bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deformed WZW models and Hodge theory. Part I
Authors: Grimm Thomas W. , Monnee Jeroen
Published: May 2022

Abstract

We investigate a relationship between a particular class of two-dimensional integrable non-linear σ-models and variations of Hodge structures. Concretely, our aim is to study the classical dynamics of the λ-deformed G/G model and show that a special class of solutions to its equations of motion precisely describes a one-parameter variation of Hodge structures. We find that this special class is obtained by identifying the group-valued field of the σ-model with the Weil operator of the Hodge structure. In this way, the study of strings on classifying spaces of Hodge structures suggests an interesting connection between the broad field of integrable models and the mathematical study of period mappings.
A random cover of a compact hyperbolic surface has relative spectral gap $$\frac{3}{16}-\varepsilon $$
Authors: Magee Michael , Naud Frédéric , Puder Doron
Published: May 2022

LetXbe a compact connected hyperbolic surface, that is, a closed connected orientable smooth surface with a Riemannian metric of constant curvature$$-1$$-1. For each$$n\in {\mathbf {N}}$$n∈N, let$$X_{n}$$Xnbe a random degree-ncover ofXsampled uniformly from all degree-nRiemannian covering spaces ofX. An eigenvalue ofXor$$X_{n}$$Xnis an eigenvalue of the associated Laplacian operator$$\Delta _{X}$$ΔXor$$\Delta _{X_{n}}$$ΔXn. We say that an eigenvalue of$$X_{n}$$Xnisnewif it occurs with greater multiplicity than inX. We prove that for any$$\varepsilon >0$$ε>0, with probability tending to 1 as$$n\rightarrow \infty $$n→∞, there are no new eigenvalues of$$X_{n}$$Xnbelow$$\frac{3}{16}-\varepsilon $$316-ε. We conjecture that the same result holds with$$\frac{3}{16}$$316replaced by$$\frac{1}{4}$$14.
Modification of the examination of fitness for custody as a result of external factors in the period 2013–2018
Authors: Richter C. , Knöfel L. , Heide S. , Hoyer S. , Schmidt U. , Mayer-Pelinski R. , Engel A.
Published: May 2022

Background and objectives

Previous studies have shown that the assessment of fitness for custody is influenced by external factors. In this study, we analyzed whether the changes that occurred in the period 2015–2016 (predominant involvement of forensic medicine, significant increase in the proportion of the population with a migration background) had an impact on the examination of fitness for custody in the Halle/Saale area (Germany).

Material and methods

A retrospective analysis of 1271 examinations of fitness for custody from the period 2013–2018 was carried out. Therefore, two periods (2013–2015 and 2016–2018) were considered and the various parameters were evaluated using several statistical programs.

Results

In terms of the reasons for examination, there was a significant decrease in alcohol intoxication and a significant increase in psychiatric illnesses (p = 0.016) in the period 2016–2018. Regardless of the time period there was an increase in examination time of approximately 3.5 min for examinations of people with a migration background. In comparison of the two time periods, fewer persons examined were fit for custody without restrictions and significantly more were fit for custody with restrictions only (p = <0.001).

Discussion and conclusion

The present study confirmed the influence of external factors on examination of fitness for custody. With the predominant involvement of forensic medicine, there was a significant increase in persons with limited fitness for custody. The increased proportion of persons with a migration background resulted in a broader variety of indications as well as an increase in examination time and the involvement of interpreters. For the future guarantee of the examinations, these changed circumstances must be taken into account, also including appropriate payment.
Predicting surgical factors for unplanned overnight admission in ambulatory arthroscopic surgery of the knee: a prospective cohort in one hundred and eighty four patients
Authors: Saengpetch Nadhaporn , Watcharopas Ratthapoom , Kujkunasathian Chusak , Limitloahaphan Chalermchai , Lertbutsayanukul Chatchawan , Vijittrakarnrung Chaiyanun , Sa-ngasoongsong Paphon , Arnuntasupakul Vanlapa , Sangkum Lisa
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Unplanned overnight admission (UOA) is an important indicator for quality of care with ambulatory knee arthroscopic surgery (AKAS). However, few studies have explored the factors related to the UOA and how to predict UOA after AKAS. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized peri-operative protocol for the AKAS and identify whether a correlation exists between the peri-operative surgical factors and UOA in the patients undergoing AKAS. We hypothesized that more surgical invasiveness and prolong tourniquet time increase the risk of UOA after AKAS.

Method

A prospective cohort study was conducted between October 2017 and March 2021. All 184 patients operated on standard AKAS protocol. The UOA is defined as overnight hospitalization of a patient undergoing AKAS. Demographic and peri-operative data were recorded, and the procedure was categorized based on the surgical invasiveness based on less invasive (intra-articular soft tissue surgery) (n = 65) and more complex surgery (involving extra-articular soft tissue surgery or ligamentous reconstruction) (n = 119). The clinical risk factors for UOA were identified and analyzed with multivariate analysis.

