bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trajectories of Change in Acute Dynamic Risk Ratings and Associated Risk for Recidivism in Paroled New Zealanders: A Joint Latent Class Modelling Approach
Authors: Stone Ariel G. , Lloyd Caleb D. , Spivak Benjamin L. , Papalia Nina L. , Serin Ralph C.
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Prior studies indicate risk for recidivism declines with time spent in the community post-incarceration. The current study tested whether declines in risk scores occurred uniformly for all individuals in a community corrections sample or whether distinct groups could be identified on the basis of similar trajectories of change in acute risk and time to recidivism. We additionally tested whether accounting for group heterogeneity improved prospective prediction of recidivism.

Methods

This study used longitudinal, multiple-reassessment data gathered from 3,421 individuals supervised on parole in New Zealand (N = 92,104 assessments of theoretically dynamic risk factors conducted by community corrections supervision officers). We applied joint latent class modelling (JLCM) to model group trajectories of change in acute risk following re-entry while accounting for data missing due to recidivism (i.e., missing not at random). We compared accuracy of dynamic predictions based on the selected joint latent class model to an equivalent joint model with no latent class structure.

Results

We identified four trajectory groups of acute dynamic risk. Groups were consistently estimated across a split sample. Trajectories differed in direction and degree of change but using the latent class structure did not improve discrimination when predicting recidivism.

Conclusions

There may be significant heterogeneity in how individuals’ assessed level of acute risk changes following re-entry, but determining risk for recidivism should not be based on probable group membership. JLCM revealed heterogeneity in early re-entry unlikely to be observed using traditional analytic approaches.
Spectrum splitting through CuS–ZnO/water hybrid nanofluid for agricultural greenhouse cooling applications: An experimental study
Authors: Sajid Muhammad Usman , Saghir M. Ziad , Dincer Ibrahim , Bicer Yusuf
Published: January 2023

In the present work, CuS–ZnO/water hybrid nanofluids (in concentrations of 0.0025 mass% and 0.005 mass%) are synthesized using a two-step method with nanoparticles composition of 95% CuS and 5% ZnO. The optically tuned nanofluid filter on the agricultural greenhouse roof can reduce the cooling load by transmitting the visible spectrum and absorbing the near-infrared radiation in the solar spectrum. The size distribution of nanoparticles, stability and optical transmission of both concentrations in the visible and near-infrared regions are examined. Two hollow containers (i.e., ducts) with thicknesses of 4 mm and 8 mm are prepared. Each of these ducts is attached to a greenhouse unit and placed in front of a solar simulator. The experimental results reveal that applying CuS–ZnO nanofluid reduces the inside temperature of the greenhouse unit under all irradiance and ambient temperature ranges. The cooling system gains an average of 27.4% less heat from the greenhouse unit when the CuS–ZnO nanofluid flows through an 8 mm duct compared to no-fluid case (empty duct). The photothermal conversion efficiency of nanofluid is found to be higher than the one for water. The crop growth factor of 82.2% is obtained for 8 mm duct case, and the photosynthetic photon flux density inside the greenhouse unit is reduced without affecting the growth of many plants. Furthermore, the payback period of the nanofluid system (with 8 mm duct) is calculated as 0.42 years, and the application of optically tuned nanofluid can help reduce the cooling system's size and energy requirement for cooling.
Divergence of tropical cyclone hazard based on wind-weighted track distributions in the Coral Sea, over 50 years
Authors: Miller John , da Silva Guilherme Vieira , Strauss Darrell
Published: January 2023

Tropical cyclones (TCs) with genesis in the Coral Sea present significant hazards to coastal regions in their surroundings. In addition, the erratic nature of TC tracks is not well understood in this region. Therefore, this study grouped Coral Sea TC tracks over the last fifty years based on K-means clustering of the maximum wind-weighted centroids. This was done in order to extract valuable new cyclone power, track curvature and location related information from their historical track records and to predict their behaviour in the light of a changing climate. TC track variance and curvature (sinuosity) were assessed. Three well-defined clusters of TC tracks were identified, and the results showed differing predominant directions of TC movement by cluster. Track sinuosity was shown to increase from east to west. Only one cluster showed a statistically significant trend (decreasing) in TC frequency. The TC power dissipation index (PDI) was used to reveal that two of the clusters have diverging trends for PDI post-2004. Based on the location of cyclone maximum intensity, only one cluster showed a statistically significant trend (towards the equator). All these findings demonstrated a clear variance in between-cluster hazard and show that TC trends discovered for the southwest Pacific are not manifest or consistent across all clusters.
Nonlinear dynamics of parametrically excited cantilever beams with a tip mass considering nonlinear inertia and Duffing-type nonlinearity
Authors: Aghamohammadi Mehrdad , Sorokin Vladislav , Mace Brian
Published: January 2023

