bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Augmenting home entertainment with digitally delivered touch
Authors: Spence Charles , Gao Yang
Published: October 2024

In this narrative review, we take a critical look at the various attempts that have been made to augment home (or personal) entertainment experiences via the addition of some form of digitally controlled tactile stimulation. There has been an explosive growth in the market for home entertainment in recent years, and a majority of smartphones and other wearable electronic devices are now touch-enabled. As such, it is important to consider the challenges and potential opportunities for enhanced multisensory entertainment that may result from the introduction of tactile/haptic stimulation in the context of audiovisual digital storytelling and/or gaming. The key technological, financial (and legal), cognitive, and creative/artistic, challenges associated with the tactile augmentation of home entertainment experiences are outlined. Tactile augmentation, in the sphere of both public and personal entertainment, is more likely to succeed when it goes beyond the merely pleonastic vibrotactile reproduction of those interactions/events than can already be seen and/or heard on screen. At the same time, however, it remains uncertain under what conditions immersion in an entertainment experience will be enhanced by the addition of some form of primitive digital tactile stimulation. Ultimately, until a clear usage case can be made for the benefits of introducing a tactile element to home entertainment, it is unlikely to gain traction and switch from being merely a gimmick to more of a valuable element of multisensory storytelling.
Digitalisation, democracy and the GDPR: The efforts of DPAs to defend democratic principles despite the limitations of the GDPR
Authors: Padden Michaela , Öjehag-Pettersson Andreas
Published: October 2024

This article discusses the perspectives of European Union (EU) / European Economic Area Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) on their role in protecting democratic rights and freedoms in digitalised societies. Data Protection Authorities, which are independent regulators, are responsible for implementing the EU's General Data Protection Regulation in their respective countries. The views of DPAs are important given their special role in monitoring newly emerging digital technologies and how their use may impact on the functioning of democracies. The article highlights three key themes which emerged in interviews with 18 DPAs in answer to the question about what they consider to be the greatest challenges to democratic freedoms. These are: (1) threats to elections due to the manipulation of voters; (2) discriminatory effects of automated decision-making; and (3) broader chilling effects on democratic norms due to ubiquitous surveillance. The article then analyses the solutions named by DPAs to mitigate these challenges to identify their governing, or political, rationalities. The paper finds that the solutions available to DPAs to manage democratic harms tend to emphasise individual over collective responsibility and are connected to broader currents of neoliberal governance. The paper highlights the ways in which some DPAs act as important critical voices within their respective jurisdictions to draw political attention to potentially anti-democratic effects of certain practices, such as profiling, or to the model of digitalisation as it is currently constructed.
Noninvasive assessment of airway inflammation in children: induced sputum, exhaled nitric oxide, and breath condensate
Authors: Gibson PG , Henry RL , Thomas P
Published: October 2024

Noninvasive markers of airway inflammation are needed for use in research and clinical practice in childhood asthma. Induced sputum and exhaled nitric oxide are well established as direct markers of inflammation for use in asthma research. Sputum can be induced from children of >6 yrs using inhalation of hypertonic saline, and, if appropriate, can be combined with an assessment of airway responsiveness to hypertonic saline. The success rate of sputum induction in children is 68-100%. Most studies have processed sputum using the plug selection method, and show that the dominant cell in sputum from normal children is the macrophage, and that the upper normal limit for sputum eosinophils in children is 2.5%. The inflammatory response in childhood asthma is characterized by elevated numbers of sputum eosinophils, and eosinophil cationic protein concentration, as well as increased nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide levels in exhaled breath. Sputum eosinophils correlate with objective markers of disease severity in steroid-naive children with asthma, and in severe asthma. Inflammatory marker levels are lower in children using glucocorticosteroids. Induced sputum and exhaled gases are important markers of inflammation in childhood asthma. The clinical utility of these markers warrants further study.
Clusters, classification and epidemiology of interstitial lung diseases: concepts, methods and critical reflections
Authors: Antó J.M. , Cullinan P.
Published: October 2024

The present article reports on two conceptual and methodological issues concerning interstitial lung disease (ILD) about which there is a lot of misunderstanding and contradiction: the investigation of epidemics and clusters and the classification and epidemiology of ILD.

In general, an epidemic is the occurrence of cases of an illness in excess of normal expectancy. The investigation of an epidemic often demands a number of sequential studies: first descriptive, then aetiological. Clusters consist of an increase in incidence of much smaller magnitude, perhaps excluding the possibility that this is merely a result of chance. In recent years, more valid statistical methods for the assessment of clusters have developed.

