bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Widespread Occurrence of European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) and Damage of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Crop in Northern Europe
Authors: Runno-Paurson Eve , Mäeorg Erkki , Kurina Olavi , Õunap Erki , Kännaste Astrid , Niinemets Ülo , Lääniste Peeter
Published: October 2023

Industrial hemp cultivation restarted in Estonia in mid 2000s and the hemp cultivation area has increased very fast in recent years, but it is unknown to what extent hemp productivity can be curbed by widespread crop pests. Thus, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and damage of hemp pests in northern field conditions. A field trial with the hemp cultivars ‘Finola’ (2021) and ‘Estica’ (2022) was established in Central Estonia (58° N, 26° E), and the plants were grown with different fertilizer types (complex fertilizer, ammonium nitrate), fertilization methods (at sowing/top dressing) and nitrogen rates (0–200 kg ha−1) and their effect on the European corn borer (ECB, Ostrinia nubilalis) damage was assessed. The O. nubilalis infestation increased with every observation date throughout the seasons until the harvest. The O. nubilalis damage was overall greater in 2022 than in 2021, and the seed yield reduction reached to 120 kg ha−1 in 2022, indicating progressive increase in O. nubilalis damage. Fertilization rate strongly increased biomass and seed yields, but weakly reduced O. nubilalis infection. Estonia is one of the most important hemp-cultivation areas in Europe, and in northern conditions, the crop was previously considered to be relatively pest-free. The northward movement of crop infection by O. nubilalis implies that future hemp cultivation might need integrated O. nubilalis control practices adapted to site-specific agro-climatic conditions.
Text-based Patient – Doctor Discourse Online And Patients’ Experiences of Empathy
Authors: Martikainen Silja , Kohonen-Aho Laura , Seittenranta Niina , Makkonen Emilia , Falcon Mari , Wikström Valtteri , Saarikivi Katri
Published: October 2023

Empathic responding matters in face-to-face medical consultations. We have previously shown that patients' perceptions of doctor empathy also support positive experiences at an online clinic. However, there is still little knowledge about what types of communication influence patients’ online experiences of empathy. In this study we investigated text-based patient-doctor discourse at an online clinic using an adaptation of the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Our aims were 1) to assess the reliability of the adapted RIAS 2) to investigate what characteristics are common during the text-based consultations and 3) to examine how the doctor’s discourse relates to the patients’ experience of empathy online. Based on the inter-rater reliability analyses the conversational clusters of Social (ρ = 0.950), Biomedical (ρ = 0.939), and Technology related talk (ρ = 0.833), Procedural statements (ρ = 0.693) and Agreement (ρ  = 0.687) were rated with acceptable reliability. Biomedical topics were most common in both patients’ and doctors’ communication. Patients’ experience of doctors’ empathy was positively correlated with the amount of doctor’s psychosocial talk and procedural statements although the effect sizes were small (ρ  < 0.30 for all models). These results encourage the use of personal talk and giving clear instructions to patients about the care process at a text-based online clinic focusing on brief consultations.
Unlearning, relearning, staying with the trouble: Scenarios and the future of education
Authors: Finch Matt , Bhroin Niamh Ní , Krüger Steffen
Published: October 2023

In times of turbulence, uncertainty, novelty, and ambiguity—the so-called TUNA conditions—our experience of the past may prove a poor guide to the future times in which our decisions and their consequences will unfold. Under such conditions, the manufacture of scenarios that are plausible future contexts for a given issue and are designed to enrich strategic thinking by challenging expectations can help to inform decisions and debates. Education is often subject to such debates, as it is, among other things, a way of preparing for what the future holds. This article gives an account of learnings and unlearnings from a scenarios project applying the Oxford Scenario Planning Approach to the digitalization of education in Norwegian schools. It shows how challenging issues raised in the context of distant imagined futures proved to be immediately pertinent in the developing Covid-19 pandemic. This article sets this work in the wider context of education futures and ongoing debate about suitable methodological choices for institutions and communities wishing to explore how we will teach and learn together in times to come. As a wide range of actors explore the possibility of a new social contract for education, the article proposes that future scenarios can provide fresh perspectives on issues that are difficult or even impossible to resolve within current frames of reference, including questions of equity and justice that may be construed differently in times to come.
Frailty prevalence in 42 European countries by age and gender: development of the SHARE Frailty Atlas for Europe
Authors: Pitter János G. , Zemplényi Antal , Babarczy Balázs , Németh Bertalan , Kaló Zoltán , Vokó Zoltán
Published: October 2023