Results

The incidence of UOA in the more complex group (n = 7, 14.3%) was significantly higher than in the less invasive group (n = 3, 4.6%) (p = 0.049). The peri-operative factors significantly associated with UOA were age, more complex surgery, and longer tourniquet time (p < 0.10 all). However, the multivariate analysis revealed that longer tourniquet time was the only significant predictor for UOA (OR = 1.045, 95% CI = 1.022–1.067, p = 0.0001). The optimal cut-off points of tourniquet time for predicting UOA with the highest Youden index in the less invasive and more complex groups were 56 minutes and 107 minutes, respectively.

Conclusion

The UOA after AKAS is more common in more complex surgery compared to less invasive surgery. This study showed that unplanned admission significantly associated with many factors—as patient factors, surgical invasiveness, and tourniquet time. However, tourniquet time is the only independent predictor for UOA. Therefore, strict perioperative management protocol must be applied in AKAS, and all patients having these risk factors should be prepared for UOA.
Revealing different migration strategies in a Baltic Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) population with light-level geolocators
Authors: Piro Simon , Schmitz Ornés Angela
Published: May 2022

The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is one of Germany’s farthest migrating bird species. Ringing studies have shown the use of the East Atlantic flyway, and according to their main wintering areas at the western and southern African coasts, German and European Common Tern populations have been divided into two allohiemic groups. However, first ring recoveries of German Common Terns in Israel indicated that some of the birds breeding in eastern Germany cross central Europe and migrate along the eastern African coast. To investigate the migratory behavior of Common Terns from East Germany, we fitted 40 Common Terns breeding in a colony at the German Baltic coast with light-level geolocators. Twenty-four loggers with analyzable datasets could be retrieved, revealing two different migratory strategies within one population. Seventeen individuals (70.83%) used the eastern Atlantic flyway and spent the winter at the western African coast, the Gulf of Guinea and the southern African coast, while the other individuals (n = 7; 29.17%) crossed central Europe, migrated along the eastern African coast and overwintered in the Mozambique Channel and South African coast. We, therefore, suggest to add a third allohiemic group to complement the picture of European Common Tern migration. Moreover, our results provide new knowledge and open new questions, which can be used for future studies regarding the evolution of different migratory strategies and its consequences in relation to climate change.
Mental Health Gap Action Programme intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC): A Systematic Review
Authors: Petagna Marta , Marley Charles , Guerra Cristóbal , Calia Clara , Reid Corinne
Published: May 2022

Background

The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) supports engagement of non-specialists in mental health services in Low- and Middle-Income countries. Given this aim, assessment of the effectiveness of approaches under its remit is warranted.

Aims

We evaluated mhGAP approaches relating to child and adolescent mental health, focusing on provider / child outcomes, and barriers / facilitators of implementation.

Methods

Thirteen databases were searched for reviews and primary research on mhGAP roll out for child and adolescent mental health.

Results

Twelve studies were reviewed. Provider-level outcomes were restricted to knowledge gains, with limited evidence of other effects. Child-level outcomes included improved access to care, enhanced functioning and socio-emotional well-being. Organisational factors, clients and providers? attitudes and expectations, and transcultural considerations were barriers.

Conclusions

Further attention to the practical and methodological aspects of implementation of evaluation may improve the quality of evidence of the effectiveness of approaches under its remit.
Peptide-coating combating antimicrobial contaminations: a review of covalent immobilization strategies for industrial applications
Authors: Stillger Lena , Müller Daniela
Published: May 2022

Many corrosion problems are caused by the presence of microorganisms, so-called microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). A major representative of MIC-causing bacteria includes the group of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), which accumulate in biofilms on the surface. Removal of biofilm inhabiting bacteria is much more complex compared to planktonic cell removal, in particular, based on the formation of an extracellular polymeric substance matrix (EPS layer). Current control strategies mainly involve the use of biocides. The development of resistance is a major problem caused by the limited number of suitable biocides and their frequent use. A consequence is a requirement of even elevated concentrations, which in worst-case scenarios results in a complete loss of efficacy. Recently, the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) especially in the field of medical devices has been distinguished, including the coating of implants with AMPs for retarding or even completely preventing biofilm formation. Transferring AMPs to technical applications as MIC controlling agents offers high potential, therefore. However, based on open circuits, e.g. MIC on ship trunks or in wastewater pipes, immobilization of AMPs on surfaces is quite important, while keeping the AMPs active. This article presents various immobilization strategies established for this purpose, with a special focus on covalent AMP immobilization on metal surfaces.

Graphical abstract
“A fog that impacts everything”: a qualitative study of health-related quality of life in people living with HIV who have cognitive impairment
Authors: Alford Kate , Daley Stephanie , Banerjee Sube , Hamlyn Elizabeth , Trotman Daniel , Vera Jaime H.
Published: May 2022

Background

Cognitive impairment (CI) in people living with HIV (PLWH) is an important health concern in the context of an ageing HIV population. Impacting 14–28% of PLWH, CI is associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL), however, evaluation of the illness-specific factors comprising HRQoL in PLWH with CI have not been assessed.

Objective

We sought to contribute evidence toward an understanding of HRQoL and identify domains of HRQoL in PLWH with CI.

