, Ra-226, and K-40. The average total annual effective dose is 0.53 ± 0.03 (mSv/y). All the radiological parameters are lower than the recommended limits.
Classification with costly features in hierarchical deep sets
Authors: Janisch Jaromír , Pevný Tomáš , Lisý Viliam
Published: May 2024

Classification with costly features (CwCF) is a classification problem that includes the cost of features in the optimization criteria. Individually for each sample, its features are sequentially acquired to maximize accuracy while minimizing the acquired features’ cost. However, existing approaches can only process data that can be expressed as vectors of fixed length. In real life, the data often possesses rich and complex structure, which can be more precisely described with formats such as XML or JSON. The data is hierarchical and often contains nested lists of objects. In this work, we extend an existing deep reinforcement learning-based algorithm with hierarchical deep sets and hierarchical softmax, so that it can directly process this data. The extended method has greater control over which features it can acquire and, in experiments with seven datasets, we show that this leads to superior performance. To showcase the real usage of the new method, we apply it to a real-life problem of classifying malicious web domains, using an online service.
Flash-kinetics as a complementary analytical tool in PAM fluorimetry
Authors: Klughammer Christof , Schlosser Friedemann , Schreiber Ulrich
Published: May 2024

A new measuring system based on the already existing Multi-Color-PAM Fluorimeter (Schreiber et al. in Photosynth Res 113:127–144, 2012) was developed that in addition to standard PAM measurements enables pump-and-probe flash measurements and allows simultaneous measurements of the changes in chlorophyll fluorescence yield (F) during application of saturating flashes (ST). A high-power Chip-on-Board LED array provides ST flashes with close to rectangular profiles at wide ranges of widths (0.5 µs to 5 ms), intensities (1.3 mmol to 1.3 mol 440 nm quanta m−2 s−1) and highly flexible repetition times. Using a dedicated rising-edge profile correction, sub-µs time resolution is obtained for assessment of initial fluorescence and rise kinetics. At maximal to moderate flash intensities the flash-kinetics (changes of F during course of ST, STK) are strongly affected by ‘High Intensity Quenching’ (HIQ), consisting of Car-triplet quenching, TQ, and donor-side-dependent quenching, DQ. The contribution of TQ is estimated by application of a second ST after 20 µs dark-time. Upon application of flash trains (ST sequences with defined repetition times) typical period-4 oscillations in dark fluorescence yield (F0) and ST-induced fluorescence yield, FmST, are obtained which can be measured in vivo both with suspensions and from the surface of leaves. Examples of application with dilute suspensions of Chlorella and an intact dandelion leaf are presented. It is shown that weak far-red light (730–740 nm) advances the S-state distribution of the water-splitting system by one step, resulting in substantial lowering of FmST and also of the I1-level in the polyphasic rise of fluorescence yield induced by a multiple-turnover flash (MT). Based on comparative measurements of STK and the polyphasic rise kinetics with the same Chlorella sample, it is concluded that the generally observed lower values of maximal fluorescence yields using ST-protocols compared to MT-protocols are due to a higher extent of HIQ (mainly DQ) and the contribution of variable PSI fluorescence to FmST.
“We’ve got a sisterhood …”: Understanding personal and peer empowerment capabilities in the narratives of South African women furthering their education while incarcerated
Authors: Parry Bianca Rochelle
Published: May 2024

The empowering effect of higher education in a carceral environment is recognised globally as the most effective rehabilitative tool for reducing reoffence and promoting the reintegration of incarcerated individuals into society. While many researchers from the Global North have studied carceral education and accessibility, few of those studies have focused specifically on incarcerated women’s access to higher education. Even fewer have considered this topic within the context of the Global South. This qualitative exploratory study addresses gaps in the literature by exploring the experiences of seven women who have pursued and completed a higher education degree while incarcerated in South Africa’s largest correctional facility. The narrative inquiry highlights how higher education helped these women develop capabilities that went beyond education, improving their personal agency and their ability to support their peers.
Robust multipe imputation with GAM
Authors: Templ Matthias
Published: May 2024

