bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Citizen science games on the timeline of quantum games
Authors: Piispanen Laura
Published: August 2024

This article provides an overview of existing quantum physics-related games, referred to as quantum games, that serve citizen science research in quantum physics. Additionally, we explore the connection between citizen science and quantum computer games, games played on quantum computers. The information presented is derived from academic references and supplemented by diverse sources, including social media publications, conference presentations and blog posts from research groups and developers associated with the presented games. We observe that the current landscape of quantum games is shaped by three distinct driving forces: the serious application of games, the evolution of quantum computers and open game development events such as Quantum Game Jams. Notably, citizen science plays an influential role in all three aspects. The article points to existing design guides for citizen science quantum games and views future prospects of citizen science projects and quantum games through collaborative endeavours, human–machine collaboration and open access quantum computers.
Application and Research of Machine Learning Algorithms in Personalized Piano Teaching System
Authors: Cheng Min , Zhang Yuan , Zhang Weiqi
Published: August 2024

Piano is a pass in the field of music and has been popular among the public. With more and more people joining the ranks of learning piano, traditional piano teaching can no longer meet the needs of piano learners in time and space. In order to improve the quality and effectiveness of piano teaching, this paper effectively integrates machine learning algorithms into the teaching system. Specifically, we constructed a piano gesture recognition model based on the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) algorithm to achieve accurate recognition and analysis of student piano playing gestures. The experimental results show that the piano gesture recognition model based on the extreme learning machine algorithm combined with sensors can effectively obtain the dynamic information of the learner’s hand joints and present it intuitively. Compared with the traditional recognition methods, the model has a substantial improvement in the recognition fight rate. In addition, in the comparison experiments, the k-means model shows better comprehensive classification performance and is able to recommend appropriate piano learning resources for learners based on the classification results. The results of the application experiments show that the model is still able to respond to the corresponding requests in a shorter period of time as the number of learner requests increases, and recommend the corresponding resources for the learners, with a success rate of over 99%.
Liouville-type theorem for an indefinite logarithmic Laplacian equation
Authors: Liu Baiyu , Xu Shasha
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we consider fractional equations involving the logarithmic Laplacian with indefinite nonlinearities: [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] represents a Lipschitz coercive epigraph. Our investigation begins by establishing a boundary estimate for antisymmetric functions and demonstrating the monotonicity of bounded positive solutions in coercive epigraphs, via the direct method of moving planes. Subsequently, we present a Liouville-type theorem for this nonlocal problem.
3D MHD convection and entropy production in a rectangular cavity with localized heating: A study on conductive fluid dynamics
Authors: Nefzi Marwa , Ben-Beya Brahim , Bessaih Rachid
Published: August 2024

This study aims to investigate the magnetoconvection of an electrically conducting fluid within a rectangular enclosure through a comprehensive three-dimensional computational analysis. The enclosure has a hemispherical block for bottom heating and incorporates two elliptical sources with differing temperatures along its vertical sidewalls. The primary focus is to optimize heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics within this thermal system by analyzing various control parameters. The simulations were carried out with the relevant parameters of the problem, including the Rayleigh number [Formula: see text], Hartmann number [Formula: see text], the inclination of the magnetic field [Formula: see text], and the radius of the hemispherical block [Formula: see text]. Three distinct scenarios represent different positions for the localized heat sources. Among these configurations, the Middle–Middle (MM) arrangement is the most favorable, with the specific value for the radius [Formula: see text] yet to be determined. The findings highlight the effective control of heat transfer rate and irreversibility effects by manipulating the parameters [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. It is demonstrated that selecting [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] values of [Formula: see text] and 15 allows for optimal thermal system configuration. A correlation with two variables [Formula: see text] expressing the rate of heat transfer through the cavity was established and verified. The analysis of the helicity confirms the predicted optimal case.
A computational study of vibrating system using the constant proportional Caputo derivative operator approach
Authors: Zafar Azhar Ali , Sadiq Muhammad Armaghan , Shabbir Khurram , Guran Liliana
Published: August 2024

For modeling of complex systems, in signal processing, and the explorations of nonlinear dynamics and memory effects, the utilization of noninteger-order dynamics provides adaptable control over oscillation patterns and frequencies. Moreover, various waveforms result in unique sonic qualities. By manipulation of these waveforms, musicians and sound designers have the capacity to craft a wide spectrum of auditory experiences, ranging from basic tones to intricate sound scape. This paper is about study of such vibrating systems using the noninteger-order derivative operator approach. In particular, we will discuss fractional relaxation oscillator and Scott-Blair oscillator employing constant proportional Caputo fractional derivative operator. Laplace transform method and Tzou’s numerical inversion algorithm are utilized to solve these vibrating models with respective initial conditions. A thorough graphical analysis is done to discuss the control of noninteger-order parameters and the parameters involved in the definition of fractional derivative operator. Finally, useful conclusions are recorded to highlight the behavior of oscillators and influence of noninteger-order parameters, the parameters involved in the definition of fractional derivative operator and system parameters that are helpful in controlling over oscillation pattern, frequencies and shape of vibrations produced by the vibrating systems.
The quest for a practical quantum advantage or the importance of applications for quantum computing
Authors: Lorenz Jeanette Miriam
Published: August 2024

