bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agroforestry Distribution and Contributions in Ancient Hawaiian Agriculture
Authors: Lincoln Noa Kekuewa , Lee Tiffany M. , Quintus Seth , Haensel Thomas P. , Chen Qi
Published: January 2024

Agriculture is one of the most fundamental ways in which human societies interact with the environment. The form and function of agriculture have important socio-political implications in terms of yields, labor requirements, variability and resilience, and elite control. Hawai‘i has been used as a model system for the discussion of coupled human and natural systems, and how the uneven distribution of agricultural opportunities has manifested in the political ecology. However, consideration of agriculture has emphasized forms with physical infrastructure documented through archaeology and have not included arboricultural forms that were extensive among Pacific Islands. We leverage existing, independent data sets to build and validate spatial models of two intensities of arboriculture across the Hawaiian archipelago: Agroforestry and Novel Forest. Model validation demonstrates good accuracy that includes both expected and unexpected sources of errors. Results of the models demonstrate that arboricultural techniques accounted for ~70% of the agricultural potential by area and ~40% of the agricultural potential by yield. Unlike existing agricultural forms modeled, such as flooded wetland terrace cultivation and rainfed field production, which have strong distributional patterns based on the age of the islands, arboricultural potential is well distributed across all the islands. The extent, distribution, and characteristics of arboricultural methods provide important augmentation of the current narrative of production dynamics and distribution, and the political ecology, of pre-contact Hawai‘i.
Quality of Life in Hungarian Parents of Autistic Individuals
Authors: Volgyesi-Molnar Marta , Gyori Miklos , Eapen Valsamma , Borsos Zsofia , Havasi Agnes , Jakab Zoltan , Janoch Laszlone , Nemeth Vivien , Oszi Tamasne , Szekeres Agota , Stefanik Krisztina
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Parents of autistic individuals have been known to have a lower overall quality of life (QQL) than those of typically developing children. We present the first Hungarian large-sample study whose objective was to explore the differences in QOL between parents of autistic individuals (AS) and those of neurotypical (NT) persons.

Methods

Based on the ABCX model we developed a questionnaire comprising standardized scales to characterize the life of parents involved. Our data came from parents of 842 individuals (ASD = 521, NT = 321) between 0 and 49 years. Battery deployed standardized instruments to examine quality of life (WHO-QQL BREF and Quality of Life in Autism questionnaire, QOLA). We assessed the families’ socio-economic/demographic characteristics, parents’ psychological well-being, the autistic/neurotypical individuals’ characteristics, and the interventions.

Results

Our data showed significantly lower QOL in parents of autistic individuals in all domains of questionnaires. We analyzed 20 relevant factors to uncover the predictors of parental QOL. We confirmed the existence of most but not all predictors present in earlier literature and identified intervention-related predictors.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the importance of supporting parents in their role, and of providing health and social supports that focus on quality of life, in addition to child care.
Washing machine ownership and girls' school attendance: a cross-sectional analysis of adolescents in 19 middle-income countries
Authors: Karlsson Omar , De Neve Jan-Walter
Published: January 2024

Excessive work among adolescents may compromise educational development. Without home appliances, household work can take over 50 h a week and an additional 30 h when an infant is present. School-aged girls are often tasked with doing laundry, which is time-consuming and inflexible without a washing machine. We determined the association between washing machine ownership and school attendance among adolescents ages 10–19 years in 19 middle-income countries between 2000 and 2021 (N = 1,622,514). We controlled for socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, all neighborhood-level factors, and examined differences by sex, age, household wealth, and period. No relationship between washing machine ownership and school attendance was found in most countries: However, there was a substantial association for girls in Türkiye and a small to moderate association for girls in Egypt and Albania. In Türkiye, for example, girls living in households with a washing machine had 28% (95% CI 19, 37) greater school attendance compared to girls living in households which did not. No association was observed for boys. The results suggest that household ownership of a washing machine does generally not improve school attendance among girls, except possibly in specific contexts.
Different energy storage techniques: recent advancements, applications, limitations, and efficient utilization of sustainable energy
Authors: Kumar Raj , Lee Daeho , Ağbulut Ümit , Kumar Sushil , Thapa Sashank , Thakur Abhishek , Jilte R. D. , Saleel C. Ahamed , Shaik Saboor
Published: January 2024

