bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hordeum vulgare ethanolic extract mitigates high salt-induced cerebellum damage via attenuation of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neurochemical alterations in hypertensive rats
Authors: Ahmed-Farid O. A. , Abdelrazek Areeg M. , Elwakel Hend , Mohamed Maha M.
Published: August 2023

High salt intake increases inflammatory and oxidative stress responses and causes an imbalance of neurotransmitters involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension that is related to the onset of cerebral injury. Using natural compounds that target oxidative stress and neuroinflammation pathways remains a promising approach for treating neurological diseases. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds are rich in protein, fiber, minerals, and phenolic compounds, that exhibit potent neuroprotective effects in various neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this work aimed to investigate the efficacy of barley ethanolic extract against a high salt diet (HSD)-induced cerebellum injury in hypertensive rats. Forty-eight Wistar rats were divided into six groups. Group (I) was the control. The second group, the HSD group, was fed a diet containing 8% NaCl. Groups II and III were fed an HSD and simultaneously treated with either amlodipine (1 mg /kg b.wt p.o) or barley extract (1000 mg /kg b.wt p.o) for five weeks. Groups IV and V were fed HSD for five weeks, then administered with either amlodipine or barley extract for another five weeks. The results revealed that barley treatment significantly reduced blood pressure and effectively reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in rat's cerebellum as indicated by higher GSH and nitric oxide levels and lower malondialdehyde, TNF-α, and IL-1ß levels. Additionally, barley restored the balance of neurotransmitters and improved cellular energy performance in the cerebellum of HSD-fed rats. These findings suggest that barley supplementation exerted protective effects against high salt-induced hypertension by an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilating effects and restoring neurochemical alterations.

Graphical abstract
A rule-based obfuscating focused crawler in the audio retrieval domain
Authors: Montanaro Marco , Rinaldi Antonio Maria , Russo Cristiano , Tommasino Cristian
Published: August 2023

The detection of violations of intellectual properties on multimedia files is a critical problem for the current infrastructure of the Internet, especially within very large document collections. To contrast such a problem, either proactive or reactive methods are used. The first category prevents the upload of infringing files themselves by comparing illegal files with a reference collection, while the second one responds to reports made by third parties or artificial intelligence systems in order to delete files deemed illegal. In this article we propose an approach that is both reactive and proactive at the same time, with the aim of preventing the deletion of legal uploads of files (or modifications of such files, such as remixes, parodies and other edits) due to the presence of illegal uploads on a platform. We developed a rule-based obfuscating focused crawler able to work with audio files in the Audio Information Retrieval (AIR) domain, but its use can be easily extended to other multimedia file types, such as videos or textual documents. Our proposed model automatically scans multimedia files uploaded to the public collection only when a user query is submitted to it. We will also show experimental results obtained during tests on a known musical collection. Several combinations of specific Neural Network-Similarity Scorer solutions are shown, and we will discuss the strength and efficiency of each combination.
Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe definition of quality indicators for pharmaceutical care: a systematic literature review and international consensus development
Authors: Fujita Kenji , Halvorsen Kjell H. , Sato Noriko , Jazbar Janja , Modamio Pilar , Waltering Isabel , De Wulf Isabelle , Westerlund Tommy , Chen Timothy F. , Teichert Martina
Published: August 2023

Background

Over the past 40 years, the tasks of pharmacists have shifted from logistic services to pharmaceutical care (PhC). Despite the increasing importance of measuring quality of care, there is no general definition of Quality Indicators (QIs) to measure PhC. Recognising this, a working group in a European association of PhC researchers, the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE), was established in 2020.

Aim

This research aimed to review existing definitions of QIs and develop a definition of QIs for PhC.

Method

A two-step procedure was applied. Firstly, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify existing QI definitions that were summarised. Secondly, an expert panel, comprised of 17 international experts from 14 countries, participated in two surveys and a discussion using a modified Delphi technique to develop the definition of QIs for PhC.

Results

A total of 182 QI definitions were identified from 174 articles. Of these, 63 QI definitions (35%) cited one of five references as the source. Sixteen aspects that construct QI definitions were derived from the identified definitions. As a result of the Delphi study, the panel reached an agreement on a one-sentence definition of QIs for PhC: “quality indicators for pharmaceutical care are validated measurement tools to monitor structures, processes or outcomes in the context of care provided by pharmacists”.

