bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating Admissibility Before the European Court of Human Rights for Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Defenders
Authors: Hamilton Frances , Alagic-Bowder Naida
Published: November 2024

In recent years the rise of populist right-wing governments across Europe has led to concerns about infringements to lesbian and gay rights. Brave individuals bring cases against their states to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to test state compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. It is argued in this article that strict admissibility criteria before the ECtHR poses particular difficulties for lesbian and gay applicants. Specifically, the admissibility requirements of being (1) an individual victim, (2) to disallow anonymous applications and (3) to have suffered a ‘significant disadvantage’ are more challenging for lesbian and gay applicants to fulfil. It is concluded that enabling Representative Actions would provide greater possibilities for such individuals.
Differences in xylem and phloem structure in living stumps of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)
Authors: Gričar Jožica , Drolc Miha , Prislan Peter , Šircelj Helena
Published: November 2024

Living stumps reported in many tree species were the first, circumstantial evidence of root grafting. Although stump overgrowth has been extensively studied in various tree species, anatomical observations have mainly focused on the xylem part. Here, we investigated the xylem and phloem structure in living stumps of two conifer species: Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). The mechanism of wound closure was similar in the two species, however, there were differences in the structure of wound tissues in wood and bark. Immediately after the injury, a callus consisting of parenchymal cells was formed, followed by wound-wood with wide increments. In addition, the wood structure and morphology of tracheids were changed. Tracheids lost their typical elongated and tapering structure; instead, numerous crooked and forked tracheids were present. Traumatic resin canals were present in both species but were more abundant in P. abies, which also had normal resin canals. While the structure of the xylem growth rings eventually normalized in both species, the width of the annual xylem increments was diminished. In both species, the typical structure of annual phloem increment was lost in the non-collapsed phloem and sclereids were very abundant in the collapsed phloem. In A. alba, the collapsed phloem was rich in swollen parenchyma cells containing blue-stained contents, while in P. abies, numerous large traumatic resin canals were conspicuous. The study showed that similar patterns of vascular tissue restoration exist in A. alba and P. abies in response to tree felling. However, there are certain species-specific peculiarities in the wood and phloem anatomical response, which might affect long-term stump functioning and survival.
A new species of Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) from the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: RASINGAM LADAN , SUSMITHA GOPARAJU , RANJANA JAMUDA , RANJITHKUMAR PASUPULA , ARIKRISHNAN PARTHIBAN
Published: November 2024

Crinum andhricum (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from the Northern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh is described and illustrated. It is closely related to Crinum amoenum and C. stracheyi, but differs in its number of flowers per inflorescence, shape of the perianth lobes and filament length.
Pitcairnia asmussii (Bromeliaceae), a new species form Venezuela, close to P. xanthocalyx Mart
Authors: GOUDA ERIC J.
Published: November 2024

A new species of Pitcairnia similar to P. xanthocalyx Mart. is described, compared with this species and illustrated. The flowers of this new species has shorter pedicel, but larger sepals and petals, and it has dimorphic, non-petiolate leaves. The species was discovered by Matthias Asmuss from Caracas, Venezuela and cultivated at the Utrecht Botanical Gardens.
New or poorly known species of Sinodrepanus Simonis, 1985 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Oniticellini), with the first identification key for the genus
Authors: MONTANARO GIULIO
Published: November 2024

The taxonomy and distribution of seven species of Sinodrepanus Simonis, 1985 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Oniticellini) is studied. Sinodrepanus schoenfeldi Montanaro, new species from India and Laos is described and illustrated. The morphologically similar and poorly known Sinodrepanus exsul (Sharp, 1875) is redescribed and illustrated, including the previously unknown female. The synonymy of S. arrowi (Balthasar, 1932) with S. rex (Boucomont, 1912) is confirmed and a lectotype of S. arrowi is designated. New distributional data on all three species, on S. falsus (Sharp, 1875), S. thailandicus Ochi, Kon & Masumoto, 2004 (new for Myanmar) and S. uenoi Ochi, Kon & Masumoto, 2004 (new for Laos) are reported. Comments on the distinction between S. besucheti Simonis, 1985 and S. tsaii Masumoto, Yang & Ochi, 2004 are made. Lastly, the first identification key to all Sinodrepanus species is provided.
A new Potamocypridini genus of Cypridopsinae (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Thailand, with a discussion on taxonomic characters and morphological evolution in the tribe
Authors: SAVATENALINTON SUKONTHIP
Published: November 2024

