bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toxicity, mutagenicity, and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient atmosphere and flue gas
Authors: Pan Shih Yu , Wu Ya Syuan , Chen Yu-Cheng , Hsu Yen-Shun , Lin Yu Chi , Hung Pao Chen , Chou Charles C.-K. , Chantara Somporn , Hsu Yuan Cheng , Chi Kai Hsien
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to assess the characteristics of particulate matter (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from various stationary and mobile emission sources in Taiwan, with a focus on source apportionment and associated health risks. The northern power plant, equipped with bag filters operating at 150 °C, had significantly lower FPM and CPM levels (0.44 and 0.13 mg/m3, respectively) compared to the central and southern power plants, which used electrostatic precipitators operating at 250 °C (FPM, 1.45–8.35 mg/m3; CPM, 2.37–3.73 mg/m3). Additionally, emissions from diesel vehicles under both idle and high-speed conditions exhibited higher FPM levels (3.46–4.67 mg/m3) than gasoline vehicles (0.19–0.40 mg/m3). In terms of PAH toxicity, diesel vehicle emissions had significantly higher BaP-TEQ (87.3 ng/m3) and BaP-MEQ (25.9 ng/m3) levels compared to power plants (BaP-TEQ, 5.49 ng/m3; BaP-MEQ, 2.65 ng/m3). The highest ambient concentrations of PM2.5, BaP-TEQ, and BaP-MEQ were recorded at traffic sites, with values of 48 ± 36 µg/m3, 0.29 ng/m3, and 0.11 ng/m3, respectively. Differences in PAH distributions between stationary and mobile sources were influenced by factors such as pollution control technologies, combustion temperatures, and fuel types. Diesel vehicle emissions were dominated by benzo[g,h,i]perylene (BghiP), indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (IND), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) under idle conditions, while phenanthrene (PA), pyrene (Pyr), and BghiP were prevalent under high-speed conditions. Source apportionment conducted using principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) identified diesel and gasoline vehicles as the dominant contributors to atmospheric PAHs in Taiwan, accounting for 38% of the total, followed by coal-fired power plants at 35%. The highest lifetime excess cancer risk (ECR) of 2.5 × 10⁻5 was observed in traffic-dense areas, emphasizing the public health implications of vehicle emissions. The study adds credibility to the source apportionment findings, and the health risk analysis highlights variations across different regions, including traffic, urban, rural, and background zones.
The limits of curiosity? New evidence for the roles of metacognitive abilities and curiosity in learning
Authors: Chen Xiaoyun , Twomey Katherine E. , Hayes Miranda , Westermann Gert
Published: November 2024

The current study investigated how metacognitive abilities such as Knowledge Confidence (subjective prior knowledge estimate) and Correctness Confidence (appraisal of the likelihood of closing the gap) relate to curiosity, and examined the roles of these metacognitive measures and curiosity in learning. Using a blurred picture paradigm in which participants viewed blurred pictures and provided their metacognitive and curiosity estimates, the current study identified distinct connections between Knowledge Confidence, Correctness Confidence and curiosity. Our finding suggests that when Knowledge Confidence is at low or medium levels, curiosity is particularly heightened. In contrast, Correctness Confidence linearly influences curiosity such that the higher the Correctness Confidence, the greater the curiosity. We also find that learning is best predicted by a learner’s metacognitive appraisal of their knowledge gap, especially when they are on the verge of knowing, and this learning effect is independent of curiosity. These findings provide new evidence for the role of curiosity and metacognition in learning, highlighting limits of the effect of curiosity on learning.
Cosmopolitan identity, authority, and domestic support of international organizations
Authors: Schlipphak Bernd , Schäfer Constantin , Treib Oliver
Published: November 2024

What effect does the institutional design of international organizations (IOs) have on their domestic support? In this article, we focus on interactions between citizens’ social identity and institutional characteristics that may have the potential to polarize citizens’ IO attitudes. We argue that citizens’ cosmopolitan identity makes them react in diametrically opposed ways to IO settings on the authority dimension. Transferring more authority to an IO may make citizens with higher levels of cosmopolitan identity more supportive of the IO, while citizens with lower levels of cosmopolitan identity should become even more skeptical. We test our expectations by conducting a factorial survey experiment in six different countries. The empirical results support our argument. As cosmopolitan identity is strongly connected to the newly evolving domestic cleavage regarding international cooperation and global governance, reforms to IO authority settings thus have the potential to further increase the polarization of domestic attitudes toward IOs.
Berufsbiografische Identitätsarbeit von Schulpädagogikprofessor:innen vor dem Hintergrund des Schulpraxiserfordernisses – eine explorative Interviewstudie
Authors: Rübben Ricarda
Published: November 2024

