bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fostering effective and sustainable scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange: a workshop-based approach to establish a national ecological observatory network (NEON) domain-specific user group
Authors: Donnelly Alison , Desai Ankur R. , Heckman Katherine A. , Nave Lucas E. , Cramer Michael J. , Faust Marie , Weishampel Peter , Slemmons Caleb , Andresen Christian G. , Ayres Edward , Cotey Stacy R. , Docherty Kathryn M. , Hatzis Joshua , Hofmeister Kathryn , LaMontagne Jalene M. , Lenters John D. , Lottig Noah R. , Marcarelli Amy M. , Miesel Jessica , Riddle Jason , Salmon-Tumas Meghan , SanClements Mike D. , Sapkota Subash , Schwartz Mark D. , Sharma Puja , Shrestha Ojaswee , Vincent Geoffrey , Waupochick Angela , Zheng Ting , Ye Zhiwei
Published: April 2024

The decision to establish a network of researchers centers on identifying shared research goals. Ecologically specific regions, such as the USA’s National Ecological Observatory Network’s (NEON’s) eco-climatic domains, are ideal locations by which to assemble researchers with a diverse range of expertise but focused on the same set of ecological challenges. The recently established Great Lakes User Group (GLUG) is NEON’s first domain specific ensemble of researchers, whose goal is to address scientific and technical issues specific to the Great Lakes Domain 5 (D05) by using NEON data to enable advancement of ecosystem science. Here, we report on GLUG’s kick off workshop, which comprised lightning talks, keynote presentations, breakout brainstorming sessions and field site visits. Together, these activities created an environment to foster and strengthen GLUG and NEON user engagement. The tangible outcomes of the workshop exceeded initial expectations and include plans for (i) two journal articles (in addition to this one), (ii) two potential funding proposals, (iii) an assignable assets request and (iv) development of classroom activities using NEON datasets. The success of this 2.5-day event was due to a combination of factors, including establishment of clear objectives, adopting engaging activities and providing opportunities for active participation and inclusive collaboration with diverse participants. Given the success of this approach we encourage others, wanting to organize similar groups of researchers, to adopt the workshop framework presented here which will strengthen existing collaborations and foster new ones, together with raising greater awareness and promotion of use of NEON datasets. Establishing domain specific user groups will help bridge the scale gap between site level data collection and addressing regional and larger ecological challenges.
Effective seedbank management to ensure food security and preserve biodiversity
Authors: Bhattacharya Samik , Mummenhoff Klaus
Published: April 2024

The future of biodiversity maintenance and crop security faces significant threats due to climate instability. Ex situ seed banks can serve as refuges for major crop varieties and their wild relatives in catastrophic situations. However, managing these repositories requires regular quality control to ensure the viability of preserved samples for future regeneration. In this opinion, we have identified significant challenges in traditional seed bank management, including difficulties in scheduling seed viability tests for a diverse collection and the burden of replenishing depleted stored samples. We have also examined the advantages and disadvantages of different seed viability tests used in long-term seed repositories for ex situ biodiversity conservation. While the ultimate goal of seed conservation is to achieve non-destructive methods of viability estimation, the additional predictive potential of such tests can revolutionize traditional management practices. Timely replenishment of decaying seeds can ensure sustainable genomic storage and positively impact agricultural legacy and genetic diversity preservation. This opinion provides an open platform to review current management practices and explore alternative and efficient ways to secure the ‘ultimate repository’ of agricultural legacy and genetic diversity.
Mapping the landscape of research on 360-degree videos and images: a network and cluster analysis
Authors: Mancuso Valentina , Borghesi Francesca , Bruni Francesca , Pedroli Elisa , Cipresso Pietro
Published: April 2024

The recent emergence of low-cost virtual reality technologies, like 360° videos and images is attracting the attention of researchers suggesting it could be the next significant step in technological innovation. The birth of 360° videos and images is quite young, it goes back to the middle of the nineteenth century and then spread more and more in many areas. In recent years, 360° videos and images have grown in popularity because they provide a great number of advantages compared to traditional virtual reality computer-generated technology. The aim of this research is to map scientific works in the area of 360° technology using advanced scientometric techniques. We collected all the existent articles about 360° contents in the Scopus database, and the resultant dataset contained 3319 records. The bibliographic record encompassed all categories of scientific articles retrieved from Scopus, considering parameters such as countries, institutions, journals, authors, citation counts, and publication years. The network and cluster analysis of the literature showed a composite panorama characterized by changes and evolutions over time of the use of 360° contents. We discuss these aspects in the main areas of application with an emphasis on the future expected 360° capacities, increases, and challenges. As already happened with the advent of virtual reality, the future of 360° technology will be an increasing shift from engineering to clinical use, by improving the use and the development of scientific applications in clinical areas and by modifying social communication and interaction among people.
Prevalence of CTX-M types among ESBL-producing pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from foodborne diarrheal patients in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Authors: Park Nanjoo , Hur Jeong In , Lee Sohyun , Ryu Sangryeol
Published: April 2024