Quantum computing as emerging technology raises high expectations to accelerate complicated calculations, superseding capabilities of presently available supercomputers and to provide a solution to the ever-increasing challenge of processing big amount of data. Besides theoretical promises, quantum computers have successfully been realized in experimental settings during the past few years, and can now also be accessed commercially. Given this availability of quantum computers, their application potential can be scrutinized. Promised to lead to disruptive changes in addressing and solving problems from the domains of simulation, optimization and machine learning, quantum computers have been researched in context of many application scenarios in industrial and academic setting in the recent years. However, it turns out that currently available quantum computers are still to small in size and limited in quality to fulfill the high hopes set in them at the moment. This review reflects on the current state of the technology coming from the perspective of the application, and indicates the developments required on hardware, software and algorithmic side to eventually make quantum computing beneficial for applications.
Brownian moment and thermophoresis analysis of nanoparticles for Oldroyd-B fluid capturing aspects of radiation phenomenon
Authors: Kang Lin , Khan Bakhtawar , Abbas Syed Zaheer , Khan Waqar Azeem , Alrub Sharif Abu
Published: August 2024

The process of convective thermal management in the radiative flow of Oldroyd-B fluid over the stretching cylinder is investigated in this paper. In engineering and applied sciences, the viewpoint of fluid flow due to vertically stretched cylinder covers both theoretical and practical significances. Nonlinear ordinary differential equations are first transformed from their corresponding partial differential equations, then rebuilt using sufficient transformations to produce a system of nondimensional equations, using a proper similarity technique, which is then calculated. The MATLAB built-in technique BVP4C, a standard numerical process, is used to solve the regulating flow equations. A comprehensive graphical depiction was used for characteristics like unsteadiness and curvature, Prandtl number, and thermal diffusivity. The relevant flow characteristics of the governing problem are depicted in graphs.
Domain Adaptation Infrared Forest Fire Detection Method Based on YOLOv5 Framework
Authors: He Huan , Wang Lei , Zhou Enze , Wei Ruizeng , Liu Shuqin
Published: August 2024

Deep networks have achieved great success in forest fire detection by exploiting visible light images. However, visible light images are susceptible to strong light, smoke, and obstruction interference. The infrared image has high sensitivity to temperature changes of targets, which can alleviate the deficiency of visible light image. Due to the significant distribution shift between visible light and infrared images, directly using the visible light-based pre-trained network for infrared forest fire results in a significant decrease in performance. To resolve this issue, this paper proposes an infrared image forest fire detection system based on domain adaptive learning. We adopt two YOLOv5 frameworks to extract features from visible light images (source domain) and infrared images (target domain). To align the features of the two domains, we construct a novel adaptation learning mechanism based on Kullback–Leibler (KL) loss and feature maximum mean discrepancy (FMMD) loss. We conducted extensive comparative experiments on two publicly available datasets to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model. All experimental results indicate that our proposed domain adaptive learning mechanism effectively improves the performance of infrared forest fire detection.
Shaking Table Test and Numerical Modeling of Seismic Behavior of Rectangular Tunnel Structures Embedded in Soft Clay
Authors: Zhang Lei , Ma Jian , Chen Cheng , Shi Jun , Zhang Panpan
Published: August 2024

In this paper, a series of 1-g shaking table model tests were carried out to investigate the seismic behavior of a relatively stiff rectangular tunnel structure installed in soft clay bed, accounting for different ground motions with varying peak accelerations. Using a validated numerical analysis procedure, a suite of three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analyses was performed to systematically study the factors of tunnel burial depth, seismic intensity, flexural rigidity of the middle column and tunnel wall thickness on the seismic response of rectangular tunnel structures installed in clayey ground. It was found that, with the increasing burial depth, the seismic response of rectangular tunnel structure became more intense due to the increased inertial force arising from the overlying clay; in terms of improving the seismic performance of tunnel structure, increasing tunnel wall thickness seemed more effective than increasing flexural rigidity of the middle column. Furthermore, it was found that the existing simplified approaches generally tended to overestimate the earthquake-induced racking distortions of rectangular tunnels installed in clayey ground. A new semi-empirical relationship was derived for better correlating the racking ratio with flexibility ratio for rectangular tunnels embedded in soft clays, which could provide a useful reference for the seismic design and risk assessment of similar clay-tunnel systems.
Geometry of infinite dimensional Cartan developments
Authors: Michor Johanna , Michor Peter W.
Published: August 2024