Die Relationierung von Wissenschafts- und Berufsfeldbezug in der Lehrer:innenbildung hat nicht nur eine inhalts-, sondern auch eine personenbezogene Seite: In den meisten deutschen Bundesländern besteht formal das Schulpraxiserfordernis als zusätzliches Kriterium für die Berufung auf eine schulpädagogische Professur. Der Beitrag präsentiert vor diesem Hintergrund Ergebnisse einer Interviewstudie mit Schulpädagogikprofessor:innen, die über (keine) eigene(n) schulpraktische(n) Erfahrungen verfügen, und rekonstruiert vier Typen berufsbiografischer Identitätsarbeit: konservierend, kompensierend, transformierend und opponierend. Die eigene Berufsbiografie steht dabei im Dienst der selbstlegitimierenden Identitätsarbeit, wenngleich auch andere wahrgenommene Normen sich als bedeutsam zeigen. Die Ergebnisse werden vor dem Hintergrund disziplinpolitischer Diskurse diskutiert.
Controlling spheroid attachment improves pancreatic beta cell differentiation from human iPS cells
Authors: Horikawa Ayumi , Michiue Tatsuo
Published: November 2024

Regenerative medicine using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is available for treating type 1 diabetes; however, the efficiency and maturation of hiPSC differentiation into pancreatic beta cells requires improvement. Various protocols, including three-dimensional (3D) culture, have been developed to improve differentiation efficiency and maturation. Several methods for 3D culture have been reported; however, they require costly and complicated equipment, special materials, and complicated operations. To solve these problems, we developed a simple 3D culture method under static conditions using a cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) characterized by high moisture barrier properties, low surface energy, and hydrophobicity. Using this 3D method and our simple and low-cost protocol, we found that differentiation into the definitive endoderm (DE) was better when the spheroids were attached. Therefore, upon the addition of Y-27632, attached spheroids with unique shapes and cavities were formed, and the differentiation efficiency into DE increased. During DE differentiation, the attachment of spheroids to the substrate and their subsequent floating improved differentiation efficiency. We found that the amount of C-peptide in spheroids differentiated using COP dishes was greater than that in rotary culture. Furthermore, INSULIN was highly expressed in areas with low cell density, suggesting that the unique shape of the spheroids made from COP dishes improved differentiation efficiency. Our study suggests that a device-free, simple 3D culture method that controls spheroid attachment improves the efficiency of hiPSC differentiation into pancreatic beta cells.
A Contemporary Review of Surgical Options in Laryngotracheal Stenosis
Authors: Śladowska Julia , Rzepakowska Anna
Published: November 2024

Upper airway stenosis is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur at the level of the larynx, trachea, or multiple sites. It compromises breathing, coughing up secretions or voice production. To date, a wide range of endoscopic and open procedures have been described. Different techniques involve variable decannulation times, recurrence rates or complications. Improved breathing is a major concern for each method. However, other laryngeal functions should also be maintained with optimal voice quality and swallowing function. All these features create a constant challenge for stenosis surgery and, consequently, the need to verify and improve existing methods. A literature review was performed to provide an overview of the different treatment methods utilized in particular localizations. Supraglottic stenosis has a high rate of recurrence; nevertheless, it has a better prognosis than glottic or subglottic stenosis does. In this location, endoscopic surgery is preferable because of its decreased morbidity and optimal wound healing. Glottic stenosis includes bilateral vocal fold palsy (BVFP) and anterior and posterior glottic stenosis. Endoscopic resection combined with readhesion-reducing treatment is recommended for less advanced scars. Endoscopic laterofixation is a safe and easy method to perform for BVFP when there is potential for functional recurrence. Posterior cordotomy with partial arytenoidectomy is selected for patients with persistent disease. Subglottic stenosis is graded according to the Cotton–Myer classification, and open surgical procedures are more successful than endoscopic procedures in terms of decannulation rates and disease-free recurrence periods. The current guidelines concerning the treatment of LTS are still heterogeneous and cover a wide spectrum of procedures. Consequently, the therapy should be tailored individually to the patient, and the operator should be familiar with advantages related to different approaches. Future protocol development requires the standardization of qualification criteria and the verification of respiratory, voice and swallowing results.
The Concept of Innate Sexual Priors in the Brain: A Theory on Why We Are Attracted to What We Are Attracted to
Authors: Abé Christoph
Published: November 2024

Sexuality is an integral part of human nature, yet we know little about its origins and underlying mechanisms. Understanding how the brain processes sexual stimuli is crucial for advancing our knowledge of the origins of sexuality and its variations. Only if a stimulus was internally evaluated as ‘attractive’ the information can progress to evoke sexual desire or arousal. Importantly, such evaluation processes require an internal reference against which external information is compared. These processes, however, remain largely unexplored, and hence we still do not understand why we are attracted to what we are attracted to. By synthesizing the existing literature and integrating existing models, this narrative review proposes a novel neuroscientific framework on sexuality, addressing key theoretical gaps. As a result, the concept of sexual priors in the brain is introduced. Within this framework, sexual priors refer to mental ‘images’ representing a collection of internally stored information of what we regard as sexually attractive. Such mental representations act as reference in early internal evaluation processes of sexual stimuli. It is suggested that sexual priors are (partly) innate and sex-specific, contributing to heterosexuality. Evolutionary aspects that could explain the development of these priors are discussed. Furthermore, the framework provides possible explanations for variations in sexual orientation through potential cross-sex shifts in sexual prior content. The refinement of sexual prior content over time may explain the diversity of sexual interests and attraction patterns among humans. Moreover, the concept can be applied to a variety of psychiatric conditions related to atypical and maladaptive sexual behaviors. A proposition is put forward regarding brain areas and networks that may be involved in the formation of sexual priors, serving as potential targets for future research. In summary, by integrating sexual priors into models of sexual stimuli processing, this article fills theoretical gaps while inspiring further research. This work aims to enhance understanding of sexuality, which ultimately could increase social awareness, foster tolerance, and promote psychological well-being.
Prognostic model development using novel genetic signature associated with adenosine metabolism and immune status for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chen Yidan , Wang Kemei , Zhang Xingyun , Tao Dongying , Shang Yulong , Wang Ping , Li Qiang , Liu Yansheng
Published: November 2024