The response of a parametrically excited cantilever beam (PECB) with a tip mass is investigated in this paper. The paper is mainly focused on accurate prediction of the response of the system, in particular, its hardening and softening characteristics when linear damping is considered. First, the method of varying amplitudes (MVA) and the method of multiple scales (MMS) are employed. It is shown that both Duffing nonlinearity and nonlinear inertia terms govern the hardening or softening behaviour of a PECB. MVA results show that for frequencies around the principal parametric resonance, the term containing a linear combination of nonlinear inertia and Duffing nonlinearity in the frequency response equation can tend to zero, resulting in an exponential growth of the vibrations, and results are validated by numerical results obtained from direct integration (DI) of the equation of motion, while the MMS fails to predict this critical frequency. A criterion for determining the hardening and softening characteristics of PECBs is developed and presented using the MVA. To verify the results, experimental measurements for a PECB with a tip mass are presented, showing good agreement with analytical and numerical results. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the mass added at the cantilever tip can change the system characteristics, enhancing the softening behaviour of the PECB. It is shown that, within the frequency range considered, increasing the value of the tip mass decreases the amplitude response of the system and broadens the frequency range in which a stable response can exist.
Working Hard or Hardly Working? Gender and Voter Evaluations of Legislator Productivity
Authors: Hargrave Lotte , Smith Jessica C.
Published: January 2023

Do women have to work harder in office to be evaluated the same as men? When running for office, studies show that women are, on average, more qualified than men candidates. Once in office, women outperform their men colleagues in sponsoring legislation, securing funding, and in their constituency responsiveness. However, we do not know whether women need to outperform men in their political roles to receive equivalent evaluations. We report on a novel conjoint experiment where we present British voters with paired profiles describing Members of Parliament at the end of their first parliamentary term. Through manipulating the legislative outputs, gender, and party of MPs, we find that voters overall prefer politicians who are productive to politicians who are unproductive, and reward productive politicians in job performance and electability evaluations. However, we find no evidence that productive women are unjustly rewarded, nor do unproductive women face greater punishment than men. Our results suggest that, at least for productivity as measured in parliamentary-based activities, women politicians do not need to work harder than their men colleagues to satisfy voters.
Development of Systems and Futures Thinking Skills by Primary Pre-service Teachers for Addressing Epidemics
Authors: Uskola Araitz , Puig Blanca
Published: January 2023

Science educators highlight the importance of developing systems thinking (ST) and futures thinking (FT) for students to make decisions and to be active citizens that address socioscientific problems. The dimensions related to FT take in this study were three implied in ST and two in the appropriation of the future. The aim of this study is to analyse the level of FT-related dimensions developed by a group of pre-service elementary teachers and how far different activities designed to foster them were effective. Written explanations presented by the participants about the origin of pandemics and possible ways to prevent them, as well as videos developed by small groups with the goal to present a campaign for avoiding future pandemics, were analysed. Based on the literature, five dimensions and up to four levels of performances were identified. After completing the activities, participants were able to relate the three spheres of the “One Health” notion to explain the causes of pandemics. Moreover, they established complex cause-effect relationships between the different factors, although they only constructed monocausal relationships when proposing measures. Participants improved their performance in anticipating the future and identifying themselves as agents of change. The elaboration of concept maps facilitated the development of components and behaviour ST dimensions, and the design of the campaign allowed participants to identify themselves as agents of change. The use of these strategies in science education can contribute to the development of a citizenry capable of understanding and acting on systems.
Recurrent nephrolithiasis and loss of kidney function: a cohort study
Authors: Tan Rachel Yi Ping , Rao Nitesh N. , Horwood Christopher M. , Passaris George , Juneja Rajiv
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To evaluate whether symptomatic recurrent nephrolithiasis leads to loss of kidney function.

Methods

Adults who presented to the Emergency Department at least twice with symptomatic and radiologically confirmed nephrolithiasis were retrospectively recruited. Primary endpoint was the change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between baseline and at the time of data collection. Secondary endpoints include GFR slope defined as the mean rate of change in GFR from baseline to the end of the study period.

Results

240 patients had recurrent symptomatic nephrolithiasis. Median follow-up was 5.4 years. The median age of first acute presentation was 51.6 years and the median baseline serum creatinine (bsCr) was 85.5 umol/l. 17.5% (n = 42) had worsening GFR, with the average change in GFR of − 8.64 ml/min/1.73 m2 per year. Four patients progressed to ESKD requiring haemodialysis. 14.5% (n = 35) had calcium oxalate stones. Univariate analysis showed older patients (p < 0.001), more symptomatic stone episodes (p < 0.001) and non-calcium-containing stones (p < 0.001) were strongly associated with deteriorating kidney function. Age (p = 0.002) and number of acute stone episodes (p = 0.011) were significant predictive factors when unadjusted to co-morbidities. Age (p = 0.018) was the only predictive factor of worsening GFR when adjusted for co-morbidities. Average mean GFR slope was − 2.83/min/1.73 m2 per year.