Conclusion

Building upon existing definition of QIs, an international expert panel developed the PCNE definition of QIs for PhC. This definition is intended for universal use amongst researchers and healthcare providers in PhC.
Write, talk and rewrite: the effectiveness of a dialogic writing intervention in upper elementary education
Authors: Bouwer Renske , van der Veen Chiel
Published: August 2023

In this research, we developed and empirically tested a dialogic writing intervention, an integrated language approach in which grade 5/6 students learn how to write, talk about their writing with peers, and rewrite. The effectiveness of this intervention was experimentally tested in ten classes from eight schools, using a pretest–posttest control group design. Classes were randomly assigned to the intervention group (5 classes; 95 students) or control group (5 classes; 115 students). Both groups followed the same eight lessons in which students wrote four argumentative texts about sustainability. For each text, students wrote a draft version, which they discussed in groups of three students. Based on these peer conversations, students revised their text. The intervention group received additional support to foster dialogic peer conversations, including a conversation chart for students and a practice-based professional development program for teachers. Improvements in writing were measured by an argumentative writing task (same genre, but different topic; near transfer) and an instructional writing task (different genre and topic; far transfer). Text quality was holistically assessed using a benchmark rating procedure. Results show that our dialogic writing intervention with support for dialogic talk significantly improved students’ argumentative writing skills (ES = 1.09), but that the effects were not automatically transferable to another genre. Based on these results we conclude that a dialogic writing intervention is a promising approach to teach students how to talk about their texts and to write texts that are more persuasive to readers.
Greek preschool teachers’ readiness to teach online at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Tympa Eleni , Karavida Vasiliki , Charissi Athina
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact around the world and has drastically changed the field of education. In addition to instructional materials, new technologies enabled access to new learning environments. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some significant disparities between conventional information and communication technologies (ICTs) included in teacher training curricula in Greece and the new software required for remote learning and teaching. Thus, the study presented here aimed to examine the mobilisation of in-service teachers and their readiness to address teaching challenges while delivering online lessons. Online questionnaires were distributed to 110 in-service preschool teachers. The study aimed to answer four research questions about teachers’ ICT knowledge and the ways in which they used technology for work purposes, as well as the difficulties they encountered while teaching online. Evaluation of the data resulted in three main findings: (1) holding an ICT training certificate did not have a significant impact on the implementation of new technologies in distance education; (2) support from local education authorities was an important factor of the transition to online teaching; and (3) Greek teachers did not feel fully prepared to teach online.
A matched-analysis on short-term and long-term (up to 5 years of follow-up) urinary incontinence outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with and without anterior and posterior reconstruction: data on 1358 patients
Authors: Rinaldi Marco , Porreca Angelo , Di Lena Sebastiano , Di Gianfrancesco Luca , Zazzara Michele , Scarcia Marcello , Ludovico Giuseppe Mario
Published: August 2023

Purpose

We report a comparative monocentric study with a short and long-term follow-up with the aim to assess differences about urinary continence outcomes in patients treated with Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) with two different techniques: with anterior and posterior reconstruction and without any kind of reconstruction.

Materials and methods

From January 2016 to September 2021, at the Department of Urology of the “F. Miulli” Hospital of Acquaviva delle Fonti, in Italy, 850 eligible patients underwent extraperitoneal RARP with anterior and posterior reconstruction and 508 without reconstructions.

Results

In patients undergoing RARP with reconstructions 1 month after surgery the urinary continence was preserved in 287/850 patients (33.8%), 3 months after surgery in 688/850 (81%), 6 months in 721/850 (84.8%), 12 months in 734/850 (86.3%), 18 months in 671/754 (89%), 24 months in 696/754 (92.3%), 36 months in 596/662 (90%), 48 months in 394/421 (93.6%), 60 months in 207/212 (97.6%). In patients undergoing RARP without reconstruction 1 month after surgery urinary continence was preserved in 99/508 (19.4%), after 3 months in 276/508 (54.3%), 6 months in 305/508 (60%), 12 months in 329/508 (64.7%), 18 months in 300/456 (65.7%), 24 months in 295/456 (64.7%), 36 months in 268/371 (72.3%), 48 months in 181/224 (81%), 60 months in 93/103 (90.3%).

Conclusion

In our case study, the RARP with anterior and posterior reconstruction technique is associated with a statistically significant higher rate (up to 48 months of follow-up) and a faster recovery of urinary continence compared to the technique without reconstructions.
Endocytosis and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zadka Łukasz , Sochocka Marta , Hachiya Naomi , Chojdak-Łukasiewicz Justyna , Dzięgiel Piotr , Piasecki Egbert , Leszek Jerzy
Published: August 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and is the most common cause of dementia. The pathogenesis of AD still remains unclear, including two main hypotheses: amyloid cascade and tau hyperphosphorylation. The hallmark neuropathological changes of AD are extracellular deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Endocytosis plays an important role in a number of cellular processes including communication with the extracellular environment, nutrient uptake, and signaling by the cell surface receptors. Based on the results of genetic and biochemical studies, there is a link between neuronal endosomal function and AD pathology. Taking this into account, we can state that in the results of previous research, endolysosomal abnormality is an important cause of neuronal lesions in the brain. Endocytosis is a central pathway involved in the regulation of the degradation of amyloidogenic components. The results of the studies suggest that a correlation between alteration in the endocytosis process and associated protein expression progresses AD. In this article, we discuss the current knowledge about endosomal abnormalities in AD.
MLACNN: an attention mechanism-based CNN architecture for predicting genome-wide DNA methylation
Authors: Bai JianGuo , Yang Hai , Wu ChangDe
Published: August 2023