Comparative frailty prevalence data across European countries is sparse due to heterogeneous measurement methods. The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE) initiative conducted interviews with probability sampling of non-institutionalized elderly people in several European countries. Previous frailty analyses of SHARE datasets were limited to initial SHARE countries and did not provide age- and gender-stratified frailty prevalence. Our aim was to provide age- and gender-stratified frailty prevalence estimates in all European countries, with predictions where necessary. From 29 SHARE participating countries, 311,915 individual surveys were analyzed. Frailty prevalence was estimated by country and gender in 5-year age bands using the SHARE Frailty Instrument and a frailty index. Association of frailty prevalence with age, gender, and GDP per capita (country-specific economic indicator for predictions) was investigated in multivariate mixed logistic regression models with or without multiple imputation. Female gender and increasing age were significantly associated with higher frailty prevalence. Higher GDP per capita, with or without purchasing power parity adjustment, was significantly associated with lower frailty prevalence in the 65–79 age groups in all analyses. Observed and predicted data on frailty rates by country are provided in the interactive SHARE Frailty Atlas for Europe. Our study provides age- and gender-stratified frailty prevalence estimates for all European countries, revealing remarkable between-country heterogeneity. Higher frailty prevalence is strongly associated with lower GDP per capita, underlining the importance of investigating transferability of evidence across countries at different developmental levels and calling for improved policies to reduce inequity in risk of developing frailty across European countries.
Kollektiv lernen, über sich hinauszuwachsen – warum Agilität eine Frage der (zwischen-) menschlichen Entwicklung ist
Authors: Feldhusen Birgit
Published: October 2023

Dieser Beitrag in der Zeitschrift „Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO)“ leitet die Bedeutung unterschiedlichster Formen von kollektiven Reflektions- und Bewusstseinsprozessen für Lernfähigkeit und Agilität ab aus Wissensmanagement und Kognitionswissenschaft und gibt Beispiele für deren Umsetzung. Über unterschiedlichste Ansätze hinweg liegt dem Begriff der Agilität meist die Idee zugrunde, sich durch Beweglichkeit, d. h. durch die Fähigkeit und Bereitschaft zur kontinuierlichen Selbsterneuerung, an volatile, dynamische Umfelder anzupassen und handlungsfähig zu bleiben. Der Artikel stellt die Bedeutung von sozialen Bewusstseins- und Reflektionsprozessen für die Fähigkeit zur kollektiven Selbsterneuerungsfähigkeit heraus, indem es diese aus Theorien des Kollektiven Wissens, Lernens und Kollektiver Kognition ableitet. Es wird verdeutlicht, welche Qualitäten von Kognition und welche Ebenen von Lernen permanente Selbsterneuerungsfähigkeit von Teams und Organisationen ermöglichen. Neben der Integration von Multiperspektivität im Hinblick auf Inhalte von Zusammenarbeit kommt insbesondere der permanenten Reflektion und ggf. Anpassung der Strukturen und Qualitäten von Zusammenarbeit, d. h. der sozialen Interaktion, eine zentrale Rolle und Bedeutung zu. Dieses kollektive Lernen auf 2. oder 3. Ebene ist Ausdruck (zwischen-)menschlicher Lern- und Reifeprozesse. Anhand von Beispielen wird abschließend aufgezeigt, wo und wie entsprechende Interventionselemente in bestehenden agilen Frameworks bereits integriert sind.
Fronto-striatal alterations correlate with apathy severity in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Upadhyay Neeraj , Spottke Annika , Schneider Anja , Hoffmann Daniel C. , Frommann Ingo , Ballarini Tommaso , Fliessbach Klaus , Bender Benjamin , Heekeren Hauke R. , Haynes John Dylan , Ewers Michael , Düzel Emrah , Glanz Wenzel , Dobisch Laura , Buerger Katharina , Janowitz Daniel , Levin Johannes , Danek Adrian , Teipel Stefan , Kilimann Ingo , Synofzik Matthis , Wilke Carlo , Peters Oliver , Preis Lukas , Priller Josef , Spruth Eike Jakob , Jessen Frank , Boecker Henning
Published: October 2023

Structural and functional changes in cortical and subcortical regions have been reported in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), however, a multimodal approach may provide deeper insights into the neural correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms. In this multicenter study, we measured cortical thickness (CTh) and subcortical volumes to identify structural abnormalities in 37 bvFTD patients, and 37 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. For seed regions with significant structural changes, whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) was examined in a sub-cohort of N = 22 bvFTD and N = 22 matched control subjects to detect complementary alterations in brain network organization. To explore the functional significance of the observed structural and functional deviations, correlations with clinical and neuropsychological outcomes were tested where available. Significantly decreased CTh was observed in the bvFTD group in caudal middle frontal gyrus, left pars opercularis, bilateral superior frontal and bilateral middle temporal gyrus along with subcortical volume reductions in bilateral basal ganglia, thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging showed decreased FC in bvFTD between: dorsal striatum and left caudal middle frontal gyrus; putamen and fronto-parietal regions; pallidum and cerebellum. Conversely, bvFTD showed increased FC between: left middle temporal gyrus and paracingulate gyrus; caudate nucleus and insula; amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus. Additionally, cortical thickness in caudal, lateral and superior frontal regions as well as caudate nucleus volume correlated negatively with apathy severity scores of the Neuropsychiatry Inventory Questionnaire. In conclusion, multimodal structural and functional imaging indicates that fronto-striatal regions have a considerable influence on the severity of apathy in bvFTD.
Computer vision application for industrial Li-ion battery module disassembly
Authors: Gerlitz Eduard , Enslin Louis-Elias , Fleischer Jürgen
Published: October 2023

