bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perception of cyberdating abuse from the victims’ perspective: effect of the type of suffered behavior and gender
Authors: Sánchez-Hernández M. Dolores , Herrera M. Carmen , Expósito Francisca
Published: April 2024

Direct cyberaggression and cybercontrol, although both are manifestations of cyberdating abuse (CDA), seem to show different intentionality and impact. Furthermore, how young people perceive and experience CDA within heterosexual relationships varies by gender. However, no studies have examined whether the victims’ perception of offense and severity in an incident of CDA and the motivations that they attributed to their aggressor’s behavior vary by the type of victimization and gender. This research (N = 92 participants; 56.5% men and 43.5% women) was aimed at addressing this gap in the literature. Participants randomly completed an essay in which the CDA victimization (direct cyberaggression vs. cybercontrol) was manipulated and then responded to dependent measures. The results showed that (a) direct cyberaggression (vs. cybercontrol ) victimization was perceived as more offensive and severe; (b) women (vs. men) perceived greater offense and severity in a CDA victimization incident; (c) direct cyberaggression victimization was more frequently attributed to anger/frustration and online disinhibition, whereas cybercontrol victimization was attributed to personality and jealousy; and (d) a higher percentage of men indicated that their partners had perpetrated CDA against them because of the partners’ personality, whereas a higher percentage of women indicated that they had been victims of CDA because their partners experienced online disinhibition. We discussed the theoretical and practical contributions of our findings in the CDA field.
Self-care practices and relationships with vitality and health complaints in self-employed workers
Authors: Schmitt Antje , Prasastyoga Bramesada
Published: April 2024

Self-employed workers face numerous demands, including high uncertainty, workload, and personal responsibility for business success, that have the potential to jeopardize their well-being. This study integrates aspects of the conservation of resources (COR) theory, the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and the literature on intention–behavior gaps to offer insights into how self-employed workers can influence their well-being. We propose that their intention to adopt self-care practices acts as a motivational element that links assumptions about the well-being-protecting and -enhancing effects of self-care practices to the enactment of such practices. Moreover, we investigate the role of entrepreneurial stressors as potential hindering factors in the translation of self-care practice intentions into actual behavior. In a sample of 290 self-employed workers and employing a two-wave study design with a one-month time lag, we found that frequently practicing self-care was positively associated with workers’ vitality, negatively associated with mental health complaints, and unrelated to somatic health complaints. Among the various types of self-care, physical exercise was most consistently associated with well-being outcomes. Self-care intentions significantly predicted the engagement in self-care practices. Entrepreneurial stressors did not act as barriers to the adoption of self-care practices. By underscoring the utility of self-care practices for self-employed workers’ well-being and the key role of self-care practice intentions, this study responds to the call for a research focus shift towards identifying practices that protect well-being among self-employed workers.
The Predictability of a Heavy Rainfall Event during the Summer of 2022 Using an All-sky Radiance Assimilation Experiment
Authors: Song Hyo-Jong , Lee Sihye
Published: April 2024

This paper presents the results of the recent development of the all-sky radiance assimilation system in the Korean Integrated Model (KIM). In the cycled analysis and forecast experiments, the increased coverage of radiance data in cloudy regions improved the quality of initial fields for mass variables, temperature and humidity. The experimental period covered the record-breaking heavy rainfall event on August 9, 2022. We examined the simulation accuracy of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) in both clear- and all-sky experiments. In the clear-sky experiment, northward propagation of the WNPSH was restricted. A humid bias exists with clear-sky radiance assimilation over the WNPSH region. Since humid air is lighter than dry air, in this situation, the geopotential height (GPH) should be lower to achieve the same pressure, and a low-pressure bias occurs. All-sky radiance assimilation dries the moisture field, which helps elevate the GPH over the WNPSH region. The expansion of the WNPSH yielded a steeper confrontation in the air between the land and ocean around the southeastern sea of the Korean Peninsula to predict the strength of rainfall events more accurately. A more accurate simulation of the jet stream outlet was also demonstrated in an all-sky experiment. This study shows that the all-sky radiance assimilation can help to more accurately predict extreme rainfall events via proper simulations of large-scale fields.
Digital Social Connectedness as a Lifeline for Older People: Use and Non-use of VinclesBCN During the Pandemic
Authors: Rodríguez-Giralt Israel , López-Gómez Daniel , Beneito-Montagut Roser
Published: April 2024

