bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allergenic pollen seasons and regional pollen calendars for Norway
Authors: Frisk Carl A. , Brobakk Trond Einar , Ramfjord Hallvard
Published: January 2024

Seasonal pollen allergy is a major public health concern, with many different pollen aeroallergens being present in the atmosphere at varying levels during the season. In Norway, information about spatiotemporal variation of pollen aeroallergens is currently lacking, leading to reduced ability to manage and treat seasonal allergies. Seven pollen aeroallergens (alder, hazel, willow, birch, pine, grass and mugwort) were monitored daily for 16 years from 12 regions and coalesced to create regional pollen calendars. Seasonal statistics, such as seasonal pollen integral (SPIn), onset, duration and periods of high and very high concentrations, were calculated for all pollen types and regions. High days were further modelled with SPIn in a linear regression framework to investigate the connection between the strength of the season and number of days above high pollen thresholds. The tree pollen season occurred between January and mid-July, with the pollen aeroallergens birch and pine being the most prominent in all regions. The herb pollen season was observed to occur between June and mid-August, although mugwort was almost completely absent. The grass pollen season was mostly mild on average but more severe in some regions, primarily Kristiansand. South-east regions of Oslo, Kristiansand and Lillehammer had the overall highest pollen load, while northern regions of Bodø, Tromsø and Kirkenes had the overall lowest pollen loads. SPIn and days above high pollen thresholds had positive highly significant relationships (R2 > 0.85) for all pollen types, bar mugwort. Regional pollen calendars and seasonal statistics contribute to reliable information that can be used by medical professionals to effectively and timely manage and treat seasonal pollen allergies in Norway. Further research is needed to determine sensitization profiles of pine and willow.
Gender Dysphoria and Sexual Euphoria: A Bayesian Perspective on the Influence of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Sexual Arousal
Authors: Klöbl Manfred , Reed Murray Bruce , Handschuh Patricia , Kaufmann Ulrike , Konadu Melisande Elisabeth , Ritter Vera , Spurny-Dworak Benjamin , Kranz Georg S. , Lanzenberger Rupert , Spies Marie
Published: January 2024

Self-reported sexual orientation of transgender individuals occasionally changes over transition. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we tested the hypothesis that neural and behavioral patterns of sexual arousal in transgender individuals would shift from the assigned to the experienced gender (e.g., trans women’s responses becoming more dissimilar to those of cis men and more similar to those of cis women). To this aim, trans women (N = 12) and trans men (N = 20) as well as cisgender women (N = 24) and cisgender men (N = 14) rated visual stimuli showing male–female, female–female or male–male intercourse for sexual arousal before and after four months of gender-affirming hormone therapy. A Bayesian framework allowed us to incorporate previous behavioral findings. The hypothesized changes could indeed be observed in the behavioral responses with the strongest results for trans men and female–female scenes. Activation of the ventral striatum supported our hypothesis only for female–female scenes in trans women. The respective application or depletion of androgens in trans men and trans women might partly explain this observation. The prominent role of female–female stimuli might be based on the differential responses they elicit in cis women and men or, in theory, the controversial concept of autogynephilia. We show that correlates of sexual arousal in transgender individuals might change in the direction of the experienced gender. Future investigations should elucidate the mechanistic role of sex hormones and the cause of the differential neural and behavioral findings.

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02715232), March 22, 2016.
Intense Body Contact Increases Homosexual Pair Bond Stability in Female Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata)
Authors: Böhm Pia Marlena , Pflüger Lena Sophie , Pink Katharina Elisabeth , Huffman Michael Alan , Wallner Bernard
Published: January 2024

The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) has become a key species for studying homosexual behavior over recent decades. With the non-conceptive nature, their same-sex consortships illustrate that individual partner preferences can exist beyond direct reproductive benefits or apparent sociosexual strategies. An open question is whether the behavior shared between partners in consortship directly affects their choice to remain with a partner. With this study, we examined behavioral aspects underlying consortship temporal patterns in these promiscuous and bisexual primates. While these patterns could be relevant in both homo- and heterosexual consortships, our study primarily focused on female-female pairs. We hypothesized that the stability of consortships (duration and occurrence) is influenced by a pair’s sexual behavior, mutual sexual stimulation, and close affiliative inter-mount behaviors involving high-intensity body contact. A semi-free population of Japanese macaques was observed over one mating season. In total, 40 h of focal data on female-female consortship behaviors were analyzed. Forty-six percent of all sexually mature females engaged in homosexual interactions. Our behavioral analyses of female-female pairs found that close body contact, rather than grooming or sexual interactions, was correlated with the stability of homosexual consortships. The greater the amount of huddling and embracing a pair engaged in, the more likely they were to stay together and reunite again. However, the frequency of mounting, rubbing or thrusting had no discernable effect on consortship stability. The results of this study thus add important knowledge to partner qualities in promiscuous primates as well as to inter-group differences of homosexual behavior in Japanese macaques.
Impact of body mass index on pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: results from the I-SPY 2 trial
Authors: Wang Haiyun , Yee Douglas , Potter David , Jewett Patricia , Yau Christina , Beckwith Heather , Watson Allison , O’Grady Nicholas , Wilson Amy , Brain Susie , Pohlmann Paula ,   I-SPY 2 Trial Consortium, Blaes Anne
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Increased body mass index (BMI) has been associated with poor outcomes in women with breast cancer. We evaluated the association between BMI and pathological complete response (pCR) in the I-SPY 2 trial.