The high mortality rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is partly due to advanced diagnosis, emphasizing the need for effective predictive tools in HCC treatment. The aim of this study is to propose a novel prognostic model for HCC based on adenosine metabolizing genes and explore the potential relationship between them. Regression analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes associated with adenosine metabolism in HCC patients using RNA sequencing data obtained from a public database. Adenosine metabolism-related risk score (AMrisk) was derived using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression and verified using another database. Changes in adenosine metabolism in HCC were analyzed using functional enrichment analysis and multiple immune scores. The gene expression levels in patient samples were validated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Thirty adenosine metabolism-related differentially expressed genes were identified in HCC, and six genes (ADA, P2RY4, P2RY6, RPIA, SLC6A3, and VEGFA) were used to calculate the AMrisk score; the higher the risk scores, the lower the overall survival. Moreover, immune infiltration activation and immune checkpoints were considerably higher in the high-risk group. Additional in vitro experiments validated the enhanced expression of these six genes in HCC. The established predictive model demonstrated that adenosine metabolism-related genes was significantly associated with prognosis in HCC patients.
An Application of Item Response Theory for Agricultural Sustainability Measurement
Authors: Beadle Brian , Brosig Stephan , Wunder Christoph
Published: November 2024

The concept of agricultural sustainability has been evolving since the mid-twentieth century. However, there is still not a universally accepted method for its measurement. Strong data requirements are a major obstacle to developing a useful farm-level sustainability index. We propose using item response theory models to generate a farm-level agricultural sustainability index. Item response theory models have several advantages over existing methods, the most important of which is that our index is independent of the variables used in the model. As such, farm-level sustainability scores can be estimated with readily available data and compared across different sets of variables from multiple regions. We use data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network and other secondary sources to estimate a farm-level index in Germany. In line with the literature, the results of our estimations indicate a positive relationship between farm size and sustainability, higher levels of sustainability for crop and mixed farming systems, and below-average performance for livestock farms and vineyards. We further test the sensitivity of the index against randomly missing data and simulate a scale linking procedure that tests the flexibility in measuring multiple regions with different data sets, finding that the index is generally robust in both analyses. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online.
Identification of trait-associated microRNA modules in liver transcriptome of pig fed with PUFAs-enriched supplementary diet
Authors: Pareek C. S. , Sachajko M. , Kalra G. , Sultana S. , Szostak A. , Chalaskiewicz K. , Kepka-Borkowska K. , Poławska E. , Ogłuszka M. , Pierzchała D. , Starzyński R. , Taniguchi H. , Juszczuk-Kubiak E. , Lepczyński A. , Ślaska B. , Kozera W. , Czarnik U. , Wysocki P. , Kadarmideen H. N. , Te Pas M. F. W. , Szyda J. , Pierzchała M.
Published: November 2024

Dietary lipids provide energy, are cellular structural components, and are involved in physiological processes. Lipids are the dietary source in supplementary diet experiments in pigs. This study aims to investigate the dietary effects of PUFAs on the hepatic transcriptome and physiological pathways of two diets on two pig breeds. Polish Landrace (PL: n = 6) and six PLxDuroc (PLxD: n = 6) pigs were fed with a normal diet (n = 3) or PUFAs-enriched healthy diet (n = 3), and the hepatic miRNA profiles were studied for weighted gene co-expression network analysis biological interactions between gene networks and metabolic pathways of DE miRNA genes. The study identified trait-associated modules that were significantly associated with four phenotypic traits in the dietary groups of PL and PLxD: meat colour (a*), shoulder subcutaneous fat thickness, conductivity 24 h post-mortem (PE24), and ashes. Trait-wise, a large set of co-expressed miRNAs of porcine liver were identified in these trait-associated significant modules (9, 7, 2, and 8) in PL and PLxD. Each module is represented by a module eigengene (ME). Forty-four miRNAs out of 94 miRNAs interacted with 6719 statistically significant target genes with a target score > 90. The GO/pathway analysis showed association with pathways including regulation of metallopeptidase activity, sebaceous gland development, collagen fibril organization, WNT signalling, epithelial tube morphogenesis, etc. The study showed the differences in miRNA expression between the dietary groups of PL and PLxD breeds. Hub genes of discovered miRNA clusters can be considered predicted miRNA genes associated with PE24, meat colour, shoulder subcutaneous fat thickness, and ashes. Discovered target genes for miRNA clusters play significant roles in biological functions such as (i) muscle and body growth development, (ii) different cellular processes and developments, (iii) system development, and (iv) metabolic processes.
Association of pedigree indexes and genomic breeding values with the performance of Polish Holstein–Friesian cows
Authors: Strabel Tomasz
Published: November 2024

