bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal model for extreme temperatures in Extremadura (Spain) simulated by a Regional Climate Model
Authors: García José Agustín , Acero Francisco Javier , Portero Javier
Published: January 2023

A statistical study was made of the temporal trend in extreme temperatures in the region of Extremadura (Spain) during the period 1981–2015 using a Regional Climate Model. For this purpose, a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Regional Climate Model extreme temperature dataset was obtained. This dataset was then subjected to a statistical study using a Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal model with a Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) parametrization of the extreme data. The Bayesian model was implemented in a Markov chain Monte Carlo framework that allows the posterior distribution of the parameters that intervene in the model to be estimated. The role of the altitude dependence of the temperature was considered in the proposed model. The results for the spatial-trend parameter lend confidence to the model since they are consistent with the dry adiabatic gradient. Furthermore, the statistical model showed a slight negative trend for the location parameter. This unexpected result may be due to the internal and modeling uncertainties in the WRF model. The shape parameter was negative, meaning that there is an upper bound for extreme temperatures in the model.
Sub-exponential Time Parameterized Algorithms for Graph Layout Problems on Digraphs with Bounded Independence Number
Authors: Misra Pranabendu , Saurabh Saket , Sharma Roohani , Zehavi Meirav
Published: January 2023

Fradkin and Seymour (J Comb Theory Ser B 110:19–46, 2015) defined the class of digraphs of bounded independence number as a generalization of the class of tournaments. They argued that the class of digraphs of bounded independence number is structured enough to be exploited algorithmically. In this paper, we further strengthen this belief by showing that several cut problems that admit sub-exponential time parameterized algorithms (a trait uncommon to parameterized algorithms) on tournaments, including Directed Feedback Arc Set, Directed Cutwidth and Optimal Linear Arrangement, also admit such algorithms on digraphs of bounded independence number. Towards this, we rely on the generic approach of Fomin and Pilipczuk (in: Proceedings of the Algorithms—ESA 2013—21st Annual European Symposium, Sophia Antipolis, France, September 2–4, 2013, pp. 505–516, 2013), where to get the desired algorithms, it is enough to bound the number of k-cuts in digraphs of bounded independence number by a sub-exponential FPT function (Fomin and Pilipczuk bounded the number of k-cuts in transitive tournaments). Specifically, our main technical contribution is a combinatorial result that proves that the yes-instances of the problems (defined above) have a sub-exponential number of k-cuts. We prove this bound by using a combination of chromatic coding, inductive reasoning and exploiting the structural properties of these digraphs.
Accelerating inexact successive quadratic approximation for regularized optimization through manifold identification
Authors: Lee Ching-pei
Published: January 2023

For regularized optimization that minimizes the sum of a smooth term and a regularizer that promotes structured solutions, inexact proximal-Newton-type methods, or successive quadratic approximation (SQA) methods, are widely used for their superlinear convergence in terms of iterations. However, unlike the counter parts in smooth optimization, they suffer from lengthy running time in solving regularized subproblems because even approximate solutions cannot be computed easily, so their empirical time cost is not as impressive. In this work, we first show that for partly smooth regularizers, although general inexact solutions cannot identify the active manifold that makes the objective function smooth, approximate solutions generated by commonly-used subproblem solvers will identify this manifold, even with arbitrarily low solution precision. We then utilize this property to propose an improved SQA method,$$^{+}$$+, that switches to efficient smooth optimization methods after this manifold is identified. We show that for a wide class of degenerate solutions,$$^{+}$$+possesses superlinear convergence not only in iterations, but also in running time because the cost per iteration is bounded. In particular, our superlinear convergence result holds on problems satisfying a sharpness condition that is more general than that in existing literature. We also prove iterate convergence under a sharpness condition for inexact SQA, which is novel for this family of methods that could easily violate the classical relative-error condition frequently used in proving convergence under similar conditions. Experiments on real-world problems support that$$^{+}$$+improves running time over some modern solvers for regularized optimization.
Reference Correlation for the Viscosity of Ethanol from the Triple Point to 620 K and Pressures Up to 102 MPa
Authors: Sotiriadou Sofia , Ntonti Eleftheria , Velliadou Danai , Antoniadis Konstantinos D. , Assael Marc J. , Huber Marcia L.
Published: January 2023

We present a wide-ranging correlation expressed in terms of temperature and density for the viscosity of ethanol based on critically evaluated experimental data. The correlation is designed to be used with an existing equation of state from the triple point (159 K) to 620 K and at pressures up to 102 MPa. Comparisons with experimental data indicate the estimated uncertainty of the correlation is 4.2 % (at the 95 % confidence level) for the liquid and supercritical phase at pressures up to 102 MPa, and 2 % in the gas phase. Furthermore, for calculating viscosity values at 0.1 MPa, an additional correlation is proposed, valid from the triple point to the boiling point with an estimated uncertainty of 2.3 % (at the 95 % confidence level).
Multivariate Cross-Validation and Measures of Accuracy and Precision
Authors: Mueller Ute , Selia Sangga Rima Roman , Tolosana-Delgado Raimon
Published: January 2023

