bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase I Trial of Autologous RNA-electroporated cMET-directed CAR T Cells Administered Intravenously in Patients with Melanoma and Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Shah Payal D. , Huang Alexander C. , Xu Xiaowei , Orlowski Robert , Amaravadi Ravi K. , Schuchter Lynn M. , Zhang Paul , Tchou Julia , Matlawski Tina , Cervini Amanda , Shea Joanne , Gilmore Joan , Lledo Lester , Dengel Karen , Marshall Amy , Wherry E. John , Linette Gerald P. , Brennan Andrea , Gonzalez Vanessa , Kulikovskaya Irina , Lacey Simon F. , Plesa Gabriela , June Carl H. , Vonderheide Robert H. , Mitchell Tara C.
Published: April 2023

Purpose:

Treatments are limited for metastatic melanoma and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). This pilot phase I trial (NCT03060356) examined the safety and feasibility of intravenous RNA-electroporated chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting the cell-surface antigen cMET.

Experimental Design:

Metastatic melanoma or mTNBC subjects had at least 30% tumor expression of cMET, measurable disease and progression on prior therapy. Patients received up to six infusions (1 × 10e8 T cells/dose) of CAR T cells without lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Forty-eight percent of prescreened subjects met the cMET expression threshold. Seven (3 metastatic melanoma, 4 mTNBC) were treated.

Results:

Mean age was 50 years (35–64); median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0 (0–1); median prior lines of chemotherapy/immunotherapy were 4/0 for TNBC and 1/3 for melanoma subjects. Six patients experienced grade 1 or 2 toxicity. Toxicities in at least 1 patient included anemia, fatigue, and malaise. One subject had grade 1 cytokine release syndrome. No grade 3 or higher toxicity, neurotoxicity, or treatment discontinuation occurred. Best response was stable disease in 4 and disease progression in 3 subjects. mRNA signals corresponding to CAR T cells were detected by RT-PCR in all patients’ blood including in 3 subjects on day +1 (no infusion administered on this day). Five subjects underwent postinfusion biopsy with no CAR T-cell signals seen in tumor. Three subjects had paired tumor tissue; IHC showed increases in CD8 and CD3 and decreases in pS6 and Ki67.

Conclusions:

Intravenous administration of RNA-electroporated cMET-directed CAR T cells is safe and feasible.

Significance:

Data evaluating CAR T therapy in patients with solid tumors are limited. This pilot clinical trial demonstrates that intravenous cMET-directed CAR T-cell therapy is safe and feasible in patients with metastatic melanoma and metastatic breast cancer, supporting the continued evaluation of cellular therapy for patients with these malignancies.
International Variability of Renal and Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Europe
Authors: Thöni Stefanie , Keller Felix , Denicolò Sara , Eder Susanne , Buchwinkler Lukas , Rosivall László , Wiecek Andrzej , Mark Patrick Barry , Rossing Peter , Heerspink Hiddo L. , Mayer Gert
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes and its complications represent a huge burden to public health. With this prospective, observational cohort study, we aimed to estimate and to compare the incidence rate (IR) of renal and cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes in different European countries. Methods: The renal endpoint was a composite of a sustained decline in estimated GFR of at least 40%, a sustained increase in albuminuria of at least 30% including a transition in albuminuria class, progression to kidney failure with replacement therapy, or death from renal causes. The cardiovascular endpoint was a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. Results: 3,131 participants from four European countries (Austria, Hungary, The Netherlands, and Scotland) with a median follow-up time of 4.4 years were included. IRs were adjusted for several risk factors including sex, age, estimated GFR, albuminuria, HbA1c, blood pressure, and duration of type 2 diabetes. Across countries, the adjusted IR for the renal endpoint was significantly higher in Hungary and Austria, and the adjusted IR for the cardiovascular endpoint was significantly higher in Scotland and Austria. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in Scotland compared to all other countries. Conclusion: Our findings show how the longitudinal outcome of patients with type 2 diabetes varies significantly across European countries even after accounting for the distribution of underlying risk factors.
Effectiveness of Psychotherapy on Prevention of Suicidal Re-Attempts in Psychiatric Emergencies: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Jeong Hyunsuk , Yim Hyeon Woo , Lee Seung-Yup , Potenza Marc N. , Kim Na-Jin
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Many psychological interventions aim to prevent suicide, but there is limited information regarding their comparative effectiveness. Objectives: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate the relative effects of psychological interventions for preventing suicide re-attempts in psychiatric emergencies. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO from inception to December 1, 2022. Selection and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers based on prespecified criteria. We evaluated the efficacy of interventions, potential effect moderators, and study quality both within individual studies and across studies. Global and local inconsistencies and publication bias were explored. The primary outcome was suicide re-attempt rate. The network meta-analysis was conducted using the “netmeta” package in R. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021291407). Results: There were 3,155 participants from 26 randomized controlled trials included in the network meta-analysis. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was the only intervention that was more effective than a common comparator for reducing suicide re-attempts among psychological interventions in both direct and indirect comparisons (odds ratio: [95% confidence interval], 0.46 [0.25–0.85] vs. 0.47 [0.27–0.83]). CBT had the highest score (p score = 0.8727) across the various psychological interventions. Neither global nor local inconsistencies were significant. There was no clear evidence of violations of the transitivity assumption when comparing characteristics of studies across interventions. Publication bias was not suspected for the primary outcome. Conclusions: CBT may be regarded as a reasonable first-line psychological intervention to prevent re-attempts among people with previous suicide attempts. We observed a moderate quality of evidence supporting an 87% probability of CBT being the best treatment available for preventing suicide re-attempts.
Staffing Study on the Impact of Changes to Severe Discipline Punishments After the Issue of Government Regulation Number 94 of 2021 Concerning Disciplinary Punishments for Civil Servants
Authors: Hartini Sri , Kunarti Siti , Kartono Kartono , Haryanto Tenang , Haryanto Budiman Setyo
Published: April 2023

