bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards a conceptualisation of intensive parenting norms: Testing exact and approximate measurement invariance across social and country contexts
Authors: Klímová Chaloupková Jana , Pospíšilová Kristýna
Published: September 2023

Objective: We examine the measurement invariance (MI) of intensive parenting norms across three European countries as well as across gender, education, and parental status.
Background: The social norms of intensive parenting have become increasingly dominant in recent decades. However, there is no measurement model of intensive parenting norms in large-scale social surveys and it is unknown whether these norms convey the same meanings across different social and cultural contexts.
Method: This study draws on data from the European Social Survey Cross-national Online Survey panel (2017) administered in Estonia, Slovenia, and Great Britain. We conducted a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis and alignment optimization to assess the exact and approximate MI of intensive parenting norms across three countries and social contexts.
Results: Due to a poor fit of the previously suggested four-factor model of intensive parenting norms, a revised two-factor model with stimulation and child-centred dimensions - excluding items that measure expert guidance and parental responsibility - was proposed. The two-factor model attained scalar invariance between educational groups and between parents of children aged under 12 years and others; however, only metric invariance was achieved among countries, gender, and parental status. The alignment optimization results suggest that the reduced scale is approximately invariant across all examined groups.
Conclusion: This study highlights that the MI of parenting norms should not just be assumed but tested. This study provides insights into the conceptualisation of intensive parenting norms and recommendations for future research and development on measurement.
Entre os campos medicinal e religioso
Authors: Bernardes Letícia Elias
Published: September 2023

O benzimento/benzeção configura-se como uma prática popular de cura, presente no Brasil, e é transmitida ao longo dos séculos por meio da oralidade. Benzedeiros e benzedeiras são procurados para sanar males, geralmente se dedicando a doenças particulares e, nesse sentido, constitui-se um ofício de cura específico. Dessa maneira, o presente trabalho se concentra na análise dessa manifestação cultural no século XXI, examinando vestígios de como ocorre a apreensão e a transmissão do ofício, os processos de cura e as ligações entre os campos medicinal e o religioso, a partir do município de Caldas, situado no Sul de Minas Gerais. Sob os pressupostos da História Oral, realizou-se, por meio do trabalho de campo, duas entrevistas com uma benzedeira e um benzedeiro do referido município. A análise se debruça em múltiplas facetas da arte de benzer, investigando a permanência do benzimento entre os anos 2000-2020.
DINÂMICAS SOCIOTERRITORIAIS NAS CIDADES AO DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL DO TERRITÓRIO
Authors: Oliveira Adão Francisco de
Published: September 2023

Este artigo visa apresentar a trajetória formativa desenvolvida por mim no contexto do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geografia da UFT do campus de Porto Nacional entre 2013 – ano de meu ingresso como professor no programa – e 2023. Não obstante, intenciona realizar uma análise desse itinerário formativo sob a luz das tendências investigativas que se sucederam no interregno e a sua influência sobre as dissertações produzidas pelos orientados. O ponto de partida da análise é a constituição da primeira disciplina ministrada por mim no programa, Dinâmica Socioterritorial nas Cidades: urbanização e metropolização; a sua revisão, que alterou o subtítulo para “urbanização e regionalização”; a instituição de uma segunda perspectiva investigativa a partir da disciplina Desenvolvimento Regional, Cidades e Educação, alterada posteriormente para Educação, Território e Desenvolvimento Regional; e, por fim,  à definição da última disciplina, intitulada Dinâmica Territorial do Cerrado e da Amazônia. Ressalta-se que todas estas disciplinas foram embasadas em leituras materialistas históricas da realidade espacial, com foco nas teorias da produção social do espaço e da educação crítica.
Does financial performance follow firm life cycle? Evidence from Indonesian firms
Authors: Al Rasyid M Kemal , Nurmayanti Poppy , Hariadi
Published: September 2023

This study aims to determine whether the asset turnover ratio, current ratio, debt ratio and return on net worth influences profitability at each firm life cycle stages in manufacturing companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The study only focuses on introduction stage and growth stage. The classification at each stage of the firm life stages uses the sales growth variable to categorize it. The population in this study are manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2016-2020 period. The sampling technique in this study used purposive sampling technique and obtained a sample of 36 companies. The data analysis method used is panel data multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that at introduction stage only debt ratio and return on net worth that found has a significance influences on profitability. At growth stage almost all independent variable has a significance influences on profitability, except current ratio variable.
The effect of financial stability, financial targets and rationalization on financial statements fraud
Authors: Meihendri  , Yunilma  , Dandes Rifa  , Nurhuda  , Irda  , Siti Maharani Tasrif
Published: September 2023