Automated robot-assisted disassembly is essential for the flexible disassembly of Li-ion battery modules for economic and safety reasons. In such a case, a CAD model for the planning process is of immense benefit. The geometric uncertainties due to the breathing of the Li-ion cells as well as the presence of component tolerances underline the importance of a sensor-based detection approach to determine the actual state of the battery module, which is crucial to ensure an automated and reliable disassembly process. In this paper, we present a method for 3D camera-based localization of points on deformed battery modules, aiding in identifying support points for milling operations in robot-assisted disassembly cells. This separation operation planning employs a CAD model, and our introduced computer vision “data processing pipeline”—a systematic series of processing steps—bridges the gap between the CAD model and the actual battery module. This involves capturing the module using a 3D camera and subsequently registering its points with the CAD model’s points. Central to this process are two algorithms: The Bayesian Coherent Point Drift (BCPD) algorithm ensures accurate non-rigid registration, while TEASER++ aids in reducing computational time. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these combined algorithms in our pipeline through rigorous testing and metrics, evidencing that a balance between accuracy and computational speed can be attained by adjusting point density.
High efficacy of particle beam therapies against tumors under hypoxia and prediction of the early stage treatment effect using 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine positron emission tomography
Authors: Makino Akira , Kume Kyo , Mori Tetsuya , Tsujikawa Tetsuya , Asai Tatsuya , Okazawa Hidehiko , Kiyono Yasushi
Published: October 2023

Objective

Compared with radiation therapy using photon beams, particle therapies, especially those using carbons, show a high relative biological effectiveness and low oxygen enhancement ratio. Using cells cultured under normoxic conditions, our group reported a greater suppressive effect on cell growth by carbon beams than X-rays, and the subsequent therapeutic effect can be predicted by the cell uptake amount of 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) the day after treatment. On the other hand, a hypoxic environment forms locally around solid tumors, influencing the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy. In this study, the influence of tumor hypoxia on particle therapies and the ability to predict the therapeutic effect using 18F-FLT were evaluated.

Methods

Using a murine colon carcinoma cell line (colon 26) cultured under hypoxic conditions (1.0% O2 and 5.0% CO2), the suppressive effect on cell growth by X-ray, proton, and carbon irradiation was evaluated. In addition, the correlation between decreased 18F-FLT uptake after irradiation and subsequent suppression of cell proliferation was investigated.

Results

Tumor cell growth was suppressed most efficiently by carbon-beam irradiation. 18F-FLT uptake temporarily increased the day after irradiation, especially in the low-dose irradiation groups, but then decreased from 50 h after irradiation, which is well correlated with the subsequent suppression on tumor cell growth.

Conclusions

Carbon beam treatment shows a strong therapeutic effect against cells under hypoxia. Unlike normoxic tumors, it is desirable to perform 18F-FLT positron emission tomography 2–3 days after irradiation for early prediction of the treatment effect.

Graphical Abstract
Second-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ilhan-Mutlu Aysegül , Wöll Ewald
Published: October 2023

There is an unmet need for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive gastroesophageal tumors whose disease progressed on a first-line trastuzumab-based regimen. Several prospective trials took a targeted approach and evaluated various HER2-targeted agents as second-line therapy. However, these trials failed to demonstrate a survival benefit and were negative in primary endpoints. Recently, the antibody–drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan has shown promise as a second-line treatment in patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastroesophageal tumors, with a remarkable overall response rate and a relevant prolongation of prognostic outcome. Several clinical trials will introduce more targeted therapy approaches with novel structures, which will hopefully further extend patients’ survival. This mini-review briefly summarizes the past practice of second-line treatment of HER2-positive gastroesophageal tumor patients, describes current knowledge based on recently published studies, and provides a short overview on the novel anti-HER2 compounds that are currently being clinically investigated and could yield positive results in the near future.
Wie der Toll-like-Rezeptor 5 die Immunantwort umgeht
Authors: Clasen Sara J. , Ley Ruth E.
Published: October 2023

Pattern recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5), bind conserved ligands produced by microbes and initiate pro-inflammatory responses. Both pathogens and commensals synthesize flagellin, the ligand to TLR5, to assemble flagella for motility. How the host tolerates flagellins produced by human gut commensals has remained unknown. This review describes flagellin-TLR5 interactions, including recent findings that show commensal-derived flagellins are silently recognized by TLR5.
Risk factors for renal outcomes in children with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a nationwide retrospective study in China
Authors: Tan Li-Wen , Wan Jun-Li , Zhu Chun-Hua , Xu Hong , Xia Zheng-Kun , Chen Li-Zhi , Wu Xiao-Chuan , Wang Fang , Liu Xiao-Rong , Zhao Cheng-Guang , Li Xiao-Zhong , Mao Jian-Hua , Wang Xiao-Wen , Huang Wen-Yan , Li Yu-Hong , Zhang Jian-Jiang , Feng Shi-Pin , Yang Jun , Liu Jiao-Jiao , Gao Chun-Lin , Rong Li-Ping , Shuai Lan-Jun , Xu Ke , Zhang He-Jia , Li Qiu , Zhang Ai-Hua , Wang Mo
Published: October 2023

Background

Pediatric antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a life-threatening systemic vasculitis featured by liability to renal involvement. However, there are few studies on the risk factors and predictive models for renal outcomes of AAV in children.