Prevalence and characteristics of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogenic Escherichia coli from foodborne diarrheal patients were studied. Analysis of 495 E. coli isolates revealed that 80 isolates were ESBL-producing pathogenic E. coli, and enteroaggregative E. coli and enterotoxigenic E. coli were two of the most prevalent pathotypes. In silico Clermont phylo-typing of the 80 ESBL-producing E. coli showed that phylogroup A (49/80) and D (22/80) were the predominant phylogroups. The average nucleotide identity analysis of ESBL-producing E. coli disclosed that they could be grouped into two phylogenetic groups; 25 A and 55 B groups. All strains, except one, harbored the blaCTX-M gene. All CTX-M-15 type ESBL-producing strains also carried qnrS, a plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance gene (PMQR). These results suggest that the diversity of ESBL-producing E. coli is high and that co-existence of blaCTX-M-15 and qnrS genes is widespread, highlighting their high risk of antibiotic-resistance spreading in infectious disease outbreaks.
Perinatal outcome in anti-NMDAr encephalitis during pregnancy—a systematic review with individual patients’ data analysis
Authors: Scorrano Giovanna , Dono Fedele , Corniello Clarissa , Consoli Stefano , Evangelista Giacomo , Di Ludovico Armando , Chiarelli Francesco , Anzellotti Francesca , Di Iorio Angelo , Sensi Stefano L.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) antibody encephalitis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by synaptic NMDAr current disruption and receptor hypofunction, often affecting women during pregnancy. Clinical manifestations associated with anti-NMDAr encephalitis can occur both in the mother and fetus.

Methods

We generated a systematic search of the literature to identify epidemiological, clinical, and serological data related to pregnant women with anti-NMDAr encephalitis and their children, analyzing the fetal outcomes. We examined the age and neurologic symptoms of the mothers, the presence of an underlying tumor, immunotherapies used during pregnancy, duration of the pregnancy, and type of delivery.

Results

Data from 41 patients were extrapolated from the included studies. Spontaneous interruption of pregnancy, premature birth, and cesarean section were reported in pregnant women with NMDAr encephalitis. Several fetal and neonatal symptoms (e.g., movement disorders, spina bifida, poor sucking, respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmias, infections, icterus, hypoglycemia, and low birth weight) depending on the mother’s serum anti-NR1 concentration were also reported.

Conclusions

We characterized the outcomes of children born from mothers with anti-NMDAr encephalitis, analyzing the pivotal risk factors related to pregnancy and maternal disorder. Neuropsychiatric involvement seems strictly related to pathogenic NMDAr antibodies detected in maternal and/or neonatal serum.

These findings clarify a complex condition to manage, outlining the risks associated with pregnant women with anti-NMDAr encephalitis and also providing a concrete guide for therapeutic strategies to prevent potential harm to the fetus and the child’s neurodevelopment.
From approximate to exact integer programming
Authors: Dadush Daniel , Eisenbrand Friedrich , Rothvoss Thomas
Published: April 2024

Approximate integer programming is the following: For a given convex body

$$K \subseteq {\mathbb {R}}^n$$

K
⊆

R

n

, either determine whether

$$K \cap {\mathbb {Z}}^n$$

K
∩

Z

n

is empty, or find an integer point in the convex body

$$2\cdot (K - c) +c$$

2
·
(
K
-
c
)
+
c

which is K, scaled by 2 from its center of gravity c. Approximate integer programming can be solved in time

$$2^{O(n)}$$

2

O
(
n
)

while the fastest known methods for exact integer programming run in time

$$2^{O(n)} \cdot n^n$$

2

O
(
n
)

·

n
n

. So far, there are no efficient methods for integer programming known that are based on approximate integer programming. Our main contribution are two such methods, each yielding novel complexity results. First, we show that an integer point

$$x^* \in (K \cap {\mathbb {Z}}^n)$$

x
∗

∈

(
K
∩

Z

n

)

can be found in time

$$2^{O(n)}$$

2

O
(
n
)

