bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial worry in people with cancer: Relationship to employment and outcomes
Authors: Jones Salene M. W.
Published: September 2022

Background

People with cancer experience financial hardship. Most previous research has focused on material financial burden rather than financial worry. This study investigated employment predictors of financial worry and examined outcomes potentially affected by financial worry.

Methods

Data from the 2018 National Health Interview Study was used and limited to people diagnosed with cancer and having complete data on relevant variables (n = 2049). Preliminary analyses indicated three dimensions of financial worry: healthcare; lifestyle; and basic needs. Outcomes included cost‐related nonadherence, and presence of depressive symptoms and anxiety. Multivariable regressions examined the association of financial worry with cost‐related nonadherence and mental health and employment characteristics (paid hourly; sick leave; employer size) with financial worry while controlling for demographics.

Results

Mean age was 68.10 years (range: 20–85), and most had skin (33.6%), prostate (12.5%) or breast (21.4%) cancer. Hourly pay predicted more financial worry about affording healthcare (p < 0.001), basic needs (p < 0.001) and lifestyle (p < 0.001). Having paid sick leave predicted less worry about basic needs (p = 0.003). Worry about affording healthcare predicted more cost‐related nonadherence (p < 0.001) even when controlling for other variables associated with financial hardship. Worry about lifestyle (p = 0.193) and basic needs (p = 0.688) were not associated with cost‐related nonadherence. Worry about lifestyle (p < 0.001) predicted depression. Worry about affording healthcare (p = 0.042) and lifestyle (p < 0.001) predicted anxiety.

Conclusions

Research is needed to determine the value of financial worry screening, particularly about affording healthcare, as well as material financial hardship. Financial worry should be included as an outcome in policy evaluations and interventions for financial hardship.
Effect of Dynamic Soft Reduction Range and Amount on Central Segregation in Bloom and the Resulting Microstructure in the Rod of GCr15‐Bearing Steel
Authors: Yao Cheng , Wang Min , Cheng Mingfei , Xing Lidong , Wang Ying , Gao Yubo , Bao Yanping
Published: September 2022

Composition uniformity is essential to the quality, stability, and fatigue life of bearing materials. In the current study, various calculations and measurement methods are implemented to obtain the high‐temperature physical properties of GCr15‐bearing steel. Combined with a validated transient heat transfer model, two cases with different dynamic soft reduction (DSR) ranges and amounts are designed for industrial trials. The defects, carbon contents, and carbides in the bloom center and the carbon contents and microstructure in the rod center are compared. The results show that the reasonable matching of casting speed and cooling water flux in continuous casting could reduce the total content of enriched carbon at the middle and late stages of solidification. Setting a reasonable DSR range (solid fraction: 0.3–1.0) and applying a heavy DSR amount could effectively improve central segregation in bloom and the resulting microstructure in the rod.
Multifunctional wound dressing for highly efficient treatment of chronic diabetic wounds
Authors: Ma Tengfei , Zhai Xinyun , Jin Mengdie , Huang Yongkang , Zhang Mengzhen , Pan Haobo , Zhao Xiaoli , Du Yaping
Published: September 2022

As the number of diabetics increases yearly and diabetic ulcer is the most concerned diabetic complication, it is of great urgency to develop a novel multifunctional material with high efficiency to promote diabetic wound healing. In this paper, ceria (CeO2)‐modified upconversion nanoparticles which loaded in polycaprolactone membranes were successfully prepared as a ceria‐based wound dressing for chronic wound healing. In this system, near‐infrared (NIR) light is used as a switch to control the photodynamic antibacterial therapy by converting the NIR photons into ultraviolet light, which can further trigger CeO2 to produce reactive oxygen species. In addition, the well‐known antioxidant ability of CeO2 endows the wound dressing with prominent capability to resist the oxidative stress around chronic wounds. In summary, both photodynamic antibacterial therapy and good antioxidant property are realized simultaneously in this CeO2‐based system to promote the healing of diabetic chronic wounds.
Recurrent ulcerative necrotising stomatitis in two dogs with concurrent steroid‐responsive chronic rhinitis and suspected underlying oral vasculitis
Authors: Henry Perrine , Perry Andrew James , Mackenzie David Peter
Published: September 2022

A 2‐year‐old, entire, female springer spaniel and an 8‐year‐old, entire, male Scottish terrier were referred for recurrent, multifocal, oral necrotic ulcers with pseudomembrane and nasal discharge. Histopathologic examination of biopsies described chronic ulcerative necrotising stomatitis and chronic neutrophilic and, eosinophilic or plasmacytic, rhinitis. Management with immunosuppressive agents resulted in temporary remission of the presenting lesions. Both dogs were eventually euthanized due to the painful and recurrent nature of the condition.
Comparative investigation of the mixed convective stagnated flow of TiO2−CuO/water−EG$TiO_2-CuO/water-EG$ hybrid nanofluids past an exponentially stretching sheet
Authors: Thakur Archie , Sood Shilpa
Published: September 2022

