bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher derivative contributions to black hole thermodynamics at NNLO
Authors: Ma Liang , Pang Yi , Lü H.
Published: June 2023

Abstract

In an effective theory of gravity, thermodynamic quantities of black holes receive corrections from the infinite series of higher derivative terms. At the next to leading order, these can be obtained by using only the leading order solution. In this paper, we push forward this property to the next to next to leading order. We propose a formula which yields the Euclidean action of asymptotically flat black holes at the next to next to leading order using only the solution up to and including the next to leading order. Other conserved quantities are derived from the Euclidean action via standard thermodynamic relation. We verify our formula in examples of D-dimensional pure gravity and Einstein-Maxwell theory extended by 4- and 6-derivative terms. Based on our formula, we also prove that for asymptotically flat black holes, the physical quantities are invariant under field redefinitions.
Discovery prospects of a light charged Higgs near the fermiophobic region of Type-I 2HDM
Authors: Bhatia Disha , Desai Nishita , Dwivedi Siddharth
Published: June 2023

Abstract

Determining if the SM-like Higgs is part of an extended Higgs sector is the most important question to be asked after discovery. A light charged Higgs boson with mass smaller than the sum of top and bottom quarks is naturally allowed in Type-I two Higgs doublet model and can be produced in association with neutral scalars for large parts of parameter space at the LHC. Such low mass charged scalars typically have dominant decays to the fermionic modes viz. τν and cs. However in the presence of light neutral scalar (φ), the charged Higgs boson has a substantial branching fraction into the bosonic decay modes H±→ W(*)φ. Identifying the heavier neutral Higgs (H) with the observed 125 GeV Higgs and working in the limit $$ {M}_{H^{\pm }}\approx {M}_A $$

M

H
±

≈

M
A

, we examine charged Higgs production and decay in the bosonic mode pp → H±h → W(∗)hh. The presence of two light Higgses (h) is then the key to identifying charged Higgs production. The light Higgs branching ratio is largely dominated by the $$ b\overline{b} $$
b

b
¯

mode except when close to the fermiophobic limit. Here, the rates into $$ b\overline{b} $$
b

b
¯

and γγ can be comparable and we can use the $$ \gamma \gamma b\overline{b} $$
γγb

b
¯

signature. This signature is complementary to the hh → 4γ which has been previously discussed in literature. Using the lepton from the W boson, we demonstrate with a cut-and-count analysis that both the new light neutral Higgs as well as charged Higgs can be probed with reasonable significance at 13.6 TeV LHC with 300-3000 fb−1 of integrated luminosity.
Singular anisotropic elliptic equations with gradient-dependent lower order terms
Authors: Brandolini Barbara , Cîrstea Florica C.
Published: June 2023

We prove the existence of weak solutions for a general class of Dirichlet anisotropic elliptic problems of the form $$\begin{aligned}{\mathcal {A}} u+\Phi (x,u,\nabla u)=\Psi (u,\nabla u)+\mathfrak Bu +f \end{aligned}$$

A
u
+
Φ
(
x
,
u
,
∇
u
)
=
Ψ
(
u
,
∇
u
)
+
B
u
+
f

on a bounded open subset $$\Omega \subset {\mathbb {R}}^N$$

Ω
⊂

R

N

$$(N\ge 2)$$

(
N
≥
2
)

, where $$f\in L^1(\Omega )$$

f
∈

L
1

(
Ω
)

is arbitrary. Our models are $$ \mathcal Au=-\sum _{j=1}^N \partial _j (|\partial _j u|^{p_j-2}\partial _j u)$$

A
u
=
-

∑

j
=
1

N

∂
j

(
|

∂
j

u

|

p
j

-
2

∂
j

u
)

and $$\Phi (u,\nabla u)=\left( 1+\sum _{j=1}^N {\mathfrak {a}}_j |\partial _j u|^{p_j}\right) |u|^{m-2}u$$

Φ

(
u
,
∇
u
)

=

1
+

∑

j
=
1

N

a
j

|

∂
j

u
|

p
j

|
u
|

m
-
2

u

, with $$m,p_j>1$$

m
,

p
j

>
1

,$${\mathfrak {a}}_j\ge 0$$

a
j

≥
0

for $$1\le j\le N$$

1
≤
j
≤
N

and $$\sum _{k=1}^N (1/p_k)>1$$

∑

k
=
1

N

(
1
/

p
k

)

>
1

. The main novelty is the inclusion of a possibly singular gradient-dependent term $$\Psi (u,\nabla u)=\sum _{j=1}^N |u|^{\theta _j-2}u\, |\partial _j u|^{q_j}$$

Ψ

(
u
,
∇
u
)

=

∑

j
=
1

N

|
u
|

θ
j

-
2

u

|

∂
j

u
|

q
j

, where $$\theta _j>0$$

θ
j

>
0

and $$0\le q_j<p_j$$

0
≤

q
j

<

p
j

for $$1\le j\le N$$

1
≤
j
≤
N

. Under suitable conditions, we prove the existence of solutions by distinguishing two cases: 1) for every $$1\le j\le N$$