This article presents the results of a study that evaluated VinclesBCN during COVID-19. This digital-based public social service aims to prevent loneliness and isolation in +65-year-old adults living in Barcelona. Through service user (N = 12) and professional (N = 6) interviews and a questionnaire with service users (N = 255), we demonstrate the pivotal role of digital connectedness in transforming VinclesBCN into a lifeline during the pandemic. The analysis revealed the importance of sociability, social support, and, especially, entertainment in coping with pandemic fatigue and facilitating social connectivity and support among users. Users engaged in activities such as sharing images, songs, memes, and daily greetings to provide proximity, sociability, and care among users, whether they belonged to preexisting groups or were newly introduced to the platform. It also facilitated the identification of individuals who needed companionship, comfort, or more specialized support. The findings emphasize the significance of entertainment as a resilience-building strategy during times of uncertainty. Despite the positive impact, not all users equally used the platform. Non-use was strongly associated with being a woman, having a low educational level, having preexisting social relationships, less time of enrolment in the platform, as well as a high perception of loneliness, poor self-reported health, and low mood. The article underscores the need for further research into older adults’ digital engagement during crises, its role in building resilience, and advocating for inclusive digital interventions that take into account diverse older adults’ needs and experiences in crisis contexts.
Multisensorische Stimulation und psychische Gesundheit – „Anima Mentis“ ein evidenzbasiertes Praxisprojekt
Authors: Eßl-Maurer Roland
Published: April 2024

Hintergrund

Die psychische Gesundheit ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der allgemeinen Gesundheit, und Präventionsmaßnahmen mit dem Ziel, diese Komponente der Gesundheit zu erhalten und zu fördern, haben in den letzten Jahrzehnten zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen. In Europa sind Depressionen der wichtigste Einzelfaktor für psychische Gesundheitsprobleme. Die hohe Prävalenz und die besonders hohe Krankheitslast von Depressionen begründen ein großes Interesse an wirksamen, früh einsetzenden, niedrigschwelligen und individuellen Präventionsmaßnahmen für die Allgemeinbevölkerung.

Ziel

Ziel dieses Beitrages ist es, einen Überblick über die Entwicklung und Struktur des evidenzbasierten Anwendungsprogramms „Anima Mentis“ zur Förderung der psychischen Gesundheit und Prävention psychischer Erkrankungen zu geben.

Ergebnis

Basierend auf einer narrativen Literaturrecherche zur Identifizierung evidenzbasierter Interventionen wurden Erkenntnisse zu monosensorischen und multisensorischen Stimulationen zur Reduktion depressiver Symptome und zur Förderung des psychischen Wohlbefindens in das Programm „Anima Mentis“ überführt. Dieses modular aufgebaute Programm wird in einem Behandlungszentrum mit verschiedenen Raumkonzepten wie Bewegungsraum, Lichtraum, Virtual Reality (VR)-Raum, Nature-360°-Kino und Sinnesraum umgesetzt.

Schlussfolgerung

Das Praxisprojekt „Anima Mentis“ verfolgt einen personalisierten Ansatz zur Förderung der psychischen Gesundheit. Dieses Konzept bietet das Potenzial, in verschiedene Versorgungseinrichtungen wie z. B. die betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung integriert zu werden. Um die Evidenzlage zur multisensorischen Stimulation zu erweitern und Einblicke in spezifische Nutzergruppen, insbesondere im präventiven Kontext, zu gewinnen, ist zukünftige Forschung notwendig.
Unique Relationship Between Optimum Compaction Properties of Fine-Grained Soils Across Rational Compactive Efforts: A Validation Study
Authors: Soltani Amin , O’Kelly Brendan C. , Horpibulsuk Suksun , Taheri Abbas
Published: April 2024

Among the many proposals for estimating the compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils for different compaction energy levels (CELs), energy conversion (EC) models are gaining increased attention. These models work on the premise of employing measured optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry unit weight (MDUW) values obtained for a rational CEL (e.g., standard or reduced-standard Proctor (SP or RSP)) to predict the same for other CELs. This study revisits the most recently proposed EC-based compaction modeling framework, critically examining its asserted accuracy and hence identifying its true potentials. This was achieved by performing comprehensive statistical analyses on a newly compiled database of 206 compaction test results, entailing 70 different fine-grained soils (with liquid limits ranging 19–365%) and accounting for CELs of 202.0–2723.5 kJ/m3. It was demonstrated that 99% and 96% of the differences between the SP-converted and measured values for OMC and MDUW, respectively, fall within the allowable margins of OMC and MDUW measurement errors permitted by the Australian AS 1289.5.1.1/AS 1289.5.2.1 standards (satisfying their recommended ≥ 95% requirement). Equally favorable results were also obtained for the RSP-based conversions. These findings reaffirmed that the optimum compaction parameters across rational CELs are somewhat uniquely related, and the effects of fine-grained soil attributes on soil compactability are adequately captured/explained by the measured OMC and MDUW values employed as the conversion inputs/predictors.
Sol–gel-stabilized CO2 foam for enhanced in-situ carbonation in foamed fly ash backfill materials
Authors: Ngo Ichhuy , Ma Liqiang , Zhao Zhiyang , Zhai Jiangtao , Yu Kunpeng , Wu Yonghui
Published: April 2024