Conclusions

Recurrent symptomatic nephrolithiasis is associated with loss of kidney function, in older patients, increased episodes of symptomatic nephrolithiasis and non-calcium-containing stones. Age is the only predictive factor for progression to chronic kidney disease in this subgroup.
Personalized federated learning with model interpolation among client clusters and its application in smart home
Authors: Yang Zhikai , Liu Yaping , Zhang Shuo , Zhou Keshen
Published: January 2023

The proliferation of high-performance personal devices and the widespread deployment of machine learning (ML) applications have led to two consequences: the volume of private data from individuals or groups has exploded over the past few years; and the traditional central servers for training ML models have experienced communication and performance bottlenecks in the face of massive amounts of data. However, this reality also provides the possibility of keeping data local for ML training and fusing models on a broader scale. As a new branch of ML application, Federated Learning (FL) aims to solve the problem of multi-party joint learning on the premise of protecting personal data privacy. However, due to the heterogeneity of devices, including network connection, network bandwidth, computing resources, etc., it is unrealistic to train, update and aggregate models in all devices in parallel, while personal data is often not independent and identically distributed (Non-IID) due to multiple reasons. This reality poses a challenge to the speed and convergence of FL. In this paper, we propose the pFedCAM algorithm, which aims to improve the robustness of the FL system to device heterogeneity and Non-IID data, while achieving some degree of federation model personalization. pFedCAM is based on the idea of clustering and model interpolation by classifying heterogeneous clients and performing FedAvg algorithm in parallel, and then combining them into personalized federated global models by inter-cluster model interpolation. Experiments show that the accuracy of pFedCAM improves 10.3% on Fashion-MNIST and 11.3% on CIFAR-10 compared to the benchmark in the case of Non-IID data. In the end, we applied pFedCAM in HomeProtect, a smart home privacy protection framework we designed, and achieved good practical results in the case of flame recognition.
Engagement in entrepreneurship after business failure. Do formal institutions and culture matter?
Authors: Uriarte Sebastián , Espinoza-Benavides Jorge , Ribeiro-Soriano Domingo
Published: January 2023

Despite the extensive literature on the relationship between entrepreneurship and institutions, there is limited knowledge of the relationship between institutions and engagement after failure. This study compares the entrepreneurial engagement of entrepreneurs who have recently experienced failure and individuals without entrepreneurial experience, emphasizing the interaction of government policies and programmes (formal institutions) and individualistic/collectivist cultures (informal institutions) with business failure and its impact on entrepreneurial engagement. We test our hypotheses using multilevel analysis on a large cross-sectional sample that combines individual-level data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) database with country-level data from 49 economies. We provide evidence of selection bias for the entrepreneurial engagement of entrepreneurs after failures and of the role of culture as a significant aspect of re-entry into entrepreneurship. Therefore, our evidence helps reinforce the view that postfailure entrepreneurs are a special group of entrepreneurs and validates the contribution of institutional economic theory in explaining this phenomenon, especially the key role of informal institutions.
The times they are a-changin’: profiling newly tenured business economics professors in Germany over the past thirty years
Authors: Fernandes Mario , Walter Andreas
Published: January 2023

This study examines how the profiles of newly tenured business economics professors in Germany have changed over the past thirty years. We document how business economics professors have become more diverse over time, e.g., in terms of their gender and the internationality of their education. Furthermore, we show that the size of the professional networks of newly tenured professors increased strongly during our investigation period and that those professors who obtained tenure more recently publish with a stronger international focus than their peers who obtained tenure earlier. Most importantly, we find that the publication requirements for newly tenured business economics professors have changed over the past thirty years. Specifically, we document increased requirements for publications in highly renowned international journals. However, we also find that traditional German business economics journals (e.g., the Journal of Business Economics and the Schmalenbach Business Review) remain highly relevant outlets for recently tenured business economics professors. Thus, by documenting and quantifying these effects, our study contributes to research on business economics professors by highlighting how the times they are a-changin’.
Enabling spaces for bridging scales: scanning solutions for interdisciplinary human-environment research
Authors: Friis Cecilie , Hernández-Morcillo Mónica , Baumann Matthias , Coral Claudia , Frommen Theresa , Ghoddousi Arash , Loibl David , Rufin Philippe
Published: January 2023

To tackle the twenty-first-century challenges for sustainability, a deeper understanding of their complexity is needed. Hence, interdisciplinary human–environment research integrating knowledge, perspectives, and solutions across scales is crucial. Yet, questions of ‘scale’ and ‘scaling’ continue to challenge human–environment research. Despite substantial scholarly attention to scales, no unified definitions and understanding exist, causing confusion among researchers. In this paper, we aim to provide clarity to the challenges and potential solutions to bridging scales in interdisciplinary human–environment research as well as identify leverage points and arenas of change that would enable it. We used a three-step methodology to (a) identify the challenges and solutions based on a survey of 82 interdisciplinary researchers, (b) prioritise the challenges and solutions based on expert elicitation, and (c) organise the solutions according to their potential for leveraging change at three system arenas: individual researchers, institutions and organisations, and the wider academic structures. The main challenges ranged from issues related to differences in research approaches, lack of resources for deeper collaborations, or conflicting perspectives on problem and scale definitions, to miscommunication. The specific solutions linked to these challenges were predominantly related to the potential of improving the research process through open communication, data sharing, or new techniques for upscaling or downscaling results. We argue that bridging scales requires open and humble conversations across disciplines on scale understandings as well as improved collaboration through data sharing, method development, result dissemination, and contribution to theory. Facilitating such collaboration requires enabling spaces of interaction across three systemic arenas: the individual researcher’s personal commitment to open communication and reflection, the research institution’s capacity to enable interdisciplinary spaces, and the wider academic system valuing and supporting interdisciplinary and cross-scale initiatives.
Networks of action situations in point-source pollution: the case of winery wastewater in Aragon, Spain
Authors: Cazcarro Ignacio , Villamayor-Tomas Sergio , Lobera Maria Pilar , Murría Joaquín , Bernechea María
Published: January 2023