1
≤
j
≤
N

, we have $$\theta _j> 1$$

θ
j

>
1

and 2) there exists $$1\le j\le N$$

1
≤
j
≤
N

such that $$\theta _j\le 1$$

θ
j

≤
1

. In the latter situation, assuming that $$f \ge 0$$

f
≥
0

a.e. in $$\Omega $$
Ω
, we obtain non-negative solutions for our problem.
Educational experiences and needs of students in out-of-home care: a Delphi study
Authors: Berger Emily , Baidawi Susan , D’Souza Levita , Mendes Philip , Morris Sarah , Bollinger Jenna , Purtell Jade
Published: June 2023

Numerous studies show that children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC) face significant disadvantage in completing high school and accessing post-secondary education. The current research involved a two-round Delphi survey which aimed to identify educational challenges and school reforms to improve the educational experiences of children and young people in OOHC. A total of 45 participants from three OOHC stakeholder groups (carers of children in OOHC, professionals/educators, and young people with lived experience of OOHC) completed the round one survey which consisted of open-ended questions analysed using thematic analysis. In the second survey round, 19 participants completed a Likert scale questionnaire which drew on themes from the round one thematic analysis. Using a consensus threshold of 70% for the round two survey, participants agreed that students in OOHC face a myriad of educational challenges, such as dealing with a history of trauma, frequent home and school transitions, mental health issues and stigma as a result of being in OOHC. It was agreed that teachers lack knowledge and experience, and schools lack support for students in OOHC. Stakeholders recommended provision of greater mental health support, coordination of services and more autonomy for OOHC students regarding their education.
Uniform convolution estimates for complex polynomial curves in $${\mathbb {C}}^3$$
Authors: Meade Conor
Published: June 2023

We establish optimal (p, q) ranges for the weighted convolution operator associated with a complex polynomial curve. Establishing this estimate comes down to establishing a lower bound for the Jacobian of a mapping associated with the complex curve in question.
Green transition and environmental quality: an evolutionary approach
Authors: Cavalli Fausto , Moretto Enrico , Naimzada Ahmad
Published: June 2023

We propose a model for exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of a green transition from dirty to clean technologies. It relies on an evolutionary framework for the technology selection that accounts for the environmental domain dynamics, in terms of pollution evolution. A regulator charges an environmental tax to the producers, and the agents can choose between the less profitable clean technology and the more profitable dirty one, which, however, is taxed to a greater extent with respect to the clean one. The environmental tax depends endogenously on the level of pollution, which rises because of the producers’ emissions. The pollution stock also naturally decays, and can be abated by involving the resources collected from the taxation. We analytically study the resulting two-dimensional model from both statically and dynamically, to understand under what conditions the green transition can take place and results in an improvement for the environmental quality. We show that excessive over-taxation of the dirty technology may be not beneficial, as steady state pollution level can increase above a certain taxation threshold and multiple steady states can emerge. Moreover, dynamics can result in persistent endogenous oscillations that systematically lead to a significant increase in pollution levels. Finally, we discuss the economic rationale for the results also in the light of possible policy suggestions.
Peri-Net-Pro: the neural processes with quantified uncertainty for crack patterns
Authors: Kim M. , Lin G.
Published: June 2023

This paper develops a deep learning tool based on neural processes (NPs) called the Peri-Net-Pro, to predict the crack patterns in a moving disk and classifies them according to the classification modes with quantified uncertainties. In particular, image classification and regression studies are conducted by means of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and NPs. First, the amount and quality of the data are enhanced by using peridynamics to theoretically compensate for the problems of the finite element method (FEM) in generating crack pattern images. Second, case studies are conducted with the prototype microelastic brittle (PMB), linear peridynamic solid (LPS), and viscoelastic solid (VES) models obtained by using the peridynamic theory. The case studies are performed to classify the images by using CNNs and determine the suitability of the PMB, LBS, and VES models. Finally, a regression analysis is performed on the crack pattern images with NPs to predict the crack patterns. The regression analysis results confirm that the variance decreases when the number of epochs increases by using the NPs. The training results gradually improve, and the variance ranges decrease to less than 0.035. The main finding of this study is that the NPs enable accurate predictions, even with missing or insufficient training data. The results demonstrate that if the context points are set to the 10th, 100th, 300th, and 784th, the training information is deliberately omitted for the context points of the 10th, 100th, and 300th, and the predictions are different when the context points are significantly lower. However, the comparison of the results of the 100th and 784th context points shows that the predicted results are similar because of the Gaussian processes in the NPs. Therefore, if the NPs are employed for training, the missing information of the training data can be supplemented to predict the results.
Brain pericytes in culture display diverse morphological and functional phenotypes
Authors: Brown Lachlan S. , King Natalie E. , Courtney Jo-Maree , Gasperini Robert J. , Foa Lisa , Howells David W. , Sutherland Brad A.
Published: June 2023