A novel highly stable aqueous foam was synthesized using CO2, sodium silicate (SS) and anionic surfactant of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate. The influence of CO2 foam on the mechanical properties and its underlying mechanisms of foamed backfill material was investigated. The experimental results revealed that the addition of CO2 and SS effectively reduced the drainage of the foam while strengthening the liquid film of the Plateau borders, which stabilizes the foam. The excellent stability is attributable to the gel network developed after SS exposed to CO2, that adhere to the foam surface. Furthermore, due to the interaction between encapsulated CO2 and hydration products, micro CaCO3 formed and filled the pore wall; thus, precast foam forms robust pore structures in the hardened foamed backfill.
Sustainable reuse of waste ceramic tiles powder and waste brick powder as a replacement for cement on green high strength concrete properties
Authors: Tawfik Taher A. , Sičáková Alena , Kuzielová Eva , Kušnír Štefan , Eštoková Adriana , Bálintová Magdaléna , Junáková Natália
Published: April 2024

Nowadays, reducing construction waste has grabbed the attention. As bricks and ceramic tiles represent more than 50% of the ceramic waste in many European countries. Thus, the recycling of this waste type is one of the most significant challenges within the paradigm of the circular economy. This paper investigated the impact of substitution levels of cement by waste ceramic powder (WCP) and waste brick powder (WBP) at 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%, on the HSC characteristics. The WBP and WCP materials were characterized in detail by laser granulometry, XRF and XRD measurements, followed by standard mixing, production, and curing of concrete samples. The experiments on dry density, modulus of elasticity, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, compressive strength, resistance to sulfate attack, water absorption and ultrasonic pulse velocity were conducted to evaluate the hardened properties of concrete. It was demonstrated that the durability and strength of concrete containing WBP and WCP as partial replacements for cement are marginally inferior to those of the control sample. On the other hand, samples containing WBP had a lesser negative effect on HSC properties in comparison with samples containing WCP. However, employing a 5% WBP with 10% WCP mixture enhanced the characteristics of the HSC in comparison to samples containing various percentages of WCP individually. In addition, the microstructure analyses revealed that the addition of 10% WCP and 5%WBP to HSC specimens resulted in higher hydration products and a slightly denser concrete matrix compared to samples containing various percentages of WCP individually. Research findings indicate that a 15% substitution of cement with WCP or WBP illustrated an environmental benefit in concrete production due to a 13.1% reduction in specific energy consumption.
5G in construction: from deployment to evaluation for robotic applications
Authors: Lee Hyung Joo , Krishnan Ajith , Brell-Cokcan Sigrid
Published: April 2024

A stable, low-latency, and high-bandwidth communication infrastructure is indispensable for effective teleoperation or automated control of construction machinery. Despite the vital importance of this aspect, limited exploration has been undertaken thus far. Our work presents a comprehensive study that begins by detailing the strategic deployment of a 5G network, underscoring its tailored features and functionalities designed specifically to meet the demanding requirements of construction sites. Through a series of diverse experiments involving different types of full-scale construction machines, we vividly demonstrate the tangible benefits of 5G technology in this context. Leveraging comparative studies with WiFi technology and real-world tests, this methodology highlights the improvements in communication facilitated by 5G networks. This holistic exploration not only fills a critical gap in understanding the potential of 5G in construction machinery communication but also offers a roadmap for leveraging this technology to further develop the construction industry.
Climate Variability of Air Temperature and Its Warming Trends in the Arabian Gulf
Authors: Al Senafi Fahad , Al Rushaid Tariq , Al Mukaimi Mohammad
Published: April 2024

Over a 41-year period (1979–2019), the climate of the Arabian Gulf (Gulf) exhibited notable variability. This variation, influenced by mesoscale and globalscale meteorological and climatic determinants, showed temperature fluctuations, predominantly in the Northern Gulf (N Gulf). The N Gulf recorded an average temperature of 25.9 °C, a noticeable 3 °C higher than the broader Gulf average. This period marked extreme temperature records, with a peak at 53.8 °C in July 2016, paralleling the highest known temperatures in Asia. Data reveals a warming trend (0.1–0.6 °C per decade) in the region, with the N Gulf’s rise surpassing global trends. The years 2014–2019 were notably warmer, impacting overall trends, and 1997 was the transitional year shifting from cooler to warmer climates. The N Gulf’s seasonal dynamics are also transforming, with extended summers and shortened winters. In this study, we employed empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition analysis to examine the interannual to multidecadal fluctuations in air temperature within the Gulf from 1979 to 2019, using hourly air temperature data from the Watch Forcing Dataset (WFDE5) generated from the fifth generation (ERA5) European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Fore-casts (ECMWF). Through this method, we discerned three principal EOF modes, which together accounted for 82% of the air temperature variability in the Gulf, highlighting external influences such as North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). The data for these external influences were sourced from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Physical Sciences Laboratory. These findings stress the pressing need for detailed climate studies and mitigation strategies for a rapidly warming Gulf region, especially the N Gulf.
Teaching plant pathology: a forty-five year long journey
Authors: Gullino Maria Lodovica
Published: April 2024

