bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digitalization platform for data-driven quality management in multi-stage manufacturing systems
Authors: Filz Marc-André , Bosse Jan Philipp , Herrmann Christoph
Published: June 2023

Digital transformation is driving the current technological trends in manufacturing. An integral constituent is a communication between machines, between machines and humans, or between machines and products. This extensive communication involves large volumes of data. Many manufacturers apply data analytics (e.g., for quality management or improvement purposes) to translate the data into a business value. However, isolated, rigid, and area-specific IT solutions often carry this out. Today’s complex manufacturing requires quality management approaches that constitute a holistic view of and understanding of process–product interactions along the process chain instead of focusing solely on single processes. A novel platform approach to support quality management in manufacturing systems is proposed in this paper to overcome this deficit. It integrates state-of-the-art concepts of IT with modeling approaches for planning and operation of quality management. A conceptual framework and the technical architecture for implementing a digitalization platform are presented in this regard. Moreover, the approach is validated and implemented within a web application based on a use case of data-driven quality management in electronics production.
Sensitivity estimation of indium oxide thin film for gamma sensing
Authors: Aparna C. , Shetty Pramoda Kumara , Mahesha M. G. , Yashodhara I. , Karunakara N.
Published: June 2023

This article aims to study the modification in the structural, optical and electrical properties of indium oxide thin film after gamma irradiation and estimation of sensitivity for gamma sensing applications. The thin film of indium oxide was deposited on a 450 °C preheated glass substrate using the spray pyrolysis technique. The deposited thin film of molar concentration 0.15 M and thickness of around 600 nm was irradiated with different gamma doses (100 Gy, 200 Gy, 300 Gy and 400 Gy). The optical properties of the irradiated film are studied using UV–Visible spectroscopy. Transmittance increased after irradiation up to 200 Gy and beyond that, it decreased. Indium oxide is an n-type semiconductor which exhibits both direct and indirect transitions. Both direct and indirect bandgap energy are calculated using Tauc’s plot. Extinction coefficient and refractive index variation with irradiation were also estimated. Photoluminescence study confirmed the gamma-induced defect formation and annihilation for an irradiation dose of 400 Gy and 200 Gy, respectively. Resistivity also decreased up to 200 Gy and beyond that, it increased. The sensitivity of the deposited film was estimated from the electrical measurements, and it lies between 10.7 and 53.4 mA/cm2/Gy.

Graphical abstract
Classical structural identifiability methodology applied to low-dimensional dynamic systems in receptor theory
Authors: White Carla , Rottschäfer Vivi , Bridge Lloyd
Published: June 2023

Mathematical modelling has become a key tool in pharmacological analysis, towards understanding dynamics of cell signalling and quantifying ligand-receptor interactions. Ordinary differential equation (ODE) models in receptor theory may be used to parameterise such interactions using timecourse data, but attention needs to be paid to the theoretical identifiability of the parameters of interest. Identifiability analysis is an often overlooked step in many bio-modelling works. In this paper we introduce structural identifiability analysis (SIA) to the field of receptor theory by applying three classical SIA methods (transfer function, Taylor Series and similarity transformation) to ligand-receptor binding models of biological importance (single ligand and Motulsky-Mahan competition binding at monomers, and a recently presented model of a single ligand binding at receptor dimers). New results are obtained which indicate the identifiable parameters for a single timecourse for Motulsky-Mahan binding and dimerised receptor binding. Importantly, we further consider combinations of experiments which may be performed to overcome issues of non-identifiability, to ensure the practical applicability of the work. The three SIA methods are demonstrated through a tutorial-style approach, using detailed calculations, which show the methods to be tractable for the low-dimensional ODE models.
Improving the speed and quality of cancer segmentation using lower resolution pathology images
Authors: Li Jieyi , Osseyran Anwar , Hekster Ruben , Rudinac Stevan , Codreanu Valeriu , Podareanu Damian
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we propose a pipeline to investigate the performance of semantic segmentation model that employs an encoder-decoder architecture with atrous separable convolution and spatial pyramid pooling, trained on multi-resolution whole slide breast pathological images with different patch sizes. Our segmentation model obtains the best performance on zoom level 2 (10$$\times $$
×
magnification) with AUC score 0.974 in terms of slide-level classification. This outperforms both the performance of the pathologist and other semantic segmentation models on the Camelyon16 dataset. By offering a larger field of view and reducing noise and detail, training a semantic segmentation model on the properly selected lower resolution pathology images can further improve the precision of pixel-wise cancer region segmentation. By contrast, the corresponding inference time is 14 times shorter than the inference time trained on the highest resolution patches, and it is also shorter than the time required by a pathologist with time constraints. Moreover, we prove that the model trained on lower resolution patches can still generate refined external polygons of cancer region on the highest resolution image. This study provides new insights into efficient gigapixel histopathology analysis that will make clinical adoption more likely.
Racial and Ethnic Representation in Preventive Intervention Research: a Methodological Study
Authors: Buckley Pamela R. , Murry Velma McBride , Gust Charleen J. , Ladika Amanda , Pampel Fred C.
Published: June 2023