For interstitial lung disease in particular, different classifications exist that are sometimes inconsistent and may change with time. All diseases require a process of ascertainment, whereby they are identified, classified and perhaps registered. The two most employed epidemiological techniques for testing aetiological hypotheses are the cohort and case-referent approaches.
Classifying interstitial lung diseases in a fractal lung: a morphologist's view “anno Domini2000”
Authors: Verbeken E.K.
Published: October 2024

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) remain a challenging problem for the pathologist. New insights in aetiology and pathogenesis, new diagnostic tools and successful research have led to a renewed interest in ILDs during the last few years, and highlighted the need for a novel classification, particularly of the chronic and/or idiopathic categories of interstitial pneumonias.

The present paper compares the terminology of the latter categories in current and previous classifications and briefly discusses the pathological basis for the classifications of ILDs in general, and for the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) in particular. The difference between highversuslow morphological specificity determines the pathological classifications. The classification of IIPs relies upon a pattern recognition taking temporal and spatial distribution into consideration.

The last section of this paper discusses recent research opposing the conventional pathological approach, analogous to the mechanical two-compartment model of the lung, in which a discontinuity is considered between these two compartments, and thus, a distinction is made between interstitial lung diseases with and without bronchiolitis. In the recent “fractal” concept, the continuity of the lung architecture is emphasized: the lung is a so-called fractal tree with noninteger dimensions. In this fractal model, an interstitial lung disease effects a peripheral part of the pulmonary fractal tree and this may or may not include bronchioles.
Expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in human pulmonary tissue: possible role in susceptibility for ILD
Authors: Hukkanen J. , Pelkonen O. , Raunio H.
Published: October 2024

The lung is a major target for all inhaled toxicants. Many inhaled chemicals are not hazardous as such, but are biotransformed to reactive intermediates. Therefore, the pathogenesis of interstitial and other lung diseases is intimately linked to exposure to environmental and other chemicals, which may be causative or modifying factors in the cellular pathways and mechanisms mediating oxidative stress and cell protection in the pulmonary tissue.

Several different xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) and phase II enzymes (i.e.conjugation enzymes including several transferases) are present in the human lung and lung-derived cell lines, possibly contributing toin situactivation and inactivation of chemical toxicants. This paper describes the expression and localization of individual CYP‐forms in the lung.

Interindividual differences in the expression of these enzymes may contribute to the risk of developing interstitial and other lung diseases initiated by agents that require metabolic activation.
Does vibrotactile biofeedback for postural control interfere with cognitive processes?
Authors: Schulleri Katrin H. , Feizian Farbod , Steinböck Martina , Lee Dongheui , Johannsen Leif
Published: October 2024

Background

Directional vibrotactile biofeedback for balance control can be instructed in the form of Repulsive (to move in the opposite direction of vibrations) or Attractive (to move in the direction of vibrations) stimulus encodings. However, which of these encodings is less cognitively demanding and poses less interference with high-level cognitive processes of conflict resolution remains unresolved.

Methods

In two between-subject studies with 30 (16 females) and 35 (23 females) healthy young adults, respectively, we investigated the cognitive load of Attractive and Repulsive vibrotactile biofeedback on 1) working memory (Study I) and 2) cognitive conflict resolution (Study II). Both studies also examined the effectiveness of both feedback stimulus encodings on balance control during quiet standing with eyes closed.

Results

Both Attractive and Repulsive vibrotactile biofeedback increased balance stability (reduced trunk sway variability) in both the working memory and the conflict resolution study (Study I and II, respectively) with a greater increase of stability for the Repulsive encoding during multitasking demanding cognitive conflict resolution (Study II). Cognitive costs, measured in terms of the Linear Integrated Speed-Accuracy Score (LISAS), were greater for the Attractive encoding during multitasking with working memory demands. When cognitive conflict resolution was required as a secondary cognitive task, both stimulus encodings increased cognitive costs equally.

Conclusions

The effects of instructed Repulsive and Attractive stimulus encodings for the response-related interpretation of vibrotactile biofeedback of body sway were contrasted with respect to cognitive processing demands and balance stabilisation benefits. Both encodings improved balance stability but at certain cognitive costs. Regarding interference with specific high-level cognitive processes, however, a distinction has to be made between both encodings. Repulsive feedback encoding seems to cause less cognitive costs on working memory load and slightly greater stabilisation when cognitive conflict resolution is required. These results are discussed in the context of the known benefits of avoidance actions on cognitive control.
Extraction of deterioration and analysis of vegetation impact effects on the south palace wall of Weiyang Palace
Authors: Gao Sheng , Tao Liang , Chen Fulong , Zhou Xiaochen , Shi Pilong , Yao Xun , Zhu Meng , Li Wenbo , Zhou Wei , Luo Yansong , Li Hongqiang , Chen Caiyan , Zhang Xinru
Published: October 2024