The Cartan development takes a Lie algebra valued 1-form satisfying the Maurer–Cartan equation on a simply connected manifold [Formula: see text] to a smooth mapping from [Formula: see text] into the Lie group. In this paper, this is generalized to infinite dimensional [Formula: see text] for infinite dimensional regular Lie groups. The Cartan development is viewed as a generalization of the evolution map of a regular Lie group. The tangent mapping of a Cartan development is identified as another Cartan development.
Knowledge-injected Prompt Learning for Chinese Biomedical Entity Normalization
Authors: Yang Songhua , Zhang Chenghao , He Chenyuan , Xu Hongfei , Zan Hongying , Jia Yuxiang
Published: August 2024

The Biomedical Entity Normalization (BEN) task aims to align raw, unstructured medical entities to standard entities, thus promoting data coherence and facilitating better downstream medical applications. Recently, prompt learning methods have shown promising results in the natural language processing field. However, existing research falls short in tackling the more complex Chinese BEN task, especially in the few-shot scenario with limited medical data, and the vast potential of the external medical knowledge base has not yet been fully exploited. To address these challenges, this article proposes a novel Knowledge-injected Prompt Learning (PL-Knowledge) method. Specifically, the approach consists of five stages: candidate entity matching, knowledge extraction, knowledge encoding, knowledge injection, and prediction output. By effectively encoding the knowledge items contained in medical entities and incorporating them into tailor-made knowledge-injected templates, the additional knowledge enhances the model’s ability to capture latent relationships between medical entities, thus achieving a better match with the standard entities. Comprehensive experiments are conducted on a benchmark dataset in both few-shot and full-scale settings. This method outperforms existing baselines, with an average accuracy improvement of 12.96 percentage points in few-shot and 0.94 percentage points in full-data cases, showcasing its excellence in the BEN task.
Integrating molecular and cellular components of endothelial shear stress mechanotransduction
Authors: Power Gavin , Ferreira-Santos Larissa , Martinez-Lemus Luis A. , Padilla Jaume
Published: August 2024

The lining of blood vessels is constantly exposed to mechanical forces exerted by blood flow against the endothelium. Endothelial cells detect these tangential forces (i.e., shear stress), initiating a host of intracellular signaling cascades that regulate vascular physiology. Thus, vascular health is tethered to the endothelial cells’ capacity to transduce shear stress. Indeed, the mechanotransduction of shear stress underlies a variety of cardiovascular benefits, including some of those associated with increased physical activity. However, endothelial mechanotransduction is impaired in aging and disease states such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, precipitating the development of vascular disease. Understanding endothelial mechanotransduction of shear stress, and the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which this process becomes defective, is critical for the identification and development of novel therapeutic targets against cardiovascular disease. In this review, we detail the primary mechanosensitive structures that have been implicated in detecting shear stress, including junctional proteins such as platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), the extracellular glycocalyx and its components, and ion channels such as piezo1. We delineate which molecules are truly mechanosensitive and which may simply be indispensable for the downstream transmission of force. Furthermore, we discuss how these mechanosensors interact with other cellular structures, such as the cytoskeleton and membrane lipid rafts, which are implicated in translating shear forces to biochemical signals. Based on findings to date, we also seek to integrate these cellular and molecular mechanisms with a view of deciphering endothelial mechanotransduction of shear stress, a tenet of vascular physiology.
“It Is about How Kind They Are”: The Significance of Professionals’ Attitudes towards Caregivers in the Dutch Care System
Authors: Wittenberg Yvette , Kwekkeboom Rick , Verhoeff Arnoud P.
Published: August 2024

In recent years, Dutch authorities have attempted to shift from formal to informal care responsibilities to meet an increasing demand for care. There is a growing expectation that social and healthcare professionals will actively involve, support, and collaborate with partners, family members, and others who provide informal care. However, the practical implementation of such collaborations is not yet evident. In this qualitative study, 37 individual interviews and eight focus groups were conducted to explore the preferences of informal caregivers in the Netherlands regarding their collaboration with social and healthcare professionals. In recognition of the growing consensus that professionals should tailor their approach to caregivers’ individual circumstances, we adopted an intersectional approach to examine the relationship between caregivers’ social positions and preferences as well as the impact of systemic and power dynamics on these collaborations. The findings indicate that most of caregivers’ worries concerning collaborations are rooted in the organisational context of their interactions with professionals rather than the interactions themselves. Caregivers’ social positions do not necessarily lead to varying opinions regarding collaboration with professionals; however, caregivers do expect professionals to be aware of their social positions, as these positions shape the context within which informal care is provided and determine how easily caregivers can integrate care responsibilities into their lives. To enhance collaboration between caregivers and professionals in the short term, care organisations and social and healthcare educational programmes should encourage a professional mindset that recognises caregivers as equal partners in care. It is essential for professionals to acknowledge the caregiver’s role and devise strategies for arranging care together that build on the existing relationship between the caregiver and care recipient.
Comparison of Rocuronium and Succinylcholine for First‐Attempt Intubation Success in the Emergency Department
Authors: Wang Helen Y. , Crowley Kaitlin E. , Tran Lena K. , Brown Calvin A. , Marino Kaylee
Published: August 2024