Methods

978 patients enrolled in the I-SPY 2 trial 3/2010–11/2016 and had a recorded baseline BMI prior to treatment were included in the analysis. Tumor subtypes were defined by hormone receptor and HER2 status. Pretreatment BMI was categorized as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2), and normal/underweight (< 25 kg/m2). pCR was defined as elimination of detectable invasive cancer in the breast and lymph nodes (ypT0/Tis and ypN0) at the time of surgery. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between BMI and pCR. Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) between different BMI categories were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

The median age in the study population was 49 years. pCR rates were 32.8% in normal/underweight, 31.4% in overweight, and 32.5% in obese patients. In univariable analysis, there was no significant difference in pCR with BMI. In multivariable analysis adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, menopausal status, breast cancer subtype, and clinical stage, there was no significant difference in pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for obese compared with normal/underweight patients (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 0.68–1.63, P = 0.83), and for overweight compared with normal/underweight (OR = 1, 95% CI 0.64–1.47, P = 0.88). We tested for potential interaction between BMI and breast cancer subtype; however, the interaction was not significant in the multivariable model (P = 0.09). Multivariate Cox regression showed there was no difference in EFS (P = 0.81) or OS (P = 0.52) between obese, overweight, and normal/underweight breast cancer patients with a median follow-up time of 3.8 years.

Conclusion

We found no difference in pCR rates by BMI with actual body weight-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in this biologically high-risk breast cancer population in the I-SPY2 trial.
The struggle for pedagogical recognition in higher education: short stories of tension and triumph in the professional identity construction of an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) practitioner in Hong Kong
Authors: Trent John
Published: January 2024

A considerable body of work now exists on the role that identity plays in understanding teachers and teaching. Developing and sustaining teacher identities in higher education can, however, be challenging given the subordinate positioning of teaching in some educational contexts. Despite the growth of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programmes in many parts of the world, recent research suggests that EAP practitioners are especially vulnerable to being assigned marginalized identities within the academy. Therefore, this paper reports the results of a study which used a short story approach to investigate the tensions and triumphs one EAP practitioner in Hong Kong experienced in constructing her language teacher identities (LTIs). Findings suggest that her identity tensions and struggles take place across space and time and play out at different scales, including classrooms, educational institutions, and within broader societal discourses. However, the short stories presented in this paper speak not only of tension and struggle, but also of determination and resilience to construct LTIs in the academy. Consequently, the results of this study can help to raise awareness amongst stakeholders, including policy makers, leaders of higher education institutions, and language teaching practitioners, of how they can support and sustain the construction of LTIs within the academy. Implications for professional learning for language teaching practitioners and suggestions for future research are considered.
Flourishing, Mental Health Professionals and the Role of Normative Dialogue
Authors: Zohny Hazem , Savulescu Julian , Malhi Gin S. , Singh Ilina
Published: January 2024

This paper explores the dilemma faced by mental healthcare professionals in balancing treatment of mental disorders with promoting patient well-being and flourishing. With growing calls for a more explicit focus on patient flourishing in mental healthcare, we address two inter-related challenges: the lack of consensus on defining positive mental health and flourishing, and how professionals should respond to patients with controversial views on what is good for them. We discuss the relationship dynamics between healthcare providers and patients, proposing that ‘liberal’ approaches can provide a pragmatic framework to address disagreements about well-being in the context of flourishing-oriented mental healthcare. We acknowledge the criticisms of these approaches, including the potential for unintended paternalism and distrust. To mitigate these risks, we conclude by suggesting a mechanism to minimize the likelihood of unintended paternalism and foster patient trust.
Applying Rasch Methodology to Examine and Enhance Precision of the Baby Care Questionnaire
Authors: Truong Quoc Cuong , Gattis Merideth , Barber Carol Cornsweet , Middlemiss Wendy , Au Terry , Medvedev Oleg N.
Published: January 2024

