bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South Africa
Authors: Raijman Rebeca
Published: February 2024

As part of this Special Issue devoted to research on the Jewish communities in Africa and their diaspora, we focus on the case of South African Jews who emigrated to Israel. First, we analyze the socio-religious and cultural context in which a Jewish diaspora developed and marked the ethno-religious identity of South African Jews both as individuals and as a collective. Second, we examine the role of ethno-religious identification as the main motive for migrating to Israel, and third, we show the role of ethno-religious identity in the integration of South African Jews into Israeli life. This study relies on data from a survey of South Africans and their descendants living in Israel in 2008, and in-depth interviews. The findings provide evidence for a strong Jewish community in South Africa that created a strong sense of belonging to the Jewish people and a strong attachment to Israel. As expected, two of the key reasons for the decision to move to Israel were ideology and religion. The immigrants wanted to live in a place where they could feel part of the majority that was culturally and religiously Jewish. Finally, ethno-religious identities (Jewish and Zionist) influenced not only the decision making of potential immigrants but also their process of integration into Israeli life.
Wholeness for Life and Life Eternal: A Perspective from Ubuntu, Paul’s Reconciliation Theology, and the New Cosmology
Authors: Kassa Augustin
Published: February 2024

The idea of cosmos unity is not recent. It has been proposed from various viewpoints throughout human history as the locus of life. To begin with, the African worldview of Ubuntu tells the story of life from the experience of a cosmic perspective that upholds the primacy of the community and asserts that a truly fulfilling and complete life is attainable only by those who belong to the cosmic whole. There is no ‘I’ without ‘we’; “Because we are, I am”. And, unless the “I” belongs to “we”, there is no life, biological or ancestral, after death. On its part, Paul’s cosmology, generally understood as proposing a two/three-tiered cosmos, has a different viewpoint when seen from a closer look. Even if he would have agreed with his religious ancestors that sin had divided reality and that diastema is to blame for the cosmos fragmentation, Paul still recounts the story of a cosmic whole. His theology of reconciliation makes that unity more evident when he suggests that through Christ, the cosmos is reconciled, and life is restored. To belong to the cosmic whole is to be reconciled with God and have eternal life. From a third perspective, today’s new cosmological investigations have uncovered the unfolding story of the grand unity and complexity of the universe, which is the only locus of life known to humanity. In this universe of connectivity and entanglement, one can scientifically appreciate the absence of fragments and observe the complexified unity of all things indispensable for living. These three stories reveal that togetherness and the experience of the cosmic whole are fundamental for life and the taste of eternal life.
Waste Management during the Production Drilling Stage in the Oil and Gas Sector: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Lebedev Andrey , Cherepovitsyn Alexey
Published: February 2024

Drilling-waste management is of great importance in the oil and gas industry due to the substantial volume of multi-component waste generated during the production process. Improper waste handling can pose serious environmental risks, including soil and water contamination and the release of harmful chemicals. Failure to properly manage waste can result in large fines and legal consequences, as well as damage to corporate reputation. Proper drilling-waste management is essential to mitigate these risks and ensure the sustainable and responsible operation of oil and gas projects. It involves the use of advanced technologies and best practices to treat and utilize drilling waste in an environmentally safe and cost-effective manner. This article describes a feasibility study of four drilling-waste management options in the context of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Russia. For ten years of the project life, the NPV under the base scenario is equal to RUB −3374.3 million, under the first scenario is equal to RUB −1466.7 million, under the second scenario is equal to RUB −1666.8 million and under the third scenario is equal to RUB −792.4 million. When considering projects, regardless of oil production, the project under the third scenario pays off in 7.8 years and the NPV is RUB 7.04 million. The MCD and MCV parameters were calculated to be 106 km and 2290 tons, respectively. Furthermore, the study estimates the ecological damage prevented and the environmental effect of each option. Quantitative risk assessments, conducted through sensitivity analysis, reveal that the fourth option, involving the conversion of drilling waste into construction materials, emerges as the most economically feasible. The study also evaluates the interaction between business and government and analyzes the current situation in the sphere of drilling-waste management, concluding with concise recommendations for both companies and official bodies.
Tree Species Classification Based on Upper Crown Morphology Captured by Uncrewed Aircraft System Lidar Data
Authors: McGaughey Robert J. , Kruper Ally , Bobsin Courtney R. , Bormann Bernard T.
Published: February 2024