In this article, we offer an analysis of point-source water pollution governance in the European agri-food sector. Specifically, we tackle the case study of the wine industry in Aragon (Spain) through the lenses of the networks of action situations approach. We unveil key strategic decisions of wine producers in relation to compliance with water discharge regulations and explore the feasibility and effectiveness of potential solutions. According to our quantitative and qualitative analyses, the problem of peak load discharges in the sector can be explained by the strategic behavior of wine producers in the context of enforcement deficits, as well as by particularities of the wine production process, and controversies around the construction and management of public treatment plants. Coordination among wine producers and public treatment plant managers to invest in in-house treatment infrastructure or to smooth discharges out so they fit the capacity of treatment plants would be a promising solution; however, economic incentives and tightened enforcement of discharge regulations would also be necessary.

Graphical abstract
Paediatric robotic surgery: a narrative review
Authors: O’Brien Lukas Padraig , Hannan Enda , Antao Brice , Peirce Colin
Published: January 2023

The benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) compared with traditional open surgery, including reduced postoperative pain and a reduced length of stay, are well recognised. A significant barrier for MIS in paediatric populations has been the technical challenge posed by laparoscopic surgery in small working spaces, where rigid instruments and restrictive working angles act as barriers to safe dissection. Thus, open surgery remains commonplace in paediatrics, particularly for complex major surgery and for surgical oncology. Robotic surgical platforms have been designed to overcome the limitations of laparoscopic surgery by offering a stable 3-dimensional view, improved ergonomics and greater range of motion. Such advantages may be particularly beneficial in paediatric surgery by empowering the surgeon to perform MIS in the smaller working spaces found in children, particularly in cases that may demand intracorporeal suturing and anastomosis. However, some reservations have been raised regarding the utilisation of robotic platforms in children, including elevated cost, an increased operative time and a lack of dedicated paediatric equipment. This article aims to review the current role of robotics within the field of paediatric surgery.
Spine surgery in a state-of-the-art hybrid operating room: an experience of 1745 implanted pedicle screws in the thoracolumbar spine
Authors: Schuetze K. , Rau B. , Dehner C. , Schultheiss M. , Richter P. , Cintean R. , Gebhard F. , Eickhoff A.
Published: January 2023

Hybrid-operating rooms (hybrid-OR) combine high-resolution 2D images and 3D-scans with the possibility of 3D-navigation and allow minimal invasive pedicle screw placement even in the upper thoracic spine. The disadvantage of high cost and increased radiation needs to be compensated with high accuracy and safety. The hybrid operating room consists of a floor-based flat-panel robotic C-arm with 3D-scan capability (Artis Zeego, Siemens; Germany) combined with navigation (BrainLAB Curve, BrainLAB; Germany). Through a minimally invasive incision, a Jamshidi needle was advanced through the pedicle and a K-wire was placed. If 2D image quality did not allow safe placement 3D-navigation was used to place the K-wire. Position was controlled through a 3D-Scan and corrected if necessary before screw placement. Postoperative CTs evaluated screw perforation grade with grade I when completely within the pedicle, II < 2 mm, III 2–4 mm, and IV > 4 mm outside the pedicle. Overall, 354 screws were placed in T1–T6, 746 in the lower thoracic spine T7–T12 and 645 in the L1-L5. Navigation was mainly used in upper thoracic spine cases (31 of 57). In 63 out of 326 cases K-wire was corrected after the 3D-Scan. Overall, 99.1% of the screws showed perforation less than 2 mm. Mean radiation was 13.3 ± 11.7 mSv and significantly higher in the upper thoracic spine and in navigated procedures. Despite higher costs and radiation, the hybrid-OR allows highest accuracy and therefore patient safety in minimal invasive pedicle screw placement in the thoracic and lumbar spine.
Application of robot-assisted endoscopic technique in the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in 106 children
Authors: Ying Liyang , Wang Xueke , Liu Xiwang , Tan Zheng , Yu Jiangen , Yang Lijun , Shu Qiang
Published: January 2023