Methods

Qualitative interviews with 25 PLWH with objective CI related to HIV disease were conducted with participants attending HIV clinics in the UK. Clinically significant CI was defined based on The European AIDS Clinical Society guidelines, requiring: (i) subjective reporting of cognitive symptoms; (ii) symptoms to be related to HIV (e.g. potentially confounding non-HIV related conditions have been excluded or are being optimally managed) and; (iii) formal neuropsychological assessment confirming CI. Median age was 56 years (range 35–80); 18 participants were men (72%); 11 (44%) were white British and 8 (32%) were Black African; 14 (56%) were men that have sex with men and 10 (40%) were heterosexual; median number of years living with HIV was 17 (range 1–34); and all participants were on combination antiretroviral therapy. Analyses employed techniques from grounded theory, underpinned by an inductive, collaborative team-based approach.

Results

Findings revealed seven interrelated domains comprising HRQoL experiences were identified: Physical function, Cognition, Social connectedness, Physical and mental health, Stigma, Self-concept, and Control and acceptance, and each was defined by specific descriptive components.

Conclusion

This study provides valuable insights on the factors that drive HRQoL in PLWH with CI and contribute to a body of evidence which provides targets for the development of targeted interventions to maintain or improve quality of life.
Recodifying the Law: A Metalinguistic Inquiry into the Recodification of Belgian Law Between 2014–2019
Authors: Liégeois Vince , Akkermans Jitte
Published: May 2022

Legal scholars attribute a great deal of importance to the linguistic dimension behind recodification. According to them, language contributes greatly to the improvement of both the accessibility and clarity of the law. Nevertheless, little research on the linguistic aspects of (re)codification exists within both linguistics and legal theory. Consequently, it seems worthwhile to study this linguistic dimension more in depth. To this aim, the recent legislative proposals to recodify various economic, civil and criminal codes in Belgium serve as a useful case study to improve our understanding of the linguistic challenges of recodification. In this article we will look at the linguistic comments made by the Belgian Council of State, a state organ which offers technical advice to the legislator, on the relevant proposals and consider (i) the type of linguistic comments made, and (ii), their implementation by the legislator. On the one hand, such an analysis allows us to single out the linguistic problems accompanying the Belgian recodification and, on the other, to elaborate on them with the help of the insights provided by legal theory. In doing so, we hope for our analysis to be a useful point of reference both for research on the Belgian recodification and other legal/linguistic approaches to recodification in general.
Co-designing a pedagogical framework and principles for a hybrid STEM learning environment design
Authors: Mäkelä Tiina , Fenyvesi Kristóf , Kankaanranta Marja , Pnevmatikos Dimitris , Christodoulou Panagiota
Published: May 2022

The importance of engaging and effective learning environments for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has been internationally recognised. However, no comprehensive pedagogical frameworks exist that support STEM learning environment design. In this study, a pedagogical framework and principles for STEM learning environment design were created based on participatory focus groups involving 10–18-year-old students, teachers, school directors, parents, university students and STEM professionals. Representatives of key stakeholder groups in Belarus, Finland, Germany, Greece and Spain (total n = 132) were invited to focus group discussions in which their wishes related to the pedagogical framework were collected. A second focus group discussion session, engaging the same stakeholder groups (total n = 137), was implemented to validate the framework. A final review for the framework and its design principles was conducted in online focus group sessions, involving 20 experts in curriculum, STEM, educational policy and/or educational technology from all participant countries. The co-designed framework, which is strengthened by the research literature, entails the following design principle categories: (1) General principles, (2) Cross-curricular skills, (3) Ways of teaching and learning, (4) Socio-emotional aspects and (5) Educational compatibility. The design principles created in this study have been employed in developing a hybrid (virtual, physical, formal, non-formal and informal) STEM environment, but they can be employed in any (STEM) learning environment design. Instead of focusing on singular design principles, we recommend considering a wide range of different design principles in order to support multiple ways of teaching and learning and to develop both subject-related and cross-curricular competencies.
Journalismus und Plattformen als vermittelnde Dritte in der digitalen Öffentlichkeit
Authors: Neuberger Christoph
Published: May 2022

Der digitale Wandel hat öffentliche Beobachtungs- und Beeinflussungsbeziehungen grundlegend verändert. In den traditionellen Massenmedien vermittelt der professionelle Journalismus zwischen Quellen und Publikum und trifft alleine Publikationsentscheidungen. Im Internet wird dieses Gatekeeper-Paradigma teilweise durch ein auf Plattformen gestütztes Netzwerk-Paradigma ersetzt, in dem Konstellationen vielfältiger, dynamischer und häufig auch unvermittelt sind. Diskutiert wird die Rolle vermittelnder Dritter in Akteurskonstellationen sowie in intra- und intersystemischen Beziehungen. Dabei wird in zweifacher Weise an Georg Simmel angeknüpft: Soziale Formen oder Interaktionsmodi helfen, die Dynamik zwischen Akteuren zu systematisieren. Zudem wurde Simmels Hinweis auf den vermittelnden Dritten aufgegriffen. Im Netzwerk-Paradigma umfasst die Vermittlung neben der Nachrichtenversorgung zusätzlich Moderation und Navigation. Zahlreiche Krisensymptome der digitalen Öffentlichkeit werfen die Frage nach dem Reformbedarf für Journalismus und Plattformen auf.
Comparison of genetic impact on growth and wood traits between seedlings and clones from the same plus trees of Pinus koraiensis
Authors: Liu Xiaoting , Lu Zhimin , Wu Jingui , Yang Yuchun , Li Shuchun , Wu Lin , Xu Qingshan , Yu Qi , Zhao Li , Sun Jian , Zheng Wei , Tigabu Mulualem , Zhao Xiyang
Published: May 2022