The application of lidar data to assist with forest inventory is common around the world. However, the determination of tree species is still somewhat elusive. Lidar data collected using UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) platforms offer high density point cloud data for areas from a few to several hundred hectares. General point cloud metrics computed using these data captured differences in the crown structure that proved useful for species classification. For our study, we manually adjusted plot and tree locations to align field trees and UAS lidar point data and computed common descriptive metrics using a small cylindrical sample of points designed to capture the top three meters and leader of each tree. These metrics were used to train a random forest classifier to differentiate between two conifer species, Douglas fir and western hemlock, common in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Our UAS lidar data had a single swath pulse density of 90 pulses/m2 and an aggregate pulse density of 556 pulses/m2. We trained classification models using both height and intensity metrics, height metrics alone, intensity metrics alone, and a small subset of five metrics, and achieved overall accuracies of 91.8%, 88.7%, 78.6%, and 91.5%, respectively. Overall, we showed that UAS lidar data captured morphological differences between the upper crowns of our two target species and produced a classification model that could be applied over large areas.
Comparative Analysis of Aerosol Vertical Characteristics over the North China Plain Based on Multi-Source Observation Data
Authors: Wang Fei , Li Zhanqing , Jiang Qi , Ren Xinrong , He Hao , Tang Yahui , Dong Xiaobo , Sun Yele , Dickerson Russell R.
Published: February 2024

In this paper, multi-source observation, such as aircraft, ground-based remote sensing, and satellite-retrieved data, has been utilized to compare and analyze the vertical characteristics of aerosol optical properties and the planetary boundary layer height (HPBL) over the North China Plain (NCP) region during May–June 2016. Aircraft observations show the vertical profiles of aerosol absorption coefficients (σabs), scattering coefficients (σsca), and extinction coefficients (σext) gradually decrease with altitude, with their maximum values near HPBL. The vertical profiles of σext depended most on the vertical distribution of measured σsca, indicating a significant contribution of scattering aerosols. In addition, the prominent characteristic of the inverse relationship between σext and moisture profile could serve as a reference for predicting air quality in the NCP region. The lower layer pollution during the field experiment was likely caused by the accumulation of fine-mode aerosols, characterized by the vertical distribution of the Ångström exponent and the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) products. Typically, HPBL derived from aircraft and surface Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL) was approximate, while the predicted HPBL by meteorological data indicates an underestimation of ~192 m. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) calculated from aircraft and ground-based remote sensing (such as MPL and AERONET) experienced a strong correlation, and both of them exhibited a similar tendency. However, the AOD retrieved from satellites was significantly larger than that from aircraft and ground-based remote sensing. Overall, the inversion algorithm, cloud identification algorithm, representativeness of the space, and time of the observation may lead to an overestimation or underestimation of AOD under certain circumstances. This study may serve as a re-evaluation of AOD retrieved from multi-source observations and provide a reference to uncover the actual atmospheric environment in the NCP regions.
RC-LAHR: Road-Side-Unit-Assisted Cloud-Based Location-Aware Hybrid Routing for Software-Defined Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Kumar Manish , Raw Ram Shringar
Published: February 2024

The reliability of the communication link is quite common and challenging to handle as the topology changes frequently in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). Another problem with VANETs is that the vehicles are from different manufacturers. Hence, the heterogeneity of hardware is obvious. These heterogeneity and reliability problems affect the message dissemination in VANETs. This paper aims to address these challenges by proposing a robust routing protocol capable of ensuring reliable, scalable, and heterogeneity-tolerant message dissemination in VANETs. We first introduced a hybrid hierarchical architecture based on software-defined networking (SDN) principles for VANETs, leveraging SDN’s inherent scalability and adaptability to heterogeneity. Further, a road-side unit (RSU)-assisted cloud-based location-aware hybrid routing for software-defined VANETs (SD-VANETs) that we call RC-LAHR was proposed. RC-LAHR was rigorously tested and analyzed for its performance in terms of packet delivery ratio (PDR) and end-to-end delay (EED), along with a comprehensive assessment of network traffic and load impacts on cloud infrastructure and RSUs. The routing protocol is compared with state-of-the-art protocols, Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing (GPSR) and Opportunistic and Position-Based Routing (OPBR). The proposed routing protocol performs well as compared to GPSR and OPBR. The result shows that the EED is reduced to 20% and the PDR is increased to 30%. The network reliability is also increased up to 5% as compared to the OPBR and GPSR.
CO2 Adsorption by Bamboo Biochars Obtained via a Salt-Assisted Pyrolysis Route
Authors: Xie Xing , Li Mangmang , Lin Dan , Li Bin , Li Chaoen , Liu Dongjing
Published: February 2024

Recently, salt-assisted pyrolyzation has been deemed an emerging and efficient method for the preparation of biochars due to its facile operation as well as its good structural and chemical properties. In this work, biochars (MBCx) are prepared by heating bamboo powders in eutectic salts (Li2CO3 + K2CO3) at 500–600 °C in the air. Multiple technologies are employed to examine the physiochemical properties of bamboo biochars. Correlations between heating temperature and structural features and carbon dioxide uptakes of bamboo biochars have been investigated. The results show that heating temperature has a significant influence on the physicochemical properties of bamboo biochars. With the elevation of the heating temperature, the defect structures of bamboo biochars gradually ascend, especially when the heating temperature reaches 600 °C. MBCx biochars visibly exceed conventional bamboo biochar prepared via pyrolyzation in a nitrogen stream free of salt addition. Pyrolysis of bamboo in eutectic salts endows biochars with higher oxygen content and more carbon defects, which likely accounts for their better CO2 capture activities.
Evaluation of Gender-Related Digital Violence Training in Catalonia
Authors: Guerrero-Sanchez Catalina , Bonet-Marti Jordi , Biglia Barbara
Published: February 2024

