bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toxicity Assessment of River Sediments Impacted by Open-Pit Coal Mining in Colombia Using Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Duran-Izquierdo Margareth , de la Rosa Jesus , Olivero-Verbel Jesus
Published: February 2025

Coal mining is a critical economic for Colombia. However, mineral extraction is usually carried out near rivers that provide ecosystem services to riverside populations. Cesar River receives discharges from several open-pit coal mines, as well as from other anthropogenic sources. The aim of this work was to assess the chemical and the toxicity profile of the sediments from this river. Bottom sediment samples were collected from 12 points along the river, including tributaries and a Ramsar site, the Zapatosa Marsh. Trace elements were quantified employing ICP-MS, and mercury (Hg) was measured using a direct Hg analyzer. Aqueous extracts (K-medium) were obtained from dried sediments (1:3 ratio) and tested using Caenorhabditis elegans, assessing mortality, locomotion and growth as end points. Transcriptional effects associated with various toxicity mechanisms were evaluated using GFP-related transgenic strains (mtl-2, sod-4 and gst-1). Some trace metals enriched along the course of the river, especially Hg and V. Sediment extract-induced lethality was low (1.5–6.4%); however, nematode growth and locomotion decreased downstream the river, showing inhibition rates up to 23.3 and 35.4%, respectively. Extracts from downstream points increased the mRNA expression of tested genes compared to that elicited by the most upstream site, with greater values on stations receiving domestic sewage and mining outputs. Cobalt and lead were positively associated with metallothioneins and gst-1 expression. In short, coal mining areas should be closely monitored for trace-element release and their impact on biota. The Colombian government should implement laws and programs to protect key ecosystems from mining activities, as a commitment to sustainable development goals.
Genomic exploration of Thuja plicata indicates no loss of diversity from adults to offspring in UK Woodlands
Authors: Guillardín Laura , Glover Ella , Kerr Gary , MacKay John J.
Published: February 2025

Thuja plicata is a conifer tree that is valued for its cultural, ecological and wood quality features in its natural range in western North America and is used in Europe as an exotic timber species. It is increasingly used in mixed species forests in the UK that are managed using natural regeneration, raising questions about genetic diversity of both the adult trees and offspring of the species in these stands. We studied population structure and genetic diversity in four UK woodlands of both adults and naturally regenerated offspring of T. plicata. We discovered 194,154 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) using Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) and retained 655 SNPs across 598 genome sequence scaffolds for analysis. The majority of these scaffolds included only one SNP, suggesting that; the selected SNPs were widely distributed within the genome. We found many monomorphic sites, most of which were restricted to adults in a single woodland, indicative of a genetic differentiation among woodlands. We found three ancestral populations (K = 3) and low levels of admixture across the four sites, indicating that the starting materials were largely from single populations. Estimates of genetic diversity using heterozygosity (Ho) and nucleotide diversity (π) were low (overall Ho = 0.174, π = 0.00226) across all sites but slightly higher in juveniles at two sites. Our genotyping methods and results on standing genetic diversity in this important conifer provide insight into the ability of planted woodlands in the UK to face environmental shifts and disease threats.
K-12 Teachers’ Acceptance and Resistance Perceptions of Learning Analytics Adoption: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Authors: Tzimas Dimitrios , Demetriadis Stavros
Published: February 2025

Learning analytics (LA) is an educational innovation that enhances teaching practices and facilitates student learning. However, the degree of LA adoption across schools remains limited, and teachers who adopt LA do not engage with it consistently. Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as a framework, we conducted a perception survey and five focus group interviews with K-12 teachers, aiming to identify their expectations, needs, and perceptions of LA adoption. This study focuses on aspects related to LA’s technology acceptance in school education. The research question is, “Using the UTAUT framework as a theoretical perspective, which factors explain the adoption of LA in schools? How do teachers describe their motivation and readiness for LA adoption?” The findings indicated that the factors facilitating LA adoption were performance expectancy, social influence, and feelings. Furthermore, the factors inhibiting the adoption of LA were effort expectancy, self-efficacy, facilitating conditions, and culture change. The implications and potential future research for adopting LA in schools are discussed.
Immigrant Single Mothers in Germany: An Intersectional Perspective on a Group at Risk
Authors: Maciejewski Linda , Harder Niklas
Published: February 2025

The risk of poverty is not evenly distributed in the German population, and immigrants and single mothers are particularly at risk. According to the Family Stress Model, poverty can impact all family members and their relationships. We use the AID:A 2019 dataset on young families and apply an intersectional perspective to study the situation of immigrant single mothers and their children. We focus on how single mothers and in particular immigrant single mothers differ from mothers in two-parent families and non-immigrants in terms of poverty risk, reported life satisfaction, and mother-reported psychosocial difficulties (SDQ) of their children. Our results show that immigrant single mothers, especially first-generation non-naturalized immigrant mothers, face the highest risk of economic stress and lower life satisfaction. This supports the Family Stress Model. However, contrary to the extended Family Stress Model, children of immigrant single mothers are not more likely to show mother-reported psychosocial difficulties than their peers from two-parent or non-immigrant families. Following an intersectional perspective, we do not assume that the reasons for these differences necessarily lie only in the individuals. Instead, we also interpret the effects of social positions as effects of the political and social dynamics creating these social positions and thus discuss the German institutional settings that might explain our results.
Generative artificial intelligence acceptance and artificial intelligence anxiety among university students: the sequential mediating role of attitudes toward artificial intelligence and literacy
Authors: Cengiz Serkan , Peker Adem
Published: February 2025