The Baby Care Questionnaire (BCQ) is an established ordinal measure of parenting beliefs about infant care, which includes structure and attunement scales. Rasch analysis is a powerful method to examine and improve psychometric properties of ordinal scales. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and improve precision of the structure and attunement scales of the BCQ using Rasch methodology. A Partial Credit Rasch model was applied to a sample of 450 mothers from the United Kingdom (n = 225) and New Zealand (n = 225) who completed the BCQ. Initial analyses indicated acceptable reliability of the structure and attunement scales of the BCQ, but some items showed misfit to the Rasch model associated with local dependency issues in both scales. After combining locally dependent items into testlets, both scales of the BCQ met expectations of the unidimensional Rasch model and demonstrated adequate and strong reliability and invariance across countries and person factors such as participants’ age and their baby’s sex. This permitted the generation of conversion algorithms to transform ordinal scores into interval data to enhance the precision of both scales of the BCQ. In conclusion, using Rasch methodology, this study demonstrated robust psychometric properties of the structure and attunement scales of the BCQ after minor modifications. The ordinal-to-interval conversion tables published here can be used to further enhance the precision of the structure and attunement scales of the BCQ without changing their original response format. These findings contribute to the enhancement of precision in measuring parenting beliefs about infant care.
Time to Service and Its Relationship with Outcomes in Workers with Compensated Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mekonnen Tesfaye Hambisa , Di Donato Michael , Collie Alex , Russell Grant
Published: January 2024

Purpose

A comprehensive review of the literature on the time between the onset of symptoms and the first episode of care and its effects on important worker outcomes in compensated musculoskeletal conditions is currently lacking. This scoping review aimed to summarize the factors associated with time to service and describe outcomes in workers with workers’ compensation accepted claims for musculoskeletal conditions.

Methods

We used the JBI guidelines for scoping reviews and reported following the PRISMA-ScR protocol. We included peer-reviewed articles published in English that measured the timing of health service initiation. We conducted searches in six databases, including Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO, Cinahl Plus (EBSCOhost), Scopus, and the Web of Science. Peer-reviewed articles published up to November 01, 2022 were included. The evidence was summarized using a narrative synthesis.

Results

Out of the 3502 studies identified, 31 were included. Eight studies reported the factors associated with time to service. Male workers, availability of return to work programmes, physically demanding occupations, and greater injury severity were associated with a shorter time to service, whereas female workers, a high number of employees in the workplace, and having legal representation were associated with a longer time to service. The relationship between time service and worker outcomes was observed in 25 studies, with early access to physical therapy and biopsychosocial interventions indicating favourable outcomes. Conversely, early opioids, and MRI in the absence of severe underlying conditions were associated with a longer duration of disability, higher claim costs, and increased healthcare utilization.

Conclusion

Existing evidence suggests that the time to service for individuals with compensated musculoskeletal conditions was found to be associated with several characteristics. The relationship between time to service and worker outcomes was consistently indicated in the majority of the studies. This review highlights the need to consider patient-centred treatments and develop strategies to decrease early services with negative effects and increase access to early services with better outcomes.
Social Insurance Literacy Among the Sick-listed—A Study of Clients’ Comprehension and Self-Rated System Comprehensibility of the Sickness Insurance System
Authors: Karlsson Elin A. , Hellgren Mattias , Sandqvist Jan L. , Seing Ida , Ståhl Christian
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Sickness insurance systems and their processes have been studied in terms of transparency, comprehensibility and fairness, highlighting the importance of just procedures that make sense to clients. Related research demonstrates differences between groups of clients, pointing towards a social gradient. The concept of social insurance literacy and the Social Insurance Literacy Questionnaire (SILQ) was recently developed and serves as a measure for client’s ability to obtain, understand and act on information in a sickness insurance system, relating to the comprehensibility of the information that the system provides.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate social insurance literacy among clients on sick leave and its associations with perceived justice, being granted sickness benefits and background factors.

Methods

This was a questionnaire study with clients on sick leave in Sweden. In the selection process 3993 clients were invited, of which 1173 recently had their sickness benefits withdrawn. Those who answered the SILQ (n = 1152) also answered a perceived justice measure and accepted sharing register data from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. Data were analyzed through regression analysis.

Results

The findings demonstrate that clients’ perceptions of system comprehensibility and the status of their sick leave case was significantly associated with perceived justice, and being granted sickness benefits, while their individual abilities to obtain, understand, and act on information had lesser influence.

Conclusions

The system’s ability to provide understandable information seems more important than clients’ abilities to comprehend it. From a client perspective, a just system seems to be related to their experiences of the sick leave process (i,e., whether they had an ongoing or closed case) rather than their skills to obtain the correct information.
Mourning a death foretold: memory and mental time travel in anticipatory grief
Authors: McCarroll Christopher Jude , Yan Karen
Published: January 2024