In order to fulfill consumer demand, energy storage may provide flexible electricity generation and delivery. By 2030, the amount of energy storage needed will quadruple what it is today, necessitating the use of very specialized equipment and systems. Energy storage is a technology that stores energy for use in power generation, heating, and cooling applications at a later time using various methods and storage mediums. Through the storage of excess energy and subsequent usage when needed, energy storage technologies can assist in maintaining a balance between generation and demand. Energy storage technologies are anticipated to play a significant role in electricity generation in future grids, working in conjunction with distributed generation resources. The use of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, marine, geothermal, and biomass, is expanding quickly across the globe. The primary methods of storing energy include hydro, mechanical, electrochemical, and magnetic systems. Thermal energy storage, electric energy storage, pumped hydroelectric storage, biological energy storage, compressed air system, super electrical magnetic energy storage, and photonic energy conversion systems are the main topics of this study, which also examines various energy storage materials and their methodologies. In the present work, the concepts of various energy storage techniques and the computation of storage capacities are discussed. Energy storage materials are essential for the utilization of renewable energy sources and play a major part in the economical, clean, and adaptable usage of energy. As a result, a broad variety of materials are used in energy storage, and they have been the focus of intense research and development as well as industrialization. This review article discusses the recent developments in energy storage techniques such as thermal, mechanical, electrical, biological, and chemical energy storage in terms of their utilization. The focus of the study has an emphasis on the solar-energy storage system, which is future of the energy technology. It has been found that with the current storage technology, the efficiency of the various solar collectors was found to be increased by 37% compared with conventional solar thermal collectors. This work will guide the researchers in making their decisions while considering the qualities, benefits, restrictions, costs, and environmental factors. As a result, the findings of this review study may be very beneficial to many different energy sector stakeholders.
Apple pest and pathogen reduction in landscapes with large patch size and small area of orchards: a national-scale analysis
Authors: Etienne Lucas , Franck Pierre , Rusch Adrien , Lavigne Claire
Published: January 2024

Context

The composition and configuration of habitats in agricultural landscapes may determine crop damage resulting from pests or pathogens either by directly affecting their population dynamics or through indirect effects on their natural enemies.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of landscape composition and configuration on the occurrence and damage caused by the codling moth and apple scab in apple orchards.

Methods

Using monitoring data at the French national scale, we examined how the proportion of landscape area grown with orchards, the mean patch area of orchards, the share of organic orchards and the proportion of woodlands and grasslands affected the occurrence and damage of these two pests from 2015 to 2019 in approximately sixty apple orchards each year.

Results

Landscapes with a higher proportion of orchards supported a higher occurrence of apple scab and earlier colonisation of codling moths. In addition, we found that codling moth damage decreased with increasing orchard patch area in the landscape. The proportion of seminatural habitats or organic farming in the landscape never significantly explained pest occurrence or damage.

Conclusions

Our results clearly highlight the importance of considering the amount and spatial arrangement of the pests’ and pathogens’ host crops to understand their infestation levels. Our study calls for the territorial management of orchard distribution to limit pesticide use in apple orchards.
On the stability of elastic structures subjected to follower forces
Authors: Levi F. , Carini A.
Published: January 2024

Within the framework of a second-order theory, this study revisits classical stability problems characterized by critical loads associated with dynamic instability, previously explored by Feriani and Carini (in: Zingoni (ed) Insights and innovations in structural engineering, mechanics and computation, 2016) . The primary focus remains on systems exclusively comprising a single lumped mass. This simplification, together with the assumption of a negligible axial strain and the adoption of a second-order theory, reduces the analysed systems to problems featuring a single Lagrangian coordinate. Consequently, static methods become applicable, facilitating the derivation of analytical expressions for stiffness coefficients and enabling an investigation into dynamic stability. The study begins by examining a well-established case: a cantilever beam with a lumped mass positioned at its free end, subjected to a follower load, as presented in Panovko and Gubanova (Stability and oscillations of elastic systems: models, paradoxes and errors, Nunka Press, Moscow, 1967). In this current work, a novel lumped mass system is explored. The system consists of a straight-axis beam characterized by a constant cross-section area and stiffness. The distributed mass of the beam is neglected and the beam is hinged at one end, simply supported at an intermediate point, and left free at the other end, where a lumped mass is introduced. Various loading scenarios are scrutinized, including: (a) The application of a follower force to the free end; (b) The imposition of two forces—one conservative and one follower—both applied to the free end; and (c) The application of a uniformly distributed follower force along the length of the beam. As seen in the examples introduced in Feriani and Carini (2016), the new examples considered in the present paper reveal that the first asymptote of the stiffness coefficient corresponds to the critical load. This critical load corresponds to the phenomenon known as divergence at infinity, as described by Felippa (Nonlinear finite element methods, 2014). It is also confirmed that, in all cases, the first dynamical critical load equals the minimum value between the static buckling load of the original structure and the static buckling load of an auxiliary structure. This last differs from the original one because the concentrated mass is replaced by a constraint fixing the corresponding Lagrangian coordinate.
Desmosterol-driven atypical macrophage polarization regulates podocyte dynamics in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Qi Huiying
Published: January 2024

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) stands as a leading diabetes complication, with macrophages intricately involved in its evolution. While glucose metabolism’s impact on macrophage activity is well-established, cholesterol metabolism’s contributions remain less explored. Our study seeks to elucidate this association.

Methods and results

Methods and Results: Gene expression analysis of monocytes from the blood of both normal and diabetic patients was conducted using public databases, showing that cholesterol metabolism pathways, especially Bloch and Kandutsch-Russell, were more altered in diabetic monocytes/macrophages than glucose-responsive pathways. When bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were subjected to desmosterol, they exhibited an unconventional polarization. These BMDMs displayed heightened levels of both M1-related pro-inflammatory cytokines and M2-linked anti-inflammatory factors. Further, in co-culture, desmosterol-conditioned BMDMs paralleled M2 macrophages in augmenting Ki-67 + podocyte populations while mimicking M1 macrophages in elevating TUNEL + apoptotic podocytes. Comparable outcomes on podocytes were obtained using conditioned media from the respective BMDMs.