, provided that the remainders of each component

$$x_i^* \mod \ell $$

x
i
∗

mod

ℓ

for some arbitrarily fixed

$$\ell \ge 5(n+1)$$

ℓ
≥
5
(
n
+
1
)

of

$$x^*$$

x
∗

are given. The algorithm is based on a cutting-plane technique, iteratively halving the volume of the feasible set. The cutting planes are determined via approximate integer programming. Enumeration of the possible remainders gives a

$$2^{O(n)}n^n$$

2

O
(
n
)

n
n

algorithm for general integer programming. This matches the current best bound of an algorithm by Dadush (Integer programming, lattice algorithms, and deterministic, vol. Estimation. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 2012) that is considerably more involved. Our algorithm also relies on a new asymmetric approximate Carathéodory theorem that might be of interest on its own. Our second method concerns integer programming problems in equation-standard form

$$Ax = b, 0 \le x \le u, \, x \in {\mathbb {Z}}^n$$

A
x
=
b
,
0
≤
x
≤
u
,

x
∈

Z

n

. Such a problem can be reduced to the solution of

$$\prod _i O(\log u_i +1)$$

∏
i

O

(
log

u
i

+
1
)

approximate integer programming problems. This implies, for example that knapsack or subset-sum problems with polynomial variable range

$$0 \le x_i \le p(n)$$

0
≤

x
i

≤
p

(
n
)

can be solved in time

$$(\log n)^{O(n)}$$

(
log
n
)

O
(
n
)

. For these problems, the best running time so far was

$$n^n \cdot 2^{O(n)}$$

n
n

·

2

O
(
n
)

.
Monotonic transformation and recovering the implied stock price process
Authors: Fusai Gianluca
Published: April 2024

The paper demonstrates the construction of a stock price stochastic process that aligns with observed option prices, drawing inspiration from a manuscript by Professor Erio Castagnoli that employs the concept of a non-linear monotonic transformation of a standard Brownian motion. The paper includes a detailed numerical example that illustrates the implementation of this straightforward and ingenious idea.
Fracture mechanics modeling of aortic dissection
Authors: Yeerella Ram Hemanth , Cai Shengqiang
Published: April 2024

Aortic dissection, a critical cardiovascular condition with life-threatening implications, is distinguished by the development of a tear and its propagation within the aortic wall. A thorough understanding of the initiation and progression of these tears, or cracks, is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This paper undertakes a fracture mechanics approach to delve into the mechanics of tear propagation in aortic dissection. Our objective is to elucidate the impact of geometric and material parameters, providing valuable insights into the determinants of this pivotal cardiovascular event. Through our investigation, we have gained an understanding of how various parameters influence the energy release rate for tear propagation in both longitudinal and circumferential directions, aligning our findings with clinical data.
Local Economic Conditions Affect Aedes albopictus Management
Authors: Cerri Jacopo , Sciandra Chiara , Contardo Tania , Bertolino Sandro
Published: April 2024

Invasive mosquitoes are an emerging public health issue, as many species are competent vectors for pathogens. We assessed how multiple environmental and socio-economic factors affected the engagement of municipalities in Italy (n = 7679) in actions against Aedes albopictus, an invasive mosquito affecting human health and well-being, between 2000 and 2020. We collected information about mosquito control from official documents and municipal websites and modeled the role played by multiple environmental and socioeconomic factors characterizing each municipality through the random forest algorithm. Municipalities are more prone to manage A. albopictus if more urbanized, in lowlands and with long infestation periods. Moreover, these variables are more predictive of management in municipalities with a high median income and thus more economic resources. Only 25.5% of Italian municipalities approved regulations for managing A. albopictus, and very few of them were in Southern Italy, the most deprived area of the country. Our findings indicate that local economic conditions moderate the effect of other drivers of mosquito control and ultimately can lead to better management of A. albopictus. If the management of invasive mosquitoes, or other forms of global change, is subjected to local economic conditions, economic inequalities will jeopardize the success of large-scale policies, also raising issues of environmental and climate justice.
Evaluation of Apparatus and Protocols to Measure Human Passive Neck Stiffness and Range of Motion
Authors: Liu Mingyue , Quarrington Ryan D. , Sandoz Baptiste , Robertson William S. P. , Jones Claire F.
Published: April 2024

Understanding of human neck stiffness and range of motion (ROM) with minimal neck muscle activation (“passive”) is important for clinical and bioengineering applications. The aim of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate the reliability of methods for assessing passive-lying stiffness and ROM, in six head-neck rotation directions. Six participants completed two assessment sessions. To perform passive-lying tests, the participant’s head and torso were strapped to a bending (flexion, extension, lateral bending) or a rotation (axial rotation) apparatus, and clinical bed, respectively. The head and neck were manually rotated by the researcher to the participant’s maximum ROM, to assess passive-lying stiffness. Participant-initiated (“active”) head ROM was also assessed in the apparatus, and seated. Various measures of apparatus functionality were assessed. ROM was similar for all assessment configurations in each motion direction except flexion. In each direction, passive stiffness generally increased throughout neck rotation. Within-session reliability for stiffness (ICC > 0.656) and ROM (ICC > 0.872) was acceptable, but between-session reliability was low for some motion directions, probably due to intrinsic participant factors, participant-apparatus interaction, and the relatively low participant number. Moment-angle corridors from both assessment sessions were similar, suggesting that with greater sample size, these methods may be suitable for estimating population-level corridors.
Error estimates for POD-DL-ROMs: a deep learning framework for reduced order modeling of nonlinear parametrized PDEs enhanced by proper orthogonal decomposition
Authors: Brivio Simone , Fresca Stefania , Franco Nicola Rares , Manzoni Andrea
Published: April 2024