Grief is a complex emotional experience or process, which is typically felt in response to the death of a loved one, most typically a family member, child, or partner. Yet the way in which grief manifests is much more complex than this. The things we grieve over are multiple and diverse. We may grieve for a former partner after the breakup of a relationship; parents sometimes report experiencing grief when their grown-up children leave the family home. We can also experience grief for people we have never met. Indeed, it is not just persons that we may grieve for. People report feeling grief over the death of their pets, or about the destruction the natural environment. In all these cases one factor that seems to stand out is loss. Despite being about very different things, these various forms of grief all involve a loss of some sort. Yet there is a further aspect of grief, which, on the face of it, does not quite follow this pattern. Grief can also be experienced before a loss has occurred. Grief can be experienced while the person that one is grieving for is still living and before one has (fully) suffered the loss. This phenomenon is known as anticipatory grief. The experience of anticipatory grief is a complex phenomenon, which resists easy classification. Nonetheless, we suggest that mental time travel, our ability to mentally project ourselves into the personal past (episodic memory) and personal future (episodic prospection), is a key mechanism that underpins experiences of anticipatory grief. Anticipatory grief can still be understood in terms of loss, but it is a loss that is brought to mind through memory and imagination.
Learning by Asking Questions for Knowledge-Based Novel Object Recognition
Authors: Uehara Kohei , Harada Tatsuya
Published: January 2024

In real-world object recognition, there are numerous object classes to be recognized. Traditional image recognition methods based on supervised learning can only recognize object classes present in the training data, and have limited applicability in the real world. In contrast, humans can recognize novel objects by questioning and acquiring knowledge about them. Inspired by this, we propose a framework for acquiring external knowledge by generating questions that enable the model to instantly recognize novel objects. Our framework comprises three components: the object classifier (OC), which performs knowledge-based object recognition, the question generator (QG), which generates knowledge-aware questions to acquire novel knowledge, and the policy decision (PD) Model, which determines the “policy” of questions to be asked. The PD model utilizes two strategies, namely “confirmation” and “exploration”—the former confirms candidate knowledge while the latter explores completely new knowledge. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed pipeline effectively acquires knowledge about novel objects compared to several baselines, and realizes novel object recognition utilizing the obtained knowledge. We also performed a real-world evaluation in which humans responded to the generated questions, and the model used the acquired knowledge to retrain the OC, which is a fundamental step toward a real-world human-in-the-loop learning-by-asking framework. We plan to release the dataset immediately upon acceptance of our work.
Predictive performance models in marathon based on half-marathon, age group and pacing behavior
Authors: Muñoz-Pérez Iker , Castañeda-Babarro Arkaitz , Santisteban Aitor , Varela-Sanz Adrián
Published: January 2024

Objective

The main aim of this study was to develop an equation for predicting performance in 42.2 km (MRT) using pacing and packing behavior, age group and previous 21.1 km time as possible explanatory variables.

Methods

1571 men and 251 female runners who took part in the Valencia Marathon and Half-Marathon were selected to display the regression models. Stepwise regression analysis showed as explanatory variables for MRT: pacing behavior, age group, and time in 21.1 km.

Results

The analysis showed four regression models to estimate accurately MRT based principally on athletes previous performance in half-marathon and pacing behavior for men (R2= 0.72–0.88; RMSE= 4:03–8:31 [min:s]). For women, it was suggested a multiple linear regression for estimating MRT (R2 0.95; RSE= 8:06 [min:s]) based on previous performance in half-marathon and pacing behavior. The subsequent concordance analysis showed no significant differences between four of the total regressions with real time in the marathon (p>0.05).

Conclusion

The present results suggest that even and negative pacing behavior and a better time in 21.1 km, in the previous weeks of the marathon, might accurately predict the MRT. At the same time, nomadic packing behavior was the one that reported the best performance. On the other hand, although the age group variable might partially explain the final performance, it should be included with caution in the final model because of differences in sample distribution, causing an overestimation or underestimation of the final time.
Implementation of simple and effective fine droplet formation-based spray-assisted liquid phase microextraction for the simultaneous determination of twenty-nine endocrine disruptor compounds and pesticides in rock, soil, water, moss, and feces samples from antarctica using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Authors: Zaman Buse Tuğba , Bozyiğit Gamze Dalgıç , Şaylan Meltem , Koçoğlu Elif Seda , Kartoğlu Bedrihan , Aydın Efe Sinan , Girgin Ayça , Borahan Tülay , Oflu Sude , Kılınç Yağmur , Bakırdere Emine Gülhan , Bakırdere Sezgin
Published: January 2024

This study established the simultaneous determination of the selected endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pesticides in rock, soil, water, moss, and feces samples collected from the Antarctic region. The spray-assisted droplet formation-based liquid phase microextraction (SADF-LPME) coupled to GC–MS system was developed and validated for the screening and monitoring of 29 selected EDCs and pesticides. Binary solvent system, 1:1 (v/v) dichlormethane: 1,2-dichloroethane mixture was employed as an extraction solvent and sprayed onto sample or standard solutions using a straightforward and practical spray apparatus. The factors affecting the extraction process such as extraction solvent type and ratio, extraction solvent volume (spray repetition), vortexing period, and sample pH were properly optimized. Analytical figures of the merit of the method were recorded under the optimal extraction/chromatographic conditions. The LOD, LOQ, and enhancement factor were in the range of 1.0 to 6.6 ng/g, 3.2 to 22.1 ng/g, and 3.7 to 158.9, respectively. The method demonstrated a good linear working range for all the selected analytes with proper coefficients of determination. The usability and reliability of the microextraction strategy was confirmed using seawater, moss, and soil samples, and the %recoveries were within an acceptable range (> 70%) for all examined samples. The environmental samples collected from the Horseshoe and Faure Islands of the Antarctica region were analyzed to assess the potential pollution of EDCs and pesticides. This method has the potential to be employed for the analysis of EDCs in routine analytical laboratories and for controlling and screening the organic pollutant content of different environmental samples.
Alleviating CB2-Dependent ER Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Improves Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion-Induced Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Wang Da Peng , Kang Kai , Hai Jian , Lv Qiao Li , Wu Zhe Bao
Published: January 2024