Weiyang Palace, the royal palace of the Western Han Dynasty, is a part of the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor on the World Heritage list. The south palace wall of Weiyang Palace is a well-preserved earthen heritage site within the palace, but it is undergoing continuous deterioration due to the influence of vegetation and external environmental factors. This study pioneers the integration of high-resolution three-dimensional LiDAR scanning with multi-source data analysis, including unprecedented on-site botanical surveys, to explore the subtle effects of different vegetation types on the structural integrity of the south palace wall. Through contour line analysis and facade grid analysis, we extracted the deterioration locations of typical sections of the earthen heritage sites. And we classified the overlying vegetation types on the wall using an object-oriented classification algorithm. Our findings reveal a complex interaction between vegetation and earthen structures: paper mulberry exhibits protective qualities against erosion, while Ziziphus jujuba significantly exacerbates structural vulnerabilities. The methodologies applied in this study for extracting deterioration at earthen heritage sites and integrating multi-source spatial data can serve as a technical application model for monitoring and analyzing the driving forces of earthen heritage sites along the entire Silk Road network, thereby better guiding the conservation of earthen heritage sites.
Investigation of landslide triggers on Mount Oku, Cameroon, using Newmark displacement and cluster analysis
Authors: Djukem D. L. W. , Braun A. , Fan X. , Wouatong A. S. L. , Fernandez-Steeger T. M. , Havenith H. B.
Published: October 2024

Background

The landslide inventory of the western flank of Mount Oku, Cameroon, includes spreads or complex landslides, indicating sudden soil weakening, possibly due to seismic activity or heavy rainfall causing groundwater rise. These landslides were likely triggered between 2009 and 2018 based on the dates of the aerial imagery. Identifying triggers for past landslides remains a major unresolved issue in landslide science. However, understanding these triggers is crucial for accurately assessing future landslide hazards.

Methodology

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of earthquakes to precondition landslide development or reactivation during climatic events. By assuming a magnitude 5.2 earthquake, an epicenter of 10 km from this area, and different wetness conditions, the factor of safety (FS) and Newmark displacement (ND) models were calculated for shallow and deep-seated landslides with sliding depths of 3 and 7.5 m. Afterward, the relationship between FS, assumed ND, and observed landslides was analyzed in a cluster analysis, to derive patterns of climatically and seismically triggered landslides.

Results

The comparison of FS maps and FS values of the observed landslides revealed that especially for landslides at 7.5 m depth, most sites that are stable during dry conditions become instable under saturated conditions, indicating a climatic trigger. At 3 m depth, however, some landslide sites that are still marginally stable under saturated conditions, display relatively high ND values for the investigated hypothetical earthquake, indicating a possible seismic influence. In the cluster analysis, we clustered the observed landslides according to their distances to rivers and topographic ridges and obtained three clusters. Landslides from cluster 3 with 31% of the landslides display medium to high ND for the assumed earthquake, and were found near ridges and farther away from rivers, suggesting seismic triggering. Cluster 2, with 12% of landslides closer to rivers, suggested climatic origins. Thus, while climate is a critical landslide contributing factor, seismic events may also contribute, either by predisposing to landslides or by reactivating them alongside climatic factors. These results enable the establishment of more precise and effective landslide mitigating measures considering mostly rainfall but also earthquakes as possible triggers.
Comparison of outcomes for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation: Viatorr versus Fluency versus a bare stent/Fluency stent combination
Authors: Li Weizhi , Liu Mengying , Guan Sheng , Ding Pengxu , Yuan Jia , Zhao Yan , Li Peijie , Ma Fuquan , Xue Hui
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To compare clinical outcomes of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) created with the single covered-uncovered stent (Viatorr TIPS Endoprosthesis) versus covered stent (Fluency) versus a combination of covered and uncovered stent.

Materials and methods

From May 2016 and July 2019, a total of 180 liver cirrhosis patients with recurrent variceal bleeding underwent TIPS creation with single covered-uncovered stent (n = 63) or covered stent (n = 41) or a covered and uncovered stent combination (n = 76). Shunt dysfunction, rebleeding, overt hepatic encephalopathy and mortality was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log-rank test.

Results

The difference of baseline characteristics among these three groups were not significant. The included patients had a median age of 51 years (IQR 43–61), and 101 (56.1%) were men. The 1-year and 2-year shunt dysfunction rates were 1.6% and 3.2% in the single covered-uncovered stent group, 7.3% and 7.3% in the covered stent group and 5.3% and 6.6% in the combination group, respectively. There was no significant difference among groups [Hazard Ratio (HR) (95%CI): 1 vs 2.29 (0.38 − 13.72) vs 2.10 (0.41 − 10.83); P = 0.913]. No significant differences in the incidence of all-cause rebleeding were observed between the groups at 1 year (Viatorr vs Fluency vs combination: 11.1% vs 17.1% vs 10.5%) as well as 2 years (15.9% vs 17.1% vs 11.8%), with the HR (95%CI) being 1 vs 1.27 (0.5—3.21) vs 0.74 (0.30–1.82); P = 0.475). The 1-year and 2-year incidence of overt hepatic encephalopathy were 30.2% and 30.2% in the single covered-uncovered stent group, 22.0% and 22.0% in the covered stent group and 25.0% and 25.0% in the combination group, respectively. However, there was no significant difference among these three groups (P = 0.402). In addition, there was no significant difference in the 1-year and 2-year mortality (6.3% and 7.9% vs. 4.9% and 9.8% vs. 6.6% and 9.2%, P = 0.606).