Conclusions

Our data underscores the pivotal role of cholesterol metabolism, particularly via desmosterol, in steering macrophages toward an unconventional polarization marked by both inflammatory and regulatory traits. Such unique macrophage behavior concurrently impacts podocyte proliferation and apoptosis, shedding fresh light on DN pathogenesis and hinting at potential therapeutic interventions.
Design of a 1D PhC biosensor with enhanced sensitivity based on useful features provided for the detection of waterborne bacteria
Authors: Mohamed Asmaa M. , Sabra Walied , Mobarak M. , Shalaby A. S. , Aly Arafa H.
Published: January 2024

In this article, we propose a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1D-PhC) biosensor design to detect water-borne bacteria such as Shigella, Vibrio cholera, Salmonella, and E. coli. The theoretical reflectance spectrum of a 1D-PhC and the sensitivity of types of bacteria such as Shigella flexneri, Salmonella, E. coli, and Vibrios cholera are investigated by using the transfer matrix method and MATLAB software. The impact of incident angle and central wavelength on the performance and sensitivity of biosensors are studied. The suggested sensor's sensing process is dependent on variations in the refractive indices of different species of bacteria. The variation in the central wavelength, angle of incidence, the sensitivity of the proposed structure, and other parameters such as full width at half maximum, quality factor, damping ratio, and detection limit can be enhanced. The obtained average sensitivity of our design has a value of 4073 nm/RIU at optimum conditions of defect layer thickness and incident angle. Also, the proposed biosensor design exhibits a high quality factor value of 10996.2165 and a low detection limit value of $$0.44607 \times \,10^{ - 5}$$

0.44607
×

10

-
5

RIU.
Optimization of high power AlGaInP laser diodes at 626 nm
Authors: Mauerhoff F. , Wenzel H. , Maaßdorf A. , Martin D. , Paschke K. , Tränkle G.
Published: January 2024

The rapid advancement of $$^{9}\hbox {Be}^{+}$$

9

Be
+

 ion-based quantum computing is creating a high demand for scalable and specialized laser sources. For this purpose, laser radiation at 313 nm is necessary which is generated by frequency doubling of 626 nm laser emission. Laser sources in this spectral region lack simplicity and need to be miniaturized. We carry out a systematic improvement of room temperature semiconductor laser structures emitting at 626 nm. They are based on a GaInP single quantum well embedded in AlGaInP grown on GaAs. We first investigate the structure theoretically and determine its limits and optima. We select the three most promising quantum well combinations, which are grown by metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy. Furthermore, we fabricate broad-area lasers with dimensions of 1600 $$\upmu$$
μ
m $$\times$$
×
100 $$\upmu$$
μ
m. All structures show laser operation around 626 nm. We are able to achieve a threshold current density of 721 A/cm2, a slope of 0.384 mW/mA and total maximum output power of 708 mW under pulsed excitation. Based on these results, we believe that quantum computing focusing on beryllium ions will highly benefit from these results.
On the Van der Waals model on granular matters with truncated M-fractional derivative
Authors: Li Wuzhuang , Rezazadeh Hadi , Sabi’u Jamilu , Akinyemi Lanre , Inc Mustafa
Published: January 2024

In this work, exact solutions of the Van der Waals model (vdWm) are investigated with a new algebraic analytical method. The closed-form analysis of the vdW equation arising in the context of the fluidized granular matter is implemented under the effect of time-fractional M-derivative. The vdWm is a challenging problem in the modelling of molecules and materials. Noncovalent Van der Waals or dispersion forces are frequent and have an impact on the structure, dynamics, stability, and function of molecules and materials in biology, chemistry, materials science and physics. The auxiliary equation which is known as a direct analytical method is constructed for the nonlinear fractional equation. The process includes a transformation based on Weierstrass and Jacobi elliptic functions. Wave solutions of the model are analytically verified for the various cases. Then, graphical patterns are presented to show the physical explanation of the model interactions. The achieved solutions will be of high significance in the interaction of quantum-mechanical fluctuations, granular matter and other areas of vdWm applications.
Distinct wave profiles relating to a coupled of Schrödinger equations depicting the modes in optics
Authors: Islam Md. Tarikul , Sarkar Setu , Alsaud Huda , Inc Mustafa
Published: January 2024