This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of financial stability, financial targets, and rationalization on instances of financial statement fraud in State-Owned Enterprises operating in the financial services and insurance sector listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2016 to 2021. The research is motivated by alleged incidents of financial statement manipulation, particularly the practice of window dressing, observed in various financial corporations during 2015 and 2016. The study utilizes secondary data collected from a sample of 14 companies observed over a six-year timeframe. The sample selection employed a purposive sampling technique, and data analysis involved conducting multiple linear regression analysis using the SPSS version 25 software. The findings indicate that financial targets and rationalization have a significant impact on instances of financial statement fraud, while financial stability does not demonstrate a comparable influence.
Identification of the integrity index in local governments in Java
Authors: Intiyas Utami  , Gideon Felix Gunawan  , Gracella Theotama  , Aprina Nugrahesthy Sulistya Hapsari  , Natasia Alinsari
Published: September 2023

Decentralization system of government in Indonesia creates local governments that have their own authority. However, this may raise the risk of corruption. The high level of corruption in Indonesia obstructs goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The disclosure of integrity through the local government websites can create public disclosure information, so the public can assess the performance of each government and mitigate corruption levels. This study aims to explore the integrity disclosure index and identify the problems in disclosing integrity through the websites. This study uses Institutional Theory with coercive isomorphism. Data was collected based on content analysis on 113 websites of local governments in Java. The result shows that the average disclosure on the websites of the local governments in Java is 64.83%. With this good disclosure of integrity, local governments in Java can support the law on public information disclosure.
Estimation of Uncertainty in Charpy Pendulum Impact Test Using the Reference Material
Authors: Chentsova Iu. S. , Tolmachev V. V. , Zabelina A. A.
Published: September 2023

An urgent task for accredited testing laboratories is to estimate the uncertainty of test results. In Charpy pendulum impact test the sources of the main contributions from the measuring instrument to the uncertainty of the result are: the angle of rise and the angle of fall of the pendulum, force exerted by the pendulum, and the distance from the axis of rotation to the center of strike. The aim of the work is to describe the method for estimating the uncertainty of the results of Charpy pendulum impact test based on information about the calibration of the impact testing machine and traceability to the reference material of impact energy (absorbed energy) of steel grade 45 GSO 11934–2022. The uncertainty estimation method is based on the statistical model from ISO 21748–2017. Uncertainty estimation was carried out for a pendulum impact tester TE JBW-300 using GSO 11934–2022 type 11 samples according to GOST 9454–78 with a type V-notch concentrator at room temperature. The study found that the greatest contribution to the uncertainty of test results is made by a systematic error associated with traceability to CRM GSO 11934–2022 and a random component of measurements. Accounting of traceability to the CRM GSO 11934–2022 increases the estimate of the uncertainty of the result, but makes it possible to correctly compare the results of two different laboratories, which is of fundamental importance in arbitration tests.
Reference Materials for the Composition of Antimicrobial Substances
Authors: Kulyabina E. V. , Shchekotikhin A. E. , Tevyashova A. N. , Kulyabina T. V. , Morozova V. V.
Published: September 2023

The present study aims to generalize the experience of creating state reference materials (GSOs) of active substances and determine their main characteristics, standardized both in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation and in the regulatory documents of the measurement uniformity assurance system. In connection with the violation of supply chains, the acquisition and use of foreign reference active substances became quite problematic or even impossible. As a consequence of the current difficult situation with the insufficient nomenclature of GSOs, the domestic manufacturers and developers faced urgent problems in creating them. The development of antimicrobial reference active substances will solve urgent issues of strengthening the technological sovereignty of Russia, minimize the import dependence of the Russian economy, as well as ensure the targets of the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation to be achieved. The conclusions of the study can be applied in creating GSOs to substitute imported reference materials or surpass their level.
Development of Reference Materials for AC Magnetic Properties of Cold-rolled Non-oriented Electrical Steel
Authors: Serdjukov S. V. , Maslova T. I. , Tsay I. S. , Volegova E. A.
Published: September 2023

Electrical steel is a soft magnetic material used in the manufacture of various electrical equipment intended for the transmission and conversion of electricity and used mainly in alternating magnetic fields of industrial frequencies. The key properties of such a material are AC magnetic properties, which are standardized when assessing the compliance of the material with the requirements of both Russian and foreign standards. The article presents information about the aspects of the development of reference materials for AC magnetic properties of electrical cold-rolled non-oriented steel made in the form of strips for the Epstein frame. The main feature of these reference materials is that the value of one of the two certified characteristics (specific power of magnetic losses) is transmitted directly from the State primary standard, and the other (magnetic induction amplitude) is determined in accordance with a certified measurement procedure. Their use will provide the possibility of a comprehensive and reliable determination of the magnetic characteristics of samples of non-oriented electrical steel normalized in accordance with the requirements of current standards.
Primary Reference Measurement Procedures in the Food Industry: Usage Experience and Development Prospects
Authors: Sergeeva A. S. , Kasilyunas A. V. , Parfenova E. G. , Medvedevskikh S. V.
Published: September 2023