Individuals who are Asian or Asian American, Black or African American, Native American or American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic or Latino (i.e., presently considered racial ethnic minoritized groups in the USA) lacked equal access to resources for mitigating risk during COVID-19, which highlighted public health disparities and exacerbated inequities rooted in structural racism that have contributed to many injustices, such as failing public school systems and unsafe neighborhoods. Minoritized groups are also vulnerable to climate change wherein the most severe harms disproportionately fall upon underserved communities. While systemic changes are needed to address these pervasive syndemic conditions, immediate efforts involve examining strategies to promote equitable health and well-being-which served as the impetus for this study. We conducted a descriptive analysis on the prevalence of culturally tailored interventions and reporting of sample characteristics among 885 programs with evaluations published from 2010 to 2021 and recorded in the Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development registry. Inferential analyses also examined (1) reporting time trends and (2) the relationship between study quality (i.e., strong methods, beneficial effects) and culturally tailored programs and racial ethnic enrollment. Two percent of programs were developed for Black or African American youth, and 4% targeted Hispanic or Latino populations. For the 77% of studies that reported race, most enrollees were White (35%) followed by Black or African American (28%), and 31% collapsed across race or categorized race with ethnicity. In the 64% of studies that reported ethnicity, 32% of enrollees were Hispanic or Latino. Reporting has not improved, and there was no relationship between high-quality studies and programs developed for racial ethnic youth, or samples with high proportions of racial ethnic enrollees. Research gaps on racial ethnic groups call for clear reporting and better representation to reduce disparities and improve the utility of interventions.
How do older adults receiving aged care services understand and respond to the EQ-5D-5L? A think-aloud study in residential care
Authors: Lay Kiri , Crocker Matthew , Engel Lidia , Ratcliffe Julie , Charlton Simon , Hutchinson Claire
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The EQ-5D-5L is a preference-based instrument for measuring and valuing health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The EQ-5D-5L has been used extensively in economic evaluation, including in aged care. However, older adults’ understanding of the EQ-5D-5L has not been comprehensively investigated to date. This research aimed to assess older adults’ understanding of the EQ-5D-5L using a think-aloud protocol with two cognition groups: no cognitive impairment and mild/moderate cognitive impairment.

Methods

Participants’ cognition was assessed using the Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE). Face-to face interviews were conducted with concurrent and retrospective think-aloud encouraged through verbal probing. Audio recordings were transcribed, and qualitative analysis, informed by the Tourangeau four-stage Response Model (comprehension, retrieval, decision process, response process) was conducted in NVivo.

Results

In total, 46 older adults (age 65 +) were recruited from 10 residential care facilities across South Australia (n = 25 no cognitive impairment, n = 21 mild/moderate cognitive impairment). Comprehension, retrieval, judgement and response mapping issues were common across all cognition levels and EQ-5D-5L dimensions. The two dimensions resulting in the most response issues were usual activities and personal care.

Conclusion

Older adults may bring a different understanding to the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system than that expected given testing with general population samples. Dimension descriptors that are more relevant to this population may facilitate responses that better align with the underlying EQ-5D-5L concept model.
Startups’ demand for accounting expertise: evidence from a randomized field experiment
Authors: Gefen Ofir , Reeb David , Sulaeman Johan
Published: June 2023

We conduct a randomized field experiment (RFE) to assess whether startup firms perceive accounting expertise as an important investor credential. We send 13,358 unsolicited and unique emails to active startup firms across the US, showing an interest in them with a proposition to meet a bogus investor. The experiment has high response rates, with 4,535 (33.94%) opened emails and 828 (6.19%) website visits, reflecting investors’ proliferating practice of outbound origination to contact new startups. Our RFE compares startup reactions to fictitious investors with certified public accountant (CPA) designations versus two control groups: investors without credentials and those with other professional licenses. Startup firms are 48% likelier to read unsolicited emails from CPA-bearing investors and 47% likelier to visit their websites, relative to investors with a medical license. We document an analogous preference for CPA-bearing investors even when we separately analyze startups in medical-related industries. This gap persists when investors pose as angels, venture capitalists (VCs), or without professional licenses. The relatively low percentage (2.5%) of email bounces and spam reports makes it unlikely that spam algorithms drive the findings. Further tests reveal that the response rates differ by firm age, which is inconsistent with spam filter explanations but congruent with startup firms’ demand for accounting expertise. Finally, we undertake a follow-up experiment with 3,443 new startups to distinguish between accounting and general business expertise using a master’s in business administration (MBA). Startups are 13.8% likelier to read emails from a CPA-bearing investor than from an MBA-credentialed investor and 22.6% more likely to visit the CPA-bearing investor’s website.
Population structure and habitat assessment for two commercial clam species exploited in small-scale fisheries
Authors: Román Salvador , Olabarria Celia , Weidberg Nicolás , Román Marta , Vázquez Elsa
Published: June 2023