POD-DL-ROMs have been recently proposed as an extremely versatile strategy to build accurate and reliable reduced order models (ROMs) for nonlinear parametrized partial differential equations, combining (i) a preliminary dimensionality reduction obtained through proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) for the sake of efficiency, (ii) an autoencoder architecture that further reduces the dimensionality of the POD space to a handful of latent coordinates, and (iii) a dense neural network to learn the map that describes the dynamics of the latent coordinates as a function of the input parameters and the time variable. Within this work, we aim at justifying the outstanding approximation capabilities of POD-DL-ROMs by means of a thorough error analysis, showing how the sampling required to generate training data, the dimension of the POD space, and the complexity of the underlying neural networks, impact on the solutions us to formulate practical criteria to control the relative error in the approximation of the solution field of interest, and derive general error estimates. Furthermore, we show that, from a theoretical point of view, POD-DL-ROMs outperform several deep learning-based techniques in terms of model complexity. Finally, we validate our findings by means of suitable numerical experiments, ranging from parameter-dependent operators analytically defined to several parametrized PDEs.
The International Performance, Resilience and Efficiency Program Protocol for the Application of HRV Biofeedback in Applied Law Enforcement Settings
Authors: Andersen Judith P. , Arpaia Joseph , Gustafsberg Harri , Poplawski Steve , Di Nota Paula M.
Published: April 2024

Law enforcement officers are routinely exposed to high-threat encounters that elicit physiological stress responses that impact health, performance, and safety. Therefore, self-regulation using evidence-based approaches is a priority in police research and practice. This paper describes a five-module heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) protocol that is part of a larger resilience program (the International Performance Resilience and Efficiency Program – iPREP) established in 2014. Supported by 10 years of user-informed research and development, our methods are tailored to address occupational stressors and the practical realities of training and resource availability in operational settings. Building on existing clinical methods that comprise five to six weekly sessions and up to 40-min of daily practice, our iPREP HRVB protocol is typically delivered in a condensed format across 2–3 days and is seamlessly integrated with reality-based training scenarios commonly employed in policing. By combining best practices in clinical HRVB with police-specific pedagogical frameworks, officers receive accelerated and job-relevant training to adaptively modulate autonomic responses to acute and chronic stress. Efficacy of the iPREP HRVB protocol is supported by several research studies of various methodological designs (i.e., randomized control trial, longitudinal cohort) that demonstrate immediate and sustained improvements in police performance and physiological health outcomes. We conclude with a critical appraisal of the available empirical evidence contrasting common and emerging breathing techniques proposed for use in operational policing contexts. The critical appraisal guide is intended to serve as a resource for law enforcement agencies, governing bodies, and operators when choosing appropriate and effective self-regulation training approaches.
Risk factors contributing to tick-acaricide control failure in communal areas of the Oliver Tambo district eastern cape province, South Africa
Authors: Dzemo William Diymba , Thekisoe Oriel , Vudriko Patrick
Published: April 2024

Application of chemical acaricides in the control of ticks has led to the problem of tick-acaricide control failure. To obtain an understanding of the possible risk factors involved in this tick-acaricide control failure, this study investigated tick control practices on communal farms in the north-eastern part of the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) of South Africa. A semi-structured questionnaire designed to document specific farm attributes and acaricide usage practices was administered at 94 communal farms from the Oliver Tambo District municipality of the ECP. Data collected indicated that the main acaricide chemicals used at plunge dips of inland and coastal areas were synthetic pyrethroid formulations. Most (75%) farmers claimed not to have noticed a significant reduction in numbers of actively feeding and growing ticks on cattle after several acaricide treatments. Based on the farmers’ perceptions, leading factors that could have led to tick-acaricide control failure included: weak strength of the dip solution (76%); poor structural state of dip tanks (42%); and irregular tick control (21%). The rearing of crossbreeds of local and exotic cattle breeds, perceived weak strength of the dip solution and high frequency of acaricide treatment, were statistically associated with proportions of farms reporting tick-acaricide control failure. Furthermore, approximately 50% of farms reported at least four tick control malpractices, which could have resulted in the emergence and spread of tick-acaricide control failure. Other sub-optimal tick control practices encountered included incorrect acaricide rotation, and failure to treat all cattle in a herd. This data will inform and guide the development of management strategies for tick-acaricide control failure and resistance in communal farming areas.
Beyond Reach but Within Sight: Ethical Leaders’ Pursuit of Seemingly Unattainable Role Models in East Asia
Authors: Chou Sophia Chia-Min
Published: April 2024