Conclusion

No significant difference was observed among different stent groups. Fluency covered stent and the generic bare stent/Fluency covered stent was not an unreasonable alternative to the Viatorr stent for TIPS creation.
Mapping and assessment of ecological vulnerability to wildfires in Europe
Authors: Arrogante-Funes Fátima , Mouillot Florent , Moreira Bruno , Aguado Inmaculada , Chuvieco Emilio
Published: October 2024

Background

Wildfires play a significant and complex role in ecosystems, influencing various aspects of their functioning and structure. These natural disturbances can positively and negatively impact ecosystems, shaping landscapes, nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and ecological processes. This study focuses on assessing and integrating the different factors that affect the ecological vulnerability to wildfires at the European scale. Our methodology follows three steps. Firstly, ecological values based on biological distinctiveness and conservation status were estimated to understand pre-fire conditions better. Secondly, we obtain vegetation’s coping capacity (or resistance) to the impacts of fire, considering the functional traits of plants and fire characteristics through a fire extreme scenario. Finally, post-fire recovery time was calculated by considering the species-specific recovery time, recovery starting time, growth recovery rate, and the environmental constraints affecting the optimal vegetation response. These three variables were combined using a dynamic model that assumed the change of value due to wildfires integrated throughout the recovery time.

Results

Our results indicate that the tundra biome emerges as the most ecologically vulnerable to fire, primarily due to its high ecological values and long recovery time, which outweigh its moderate coping capacity. Following closely, the temperate conifer forests also exhibit high vulnerability driven by their high recovery time, despite moderate ecological and coping capacity values. The boreal forests rank next, with moderate vulnerability due to their long recovery time and moderate coping capacity. The Mediterranean region, although having moderate ecological values and recovery time, shows a notable vulnerability influenced by lower coping capacity. The temperate broadleaf and mixed forests demonstrate relatively lower vulnerability owing to their balanced ecological values, moderate recovery time, and substantial coping capacity. Lastly, the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands are the least vulnerable, benefiting from lower ecological values and the fastest recovery time, alongside moderate coping capacity, which collectively reduce their overall fire vulnerability.

Furthermore, we found that coping capacity is the factor that most influenced ecological vulnerability to wildfires.

Conclusions

The study identifies key zones for European or national policies on fire prevention and post-wildfire regeneration. It offers insights into effective forest management and conservation policies, applicable to current conditions. Additionally, the methods can predict future ecological vulnerability to wildfires based on climatic and socio-economic trends.
Evaluation of blast-induced progressive collapse in steel structures with conventional braces, moment-resisting braces, and buckling-restrained braces using LS-DYNA software
Authors: Siah Mansour Amir , Hosseini Seyed Azim , Maleki Toulabi Hossein
Published: October 2024

Today, considering the increased cases of terroristic operations, structural design engineers are starting to acknowledge blast-induced loads alongside other design parameters. Since a blast-induced load exhibits a much shorter period than the natural period of the structure, it is unlikely to induce general damages or stimulate the entire structure immediately after the loading, but rather local damages in individual structural elements are the common form of damage. These local damages, however, can set the scene for the gradual failure of the structure. The present study on structures with moment-resisting frames, buckling-restrained braces (BRBs), and conventional steel braces was conducted through an alternative load path (ALP, also known as column elimination) and exact modeling of the blast on the steel frames was undertaken using LS-DYNA software. In this work, the behavior of three five-story steel frames under a blast-induced load of 100 kg TNT equivalent at a distance of 10 m from the structural columns for a period of 100 ms was investigated. Results of analyzing the blast-induced effect on the frames showed that the frame equipped with buckling-restrained braces (BRB) exhibited improved overall peak displacement across the entire frame, peak induced velocity, and peak induced acceleration by 30%, 30%, and 46%, respectively, as compared to other steel frames exposed to blast loads.
Using a QuantCrit Approach to Develop and Collect Evidence of Validity for a Measure of Community Cultural Wealth
Authors: Marroquín-Flores Rosario A. , Tijerina Rose Marie , Tedeschi Mason , Banjara Sofia , Warmsley Redmon , McFather Luke , Casas Zianna , Limeri Lisa B.
Published: October 2024

Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) is an asset-based framework focusing on the cultural strengths that students develop in response to oppression. Using a QuantCrit approach, we have developed and collected evidence of validity for a measure of CCW. Our methodological approach integrates teachings from critical theories to challenge deficit narratives
Workplace bullying of psychiatric trainees: systematic review
Authors: Maguire Paul A. , Wilkes Fiona A. , Allison Stephen , Bastiampillai Tarun , Brazel Matt , Looi Jeffrey C. L.
Published: October 2024

Aims and method

We aimed to systematically review primary studies exploring workplace bullying of psychiatric trainees, including rates, forms of bullying, perpetrators and help-seeking. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Embase using PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criterion was primary research papers surveying or interviewing psychiatry trainees with respect to perceived workplace bullying by staff members. Exclusion criteria were secondary research papers and papers whose only focus was bullying by patients or carers.

Results

Substantial levels of bullying were reported in all five included studies. Perpetrators were often reported to be consultants, managers or peers. Most trainees did not obtain help for bullying and harassment. All of the studies had methodological limitations.

Clinical implications

Concerning levels of workplace bullying have been reported by psychiatric trainees in the UK and abroad. Further methodologically robust studies are required to evaluate the current levels and nature of this bullying, and strategies to prevent and manage it.
Long-Term Effects of Incretin-Based Drugs on Glycemic Control in Permanent Neonatal Diabetes
Authors: Oshiro Ayaka , Aotani Ryoichiro , Sakamoto Wakako , Kitazono Takanari , Ohkuma Toshiaki
Published: October 2024

Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM) is a genetic disorder, characterized by a decrease in endogenous insulin secretion. Therefore, exogenous insulin supplementation plays a central role in controlling glycemia. Although adding a sulfonylurea can help to discontinue insulin, discontinuation is sometimes difficult when the sulfonylurea is administered at older ages. A 24-year-old woman with longstanding PNDM who had poor glycemic control using insulin (47 U/day) and high-dose glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg/day), had successfully discontinued insulin after initiating the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin (50 mg/day). Additionally, hemoglobin A1c levels decreased by 4.8%. Double dosing of sitagliptin and subsequent switching to the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide (0.25 mg/week followed by 0.5 mg/week) further decreased hemoglobin A1c values, with graded improvements in endogenous insulin secretion. There were no episodes of hypoglycemia during which glibenclamide was titrated down from 0.6 to 0.4 mg/kg/day. Intra- and inter-day glucose variability as assessed by continuous glucose monitoring was also improved. In patients with PNDM, administration and dose escalation of incretin-based drugs, in addition to a high-dose sulfonylurea, could be a useful treatment strategy. This strategy may be helpful for discontinuing insulin, downtitrating sulfonylureas, and subsequent achievement of better glycemic control regarding long-term stability and short-term variability.
5α Reductase Deficiency—a Rare Cause of Ambiguous Genitalia and Gender Dysphoria
Authors: Wall Ellen , Jayadev Veena
Published: October 2024

We present a case of pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias, secondary to 5α-reductase deficiency presenting as gender dysphoria. This particular enzyme deficiency accounts for only a small number of disorders of sexual development cases worldwide. A feature of this disorder is the presence of ambiguous genitalia at birth followed by the development of male secondary sexual characteristics during puberty when testicular production of testosterone can compensate for previous low circulating levels of 5-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Our described patient, raised female, presented with gender dysphoria with no male secondary sexual features given a bilateral orchidectomy in infancy.

Initial testing showed biochemical primary hypogonadism and whole-genomic sequencing demonstrated pathogenic compound heterozygous variants in the SRD5A2 gene. Treatment was commenced with injectable testosterone undecanoate leading to development of desired male secondary sexual characteristics.
Teaching International Solidarity through Lotus: Afro-Asian Writings
Authors: Marzagora Sara , Ziadah Rafeef
Published: October 2024

This article discusses the relevance of the journal Lotus: Afro-Asian Writings, a trilingual (Arabic, English, French) quarterly published by the Afro-Asian Writers Association from 1968 to 1991, for the development of critical and anticolonial pedagogies.
Revolutionary Print Culture in the Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Shamshiri Marral
Published: October 2024

Sawt al-Thawra (Voice of the Revolution) was the weekly bulletin of the anticolonial revolutionary movement in Dhufar, Oman, in the 1970s. It was published in Aden beginning in 1972 by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG), or Jabhah al-Shaʻbīyah li-Taḥrīr ʻUmān wa-al-Khalīj al-ʻArabī in Arabic. This essay introduces the Sawt al-Thawra teaching tool, a resource that the author has created for the Revolutionary Papers project. It intends to supplement teaching and learning on the Dhufar Revolution, global history, anticolonialism and decolonization, social and political movements, and revolutionary print culture in the global 1970s.
Is interprofessional collaborative practice functioning key to improving care?
Authors: Rikos Nikos
Published: October 2024