Methods

Data from 179 AAV children in multiple centers between January 2012 and March 2020 were collected retrospectively. The risk factors and predictive model of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in AAV were explored.

Results

Renal involvement was the most typical manifestation (95.5%), and the crescent was the predominant pathological lesion (84.9%). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated in 114 patients, of whom 59.6% developed ESRD, and the median time to ESRD was 3.20 months. The eGFR [P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) = 0.955, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.924–0.987] and the percentages of global glomerulosclerosis (pGGS; P = 0.018, OR = 1.060, 95% CI = 1.010–1.112) were independent risk factors for ESRD of renal biopsy. Based on the pGGS and eGFR at renal biopsy, we developed three risk grades of ESRD and one predictive model. The Kaplan‒Meier curve indicated that renal outcomes were significantly different in different risk grades (P < 0.001). Compared with serum creatinine at baseline, the predictive model had higher accuracy (0.86 versus 0.58, P < 0.001) and a lower coefficient of variation (0.07 versus 0.92) in external validation.

Conclusions

Renal involvement is the most common manifestation of pediatric AAV in China, of which more than half deteriorates into ESRD. The predictive model based on eGFR at renal biopsy and the pGGS may be stable and accurate in speculating the risk of ESRD in AAV children.
Mindfulness Interventions and Surveys as Tools for Positive Emotional Regulation During COVID-19: A Scoping Review
Authors: López-Ramón María Fernanda , Moreno-Campos Verónica , Alonso-Esteban Yurena , Navarro-Pardo Esperanza , Alcantud-Marín Francisco
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused high mortality rates worldwide, as well as consequent psychological and physical stress. The present study aimed to review the main existing scientific research studies conducted since the onset of the COVID-19 that have used mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) as tools for emotional regulation, aiming to improve individuals’ ability to cope with general stress caused by pandemic periods and their consequences (e.g., contagion, confinement, loss of loved ones or job stability) especially related with anxiety, stress, depression, or emotional dysregulation.

Method

To this aim, six databases (i.e., PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct) were consulted and analyzed following PRISMA-Sc guidelines.

Results

Of the 16 studies selected, 7 are clinical trials that used MBIs, and 9 are online surveys in which mindfulness and emotional regulation variables were assessed to explore their interrelations. Generally, the analysis suggested that the cultivation of MBI strategies for treating anxiety and depression during COVID-19 confinement periods resulted in improved psychological well-being.

Conclusions

MBI techniques can be considered useful intervention tools in current and future worldwide changing situations, in which personal development and resilience should be considered an urgent issue for both educational and preventive health practices. Conversely, there are also some limitations that arose from the field of MBI research that hopefully might be addressed in future research (such as the diversity of intervention techniques used across studies).

Pre registration

This study is not preregistered.
Reduction of the welding fume emission rate of gas-shielded cored wires by the MAG pulse welding process variant
Authors: Hoefer Kevin , Kusch Mario , Hensel Jonas
Published: October 2023

The aim of the study is to reduce welding fume emissions from flux-cored wires using pulse technology. Low-alloyed cored wires of the rutile, basic, and metal powder types were selected for this purpose. The analyses were carried out on a DIN EN ISO 15011–1:2010 compliant test rig. In addition, high-speed recordings of the material transition mode and metallographic cross-sections were made to interpret the results. Using characteristic curves developed in pre-tests, the influence of pulse time, pulse frequency, and trigger current on the welding fume emission potential of the rutile cored wire was first determined. Short pulses, medium trigger current, and medium pulse frequency were found to have a positive influence on the emission rate.

Finally, the welding fume emissions of the conventional characteristic are compared with the emission-optimized pulse characteristic. For all three filling types, emission reductions of up to 41% were found when using the pulse technology. When considering the ratio of fume generated to the mass of the weld metal produced, with the associated greatly reduced economy of the process, it became apparent that pulse welding is not suitable for welding cored wires without restrictions.

In summary, the suitability of pulse GMAW technology for reducing welding fume emissions can also be confirmed for flux-cored wires.
A strong secure path planning/following system based on type-3 fuzzy control, multi-switching chaotic systems, and random switching topology
Authors: Tian Man-Wen , Alattas Khalid A. , Guo Wei , Taghavifar Hamid , Mohammadzadeh Ardashir , Zhang Wenjun , Zhang Chunwei
Published: October 2023