Methylation is an important epigenetic regulation of methylation genes that plays a crucial role in regulating biological processes. While traditional methods for detecting methylation in biological experiments are constantly improving, the development of artificial intelligence has led to the emergence of deep learning and machine learning methods as a new trend. However, traditional machine learning-based methods rely heavily on manual feature extraction, and most deep learning methods for studying methylation extract fewer features due to their simple network structures. To address this, we propose a bottomneck network based on an attention mechanism and use new methods to ensure that the deep network can learn more effective features while minimizing overfitting. This approach enables the model to learn more features from nucleotide sequences and make better predictions of methylation. The model uses three coding methods to encode the original DNA sequence and then applies feature fusion based on attention mechanisms to obtain the best fusion method. Our results demonstrate that MLACNN outperforms previous methods and achieves more satisfactory performance.
An account of the Cunoniaceae in the Solomon archipelago and Vanuatu
Authors: Hopkins H. C. F. , Bradford J. C. , Pillon Y.
Published: August 2023

Five genera of the largely southern hemisphere family Cunoniaceae occur in the Solomon archipelago (Solomon Islands plus the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea): Geissois, Pterophylla (previously Weinmannia p.p.), Spiraeanthemum, Schizomeria and Ackama (including Spiraeopsis) (total of 12 species); the first three genera are also found in Vanuatu (total of four species). None of the genera is endemic to these two archipelagos although more than half the species are and Spiraeanthemum macgillivrayi Seem. is the only species common to both island groups. Along with keys to the genera and species, accounts are given for G. denhamii Seem. (throughout Vanuatu), G. pentaphylla C.T.White (restricted to the island of Vanikoro, Solomon Islands), and P. makiniae H.C.Hopkins, J.Bradford & Pillon sp. nov., from Vangunu and Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands. Most of the remaining taxa have been revised for generic treatments or flora accounts and for these, only a synopsis is given with notes on types for some names. Provisional conservation assessments are provided, with ecological summaries. Generic diversity in the Cunoniaceae decreases eastwards across the Pacific Ocean to the Marquesas and Austral Islands. The islands in the western Pacific have surprisingly few genera in common with Australia, and, compared with New Caledonia, Fiji or the Solomon archipelago, Vanuatu has fewer taxa than might be predicted from its location and size, presumably because of its young geological age.
Ensemble machine learning framework for daylight modelling of various building layouts
Authors: Alsharif Rashed , Arashpour Mehrdad , Golafshani Emad , Bazli Milad , Mohandes Saeed Reza
Published: August 2023

The application of machine learning (ML) modelling in daylight prediction has been a promising approach for reliable and effective visual comfort assessment. Although many advancements have been made, no standardized ML modelling framework exists in daylight assessment. In this study, 625 different building layouts were generated to model useful daylight illuminance (UDI). Two state-of-the-art ML algorithms, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and random forest (RF), were employed to analyze UDI in four categories: UDI-f (fell short), UDI-s (supplementary), UDI-a (autonomous), and UDI-e (exceeded). A feature (internal finish) was introduced to the framework to better reflect real-world representation. The results show that XGBoost models predict UDI with a maximum accuracy of R2 = 0.992. Compared to RF, the XGBoost ML models can significantly reduce prediction errors. Future research directions have been specified to advance the proposed framework by introducing new features and exploring new ML architectures to standardize ML applications in daylight prediction.
Virtual skeleton methodology for athlete posture modification in CFD simulations
Authors: Giljarhus Knut Erik Teigen , Liland Fredrik Fang , Oggiano Luca
Published: August 2023

This study focuses on the aerodynamic influence of athlete posture in sports aerodynamics. To analyze a specific posture, wind tunnel measurements and computer simulations are commonly employed. For computer simulations, the growing trend is to use 3D scanning to create accurate representations of an athlete’s geometry. However, this process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming when multiple positions need to be scanned. This work presents a methodology to use a virtual skeleton to perform modifications of an athlete’s posture. This is an efficient approach that can be applied directly to a scanned geometry model, and that allows easy modification and use in optimization procedures. The methodology is applied to two different cases; small adjustment of arm position for a time-trial cyclist, and large alteration of a standing alpine skier into a tucked position. Computational fluid dynamics simulations show that similar results are obtained for aerodynamic drag using the proposed methodology as with geometry models obtained from 3D scanning. Less than 1% difference in drag area was found for the cyclist, and less than 2% difference for the skier. These findings show the method’s potential for efficient use in sports aerodynamics studies.
Design and industrial implementation of a multi-functional part produced by powder bed fusion
Authors: Lopes A. C. , Sampaio A. M. , Fernandes F. , Vaz P. M. , Pontes A. J.
Published: August 2023