Background. Succinylcholine and rocuronium are the predominant neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) used for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in the emergency department (ED). Prior studies have found reduced first‐attempt intubation success (FAIS) with rocuronium compared to succinylcholine. Recent large registry data have shown no difference in intubating conditions or FAIS. Objectives. The objective of this study was to compare FAIS rates for rocuronium and succinylcholine when used for RSI in a high‐acuity academic ED. Methods. This was a single‐center retrospective study. Patients were included if they received either succinylcholine or rocuronium for RSI in the ED from January 2016 to August 2020. The primary endpoint was FAIS. Subgroup analyses were performed evaluating the impact of weight‐based dosing on FAIS for each agent, and multivariate analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of baseline characteristics on the primary outcome. Results. There were 448 patients who received rocuronium and 183 patients who received succinylcholine. No difference was observed in unadjusted FAIS between patients receiving rocuronium (median weight‐based dose: 1.22 mg/kg) or succinylcholine (median weight‐based dose: 1.43 mg/kg) (361 (80.6%) vs. 150 (82.0%), p = 0.69). There were no differences in FAIS between the weight‐based dose categories for rocuronium and for succinylcholine. Conclusions. These findings were consistent with those from recent studies indicating no difference in FAIS between rocuronium and succinylcholine, although the median dose of rocuronium used in this study was higher than traditionally recommended. Larger prospective studies are warranted to further evaluate the effect of weight‐based paralytic dosing on FAIS.
Sharing without Caring: High Prevalence and Similarity of Potentially Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Helminths in Two Sympatric Nonhuman Primates in a Tropical Resource Reserve
Authors: Ofori Benjamin Y. , Annan Andy B. , Asomaning Benjamin , Vigbedor Divine T. , Asante Pearl A.
Published: August 2024

Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are threatened globally, with infectious diseases ranking among the major threat factors. NHPs may also harbor zoonotic pathogens that may spillover to humans, making the surveillance of infectious diseases and parasite infestations in NHPs of conservation and public health important. Here, we assessed the gastrointestinal helminths of sympatric green monkeys and olive baboons at the Shai Hill Resource Reserve (SHRR) in Accra, Ghana. Examination of 60 fecal samples from the two NHPs using direct wet mount preparations, formol‐ether sedimentation, and zinc‐sulfate centrifugal flotation techniques yielded 12 gastrointestinal helminth species comprising nine nematodes, two cestodes, and one trematode. Nine of the helminth species (6 nematodes, 2 cestodes, and 1 trematode) were common to the baboons and green monkeys, giving a high (86%) similarity of helminth composition between the two NHPs. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infestations was significantly higher (p = 0.0002) in olive baboons (100%) than in green monkeys (86.7%). The prevalence of Enterobius sp. (χ2 = 30.03, p ≤ 0.00001) and Strongyloides sp. (χ2 = 19.53, p ≤ 0.0001) was significantly higher in green monkeys, while Oesophagostomum sp. (χ2 = 36.33, p ≤ 0.0001) was more prevalent in olive baboons. The occurrence of Taenia sp., Dipylidium sp., and Chabertia sp. in the NHPs suggests potential cross‐transmission of helminths between the NHPs, and both livestock and domestic animals within the fringe communities of SHRR. Ascaris sp., Enterobius sp., Oesophagostomum sp., Strongyloides sp., and Trichuris sp. in the NHPs are of public health interest because of their zoonotic nature. Our findings provide valuable baseline data for long‐term monitoring of the health of NHPs and their habitat and can inform conservation measures that safeguard wildlife, veterinary, and public health.
Nurses’ Experiences of the Caring Role during the COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Qualitative Research
Authors: O’ Regan-Hyde Mary , Dalton-O Connor Caroline , Flynn Angela , Murphy Ashling , McCarthy Vera J. C.
Published: August 2024