Augmentation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress may trigger excessive oxidative stress, which induces mitochondrial dysfunction. The fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor, URB597, shows anti-oxidation characteristics in multiple neurological disorders. The present study aimed to determine whether inhibition of ER stress was involved in the protective effects of URB597 against chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH)-induced cognitive impairment. Hippocampal HT-22 cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation. The cell viability, apoptosis, ER stress, mitochondrial ATP, and oxidative stress levels were assessed following treatment with URB597, benzenebutyric acid (4-PBA), and thapsigargin (TG). Furthermore, the effects of URB597 on ER stress and related pathways were investigated in the CCH animal model, including Morris water maze testing of cognition, western blotting analysis of ER stress signaling, and transmission electron microscopy of mitochondrial and ER ultrastructure changes. The results suggested that cerebral ischemia caused ER stress with upregulation of ER stress signaling-related proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuronal apoptosis, ultrastructural injuries of mitochondria-associated ER membranes, and cognitive decline. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed the interaction between CB2 and β-Arrestin1. Inhibiting ER stress by URB597 improved these changes by activating CB2/β-Arrestin1 signaling, which was reversed by the CB2 antagonist, AM630. Together, the results identified a novel mechanism of URB597, involving CCH-induced cognitive impairment alleviation of CB2-dependent ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, this study identified CB2 as a potential target for therapy of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

Graphical Abstract
Not in My Neighborhood: The Ethics of Excluding Ex-offenders from Housing
Authors: Petersen Thomas Søbirk , Holmen Sebastian Jon
Published: January 2024

The policy adopted by housing authorities of denying prospective tenants with a criminal record access to housing is an important barrier to ex-offenders seeking somewhere to live. The policy is legal, but are there any good reasons in favor of it when we know that having no, or limited, access to secure and affordable housing increases the probability of recidivism? The primary aim of this article is to critically discuss two central reasons that have been given for denying people with criminal records access to housing: that doing so will prevent crime, and that the policy reduces fear of crime. We also try to evaluate an argument for the conclusion that current law, and the policies that follows wrongfully discriminate against people with criminal records. The general thrust of the article is that arguments for this practice turning on its crime preventive effect, and its role in reducing or preventing fear of crime, are unpersuasive. We then explained why, in our view, excluding ex-offenders from housing amounts to wrongful discrimination against them. Our analysis suggests that ex-offenders, apart from a few excemptions, ought to be allowed access to housing to the same extent as other people.
LRD spectral analysis of multifractional functional time series on manifolds
Authors: Ovalle–Muñoz Diana P. , Ruiz–Medina M. Dolores
Published: January 2024

This paper addresses the estimation of the second-order structure of a manifold cross-time random field (RF) displaying spatially varying Long Range Dependence (LRD), adopting the functional time series framework introduced in Ruiz-Medina (Fract Calc Appl Anal 25:1426–1458, 2022). Conditions for the asymptotic unbiasedness of the integrated periodogram operator in the Hilbert–Schmidt operator norm are derived beyond structural assumptions. Weak-consistent estimation of the long-memory operator is achieved under a semiparametric functional spectral framework in the Gaussian context. The case where the projected manifold process can display Short Range Dependence (SRD) and LRD at different manifold scales is also analyzed. The performance of both estimation procedures is illustrated in the simulation study, in the context of multifractionally integrated spherical functional autoregressive–moving average (SPHARMA(p,q)) processes.
Arbitrage and non-linear taxes
Authors: Becker Marcus , Löffler Andreas
Published: January 2024

Incorporating a progressive income tax into an economic decision problem raises the question whether this tax does not create arbitrage opportunities. We investigate this problem in a riskless (multi-period) economy. With a convex tax function we identify a particular kind of arbitrage (called bounded arbitrage): In this case the gain achievable through arbitrage trade is limited and cannot reach infinity.We are able to give a complete characterisation based on prizes of the traded assets as to whether bounded as well as unbounded arbitrage opportunities will exist.
Idealisierte Liebe, pragmatische Paarbeziehung
Authors: Obert Hannah
Published: January 2024