Cross-validation and performance measures are standard components in the evaluation of a geostatistical model. These are well established in the univariate case, but measures for multivariate geostatistical modeling have not received as much attention. In the case of a single target variable, the univariate approaches remain valid, but in the fully multivariate case where a vector of variables needs to be estimated, the evaluation needs to be based on all estimates simultaneously. An extension of cross-validation and associated performance measures to the fully multivariate case is presented and discussed for the case of regionalized compositions. The method is demonstrated by validating geostatistical models for two case studies: a sample drawn from a geochemical survey data set estimated with cokriging, and an application of direct sampling multiple-point simulation.
Disagreement between mothers' and fathers' rating of health-related quality of life in children with cancer
Authors: Meryk Andreas , Kropshofer Gabriele , Hetzer Benjamin , Riedl David , Lehmann Jens , Rumpold Gerhard , Haid Alexandra , Schneeberger-Carta Verena , Salvador Christina , Rabensteiner Evelyn , Rothmund Maria-Sophie , Holzner Bernhard , Crazzolara Roman
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Serial assessment of health condition based on self-report made by children and their proxies has consistently shown a lack of congruence. The study explored the discrepancies between mother’s, father’s, and children’s reports on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during the first two months of pediatric cancer treatment.

Methods

In this cohort study, children and parents completed the generic and cancer-specific Pediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory (PedsQL) questionnaires at initial diagnosis and in the subsequent months. Evaluation of discrepancies included intraclass correlations between mother–child and father–child dyads at different domain levels.

Results

Thirty-six children with a diagnosis of cancer between May 2020 and November 2021 and their parents were included in this study. At diagnosis, mother–child dyads showed better agreement on more domains of the PedsQL Generic Core Scale than father–child dyads; moderate agreement persisted for both parents at subsequent time points on the physical domain. The disease-specific PedsQL Cancer Module revealed moderate and better agreement for mother–child dyads during active cancer therapy. In particular, agreement of mother–child dyads was pronounced for domains such as worry (0.77 [95% CI 0.52–0.89,P < 0.001]), whereas fathers tended to overestimate the child’s symptom burden for most of the remaining domains of the PedsQL Cancer Module.

Conclusion

This cohort study shows that both parent proxy reports can provide valid information on child’s HRQOL, but that fathers tend to overestimate, particularly for non-observable domains. Proxy reports derived from mothers more closely agreed with children’s HRQOL and might be more weighted, if there is uncertainty between parents.
Meta-analytic connectivity modelling of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies in autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Goodwill Alicia M. , Low Li Tong , Fox Peter T. , Fox P. Mickle , Poon Kenneth K. , Bhowmick Sourav S. , Chen S. H. Annabel
Published: January 2023

Social and non-social deficits in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) persist into adulthood and may share common regions of aberrant neural activations. The current meta-analysis investigated activation differences between ASD and neurotypical controls irrespective of task type. Activation likelihood estimation meta-analyses were performed to examine consistent hypo-activated and/or hyper-activated regions for all tasks combined, and for social and non-social tasks separately; meta-analytic connectivity modelling and behavioral/paradigm analyses were performed to examine co-activated regions and associated behaviors. One hundred studies (mean age range = 18–41 years) were included. For all tasks combined, the ASD group showed significant (p < .05) hypo-activation in one cluster around the left amygdala (peak − 26, -2, -20, volume = 1336 mm3, maximum ALE = 0.0327), and this cluster co-activated with two other clusters around the right cerebellum (peak 42, -56, -22, volume = 2560mm3, maximum ALE = 0.049) Lobule VI/Crus I and the left fusiform gyrus (BA47) (peak − 42, -46, -18, volume = 1616 mm3, maximum ALE = 0.046) and left cerebellum (peak − 42, -58, -20, volume = 1616mm3, maximum ALE = 0.033) Lobule VI/Crus I. While the left amygdala was associated with negative emotion (fear) (z = 3.047), the left fusiform gyrus/cerebellum Lobule VI/Crus I cluster was associated with language semantics (z = 3.724) and action observation (z = 3.077). These findings highlight the left amygdala as a region consistently hypo-activated in ASD and suggest the potential involvement of fusiform gyrus and cerebellum in social cognition in ASD. Future research should further elucidate if and how amygdala-fusiform/cerebellar connectivity relates to social and non-social cognition in adults with ASD.
Effects of edible chitosan coating containing Salvia rosmarinus essential oil on quality characteristics and shelf life extension of rabbit meat during chilled storage
Authors: El Bayomi Rasha M. , Shata Rania H. M. , Mahmoud Abdallah Fikry A.
Published: January 2023