This article reviews the usage experience and development prospects of four state primary reference measurement procedures (SPRMPs) created to provide metrological support of measurements in the food and agricultural industries. The SPRMPS certified in 2016–2019 include those of the mass fraction of fat, ash, and carbohydrates in food products and raw materials; of the mass fraction of crude fat (oil content) in oilseeds and related products. The mass fraction of fat, crude fat, and oil content is measured using the Randall method; the mass fraction of ash is determined by the thermogravimetric method; the mass fraction of carbohydrates (total sugar) is defined by iodometric titration. The considered SPRMPs were used to develop reference materials (RMs) for the composition of dairy and meat, egg powder, starch, baby food, oilseeds, related products, and compound feeds. SPRMPs implementation required extending the range of the manufactured RMs for new product groups. High-precision procedures for measuring the mass fraction of fat in liquid dairy products, fish, pastry, confectionery, and pasta products, as well as the mass fraction of lactose in liquid dairy products were developed and certified to describe the characteristics of dairy, pollock fillets, and wheat crackers composition.
Structural change points of NDVI in Mexico driven by climate oscillatio
Authors: Díaz Oscar O. , B. Raga Graciela , Quintanar Arturo I. , Mejía John F.
Published: September 2023

Based on the climatology of air temperature, precipitation, and the normalized vegetation index (NDVI), a regionalization of Mexico for the rainy season is presented through a non-parametric clustering algorithm known as DBSCAN. Thirty years of data, spanning from 1984 to 2013, are used to detect structural change points with the Mann-Kendall and Pettitt non-parametric tests applied on the NDVI, mean daily precipitation, 99th percentile precipitation, and mean daily air temperature. The relative predictive importance of the parameters examined was estimated using a Machine-Learning Random Forest algorithm that allows establishing a connection between changes in the NDVI and changes in air temperature, average precipitation, and extreme precipitation for some regions. Modulation by large-scale climate phenomena, such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), as well as interannual modulation by El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are explored. Structural change points in the series appear to be modulated mainly by the phase shift of the AMO and those of the ENSO and PDO in 1997.
El Niño-Southern Oscillation diversity and its relationship with the North Atlantic Oscillation – Atmospheric anomalies response over the North Atlantic and the Pacific
Authors: Gutiérrez-Cárdenas Gabriel Santiago , Díaz Diana Cristina
Published: September 2023

To explore the impacts of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the linear correlation among the indices of each oscillation was investigated. The indices Niño 1+2, Niño 3, Niño 3.4, Niño 4, ONI, SOI, BEST, TNI and MEI were used to represent the ENSO, besides the NAO index. The analysis considers the ENSO diversity in its spatial structure. The results show that when years with Eastern Pacific (EP) La Niña events were omitted, the linear correlation increased concerning other scenarios. This means that NAO responses for the Central Pacific (CP) ENSO tend to be linear, but seemingly they are not so for EP ENSO, which explains why the ENSO/NAO relationship has been difficult to identify and predict. The TNI-NAO relationship had the highest correlation values, followed by NAO-El Niño 4, whilst NAO/El Niño 1+2 and NAO/El Niño 3 showed the lowest coefficients. The results also confirmed that the atmospheric dynamics over the North Atlantic have a more linear teleconnection to the West and Central Pacific than to the Eastern Pacific. Changes in deep convection, atmospheric circulation, and vorticity are discussed like possible mechanisms that trigger the changes in impacts over the North Atlantic and other locations. The composite anomalies map also showed the contrast in the effects of both events and the importance of considering those differences when modeling ocean dynamics.
The Food-Crushing Reflex, and Its Inhibition
Authors: Vaahtoniemi Lauri Henrikki
Published: September 2023

Anterior-tooth (ANT) contacts induce short latency reflex inhibition of human jaw-closing muscles. The jaw is a rigid class 1 lever for pinpoint-targeting muscle force into a single bite-point, the pivoting food particle. See-saw reflex movements around the food particle fulcrum multiply the food-crushing force. Unpredictable jolts of reaction force caused by food-crushing are subjected to the rostral ANT and caudally to the two articulate ends of the jaw triangle. Compression/distraction strains of food-crushing must be monitored and inhibited by withdrawal reflexes. The mesencephalic ganglion (Vmes), neural myelin sheath, and muscle stretch receptors evolved subsequently to the advent of jaws to improve the velocity of proprioceptive and withdrawal reflexes. In mammalians, the spindles of the taut motor units, stretched by the food-fulcrum send excitatory monosynaptic feedback for the efferent neurons of the respective ipsilateral muscle units, via Vmes. In the Vmes, the spindle-input-mediating afferent neurons are coupled with another source of afferent feedback, which is also excitatory, from the back-tooth (BAT) mechanoreceptors. The two sources of excitatory pulses are summated and targeted for the efferent neurons to boost the stretched and taut motor units. Likewise, the afferent feedback from ANT mechanoreceptors is also coupled in the Vmes with concomitant feedback from spindles. The ANT output, however, is inhibitory to negate the excitatory feedback from the stretched jaw-muscle units. The inhibitory feed from ANT temporarily blocks the excitatory potential of masticatory motor efferent neurons to protect the ANT and jaw-joints from inadvertent strains. The inhibitory inputs from ANT alternate with the excitatory inputs from BAT to determine which jaw-closing muscle units are activated or inhibited at any given instant of food-crushing. The Vmes exists in all jawed vertebrates, and its’ evolution was probably motivated by demands for the control of bite force. The monosynaptic unilateral food-crushing excitatory and inhibitory reflexes (UFCR) override the coexisting bilaterally executed feed for jaw muscles from the central nervous system. Hypothesis: The Vmes-mediated UFCR combine neural inputs from tooth contacts with concomitant feedback from muscle stretch receptors for the control of mammalian food-crushing bite force.
A Proof of Collatz Conjecture
Authors: Qingxue HUANG
Published: September 2023