Thema des vorliegenden Artikels sind die Vorstellungen romantischer Paarbeziehungen wohnungsloser Frauen. Wie die vorangegangene empirische Auseinandersetzung mit der Lebensrealität wohnungsloser Frauen zeigt, stellen Zweckbeziehungen eine Praxis dar, um die Folgen der unwägbaren Lebenssituation der Wohnungslosigkeit abzufedern. Die präsentierte Studie setzt sich mit der Frage auseinander, ob die veränderten Beziehungspraktiken auch Ausdruck spezifischer Vorstellungen von Paarbeziehung sind. Es zeigt sich, dass die rekonstruierten Liebes- und Beziehungsvorstellungen von den beschriebenen Beziehungspraktiken abweichen. So werden romantisierte Liebesbeziehungen zeitgleich mit Zweckbeziehungen geführt. Diese bieten allerdings häufig ein eigenes Gefahrenpotenzial und nehmen zusätzlich Sicherheit, statt diese zu gewähren. Die Vorstellungen romantischer Liebe und Paarbeziehung erweisen sich jedoch als weitestgehend persistent. Dies führt nicht nur dazu, dass eingegangene Zweckbeziehungen romantisiert werden. Vor allem begründen diese Vorstellungen die Praktik, neben den Zweckbeziehungen Liebesbeziehungen zu führen. Als Materialgrundlage dienten narrative Interviews, welche objektiv-hermeneutisch rekonstruiert wurden. Die Ergebnisse erweitern nicht nur das Verständnis der Bewältigungsstrategien wohnungsloser Frauen. Sie sollen vor allem auf die Persistenz der Deutungsmuster von Liebe und Paarbeziehung verweisen.
Combination of diketone and PAO to achieve macroscale oil-based superlubricity at relative high contact pressures
Authors: Du Shaonan , Zhang Chenhui , Luo Zhi
Published: January 2024

1-(4-ethylphenyl)-nonane-1,3-dione (0206) is an oil-soluble liquid molecule with rod-like structure. In this study, the chelate (0206-Fe) with octahedral structure was prepared by the reaction of ferric chloride and 1,3-diketone. The experimental results show that when using 0206 and a mixed solution containing 60% 0206-Fe and 40% 0206 (0206-Fe(60%)) as lubricants of the steel friction pairs, superlubricity can be achieved (0.007, 0.006). But their wear scar diameters (WSD) were very large (532 µm, 370 µm), which resulted in the pressure of only 44.3 and 61.8 MPa in the contact areas of the friction pairs. When 0206-Fe(60%) was mixed with PAO6, it was found that the friction coefficient (COF) decreased with increase of 0206-Fe(60%) in the solution. When the ratio of 0206-Fe(60%) to PAO6 was 8:2 (PAO6(20%)), it exhibited better comprehensive tribological properties (232.3 MPa). Subsequent studies have shown that reducing the viscosity of the base oil in the mixed solution helped to reduce COF and increased WSD. Considering the COF, contact pressure, and running-in time, it was found that the mixed lubricant (Oil3(20%)) prepared by the base oil with a viscosity of 19.7 mPa·s (Oil3) and 0206-Fe(60%) exhibited the best tribological properties (0.007, 161.4 MPa, 3,100 s).
Highly Efficient Aligned Ion-Conducting Network and Interface Chemistries for Depolarized All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Mu Yongbiao , Yu Shixiang , Chen Yuzhu , Chu Youqi , Wu Buke , Zhang Qing , Guo Binbin , Zou Lingfeng , Zhang Ruijie , Yu Fenghua , Han Meisheng , Lin Meng , Yang Jinglei , Bai Jiaming , Zeng Lin
Published: January 2024

Improving the long-term cycling stability and energy density of all-solid-state lithium (Li)-metal batteries (ASSLMBs) at room temperature is a severe challenge because of the notorious solid–solid interfacial contact loss and sluggish ion transport. Solid electrolytes are generally studied as two-dimensional (2D) structures with planar interfaces, showing limited interfacial contact and further resulting in unstable Li/electrolyte and cathode/electrolyte interfaces. Herein, three-dimensional (3D) architecturally designed composite solid electrolytes are developed with independently controlled structural factors using 3D printing processing and post-curing treatment. Multiple-type electrolyte films with vertical-aligned micro-pillar (p-3DSE) and spiral (s-3DSE) structures are rationally designed and developed, which can be employed for both Li metal anode and cathode in terms of accelerating the Li+ transport within electrodes and reinforcing the interfacial adhesion. The printed p-3DSE delivers robust long-term cycle life of up to 2600 cycles and a high critical current density of 1.92 mA cm−2. The optimized electrolyte structure could lead to ASSLMBs with a superior full-cell areal capacity of 2.75 mAh cm−2 (LFP) and 3.92 mAh cm−2 (NCM811). This unique design provides enhancements for both anode and cathode electrodes, thereby alleviating interfacial degradation induced by dendrite growth and contact loss. The approach in this study opens a new design strategy for advanced composite solid polymer electrolytes in ASSLMBs operating under high rates/capacities and room temperature.
A Generic Strategy to Create Mechanically Interlocked Nanocomposite/Hydrogel Hybrid Electrodes for Epidermal Electronics
Authors: Wang Qian , Li Yanyan , Lin Yong , Sun Yuping , Bai Chong , Guo Haorun , Fang Ting , Hu Gaohua , Lu Yanqing , Kong Desheng
Published: January 2024