This study presents a comparative investigation on the steady flow and heat transfer of different hybrid nanofluids produced by an exponentially stretching sheet in the presence of mixed convection. Tiwari and Das nanofluid model has been employed. The titania () and copper oxide () nanoparticles are suspended in water, EG and a mixture of water‐EG to form , , and hybrid nanofluids. The similarity equations are obtained from the governing equations using the similarity transformation, and their solutions are obtained using the bvp4c solver available in the Matlab software. It has been perceived from the present study that the largest % enhancement in skin friction is 39.2148% at in the hybrid nanofluid /water; however, the largest % enhancement in Nusselt number is 11.6260% at in the hybrid nanofluid /EG.
Erratum to: Holographic path-integral optimization
Authors: Boruch Jan , Caputa Pawel , Ge Dongsheng , Takayanagi Tadashi
Published: September 2022

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2021)016
Active vibration damping for manufacturing machines using additional cable mechanisms: conceptual design
Authors: Neusser Zdeněk , Nečas Martin , Pelikán Jan , Pawlik Vít , Beneš Petr , Zavřel Jan , Volech Jiří , Halamka Vojtěch , Machálka Martin , Valášek Michael , Šika Zbyněk
Published: September 2022

Undesired vibration is a common issue when dealing with manufacturing machines, especially when dealing with thin structures. To decrease the external disturbance sensitivity of such systems, represented for example by machine tool quill, the auxiliary cable structure is attached to the system. The auxiliary cable structure increases system damping and decreases undesired structure vibrations by the passive or active way, depending on the deployment and purpose. In this article, cables are attached to the end-effector to suppress undesired vibrations and related experimental stand is prepared. Experimental stand parameters are identified using least square method. The control strategy using pole placement is presented and its suitability is verified using external disturbance force. The frequency analysis shows the promising behaviour of controlled cable structure attached to the original system as well as the experimental results.
Exists a role for serum irisin in Egyptian Behcet’s patients with subclinical atherosclerosis?
Authors: Ismail Mohamed A. , Mounir Ola , Sedky Ahmed , Algahlan Hisham A. , Abda Esam A. , Radwan Ahmed R. , Abozaid Hanan Sayed
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To examine the serum irisin level in a group of Behcet’s disease patients, its association with illness parameters, and its utility in diagnosing subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods

This randomized case–control study included 50 patients and 50 age- and sex-matched controls. Carotid Doppler ultrasound for the measurement of the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) were performed. A clinical evaluation, lipogram, and serum irisin were also performed.

Results

Between the patients and the control group, there was a significant difference in CIMT, S. irisin level, and ankle-brachial pressure index; however, gender and BMI did not significantly affect CIMT, ABPI, or S. irisin level. CIMT demonstrated a substantial negative correlation with both S. irisin and ABPI (r =  − 0.62, P 0.0001).

With a sensitivity of up to 94.30% and a specificity of 93.30%, the ROC analysis revealed that a decrease in S. irisin level in Behcet’s patients was indicative of subclinical atherosclerosis. The drop in the ABPI level demonstrated a sensitivity of up to 94.30% and a specificity of 100%.

Conclusion

Subclinical atherosclerosis is prevalent among Egyptian Behcet’s patients, and S. irisin can be employed as a biomarker for diagnosing subclinical atherosclerosis in Behcet’s illness.

Key Points• Serum irisin has been studied in numerous autoimmune disorders as a marker for subclinical atherosclerosis, although its importance in Behcet’s disease remains unclear (BD).• We examined the change in serum irisin levels in Behcet’s disease patients and healthy controls. In addition, its association with carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and ankle-brachial pressure index was investigated (ABPI).• Changes in serum irisin levels are significant in BD, and a decrease in irisin level indicates subclinical atherosclerosis.
Angespannter Arbeitsmarkt — Arbeitskräftemangel nach Corona
Authors:   ZG Überblick
Published: September 2022

Nicht zuletzt durch die Verwerfungen der Coronapandemie ist die Lage derzeit in vielen Branchen angespannt. So sind fehlende Arbeitskräfte vor allem in der Gastronomie, an Flughäfen, in der Pflege und im Handwerk ein Problem. In Summe gab es im ersten Quartal 2022 insgesamt 1,7 Mio. offene Stellen, ein Höchstwert. Ursächlich ist dafür zum einen die Situation, dass sich viele Beschäftigte aufgrund von unsicheren Arbeitsverhältnissen während der Pandemie in andere Branchen umorientiert haben. Das gilt auch für Jobs in der Pflege, die besonderen Belastungen ausgesetzt waren und sind. Eine weitere Ursache ist die Demografie. Es kommen weniger junge Arbeitskräfte nach und die Arbeitsmigration kann nur einen Teil dieser Lücke schließen. Es stellt sich die Frage, wie der Staat auf diesen Arbeitskräftemangel reagieren kann und in welcher Frist die entsprechenden Maßnahmen greifen können.
Unveil the unseen: Exploit information hidden in noise
Authors: Zviazhynski Bahdan , Conduit Gareth
Published: September 2022