A new genus and species belonging to the subfamily Cypridopsinae, Neopotamocypris indivisa gen. nov. sp. nov., is described from Thailand. The new genus is the second one of the tribe Potamocypridini. Neopotamocypris gen. nov. is similar to Potamocypris but can be distinguished mainly by the undivided penultimate segment of the second thoracopod, the absence of the d1 seta on the third thoracopod and the morphology of the mandibular palp, maxillula and female genital hook. The discovery of the new genus suggests the morphological divergent evolution at generic level within the tribe and also perhaps constitutes an example of convergent evolution in the subfamily. The taxonomic characters of the tribe are briefly discussed.
Enhanced data on Stolephorus grandis and Stolephorus waitei (Teleostei: Clupeiformes: Engraulidae), two species endemic to the Sahul Shelf, western Pacific Ocean
Authors: HATA HARUTAKA , WIBOWO KUNTO , LAVOUÉ SÉBASTIEN , POGONOSKI JOHN J. , APPLEYARD SHARON A. , MOTOMURA HIROYUKI
Published: November 2024

Eighteen and 23 specimens of two species of the poorly known anchovies Stolephorus grandis Hata & Motomura, 2021b and Stolephorus waitei Jordan & Seale, 1926 (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae), respectively, are examined. This study presents their detailed morphological characters including fresh colorations along with their precise distributional ranges within the Sahul Shelf coastal region. The “barcode” regions of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were examined in four specimens of S. waitei and one specimen of S. grandis. Both species diverged by 10.6% and > 10.3% mean (uncorrected) genetic distances from each other and from any other species of Stolephorus, respectively. Stolephorus waitei, S. grandis, and Stolephorus nelsoni Wongratana, 1987 form a monophyletic group of species endemic to the Sahul Shelf region. Additionally, the role and evolution of double lines on the dorsum observed in several species of Stolephorus, including S. grandis, are discussed.
A new burmaeshnid dragonfly (Odonata, Anisoptera, Aeshnoptera) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, north Myanmar
Authors: LIU PEIHAN , FANG RUI , ZHENG DARAN
Published: November 2024

The fifth burmaeshnid dragonfly, Neoaeschna kachinensis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on the basal parts of a pair of fore- and hindwings from Kachin amber, indicating that Burmaeshnidae Huang, Cai, Nel & Bechly, 2017 is the most diverse family of true dragonflies in Kachin amber. The new dragonfly differs from the other genera in having one row of cells present in the postdiscoidal area basal of the midfork, the trigonal planate being obsolete, and one or two crossveins present basal of the CuP-crossing in the submedian space.
Evaluation of New Mental Health Diagnoses After Pediatric Traumatic Injuries at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center
Authors: Wallace Marshall W. , Iantorno Stephanie E. , Moore Zachary J. , Colton Bryan Tate , Keeshin Brooks , Swendiman Robert A. , Russell Katie W.
Published: November 2024

Background

Traumatic injury is associated with significant mental health morbidity. To evaluate the need for implementation of active-post injury mental health screening at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma center, we aimed to characterize all new mental health diagnoses after injury and evaluated for patient or injury factors that may aid in targeting of future screening.

Methods

A single-center retrospective analysis of trauma patients aged 6-18 years presenting in 2022 was performed. Our primary outcome was a new DSM-5 mental health diagnosis documented after traumatic injury. Patients with and without a new mental health diagnosis were compared by age, sex, race, ethnicity, injury type/mechanism, injury severity score (ISS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and length of stay (LOS).

Results

492 patients were included. Their median (IQR) age was 13.5 (10.4, 15.4) years. The median (IQR) follow-up interval was 157 (9, 429) days. There were 24 (4.9%) children with a new mental health diagnosis: 12 (50%) with trauma-related stress disorders, with the remaining having diagnoses such as depressive or anxiety disorders. Patients with a new mental health diagnosis had longer LOS (3.0 [1.8, 7.5] vs 2.0 [1.0, 3.3] days, P = 0.02) and were more likely to have sustained penetrating injury ( P = 0.01). There were no differences in demographics, rates of preexisting mental health diagnosis or area deprivation index ( P > 0.05).

Discussion

There were fewer new mental health diagnoses in our cohort than expected, likely underestimating the acute need. Comprehensive post-injury screening is imperative to sufficiently identify and intervene upon mental health morbidity after pediatric trauma.
“All by Myself”: Navigating the Lonely Odyssey of Ethnographic Fieldwork in the Business and Society Domain
Authors: Skade Lorenzo
Published: November 2024

Conducting ethnographies in the business and society (BAS) domain is often a lonely odyssey for early-career researchers (ECRs), whose emotional struggles are frequently concealed behind celebrated research outcomes. I highlight the emotional stress during their research and call for solutions beyond their personal responsibility. I offer five suggestions to combat negative emotions and help ECRs navigate these challenges through collaborative efforts and systemic changes.
The power of materiality: Local orders, interaction and global governance
Authors: Bochmann Annett
Published: November 2024