Aims. To synthesize the evidence on nurses’ experiences of their caring role during the COVID‐19 pandemic and identify emerging concepts that have affected nurses within the caring role in relation to (a) their professional lives and (b) their personal lives. Background. The concept of caring is central to the science and art of nursing practice, and fulfilment of the caring role is fundamental to the profession. The COVID‐19 pandemic imposed unprecedented change globally transforming the caring role of the nurse. The WHO highlights that a well‐supported workforce is paramount to emergency preparedness; therefore, understanding the experiences of the nurse’s caring role during the COVID‐19 crisis is paramount to practice in future healthcare crises. Methods. A scoping review. Data Sources. Studies published between January 2020 and November 2023 were identified from the following databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Coronavirus Database, PUBMED, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Scopus, Web of Science, and SocINDEX. Reporting Method. The scoping review adhered to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA‐ScR) checklist. Results. The search identified 1,347 studies, subsequent review of title and abstract, resulted in 117 full‐text papers for further eligibility screening, with a total of 52 studies being included in the scoping review. Findings were grouped thematically using the Braun and Clarke (2006) approach. The five distinctive themes that emerged were (a) emotional turmoil, (b) erosion of care, (c) relationships and solidarity, (d) expansion of role, and (e) professional growth. Conclusion. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, there was an evolutionary shift in the caring role of the nurse, on a trajectory from emotional turmoil to professional growth. The process followed a theoretical framework of transformative learning that could support nurses’ capability and preparedness in their caring role for future inevitable extreme events and crisis in healthcare. Implications for Nursing Management. Mapping current knowledge of the unprecedented COVID‐19 crisis from a nurse’s professional and personal perspective purposefully aims to highlight gaps for future research, education, and policy and is paramount to emergency preparedness and a well‐supported workforce in future healthcare crisis.
Antibacterial Activity and Proposed Mode of Action of Extracts from Selected Zimbabwean Medicinal Plants against Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Machingauta Auxillia , Mukanganyama Stanley
Published: August 2024

Acinetobacter baumannii was identified by the WHO as a priority pathogen in which the research and development of new antibiotics is urgently needed. Plant phytochemicals have potential as sources of new antimicrobials. The objective of the study was to determine the antibacterial activity of extracts of selected Zimbabwean medicinal plants against A. baumannii and determine their possible mode of action. Extracts were prepared from the leaves of the eight plants including the bark of Erythrina abyssinica using solvents of different polarities. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the microbroth dilution method coupled with the in vitro iodonitrotetrazolium colorimetric assay. The effect of the extracts on membrane integrity was determined by quantifying the amount of protein and nucleic acid leaked from the cells after exposure to the extracts. The effects of the extracts on biofilms were investigated. Toxicity studies were carried out using sheep erythrocytes and murine peritoneal cells. Seven out of eight evaluated plant extracts were found to have antibacterial activity. The Combretum apiculatum acetonie (CAA) extract showed the highest inhibitory activity against A. baumannii with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 125 µg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the CAA extract caused a protein leakage of 32 µg/mL from A. baumannii. The Combretum apiculatum acetonie (CAA), C. apiculatum methanolic (CAM), Combretum zeyheri methanolic (CZM), and Erythrina abyssinica methanolic (EAM) extracts inhibited A. baumannii biofilm formation. The EAM extract was shown to disrupt mature biofilms. The potent extracts were nontoxic to sheep erythrocytes and mouse peritoneal cells. The activities shown by the extracts indicate that the plants have potential as sources of effective antibacterial and antibiofilm formation agents against A. baumannii.
A Confused Case Diagnosed as Cerebral Infarction or Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody‐Associated Disease
Authors: Ding Yanan , Zhang Li , Huang Anqi , Meng Xianyue , Li Xueli
Published: August 2024

In order to discuss the clinical and MRI features, diagnosis, and prevention of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody‐associated disease (MOGAD), we reported an adult case of MOG antibody‐related disease misdiagnosed as cerebral infarction. This patient’s first clinical symptom was limb weakness, that different from previous reports of MOG antibody‐related diseases, such as brainstem encephalitis, neuromyelitis optical, and transverse myelitis. The main treatment plan is high‐dose corticosteroid therapy combined with immunoglobulin therapy. This case indicated that some MOGAD patients lack of specificity in the clinical manifestations and imaging perhaps would be misdiagnosed as cerebral infarction, encephalitis, immune peripheral neuropathy, MS, NMOSD, and other diseases. For patients with atypical clinical manifestations or imaging, it is especially important to take antibody detection as early as possible to make correct diagnosis and active treatment in time to avoid disability.
Enucleation for Sporadic Nonfunctioning Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Larger than 2 Centimeters Is Associated with Equivalent Morbidity and Survival Compared to Smaller Tumors: A Multi-Institutional Study
Authors: Karam Elias , Nassar Alexandra , Elkurdi Sara , Péré Guillaume , Freville Thomas , Wasielewski Edouard , Palen Anaïs , Périnel Julie , Lifante Jean-Christophe , Lermite Emilie , Marchese Ugo , Adham Mustapha , Turrini Olivier , Sulpice Laurent , Régenet Nicolas , Carrère Nicolas , Gaujoux Sébastien , Pattou François , Sauvanet Alain
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NF-PanNET) ≤2 cm can be observed or resected. Surgery remains recommended for NF-PanNET >2 cm but its extent, enucleation (EN) versus formal resection, remains controversial. Methods: Multicentric retrospective cohort of sporadic NF-PanNET patients treated with EN. Short- and long-term outcomes were compared according to tumor size on imaging ≤2 cm versus >2 cm. Results: 131 patients underwent EN for NF-PanNET, including 103 (79.0%) ≤2 cm and 28 (21.0%) >2 cm (extremes, 4–55 mm). Patients’ characteristics were comparable, and tumor characteristics only differed in their diameter. Clavien III-IV complications were similar (18.4% vs. 17.9%, p = 1.00) with one death in NF-PanNET ≤2 cm. Grade B/C pancreatic fistula were comparable (16.5% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.850). In NF-PanNET >2 cm there were more pT2/3 stage tumors (85.7% vs. 21.4%, p < 0.001), similar rates of grade G2/3 tumors (25% vs. 16.5%, p = 0.408) with a median Ki67 of 2 (interquartile range: 1–3), and of lymphovascular and perineural invasions. Lymph node picking was done in 46 (35.1%) patients, with a higher median number of harvested lymph nodes in NF-PanNET >2 cm (4 vs. 3, p = 0.01). All were pN0. R0 resection rate (78.6% vs. 82.5%, respectively; p = 0.670) was equivalent. Five-year overall (100% vs. 99%, p = 0.602) and 10-year disease-free (96% vs. 92%, respectively; p = 0.532) survivals were comparable. Conclusions: EN for selected NF-PanNET >2 cm carries equivalent morbidity, overall and disease-free survivals compared to those observed with NF-PanNET ≤2 cm.
Trial in All but Name: Continuing Proceedings in Contravention of the Right to Be Present at Trial
Authors: Wheeler Caleb H.
Published: August 2024