Rabbit meat is one of the most consumed meats throughout the world and is extremely susceptible to spoilage due to its high protein and moisture content. Natural preservatives with antioxidant and antibacterial properties are needed to maintain meat quality and increase its shelf life. This study examined the effect of 1% chitosan (CH), 0.2% rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) essential oil (REO), and their combination on pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) levels, and the microbial profile of rabbit meat stored over 12 days at 4 °C. During this time, changes in appearance, odor, and texture were also noted. The shelf lives of samples treated with only 1% CH coating, or in combination with 0.2% REO, were longer than those of untreated samples. These results showed that samples treated with both CH and REO were still acceptable until the 12th day and resulted in significantly lower meat demerit scores in these treated groups compared with untreated meat. In all groups, the pH, TVB-N, and TBA values increased over time, but these values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in untreated samples. Microbial analysis results showed that chilled rabbit meat samples treated with combined 1% CH and 0.2% REO reduced Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, and Psychrotrophic counts. The experimental results demonstrated that using CH coating in combination with REO improved the quality of rabbit meat and could be an effective approach to reduce rabbit meat deterioration during chilled storage.
Spectrofluorimetric assay of amlodipine and perindopril in their raw materials, pharmaceutical formulations and spiked human plasma through the formation of complexes with Eosin Y
Authors: Salem Hesham , Abdelaziz Amany , Derayea Sayed , Nagy Dalia M. , El-Din Khalid M. Badr
Published: January 2023

For quantitation of amlodipine (AML) and perindopril (PER) in their authentic, pharmaceutical formulations and spiked human plasma, a simple, sensitive, validated and inexpensive spectrofluorimetric method has been developed. The proposed method is developed to be based on quantitative quenching effect of two antihypertensive drugs on Eosin Y's native fluorescence which was achieved by developing binary complexes between each of the cited drugs in an acidic environment using acetate buffer (pH 4.4) with Eosin Y. Fluorescence quenching was recorded at 544 nm after excitation at 425 nm. For AML and PER, calibration curves were obtained over the range of 0.3–3.0 µg/mL and 0.2–2.0 µg/mL, respectively, with correlation coefficients of 0.9993 and 0.9995, respectively. The developed method was validated according to ICH guidelines. The proposed spectrofluorimetric method is regarded new and sensitive. As a result, the proposed method might be used to estimate the quality of the cited drugs in their pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluid.
Affective landscapes!
Authors: Althans Birgit
Published: January 2023

Der Beitrag erläutert zunächst einen breiten Kulturbegriff und die Transformationen des ländlichen Raums durch den globalen Kapitalismus, die den ländlichen Raum härter treffen als die Städte. Er skizziert die vermehrt auftretenden politisch gerahmten Kulturkämpfe und zeigt, wie Institutionen, Initiativen und Projekte Kultureller Bildung wie auch die Forschung zu Kultureller Bildung versuchen, nicht nur zu vermitteln, sondern neue Wege zu gehen.
Imaging the distribution of bitumen contaminants in shallow coastal plain sands in southwestern Nigeria using electrical resistivity
Authors: Jekayinfa Solomon M. , Oladunjoye Michael A. , Doro Kennedy O.
Published: January 2023

Naturally occurring bitumen seeps migrating within the shallow subsurface contaminates soil and groundwater in communities within the eastern segment of the Dahomey Basin in southwestern Nigeria. Managing these contaminations require an understanding of the distribution of the bitumen seeps to isolate contaminated regions to avoid farming activities or drilling shallow drinking water wells within them. Several studies have assessed the shallow occurrence of bitumen in the region, focusing on their economic potentials but ignores the challenges with soil and groundwater contamination in these communities. This study focuses on using electrical resistivity imaging techniques with limited soil cores to delineate the distribution of bitumen seeps within the shallow subsurface in Imakun-Omi community in southwestern Nigeria. We used both 1D and 2D numerical and field approaches in this study. 13 vertical electrical soundings using a Schlumberger electrode array were first acquired to obtain the bulk resistivities and layer thicknesses. The 1D resistivity alongside well lithologic data served as prior data for a forward modelling study to assess the capability of resolving the bitumen seeps within electrically resistive coastal sands. Results of the forward modelling studies guided the acquisition of five 2D electrical resistivity profiles used to image the distribution of bitumen seeps using a Wenner electrode array with a unit electrode spacing of 2 m. Results of this study show that bitumen seeps with resistivities greater than 3000 Ohm-m are distributed within the top 4 m in the area and extends down to 10 m in some locations. Our numerical studies show that despite difficulties in imaging bitumen seeps within sediments overlain by higher electrical resistivity layers, reliable results can be derived, thus proving the versatility of electrical resistivity in delineating areas contaminated by bitumen seeps within shallow coastal sands.
Novel Cytocompatible Chitosan Schiff Base Derivative as a Potent Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, and Anticancer Agent
Authors: Omer Ahmed M. , Eltaweil Abdelazeem S. , El-Fakharany Esmail M. , Abd El-Monaem Eman M. , Ismail Magda M. F. , Mohy-Eldin Mohamed S. , Ayoup Mohammed S.
Published: January 2023