This study examines the results of evaluating a Catalan training program for practitioners working with survivors of gender-related violence. Considering the lack of scientific evidence previously shown by studies on this topic, this article aimed to triangulate the participants’ self-perception with their assessment of knowledge and competencies in tackling digital gender-related violence before and after the training. To do so, a pre-test and post-test case-based design was employed to identify and measure the participants’ improvement in self-perceived knowledge and their effective gain in knowledge and skills to address this kind of violence. Considering the contributions of a feminist evaluation approach, we also included in our evaluation the analysis of classroom interactions and the participants’ responses. The results overall demonstrate that the incorporation of assessment criteria from the feminist evaluation methodology increased the reliability of evaluation criteria. In addition, it also enabled us to identify the need to continue developing training programs that empower participants and prevent women and LGBTQI+ people from disengaging from digital spaces.
Love and Basketball: The Wives and Partners within Athletic Family Systems
Authors: Blount Ashley J. , Schneider Kara , Ramig Abby L. Bjornsen , Kissinger Daniel B.
Published: February 2024

This article offers an examination of the lives of wives and partners of collegiate basketball coaches, employing the Bronfenbrenner Ecological model as a framework for analysis. While the world of sports coaching is routinely celebrated and scrutinized, the experiences and challenges faced by the wives and/or partners of these coaches remain relatively unexplored. This paper reviews the diverse systems influencing the lives of coaches’ partners and the need for holistic support mechanisms. By employing the Coaches’ Wives and Partners Adapted Bronfenbrenner Model as a conceptual framework, researchers, counselors and other helpers, and support networks can gain a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics at play and can offer more effective assistance to coaches’ partners as they navigate the unique challenges and opportunities associated with their role in the basketball world. Implications for the NCAA, universities/athletic departments, coaches, and coaches’ wives and partners are addressed.
Digital Death and Spectacular Death
Authors: Sumiala Johanna , Jacobsen Michael Hviid
Published: February 2024

Throughout human history, individuals, communities and societies have always had to confront and tackle the problem of death. Consequently, death remains a topic of social scientific relevance, highlighting the need for its study and for theorising around it. This article analyses the development of the social scientific study of death and dying, taking inspiration from Philippe Ariès’s historical stages to discuss the recent developments in the field, namely the study of digital death. The article begins with a discussion of the visibility of death in modern society in the context of spectacular death. The analysis emphasises its four dimensions: mediatisation, commercialisation, re-ritualisation and the revolution in end-of-life care. The article moves on to discuss the emergence of digital death as the current stage and reflects on its similarities to spectacular death and its transformation of public imaginaries around death in contemporary society. The article concludes with a reflection on future developments in the field, specifically the emergence and study of artificial intelligence (AI) in digitalised death culture.
Artificial Intelligence Bringing Improvements to Adaptive Learning in Education: A Case Study
Authors: Demartini Claudio Giovanni , Sciascia Luciano , Bosso Andrea , Manuri Federico
Published: February 2024

Despite promising outcomes in higher education, the widespread adoption of learning analytics remains elusive in various educational settings, with primary and secondary schools displaying considerable reluctance to embrace these tools. This hesitancy poses a significant obstacle, particularly given the prevalence of educational technology and the abundance of data generated in these environments. In contrast to higher education institutions that readily integrate learning analytics tools into their educational governance, high schools often harbor skepticism regarding the tools’ impact and returns. To overcome these challenges, this work aims to harness learning analytics to address critical areas, such as school dropout rates, the need to foster student collaboration, improving argumentation and writing skills, and the need to enhance computational thinking across all age groups. The goal is to empower teachers and decision makers with learning analytics tools that will equip them to identify learners in vulnerable or exceptional situations, enabling educational authorities to take suitable actions that are aligned with students’ needs; this could potentially involve adapting learning processes and organizational structures to meet the needs of students. This work also seeks to evaluate the impact of such analytics tools on education within a multi-dimensional and scalable domain, ranging from individual learners to teachers and principals, and extending to broader governing bodies. The primary objective is articulated through the development of a user-friendly AI-based dashboard for learning. This prototype aims to provide robust support for teachers and principals who are dedicated to enhancing the education they provide within the intricate and multifaceted social domain of the school.
Vertical Variation in Temperature Sensitivity of Soil Organic Carbon Mineralization in Changbai Mountain, China: A Microcosm Study
Authors: Liu Xue , Zhang Yifan , Wu Haitao , Liu Dandan , Zhang Zhongsheng
Published: February 2024