The purpose of personnel analysis is to achieve professional civil servants in implementing the principles of good governance. To achieve this goal, one of the policies undertaken by the government is to issue a new regulation in the field of personnel as a substitute for the old regulation, namely Government Regulation No. 94 of 2021. The new policy issued by the government should be firmer, better and more effective. so that it will make Civil Servants who commit disciplinary violations become a deterrent. The new regulations have several changes to disciplinary penalties. One of the changes is severe disciplinary punishment. The old regulations set forth in PP No. 53 of 2010, regulated the existence of a penalty for dishonorable dismissal as civil servants, but in the replacement regulation this was omitted. By eliminating the word disrespect, it has an impact on the staffing sector, so that severe disciplinary punishment becomes lighter. The reduction in disciplinary punishment provides an opportunity for civil servants to commit repeated violations, thereby hampering the principles of good governance. In terms of staffing, these changes have an impact on civil servant pension rights. In this way, all civil servants who have been dismissed, both retired and for committing serious disciplinary violations, will receive pension rights. PP for PNS No. 94 of 2021 should carry out the Law's orders, but the new PP is not in line with Article 84 of the ASN Law.
Magulang Bilang Guro: Parents’ Experiences as Co-Teaching Parents Dur-ing Modular Distance Learning
Authors: De Ungria Celeste F.
Published: April 2023

This study basically investigated the experiences of parents as facilitators of learning as Lagundi-CCL NHS implemented modular distance learning, S.Y. 2021-2022. Twenty (20) parents were considered as respondents in the study. They were chosen purposively by the researcher as she knows them personally. These parents were all the grade level. Utilizing the phenomenological method of inquiry, the parents were interviewed getting their narratives and recommendations as co-teaching parents. Based on the interview, the following themes were derived 1) Motivating their children to pursue education; 2) Mentoring their children in answering the modules; 3) Character building and setting goals in life while learning at home; and 4) Self-realization and reflections. Moreover, their recommendations included: a) to lessen the activities; b) conduct of online classes; and c) implementation of face-to-face classes.
School Management Practices, Pupils’ Academic Achievement, and Teach-ers’ Work Performance During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Fontillas Efigenia , Cabal Esmen M.
Published: April 2023

This study explored the perception of public-school teachers in Zone 1, Division of Zambales towards the management practices of the school heads during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Data on teachers’ work performance and the academic performance of the pupils were also considered. The researcher-made questionnaire was used as the data collection tool in a descriptive-survey research design with 352 public elementary school teachers. The school management practices included intra-school management and inter-school management practices. The study showed that the teacher respondents are rated outstanding in their work performance amidst COVID-19 and pupils attained a “Proficient” level of their academic performance as well. The study also revealed that there is no significant relationship between teachers' work performance and intra-school management practices, whereas there is a significant relationship between teachers' work performance and inter-school management practices. Furthermore, the study determined that there was a substantial correlation between the academic achievement of the students and the intra-school and inter-school management practices.
Teachers’ Subjective Wellbeing During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Its Relation to Religiosity and Trust in Science
Authors: Balbuena Sherwin E. , Balbuena Princess Z.
Published: April 2023