This study intends to develop a novel bioactive chitosan Schiff base (CTS-SB) derivative via coupling of chitosan (CTS) with 4-((5, 5-dimethyl-3-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl) amino) benzene-sulfonamide. The alteration in the chemical structure of CTS-SB was verified using1H NMR and FT-IR analysis, while the thermal and morphological properties were inspected by TGA and SEM characterization tools, respectively. Ion exchange capacity of the developed CTS-SB derivative recorded a maximal value of 12.1 meq/g compared to 10.1 meq/g for pristine CTS. In addition, antibacterial activity of CTS-SB derivative was greatly boosted againstEscherichia coli(E coli) andStaphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) bacteria. Minimum inhibition concentration of CTS-SB derivative was perceived at 50 µg/mL, while the highest concentration (250 µg/mL) could inhibit the growth ofS. aureusup to 91%. What’s more, enhanced antidiabetic activity by CTS-SB derivative, which displayed higher inhibitory values of α-amylase (57.9%) and α-glucosidase (63.9%), compared to those of pure CTS (49.8 and 53.4%), respectively Furthermore, cytotoxicity investigation on HepG-2 cell line revealed potential anticancer activity along with good safety margin against primary human skin fibroblasts (HSF cells) and decent cytocompatibility. Collectively, the gained results hypothesized that CTS-SB derivative could be effectively applied as a promising antibacterial, anticancer and antidiabetic agent for advanced biomedical applications.
Sustainability Transitions in E-commerce Research—Academic Achievements and Impediments
Authors: Zhang Mengzhen
Published: January 2023

To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the blossoming of e-commerce, which has brought both advantages and impediments to a more sustainable future. The central aim of sustainability transitions (ST) research conceptualizes and explains how radical changes can occur in the way that societal and environmental functions are fulfilled. Embedding ST logic with e-commerce could help us understand the current standing of e-commerce, and lead to solutions applied from its implications. However, there is a lack of research that pivots ST into the context of e-commerce. Thus, this paper fills the gap by conducting a comprehensive literature review to look into how the current e-commerce research fits into the ST framework. We find that the current sustainable e-commerce research is unevenly scattered alongside different dimensions, and there is an urgency to employ government power and drive public awareness. This paper extends the scope of ST into the e-commerce context; solutions for practitioners to achieve effective governance have been particularly emphasized.
The Politics of Immigration Beyond Liberal States
Authors: Natter Katharina
Published: January 2023

Immigration presents a fundamental challenge to the nation-state and is a key political priority for governments worldwide. However, knowledge of the politics of immigration remains largely limited to liberal states of the Global North. In this book, Katharina Natter draws on extensive fieldwork and archival research to compare immigration policymaking in authoritarian Morocco and democratizing Tunisia. Through this analysis, Natter advances theory-building on immigration beyond the liberal state and demonstrates how immigration politics – or how a state deals with 'the other' – can provide valuable insights into the inner workings of political regimes. Connecting scholarship from comparative politics, international relations and sociology across the Global North and Global South, Natter's highly original study challenges long-held assumptions and reveals the fascinating interplay between immigration, political regimes, and modern statehood around the world.
Simulation as an Improvement Technique
Authors: Brazil Victoria , Purdy Eve , Bajaj Komal
Published: January 2023

Historically simulation was used as an education and training technique in healthcare, but now has an emerging role in improving quality and safety. Simulation-based techniques can be applied to help understand healthcare settings and the practices and behaviours of those who work in them. Simulation-based interventions can help to improve care and outcomes – for example, by improving readiness of teams to respond effectively to situations or to improve skill and speed. Simulation can also help test planned interventions and infrastructural changes, allowing possible vulnerabilities and risks to be identified and addressed. Challenges include cost, resources, training, and evaluation, and the lack of connection between the simulation and improvement fields, both in practice and in scholarship. The business case for simulation as an improvement technique remains to be established. This Element concludes by offering a way forward for simulation in practice and for future scholarly directions to improve the approach. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Ultra-broadband pulse generation via hollow-core fiber compression and frequency doubling for ultra-intense lasers
Authors: Li Yanyan , Shao Beijie , Peng Yujie , Qian Junyu , Li Wenkai , Wang Xinliang , Liu Xingyan , Lu Xiaoming , Xu Yi , Leng Yuxin , Li Ruxin
Published: January 2023