Small-scale fisheries play a crucial role in providing food and jobs in local communities worldwide. Nonetheless, their environmental impact remains poorly understood. To assess the effect of different levels of harvesting pressure on clam population dynamics, we selected three areas for study within each of three intertidal shellfish beds (in NW Spain) on the basis of historical harvesting pressure. The abundance (up to 149 ind m−2) of the introduced clam Ruditapes philippinarum of marketable size was much greater than that of the native R. decussatus (up to 20 ind m−2) in all three beds, which is consistent with the low level of recruitment of the native species. Our results suggest that the harvesting pressure did not significantly affect reproduction, which was asynchronous across beds, and that the reproductive period was longer in R. philippinarum than in R. decussatus. Nonetheless, the intertidal system was strongly affected by harvesting, as bare sediment was typical in frequently harvested areas, while sparse or dense patches of the seagrass Zostera noltei occurred in areas where harvesting pressure was scarce or null. The abundance and diversity of non-commercial infaunal species were greatest in unharvested areas. However, commercial clams were not abundant in these areas, possibly due to natural habitat preferences or artificial seeding and movement of clams along the beds. Management plans based on local knowledge of ecosystems are needed to maintain sustainable stocks of R. decussatus and also to limit the effects of harvesting on the systems.
New sediment continuum measurements in the Brda River (Poland): the results of the functioning of the 50-year Koronowo dam
Authors: Szatten Dawid , Brzezińska Marta , Bosino Alberto
Published: June 2023

Purpose

As documented by multiple studies, the construction of artificial reservoirs influences fluvial processes. The hydrographic barrier causes a water regime change, and the effects are evident in the accumulation of sediment in the reservoir as well as the intensification of the erosion process below the dam due to the lack of sediments for transport in the river. Moreover, the use of lateral canals on the reservoirs causes additional transformations of the river system, excluding the river part below the dam from the natural system of the catchment area. This research aimed to determine the impact of the creation and functioning of the Koronowo Reservoir dam on the Brda River and its lateral canal on the continuum of sediment transport, with particular emphasis on suspended sediment.

Methods

The research was based on analysing the available hydrological data and the measurements of suspended sediment concentration during the water flushing maintenance works into the Brda River channel. In addition, a set of morphometric indices obtained through dedicated terrain analysis were necessary to understand the area’s morphodynamics and sediment sources. The suspended sediment concentration (SSC), suspended sediment volume concentration (SVC), and Sauter mean diameter (SMD) data were measured by a LISST-25X, and spatial data were obtained through the System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA GIS) software.

Results and conclusion

The results were combined with the Connectivity Index evaluation as well as field surveys and made it possible to identify new sources of material supply to the Brda catchment below the dam, thus identifying a disturbance in the sediment transport continuum in the catchment area. Research is a critical element in sustainable sediment management in the catchment, using a controlled sediment flushing operation and identifying local new sources of sediment supply.
Persistent MobileApp-in-the-Middle (MAitM) attack
Authors: Catalano Christian , Tommasi Franco
Published: June 2023

The recent publication of the “Browser in the Middle” attack has demonstrated an effective way to compromise a good number of variants of Multifactor Authentication and to control the information flow between the victim an the accessed service. That attack was mainly aimed at the victim use of a desktop browser to access a service. The present paper shows how that attack may be extended to involve the mobile environment and how, thanks to that enhancement, the attack may also gain the persistence attribute. The new attack is named MobileApp-in-the-Middle (MAitM). Again, as in BitM, no installation of malware on the victim’s platform is needed with MAitM.
Associations between Gun Ownership and Firearm Homicide Rates in US States
Authors: Christopoulos Konstantinos
Published: June 2023

The United States combine high rates of firearm homicides with high gun prevalence. In the past, a significant positive association was found between the two. This study revisits the gun prevalence-gun homicide debate using more elaborate estimates of gun ownership for the 50 States. Longitudinal data (1999–2016) were analysed with Bayesian multilevel Gamma-Poisson models. The results demonstrated a very small positive association that diminished after adjusting for crime rates. Findings suggest that the association either attenuated in more recent years, or previous studies had overestimated this association.
Calculating the Growth of Vascular Cambium in Woody Plants as the Cylindrical Surface
Authors: Włoch Wiesław , Iqbal Muhammad , Jura-Morawiec Joanna
Published: June 2023