Pedigree indices (PI) and genomically enhanced breeding values (GBV) of Polish Holstein–Friesian heifers were compared with their future performance. Phenotypes of 15,794 cows from 294 herds were analyzed. The traits evaluated included milk, fat and protein yield, somatic cell score (SCC), stature, overall udder and feet and legs score, heifer conception rate, and longevity. PI and GBV were from official evaluation systems, and performance records were adjusted for non-genetic effects. Correlations between breeding values and adjusted phenotypes were analyzed. Additionally, cows within each herd were divided into quartiles based on their breeding values, and the performance of cows from the top and bottom quartiles was compared. For production traits, similar analyses were conducted separately for high and low milk-producing herds to check for possible genotype by environment interaction. The analyses confirmed the significant correlation between breeding values and cow performance. Incorporating genomic information into PI significantly improved the predictive accuracy for milk, fat, and protein yields, as well as for SCC and stature, with increases ranging from 34 to 64%. Comparisons of cows’ performance from the top and bottom quartiles supported these observations for all these traits except protein yield, with differences in performance being 43–92% greater when cows were ranked by GBV instead of PI. In a more productive environment, greater differences in performance were found between the top and bottom quartiles. These findings suggest that Polish breeders can enhance the outcomes of their breeding decisions by using GBV instead of PI. This change offers particular benefits in improving the predictability of future performance for the most economically important traits such as milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, somatic cell score, and stature.
Effect of ambient conditions in friction surfacing
Authors: Hoffmann M. , Duda E. A. , Aspes P. , Klusemann B.
Published: November 2024

Friction surfacing (FS) is a solid-state deposition process in which layers are deposited on a substrate surface by frictional heat and severe plastic deformation of a consumable stud material below its melting temperature. Bonding occurs due to accelerated diffusion. The deposition of several layers on top of each other is referred to as multi-layer FS (MLFS), a promising candidate for additive manufacturing (AM) as it offers advantages over fusion-based AM. In this study, the MLFS process for the precipitation-hardenable alloy AA2024 is investigated regarding the influence of environmental process conditions, i.e., preheating of the substrate like other AM processes as well as underwater and room temperature experiments. The influence of ambient conditions on the process behavior, the layer geometries, the microstructure, and the mechanical properties is shown. Preheating the substrate leads to an overall higher process temperature (424.1 °C), resulting in thinner and wider layers, larger grains, an overaged microstructure, and a smooth hardness transition in the MLFS stacks from top (140 HV0.1) to bottom (95 HV0.1). The lower the process temperatures, e.g., for underwater FS (326.5 °C), the thicker and less wide the layers and the smaller the grains. The hardness shows a periodic pattern at the layer interface, which is more pronounced at lower process temperatures, i.e., the hardness values range from 100 HV0.1 to 150 HV0.1.
An Analytical Framework for In-Plane Two-Impulse Transfers Between Lissajous Orbits
Authors: Shimazaki Takuto , Kawakatsu Yasuhiro
Published: November 2024

This paper presents an analytical framework for in-plane two-impulse transfers between two Lissajous orbits around a single collinear libration point in the linearized circular restricted three-body problem. Based on the categorization of orbits near a collinear libration point in the linearized dynamics, we formulate two-impulse transfers as a two-point boundary value problem with a fixed time of flight (ToF). We explicitly derive and numerically verify the solution, along with its subsets corresponding to transfers involving asymptotic invariant manifolds. Additionally, we derive some general properties of solutions, including the inherent constraints arising from the limited distribution of invariant manifolds are identified and compared to their single-impulse counterparts. We further investigate the relation between the performance and the constraints of two-impulse transfers by numerically evaluating the cost of maneuvers for amplitude-decreasing transfers. Our main results demonstrate improved feasibility compared to the single-impulse transfers with minimum additional cost for a relatively large ToF, regardless of the size of the amplitude size, as well as the existence of a lower bound on the cost similar to the one found in the single-impulse case.
All you need is [somebody’s] love “third-party reproduction” and the existential density of biological affinity
Authors: Madureira Diogo Morais Sarmento
Published: November 2024