The right to be present at trial is under threat following the decision of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals’ Trial Chamber to continue proceedings against Félicien Kabuga after finding him mentally unfit to stand trial. The Trial Chamber opted instead to hold an “alternative finding procedure”, resembling a trial as closely as possible, albeit without the possibility of concluding with a verdict. This article engages with that decision through the lens of whether this approach complies with the accused’s right to be present at trial. It concludes that the proceedings would be little more than a de facto trial that does not adequately respect the accused’s right to be present. It also finds that should other international criminal courts and tribunals follow a similar approach the right to be present would be deprived of any real meaning. This could also, in turn, threaten overall fairness of the proceedings.
Exporting the Margin of Appreciation
Authors: Acconciamessa Lorenzo
Published: August 2024

It was in 1976 when, in the case of Handyside v. the United Kingdom, the European Court of Human Rights held that the European Convention on Human Rights “leaves to the Contracting States a margin of appreciation”. Forty-five years later, in 2021, Protocol No. 15 entered into force and incorporated the “margin of appreciation” into the Preamble of the ECHR. For a long time, the doctrine has been considered a unique feature of the European human rights system, consistently ignored or explicitly rejected by other international adjudicators. This article aims to assess whether the recent international judicial practice still confirms such a conclusion, or whether the margin has migrated across the case law of different international courts and is, nowadays, a doctrine that can be applied to the assessment of the scope and content of international obligations and to the review of compliance with such obligations in general.
Archaeological Analysis of the Two Spearheads from the Territory of Medieval Armenia
Authors: Dymydyuk Dmytro
Published: August 2024

This paper is an overview of two archeological finds of spearheads from Ani (in the form of a trident with a central straight prong and two side curved hooks) and Dvin (long and heavy spearhead, oval in form, flat in section with round socket). Well-known Byzantine, Georgian, Kyivan Rus’, and Muslim Near East archeological, pictorial, and figurative sources will be compared to elucidate the purpose, dating, and origin of the above-mentioned spearheads.
Khamīs bar Qardaḥe’s Objection to God Dwelling within the Womb Based on the Aristotelian Categories and the Replies of Daniel bar Ḥaṭṭāb and Gregory bar ʿEbrāyā
Authors: Burke Simon Luke Robinson
Published: August 2024

In the thirteenth century, a Syriac poem of four lines relating the Aristotelian categories to the incarnation was composed by a famous East Syrian poet, Khamīs bar Qardaḥe. In this poem, Khamīs challenged the coherence of Syriac Orthodox incarnational Christology and attracted poetic replies from two prominent Syriac Orthodox figures: Daniel bar Ḥaṭṭāb and Gregory bar ʿEbrāyā. This article presents a critical edition of these three related poems as well as an English translation, discussions of their authorship and transmission, and a commentary on their contents.
Human Security, Multilateralism, and Solidarity
Authors: Elliott Lorraine
Published: August 2024

In 2022, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) released a Special Report on threats to human security in the Anthropocene, a year after UN Secretary-General António Guterres released his report Our Common Agenda. In anticipation of the 2024 Summit of the Future, both called for a reinvigoration of networked multilateralism and for solidarity to be adopted as a third human security pillar alongside protection and empowerment. This article explores those expectations against a deeper understanding of the UN history of human security and a cycle of declared concerns about human insecurity and precarity dating at least to UNDP’s 1994 Human Development Report. It argues that there is little new in the “next-generation” model of networked multilateralism and that, as a global governance norm, solidarity for human security is underconceptualized and poorly operationalized. It points to the importance of reclaiming the local as a site of people-centered agency, care, and voice.
The Slave Trade, Slavery and the Struggle for Supremacy in the Momo River Valley, North West Region of Cameroon, to 1926
Authors: Etamo Kengo Emmanuel
Published: August 2024