In 1937,German mathematician L.Collatz proposed the following conjeture:for any positive integer,if it is even,divide it by 2,if it is odd,multiply it by 3 and add 1 to get an even number.Continuing with the above rule, the final result will be 1.This paper gives a proof of this conjecture.
Colorimetric Quantification for Residual Poly- DADMAC in Water Treatment
Authors: Levakov Ilil , Maor Ido , Barak Chen , Kirshenbaum Yael , Rytwo Giora
Published: September 2023

Poly-DADMAC (PD) is a commonly used organic polymer in water treatment, known for its effectiveness as a coagulant. However, its presence as a residue in water raises concerns related to membrane fouling and the potential formation of carcinogenic compounds. Therefore, fast and simple quantification is necessary to efficiently control and monitor the optimal dose of poly-DADMAC with minimal negative effects. This study introduces a new colorimetric quantification method for poly-DADMAC, based on complexation with a cationic dye (fast green- FG). The method was examined through varying conditions which included different analytical and commercial poly-DADMAC formulations and concentrations. The experiments confirm its effectiveness in quantifying poly-DADMAC with a detection limit of 3.22 µg L-1 (0.02 µM based on monomers' molecular weight), which is one order of magnitude lower than regulatory requirements (50 µg L-1). To validate the method, the effect of pH was examined, and implementation demonstrations were conducted on cyanobacteria and cowshed polluted water samples. This research introduces a fast, cost-effective innovative method to accurately quantify poly-DADMAC, enhancing water treatment strategies for high-quality purification and water reuse
On the interpretation of cosmic acceleration
Authors: Gaztanaga Enrique
Published: September 2023

We argue here that deceleration (and not acceleration) is the correct interpretation for current measurements of cosmic expansion. The concept of cosmic acceleration, $q$, that we commonly used is based in the comoving distance. This is a 3D space-like coordinate, which corresponds to distance between events that can not be observed and are not causally related. For a correct interpretation, cosmic expansion should be measured using the distance between (4D null) causal events. This is implemented here using a new definition, $q_E$, for cosmic acceleration. We present a comparison of $q_E$ and $q$ in data from supernovae (SN) and radial galaxy/QSO clustering (BAO). The standard $q$ analysis reproduces the known tension between SN and BAO. This tension disappears for $q_E$, indicating that that observations follow better our new definition. Data indicates that cosmic expansion is clearly decelerating and cosmic events are trapped inside an Event Horizon, like in the interior of a Black Hole (BH). Rather than a new form of dark energy or modified Gravity, $\Lambda$ acts as a boundary force that causes friction, i.e. an attractive force, similar to a rubber band that prevents further expansion.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Kraft and Sulfite Pulps: What Is the Best Cellulosic Substrate for Industrial Saccharification?
Authors: Shevchenko Aleksandr R. , Mayorova Ksenia A. , Chukhchin Dmitry G. , Malkov Alexey V. , Toptunov Evgeniy A. , Telitsin Vadim D. , Rozhkova Aleksandra M. , Zorov Ivan N. , Rodicheva Maria A. , Plakhin Vadim A. , Akishin Denis A. , Poshina Daria N. , Semenova Margarita V. , Aksenov Andrey S. , Sinitsyn Arkady
Published: September 2023

Sulfite and kraft pulping are two principal methods of industrial delignification of wood. In recent decades, those have been considered as possibilities to pretreat recalcitrant wood lignocellulosics for enzymatic hydrolysis of polysaccharides and subsequent fermentation of obtained sugars to valuable bioproducts. Current work compares chemistry and technological features of two different cooking processes in the preparation of polysaccharide substrates for deep sacchari-fication with P. verruculosum glycosyl hydrolases. Bleached kraft and sulfite pulps were subjected to hydrolysis with enzyme mixture of high xylanase, cellobiohydrolase and β-glucosidase activities at a dosage of 10 FPU/g of dry pulp and fiber concentration of 2.5, 5 and 10%. HPLC was used to analyze soluble sugars after hydrolysis and additional acid inversion of oligomers to monosaccharides. Kraft pulp demonstrated higher pulp conversion after 48 h (74-99%), mostly resulted from deep xylan hydrolysis. Sulfite-pulp hydrolysates, obtained in similar conditions, due to higher hexose concentration (more than 50 g/L), had higher fermentability for industrial strains producing alcohols, microbial protein or organic acids. Along with saccharification, enzymatic modification of non-hydrolysed residues occurred, which led to decreased degree of polymerization and composition changes in two industrial pulps. As a result, crystallinity of kraft pulp increased by 1.3%, which opens possibilities for obtaining new types of cellulosic products in pulp and paper industry. The high adaptability and controllability of enzymatic and fermentation processes creates prospects for the modernization of existing factories.
Airborne Viral Particles and Microorganisms Detection System and Method Using Flashing Ratchet Potential
Authors: Bqoor Mohammed , Al-Zain Yazan , Albqoor Maha Alkaid , Ismail And Lujain
Published: September 2023