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications is increasing in daily life. However, despite its remarkable capabilities, the widespread integration of this technology into all aspects of human life also carries the risk of causing unforeseen psychological difficulties for humanity. For this reason, it is necessary to identify the factors that may particularly affect artificial intelligence anxiety. We examined the sequential mediation effect of AI literacy and attitudes towards AI on the relationship between generative AI acceptance and AI anxiety. The study was conducted with 494 university students (M

age
= 21.84, SD = 1.24). The research model was designed according to the PROCESS Macro model 80 proposed by Hayes. Data were analyzed using the SPSS v.26 program, Pearson’s correlations, and Hayes’s PROCESS macro method for mediation. The results revealed that AI anxiety has significant relationships with generative AI acceptance, AI literacy, and attitudes toward AI. Indirect effect tests supported the mediating relationship between attitudes toward AI and AI literacy. These results help us understand the underlying mechanism in the relationship between generative AI acceptance and AI anxiety.
Sex-related outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention of in-stent restenosis
Authors: Kuna Constantin , Bradaric Christian , Schroeter Mira , Presch Antonia , Voll Felix , Kufner Sebastian , Ibrahim Tareq , Schunkert Heribert , Laugwitz Karl-Ludwig , Cassese Salvatore , Kastrati Adnan , Wiebe Jens
Published: February 2025

Limited data are available for sex-related long-term outcomes of patients treated for coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) restenosis. The aim of this observational, retrospective analysis was to close this lack of evidence. Between January 2007 and February 2021, a total of 3511 patients with 5497 in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesions were treated at two large-volume centers in Munich, Germany, of which 763 (21.7%) were female. Endpoints of interest were all-cause mortality and rates of repeat revascularization. Outcomes are presented as Kaplan–Meier event rates. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Female patients were older (72.1 ± 10.4 versus 68.4 ± 10.4 years, p < 0.001) and suffered more often from diabetes (38.8% versus 34.4%, p = 0.029). There was no statistical difference regarding the clinical presentation and interventional treatment strategy. After 10 years, the risk of all-cause mortality was higher in female patients [hazard ratio (HR) 1.18 (1.02–1.35); p = 0.022]; however, after adjustment for age, the risk did not differ significantly between both sexes [adjusted HR 0.96 (0.83–1.11); p = 0.6]. Regarding target vessel revascularization (TVR) and non-target vessel revascularization (NTVR), the risk was lower in female patients [HR 0.73 (0.61–0.87); p < 0.001 and HR 0.74 (0.64–0.86); p < 0.001] even after age adjustment. No statistical differences were found regarding the risk of target lesion revascularization, target vessel myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis. In the long term, all-cause mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention of DES-ISR did not differ between both sexes after age adjustment. The risk of TVR and NTVR was lower in female patients even after age adjustment.

Graphical abstract
Time Restricted Eating: A Valuable Alternative to Calorie Restriction for Addressing Obesity?
Authors: Parrotta Maria Eugenia , Colangeli Luca , Scipione Valeria , Vitale Carolina , Sbraccia Paolo , Guglielmi Valeria
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

In this review, we summarize the molecular effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) and its possible role in appetite regulation. We also discuss the potential clinical benefits of TRE in obesity.

Recent Findings

TRE is an emerging dietary approach consisting in limiting food intake to a specific window of time each day. The rationale behind this strategy is to restore the circadian misalignment, commonly seen in obesity. Preclinical studies have shown that restricting food intake only during the active phase of the day can positively influence several cellular functions including senescence, mitochondrial activity, inflammation, autophagy and nutrients’ sensing pathways. Furthermore, TRE may play a role by modulating appetite and satiety hormones, though further research is needed to clarify its exact mechanisms. Clinical trials involving patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes suggest that TRE can be effective for weight loss, but its broader effects on improving other clinical outcomes, such as cardiovascular risk factors, remain less certain.