This paper studies the synchronization and control of chaotic systems while proposing a novel chaotic-based path-tracking application for mobile robots (MRs) to ensure their safety and security. In security-based applications that use MRs, such as patrol MRs, the path of the MRs must be complex enough to prevent easy prediction. Multiple chaotic systems with a chaotic switching mechanism are introduced for secure path planning. The main challenges are that the dynamics of MRs are entirely unknown. The modeled dynamics of the MRs are unreliable in practice due to a broad range of uncertainties related to the parameters, operating conditions, environmental impacts, time delays, unmodeled frictions, noisy sensors, and faulty actuators. Also, the chaotic switching of reference signals between chaotic signals imposes a high dynamic perturbation. The main novelties are as follows: (1) a strong secure path is introduced for MRs. (2) A powerful fractional-order predictive controller using type-3 (T3) fuzzy-logic systems (FLSs) is developed. (3) The estimation and prediction errors of T3-FLSs are compensated by a designed parallel compensator. (4) T3-FLSs are tuned online, such that stability is ensured, and prediction accuracy is guaranteed. (5) The suggested scheme is implemented on a real-world MR, and the results demonstrate the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method. Also, in several simulations, the efficacy of the introduced controller is examined.
The School Preparedness Toolkit: Building Systemic Resilience in Ukrainian Schools Through a Self-Assessment Digital Platform
Authors: Lordos Alexandros , Christou Georgia , Yarema Bohdan , Dryga Andrii , Petrou Anastasios , Symeou Maria
Published: October 2023

During the COVID-19 outbreak, schools around the world faced major challenges and were required to adapt to new educational practices while supporting students’ learning and well-being. This study outlines the development of School Preparedness Toolkit (SPT), an online interactive checklist launched from January to March 2021 among 273 Ukrainian schools. SPT was a dual-use tool, aiming to inform and support efforts of school administrations in implementing effective strategies to address challenges arising from COVID-19 and to inform related public health and educational policies at regional and national levels. The toolkit focused on resilience against COVID-19 challenges across five main domains: Access to Education Provision of Quality and Inclusive Learning, Well-Being, Safety, Nutrition, and School Feeding. Completion of SPT was a collaborative process among school administrators. Chi-square tests were conducted to examine differences across schools’ geographical locations and between urban and rural areas. Results indicated that most schools were already adapting to the challenges, to the extent of implementing mandated safety and online education protocols, communicating these with families, and providing a psychosocial safety net for children in extreme distress. However, resilience could be further strengthened through a greater emphasis on school cohesion, connectedness, and solidarity, as well as on preventive psychosocial interventions. The SPT methodology was shown to be a promising approach in assisting schools to reflect and plan for greater resilience, not just in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic but also in other extreme adversities that school systems—in Ukraine and around the world—might be facing.
Implementation of Standardized Outcome Measures for Motor Function in a Neurorehabilitation Hospital
Authors: Lundquist Camilla Biering , Lillelund Susanne , Hansen Gunhild Mo , Knudsen Vibeke Dalgaard , Pommerich Uwe M. , Pallesen Hanne , Brunner Iris Charlotte
Published: October 2023

International guidelines recommend the use of standardized outcome measures post-stroke. The aim of this study was to delineate and evaluate the implementation of four motor function outcome measures. This study describes the application of a multifaceted strategy that integrates various approaches to augment implementation. The study was conducted among physical therapists in a sub-acute neurorehabilitation hospital. The implementation process was guided by the Knowledge-to-Action Cycle, and a taxonomy for implementation outcomes was systematically employed to analyze and evaluate the implementation process. Focus group interviews were conducted both prior and 6 months subsequent to an implementation period. Additionally, data from healthcare records were extracted to monitor the penetration of the new procedures. All 70 employed physical therapists underwent training on the application of the four selected outcome measures. Barriers identified in the focus group interviews encompassed perceived acceptability and appropriateness of the outcome measures, time consumption for testing, and perceived lack of relevance for certain patients. These barriers were mitigated through local adaptions. However, 6 months post-implementation, the adoption and penetration of the new procedures were only partially satisfactory. Some physical therapists still expressed reluctance toward employing outcome measures, and findings from the healthcare records corroborated the interview results. Specifically, adherence to testing procedures surpassed the pre-defined threshold of 75% for only one outcome measure at one pre-defined time point. A persistent effort is required to enhance acceptability, adoption, penetration, and to ensure the sustainability of the new procedures.
Uncertain Warriors
Authors: Fitzgerald David
Published: October 2023

In an era where 'history' had supposedly ended, what was an Army for? This question confronted the US Army at the end of the Cold War. Although public support for the military remained high, fewer were sending their children to enlist and questions were raised about the uncertainty of future operations: How would Army leaders prepare soldiers for difficult peacekeeping operations that called for a more human-oriented approach in light of the promises of high-tech warfare? How best to navigate the broader debates about changing gender and sexual norms in American society? Pulled in different directions, the Army struggled to put forward a compelling vision of who and what the American solder should be. In Uncertain Warriors, David Fitzgerald reveals how, in response to this uncertainty, they eventually fell back on an older vision of martial masculinity, embracing a 'warrior ethos' that was meant to define the contemporary American soldier.
Child Slavery and Guardianship in Colonial Senegal
Authors: Moitt Bernard
Published: October 2023