Based on the Flashing Ratchet Potential (FRP) and Electro-Spectroscopy detection techniques, a new detection method was experimentally examined. This method allows the detection of sub-micro particles in the human exhaled air such as viral particles and other biological agents. The detection signal created by this method is carried out by electron current buildup forming an Electric Current-Spectrum (ECS) distinguishing the contents of the exhaled air samples. The detection method was developed based on FRP and a beam of free charges passing through the electrodes of the FRP. The ECS is characterized by low-energy free charges interacting with the medium through which they pass, where numerous free charges are scattered (delayed) as a result of these interactions. The resulting ECS is characterized by FRP's capacity to drift back the delayed free charges to their original starting positions. By comparing the ECS of two exhale air samples, this new technology can be utilized to identify the presence of viral and microorganisms’ particles. The time-escalating ECS difference quickly indicates the presence of such particles. Moreover, the FRP's optimal operating settings was experimentally defined, in addition to the experimental evaluation of its functionality to confirm the FRP's promising sensing capabilities, which were statistically examined several times to ensure the reproducibility of the results.
Robot-Assisted and Manual Cochlear Implantation: An Intra-Individual Study of Speech Recognition
Authors: MAHEO Clémentine , MARIE Antoine , TORRES Renato , ARCHUTICK Jerrid , LECLERE Jean-Christophe , MARIANOWSKI Rémi
Published: September 2023

Cochlear implantation (CI) allows rehabilitation for patients with severe to profound hearing impairment. Although the use of a robotic assistant provides technical assistance to the surgeon, the assessment of the impact of its use on auditory outcomes remains uncertain. We aim to com-pare the hearing results of patients who underwent bilateral cochlear implantation, one side was performed with manual insertion and the other side with robot-assisted insertion. The electrode array intrascalar positioning and the surgery duration were also studied.
This retrospective intra-individual study involved 10 patients who underwent bilateral cochlear implantation. The study included 2 infants and 8 adults. The unique composition of this cohort enabled us to utilize each patient as their own control.
Regarding speech disyllabic recognition, pure tone average, ECAP, ratio of array translocation, basilar membrane rupture, percentage of translocated electrodes there was no difference between manual and robot-assisted CI groups.
This study is the first to compare intra-individual hearing performance after cochlear implantation either manually or robot-assisted. The number of patients and the time delay between manual and robotic implantation may have led to a lack of power, but there was no apparent difference in hearing performance between manual and robotic implantation.
Theoretical and Non-dimensional Investigations on Vibration Control Using Viscoelastic and Endochronic Elements
Authors: Kletschkowski Thomas
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Theoretical and non-dimensional investigations have been performed to study the vibration control potential of approaches that can be based on viscoelastic but also on endochronic elements. The latter are known from the endochronic theory of plasticity and provide the possibility to establish rate-independent schemes for vibration control. The main question that has to be answered is: Can rate-independent damping be efficiently used to reduce mechanical vibrations? To answer this question non-dimensional models for dynamical systems are derived and analyzed numerically in time-domain as well as in frequency-domain. The results are used to compare the performance of an optimally tuned endochronic absorber to the performance of an optimally tuned dynamic absorber with viscoelastic damping. Based on a novel closed form representation for non-linear systems with endochronic elements, it has been possible to prove that rate-independent control of vibration results in an overall control profit that is close to the control profit obtained by the application of well-established approaches. It has also been found that the new concept is advantageous if anti-resonances have to be considered in broadband vibration control. Based on these novel findings, a practical realization in the context of active vibration control is proposed in which the rate-independent control law is implemented on an appropriate signal processing hardware.
Synthesis and Modeling of Poly(L-lactic acid) via Polycondensation of L-Lactic Acid
Authors: Theodorou Alexis , Raptis Vasilios , Baltzaki Chrissie Isabella Maria , Manios Thrassyvoulos , Harmandaris Vagelis , Velonia Kelly
Published: September 2023