The use of robot end-effectors programmed to perform handling tasks in industrial environments has expanded in several sectors as a consequence of the rapid digital transformation seen in recent years. With such growing demands, additive manufacturing is evolving in the robotics field with more efficient, innovative, and customer-specific solutions owing to its design flexibility. Thus, this work presents a robot end-effector developed and produced by powder bed fusion (PBF) to execute palletizing operations in the automotive electronics industry, where electrostatic discharge interference is a critical concern. To guarantee the functionality of the developed robot end-effector under real conditions of implementation, prototypes of polyamide 12 (PA12) and PA12 incorporating graphene nanoplatelets were fabricated and characterized. This included the assessment of the mass, electrical surface resistance, and mechanical properties under tensile and compressive loads using biaxial strain gauges coupled to the prototypes for local strain monitoring. The experimental data were then used to define multilinear isotropic hardening models needed to numerically characterize the robotic system. At last, the final product was validated in an industrial environment at Bosch Car Multimedia S.A. Through the applied methodology, valuable insights in guiding process parameters optimization and materials selection for functional PBF parts depending on the technical requirements demanded by industrials are provided.
Computational modelling of collagen-based flexible electronics: assessing the effect of hydration
Authors: Bose Shirsha , Mele Elisa , Silberschmidt Vadim V.
Published: August 2023

Collagen substrates in flexible electronics emerged as an alternative to the commonly used stretchable synthetic polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyether sulfone, polydimethylsiloxane etc., thanks to their biocompatibility, flexibility and piezoelectric behaviour. Although researchers were successful in manufacturing these flexible-electronics component, still, the mismatch in the levels of stiffness between a softer polymeric substrate and a stiffer metallic layer (electrodes) might cause interfacial delamination. In use, collagen-based flexible electronics might be exposed to both dry and wet conditions. Experimental analysis showed a drastic change in the mechanical behaviour for these two conditions (the modulus changed by three orders of magnitude); hence, it is essential to investigate the behaviour of polymer-metal interface in both situations. In addition, the effect of geometry and orientation of metallic layers should also be considered; this could help to optimize the design of these electronic devices. In this study, 3D computational models were developed in Abaqus Simulia CAE with dimensions similar to those of elements in collagen-based flexible electronics—collagen (substrate) being the base layer while gold (conductive) and chromium (adhesive) were the top and middle layers, respectively. It was found that delamination in wet collagen was much less pronounced and slower as compared to dry collagen. The effects of geometry and orientation also showed significant differences in the pattern and an area of delamination.
Simulation of High-Enthalpy Turbulent Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interaction Using a RANS Approach
Authors: Ninni Davide , Bonelli Francesco , Pascazio Giuseppe
Published: August 2023

In the era of space exploration, the scientific community is strongly focusing on the analysis of hypersonic flows in the presence of shock wave/boundary layer interaction. In these conditions, the flow field presents a complex shock structure due to the interaction of different shock waves with the boundary layer. The strong adverse pressure gradient makes the boundary layer separate, giving rise to a separation bubble. In the reattachment zone, the temperature can reach very high values, inducing thermochemical non-equilibrium effects. This research field is recently achieving more and more relevance in aerospace research, as the analysis of turbulent shock wave/boundary layer interaction so far has been mainly focused on perfect gas flows. In this manuscript, a Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach is considered, the shear stress transport (SST) model being coupled with the multitemperature approach proposed by Park to investigate thermochemical non-equilibrium effects in hypersonic turbulent shock wave/boundary layer interaction. The first part of the manuscript is devoted to the validation of the solver, and results for low enthalpy flat plate and compression ramp flows are presented. The numerical results are shown to be in good agreement with numerical solutions and experimental measurements. Afterward, the free stream conditions are modulated to make non-equilibrium relevant and analyze a reacting flow.
The Effects of Multiple Exposure to Highly Emotional Social Media Content During the Early Stages of the 2022 War in Ukraine
Authors: Kušen Ema , Strembeck Mark
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we analyze more than 16 million Twitter messages related to the 2022 war in Ukraine to examine the effects of multiple exposure to messages conveying intense anxiety or positivity on Twitter user behavior. We first analyzed a data-set covering a 3-month pre-war period to derive baseline anxiety and positivity levels. Subsequently, we compared the anxiety and positivity levels during the first 3 months after the war started in relation to the baseline. Our analysis indicates that the initial multi-exposure to intense anxiety is subsequently associated with a weaker expression of positivity as compared to users who initially have predominantly been exposed to positive messages. Moreover, anxiety-exposed users exhibit anxiety levels higher than their baseline in the post-exposure phase (i.e. during the second and third month of the war). In contrast, positivity-exposed users consistently show higher intensity of positivity and do not cross their baseline level of anxiety in the post-exposure phase. The low levels of positivity after an initial exposure to intense anxiety point to potentially disruptive mid-term effects of anxiety-conveying messages. Moreover, our results also point to the undoing effects that positive messages had in the early stages of the war.
Lustre and shadows: unveiling the gaps in South African University plagiarism policies amidst the emergence of AI-generated content
Authors: Tarisayi Kudzayi Savious
Published: August 2023