No abstract available
Knowledge and Attitude of self-medication with leftover antibiotics in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Al-Mehmadi Bader , Alsubaie Saad , Al-Morikhi Omar , Alqahtani Fawaz , Almutairi Waad , Al-Mutairi Maryam , Alotaibi Mohammed , Alenazi Saud , Alanazi Khalid
Published: October 2024

Background Antimicrobial resistance is increasing at an alarming rate. The use of antibiotics without a prescription by a patient or other family members and their inappropriate storage have caused serious health issues as it would lead to antibiotic resistance and exposure to the risk of harmful adverse effects unnecessarily. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the current behaviour of antibiotic usage, storage, re-usage and misuse among the residents of Saudi Arabia. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Our target study population was the residents of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected by an online questionnaire and analysed by SPSS. Results A total of 738 participants answered the online questionnaire from all ages, genders, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds residing in different regions across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 76.42% knew that an antibiotic is a chemical substance used to treat infections. The participants were questioned about when they started using antibiotics, to which 95.66% (n=706) responded after consulting a physician, 3.25% (n=24) said when they felt ill for any reason, and 1.08% (n=8) replied after first attempting herbal medicine. A total of 147 participants admitted that they store excess pills of antibiotics after being prescribed for an infection and reuse them later on for symptoms like sore throat and fever. Conclusions The results indicated that nearly half of the participants used leftover antibiotics. Participants having children in their homes significantly reuse antibiotics. However, one-third of the participants didn’t complete the antibiotics course. A large portion of the population, regardless of age, level of education, or professional background, have continued to store leftover antibiotics after an infection treatment and reuse them once they think they need them for new symptoms. This advice further revises the current measures to fill those gaps and reduce this habit.
Enriching Earth observation datasets through semantics for climate change applications: The EIFFEL ontology
Authors: Molina Benjamin , Palau Carlos E. , Calvo-Gallego Jaime
Published: October 2024

Background Earth Observation (EO) datasets have become vital for decision support applications, particularly from open satellite portals that provide extensive historical datasets. These datasets can be integrated with in-situ data to power artificial intelligence mechanisms for accurate forecasting and trend analysis. However, researchers and data scientists face challenges in finding appropriate EO datasets due to inconsistent metadata structures and varied keyword descriptions. This misalignment hinders the discoverability and usability of EO data. Methods To address this challenge, the EIFFEL ontology (EIFF-O) is proposed. EIFF-O introduces taxonomies and ontologies to provide (i) global classification of EO data and (ii) linkage between different datasets through common concepts. The taxonomies specified by the European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC) have been formalized and implemented in EIFF-O. Additionally, EIFF-O incorporates: 1. An Essential Climate Variable (ECV) ontology, defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), is embedded and tailored for Climate Change (CC) applications. 2. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ontology is included to facilitate linking datasets to specific targets. 3. The ontology extends schema.org vocabularies and promotes the use of JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data (JSON-LD) formats for semantic web integration. Results EIFF-O provides a unified framework that enhances the discoverability, usability, and application of EO datasets. The implementation of EIFF-O allows data providers and users to bridge the gap between varied metadata descriptions and structured classification, thereby facilitating better linkage and integration of EO datasets. Conclusions The EIFFEL ontology represents a significant advancement in the organization and application of EO datasets. By embedding ECV and SDG ontologies and leveraging semantic web technologies, EIFF-O not only streamlines the data discovery process but also supports diverse applications, particularly in Climate Change monitoring and Sustainable Development Goals achievement. The open-source nature of the ontology and its associated tools promotes rapid adoption among developers
Navigating the complex policy landscape for carbon farming in The Netherlands and the EU
Authors: Spijker Eise
Published: October 2024

Background The EU carbon removal and carbon farming (CRCF) framework sets the quality requirements for voluntary greenhouse gas certification schemes for i) permanent removal, ii) temporary carbon storage in long-lasting products, iii) temporary carbon storage from carbon farming, and iv) soil emission reduction. The next step is to develop “tailored certification methodologies for different types of carbon removal activities.” Via CRCF compliant certification schemes, certificates can be issued and sold to generate extra funding for carbon farming via voluntary carbon markets or other (future) performance-based incentive schemes (e.g., Agri sector Emissions Trading Scheme). Method We provide a qualitative assessment of the complex landscape of carbon farming incentive schemes and their associated monitoring, reporting, verification, and certification (MRV-C) frameworks. To illustrate these complexities, we take the farmers’ perspective of a Dutch dairy farmer that wants to implement different carbon farming activities (i.e., a portfolio), while aiming to secure a decent farm-level income. We discuss the farmers’ challenge by analyzing different options and routes for the financial valorization for several carbon farming activities. Results We find that the incremental MRV-C and incentive schemes, like the EU CRCF and potential agri-ETS are likely to add to the existing administrative burden for (carbon) farmers in the EU. Proper alignment, integration and standardization of the EU CRCF with existing MRV-C infrastructure(s) is needed to limit the administrative burden and transaction costs. Also, there is a need to provide better ex-ante clarity to (carbon) farmers and investors on the complementarity of incentive schemes from different policy domains (e.g., agriculture, climate, energy, bioeconomy). Conclusion We argue that the complexity of the MRV-C and incentives landscape ads to the administrative burden and flag this a potential source of inertia for investments in carbon farming. We conclude with recommendations to simplify and streamline the policy mix and MRV-C processes.
The genome sequence of the pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus Baillon, 1834
Authors: Lopez Colom Rosa , O’Brien Michelle ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: October 2024

