bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A corte sem nobreza: polemistas e anti-intelectualismo na mídia
Authors: Meirelles Allana
Published: December 2024

This paper intends to present a genesis of the polemicist position in the press, which mobilizes anti-intellectualism as the main  strategy, during the period of the New  Republic in Brazil. Based on the correlation between social trajectories, modalities of intellectual and journalistic practices, public representations, strategies of the institutions and the configuration of lines of force in the space of production and reproduction of  opinions in Brazil from the late 1980s to 2018, we seek to make intelligible the diffusion of anti-intellectual and anti-academic views in the media. The article traces the constitution, sedimentation and proliferation of a position that guarantees its permanence and collective power, but at the same time becomes  depersonalized, routinized and loses prestige.
“Políticas baseadas em evidência” em três estados da racionalidade econômica
Authors: Louro Pedro Grunewald , Harari-Kermadec Hugo
Published: December 2024

En faisant appel à la division en trois états du capital culturel (incorporé, objectivé et institutionnalisé), l'article propose que la rationalité économique acquière la réussite réformiste en circulant entre ces états. Contrairement à la proposition initiale de Bourdieu selon laquelle la réussite scolaire était principalement due à l'internalisation tacite et diffuse du capital culturel sous la forme de dispositions de perception, il est avancé que la force de la rationalité économique réside dans ses formes les plus externalisées. D’un côté, l'état objectivé anime les outils d'évaluation d'impact et les indicateurs de résultats et, d'autre, l'état institutionnalisé forge les centres d'enseignement et de recherche sur les politiques publiques. Dans les deux cas, la rationalité économique n'apparaît pas comme une conviction prosélyte sur les vertus du marché, mais plutôt comme des techniques neutres d'évaluation et de décision. Sur une base d'entretiens semi-structurés (n=61), l'objectif est de dégager les échanges entre les trois états dans les processus de socialisation académique et professionnelle des acteurs qui font ses carrières dans « l’evidence-based policy » au Brésil.
Clivagens emergentes no mundo empresarial brasileiro: apoiadores e críticos da extrema direita
Authors: Cantu Rodrigo
Published: December 2024

This paper delves into the divisions within the Brazilian business sphere that emerged with the far-right’s ascent to power in the late 2010s. While some business actors openly supported the Bolsonaro administration’s agenda, others voiced criticism, particularly regarding environmental and health policies. What social factors underlie this cleavage? Utilizing an original dataset built from public information on Bolsonaro supporters and critics, cross-tabulations and Multiple Correspondence Analysis were conducted. The findings suggest that supporters are comparatively smaller businesses with lower cultural resources, while critics generally hail from large corporations with more cultural resources. Additionally, the critic group was found to be more heterogeneous than the supporter group.
Powers and impotencies of elites. Who, what for and how influence is exercised in Argentina?
Authors: Heredia Mariana
Published: December 2024

Nos últimos anos, as elites têm atraído renovada atenção pública e acadêmica. Na maioria das interpretações, as críticas são frequentes, mas contraditórias. No centro dessa divergência reside a ambiguidade dos conceitos de elite e poder. Com base no caso da Argentina e em dados quantitativos e qualitativos, sintetizo as abordagens existentes para examinar os poderes e a impotência das elites econômicas, sociais e políticas nos regimes neoliberais. São consideradas três questões: Quem são as elites? Para que e como é exercida sua influência? A conclusão é que, embora membros das elites possam concentrar vantagens, como grupo têm pouca capacidade para introduzir reformas em prol do bem comum.
Philanthropy and the neoliberal government of inequalities
Authors: Duvoux Nicolas
Published: December 2024

The article discusses the tension between philanthropy and the governance of inequalities in the neoliberal era by first showing the tension between the egalitarian imperative of democracy and philanthropy, drawn from private wealth and the social power of its owner. Then it analyses the very conception of wealth that the  consideration of philanthropy allows to develop, emphasizing the relationship between well-being on the one hand and social control on the other hand. This conception puts forward the relationship of capture that emerges between philanthropy and public action. The final part of the analysis is dedicated to discussing a case of mutual learning, inviting to a processual analysis of reform.
Experts, neoliberal doxa, and the rollback of high-stakes school rankings in Chile (2006-2024)
Authors: Chouhy Gabriel
Published: December 2024