This study investigated the association between religiosity and teachers’ subjective wellbeing and between their trust in science and subjective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Using a correlational research design, a survey was conducted involving 170 schoolteachers in Southern Bicol, Philippines. Results of the study showed that religiosity and wellbeing had a significant positive linear correlation. Religiosity was found to be a significant predictor of wellbeing. Furthermore, distrust in science and wellbeing had a significant monotonic relationship. Distrust in science was also a significant predictor of subjective wellbeing. This study concludes that when teachers have higher levels of distrust in science, their level of subjective wellbeing deteriorates. On the other hand, when teachers’ level of religiosity becomes high, their subjective wellbeing improves. These two traits of trust may have helped the teachers cope with the emotional stress experienced during the pandemic.
Utilization and Knowledge of Teachers and Students on Computer Tech-nology: Basis for Ict Intervention Program
Authors: Madamba Clarissa V.
Published: April 2023

The study was conducted to determine utilization and knowledge of teachers and students on Computer Technology in Zone I, Division of Zambales during the School Year 2019-2020. The sample population of the study was be limited to the use of twenty (20) teachers and two hundred seventy-five (275) students from selected secondary schools of DepEd at Zone I, Division of Zambales. The researcher framed this study based on the descriptive research design in order to gather pertinent data with regards to the presentation of the demographic profile of respondents and in the evaluation and analysis of responses made by both teacher-and student-respondents to determine both the utilization and knowledge on Computer Technology in classrooms in terms of teaching and learning, as mandated by the DepEd K-12 academic program as to provide for quality education in modern society. It also indicated that the level of significant difference on the perceptions of the respondents on utilization and knowledge of both students and teachers on the application of computer technology in classroom instruction may vary when they are grouped based on profile variables and based on categories of availability of resources, teaching styles and student knowledge in the use of computers. Furthermore, this study finds that there is no significant difference on the perceptions of the student-respondents and teacher-respondents on the perceived utilization and knowledge on the application of computer technology as to availability of resources; to teachers teaching styles; and to knowledge of students on the use of technology.
“
It’s Overwhelming With the Grief”
A Qualitative Study of Families’ Experiences When a Young Relative Dies of Sudden Cardiac Death
Authors: Allan Katherine S. , Mason Katherine L. , Garner Jodi , Dainty Katie N. , Huyer Dirk , Cunningham Kris , Dorian Paul , Lewis Krystina B.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in younger individuals is frequently caused by heritable cardiac conditions. The unexpected nature of SCD leaves families with many unanswered questions and an insufficient understanding of the cause of death and their own risk for heritable disease. We explored the experiences of families of young SCD victims upon learning about their relative’s cause of death and how they perceive their own risk for heritable cardiac conditions.

Methods:

We conducted a qualitative descriptive study, by interviewing families of young (ages 12–45) SCD victims, who died between 2014 and 2018 from a heritable cardiac condition and were investigated by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, Canada. We used thematic analysis to analyze the transcripts.

Results:

Between 2018 and 2020, we interviewed 19 family members, of which 10 were males and 9 were females, ages ranging from 21 to 65 (average 46.2±13.1). Four main themes were revealed, each representing a distinct time period that families experience along a trajectory: (1) interactions between bereaved family and others, in particular coroners, shaped their search for answers about their relative’s cause of death, with the types, formats, and timing of communication varying by case; (2) searching for answers and processing the cause of death; (3) incidental implications of the SCD event, such as financial strain and lifestyle changes contributed to cumulative stress; (4) receiving answers (or not) and moving forward.

Conclusions:

Families rely on communication with others, yet the type, formats, and timing of information received varies, which can influence families’ experiences of processing the death (and its cause), their perceived risk and their decision to pursue cascade screening. These results may provide key insights for the interprofessional health care team responsible for the delivery and communication of the cause of death to families of SCD victims.
Youth Inclusion Projects and Violence Reduction: Perceptions from the NYS Cohorts Programme in Mathare and Kibera
Authors: Mutahi Patrick , Kimari Wangui
Published: April 2023