The article examines the power of materiality in the context of refugee camps, demonstrating how local orders and global governance are intricately interwoven within the material domain. It draws on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Burmese refugee camps in Thailand to illustrate how sociomateriality can establish spaces of exclusion and associated memberships through their practical implementation, but at the same time permit flexible forms of local manifestations. These aspects represent the tangible realities that people, both ordinary camp residents and local authorities, navigate and achieve in their local public camp life. By means of detailed observation of three distinct camp situations—namely, interactions of membership, checkpoint practices, and the temporary suspension of public camp life—the article argues that mundane sociomaterial practices can both produce and undermine the political intentions of architects to realize materialities of exclusion. Nevertheless, despite their partial and incomplete nature and the capacity of people to circumvent them, the materiality of exclusion is maintained and persists. By elucidating these dynamics, the article contributes to the existing literature that emphasizes the importance of understanding camp governance through the lens of sociomateriality.
Parliamentary Delimitation: A Study on India’s Demographic Struggle for Political Representation
Authors: Patel Pankaj Kumar , Sekher T. V.
Published: November 2024

Delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies in India has been delayed for more than 50 years since 1971, leading to significant disparities in political representation across the states. Our analysis reveals that states experiencing rapid fertility decline over the last half century have become politically overrepresented, while the states with slower fertility decline remain under-represented. This distortion has harmed the principle of equality of votes and disproportionately benefits more affluent states. This study has used the Webster Method to propose the expansion of Lok Sabha to 793 seats by 2026 to correct these imbalances and reflect Indian’s shifting demographic landscape.
Relationship Between Physical Activity and Subjective Well-Being Among College Students: The Mediating Role of Social Support
Authors: Zhang Zhanjia , He Zhonghui , Qi Xin , Zhang Xiaoyuan
Published: November 2024

Subjective well-being is a key concept in positive psychology and is associated with a variety of physical and mental health outcomes. Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable health behavior that has been identified as a potential correlate of subjective well-being. However, the underlying mechanisms that connect PA to subjective well-being are not well-understood. This study aimed to examine the association between the PA and various components of subjective well-being in college students, and to determine if social support mediated this association. A total of 1158 college students (46.3% female, mean age = 19.75 years) voluntarily completed a set of questionnaires measuring PA, life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, and social support in a single-wave assessment. Three sets of mediation analyses were conducted (employing bootstrapping techniques with 10,000 samples), with life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect serving as the dependent variables, PA as the independent variable, and social support as the mediator. The findings revealed that the relationships between PA, subjective well-being, and social support differ by the component of subjective well-being. While no association was detected between PA and negative affect, increased PA led to enhanced social support, which in turn contributed to higher levels of life satisfaction and positive affect. As social support was found to mediate the relationship between PA and subjective well-being, future interventions are suggested to foster supportive social environments and develop effective strategies to modify the social experience of PA to maximize their benefits in enhancing subjective well-being.
A conduit of grace: spirituality and social justice
Authors: Pennington Emma
Published: November 2024

A pastoral reflection inspired by a prayer often attributed to St Theresa of Ávila, ‘Christ has no body but yours’. It recalls an occasion when a couple in need were found by the author sitting in her church porch.
Crafting history in real time: The count-duke of Olivares, the Holy Roman Empire and generalissimo Wallenstein on the Spanish stage (1632–1634)
Authors: Rueda Antonio M.
Published: November 2024

This essay explores the portrayal of Albrecht von Wallenstein’s downfall on the Spanish stage during the Thirty Years’ War. El prodigio de Alemania (1634), a play written by Calderón de la Barca and Antonio Coello, serves as a topic of study for understanding international politics of the time. The death of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden at the Battle of Lützen (1632) marked a turning point in the career of Wallenstein, who had played a significant role as the general commander during the conflict. The play itself was a product of Prime Minister Olivares’ domestic and international policies and aimed to legitimize specific ideological interests. The essay focuses on the manipulation of theatre as a means of enhancing the reputation of the Spanish monarchy and examines how the construction of the play allows us to comprehend the strained relations between Spain and the Holy Roman Empire during the war. It also scrutinizes the modifications made to the literary product to align with the changing political realities and illuminates the significance of Spanish theatre in crafting historical narratives and propagating political ideologies during the first half of the seventeenth century.
Racial Disparities in 30 Day Outcomes Following Total Laryngectomy
Authors: Ferraro Tatiana , Ahmed Abdulla K. , Niermeyer Weston L. , Lee Esther , Thakkar Punam , Joshi Arjun S. , Sataloff Robert T.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Despite the growing literature on racial disparities in the utilization of total laryngectomy (TL), and survival following the treatment of laryngeal cancers, there is a paucity of research in TL cohorts evaluating disparities in the immediate postoperative setting.

Methods:

In a national multi-institutional cohort, TL cases between 2010 and 2021 were identified using relevant Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Logistic regression analyses investigated the association between race/ethnicity and adverse outcomes within 30 days postoperatively.

Results:

This study consisted of 1493 patients who underwent TL with or without radical neck dissection. Black patients underwent free flap and pedicled flap reconstruction more frequently than their counterparts ( P = .023) and exhibited a 1.532 times higher odds of surgical complications ( P < .001).