The objective is to evaluate and apply the robot-assisted endoscopic surgical technique for treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in children. Clinical data of 106 children with PDA who underwent robot-assisted endoscopic operation were retrospectively analyzed from August, 2020 to March, 2022. Demographic and preoperative data were collected, including the patient’s age, weight, diameter of the ductus arteriosus, operation time, length of postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications and hospitalization cost. The age ranged from 6 months to 12 years with median age of 2.5 years. In addition, the weight ranged from 6.6 kg (kg) to 51.6 kg with median weight of 12.5 kg. Patients who received transcatheter PDA closure were also enrolled during the same period. Clinical features and perioperative data were compared between the two groups. All the 106 cases underwent robotically assisted surgery for PDA ligation. No one was converted to thoracotomy. The length of operation time was 15–84 min, with an average of 39.4 min. There was no obvious bleeding during the operation. The length of postoperative hospital stays were 1–3 days, with an average of 1.1 ± 0.2 days, which was significantly shorter than that of patients underwent transcatheter approach PDA closure (2.2 ± 0.2 days) (p < 0.05). The average hospitalization costs were US$ 8180 in the 106 patients, which were more expensive than that of ones who received transcatheter procedure (US$ 5076 ± 406) (p < 0.05). Only one case was found to have residual ductus shunt during early postoperative follow-up. One case was found with recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. The two cases recovered after 3 months of follow-up. The median duration of follow-up was 12 (1–20) months. No other short-term complications occurred during the follow-up period. Robotic surgical technique for PDA ligation in children is a safe, effective and reliable surgical method with less trauma, faster recovery and fewer surgical risks. This approach should be considered as an option in children patients requiring PDA ligation.
Cystic hygroma in adults: a single-centre experience and review of the literature
Authors: McInerney Niall James , O’Keeffe Nick , Nae Andreea , Morariu Juliana , Timon Con
Published: January 2023

Cystic hygroma (CH) is a benign congenital lymphatic malformation, occurring predominantly in children, typically as an asymptomatic neck mass. Surgical resection or sclerotherapy is the recommended treatment options. A retrospective review of four cases of adult-onset CH was performed over 2 years by a single surgeon across two institutions. Four patients (two females, median age 31.5 years) who presented with supraclavicular neck masses (range 5–17 cm) are discussed. Ultrasound and MRI demonstrated supraclavicular masses, suggestive of CH. All patients underwent surgical resection. Post-operative courses were uncomplicated, with a mean length of stay of 4 days. All histological samples returned as CH. As of yet, there are no guidelines on the management of CH. Individualised care tailored to each patient, following careful discussion is the most prudent approach. This study demonstrates that surgical resection is a safe and effective treatment for adults in this rarely encountered clinical entity.
Measurement properties of the Brain Balance® multidomain developmental survey: validated factor structure, internal reliability, and measurement invariance
Authors: Jackson Rebecca , Jordan Joshua T.
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to refine and validate a multidomain developmental survey (MDS) used by the Brain Balance® (BB) program. Data were analyzed on 47,571 participants (68.5% male; 4–18 years) whose parents completed the survey before/after 3 months of in-center BB participation. Exploratory Factor Analysis was applied to a training sample (n = 28,254), reducing the original item pool from 98 to 31 items and suggesting a six-factor solution. The six factors were labeled as negative emotionality, reading/writing difficulties, hyperactive-disruptive, academic disengagement, motor/coordination problems, and social communication problems. Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling was applied to two validation samples (n = 9394 and 9923), and the factor structure demonstrated strong goodness-of-fit. Test–retest reliability coefficients (per Pearson correlations) were high for each of the subscales. Finally, the survey’s factor structure appeared equivalent across four groups stratified by reported gender and adolescent status. Overall, the BB-MDS demonstrated strong measurement properties, including validated factor structure, internal reliability, test–retest reliability, and measurement invariance.
Clinical Relevance of Interferon Regulatory Family-4 (IRF4) Expression in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Abdelmonem May E. , Nooh Hend A. , El Ashry Mona S.
Published: January 2023

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell neoplasm with complex biology and heterogenous course. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) transcription factor, important key developmental stages of hematopoiesis, represents an excellent potential therapeutic target. The present work aimed to investigate the expression status of IRF4 in the diagnostic bone marrow biopsy (BMB) cores of MM patients. This prospective study included 62 newly diagnosed MM patients. The expression of IRF4 was assessed in the BMB by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The data were correlated to the patients’ clinico-pathological features, response to treatment and survival rates. IRF4 expression was observed in 50% of MM patients (31/62). IRF-4 positive patients were more frequently male patients (P = 0.018), have immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) translocations (P = 0.05) and tended to present with a higher platelets count (P = 0.07). Multiple myeloma patients presenting with urine M-protein had worse overall survival (OS) than negative cases (P = 0.012). Normocellular BM aspirate (BMA) was associated with better OS than hypercellular and hypocellular BMA (P = 0.006). Patchy distribution of plasma cells in BMB was associated with better disease-free survival (DFS) while diffuse infiltration had the worst (P = 0.019). Of note, after treatment, MM patients had significantly lower percentage of BMA plasma cells, platelet count, β2 microglobulin and creatinine levels (P = 0.037, < 0.001, 0.022 and 0.026, respectively). Had higher albumin level (P = 0.007), compared to initial investigations. No significant association was found between IRF4 expression and the patients’clinical outcomes. Patterns of plasma cells distribution in BMB, BMA cellularity and urine M-protein are prognostically relevant in MM.
Heterosexual Script in Italian Young Adults: Measurement Across Genders
Authors: Scappini Agathe , Donati Maria Anna , Fioravanti Giulia
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The Heterosexual script has not yet received extensive scientific attention in, one of the countries in which gender stereotypes are particularly prominent. The purpose of this study was to examine adherence to sexual scripts among Italian young adults by first evaluating the dimensionality, psychometric properties, and gender invariance of the Italian version of the Heterosexual Script Scale (HSS), a 22-item self-report questionnaire measuring endorsement of sexual scripts in the context of heterosexual relationships.

