bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applying collective action frameworks to analyse local-level collaboration for electric vehicle-related policies
Authors: Deslatte Aaron , Siciliano Michael D , Krause Rachel M.
Published: May 2024

Many of the most pernicious contemporary urban problems require local governments to organise collectively across jurisdictions and reorganise or coordinate internally across bureaucratic silos. Climate change, for example, is a complex system phenomenon impacting a range of interconnected socio-environmental systems in a region, such as water, transportation and energy infrastructures which may not be directly under the control of a single department or government. This often requires managers and policymakers to coordinate policy responses across siloed units within governments and through network-based arrangements across governments. Theories of polycentricity and collective action have long drawn attention to the barriers and opportunities of collaboration and multilevel governance in fashioning adequate responses to complex problems. However, these approaches typically fail to explicate the relationships or interactions between internal and external collaboration risks and the institutional mechanisms for ameliorating them. This article empirically explores this relationship between functional collective action (collaboration across departmental units within a single government) and intergovernmental collective action (collaboration across governments). Situated in the context of climate adaptation and electric vehicle (EV) policy efforts in cities, the article highlights the need for greater scholarly attention more broadly to the development of institutional collective action theory.
Topological state-space estimation of functional human brain networks
Authors: Chung Moo K. , Huang Shih-Gu , Carroll Ian C. , Calhoun Vince D. , Goldsmith H. Hill
Published: May 2024

We introduce an innovative, data-driven topological data analysis (TDA) technique for estimating the state spaces of dynamically changing functional human brain networks at rest. Our method utilizes the Wasserstein distance to measure topological differences, enabling the clustering of brain networks into distinct topological states. This technique outperforms the commonly used k-means clustering in identifying brain network state spaces by effectively incorporating the temporal dynamics of the data without the need for explicit model specification. We further investigate the genetic underpinnings of these topological features using a twin study design, examining the heritability of such state changes. Our findings suggest that the topology of brain networks, particularly in their dynamic state changes, may hold significant hidden genetic information.
Foraging in a non-foraging task: Fitness maximization explains human risk preference dynamics under changing environment
Authors: Mochizuki Yasuhiro , Harasawa Norihiro , Aggarwal Mayank , Chen Chong , Fukuda Haruaki
Published: May 2024

Changes in risk preference have been reported when making a series of independent risky choices or non-foraging economic decisions. Behavioral economics has put forward various explanations for specific changes in risk preference in non-foraging tasks, but a consensus regarding the general principle underlying these effects has not been reached. In contrast, recent studies have investigated human economic risky choices using tasks adapted from foraging theory, which require consideration of past choices and future opportunities to make optimal decisions. In these foraging tasks, human economic risky choices are explained by the ethological principle of fitness maximization, which naturally leads to dynamic risk preference. Here, we conducted two online experiments to investigate whether the principle of fitness maximization can explain risk preference dynamics in a non-foraging task. Participants were asked to make a series of independent risky economic decisions while the environmental richness changed. We found that participants’ risk preferences were influenced by the current and past environments, making them more risk-averse during and after the rich environment compared to the poor environment. These changes in risk preference align with fitness maximization. Our findings suggest that the ethological principle of fitness maximization might serve as a generalizable principle for explaining dynamic preferences, including risk preference, in human economic decision-making.
Electronic maternal and child health application usability, feasibility and acceptability among healthcare providers in Amhara region, Ethiopia
Authors: Alemneh Esubalew , Kebebaw Tegegn , Nigatu Dabere , Azage Muluken , Misgan Eyaya , Abate Enyew
Published: May 2024

An innovative electronic Maternal and Child Health (eMCH) application was developed to support operational and clinical decision-making in maternal and child health services. End-user-based evaluation of eHealth application is a critical step to ascertain how successfully users can learn and use it, and improve the technology. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the eMCH tool usability, feasibility, and acceptability among healthcare providers (HCPs) in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCPs working in six public healthcare facilities. The usability evaluation was done on 24 HCPs across three professional categories using the ISO 9241–11 usability guideline. One hundred nine HCPs were participated in the feasibility and acceptability study. Data were collected using a standard usability tool, think-aloud protocol, a self-administered approach, and Open Broadcaster Software Studio version 26.1.1 video recorder. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. A Kruskal-Wallis test was used to measure the association between mean scores and categories of HCPs. The recorded videos were used for the log file analysis method. None of the HCP categories were able to complete all the tasks without errors. The average number of errors and restarts were 7.5 and 2.8, respectively. The average number of restarts was directly proportional to the average number of errors. The participants successfully completed more than 70% of the tasks without requiring any assistance or guidance. Forty-seven comments or errors were identified from the think-aloud analysis and 22 comments from the usability metrics analysis. Overall, statistically significant performance differences were observed among the three HCP groups across the majority of the usability evaluation metrics. Fifty-seven percent of HCPs scored higher than the mean on the feasibility study. Slightly higher than half, 56 (51.4%), of the HCPs scored higher than the mean score on the acceptability study. The usability evaluation identified vital comments and usability flaws that were essential for the eMCH tool to be upgraded. The tool was feasible and acceptable as reported by end-users. Therefore, the errors and usability flaws of the tool should be fixed before deployment to other healthcare settings.
The potential of durum wheat–chickpea intercropping to improve the soil available phosphorus status and biomass production in a subtropical climate
Authors: Souid Amira , Hamdi Wissem , L’taief Boulbaba , Attallah Amal , Hamdi Nourredine , Alshaharni Mohammed O. , Zagrarni Mohamed Faouazi
Published: May 2024