Conclusions:

There are increased rates of surgical complications in Black patients undergoing TL. Given the limited oncologic and socioeconomic variables available through National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, future study of disparate postoperative outcomes in this population is recommended.
Constituent power and democracy ‘across generations’: A reply
Authors: Ferrara Alessandro
Published: November 2024

The paper comprehensively responds to critical comments by F. Michelman, D. Rasmussen, J. van der Walt, S. Winter, P. Niesen, and B. Schupmann on Sovereignty Across Generations. Constituent Power and Political Liberalism. The themes debated include: whether Rawls’s dualist view of democracy, including his idea of legitimation by constitution, intimates or calls for a concretistic view of a subject of constituent power as creator of the constitutional order (Michelman); the relation of the normative to the historical in political liberalism and whether Plato’s allegory of the cave is helpful for elucidating the meaning of the ‘most reasonable for us’ (Rasmussen); Rawls’s stance vis-à-vis the unbridgeable divisiveness of pluralism, the virtuality of overlapping consensus, and the dissolution of constituent power into a panoply of constituent powers (Van der Walt); democratic sequential sovereignty contrasted with serial sovereignty, the sensibleness of distinguishing legal principles from the cognitive assumptions undergirding their application, the justification of sequential sovereignty, and the nexus of vertical reciprocity and freedom across generations (Winter); the implications of the gap between ‘the people’ and the population for constitutional legitimacy, and the distinct prospects for a Habermasian and a political liberal conception of constituent power to be applicable at a supranational level (Niesen); the cogency and effectiveness of ‘implicit unamendability’ for safeguarding constitutional essentials compared with entrenching them via eternity clauses, the extent to which measures of militant democracy are compatible with political liberalism (Schupmann).
A “Wise” Intervention to Increase Hand Hygiene Compliance of Nurses in Acute Care Units in US Hospitals: A Multiple Baseline Interrupted Time-Series Evaluation
Authors: Sands Madeline , Tidwell Ben , Aunger Robert
Published: November 2024

Objective: This study tested a ‘wise’ intervention (quick prompt of a specific psychological mec) in acute care hospital units to improve nurses’ hand hygiene compliance (HHC). Design: A multiple baseline design in two medical-surgical teaching hospitals in the United States. Measurements: Hand hygiene data was collected using an electronic compliance monitoring system with sensors placed in doorways and on corresponding soap and alcohol-based hand rub dispensers. The outcome measure was the proportion of opportunities in which HH was undertaken by staff per week in each unit. Intervention: A quick-and-easy psychological prime to reinvigorate professional identity. Methods: Interrupted time series analysis using a quasi-Poisson regression model with statistical process control charts for each unit. Results: A statistically significant increase in HHC rates that was sustained for months post-intervention. However, the patterns by unit were not statistically significant once temporal trends were considered. Other factors, such as the unit type and the use of incentives could have impacted the results. Conclusions: These analyses suggest that the aggregate impact should not be taken as evidence of intervention effectiveness. This study therefore cannot be considered to have provided a strong foundation for use of a ‘wise’ intervention, despite its relatively small financial, logistical and psychological cost.
How to Explain the Huge Differences in Rebound Estimates: A Meta-Regression Analysis of the Literature
Authors: Schütt Marvin , Jacksohn Anke , Möllney Tobias , Rehdanz Katrin
Published: November 2024

Rebound effects are commonly defined as the relative gap between the potential and realized savings in resource use following efficiency improvements or sufficiency changes. While a considerable number of studies quantify rebound effects, empirical estimates vary widely. Reliable information on the magnitude of rebound effects is therefore still lacking, despite being essential to devise and adjust, for example, energy efficiency policies accordingly. Here, we present the first meta-regression analysis of microeconomic rebound effects at the household level, using forty-three studies with 1,118 estimates to determine average rebound effects and to explain heterogeneous empirical findings. We find that the total microeconomic rebound is, on average, about 41%–52%. The variance can be explained by differences in the type of data used, the scenario setup, and the specifics of the rebound estimation in the primary studies. Furthermore, we find only small absolute transfer errors, indicating a good predictability of rebound effects using our meta-regression model.
Association between selenium biomarkers and insulin resistance in women with obesity: A case–control study
Authors: Soares Tamires da Cunha , Cardoso Bruna Emanuele Pereira , Dias Thaline Milany da Silva , Morais Jennifer Beatriz Silva , Fontenelle Larissa Cristina , Melo Stéfany Rodrigues de Sousa , Santos Loanne Rocha dos , de Sousa Thayanne Gabryelle Visgueira , Sousa Mickael de Paiva , Oliveira Francisco Erasmo , Henriques Gilberto Simeone , Cardoso Barbara Rita , Marreiro Dilina do Nascimento
Published: November 2024

Background

Although literature demonstrates controversial results regarding the association between selenium and glucose metabolism, no studies have specifically targeted a population with obesity even though this group is vulnerable to insulin resistance.