Diverse aspects of real-world problems are portrayed through nonlinear Schrodinger equations. This exploration considers a pair of fractional order Schrodinger equations describing important nonlinear instability phenomena which are related to heat pulse, quantum condensates, nonlinear acoustics, hydrodynamics, and nonlinear optics. The improved auxiliary equation and improved tanh schemes are imposed on the governing model which generate a bulk of innovative accurate wave solutions. Plenty of wave solutions achieved in this study could be utilized to characterize the interior mechanisms of intricate phenomena relating to the considered nonlinear models. Some of the solutions are selected to figure out in the sense of contours, 3D and 2D outlines after assigning suitable values to the involved free parameters. The directed techniques are employed to explore appropriate wave solutions of the above-stated nonlinear model for the first time ensuring the unique solutions rather than the results in earlier studies. This present work highlights the competency of used methods celebrating huge appropriate wave solutions of suggested complex nonlinear models and gives a guideline for related future research.
A closer look to the factors affecting the switching transient times of optocouplers
Authors: Hassan Warda H. A. , Kamh Sanaa A. , Soliman Fouad A. S. , Abd El-Basit Wafaa
Published: January 2024

The significant parameters for a high-speed optoelectronic switch were the transient times. In the time domain, there is a time elapsed on the order of microseconds between applying a current pulse and seeing an output. Therefore, the present work aimed to give a closer look on the factors affecting the transient times of the optocoupler switching action, namely; delay (td)-, rise (tr)-, in addition to storage (ts)- and fall (tf)-times. The turn-on time (Ton = td + tr) and turn-off time (Toff = ts + tf) of the optocoupler (type 4N25) were investigated and plotted under the influence of different operating conditions such as: load resistance (RL), forward LED drive current (IF), bias collector voltage (VCC), emitter–base resistance (RBE), and ambient temperature.
Taught rules: Instruction and the evolution of norms
Authors: Martinez Camilo
Published: January 2024

Why do we have social norms—of fairness, cooperation, trust, property, or gender? Modern-day Humeans, as I call them, believe these norms are best accounted for in cultural evolutionary terms, as adaptive solutions to recurrent problems of social interaction. In this paper, I discuss a challenge to this “Humean Program.” Social norms involve widespread behaviors, but also distinctive psychological attitudes and dispositions. According to the challenge, Humean accounts of norms leave their psychological side unexplained. They explain, say, why we share equally, but not why we disapprove of those who don’t. I defend the Humean Program against this challenge. In particular, I suggest an idea for how to extend the Program to account for the psychological side of norms. Socially adaptive behaviors aren’t just likely to emerge in a group; They are also likely to be widely taught within it. The transmission of these behaviors through instruction explains why they are associated with distinctive normative attitudes and dispositions. These attitudes play a pedagogical role in helping transmit these behaviors to children and newcomers.
Scale matters: unravelling the impact of Likert scales on political self-placement
Authors: Aybar Cristina , Pérez Virgilio , Pavía Jose M.
Published: January 2024

Worldwide, Likert scales are used to measure ideology of both public opinion and individual voters, with the utilization of a self-assessment numerical scale as the most widely accepted tool, despite the multifaceted nature of the concept. However, in contrast to this prevailing consensus, there is a lack of agreement regarding what particular scale should be used and about the benefits of the different scales. This paper seeks to provide insights into these questions by analysing Spanish public opinion ideology as measured by CIS surveys. In 1976, the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS), a leading public body for studies of Spanish society, defined the ideological self-placement scale as being from 1 to 10. Since then, a myriad of different scales has been applied by CIS in more than 1400 surveys (over 3.5 million interviews). In total, we identify 20 scales in studies with available microdata, with the number rising to 28 when all the CIS studies carried out are included. This research identifies which scale is used in each study and analyses whether this has an effect on the estimation of the ideological distribution of the population. After studying, from an empirical perspective, the relationship structures between the different scales, we conclude that the scale used does have an effect. We finish the paper by offering clear guidelines on how questionnaires related to ideology should be asked.
Does Interference Between Intuitive Conceptions and Scientific Concepts Produce Reliable Inter-individual Differences? A Psychometric Analysis
Authors: Edelsbrunner Peter A.
Published: January 2024

Statement-verification studies indicate the coexistence of intuitive conceptions and scientific concepts within learners. The underlying assumption is that the intuitive conceptions typically built in childhood never disappear, but are co-activated with scientific concepts when we face relevant situations. This is visible in increased reaction times and error rates when confronting statements for which intuitive conceptions and scientific concepts disagree. Studies that have tried to relate individual differences in this phenomenon to other variables such as inhibition have yielded inconclusive results. In the present study, we examine the structure of individual differences in the statement-verification paradigm by Shtulman and Valcarcel (2012). Using factor analytic model comparisons, we find that there is little stable variation in individuals’ increases of reaction times and error rates across items covering scientific concepts from different domains, as well as across topics within domains. This finding suggests that a reason for inconsistent findings is the absence of stable individual differences in statement-verification tasks. One explanation for this finding is that the answer process draws more strongly on variable cognitive resources (e.g., content knowledge) than on more stable resources (e.g., inhibition ability). The occurrence and handling of interference between intuitive conceptions and scientific concepts appear to be driven by contextual factors rather than by stable cognitive processes. We discuss alternative explanations for the lack of reliable individual differences and implications for theories and the statistical modeling of cognitive pluralism.
Interactive effects of dietary protein and nano-chitosan on growth performance, immune response, and histological aspects of lymphoid organs in broiler chickens
Authors: Mansour A.H. , Rabie M.H. , El-Said Eman A. , Abo El-Maaty Hayam M.
Published: January 2024