Pericytes play several important functions in the neurovascular unit including contractile control of capillaries, maintenance of the BBB, regulation of angiogenesis, and neuroinflammation. There exists a continuum of pericyte subtypes along the vascular tree which exhibit both morphological and transcriptomic differences. While different functions have been associated with the pericyte subtypes in vivo, numerous recent publications have used a primary human brain vascular pericytes (HBVP) cell line where this pericyte heterogeneity has not been considered. Here, we used primary HBVP cultures, high-definition imaging, cell motility tracking, and immunocytochemistry to characterise morphology, protein expression, and contractile behaviour to determine whether heterogeneity of pericytes also exists in cultures. We identified five distinct morphological subtypes that were defined using both qualitative criteria and quantitative shape analysis. The proportion of each subtype present within the culture changed as passage number increased, but pericytes did not change morphological subtype over short time periods. The rate and extent of cellular and membrane motility differed across the subtypes. Immunocytochemistry revealed differential expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) across subtypes. αSMA is essential for cell contractility, and consequently, only subtypes with high αSMA expression contracted in response to physiological vasoconstrictors endothelin-1 (ET1) and noradrenaline (NA). We conclude that there are distinct morphological subtypes in HBVP culture, which display different behaviours. This has significance for the use of HBVP when modelling pericyte physiology in vitro where relevance to in vivo pericyte subtypes along the vascular tree must be considered.

Graphical abstract
Climate-related migration and the climate-security-migration nexus in the Central American Dry Corridor
Authors: Huber Jona , Madurga-Lopez Ignacio , Murray Una , McKeown Peter C. , Pacillo Grazia , Laderach Peter , Spillane Charles
Published: June 2023

The Central American Dry Corridor (CADC) is among the most climate-vulnerable regions worldwide. Climate change, commonly referred to as a “threat multiplier” of pre-existing socioeconomic issues, already undermines rural livelihoods by reducing agricultural yields and income opportunities. This paper provides a review of climate-related migration in the CADC region while identifying the specific pathways by which climate change manifests itself as a threat multiplier to migration. Different forms of human mobility (seasonal/temporal/permanent and internal/international migration) are increasingly attempted as adaptation strategies by affected households to diversify incomes and offset climate impacts. Preferred intra-regional migrant destinations tend to be less climate-vulnerable and also less violent. Notably, climate change is not isolated from socioeconomic and political migration drivers. Erosion of rural livelihoods reduces the costs of engaging in illicit coping strategies (e.g., illegal crop production) and simultaneously favours rapid urbanisation, which is linked to (forced) gang recruitment, primarily affecting the youth. These processes contribute to extraordinarily high violence levels, which are a major push factor for migration on their own, ultimately challenging state authority. Moreover, as outmigration from the region is projected to increase, the observed securitisation of borders, particularly along the USA-Mexico border and the Mexico-Guatemala border, while unfit to limit migration attempts, make migration more desperate and dangerous, allowing organised crime to step in and exploit migration as an economic undertaking. Thus, for the CADC, the depoliticised and simplistic narrative of migration serving as adaptation must be questioned. Policy coherence and state capacity for addressing climate-security-migration nexus challenges are critical needs.
The role of technological resources in the reputation of vocational education schools
Authors: Peñate Araceli Hidalgo , Padrón-Robaina Víctor , Nieves Julia
Published: June 2023

The low reputation of vocational education in Spain requires schools to reconsider this type of education by taking advantage of its key resources and developing dynamic capabilities. Using structural equation modelling, this study analyses the impact of technological resources on two categories of dynamic capabilities: sensing capability and innovativeness, as well as the effect of these two capabilities on reputation, in a representative sample of vocational schools in tourism in Spain, with the key informants being the staff responsible for the degree (i.e., director, vice-director, head of studies, etc.). The results show that the use of technological resources provides vocational schools with the necessary capabilities to explore trends in social demands and the job market and reduce the gap between academy and industry. The findings also reveal that innovativeness has a direct influence on the schools’ reputation. However, the opportunities for improvement detected through the sensing capability do not directly influence reputation; instead, they require a subsequent action, innovativeness, that favours their effective implementation.
Education in times of restriction: an examination of refugee girls’ and young women’s access to learning during COVID-19 school closures in Pakistan
Authors: Barnes Katrina , Ashlee Amy , Mukankusi Aimee , Pacitto Julia , Rabi Asma , Thomas Matt , Ullah Noor , Zazai Rozina , Zhao Annette
Published: June 2023

This paper examines the extent to which refugee girls and young women were able to access learning during COVID-19 education closures in Pakistan, and the role that EdTech played in their learning access. It is based on findings from a survey with 403 Afghan refugee students, along with in-depth interviews with six young female refugees. The research shows that, while the majority of female refugee students were able to continue accessing education in some form during school closures, learning access was nevertheless limited, and a sizable minority were not engaged in any learning during this time. Teacher and institutional support was either absent or inadequate for many students, and infrastructure and devices that serve to support remote learning were not always reliable or accessible. Although male respondents were less likely than females to engage in independent study during the closures, refugee girls and young women were significantly less likely than their male counterparts to own the devices they needed for learning. The findings demonstrate how targeted investment in specific types of EdTech and teacher professional development, as well as supporting educational institutions in the establishment of remote learning opportunities, could help sustain learning during future periods of educational restriction.
Parents’ Feelings, Distress, and Self-Efficacy in Response to Social Comparisons on Social Media
Authors: Glatz Terese , Daneback Kristian , Alsarve Jenny , Sorbring Emma
Published: June 2023