We demonstrate an ultra-broadband high temporal contrast infrared laser source based on cascaded optical parametric amplification, hollow-core fiber (HCF) and second harmonic generation processes. In this setup, the spectrum of an approximately 1.8 μm laser pulse has near 1 μm full bandwidth by employing an argon gas-filled HCF. Subsequently, after frequency doubling with cascaded crystals and dispersion compensation by a fused silica wedge pair, 9.6 fs (~3 cycles) and 150 μJ pulses centered at 910 nm with full bandwidth of over 300 nm can be generated. The energy stability of the output laser pulse is excellent with 0.8% (root mean square) over 20 min, and the temporal contrast is >1012 at –10 ps before the main pulse. The excellent temporal and spatial characteristics and stability make this laser able to be used as a good seed source for ultra-intense and ultrafast laser systems.
On the rheology and magnetization of dilute magnetic emulsions under small amplitude oscillatory shear
Authors: Abdo Rodrigo F. , Abicalil Victor G. , Cunha Lucas H.P. , Oliveira Taygoara F.
Published: January 2023

A dilute magnetic emulsion under the combined action of a uniform external magnetic field and a small amplitude oscillatory shear is studied using numerical simulations. We consider a three-dimensional domain with a single ferrofluid droplet suspended in a non-magnetizable Newtonian fluid. We present results of droplet shape and orientation, viscoelastic functions and bulk emulsion magnetization as functions of the shear oscillation frequency, magnetic field intensity and orientation. We also investigate how the magnetic field induces mechanical anisotropy by producing internal torques in oscillatory conditions. We found that, when the magnetic field is parallel to the shear plane, the droplet shape is mostly independent of the shear oscillation frequency. Regarding the viscometric functions, we show how the external magnetic field modifies the storage and loss moduli, especially for a field aligned to the main velocity gradient. The bulk emulsion magnetization is studied in the same fashion as the viscoelastic functions of the oscillatory shear. We show that the in-phase component of the magnetization with respect to the shear rate reaches a saturation magnetization, at the high frequencies limit, dependent on the magnetic field intensity and orientation. On the other hand, we found a non-zero out-of-phase response, which indicates a finite emulsion magnetization relaxation time. Our results indicate that the magnetization relaxation is closely related to the mechanical relaxation for dilute magnetic emulsions under oscillatory shear.
Reinforcement-learning-based actuator selection method for active flow control
Authors: Paris Romain , Beneddine Samir , Dandois Julien
Published: January 2023

This paper addresses the issue of actuator selection for active flow control by proposing a novel method built on top of a reinforcement learning agent. Starting from a pre-trained agent using numerous actuators, the algorithm estimates the impact of a potential actuator removal on the value function, indicating the agent's performance. It is applied to two test cases, the one-dimensional Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation and a laminar bidimensional flow around an airfoil at$Re=1000$for different angles of attack ranging from$12^{\circ }$to$20^{\circ }$, to demonstrate its capabilities and limits. The proposed actuator-sparsification method relies on a sequential elimination of the least relevant action components, starting from a fully developed layout. The relevancy of each component is evaluated using metrics based on the value function. Results show that, while still being limited by this intrinsic elimination paradigm (i.e. the sequential elimination), actuator patterns and obtained policies demonstrate relevant performances and allow us to draw an accurate approximation of the Pareto front of performances versus actuator budget.
Turbulent entrainment in finite-length wind farms
Authors: Bempedelis Nikolaos , Laizet Sylvain , Deskos Georgios
Published: January 2023

In this article, we present an entrainment-based model for predicting the flow and power output of finite-length wind farms. The model is an extension of the three-layer approach of Luzzatto-Fegiz & Caulfield (Phys. Rev. Fluids, vol. 3, 2018, 093802) for wind farms of infinite length, and assumes dependence of key flow quantities, such as the wind farm bulk velocity, on the streamwise distance from the farm entrance. To assist our analysis and validate the proposed model, we undertake a series of large-eddy simulations with different turbine spacing arrangements and layouts. Comparisons are also made with the top-down model with entrance effects of Meneveau (J. Turbul., vol. 13, 2012, N7) and data from the literature. The finite-length entrainment model is shown to be capable of capturing the power drop between contiguous rows of turbines as well as describing the advection and turbulent transport of kinetic energy in both the entrance and fully developed regions. The fully developed regime is approximated only deep in the wind farm, after approximately 15 rows of turbines. Our data suggest that for the cases considered in this study, the empirical coefficients that can be used to describe turbulent entrainment and transfers above the wind farm exhibit little dependence on the farm layout and may be considered constant for modelling purposes. However, the flow field within the wind farm layer can be strongly modulated by the turbine density (spacing) as well as the array layout, and to that extent it can be argued that they are both primary factors determining the wind farm power output.
The Spirit of Christianity and Law
Authors: Domingo Rafael
Published: January 2023