This paper seeks to address the connection between economic opportunities and violence prevention, through an in-depth study of the National Youth Service (NYS) Community Cohorts Programme – the biggest youth empowerment programme in Kenya’s recent history. Using field data, it seeks to answer the following question: To what extent did the National Youth Service Community Cohorts Programme in Kenya contribute to violence prevention in the low-income neighborhoods of Mathare and Kibera? Empirically, using the NYS as a case study, the paper will provide new data on the impact of youth programs that simultaneously seek to promote livelihoods and economic opportunities towards dealing with the challenges of violence and exclusion. It will also explore the impact of such projects in reducing violence at the local level. Theoretically, the study will contribute to broader scholarly discussions on youth and violence in Africa, as well as the economic incentives and motivations argument in preventing and reducing violence. Redesigned in 2013, the NYS programme sought to reach thousands of youth in poor urban areas, and by offering them jobs to improve their neighborhoods, the goal was to provide them with a new sense of purpose in their life, and potentially, steer them away from deviant behavior. The NYS initiative is the most ambitious jobs and economic opportunities project for urban and rural youth in Kenya. Given its scale and the resource commitment from the Kenya government, the NYS initiative will continue to be a reference for other youth-focused initiatives and, thus, provides a useful case for the study of the economic opportunities-violence nexus.
Regulating Religious Choices: Foundations and Legitimacy of Anti-conversion Laws in India
Authors: Parashar Sakshi , Gupta Setu
Published: April 2023

In the last few years, there has been a conspicuous upsurge in the enactment of anti-conversion laws by many Indian states. Even though some states have had such laws since the 1960s, the recent ones are more aggressive and stringent, primarily aimed at making the conversion process cumbersome and illegal on additional grounds including marriage of inter-faith couples. The recent laws have been targeted for furthering the political agenda of love-jihad and violating the secular ideals enshrined in the Constitution. This article argues that the object of the recent anti-conversion enactments is largely political and reflects majoritarian disposition. It is further asserted that the inherent ambiguities in the grounds of unlawful conversion and procedural provisions of these laws are arbitrary, discriminatory, and violative of the right to equality, freedom of religion, marriage, and privacy recognised by the Constitution.
Space Diplomacy
Authors: Wörner Jan
Published: April 2023

After the Cold War and the race in space, space activities increasing became a geopolitical arena of co-operation. This article is based on my personal experience gathered over fifteen years leading European space institutions: in 2007 I became the Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center. In that position I led the German delegation to the European Space Agency (ESA). From 2015 to 2021 I had the honour and pleasure of being the Director General of ESA. During the whole period from 2007 to today I have had various political interactions that developed my current mindset. Even in times of geopolitical difficulties we need some aspects of international interaction; space can play this role.
Hate Speech and Discrimination as Mundane Violence against Rohingya Refugees during covid-19
Authors: Auethavornpipat Ruji
Published: April 2023

This article advances the critical atrocity lens in challenging the dominant atrocity framework that overly emphasises systematic and large-scale killings in conflict settings. To do so, it argues for the broadened scope of violence to illustrate that hate speech and discrimination produce similar consequences of stripping vulnerable populations of their rights and livelihoods despite the absence of mass killings. This article captures such mundane violence by unpacking the interplay between atrocity crimes, hate speech and discrimination against Rohingya refugees during the covid-19 pandemic. The findings urge scholars and practitioners to consider broader human rights protection during peace time to address root causes of atrocities. In doing so, it can foster inter-communal respect and tolerance, hence preventing grievances from turning into incitement of mass violence.
Progress, Function and Structure of Mosque Archives of Turkish Immigrants in Germany
Authors: Şahin Ertuğrul
Published: April 2023

This article deals with archival materials in the mosque landscape of Turkish origin in Germany. The focus is to work out its becoming, structure, functionality and importance as well as lines of knowledge of empirical reappraisal. First, the history and the context of the emergence are examined in order to capture the microcosm of the archives in a phenomenological insightful way. Subsequently, the discoverable archival collections will be subjected to a categorization of their parts. The summarizing notes emphasize that mosques and their archives are Germany’s historical and cultural heritage that need to be researched in its depth and breadth.
Sorting the Trees: The Role of Laurus nobilis in the Woodland Management Practices at La Draga (Banyoles, Spain)
Authors: López-Bultó Oriol , Gassmann Patrick , Bertin Ingrid , Piqué Raquel
Published: April 2023

It is suggested that woodland management (e.g. pollarding, pruning, or coppicing) was practiced from at least the Neolithic onwards. The goal of this work is to discuss woodland management practices in the Early Neolithic waterlogged site of La Draga (5300–4700 cal BC, Banyoles, Spain). To date, different methods and techniques (dendrochronology, roundwood age and diameter, dendrology, etc.) have been applied to address this issue, and some preliminary results have been obtained. However, recent excavations have yielded new wooden archaeological materials which help to approach this issue from another point of view: the presence of scars on the wood surface. For the first time at La Draga, it was possible to identify scars on the wood surface of piles caused by tool marks and partially or totally covered by wound wood ribs, indicating that the trees were marked before being cut down. The marked piles have been identified as laurel (Laurus nobilis) or bay tree, which is well documented at the site (firewood, instruments, and piles), although it played a secondary role after the oak. However, laurel was rarely exploited during the Neolithic in Europe, which poses the question of the intentional selection of this wood at La Draga.