This paper describes the experience of teaching plant pathology in Italy and traces the teaching environment over a period of more than 45 years, split into three main periods: 1975–2000; 2001–2020; and after 2020. The three periods are marked by different attitudes towards agriculture and, consequently, by a variable attractiveness of agricultural study programmes for students, as well as significant changes in the population of teachers and students. The teaching experience has been described by focusing on the changes that have taken place, from the perspectives of both students and teachers, all considered in an environment of continuous transformation. The changing importance of agriculture, the different approaches of people (consumers) towards agriculture, and how it has influenced students’ choices are considered. Data related to student enrolment at the College of Agriculture of the University of Turin have been used to provide real figures, which are useful to obtain a better understanding of the changes in the student population, also considering the different attractiveness of Agricultural Sciences, Forestry and Food Science, as well as the variations in the composition of the female student population, which increased from 28% in the late 1970’s to 38% in 2020. Female students now show the highest interest in Food Science Courses. The changes in the students and teachers’ backgrounds and attitudes, as well as in the teaching and learning methods are considered, and some critical considerations are drawn, also on the basis of the developed personal experience. Moreover, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic disruption are discussed.
Exploring Information-Gathering Techniques in Medical and Dental Interviews for Child Abuse and Neglect: A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Existing Gaps
Authors: Ko Hayley , Baugerud Gunn Astrid , Köpp Unni-Mette Stamnes , Johnson Miriam S. , Szyszko Hovden Ewa A.
Published: April 2024

Healthcare providers may regularly encounter victims of suspected child abuse or neglect. Conversations during medical evaluations and examinations may yield essential information and reliable accounts of a child’s experiences of abuse. However, knowledge of appropriate communication skills when interacting with suspected child abuse victims and information gathering techniques have not been well explored in healthcare providers. This scoping review assesses the state of the literature concerning medical interviewing in cases of child abuse and explores the communication and information gathering techniques used by healthcare providers when interacting with suspected child abuse victims. Ten studies were included in the analysis, collectively revealing a limited body of knowledge on information gathering techniques in child abuse cases in healthcare settings. Collecting a comprehensive medical history has emerged as a crucial tool for guiding medical examinations and assessments. The findings also highlight the absence of standardised guidelines for healthcare professionals to gather information from victims of child abuse. This review did not identify any studies that investigated the information gathering skills of oral healthcare providers in the context of child abuse. Further research is needed, and the creation of standardised protocols aimed at improving information gathering techniques within healthcare settings for cases of child abuse could prove beneficial. Improved communication and information gathering techniques can significantly contribute to the management of suspected cases of child abuse, safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable children.
Implementing Decentralized Clinical Trials in Australia through Teletrials: Where to From Here?
Authors: Symons Tanya , Woollett Anne , Zalcberg John , Eckstein Lisa
Published: April 2024

Implementation of decentralized approaches can improve access to clinical trials. The Australian government has focused on a teletrial model, which resources and upskills health care organisations to enable collaboration in trials to extend to rural and remote areas. This commentary describes the Australian teletrial model, its context within the established DCT model, its value, and likely challenges moving forward.
SStackGNN: Graph Data Augmentation Simplified Stacking Graph Neural Network for Twitter Bot Detection
Authors: Shi Shuhao , Chen Jian , Wang Zhengyan , Zhang Yuxin , Zhang Yongmao , Fu Chengqi , Qiao Kai , Yan Bin
Published: April 2024

Ensemble learning has the potential to enhance the efficacy of feeble classifiers significantly and is increasingly being utilized in Twitter bot detection. Previous methods have utilized stacking techniques to train the primary classifiers, implementing cross-validation to mitigate overfitting and enhance predictive accuracy. However, cross-validation substantially amplifies the computation time associated with stacking. To overcome this challenge, this paper presents a novel approach, the Simplified Stacking Graph Neural Network (SStackGNN), specifically designed for the detection of social bots. Our methodology leverages the power of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) as base classifiers, enabling effective capturing of inter-account interactions. In addition, a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) serves as a secondary classifier, amalgamating the outcomes of the foundational classifiers to generate final predictions, thereby enhancing the predictive performance of the GNNs. Instead of relying on cross-validation and distinct base classifier structures, we employ node-level, edge-level, and feature-level graph data augmentation techniques to acquire diverse foundational classifiers. This approach significantly alleviates the computational complexity while achieving superior performance. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed SStackGNN outperforms other approaches.
Assessing Trends in Hospitalizations for Breast Cancer among Women in Korea: A Utilization of the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (2006–2020)
Authors: Hwang Jieun , Jang Jeong-Hoon
Published: April 2024

Objective

Breast cancer poses a significant health threat globally and particularly in Korea, where mortality rates have risen notably. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of breast cancer patients discharged in Korea over the past 15 years and explored the association between comorbidities and treatment outcomes to propose effective strategies for managing cancer patients. Understanding these dynamics is vital for informing tailored management strategies and optimizing healthcare system sustainability.