The epidemic proportions of obesity cause urgency to find dietary, pharmacological and surgical interventions that can be effective in the medium and long term. According to its molecular effects, TRE can be an interesting alternative to caloric restriction in the treatment of obesity, but the considerable variability across clinical trials regarding population, intervention, and follow-up duration makes it difficult to reach definitive conclusions.
Positive Psychologie im Krankenhaus: Wechselwirkungen im Arbeitsalltag von Pflege- und Ärzteschaft
Authors: Erlenberg Rosa Maria , Günther Hans-Joachim
Published: February 2025

Hintergrund

In der modernen Arbeitswelt fördern Teamdenken und flache Hierarchien die Arbeitszufriedenheit. Die Positive Psychologie bietet wissenschaftliche Ansätze zur Steigerung von Wohlbefinden und Leistung. Im Krankenhaus erschweren starke Hierarchien und traditionelle Strukturen die Implementierung moderner Praktiken. Besonders in der Zusammenarbeit von Pflege- und Ärzteschaft prägen hierarchische Traditionen die Arbeitswahrnehmung.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel der Studie ist die Untersuchung des Wohlbefindens bei Pflege- und Ärzteschaft auf Basis des PERMA-Modells. Dabei stehen Unterschiede sowie Wirkungsfaktoren auf die Zusammenarbeit im Fokus. Es wird die Frage untersucht, welche Faktoren mit den Elementen Positives Gefühl, Engagement, Förderliche Beziehungen, Sinn und Zielerreichung zusammenhängen. Die Ergebnisse sollen Strategien zur Verbesserung der Arbeitszufriedenheit und Zusammenarbeit liefern.

Methode

Im Mai 2021 wurde eine quantitative Befragung in einem deutschen Maximalversorgungsklinikum durchgeführt. Die repräsentative Stichprobe umfasste 1333 Antworten. Die Daten wurden mit SPSS mittels deskriptiver Statistiken, Spearman-Korrelationen und Mann-Whitney-U-Tests ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Engagement (MW: 3,70) und Positives Gefühl (MW: 3,42) wurden am stärksten wahrgenommen. Weniger ausgeprägt waren Sinn, Zielerreichung und Förderliche Beziehungen. Signifikante Unterschiede zeigten sich zwischen Berufsgruppen, Geschlechtern und Führungsebenen.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Führungsverhalten die Wahrnehmung der PERMA-Elemente prägt. Historische Strukturen haben geschlechtsspezifische Auswirkungen. Führungsebenen tragen auf unterschiedliche Weise zum Wohlbefinden, zur Zufriedenheit und zur Motivation der Mitarbeitenden bei.
Ranking with ties based on noisy performance data
Authors: Sankaran Aravind , Karlsson Lars , Bientinesi Paolo
Published: February 2025

We consider the problem of ranking a set of objects based on their performance when the measurement of said performance is subject to noise. In this scenario, the performance is measured repeatedly, resulting in a range of measurements for each object. If the ranges of two objects do not overlap, then we consider one object as ‘better’ than the other, and we expect it to receive a higher rank; if, however, the ranges overlap, then the objects are incomparable, and we wish them to be assigned the same rank. Unfortunately, the incomparability relation of ranges is in general not transitive; as a consequence, in general the two requirements cannot be satisfied simultaneously, i.e., it is not possible to guarantee both distinct ranks for objects with separated ranges, and same rank for objects with overlapping ranges. This conflict leads to more than one reasonable way to rank a set of objects. Although the problem of ranking with ties has been widely studied, there remains a lack of clarity regarding what constitutes a set of reasonable rankings. In this paper, we explore the ambiguities that arise when ranking with ties, and define a set of reasonable rankings, which we call partial rankings. We develop and analyze three different methodologies to compute a partial ranking. Finally, we show how performance differences among objects can be investigated with the help of partial ranking.
Assessing site-specific water footprint on dry vine products: the case of PDO Vostizza Corinthian currants
Authors: Vantarakis Georgios C. , Malamos Nikolaos , Abeliotis Konstadinos , Karathanos Vaios T.
Published: February 2025

Environmental performance of food and beverages is inextricably linked to the sustainable management of water resources. Water consumption is thoroughly analysed by calculating direct and indirect water usage through the water footprint model, particularly for products that are meant for export. Whilst the water-intensive grape growing industry has been extensively studied for wine production, the water use for grapes intended for drying has not been evaluated. PDO Vostizza Corinthian currants primarily export raisins that are derived from grape varieties in SW Greece that have a long history of economic, cultural, and social importance. Despite studies on the water consumption of grapevines for wine production, there is a gap in research for raisin vineyards. The water footprint model was utilised to comprehensively calculate the water usage in food production, considering direct and indirect consumption through blue, green, and grey components. This study specifically focussed on assessing the water footprint in 1 kg of currants produced on semi-mountainous and mountainous fields over a 3-year period with varying precipitation patterns. The study uses precision agriculture techniques with field-level data and modelling a site-specific water footprint estimation. Actual local and field data were used to calculate the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) using CROPWAT 8.0. The water footprints of five scenarios were calculated to encompass common practises and soil-climatic differences in the cultivation area. The Water Footprints (WFs) of vineyards under water stress ranged from 567 to 1,182 m3tn−1 for dry grapes and from 178 to 346 m3tn−1 for fresh grapes depending on the scenario and year of production due to fluctuations in yield and precipitation. The significant climatic adaptation of Vitis vinifera L. sp. black Corinth, var. Apyrena resulted in low WFs in consistent with its overall environmental performance.
Comparing and Contrasting the Technological and Psychological Factors of Virtual AI Usage in Mental Health Care Services between Providers and Patients: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Moriuchi Emi
Published: February 2025