The intercropping system is a promising approach to augmenting the soil nutrient status and promoting sustainable crop production. However, it is not known whether intercropping improves the soil phosphorus (P) status in alluvial soils with low P under subtropical climates. Over two growing seasons––2019–2020 and 2020–2021––two experimental fields were employed to explore the effect of durum wheat (Dw) and chickpea (Cp) cropping systems on the soil available P. A randomized complete block design was used in this experiment, with three blocks each divided into three plots. Each plot was used for one of the following three treatments with three replications: Dw monocrop (Dw-MC), Cp monocrop (Cp-MC), and Dw + Cp intercrop (CpDw-InC), with bulk soil (BS) used as a control. A reduction in the rhizosphere soil pH (-0.44 and -0.11 unit) was observed in the (Cp-MC) and (CpDw-InC) treatments over BS, occurring concomitantly with a significant increase in available P in the rhizosphere soil of around 28.45% for CpDw-InC and 24.9% for Cp-MC over BS. Conversely, the rhizosphere soil pH was significantly higher (+0.12 units) in the Dw-MC treatments. In addition, intercropping enhanced the soil microbial biomass P, with strong positive correlations observed between the biomass P and available P in the Cp-MC treatment, whereas this correlation was negative in the CpDw-InC and Dw-MC treatments. These findings suggested that Cp intercropped with Dw could be a viable approach in enhancing the available P through improved pH variation and biomass P when cultivated on alluvial soil under a subtropical climate.
Exploring memory synchronization and performance considerations for FPGA platform using the high-abstracted OpenCL framework: Benchmarks development and analysis
Authors: Almomany Abedalmuhdi , Jarrah Amin , Sutcu Muhammed
Published: May 2024

A key benefit of the Open Computing Language (OpenCL) software framework is its capability to operate across diverse architectures. Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are a high-speed computing architecture used for computation acceleration. This study investigates the impact of memory access time on overall performance in general FPGA computing environments through the creation of eight benchmarks within the OpenCL framework. The developed benchmarks capture a range of memory access behaviors, and they play a crucial role in assessing the performance of spinning and sleeping on FPGA-based architectures. The results obtained guide the formulation of new implementations and contribute to defining an abstraction of FPGAs. This abstraction is then utilized to create tailored implementations of primitives that are well-suited for this platform. While other research endeavors concentrate on creating benchmarks with the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) to scrutinize the memory systems across diverse GPU architectures and propose recommendations for future generations of GPU computation platforms, this study delves into the memory system analysis for the broader FPGA computing platform. It achieves this by employing the highly abstracted OpenCL framework, exploring various data workload characteristics, and experimentally delineating the appropriate implementation of primitives that can seamlessly integrate into a design tailored for the FPGA computing platform. Additionally, the results underscore the efficacy of employing a task-parallel model to mitigate the need for high-cost synchronization mechanisms in designs constructed on general FPGA computing platforms.
Synthesis, molecular docking study and biological evaluation of new pyrrole scaffolds as potential antitubercular agents for dual targeting of enoyl ACP reductase and dihydrofolate reductase
Authors: Mahnashi Mater H. , Avunoori Sravanthi , Gopi Sanjay , Shaikh Ibrahim Ahmed , Saif Ahmed , Bantun Farkad , Faidah Hani Saleh , Alhadi Abdulrahman Ali , Alshehri Jaber Hassan , Alharbi Abdullah Ali , S. R. Prem Kumar , Joshi Shrinivas D.
Published: May 2024

In this study, new series of N’-(2-(substitutedphenoxy)acetyl)-4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)benzohydrazides (3a-j) 4-(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-N’-(2-(substitutedphenoxy)acetyl)benzohydrazides (5a-j) were synthesized, characterized and assessed as inhibitors of enoyl ACP reductase and DHFR. Most of the compounds exhibited dual inhibition against the enzymes enoyl ACP reductase and DHFR. Several synthesized substances also demonstrated significant antibacterial and antitubercular properties. A molecular docking analysis was conducted in order to determine the potential mechanism of action of the synthesized compounds. The results indicated that there were binding interactions seen with the active sites of dihydrofolate reductase and enoyl ACP reductase. Additionally, important structural details were identified that play a critical role in sustaining the dual inhibitory activity. These findings were useful for the development of future dual inhibitors. Therefore, this study provided strong evidence that several synthesized molecules could exert their antitubercular properties at the cellular level through multi-target inhibition. By shedding light on the mechanisms through which these compounds exert their inhibitory effects, this research opens up promising avenues for the future development of dual inhibitors with enhanced antibacterial and antitubercular properties. The study’s findings underscore the importance of multi-target approaches in drug design, providing a strong foundation for the design and optimization of novel compounds that can effectively target bacterial infections at the cellular level.
Is refractive error a factor affecting scoliosis?
Authors: Cai Jianru , Zhou Yue , Chen Xiaojuan , Huang Xiaobo , Li Lele , Zhu Yan , Cai Qi , Huang Jianping , Sun ZhiMin
Published: May 2024