Methods

This study utilized cross-sectional data from the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey from 2006 to 2020. Each year, among patients discharged from hospital with 100 beds or more, those identified with breast cancer patients were based on their primary diagnosis code (C50) according to the ICD-10, as recorded in their medical records.

Results

Between 2006 and 2020, an estimated 499,281 breast cancer patients were discharged, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 5.2% (95% CI 4.2–6.2, p <.05). A notable increase in AAPC was particularly evident among those aged 60 years and old. Across all age groups, there was a consistent increasing trend in the risk of mortality as the CCI score increased (p <.05). The risk of comorbidity was more pronounced in younger age groups compared to older age groups.

Conclusions

The increasing life expectancy is expected to lead to a continued rise in the number of elderly breast cancer patients. Countermeasures are needed to address this trend through appropriate diagnosis and treatment planning. Particularly, considering comorbidities in breast cancer treatment plans is necessary to promote positive treatment outcomes, especially in younger breast cancer patients.
Developing effective prompts to improve communication with ChatGPT: a formula for higher education stakeholders
Authors: Nazari Mostafa , Saadi Golsa
Published: April 2024

The escalating integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, particularly the widespread use of ChatGPT in higher education, necessitates a profound exploration of effective communication strategies. This paper addresses the critical role of prompt development as a skill essential for university instructors engaging with ChatGPT. While emphasizing the practical implications for higher education, the study introduces a novel two-layered AI prompt formula, considering both components and elements. In methodology, the research synthesizes insights from existing models and proposes a tailored approach for ChatGPT, addressing its unique characteristics and the contextual elements within higher education. The results highlight the formula’s flexibility and potential applications in diverse fields, from syllabus planning to assessment. Moreover, the study identifies limitations inherent in ChatGPT, emphasizing the need for instructors to exercise caution in its usage. In conclusion, the paper underscores the evolving landscape of AI in education, envisaging specialized versions of ChatGPT for academic settings and advocating for the proactive adoption of ethical frameworks in the use of AI in higher education. This study serves as a foundational contribution to the discourse on effective AI communication in educational settings.
Sensorium
Authors: Howes David
Published: April 2024

Do the senses have a history? How many might there be? Are the senses so many independent channels, or do they interact with and modulate each other? If so, how might we cultivate the capacity to see feelingly or hear colours? What makes smell 'the affective sense'? These are among the questions to be addressed in this Element. It pries the senses and perception loose from the psychology laboratory to focus on how they have been constructed and lived differently in different historical periods and across cultures. Many of its findings are surprising because they run counter to our common-sense assumptions about the sensorium. They make uncommon sense. Plus the reader will meet some fascinating historical characters like the prolific 17th century natural philosopher Margaret Cavendish (also author of the play The Convent of Pleasure) and the late 19th century artist James McNeill Whistler, who infused his paintings with music.
Indigenous Psychology in Africa
Authors: Oppong Seth
Published: April 2024

Understanding human behaviour, thoughts, and emotional expressions can be challenging in the global context. Due to cultural differences, the study of psychology cannot be de-contextualised. This calls for unearthing of the explanatory systems that exist in Africa to understand and account for behaviour, emotions, and cognition of Africans. This call is addressed through the emergence of African Psychology (AP) or Indigenous Psychology in Africa (IPA) as a legitimate science of human experience. This Element discusses the motivations for AP, centrality of culture, demarcations of AP, and the different strands within AP. It highlights issues related to African philosophy, African cultural anthropology, African philosophy of science, and suitable methodological approaches for AP research. It also discusses some selected theoretical contributions and applications of AP. The Element concludes that AP researchers and practitioners need to pursue interdisciplinarity and avoid meaningless rejection of good ideas from other cultural settings.
Compliant mechanism design of combined aircraft wing for stable separation
Authors: Zhang Q. , Jia S. , Chen J. , Zhang J.
Published: April 2024

Stable separation is a crucial condition that must be met in order for combined aircraft to successfully engage in cooperative flight. In order to achieve the desired fast and controlled separation, this paper proposes a novel design for a torque-driven compliant separation mechanism. By taking into account the compliance characteristics of a sinusoidal acceleration function curve, a mechanical model for the separation mechanism is developed. By utilising the Coulomb friction law, an accurate determination of the aerodynamic load distribution under various conditions is achieved. Subsequently, the relationship between the unlocking moment and the aerodynamic load is derived based on these findings. Through the utilisation of the finite element method, a model of the separation mechanism is generated. To ensure the safety and reliability of the compliant separation mechanism, the mechanical properties of the structural materials are thoroughly analysed under the maximum aerodynamic load. Subsequently, the separation mechanism structure is constructed and subjected to testing in order to showcase the compliance characteristics. In addition, this paper conducts a simulation to analyse the impact of flight speed and angle-of-attack on the separation process. By doing so, the optimal conditions for separation are determined. The methods and findings presented in this study have the potential to contribute valuable insights to the design of combined aircraft.
Artificial neural network for preliminary design and optimisation of civil aero-engine nacelles
Authors: Tejero F. , MacManus D. , Heidebrecht A. , Sheaf C.
Published: April 2024