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key technology in the field of academic integrity. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive understanding of the legal dimensions of plagiarism in the context of AI. In this study, a theoretical framework that combines the social construction of technology and the legal dimension of plagiarism was used to explore the current construction of plagiarism in South African university plagiarism policies. This study aims to highlight the inadequacy of current plagiarism policies, which primarily focus on the act of copying from others and emphasize the need for a broader perspective that addresses the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in academic integrity in the era of AI-generated content. The author used confirming sampling and data saturation was reached with a sample of ten university plagiarism policies. The findings revealed an inadequacy of the policies on the coverage of AI-generated content and therefore justifying the need to redefine plagiarism in the context of the artificial intelligence revolution. The author concludes by redefining plagiarism and justifying the utility of the recommended definition.
Microscopic and macroscopic assessment of carbonate dissolution for geologic $${{\hbox {CO}}_{2}}$$ storage
Authors: Cobos Jacquelin E. , Folkvord Olav P. , Søgaard Erik G. , Brattekås Bergit
Published: August 2023

Carbon capture and storage in underground formations might be considered as a relevant technology to curb anthropogenic climate gas emissions. However, carbon dioxide ($${{\hbox {CO}}_{2}}$$

CO
2

) injection can lead to severe rock-fluid interactions depending on the thermodynamic conditions, rock and fluids composition. The progressive dissolution of $${{\hbox {CO}}_{2}}$$

CO
2

in the formation brine results in mineral dissolution/precipitation processes that may drastically change the properties of the reservoir. This study is an attempt to get a deeper understanding of the dissolution/precipitation processes in a heterogeneous limestone at microscopic and macroscopic levels by a synergy between Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and core flooding experiments with in-situ imaging to quantify uneven displacement fronts and understand the influence of reactions on a larger scale. Rock-fluid and fluid-fluid interactions, evaluated by ITC experiments, indicate that the carbonate dissolution is unfavorable with respect to enthalpy change but thermodynamically favorable with respect to entropy change (cations and hydrogen carbonate increase in the brine). Core flooding experiments with in-situ imaging by PET/CT show that complex pore structures cause a variation in the availability and ratio of the reactive fluid throughout the porous medium, hence, non-uniform dissolution was confirmed at core scale. The synergy between microcalorimetry and core flooding provides relevant insights into the dissolution of heterogeneous carbonate rocks at both microscopic and macroscopic scales.
From Safety Against Floods to Safety at Floods*: Theory of Urban Resilience to Flood Adaptation and Synergy with Mitigation
Authors: Srivastava Ashish Kumar , Sahay Avijit
Published: August 2023

The intensity and frequency of flood are continuously increasing due to climate change. Cities across the world are susceptible to flood causing devastating damages to infrastructure and human life. Almost every country has taking measures to mitigate climate change primarily. However, due to urgency posed by climate change driven flood risk requires more holistic approach focusing on both mitigation and adaptation measures and synergy between these measures. Theory of urban resilience to flood has proposed a paradigm shift in response to flood by cities. Ecological resilience such as living with flood, nature-based solution for flood adaptation, and coping with flood due to community learning and experiences are more effective measures than engineering resilience, such as dykes, flood wall, dam, etc. This paper analyses critically the relevance of this theory and importance of level of resilience of cities for protection at flood rather than flood resistance.
The technical approach of using mobile positioning data to support urban population size monitoring
Authors: Niu Xinyi , Lin Shijia , Qin Sixian , Yue Yufeng
Published: August 2023