Method

A community sample of 2781 women and men (F = 50.5%) was recruited in 2021 (mean age = 22.32, SD = 3.53 years, age range: 18–35 years). Participants completed the Italian version of the HSS, measures of ambivalent sexism, and a socio-demographic questionnaire.

Results

Exploratory factor analysis revealed that, after deletion of four items (items 4, 7, 16, 22), four factors should be extracted: Courtship Strategies, Women Depend on Men, Women’s Self-Sacrifice, and Sex Defines Masculinity; Women Set Sexual Limits. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the 18-item four-factor structure had a good fit (RMSEA [90% CI] = .06 [.06; .07]; CFI = .95; SRMR = .05). Good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alphas for the four factors ranged from .65 to .72), construct validity, and metric invariance across genders were demonstrated.

Conclusion

Overall, findings indicate that the HSS can be used to reliably assess the endorsement of gendered sexual scripts among young Italian women and men. Some specific cultural aspects emerged.

Policy Implications

Researchers and sexual health practitioners should consider context-specific sexual scripts when designing research and intervention protocols. Sex education curricula could be improved by integrating modules aimed at promoting egalitarian gender scripts.
Introducing isodynamic points for binary forms and their ratios
Authors: Hägg Christian , Shapiro Boris , Shapiro Michael
Published: January 2023

The isodynamic points of a plane triangle are known to be the only pair of its centers invariant under the action of the Möbius group$${\mathcal {M}}$$Mon the set of triangles, Kimberling (Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers,http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia). Generalizing this classical result, we introduce below theisodynamicmap associating to a univariate polynomial of degree$$d\ge 3$$d≥3with at most double roots a polynomial of degree (at most)$$2d-4$$2d-4such that this map commutes with the action of the Möbius group$${\mathcal {M}}$$Mon the zero loci of the initial polynomial and its image. The roots of the image polynomial will be called theisodynamic pointsof the preimage polynomial. Our construction naturally extends from univariate polynomials to binary forms and further to their ratios.
Homogeneity and Heterogeneity in How Institutional Investors Perceive Corporate and Securities Regulations
Authors: Tanaka Wataru , Iwasaki Masaki
Published: January 2023

We use an in-depth survey of institutional investors investing in Japan to reveal the homogeneity and heterogeneity of their views on corporate governance regulations. Their opinions exhibited high homogeneity in favoring legislative intervention in corporate management but nuanced heterogeneity with respect to the degree of intervention that they regarded as desirable. A certain cluster of investors, to which investment trusts and advisors were more likely to belong, tended to prefer stronger legal intervention; these investors favored strict tender-offer rules, and they more clearly supported intervention in the composition of boards and the pursuit of executive liability. These reactions may have been motivated by concern for the fact that a certain class of shareholders, particularly banks and insurance companies, was vulnerable to pressure by management, making it hard for corporations functioning autonomously to maximize shareholder values. The survey results suggest that shareholder composition may affect the necessity and effectiveness of legal interventions.
Continuous flow synthesis of phenyl glucosazone and its conversion to 2H-1,2,3-Triazole building blocks
Authors: Molnar Maria , Baumann Marcus
Published: January 2023

A continuous flow approach for the generation of phenyl glucosazone from glucose and phenyl hydrazine is reported giving the pure target in 53% isolated yield. This thermal process generates the target product as an insoluble material that causes reactor fouling via adhering to the reactor walls. To overcome this issue a segmented flow approach was realised whereby streams of air and the reaction solution were combined in a T-piece and directed through the heated reactor coil. The resulting micro-mixing prevented reactor fouling and blocking and allowed for multi-hour reactions to generate the desired target in high yield. The value of the phenyl glucosazone product was demonstrated via its oxidative cyclisation into 2H-phenyl-1,2,3-triazoles which represent important heterocyclic scaffolds.
Pedagogical Language Knowledge im Sachunterricht – Professionalisierung der angehenden Lehrpersonen im Fokus
Authors: Krompák Edina
Published: January 2023