O que impulsiona a implementação e a reversão de classificações escolares de alto risco baseadas em testes? Adaptando a teoria dos campos de ação estratégica ao caso chileno e mobilizando o conceito de doxa de Bourdieu, vejo a reforma de mercado na educação como o resultado de relações competitivas, cooperativas e conflitantes  entre atores titulares e desafiadores. Enquanto os primeiros dominam o campo e, portanto, exercem poder de  definição sobre como o campo deve ser organizado e reformado, os últimos competem por formas alternativas de estruturar o campo. Essa lógica de campo configura uma dinâmica contingente na qual o campo é transformado à medida que quadros desafiadores ganham moeda ideacional. Com base nessa estrutura conceitual, evidencio como ideias concorrentes sobre a educação baseada no mercado moldaram a construção técnica e o uso público de classificações de qualidade escolar. Implicações para uma sociologia da reforma seguem.
Os experts do gosto doméstico entre juízo estético e social: Do dossiê “L’économie de la maison” aos arquivos do Centre de Sociologie Européenne
Authors: Pulici Carolina
Published: December 2024

Desde a publicação de A Distinção (1979), de Pierre Bourdieu, diversas pesquisas buscam apreender as relações  entre as preferências culturais e as lógicas de diferenciação social. Este artigo busca contribuir com esses trabalhos por meio do estudo dos prescritores do gosto doméstico na França dos anos 1980, à luz dos dados morfológicos de seus públicos conservados nos arquivos do Centre de Sociologie Européenne. Como se verá, as revistas dedicadas à casa que, para Bourdieu e sua equipe, constituíam um dos principais vetores de aspirações legítimas em matéria de moradia se estruturavam em oposições que reproduziam, segundo as normas de expressão da imprensa da casa, as desigualdades sociais de seus leitores.
Loïc Wacquant. The Invention of the 'Underclass': A Study in the Politics of Knowledge
Authors: Silva Douglas Alexandre Santos , Ferreira Lina Penati
Published: December 2024

Resenho do livro de Loïc Wacquant, The Invention of the 'Underclass': A Study in the Politics of Knowledge, Cambridge, UK, Medford, USA, Polity Press, 2022.
Pierre Bourdieu. L’intérêt au désintéressement. Cours au Collège de France (1987-1989)
Authors: Crumo Camila Assunção
Published: December 2024

This review examines Pierre Bourdieu's lectures at the Collège de France between 1987 and 1989, compiled in the book L’Intérêt au désintéressement (2022), edited by Julien Duval. These lectures represent Bourdieu's first foray into the analysis of the State, exploring state legitimacy and power through a negative approach that investigates interest and disinterest within various production fields that seek to sustain a universal discourse. Bourdieu examines the legal field, the bureaucratic field, and even the field of Sociology to understand the construction and maintenance of state power. He argues that the rationalization of the State involves a symbolic dimension, where state power is upheld by a system of beliefs and practices that confer legitimacy to state institutions. From this analysis, it can be derived that the modern State can be understood as a meta-field capable of imposing its norms on other social fields, creating a complex network where universality and disinterest are simultaneously constructed and valued.
Como integrar os conceitos de instituição e estrutura? Contribuições da macrossociologia de Max Weber
Authors: Sell Carlos Eduardo , Bolda Bruna dos Santos
Published: December 2024

Institution and Structure are the main concepts used in Sociology to define entities at the macro level of social life; however, in sociological theory, there are currents that privilege only one of them as determinant to explain collective social entities. After the study presents a prior ontological determination highlighting the deontological characteristics of the Institution concept and the mesological characteristics of the Structure concept, it describes how Weber's sociological method encompasses these two aspects. Finally, the study details how the multidimensional nature of Weberian analysis provides us with a theoretical platform to integrate these two aspects of the macro-collective level into a single analytical framework.
A forma social das reformas: entrevista com Christian Topalov
Authors: Louro Pedro , Tomei Francesco
Published: December 2024

Sociologue ayant contribué à divers domaines de recherche (urbanisme, grande philanthropie, histoire des sciences sociales, enseignement supérieur, etc.) et directeur des études retraité de l'École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) en France, Christian Topalov a construit un appareil théorico-méthodologique très original pour interroger la formation et la déconstruction de l'État-providence. Dans cet entretien, nous discutons de la manière dont son travail s'est progressivement déplacé des études urbaines, dans le sillage des révoltes de 1968, vers une vaste enquête historique sur la genèse de la réforme en tant que forme sociale qui s'impose de plus en plus aux processus politiques – finalement, afin de les dépolitiser. L'entretien aborde également les stratégies méthodologiques (prosopographie, analyse des réseaux, analyse des correspondances multiples, etc.) mises en place pour analyser les transformations historiques, ainsi que les relations, à la fois complices et conflictuelles, entre la science et la politique.
Characterizing the Origins of Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Brown Jenifer M. , Honzel Brooke , Tsai Laura C. , Milks Julia , Neibuhr Yvonne M. , Newman Andrew J. , Cherney Michael , Stouffer David G. , Auchus Richard J. , Vaidya Anand
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

Renin-independent aldosterone production in normotensive people increases risk for developing hypertension. In parallel, normotensive adrenal glands frequently harbor aldosterone-producing micronodules with pathogenic somatic mutations known to induce primary aldosteronism (PA). A deeper understanding of these phenomena would inform the origins of PA and its role in hypertension pathogenesis.