We present a genome assembly from a female pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (Chordata; Aves; Anseriformes; Anatidae). The genome sequence spans 1,287.30 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 41 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the W and Z sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.74 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of a picture-winged fly, Melieria crassipennis (Fabricius, 1794)
Authors: Mitchell Ryan ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: October 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual female picture-winged fly, Melieria crassipennis (tArthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Ulidiidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 414.00 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 4 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.77 kilobases in length.
Reputation Burning: Analyzing the Impact of Brand Sponsorship on Social Influencers
Authors: Cheng Mengjie (Magie) , Zhang Shunyuan
Published: October 2024

The growth of the influencer marketing industry warrants an empirical examination of the effect of posting sponsored videos on influencers’ reputations. We collected a novel data set of user-generated YouTube videos created by prominent English-speaking influencers in the beauty and style category. We extracted a rich set of theory-driven video features and used DiNardo-Fortin-Lemieux reweighting to construct comparable treatment and control groups matched at the influencer-video level. The empirical analysis of the matched sample revealed a reputation-burning effect; that is, posting a sponsored video, compared with posting an equivalent organic video, cost the influencers 0.19% of their reputation (operationalized as the number of subscribers). The reputation-burning effect was stronger among the influencers with larger audiences. An analysis of likes, comments, and comment texts revealed a larger gap in audience response between sponsored and organic videos among the influencers with larger (versus smaller) audiences. The reputation-burning effect was mitigated when a high fit existed between the sponsored content and the influencer’s “usual” content and when the promoted brand was less well known. Our study empirically tested the assumption of several theoretical works. Moreover, it contributes to the literature on influencer marketing and celebrity endorsements and provides managerial implications for influencers, brands, and social media platforms.

This paper was accepted by D. J. Wu, information systems.

Funding: This research was supported by funding provided by Harvard Business School.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.00193 .
‘Is it a syndrome? Who cares?’ A critical discourse analysis of parental alienation in relevant England and Wales policy debates
Authors: Nicholson-Pallett Phoebe
Published: October 2024

Domestic abuse campaigners managed to prevent parental alienation from being entrenched in the Domestic Abuse Act, 2021; yet the concept continues to be framed as a form of domestic abuse. As debates around the topic continue it is necessary to investigate how the concept has been constructed by proponents. Through critical discourse analysis this study examines key policy debates on the topic from the UK parliament and Families Need Fathers during a period in which parental alienation gained notable traction in England and Wales. It appears the success of parental alienation is dependent upon discourses that deliberately detract from critiques of the concept. Proponents fail to give a consistent definition, describing it as a form of child abuse yet depicting fathers as the primary victims. Despite declaring it a form of abuse, advocates purport false allegations of this type of crime to be widespread, presenting a conundrum into how much weight such claims should be given. These arguments are put forward in a context where parental alienation is argued to be gender-neutral while domestic abuse is understood to be a gendered crime. Overall, these discourses demonstrate a pattern of undermining the prevalence, seriousness, and gendered reality of domestic abuse.
Height reconstructions from geometric wavefronts using vision ray metrology
Authors: Ramirez-Andrade Ana Hiza , Falaggis Konstantinos
Published: October 2024

A recently reported vision ray metrology technique [Opt. Express 29, 43480 (2021)OPEXFF1094-408710.1364/OE.443550] measures geometric wavefronts with high precision. This paper introduces a method to convert these wavefront data into height information, focusing on the impact of back surface flatness and telecentricity errors on measurement accuracy. Systematic errors from these factors significantly affect height measurements. Using ray trace simulations, we estimate reconstruction errors with various plano-concave and plano-convex elements. We also developed a calibration technique to mitigate telecentricity errors, achieving submicron accuracy in surface reconstruction. This study provides practical insights into vision ray metrology systems, highlighting validity limits, emphasizing the importance of calibration for larger samples, and establishing system alignment tolerances. The reported technique for the conversion of geometric wavefronts to surface topography employs a direct non-iterative ray-tracing-free method. It is ideally suited for reference-free metrology with application to freeform optics manufacturing.
Thin film lithium niobate electro-optic modulator with reduced half-wave voltage length product through design
Authors: Li Ye , Hong Lihong , Chen Baoqin , Li Zhi-Yuan
Published: October 2024