We present synthetic experiments of lactic acid (LA) polycondensation to produce poly(lactic acid) (PLA), as well as kinetic modeling calculations that capture the polymer molecular weight increase with time, given the initial concentrations. Tin-octoate-catalyzed polycondensation of (D,L)- or L-lactic acid, was carried out in pre-dried toluene after azeotropic dehydration for 48-120 hours at 130-137 °C. The polymerization was optimized by varying lactic acid and catalyst concentrations as well as the temperature. Gel Permeation Chromatography was used to experimentally follow the evolution of molecular weights and the products were characterized by NMR, TGA, DSC and IR. Under optimal conditions, PLLA with weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 161 kDa could be obtained. The rate equations that describe polycondensation kinetics were recast in a condensed form that allowed very fast numerical solution and calculation of the number-average molecular weight with time. Deviations with respect to the experiment were minimized in a least-squares fashion, to determine rate constants. The optimized kinetics parameters are shown to reproduce the experimental data accurately
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Social Work: Evidence for Impact?
Authors: McCusker Pearse , Gillespie Lauren , Davidson Gavin , Vicary Sarah , Stone Kevin
Published: September 2023

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereafter CRPD) has provided a radical imperative for the reform of mental health and capacity legislation around the world. The interpretation of the CRPD has been controversial, ranging from complete abolition of detention, forcible treatment and substitute decision making, to acceptance that elements of these measures need to be retained but based on non-discriminatory criteria, additional safe-guards and a comprehensive shift towards supported decision-making. While the potential ef-fects of the CRPD on mental health social work and social work generally are considerable given their shared commitment towards social justice, to date there has been no review of research evi-dence exploring their relationship. In addressing this knowledge gap, this study held a prelimi-nary discussion with practitioners and academics at the European Association of Social Work Mental Health Special Interest Group in Amsterdam 2022, followed by a scoping literature re-view on the question: What impact, if any, has the CRPD had on social work practice? The review produced four main findings: impact on legislation; positive impact on practice; limited impact on practice; and impact on social work education and research. In sum, while there were some positive indications of social work and mental health social work practice being influenced by the CRPD, these were scant. Barriers to change included tendencies among some social workers to practise substitute decision-making, in part related to resourcing and policy contexts, and under-standings of disability aligned to individualised/medical rather than social perspectives. The results indicate that legal reform on its own is insufficient to impact social work practice, and that realising the potential of the CRPD will necessitate good quality training, as well as improv-ing social workers’ knowledge of the human rights of people with mental impairment.
Links between Land Cover and in-Water Optical Properties in Four Optically Contrasting Swedish Bays
Authors: Kratzer Susanne , Allart Martin
Published: September 2023

The optical complexity of coastal waters is mostly caused by the water discharged from land carrying optical components (such as dissolved and particulate matter) into coastal bays and estuaries, and increasing the attenuation of light. This paper aims to investigate the links between in-water optical properties in four Swedish bays (from the northern Baltic proper up to the Bothnian bay) and the land use and land cover (LULC) and the hydrology in the respective catchment of each bay. The optical properties were measured in situ over the last two decades by various research and monitoring groups while the LULC in each bay was classified using the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service based on Landsat 8 and Sentinel-3 data. The absorption coefficient of coloured dissolve organic matter at 440 nm, aCDOM (440), and its spectral slope factor, SCDOM, were mostly correlated to natural land cover classes (Wetland, Meadow) acting as sources of CDOM, while Agricultural and Urban classes seem to act as sinks. The Agricultural class was also found to be a sink for suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) whilst Coniferous and Mixed Forests as well as Meadows acted as a sources. SPOM seems to mostly originate from Natural classes, possibly due to the release of pollen and other organic matter. Overall, the methods applied here allow for a better understanding of effects of land used and land cover on the bio-optical properties, and thus coastal water quality, on a macroscopic scale.
Sequence characterization of eccDNA content in multiple blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides) populations
Authors: Fu Wanfang , MacGregor Dana R , Comont David , Saski Christopher A
Published: September 2023

Alopecurus myosuroides (blackgrass) is a problematic weed of Western European winter wheat and its success is largely due to widespread multiple-herbicide resistance. Previous analysis of F2 seed families derived from two distinct blackgrass populations exhibiting equivalent non-target site resistance (NTSR) phenotypes shows resistance is polygenic and evolves from standing genetic variation. Using a CIDER-seq pipeline we show that herbicide resistant (HR) and herbicide sensitive (HS) F3 plants from these F2 seed families as well as the parent populations they were derived from carry extra-chromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). We identify the similarities and differences in the coding structures within and between resistant and sensitive populations. Although the numbers and size of detected eccDNAs varied between the populations, comparisons between HR and HS blackgrass populations identified shared and unique coding content, predicted genes, and functional protein domains. These include genes related to herbicide detoxification such as Cytochrome P450s, ATP-binding cassette transporters and glutathione transferases including AmGSTF1. eccDNA content was mapped to the Alopecurus myosuroides reference genome, revealing genomic regions at distal end of chromosome 5 and the near center of chromosome 1 and 7 as regions with high number of mapped eccDNA gene density. Mapping to 15 known herbicide-resistant QTL regions showed the eccDNA coding sequences match 12 with four QLT matching HS coding sequences one region only contained HR coding sequences. These findings establish that like other pernicious weeds, blackgrass has eccDNAs that contain homologs of chromosomal genes, and these may contribute genetic heterogeneity and evolutionary innovation to rapidly adapt to abiotic stresses including herbicide treatment.
Spinor Approach for Three-Dimensional Ising Model
Authors: Zhang Degang
Published: September 2023