Aim

To evaluate the association between selenium biomarkers and insulin resistance in women with obesity.

Methods

This case–control study recruited 84 women with obesity and 129 with healthy weight (control). Selenium intake was assessed by 3-day food record. Selenium concentration in plasma, erythrocyte, and urine was assessed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Serum glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were assessed in a fasting blood sample. Homeostasis Model Assessment of Beta Cell Function (HOMA-β) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance were calculated according to standard methods.

Results

Women with obesity had higher dietary selenium intake in comparison to the control group ( p < 0.001). Further, the plasma and erythrocyte concentrations were lower in individuals with obesity ( p < 0.001), while selenium in urine was higher ( p < 0.001) than in controls. No significant differences in insulin resistance markers were observed between groups. Selenium intake was positively associated with HOMA-β in both groups. In women with obesity, selenium intake was also positively associated with insulin and HbA1c, while in the controls the clearance of selenium was negatively associated with insulin and HbA1c. There was a positive correlation between dietary selenium intake, fasting insulin, HbA1c, and HOMA-β ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Women with obesity present impaired selenium metabolism. Further, we observed an association between dietary selenium and markers of insulin resistance, which may reflect the possible negative action of selenium on insulin signaling.
Ecofascism in the shadow of ‘patriotic ecology’: Nativism, economic greenwashing, and the evolution of far-right political ecology in France
Authors: Benoist Lise , Turner Joe , Bailey Daniel
Published: November 2024

Far-right environmental politics has changed dramatically in Europe in the last decade. Through an investigation of (far-)right rhetoric in the 2022 French elections we document the development of far-right political ecology in France and the rise of so-called ‘patriotic ecology’. We identify an intensifying focus on rootedness, racialised Malthusianism, and localism which seeks to cast ‘nomadic’ or ‘uprooted’ Global South refugees and migrants, minoritised communities, and liberal globalist political elites as the primary culprits of France’s environmental issues. We show how this discourse extends and develops prior forms of ecofascism, promising forms of statecraft that will intensify authoritarian border violence while ‘liberating’ the native stewards of rural France from ‘punitive’ forms of industrial decarbonisation. This reflects an evolving form of climate change denialism by stealth within far-right politics because it obscures the unequal, extractive economic causes of ecological crises and the need for systemic economic transformations.
Thermal imaging as a diagnostic tool for superficial venous insufficiency – a systematic review
Authors: Salih Marwah , Salih Sarah , Turner Benedict R H , Onida Sarah , Davies Alun H
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Evaluation of the literature assessing the use of thermography, a non-invasive imaging modality that detects pathological temperature variation, in recognising superficial venous insufficiency (SVI).

Methods

A systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were screened by two individuals and data was subsequently extracted. Methodological quality was assessed with Cochrane’s risk of bias tool.

Results

Four studies comprising 363 patients were included. Three studies identified increased temperature uptake in veins with incompetent valves on venous duplex ( p < .05). One study reported sensitivity and specificity of thermal imaging in SVI as 98.30% (95% CI, 95.2%–99.4%) and 100% (95% CI 85.7%–100%) respectively.

Conclusion

Thermal imaging could act as a screening tool in SVI. This review highlights a lack of high-quality prospective studies evaluating the role of thermal imaging as a diagnostic tool that could expedite the assessment of patients.
BiCap: A novel bi-modal dataset of daily living dual-arm manipulation actions
Authors: Carmona David , Yu Haoyong
Published: November 2024

Dual-arm manipulation of daily living objects is essential for robots operating in household environments. Learning from demonstration is a promising approach for teaching robots dual-arm manipulation skills. It usually requires a dataset of participants demonstrating the sequence of manipulation actions to achieve a goal. That sequence can be represented using symbolical or trajectory encoding. The symbolic-encoded sequence is known as the task plan. The chief limitations of current datasets are that most tend to disregard dual-arm manipulation skills and omit the formal grammar used to annotate the task plans. This paper introduces BiCap, a novel bi-modal dataset of dual-arm manipulation actions on daily living objects coupled with a bio-inspired action context-free grammar for fine-grained task plan annotation to train, test, and validate learning from demonstration-based algorithms for robotic dual-arm manipulation. 15 participants were recruited. The experimenter placed reflective markers on their upper limbs and pelvis. Then, the participants sat at a table where one or two objects were placed. They performed one of the following tasks: pouring, opening, and passing, using both hands. An RGB camera pointing towards the table recorded the participants’ hand movements. Subsequently, an annotator reviewed the RGB videos and wrote the participants’ task plans using the bio-inspired action context-free grammar. The participants’ upper-limb kinematics were computed, too, which provides the trajectory-encoded action sequences. The resulting dataset, BiCap, contains 4,026 task plans, videos, and motion data of the 15 participants.
Which Characteristics are Associated With Going Outside for People Living With Dementia in Nursing Homes? A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Velde-van Buuringen Melanie van der , Verbeek-Oudijk Debbie , Verbeek Hilde , Achterberg Wilco P. , Caljouw Monique A. A.
Published: November 2024