Parents’ social comparisons on social networking sites (SNS) is a research area of growing interest. In this study, we examined parents’ positive and negative feelings when comparing with other parents and associations with self-reported distress (i.e., stress and depression) and self-efficacy. We used a sample of 422 Swedish parents of children below the age of five (Mage = 1.29 years). In a first step, we examined construct validity of two new measures on parents’ positive and negative feelings when doing comparisons on SNS. In a second step, we examined associations with self-reported parenting. Results showed that parents reported more positive feelings than negative feelings in relation to other parents on SNS. Further, negative feelings when doing social comparisons were linked to more distress and lower level of self-efficacy, whereas positive feelings when doing social comparisons predicted higher level of self-efficacy, but not distress. These results suggest that negative feelings are related to lower actual levels of distress and self-efficacy, but positive feelings can have an instant positive effect on parents’ perceived competence, but not on their well-being. Practitioners can encourage parents to reflect on who they compare with on SNS and why, as it might enable evaluations that could lead to self-improvement rather than weakening of oneself as a parent.
Early fault diagnosis in rolling element bearings: comparative analysis of a knowledge-based and a data-driven approach
Authors: Iunusova Eleonora , Gonzalez Monica Katherine , Szipka Károly , Archenti Andreas
Published: June 2023

The early identification of a defect that is developing in a bearing is crucial for avoiding failures in rotating machinery. Frequency domain analysis of the vibration signals has been shown to contribute to a better understanding of the nature of a developing defect. Early signs of degradation might be more noticeable in certain frequency bands. The advantages in identifying and monitoring these bandwidths are several: prevention of serious machinery damages, reduction of the loss of investments, and improvement of the accuracy in failure predicting models. This paper presents and compares two approaches for the diagnosis of bearing faults. The first approach was knowledge-based. It relied on principles of mechanics to interpret the measured vibration signals and utilized prior knowledge of the bearing characteristics and testing parameters. The second approach was data-driven whereby data were acquired exclusively from the vibration signal. Both approaches were successfully applied for fault diagnosis by identifying the frequencies of the vibration spectra characteristic for the bearing under study. From this, bandwidths of interest for early fault detection could be determined. The diagnostic abilities of both approaches were studied to analyze and compare their individual strengths regarding the aspects of implementation time, domain knowledge, data processing associated knowledge, data requirements, diagnostic performance, and practical applicability. The advantages, apparent limitations as well as avenues for further improvement of both approaches are discussed.
COVID-19 Adenoviral Vector Vaccination Elicits a Robust Memory B Cell Response with the Capacity to Recognize Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 Variants
Authors: Fryer Holly A. , Hartley Gemma E. , Edwards Emily S. J. , Varese Nirupama , Boo Irene , Bornheimer Scott J. , Hogarth P. Mark , Drummer Heidi E. , O’Hehir Robyn E. , van Zelm Menno C.
Published: June 2023

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, novel vaccines have successfully reduced severe disease and death. Despite eliciting lower antibody responses, adenoviral vector vaccines are nearly as effective as mRNA vaccines. Therefore, protection against severe disease may be mediated by immune memory cells. We here evaluated plasma antibody and memory B cells (Bmem) targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) elicited by the adenoviral vector vaccine ChAdOx1 (AstraZeneca), their capacity to bind Omicron subvariants, and compared this to the response to mRNA BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccination. Whole blood was sampled from 31 healthy adults pre-vaccination and 4 weeks after dose one and dose two of ChAdOx1. Neutralizing antibodies (NAb) against SARS-CoV-2 were quantified at each time point. Recombinant RBDs of the Wuhan-Hu-1 (WH1), Delta, BA.2, and BA.5 variants were produced for ELISA-based quantification of plasma IgG and incorporated separately into fluorescent tetramers for flow cytometric identification of RBD-specific Bmem. NAb and RBD-specific IgG levels were over eight times lower following ChAdOx1 vaccination than BNT162b2. In ChAdOx1-vaccinated individuals, median plasma IgG recognition of BA.2 and BA.5 as a proportion of WH1-specific IgG was 26% and 17%, respectively. All donors generated resting RBD-specific Bmem, which were boosted after the second dose of ChAdOx1 and were similar in number to those produced by BNT162b2. The second dose of ChAdOx1 boosted Bmem that recognized VoC, and 37% and 39% of WH1-specific Bmem recognized BA.2 and BA.5, respectively. These data uncover mechanisms by which ChAdOx1 elicits immune memory to confer effective protection against severe COVID-19.
A New Mathematical Model for the Characterization of Viscosity Variations in the Aqueous Solutions of Monoalcohols and Polyalcohols
Authors: Herráez Domínguez J. V. , de Julián-Ortiz J. V. , Vila Busó M. A. O. , Díez-Sales O.
Published: June 2023

This study aims to investigate the viscosity of binary mixtures of water with different monoalcohols and polyalcohols. The viscosity values of the mixtures of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol were taken from a study published by Herraez and Belda (2004). The values for ethylene glycol, glycerin, and sorbitol were measured using a similar protocol. The viscosity of the mixture is expressed as a function of the molar fraction of the alcohols that ranges from 0 (pure solvent, water in this case) to 1 (pure solute). To represent the viscosity of these mixtures, a new variable, Φ, was introduced. This representation provides a function, η = f(Φ), that has an exponential nature, with which excellent correlation coefficients are achieved with only one coefficient for monoalcohols or two coefficients for polyalcohols. Additionally, the variable Φ highlights the possible critical points, where physicochemical interactions occur between the components of the mixture.
AutoTag: automated metadata tagging for film post-production
Authors: Sandoval-Castañeda Marcelo , Copti Scandar , Shasha Dennis
Published: June 2023