To evaluate the relationships among clones and open pollinated families from the same plus trees and to select elite breeding materials, growth, and wood characteristics of 33-year-old Pinus koraiensis clones and families were measured and analyzed. The results show that growth and wood characters varied significantly. The variation due to clonal effects was higher than that of family effects. The ratio of genetic to phenotypic coefficient of variation of clones in growth and wood traits was above 90%, and the repeatability of these characteristics was more than 0.8, whereas the ratio of genetic to phenotypic coefficient of variation of families was above 90%. The broad-sense heritability of all characteristics exceeded 0.4, and the narrow-sense family heritability of growth traits was less than 0.3. Growth characteristics were positively correlated with each other, but most wood properties were weakly correlated in both clones and families. Fiber length and width were positively correlated between clones and families. Using the membership function method, eleven clones and four families were selected as superior material for improved diameter growth and wood production, and two families from clonal and open-pollinated trees showed consistently better performance. Generally, selection of the best clones is an effective alternative to deployment of families as the repeatability estimates from clonal trees were higher than narrow-sense heritability estimates from open pollinated families. The results provide valuable insight for improving P. koraiensis breeding programs and subsequent genetic improvement.
Meter-scale variation within a single transect demands attention to taxon accumulation curves in riverine microbiome studies
Authors: Liu Bingdi , Zhang Lin , Knouft Jason H. , Ling Fangqiong
Published: May 2022

Microbial communities inhabiting river ecosystems play crucial roles in global biogeochemical cycling and pollution attenuation. Spatial variations in local microbial assemblages are important for detailed understanding of community assembly and developing robust biodiversity sampling strategies. Here, we intensely analyzed twenty water samples collected from a one-meter spaced transect from the near-shore to the near-center in the Meramec River in eastern Missouri, USA and examined the microbial community composition with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Riverine microbiomes across the transect exhibited extremely high similarity, with Pearson’s correlation coefficients above 0.9 for all pairwise community composition comparisons. However, despite the high similarity, PERMANOVA revealed significant spatial differences between near-shore and near-center communities (p = 0.001). Sloan’s neutral model simulations revealed that within-transect community composition variation was largely explained by demographic stochasticity (R2 = 0.89). Despite being primarily explained by neutral processes, LefSe analyses also revealed taxa from ten families of which relative abundances differed directionally from the bank to the river center, indicating an additional role of environmental filtering. Notably, the local variations within a river transect can have profound impacts on the documentation of alpha diversity. Taxon-accumulation curves indicated that even twenty samples did not fully saturate the sampling effort at the genus level, yet four, six and seven samples were able to capture 80% of the phylum-level, family-level, and genus-level diversity, respectively. This study for the first time reveals hyperlocal variations in riverine microbiomes and their assembly mechanisms, demanding attention to more robust sampling strategies for documenting microbial diversity in riverine systems.
Associations of adiposity and weight change with recurrence and survival in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pang Yuanjie , Wei Yuxia , Kartsonaki Christiana
Published: May 2022

Background

Adiposity and weight change among patients with breast cancer are associated with mortality, but there is limited evidence on the associations with distant recurrence or other causes of death or on central adiposity. Moreover, the relationship with breast cancer subtypes and by menopause status is unclear.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies of breast cancer patients investigating the associations of general and central adiposity (body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC], respectively), before and after diagnosis, and weight change, with all-cause mortality, breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM), and recurrence.

Results

173 studies (519,544 patients, 60,249 deaths overall, and 25,751 breast cancer deaths) were included. For BMI  < 1 year post diagnosis, compared with normal weight women, the summary relative risk (RR) for obese women was 1.21 (1.15–1.27) for all-cause mortality, 1.22 (1.13–1.32) for BCSM, 1.12 (1.06–1.18) for recurrence, and 1.19 (1.11–1.28) for distant recurrence. Obesity was associated with all-cause mortality and BCSM in patients with ER+ or HER2+ tumors, whereas no clear association was observed in patients with triple-negative tumors. Similar associations were observed by menopausal status. Stronger associations were observed in East Asians than Europeans. Central adiposity was associated with all-cause mortality, while large weight gain was associated with all-cause mortality, BCSM, and recurrence.