Stretchable electronics are crucial enablers for next-generation wearables intimately integrated into the human body. As the primary compliant conductors used in these devices, metallic nanostructure/elastomer composites often struggle to form conformal contact with the textured skin. Hybrid electrodes have been consequently developed based on conductive nanocomposite and soft hydrogels to establish seamless skin-device interfaces. However, chemical modifications are typically needed for reliable bonding, which can alter their original properties. To overcome this limitation, this study presents a facile fabrication approach for mechanically interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrid electrodes. In this physical process, soft microfoams are thermally laminated on silver nanowire nanocomposites as a porous interface, which forms an interpenetrating network with the hydrogel. The microfoam-enabled bonding strategy is generally compatible with various polymers. The resulting interlocked hybrids have a 28-fold improved interfacial toughness compared to directly stacked hybrids. These electrodes achieve firm attachment to the skin and low contact impedance using tissue-adhesive hydrogels. They have been successfully integrated into an epidermal sleeve to distinguish hand gestures by sensing muscle contractions. Interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrids reported here offer a promising platform to combine the benefits of both materials for epidermal devices and systems.
The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles
Authors: John David M. , Whitton Brian A. , Brook Alan J.
Published: January 2024

Building on the success of the first edition and featuring contributions from leading experts in the field, this expanded and thoroughly revised second edition provides an indispensable guide to the freshwater and terrestrial algae of the British Isles. It is an up-to-date account of and identification tool for more than 2400 algal species (excluding diatoms), highlighting their wider distribution around the world. Detailed descriptions are fully illustrated with clear line drawings and photographs including 190 full-page plates, eight of which are full colour. In addition, user-friendly keys enable the accurate identification of specimens to the level of genus and species. This edition includes expanded information on ecology and the implications of recent molecular research, along with coverage of 200 extra species. The accompanying online material provides a colour photo catalogue, highly illustrated articles and video clips, making this the comprehensive reference tool for both researchers and professionals in the field.
Integrating mental health into primary care in Nigeria: Implementation outcomes and clinical impact of the HAPPINESS intervention
Authors: Iheanacho Theddeus , Chu Casey , Aguocha Chinyere M. , Nwefoh Emeka , Dike Charles
Published: January 2024

Background

The Health Action for Psychiatric Problems In Nigeria including Epilepsy and SubstanceS (HAPPINESS) intervention is a multicomponent, community-based, mobile technology-supported intervention that integrates mental health into primary health care centers in Nigeria using the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme-Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG). This study evaluates its implementation and patient-level clinical impact using a quasi-experimental design (single cohort with pre- and post-measures).

Findings

The HAPPINESS intervention implementation demonstrated high feasibility with 84% adoption rate (% of participating primary health centers that completed its roll out) and 81% fidelity (% of clinicians who completed required intervention components according to the protocol). Retention rate in care at 12 months was 86%. Among patients with complete clinical records analyzed (n = 178), there was a statistically significant reduction in 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire scores from baseline (Md = 9.5) to 6 months (Md = 3.0) post-intervention (z = 80.5, p < 0.001), with a large effect size (r = 0.8) and statistically significant reduction in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores from baseline (Md = 36.0) to 6 months (Md = 17.0) post-intervention (z = 128.5, p < 0.001), with a large effect size (r = 0.9).

Implications

Mobile technology-enhanced, mhGAP-IG-based efforts to scale-up mental health services in Nigeria are feasible and effective.
Audience selection for maximizing social influence
Authors: Sziklai Balázs R. , Lengyel Balázs
Published: January 2024

Viral marketing campaigns target primarily those individuals who are central in social networks and hence have social influence. Marketing events, however, may attract diverse audience. Despite the importance of event marketing, the influence of heterogeneous target groups is not well understood yet. In this paper, we define the Audience Selection (AS) problem in which different sets of agents need to be evaluated and compared based on their social influence. A typical application of Audience selection is choosing locations for a series of marketing events. The Audience selection problem is different from the well-known Influence Maximization (IM) problem in two aspects. Firstly, it deals with sets rather than nodes. Secondly, the sets are diverse, composed by a mixture of influential and ordinary agents. Thus, Audience selection needs to assess the contribution of ordinary agents too, while IM only aims to find top spreaders. We provide a systemic test for ranking influence measures in the Audience Selection problem based on node sampling and on a novel statistical method, the Sum of Ranking Differences. Using a Linear Threshold diffusion model on two online social networks, we evaluate eight network measures of social influence. We demonstrate that the statistical assessment of these influence measures is remarkably different in the Audience Selection problem, when low-ranked individuals are present, from the IM problem, when we focus on the algorithm’s top choices exclusively.
Two decades of community-based conservation yield valuable insights into marine turtle nesting ecology
Authors: van de Geer Casper H. , Broderick Annette C. , Carter Matt I.D. , Irei Athuman Abdallah , Kiponda Fikiri Kea , Kiptum Joseph , Wandiga Joe Ngunu , Omar Mohamed , Parazzi Nicola , Sawyer-Kerr Hannah , Weber Sam B. , Zanre Ricardo , Godley Brendan J.
Published: January 2024