The healthcare sector has experienced several transformations in recent years due to the advancement of technology. We investigated the factors that facilitate or prevent the acceptance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) virtual avatars in mental health between medical providers and patients. The current study evaluated the technological factors and psychological factors to further understand the discrepancy in accepting an AI virtual avatar for mental health care treatment. A total of 358 patients (n = 202) and providers (n = 153), from the USA, completed a variety of measures upon watching a video on understanding what a virtual avatar in healthcare is. Structural equation modeling was used to test a theoretical model, and it was revealed that perceived ease of use was deemed more impactful on perceived usefulness for the medical providers than it is for the patients. On the contrary, anthropomorphism was deemed more impactful on the perceived usefulness of the AI virtual avatar for the patients than it is for the medical providers. Moreover, compatibility for health care needs and the way patients’ mental health care is managed is a significant moderator for the patients. This current research contributes to the literature to better understand the discrepancies of acceptance of using AI avatar in mental health between the medical providers and the patients. Theoretical implications for the findings are discussed and recommendations for future research are proposed.
Optimization study and material properties of angular artificial aggregates
Authors: K A Abhilash Kumar , Shetty Kiran K. , Bekkeri Gopal Bharamappa
Published: February 2025

Natural aggregate exploitation and landfills of industrial and agricultural by-products in the environment are leading to serious environmental hazards. The practice of assigning economic value to by-products by utilizing them in the production of artificial aggregates has expedited significant research efforts. This study aimed to utilize Taguchi-integrated grey relational analysis to optimize the multivariable parameters of geopolymerization, thereby achieving the desired properties of artificial aggregates. Fly ash, paper sludge ash, and palm oil fuel ash were treated with alkaline solutions such as sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate according to the considered Taguchi design matrix. The product was crushed in a jaw crusher to produce angular artificial aggregates, a reliable method for industrial mass production. The physical properties, such as water absorption, aggregate impact value, and compressive strength tests, were analyzed and considered crucial optimization response indices. In addition, the XRF, XRD, and SEM of the precursors and artificial aggregates were investigated. Experimental results showed that the specific gravity and apparent density of produced aggregates were between 1.5 and 1.9 and 1400 to 1504 kg/m3, respectively. The microstructure inferred the presence of porous and rough surface texture. The study found the lowest water absorption of 18.7%, the lowest aggregate impact value of 26.2%, and the highest compressive strength of 36.6 MPa, which were achieved for a mix made of sodium hydroxide solution of molarity 12, alkaline solution ratio of 1.5, and raw materials proportions of 60:30:10. The findings in this study are helpful for their applications in concrete production.
A review of sustainability assessment of geopolymer concrete through AI-based life cycle analysis
Authors: Ramesh V. , Muthramu B. , Rebekhal D.
Published: February 2025

Geopolymer concrete is acknowledged as a sustainable alternative to conventional Portland cement concrete owing to its ability to reduce carbon emissions and reutilize industrial by-products. This paper reviews the application of Artificial Intelligence-based Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) techniques in the sustainability assessment of geopolymer concrete. The assessment covers the entire life cycle of geopolymer concrete, spanning from the extraction of raw materials to its ultimate disposal, with a particular focus on its environmental, economic, and social impacts. The incorporation of AI techniques into the LCA process offers notable advantages, such as the efficient management of large datasets, enhancement of data quality, prediction of environmental impacts, and facilitation of informed decision-making. Key sustainability metrics to be considered include environmental impacts such as carbon footprint and energy consumption, economic factors like cost-effectiveness, as well as social implications. The amalgamation of AI within the LCA framework provides a comprehensive and efficient approach to evaluating the sustainability of geopolymer concrete, thereby facilitating its application in sustainable construction practices.
The impact of fruit and vegetable intake on healthcare costs and preventive care in older adults: evidence from SHARE data
Authors: Hosseini Tabaghdehi S. Asieh , Orso Cristina Elisa , Tealdi Cristina , Tenaglia Simona
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the association between daily fruit and vegetable consumption and healthcare utilization among older European adults. Our findings inform policies aimed at optimizing healthcare resource allocation and promoting healthy ageing in Europe's growing elderly population.

Methods

Leveraging data from the 8th wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) conducted in 2019–2020, this cross-sectional analysis examines associations between daily fruit and vegetable intake and hospitalization rates, hospital length of stay, visits to general practitioners, and specialist consultations.