Conclusion

Higher adiposity is associated with all-cause mortality, BCSM, recurrence, and distant recurrence in breast cancer patients, with similar associations by menopausal status and some evidence of heterogeneity by subtypes. Weight gain is also associated with recurrence and survival among breast cancer patients.
Understanding Laughter in Dialog
Authors: Koutsombogera Maria , Vogel Carl
Published: May 2022

This work explores laughter within a corpus of three-party, task-based dialogs with native and non-native speakers of English, each consisting of two players and a facilitator, in relation to whether the laughter is perceived as serving discourse functions or rather as genuinely mirthful according to a small number of annotators’ (2) inspection of a substantical multimodal dialog corpus (18 interactions of approximately 10 min each). We test the hypothesis that those different types of laughter have occurrence patterns that relate in different ways to the topical structure of the conversations, with discourse laughter showing a stronger tendency to occur at topic termination points. All laughter events (569) are assigned to one of three values, discourse, mirthful or ambiguous, and are studied with respect to their distribution across the dialog topic sections. The analysis explores interactions among laughter type and section type, also with respect to other variables such as the facilitators’ feedback and the speakers’ conversational role and gender. Discourse laughter is more frequent at topic termination points than at topic beginnings, also in comparison to mirthful laughter. Discourse laughter is also highly associated with facilitators’ feedback type, especially at topic ends. Finally, there are few distinctive effects of gender, and an interaction among speaker role and laughter type. The results strengthen the hypothesis of the discourse function of laughter, indicating a systematicity in discourse laughter, in that it is more predictable and highly associated with the dialog topic termination points, and, on the contrary, a less systematic distribution of mirthful laughter, which shows no particular pattern in relation to topic boundaries.
Does socioeconomic status impact the relationship between school absence and outcomes?
Authors: Mooney Anna , Redmond Gerry , Kaambwa Billingsley
Published: May 2022

Absence from school, especially frequent or prolonged absence, is acknowledged as a potential factor in school dropout and suboptimal academic achievement. The issue of absence from school took on added significance in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, which resulted in schooling interruptions in several jurisdictions. However, there is little agreement in the literature on the exact relationship between absence and school outcomes as a function of socioeconomic status (SES). Using nationally representative pre-COVID longitudinal data of young Australians aged 12–13 and 14–15, this paper examines the relationship between absence from school on the one hand and school belonging and academic achievement (numeracy and reading test scores) on the other. The paper also examines whether SES intersects this relationship. Controlling for gender, prior educational achievement, computer access, and time spent doing homework, the study finds that absence impacts belonging, but that SES does not significantly influence this relationship. The effect of absence on reading is not significant either. However, absence is associated with numeracy outcomes, with the strongest associations among low SES young people at age 14. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.
Critical evaluation of date palm sheath fibre characteristics as a reinforcement for developing sustainable cementitious composites from waste materials
Authors: Awad Said , Ghaffar Seyed Hamidreza , Hamouda Tamer , Midani Mohamad , Katsou Evina , Fan Mizi
Published: May 2022

Decarbonizing the construction industry is an important step towards achieving the net-zero goals for many countries. New technologies and materials are extensively investigated and proposed to meet sustainability guidelines imposed by governments. This research develops a novel mix of sustainable pozzolanic cementitious composite ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)) reinforced with date palm fibre (DPF) to evaluate the effect of varying DPF loading contents (1, 2, and 3 wt.%) and lengths (10, 20, 30, and 40 mm) on the mechanical (compressive and flexural strength) and physical properties (water absorption) of the produced composite. The effect of curing conditions and DPF surface modification on the mechanical and physical properties was also explored. The results showed that the utilization of DPF as a reinforcement for GGBS/OPC improves the flexural and compressive strength of the composites, which represents a sustainable alternative to synthetic reinforcements for construction applications. Optimal results were demonstrated at the inclusion of 20-mm alkali-treated DPF at a loading content of 1 wt.% showing an enhancement in strength by 57.12% and 30.97% of flexural and compressive strength, respectively, at 28 days of ageing in a water bath.

Graphical abstract
Experimental investigation on the compressive behaviour of FRP-confined rectangular concrete columns
Authors: de Diego Ana , Martínez Sonia , Castro Viviana Jacqueline , Echevarría Luis , Barroso Francisco Javier , Gutiérrez José Pedro
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a comprehensive experimental study on the behaviour of FRP-confined concrete in square and rectangular columns and focuses on some issues that might be addressed with a view to improving the predictive models. For this purpose, 31 prismatic concrete specimens with a height of 600 mm and low- and medium-strength concrete (20–35 MPa) were tested under centred compression. The parameters studied were the aspect ratio between the sides of the section (1, 1.5 and 2), the radius of curvature of the corners (20, 25 and 30 mm) and the number of carbon FRP layers applied. The experimental results included stress–strain curves of specimens and detailed information about the confined concrete strength and the axial and lateral strain achieved on the FRP jacket during the tests. The stress–strain response and ultimate condition are analysed, showing that FRP jacketing is an efficient technique for increasing the strength and strain capacity, but that confinement efficiency decreases as the aspect ratio of the section increases. In spite of such decrease, significant strength improvement was achieved for low-strength concrete in rectangular sections with aspect ratios of 1.5 (strength gain up to 81%), and even 2 (up to 36%). The axial strength of the tests was compared with the design criteria of four international guidelines, resulting in predictions that did not properly fit for rectangular sections. A predictive equation is proposed to assess the axial compressive strength of the FRP-confined concrete, which includes a better adjustment for the strain efficiency factor and the shape factor for rectangular columns.
Investigation of the Main Energies of Picture Fuzzy Graph and its Applications
Authors: Shi Xiaolong , Kosari Saeed , Talebi Ali Asghar , Sadati Seyed Hossein , Rashmanlou Hossein
Published: May 2022