Noise and uncertainty are usually the enemy of machine learning, noise in training data leads to uncertainty and inaccuracy in the predictions. However, we develop a machine learning architecture that extracts crucial information out of the noise itself to improve the predictions. The phenomenology computes and then utilizes uncertainty in one target variable to predict a second target variable. We apply this formalism to PbZr0.7Sn0.3O3 crystal, using the uncertainty in dielectric constant to extrapolate heat capacity, correctly predicting a phase transition that otherwise cannot be extrapolated. For the second example – single-particle diffraction of droplets – we utilize the particle count together with its uncertainty to extrapolate the ground truth diffraction amplitude, delivering better predictions than when we utilize only the particle count. Our generic formalism enables the exploitation of uncertainty in machine learning, which has a broad range of applications in the physical sciences and beyond.
Analytical-mechanical based framework for seismic overall fragility analysis of existing RC buildings in town compartments
Authors: Ruggieri Sergio , Calò Mirko , Cardellicchio Angelo , Uva Giuseppina
Published: September 2022

The paper presents an analytical-mechanical based procedure to estimate the seismic overall fragility of existing reinforced concrete building portfolios in town compartments, as reduced areas of a municipality. The proposed methodology is based on two main concepts: (a) to consider all typological parameters characterizing the entire set of buildings located in a certain urban area and their variability through an analytical procedure; (b) to employ a mechanical approach by means of ideal numerical models to estimate the safety level of the focused sample of buildings. Hence, the methodology allows to compute seismic overall fragility curves, obtained by using laws of total variance and expectation and weighing factors proportional to the probability of having a certain configuration of typological parameters with determined values. To test the proposed procedure, some town compartments of the municipality of Bisceglie, Puglia, Southern Italy, were investigated by firstly identifying the most recurrent typological features exploiting multisource data, after by elaborating an extensive campaign of modelling and analysis on different ideal buildings (herein named realizations) and finally by computing fragility curves for each realization and for the set of ideal buildings. The results show overall fragilities curves for the investigated town compartments, which are obtained in a different way from the existing procedures, by avoiding an a-priori selection of one or more index buildings to represent the specific building portfolio and the definition of a specific building taxonomy.
Identifying the BRCA1 c.-107A > T variant in Dutch patients with a tumor BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation
Authors: de Jong Vincent M. T. , Pruntel Roelof , Steenbruggen Tessa G. , Bleeker Fonnet E. , Nederlof Petra , Hogervorst Frans B. L. , linn Sabine C.
Published: September 2022

An inherited single nucleotide variant (SNV) in the 5′UTR of the BRCA1 gene c.-107A > T was identified to be related to BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation and a hereditary breast and ovarian cancer phenotype in two UK families. We investigated whether this BRCA1 variant was also present in a Dutch cohort of breast and ovarian cancer patients with tumor BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation. We selected all breast and ovarian cancer cases that tested positive for tumor BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Sanger sequenced the specific mutation in the tumor DNA. In total, we identified 193 tumors with BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation in 178 unique patients. The wild-type allele was identified in 100% (193/193) of sequenced tumor samples. In a large cohort of 178 patients, none had tumors harboring the previously identified c.-107A > T SNV in BRCA1. We therefore can conclude that the germline SNV is not pervasive in patients with tumor BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation.
Too stupid for PhD? Doctoral impostor syndrome among Finnish PhD students
Authors: Nori Hanna , Vanttaja Markku
Published: September 2022

Impostor syndrome (IS) refers to the inner speech of self-doubt and the belief that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. The university can be considered a work environment prone to IS, especially because of the requirements of present higher education and science policy, which emphasizes continuous evaluation, a competitive spirit, and a focus on performance and excellence. It is therefore understandable that many doctoral students have begun to experience inadequacy and uncertainty during their postgraduate studies. This study focuses on the prevalence of IS among Finnish PhD students (n = 1694). In particular, attention is paid to the background factors in which experiences of uncertainty and attitudes related to IS are linked. Theoretically, we interpret IS as a phenomenon related to the habitus formed through an individual’s life experiences and the inner speech associated with it. Based on the results of the linear regression analysis, the lack of encouragement in childhood and a low level of planning when applying for doctoral studies explain the emergence of IS in a statistically significant manner.
Correction to: “Experiences of Having a Parent with Serious Mental Illness: an Interpretive Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Literature”
Authors: Rignér Anna , Salzmann-Erikson Martin
Published: September 2022

This paper provides and informs a set of corrections to the previously published article noted above. Specifically, following the publication of the article, the authors were notified by the Journal editors of methodological concerns raised through a letter addressed to them. In consideration of the letter, and following review and recommendations by two experts in the field of systematic review, we provide the following corrections in appreciation of the feedback provided. We provide the following narrative in regard to those corrections, which we specify below.
Small Amplitude Periodic Orbits in Three-Dimensional Quadratic Vector Fields with a Zero-Hopf Singularity
Authors: García Isaac A.
Published: September 2022