This paper examines issues of the slave trade and slavery in the Momo River valley of Cameroon. Using primary sources (oral tradition and archival materials) and secondary sources, the paper shows the impact of the transatlantic slave trade in the region not only in the slave trade and slaving activities but also in the transformation of some old social institutions and the emergence of new ones. The paper argues that the transatlantic slave trade introduced capitalists in this part of Africa, who continued to make profits from legitimate commerce after the abolition of the slave trade through the persistent enslavement of other Africans to work in the palm oil industry. The Momo River valley continued to be a major source of these slaves. This paper therefore brings into the limelight slavery and the slave trade in an area which contributed to the transatlantic and the post-transatlantic slave trade but which has still not received adequate scholarly attention.
“If You All Don’t Save Me, I Will End My Life”: An Assessment of (Il)legal Online Digital Lenders (Loan Sharks) in Nigeria
Authors: Thompson Olasupo , Bode-Alakija Funmi , Awange Phoebe D.
Published: August 2024

This article examines the activities of (il)legal online lenders in Nigeria. A qualitative method was adopted in which literature, media reports, commentaries and indepth interviews were deployed. We argue that the insufficient regulatory role of the government, the laxity of laws, a failure to initiate social security, poor access to loan facilities, corruption and poverty, among other factors, account for the incursions of illegal online lenders (loan sharks) who deploy unorthodox methods in reclaiming their loans from defaulters in Nigeria, and that use of force remains ineffective. We recommend a more robust and holistic framework to tackle (il)legal online lenders. This must, among other things, start from the government’s political will, revamping the economy, establishing an effective regulatory role of government and its agencies in the online and offline financial institutions, and creating job opportunities, access to loans and an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Professional Academic Development Over Here and Over There: Sociolinguistic Perspectives on North–South Collaboration and Joint PhD Research
Authors: De Soete Alexander , Slembrouck Stef , Williams Quentin
Published: August 2024

This report develops interrelated perspectives on North–South collaboration, with a particular focus on joint PhD research. A specific – but perhaps atypical – case will be presented, in which the doctoral student is located and collects data in the Global North but is co-advised by supervisors from both Ghent University (Belgium) and the University of the Western Cape (South Africa) in the context of a strategic inter-institutional partnership between the two universities. The report details how the research project is inserted into interdependent trajectories and attends to crucial questions about academic cooperation in a transnational context across institutional, geographic and socio-cultural settings and with global academic aspirations. Is joint research only a matter of academic collaboration with relevant expertise? How does the project connect to pressing challenges of (sociolinguistic) knowledge production and – in this particular case – the theme of decolonisation?
Walking the Talk: Reflections on Teaching South African Literature to Foreign Students
Authors: van Niekerk Marlene
Published: August 2024

What kind of critical apparatus would be needed to best identify the conditions under which Afrikaans literature was produced? What kind of self-understanding could be expected from a historically privileged South African who teaches literature to foreign students? Rather than a formal theoretical critique, this inaugural lecture is a playful, hybrid text that will offer a rhetorically amplified performance in response to these questions. Its central thesis is that walking solves problems. The performance proceeds via a preamble stating these problems, followed by an autobiographical narrative covering several perambulations at dusk, concluding with a post-amble of allegories for reading and teaching literature in turbulent times.
Updates to NOAA’s Unified Forecast System’s Cumulus Convection Parameterization Scheme between GFSv16 and GFSv17
Authors: Bengtsson Lisa , Han Jongil
Published: August 2024

This study outlines the updates made to cumulus convection parameterizations between Global Forecast System, version 16 (GFSv16), and the forthcoming GFSv17 which will be the first global forecast application to become operational under the Unified Forecast System infrastructure. The updates, addressing known systematic errors and biases, incorporate innovations such as stochasticity, three-dimensional subgrid organizational effects, and a prognostic closure evolution. The changes are shown to improve tropical temperature/humidity biases, convective available potential energy (CAPE) forecasts, CONUS precipitation, and tropical variability. By examining individual updates’ impact on temperature, humidity profiles, and precipitation power spectra, we find that the new prognostic closure and stricter precipitation evaporation criteria alleviate a dry and cold bias in the tropical boundary layer and enhance precipitation variability in the tropics. Stricter triggering criteria also allow for more CAPE buildup, particularly over the tropics. The cumulus convection updates have a modest impact on precipitation skill scores over CONUS, but overall, there is an improvement when comparing GFSv16 and the latest GFSv17 prototype configurations, in particularly for larger thresholds. The study also highlights the challenges in developing convection parameterizations suitable for both coupled and uncoupled model configurations. Evaluation of the MJO shows varying responses to cumulus convection changes depending on whether the model is coupled with a dynamic ocean model.
Multitasking Induced Contextual Blindness
Authors: Cooper Joel M. , Strayer David L.
Published: August 2024

Objective

To examine the impact of secondary task performance on contextual blindness arising from the suppression and masking of temporal and spatial sequence learning.