Picture fuzzy graph, belonging to fuzzy graphs family, has good capabilities at times when we are faced with problems that cannot be expressed by fuzzy graphs and intuitionistic fuzzy graphs. When an element membership is not clear, neutrality is a good option that can be well-supported by a picture fuzzy graph. The previous definitions limitations in fuzzy graph energy have led us to offer new definitions in picture fuzzy graphs. In this article, we expanded the energy concept on the picture fuzzy graph and sought to use this concept in modeling issues related to this graph and solving some problems including the neutrality state. We were able to show that neutrality, as part of total energy, is effective in energy-based decisions. This is noticeable in some types of energy and is more pronounced. We were looking for a way to rank the available options using the picture fuzzy graph and its Laplacian energy/energy in decision making. We studied some types of energy including Laplacian and skew Laplacian in both picture fuzzy graphs and picture fuzzy digraphs, and discussed some of its properties. We discussed some energy boundaries in this graph, and finally, the applications of energy were presented.
Control Systems and Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Meyn Sean
Published: May 2022

A high school student can create deep Q-learning code to control her robot, without any understanding of the meaning of 'deep' or 'Q', or why the code sometimes fails. This book is designed to explain the science behind reinforcement learning and optimal control in a way that is accessible to students with a background in calculus and matrix algebra. A unique focus is algorithm design to obtain the fastest possible speed of convergence for learning algorithms, along with insight into why reinforcement learning sometimes fails. Advanced stochastic process theory is avoided at the start by substituting random exploration with more intuitive deterministic probing for learning. Once these ideas are understood, it is not difficult to master techniques rooted in stochastic control. These topics are covered in the second part of the book, starting with Markov chain theory and ending with a fresh look at actor-critic methods for reinforcement learning.
Is This a Book?
Authors: Phillips Angus , Kovač Miha
Published: May 2022

This is a book about the book. Is this a book? is a question of wide appeal and interest. With the arrival of ebooks, digital narratives and audiobooks, the time is right for a fresh discussion of what is a book. Older definitions that rely solely on print no longer work, and as the boundaries of the book have been broken down, this volume offers a fresh and lively discussion of the form and purpose of the book. How does the audiobook fit into the book family? How is the role of reading changing in the light of digital developments? Does the book still deserve a privileged place in society? The authors present a dynamic model of the book and how it lives on in today's competitive media environment.
Agricultural Policies and Technical Efficiency of Wheat Production in Kazakhstan and Russia: Evidence from a Stochastic Frontier Approach
Authors: Tleubayev Alisher , Bobojonov Ihtiyor , Götz Linde
Published: May 2022

We utilize a unique primary data set of farms in Russia and Kazakhstan to investigate the link between policy reforms and technical efficiency. These countries have heavily subsidized their domestic agricultural production over the last decade, with a total of around USD 76 billion USD and USD 11.5 billion USD in government funding directed towards the agricultural sectors in Russia and Kazakhstan, respectively. Results of a stochastic frontier analysis make evident that variable inputs, such as fertilizer, have a relatively large influence on wheat production compared to land. Nearly every fifth farm has a technical efficiency level lower than 60%, suggesting significant unrealized production potential. While our analysis shows a negative relation between subsidies and efficiency, other factors, such as farmer’s education, cooperative and agroholding membership, and participation in insurance programs, are positively related to farm efficiency. The results imply that the governments and policymakers could mobilize the unutilized wheat production potential by improving the farmer education system, fostering cooperation among farms, and developing functioning farm insurance schemes.
‘Prototype warfare’: Innovation, optimisation, and the experimental way of warfare
Authors: Hoijtink Marijn
Published: May 2022

In recent years, the concept of ‘prototype warfare’ has been adopted by Western militaries to accelerate the experimental development, acquisition, and deployment of emerging technologies in warfare. Building on scholarship at the intersection of Science and Technology Studies and International Relations investigating the broader discursive and material infrastructures that underpin contemporary logics of war, and taking a specific interest in the relationship between science, technology, and war, this article points out how prototype warfare captures the emergence of a new regime of warfare, which I term theexperimental way of warfare. While warfare has always been defined by experimental activity, what is particular in the current context is how experimentation spans across an increasingly wide range of military practices, operating on the basis of a highly speculative understanding of experimentation that embraces failure as a productive force. Tracing the concept of prototype warfare across Western military discourse and practice, and zooming in on how prototype warfare takes experimentation directly into the battlefield, the article concludes by outlining how prototype warfare reconfigures and normalises military intervention as anopportunityfor experimentation, while outsourcing the failures that are a structural condition of the experimental way of warfare to others, ‘over there’.
Casting the atomic canon: (R)evolving nuclear strategy: A reply
Authors: Freedman Lawrence , Michaels Jeffrey H.
Published: May 2022

We are grateful to Kjølv Egeland, Thomas Fraise, and Hebatalla Taha for their commentary on the four editions of The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy. In addition to their critique of the book, their review was intended to offer ‘a looking glass into the broader field of nuclear security studies’. Our reply to their review therefore touches both upon their critique, as well as the more general theme of writing about the history of nuclear strategy. Although we disagree with many of their criticisms, and in some instances believe our work was misrepresented, the reviewers have nevertheless made points that deserve serious consideration by ourselves as well as other scholars working in the field. In this reply, we not only defend our work, but also use this as an opportunity to discuss how to approach the past of nuclear strategy, which in turn can allow us to better appreciate the present and future. In the first half of our reply we discuss the reviewers’ more general criticisms of our approach. In the second half we deal with some specific criticisms.
Local dynamics during thinning and rupture of liquid sheets of power-law fluids
Authors: Garg Vishrut , Thete Sumeet S. , Anthony Christopher R. , Basaran Osman A.
Published: May 2022