The three-dimensional Ising model on the m$\times$n$\times$l cubic lattice with the screw boundary condition along the ${\bf X}$ direction and the periodic boundary conditions along both ${\bf Y}$ and ${\bf Z}$ directions is exactly solved by using the $2^{mn}$-dimensional representation of the rotation group in $2mn$-dimensions, similar to the Kaufman's spinor approach in two dimensions. The exact partition function is obtained from two sets of $2^{mn-1}$ eigenvalues of the $2^{mn}$-dimensional transfer matrix {\bf V} corresponding to the even and odd eigenvectors, respectively. Such the eigenvalues are determined by the angles of the 2mn-dimensional rotation associated with {\bf V}.
Women Abused: Analysis of Assistance Provided by Urgency Mobile Service
Authors: Senda Dalton Makoto , De Souza Makcileni Paranho , Carvalho Maria Dalva de Barros , Pelloso Sandra Marisa
Published: September 2023

The violence against women is a theme that extrapolates health issues, since after a victim seek for a health care, there is the notification of the act [1]. In Brazil, many times, these women are first assisted by mobile urgency services (SAMU/SIATE) and, as far as we have concern, there are no other studies with specific data about these assistance. The present paper aimed to analyze SAMU/SIATE assistance to abused women. Qualitative and retrospective epidemiological study of assistance to assaulted women carried out by SIATE and SAMU Maringá/Norte Novo between 2011 and 2020. Women between 20 and 39 years old, non-pregnant, were the main victims, and 19,52% of them have used some kind of drug. The (ex)partner figured as the perpetrator in 17,35%, but there were no information about this variable in 73,75% of the records. The Qui-square test shows a mortality rate superior to 70% among the severe traumatized victims. This is one of the first studies to analyze this kind of care provided by SAMU/SIATE, and reveals some gaps in its “modus-operandi” that can limitate an extrapolation of the results to bigger spheres. More researches in mobile urgency care services, in other provinces also, are needed to propose strategies to fight against this epidemic.
Mosquito-Borne Arboviruses Occurrence and Distribution in the Last Three Decades in Central Africa: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Poungou Natacha , Lendzele Sevidzem Silas , Aubin Koumba Armel , Roland Zinga Koumba Christophe , Phillipe Mbehang , Richard Onanga , Julien Zahouli Bi Zahouli , Darren Maganga Gael , Salako Djogbénou Luc , Steffen Borrmann , Akim Adegnika Ayola , Mavoungou Jacques François , Rodrigue Mintsa Nguema
Published: September 2023

Arboviruses represents a real public health problem globally and in the Central African subregion in particular that represents a high risk zone for the emergence and re-emergence of arboviruses outbreaks. Furthermore, an updated review on the current arboviruses burden and associated mosquito vectors is lacking for this region. To contribute in filling this knowledge gap, the current study was designed with following objectives: (i) to systematically review data on the occurrence and distribution of arboviruses and mosquito fauna and (ii) to identify potential spillover mosquito species in Central African region in the last 30 years. Web search enabled the documentation of 2454 articles from different online databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and The Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses (QUORUM) steps for a systematic review enabled the selection of 164 articles that fulfilled our selection criteria. Of the six arboviruses (Dengue Virus (DENV), Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV), Yellow Fever Virus (YFV), Zika Virus (ZIKV), Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), and West Nile Virus (WNV)) of public health concern studied, the most frequently reported were Chikungunya and Dengue. The entomological records showed >248 species of mosquitoes and regrouped under 15 genera with Anopheles (n= 100 species), Culex (n= 56 species) and Aedes (n=52 species) having high species diversity. Three genera were rarely represented with only one species and included: Orthopodomyia, Lutzia, and Verrallina, but individuals of the genera Toxorhinchites and Finlayas were not identified upto the species level. We found that two Aedes species (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) colonised the same microhabitat and were involved in major epidemics of the six medically important arboviruses and other less frequently identified mosquito-genera consisted of competent species and were associated with outbreaks of medical and zoonotic arboviruses. The present study reveals high species richness of competent mosquito-vectors that could lead to the spillover of medically important arboviruses in the region. Although epidemiological studies were found, they were not regularly documented and this also applies to vector competence and transmission studies. Future studies will consider unpublished information in dissertations, technical reports from different countries to enable it more consistent. A regional project entitled: Ecology of Arboviruses (EcoVir) is underway in three countries (Gabon, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire) to generate a more comprehensive epidemiological and entomological data on this topic.
A Temporal Downscaling Model for Gridded Geophysical Data with Enhanced Residual U-Net
Authors: Wang Liwen , Li Qian , Peng Xuan , Lv Qi
Published: September 2023