What is the true significance of biological kinship? During the last decades, it seemed to be uncontroversial that abandoned and even adopted people feel the negative impact of biological parents’ absence throughout life in several ways (Miller et al. 2000; Keyes, Margaret A., Anu Sharma, Irene J Elkins, and William G. Iacono, Matt McGue. 2008. The Mental Health of US Adolescents Adopted in Infancy. Archive Pediatric Adolescense Medicine 162(5): 419–425.). However, in the case of people conceived via “third-party reproduction”, especially in sperm donation, the disruption of the kinship network derived from natural bonds tends to be presented as something irrelevant. This article disputes that assumption, explores its relationship with a deconstructivist vision that presents kinship as a purely social construct and defends the personal and existential value of a person’s biological bonds with her parents. While analysing the anthropological shift inherent to the way some political discourses present the nuclear family and heterologous biotechnology, it proposes renewed philosophical attention on the significance of filiation and human affinity. This article argues for the density of genealogical ties and defends that the consecration of an individual “right to a child”, namely (but not exclusively) through the normalised access to sperm banks, is incompatible with the rights of the child, since it deprives people from knowing not only who but also how is their father.
Analysis of future water demands in Al-Madinah (1990–2030) based on the modified IPAT model and sheared socio-economic pathways scenarios
Authors: Alharbi Ohood , Sakai Marco , McClean Colin
Published: November 2024

Arid regions such as Saudi Arabia are facing water scarcity and availability issues and experiencing growing pressure by rapid water consumption. Determining the main driving forces contributing to rising water demands and future water demand prediction are considered the cornerstone for developing a good sustainable management plan. Al-Madinah city was chosen as a case study. In this study, the population, affluence, and technology (IPAT) model has been modified to apply in the water sector to analyse water needs in Al-Madinah from 1990 to 2020 and examines factors including population, GDP-per capita, agricultural lands/GDP and built-up area/agricultural lands. In addition, Sheared Socio-economic Scenarios (SSPs) have been developed to predict water demands in Al-Madinah from 2020 to 2030. The results confirm that population was the most important in explaining water consumption trends. Moreover, water demand under all IPCC_ SSP scenarios is expected to increase by between 17 to 28%. The scenarios of SSP3 and SSP4 are projected to experience an increase in water demands by an average of 25% and 26%, respectively. In contrast, the water demand is forecasted to lower under the SSP1 and SSP5 by around 20% and 17%, respectively. This evaluation could highly reinforce and improve sustainable water resource management strategies, which have recently become increasingly essential to face growing water challenges and demands.
The distribution of non-Parry Perron numbers and their conjugates
Authors: Hichri Hachem , Smyth Chris
Published: November 2024

We prove that the set of Perron numbers that are not Parry numbers is dense in the interval $$(1,\infty )$$

(
1
,
∞
)

and that the set of all Galois conjugates of such numbers is dense in the whole complex plane. While the Parry numbers themselves are known also to be dense in $$(1,\infty )$$

(
1
,
∞
)

, their conjugates are known from work of Solomyak and others to be much more restricted: they are confined to a subset of the disc $$|z|<(1+\sqrt{5})/2$$

|
z
|
<
(
1
+

5

)
/
2

. Our work is in response to a remark of Akiyama, drawing attention to our lack of knowledge about non-Parry Perron numbers and their conjugates.
Urologische Herausforderungen nach operativer Angleichung bei transmaskulinen Menschen
Authors: Feicke Antje
Published: November 2024

Kombinierte Urethrophalloplastik oder Metaidoioplastik sowie Schwellkörperprothetik sind für einige transmaskuline Menschen Teil der medizinischen Transition, um ihre geschlechtsdysphorischen Symptome zu reduzieren. Kombinierte Urethrophalloplastiken sind, bedingt durch Gewebetransfer mit mikrochirurgischer Gefässanastomosierung, sehr komplex und komplikationsträchtig. Die häufigsten Komplikationen sind hierbei urethrokutane Fisteln und rezidivierende Urethrastrikturen. Die Implantation von Schwellkörperprothesen in den Neophallus ist ebenfalls ein anspruchsvoller und komplikationsträchtiger Eingriff. Durch die Entpathologisierung der Diagnose Geschlechtsinkongruenz (GI) und die wachsende gesellschaftliche Akzeptanz nehmen Menschen mit Genderinkongruenz vermehrt medizinische Transitionsschritte in Anspruch. Dadurch nimmt auch der Anteil an transmaskulinen Menschen in der hausärztlichen und urologischen Praxis zu. Dieser Artikel setzt sich mit den Herausforderungen bei der Behandlung von urethrokutanen Fisteln, Urethrastrikturen und bei der Implantation von Schwellkörperprothesen bei transmaskulinen Männern auseinander.
Aktuelle Herausforderungen in der Philosophie der Liebe und Sexualität
Authors: Kühler Michael , Schweiger Gottfried
Published: November 2024

(Romantische) Liebe und Sexualität sind zweifelsohne von großer existentieller Bedeutung für alle Menschen. Zugleich sind sie eingelassen und bestimmt von sozialen Normen und Praktiken, die kulturell und historisch variieren. In der Philosophie gibt es in den letzten Jahren ein gesteigertes Interesse an Liebe und Sexualität, welches sich sowohl auf Fragen ihrer Definition, ihres (moralischen) Werts, der mit ihnen verbundenen Ethik als auch ihrer sozialen und politischen Ordnung bezieht. Die in diesem Schwerpunkt versammelten Beiträge reflektieren die vielfältigen und komplexen Zusammenhänge von Liebe, Sexualität, sozialen Normen und Identität. Sie regen dazu an, tradierte Konzepte und gesellschaftliche Strukturen kritisch zu hinterfragen und alternative Ansätze zu entwickeln, und sie verdeutlichen, wie produktiv die gegenwärtige philosophische Debatte zu Liebe und Sexualität ist und welche Potenziale sie für die Weiterentwicklung zukünftiger Diskurse bietet.
Successful aging and older adults’ health outcomes through outdoor-based interventions like adventure therapy: A scoping review
Authors: Mueller Kaitlin E. , Thomas Allie
Published: November 2024