Film post-production can be time- and money-inefficient. The reason is that a lot of the work involves a person or group of people, called metadata taggers, going through each individual piece of media and marking it up with relevant tags, such as the scene number, transcripts, and the type of shot for video footage. Such a task is particularly time-consuming for films with high shooting ratios (i.e., footage shot/footage shown). AutoTag automates much of the tagging process across 16 languages, saving both time and money. We describe the algorithms and implementation of AutoTag and report on some case studies.
Effect of Shot Peening on Oxidation and Precipitation in Inconel 718
Authors: Barella S. , Belfi M. , Fernández-Pariente I. , Gruttadauria A. , Ripamonti D. , Peral L. B.
Published: June 2023

In this study, the effect of the surface state on the behaviour of Inconel 718 alloy exposed to 640 $$^{\circ }$$

∘

C and 700 $$^{\circ }$$

∘

C environments for times varying between one and one hundred hours was investigated. In particular, the focus was set on the evolution of oxidation and precipitation phenomena during thermal exposure. Three surface states were considered: two generated through shot peening treatments featuring different coverage levels, while the third condition is a non-peened one. Shot peening treatments modify the surface condition and introduce higher residual stresses and microhardness values than in the non-treated condition. The morphology of the oxides appears to be different depending on the condition observed. Regarding the kinetics, over time the oxidation process follows a parabolic trend and appears to be influenced by the surface state; in particular, severe shot peening treatment is characterized by the highest intensity of the phenomenon. However, the order of magnitude of the weight gains measured suggests that the observed variations can be neglected, and that the positive effect of shot peening can be exploited without introducing oxidation problems. From the point of view of the microstructural evolution, an increase in the coarsening kinetics of $$\gamma$$
γ
” phase was observed in the shot peened layer.
Competitive adsorptive removal of promazine and promethazine from wastewater using olive tree pruning biochar: operational parameters, kinetics, and equilibrium investigations
Authors: El-Azazy Marwa , El-Shafie Ahmed S. , Fawzy Samer , Rooney David W. , Osman Ahmed I.
Published: June 2023

This research aims to remove two phenothiazines, promazine (PRO) and promethazine (PMT), from their individual and binary mixtures using olive tree pruning biochar (BC-OTPR). The impact of individual and combinatory effects of operational variables was evaluated for the first time using central composite design (CCD). Simultaneous removal of both drugs was maximized utilizing the composite desirability function. At low concentrations, the uptake of PRO and PMT from their individual solutions was achieved with high efficiency of 98.64%, 47.20 mg/g and 95.87%, 38.16 mg/g, respectively. No major differences in the removal capacity were observed for the binary mixtures. Characterization of BC-OTPR confirmed successful adsorption and showed that the OTPR surface was predominantly mesoporous. Equilibrium investigations revealed that the Langmuir isotherm model best describes the sorption of PRO/PMT from their individual solutions with maximum adsorption capacities of 640.7 and 346.95 mg/g, respectively. The sorption of PRO/PMT conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Regeneration of the adsorbent surface was successfully done with desorption efficiencies of 94.06% and 98.54% for PRO and PMT, respectively, for six cycles.

Graphical abstract
Experimental proof-of-concept of the effect of inlet geometry on excavation forces and their reduction for small-scale continuous excavators
Authors: Just G. H. , Roy M. J. , Joy K. H. , Smith K. L.
Published: June 2023

Future in situ resource utilisation (ISRU) lunar mission concepts will require mechanisms that allow the available feedstock–mainly the lunar regolith–to be extracted from the lunar surface. Such extraction techniques in the reduced gravity environment of the Moon will need to minimise excavation forces, due to mass restrictions for robotic landers/vehicles and the large financial implications of placing cargo onto Earth’s satellite. An investigation of necessary excavation forces, both horizontally as well as vertically, for small-scale continuous lunar excavation systems based on their geometric inlet shapes, cutting angles, and digging depths has been undertaken. The use of vibration to disaggregate lunar soil and to reduce the necessary forces is explored as a proof-of-concept. Tests performed in a large analogue testbed have shown that the optimisation of the cutting geometry is crucial, as it inherently influences the necessary forces or even prevents deeper cuts into the soil. Our experiments indicate that shallow cuts (low digging depth) into soil at shallow angles are beneficial, and that the piling up of large surcharge masses must be avoided. Critically, applying vibration to cutting edges seems highly beneficial, as the achievable force reductions of up to 50% in the tested conditions far outweigh the additional power requirements. To make these implications immediately applicable to a wider audience, an estimation of available traction forces for certain robotic vehicles based on their mass is added for comparison.
Ginsenoside Re Mitigates Photooxidative Stress-Mediated Photoreceptor Degeneration and Retinal Inflammation
Authors: Chang Jie , Wang Yujue , Xu Jing , Du Xiaoye , Cui Jingang , Zhang Teng , Chen Yu
Published: June 2023