In the immediate aftermath of the French abolition of slavery in 1848, many previously enslaved children suddenly became wards of the colonial state. The colonial administration in Senegal created an institution called tutelle, a form of guardianship or wardship, that aimed both to prevent the loss of labor from liberated minors and to safeguard the children's welfare. Drawing from extensive archival research, Bernard Moitt uncovers the stories of these liberated children who were entrusted to Africans, Europeans, institutions like orphanages, Catholic orders and the military, and, often, their former owners. While the literature on servitude in French West Africa has primarily focused on the period before 1848, Moitt demonstrates that tutelle allowed slavery to persist under another name, with children continuing to be subject to the same widespread labor exploitation and abuse. Using a range of rich case studies, this book offers new insights into the emancipation of enslaved people in Senegal, the tenacity of servility, and children's agency.
Compassion-Justice Conflicts and Christian Ethics
Authors: Barrera Albino
Published: October 2023

We seek to be both loving and just. However, what do we do when love and justice present us with incompatible obligations? Can one be excessively just? Should one bend rules or even break the law for the sake of compassion? Alternatively, should one simply follow rules? Unjust beneficence or uncaring justice - which is the less problematic moral choice? Moral dilemmas arise when a person can satisfy a moral obligation only by violating another moral duty. These quandaries are also called moral tragedies because despite their good intentions and best effort, people still end up being blameworthy. Conflicting demands of compassion and justice are among the most vexing problems of social philosophy, moral theology, and public policy. They often have life-and-death consequences for millions. In this book, Albino Barrera examines how and why compassion-justice conflicts arise to begin with, and what we can do to reconcile their competing claims.
Higher uniformity of arithmetic functions in short intervals I. All intervals
Authors: Matomäki Kaisa , Shao Xuancheng , Tao Terence , Teräväinen Joni
Published: October 2023

We study higher uniformity properties of the Möbius function

$\mu $

, the von Mangoldt function

$\Lambda $

, and the divisor functions

$d_k$

on short intervals

$(X,X+H]$

with

$X^{\theta +\varepsilon } \leq H \leq X^{1-\varepsilon }$

for a fixed constant

$0 \leq \theta < 1$

and any

$\varepsilon>0$

.

More precisely, letting

$\Lambda ^\sharp $

and

$d_k^\sharp $

be suitable approximants of

$\Lambda $

and

$d_k$

and

$\mu ^\sharp = 0$

, we show for instance that, for any nilsequence

$F(g(n)\Gamma )$

, we have

$$\begin{align*}\sum_{X < n \leq X+H} (f(n)-f^\sharp(n)) F(g(n) \Gamma) \ll H \log^{-A} X \end{align*}$$

when

$\theta = 5/8$

and

$f \in \{\Lambda , \mu , d_k\}$

or

$\theta = 1/3$

and

$f = d_2$

.

As a consequence, we show that the short interval Gowers norms

$\|f-f^\sharp \|_{U^s(X,X+H]}$

are also asymptotically small for any fixed s for these choices of

$f,\theta $

. As applications, we prove an asymptotic formula for the number of solutions to linear equations in primes in short intervals and show that multiple ergodic averages along primes in short intervals converge in

$L^2$

.

Our innovations include the use of multiparameter nilsequence equidistribution theorems to control type

$II$

sums and an elementary decomposition of the neighborhood of a hyperbola into arithmetic progressions to control type

$I_2$

sums.
Industrial-organizational psychologists and volunteer work
Authors: Tippins Nancy , Hakel Milton , Grabow Karen , Kolmstetter Elizabeth , Moses Joel , Oliver David , Scontrino Peter
Published: October 2023

Many of the larger employers in this country and abroad have benefited from industrial-organizational (I/O) psychologists’ evidence-based practice. However, charitable and not-for-profit organizations have not always been aware of our services or able to afford them when cognizant of them. Volunteering professional services to charitable organizations provides an opportunity to extend these benefits. In addition, volunteers reap the intrinsic rewards of service, acquire opportunities to hone their skills, and learn from others, and pro bono work has the potential of informing our understanding of the science and practice of I/O psychology. This paper provides five case studies from five I/O psychologists who share their volunteer experiences in their own words. Each case study describes what the I/O psychologist did for the organization, how he or she became involved, and what he or she got out of the experience and learned. The paper offers ways SIOP and the SIOP Foundation might facilitate volunteer activities and concludes by inviting readers to share their own volunteer experiences and suggestions for encouraging volunteer work.
The Italian historiographical debate and the Fact Checkers movement
Authors: Greppi Carlo , Falanga Gianluca , Gobetti Eric
Published: October 2023

The ‘Fact Checking’ series of titles published by Laterza since 2020 is, in the first place, a response to the proliferation of historical fake news, which has grown exponentially as a consequence of social networks. But it is also a response to an increasingly systematic political abuse of history – not only in Italy. The authors and the public firmly believe in the necessity of restoring complexity and value to historical research, as well as in the importance of playing a significant role in the public debate about our past. In many ways the political use of history works in an authoritarian and anti-democratic manner, spreading erroneous and dangerous convictions among broad sections of society. Among the examples which appear in various sections of the article, we discuss the books in the series which problematise the ‘official’ and victimist version of events which took place on the Italian-Yugoslavian border at the end of the Second World War. Other parts of the article examine the instrumental readings of the history and experience of twentieth-century communism.
Inequalities concerning maximum modulus and zeros of random entire functions
Authors: Li Hui , Wang Jun , Yao Xiao , Ye Zhuan
Published: October 2023