Global warming may have a complex effect on soil carbon mineralization across mountain elevations. Elevational zonation governs the soil natural composition of mountain ecosystems due to different temperature conditions. Understanding the response of carbon mineralization to climate change, particularly the temperature sensitivity (Q10), is crucial for assessing the effects within mountain vertical zones. Despite this, the spatial variation and influencing factors of organic carbon mineralization at these zones remain unclear. We conducted a microcosm study in Changbai Mountain, Northeast China, to examine the response of soil carbon mineralization to warming across six different elevations (1000, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000, and 2200 m). The soil samples were incubated at 5 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C for 71 days. The results showed a significant elevation-dependent increase in the rate of soil organic carbon mineralization (Cmin), with the birch forest exhibiting the highest values. Q10 varied across elevations, with the highest value (1.57) in the coniferous forest (1400 m), and the lowest (1.32) in the tundra (2200 m). The potential of organic carbon mineralization (C0) demonstrated an increasing trend from 5 °C to 25 °C across the six elevations. Elevation and soil properties, especially pH, bulk density (BD), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), emerged as critical factors influencing organic carbon mineralization; notably, elevation played a crucial role. In summary, our findings highlight the common regulatory role of elevation and soil properties in soil carbon mineralization dynamics within the vertical zones. Future research should pay attention to the distinctive features of vegetation zones to analyze how mountain carbon pool function responds to global climate change.
Struggling and Thriving: Effectuation in Social and Economic Stress
Authors: Karami Masoud , Wooliscroft Ben , Hejazinia Maryam
Published: February 2024

How do citizens respond when provisioning systems are severely changed and curtailed? We apply effectuation theory from the entrepreneurship literature to address a socio-economic issue. We used an online survey and collected data from 1014 citizens in Iran to investigate how an effectual logic of thinking as a psychological framework enables some citizens of a non-Western country to address the uncertainties caused by international economic sanctions and sustain their well-being. We find that optimistic members of society use their effectual logic to enhance their satisfaction with life and social and economic sustainability in the medium-longer run. This study contributes to the multifactorial view of quality of life as well as effectuation theory and enhances our understanding of social sustainability and how it can be cultivated. Implications for policymakers are provided.
In Search of Sustainable Economy Indicators: A Comparative Analysis between the Sustainable Development Goals Index and the Green Growth Index
Authors: Al-Thani Mishal J. , Koç Muammer
Published: February 2024

The absence of globally accepted indicators for measuring progress towards a Sustainable Economy (SE) presents a significant challenge in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a timely and comprehensive manner. Despite decades of attempts to develop alternative metrics and indicators for SE and Sustainable Development (SD), progress has been incremental and incomplete. This paper aims to comparatively assess the existing metrics for measuring progress towards SE based on their completeness and utility in various SE dimensions, attributes and characteristics. It aims to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each identified metric and provide a detailed analysis of existing sustainability indices through a comprehensive literature review and analysis.. The importance and originality of our approach come from comparative analysis, mapping promising and relevant metrics identified through an extensive literature review against identified sustainability features. This paper employs the Sustainable Development Goals Index (SDGI) and the Green Growth Index (GGI) and applies them to Qatar and few selected countries. Qatar is showing noteworthy progress in both indices, albeit at varying rates, but it has more room for progress by learning from other countries. This study acknowledges its limitations, including data availability for a limited period and its application to only a selected set of countries. Finally, it recommends future research to broaden the scope of analysis over an extended timeframe and to a larger group of countries, enhancing the applicability and depth of the indices.
A Dual-Stage Attention-Based Vehicle Speed Prediction Model Considering Driver Heterogeneity with Fuel Consumption and Emissions Analysis
Authors: Cheng Rongjun , Li Qinyin , Chen Fuzhou , Miao Baobin
Published: February 2024

With the development of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs), personalized driving systems are receiving more and more attention, and the development of advanced systems cannot be separated from the practical exploration of drivers’ heterogeneous driving behaviors. An important foundation for subsequent driver-targeted research is how to mine the key influencing factors that characterize drivers through real driving data and how to appropriately classify drivers as a whole. This study took heterogeneous drivers as the object, based on a dual-stage attention-based vehicle speed prediction model, and carried out research on the speed prediction of traffic flow and the impact of fuel consumption and emissions in the car-following state considering the heterogeneity of drivers. Specifically, first, Spearman’s correlation analysis and K-means clustering were used to classify different types of drivers. Then, speed predictions for different types of drivers were separated via the dual-stage attention-based encoder–decoder (DAED) model and the prediction results between models and drivers were compared. Finally, the heterogeneous drivers’ fuel consumption and emissions were further analyzed via the VT-micro model. The results show that the proposed speed prediction model can effectively discriminate the influences of heterogeneous drivers on the prediction model, and the aggressive type presents the best effect. In addition, from the experiments on traffic fuel consumption and emissions, it can be concluded that the timid driver is the friendliest to the environment. By researching individual drivers’ driving characteristics, this study may help sustainable development in traffic management.
Can Green Finance Mitigate China’s Carbon Emissions and Air Pollution? An Analysis of Spatial Spillover and Mediation Pathways
Authors: Liu Huidong , Yang Jing , Zhao Fang , Jiang Lei , Li Na
Published: February 2024