Loss of photoreceptors is the central pathology accountable for irreversible vision impairment in patients with photoreceptor degenerative disorders. Currently, mechanisms-based pharmacological therapies protecting photoreceptors from degenerative progression remain clinically unavailable. Photooxidative stress plays a pivotal role in initiating the degenerative cascade in photoreceptors. Meanwhile, photoreceptor degeneration interacts closely with neurotoxic inflammatory responses primarily mediated by aberrantly activated microglia in the retina. Thus, therapies with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been actively investigated for their pharmacological value in controlling photoreceptor degeneration. In the current study, we examined the pharmacological potentials of ginsenoside Re (Re), a naturally occurring antioxidant with anti-inflammatory activities, in photooxidative stress-mediated photoreceptor degeneration. Our results demonstrate that Re attenuates photooxidative stress and associated lipid peroxidation in the retina. Furthermore, Re treatment preserves the morphological and functional integrity of the retina, counteracts photooxidative stress-induced perturbation of the retinal gene expression profiles and mitigates photoreceptor degeneration-associated neuroinflammatory responses and microglia activation in the retina. Lastly, Re partially antagonizes the deleterious effects of photooxidative stress on müller cells, verifying its beneficial impact on retina homeostasis. In conclusion, the work here provides experimental evidence supporting novel pharmacological implications of Re in attenuating photooxidative stress-mediated photoreceptor degeneration and ensuing neuroinflammation.
Location is everything: Explorative and exploitative learning, non-scale free resources, and firm performance of German companies
Authors: Dötschel Eva , Junge Sebastian , Guthmann Tobias
Published: June 2023

A firm’s aptitude to acquire new knowledge and simultaneously exploit existing capabilities is suggested to improve firm performance. Although resource endowment is important to achieve a balance between exploration and exploitation, the role of a firm’s non-scale free resources on the exploration‒exploitation and performance linkage has gained little attention. We transfer and apply the first longitudinal test of the exploration–exploitation and firm performance linkage in a German sample. We argue and replicate an inverted U-shaped relationship between relative exploration and firm performance. Further, we hypothesize the competition for and the access to non-scale free resources to moderate this relationship. While we do not find support for the latter, we reveal that the competition for non-scale free resources weakens the relationship between relative exploration and firm performance. We contribute to the exploration–exploitation literature by testing the proposed relationship between exploration–exploitation and firm performance in a different geographical setting, advancing the generalizability of this relationship. In order to do so, we make the commonly accepted measurement approach of Uotila et al. (Strateg Manag J 30:221–231. 10.1002/smj.738, 2009) applicable to German-speaking countries by translating, refining, and extending the dictionary proposed by March (1991) with more contemporary words. Moreover, we contribute by investigating the competition for non-scale free resources between companies in the context of exploration–exploitation. We thereby reveal lower competition for non-scale free resources as a success factor for improving the relationship between a firm’s relative exploration orientation and its performance. This seems particularly important since Germany’s economy has been confronted with a decline in its innovative strength and an eminent lack of skilled workforce in recent years.
Thinking Households—How Resident Conceptualisations of Waste, Reclaimers and Separation at Source Shape Recycling Practices
Authors: Kadyamadare Grace , Samson Melanie
Published: June 2023

Municipalities across the globe are implementing separation at source programmes to reduce waste sent to landfills. Yet typically, significant numbers of households do not participate. This article contributes to debates on reasons for low S@S participation rates through comparative analysis of participation in Johannesburg’s first S@S programme by residents in the low-income, predominantly black suburb of Newlands and the high-income, predominantly white area of Franklin Roosevelt Park. The article argues that how residents conceptualised waste, S@S and reclaimers (waste pickers) influenced whether they separated their recyclables and what they did with them. Class (which is articulated with race) played an important role, as while some residents in each area revalued recyclables via routes other than the official Pikitup programme, those in Franklin Roosevelt Park tended to separate for reclaimers, while residents in Newlands were more likely to sell their recyclables to augment their incomes or reuse them to reduce the need for new purchases. These separation practices and the quantities diverted from landfill were invisible to Pikitup, which only recognised separation of materials for its pilot. The findings highlight the necessity of expanding conceptualisations of S@S to include these additional routes to revaluation if we are to develop S@S programmes that are contextually appropriate and capture accurate data on waste diversion from landfills. In addition, interventions to transform residents’ conceptualisation of waste so that it excludes recyclables and other items that retain value could facilitate greater participation in this expanded form of separation at source.
Rethinking Effective Remedies to the Climate Crisis: a Vulnerability Theory Approach
Authors: Sormunen Milka
Published: June 2023