We consider some families of three-dimensional quadratic vector fields having a fixed zero-Hopf equilibrium. We are interested in the bifurcation of periodic $$\nu $$
ν
-orbits from the singularity, that is, those small amplitude orbits that make a fixed arbitrary number $$\nu $$
ν
of revolutions about a rotation axis and then returns to the initial point closing the orbit. When the parameters of the family are restricted to certain explicitly computable open semi-algebraic sets $$\Lambda $$
Λ
, we characterize those parameters that give rise to the appearance of local two-dimensional periodic invariant manifolds through the singularity. Also we use a Bautin-type analysis to study the maximum number of small-amplitude $$\nu $$
ν
-limit cycles that can be made to bifurcate from the equilibrium when the parameters of the family are restricted to $$\Lambda $$
Λ
. We obtain global upper bounds on the number of bifurcated $$\nu $$
ν
-limit cycles.
Collaborative Study for Certification of Trace Elements in Uranium Ore Concentrate CRMs UCLO-1, UCHI-1, and UPER-1
Authors: LeBlanc Kelly L. , Nadeau Kenny , Meija Juris , Yang Lu , Babay Paola A. , Bavio Marta A. , Boome Carrie , Chipley Don , Cristaldo Leguizamón Roxana S. , Denton Joanna , Drew Dana L. , Fernández Mauricio A. , Fugaru Viorel , Genetti Victoria D. , Gonzalez Florencia , Inglis Jeremy D. , Jovanovic Slobodan , Keegan Elizabeth , Kell Tara , Kimura Yoshiki , Kinman William , Kiser Stephen , Lindvall Rachel E. , Loi Elaine , Mayer Klaus , Mercier Jean-Francois , Millar Robert , Nicholl Adrian , Orlovskaya Liana , Ramella José Luis , Serban Andreea , Sharp Michael A. , Shi Youqing , Tóbi Csaba , Valenzuela Lautaro , Varga Zsolt , Vesterlund Anna , Virgolici Marian , Yamazaki Hitoshi , Zubillaga Erica N. , El-Jaby Ali , Mester Zoltán
Published: September 2022

Trace impurity patterns are important nuclear forensic signatures in uranium ore concentrates (UOCs) and Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) are used to validate the analysis methods employed by end users. Herein, we discuss the certification campaign for three new UOC CRMs from the National Research Council Canada: UCLO-1 (https://doi.org/10.4224/crm.2020.uclo-1), UCHI-1 (https://doi.org/10.4224/crm.2020.uchi-1), and UPER-1 (https://doi.org/10.4224/crm.2020.uper-1). This study involved 15 laboratories from 10 countries, using sector-field and (triple) quadrupole inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry to analyze 64 trace element impurities. We discuss the importance of the acids used for sample digestion, difficulties analyzing in a high uranium matrix, and data combination and uncertainty evaluation for this large dataset.
Green MoS2 nanosheets as a promising material for decontamination of hexavalent chromium, pharmaceuticals, and microbial pathogen disinfection: spectroscopic study
Authors: Ali Mohamed Eid M. , Mohammed Reem. , Abdel-Moniem Shimaa M. , El-Liethy Mohamed Azab , Ibrahim Hanan S.
Published: September 2022

Photoreduction of chromium hexavalent ions (Cr6+) from the aquatic environment is urgently needed due to its impairing effect on human health. Adsorption, photoreduction, and desorption of reduced trivalent chromium (Cr3+) at the photocatalyst surface are all significant factors for determining photocatalytic reduction efficiency. Herein, we report a facile, template-free hydrothermal approach to fabricate green and homogeneous mixed-phase (1 T/2H) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets for highly efficient removal of Cr6+ ions and pharmaceuticals from wastewater. The nanostructure and morphology of the obtained (1 T/2H) MoS2 are investigated; the calculated crystallite size of the (2H/1 T) MoS2 nanosheets is found to be 1.7 nm. The presence of surface functional groups adsorption, and photoreduction processes is confirmed by spectroscopic studies using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Additionally, Raman spectra confirmed the formation of 1 T/2H mixed-phase MoS2 which illustrates its crystal phases, structure, and chemical composition. Moreover, the point-of-zero charge analysis revealed the positively charged surface in the acid system. The obtained results revealed the non-toxicity of MoS2 nanosheets at doses lower than 1000 ppm. The results reveal that the (1 T/2H) MoS2 exhibited impressive reduction performance for Cr6+; the reduction efficiency of chromium Cr6+ is 100% under simulated sunlight, 90 min at pH (3). Further spectroscopic study results confirm the importance of the adsorption step in Cr6+ ions photoreduction. Different pharmaceuticals are also completely degraded over (1 T/2H) MoS2 nanosheets. Interestingly, complete removals of E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Candida albicans were observed at a dose of MoS2 nanosheets of 250 ppm after a contact time of 30, 30, and 45 min, respectively. The results of the current work could lead to a rational design of high-performance nanosheets for the efficient decontamination of heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and pathogens from aquatic environments.

Graphical abstract
A first step towards a IoT-based local early warning system for an unsaturated slope in Norway
Authors: Piciullo Luca , Capobianco Vittoria , Heyerdahl Håkon
Published: September 2022