Temporal downscaling of gridded geophysical data is essential for improving climate models, weather forecasting, and environmental assessments. However, existing methods often could not accurately capture multi-scale temporal features, affecting their accuracy and reliability. To address this issue, we introduce an Enhanced Residual U-Net architecture for temporal downscaling. The architecture, which incorporates residual blocks, allows for deeper network structures without the risk of overfitting or vanishing gradients, thus capturing more complex temporal dependencies. The U-Net design inherently could capture multi-scale features, making it ideal for simulating various temporal dynamics. Moreover, we implement a flow regularization technique with advection loss to ensure that the model adheres to physical laws governing geophysical fields. Our experimental results across various variables within the ERA5 dataset demonstrate an improvement in downscaling accuracy, outperforming other methods.
AHP-SWOT Analysis of the Development Strategy of China’s Northeast Economy Under the New Economic Situation
Authors: Liu Jin
Published: September 2023

In order to accurately identify the external economic situation in China and analyze the situation of economic development in Northeast China, based on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis framework, this article analyses the economy in Northeast China from the four factors of SWOT. To solve the lack of quantitative analysis in SWOT analysis, this article applies Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to the analysis, and finally forms a complete system framework with the combination of qualitative and quantitative factors, through the analysis of the important degree of various factors and the consistency test, the key factors influencing the economic development in Northeast China are analyzed, and constructive countermeasures are proposed.
Fabrication of High Impact Resistant Polyimide Nanocomposites with Outstanding Thermomechanical Properties
Authors: Longun Jimmy , Iroh Jude O.
Published: September 2023

Neat polyimide films are known to be dense and rigid. They are therefore not suitable for use in membranes, sensors and sustainable energy storage applications. In this study a novel technique has been used to simulta-neously improve the rigidity, damping ability and impact resistance of polyimide membranes. It is demonstrated that dispersion of a small amount of polyaniline copolymer-modified clay of about 0.25-0.5 wt.% into the pol-yimide matrix, resulted in enhanced storage modulus while maintaining high damping ability and glass transition temperature, Tg. Novel polyimide/substituted polyaniline-copolymer-clay nanocomposite membranes containing poly(N-ethyl-aniline-co-aniline-2-sulfonic-acid-modified-clay (SPNEAC) was successfully prepared and in-corporated into polyimide matrix to form modified clay/polyimide nanocomposites. UV-Vis analysis of the nanocomposite films show that the optical transparency of the SPNEAC-PI nanocomposite membranes de-creased with increasing SPNEAC concentration due to the high UV-Vis absorption of SPNEAC. Transmittance of about 3 % was observed in the nanocomposite membrane containing 5wt.% modified clay at 500 nm wave-length, which is significantly lower than that for the neat PI membrane of about 36 %. The dispersion of SPNEAC containing high concentration of clay (≥ 40 wt.% clay), SPNEAC2 in polyimide matrix, resulted in attainment of a higher degree of imidization than was possible for the neat organoclay/polyimide nanocomposite. This behavior is believed to be due to the synergistic interaction between PI and polyaniline copolymer modified clay. The viscoelastic property of polyimide and the nanocomposite membranes was measured by using the dynamic mechanical spectroscopy, DMS. It was shown that the glass transition temperature, Tg of the nano-composites decreased, while the damping ability and impact energy increased with increasing weight fraction of fillers.
Adding Value to Liquid Biopsy for Brain Tumors: The Role of Imaging
Authors: Khalili Nastaran , Shooli Hossein , Hosseini Nastaran , Fathi Kazerooni Anahita , Familiar Ariana , Bagheri Sina , Anderson Hannah , Bagley Stephen J. , Nabavizadeh Ali
Published: September 2023

Clinical management in neuro-oncology has changed to an integrative approach that incorporates molecular profile alongside histopathology and imaging findings. While the WHO guideline recommends genotyping of informative alterations as a routine clinical practice for central nervous system (CNS) tumors, acquisition of tumor tissue in the CNS is invasive and not always possible. Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive approach that provides the opportunity to capture the complex molecular heterogeneity of the whole tumor through detection of circulating tumor biomarkers in body fluids, such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Despite all the advantages, the low abundance of tumor-derived biomarkers, particularly in CNS tumors, as well as their short half-life has limited the application of liquid biopsy in clinical practice. Thus, it is crucial to identify factors that are associated with the presence of these biomarkers and explore possible strategies that can increase the shedding of these tumoral components into biological fluids. In this review, we first describe the clinical applications of liquid biopsy in CNS tumors including its roles in early detection of recurrence and monitoring of treatment response. We then discuss the utilization of imaging in identifying factors that affect the detection of circulating biomarkers as well as how image-guided interventions such as focused ultrasound can help enhance the presence of tumor biomarkers through blood-brain barrier disruption.