Although the harmful effects of climate change on human rights are well-recognized, the legal response to the climate crisis has been inadequate. This is particularly problematic as the crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, which is exacerbated by a lack of effective remedies in contesting the adverse effects of climate change. The article argues that vulnerability theory offers a persuasive framing for rethinking what kind of remedies can be considered effective in the context of the climate crisis. A vulnerability theory approach shows how vulnerability increased by the climate crisis is universal but differentially distributed. Effective remedies are an essential part of responding to this vulnerability. The article suggests that characteristics of an effective remedy include the ability to contest breaches of positive obligations, speediness, the ability to contest future harms, the ability to contest breaches of extraterritorial obligations, bindingness, and equality of standing.
HER2-targeted antibody–drug conjugates for breast cancer: ancestry and dose adjustment for thrombocytopenia
Authors: Rainone Michael , Behrendt Carolyn E. , Kasparian Saro , Nguyen Tina , Sedrak Mina S. , Lavasani Sayeh , Stewart Daphne B. , Yuan Yuan , Mortimer Joanne E. , Waisman James R. , Patel Niki , Pullarkat Vinod
Published: June 2023

Background

Thrombocytopenia is a common adverse event on HER2-targeted therapies, fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1). A reported association of Asian ancestry with this event merits investigation to rule out potential confounding.

Methods

Subjects in this retrospective cohort were female patients with HER2 positive breast cancer, of Asian or non-Hispanic White ancestry, who initiated T-DM1 or T-DXd from January 2017 through October 2021. Follow-up closed in January 2022. Primary endpoint was dose adjustment for thrombocytopenia. Competing endpoints were discontinuation of drug for other toxicity, disease progression, or for completion of prescribed cycles. The association between Asian ancestry and thrombocytopenia-related dose adjustment was tested at p < 0.01 in a proportional hazards model for the sub-distributions of 4 (primary and competing) endpoints. Covariates examined as potential confounders were age, metastatic disease, specific HER2-targeted drug, and prior drug switching for toxicity.

Results

Among 181 subjects, 48 reported Asian ancestry. Incidence of dose adjustment for thrombocytopenia was higher in patients with Asian ancestry and among patients switched to T-DXd after experiencing thrombocytopenia on T-DM1. Independent of specific drug and prior drug switching, Asian ancestry was associated with dose adjustment for thrombocytopenia (hazards ratio 2.95, 95% confidence interval 1.41–6.18) but not with competing endpoints. Among participants of Asian ancestry, the ancestral origin was usually China or the Philippines (where Chinese ancestry is common).

Conclusions

The association between Asian ancestry and thrombocytopenia on HER2-targeted therapy is independent of age, metastatic disease, drug, and history of similar toxicity. This association may have a genetic basis linked to Chinese ancestry.
Preference For Cervical Cancer Education: A Multisite Cross-Sectional Survey of Female Senior High School Students in Ghana
Authors: Ampofo Ama Gyamfua , Boyes Allison W. , Mackenzie Lisa J.
Published: June 2023

Cervical cancer incidence continues to rise in Ghana. To enhance knowledge and prevention of cervical cancer among young people in Ghana, there is a need to better understand their education preferences. The study aimed to describe female senior school students’ preferences for receiving cervical cancer education. A cross-sectional survey of students from 17 schools in the Ashanti Region of Ghana assessed the strength of preference for receiving cervical cancer education from a range of sources, settings and delivery mediums. Of the 2400 participants (aged 16–24 years), the majority endorsed doctors (87%, 95%CI: 85–88%), nurses (80%, 95%CI: 78–82%) and credible health organisations (78%, 95%CI%: 76–79%) as their preferred source of education, and hospitals 83% (95%CI: 81–84%) as the preferred setting. Nearly all students (92%) endorsed at least three cervical cancer education delivery mediums, with at least three quarters endorsing television (78%, 95%CI: 77–80%), one-on-one health consultation in-person or online (77%, 95%CI: 75–79%; 75%, 95%CI: 73–77%), and health information websites (75%, 95%CI: 73–77%). Findings suggest that cervical cancer education efforts among female senior school students in Ghana should consider the use of a range of more resource-intensive individualised approaches to low-cost anonymous, generic approaches from credible sources and institutions.
Information refining and big data analysis on the crisis on the fossil fuel market to identify of Russia’s hostile narratives towards European Union countries
Authors: Cetera Wiesław , Żołnierski Aleksander , Jaruga Dariusz , Celiński Piotr , Grzegorek Jan
Published: June 2023

Fossil fuels helped Russian president Putin build military power of Russia and attack Ukraine. Coal, gas and oil are being used by Putin’s regime as weapons against the countries that are contractors and consumers of Russian fuels.

The aim of this paper is to present a methodology based on refining information and Big Data analysis and to demonstrate the results, as well as to show trends and developments in relation to the response to the crisis on the fossil fuel market. Predictive methods and the techniques of sentiment analysis including the cluster analysis and the analysis of the variability of trends indicates that the European Union has taken over the burden of energy policy-making. This also indicates a downgrading of national policies and their weakness in resisting Russia’s aggressive actions. The analysis of frequency confirms the markedly different Russian attitudes to Europe as a whole and to its individual members.
State of the art of metal powder bonded binder jetting printing technology
Authors: Fang Xiaotong , Zu Yu , Ma Qing , Hu Jing
Published: June 2023