Background

Dual-task scenarios can lead to a diminished ability to use environmental cues to guide attention, a phenomenon that is related to multitasking-induced inattentional blindness. This research aims to extend the theoretical understanding of how secondary tasks can impair attention and memory processes in sequence learning and access.

Method

We conducted three experiments. In Experiment 1, we used a serial reaction time task to investigate the impact of a secondary tone counting task on temporal sequence learning. In Experiment 2, we used a contextual cueing task to examine the effects of dual-task performance on spatial cueing. In Experiment 3, we integrated and extended these concepts to a simulated driving task.

Results

Across the experiments, the performance of a secondary task consistently suppressed (all experiments) and masked task learning (experiments 1 and 3). In the serial response and spatial search tasks, dual-task conditions reduced the accrual of sequence knowledge and impaired knowledge expression. In the driving simulation, similar patterns of learning suppression from multitasking were also observed.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that secondary tasks can significantly suppress and mask sequence learning in complex tasks, leading to a form of contextual blindness characterized by impairments in the ability to use environmental cues to guide attention and anticipate future events.

Application

These findings have implications for both skill acquisition and skilled performance in complex domains such as driving, aviation, manufacturing, and human–computer interaction.
An Artful Science: Activism, Non-Violence, and Radical Democracy in Cold War Britain
Authors: Scott-Brown Sophie
Published: August 2024

The Direct Action Committee (DAC, 1958–62) and its parent, the Non-Violent Research Group (NVRG 1949–62) occupy a minor position in British postwar peace historiography where they are generally depicted as a well-meaning fringe group whose political naivety limited their impact. This perspective assumes that success means inaugurating a mass movement or forcing a policy change. It overlooks the group's objections to these strategies and underplays the research dimension of their activities. This article argues that while unilateral disarmament was the DAC's short-term priority, it was always connected to a larger goal of cultivating non-violence as a practical political philosophy and theory of social change. During the 1950s, the group developed an ‘artful science’ of activism which included a poetics of protest inspired by the Gandhian concept of satyagraha. Later, their fieldwork experiences further informed a prosaic theory of activism attentive to the everyday business of organizing as a vital space for building democratic capacity.
“It’s Almost as if I’ve Relapsed”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Addiction Therapists’ Experiences With Supporting Their Clients Through Repeated Relapse
Authors: Klein Maike , Dixon Jeremy , Butler Catherine , Best David
Published: August 2024

Background: Although addiction therapists are faced with immense pressures to effectively support clients through relapses and overdose risks, the evidence base on relapse remains significantly limited. Aims: This study aims to generate novel understandings of substance misuse relapse from a lived experience perspective of addiction therapists. Methods: Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with seven addiction therapists across specialist addiction treatment services in England, and subsequently analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: The analysis revealed three superordinate themes around the impact that supporting clients through relapse has on addiction therapists’ psychological wellbeing, their treatment approaches, and their therapeutic relationships. Conclusion: Relapse can shape how therapists perceive and engage with recovery of their clients. Although therapists sometimes consider relapse as a positive experience, they often feel negative psychological effects from it, including emotional withdrawal, self-doubt, and compassion fatigue. This paper sets out the implications for policy, practice, and research.
Study on strengthening and toughening of Wf/W composites by designing the ratio of raw Wf and coated Wf
Authors: Cao Zhenya , Chen Hao , Jiang Zhizhong , Sun Jialong , Xue Yongsheng , Chen Shuai , Yu Jie
Published: August 2024

To address the issue of brittleness of W, Wf/W composite mixed with varying proportions of raw Wf (Wf (raw)) and Y2O3-coated Wf (Wf (Y2O3)) were prepared using SPS. With the combination of strong and weak interface bonding, the composite with high strength and toughness, and pseudo-ductile fracture at room temperature was eventually accomplished by designing the addition ratio of Wf(raw) and Wf(Y2O3). The results showed that when the addition ratio of Wf(raw) and Wf(Y2O3) were 10vol.% and 20vol.%, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composite exhibited the better results, which were 551.16 MPa and 7.30 MPa·m1/2, respectively. They were higher than the non-fiber W alloy prepared by the same process (443.59 MPa and 5.97 MPa·m1/2).
Towards a “trauma-informed spaces of care” model: The example of services for homeless substance users
Authors: Brais Hannah , Riva Mylene
Published: August 2024

While clinical practitioners have long recognized the importance of trauma-informed models of care, geographies of care scholars have been slow to engage with and address trauma in its methodologies for better understanding environments that support, or hinder, care for people. Marrying the conceptual contributions of geographies of care, trauma geographies, and geographies of addiction, this paper aims to advance the inquiry of trauma-informed spaces of care. Drawing on the example of the homeless substance user, we present a novel theoretical imperative for considering trauma on both an individual and collective level for advancing spatial interventions for healing in spaces of care.