Outdoor-based interventions, like adventure therapy, have numerous positive benefits, yet current literature is inconclusive on this topic regarding older adult participants. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore health outcomes for older adults engaging in outdoor-based interventions, including adventure therapy. A scoping review was conducted using 20 databases and specific journals, and a staged blinded review. The resulting data was synthesized into three groups that align with the components of successful aging: Prevention of disease/disability, retaining good physical/cognitive functioning, and active engagement. From these findings, implications for allied health professionals and experiential educators are discussed, and future research directions are recommended.
Enhancing behavioral assessment: utilizing the BASC-3 student observation system in educational settings in Qatar
Authors: Al-Hendawi Maha , Al-Maadadi Fatima , Al-Khater Hanadi , Alodat Ali , Bataineh Osamah
Published: November 2024

Direct observation of classroom behavior in young children enriches our understanding of their behavior in its natural context, informing both assessment and intervention strategies to foster supportive learning environments. However, a notable gap in the literature concerning effective direct observation tools specifically designed for this purpose remains challenging. This observational study utilized the digital format of the The Student Observation System (BASC-3-SOS; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2015), enabling behavior recording via smartphones, tablets, or laptops. We conducted observations for 43 young children aged four and five in classroom settings. Thirty of these children had been previously identified with behavioral problems via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ, Child Psychol Psychiatry Allied Discip. 38(5), 581–6, 1997), while 13 were considered typically developing. Each child was observed over three 20-min sessions, totaling 60 min per child. The findings revealed a significant correlation between the SDQ scores and BASC-3-SOS assessments in adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. The results indicate that young children’s engagement and problem behaviors vary with teacher interactions and classroom activities. children identified with behavioral issues exhibited higher levels of maladaptive behaviors compared to their typically developing peers. The study presents the BASC-3-SOS as a promising tool for identifying general behavioral and emotional risks among young children in Qatar, suggesting its utility in enhancing early educational interventions.
Just About Time: International Law's Temporalities and Our Moment in History
Authors: Shlomo Agon Sivan , Saliternik Michal
Published: November 2024

Time is a Pandora's box that international lawyers have long been reluctant to fully open. Perhaps unwilling to tackle the complexities this elusive concept presents, or loath to confront past wrongs and future threats that might arise from the fabled box, international jurists have left core questions of time and international law largely underexplored. In so doing, however, they have overlooked time and temporality as useful analytical lenses through which to gain new and deeper understandings of international law as a discipline and governance system. After all, international law is entangled with time in various and multifaceted ways. International law does not simply exist in time, having its own past, present, and future. Rather, like law generally, international law is constantly being shaped, organized, and reconstructed by time, while also creating, embedding, and perpetuating temporal standards and understandings. Yet, whereas domestic law scholars have in recent decades devoted considerable attention to the complex time-law relationship, international lawyers have so far investigated this relationship in only a limited manner, focusing primarily on doctrinal and procedural questions, while leaving many theoretical issues unaddressed.
A 7-kW narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier assisted by optimizing the refractive index of the large-mode-area active fiber
Authors: Ma Pengfei , Yao Tianfu , Liu Wei , Pan Zhiyong , Chen Yisha , Yang Huan , Chen Zilun , Wang Zefeng , Zhou Pu , Chen Jinbao
Published: November 2024

The high-power narrow-linewidth fiber laser has become the most widely used high-power laser source nowadays. Further breakthroughs of the output power depend on comprehensive optimization of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and transverse mode instability (TMI). In this work, we aim to further surpass the power record of all-fiberized and narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers with near-diffraction-limited (NDL) beam quality. SBS is suppressed by white-noise-signal modulation of a single-frequency seed. In particular, the refractive index of the large-mode-area active fiber in the main amplifier is controlled and fabricated, which could simultaneously increase the effective mode field area of the fundamental mode and the loss coefficient of higher-order modes for balancing SRS and TMI. Subsequent experimental measurements demonstrate a 7.03 kW narrow-linewidth fiber laser with a signal-to-noise ratio of 31.4 dB and beam quality factors of Mx2 = 1.26, My2 = 1.25. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest reported power with NDL beam quality based on a directly laser-diode-pumped and all-fiberized format, especially with narrow-linewidth spectral emission.
Comparative quantification of varicella-zoster virus in air, pharyngeal swabs, and vesicle content in patients with varicella, disseminated zoster, and localized herpes zoster
Authors: Yamamoto Kei , Nagashima Maki , Ishida Motoko , Ota Masayuki , Katanami Yuichi , Adachi Ryoko , Shigeno Ayako , Tamaki Takeshi , Ohmagari Norio
Published: November 2024