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of partial replacement of dietary soybean meal by three plant protein sources: coconut, rocket seed, and black cumin meals with their combination in the presence or absence of nano-chitosan (NCH) on growth performance and immune response in broiler chickens. Five starter and grower diets were formulated and used from 1 to 42 days of age. The NCH was added to starter and grower diets at 1.0 g/kg. Five-hundred-fifty-day-old Arbor Acres Plus broiler chicks were randomly divided into ten treatments with five equal replications. Final body weight (FBW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and blood plasma parameters were investigated. Histological aspects of lymphoid organs (thymus: T, bursa of Fabricius: B, and spleen: S) were characterized. Apart from added NCH, the FBW, BWG, and FCR of broilers fed the diets containing the tested plant proteins were significantly superior to the control ones. However, FI of birds fed the diets containing CM alone or combined with RSM plus BCM was significantly reduced. All experimental broilers displayed high plasma levels of IgG compared with the control group. There were significant increases in plasma concentrations of IgM, IgA, and T4 for groups that fed the diets containing RSM, BCM, and mixture of CM, RSM, and BCM compared with their controls. The T3 levels of broilers fed the tested plant proteins were significantly increased compared with the controls. Aside from plant protein source, broilers fed the NCH-enriched diets achieved significant increases in levels of IgM, TAC, and FSH and activities of CAT and SOD but reduced the MDA level compared with control. The interactions between plant protein source and added nano-chitosan were not interrelated. Furthermore, CM, RSM, and BCM can be used as complementary dietary proteins singly or combined with NCH with no adverse effects on growth performance. Addition of NCH molecules has a positive effect on live body weight and increases feed intake compared with control chicks.

Graphical Abstract
Sustainable use of low-cost adsorbents prepared from waste fruit peels for the removal of selected reactive and basic dyes found in wastewaters
Authors: Tolkou Athanasia K. , Tsoutsa Eleftheria K. , Kyzas George Z. , Katsoyiannis Ioannis A.
Published: January 2024

Agricultural wastes are potential sustainable adsorbents since they are available in large quantities, are low-cost, and may require little or no treatment, in some cases. In this study, several fruit peels, such as banana, orange, and pomegranate, were collected from local markets and prepared by a simple and eco-friendly method and used as natural adsorbents for the removal of both anionic (Reactive Red 120 (RR120), Reactive Black 5 (RB5), Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR)) and cationic Methylene Blue (MB) dyes found in wastewaters. Many industries, such as leather and textiles, can release huge amounts of synthetic dyes into the wastewater during dyeing processes. These are one of the most important pollutants of water pollution as they cause enormous damage to the water body and also affect the health of organisms due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. The search for a sustainable and at the same time efficient material for the removal of a wide variety of dyes is the innovation of this work. These peels were prepared by washing, drying, grinding, and finally sieving, under natural sustainable conditions. Porosometry (BET analysis), FTIR, SEM/EDS, and XRD techniques were used to characterize the fruit peels before and after the adsorption process. Factors affecting the adsorption of dyes (adsorbent dosage, pH solution, initial concentration of dyes, contact time, and temperature) were investigated. According to the results, in terms of the effectiveness of fruit peels as (natural) adsorbent materials, for anionic dyes, 5.0–6.0 g/L of banana or orange dry peels was sufficient to remove near or even more than 90% anionic dyes at pH 2.0, and 4.0 g/L was sufficient to remove 98% of cationic MB dye at pH 9.0. Similar amount of pomegranate peels had lower efficiency for anionic dyes (50–70%), while cationic MB was still efficiently removed (98%) at pH 9.0. Moreover, the adsorption process in all cases was found to better fit to pseudo-second-order model, in comparison to pseudo-first-order model. According to isotherms, Freundlich model fitted better in some cases to the equilibrium data, while the Langmuir model in others. Finally, this study demonstrates the viability of reusing the banana, orange, and pomegranate peel adsorbents for eight, four, and five cycles, showing a gradual reduction of around 50% of their effectiveness.

Graphical Abstract
Positive Youth Development Approach: a Model Specific to Türkiye
Authors: Ataç Ömer , Yoruç Çotuk Müfide , Trejos-Castillo Elizabeth
Published: January 2024