Inspired by Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, many East Asian ethical leaders have aspired to emulate seemingly unattainable sages and buddhas throughout history. This aspiration challenges the common psychological view that significant gaps between role models and actual selves might hinder emulation motivation. It also differs from Western findings, which suggest that ethical leadership often emerges from emulating attainable exemplars like immediate supervisors or mentors. To decipher this intriguing emulation behavior in East Asia, this study employed a multiple-case approach involving 25 ethical leaders from Taiwan. Results indicate that these ethical leaders formulate three approaches to sustain emulation motivation for seemingly unattainable exemplars. First, they draw on East Asian philosophies to address demotivating factors such as ego threats and goal unattainability. Second, they embrace the cultural values of the Sinosphere, amplifying motivators like self-betterment, altruism, and life purpose. Lastly, they capitalize on the collective tendency of their culture to assimilate positive environmental influences, including societal norms and social support. These findings elucidate how and why many East Asian ethical leaders sustain buddha/sage emulation: The cultural resources of the Sinosphere nurture effective psychological strategies, underpinned by universal psychological mechanisms that suggest wider applicability across various societies.
Preparation of cellulose-PCC fibre hybrids: Use as filler in polypropylene (PP) composites
Authors: Heinicke Birgit , Zahel Martin , Ferreira Ignatius , Arndt Tiemo , Naseem Sajid , Heckel Sandra , Kuehnert Ines , Miletzky Frank , Leuteritz Andreas
Published: April 2024

Polymer composite materials find application in various life sectors such as packaging, lightweight construction and the fabrication of medical devices. Functional fillers like mineral colloids, synthetic and natural fibres enable a precise tailoring of the mechanical properties of the resulting compounds. Precipitated calcium carbonate (CaCO3, PCC) has proven to be a special popular mineral polymer filler. From economic and ecologic reasons, it is desirable to increase filler contents in polymers while maintaining material strength. To achieve this, the present work has developed a hybrid filler system which is based on carboxymethylated, fibrillated cellulose fibres. CaCO3 is precipitated onto the fibres in a single step twin-screw extrusion process by the co-precipitation method. This process ensures a strong, permanent interaction between the fibres and the mineral particles, which enables CaCO3 contents in the filler of up to 68 wt.-%. The resulting hybrid fillers were compounded with polypropylene (PP) in a powder or paste state with filler contents between 5 wt.-% and 20 wt.-%. The resulting composites show an increase in the zero-shear viscosity and, in the event of sufficient network formation, a marked increase in stiffness was observed.
Intrusive Mental Imagery in Chronic Pain: Prevalence and Associations with Common Comorbidities
Authors: Maxwell Watts Jake , Blackwell Simon E. , Daniels Jo
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Chronic pain is a highly prevalent and distressing condition with limited treatment efficacy. Prior research reports associations between the experience of mental imagery about chronic pain and pain itself, particularly in those with anxiety and depression. However, many aspects of these associations remain unexplored. A better understanding could help improve cognitive-behavioural therapies for chronic pain. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of intrusive pain-related mental imagery in a sample of people with chronic pain, examine the extent to which this imagery explained variation in pain intensity and disability, and examine the association between negative interpretations of imagery and pain.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. Participants with chronic pain (n = 151) completed standardised measures of anxiety, depression, health anxiety, general imagery use, and an adapted questionnaire about intrusive pain-related imagery.

Results

Intrusive pain-related imagery was present in 52.3% of the sample. Demographic variables, anxiety, depression, and health anxiety significantly explained 19% (p < .001) of the variation in pain intensity and 20.2% (p < .001) in pain disability. The presence/absence of intrusive pain-related imagery did not significantly explain any additional variance for either outcome. However negative interpretations of imagery explained additional variance in pain disability. Intrusive imagery was interpreted negatively, experienced as moderately distressing, and was associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression and health anxiety.

Conclusions

Experiencing intrusive imagery about pain is common, but its presence or absence appears to have no direct relationship on pain intensity or disability. The relationship is likely to be more complex, warranting further investigation. Negative interpretations of imagery represent a potential treatment target amenable to intervention.
Quickest Detection of Ecological Regimes for Natural Resource Management
Authors: Deopa Neha , Rinaldo Daniele
Published: April 2024

We study the stochastic dynamics of natural resources under the threat of ecological regime shifts. We establish a Pareto optimal framework of regime shift detection under uncertainty that minimizes the delay with which economic agents become aware of the shift. We integrate ecosystem surveillance in the formation of optimal resource extraction policies. We fully solve the case of a profit-maximizing monopolist, study its response to regime shift detection and show the generality of our framework by extending our results to other decision makers and functional forms. We apply our framework to the case of the Cantareira water reservoir in São Paulo, Brazil, and study the events that led to its depletion and the consequent water supply crisis.
A study on the improvement of bicycle transportation in Sivas city using hybrid multi-criteria model based network analysis
Authors: Güldü Elif , Kuşçu Şimşek Çağdaş , Selim Serdar
Published: April 2024