This paper summarizes the methods and approaches of using mobile positioning data to estimate and monitor urban population size. It starts with the necessity of using big data to monitor urban population size in territorial spatial planning. Then it elaborates on the difference between the definition of "population size" reflected by mobile positioning data and the common concept of urban population size, and the necessity of verifying the logic and measurement of sample expansion at four levels. Finally, taking Wuhan city as a case, this paper proposes the technical approach of monitoring the size of urban permanent population through multi-source data verification. The study finds that when it comes to monitoring urban population size, mobile positioning data have the advantage of monitoring short-period changes in population size and spatial distribution, yet special attention must be paid to the three technical links of definition, sample expansion and verification.
Deepening our capacity for teaching with Place
Authors: Sutton Bronwyn A. , Bellingham Robin , White Peta J.
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a learning journey about deepening capacity for teaching with Place through relational learning and shares three pedagogical ingredients that are integral in enacting more ethical, decolonial place pedagogies. We are three women, educators working in community and teacher education with interests in environmental education, decoloniality and indigeneity. We write from the position of people whose ancestry is not Indigenous to the places we were born, nor those where we live now. We bring diverse experiences, voices, bodies and memories of Place into productive conversations as we think and write together about how we are learning with Place, and our response-abilities for enacting regenerative place pedagogies. We situate our emergent and relational inquiry within our experiences and encounters with Place in solidarity with the call for the sharing of stories that “explore knowing and being as relational practices” (Bawaka Country et al.). Our paper is premised on the understanding that our ethical commitment to decoloniality involves learning to live and learn with and love the places we are now, and prioritising Indigenous philosophies, scholarship and ways of knowing Place throughout our education practices.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Participation in Cobalt Magnet National-Level Radiological Exercise
Authors: Ansari Armin , Salame-Alfie Adela , Dopson Stephanie Anne
Published: August 2023

Since September 11, 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has increased efforts to prepare the agency and public health partners for response to potential nuclear/radiological disasters. During the week of May 16–20, 2022, the CDC participated in a national-level radiological emergency exercise, Cobalt Magnet 22 (CM22). The exercise scenario consisted of a notional, failed search mission for a radiological dispersal device (RDD, “dirty bomb”), followed by its explosion during a public event in a large US city. Testing radioanalytical laboratory capabilities during a nuclear/radiological incident was an exercise objective, and developing clear messaging on low-dose exposure and long-term health concerns was a primary output of the exercise. The CDC practiced its activation protocols, exercised the establishment of its updated Incident Management System structure for radiation emergencies, and identified critical staffing needs for this type of response.
Fluid-inertia torque on spheroids in pseudo-plastic fluid flows: effect of shear-thinning rheology
Authors: Li Yansong , Xu Chunxiao , Zhao Lihao
Published: August 2023

Fluid-inertia torque remarkably affects the orientation of non-spherical particles in Newtonian flows whereas this torque induced by convective fluid inertia in particle-laden pseudo-plastic flows is still unknown. In the present study we numerically investigate the fluid-inertia torque on a neutrally buoyant spheroid in the Carreau-type pseudo-plastic fluid flows at finite Reynolds numbers with the immersed boundary method. The results show that compared with the fluid-inertia torque in Newtonian flows, the magnitude of the fluid-inertia torque on spheroids is remarkably attenuated by the shear-thinning rheology in pseudo-plastic fluid flows. The deviation of fluid-inertia torque between pseudo-plastic and Newtonian flows is more significant with decreasing Reynolds numbers, indicating the importance of the effect of shear-thinning rheology at small Reynolds numbers. Moreover, the spheroid rotation rate is reduced in pseudo-plastic fluids, and the equilibrium orientation of oblate spheroids changes non-monotonically with the shear-thinning effect in the linear shear flow of pseudo-plastic fluids. The present findings imply the importance of the effect of shear-thinning rheology on the torques of spheroids, which could be potentially applied for the control of particle orientations in pseudo-plastic fluids in the future.
Vegetation dynamics in Dhofar, Oman, from the Late Holocene to present inferred from rock hyrax middens
Authors: Horisk Kaitlyn E. , Ivory Sarah J. , McCorriston Joy , McHale Molly , Al Mehri Ali , Anderson Andrew , Anderson R. Scott , Al Kathiri Ali Ahmad
Published: August 2023

Arid regions are especially vulnerable to climate change and land use. More than one-third of Earth's population relies on these ecosystems. Modern observations lack the temporal depth to determine vegetation responses to climate and human activity, but paleoecological and archaeological records can be used to investigate these relationships. Decreasing rainfall across the Late Holocene provides a case study for vegetation response to changing hydroclimate. Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) middens preserve paleoenvironmental indicators in arid environments where traditional archives are unavailable. Pollen from modern middens collected in Dhofar, Oman, demonstrates the reliability of this archive. Pollen, stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N), and microcharcoal data from fossil middens reveal changes in vegetation, relative moisture, and fire from 4000 cal yr BP to the present. Trees limited to moister areas (e.g., Terminalia) today existed farther inland at ~3100 cal yr BP. After ~2900 cal yr BP, taxa with more xeric affiliations (e.g., Senegalia) had increased. Coprophilous fungal spores (Sporormiella) and grazing indicator pollen revealed an amplified signal of domesticate grazing at ~1000 cal yr BP. This indicates that trees associated with semiarid environments were maintained in the interior desert during ~3000–4000 yr of decreasing rainfall and that impacts of human activity intensified after the transition to a drier environment.
Behavioral winter: Disillusionment with applied behavioral science and a path to spring forward
Authors: Gal David , Rucker Derek D.
Published: August 2023