As one of the earlier developed additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, binder jetting (BJT) has the advantages of low cost, high efficiency and no pollution. This article focuses on the research status and problems of BJT printing materials and printing technology. BJT technology can print metal parts with complex structures, which is widely used in medical, aerospace and other fields. The particle size and morphology of the raw powder, the saturation of the binders and the area of the pores size will affect the bonding of the powder bed. In the printing processes, the thickness, orientation and printing speed will affect the mechanical properties of the printed parts. The post-treatment processing has the greatest influence on the mechanical properties of the final parts. Sintering and infiltration can improve the mechanical strength of the parts. Mechanical grinding, such as polishing and grinding, can affect the surface roughness of parts. Selecting suitable technological parameters for different characteristics of materials is particularly important for the future development of BJT printing.
A world beyond self: empathy and pedagogy during times of global crisis
Authors: Gates Eliza , Curwood Jen Scott
Published: June 2023

A significant body of research points to the benefits of empathy for young people’s personal, social, and educational development. However, some research indicates that youth empathy levels are declining. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to research empathy in education during times of global crisis and local educational disruption. This study explored Australian English teachers’ beliefs, pedagogical approaches, and experiences in relation to teaching with, for, and about empathy, including during the pandemic. Drawing from a state-wide survey and representative teacher case studies, this study revealed a couple key findings. First, the majority of participants recognised the value of empathy for student learning and engagement; however, teachers disagreed on whether empathy impacts academic performance. Second, teachers tended to avoid teaching explicitly about empathy because they felt it was not prescribed in the English Syllabus. Each of these findings was underpinned by a tension between teacher beliefs about the value of empathy in learning and the limitations of including empathy in English education due to curriculum mandates and assessment requirements.
Social role effects on English particle verb variation fail to replicate
Authors: Lee Naomi , Mackenzie Laurel
Published: June 2023

The English particle verb alternation has been argued to be sensitive to the social role occupied by speakers on radio broadcasts; Kroch and Small (1978) argue that radio show hosts and in-studio guests’ greater sensitivity to prescriptive norms makes them more likely to use the joined variant of the alternation than listeners calling in to the show. This study analyzes 10,521 tokens of variable particle verbs from the RadioTalk Corpus (Beeferman et al. 2019) to try to replicate the effect of speaker role. Our analysis confirms that direct object length, register, a measure of frequency, semantic compositionality of the particle verb, and the particle's prosody all condition the alternation. However, the effect of social role does not replicate.
Doing Good with Words: The Virtue of Benevolent Persuasiveness
Authors: Campos Veronica
Published: June 2023

Contemporary virtue epistemology has been progressing remarkably in the activity of virtue profiling, yet a lot remains to be discussed about the many ways and extents to which some virtues and vices of the intellect impact our lives. This paper is an attempt at sketching a preliminary profile to an epistemic virtue that hasn't received a lot of attention to this date: the virtue of being a good convincer, aka persuasiveness. I submit that there is a particular way of using speech in which persuasiveness is allied with benevolence as a means of conveying a distinctive type of epistemic good, the good of understanding.
La identidad cultural de Pahñú: Análisis de la arquitectura del período clásico de un centro ceremonial en el valle del Mezquital
Authors: Sandoval Gustavo
Published: June 2023

Este artículo analiza la arquitectura del período Clásico de Pahñú, un centro ceremonial en el noreste del valle del Mezquital, México. Esta arquitectura se distingue porque desarrolló un estilo local, integrando elementos de distintas tradiciones culturales. Por un lado, los conjuntos arquitectónicos de patio hundido siguen los estándares de la tradición del Bajío. Por otra parte, los edificios muestran rasgos de la arquitectura monumental teotihuacana y zapoteca. A partir de esta evidencia se concluye que Pahñú definió su identidad étnica estableciendo filiaciones políticas con las culturas del centro y el Bajío. Esta interpretación pone a prueba varias explicaciones previas que conciben el desarrollo regional durante el período Clásico como aculturación o resistencia a Teotihuacán. Asimismo, pone a prueba las interpretaciones que sostienen que la fusión cultural entre los grupos del centro y el Bajío comenzó hasta el Epiclásico. Finalmente, Pahñú es importante porque representa un pequeño centro político que mantuvo su liderazgo por unos seiscientos años, aprovechando su posición fronteriza entre el centro y el Bajío.
Pucara Hilltop Settlements in the Lupaca and Pacajes Territories, Southern Andean Altiplano, during the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000–1450)
Authors: Housse Romuald , Mouquet Arthur
Published: June 2023

The quantity of archaeological data for the fortified hilltop settlements of the Late Intermediate period on the Andean altiplano, called pucaras, varies greatly. Some areas, such as the territory of the Colla Aymara chieftaincy east of Lake Titicaca, are well documented thanks to recent and exhaustive research. Other areas, such as the territories of the Lupacas and the Pacajes, are much less documented. From comparative spatial analyses of satellite images from these two territories, we obtained new data on pucaras, whose characteristics seem to differ from those proposed in the archaeological literature. Through a combination of fieldwork and spatial analysis of 295 pucaras, we identified 252 unpublished sites and propose a new typology comprising four categories. Based on ethnohistoric data and the results of the architectural and geographical analyses, we discuss the possible motivations for building so many pucaras; we suggest that some reasons are of a symbolic nature.
NEW ACROSTICS IN OVID?
Authors: Estévez Sola Juan A.
Published: June 2023

This article highlights two possible unnoticed acrostics in Ovid's Metamorphoses concerning the predictions of Calchas and Helenus.