China faces a multi-objective environmental governance dilemma involving achieving fundamental ecological environment improvement, carbon peaking, and carbon neutrality. In this study, we constructed indicators of the level of green finance development through the entropy-weighted TOPSIS evaluation model, and adopted the two-way fixed-effect spatial Durbin model (SDM) and the multiple spatial mediation effect model to explore the impacts and paths of green finance as a policy tool to promote environmental sustainability in carbon emissions and environmental pollution using panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2007 and 2019. The research results show that green finance (GF) can significantly reduce carbon emission intensity (CEI) and air pollution (AP). Moreover, the role of GF in reducing AP becomes weaker due to increased levels of green finance in neighboring regions negatively affecting local air quality. Mediation path analysis shows that GF reduces CEI and AP mainly by promoting the optimization of energy structures and technological progress. The results of regional heterogeneity analysis show that there is variability in the pathway of the impact of GF on CEI and AP in different regions, and the Western region is more sensitive to GF policies. Therefore, policymakers should give their full attention to the functions of GF to mitigate China’s carbon emissions and environmental pollution.
Exploring Innovation Ecosystem with Multi-Layered Heterogeneous Networks of Global 5G Communication Technology
Authors: Zhang Xiaohang , Cui Ran , Ji Yajun
Published: February 2024

This study explores the dynamics of emerging technology innovation ecosystems, viewing them as complex systems comprising social actors and knowledge artifacts engaged in innovation interactions. Employing a multilayer network perspective, we present a Social-Knowledge-Science-Technology (A-K-S-T) framework, examining both homogeneous and heterogeneous interactions among innovators and knowledge elements. Within this framework, we map out the technological landscape, identify ecological niches for specific actors and knowledge elements, and gauge knowledge proximity among innovators, revealing opportunities for collaboration and knowledge innovation. Using 5G technology as an illustrative example, key findings include the potential for innovation development in 5G, the need for enhanced collaboration among organizations in related technological fields, and the complementary nature of scientific and technological knowledge. This research contributes to innovation ecosystem literature, offering insights for management, governance, efficiency, and shared prosperity; meanwhile, it is a valuable reference for decision-makers to shape effective strategies.
Eco-Innovation: Corn Stover as the Biomaterial in Packaging Designs
Authors: Duan Yu , Zhang Linli , Su Hang , Yang Dongfang , Xu Jinhui
Published: February 2024

Shandong, China’s largest agricultural province, generates a massive amount of agricultural waste each year, with corn stover being the predominant type. Although current agricultural waste management primarily involves sustainable practices carried out by professional companies, this study seeks to explore a simpler, more accessible method of handling stover waste. Guided by positivist theory and several experiments, a formula was developed, primarily composed of corn stover powder and natural substances such as glycerin. In this process, we designed and implemented four control experimental groups with water as the quantity used to investigate the influence of different material content in the formula. The resultant material was then subjected to property analyses, including tests on colouration, toughness, etc. Ultimately, the material was applied in a small-scale test as a raw material for an agricultural product packaging design. The study, rooted in sustainability, environmental protection, and the establishment of a local circular economy, fills the gap in current research of lacking design knowledge interventions.
A Novel Parts-to-Picker System with Buffer Racks and Access Racks in Flexible Warehousing Systems
Authors: He Miao , Guan Zailin , Hou Guoxiang , Wang Xiaofen
Published: February 2024

With the tremendous development of the logistics industry, the global market of automated warehousing has been growing rapidly. Meanwhile, the warehousing industry shows drawbacks, such as low storage capacity and poor efficiency. By comparing and analyzing the shuttle-based storage and retrieval system (SBS/RS), miniload automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), and KIVA system, a novel efficient parts-to-picker approach in flexible warehousing systems is proposed. Among them, buffer racks and access racks, associated with the access of automated mobile robots (AMRs) and stackers are used. The results show that compared with other parts-to-picker systems (such as the KIVA system), this system provides a significant increase in storage capacity (more than three times), and the picking efficiency is also very high at various layout scales, where the picking efficiency is no less than the KIVA system when the number of AMRs reaches the max. The novel system is suitable for small-, medium-, and large-scale warehouses in terms of showing high capacity and producing excellent space utilization. More importantly, this system can easily compete with its traditional counterparts by using a layout of high density without much increase in cost. This sustainable improvement realizes the efficient utilization of spatial resources and provides important support for the construction of green supply chains.
The Testing Procedure for the Overall Lifetime Performance Index of Rayleigh Products in Multiple Production Lines Based on the Progressive Type I Interval Censored Sample
Authors: Wu Shu-Fei , Huang Pei-Tzu
Published: February 2024