METHODS:

Prospectively recruited normotensives underwent detailed characterization of PA features via the following: oral sodium suppression test to evaluate renin-independent aldosterone production, dexamethasone suppression and adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulation tests to evaluate adrenocorticotropic hormone-mediated aldosterone production, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The magnitude of renin-independent aldosterone production was defined via tertiles of 24-hour urinary aldosterone production during the oral sodium suppression test to create unbiased categorizations of the magnitude of PA. Serum aldosterone, serum 18-hybrid steroids, urine tetrahydroaldosterone (biomarkers of aldosterone synthase activity), urinary potassium, and blood pressure (biomarkers of mineralocorticoid receptor activation) were evaluated across tertiles.

RESULTS:

There was a spectrum of autonomous, nonsuppressible, and renin-independent production of aldosterone, 18-hybrid steroids, and 24-hour urinary tetrahydroaldosterone (
P
-trend <0.01). Correspondingly, there was a continuum of adrenocorticotropic hormone-mediated aldosterone production and 18-hybrid steroid production that also paralleled renin-independent aldosterone production. The spectrum of PA pathophysiology was associated with higher ambulatory daytime systolic BP (
P
-trend <0.05), even within the normotensive range, and greater urinary potassium excretion (
P
-trend <0.05), indicating a continuum of mineralocorticoid receptor activation.

CONCLUSIONS:

The pathophysiologic continuum of PA, characterized by renin-independent and adrenocorticotropic hormone-mediated aldosterone production, and enhanced aldosterone synthase and mineralocorticoid receptor activity, is evident in normotensive people. These findings provide mechanistic explanations to implicate PA in the pathogenesis of a substantial proportion of hypertension.
A reassessment of the taxonomic status and distribution of the subspecies of Lyroderma lyra (Chiroptera: Megadermatidae)
Authors: Feng Lei , Győrössy Dorottya , Portela Miguez Roberto , Kokkini Phaedra , Görföl Tamás , Khan Shahneaz Ali , Saikia Uttam , Talmale Shyamkant S. , Yu Wenhua , Liu Shaoying , Jiang Tinglei , Csorba Gábor
Published: December 2024

Lyroderma lyra is one of the six currently recognised species of the family Megadermatidae. Previous studies have suggested subspecific division within L. lyra, wherein the nominate subspecies is predominantly distributed in South Asia, and the other subspecies, L. lyra sinense is occurring in southern China and Southeast Asia. Based on the congruent results of comparative morphology of skulls and bacula, as well as phylogenetic tree reconstructions – the first ones including both subspecies and incorporating the most extensive geographic sampling of “sinense” to date – using COI and cytb sequences, we have elevated the Southeast Asian subspecies to a distinct species status, Lyroderma sinense.
Molecular phylogeny and morphology reveal a new wood-inhabiting fungal species of Conferticium (Stereaceae, Basidiomycota) from southwest China
Authors: SHEN LULU , WANG KUNYAN , XIA HUI , LIU SHILING , YAO LU , YANG XIN
Published: December 2024

A new wood-inhabiting fungus, Conferticium fissuratum is proposed based on morphological features and molecular phylogenetic evidence. It is characterized by the membranous basidiomata with the tuberculate hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system having simple-septate generative hyphae, the presence of the subcylindrical cystidia with the mastoid process and broadly ellipsoid, and the verrucose basidiospores (4.5–6.1 × 3.5–4.7 µm). The phylogenetic tree inferred from ITS sequences revealed that the new species C. fissuratum clusters sister to C. ravum. A full description, illustrations, and results of the phylogenetic analysis of the new species are provided.
Potential Method for Warning the First Lightning Flash of Isolated Thunderstorm Cells over South China
Authors: Zhao Chuanhong , Zhang Yijun , Zheng Dong , Yao Wen , Du Sai
Published: December 2024

This study improved the first lightning flash (FLF) warning method of isolated thunderstorm cells in the warm season over South China. The S-band polarimetric radar and three independent lightning location systems provided 57 thunderstorm and 39 nonthunderstorm cells. The results indicated the median value of horizontal reflectivity below the melting layer when the cloud detected by the radar first was a good indicator for forecasting the FLF with the longest lead time (threshold value ≤ 15 dBZ in this study). The algorithm produced 0.96–1 probability of detection (POD), 0.32–0.38 false alarm ratio (FAR), 0.63–0.66 critical skill index (CSI), and 12–21-min average lead time. Methods of minimum echo (20 dBZ) top height extending to −10°C and the 35 dBZ at −10°C were more accurately for warning the FLF but with a shorter lead time; the former algorithm resulted in 1 POD, 0.08–0.29 FAR, 0.71–0.92 CSI, and 5–9-min average lead time. The latter algorithm resulted in 1 POD, 0–0.06 FAR, 0.94–1 CSI, and 3–5.5-min average lead time. The fluctuation of lead time depended on the FLF occurrence time. The differential reflectivity ZDR column and the height of graupel were not as effective as the reflectivity information on warning the FLF in this study. The results are expected to improve the FLF forecasting in considering accuracy and lead time within warm-season thunderstorm cells over South China based on the radar.