Background

Scoliosis is one of the most common surgical disorders of the pediatric spine. Refractive errors are commonly associated with vision impairment worldwide. However, it is currently unclear whether refractive error correlates directly with the development of scoliosis.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed in 2023, and a stratified cluster sampling technique was employed among school-aged students in Nantong City, China. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate specific correlations between scoliosis and related parameters; various types of refractive errors were also included in the study.

Results

The prevalence of scoliosis among school-aged students was 2.2% in Nantong city. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia were not correlated with the development of scoliosis (all, p≥0.05). Lower body mass index (BMI) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88−0.95; p<0.001], living in rural areas (aOR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.05−1.86; p = 0.020), and older age (aOR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.25−1.38; p<0.001) had significantly higher risks of scoliosis.

Conclusions

Refractive errors did not correlate with the development of scoliosis. However, BMI, living in rural areas and older age did correlate with the development of scoliosis.
Living the employer brand during a crisis? A qualitative study on internal employer branding in times of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rys Marthe , Schollaert Eveline , Van Hoye Greet
Published: May 2024

Employer branding has emerged as a strategic imperative in the quest for talent. However, existing research has predominantly explored stable periods, overlooking the possible transformative impact of crises and the crucial role that HR managers play in crafting internal employer branding strategies. As such, this research addresses this by scrutinizing internal employer branding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducting in-depth interviews with 37 Belgian HR managers, we delve into the perceived challenges and opportunities that the COVID-19 crisis presented with respect to internal employer branding and its touchpoints—internal communication and leadership. A subsequent member and employee check with six HR managers and six employees validated our findings. The results unveiled organizations’ heightened concern for employer branding during crises, emphasizing the strategic reflection invested. Remarkably, despite facing organizational/operational constraints/risks imposed by the crisis, the attention and efforts remain steadfastly centered on the experienced internal employer brand in crisis situations. Additionally, a contextual analysis suggests that various employer brand types face similar challenges in crises, however, the employer brand serves as a defining factor that shapes how an organization responds to both external uncertainties and internal dynamics brought about by the crisis. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of internal employer branding dynamics during crises, shedding light on the strategic considerations of HR managers.
Determinants of low birth weight among newborns delivered in public hospitals of North Shewa Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia: A case-control study (2023)
Authors: Minda Beniyas , Bekele Girma , Hailemeskel Solomon , Lambebo Abera
Published: May 2024

Background

Low birth weight (LBW), defined as a birth weight less than 2500 g, irrespective of gestational age, poses a significant health concern for newborns. Despite efforts, the incidence of LBW in sub-Saharan Africa has remained stagnant over the past decade, warranting attention from healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers.

Objective

This study aimed to identify factors associated with LBW among newborns delivered in public hospitals of North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, from May 2 to June 10, 2023.

Methods and materials

An unmatched case-control study was conducted from May 2 to June 10, 2023, involving 318 participants (106 cases and 212 controls). Data were collected using pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaires, medical record reviews, and direct anthropometric measurements. Bivariate analyses were conducted, and variables with a p-value ≤ 0.25 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model to determine significant determinants of LBW. A significance level of p < 0.05 was used.

Results

A total of 309 newborns (103 cases and 206 controls) were included, yielding a response rate of 97.2%. Among the findings, females exhibited a higher risk of LBW (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.34, 7.32, p = 0.008), as did mothers aged 20 or younger (AOR: 3.42, 95% CI: 1.35, 8.66, p = 0.009). Lack of formal education was associated with increased risk (AOR: 6.82, 95% CI: 2.94, 15.3, p < 0.001), as were unplanned pregnancies (AOR: 3.08, 95% CI: 1.38, 6.84, p = 0.006) and missed antenatal care visits (AOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.16, 6.49, p = 0.021). No significant associations were found with residency type or maternal age above 35.