Multiple imputation of missing values is a key step in data analytics and a standard process in data science. Nonlinear imputation methods come into play whenever the linear relationship between a response and predictors cannot be linearized by transformations of variables, adding interactions, or using, e.g., quadratic terms. Generalized additive models (GAM) and its extension, GAMLSS—where each parameter of the distribution, such as mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis, can be represented as a function of predictors, are widely used nonlinear methods. However, non-robust methods such as standard GAM’s and GAMLSS’s can be swayed by outliers, leading to outlier-driven imputations. This can apply concerning both representative outliers—those true yet unusual values of your population—and non-representative outliers, which are mere measurement errors. Robust (imputation) methods effectively manage outliers and exhibit resistance to their influence, providing a more reliable approach to dealing with missing data. The innovative solution of the proposed new imputation algorithm tackles three major challenges related to robustness. (1) A robust bootstrap method is employed to handle model uncertainty during the imputation of a random sample. (2) The approach incorporates robust fitting techniques to enhance accuracy. (3) It effectively considers imputation uncertainty in a resilient manner. Furthermore, any complex model for any variable with missingness can be considered and run through the algorithm. For the real-world data sets used and the simulation study conducted, the novel algorithm imputeRobust which includes robust methods for imputation with GAM’s demonstrates superior performance compared to existing imputation methods using GAMLSS. Limitations pertain to the imputation of categorical variables using robust techniques.
Machine learning-based methods for MCS prediction in 5G networks
Authors: Tsipi Lefteris , Karavolos Michail , Papaioannou Grigorios , Volakaki Maria , Vouyioukas Demosthenes
Published: May 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of wireless communication systems, including fifth-generation (5G) networks and beyond (B5G), accurate Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) prediction is crucial for optimizing data transmission efficiency and quality of service. Traditional MCS selection methods rely on predefined rules and heuristics, offering transparency and control but lacking adaptability in changing wireless conditions. The emergence of Machine Learning (ML) has brought transformative capabilities, particularly in MCS prediction. ML leverages data-driven models, promising improved accuracy and adaptability in dynamic wireless environments. This paper marks a novel endeavor in this domain, as it explores and evaluates a range of machine learning (ML) techniques for predicting MCS in orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, representing the first such investigation in this field. Additionally, it introduces a specialized Deep Neural Network (DNN) architecture with two hidden layers for MCS prediction, guided by performance metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. The examined ML methods include Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Bagging with k-NN (B-kNN). These methods undergo thorough training and evaluation using a dataset generated from simulations of non-standalone 5G networks. The study incorporates physical layer measurements and employs a ray-tracing path loss prediction model for comprehensive environmental characterization. Also, advanced data mining techniques preprocess raw data, addressing model underfitting and overfitting challenges. Finally, performance evaluation results reveal that the ANN with two hidden layers achieves the highest accuracy at 98.71%, while RF and B-kNN methods attain the lowest accuracy, below 88.65%. SVM and ANN models, with one and four hidden layers, respectively, demonstrate comparable MCS prediction accuracy, ranging from 97.02 to 97.30%.
Broadening the coating applications of sustainable materials by reinforcing epoxidized corn oil with single-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Necolau Mădălina Ioana , Radu Iulia Nicoleta , Bălănucă Brînduşa , Frone Adriana Nicoleta , Damian Celina Maria
Published: May 2024

In the global context of environmental awareness, the present research proposes a sustainable alternative to the widely used petroleum-based epoxy coatings. Epoxidized corn oil (ECO) was tested as potential matrix for advanced nanocomposite coating materials reinforced with 0.25 to 1 wt.% single-walled carbon nanotubes (SW) with carboxyl and amide functionalities. The elemental composition of the epoxy networks was monitored by XPS, showing the increase of O/C ratio to 0.387 when carboxyl-functionalized SW are added. To achieve sustainable composite materials, citric acid was used as curing agent, as a substitute for conventional counterparts. The influence of both surface functional groups and concentration of SW was evaluated through structural and thermo-mechanical analysis. The progressive increase of the DSC enthalpy for SW formulated systems indicates a possible pattern for specific interactions within the bio-based epoxy translated by adjusted activation energy. For 1% neat SW addition, the Ea values decreased to 46 kJ/mol in comparison with 53 kJ/mol calculated for neat epoxy. Furthermore, the -COOH groups from SW nanostructures exerted a strong influence over the mechanical performance of bio-epoxy networks, improving the crosslinking density with ~ 60% and twofold the storage modulus value. Accordingly, by gradual addition of SW-COOH filler within the ECO-based formulations, a very consistent behaviour in seawater was noted, with a 28% decreased value for the absorption degree.