Within the context of preliminary aerodynamic design with low order models, the methods have to meet requirements for rapid evaluations, accuracy and sometimes large design space bounds. This can be further compounded by the need to use geometric and aerodynamic degrees of freedom to build generalised models with enough flexibility across the design space. For transonic applications, this can be challenging due to the non-linearity of these flow regimes. This paper presents a nacelle design method with an artificial neural network (ANN) for preliminary aerodynamic design. The ANN uses six intuitive nacelle geometric design variables and the two key aerodynamic properties of Mach number and massflow capture ratio. The method was initially validated with an independent dataset in which the prediction error for the nacelle drag was 2.9% across the bounds of the metamodel. The ANN was also used for multi-point, multi-objective optimisation studies. Relative to computationally expensive CFD-based optimisations, it is demonstrated that the surrogate-based approach with ANN identifies similar nacelle shapes and drag changes across a design space that covers conventional and future civil aero-engine nacelles. The proposed method is an enabling and fast approach for preliminary nacelle design studies.
The Sale of Offices, Corruption, and Formalization: A Comparative Study of China and France in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
Authors: Huang Xinyu
Published: April 2024

This paper provides a detailed exploration of the sale of offices in China and France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In France, the sale of offices became deeply integrated into the officialdom, effectively serving as a formal institution. It was a part of the financial framework and contributed to the operation of the bureaucracy. However, this practice led to public dissatisfaction due to concerns about the fairness of the judicial system. Conversely, in China, the sale of offices was less formalized and more directly associated with corruption due to the close connection with informal income and the challenge to the formal system of imperial civil examinations. It was considered an ad hoc, informal, and pragmatic solution to financial emergencies. The sale of offices, in a different context, was seen as having both positive and negative aspects, with its impact varying, depending on the specific function it served.
Epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant organisms in Alameda County, California, 2019–2021
Authors: Marusinec Rachel , Shemsu Munira , Lloyd Tyler , Kober Brendan M. , Heaton Dustin T. , Herrera Jade A. , Gregory Misha , Varghese Vici , Nadle Joelle , Trivedi Kavita K.
Published: April 2024

Objective:

Carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) are an urgent health threat. Since 2017, Alameda County Health Public Health Department (ACPHD) mandates reporting of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and encourages voluntary reporting of non-CRE CROs including carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA). Surveillance data from ACPHD were analyzed to describe the epidemiology of CROs and target public health interventions.

Methods:

Healthcare facilities in Alameda County reported CRO cases and submitted isolates to ACPHD to characterize carbapenemase genes; deaths were identified via the California Electronic Death Registration System. CRO cases with isolates resistant to one or more carbapenems were analyzed from surveillance data from July 2019 to June 2021.

Results:

Four hundred and forty-two cases of CROs were reported to Alameda County from 408 patients. The county case rate for CROs was 29 cases per 100,000 population, and cases significantly increased over the 2-year period. CRPA was most commonly reported (157 cases, 36%), and cases of CRAB increased 1.83-fold. One-hundred eighty-six (42%) cases were identified among residents of long-term care facilities; 152 (37%) patients had died by January 2022. One hundred and seven (24%) cases produced carbapenemases.

Conclusions:

The high burden of CROs in Alameda County highlights the need for continued partnership on reporting, testing, and infection prevention to limit the spread of resistant organisms. A large proportion of cases were identified in vulnerable long-term care residents, and CRAB was an emerging CRO among this population. Screening for CROs and surveillance at the local level are important to understand epidemiology and implement public health interventions.
Achromobacter cluster related to COVID-19 supply chain issues
Authors: Scales Mary Ellen , Gallagher Megan C. , Haessler Sarah , Lindsey Kristy , Maryanski Michele , Mathew Manju , Moore Franklin , Hogan Karen , Gilmore Morgan , Peters Stacey , Smith Kristin
Published: April 2024

Isolation of an unusual organism, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, from 2 cardiac surgical patients on the same day prompted an investigation to search for cases and cause. An extensive review demonstrated a pseudo-outbreak related to practices to conserve laboratory saline due to short supply resulting from supply chain shortage from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Third-Party and Bankruptcy Effects under Chinese Trust Law: Comparisons with English Trust Law
Authors: Jing Hui
Published: April 2024