The expansion of the vascular cambium cylinder in the stem of woody plants has been modeled many times, using different approaches and focusing on contributions of different cell events (cell divisions, intrusive cell growth and symplastic cell growth). Although there are many case studies in the literature, a universal model is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study is to estimate the quantitative changes in the contribution of symplastic growth of a single cambial cell (a sector of the cambial circumference) to the expansion of the vascular cambium cylinder, as the stem increases in girth. The proposed calculations, using the number π, and considering the actual dimensions of cambial cells, show (a) that the average symplastic increase per one initial cell in the circumferential direction decreases exponentially with the enlargement of cambial circumference, and (b) that the significant difference in the magnitude of symplastic increment of a single initial in the radial and circumferential directions increases proportionally to the increase in the circumference of the cambial cylinder. The proposed mathematical formula helps to understand the general rules that govern the gradual increase of the vascular cambium cylinder during wood production and would further facilitate the description/modeling of stem growth and formation of wood structural patterns.
Cave Ixodidae! Zecken als Krankheitsüberträger
Authors: Weninger Sophie , Strobl Johanna
Published: June 2023

Zecken sind weltweit verbreitete Krankheitsüberträger und stellen eine wachsende Gefahr für die öffentliche Gesundheit dar. Im Rahmen eines Zeckenstichs können die Arachniden multiple Pathogene übertragen und Infektionserkrankungen wie die Lyme-Borreliose, Rickettsiose und Tularämie verursachen. Für die Diagnose dieser Infektionen ist das Erkennen klinischer kutaner Manifestationen von großer Bedeutung. Durch frühzeitige Einleitung adäquater Therapien lassen sich potenzielle Komplikationen und Langzeitschäden vermeiden.
Numerical studies on small rotor configurations with validation using acoustic wind tunnel data
Authors: Yin Jianping , Rossignol Karl-Stephane , Rottmann Lukas , Schwarz Thorsten
Published: June 2023

This paper addresses the acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of small rotor configurations, including the influence of the rotor–rotor interactions. For this purpose, a Rotor/Rotor/Pylon configuration is chosen for both the test and numerical simulations. The wind tunnel experiments on various rotor configuration were performed in DLR’s Acoustic Wind Tunnel Braunschweig (AWB). The experiments involve isolated rotors, and rotors in tandem and coaxial configuration in hover and forward flight. For numerical simulations, an unsteady free wake 3D panel method (UPM) is used to account for aerodynamic non-linear effects associated with the mutual interference among the Rotor/Rotor/Pylon configurations. The effect of the pylon is simulated using potential theory in form of a panelized body. Finally, the sound propagation into the far field is calculated with DLR’s FW–H code APSIM, using UPM blade surface pressure as input. The validation effort is supported by CFD TAU steady simulations on selected hover test cases. The experiments and numerical results indicate that the noise at the blade passing frequency (BPF) and its higher harmonics is the dominant source of the noise for the present rotor selection. The extra subharmonics between two BPFs appearing in the results are caused by the small geometric discrepancy between the blades as well as the motor noise. Broadband noise is also observed in the experiment, but its contribution to the overall sound pressure is very small and can be neglected. The simulation of the acoustic scattering from the rotor support system for the isolated rotor cases indicated an influence about 1–3 dB on the overall sound pressure of the polar microphones. In both the coaxial and the tandem configuration, the acoustic interferences are particularly well visible in the numerical simulations and cause a more complex noise directivity. There is almost no change in time-averaged inflow by applying phase angles. In the coaxial condition, in hover, the phase delay between rotors does not change the maximum noise level. In forward flight, the phase delay can influence the maximum level of the noise radiation. In both coaxial and tandem configuration, the position of the downstream rotor is key for the noise radiation, and therefore, avoiding the interaction with upstream wake can reduce the noise radiation.
Data Informing Governing Body Resistance-Training Guidelines Exhibit Sex Bias: An Audit-Based Review
Authors: Pandit Anurag , Tran Thai Binh , Letton Meg , Cowley Emma , Gibbs Mitchell , Wewege Michael A. , Hagstrom Amanda D.
Published: June 2023

The objective of this review was to examine the ratio of female and male participants utilised in data informing consensus statements and position stands in the field of resistance training (RT). In order to achieve this objective, we conducted an ‘audit’ style review. We accessed three databases: SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE and Google Scholar utilising the following search terms: resistance or strength training AND consensus statements or position statements/stands. Eligibility criteria included consensus statements and position stands for RT in youth, adults and older adults. In this paper we have used the term ‘female’ to describe biological sex. Gender is a social construct and often describes roles and behaviours that society assigns to men or women. In this paper we have used the term ‘women’ to describe gender. Reference lists from each guideline were screened with the number of male and female participants extracted from each study. We also extracted data on the gender of the authors of the statements. We located 11 guidelines encompassing a total of 104,251,363 participants. Youth guidelines were comprised of 69% male participants. There were 287 studies that included both sexes, 205 male-only and 92 female-only studies. Adult guidelines were comprised of 70% male participants. There were 104 studies that included both sexes, 240 male-only and 44 female-only studies. Older adult guidelines were comprised of 54% female participants. There were 395 studies that included both sexes, 112 male-only and 83 female-only studies. Women authors comprised 13% of all authors of position stands and consensus statements. These results demonstrate an under-representation of females and women as both participants and as authors. It is imperative to ensure that data informing governing body guidelines and consensus statements are representative of the population they aim to inform. If this is not possible, guidelines should clearly state when their data and recommendations are based primarily upon one sex.
K-12 Education in the Age of AI: A Call to Action for K-12 AI Literacy
Authors: Wang Ning , Lester James
Published: June 2023