Graphical Abstract
Institutional Racism and Social Norms: On the Debate Between Rawls and Mills
Authors: Oh Keunchang
Published: May 2024

In this paper, I engage with the debate between John Rawls and Charles Mills. In the first part, relevant works by Rawls and Mills are mainly examined. To this end, I first begin by examining Rawls’s ideal theory of justice and its relevance to the issue of racism. I then consider Mills’s non-ideal critique of Rawls and supplement it with the help of the notion of social norms. Whereas Rawls’s view can deal with racial injustice as discrimination, in my view, I argue that Mills’s theory is mostly concerned with racist injustice as oppression. Between racial injustice as discrimination and racist injustice as oppression, however, there are varying degrees of race-related wrongs, which can be elucidated by harmful social norms. As a result, I conclude that Mills’s point can be shown without supposing that the Rawlsian basic structure is inherently racist.
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Reduces Gut Luminal Deoxycholic Acid Concentrations in Mice
Authors: Shishani Rahaf , Wang Annie , Lyo Victoria , Nandakumar Renu , Cummings Bethany P.
Published: May 2024

Background

Bariatric surgery alters bile acid metabolism, which contributes to post-operative improvements in metabolic health. However, the mechanisms by which bariatric surgery alters bile acid metabolism are incompletely defined. In particular, the role of the gut microbiome in the effects of bariatric surgery on bile acid metabolism is incompletely understood. Therefore, we sought to define the changes in gut luminal bile acid composition after vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG).

Methods

Bile acid profile was determined by UPLC-MS/MS in serum and gut luminal samples from VSG and sham-operated mice. Sham-operated mice were divided into two groups: one was fed ad libitum, while the other was food-restricted to match their body weight to the VSG-operated mice.

Results

VSG decreased gut luminal secondary bile acids, which was driven by a decrease in gut luminal deoxycholic acid concentrations and abundance. However, gut luminal cholic acid (precursor for deoxycholic acid) concentration and abundance did not differ between groups. Therefore, the observed decrease in gut luminal deoxycholic acid abundance after VSG was not due to a reduction in substrate availability.

Conclusion

VSG decreased gut luminal deoxycholic acid abundance independently of body weight, which may be driven by a decrease in gut bacterial bile acid metabolism.

Graphical Abstract
Examining mathematics teachers’ creative actions in programming-based mathematical activities
Authors: Ye Huiyan , Ng Oi-Lam , Leung Allen
Published: May 2024

There has been a renewed interest in creativity as a twenty-first century skill in K-12 mathematics education. However, previous research has paid less attention to creative actions than to other learning outcomes, which are often product- instead of process-based, especially in a programming context. Thus, situated in the context of mathematical learning in a block-based programming environment, Scratch, this study seeks to investigate how in-service mathematics teachers develop mathematical concepts and programming skills to demonstrate their creative actions as a form of professional development. By conducting task-based interviews and thematic analysis, we found that testing and iterative practices of reusing and remixing are two important kinds of creative actions inspired by the programming environment, which give rise to new possibilities for doing mathematics in terms of generating new ways to engage in mathematical processes and to understand mathematics from a computational perspective. Our findings will inform teacher education and professional development programs addressing creativity in technology-enhanced mathematics classrooms, with particular attention to the role of mathematics, programming, and their interplay in inspiring teachers’ (and students’) creative actions and new possibilities for doing mathematics.
Shrimp Extract Exacerbates Allergic Immune Responses in Mice: Implications on Clinical Diagnosis of Shellfish Allergy
Authors: Tong Wai Sze , Li Shanshan , Leung Nicki Y. H. , Wong Wing Tak , Leung Ting Fan , Leung Patrick S. C. , Chu Ka Hou , Wai Christine Y. Y.
Published: May 2024

Tropomyosin has been identified as the major cross-reactive shellfish allergen, but recent studies showed the presence of other clinically relevant allergens. This study aims at determining the allergic immune responses of mice sensitized with raw and boiled shrimp extracts in comparison to recombinant tropomyosin (rTM). Female Balb/c mice were intragastrically sensitized and challenged with raw, boiled shrimp or rTM. Systemic, cellular and humoral allergic responses were compared, while allergenicity of the extracts was also compared by skin prick test (SPT) and immunoblot on shrimp allergic subjects. We showed that rTM and shrimp extracts induced IgE- and Th2-mediated allergic responses in mice, distinguished by remarkable intestinal inflammation in small intestine across all regimens. Notably, boiled shrimp extract exhibited the highest sensitization rate (73.7% of mice developed positive TM-specific IgE response) when compared with raw extract (47.8%) and rTM (34.8%). Mice sensitized with boiled extract manifested the highest allergen-specific IgE and Th2 cytokine responses than the others. Immunoblot results indicated that tropomyosin remained the major allergen in extract-based sensitization and had stronger allergenicity in a heat-treated form comparing to untreated TM, which was in line with the SPT results that boiled extract induced larger wheal size in patients. Hemocyanin and glycogen phosphorylase were also identified as minor allergens associated with manifestation of shrimp allergy. This study shows that boiled extract enhanced sensitization and Th2 responses in agreement with the higher allergenicity of heat-treated TM. This study thus presents three shrimp allergy murine models suitable for mechanistic and intervention studies, and in vivo evidence implies higher effectiveness of boiled extract for the clinical diagnosis of shellfish allergy.
Ethnic minorities treated with new-generation drug-eluting coronary stents in two European randomised clinical trials
Authors: Ploumen Eline H. , Semedo Edimir , Doggen Carine J. M. , Schotborgh Carl E. , Anthonio Rutger L. , Danse Peter W. , Benit Edouard , Aminian Adel , Stoel Martin G. , Hartmann Marc , van Houwelingen K. Gert , Scholte Martijn , Roguin Ariel , Linssen Gerard C. M. , Zocca Paolo , von Birgelen Clemens
Published: May 2024