A framework for a IoT-based local landslide early warning system (Lo-LEWS) has been proposed. Monitoring, modelling, forecasting and warning represent the main phases of the proposed framework. In this study, the first two phases have been applied to capture the hydrological behaviour of a natural unsaturated slope located adjacent to a railway track in Eastern Norway. The slope is monitored and the stability is kept under frequent observation, due to its steepness and the presence of the railway lines at the toe. The commercial software GeoStudio SEEP was used to create and calibrate a model able to replicate the in situ monitored volumetric water content (VWC) and pore water pressure (PWP) regime. The simulations conducted were divided into two main series: one with an initial calibration of the VWC profile (C) and another with no calibration (NC). The simulations have been validated using Taylor diagrams, which graphically summarize how closely a pattern (or a set of patterns) matches observations. The results show that a preliminary calibration for matching the in situ VWC, as well as considering climate conditions and vegetation, are crucial aspects to model the response of the studied unsaturated slope. A sensitivity analysis on the hydraulic conductivity and the permeability anisotropy ratio contributed to better define the input data and to improve the best-fit model result. The effectiveness of the best simulation, in back-calculating VWC, was tested for 3 different time periods: 6-month, 1-year, 1.25-year. The results show that the hydrological model can adequately represent the real monitored conditions up to a 1-year period, a recalibration is needed afterward. In addition, a slope stability analysis with GeoStudio SLOPE for the 1-year period was coupled to the hydrological model. Finally, the calculated safety factor (FS), the temperature, the precipitation, the VWC and PWP monitored were used as input dataset for a supervised machine learning algorithm. A random forest model highlighted the importance of the monitored VWC for forecasting the FS. The findings presented in this paper can be seen as a first step towards an Internet of Things (IoT)-based real-time slope stability analysis that can be employed as Lo-LEWS.
The Brexit referendum and three types of regret
Authors: Drinkwater Stephen , Jennings Colin
Published: September 2022

In this paper we examine three forms of regret in relation to the UK’s hugely significant referendum on EU membership that was held in June 2016. They are: (i) whether ‘leave’ voters at the referendum subsequently regretted their choice (in the light of the result), (ii) whether non-voters regretted their decisions to abstain (essentially supporting ‘remain’) and (iii) whether individuals were more likely to indicate that it is everyone’s duty to vote following the referendum. We find evidence in favor of all three types of regret. In particular, leave voters and non-voters were significantly more likely to indicate that they would vote to remain given a chance to do so again; moreover, the probability of an individual stating that it was everyone’s duty to vote in a general election increased significantly in 2017 (compared to 2015). The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of the referendum’s outcome.
Conditional Parochial Vicarious Ostracism: Gender Collective Narcissism Predicts Distress at the Exclusion of the Gender Ingroup in Women and Men
Authors: de Zavala Agnieszka Golec
Published: September 2022

Three experiments (two pre-registered) tested whether gender collective narcissism (i.e., a belief that one’s gender ingroup’s exceptionality is not sufficiently recognized by others) predicts parochial vicarious ostracism (i.e., feeling ostracized and distressed while recognizing the gender ingroup’s exclusion, but not when recognizing the exclusion of the gender outgroup). In all studies (overallN = 1480), gender collective narcissism was positively associated with distress among women who witnessed the exclusion of women, but not among men who witnessed the exclusion of women. In Study 3, gender collective narcissism was positively associated with distress among men who witnessed the exclusion of men, but not among women who witnessed the exclusion of men. These findings help explain why men do not universally feel distressed by the discrimination of women and why some women may mobilize to challenge gender discrimination.
A Comprehensive Review of the Importance of Selected Trace Elements Present in Edible Insects
Authors: Mabelebele M. , Kolobe S. D. , Malematja E. , Sebola N. A. , Manyelo T. G.
Published: September 2022

This review is intended to provide recent published information on trace elements from edible insects from various environments. Recently, insects are gaining popularity as food proteins in developing countries and press higher demand for edible insects since they may provide similar nutritional value as meat. Insects have been part of the human diet in the world for decades and at least 1900 insect species are considered edible. Furthermore, insects play a crucial role in socioeconomic by contributing to the world’s food security as well as eradicating poverty in rural communities. Generally, edible insects are considered a readily available source of proteins, carbohydrates, and chitin. They also contain considerable amounts of trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, and manganese. It has been observed that there is a great variation between mineral contents found in insects of the same or different species. Knowledge and comprehensive understanding of trace element contents of edible insects are crucial to fully maximise their utilisation in diets and prevent mineral deficiency in human beings and animals. However, most of the research on insects has focused on the nutritional contents of insects with less attention given to other nutritional components such as minerals and trace elements. The available data on trace elements from edible insects as food is limited and makes it difficult to draw estimations for the nutrient intake of humans and animals. Therefore, this review aimed to provide comprehensive information on availability of iron, zinc, copper, and manganese from selected edible insects, functions, and deficiencies in both humans and animals.
Extended Interviews with Stroke Patients Over a Long-Term Rehabilitation Using Human–Robot or Human–Computer Interactions
Authors: Koren Yaacov , Feingold Polak Ronit , Levy-Tzedek Shelly
Published: September 2022