This essay offers an analysis John Witte, Jr.’s contribution to the study of the relationship between Christianity and law as an autonomous branch within the broad field of law and religion. The author discusses Witte as a Christian jurist educated in Reformed Protestantism and influenced by Abraham Kuyper and Harold J. Berman, among others, and describes and evaluates the interdisciplinary, interdenominational, and international project on Christianity and law headed by Witte, to which more than five hundred scholars (jurists, theologians, philosophers, historians, and sociologists) are contributing. Witte analyzes the interaction between Christianity and law from a relational, biographical, and jurisprudential perspective, and underlying his project is the idea that the relationship between Christianity and law is not merely accidental, but has a metahistorical significance and an enduring value for the development of humanity. Although the project has already borne much fruit, there is room for further maturity and methodological purity as it is still in its early stages.
Free Riding, Network Effects, and Burden Sharing in Defense Cooperation Networks
Authors: Kinne Brandon J. , Kang Stephanie N.
Published: January 2023

How do states distribute the burdens of collective defense? This paper develops a network theory of burden sharing. We focus on bilateral defense cooperation agreements (DCAs), which promote cooperation in a variety of defense, military, and security issue areas. Using a computational model, we show that DCA partners’ defense spending depends on the network structure of their agreements. In bilateral terms, DCAs increase defense spending by committing states to defense activities and allowing partners to reciprocally punish free riding. However, as a state's local network of defense partnerships grows more densely connected, with many transitive “friend of a friend” relations, DCAs have the countervailing effect of reducing defense spending. The more deeply integrated states are in bilateral defense networks, the less they spend on defense. We distinguish two potential mechanisms behind this effect—one based on efficiency improvements, the other on free riding. An empirical analysis using multilevel inferential network models points more to efficiency than to free riding. Defense networks reduce defense spending, and they do so by allowing countries to produce security more efficiently.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy postponement – evidence from Japan
Authors: Matsushima Midori , Yamada Hiroyuki , Kondo Naoki , Arakawa Yuki , Tabuchi Takahiro
Published: January 2023

Japan has faced a decline in fertility since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the rate of pregnancy postponement and its contributing factors, with a particular focus on economic- and COVID-19 infection-related indicators. This study used data from 768 observations of married women aged 18 to 50 years with pregnancy intentions. The data were obtained from two rounds of a large web-based survey conducted by the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) in 2020 and 2021. A generalised estimating equation (GEE) model was employed, as well as Poisson regression models for sub-sample analysis divided by year to estimate the year differential magnitude of the contributing factors’ impacts. Approximately 20% of married women with childbearing intentions postponed their childbearing. The analyses revealed that declining income and anxiety about future household finances were significantly related to delayed childbearing, while fear of COVID-19 and infection rate were not. Additionally, the adverse effects of unfavourable economic conditions were stronger in 2021. Notably, age did not influence the decision of pregnancy postponement. Older women postponed pregnancy just as much as younger women. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its related adverse economic conditions, contributed to Japan’s current baby bust. Considering that advanced maternal age is already common in Japan, this decreased fertility may result in the long-term negative consequence of further population decline.
Oblique complements in Estonian: A corpus perspective
Authors: AIGRO MARI , VIHMAN VIRVE-ANNELI
Published: January 2023

This study focuses on Estonian verb-complement structures, which include oblique (non-canonically marked) complements marked in spatial cases. Not all approaches agree on whether canonical arguments and oblique complements have argument status of the same type, but they do mostly agree that the two types of complement markings are used by different types of verbs. First, oblique case is viewed as always indexing the original semantics of the case (direct semantics), that isosutama‘point at’ selecting an allative (‘onto’) complement. Second, oblique case usage is seen as referring to a restricted set of syntactic relations (indirect semantics), that is Estonian allative and adessive being used for marking Experiencers. In any case, oblique complement verbs are viewed as more semantically restricted than canonical object verbs. This study tests these two hypotheses in a quantitative corpus approach. In a non-semantically extracted sample of verbs (n = 232), it compares the lexical-semantic transitivity of oblique and canonical complement verbs in order to investigate the degree to which indirect semantic effects differentiate between the two types of verbs. In addition, it outlines direct semantic effects between oblique case frames in terms of semantic roles. Finally, it investigates the way these patterns are related to the cases’ individual grammaticalisation degrees.
Spatial parasitology and the unmapped human helminthiases
Authors: Schluth Catherine G. , Standley Claire J. , Bansal Shweta , Carlson Colin J.
Published: January 2023

Helminthiases are a class of neglected tropical diseases that affect at least 1 billion people worldwide, with a disproportionate impact on resource-poor areas with limited disease surveillance. Geospatial methods can offer valuable insights into the burden of these infections, particularly given that many are subject to strong ecological influences on the environmental, vector-borne or zoonotic stages of their life cycle. In this study, we screened 6829 abstracts and analysed 485 studies that use maps to document, infer or predict transmission patterns for over 200 species of parasitic worms. We found that quantitative mapping methods are increasingly used in medical parasitology, drawing on One Health surveillance data from the community scale to model geographic distributions and burdens up to the regional or global scale. However, we found that the vast majority of the human helminthiases may be entirely unmapped, with research effort focused disproportionately on a half-dozen infections that are targeted by mass drug administration programmes. Entire regions were also surprisingly under-represented in the literature, particularly southern Asia and the Neotropics. We conclude by proposing a shortlist of possible priorities for future research, including several neglected helminthiases with a burden that may be underestimated.
JUSTIN CONNOLLY IN INTERVIEW
Authors: Kurowski Andrew
Published: January 2023