This cross-sectional study explores the frequency of going outside and characteristics that are associated with going outside for people living with dementia in nursing homes in the Netherlands. A subsample of a national survey in 353 nursing homes was used ( N = 693). Two-thirds (66.5%) go outside often. Compared to those who rarely or never go outside, participants who go outside often receive visits more often (odds ratio (OR) 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–2.75), have less severe physical impairments (severe vs. mild: OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.73; very severe vs. mild: OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.03–0.49), use less pain medication (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38–0.98), experience higher positive affect (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03–1.17), and feel less at home (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.76–0.97). These findings are the first step in developing effective interventions that will contribute to people living with dementia going outside more often.
Care Refusal by Older Adults With Dementia Receiving Professional Care: A Scoping Review
Authors: Partel Araujo Joao , Melo Rosa , Luz Helena Amaro , Van Son Catherine , Giang Thuy-Anh , Henriques Liliana , Noor Syaakirah
Published: November 2024

Care refusal behaviors by institutionalized older adults with dementia pose significant challenges for professional caregivers in residential care settings. This scoping review mapped the determinants and effects of care refusal in this population. A systematic search of five databases identified 19 studies published between 2013 and 2023. The findings indicated that personal, relational, environmental, and organizational factors influence care refusal behaviors in institutional settings. Cognitive impairment, communication difficulties, elderspeak, unfamiliar institutional environments, and task-oriented care were key determinants. Care refusal compromised health outcomes, disrupted care provision, and exacerbated neuropsychiatric symptoms in residential care facilities. Terminological inconsistencies and methodological limitations were identified as research gaps. Developing standardized terminology and person-centered strategies represents priority areas for coordinated action across policy, practice, and research to address the impact of refusal behaviors while upholding the rights of institutionalized older adults with dementia.
College Students’ Anticipated Bystander Intervention Actions Against Male Supremacism: “Something More Needs to be Done”
Authors: Dufault Anne E. , Berger Natasha Panlilio , Arbeit Miriam R.
Published: November 2024

Male supremacist groups and ideas are an increasing threat to the positive development of young people, including college students. This study examines actions students proposed taking when presented with a scenario in which a male classmate displayed warning signs of having been exposed to male supremacist ideas online. We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students involved in sexual violence prevention efforts on college campuses, who acted as key informants. Participants were ages 18 to 23, female or non-binary, and attended geographically diverse U.S. colleges. More than 50% held marginalized racial and/or ethnic identities, and more than 50% held LGBTQ+ identities. We analyzed students’ responses using critical thematic analysis informed by social justice youth development and antifascist violence prevention. Students suggested direct intervention strategies to encourage change in the hypothetical classmate, and identified peers, faculty, and staff who they would talk to about the warning signs. Students also identified barriers to intervention, including personal safety risks and wanting proof of harm. Findings indicate the need for: institutional resources for options other than peer bystander intervention that can promote individual change; support for students to assess their safety when choosing intervention strategies; and antifascist community-building.
Direct adaptive neural control for precision piezoelectric actuator without hysteresis compensation
Authors: Son Nguyen Ngoc , Van Kien Cao
Published: November 2024

This paper introduces a novel Direct Adaptive Neural Control (DANC) approach to enhance the precision of piezoelectric actuator motion control significantly. By effectively addressing the complexities of hysteresis, DANC simplifies system design while delivering superior performance. A Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) is employed to handle system uncertainties robustly, and a switching control mechanism guarantees stability, rigorously verified through Lyapunov analysis. Experimental results using a Thorlabs PZS001 actuator convincingly demonstrate substantial performance improvements over conventional PID control, the feedforward-based neural network and feedback control (FF-FB control).
Synthesis methods of Mg-based scaffolds and their applications in tissue engineering: A review
Authors: Mohammadzadeh Hurieh , Jafari Robabeh , Milan Behnam Doudkanlouy , Jangju Mohammad
Published: November 2024