In English law, the trust's third-party and bankruptcy effects contribute significantly to its wide use in commercial transactions. In view of the trust's attractiveness in conducting commercial dealings, China has also introduced the trust model into its domestic legal system to enhance its financial infrastructure. However, given the extent to which Chinese law has been influenced by the Roman-Germanic tradition, China's replication of the trust's third-party and bankruptcy effects has encountered doctrinal obstacles. Drawing upon the experience of its Northeast Asian forerunners, China has established two mechanisms to achieve the third-party and bankruptcy effects: the regime of trust fund independence and the granting of the right of rescission to beneficiaries. These two mechanisms represent the adjustments made by Chinese legislators in the process of transplanting the trust model into the Chinese legal context. Adopting a comparative law perspective, this article examines these mechanisms in the Chinese law setting for two reasons: first, to explore the mechanisms’ constituent elements and their operation, as well as the roles of both mechanisms in the Chinese trust law system; and second, to furnish comparative law scholarship with broader insights into rule transplantation and reconciliation.
Blue versus red: partisan firm leaders and corporate culture
Authors: Jiao Anqi , Ren Honglin
Published: April 2024

This paper documents significant partisan divides across a range of corporate cultural values. Using panel data of 2,424 S&P 1500 firms spanning the period from 2001 to 2018, we find that firms whose top management teams lean toward the Democratic Party exhibit higher cultural values of integrity, teamwork, innovation, respect, and quality, in comparison with firms with executives leaning toward the Republican Party. In addition, we find that the partisan gap diminishes when firms have less entrenched management or locate in states with stronger judicial accountability. Our findings lend support to earlier research suggesting that leader characteristics are associated with corporate culture.
Open data, workplace relations law compliance, and digital regulation
Authors: Chen Colleen , Howe John , Kariotis Timothy , Jackson Shirley
Published: April 2024

This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities in accessing data to improve workplace relations law enforcement, with reference to minimum employment standards such as wages and working hours regulation. Our paper highlights some innovative examples of government and trade union efforts to collect and use data to improve the detection of noncompliance. These examples reveal the potential of data science as a compliance tool but also suggest the importance of realizing a data ecosystem that is capable of being utilized by machine learning applications. The effectiveness of using data and data science tools to improve workplace law enforcement is impacted by the ability of regulatory actors to access useful data they do not collect or hold themselves. Under “open data” principles, government data is increasingly made available to the public so that it can be combined with nongovernment data to generate value. Through mapping and analysis of the Australian workplace relations data ecosystem, we show that data availability relevant to workplace law compliance falls well short of open data principles. However, we argue that with the right protocols in place, improved data collection and sharing will assist regulatory actors in the effective enforcement of workplace laws.
Cyberbiosecurity in the new normal: Cyberbio risks, pre-emptive security, and the global governance of bioinformation
Authors: Fouad Noran Shafik
Published: April 2024

The Covid-19 pandemic saw a surge in cyber attacks targeting pharmaceutical companies and research organisations working on vaccines and treatments for the virus. Such attacks raised concerns around the (in)security of bioinformation (e.g. genomic data, epidemiological data, biomedical data, and health data) and the potential cyberbio risks resulting from stealing, compromising, or exploiting it in hostile cyber operations. This article critically investigates threat discourses around bioinformation as presented in the newly emerging field of ‘cyberbiosecurity’. As introduced by scholarly literature in life sciences, cyberbiosecurity aims to understand and address cyber risks engendered by the digitisation of biology. Such risks include, for example, embedding malware in DNA, corrupting gene-sequencing, manipulating biomedical materials, stealing epidemiological data, or even developing biological weapons and spreading diseases. This article brings the discussion on cyberbiosecurity into the realms of International Relations and Security Studies by problematising the futuristic threat discourses co-producing this burgeoning field and the pre-emptive security measures it advocates, specifically in relation to bioinformation. It analyses how cyberbiosecurity as a concept and field of policy analysis influences the existing securitised governance of bioinformation, the global competition to control it, and the inequalities associated with its ownership and dissemination. As such, the article presents a critical intervention in current debates around the intersection between biological dangers and cyber threats and in the calls for ‘peculiar’ policy measures to defend against cyberbio risks in the ‘new normal’.
The Reform of International Investment Law: Whose Rule of Law?
Authors: Damjanovic Ivana
Published: April 2024

Public and political controversies over Investor–State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) have prompted reform processes in international investment law, at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, with different actors shaping the future of international investment governance. In its essence, the options for the ISDS reform reflect the diverging perspectives on the rule of law in international law. Ultimately, they present a choice about who should control power over States’ action in issues of public importance – the States who have created the system, or international investment tribunals who have shaped the legal development of the system. This paper considers the application of the rule of law as a normative meta-principle to international investment law and its dispute settlement, and it sheds light on different perspectives of this concept, as they shape the ongoing ISDS reform(s).
“Killing Complaints with Courtesy”: The Role of Relationship Building in the Success of the Early U.S. Central Power Stations (1890–1938)
Authors: Jacome Veronica
Published: April 2024