For the Western Indian Ocean region, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding marine turtle nesting on the continental coast of East Africa. Here we present results from a long-term (2000–2020) community-based monitoring programme in and around Watamu Marine National Park, Kenya, covering 30 km of coastline (c. 6% of the national total). Conservation actions effectively protected nesting turtles and resulted in a near-total cessation of illegal egg harvesting in Watamu Marine National Park. Collected data indicate this is an important marine turtle nesting index site in Kenya and the wider region. Green turtle Chelonia mydas nests were most common (95%), followed by olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea (4%), with occasional nests of hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata and leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea. Clutches per season increased significantly over the 20-year monitoring period for green turtles (50%) and showed a positive trend for olive ridley turtles. Watamu remains an area at risk from human pressures such as coastal development. Clutch distribution along the Watamu Marine National Park beach has shifted over time, probably because of coastal development and disturbance. Illegal take of adults and eggs continues in areas north and south of the Watamu Marine National Park, possibly slowing rates of recovery. Clutches deemed at risk were moved to a safe location within the National Park, and hatching success was high. Continued conservation efforts, including wider engagement with stakeholders to reduce human pressures, are needed to ensure the perpetuation of this nesting site.
The addition of syllable-final stops in Ganan
Authors: Huziwara Keisuke
Published: January 2024

This paper discusses a secondary addition of syllable-final glottal stops in Ganan (Sino-Tibetan > Sal > Jingpho-Luish). In particular, it deals with the phenomenon where words ending with i or u in Luish languages Cak and Kadu have an additional glottal stop in Ganan. This study found that words ending with i or u can be reconstructed as either *i or *iy or *u or *uw respectively, and the secondary glottal stop is added in Ganan when the reconstructed form is *iy or *uw and does not have a high tone.
Diminutive names in Peninsular Arabic
Authors: Shockley Mark D.
Published: January 2024

In the Arabian Peninsula, lexically diminutive personal names, family names and place names are ubiquitous. In a dataset of 9,060 Arabian names, 1,717 (19 per cent) are diminutive. This article finds that the diminutive pattern CiCēC (cf. Classical CuCayC) has meanings and functions in Arabic names that are distinct from its meanings and functions in common nouns. In addition to expected meanings related to size, the diminutive carries partitive and attributive meanings. It may simply mark a name (as an onymic) or derive a name (as a transonymic). The diminutive may disambiguate two similar names found in close proximity (e.g. Diba ≠ Dubai). The form and function of the diminutive differ categorically according to what kind of name is diminutivized, supporting the semantic-pragmatic theory of names. A quantitative analysis of toponyms indicates that diminutive names are associated with Bedouin dialects and practices, as suggested by previous research.
Equilibrium analysis of the fluid model with two types of parallel customers and incomplete fault
Authors: Zhang Yitong , Xu Xiuli , Zhao Pei , Liu Mingxin
Published: January 2024

This article considers the individual equilibrium behavior and socially optimal strategy in a fluid queue with two types of parallel customers and incomplete fault. Assume that the working state and the incomplete fault state appear alternately in the buffer. Different from the linear revenue and expenditure structure, an exponential utility function can be constructed to obtain the equilibrium balking thresholds in the fully observable case. Besides, the steady-state probability distribution and the corresponding expected social benefit are derived based on the renewal process and the standard theory of linear ordinary differential equations. Furthermore, a reasonable entrance fee strategy is discussed under the condition that the fluid accepts the globally optimal strategies. Finally, the effects of the diverse system parameters on the entrance fee and the expected social benefit are explicitly illustrated by numerical comparisons.
Monetary policy and housing market cycles
Authors: Chen Shiu-Sheng , Lin Tzu-Yu , Wang Jen-Kuan
Published: January 2024

Using monthly data from 1978:M1 to 2019:M9, this paper provides empirical evidence concerning the role that monetary policy plays in the US housing market. We first show that shocks to short-run interest rates have significant impacts on house prices and that these effects are persistent. Our findings also provide evidence supporting the claim that too-low-for-too-long interest rates are responsible for the 2002–2006 US housing boom. We further investigate the different channels through which an easing monetary policy fuels the house price boom and find that faster sales and lower inventory levels in the housing market most amplify the policy effects. Lastly, we provide compelling evidence of the asymmetric effects of contractionary and expansionary monetary policies on house prices.