This paper aims at shortening electrode spacing in a thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) electro-optic modulator (EOM) while avoiding an increase in metal absorption loss, thereby reducing the half-wave voltage length product (V
π
⋅L). Through numerical simulations, we find that metal absorption loss reaches its peak values when the optical modes of the metal-clad dielectric waveguide and ridged waveguide hybridize. This negative effect can be mitigated by adjusting the electrode width to modify the optical mode of the metal-clad dielectric waveguide. In addition, we raise the vertical position of the electrodes to further mitigate metal absorption loss and reduce the electrode spacing. By calculating the optimal buffer layer thickness for two crystal axis orientations, our findings reveal a 19% reduction in V
π
⋅L at conventional crystal axis orientation (θ=±90∘) and a 16% decrease at unconventional crystal axis orientation (θ=54∘). Notably, V
π
⋅L at unconventional crystal axis orientation is 5% lower than at conventional crystal axis orientation. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of geometric configuration optimization toward enhancing the efficiency and performance of the TFLN EOM.
Optical and stress properties of ZrO2/SiO2 and TiO2/SiO2 anti-reflective coatings deposited by ion-beam-assisted deposition on a flexible substrate
Authors: Chen Hsi-Chao , Chang Chun-Hao , Chen Kun-Hong
Published: October 2024

Dielectric films of ZrO2,TiO2, and SiO2 were deposited on flexible polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates by using ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD). Each layer had a thickness ranging from 30 to 210 nm. The optical and anisotropic stress properties were investigated. Two anti-reflective coatings (ARCs), ZrO2/SiO2 and TiO2/SiO2, were selected and deposited on the PET flexible substrate. The anisotropic stresses of the single layer and ARCs were measured using a phase-shifting moiré interferometer. Experimental results showed that the optimal oxygen flow rates for the ZrO2,TiO2, and SiO2 films deposited with IBAD were 10, 10, and 15 sccm, respectively. The refractive index (n) was TiO2(2.37)>ZrO2(2.05)>SiO2(1.46), and the extinction coefficient (k) for all samples was below 10−3. The thermal expansion coefficient of the PC substrate was three times that of the PET substrate, and the high-refraction ZrO2 and TiO2 single-layer films presented cracks and distortions on the PC substrate. Only the low-refractive-index SiO2 sample did not present cracks. The three dielectric films did not crack or distort when deposited on the PET substrate. The anisotropic stress analysis provided the maximum principal and shear stresses for the three dielectric films on the PET substrate. Therefore, the maximum principal stress of the 210 nm single-layer film on a PET substrate is TiO2>ZrO2>SiO2. It was also discovered that the principal stress of the AR multilayer film is significantly decreased due to the damping stacking effect (DSE) of the high- and low-refractive-index materials, ZrO2/SiO2 ARC (−297.3MPa)>TiO2/SiO2ARC(−132.6MPa). Thus, the high packing density of TiO2 gives a better DSE than ZrO2.
POF helical sensor: a simple design approach for vibration measuring based on bend loss coupling
Authors: Hussain Sadam , Liu Liu , Rui Ma , Yuanxiang Zhang , Ghaffar Abdul , Chen George Y , Alshehri Hashim M. , Qureshi Khurram Karim , Ali Kamran , Das Bhagwan , Mehdi Mujahid
Published: October 2024

The present study proposed a novel polymer optical fiber sensor design for vibration measuring. The sensor design consists of two fibers; primary and secondary fibers. Where primary fiber leads to optical power loss through bending loss and secondary fiber couples the optical power through phase coupling. The sensor design involves the primary fiber winding on the supportive cylindrical tube to make the sensor helical structure. The winding of the primary fiber makes the eleven bend loops, which are considered as the sensing points. Based on the bend loss theory, each bend loop leads variable amounts of optical power loss. To detect the vibrating motion, the secondary fiber is aligned perpendicularly with the helical structure. Combined primary and secondary fibers generate the proposed vibration sensor. In the experimental setup, the vibration motion continually varies the position of secondary fiber with helical structured fiber to couple variable optical power. The variation in the optical power coupling intensity indicates the vibration motion. The results showed that the proposed sensor design demonstrated its capability to detect the vibration repetitively and different ranges of vibrations effectively. Furthermore, software limitations impose constraints on sampling rates, restricting the proposed sensor's ability to exploit the sensor's high-frequency detection potential fully. Despite this, we have successfully reported the detection of vibrations up to 10 Hz, highlighting the sensor's substantial promise for applications requiring precise vibration monitoring within this frequency range.