We evaluated the viral load of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in ambient air, vesicle, and pharyngeal swabs in VZV-infected patients. Of 46 cases, 6 had VZV detected in indoor air samples from patient rooms. Results suggest an association between viral load in the pharyngeal swab and indoor air.
Roll waves on laminar sheet flow of Newtonian fluid with negligible surface tension
Authors: Yu Boyuan , Chu Vincent H.
Published: November 2024

We conduct direct numerical simulations (DNS) to study the temporal and spatial developments of the roll waves on a laminar sheet flow of Newtonian fluid. The DNS unveil the physics of the wavefront and show the limitation of the widely used shallow-layer approximations. The most prominent wave, the front runner, is determined by the DNS for the first time in studying the spatial development of the laminar sheet flow with negligible surface tension. Depending on the Froude and Reynolds numbers, the front runner can be a multi-peaked undular bore or a single-peaked non-breaking or breaking wave. The simulation has uncovered an extended region behind the wavefront, where the bed-friction stress is much higher than the corresponding friction in the undisturbed uniform flow. It also produces an uplift velocity needed in the description of wave breaking. For comparison, we also examine the nonlinear development of the instability using two-equation and four-equation shallow-layer models. The two-equation shallow-layer model has produced the bulk of the wave profile but is deficient because it fails to predict the uplift velocity and the substantial increase in bed friction in the frontal region. The four-equation shallow-layer model correctly predicts the bed friction but cannot produce the breaking wave. The simulations also determine the celerity and amplitude of the front runner to follow a linear relationship, qualitatively similar to the roll waves in a turbulent flow.
Methane occurrence and origin in Dutch groundwater: from shallow aquifers to deep reservoirs
Authors: Schout Gilian , Griffioen Jasper , Hartog Niels , Eggenkamp Hans G.M. , Cirkel Dirk Gijsbert
Published: November 2024

Methane is a common constituent of groundwater with multiple possible origins. Elevated methane concentrations may also result from anthropogenically induced pathways between the deep and shallow subsurface caused by oil and gas production. A baseline characterisation of methane occurrence and origin in the subsurface of the Netherlands was made using a large set of methane concentrations in shallow groundwater (n = 12,219, up to 500 mbgs). Additionally, targeted sampling (n = 40) was carried out in (1) the shallow aquifers at locations where the presence of thermogenic methane was deemed most probable, such as above faults and known gas reservoirs, (2) deep groundwater aquifers below the depth of Neogene and Paleogene marine clays that form the hydrogeological base in the country and (3) geothermal formation waters at 1640–2625 mbgs. Median methane concentrations in shallow aquifers are relatively high from an international perspective (0.2 mg L−1). The highest methane concentrations (up to 120 mg L−1) are attributed to reactive organic matter in Holocene deposits and Pleistocene marine and glacial formations. However, elevated concentrations are also found at greater depth (100–160 m bgs) in Pleistocene aquifers in the eastern and southern inland areas of the Netherlands. Isotopic evidence and gas composition of naturally occurring methane indicate that methane in the targeted samples from shallow aquifers was of biogenic origin, and that methanogenesis predominantly occurs via CO2 reduction. Only trace amounts of methane (<0.2 mg L−1) were observed in the deep groundwater aquifers. A combination of methane and ethane isotopic composition showed that this methane consists of varying fractions of both biogenic and thermogenic origin. Methane in the geothermal reservoirs has an oil associated thermogenic origin. Overall, these findings highlight that future observations of thermogenic methane in Dutch shallow groundwater (post-Paleogene) are most probably linked to anthropogenically induced connections with the deep subsurface.
Series expansion, higher-order monotonicity properties and inequalities for the modulus of the Grötzsch ring
Authors: Yang Zhen-Hang , Wang Miao-Kun , Tian Jing-Feng
Published: November 2024

For $r\in(0,1)$, let $\mu \left( r\right) $ be the modulus of the plane Grötzsch ring $\mathbb{B}^2\setminus[0,r]$, where $\mathbb{B}^2$ is the unit disk. In this paper, we prove that
\begin{equation*}
\mu \left( r\right) =\ln \frac{4}{r}-\sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{\theta _{n}}{
2n}r^{2n},
\end{equation*}

with $\theta _{n}\in \left( 0,1\right)$. Employing this series expansion, we obtain several absolutely monotonic and (logarithmically) completely monotonic functions involving $\mu \left( r\right) $, which yields some new results and extend certain known ones. Moreover, we give an affirmative answer to the conjecture proposed by Alzer and Richards in H. Alzer and K. Richards, On the modulus of the Grötzsch ring, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 432(1): (2015), 134–141, DOI 10.1016/j.jmaa.2015.06.057. As applications, several new sharp bounds and functional inequalities for $\mu \left( r\right) $ are established.
Centers of Artin groups defined on cones
Authors: Jankiewicz Kasia , Montee MurphyKate
Published: November 2024

We prove that the Center Conjecture passes to the Artin groups whose defining graphs are cones, if the conjecture holds for the Artin group defined on the set of the cone points. In particular, it holds for every Artin group whose defining graph has exactly one cone point.
Seasonal infestation patterns of ticks on Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis)
Authors: Shimizu Kotaro , Shimozuru Michito , Yamanaka Masami , Ito Genta , Nakao Ryo , Tsubota Toshio
Published: November 2024