Positive Youth Development (PYD) has received increasing attention among researchers worldwide and has played an important role in the creation of youth development strategies and policies across many countries. However, previous research in the field of PYD has suggested that separate studies should be conducted for each different context (especially culture). As a result, the need to determine the positive development indicators of young people in their own context has emerged. There is currently a lack of scientific research focused on developing adapting the PYD model specifically to the context of Türkiye. This study aims to test a PYD model applied to Turkish contexts by benefiting from the insights of experts working in the field of youth development. Using the Delphi Method, we determined the indicators/attributes in two consecutive stages with a panel of youth development experts (Stage 1: n = 715 and Stage 2: n = 334). In the first Delphi phase, we collected the responses of the participants (3,724 meaningful words, phrases, or sentences) with an open-ended question. In the second Delphi phase, we presented the 17 indicators/attributes we created through the data to the approval of the participants using a 5-point Likert scale. In the second phase, participants reached consensus on all 17 indicators/attributes (over 80% for 5 features and over 90% for 12 features). 56.2% of the participants chose morality, 40.4% the desire to learn, 30.8% responsibility, and 30.2% honesty as the most important indicators. All but two of the 17 indicators in the model (respect and awareness/consciousness) overlapped with one indicator of at least one of the current models in the literature. The findings showed that when determining developmental indicators/attributes for the PYD in Türkiye, the contexts in which young people live (especially culture) should be taken into account. In addition, the findings suggest that trying to adapt only one of the models developed in different contexts directly to young people in other contexts may cause other indicators that are seen as important and needed in their own contexts to be overlooked.
Air Pollution Reduces the Individuals’ Life Satisfaction Through Health Impairment
Authors: Abed Al Ahad Mary
Published: January 2024

The impact of air pollution on individuals’ happiness and life satisfaction (LS), and its relationship to other factors became the focus of recent research. Though, the underlying mechanism of how air pollution impacts LS remains unclear. In this study, we examined the direct and indirect effect of air pollution on individuals’ LS through health mediation. We used longitudinal individual-level data from “Understanding-Society: the UK Household-Longitudinal Study” on 59,492 individuals with 347,377 repeated responses across 11 years (2009–2019) that was linked to yearly concentrations of NO2, SO2, and particulate-matter (PM10, PM2.5) pollution. Generalized structural equation models with multilevel ordered-logistic regression were used to examine the direct effect of air pollution on LS and the indirect effect from health impairment. Higher concentrations of NO2 (coefficient = 0.009, 95%CI = 0.007,0.012, p < 0.001), SO2 (coefficient = 0.025, 95%CI = 0.017,0.034, p < 0.001), PM10 (coefficient = 0.019, 95%CI = 0.013,0.025, p < 0.001), and PM2.5 (coefficient = 0.025, 95%CI = 0.017,0.033, p < 0.001) pollutants were associated with poorer health, while poorer health was associated with reduced LS (coefficient = -0.605, 95%CI = -0.614,-0.595, p < 0.001). Mediation path analysis showed that air pollution impacted individuals’ LS directly and indirectly. The percent of total effect mediated through health was 44.03% for NO2, 73.95% for SO2, 49.88% for PM10, and 45.42% for PM2.5 and the ratio of indirect to direct effect was 0.79 for NO2, 2.84 for SO2, 0.99 for PM10, and 0.83 for PM2.5. Health plays a major mediating role in the relationship between air pollution and LS. To alleviate the impact of air pollution on LS, future strategies should focus on health promotion besides reducing air pollution emissions.
The Mediating Roles of Mindfulness in Marriage and Mindfulness in Parenting in the Relationship Between Parents’ Dispositional Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation of Their Children
Authors: Uygun Ezgi Güney , Erus Seher Merve
Published: January 2024

The fact that primary school is a pre-adolescent period makes it important in terms of regulating emotions. The beginning signals of adolescence occur during this period. It is clear that this challenging process of emotion regulation is linked to age and development, along with parental characteristics and the interactions of the child with the parent. It is believed that researching the variables that influence emotion regulation can help individuals maintain healthy social interactions throughout their journey from childhood to adulthood. In this context, parents’ mindfulness levels, which include both intrapersonal and interpersonal processes, play a crucial role in helping their children regulate their emotions. The current study aims to ascertain the serial mediating role of mindfulness in marriage and mindfulness in parenting in the relationship between parents’ dispositional mindfulness and the emotion regulation of their children aged 6–10. A total of 333 parents, all of whom were married and had children ranging from 6 to 10 years old, participated in the study. “Emotion Regulation Checklist”, “Mindfulness in Marriage Scale”, “Mindful Attention Awareness Scale” and “Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire” were used in the study. To determine the mediating role, the bootstrap method was used via structural equation modeling (SEM) to ascertain the mediating role. The SEM and bootstrap method revealed that there was a serial mediation effect between parents’ dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation of their children. This effect was attributed to mindfulness in marriage and mindfulness in parenting. Given that the primary school years are a critical developmental stage in improving emotion regulation skills, family-based interventions supporting parents’ mindfulness in three important areas (dispositional, marital, and parental) may help to improve the children’s capacity to regulate their emotions.
Post-operative KEloids iRradiation (POKER): does the surgery/high-dose interventional radiotherapy association make a winning hand?
Authors: Franzetti Jessica , Durante Stefano , Mastroleo Federico , Volpe Stefania , De Lorenzi Francesca , Rotondi Marco , Lorubbio Chiara , Vitullo Angelo , Frassoni Samuele , Bagnardi Vincenzo , Cambria Raffaella , Cattani Federica , Vavassori Andrea , Jereczek-Fossa Barbara Alicja
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To report the results involving post-operative interventional radiotherapy (POIRT) in a homogenous cohort of patients affected by keloid and treated at a single institution with the same fractionation schedule.