Rupture of liquid sheets of power-law fluids surrounded by a gas is analysed under the competing influences of pressure due to van der Waals attraction, inertia, viscous stress and capillary pressure due to surface tension. Results of a combined theoretical and computational study are presented over the entire range of parameters governing the thinning of a power-law fluid of power-law exponent

$0 < n \le 1$

(

$n=1$

: Newtonian fluid) and Ohnesorge number

$0 \le Oh < \infty$

, where

$Oh \equiv \mu _0/\sqrt {\rho h_0 \sigma }$

, and

$\mu _0, \rho, h_0$

and

$\sigma$

stand for the zero-deformation-rate viscosity, density, the initial sheet half-thickness and surface tension, respectively. The dynamics in the vicinity of the space–time singularity where the sheet ruptures is asymptotically self-similar, and thus the variation with time remaining until rupture

$\tau \equiv t_R - t$

, where

$t_R$

is the time instant

$t$

at which the sheet ruptures, of sheet half-thickness, lateral length scale and lateral velocity is determined analytically and confirmed by simulations. For sheets for which inertia is negligible (

$Oh^{-1}=0$

), two distinct viscous scaling regimes are found, one for

$0.58 < n \le 1$

and the other for

$n \le 0.58$

. The thinning dynamics of inviscid sheets (

$Oh = 0$

) is identical to that of Newtonian ones. For real fluids for which neither viscosity nor inertia is negligible, it is shown that the aforementioned creeping and inertial flow regimes are transitory and the thinning of power-law sheets exhibits a remarkably richer set of scaling transitions compared with Newtonian sheets.
Evolution of the paleo-Daesan Bay (Nakdong River, South Korea) as a result of Holocene sea level change
Authors: Lim Jaesoo , Yi Sangheon , Han Min , Park Sujeong , Kim Youngeun
Published: May 2022

To explore sea level transgression in low-lying inland areas and its possible influence on prehistoric cultures, we investigated the physical and geochemical features of 20-m-long sedimentary cores from the previously seawater-filled Daesan Basin located in the middle reach of the present Nakdong River in Korea as proxies for seawater transgression deep inland areas due to Holocene sea level rise. Based on the relationships among grain size, total sulfur content (TS%), and carbon/sulfur (C/S) ratio, the first transgressive event was detected at ca. 8500 cal yr BP, caused by seawater influx along the present Nakdong River. Higher TS% (0.8–1%) and interbedded fossil oysters at 8000–6000 cal yr BP indicate marine environments, supporting a paleo-Daesan Bay with water depth of ~10–8 m. The common peaks in TS%, in both inland paleo-Daesan Bay and a present coastal area (Suncheon Bay) in southern Korea (e.g., at 3200 and 4700 cal yr BP), may indicate intervals of higher salinity, which suggests simultaneous responses to changes in sea level or hydroclimate. The duration of marine environment (paleo-Daesan Bay) in the remote inland from ca. 8000–3200 cal yr BP provides an analog for inland paleo-bay studies in East Asia.
Multiple serum biomarkers for predicting suicidal behaviours in depressive patients receiving pharmacotherapy
Authors: Kim Jae-Min , Kang Hee-Ju , Kim Ju-Wan , Choi Wonsuk , Lee Ju-Yeon , Kim Sung-Wan , Shin Il-Seon , Kim Min-Gon , Chun Byung Jo , Stewart Robert
Published: May 2022

Background

Predictive values of multiple serum biomarkers for suicidal behaviours (SBs) have rarely been tested. This study sought to evaluate and develop a panel of multiple serum biomarkers for predicting SBs in outpatients receiving a 12-month pharmacotherapy programme for depressive disorders.

Methods

At baseline, 14 serum biomarkers and socio-demographic/clinical characteristics including previous suicidal attempt and present suicidal severity were evaluated in 1094 patients with depressive disorders without a bipolar diagnosis. Of these, 884 were followed for increased suicidal severity and fatal/non-fatal suicide attempt outcomes over a 12-month treatment period. Individual and combined effects of serum biomarkers on these two prospective SBs were estimated using logistic regression analysis after adjustment for relevant covariates.

Results

Increased suicidal severity and fatal/non-fatal suicide attempt during the 12-month pharmacotherapy were present in 155 (17.5%) and 38 (4.3%) participants, respectively. Combined cortisol, total cholesterol, and folate serum biomarkers predicted fatal/non-fatal suicide attempt, and these with interleukin-1 beta and homocysteine additionally predicted increased suicidal severity, with clear gradients robust to adjustment (p values < 0.001).