Results

Our results reveal no significant difference in hospitalization probability between individuals consuming fruits/vegetables daily versus less frequently. However, among hospitalized individuals, daily consumption is associated with fewer hospitalizations and shorter hospital stays. Moreover, daily fruit and vegetable intake is positively associated with increased likelihood of consulting general practitioners and specialists. This association may be indicative of a broader health consciousness and proactive approach to well-being management among individuals who prioritize dietary choices.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that while fruit and vegetable consumption alone may not prevent hospitalizations in this segment of the population, it is linked to reduced re-hospitalization risk and shorter inpatient durations when hospitalized. Additionally, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables appears to promote greater engagement with preventive primary and speciality care among older European adults. Overall, the study highlights dietary behaviour as a potential factor influencing healthcare utilization and expenditures for ageing populations.
Automatic Monitoring in Construction Projects: Scientometric Analysis and Visualization of Research Activities
Authors: Dalir Amir Hossein , Pezeshki Zahra , Ravanshadnia Mehdi , Krinitsky Eugene , Sultanguzin Ildar Aidarovich
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a comprehensive scientific analysis of research on automatic monitoring in construction projects. Through a methodical examination of 857 bibliographic records from three databases, we find important trends, novel themes, and key research areas in this field. Our findings reveal that machine learning (ML), building information modelling (BIM), and deep learning are the most the most popular techniques for automatic monitoring. Furthermore, we identify construction technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) as the primary research foci. So, the study uncovers collaboration patterns among researchers and institutions, highlighting key players and their contributions, identifies research gaps and challenges, such as the need for integrating AI, big data, and cloud computing into construction project monitoring, and proposes future research directions to address these challenges and enhance the effectiveness of automatic monitoring systems. By providing a systematic review and insightful analysis, this study contributes to the advancement of construction project monitoring. It offers valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to foster innovation, improve project performance, and ensure sustainable construction practices.
Effect of low-carbon coal gangue on the stability and dissolved organic matter characteristics of co-pyrolysis biochar: insights on pyrolysis temperatures and minerals
Authors: Chen Min , Sun Yuan , Peng Yaqi , Han Zhengdong , Chen Guihua , Chen Xiaoyang , Lu Shengyong
Published: February 2025

The stability and dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics of biochar have an essential effect on carbon emission and migration and transformation of pollutants. In this work, straw biochar and coal mine waste (coal gangue)-straw co-pyrolysis biochar were produced at 300, 450, and 600 °C. The effects of coal gangue on biochar's stability, carbon structure, and the components of biochar-derived DOM were investigated. The results showed that coal gangue enhanced co-pyrolysis biochar's thermal and chemical stability by 1.16%–8.25% and 39.17%–68.36%, respectively. They also promoted the aromatization process of co-pyrolysis biochar when the pyrolysis temperature increased from 300 to 450 °C. The co-pyrolysis biochar-derived DOM content was lower than biochar-derived DOM by 35.79%–55.52%, indicating that coal gangue inhibited the release of DOM. Moreover, coal gangue increased the humification degree of biochar-derived DOM at low pyrolysis temperatures but accelerated the decomposition of aromatic molecules in biochar-derived DOM at high pyrolysis temperatures. The proportion of low-aromatic humic-like substance increased from 1.28% to 50.87% in biochar-derived DOM but from 1.44% to 88.14% in co-pyrolysis biochar-derived DOM with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Thus, the pyrolysis temperature and coal gangue have a synergistic effect on controlling the stability and DOM characteristics of biochar. Moreover, the synergistic effect of three primary minerals in coal gangue (SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3) is the core mechanisms of impacting the biochar stability and DOM characteristics. This work provides essential information for biochar applications by showing that adding coal gangue can boost the stability of biochar and modify the molecular properties of biochar-derived DOM.

Graphical Abstract
Improving reporting standards in quantitative educational intervention research: introducing the CLOSER and CIDER checklists
Authors: Upsher Rebecca , Dommett Eleanor , Carlisle Sophie , Conner Sarah , Codina Geraldene , Nobili Anna , Byrom Nicola C.
Published: February 2025

In educational research, the complexity of interventions and the diversity of contexts challenge the adequacy of existing reporting standards, primarily tailored for health interventions and randomised controlled trials. Recognising the critical need for appropriate tools to support education research, we developed two checklists: the CheckList Of Standards of reporting in Education Research (CLOSER) and the Checklist for Intervention Description of Education Research (CIDER). CLOSER was designed to guide the comprehensive reporting of quantitative educational intervention research from the abstract to the discussion for multiple study designs. Concurrently, CIDER details the precise features of educational interventions. The final refinements of CLOSER and CIDER comprise of 34 and 17 items, respectively, developed through a five-stage process, including tool adaptation, expert feedback, a 2-round modified Delphi consensus survey, and final refinements. These checklists aim to enhance the clarity of educational intervention research findings, facilitating their replicability and subsequent meaningful translation into practice and policy. This addresses the gap in educational research reporting standards and sets the stage for a more robust, evidence-informed approach to educational intervention development and evaluation.
Dark patterns and consumer vulnerability
Authors: Zac Amit , Huang Yu-Chun , von Moltke Amédée , Decker Christopher , Ezrachi Ariel
Published: February 2025