Patients and Methods

Inclusion criteria were: surgery with a histopathological diagnosis of keloid, subsequent high-dose rate interventional radiotherapy (HDR-IRT)—12 Gy in 4 fractions (3 Gy/fr) twice a day—and follow-up period ≥ 24 months.

Results

One-hundred and two patients and a total of 135 keloids were eligible for the analyses. Median follow-up was 64 [IQR: 25–103] months. Thirty-six (26.7%) recurrences were observed, 12-months and 36-months cumulative incidence of recurrence were 20.7% (95% CI 12.2–28.5) and 23.8% (95% CI 14.9–31.7) respectively. History of spontaneous keloids (HR = 7.00, 95% CI 2.79–17.6, p < 0.001), spontaneous cheloid as keloid cause (HR = 6.97, 95% CI 2.05–23.7, p = 0.002) and sternal (HR = 10.6, 95% CI 3.08–36.8, p < 0.001), ear (HR = 6.03, 95% CI 1.71–21.3, p = 0.005) or limb (HR = 18.8, 95% CI 5.14–68.7, p < 0.001) keloid sites were significantly associated to a higher risk of recurrence.

Conclusions

The findings support the use of surgery and POIRT as an effective strategy for controlling keloid relapses. Further studies should focus on determining the optimal Biologically Effective Dose and on establishing a scoring system for patient selection.
Leaders in the United Nations General Assembly: Revitalization or politicization?
Authors: Baturo Alexander , Gray Julia
Published: January 2024

How do leaders address the world in service of international cooperation, and do their messages enhance or detract from the global agenda? Leaders increasingly appear at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a deliberative forum meant for diplomacy, not politics. At the same time, the UNGA has long undergone revitalization efforts, and leaders’ contributions could potentially ensure more meaningful cooperation. Building on theories of leader communication, we argue that, in contrast to other country representatives, heads of state have more leeway to deviate from the assembly’s priorities; as politicians, they have incentives to discuss their own, more particularistic, topics. Drawing from novel data on leaders’ speeches in the UNGA, we use text analytics to show that leaders tend to depart from the policy agenda of the session. Furthermore, national political leaders speak more plainly, centering speech on themselves and departing from the general conventions of diplomatic debate. This suggests that, while leaders’ attendance potentially generates more publicity and visibility for the UNGA, their contributions may also undermine the general debate. Our findings shed light on the ways in which leaders can politicize mulitlateral cooperation, and we give evidence for the role of individuals in the vitality of international organizations.
Transferability of the robot assisted and laparoscopic suturing learning curves
Authors: Leijte E. , De Blaauw I. , Rosman C. , Botden S. M. B. I.
Published: January 2024

Robot assisted surgery (RAS) is increasingly used, and besides conventional minimally invasive surgery (cMIS) surgeons are challenged to learn an increased array of skills. This study aimed to assess the influence of both learning curves on each other. A prospective randomized crossover study was performed. Participants without cMIS or RAS experience (Groups 1 and 2), and cMIS experienced, (Group 3) were recruited. Three suturing tasks (intracorporal suturing, tilted plane and anastomosis needle transfer) were performed on the EoSim cMIS simulator or RobotiX RAS simulator up to twenty repetitions. Subsequently, Groups 1 and 2 performed the tasks on the other modality. Outcomes were simulator parameters, validated composite and pass/fail scores. In total forty-three participants were recruited. Overall RAS suturing was better in Group 1 (cMIS followed by RAS tasks) and 3 (RAS tasks) versus Group 2 (RAS followed by cMIS tasks) for time (163 s and 157 s versus 193 s p = 0.004, p = 0.001) and composite scores (92/100 and 91/100 versus 89/100 p = 0.008, p = 0.020). The cMIS suturing was better for Group 2 versus 1 (time 287 s versus 349 s p = 0.005, composite score 96/100 versus 94/100 p = 0.002). Significant differences from the RAS suturing pass/fail were reached earlier by Group 3, followed by Groups 1 and 2 (repetition six, nine and twelve). In cMIS suturing Group 2 reached significant differences from the pass/fail earlier than Group 1 (repetition four versus six). Transferability of skills was shown for cMIS and RAS, indicating that suturing experience on cMIS or RAS is beneficial in learning either approach.
The influence of the da Vinci surgical robot on electromagnetic tracking in a clinical environment
Authors: Aguilera Saiz L. , Groen H. C. , Heerink W. J. , Ruers T. J. M.
Published: January 2024