Let $f(z)=\sum\limits_{j=0}^{\infty} a_j z^j$ be a transcendental entire function and let $f_\omega(z)=\sum\limits_{j=0}^{\infty}\chi_j(\omega) a_j z^j$ be a random entire function, where $\chi_j(\omega)$ are independent and identically distributed random variables defined on a probability space $(\Omega, \mathcal{F}, \mu)$. In this paper, we first define a family of random entire functions, which includes Gaussian, Rademacher and Steinhaus entire functions. We prove that, for almost all functions in the family and for any constant C > 1, there exist a constant $r_0=r_0(\omega)$ and a set $E\subset [e, \infty)$ of finite logarithmic measure such that, for $r \gt r_0$ and $r\notin E$,
\begin{equation*}
|\log M(r, f)- N(r,0, f_\omega)|\le (C/A)^{\frac1{B}}\,\log^{\frac1{B}}\,\log M(r,f) +\log\,\log M(r, f), \qquad a.s.
\end{equation*}

where $A, B$ are constants, $M(r, f)$ is the maximum modulus and $N(r, 0, f)$ is the integrated zero-counting function of f. As a by-product of our main results, we prove Nevanlinna’s second main theorem for random entire functions. Thus, the characteristic function of almost all functions in the family is bounded above by an integrated counting function, rather than by two integrated counting functions as in the classical Nevanlinna theory. For instance, we show that, for almost all Gaussian entire functions fω and for any ϵ > 0, there is r0 such that, for $r \gt r_0$,
\begin{equation*}
T(r, f) \le N(r,0, f_\omega)+\left(\tfrac12+\epsilon\right) \log T(r, f).
\end{equation*}
Canine parasitoses in north Patagonia (Argentina): comparison between different social and environmental factors
Authors: Ritossa Luciano , Viozzi Gustavo , Lazzarini Lorena , Pierangeli Nora , Flores Verónica
Published: October 2023

In many countries, urban areas are commonly contaminated with canine feces that spread parasites, a situation related to the natural and social environment. Dogs having free access to public areas therefore constitutes a health risk. Because in Patagonia there are no records of city comparisons that consider the number of free-roaming dogs and the local environmental and socioeconomic characteristics, in this study we analyse and compare canine parasitoses in two cities of Rio Negro province, Argentina. Canine feces were collected from public areas of El Bolsón and Cipolletti cities and examined using enrichment methods, Kinyoun stain and immunoassay (Copro-Elisa). The total percentage of positive feces in El Bolsón was 68.95% and 16 parasite taxa being identified, whereas in Cipolletti the total positive feces was 41.1%, with 11 taxa. Both cities presented more helminth species than protozoans. The variables that explained the occurrence of all parasites were rainfall and socioeconomic stratum with the highest values being found in low-income areas.

Soil moisture is conditioned by rainfall. This study highlights the presence of the zoonotic Echinococcus sp. in dogs in urban areas of the Rio Negro province. The occurrence of this parasite in Cipolletti is unexpected, given that this city is not considered an endemic zone for this disease, which is not included in local monitoring and control plans.
Does young adulthood caring influence educational attainment and employment in the UK and Germany?
Authors: King Markus Klaus , Xue Baowen , Lacey Rebecca , Di Gessa Giorgio , Wahrendorf Morten , McMunn Anne , Deindl Christian
Published: October 2023

Informal care plays an important role in the provision of care. However, previous research has mainly focused on middle- or older-aged informal carers and less is known about informal care among young adults, its consequences on educational achievement and employment transitions and whether this varies across country contexts. Using data from the 2009–2018 waves of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (N= 25,856) and the German Socio-Economic Panel (N= 16,666), we investigated the influence of informal care responsibilities of 17–29 year olds on their chances of achieving a university degree using logistic regression and employment transitions using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Our results revealed that young adulthood caring was negatively associated with the likelihood of obtaining a university degree, reduced the likelihood of entering employment and increased the likelihood of unemployment. These associations were more pronounced if people reported caring for more weekly hours (especially in the UK) or caring for longer durations (especially in Germany). The potential negative influence of caring in young adulthood on education was stronger for women than for men in Germany, and the influence of caring on entering unemployment was stronger for women than for men in the UK.
Agency control through the appointed hierarchy: presidential politicization of unilateral appointees
Authors: Hollibaugh Gary E. , Rothenberg Lawrence S.
Published: October 2023

Schedule C and noncareer Senior Executive Service positions hold significant influence over policy outcomes, yet they have received limited scrutiny compared to advise and consent (PAS) appointments. Such appointments offer understudied avenues for presidential control over the bureaucracy. Through a comprehensive analysis of more detailed data than has been employed to date, we reveal that these appointments are responsive to broader political dynamics, particularly those relevant to PAS appointments, including inter- and intrabranch conflicts, agency ideology, Senate workload, and the political calendar. However, statutory constraints and agency characteristics – such as the managerial expertise of appointed agency leadership – also shape their utilization. While unilateral appointments provide an advantage to Presidents, executives are constrained when using them to overcome legislative opposition or reshape resistant agencies. These lower-level appointments reflect the wider political landscape, granting the President significant – but not unrestrained – opportunities to exert influence on both the bureaucracy and policy outcomes.
Germany’s Cancel Culture and Limitations of Debate
Authors: Mansour Ahmad
Published: October 2023