The lifetime performance index is a process capability index that is commonly used for the evaluation of the durability of products in life testing and reliability analysis. In the context of multiple production lines, we introduce an overall lifetime performance index and explore the relationship between this comprehensive index and individual lifetime performance indices. For products with lifespans following the Rayleigh distribution in the ith production line, we delve into the maximum likelihood estimator and asymptotic distribution to derive both the individual and overall lifetime performance indices. By establishing a predetermined target for the overall lifetime performance index, we can determine the corresponding target for each individual lifetime performance index. The testing algorithmic procedure is proposed to ascertain whether the overall lifetime performance index has reached its target value based on the maximum likelihood estimator, accompanied by figures illustrating the analysis of test power. We found that there is a monotonic relationship for the test power with various structures of parameters. Finally, a practical illustration with one numeral example is presented to demonstrate how the testing procedure is employed to evaluate the capabilities of multiple production lines.
Impact of Brood Cell Cocoons on Metal Accumulation and CYP450 Detoxification Gene Expression in Apis cerana cerana
Authors: Meng Qingxin , Huang Rong , Yang Shunhua , Li Hui , Yue Dan , Gong Xueyang , Zhao Wenzheng , Tian Yakai , Dong Kun
Published: February 2024

Honey bees play a critical role as pollinators. However, their reproduction success and survival face severe threats due to the deterioration of their living environment. Notably, environmental conditions during their preimaginal stage inside brood cells can influence their immune capabilities and overall health after emergence. During the in-cell developmental stage, workers are in close contact with cocoons, which can become a source of stress due to accumulated metals. To investigate this potential threat, experiments were conducted to examine the impact of cocoons in brood cells used to rear different generations on the metal content and detoxification gene expression levels in Apis cerana cerana. Our findings indicated significant differences in the layers, weight, base thickness, and metal contents like Cr, Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, and As of cocoons in multi-generation brood cells compared to single-generation brood cells. These increases led to significant elevations in metal levels and upregulations of the four CYP450 detoxification genes in both six-day-old larvae and newly emerged workers. In conclusion, this study highlights the negative impact of cocoons in multi-generation brood cells on bee health and provides evidence supporting the development of rational apiculture management strategies for ecosystem stability.
Availability of Deceased Donors for Uterus Transplantation in the United States: Perception vs. Reality
Authors: O’Neill Kathleen , Richards Elliott G. , Walter Jessica , West Sharon , Hasz Richard , Testa Giuliano , Kalra Shreya , Falcone Tommaso , Flyckt Rebecca , Latif Nawar , Tzakis Andreas , Johannesson Liza
Published: February 2024

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is a rapidly evolving treatment for uterine factor infertility. New centers offering this treatment must decide whether to utilize living donors, deceased donors, or both. Although limiting UTx to deceased donors eliminates the surgical risks for living donors, an adequate supply of suitable deceased uterus donors in the United States is an emerging concern. Previous studies describing the paucity of deceased uterus donors failed to consider key donor characteristics, potentially overestimating the available organ pool. To estimate the United States’ supply of deceased donor uteri; we extrapolated detailed clinical and demographic information from the regional donor datasets available from three organ procurement organizations to the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network donor pool. We estimate there are approximately 3700 possible and 400 optimal uterus donors annually in the United States. Given these projections and the number of women with uterine factor infertility in the U.S. who pursue parenthood through alternative strategies, we conclude that, as uterus transplant transitions from research to established clinical care, demand could quickly exceed the deceased donor supply. The liberalization of deceased donor selection criteria may be insufficient to address this imbalance; therefore, fulfilling the anticipated increased demand for uterus transplantation may require and justify greater use of living donors.
A Qualitative Analysis of the Perceptions of Stakeholders Involved in Vector Control and Vector-Borne Disease Research and Surveillance in Orinoquia, Colombia
Authors: Jaramillo-Ramirez Gloria Isabel , Tacugue Maria Claudelle , Power Grace M. , Qureshi Rimsha , Seelig Frederik , Quintero Juliana , Logan James G. , Jones Robert T.
Published: February 2024