Robot-assisted surgery is increasingly used in surgery for cancer. Reduced overview and loss of anatomical orientation are challenges that might be solved with image-guided surgical navigation using electromagnetic tracking (EMT). However, the robot’s presence may distort the electromagnetic field, affecting EMT accuracy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the robot’s influence on EMT accuracy. For this purpose, two different electromagnetic field generators were used inside a clinical surgical environment: a table top field generator (TTFG) and a planar field generator (PFG). The position and orientation of sensors within the electromagnetic field were measured using an accurate in-house developed 3D board. Baseline accuracy was measured without the robot, followed by stepwise introduction of potential distortion sources (robot and robotic instruments). The absolute accuracy was determined within the entire 3D board and in the clinical working volume. For the baseline setup, median errors in the entire tracking volume within the 3D board were 0.9 mm and 0.3° (TTFG), and 1.1 mm and 0.4° (PFG). Adding the robot and instruments did not affect the TTFG’s position accuracy (p = 0.60), while the PFG’s accuracies decreased to 1.5 mm and 0.7° (p < 0.001). For both field generators, when adding robot and instruments, accuracies inside the clinical working volume were higher compared to the entire tracking 3D board volume, 0.7 mm and 0.3° (TTFG), and 1.1 mm and 0.7° (PFG). Introduction of a surgical robot and robotic instruments shows limited distortion of the EMT field, allowing sufficient accuracy for surgical navigation in robotic procedures.
Process parameters optimization and performance analysis of micro-complex geometry machining on Ti6Al4V
Authors: Farooq Muhammad Umar , Ali Muhammad Asad , Anwar Saqib , Bhatti Haider Ali
Published: January 2024

The aeronautical industry relies on high-performance equipment that demands materials with exceptional engineering attributes, such as the Ti6Al4V alloy. However, the complexity of the parts used in these applications presents challenges related to stack-up tolerances during assembly. Therefore, conventional machining processes are not economically viable due to their two-step nature solution (machining and surface treatment) and their inability to achieve the required accuracy level, particularly given the alloy’s hard-to-cut nature. In this matter, wire electric discharge machining (WEDM) emerges as an attractive alternative for fabricating complex geometries. This research focuses on evaluating the potential of the WEDM process for machining micro-complex profiles. A comprehensive range of process parameters, including servo voltage (Vs), pulse on time (Ton), pulse off time (Toff), and wire speed (Ws), are studied using a Taguchi-based design of experiments. The results are analyzed through parametric significance analysis, parametric control analysis, surface morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy, and modified layer analysis. Additionally, both mono-objective and multi-objective process optimization techniques are employed to achieve superior accuracy and speed. The findings indicate that Ton and Ws have the most significant influence on both cutting speed and spark gap, whereas Vs and Toff play a crucial role in determining the accuracy index. In addition, adequate flushing, reduced wire speed (economically viable), and stability of the spark are recommended to attain a lower spark gap and higher accuracy. The confirmatory experiments show that the optimal parametric conditions of Vs = 60 V, Toff = 30 μs, Ton = 8 μs, and Ws = 6 mm/s provide the highest speed of 3.4 mm/min, minimum spark gap of 0.344 mm, and accuracy index of 98.72%. The findings will contribute to enhancing manufacturing efficiency, precision, and cost-effectiveness in the aeronautical industry, meeting the demand for high-quality components with tight tolerances.
A Comprehensive Approach to the Thyroid Bethesda Category III (AUS) in the Transition Zone Between 2nd Edition and 3rd Edition of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology: Subcategorization, Nuclear Scoring, and More
Authors: Bagıs Merve , Can Nuray , Sut Necdet , Tastekin Ebru , Erdogan Ezgi Genc , Bulbul Buket Yilmaz , Sezer Yavuz Atakan , Kula Osman , Demirtas Elif Mercan , Usta Inci
Published: January 2024

Significant interobserver variabilities exist for Bethesda category III: atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC). Thus, subcategorization of AUS including AUS “nuclear” and AUS “other” is proposed in the recent 3rd edition of TBSRTC. This study investigated the impact of the nuclear features/architectural features/nuclear score (NS) (3-tiered)/subcategories and subgroups on risk of malignancy (ROM) in thyroid fine-needle aspirations (FNA). 6940 FNAs were evaluated. 1224 (17.6%) cases diagnosed as AUS were reviewed, and 240 patients (initial FNAs of 260 nodules and 240 thyroidectomies) were included. Subcategories and subgroups were defined according to TBSRTC 2nd and 3rd editions. Histological diagnostic groups included nonneoplastic disease, benign neoplasm, low-risk neoplasm, and malignant neoplasm. Overall, ROM was 30.7%. ROM was significantly higher in FNAs with nuclear overlapping (35.5%), nuclear molding (56.9%), irregular contours (42.1%), nuclear grooves (74.1%), chromatin clearing (49.4%), and chromatin margination (57.7%), and these features were independent significant predictors for malignancy. FNAs with NS3 had significantly higher ROM (64.2%). Three-dimensional groups were significantly more frequent in malignant neoplasms (35.7%). ROM was significantly higher in AUS-nuclear subcategory (48.2%) and in AUS-nuclear and architectural subcategory (38.3%). The highest ROM was detected in AUS-nuclear1 subgroup (65.2%). ROM was significantly higher in the group including AUS-nuclear and AUS-nuclear and architectural subcategories, namely “high-risk group” than the group including other subcategories, namely “low-risk group” (42.0%vs 13.9%). In conclusion, subcategorization may not be the end point, and nuclear scoring and evaluation of architectural patterns according to strict criteria may provide data for remodeling of TBSRTC categories.