In this article, I describe Germany’s Cancel Culture and Limitations of Debate by referring to my own biography and current social-political events.
Boundary Upwelling of Antarctic Bottom Water by Topographic Turbulence
Authors: Baker L. E. , Mashayek A. , Naveira Garabato A. C.
Published: October 2023

The lower cell of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is sourced by dense Antarctic Bottom Waters (AABWs), which form and sink around Antarctica and subsequently fill the abyssal ocean. For the MOC to “overturn,” these dense waters must upwell via mixing with lighter waters above. Here, we investigate the processes underpinning such mixing, and the resulting water mass transformation, using an observationally forced, high‐resolution numerical model of the Drake Passage in the Southern Ocean. In the Drake Passage, the mixing of dense AABW formed in the Weddell Sea with lighter deep waters transported from the Pacific Ocean by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is catalyzed by energetic flows impinging on rough topography. We find that multiple topographic interaction processes facilitate the mixing of the two water masses, ultimately resulting in the upwelling of waters with neutral density greater than 28.19 kg m−3, and the downwelling of the lighter waters above. In particular, we identify the role of sharp density interfaces between AABW and overlying waters and find that the dynamics of the interfaces' interaction with topography can modify many of the processes that generate mixing. Such sharp interfaces between water masses have been observed in several parts of the global ocean, but are unresolved and unrepresented in climate‐scale ocean models. We suggest that they are likely to play an important role in abyssal dynamics and mixing, and therefore require further exploration.
Machine Learning Highlights Ways to Improve Flood Mitigation
Authors: Sidder Aaron
Published: October 2023

New research shows that home flood insurance coverage is often a reactive purchase in response to flooding, while top-down policies that focus on community resilience may offer more robust protection.
Impact of Lateral Gap on Flow Distribution, Backwater Rise, and Turbulence Generated by a Logjam
Authors: Schalko Isabella , Follett Elizabeth , Nepf Heidi
Published: October 2023

Logjams may form at natural obstructions and are also used as nature‐based solutions for river restoration and natural flood management. Previous research has described backwater rise due to logjams that span the full channel cross‐section and logjams with a gap between the lower edge of the logjam and the bed. Logjams that fill the channel depth, but not its width, leaving a lateral gap between the logjam and the channel bank, are also common natural formations and the focus of this study. The flow distribution between the logjam and the lateral gap, backwater rise, and wake turbulence are key factors in determining the ecologic and flood risk impact of a logjam. Specifically, relative to a channel‐spanning logjam, the introduction of a lateral gap can reduce backwater rise and increase the potential for trapping particles, such as nutrients or microplastics, within the wake region, but may also promote erosion in the gap. The choice of logjam and gap widths can be used to maximize flow and habitat diversity in rivers, while reducing erosion risk. We present experimental results demonstrating that the flow distribution between the logjam and the lateral gap can be predicted by assuming equal resistance through the logjam and gap sections. Further, we show that backwater rise can be determined from the predicted discharge through the logjam using a momentum balance developed for channel‐spanning logjams. Finally, turbulence generated within the jam was observed directly downstream of the logjam, and, for the densities considered, increased with jam density.
Improving Bayesian Model Averaging for Ensemble Flood Modeling Using Multiple Markov Chains Monte Carlo Sampling
Authors: Huang Tao , Merwade Venkatesh
Published: October 2023

As all kinds of numerical models are emerging in hydrologic and hydraulic engineering, Bayesian model averaging (BMA) is one of the popular multi‐model methods used to account for various uncertainties in the flood modeling process and generate robust ensemble predictions. The reliability of BMA parameters (weights and variances) determines the accuracy of BMA predictions. However, the uncertainty in BMA parameters with fixed values, which are usually obtained from Expectation‐Maximization (EM) algorithm, has not been adequately investigated in BMA‐related applications over the past few decades. Given the limitations of the default EM algorithm, Metropolis‐Hastings (M‐H) algorithm, which is one of the most widely used algorithms in Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), is proposed to estimate BMA parameters. Both numerical experiments and one‐dimensional Hydrologic Engineering Center‐River Analysis System models are employed to examine the applicability of M‐H algorithm with multiple independent Markov chains. The performances of EM and M‐H algorithms are compared based on the daily water stage predictions from 10 model members. Results show that BMA weights estimated from both algorithms are comparable, while BMA variances obtained from M‐H algorithm are closer to the given variances in the numerical experiment. Moreover, the normal proposal distribution used in M‐H algorithm can yield narrower distributions for BMA weights than those from the uniform proposal distribution. Overall, MCMC approach with multiple chains can provide more information associated with the uncertainty of BMA parameters and its performance is better than the default EM algorithm in terms of both deterministic and probabilistic evaluation metrics as well as algorithm flexibility.