Conclusion

Mothers aged ≤ 20 years, with inadequate minimum dietary diversity, lack of antenatal care attendance, and unplanned pregnancies, faced heightened risks of LBW. Addressing these factors is vital for reducing LBW occurrences and improving newborn health outcomes in Ethiopia.
Driving force of value reversal in Chinese overleveraged firms: The mechanism and path of private placement
Authors: Song Xin , Liu Xiaodi , Chen Huiyu
Published: May 2024

To stimulate economic growth, China has launched multiple economic stimulus plans in recent years, intensifying corporate debt financing and subsequently elevating the leverage levels. Addressing and effectively reducing the leverage levels of our country’s enterprises has emerged as a pressing issue in the trajectory of our economic development. This paper primarily investigates the drivers, pathways, and mechanisms for reversing the over-leveraged values of enterprises. Key findings include: (1) Excessive indebtedness exerts a negative impact on corporate value, with the suppressing effect intensifying as the degree of over-leverage increases; (2) Over-leveraged enterprises can effectively decrease their debt levels and enhance their value through private placement. Further research suggests that this mechanism operates by amplifying the operational leverage of over-leveraged enterprises post private placement and alleviating financing constraints, thereby elevating corporate value. (3) Compared to non-state-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises exhibit higher levels of indebtedness. Among over-leveraged firms, enhancements in corporate governance and increased investment efficiency can positively transform corporate value. This study offers valuable insights for the ongoing supply-side structural reforms and governance guidance from the regulatory bodies.
Desarrollo metodológico del procedimiento de los puentes discursivos: un enfoque sociológico
Authors: Barbeta Viñas Marc , Conde Gutiérrez del Álamo Fernando
Published: May 2024

Este trabajo se propone presentar el desarrollo del procedimiento analítico de los puentes discursivos. El objetivo es el de proporcionar un esbozo de organización y ordenación de las principales tareas de análisis vinculadas a esta figura del lenguaje cuya función es la de posibilitar los movimientos del sentido en los discursos sociales. La reflexión metodológica propuesta se inscribe dentro del análisis sociológico del discurso y sus principales procedimientos de análisis e interpretación. En relación con estos, se propone situar el análisis de los puentes discursivos dentro del análisis más amplio de los espacios semánticos, siendo la existencia de puentes discursivos un indicio de diferenciación y desplazamiento discursivo. Dado el valor metodológico y práctico del trabajo, se presentan dos ejemplos de puentes discursivos en investigaciones sociales empíricas.
Numerical solution for stochastic Volterra-Fredholm integral equations with delay arguments
Authors: Yao Kutorzi Edwin , Zhang Yuxue , Shi Yufeng
Published: May 2024

We present a method for computing the stochastic operational matrix of integration to advance the study of stochastic Volterra-Fredholm integral equations (SVFIEs) based on delay arguments. First, the method evaluates the combined effects of the delay and its parameters on the accuracy improvement of the convergence rate. Our results can be applied to SVFIEs, with the operational delay matrices of the block pulse function simplified to algebraic ones. Numerical calculations were performed on a PC using Python 3 programs. Results also demonstrate the accuracy of approximate solutions; arithmetic operations are carried out without the need for derivation or integration.
IMPLEMENTASI METODE HIRA DAN HAZOP UNTUK MEMINIMALISIR POTENSI BAHAYA KESEHATAN DAN KESELAMATAN KERJA PADA INDUSTRI FURNITUR
Authors: Yasmie Muhammad Rahmadaniel , RianZeva Rakesh , Amrullah Ezar
Published: May 2024

Kepuasan konsumen merupakan tujuan yang ingin dicapai oleh setiap perusahaan. Faktor produksi memiliki peran penting untuk mencapai tujuan perusahaan. Namun, setiap tempat, proses, peralatan, sikap, dan lingkungan kerja memiliki potensi bahaya dan risiko kerja. Penelitian ini berupaya mengidentifikasi potensi bahaya dan merumuskan strategi untuk meminimalisir risiko pada lantai produksi industri di bidang furnitur. Adanya indikasi tingkat kecelakaan kerja yang sering terjadi mendorong penting untuk dilakukan penelitian ini. Penelitian ini menemukan sebanyak 33 potensi bahaya pada proses produksi, terdiri dari 37% termasuk kategori tinggi, 24% kategori ekstrem dan medium, sementara bahaya kategori rendah sebesar 15%. Faktor peralatan dan fasilitas kerja dan lingkungan kerja merupakan faktor terbanyak yang memiliki sumber risiko, dan diikuti oleh faktor mesin produksi dan sikap pekerja. Penelitian ini menekankan bahwa faktor peralatan dan fasilitas kerja dan lingkungan yang mendukung dapat mencegah terjadinya kecelakaan kerja. Berdasarkan kerangka operasional HAZOP, penelitian ini menawarkan beberapa strategi untuk meminimalisir tingkat risiko pada proses produksi produk furnitur berdasarkan faktor-faktor sumber risiko. [IMPLEMENTATION OF HIRA AND HAZOP METHODS TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS IN THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY] Customer satisfaction is the ultimate goal to be achieved by every company. Production factors play an important role in achieving the company's goals. However, every place, process, equipment, attitude, and work environment has potential hazards and occupational risks. This research seeks to identify potential hazards and formulate strategies to minimize risks on industrial production floors in the furniture sector. The indication of the level of work accidents that often occur encourages the importance of this research. This study found 33 potential hazards in the production process, consisting of 37% in the high category, 24% in the extreme and medium categories, and 15% in the low category. Work equipment and facilities and the work environment were the most common sources of risk, followed by production machinery and worker attitudes. This study emphasized that the factors of equipment and work facilities and a supportive environment can prevent work accidents. Based on the HAZOP method, this research offers several strategies to minimize the level of risk in the production process of furniture products based on risk source factors.Keywords: Hazard Analysis; Risk Assessment; Work Accident; HIRA; HAZOP
Rekwizyt w świecie pojęć
Authors: Krajewska Anna
Published: May 2024