Dark patterns that manipulate consumer behaviour are now a pervasive feature of digital markets. Depending on the choice architecture utilised, they can affect the perception, behaviour and purchasing patterns of online consumers. Using a novel empirical design, we find strong evidence that individuals across all groups are susceptible to dark patterns, and only weak evidence that user susceptibility is materially affected by commonly used general proxies for consumer vulnerability (such as income, educational attainment or age). Our conclusions provide empirical support for broad restrictions on the use of dark patterns, such as those contained in the EU’s Digital Services Act, that protect all consumer groups. Our study also finds that added friction, in the form of required payment action following successful deployment of dark patterns, reduces their effectiveness. This insight highlights the instances in which dark patterns would be most effective – when no further action is required by the user. Consumer vulnerability is therefore more pronounced when dealing with online providers who store users’ payment details and can rely on a ‘single click’ to complete the purchase.
The Ottoman translation of the Greek Declaration of Independence: some further considerations
Authors: Moiras Leonidas
Published: February 2025

In a collection of Hatt-ı Hümayuns (Imperial Edicts) at the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul, I located the Ottoman translation of the Greek Declaration of Independence. This article examines the terminology that Ottomans used to interpret the language employed by the revolutionary Greeks. The goal of this study is to examine Ottoman attempts to define the rebels and conceptualize the inner motive behind the revolt of their subjects. This article argues that confiscated documents such as the Greek Declaration of Independence contributed to the familiarization of the imperial authorities with the ideological background to the rebellion and the reasons that triggered it.
From Constitutional Risk Management to Constitutional Risk Management (Emergency Law Misuse) in Hungary
Authors: Gárdos-Orosz Fruzsina , Burján Evelin
Published: February 2025

The paper offers a comprehensive overview of Hungary’s emergency law and its misuse over the four years since its introduction in March 2020. Hungary serves as a clear example of how a “state of danger” – initially intended as an exceptional legal measure – can become normalised through repeated declarations. The populist government’s continuous use of emergency powers has led to unchecked lawmaking and the manipulation of legal frameworks to advance populist agendas. The article argues that while Hungary’s detailed emergency provisions in the Fundamental Law were intended to serve as a form of constitutional risk management, after four years of living in a permanent “state of danger”, the scholarly debate has shifted to whether this very risk management has itself become the risk. According to emergency law theory, managing constitutional risks is equally vital in the emergency legal order. Yet in Hungary, both the black letter of the law and the constitutional practices observed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic – along with the Ninth Amendment to the Fundamental Law, which introduced a new emergency regime in 2021 – reveal that constitutional risk management has ultimately failed. This is manifest in the erosion of the separation of powers, the weakening of judicial review, and the shrinking of human rights protections. The article substantiates its argument by examining the related constitutional framework and constitutional practice in Hungary between 2020 and 2024.
Constitutional Challenges in Emergency Governance: An Analysis of Poland’s Reluctance and Regulatory Ambiguities in States of Emergency
Authors: Florczak-Wątor Monika
Published: February 2025

This article analyses the constitutional framework regulating states of emergency in Poland and addresses key issues related to their interpretation and implementation. The first part discusses the conditions for declaring martial law, a state of an extraordinary situation, and a state of natural disaster, as well as the specific rules for the operation of public authorities in such emergencies. The next part analyses the practice, revealing the consistent reluctance of Polish authorities to invoke states of emergency, even in circumstances that seem to justify such measures. Consequently, a state of emergency under the 1997 Constitution was declared in Poland only once – in 2021, in response to a migration crisis on the border with Belarus. No constitutional emergency was declared during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the introduction of far-reaching restrictions on individual rights and freedoms. The article argues that state authorities can abuse emergency regulations, either through their unjustified application or by deliberately circumventing them.
Some Personal Reflections on Enhancing Global North – Global South Academic Cooperation in Legal Higher Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Zyberi Gentian
Published: February 2025

This paper provides some personal reflections on my experiences as a project leader in four cooperative projects with colleagues from the Global South involving higher education institutions (HEIs) in seven countries—namely, Benin, Uganda, Ethiopia, Colombia, Palestine, Bulgaria, and Kosovo. The aim is to try to assess advantages and shortcomings of some of these funding programs in terms of their framing, structuring, and (limited) funding, and to provide some suggestions for ensuring better coordination of what constitutes an institutionally fragmented field. The focus of my reflections is on three related broad themes—that is, how to enhance international academic cooperation, improve academic mobility, and ensure better access to teaching and research materials for Global South HEIs. The paper first analyzes the issue of funding for North-South cooperation, then moves on to the enhancement of international academic cooperation, international mobility, and finally, the provision of better access to teaching and research materials.
‘Fascism on trial’: Rodolfo Graziani and the manipulation of historical consciousness in postwar Italy
Authors: Witkowski Victoria
Published: February 2025