Colombia has a tropical climate and environmental conditions that favour the circulation of most of the known vector-borne diseases (VBDs). Protocols have been established and implemented to address the threats of these diseases, but they are for country-wide use and do not take into consideration the nuances of the different environments of the country. Almost the entire population is vulnerable to infection with one or more VBD. This study aims to characterise the perceptions and experiences of stakeholders involved in vector control and VBDs in the Orinoquia region in Colombia. Two panel discussions, and 12 semi-structured interviews, were conducted. Experts from the Colombian National Health Institute (INS), health secretaries from Meta, Guaviare and Vichada Departments, academic researchers, and individuals from private vector control companies participated. All sessions were recorded, transcribed, and translated, and then subject to thematic analysis. Three major themes emerged: involvement, limitations, and recommendations. Results showed that participants are engaged in vector surveillance activities, education, and vector control research. Participants focused on problems of disjointed efforts towards VBD control between health secretaries and the health ministry, as well as societal issues, such as socioeconomic, cultural, and political issues, which became the rationale for the lack of vector control resources. Responses in the panel discussions and interviews overlapped in opinions, and suggested that vector control could be improved through better communication between vector control bodies, strengthened engagement with vulnerable communities, more collaborative actions, and a more balanced distribution of resources.
VLBI Analysis of a Potential High-Energy Neutrino Emitter Blazar
Authors: Kőmíves Janka , Gabányi Krisztina Éva , Frey Sándor , Kun Emma
Published: February 2024

Recent studies suggest that high-energy neutrinos can be produced in the jets of blazars, radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) with jets pointing close to the line of sight. Due to the relatively poor angular resolution of current neutrino detectors, several sources can be regarded as the possible counterpart of a given neutrino event. Therefore, follow-up observations of counterpart candidates in the electromagnetic regime are essential. Since the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) technique provides the highest angular resolution to study the radio jets of blazars, a growing number of investigations are being conducted to connect individual blazars to given high-energy neutrino events. We analyzed more than 20 years of available archival VLBI data of the blazar CTD 74, which has been listed as a possible counterpart of a neutrino event. Using cm-wavelength data, we investigated the jet structure, determined the apparent speed of jet components, and the core flux density before and after the neutrino event. Our results indicate stationary jet features and a significant brightening of the core after the neutrino event.
Neutron Star in Quantized Space-Time
Authors: R Bhagya , Parai Diganta , Harikumar E. , Panja Suman Kumar
Published: February 2024

We construct and analyze a model of a neutron star in a κ-deformed space-time. This is conducted by first deriving the κ-deformed generalization of the Einstein tensor, starting from the non-commutative generalization of the metric tensor. By generalizing the energy-momentum tensor to the non-commutative space-time and exploiting the κ-deformed dispersion relation, we then set up Einstein’s field equations in the κ-deformed space-time. As we adopt a realization of the non-commutative coordinates in terms of the commutative coordinates and their derivatives, our model is constructed in terms of commutative variables. Using this, we derive the κ-deformed generalization of the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equation. Now, by treating the interior of the star as a perfect fluid as in the commutative space-time, we investigate the modification of the neutron star’s mass due to the non-commutativity of space-time, valid up to first order in the deformation parameter. We show that the non-commutativity of space-time enhances the mass limit of the neutron star. We show that the radius and maximum mass of the neutron star depend on the deformation parameter. Further, our study shows that the mass increases as the radius increases for fixed values of the deformation parameter. We show that maximum mass and radius increase as the deformation parameter increases. We find that the mass varies from 0.26M⊙ to 3.68M⊙ as the radius changes from 8.45 km to 18.66 km. Using the recent observational limits on the upper bound of the mass of a neutron star, we find the deformation parameter to be |a|∼10−44 m. We also show that the compactness and surface redshift of the neutron star increase with its mass.
Impact of Antenatal SARS-CoV-2 Exposure on SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Potency
Authors: Chiang Chia-Jung , Hsu Wei-Lun , Su Mei-Tsz , Ko Wen-Chien , Hsu Keng-Fu , Tsai Pei-Yin
Published: February 2024

A pregnancy booster dose significantly reduces the risk and severity of COVID-19, and it is widely recommended. A prospective cohort study was conducted to compare the transplacental passage of maternal antibodies from vaccination or infection during three trimesters against both the vaccine-targeted Wuhan strain and the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2. Maternal–infant dyads from vaccinated mothers were collected between 6 June 2022 and 20 September 2022. We analyzed 38 maternal–infant dyads from mothers who had been infected with COVID-19 and 37 from mothers without any previous infection. Pregnant women who received their last COVID-19 vaccine dose in the third trimester exhibited the highest anti-spike protein antibody levels and neutralizing potency against both the Wuhan strain and Omicron BA.2 variant in their maternal and cord plasma. Both second- and third-trimester vaccination could lead to a higher level of neutralization against the Wuhan and Omicron strains. COVID-19 infection had a negative effect on the transplacental transfer ratio of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A booster dose during the second or third trimester is encouraged for the maximum transplacental transfer of humoral protection against COVID-19 for infants.
Persistence of Anti-SE36 Antibodies Induced by the Malaria Vaccine Candidate BK-SE36/CpG in 5–10-Year-Old Burkinabe Children Naturally Exposed to Malaria
Authors: Nebie Issa , Palacpac Nirianne Marie Q. , Bougouma Edith Christiane , Diarra Amidou , Ouédraogo Alphonse , D’Alessio Flavia , Houard Sophie , Tiono Alfred B. , Cousens Simon , Horii Toshihiro , Sirima Sodiomon B.
Published: February 2024