This introductory article deals with the different ways of representing the prop: from an object referring to meaning, which is mainly related to the theatrical stage, to the notion of a prop playing the role of an analytical category in literary studies.
Troista mediacja przemocy w traumoskryptach na przykładzie tłumaczenia „Kosmosu” Witolda Gombrowicza oraz „Jądra ciemności” Josepha Conrada
Authors: Barciński Łukasz
Published: May 2024

The study deals with the subject of a specific type of crisis i.e. trauma in translation of literary texts. The field of Trauma Studies seems to have a huge research potential if juxtaposed with the discipline of Translation Studies. Many contemporary novels can be analysed from the perspective of traumatic experiences and their representation in works of fiction with special focus on the psychological aspect. Translation process has to make allowances for the hybridity of trauma fiction to recreate it in the target text. The analysis of the rendition of Kosmos by Witold Gombrowicz and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (works being apt illustrations of the inescapable interfaces of trauma) illustrate the triplicity of mediation of trauma which has to be considered during the translation process: 1. the performative recreation of the original traumatic event, 2. literary texts as inherently traumatic due to the inescapable entry into the symbolic order of linguistic codes, 3. the double bind of the translation process i.e. the trauma of the impossibility of translation.
Nowa humanistyka służebna
Authors: Pertek Grzegorz
Published: May 2024

The paper is devoted to the theoretical foundation of the new humanities that have been recently developing in Poland. They result mainly from the need  to surpass the theoretical and methodological horizon that was outlined by modern theory, especially by structuralism. The author argues that the more the new humanities attempt to revoke the modern theory, the more they are faithful to its premises. By analyzing the latest works of Ryszard Nycz, one of the main founders of the theoretical bases of the new humanities in Poland, the author shows i.a. how the main concepts of the main theory (in this case – mainly the concept of sounding out) work at its behalf.
Ciało jako rekwizyt
Authors: Wachowski Jacek
Published: May 2024

The article is an attempt to describe the conditions in which the body assumes the role of a prop – it becomes an object organizing individual and social life. For such a process to take place, it is necessary to disconnect the body from the Self. It comes with his death. Funeral practices that change the social status of the body can take a monistic or dualistic form. The former make the body a relic and are based on the belief that soma is connected with its spiritual essence. The latter, on the contrary, points to the impermanence of such a connection. In this way, the body becomes a prop, an object, an object, and a tool for funeral performances.
Światotwórcze funkcje rekwizytu. Collectibles w dylogii „The Last of Us” jako źródło wiedzy o przeszłości
Authors: Pigulak Joanna , Pigulak Marcin
Published: May 2024

The article concerns the functioning of selected collectibles in the post-apocalyptic dilogy of digital games The Last of Us (Naughty Dog, 2013–2020). The authors make a typology of collectibles and distinguish among them props that support the gameplay, characterize the characters and extend the storyworld, referring to the prop theory proposed by Kendal Walton. They are particularly interested in the last type of props, which include notes, diaries and letters left in various places of the world presented by anonymous members of the American community. The authors indicate that these props can be treated as specific artifacts of the past, which, although not important from the gameplay perspective, perform important world-creating functions. In this context, they describe collectibles as an element of historical culture (J. Rüsen) and a source of social memory (M. Golka), and discuss their allotopic potential (U. Eco, K.M. Maj). They refer to those props that shape the history and mythology of the post-apocalyptic world, and especially to the notes describing Outbreak Day, the apogee of the pandemic disease that decimated humanity in the game. Written sources are of a personal nature – they present an individual perspective on a breakthrough moment in the history of the depicted world. For this reason, the authors refer to them as ego-props, thus extending the concept of ego-document.
Mocny przedmiot pożądania. O istotnej roli rekwizytu we współczesnych filmach elevated genre
Authors: Woroch Adrianna
Published: May 2024

The aim of the article is to analyze the use of props in the contemporary elevated genre – in particular in post-horror films, but also other artistic interpretations of genre cinema, often realized under the auspices of A24 studio and “refined” with a strong, political theme (concerning, for example, racism, class differences, gender inequality, etc.). Props, which have always had important semantic functions in genre cinema, are now becoming even more crucial tools than in the 1960s or 1970s (in which context Italian giallo, spaghetti westerns and American progressive genres are alluded to). Significantly marked objects perform symbolic and narrative functions and become part of visual communication (they appear on posters and in advertising materials).
Resilient edge predictive analytics by enhancing local models
Authors: Wang Qiyuan , ALFahad Saleh , Fornes Jordi Mateo , Anagnostopoulos Christos , Kolomvatsos Kostas
Published: May 2024