Socially assistive robots (SARs) have been proposed to assist post-stroke patients in performing their exercise during their rehabilitation process, with the trust in the robot identified as an important factor in human–robot interaction. In the current study, we aimed to identify and characterize factors that influence post-stroke patients’ trust in a robot-operated and a computer-operated rehabilitation platform during and after a long-term experience with the platform. We conducted 29 interviews with 16 stroke patients who underwent a long-term rehabilitation process, assisted by either a SAR or a computer interface. The intervention lasted 5–7 weeks per patient, for a total of 229 sessions over 18 months. By using a qualitative research method—extended interviews “in the wild” with stroke patients, over a long-term rehabilitation process—our study reveals users’ perspectives regarding factors affecting trust in the SAR or in the computer interface during their rehabilitation process. The results support the assertion that SARs have an added value in the rehabilitative care of stroke patients; It appears that personal characteristics, such as age and gender, have an effect on the users’ acceptance of a non-human operator as a practice assistant. Our findings support the notion that SARs augment rehabilitative therapies beyond a standard computer; Importantly, patients appreciated different aspects of the non-human operator in the two groups: In the SAR group, users preferred its functional performance over its anthropomorphized social skills; In the Computer group, users highlighted its contribution to the training of their memory skills.
Effects of technology enhanced peer, teacher and self-feedback on students’ collaborative writing, critical thinking tendency and engagement in learning
Authors: Zou Di , Xie Haoran , Wang Fu Lee
Published: September 2022

Peer, teacher, and self-feedback have been widely applied in English writing courses in higher education. However, few studies have used technology to activate the potential of feedback in project-based collaborative learning or discussed how technology-enhanced peer, teacher and self-feedback may assist students’ writing, promote their critical thinking tendency, or enhance their engagement in learning, so we investigated them in this research. A total of 90 students, 30 in each group, participated in it. They reported their progress at four stages every other week, received peer, teacher, and self-feedback respectively for 10 weeks, and submitted their finalized review articles in week 14. Before the treatment, we evaluated the students’ writing proficiency and critical thinking tendency through a pre-test and a pre-questionnaire survey. After the treatment, we evaluated their collaborative writing products and conducted a post-questionnaire survey to measure their critical thinking tendency and behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement in learning. The results indicated that technology-enhanced peer and teacher feedback were significantly more effective than self-feedback in assisting collaborative writing; peer and self-feedback were significantly more effective than teacher feedback in promoting critical thinking tendency, enhancing behavioral and emotional engagement in learning; and teacher feedback was significantly more effective than self-feedback in enhancing cognitive engagement in learning. We also conducted semi-structured interviews to investigate their perception of the three feedback types and the technology-enhanced feedback-assisted collaborative writing experience. Most students enjoyed the writing experience and regarded the use of digital tools effective for its implementation. Based on these results, we suggest that teachers implement more technology-enhanced peer and self-feedback assisted collaborative writing.
Visual variables and configuration of software maps
Authors: Limberger Daniel , Scheibel Willy , Döllner Jürgen , Trapp Matthias
Published: September 2022

Software maps provide a general-purpose interactive user interface and information display in software analytics. This paper classifies software maps as a containment-based treemap embedded into a 3D attribute space and introduces respective terminology. It provides a comprehensive overview of advanced visual metaphors and techniques, each suitable for interactive visual analytics tasks. The metaphors and techniques are briefly described, located within a visualization pipeline model, and considered within a software map design space. The general expressiveness and applicability of visual variables are detailed and discussed. Consequent applications and use cases for different software system data and software engineering data are discussed, arguing for the versatile use of software maps in visual software analytics.
Familial and Bullying Victimisation: The Impact of Early Adversity Within the Home and Peer Settings on Late Adolescence and Adult Psychopathology
Authors: Bond N.I. , McLafferty M. , Lapsley C. , Ennis E. , Murray E. , Heenan D. , O’Neill S.M.
Published: September 2022

Background

Awareness of adverse childhood experiences and their impact on adult psychopathology primarily focuses on adversities within the home. There is limited insight into the impact of adversities across peer environments.

Objective

This study investigates 19 items related to adverse experiences across the home, school and peer environments and their relationship to 12-month and lifetime psychopathology.

Data

Secondary analysis of the Ulster University Student Well-being Study. The dataset included completed responses across all selected variables for 729 participants.

Method and Results

Latent profile analysis identified a low adversity profile, bullying adversity profile and higher prevalence adversity profile. Regression analysis of the three profiles and demographics variables indicated their impact on adult psychopathology lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates.

Conclusion

Schools and HE institutions should acknowledge the impact of childhood adversities. In doing so, it is important to consider the deeper impact of bullying due to its links with psychopathology across the lifespan. Educational institutions should take appropriate steps to mitigate continued exposure as students’ progress through the education system.
Sportengagement von Mädchen mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund – Analyse der Entwicklung auf Basis der SOEP-Jugendbefragungen 2000–2018
Authors: Gehrmann Sebastian , Kraus Christine-Irene , Fast Natalia , Kleindienst-Cachay Christa , Kastrup Valerie
Published: September 2022

Es konnte vielfach empirisch nachgewiesen werden, dass sich das Vorhandensein eines Migrationshintergrunds bei Mädchen im Jugendalter negativ auf ein Sportengagement in organisierter Form auswirkt. Dennoch existieren Forschungslücken, die mit den Analysen der vorliegenden Studie geschlossen werden sollen. Es wird überprüft, (1) wie sich die Beteiligung am (organisierten) Sport von 2000 bis 2018 entwickelt, (2) welche sozialstrukturellen Faktoren die Beteiligung der Gruppe der Mädchen mit Migrationshintergrund beeinflussen und (3) welche Sportarten ausgeübt werden. Diesen Fragen wird quantitativ-empirisch mit Daten des Sozioökonomischen Panels (SOEP) nachgegangen, wobei die Fragen (1) und (3) mit deskriptiven Verfahren und Frage (2) mit einer binär-logistischen Regressionsanalyse zu beantworten versucht werden. Für die Analyse stehen Daten von 954 Mädchen mit und 2616 ohne Migrationshintergrund, die in Deutschland leben, zur Verfügung.

Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Mädchen mit Migrationshintergrund seltener Sport treiben als Mädchen ohne und sich diese Quoten auch im Zeitvergleich nicht annähern. Vor allem türkeistämmige Mädchen und solche aus Ländern der ehemaligen Sowjetunion partizipieren seltener. Auf der anderen Seite erhöht der Besuch einer Gesamtschule und vor allem eines Gymnasiums die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass Mädchen mit Migrationshintergrund organisiert Sport ausüben, deutlich. Mädchen mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund üben im Zeitverlauf häufiger Fitnesssport aus, wohingegen Ballsportarten zurückgehen, bei Mädchen mit Migrationshintergrund ist dieser Trend noch stärker.
Constitutional equality and executive action – a comparative perspective to the comparator problem
Authors: Chng Kenny
Published: September 2022

A general right to equality is a common feature of written constitutions around the world. Interesting questions arise when one seeks to apply such rights to discrete executive acts. The subject of such acts has necessarily been singled out from a multitude of possibilities for the purposes of the act. To determine whether a differentiation has occurred such that like cases have not been treated alike, to what or whom should this subject be compared? The question of how one selects the proper comparator becomes especially significant when one notes that whether the equal protection guarantee is triggered at all depends on the answer to this question. This paper will study how courts in Hong Kong and Singapore have addressed these difficulties. It argues that three categories of approaches can be discerned in these jurisdictions: class-focused, policy-focused, and justification-focused approaches. It critically evaluates each approach, argues in favour of a justification-focused approach to constitutional equal protection in the context of discrete executive acts, and explores the implications of such an approach for the proper relationship between constitutional equality and administrative law.
Sur le potentiel de croissance du Parti conservateur du Québec
Authors: Déry Axel , Bibeau Alexis , Cadieux Hubert , Dufresne Yannick
Published: September 2022

Depuis un an, le Parti conservateur du Québec (PCQ) a fait des gains considérables dans les sondages d'intention de vote. Le parti peut-il encore faire des gains ou a-t-il atteint son plein potentiel? Dans cette note de recherche, nous tentons de répondre à cette question en utilisant un nouvel indicateur, l'index relatif de confiance (IRC), qui permet de mesurer le potentiel de croissance et la solidité du vote des partis.
A flexible wearable e-skin sensing system for robotic teleoperation
Authors: Zhong Chuanyu , Zhao Shumi , Liu Yang , Li Zhijun , Kan Zhen , Feng Ying
Published: September 2022

Electronic skin (e-skin) is playing an increasingly important role in health detection, robotic teleoperation, and human-machine interaction, but most e-skins currently lack the integration of on-site signal acquisition and transmission modules. In this paper, we develop a novel flexible wearable e-skin sensing system with 11 sensing channels for robotic teleoperation. The designed sensing system is mainly composed of three components: e-skin sensor, customized flexible printed circuit (FPC), and human-machine interface. The e-skin sensor has 10 stretchable resistors distributed at the proximal and metacarpal joints of each finger respectively and 1 stretchable resistor distributed at the purlicue. The e-skin sensor can be attached to the opisthenar, and thanks to its stretchability, the sensor can detect the bent angle of the finger. The customized FPC, with WiFi module, wirelessly transmits the signal to the terminal device with human-machine interface, and we design a graphical user interface based on the Qt framework for real-time signal acquisition, storage, and display. Based on this developed e-skin system and self-developed robotic multi-fingered hand, we conduct gesture recognition and robotic multi-fingered teleoperation experiments using deep learning techniques and obtain a recognition accuracy of 91.22%. The results demonstrate that the developed e-skin sensing system has great potential in human-machine interaction.
Three Models of Noncooperative Oligopoly in Markets with a Continuum of Traders
Authors: Busetto Francesca , Codognato Giulio , Ghosal Sayantan
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we reconstruct the main developments of the theory of noncooperative oligopoly in general equilibrium, by focusing on the analysis of three prototypical models for pure exchange economies: the model of Cournot-Walras equilibrium of Codognato and Gabszewicz (1991); the model of Cournot-Nash equilibrium originally proposed by Lloyd S. Shapley and known as window model; the model of Cournot-Walras equilibrium of Busetto et al. (2008). We establish, in a systematic way, the relationship between the three notions of equilibrium proposed in these models and the notion of Walras equilibrium. Then, we investigate the relationships among those three notions of equilibrium.
Strategic Interactions and Atoms’ Power in Public Goods Economies
Authors: Perets Hovav , Shitovitz Benyamin
Published: September 2022