In this transcription of an interview between the former Editor of New Music at BBC Radio 3 and the composer Justin Connolly, Connolly discusses his life as a composer. He traces his development from childhood to studies at the Royal College of Music and Yale University and the influence of the composer Roberto Gerhard. Connolly's Poems of Wallace Stevens IV, his most recent work at the time of the interview, is considered in particular detail. The interview took place at the former British Music Information Centre in Stratford Place, London on 14 April 1993. TEMPO gratefully acknowledges the work of the Estate of Justin Connolly in transcribing the interview and permitting its publication.
(Im)mobile ageing: risks of exclusion in later life in liminal urban peripheries
Authors: Nagesh Prajwal , Bailey Ajay , George Sobin , Hyde Martin , Subaiya Lekha
Published: January 2023

Despite the recent policy impetus for age-friendly cities, there is still scope for more geographical insights into ageing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cities in LMICs, such as Bengaluru (India), are witnessing an increase in the size of the older population in their peripheral urban regions, but there is relatively little understanding of the risks of exclusion in later age in these liminal zones. This study, set in a peripheral ward of Bengaluru, focuses on the experiences of exclusion/inclusion of socio-economically marginalised older adults and their access to work, health care and leisure. The research uses a multidimensional old-age exclusion framework to highlight how the domains of neighbourhood, material resources, mobility infrastructure and social relations influence the risks for social exclusion. We use a qualitative approach by combining behavioural mapping and in-depth interviews. Our findings highlight some ways in which institutionalised exclusion from civic infrastructure accentuates the precariousness of ageing. The rigidity of traditional hierarchies in peri-urban regions has meant that older adults who were poor, women and belonged to marginalised castes experience constrained mobilities to access labour markets, health care and social life, compounding their place-based exclusion. Despite social networks and solidarities, older adults on the periphery faced individualisation of risks while trying to access the basic amenities, thereby falling between the gap of the urban–rural milieu and governance. Age-friendly cities need to accommodate such hybrid transitionary urban processes, in the absence of which, active ageing in these rising peripheries can be impeded.
The use of demand functions to assess behavioural priorities in farm animals
Authors: Jensen MB , Pedersen LJ , Ladewig J
Published: January 2023

The use of demand functions to identify the behaviours most important to animals has been advocated widely. The principle is to place increasing cost on the opportunity to perform several behaviours and subsequently to rank these behaviours according to the change in their performance as a function of cost; this change is described by the elasticity of the demand function. However, the method has been criticised for placing the animal in too artificial a setting. Firstly, the animal works repeatedly for short periods of access to a resource, which may interrupt bouts of behaviour; secondly, animals are tested in isolation, which may affect their motivation to perform the target behaviour; and, finally, assumptions regarding the effect of prior deprivation and reward duration on elasticity of demand need to be tested. This criticism, however, is important only if these factors do affect the elasticity of the resulting demand function. This paper reviews experiments that have developed methods to assess the importance of various behaviours to farm animals and that have tested the effect of social context, length of deprivation of a resource and reward duration. It is concluded that the elasticity of demand function may be used to assess the relative importance of various behaviours, but that it is important to make sure that the experimental set-up yields valid estimates of the elasticity of demand.
Consumer demand under commercial husbandry conditions: practical advice on measuring behavioural priorities in captive animals
Authors: Cooper JJ
Published: January 2023

In recent years, consumer demand studies have been used to objectively quantify the value that captive animals place on environmental resources. Considerable progress has been made in the development of effective methodologies to assess what resources are valued under controlled experimental conditions, but few of the findings from these studies have been implemented in commercial husbandry systems. A major obstacle has been the need to maintain internal validity in experimental studies at the possible expense of external validity. Experimental subjects may be poor representatives of commercially kept animals, especially where there is no replication of the animal's experience of commercial physical and social environments. This paper will discuss means of increasing the external validity of consumer demand studies. Firstly, experimental animals should be of representative genotypes, reared under commercial conditions and housed in test apparatus with free access to all of the resources that are normally available under commercial husbandry conditions. As well as providing a long-term closed economy, this allows manipulation of potentially important environmental factors such as prior experience. Secondly, naturalistic tasks should, where possible, be used in preference to abstract operant tasks since they appear to be easier to train animals to associate with rewarding resources, therefore many individuals can be investigated efficiently. Furthermore, naturalistic tasks appear to be less prone to operant bias than artificial tasks and can provide robust measures of value in terms of the maximum price paid for access to resources. Finally, for group-housed species, social costs such as enduring higher stocking densities and/or competition for resources may be an effective means of investigating cost-benefit trade-offs under commercial conditions. For example, if animals work to evenly distribute themselves over available space, this social spacing priority can be used to investigate whether they will endure higher stocking densities in order to exploit particular resources.
Applying scientific advances to the welfare of farm animals: why is it getting more difficult?
Authors: Keeling L
Published: January 2023