Pedagogical language knowledge (Galguera 2011; Bunch 2013) und dessen begrifflicher Apparat ist eng mit dem fachdidaktischen Wissen (pedagogical content knowledge) verbunden. Es umfasst die Auseinandersetzung mit der sprachlichen Komplexität des Lerngegenstandes. Im Sachunterricht werden fachliche und überfachliche Kompetenzen erworben, die ein fachspezifisches, (bildungs‑)sprachliches Register voraussetzen (Schmellentin et al. 2012). Insbesondere Sachtexte verfügen über ein solches fachspezifisches Register, das sich in der Verwendung von Fachwortschatz, in komplexer Satzstruktur und einer verdichteten Sprache äussert (Schroeter-Brauss et al. 2018). Diese sprachlichen Herausforderungen können das Verstehen der Inhalte und der Zusammenhänge erschweren. Aus diesem Grund nimmt Sprachkompetenz als Wissensdimension im Konzept von scientific literacy eine bedeutende Rolle ein (Gräber et al. 2002). Dies erfordert sowohl die Sensibilisierung der Lehrpersonen für eine chancengerechte sprachliche Bildung (Krompák 2015) als auch die Vermittlung von fachbezogenen sprachdidaktischen Kompetenzen. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die sprachliche Sensibilität von Studierenden einer Pädagogischen Hochschule im Umgang mit Sachtexten und der für sie spezifischen Sprache. Der Datensatz, bestehend aus Sachtexten, ihrer Analyse und den Fokusgruppeninterviews mit den Studierenden, wurde mit quantitativen und qualitativen Methoden ausgewertet. Die quantitativen Analysen zeigten, dass die Studierenden die sprachliche und inhaltliche Komplexität der Sachtexte ähnlich einschätzten. Bei der qualitativen Analyse der Texte ergab sich jedoch ein heterogenes Bild. Obwohl wichtige sprachliche Herausforderungen in den Sachtexten identifiziert wurden, mangelte es an einer differenzierten Beschreibung der sprachlichen Phänomene. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse liefern wertvolle Erkenntnisse darüber, wie sich angehende Lehrpersonen mit den sprachlichen Aspekten des Sachunterrichts auseinandersetzen und wie linguistische und fachbezogene sprachdidaktische Kompetenzen in der Lehrerinnen- und Lehrerausbildung gezielt berücksichtigt werden sollen.
Development of a composite regional vulnerability index and its relationship with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Cao Mengqiu , Yao Qing , Chen Bingsheng , Ling Yantao , Hu Yuping , Xu Guangxi
Published: January 2023

The interactions between vulnerability and human activities have largely been regarded in terms of the level of risk they pose, both internally and externally, for certain groups of disadvantaged individuals and regions/areas. However, to date, very few studies have attempted to develop a comprehensive composite regional vulnerability index, in relation to travel, housing, and social deprivation, which can be used to measure vulnerability at an aggregated level in the social sciences. Therefore, this research aims to develop a composite regional vulnerability index with which to examine the combined issues of travel, housing and socio-economic vulnerability (THASV index). It also explores the index’s relationship with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting both social and spatial inequality, using Greater London as a case study, with data analysed at the level of Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs). The findings show that most of the areas with high levels of composite vulnerability are distributed in Outer London, particularly in suburban areas. In addition, it is also found that there is a spatial correlation between the THASV index and the risk of COVID-19 deaths, which further exacerbates the potential implications of social deprivation and spatial inequality. Moreover, the results of the multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) show that the travel and socio-economic indicators in a neighbouring district and the related vulnerability indices are strongly associated with the risk of dying from COVID-19. In terms of policy implications, the findings can be used to inform sustainable city planning and urban development strategies designed to resolve urban socio-spatial inequalities and the potential related impacts of COVID-19, as well as guiding future policy evaluation of urban structural patterns in relation to vulnerable areas.
African Studies Keyword: The Bush
Authors: Lagace Martha
Published: January 2023

When Ugandan singer Geoffrey Oryema died in France in 2018 after forty-one years in exile, his wish was to be cremated, repatriated to Uganda, and dispersed on the wind. His wish implied improper burial and ignited a controversy due to varied meanings of the bush. The bush is a keyword with a painful past. Oryema’s experience and Acholi concepts of the bush suggest the bush is partly a discourse, inherited from one generation to the next, about the shifting space between home and wild. For this analysis, Lagace draws on songs, social media, Ugandan and French press, archives, scholarship, and correspondence with Ugandans.
Restitution vs. Retention: Reassessing Discourses on the African Cultural Heritage
Authors: Eyssette Jérémie
Published: January 2023

In order to reappraise discourses on the restitution vs. retention of Africa’s cultural heritage, Eyssette examines the Musée du Quai Branly (France), the AfricaMuseum (Belgium), the British Museum (UK), and the Humboldt Forum (Germany) as one representative spectrum for analysis showing the mutual imbrications of their changing strategies and practices. After detecting biases in retentionist arguments on security, accessibility, law, and ethics, Eyssette stresses symmetrical shortcomings in restitutionist discourses on provenance research and the instrumentalization of heritage for economic gains or post-colonial rebranding. The conclusion determines whether these four institutions are retentionists, rhetorical restitutionists, or truly reformed restitutionists.
Courting Victims: Exploring the Legal Framing of Exploitation in Human Trafficking Cases
Authors: Sibley Marcus A. , van der Meulen Emily
Published: January 2023