This paper presents the results of a morphological, technological, and dendrological study of laurel piles in the context of the wooden remains of the La Draga site. The results of the different approaches are summarised and contrasted to provide new insights into Neolithic woodland management in Europe. Moreover, the role of laurel trees in the context of the Neolithic is discussed.
Nomenclature and typifications in Celmisia (Asteraceae: Astereae): The New Zealand endemic subgenera Caespitosae, Glandulosae, and Lignosae
Authors: SALDIVIA PATRICIO
Published: April 2023

As part of ongoing taxonomic studies on the subtribe Celmisiinae, a nomenclatural analysis of names validly published in Celmisia subgenera Caespitosae, Glandulosae and Lignosae is presented, including 10 new lectotypifications.
A new threatened New Caledonian Leichhardtia (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Marsdenieae) species discovered from a TV programme and social media
Authors: GÂTEBLÉ GILDAS , MEVE ULRICH , LIEDE-SCHUMANN SIGRID
Published: April 2023

Just a few months after the publication of the Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie treatment for Asclepiadoideae, Periplocoideae and Secamonoideae, an unknown plant species obviously belonging to the genus Leichhardtia R.Br. was spotted while watching the local Wéari television programme on Caledonia channel and made available on YouTube. The focus of the TV programme was the remote and difficult to access Yandé island, in the extreme north of New Caledonia’s Grande Terre. Since few botanical investigations have been undertaken on this isolated island, the Wéari programme was an opportunity to get a better overview of its natural environment and plants. Here, we describe this Leichhardtia species and name it after this TV programme. Leichhardtia weari Gâteblé, Meve & Liede, sp. nov. is a narrowly endemic species with whitish flowers that is growing on serpentinite derived soils and known from less than ten individuals. Due to anthropogenic fire threat and its obvious rarity, we propose to consider it as Critically Endangered. In addition, a nomenclatural problem is fixed by proposing the new combination Leichhardtia guillauminiana (P.T.Li) Gâteblé, Meve & Liede, comb. nov; and a key for the now 20 species of Leichhardtia native to New Caledonia is presented.
Cyrtandromoea grandiflora, a new generic record for Vietnam, and a key to Vietnamese Phrymaceae
Authors: QUANG BUI HONG , BACH TRAN THE , HAI DO VAN , HOAN DUONG THI , HUONG NGUYEN THI THANH , HAN LE NGOC , NURALIEV MAXIM S.
Published: April 2023

Cyrtandromoea grandiflora is reported from Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces in Northern Vietnam, representing the first record of this species and the genus Cyrtandromoea in the country. Detailed photographic illustrations of studied specimens are provided. A key to the Vietnamese genera and species of Phrymaceae is presented.
Finite-Time Containment Control for Nonlinear Multi-Agent Systems Based on High Order Sliding Mode
Authors: Liu Nan , Zhang Pan
Published: April 2023

Several finite-time containment control issues under stationary and dynamic leadership are the main emphasis of this thesis, which is concerned with a typical class of second-order nonlinear multi-agent systems susceptible to outside intervention. According to a given network topology, the second-order super-twisting sliding mode control is a technique for distributed control that has been developed. In this paper, we mainly consider the situation that the leader moves at a uniform speed. With the proposed method, the followers update status in real time via communication with each other such that all of them are able to eventually converge to the convex hulls consisting of stationary leaders and dynamic leaders in finite time. It leads to make the followers remain stationary or keep moving within the designed region. Eventually, according to the matrix theory and finite-time stability theorem, the paper proves the stability of the finite-time on the proposed control protocol and validates its effectiveness and correctness through simulation.
Mesoscale Spectra of Vertical Vorticity and Horizontal Divergence in an Idealized Baroclinic Wave Simulation
Authors: Peng Jun , Li Zongheng , Zhang Lifeng , Wang Yuan , Wu Hanyan
Published: April 2023

A new formulation of the spectral budget of vertical vorticity and horizontal divergence suitable for the mesoscale atmosphere on an f plane is derived. Compared to previous formulations in large-scale studies, there are three main improvements: (i) both the squared vorticity (SV; i.e., enstrophy as usual) and squared divergence (SD) spectra are taken into account, (ii) the spectral transfers of SV and SD between scales are exactly constructed under the nonlinear advection of the full horizontal velocity, and (iii) the general relationship between spectral energy and SV/SD transfers is derived. With this new formulation, the atmospheric spectra of divergent and rotational motion components are investigated through numerical simulation of idealized dry baroclinic waves. Spectral budget analysis shows that, in the present dry simulation, the upper troposphere is almost completely dominated by the downscale SV transfer at all scales, while the lower stratosphere is dominated by the downscale SV transfer at synoptic scales and by the downscale SD transfer at mesoscales. The pressure-related term is largely cancelled out by the conversion term between SV and SD at both levels, but at the small-scale end of lower-stratospheric mesoscales there exists a significant net positive forcing, accounting for the distinct spectral transition of the total spectrum there. An explicit association between spectral energy and SV/SD transfers is further made. In the upper troposphere, the downscale energy cascade is mainly governed by the downscale SV transfer, while in the lower stratosphere, it is mainly governed by the residual term related to nonuniformly distributed vertical velocity.