In distributed computing environments, the collaboration of nodes for predictive analytics at the network edge plays a crucial role in supporting real-time services. When a node’s service becomes unavailable for various reasons (e.g., service updates, node maintenance, or even node failure), the rest of the available nodes connot efficiently replace its service due to different data and predictive models (e.g., machine learning [ML] models). To address this, we propose decision-making strategies rooted in the statistical signatures of nodes’ data. Specifically, these signatures refer to the unique patterns and behaviors within each node’s data that can be leveraged to predict the suitability of potential surrogate nodes. Recognizing and acting on these statistical nuances ensures a more targeted and efficient response to node failures. Such strategies aim to identify surrogate nodes capable of substituting for failing nodes’ services by building enhanced predictive models. Our resilient framework helps to guide the task requests from failing nodes to the most appropriate surrogate nodes. In this case, the surrogate nodes can use their enhanced models, which can produce equivalent and satisfactory results for the requested tasks. We provide experimental evaluations and comparative assessments with baseline approaches over real datasets. Our results showcase the capability of our framework to maintain the overall performance of predictive analytics under nodes’ failures in edge computing environments.
A super-compact wideband bandpass filter using capacitor-loaded coupled lines
Authors: Xu Kai-Da , Tian Jing , Liu Hairui , Jiang Yannan
Published: May 2024

A wideband bandpass filter (BPF) using capacitor-loaded coupled lines is proposed with super-compact circuit size and very simple structure. By loading three lumped capacitors in parallel to three same pairs of coupled lines, three transmission poles and four transmission zeros can be achieved and they can be calculated by input admittance derivation. To verify the design, a wideband BPF prototype with center frequency at 1.34 GHz is fabricated, whose measured 3-dB fractional bandwidth is 98.5 % (0.68–2 GHz), in-band insertion loss is less than 0.5 dB, return loss is greater than 17.5 dB, and circuit size is only 0.24 λ
g × 0.02 λ
g (λ
g: guided wavelength at the center frequency).
Will the design of the human–product relationship follow user experience?
Authors: Winter Dominique
Published: May 2024

Today, user experience (UX) is an essential aspect of the design of digital, interactive products. Thirty years ago, however, things looked different. The focus was not on the experience but on the metaphor of the tool or medium. But how will the design of digital, interactive products develop over the next 30 years? How will the design of products and services change, and how will this influence the UX profession? One possibility is highlighted in particular: focussing on the relationship between the user and the product with elements such as emotional connections. Through relationships, the roles of artificial intelligence, humanity and ethics in the design process and the importance of sustainability and adaptation to changing working and learning environments become particularly relevant. In the future, designers must assume even greater responsibility for users, society and the environment.
Promoting critical reading instruction in higher education: a three-step training scheme facilitated by using corpus technology
Authors: Yang Jing , Mei Fang
Published: May 2024

This study examines the development of students’ cognitive skills through hands-on concordancing, also known as the inductive Data-driven learning (DDL) method (Cobb, T. 1997. Is there any measurable learning from hands-on concordancing? System 25(3). 301–315). This method involves learners directly using concordance software to identify language rules by observing and working with concordance results. While previous research has explored DDL’s role in language acquisition, its impact on cognitive growth has received less attention. Building on a corpus-based language pedagogy (CBLP) (Ma, Q., J. Tang & S. Lin. 2022a. The development of corpus-based language pedagogy for TESOL teachers: A two-step training approach facilitated by online collaboration. Computer Assisted Language Learning 35(9). 2731–2760, Ma, Q., R. Yuan, L. M. E. Cheung & J. Yang. 2022b. Teacher paths for developing corpus-based language pedagogy: A case study. Computer Assisted Language Learning. 1–32), we designed a three-step training scheme that included an online task, a computer lab lesson, and a student independent corpus exploration task. The study involved 45 second-year English majors. The data were collected through surveys, interviews, and written reports, focusing on student learning of cognitive skills such as speculating, noticing, inferring, and verifying, as synthesized by Chun (2011. Learners as corpus researchers: Developing cognitive skills through hands-on concordancing. Foreign Languages Education 18(3). 73–103). The results indicate a positive response to the CBLP, with students’ independent exploration task contributing to improved critical reading and thinking skills. This highlights the effectiveness of our three-step CBLP scheme in developing cognitive skills and enhancing independent research. Overall, the study emphasizes the potential of hands-on concordancing and CBLP in fostering critical reading skills.
Evaluating the importance of construal for choosing between alternating forms: the case of Spanish change-of-state verbs hacerse and volverse
Authors: Granvik Anton , Fernández Incógnito Ester
Published: May 2024