Chater & Loewenstein thoughtfully express their disillusionment with contemporary applied behavioral science, particularly as it pertains to public policy. Although they fault an overemphasis on i-frame approaches, their proposed alternatives leave doubt regarding whether behavioral science has much, if anything, useful to offer policy. We offer two critical principles to guide and motivate more relevant behavioral science.
Nudging is being framed
Authors: Thaler Richard H.
Published: August 2023

I make three points. First, the i-frame and s-frame are not helpful frameworks for thinking about behavioral public policy. Second, the authors ignore the role of politics: Policies (and the s-frame) require laws and regulations. Third, the research on retirement savings, which is all about the system, undercuts their claims.
Moral psychology biases toward individual, not systemic, representations
Authors: Thomas Irein A. , Kay Nick R. , Laurin Kristin
Published: August 2023

We expand Chater & Loewenstein's discussion of barriers to s-frames by highlighting moral psychological mechanisms. Systemic aspects of moralized social issues can be neglected because of (a) the individualistic frame through which we perceive moral transgressions; (b) the desire to punish elicited by moral emotions; and (c) the motivation to attribute agency and moral responsibility to transgressors.
Structural problems require structural solutions
Authors: Strohminger Nina , Táíwò Olúfẹ́mi O.
Published: August 2023

Chater & Loewenstein criticize behavioral scientists' reliance on individual-level (“i-frame”) analysis, observing that this impoverishes policy interventions and stymies scientific progress. We extend their analysis to argue that structural factors bias and perpetuate behavioral science toward the i-frame. Addressing this problem fully will require structural changes to the training, peer review, and granting structures that confront research scientists.
Where next for behavioral public policy?
Authors: Chater Nick , Loewenstein George
Published: August 2023

Our target article distinguishes between policy approaches that seek to address societal problems through intervention at the level of the individual (adopting the “i-frame”) and those that seek to change the system within which those individuals live (adopting the “s-frame”). We stress also that a long-standing tactic of corporations opposing systemic change is to promote the i-frame perspective, presumably hoping that i-frame interventions will be largely ineffective and more importantly will be seen by the public and some policy makers as a genuine alternative to systemic change. We worry that the i-frame focus of much of behavioral science has inadvertently reinforced this unhelpful focus on the individual. In this response to commentators, we identify common themes, build on the many constructive suggestions to extend our approach, and reply to concerns. We argue, along with several commentators, that a key role of behavioral public policy is to clarify how to build support for systemic reforms for which there is a broad consensus in the policy community, but which are opposed by powerful special interests.
When the definite article is used for possessive determiners in Kenyan English
Authors: Buregeya Alfred
Published: August 2023

The literature on the use of articles in L2 varieties of English reports both the overuse and the underuse of the definite article. An excellent synoptic discussion of such apparently contradictory results is Sand (2004). Because L2 English varieties have developed in a sociolinguistic environment where they were in contact with indigenous languages, Sand (2004: 284–287) reviews what research findings show about ‘substrate influence on article use’. Two substrate languages she mentions (p. 286) as examples are Hindi (which is expected to have influenced Indian English) and Swahili (which is expected to have influenced Kenyan English). Regarding Indian English she writes: ‘Typically, we find reference to a “lack of articles” in descriptions of contact varieties like Indian English [ . . . ]’ (p. 286). But a few lines later she adds this:

However, Sedlatscheck (forthcoming: 105) also finds for his Indian data that, apart from zero articles, the largest number of what he calls ‘article substitutions’ occur in the category of the definite article. Thus, the definite article is used instead of the zero or indefinite article expected according to standard English usage. (p. 286)

The quotation above suggests that both some overuse and some underuse of the definite article can be observed in Indian English, thus making the possible influence of a substrate language like Hindi (reported not to have articles) not so relevant.
Artificial Intelligence and Human Enhancement: Can AI Technologies Make Us More (Artificially) Intelligent?
Authors: Nyholm Sven
Published: August 2023

This paper discusses two opposing views about the relation between artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence: on the one hand, a worry that heavy reliance on AI technologies might make people less intelligent and, on the other, a hope that AI technologies might serve as a form of cognitive enhancement. The worry relates to the notion that if we hand over too many intelligence-requiring tasks to AI technologies, we might end up with fewer opportunities to train our own intelligence. Concerning AI as a potential form of cognitive enhancement, the paper explores two possibilities: (1) AI as extending—and thereby enhancing—people’s minds, and (2) AI as enabling people to behave in artificially intelligent ways. That is, using AI technologies might enable people to behave as if they have been cognitively enhanced. The paper considers such enhancements both on the level of individuals and on the level of groups.
Is Political Science (Still) Ignoring Religion? An Analysis of Journal Publications, 2011–2020
Authors: Kettell Steven
Published: August 2023