Conclusions

Application of multiple serum biomarkers could considerably improve the predictability of SBs during the outpatient treatment of depressive disorders, potentially highlighting the need for more frequent monitoring and risk appraisal.
Anterior default mode network and posterior insular connectivity is predictive of depressive symptom reduction following serial ketamine infusion
Authors: Wade Benjamin S. C. , Loureiro Joana , Sahib Ashish , Kubicki Antoni , Joshi Shantanu H. , Hellemann Gerhard , Espinoza Randall T. , Woods Roger P. , Congdon Eliza , Narr Katherine L.
Published: May 2022

Background

Ketamine is a rapidly-acting antidepressant treatment with robust response rates. Previous studies have reported that serial ketamine therapy modulates resting state functional connectivity in several large-scale networks, though it remains unknown whether variations in brain structure, function, and connectivity impact subsequent treatment success. We used a data-driven approach to determine whether pretreatment multimodal neuroimaging measures predict changes along symptom dimensions of depression following serial ketamine infusion.

Methods

Patients with depression (n = 60) received structural, resting state functional, and diffusion MRI scans before treatment. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17), the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-C), and the Rumination Response Scale (RRS) before and 24 h after patients received four (0.5 mg/kg) infusions of racemic ketamine over 2 weeks. Nineteen unaffected controls were assessed at similar timepoints. Random forest regression models predicted symptom changes using pretreatment multimodal neuroimaging and demographic measures.

Results

Two HDRS-17 subscales, the HDRS-6 and core mood and anhedonia (CMA) symptoms, and the RRS: reflection (RRSR) scale were predicted significantly with 19, 27, and 1% variance explained, respectively. Increased right medial prefrontal cortex/anterior cingulate and posterior insula (PoI) and lower kurtosis of the superior longitudinal fasciculus predicted reduced HDRS-6 and CMA symptoms following treatment. RRSR change was predicted by global connectivity of the left posterior cingulate, left insula, and right superior parietal lobule.

Conclusions

Our findings support that connectivity of the anterior default mode network and PoI may serve as potential biomarkers of antidepressant outcomes for core depressive symptoms.
Die Ehrungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie e. V. (DGKJP) und ihrer Vorgängerorganisationen
Authors: Schepker Klaus , Fegert Jörg M.
Published: May 2022

Zusammenfassung. Das Forschungsprojekt „Aufarbeitung der Ehrungen der DGKJP“ hat alle von der Fachgesellschaft zwischen 1950 (Wiedergründung nach Kriegsende) und 1990 (deutsche Wiedervereinigung) geehrten Personen auf die Angemessenheit der Ehrung überprüft. Insbesondere wurde untersucht, ob die Geehrten im Nationalsozialismus gegen die ärztliche Berufsethik verstoßen hatten, wie z. B. Erstellung von T4-Gutachten, die in ihrem Ergebnis zum Tod der Patient*innen führten, Arbeit in „Kinderfachabteilungen“, in denen Kinder gezielt durch Gabe von Medikamenten getötet wurden und jede Form von nichttherapeutischen Menschenversuchen. 1957 wurde erstmalig die Heinrich-Hoffmann-Medaille verliehen und ab 1963 die Ehrenmitgliedschaft. Von 1957 bis 1990 wurden 19 Ehrenmitgliedschaften und neun Heinrich-Hoffmann-Medaillen verliehen, somit an 27 Persönlichkeiten (eine erhielt beide Auszeichnungen). Bei drei geehrten Persönlichkeiten wurden Verstöße gegen die ärztliche Berufsethik identifiziert. Nach langen internen Diskussionen hatte sich die DGKJP bereits 2002 und 2007 von diesen dreien distanziert: Elisabeth Hecker (1895–1986), Hans-Alois Schmitz (1899–1973) und Werner Villinger (1887–1961). Die von Villinger propagierte „praktische Unerziehbarkeit“, das „Minderwertigkeitsdenken“, war der gemeinsame gedankliche Hintergrund. Öffentlich wurden diese Distanzierungen bisher kaum wahrgenommen, bis 2021 gab es dazu lediglich kurze Mitteilungen im Mitteilungsblatt. Elf Geehrte waren Mitglied der NSDAP ohne nachweisliche Ethikverstöße. Diskutiert werden drei weitere Geehrte, bei denen Ethikverstöße weder definitiv auszuschließen noch definitiv festzustellen sind.
Gute Führung in anspruchsvollen Pflegesettings
Authors: Blom Nicole , Noelle Rüdiger , Steffen Hermann-T.
Published: May 2022

Was ist zu dem Thema bekannt?

In den letzten Jahren wurde vermehrt über Ursachen der steigenden Fehlzeiten und der Berufsflucht von Pflegefachpersonen geforscht.

Wie wird eine neue Perspektive eingebracht?

Die Aufrechterhaltung der psychischen Gesundheit ist die Pflicht aller Arbeitgebenden, um einen längerfristigen Erhalt der quantitativen und qualitativ professionell Pflegenden zu gewährleisten. Dies kann mit einem Umdenken der Führungskultur gelingen.

Was sind die Auswirkungen auf die Praxis?

Eine mitarbeiterorientierte „gute“ Führungskultur kann einen Beitrag dazu leisten, berufsbedingtem emotionalen Ausbrennen präventiv zu begegnen, Pflegefachpersonen weniger zu demotivieren und somit langfristig im Beruf zu halten.