The emergence of increasingly powerful AI technologies calls for the design and development of K-12 AI literacy curricula that can support students who will be entering a profoundly changed labor market. However, developing, implementing, and scaling AI literacy curricula poses significant challenges. It will be essential to develop a robust, evidence-based AI education research foundation that can inform AI literacy curriculum development. Unlike K-12 science and mathematics education, there is not currently a research foundation for K-12 AI education. In this article we provide a component-based definition of AI literacy, present the need for implementing AI literacy education across all grade bands, and argue for the creation of research programs across four areas of AI education: (1) K-12 AI Learning & Technology; (2) K-12 AI Education Integration into STEM, Language Arts, and Social Science Education; (3) K-12 AI Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators; and (4) K-12 AI Assessment.
What Do Your Neighbors Think About You? How Perceived Neighbor Attitudes Toward Latinos Influence Mental Health Among a Pregnant Latina Cohort
Authors: Chua Kristine J. , Knorr Delaney A. , Jimenez Janelly , Francia Arlene , Rojas Valeria , Garcia Jhoana Infante , Fox Molly
Published: June 2023

Latina women living in the USA experience disproportionately higher rates of psychological distress compared to their non-Latina White counterparts. Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy can contribute to intergenerational mental health disparities. Through this pathway, mothers’ experiences, environments, and exposures (henceforth “exposures”) during pregnancy become biologically embodied and can negatively affect the fetus and life-long developmental trajectories of her child. One of the exposures that can affect mother–offspring dyads is the neighborhood. With the goal of integrating anthropological and sociological theories to explain mental health disparities among pregnant Latina women, we explored how perceptions of neighbor attitudes may influence mental health during pregnancy. We analyzed self-reported responses from 239 pregnant Latina women in Southern California (131 foreign-born, 108 US-born) on their mental health and perceived attitudes of their neighbors using multiple linear regression models. Among foreign-born Latina women, living in neighborhoods with more favorable views of Latinos was associated with lower depression scores (pooled β =  − .70, SE = .29, p = .019) and lower pregnancy-related anxiety scores (pooled β =  − .11, SE = .05, p = .021), but greater state anxiety scores (pooled β = .09, SE = .04, p = .021). Among US-born women, there were no associations between neighbor attitudes and mental health. Overall, results suggest that social environments are correlated with mental health and that foreign-born and US-born Latinas have varied mental health experiences in the USA. Our findings highlight the importance of improving aspects of neighborhood cohesion as part of maternal–fetal care management.
Design guidelines for metal binder jetting
Authors: Blunk Heiko , Seibel Arthur
Published: June 2023

In addition to the general advantages of additive manufacturing technologies, such as the resource-efficient production of highly complex components, the metal binder jetting (MBJ) process enables a more cost-effective manufacturing of metal additive components. However, the design freedoms gained by additive manufacturing, and MBJ in particular, are also accompanied by new design restrictions for component design. While a large number of design guidelines are already available for the established additive manufacturing processes, the metal binder jetting process imposes additional requirements on component design, which are currently only inadequately covered in the literature. Therefore, this paper presents the development and derivation of first design rules for the metal binder jetting process using martensitic stainless steel (17–4 PH). In this way, the paper also provides a methodology for deriving guidelines regardless of the material. In total, 13 guidelines have emerged from this, which in part both confirm existing guidelines, but also extend them.
Do you agree? Contrasting Google’s Core Web Vitals and the impact of cookie consent banners with actual web QoE
Authors: Wehner Nikolas , Seufert Michael , Schatz Raimund , Hoßfeld Tobias
Published: June 2023

Providing sophisticated web Quality of Experience (QoE) has become paramount for web service providers and network operators alike. Due to advances in web technologies (HTML5, responsive design, etc.), traditional web QoE models focusing mainly on loading times have to be refined and improved. In this work, we relate Google’s Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics for improving user experience, to the loading time aspects of web QoE, and investigate whether the Core Web Vitals and web QoE agree on the perceived experience. To this end, we first perform objective measurements in the web using Google’s Lighthouse. To close the gap between metrics and experience, we complement these objective measurements with subjective assessment by performing multiple crowdsourcing QoE studies. For this purpose, we developed CWeQS, a customized framework to emulate the entire web page loading process, and ask users for their experience while controlling the Core Web Vitals, which is available to the public. To properly configure CWeQS for the planned QoE study and the crowdsourcing setup, we conduct pre-studies, in which we evaluate the importance of the loading strategy of a web page and the importance of the user task. The obtained insights allow us to conduct the desired QoE studies for each of the Core Web Vitals. Furthermore, we assess the impact of cookie consent banners, which have become ubiquitous due to regulatory demands, on the Core Web Vitals and investigate their influence on web QoE. Our results suggest that the Core Web Vitals are much less predictive for web QoE than expected and that page loading times remain the main metric and influence factor in this context. We further observe that unobtrusive and acentric cookie consent banners are preferred by end-users and that additional delays caused by interacting with consent banners in order to agree to or reject cookies should be accounted along with the actual page load time to reduce waiting times and thus to improve web QoE.
Anton, Balint, Charles Bonnet, and the Others: The ABC of Cerebral Visual Syndromes (A Historical Guide and an Update)
Authors: Kertesz Andrew
Published: June 2023