Background

Several ethnic minorities have an increased risk of cardiovascular events, but previous European trials that investigated clinical outcome after coronary stenting did not assess the patients’ ethnic background.

Aims

To compare ethnic minority and Western European trial participants in terms of both cardiovascular risk profile and 1‑year clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods

In the BIO-RESORT and BIONYX randomised trials, which assessed new-generation drug-eluting stents, information on patients’ self-reported ethnic background was prospectively collected. Pooled patient-level data of 5803 patients, enrolled in the Netherlands and Belgium, were analysed in this prespecified analysis. The main endpoint was target vessel failure after 1 year.

Results

Patients were classified as belonging to an ethnic minority (n = 293, 5%) or of Western European origin (n = 5510, 95%). Follow-up data were available in 5772 of 5803 (99.5%) patients. Ethnic minority patients were younger, less often female, more often current smokers, more often medically treated for diabetes, and more often had a positive family history of coronary artery disease. The main endpoint target vessel failure did not differ between ethnic minority and Western European patients (3.5% vs 4.9%, hazard ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.38–1.33; p = 0.28). There was also no difference in mortality, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularisation rates.

Conclusions

Despite the unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile of ethnic minority patients, short-term clinical outcome after treatment with contemporary drug-eluting stents was highly similar to that in Western European patients. Further efforts should be made to ensure the enrolment of more ethnic minority patients in future coronary stent trials.
Association between multisite musculoskeletal pain and disability trajectories among community-dwelling older adults
Authors: Liu Peiyuan , Chen Hongbo , Tong Beibei , Zhu Disha , Cong Xiaomei , Shang Shaomei
Published: May 2024

Background

Pain is linked to disability, but how multisite musculoskeletal pain leads to disability over time is not well elaborated.

Objective

To examine the associations of multisite musculoskeletal pain with disability among a nationally representative cohort.

Design

We used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) 2015-22. Disability was assessed by basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).

Participants

A total of 5557 individuals with multisite musculoskeletal pain dwelling in the community were included in this study.

Methods

Group-based trajectory models were applied to identify distinct profiles of disability in ADL and IADL. Design-based logistic regressions were used to examine associations among multisite musculoskeletal pain, disability, and dual trajectory group memberships, adjusted for sociodemographic, health status, behavioral, and mental characteristics.

Results

Persons who experienced multisite musculoskeletal pain were at higher risk of disability in ADL and IADL. We identified five heterogeneous disability trajectories and named them based on baseline levels and rates of increase over time. Approximately, 52.42% of older adults with multisite musculoskeletal pain were in trajectories with ADL and IADL declines, and 33.60% experienced a rapid decline. Multisite musculoskeletal pain was associated with elevated relative risk for the adverse disability trajectories, which generally increases with multisite musculoskeletal pain frequency and number of sites.

Conclusions

Persons with multisite musculoskeletal pain had a higher risk of disability. It is essential to adopt effective pain management strategies to maintain the independent living ability of older adults and to realize active aging.
Investigating the accuracy of classification in unbalanced data in order to diagnose two common potato leaf diseases (early blight and late blight) using image processing and machine learning
Authors: Talab Hassan Koroshi , Mohammadzamani Davood , Parashkoohi Mohammad Gholami
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to classify potato disease as early blight, late blight, and healthy leaves using color image processing techniques, data imbalance and feature extraction techniques. To this end, two groups of potato disease leaves with similar symptoms and one group of healthy leaves were considered. A new method based on increasing or decreasing image data using Over-Sampling and Under-Sampling techniques was used to balance them. For this purpose, after separating the diseased area from the leaf surface, the features were extracted. In total, 45 color features, 99 texture features were extracted from each of the three color spaces RGB, l*a*b and HSV, and 6 shape features were extracted from the images. Then classification was done by Random Forest. The classification accuracy results for three proposed models including classification with Original, Over-Sampling and Under-Sampling dataset were 87.89, 91.09 and 96.17%, respectively. Also, the most effective features extracted for the diagnosis of potato diseases were selected by the Relief feature selection algorithm. The results show that texture features contribute more to disease classification and data balancing techniques can increase classification accuracy. In addition, the results show that features extracted from different color spaces can improve disease diagnosis performance and help data engineers to increase the amount of features extracted and compare their performance. This study can be used in future research to classify potato diseases and other plant diseases, and its results can help researchers in their efforts.
Association Between Vitamin D Level and Clinical Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Treatment: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xu Chenhao , An Xinqi , Tang Xiumei , Yang Yunxiao , Deng Qi , Kong Quanling , Hu Ying , Yuan Dongzhi
Published: May 2024