Despite interest and willingness to apply advances in animal welfare science, it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. This paper addresses three main areas. The first deals with economic consequences and, while recognising the cost of implementing change, highlights the importance of hidden costs in animal disease. It argues that when these costs are taken into consideration more money can be allocated to the prevention of welfare problems. The second section relates to the fact that as animal welfare science progresses, there will tend to be scientists who focus on theoretical concepts and those who focus on practical problems. This specialisation may mean that intermediate research is needed to bridge the gap between the original idea and its practical implementation. It may also mean that the scientist making the original advance may not be well placed or even interested in doing this. The final section on the difficulties of applying scientific advances makes the point that as the number of scientists in the area increases, so does the discussion of methods and results. In the long-term these intellectual exchanges obviously benefit the science, but in the short-term they slow down the implementation of findings. Scientists focus on differences in interpretation not on similarities, leading non-scientists to sometimes miss the large areas of agreement and see only uncertainty in other areas. The paper concludes by suggesting that awareness of the factors affecting the application of scientific advances will help to minimise the risks that good ideas and results are not implemented in practice.
Editorial
Authors: Ewbank Roger
Published: January 2023

It is a major enterprise to establish a new journal. This is true whether the publication is in the field of a pure science or, as is the present case, İn the applied area of animal welfare. There is a need to commit substantial resources of both time and money especially when there is the intent to develop a product of quality as well as relevance.
Pre-Feeding Agonism and Seasonality in Captive Groups of Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes)
Authors: Howell S M , Matevia M , Fritz J , Nash L , Maki S
Published: January 2023

Captive chimpanzees fed at regular, predictable intervals are known to exhibit higher rates of aggression immediately prior to, and during feeding. Presumably, anticipation of food creates tensions leading to increased agonistic interactions prior to feeding. This study was conducted to determine if seasonal variabilities might contribute to pre-feeding agonism. A quantitative examination was made looking at events affected by seasonal (summer versus autumn) changes. Seasonal fruit diversity and the amount of available space during feeding bouts in socially housed, captive chimpanzees were tested for an effect on pre-feeding agonism. Groups were observed for a five-week period during both seasons. Each social group was observed five times per season for 30 minutes, beginning 30 minutes prior to the morning feeding. All occurrences of agonistic behaviours were recorded. Average frequencies of agonistic behaviours were calculated for each group and compared across season using a Wilcoxon matched-pairs test to determine the effect of seasonal fluctuations in fruit diversity. There were no significant differences in the number of agonistic behaviours exhibited during summer versus autumn seasons. A strong negative correlation was found for agonistic behaviours in both seasons: as space decreased, agonism increased in both summer and autumn. In addition, males scored significantly higher in the summer versus the autumn for submissive behaviours when space decreased. The provision of a variety of seasonal fruits did not result in increased pre-feeding agonism in captive chimpanzees. In fact, cage size had a greater effect on levels of agonism than did the provision of seasonal fruits.
A Comparison of the Behaviour of Solitary and Group-Housed Budgerigars
Authors: Nicol C J , Pope S J
Published: January 2023

A comparison was made of the behaviour of budgerigars housed singly in commercially available cages obtained from a pet supplier, and budgerigars housed in a group of six in a small aviary. Budgerigars housed in the aviary consumed significantly more food and were more active, performing more wing stretching and flying. Caged budgerigars performed significantly more vocalizations. When tested individually, aviary birds were more active in a novel test chamber and were significantly more likely to approach an unfamiliar bird. Cage birds were generally reluctant to approach an unfamiliar bird, but showed an increasing tendency to approach when allowed a longer period of familiarization. Pet budgerigars are commonly housed in isolation from conspecifics, with little consideration of potential effects on welfare. The aim of this study was to provide some initial information about the effects of social isolation on the behaviour of budgerigars.
Gerbils Prefer Partially Darkened Cages
Authors: Van den Broek FAR , Klompmaker H , Bakker R , Beynen A C
Published: January 2023

A test system previously described by Blomet al(1993) was used to investigate the preference of the Mongolian gerbil(Meriones unguiculatus)with respect to light intensity in their cage, by comparing a standard transparent rodent cage with three cages darkened by either 25, 50 or 75 per cent. The ten animals included in the test spent most of their time in the cages that were darkened by 50 and 75 per cent, thus relatively avoiding the standard cage. Preference was mainly determined by visits longer than 15min and was therefore possibly associated with sleeping behaviour. Food and water consumption were not restricted to the preferred cages.

These results imply that gerbils should be housed preferably in cages that allow sheltering in relatively dark places. For this purpose, placing shelter objects in the cage should be considered.