This paper offers a new approach to the alternate use of Spanish hacerse ‘to make (reflexive)’ and volverse ‘to (re)turn (reflexive)’ to express a change of state. Hacerse and volverse belong to the core of the family of change-of-state verbs in Spanish and constitute a prime example of alternating forms. The aim is to evaluate the importance of the notion of construal as an explanation to alternation. We do this by testing one of the major explanations regarding the difference between hacerse and volverse, namely that of Delbecque and van Gorp (Delbecque, Nicole & Lise van Gorp. 2012. Hacerse y volverse como nexos pseudo-copulativos. Bulletin hispanique 114(1). 277–306, Delbecque, Nicole & Lise van Gorp. 2015. The pseudo-copular use of the Spanish verbs hacerse and volverse: Two types of change. Cognitextes 13), who suggest that the distinction is one of construal. A sentence completion task involving priming and non-priming visual stimuli is used to investigate to what extent the distinct conceptual images associated with hacerse and volverse affect the choice of verb in given contexts. The results show little evidence of the importance of construal for the choice of verb. Instead, established V + ADJ combinations seem to have a greater impact on choosing either verb. This calls into question the applicability of construal as an explanation to alternation, especially from the perspective of choice between alternating forms.
Endovascular thrombectomy versus intravenous thrombolysis for primary distal, medium vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Salsano Giancarlo , Salsano Antonio , Del Sette Bruno , D’Alonzo Alessio , Sassos Davide , Alexandre Andrea , Pedicelli Alessandro , Di Iorio Riccardo , Colò Francesca , Castellan Lucio
Published: May 2024

Introduction

In the absence of clinical trials, the benefit of endovascular therapy (EVT) on the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with primary distal and medium vessel occlusions (DMVO) is still not well defined. The aim of the study is to evaluate EVT with or without intravenous thrombolysis (EVT ± IVT) in primary DMVO stroke in comparison with a control cohort treated with IVT alone.

Methods

We analysed all consecutive AIS with proven primary DMVO. Primary endpoints were excellent outcome, functional independence at 3 months follow-up, and early neurologic improvement at 1 day after treatment.

Results

One hundred and fourteen patients with DMVO strokes were included between 2019 and 2023. Propensity-weighted analysis showed no significant differences in EVT ± IVT vs IVT for the excellent outcome (adjusted OR [aOR], 1.575; 95% CI, 0.706–3.513), functional independence (aOR, 2.024; 95% CI, 0.845–4.848), early neurological improvement (aOR, 2.218; 95% CI, 0.937–5.247), mortality (aOR, 0.498; 95% CI, 0.177–1.406), symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (aOR, 0.493; 95% CI, 0.102–2.385), and subarachnoid haemorrhage (aOR, 0.560; 95% CI, 0.143–2.187). The type of revascularization did not influence the percentage of cerebral volume lost (adjusted linear regression estimate, −19.171, t value, 11.562; p = 0.104).

Conclusions

This study supports the hypothesis that patients with primary DMVO stroke treated with EVT (±IVT) or IVT alone have comparable outcomes.
Der Operationsplan für die polnischen Streitkräfte von 1964
Authors: Jeschonnek Friedrich K.
Published: May 2024

Im Rahmen der Warschauer Vertragsorganisation (WVO) wurde hinsichtlich der Operationsplanung für den Kriegsfall unter sowjetischer Führung bi- und multinational zusammengearbeitet. Hierzu gehörte, dass der Einsatz der Polnischen Küstenfront vom Gebiet der DDR aus vorgesehen war. Dies erforderte besondere Abstimmungen und weitergehende Unterstützungsleistungen durch die DDR. Anfänge bildeten polnische Erkundungen des Einsatzraumes, im Weiteren war die Unterstützung des polnischen Angriffs durch Kräfte des 5. Armeekorps (bzw. ab 1983 der 5. Armee) der NVA und die Raumordnung für die Küstenfront zu koordinieren. Diese Abstimmungen erfolgten dann, wenn sich erhebliche und gravierende Änderungen in der polnischen Planung ergaben. Weitere Unterstützungsleistungen wurden im Rahmen der Operativen Vorbereitung des Territoriums für den Kriegsfall von der DDR vorbereitet. Auf Basis der operativen Planungen führten die NVA und die PVA im Rahmen der WVO über Jahrzehnte militärische Übungen in Anlehnung an ihre Einsatzoptionen durch. Das Zusammenwirken war in den 1980er Jahren aufgrund der politischen und militärischen Veränderungen nicht immer frei von Irritationen. Viele der polnischen Forderungen zur Einsatzvorbereitung des Territoriums wurden trotz immer knapper werdender Ressourcen der DDR erfüllt oder zugesagt. Die Kooperation mündete 1986 in ein gemeinsames Protokoll über die Unterstützung der Küstenfront durch die NVA. Aufgrund der Geheimhaltung und anderer Konsultationswege in der WVO war das bilaterale operative Zusammenwirken sporadisch und bedarfsorientiert.
Optimum intra-row spacing and clove size for the economical production of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia
Authors: Asnake Daniel , Alemayehu Melkamu , Misganaw Muluken
Published: May 2024