Histories of electrification revolve around networks of power developed by “system builders.” These histories, though immensely important, explain the progress of electrification from the perspective of institutions or individuals, rather than through everyday relationships. While the industry pushed the idea that electricity was an obvious must-have for urbanites, vast resources in the 1920s and 1930s went toward cultivating “courteous” relationships among meter readers, electricians, repairmen, billing clerks, and customers. These relationships were pivotal to electrification, especially with complaints about high bills, malfunctioning meters, and “inadequate” wiring, which led to customer curtailment and threatened the prosperity of central power stations. This article expands the notion of who counts as critical actors in the success of electric grids and counters contemporary claims: namely, that grids fail because of bad consumer behavior. By emphasizing the role of everyday relationship-building in the evolution of electric utilities, this study contributes to a history of electricity that examines invisible and mundane networks to expose the relations beneath the grid.
Non-locality of mean scalar transport in two-dimensional Rayleigh–Taylor instability using the macroscopic forcing method
Authors: Lavacot D.L.O.-L. , Liu J. , Williams H. , Morgan B.E. , Mani A.
Published: April 2024

The importance of non-locality of mean scalar transport in two-dimensional Rayleigh–Taylor Instability (RTI) is investigated. The macroscopic forcing method is utilized to measure spatio-temporal moments of the eddy diffusivity kernel representing passive scalar transport in the ensemble averaged fields. Presented in this work are several studies assessing the importance of the higher-order moments of the eddy diffusivity, which contain information about non-locality, in models for RTI. First, it is demonstrated through a comparison of leading-order models that a purely local eddy diffusivity is insufficient to capture the mean field evolution of the mass fraction in RTI. Therefore, higher-order moments of the eddy diffusivity operator are not negligible. Models are then constructed by utilizing the measured higher-order moments. It is demonstrated that an explicit operator based on the Kramers–Moyal expansion of the eddy diffusivity kernel is insufficient. An implicit operator construction that matches the measured moments is shown to offer improvements relative to the local model in a converging fashion.
Moses Mendelssohn and the Jewish Questions of Modern Natural Law
Authors: Jones Meirav
Published: April 2024

In the late eighteenth century, Johann David Michaelis criticized Moses Mendelssohn for bringing what Michaelis termed his native Jewish tradition into his thinking on universal matters. Yet leaning on Jewish sources had been a key feature of European natural law thinking from the onset of modernity. In this article, the author reads Mendelssohn’s natural law theory as conversant with early modern legal thought that was scrutinized in the enlightenment, shedding new light on Mendelssohn’s innovations and on what Mendelssohn was up against when he offered natural law foundations for toleration. The author finds that arguments for and against toleration of the Jews from the seventeenth century to the nineteenth were tied to the question of whether Judaism contained universal laws or laws particular to the Jews, and suggests that Mendelssohn’s approach, while rejected from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, may be newly relevant today.
Fighting for Oak Flat: Western Apaches and American Religious Freedom
Authors: Wenger Tisa
Published: April 2024

This article foregrounds the Western Apache fight to save the sacred site of Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, or Oak Flat, which at this writing is threatened by a proposed copper mine. Like many other Native peoples, Western Apaches have historically resisted colonial suppression by reconfiguring ancestral traditions to make them legible to authorities as religion. In their current struggle, Western Apaches are restoring and repairing their relationships with the sacred landscapes of their ancestral homelands. The controversy over Oak Flat also demonstrates how US religious freedom law continues to impose an implicitly Christian model for religion and how Western Apaches today are pushing back against that model even as they necessarily use it to claim the protected status that religion enjoys in the United States. Chi’chil Biłdagoteel thus illuminates the ongoing paradoxes of US religious freedom law, the privileges that Christianity still holds within this legal regime, and the ongoing vibrancy of living Apache religion.
ONE-DIMENSIONAL SUBGROUPS AND CONNECTED COMPONENTS IN NON-ABELIAN p-ADIC DEFINABLE GROUPS
Authors: JOHNSON WILLIAM , YAO NINGYUAN
Published: April 2024

We generalize two of our previous results on abelian definable groups in p-adically closed fields [12, 13] to the non-abelian case. First, we show that if G is a definable group that is not definably compact, then G has a one-dimensional definable subgroup which is not definably compact. This is a p-adic analogue of the Peterzil–Steinhorn theorem for o-minimal theories [16]. Second, we show that if G is a group definable over the standard model

$\mathbb {Q}_p$

, then

$G^0 = G^{00}$

. As an application, definably amenable groups over

$\mathbb {Q}_p$

are open subgroups of algebraic groups, up to finite factors. We also prove that

$G^0 = G^{00}$

when G is a definable subgroup of a linear algebraic group, over any model.