Repair and regeneration of damaged tissues due to disease and accidents have become a severe challenge to tissue engineers and researchers. In recent years, biocompatible metal materials such as stainless steels, cobalt alloys, titanium alloys, tantalum alloys, nitinol, and Mg alloys have been studied for tissue engineering applications; as suitable candidates in orthopedic and dentistry implants. These materials and their alloys are used for load-bearing and physiological roles in biological applications. Due to the suitable conditions provided by a porous material, many studies have been performed on the porous implants, including Mg-based scaffolds. Mg alloy scaffolds are attractive due to some outstanding features and susceptibilities, such as providing a cell matrix for cell proliferation, migration, and regeneration, providing metabolic substances for bone tissue growth, biocompatibility, good biodegradability, elastic modulus comparable to the natural bone, etc. Accordingly, in the present study, a general classification of all the production methods of Mg-based scaffolds is provided. Strengths and weaknesses, the effect of the production approach on the final properties of scaffolds, including mechanical and biological capabilities, and the impact of alloying elements and process parameters have been reviewed, and discussed. Finally, the manufacturing methods have been compared and the upcoming challenges have been stated.
Pivoting: Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Youth of Color With Technology
Authors: Anderson Riana E. , McCall Madison P. , Otaka Nana
Published: November 2024

Mental health treatments currently available to address racial discrimination for 21 million youth of color are inadequate. Given the nascent but promising mechanisms found within behavioral health interventions via racial socialization, or the process through which children acquire knowledge about race, developing effective and scalable therapeutic strategies to contend with the stress from racism and discrimination is possible. We outline the active ingredients that facilitate behavioral change for youth psychosocial outcomes impacted by racial discrimination and describe how technology is being utilized for current and future implementation efforts. We argue that technological advancement, in addition to ecological considerations, is crucial for the reduction of structural and interpersonal risk factors negatively influencing the psychological wellness of youth of color. Technology integration across implementation and assessment will be critical, particularly given the potential for technology to further exacerbate mental health disparities.
Media Coverage of the Senate Filibuster and Its Effects on Public Opinion
Authors: Meinke Scott R.
Published: November 2024

How does the media report on Senate procedure, and how does reporting affect the public’s views of process and policy? This paper examines both parts of this question in the context of the Senate filibuster. Using new data on coverage of failed cloture motions over two decades, I show that news accounts typically explained these votes in generalized ways that obscured minority obstruction or equated the vote with simple defeat. These tendencies were more pronounced in television news, and they were more common as the “60-vote Senate” became the norm. I then use a survey experiment to test the opinion effects of differences in filibuster reporting. The results provide some limited evidence that more detailed reporting on cloture leads to lower support for the underlying policy, and they show that respondents who consumed more detailed reporting perceived the Senate’s procedure as less fair. Partisanship conditioned these effects, with minority-party identifiers becoming less supportive of the policy and majority-party identifiers less approving of the process. The findings demonstrate that the press does not consistently provide voters with a clear understanding of the Senate’s supermajoritarian processes, and that this reporting has consequences for voters’ judgments.
Prediction-based controller radial neural network for the traction control system
Authors: Biju Sayed , Chammam Abdeljelil , Askar Shavan , Rodrigues Paul , Jalalnezhad Mostafa
Published: November 2024

One of the systems needed to improve vehicle safety is the traction control system (TCS). This control mechanism keeps the wheels from slipping too much when the car accelerates, especially when it moves quickly. Because of the significant nonlinear behavior of the tire during acceleration and the unknown impacts of the road surface, it might be difficult to maintain wheel slip in an acceptable range, especially in bad weather. However, some uncertainties, such as unmodeled dynamics and vehicle parameter uncertainty, should be taken into account when designing the controller. Consequently, TCS requires the existence of a strong nonlinear control law. In this study, an analytical design for a TCS controller is made using the method of nonlinear predictive control. The control system’s resistance is then increased by employing an adaptive radial basis neural network (RFNN) to predict the system’s unknown uncertainties. In this study, the controller was designed using half car and quarter car models, respectively. The behavior of the suggested control system for tracking the reference wheel’s slip in the face of uncertainty for various movements is examined in the simulation results that follow. The resulting results have been compared with the simulation results generated from the nonlinear sliding mode controller response used in valid articles in order to provide a more thorough examination of the suggested control system. The findings demonstrate the effective performance of the suggested control mechanism against nonlinear effects and uncertainties.
Numerical and experimental evaluations of the impact attenuation of a rail-fastening assembly
Authors: Noraphaiphipaksa Nitikorn , Hasap Anat , Muttamara Apiwat , Kanchanomai Chaosuan
Published: November 2024

The stability of railway tracks relies on a complex arrangement of rail, rail pad, rail clip, sleeper, and ballast. Impact forces from wheel-rail irregularities can lead to concrete sleeper cracking. Traditional experimentation to assess impact attenuation of a rail-fastening assembly (BS EN 13146-3) is both costly and time-consuming. In this study, an experiment-finite element analysis coupling method was utilized. Dynamic properties of the rail pad were experimentally determined and incorporated them into finite element analysis (FEA) to simulate impact attenuation, which was then experimentally validated. Investigating the damping constant ( cP) and dynamic stiffness ( kP) of the rail pad revealed that while increasing cP doesn’t significantly alter sleeper strain, reducing kP decreases the initial peak strain. Therefore, the impact attenuation is primarily influenced by kP. This approach not only reduces evaluation costs and time but also aids in rail-fastening assembly design, analysis, maintenance, and development.
Barriers to opioid use in the Arab world
Authors: Salmany Sewar , Hammoudeh Suzan , Al-Khrabsheh Asma , Jaddoua Saad , Shamieh Omar , Treish Imad
Published: November 2024

Background

The Arab world consists of 22 countries, representing 5.5% of the world's population. Morphine consumption accounts for less than 1% of the world's consumption. This is the first study to identify barriers to opioid use in the Arab world.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the barriers to opioid use in pain management in the Arab world.