The bicycle stands out as a sustainability-friendly vehicle due to its benefits for health, the environment, and the economy. However, the deficiencies and inadequacies in the cycling infrastructure prevent a safe and comfortable riding environment, in addition to indirectly preventing the widespread use of bicycles. This study aims to integrate a few disconnected bicycle routes in a city and create a bicycle road network that will allow the efficient use of bicycles in the urban area by using a Hybrid Multi-Criteria Model-Based Network Analysis. In the study, considering the physical, social, and visual criteria that should be used when determining bicycle paths, the suitability weight of each road line for bicycle transportation was determined. In this step, the bicycle path network was created using the weighted roads between the important points of the city in terms of tourism, trade, education, health, culture, transportation, and recreation areas. The most suitable bicycle routes were generated by network analysis considering the weighted roads that were determined by a model hybridized with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and analytic network process (ANP) methods and minimum distances. When the eligibility checks of the obtained routes were made, it was determined that while 99.7% of the roads passed through moderately suitable, suitable, and very suitable roads, only 0.3% of the new routes passed through unsuitable roads. The findings revealed that both efficient and less costly bicycle lines can be created using the proposed method.
Climbing the ivory tower: agency, reflexivity and the career pathways of care-experienced academics in higher education
Authors: Harrison Neil , Benham-Clarke Simon
Published: April 2024

There has been increasing interest in understanding the higher education experiences of students who spent time ‘in care’ as children, who tend to have to overcome strong barriers to educational success. Care-experienced students often thrive in higher education, although little is currently known about those who build on this success to pursue their own academic career. This study sought to explore the educational trajectories and working lives of care-experienced academics in the UK for the first time. We used an online survey to identify potential interview participants, leading to 21 semi-structured online interviews. This article reports the findings from five of the eight themes developed through thematic analysis, focusing primarily on the diverse pathways into and through academic careers. We used Archer’s concepts of reflexivity and the ‘internal conversation’ to explore agency, enablements and constraints. Most participants highlighted the disrupted nature of their schooling, although school was a place of safety and success for some. Pathways into higher education were heterogeneous, including a group who had used their ‘expertise through experience’ to forge academic careers in disciplines like social work and psychology. Career precarity was common and particularly challenging without family ‘safety nets’. Our participants tended to show high levels of self-reliance and/or willingness to seek help, coupled with a scepticism around long-term planning. We argue that these factors are shaped by early lives and lead to specific forms of reflexivity, concluding that universities need to recognise care experience as a status deserving of additional career support.
The Unconscious in Husserl’s Phenomenology
Authors: Geniusas Saulius
Published: April 2024

Although Husserl’s analyses of the unconscious are scattered throughout various writings, many of which have been published in Hua III/2, Hua VI, Hua X, Hua XI, Hua XV, Hua XVII, Hua XXXIX and Experience and Judgment, nowhere else has he addressed the unconscious in such fascinating detail as in the manuscripts collected in Hua XLII. The publication of this volume has made it patently clear that the unconscious has many meanings in Husserl. A clarification of the different ways in which Husserl has spoken of the unconscious is still missing in the literature and it is much needed. With the aim of developing a taxonomy of the unconscious in Husserl, here I trace the different meanings Husserl has given to this concept and I argue that in his phenomenology, the unconscious can be understood at least in seven ways: as the horizonal unconscious, the time-constituting unconscious, the sedimented unconscious, the repressed unconscious, the absorbed unconscious, the dormant unconscious, and the instinctual unconscious. Besides articulating the essential features of each determination, I also clarify what they all share. With the aim of showing what is distinctive of Husserl’s approach to the unconscious, I offer some reflections on what differentiates Husserl’s phenomenology of the unconscious vis-à-vis Freud’s psychoanalysis. In general, I maintain that while it is a limit problem in phenomenology, the unconscious should also be considered a central phenomenological theme, for as Husserl’s reflections show, without offering a phenomenology of the unconscious, phenomenology can only operate with a preliminary and insufficient conception of consciousness.
Breeding waterbird species as ecological indicators of shifts from turbid to clear water conditions in northwest European shallow eutrophic lakes
Authors: Fox Anthony D. , Jørgensen Hans E. , Jeppesen Erik , Lauridsen Torben L. , Søndergaard Martin , Fugl Karsten , Myssen Palle P. , Balsby Thorsten J. S. , Clausen Preben , Musil Petr , Musilová Zuzana
Published: April 2024