Ticks prefer specific feeding sites on a host that are influenced by host–tick and tick–tick interactions. This study focused on the spatiotemporal distribution of ticks in Hokkaido sika deer, an important tick host in Hokkaido, Japan. Tick sampling was performed on the sika deer in the Shiretoko National Park between June and October 2022. Ticks were collected from 9 different body parts of the deer to compare their attachment site preferences. Interspecific and intraspecific relationships among ticks were examined using co-occurrence analysis. The collected ticks were nymphal and adult stages of 4 species: Ixodes ovatus, Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis japonica and Haemaphysalis megaspinosa. Seasonal variations in tick burden were observed, with I. persulcatus and I. ovatus peaking in June and declining towards October; H. japonica showing low numbers in July and August and increasing from September; and H. megaspinosa appearing from September onwards with little variation. Attachment site preferences varied among species, with a significant preference for the pinna in I. ovatus and I. persulcatus. Haemaphysalis japonica was mainly found on the body and legs between June and August, and shifted to the pinna from September. Haemaphysalis megaspinosa showed a general preference for areas other than the legs. Co-occurrence analysis revealed positive, negative and random co-occurrence patterns among the tick species. Ticks of the same genus and species exhibited positive co-occurrence patterns; I. ovatus showed negative co-occurrence patterns with Haemaphysalis spp. This study revealed the unique attachment site preferences and distinct seasonal distributions of tick species in the Hokkaido sika deer.
Nosemosis negatively affects honeybee survival: experimental and meta-analytic evidence
Authors: Ostap-Chec Monika , Cait Jessica , Scott R. Wilder , Arct Aneta , Moroń Dawid , Rapacz Marcin , Miler Krzysztof
Published: November 2024

Nosemosis, caused by microsporidian parasites of the genus Nosema, is considered a significant health concern for insect pollinators, including the economically important honeybee (Apis mellifera). Despite its acknowledged importance, the impact of this disease on honeybee survivorship remains unclear. Here, a standard laboratory cage trial was used to compare mortality rates between healthy and Nosema-infected honeybees. Additionally, a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature were conducted to explore how nosemosis contributes to increased mortality in honeybees tested under standard conditions. The review and meta-analysis included 50 studies that reported relevant experiments involving healthy and Nosema-infected individuals. Studies lacking survivorship curves or information on potential moderators, such as spore inoculation dose, age of inoculated bees, or factors that may impact energy expenditure, were excluded. Both the experimental results and meta-analysis revealed a consistent, robust effect of infection, indicating a threefold increase in mortality among the infected group of honeybee workers (hazard ratio for infected individuals = 3.16 [1.97–5.07] and 2.99 [2.36–3.79] in the experiment and meta-analysis, respectively). However, the meta-analysis also indicated high heterogeneity in the effect magnitude, which was not explained by our moderators. Furthermore, there was a serious risk of bias within studies and potential publication bias across studies. The findings underscore knowledge gaps in the literature. It is stressed that laboratory cage trials should be viewed as an initial step in evaluating the impact of Nosema on mortality and that complementary field and apiary studies are essential for identifying effective treatments to preserve honeybee populations.
An extended class of multivariate counting processes and its main properties
Authors: Cha Ji Hwan , Mercier Sophie
Published: November 2024

In this paper, a new multivariate counting process model (called Multivariate Poisson Generalized Gamma Process) is developed and its main properties are studied. Some basic stochastic properties of the number of events in the new multivariate counting process are initially derived. It is shown that this new multivariate counting process model includes the multivariate generalized Pólya process as a special case. The dependence structure of the multivariate counting process model is discussed. Some results on multivariate stochastic comparisons are also obtained.
A new weighted means of failure rate and associated quantile versions
Authors: Bhattacharjee Subarna , Sunoj S M , Anwar Sabana
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we define weighted failure rate and their means from the stand point of an application. We begin by emphasizing that the formation of n independent component series system having weighted failure rates with sum of weight functions being unity is same as a mixture of n distributions. We derive some parametric and non-parametric characterization results. We discuss on the form invariance property of baseline failure rate for a specific choice of weight function. Some bounds on means of aging functions are obtained. Here, we establish that weighted increasing failure rate average (IFRA) class is not closed under formation of coherent systems unlike the IFRA class. An interesting application of the present work is credited to the fact that the quantile version of means of failure rate is obtained as a special case of weighted means of failure rate.
Precise large deviations of the net loss process in a non-standard two-dimensional risk model
Authors: Gao Qingwu , Dong Zimai , Liu Xijun , Yan Junni
Published: November 2024

This paper investigates the precise large deviations of the net loss process in a two-dimensional risk model with consistently varying tails and dependence structures, and gives some asymptotic formulas which hold uniformly for all x varying in t-intervals. The study is among the initial efforts to analyze potential risk via large deviation results for the net loss process of the two-dimensional risk model, and can provide a novel insight to assess the operation risk in a long run by fully considering the premium income factors of the insurance company.