Political scientists involved in the study of religion have expressed concerns that religious themes have yet to be fully integrated into the mainstream of the discipline. According to a study of articles published in leading political science journals during the first decade of the twenty-first century, papers engaging with religion were relatively few in number and highly concentrated in only a few thematic and disciplinary areas. This article presents an updated analysis of the extent to which political science has engaged with the topic of religion by examining journal outputs for the period 2011–2020. The study finds no significant change in the patterns identified by the earlier research. Despite an overall increase in the quantity of political science articles on the subject of religion, the overall proportion has been relatively static, and the thematic and disciplinary focus of outputs remains narrow.
Astronomers May Have Spotted the Birth of a Planet
Authors: Barbuzano Javier
Published: August 2023

Lumps of dust are spiraling around a young star 5,000 light-years away. They could be Jupiter-like planets in the making.
Toward a Better Understanding of the Global Ocean Copper Distribution and Speciation Through a Data‐Constrained Model
Authors: Liang Hengdi , Moffett James W. , John Seth G.
Published: August 2023

Copper (Cu) is an important micronutrient for marine organisms, which can also be toxic at elevated concentrations. Here, we present a new model of global ocean Cu biogeochemical cycling, constrained by GEOTRACES observations, with key processes including sources from rivers, dust, and sediments, biological uptake and remineralization of Cu, reversible scavenging of Cu onto sinking particles, conversion of Cu between labile and inert species, and ocean circulation. In order for the model to match observations, in particular the relatively small increase in Cu concentrations along the global “conveyor belt,” we find it is necessary to include significant external sources of Cu with a magnitude of roughly 1.3 Gmol yr−1, having a relatively stronger impact on the Atlantic Ocean, though the relative contributions of river, dust, and sediment sources are poorly constrained. The observed nearly linear increase in Cu concentrations with depth requires a strong benthic source of Cu, which includes the sedimentary release of Cu that was reversibly scavenged from the water column. The processes controlling Cu cycling in the Arctic Ocean appear to be unique, requiring both relatively high Cu concentrations in Arctic rivers and reduced scavenging in the Arctic. Observed partitioning of Cu between labile and inert phases is reproduced in the model by the slow conversion of labile Cu to inert in the whole water column with a half‐life of ∼250 years, and the photodegradation of inert Cu to labile in the surface ocean with a minimum half‐life of ∼2 years at the equator.
Old Dog, New Trick: Reservoir Computing Advances Machine Learning for Climate Modeling
Authors: Bretherton Christopher S.
Published: August 2023

Physics‐informed machine learning (ML) applied to geophysical simulation is developing explosively. Recently, graph neural net and vision transformer architectures have shown 1–7 days global weather forecast skill superior to any conventional model with integration times over 1,000 times faster, but longer simulations rapidly degrade. ML that achieves high skill in both weather and climate applications is a tougher goal. This Commentary was inspired by Arcomano et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102649), who show impressive progress toward that goal using hybrid ML, combining reservoir computing (RC) to a coarse‐grid climate model and coupling to a separate data‐driven RC model that interactively predicts sea‐surface temperature. This opens new horizons; where will the next ML breakthrough come from, and is conventional climate modeling about to be disrupted?
The Influence of Winter Snowpack on the Use of Summer Rains in Montane Pine Forests Across the Southwest U.S.
Authors: Bailey K. , Szejner P. , Strange Brandon , Monson R. K. , Hu Jia
Published: August 2023

A two decade‐long megadrought, with likely anthropogenic causes, has impacted forest growth and mortality across the southwestern U.S. Given this event, and the future likelihood of similar climate challenges, it is important to understand how different water resources are used by semi‐arid forests in this region. Within the geographic domain of the North American Monsoon climate system, we studied seasonal water‐use in eight different Pinus ponderosa montane forests distributed across a climate gradient with varying contributions from winter and summer precipitation. We collected oxygen isotopes from precipitation, soil, and xylem water during two contrasting hydrologic years to determine how trees differentially use winter versus summer precipitation sources. Most trees switched from using snowmelt water as the primary source during the early‐summer hyper‐arid period, to monsoon rainwater during the late‐summer. However, during the low snowpack year, which represents the most common climate phenomenon during the megadrought, trees at all sites used less summer rain when compared to the higher snowpack year, demonstrating a drought‐induced antecedent influence of winter precipitation on the uptake of summer rain. A possible mechanism to explain the antecedent effect is an earlier snow disappearance during the low snowpack year weakening hydrologic connectivity within the soil profile, decreasing the soil infiltration of summer rains. However, in years with higher snowpack, the snow lasts longer, and this can improve the hydrologic connectivity within the soil profile. As a result, there is more infiltration of summer rains into the soils. This can enhance the maintenance of active shallow fine‐root biomass during the period when snowpack disappears, and monsoon rains have yet to arrive. These findings provide insight into how the seasonal interactions between major seasonal climate systems influence forest tree water use in the face of an extreme megadrought.