We used biological and physical responses at 71 shallow waterbodies with contrasting nutrient levels undergoing recovery from eutrophication to predict potential changes in waterbird species abundance, an important component of lake ecosystems. These general predictions were tested using 28 years of breeding waterbird data from three Danish shallow eutrophic lakes, comparing species-specific responses to improved nutrient and water transparency in two lakes with a third where conditions remained constantly suitable for breeding waterbirds. We predicted positive responses to improved water quality from pursuit diving predators (three grebe species), a specialist zooplankton feeder (northern shoveler Anas clypeata) and waterbirds feeding on (common pochard Aythya ferina) or within (tufted duck A. fuligula) submerged macrophyte underwater canopies. These species were characterised by positive waterbird community composition changes (using Principal Components Analysis) associated with decreasing nutrient loading and increasing water transparency at two lakes, with no change in breeding waterbird community at the third. Secchi depth explained 73–95% of variance in both PC axes at both restored lakes, but not at the third, suggesting water transparency was the major factor driving waterbird community composition. These examples show predicting waterbird species-specific responses to management can usefully direct the use of breeding waterbirds as indicator species.
Doomed to fail? A call to reform global climate governance and greenhouse gas inventories
Authors: Herman Kyle S.
Published: April 2024

Commitments to emissions reductions following the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement have proliferated. Though it is promising that 145 countries have declared a net-zero emissions target, with 33 enshrining this goal into law, comparison of country-level emissions inventories can only be effectively carried out with uniform and consistent data. The extent to which greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory comparison is possible, and the ancillary climate governance implications, are the motivation for this article. Based on time-series correlation analyses over 32 years and 43 Annex-I countries, we uncover issues that are likely to inveigh against country-country comparison of GHGs—with the potential to weaken climate governance systems that are based mainly on emissions inventory tracking. First, the Global Warming Potentials (GWPs)—which convert each respective GHG into carbon equivalents (CO2-e), and are revised with each IPCC report—are not immediately or consistently integrated into GHG inventories. Second, GHGs apart from carbon dioxide, based on the data analysis, do not appear to be tracked uniformly. Should comparison of emissions remain a cornerstone of global climate governance, an overhaul of country-level GHG inventories is called for, specifically to enable effective reporting and tracking of GHGs apart from only carbon dioxide.
The Influence of Employment Quality on Employee Health Complaints: A Parallel Mediation Model
Authors: Davcheva Marija , González-Romá Vicente , Hernández Ana , Tomás Inés
Published: April 2024

Employment quality is a social determinant of employee health. However, little is known about the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship. In this study, we investigated whether work engagement and affective job insecurity mediated the relationship between three employment quality indicators: type of contract (0. temporary vs. 1. permanent), employment relationship (0. part-time vs. 1. full-time), and salary, on the one hand, and employee health complaints, on the other. We implemented a time-lagged design with three time points. Our sample was composed of 247 employees. The data analysis using Structural Equation Modelling methods showed statistically significant negative indirect effects of the job contract type and salary on employee health complaints via the two mediators investigated in the case of salary and via affective job insecurity in the case of job contract type. Our study contributes to understanding why some employment quality indicators are related to employee health complaints. It also highlights that promoting high quality employment arrangements is not only a way to create engaging and secure jobs, but also an avenue leading towards employees’ health.
A Boundary Control Problem for Stochastic 2D-Navier–Stokes Equations
Authors: Chemetov Nikolai , Cipriano Fernanda
Published: April 2024

We study a stochastic velocity tracking problem for the 2D-Navier–Stokes equations perturbed by a multiplicative Gaussian noise. From a physical point of view, the control acts through a boundary injection/suction device with uncertainty, modeled by stochastic non-homogeneous Navier-slip boundary conditions. We show the existence and uniqueness of the solution to the state equation, and prove the existence of an optimal solution to the control problem.
Measuring ecological connectivity with ecological distance and dynamic resistant kernels
Authors: Zeller Katherine A. , Compton Bradley W. , P. Finn Sean , Palm Eric C.
Published: April 2024

Context

Species-agnostic connectivity models are often used to inform management over broad spatial scales. The four main approaches to species-agnostic models parameterize resistance to movement based on naturalness, structural features, climate, or geodiversity variables. Though all four of these factors simultaneously affect species movement and flow of ecological processes, they are rarely combined.

Objectives

We built upon an approach that uses all four of these factors to model current and future ecological connectivity for the Crown of the Continent Ecoregion, in Canada and the USA.

Methods

We estimated resistance for each pixel on the landscape based on multivariate ecological distances to surrounding pixels. We then modeled connectivity with resistant kernels at different scales, and dynamically in response to future climates from 2020 to 2080.

Results

Across the study area, we found median connectivity values decreased by 17–50% from 2020 to 2080 depending on the scale, with broader scales experiencing greater losses in connectivity. Though often considered natural conduits for movement, stream and valley bottoms generally lost connectivity through time. Wilderness areas had significantly higher connectivity values than unprotected lands for all time steps and scales, indicating their importance for maintaining future connectivity of ecological processes.