Garlic is one of the most important cash crops cultivated by smallholder farmers throughout Ethiopia. However, due to inappropriate agronomic practices including clove size and intra-row spacing, the productivity of the crop is low in the country. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted during the 2019 main cropping season under rain feed conditions to identify the optimum clove size and intra-row spacing for the economical production of garlic in Lay Gayint district, Northwestern Ethiopia. Local garlic cultivar obtained from farmers was used as a test crop. A factorial combination of three clove sizes and four intra-row spacings was used in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that the main as well as the interaction effects of clove size and intra-row spacing influenced most of the tested growth and yield parameters of garlic. The longest plant height (73.77 cm) was recorded from garlic plants grown at 5 cm intra-row spacing, while the shortest plant height (66.98 cm) was from plants grown at 12.5 cm. The treatment combination of large-sized clove and 12.5 cm intra-row spacing recorded the longest leaf length (61.07 cm), the highest leaf number (7.79), bulb diameter (4.98 cm), bulb weight (33.83 g), and clove weight (2.71 g) of garlic. However, the treatment combination of large-sized cloves and 7.5 cm intra-row spacing produced the highest marketable (13.44 t ha−1) bulb yield. Based on the partial budget analysis, however, medium-sized cloves (1.5–1.99 g) planted at 10 cm intra-row spacing recorded the highest net benefit (723,205 Eth-Birr ha−1) with an acceptable marginal rate of return (3277.3%). Therefore, growing garlic using medium-sized cloves (1.5–1.99 g) at 10 cm intra-row spacing is recommended for economical production of garlic by smallholder farmers in the study area and areas with similar agroecology.
Values and vision
Authors: Pillai Suja , Efstathiadou Anna , Bell Tamyka , Muthumuni Isini , Intaprasert Tonchanok , Aujayeb Shreya
Published: May 2024

In this paper we detail the background to our project and provide reflections on the pedagogic partnership and its impact on medical education.
Collaborative authoring using wiki
Authors: Neill James
Published: May 2024

This case study describes a collaborative online authoring project in which undergraduate students co-produce open educational resources as a learning and assessment exercise. Over 1,500 chapters and videos about how psychological science can improve people’s motivational and emotional lives have been co-created. Wikiversity provides a simple and powerful open editing and hosting platform. The project’s key pedagogical principles include students as partners, open education, guided experiential learning, and self-determined learning. Other key ingredients include scaffolding, skill development, and formative feedback. Potential issues are framed as educational opportunities, including privacy and anonymity, intellectual property and copyright, and individual versus collective work. Collaborative online authoring projects offer real-world benefits over disposable essays in higher education. The principles and methods are adaptable to a wide variety of disciplines and educational contexts, offering a scalable approach to collaborative student-staff partnerships.
Teacher candidates as student partners in decoding the disciplines research
Authors: DiCostanzo Ryan , Discenza Anthony , Langone Jenna , McBrady Jared
Published: May 2024

This study examines the role of secondary teacher candidates as student partners in research into undergraduate students’ historical cognition while contextualizing documents. It highlights the unique role of teacher candidates as near-peer interviewers and change agents within higher education and secondary curricula. Through using decoding the disciplines methodology to solicit student voice in near-peer interviews, teacher candidates identified areas for curricular change in teaching contextualization in university history courses. The involvement of teacher candidates extended beyond the university classroom and informed their future work in secondary education. Decoding experiences in university courses provided teacher candidates with insights into supporting secondary pupils’ abilities to contextualize historical sources. This research demonstrates the potential of teacher candidates as near-peer interviewers and curricular change agents in secondary and higher education. Collaborative partnerships between teacher candidates and faculty can lead to meaningful curricular changes and effective teaching practices in higher education and secondary education contexts.
In partnership, for partnership
Authors: Ungras Oshish , Brockett Gavin
Published: May 2024

After almost a year of planning an international conference on student partnership for humanitarian action with the UN Refugee Agency, a student-faculty partnership reflect on the learning process they undertook, and how years of working together built a strong foundation for this project. Working in partnership to communicate the importance of partnership to address complex global issues signifies the importance of engaging multi-level stakeholders in new, innovative solutions. This introduction to the special section titled after the conference provides the context for this challenging yet rewarding feat made possible with a community of partnerships.
Strengthening a peer mentorship program for accelerated nursing students
Authors: Skipper Alexander , Jacinto Krizalyn , Siddiqui Salwa , Pratt Maria , Gandza Stephen
Published: May 2024

In nursing education, peer mentorship programs aim to develop students’ clinical skills, encourage socialization within the program, and improve academic outcomes. This quality improvement project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to improve an existing student mentorship program within an accelerated nursing program in Ontario. Through a needs assessment, two areas for improvement were identified: (a) increased focus on accelerated students’ social and academic needs and (b) evaluation of the mentor-mentee interface. As the first round of changes was implemented, qualitative feedback was obtained to facilitate future improvements. Findings from this project included identifying the benefits of adopting students as partners in quality improvement and generating successful improvement strategies that cater towards peer mentorship programs for accelerated undergraduate nursing students.
SaP as an outward focused model
Authors: Zekorn Justin
Published: May 2024

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