Significance Statement

The purpose of this study is to explore the dynamics underlying the atmospheric spectra of divergent and rotational motion components. The traditional analysis of enstrophy is first extended to include both squared vertical vorticity (SV) as usual and squared horizontal divergence (SD), and then a new formulation of the spectral SV and SD budget suitable for the mesoscale atmosphere is derived, with application to the dry baroclinic waves simulation. Our results clearly reveal the different physical processes governing the vorticity and divergence spectra at different heights. We also derive the general relationship between spectral energy and SV/SD transfers, which allows explicitly associating spectral energy and SV/SD fluxes and thus provides additional physical views on the mesoscale energy cascade. Further work should consider the effects of other physical processes neglected here.
Paying Attention to the Pandemic: Knowledge of COVID-19 Facts by News Source and Demographics
Authors: King Molly M.
Published: April 2023

The structured inequalities built into our sociotechnical institutions shape access to knowledge. During the COVID-19 pandemic, knowledge acquisition was shaped by news sources, class, and race. Through analysis of nationally representative data using logistic models, this study reveals how the use of different news sources differentially shapes access to accurate knowledge about COVID-19 topics for different demographics. Those who rely on informal and local news sources have the largest knowledge gaps about these topics, while those who seek information from national or international news outlets and politicians have the most accurate knowledge. Race and class influence knowledge of government operations, public health, and science of COVID-19. In particular, Black people, people with less education, and those with lower incomes are significantly less likely to have accurate knowledge about COVID-19, all else equal. These findings have implications for knowledge dissemination that impacts public health, as well as for how news media target different audiences in an increasingly fractured landscape.
Domestic Abuse: Growth Curve Modeling of Harm Across Repeat Incidents with Police Data
Authors: Boyd Katharine A. , Brace Lewys , Thomas Jenna
Published: April 2023

This paper analyzes trajectories of harm across repeat domestic abuse (DA) incidents using data from one police force in England and Wales matched with the Crime Harm Index. We use growth curve modeling to identify incident and offender-victim (dyad) predictors of harm. High Incident dyads with four or more DA cases ( N = 2,610) have a non-linear decrease in harm across incidents, with distinct trajectories for Intimate Partners and male offenders. The Power Few dyads, the 5% of dyads responsible for 85% of cumulative harm, ( N = 133) show a decrease in harm across incidents, with distinct trajectories for DA specialists who are only known to police for DA. While acknowledging the limitations, this study suggests important policy implications.
Globalisation and Inclusive Growth in Africa: The Role of Institutional Quality
Authors: Kumeka Terver Theophilus , Raifu Isiaka Akande , Adeniyi Oluwatosin
Published: April 2023

This study examines the relationship between globalisation and inclusive growth by considering the modulating role of institutional quality. To achieve our broad objective, we use data from 45 African economies over 1996–2018 to determine the panel cointegration and cointegrating regression association between inclusive growth, globalisation and institutional quality. To determine a suitable estimation technique for the empirical analysis, several pre-estimation tests were conducted. After confirming the existence of cointegration and slope heterogeneity, we adapted the long-run panel cointegrating methods—the fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares estimations. The results from both show that aggregate globalisation and its various dimensions have positive and significant effects on inclusive growth. Besides the direct positive impact on inclusive growth, globalisation has indirect positive and significant impact on inclusive growth through institutional quality. Finally, some policy implications are highlighted.