Cerebral visual impairments have been of great interest to neurologists, ophthalmologists, and neuroscientists. Complicated or partial varieties related to cortical blindness are discussed in this review. They are a fascinating alphabet of eponymic clinical syndromes, bordering neurology, ophthalmology, and even psychiatry. Recent functional imaging and experimental studies have contributed further knowledge of cognitive visual organization in addition to the classical lesion evidence.
COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptability: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Lebanese Residents
Authors: Domiati Souraya , Hodeib Fadi , El Majzoub Rania , Sacre Hala
Published: June 2023

Objective:

Concerns about the side effects of available coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines have posed a significant barrier to vaccination in several countries. Accordingly, the current study aimed to assess the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination and its predictors among the Lebanese population.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2021 among Lebanese adults from the 5 main Lebanese districts. The questionnaire included demographic data, questions about COVID-19 experience, COVID-19 anxiety syndrome scale, and attitudes regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Data were analyzed on SPSS, version 23. Statistical significance was considered at a P value ≤ 0.05 with a 95% CI.

Results:

Of 811 participants, 45.4% (95% CI: 41.9-48.9) accepted taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Choices were negatively affected by concerns about the side effects of the vaccine and positively affected by anxiety and seeking COVID-19 news very closely. Moreover, if the COVID-19 vaccination was a requirement for traveling, participants would be more willing to get the vaccine.

Conclusions:

Since 54.7% of the studied Lebanese adults were either unwilling or undecided to get the vaccine and COVID-19 news was retrieved mainly from the Ministry of Public Health online site and the local news, the existing targeted campaign should be enforced toward encouraging vaccination to reach herd immunity against COVID-19 and revealing the safety of the vaccines.
Picturing Parental Love for Girls in Song (960–1279) China
Authors: Wang Gerui
Published: June 2023

This essay examines the representation of young girls in Song dynasty literary and visual arts as period portrayals of an important human emotion: parental love. The literature on doting parents extends far back in Chinese history, but in Song times children become the focus of family manuals, pediatric manuals, and an expanding visual and material culture in which the imaginary lives of children in play are conveyed to readers and viewers. Girls are shown not only active in games with boys but engaged in guiding and supervising the play. Talented girls were praised and adored by Song dynasty parents. Children were portrayed as resolving conflicts among companions on their own, with little interference from adults. Song period art and literature adopted an indulgent attitude toward mischievous behaviors in boys and girls. There developed a conception of family increasingly based on affection rather than the authority of age.
Weakly interacting oscillators on dense random graphs
Authors: Bet Gianmarco , Coppini Fabio , Nardi Francesca Romana
Published: June 2023

We consider a class of weakly interacting particle systems of mean-field type. The interactions between the particles are encoded in a graph sequence, i.e. two particles are interacting if and only if they are connected in the underlying graph. We establish a law of large numbers for the empirical measure of the system that holds whenever the graph sequence is convergent to a graphon. The limit is the solution of a non-linear Fokker–Planck equation weighted by the (possibly random) graphon limit. In contrast with the existing literature, our analysis focuses on both deterministic and random graphons: no regularity assumptions are made on the graph limit and we are able to include general graph sequences such as exchangeable random graphs. Finally, we identify the sequences of graphs, both random and deterministic, for which the associated empirical measure converges to the classical McKean–Vlasov mean-field limit.
Nationalism and Inequality Scholarship in the Age of Populism: Bringing Territory Back In?
Authors: Yusupova Guzel , Matveev Ilia
Published: June 2023

The intersection of nationalism and inequality is undoubtedly gaining interest in current debates in nationalism studies. The effects of economic inequalities on nationalist politics are the most researched area; however, there are other ways to explore the relationship between nationalism and inequality. Focusing on economic and political aspects of inequality this state-of-the-field article offers an overview of existing research on the relationship between inequality and nationalism in various areas of nationalism studies, ranging from nationalist politics to exploring the symbolic construction of nationhood. Following the inequality scholars, we highlight the growing importance of capital accumulation and emphasize the spatial aspect of it. We argue that while being largely overlooked, the role of territory—and territorial politics more broadly—becomes crucial for the understanding of the intersection of nationalism and inequality today. Overall, we show that it is necessary for nationalism studies scholars to engage in contemporary literature on inequality and acknowledge the wider implications of growing inequality to various manifestations of nationalism.
SOLIDARITY IN EUROPEAN UNION LAW AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE ENERGY SECTOR
Authors: Huhta Kaisa , Reins Leonie
Published: June 2023