This article uses the postwar trial of Fascist Italy’s most prominent general, Rodolfo Graziani, to examine issues of transitional justice and the formation of popular memory of Italian Fascism and colonialism after 1945. During the Fascist ventennio, the regime constructed Graziani as the nation’s colonial ‘hero’ despite his leading role in genocidal measures during Fascist Italy’s colonial wars in North and East Africa. His position as minister of defence in Mussolini’s Nazi-backed Salò Republic in 1943–5, however, threatened his heroic reputation as he worked with Nazi commanders and became responsible for atrocities against Italian civilians. After the Second World War, Graziani was tried for Nazi collaborationism at the Supreme Court in 1948, but his colonial conduct was left unquestioned. Unlike in the Nuremberg Trials in post-Nazi Germany, few Italians were tried for war crimes after 1945. This historical inquiry analyses the legal proceedings, transnational representation and outcome of Rodolfo Graziani’s 1948 trial as an emblematic case study to explore de-fascistisation and decolonialisation initiatives and their limitations in post-Fascist postcolonial Italy.
Coevolution of SOEs and the Chinese Economy: The Roles of SOE Heterogeneity from the Institutional, Strategic, and Organizational Perspectives
Authors: Huang Kenneth G. , Jing Runtian , Xia Jun , Zhang Cyndi Man , Zhong Weiguo , Zhu David H.
Published: February 2025

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in China play a critical role in national economic development and the country's positioning on the global stage. Chinese SOEs have undergone substantial transformations from traditional government-run entities to a variety of corporate forms exhibiting different levels of state involvement. Despite their substantial influence, the internal diversity of SOEs – from wholly state-owned to mixed-ownership – has not been thoroughly examined. This paper provides an overview of SOEs' critical roles in the Chinese economy, the relationship between SOEs and privately owned enterprises (POEs), and the challenges of SOEs in different stages of Chinese economic development. It then introduces five research papers that explore the institutional, strategic, and organizational perspectives on how SOEs manage the dual pressures of state and market logic, respond to policy adjustments, tackle leadership challenges, and navigate current global trends such as digital transformation, technological innovation, and environmental sustainability. In this paper, we provide important implications for policy and managerial practices and highlight a future research agenda for the heterogeneity of Chinese SOEs, and how SOEs respond to these challenges in the evolving geopolitical landscape, adapt their strategies, and manage relationships with foreign governments and enterprises under such conditions.
PARITY BIAS IN FUNDAMENTAL UNITS OF REAL QUADRATIC FIELDS
Authors: BREUER FLORIAN , SHAW-CARMODY CAMERON
Published: February 2025

We compute primes

$p \equiv 5 \bmod 8$

up to

$10^{11}$

for which the Pellian equation

$x^2-py^2=-4$

has no solutions in odd integers; these are the members of sequence A130229 in the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences. We find that the number of such primes

$p\leqslant x$

is well approximated by

$$ \begin{align*}\frac{1}{12}\pi(x) - 0.037\int_2^x \frac{dt}{t^{1/6}\log t},\end{align*} $$

where

$\pi (x)$

is the usual prime counting function. The second term shows a surprising bias away from membership of this sequence.
Diversity, damage and pheromone specificity of fruit flies in the Forest-Savanna Transition zone of Ghana
Authors: Awarikabey Ernestina Narveh , Afun Jakpasu Victor Kofi , Billah Maxwell Kelvin , Osekre Enoch Adjei
Published: February 2025

Mango is a delicious tropical fruit with high economic value worldwide. The Forest-Savanna Transition zone of Ghana contributes significantly to the production of mangoes for both local and international markets. The zone is plagued with the fruit fly ‘menace’ like all mango-producing areas in Ghana. Not much has been done in terms of species monitoring. A 24- month fruit fly monitoring survey was conducted in eight mango orchards, to assess the composition of fruit flies associated with Mango and their damage levels. Four para-pheromone attractants (Methyl Eugenol, Terpinyl Acetate, Trimedlure, and Cuelure) were used to monitor fruit flies. Eight improvised water bottle traps (two per lure) were purposefully deployed in each orchard. A total of 18 tephritid species belonging to five genera were recorded. Bactrocera (one species), Ceratitis (six species), Dacus (eight species), Zeugodacus (one species) and Xanthaciura (two species). Bactrocera dorsalis was the most abundant species (90% of the collected samples), while the native mango fly, C. cosyra constituted 0.5%. Dacus fuscovittatus and Dacus pleuralis were for the first time captured and identified in Ghana. Dacus langi, Dacus carnesi, Dacus (diastatus?), Ceratitis silvestrii and C. quinaria were recorded for the first time in the zone. The zone recorded a diversity index of 0.41. Damage levels ranged from 41–91%. Ten out of the 18 species, are of economic importance on mango and must be watched. Periodic updates on seasonal fluctuations, species composition and new arrivals are key to the successful implementation of any management strategy.
Schwarz lemma for harmonic functions in the unit ball
Authors: Xu Zhenghua , Yu Ting , Huo Qinghai
Published: February 2025