This article examines how exploitation informs judicial interpretations of human trafficking in Canadian criminal cases. While socio-legal and popular notions of trafficking often suggest that forced movement into a decidedly exploitative labour context is required, our analysis of key appellate cases and constitutional challenges reveals that actual exploitation is not a necessary element of the offence. Instead, the trafficking in persons provision criminalizes the intent to exploit, while requiring the court to adopt an “objective” assessment of whether a reasonable person in the complainant’s circumstances could potentially fear for their safety in the context of providing (sexual) labour. We argue that this objective standard contributes to a gendered hierarchy of legal knowledge and ultimately privileges the perceived masculinized rationality of the courts and legal actors while rendering the subjective experiences of complainants as less central to the prosecution of human trafficking.
La gouvernance plurinormative des manifestants : reconfigurations pénales, exceptionnalité et dégradation des droits pendant le G20 à Toronto
Authors: Velloso Joao
Published: January 2023

Cet article analyse la création, l’adaptation et l’utilisation des dispositifs juridiques employés dans le contrôle des manifestants pendant le G20 à Toronto (2010), notamment le recours à un régime spécial basé sur la Loi sur la protection des ouvrages publics (LPOP). Le recours à une loi obscure de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et le peu de transparence gouvernementale sur les lois applicables aux manifestants ont créé des conditions favorables à la plus intense arrestation de masse de l’histoire canadienne (1 118 personnes en deux jours). Nous suggérons que nous assistons à un développement soutenu de nouvelles formes de gouvernance punitive qui opèrent au-delà du droit pénal, à la limite de l’état de droit (« trous juridiques ») et des garanties juridiques traditionnellement associées au procès criminel. Nous concluons que l’utilisation de ces raccourcis punitifs est juridiquement dangereuse et a pour effet systémique de concentrer beaucoup de pouvoir dans les institutions policières.
Almost proximal extensions of minimal flows
Authors: CAO YANG , SHAO SONG
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we study almost proximal extensions of minimal flows. Let
$\pi : (X,T)\rightarrow (Y,T)$
be an extension of minimal flows. Then
$\pi $
is called an almost proximal extension if there is some
$N\in {\mathbb N}$
such that the cardinality of any almost periodic subset in each fiber is not greater than N. When
$N=1$
,
$\pi $
is proximal. We will give the structure of
$\pi $
and give a dichotomy theorem: any almost proximal extension of minimal flows is either almost finite to one, or almost all fibers contain an uncountable strongly scrambled subset. Using the category method, Glasner and Weiss showed the existence of proximal but not almost one-to-one extensions [On the construction of minimal skew products. Israel J. Math.34 (1979), 321–336]. In this paper, we will give explicit such examples, and also examples of almost proximal but not almost finite to one extensions.
Severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks in nursing homes involving residents who had completed a primary coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine series—13 US jurisdictions, July–November 2021
Authors: Wilson W. Wyatt , Keaton Amelia A. , Ochoa Lucas G. , Hatfield Kelly M. , Gable Paige , Walblay Kelly A. , Teran Richard A. , Shea Meghan , Khan Urooj , Stringer Ginger , Colletti Joanne G. , Grogan Erin M. , Calabrese Carly , Hennenfent Andrew , Perlmutter Rebecca , Janiszewski Katherine A. , Kamal-Ahmed Ishrat , Strand Kyle , Berns Emily , MacFarquhar Jennifer , Linder Meghan , Tran Dat J. , Kopp Patricia , Walker Rebecca M. , Ess Rebekah , Read Jennifer S. , Yingst Chelsey , Baggs James , Jernigan John A. , Kallen Alex , Hunter Jennifer C. ,   the MOVIN Surveillance Team
Published: January 2023

Among nursing home outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with ≥3 breakthrough infections when the predominant severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant circulating was the SARS-CoV-2 δ (delta) variant, fully vaccinated residents were 28% less likely to be infected than were unvaccinated residents. Once infected, they had approximately half the risk for all-cause hospitalization and all-cause death compared with unvaccinated infected residents.
Bendocapillary instability of liquid in a flexible-walled channel
Authors: Bradley Alexander T. , Hewitt Ian J. , Vella Dominic
Published: January 2023

We study the bendocapillary instability of a liquid droplet that part fills a flexible walled channel. Inspired by experiments in which a periodic pattern emerges as droplets of liquid are condensed slowly into deformable microchannels, we develop a mathematical model of this instability. We describe equilibria of the system, and use a combination of numerical methods and asymptotic analysis in the limit of small channel wall deflections, to elucidate the key features of this instability. We find that configurations are unstable to perturbations of sufficiently small wavenumber regardless of parameter values, that the growth rate of the instability is highly sensitive to the volume of liquid in the channel, and that both wetting and non-wetting configurations are susceptible to the instability in the same channel. Insight into novel interfacial instabilities opens the possibility for their control and thus exploitation in processes such as microfabrication.