JEL Codes: E02, F62, F63, O15, O43
Reprint: Lost in Translation: Mentors Learning to Participate in Competing Discourses of Practice
Authors: Orland-Barak Lily
Published: April 2023

Situated in the context of Israeli in-service education, this article explores the development of the author’s understanding of the process of learning to mentor from the acquisition of communicative competencies (as identified in an initial study), toward a more discursive view of the process as “participation in competing discourses of practice” (as identified in subsequent studies). Recent work has revealed the intricacies and complexities entailed in translating from one language (teaching) to another (mentoring), often positioning mentors as “lost in translation.” Specifically, studies shed light on issues of morality, expertise, context, and conditions for learning to mentor. To discuss the author’s evolving understandings, she attends to three interrelated themes: Mentoring as connected to teaching, mentoring as distinct from teaching, and conditions for learning to mentor. Finally, the author addresses the question, So what? to consolidate her emergent understandings of the metaphor, framed as assertions for thinking about the practice of mentoring.
Reprint: The Turn Once Again Toward Practice-Based Teacher Education
Authors: Zeichner Ken
Published: April 2023

Current work to identify the core teaching practices that should be included in teacher education curriculum is a part of a long-standing tradition of reform in American teacher education. This article situates the proposals of Hiebert and Morris and the contemporary work to which it is linked within this historical tradition and identifies several issues that need to be addressed by this current work. These include the task of developing a system that unlike performance-based systems in the past is evidence-based, manageable, and sustainable, and that does not ignore important aspects of good teaching.
Geometrical modeling of yarn motion and analysis of yarn tension during stitch formation process in warp knitting machines
Authors: Golla Anke , Franz Christian , Haentzsche Eric , Hoffmann Gerald , Sennewald Cornelia , Cherif Chokri
Published: April 2023

In the textile sector, the sustainable development and production of high-performance and high-quality textiles has become increasingly important. To enable the processing of new yarn materials at high production speeds, the in-depth understanding of the relationships between machine elements, yarn path, and yarn tension is required. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze the interactions between the warp knitting machine unit and the yarn path during the stitch formation process by means of theoretical modeling and experimental investigation. A vector-based model has been developed to describe the kinematic yarn path and its correlation with yarn demand during the stitch formation process. The model is validated by measurements of yarn path and yarn tension on a warp knitting machine. The model is used to identify both machine and yarn guide elements that influence stitch formation.
Distributed event-triggered consensus control for a class of nonlinear multi-agent systems under switching topologies
Authors: Wang Zuo , Zhu Yanzheng , Tong Xianfang
Published: April 2023

A distributed event-triggered consensus control protocol is proposed for a class of nonlinear multi-agent systems with switching topologies. The nonlinear dynamics and switching topologies are considered simultaneously to adapt to some actual scenarios. To economize the communication resources, a distributed event-triggered mechanism is established to decrease the consumption of communication resources. The new event-triggered mechanism is constructed by the information of distributed errors, which can fully utilize communication relationships among agents to control the timing of events. A class of negative exponential functions is added to the event-triggered condition as the event-triggered mechanism is applied for the presented multi-agent systems. The design of event-triggered condition can reduce the occurring frequency of events when the adjusting time of control scheme begins at an initial small amount period of time. Finally, the simulation results are provided, which verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the designed event-triggered consensus control strategy for the presented multi-agent systems with switching topologies.
Delay compensation of linear systems with multiple distributed input delays via memoryless feedback
Authors: Liu Qingsong , Yang Xuefei
Published: April 2023

Time-delay systems are widely used in industrial applications, such as chemical process and aerospace. The predictor-based feedback method is one of the effective ways to deal with such systems. This paper studies the delay compensation problem for linear systems with multiple distributed input delays. A novel state vector associated with the future state of the system is constructed, which reduces the original linear time-delay system to a linear delay-free system. Memory feedback controller is then designed, and necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of the closed-loop system are acquired in accordance with the stability of an integral delay system. To avoid the difficult implementation problem of memory feedback controller, the memoryless feedback controller is proposed instead to compensate the multiple distributed input delays. Finally, the proposed controllers are applied to the design of the linearized liquid-level control resonant circuit system.
A wizard of disquietude in our midst: Melanie Klein and the critical geographies of manic reparation
Authors: Seitz David K
Published: April 2023

This article invites critical geographers to reconsider the conceptual offerings of Austrian-British object-relations psychoanalyst Melanie Klein (1882–1960), whose metapsychology has had a significant but largely unacknowledged contemporary influence on the field via theorists like Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick and Lauren Berlant. Excavating the Kleinian genealogies of Sedgwick’s concept of “reparative reading” and Berlant’s notion of “cruel optimism,” I argue that geographers engaged with these ideas would benefit from a more sustained consideration of Klein’s influence on them. I then point to the potential utility for critical geographers of just one of many Kleinian concepts that has largely remained off the map of recent debates: ”manic reparation,” sometimes referred to as mock reparation or manic denial, which defends against the anxiety of wanting to repair a damaged object of attachment. Sketching possibilities for how this concept could productively illuminate concerns near and dear to critical geographers—such as the political ecologies of climate change, critiques of neoliberal multiculturalisms, debates over urban development, and abolition geographies—I argue that Klein’s idiosyncratic, though at times problematic and counterintuitive, body of work offers critical geographers an insightful, expansive, and underutilized conceptual vocabulary for examining the affective dimensions of a wide range of political formations.
Disruptions in Megaregional Network Evacuations: Identifying and Assessing Critical Links
Authors: Shapouri Mohammad , Fuller James D , Wolshon Brian , Herrera Nelida
Published: April 2023