Recently, it is proven that positive harmonic functions defined in the unit disc or the upper half-plane in

$\mathbb{C}$

are contractions in hyperbolic metrics [14]. Furthermore, the same result does not hold in higher dimensions as shown by given counterexamples [16]. In this paper, we shall show that positive (or bounded) harmonic functions defined in the unit ball in

$\mathbb{R}^{n}$

are Lipschitz in hyperbolic metrics. The involved method in main results allows to establish essential improvements of Schwarz type inequalities for monogenic functions in Clifford analysis [24, 25] and octonionic analysis [21] in a unified approach.
Noetherianity of twisted Zhu’s algebras and bimodules
Authors: Liu Jianqi
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we show that for a large natural class of vertex operator algebras (VOAs) and their modules, the Zhu’s algebras and bimodules (and their g-twisted analogs) are Noetherian. These carry important information about the representation theory of the VOA, and its fusion rules, and the Noetherian property gives the potential for (non-commutative) algebro-geometric methods to be employed in their study.
DNA Technology and the Struggle for the Power to Declare Missing Soldiers Dead in the Post-Vietnam War United States
Authors: Liu Zhaokun
Published: February 2025

The recovery of soldiers’ remains has been a major concern of the US military since the mid-nineteenth century. However, military defeats during the Cold War left the remains of US soldiers unattended for decades, which diminished the odds of their identification and created ambiguities about their fates. After the Vietnam War, some statespersons and soldiers’ families alleged that many missing soldiers had not been killed, but rather detained by the enemy and abandoned by US authorities. The US military strove to recover and identify as many missing soldiers as possible to debunk these allegations. Existing forensic methods failed to provide definitive conclusions, straining the relationship between the military and the American public. Consequently, the military turned to DNA profiling to identify missing personnel. Technical limitations and US society’s lingering distrust of authorities turned DNA profiling into a new battleground between the US military and prisoners of war/missing in action (POW/MIA) families. Despite the promise DNA technology seemed to offer for remains’ identification, this article argues that its success was reliant on POW/MIA families’ attitudes towards the military and politics, who demanded much more than identified remains as a means of achieving closure.
Exploring the lived experience of economic insecurity and health among people accessing charity-run food provision services in Bristol, UK
Authors: Stone Geneviève , Papadaki Angeliki
Published: February 2025

The UK has experienced alarming increases in the number of individuals living with food insecurity as a result of the rise in the cost of living. The mechanisms linking household economic insecurity to food insecurity, and perceived health outcomes, are not well understood. The aim of this study was to explore how individuals with lived experience of food insecurity are coping with the rise in the cost of living, the trade-offs they might be making between food and other household expenses, and how these might impact eating behaviours and health outcomes. Using a qualitative inductive approach rooted in hermeneutic phenomenology, nine semi-structured interviews were conducted among individuals using charity-run food provision services in Bristol, UK. Narrative accounts from these interviews were analysed thematically. Almost all participants were recipients of benefits at the time of interviews and were living under high levels of economic insecurity. The rise in the cost of living forced complex budget management strategies, including relying on donated food and shoplifting. It also influenced eating behaviours through altered cooking strategies to save energy, substituting food for cheaper, less-nutritious, alternatives, and rationing meals. Food insecurity was experienced as a form of psychosocial violence, engendering high levels of stress, particularly for individuals with diet-related chronic diseases. There is therefore an urgent need for policies that tackle structural causes of overall household economic insecurity, and improve economic access to adequate nutritious foods, to prevent further entrenching social inequalities.
Aquaphotomics and NIR water spectral patterns in dairy production: a review exploring potentials and challenges
Authors: Giovinazzo Simone , Brambilla Massimo , Cattaneo Tiziana Maria Piera , Lazzari Andrea , Bisaglia Carlo , Muncan Jelena , Tsenkova Roumiana
Published: February 2025

This review describes the potentials of a new omics science in the dairy sector, particularly regarding the improvement of animal health and welfare. The three-dimensional network of water hydrogen bonds is a dynamic entity, subject to the influence of its components and properties of the environment. For this reason, it is sensitive to any chemical, physical or biological perturbation of the system. Therefore, the aqueous matrix acts as a sensitive sensor, reflecting the state, behaviour, and functionality of the system and providing similar information on its components. Aquaphotomics builds upon these underlying assumptions. It is a scientific discipline that combines spectroscopy with multivariate spectral analysis to extract the absorbance spectral pattern of water, which describes how water molecular structure changes in response to perturbations. Many studies assessed the applicability of this approach, including veterinary diagnostics. The water spectral pattern can be used as a multidimensional biomarker for rapid and non-invasive discrimination between healthy and diseased systems, even in the subclinical phase. Adopting such an approach, focused on precision farming, can foster subsequent optimisation of animal production performance and improve the overall profitability of farming operations.