Information on the dynamics and decline/persistence of antibody titres is important in vaccine development. A recent vaccine trial in malaria-exposed, healthy African adults and children living in a malaria hyperendemic and seasonal area (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) was the first study in which BK-SE36/CpG was administered to different age groups. In 5- to 10-year-old children, the risk of malaria infection was markedly lower in the BK-SE36/CpG arm compared to the control arm. We report here data on antibody titres measured in this age-group after the high malaria transmission season of 2021 (three years after the first vaccine dose was administered). At Year 3, 83% of children had detectable anti-SE36 total IgG antibodies. Geometric mean antibody titres and the proportion of children with detectable anti-SE36 antibodies were markedly higher in the BK-SE36/CpG arm than the control (rabies) arm. The information obtained in this study will guide investigators on future vaccine/booster schedules for this promising blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate.
New Evidence for Retrospectively Cued Perception
Authors: Szaszkó Bence , Stolte Moritz , Bachmann Lea , Ansorge Ulrich
Published: February 2024

Past research suggests a continuity between perception and memory, as reflected in influences of orienting of spatial attention by cues presented after a visual target offset (post-target cues) on target perception. Conducting two experiments, we tested and confirmed this claim. Our study revealed an elevated reliance on post-target cues for target detection with diminishing target visibility, leading to better performance in validly versus invalidly cued trials, indicative of contrast gain. We demonstrated this post-target cueing impact on target perception without a postcue response prompt, meaning that our results truly reflected a continuity between perception and memory rather than a task-specific impact of having to memorize the target due to a response prompt. While previous studies found an improvement in accuracy through valid compared to invalid cues using liminal targets, in Experiment 1, we further showed an influence of attention on participants’ response time by the post-target cues with cues presented away from a clearly visible target. This suggests that visual interactions at the target location provided no better explanation of post-target cueing effects. Our results generalize prior research with liminal targets and confirm the view of a perception–memory continuum so that visual target processing is not shielded against visuospatial orienting of attention elicited by events following the offset of the visual target.
Groundwater Hydraulics in Increased Spring Discharge following Earthquakes: Some Applications and Considerations
Authors: Sanz Pérez Eugenio , Mosquera-Feijóo Juan Carlos , de Ojeda Joaquín Sanz , Rodrigo Pablo Rosas
Published: February 2024

Earthquakes often entail alterations in the groundwater flow regime, in the phreatic level, surges and losses of springs, and the discharge in brooks. A variety of theoretical approaches attempt to elucidate the post-earthquake effects on spring discharge. This study adopts a conceptual approach, primarily presenting diverse methods to estimate water released by earthquakes involving calculations of discharge surpluses in springs. This study delves into refined techniques rooted in groundwater hydraulics, displaying applications of analytical and simulation methodologies to quantify earthquake-induced groundwater discharge in springs. This research investigates springs as natural indicators and applies mathematical precipitation–runoff models, particularly the CREC model, to simulate hydrographs in post-earthquake scenarios. We apply analytical procedures or mathematical simulation techniques employed in groundwater hydraulics for natural aquifer recharge calculations. Firstly, we briefly describe the methods based on the analysis of depletion curves of hydrographs in spring discharge. Additionally, specific mathematical rainfall–runoff models used to simulate hydrographs of karstic springs, along with derived analytical approximations, are adapted for this scenario. These hydraulic calculations involve the depletion coefficient and hydrodynamic volumes of aquifers, parameters that reveal certain aspects of the relation between groundwater and earthquakes. Three main features are: (a) Acknowledging faults as the primary geological structures in transmitting pore pressures due to earthquakes. Thus, for large and deep faults, which connect the ground surface with the Earth’s crust bottom—where earthquakes trigger—the depletion coefficient, α, usually reaches high values (α = 0.1 days−1). Therefore, these faults become more sensitive to pore pressure than other lithologies. (b) Elucidating the mechanisms of permeability enhancement caused by earthquakes. (c) Highlighting the substantial volumes in motion within the Earth’s interior, which, for instance, could constitute a significant source for the origin of mineral deposits. Mathematical calculations enable the determination of the volume of mobilized water that can be discharged by gravity in each earthquake. This, along with its recurrence, justifies the substantial mineralization volumes.