The investigation about association between vitamin D level and clinical outcomes of assisted reproductive treatment showed various outcomes. This study aimed to review the correlation between vitamin D and outcomes of assisted reproductive treatment. The search was registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42023458040). PubMed, Embase, Medline, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane databases were searched up to July 2023. Twenty-three observational studies were selected for meta-analysis. Comparing groups with deficient and ‘insufficient + sufficient’ vitamin D level, meta-analysis showed positive correlation between clinical pregnancy rate and vitamin D (OR 0.81, 95%CI: 0.70, 0.95, P = 0.0001). Comparing groups with ‘deficient + insufficient’ and sufficient vitamin D level, meta-analysis showed positive correlation between vitamin D and clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.71, 95%CI: 0.55, 0.91, P = 0.006), vitamin D and live birth rate (OR 0.69, 95%CI: 0.54, 0.89, P = 0.003). Subgroup analysis did not show the source of high heterogeneity. No correlation was found in biochemical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and implantation rate. In dose-response meta-analysis, a nonlinear association was found between vitamin D levels and outcomes when levels are below approximately 24 ng/L. The study shows that vitamin D level is associated with clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate. Low vitamin D level does not influence biochemical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and implantation rate. Furthermore, 24 ng/L may be a possible threshold of vitamin D concentration in assisted reproduction therapy.
The association between childhood blood lead levels and proximity to airports in Colorado
Authors: Berg Kevin , Snow Megan , Richardson Kristy
Published: May 2024

Background

In October 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final endangerment finding that leaded aviation gasoline (avgas) contributes to air pollution that is harmful to public health. This study evaluates the evidence for a link between living in proximity to airports and children’s blood lead levels in Colorado.

Methods

We analyzed the association between childhood blood lead levels (BLLs) and proximity to airport point locations in children tested for lead in Colorado over a 10-year study period (2011–2020) using a correlated random effects model with bootstrapped standard errors (N = 56,002 observations, 47,322 individuals). Along with distance from airport point locations, we identified the number of days sampled children lived downwind of their nearest airport during the 60 days prior to their test date. We also adjusted the model for age, sex, detection limit, test type, sample order, seasonality, time, proximity to lead-releasing facilities, estimated monthly aircraft traffic, and demographic characteristics of the surrounding neighborhood.

Results

Our primary model estimates that living one mile (1.6 km) further from airport point locations decreases mean blood lead levels by 0.068 µg/dL. Additional analysis estimates that living one mile further from airport point locations decreases the odds of having a blood lead level ≥ 3.5 µg/dL by 13.2%.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that lead emissions from aircraft using leaded avgas have a small but statistically significant effect on the BLLs of children living near airport point locations in Colorado. While the risk from proximity to airports is likely less than the risks associated with deteriorating lead paint and dust, our findings highlight the value of lead testing in children who may be at risk of exposure from all sources, including those who live near airports.
Musical Modernism in Global Perspective
Authors: Heile Björn
Published: May 2024

In the first study of the global dimensions of musical modernism, Björn Heile proposes a novel theory according to which musical modernism is constituted by a global diasporic network of composers, musicians and institutions. In a series of historical and analytical case studies from different parts of the world, this book overcomes the respective limitations of both Eurocentric and postcolonial, revisionist accounts, focusing instead on the transnational entanglements between the West and other world regions. Key topics include migration, the transnational reception and transfer of musical works and ideas, institutions such as the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) and composers who are rarely discussed in Western academia, such as the Nigerian-born Akin Euba and the Korean-German Younghi Pagh-Paan. Influenced by the interdisciplinary notion of 'entangled histories', Heile critiques established dichotomies, all the while highlighting the unequal power relations on which the existing global order is founded.