This article explores the meaning of solidarity in European Union (EU) law in the context of the energy sector and the ongoing energy crisis. Energy provides a powerful and topical sectoral example of the fundamental role and diverse functions of solidarity in EU law. In itsOPALruling in 2021, the Court of Justice of the EU established that energy solidarity constitutes a legally binding principle of EU energy law that should inform EU institutions and the Member States in their energy decisions. This article adds to legal scholarship on solidarity in three ways. First, it further develops the understanding of the ambiguous solidarity concept in EU law through the lens of the energy sector. Secondly, it contributes to the emerging body of energy law scholarship that seeks to advance the discipline of energy law by focusing on its doctrine rather than on its substantive developments. Finally, it provides a timely and novel analysis of the EU's recent emergency responses to address the acute energy crisis from the point of view of solidarity.
THE TABLET-MAKERS OF PYLOS: AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRODUCTION OF LINEAR B TABLETS
Authors: Judson Anna P.
Published: June 2023

The Linear B administrative texts of Late Bronze Age Greece were written on clay tablets, whose production therefore formed the first stage in the process of document creation, though it generally remains unclear whether the tablets’ writers were also their makers. This study combines experimental archaeology with autopsy of the tablets from Pylos in order to investigate the methods by which the Linear B tablets were created at this site. It thereby sheds light not only on the physical processes involved in shaping the clay, but also on the decisions involved on the part of the tablet-makers, and hence on the relationship between the ‘making’ and ‘writing’ stages of the process of creating the Linear B documents.
Birds in Europe 4: the fourth assessment of Species of European Conservation Concern
Authors: Burfield Ian J. , Rutherford Claire A. , Fernando Eresha , Grice Hannah , Piggott Alexa , Martin Rob W. , Balman Mark , Evans Michael I. , Staneva Anna
Published: June 2023

This is the fourth comprehensive assessment of the population status of all wild bird species in Europe. It identifies Species of European Conservation Concern (SPECs) so that action can be taken to improve their status. Species are categorised according to their global extinction risk, the size and trend of their European population and range, and Europe’s global responsibility for them. Of the 546 species assessed, 207 (38%) are SPECs: 74 (14%) of global concern (SPEC 1); 32 (6%) of European concern and concentrated in Europe (SPEC 2); and 101 (18%) of European concern but not concentrated in Europe (SPEC 3). The proportion of SPECs has remained similar (38–43%) across all four assessments since 1994, but the number of SPEC 1 species of global concern has trebled. The 44 species assessed as Non-SPECs in the third assessment (2017) but as SPECs here include multiple waders, raptors and passerines that breed in arctic, boreal or alpine regions, highlighting the growing importance of northern Europe and mountain ecosystems for bird conservation. Conversely, the 62 species assessed as SPECs in 2017 but as Non-SPECs here include various large waterbirds and raptors that are recovering due to conservation action. Since 1994, the number of specially protected species (listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive) qualifying as SPECs has fallen by 33%, while the number of huntable (Annex II) species qualifying as SPECs has risen by 56%. The broad patterns identified previously remain evident: 100 species have been classified as SPECs in all four assessments, including numerous farmland and steppe birds, ducks, waders, raptors, seabirds and long-distance migrants. Many of their populations are heavily depleted or continue to decline and/or contract in range. Europe still holds 3.4–5.4 billion breeding birds, but more action to halt and reverse losses is needed.
Intravenous prostacyclins for right ventricular failure following left ventricular assist device in paediatric heart failure
Authors: Radel Laura J. , Iqbal Mehreen , Griffiths Megan
Published: June 2023

Right ventricular failure after placement of left ventricular assist device in paediatric heart failure is associated with increased mortality. We report successful use of intravenous prostacyclin for right ventricular support and pulmonary hypertension after initiation of left ventricular assist device support. This suggests that intravenous prostacyclins may be an important therapy in right ventricular failure following ventricular assist device implantation.
A comparison of structural brain differences in monolingual and highly proficient multilingual speakers
Authors: Midrigan-Ciochina Ludmila , Vodacek Kayla P. , Balabhadra Srinija , Corina David P.
Published: June 2023

Structural and functional brain adaptations in bilingual speakers are well documented in the neurolinguistic literature. However, far less is known about neural changes evidenced in multilingual speakers. This study investigates brain plasticity in a group of highly proficient multilinguals, fluent in four or more languages, compared to a group of monolinguals. An ROI analysis used to evaluate differences in core linguistic regions and regions associated with language control revealed robust decreases for multilinguals in grey matter thickness of two brain regions within the parietal lobe (i.e., precuneus and angular gyrus), involved in lexico-semantic processing, memory retrieval, and control maintenance. We discuss our findings in the context of emerging models characterizing trajectorial changes in brain structures associated with language experience. We consider how the demands of optimal functioning within multi-linguistic environments may foster cortical changes that manifest as decreased GM thickness in highly proficient multilingual compared to monolinguals.
Music and Sports as Catalysts for Intergroup Harmony
Authors: Gim Hyeonchang , Harwood Jake
Published: June 2023