Method

Online survey was developed to investigate barriers to governance, prescribing, distributing, dispensing and administering, as well as educational barriers in the Arab world. The questionnaire was sent via email and a mobile app to one expert physician in pain management and one licensed pharmacist from each Arab country.

Results

With the exception of Tunisia, Djibouti and Comoros, 34(77%) participants from 19 Arab countries answered the survey. Most countries lack local opioid production, necessitate special licenses for physicians, and restrict opioid prescribing to medical specialists. Special prescription forms are mandated, and pharmacists lack the authority to correct prescription errors or accept refill or verbal orders on opioids. Storage requirements for empty ampoules and prescriptions are enforced. Nurses are not allowed to carry opioids during home visits, and only first degree relatives can collect opioids for patients. Furthermore, the integration of palliative care and pain management curricula into pharmacies and medical schools is lacking.

Conclusion

There is a wide range of regulatory and other barriers to opioid use in the Arab world. There is a substantial need for regulatory review and reform, as well as for educational initiatives, in most Arab countries.
Creating a “sense of belonging” for Indigenous students: identifying supports to improve access and success in post-secondary education
Authors: Cameron (Anishinaabekwe) Rose E , Bird Meghan J , Naveau-Heyde (Mattagami First Nation) Deanna D. , Fuller-Thomson Esme
Published: November 2024

Indigenous post-secondary students face cumbersome barriers to educational attainment. This article explores those barriers and presents findings from a survey of Indigenous students conducted at Algoma University in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada. For First Nations’ students surveyed in 2016 ( n = 36), funding was identified as a major barrier and, considering that nearly half of students had dependents, finding affordable housing and childcare was a significant challenge. The transition to an urban area from living on-reserve is also difficult for many students. The Anishinaabe Initiatives Division at Algoma University hosted culturally affirming events for Indigenous students. We found this to be an effective tool universities can use to bolster student resilience and foster a sense of belonging. We also propose that funding on university campuses must increase to support Indigenous students’ educational attainment goals.
Design and performance evaluation of a 3D printed aerostatic bearing concept with high number of micro-orifices
Authors: Ağören Görkem , Dal Abdurrahim , Karaçay Tuncay
Published: November 2024

This study suggests a 3D printed aerostatic bearing concept. The design has a high number of orifices distributed around the bearing to obtain smoother pressure distribution for performance. Inner channels are formed to connect and feed air to each orifice using the advantage of additive manufacturing. The concept is investigated numerically to determine the performance gain of the high number of orifices by calculating bearing stiffness and load carrying capacity. In order to validate the simulation and performance gain an experimental study is conducted by testing Stereolithography (SLA) type 3D printed bearings with various orifice numbers. The bearing stiffnesses and mass flow rates of the specimens are measured, and results are discussed in terms of performance by comparing numerical results. The 3D printed bearings concept has shown promising results in terms of performance while keeping air consumption limited compared to conventional air bearings.
Navigating platformized generative AI: Examining early adopters’ experiences through the lens of data reflectivity
Authors: Mahnke Martina Skrubbeltrang , Bagger Christoffer
Published: November 2024

Following the widely noticed launch of ChatGPT 3.5 in November 2022, an unprecedented number of users have started to experiment with generative AI for communication purposes. Prior studies have shown how users are commodified by platforms, and the unprecedented development of generative AI raises hence once again questions of platform dynamics vs user agency. In this study, we argue that platformized generative AI (GenAI) actively ‘talks back’ to their users, prompting them to act accordingly. Theoretically, we develop the concept of data reflectivity as a critical lens, showing that users exhibit reflective practices. These allow them to reflect upon their own role in relation to platformized GenAI and thus alter their patterns of action. The empirical case study, carried out in Spring 2023, draws on a survey with 60 early adopters and 14 subsequent semi-structured interviews, collected in an NGO operating in Southeast Asia. The thematic analysis shows that users relate to platformized GenAI in three distinct but related ways: (1) as a happy helper to organize and systematize knowledge and information; (2) as a creative tool to generate ideas; and (3) as a conversation partner for personal and life-related matters. In conclusion, we discuss the findings critically in relation to overall platform dynamics and the notion of systems ‘speaking back’ and further suggest that future research should aim to bring the two research fields of datafication and user studies even closer together.