In this paper we study the Nash equilibrium in a smooth public goods economy, described as a non-cooperative game, where the set of players is a mixed measure space of consumers. We assume a finite number of private goods. We show that under certain conditions there exists a unique Nash equilibrium in the economy, where the public goods are produced with a linear technology. Moreover, we discuss the difference in market power between an atomless sector and an atom with the same utility function, and an atom with its split atomless sector, both in a pure exchange economy and a public goods economy.
Voluntary Provision of a Public Good in a Strategic Market Game
Authors: Lahiri Somdeb
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mutual compatibility of voluntary provision of public good and strategic behavior of consumers in the market for private goods. We study the existence of equilibrium private provision of a public good within general strategic equilibrium framework with a finite number of players. The mechanism for the provision of public good follows the one due to Bergstrom, Blume and Varian (1986) and the trading mechanism for private goods follows the strategic market game with wash sales due to Dubey and Shubik (1986). The new result of the paper is the demonstration of existence of an equilibrium point in pure strategies for finite number of players. Due to the existence of trivial equilibria at which all markets are closed, equilibrium points are constructed as limits of sequences of ε- equilibria of perturbed games.
Monetary Policy Deliberations: Committee Size and Voting Rules
Authors: Maurin Vincent , Vidal Jean-Pierre
Published: September 2022

How large should a monetary policy committee be? Which voting rule should a monetary policy committee adopt? This paper builds on Condorcet's jury theorem to analyse the relationships between committee size and voting rules in a model where policy discussions are subject to a time constraint. It suggests that in large committees majority voting is likely to enhance policy outcomes. Under unanimity (consensus) it is preferable to limit the size of the committee. Finally, supermajority voting rules are social contrivances that contribute to policy performance in a more uncertain environment, when initial policy proposals are less likely to be correct, or when payoffs are asymmetric.
Facteurs et indices de stabilisation et d’urbanisation à
Usumbura (Ruanda-Urundi)
Authors: van de Walle Etienne
Published: September 2022

Dans une remarquable étude sur l’urbanisation, la détribalisation et la
stabilisation, J. Clyde Mitchell souligne le danger qu’il y a de confondre
l’usage de ces termes. Il propose : « que l’on ne parle de « stabilisation »
que dans le cas des Africains établis à demeure en ville; que le mot
«urbanisation» désigne le développement de normes et de modes de
comportement particuliers aux régions urbaines, et que «détribalisation»
s’il faut recourir à ce terme, soit employé en principe dans le sens de :
abandon des normes de comportement tribales en faveur des normes
occidentales».

La confusion des termes risque en effet d’entraîner une assimilation des
concepts, alors que rien n’indique que l’Africain installé de façon durable
en ville serait détribalisé dans le sens qu’il ne reconnaîtrait plus
l’autorité de son ancien chef coutumier ou aurait rompu les contacts avec sa
famille restée au lieu d’origine. Rien ne prouve non plus a
priori que l’indigène qui a rompu ces liens pour se fixer en
ville, ait adopté des modes de comportement d’inspiration occidentale.
Les finances privées en 1960
Authors: Masoin Maurice
Published: September 2022

L’année 1960 soumit l’économie belge à de dures épreuves.

Du point de vue économique, l’année avait débuté sous des auspices assez
favorables, encore que l’économie belge ne connut point la vivacité de
l’essor dont bénéficiaient certains pays voisins. Cette reprise, succédant à
la crise de 1959, avait provoqué une expansion des crédits privés, — à
laquelle s’ajouta d’ailleurs celle des crédits à l’Etat, — ménagés par les
banques, si bien que l’ensemble des moyens de paiements disponibles dans
l’économie avait enregistré une augmentation sensible, tout au moins sous la
forme de dépôts bancaires. Le taux d’escompte de 4% établi par la Banque
Nationale à la fin de 1959, visait apparemment à mettre le marché belge en
équilibre avec les grands marchés monétaires : les Etats-Unis, l’Allemagne
et la France, où les taux officiels atteignaient exactement les mêmes
montants, plutôt qu’à exercer une action contraignante sur l’évolution du
crédit en Belgique. La Banque Nationale de Belgique se préoccupa plus,
semble-t-il, en ce début de l’année 1960, de reconstituer ses encaisses
extérieures, qui avaient été entamées en 1959, que d’intervenir sur le
marché intérieur. Elle y réussit d’ailleurs largement. Le crédit privé
distribué par l’Institut d’émission se réduisit à des niveaux insignifiants
qui représentèrent, à certains moments, 1,7 pour cent à peine de la monnaie
fiduciaire, dont il était responsable.

Les taux d’intérêt à court comme à long terme montraient une stabilité,
sinon même une détente.
Prix, consommation, balance et revenus
Authors: Baudhuin Fernand
Published: September 2022

L’allure des prix de gros devait nécessairement refléter la
tendance qui prévaut sur le marché mondial. A cet égard, une anomalie a été
fréquemment soulignée : la conjoncture en hausse n’a pas été accompagnée
d’une hausse du prix des matières, les coûts de production ayant baissé
progressivement. C’est ainsi qu’en Belgique, le niveau général des prix de
gros était légèrement inférieur à la fin de 1960, à ce qu’il était à la fin
de 1959.

Pourtant, les produits du règne animal ont renchéri, mais ceci a été
neutralisé par la baisse des produits végétaux. Par ailleurs, on a noté la
baisse sensible des prix du caoutchouc, ainsi que des peaux et cuirs.