Abstract: Mediated intergroup contact positively influences attitudes toward social out-groups; here, we explored whether different intergroup contact activities might influence attitudes via different mechanisms. We investigated whether mediated musical or sports contact improves intergroup attitudes through theoretically derived mediators (interpersonal synchronization, empathy, and humanization). This was accomplished by exposing US respondents to videos featuring Chinese singers or table tennis players. We found support for mediated effects of intergroup musical exposure on prejudice through the mediator humanization. We also examined whether seeing in-group (vs. out-group) members enjoying the out-group performance in the video (a “reaction video”) would improve attitudes via norms-related processes. Sharing the viewing experience with an in-group character enables identification with that in-group character, which facilitates modeling of positive intergroup relations. We found that seeing an in-group member enjoying an out-group performance reduced prejudice via norms, but only when people viewed the sports performance. Results are discussed in terms of the prejudice-reducing potential of exposure to media featuring music and sports.
Antarctic Bottom Water Sensitivity to Spatio‐Temporal Variations in Antarctic Meltwater Fluxes
Authors: Aguiar Wilton , Lee Sang‐Ki , Lopez Hosmay , Dong Shenfu , Seroussi Hélène , Jones Dani C. , Morrison Adele K.
Published: June 2023

Ice sheet melting into the Southern Ocean can change the formation and properties of the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). Ocean models often mimic ice sheet melting by adding freshwater fluxes in the Southern Ocean under diverse spatial distributions. We use a global ocean and sea‐ice model to explore whether the spatial distribution and magnitude of meltwater fluxes can alter AABW properties and formation. We find that a realistic spatially varying meltwater flux sustains AABW with higher salinities compared to simulations with uniform meltwater fluxes. Finally, we show that increases in ice sheet melting above 12% since 1958 can trigger AABW freshening rates similar to those observed in the Southern Ocean since 1990, suggesting that the increasing Antarctic meltwater discharge can drive the observed AABW freshening.
Contrasting Trends in Convective and Large‐Scale Precipitation in the Intertropical Convergence Zone From Reanalysis Data Sets
Authors: Jeon Joon‐Gu , Yeh Sang‐Wook , Song Se‐Yong , Kirtman Ben P. , Kim Daehyun
Published: June 2023

We investigated long‐term trends in convective and large‐scale precipitation within the Intertropical Convergence Zone during the boreal summer (June–August) for the period 1980–2020 using five different reanalysis datasets. We found that there exists a large diversity in the trends. In particular, we focused on the European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis version 5 (ERA5) and the Japanese 55‐year reanalysis (JRA55) datasets; because the convective precipitation amount statistically significantly decreases in the former, but increases in the later. In contrast, the large‐scale precipitation amount increases in both of these reanalysis datasets. We examine the physical factors leading to contrasting features in the respective trends in convective and large‐scale precipitation amount between two reanalysis datasets. A significant decrease of convective available potential energy, which is caused by enhanced atmospheric stability, leads to a decreasing trend of convective precipitation amount in the ERA5 dataset. In contrast, a significant increase of precipitable water is noted in JRA55 dataset. Additionally, the Clausius–Clapeyron relation is larger in JRA55 than ERA5, implying that the sensitivity of humidity to the temperature change is larger in JRA55 than that in ERA5 dataset. On the other hand, the increase of the large‐scale precipitation is associated with the increase of medium cloud amount in both ERA5 and JRA55 datasets.
Dependence of Northern Hemisphere Tropospheric Transport on the Midlatitude Jet Under Abrupt CO2 Increase
Authors: Zhang X. , Waugh D. W. , Orbe C.
Published: June 2023

Understanding how the transport of gases and aerosols responds to climate change is necessary for policy making and emission controls. There is considerable spread in model projections of tracer transport in climate change simulations, largely because of the substantial uncertainty in projected changes in the large‐scale atmospheric circulation. In particular, a relationship between the response of tropospheric transport into the high latitudes and a shift of the midlatitude jet has been previously established in an idealized modeling study. To test the robustness of this relationship, we analyze the response of a passive tracer of northern midlatitude surface origin to abrupt 2xCO2 and 4xCO2 in a comprehensive climate model (Goddard Institute for Space Studies E2.2‐G). We show that a poleward shift of the northern midlatitude jet and enhanced eddy mixing along isentropes on the poleward flank of the jet result in decreased tracer concentrations over the midlatitudes and increased concentrations over the Arctic. This mechanism is robust in abrupt 2xCO2 and 4xCO2 simulations, the nonlinearity to CO2 forcing, and two versions of the model with different atmospheric chemistry. Preliminary analysis of realistic chemical tracers suggests that the same mechanism can be used to provide insights into the climate change response of anthropogenic pollutants.