Mass evacuations are a protective action to move large populations from hazardous areas to safety. However, even the best-planned evacuations can be slowed by unexpected disruptions, such as traffic incidents. Even minor disruptions can significantly slow evacuations, so it is critical to understand which links are most vital to the operation of the system. This paper describes a study to address that need by developing a method to evaluate large networks more efficiently to identify links that disproportionately increase network delay when affected by disruptive incidents. The study is unique because it examined the impact of individual link disruptions over a megaregional network covering thousands of square miles while drastically reducing the computation time necessary for a traditional full-scan analysis. In the research, link criticality was quantified by an index using factors such as alternative path availability, global maximum flow properties, modified betweenness centrality, and hazard exposure. Links with high indices established an initial “most-critical” list, then agent-based simulation was used to quantify the network-wide effects of disrupting these most-critical links. Results showed that links with the highest indices often had the fewest alternative paths to avoid them. Thus, while incident effects tended to be localized, findings suggest that networks with more path alternatives tend to have higher overall resilience to disruptions. By giving the ability to reduce computational efforts to evaluate large-scale networks, this methodology can be used in emergency planning to focus monitoring on the most important areas and allow them to be monitored for disruptions to maintain network efficiency.
Integration of Building Information Modeling Interoperability into Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Bridge Substructures
Authors: Shishlov Alexander S. , Costin Aaron M. , Davidson Michael T.
Published: April 2023

Acceptance of building information modeling (BIM) throughout the bridge industry is widely recognized as inevitable. However, while adoption of BIM technologies has proliferated throughout the building industry, advances pertaining to BIM for bridges and other structures remain underway. The present study aims to increase the potential for integrating BIM processes into software packages that possess capabilities for nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) of bridge substructures. Moreover, the present study is intended to galvanize stakeholders within the area of soil–structure interaction (SSI) modeling and analysis to more effectively participate in interoperability workflows as part of bridge design. A proof-of-concept exporter tool was formulated in a modular manner to robustly export finite element model data stored in a selected SSI analysis package into the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard, with the IFC standard chosen as the target schema owing to its widespread usage in the construction industry. The ability of the exporter tool to—with fidelity—convert a model from the selected analysis software to the IFC standard is showcased through an illustrative case study. In carrying out the case study, collections of geotechnical modeling parameters were identified that, while being common to numerous nonlinear SSI analysis packages, are not present in the existing IFC schema. Inclusion of these parameters in the IFC schema is proposed, serving to: 1) lower the barrier for entry of SSI modeling and analysis stakeholders to take part in interoperability processes and 2) encourage adoption of novel BIM processes in the bridge industry.
Quantification of Effective Flow Resistivity for Parametric Assessment of Pervious Concrete by Using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Method
Authors: Singh Avishreshth , Biligiri Krishna Prapoorna , Sampath Prasanna Venkatesh
Published: April 2023

The use of nondestructive ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) testing to assess the hardened properties of pervious concrete (PC) mixtures is an emerging research area. Further, UPV has been successfully used to determine the effective flow resistivity (EFR) of asphalt concrete and cement concrete pavements. However, no research studies have focused on understanding PC characteristics using EFR. Thus, the major objectives of this study were to assess the suitability of UPV testing for characterizing PC mixtures and to quantify their EFR, which is a measure of the material’s characteristic impedance and is dependent on the mix variables along with porosity. Thirty-six control and sand-modified PC mixtures were prepared with four aggregate gradations, and three levels each of water-to-cement (w/c) and aggregate-to-cement (a/c) ratios. Test results indicated that EFR was significantly dependent on the mix variables, with aggregate gradation being the most influential factor (six and eight times higher than w/c and a/c ratios, respectively). Lower EFR or higher sound absorption capacity was reported for PC with higher porosities. The sand-modified PC mixtures had higher EFR (by 4%–12%) than the control PC, and consequently lower sound absorption capacity, attributed to the presence of mortar that densified the mixes. Further, good-to-excellent correlations were obtained for various PC properties with UPV and EFR, which underscored the potential of UPV in characterizing PC. The major contribution of this research was the development of a simple, fast, and cost-effective approach, which can be suitably adopted as a quality-control test to determine PC mixture properties.