Conclusions

We offer an updated approach for species-agnostic connectivity modeling that combines naturalness, structural features, and topo-climatic layers while considering multiple scales of ecological processes over a large spatial extent and dynamism through time. This approach can be applied to other landscapes to produce products for short- and long-term management of connectivity and ecological resilience.
Cut-and-paste for impulsive gravitational waves with $$\Lambda $$: the mathematical analysis
Authors: Sämann Clemens , Schinnerl Benedict , Steinbauer Roland , Švarc Robert
Published: April 2024

Impulsive gravitational waves are theoretical models of short but violent bursts of gravitational radiation. They are commonly described by two distinct spacetime metrics, one of local Lipschitz regularity and the other one even distributional. These two metrics are thought to be ‘physically equivalent’ since they can be formally related by a ‘discontinuous coordinate transformation’. In this paper we provide a mathematical analysis of this issue for the entire class of nonexpanding impulsive gravitational waves propagating in a background spacetime of constant curvature. We devise a natural geometric regularisation procedure to show that the notorious change of variables arises as the distributional limit of a family of smooth coordinate transformations. In other words, we establish that both spacetimes arise as distributional limits of a smooth sandwich wave taken in different coordinate systems which are diffeomorphically related.
Effects of a nonlocal microstructure on peeling of thin films
Authors: Cavuoto Riccardo , Deseri Luca , Fraldi Massimiliano
Published: April 2024

In this work, starting from an approach previously proposed by the Authors, we put forward an extension to the large deformation regime of the dimensionally-reduced formulation for peridynamic thin plates, including both hyperelasticity and fracture. In particular, the model, validated against numerical simulations, addresses the problem of the peeling in nonlocal thin films, which when attached to a soft substrate highlights how nonlocality of the peeled-off layer might greatly influence the whole structural response and induce some unforeseen mechanical behaviours that could be useful for engineering applications. Through a key benchmark example, we in fact demonstrate that de-localization of damage and less destructive failure modes take place, these effects suggesting the possibility of ad hoc conceiving specific networks of nonlocal interactions between material particles, corresponding to lattice-equivalent structure of the nonlocal model treated, of interest in designing new material systems and interfaces with enhanced toughness and adhesive properties.
Design and synthesis of new quinazolinone derivatives: investigation of antimicrobial and biofilm inhibition effects
Authors: Hassan Rasha Mohamed , Yehia Heba , El-Behairy Mohammed F. , El-Azzouny Aida Abdel-Sattar , Aboul-Enein Mohamed Nabil
Published: April 2024

New quinazolin-4-ones 9–32 were synthesized in an attempt to overcome the life-threatening antibiotic resistance phenomenon. The antimicrobial screening revealed that compounds 9, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 29 are the most broad spectrum antimicrobial agents in this study with safe profile on human cell lines. Additionally, compounds 19 and 20 inhibited biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is regulated by quorum sensing system, at sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) with IC50 values 3.55 and 6.86 µM, respectively. By assessing other pseudomonal virulence factors suppression, it was found that compound 20 decreased cell surface hydrophobicity compromising bacterial cells adhesion, while both compounds 19 and 20 curtailed the exopolysaccharide production which constitutes the major component of the matrix binding biofilm components together. Also, at sub-MICs Pseudomonas cells twitching motility was impeded by compounds 19 and 20, a trait which augments the cells pathogenicity and invasion potential. Molecular docking study was performed to further evaluate the binding mode of candidates 19 and 20 as inhibitors of P. aeruginosa quorum sensing transcriptional regulator PqsR. The achieved results demonstrate that both compounds bear promising potential for discovering new anti-biofilm and quorum quenching agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa without triggering resistance mechanisms as the normal bacterial life cycle is not disturbed.

Graphical abstract

New 4-quinazolinones were synthesized and screened for their antimicrobial activity. Compounds 19 and 20 inhibited biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa at sub- minimum inhibitory concentrations. Also, they decreased other virulence factors at low concentrations without affecting bacterial growth bacteria indicating their promising profile as anti-virulence agents that cause less bacterial resistance than the conventional antibiotics.
An integrated enhancement method to improve image visibility and remove color cast for sand-dust image
Authors: Hassan Mohd Fikree , Siaw Lang Wong , Paramesran Raveendran
Published: April 2024

Sand-dust color images suffer from poor image visibility and serious color cast that significantly affect the performance of outdoor computer vision systems. Therefore, this paper proposes an integrated enhancement method for the sand-dust image. The proposed method improves the image visibility and removes the sand-dust color cast. It integrates two main processes in two different color models. The adaptive gray world-blue channel (AGW-B) is utilized in the Red-Green-Blue (RGB) color model to remove the sand-dust color cast. Then, the contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization with normalized intensity and saturation correction (CLAHE-NISC) is conducted in a Hue-Saturation-Intensity (HSI) color model to enhance the image visibility. Sand-dust images with weak, medium, and extreme sand-dust color casts were utilized in the subjective and objective evaluations. Results show that the proposed method produced better and clearer enhanced images than the other four current sand-dust image enhancement methods.