Significance Statement

It is difficult to forecast the first lightning flash (FLF) occurrence. While many methods are provided based on weather radars, the threshold values for hitting the start of lightning activity are dominated by mixed-phase ice microphysics, especially associated with graupel particles; therefore, to improve the lead time of the FLF nowcasting, usage of knowledge of warm-phase microphysics is possible. Fortunately, the latest discovery indicates the difference is recognizable in warm-phase microphysics during the first radar echo between thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms based on the weather radar. This study utilized the finding to construct a method for the FLF warning. The early lead time and accuracy are considered comprehensively in this method. It is important for the FLF warning.
Political Common Ground on Preserving Nature: Environmental Motives Across the Political Spectrum
Authors: Billet Matthew I. , Baimel Adam , Milfont Taciano L. , Norenzayan Ara
Published: December 2024

Environmental issues are becoming increasingly politically polarized, making common ground essential. This research investigated the political common ground of environmental motives—the reasons why nature is worth preserving. Natural language processing of liberals’ and conservatives’ open text responses (Study 1: N = 1,544) identified 12 central motives. Political common ground was shared on the most cited motives: Human survival, moral obligations to future generations, and appreciation for nature’s beauty. Political differences emerged on motives related to climate change risks and religious stewardship. Study 2 ( N = 796) replicated these findings using a validated self-report questionnaire based on participant responses in Study 1. Factor analysis indicated motives belonged to four categories: Responsibility to nature, instrumental benefits, childhood experiences, and religious stewardship. These motives explained substantial variance in environmental attitudes and partially accounted for political differences in attitudes. The studies used mixed methods and direct/conceptual replication to build confidence in key findings and longstanding theoretical frameworks.
Numerical evaluation of the transverse permeability determination experiment
Authors: Silva Pereira Junior Gustavo , Oliveira Cristiano Peres , Amico Sandro Campos , Souza Jeferson Avila
Published: December 2024

Polymeric composites produced by liquid molding are becoming more and more common in nowadays applications. Quality control of the produced parts relies on precise evaluation of the manufacture parameters and physical properties. Permeability is one of these important properties and the subject of present work where mold design for transverse permeability (out-of-plane) determination is investigated. The most used mold design is based on a resin rectilinear (one dimensional) flow which is forced through the fibers. To assemble it inside the mold cavity, two perforated plates are used. The geometry of these plates, as well as the distance between them, directly influences the calculated permeability, however quantification of this influence is not well documented in literature. Furthermore, the anisotropy ( K xx/ Kzz ratio) of the material is evaluated as a factor that intensifies the influence of flow distortions that vary with the plates used. A numerical study has been performed to quantitatively evaluate how much these parameters may affect the calculated permeability. Results have shown that errors up to 40% may occur if a wrong setup was used in materials with low permeability ratios. Better accuracy is obtained for materials with higher ratios regardless of the used perforated plate.
EXPRESS: Do More “Likes” Lead to More Clicks? Evidence from a Field Experiment on Social Advertising
Authors: Huang Shan , Lin Song
Published: December 2024

One advantage of advertising on social media is leveraging users’ expression of “likes” to influence the perceptions and responses of others in their network. Through a largescale field experiment on WeChat, three online lab studies and a theoretical model, we explore whether and how displaying more “likes” in an ad can effectively lead to more ad “likes” and clicks. We find that displaying the first “like” can significantly increase users’ tendencies to both “like” and click on an ad. However, on average, showing additional “likes” does not further increase the clicking propensity, although it consistently attracts more “likes.” We further find that displaying more “likes” increases the clickthrough rate for lesser-known brands but not for well-known brands, and has a stronger impact on the “like” rate for more socially engaged users than for less socially engaged ones. These findings are consistent with the interplay between informational and normative social influences in social advertising. The public visibility of “likes” makes liking more susceptible to normative social influence than clicking. The coexistence of these two forces can lead to an enhanced conformity effect on liking and a crowding-out effect on clicking. Our findings offer novel implications for managing social advertising and designing social media platforms.
Design and experimental validation of fault diagnosis and fault tolerant control in PMSG drives for wind energy conversion systems
Authors: Ben Mahdhi Hedi , Ben Azza Hechmi
Published: December 2024

This study explores a method for detecting and isolating faults in wind power conversion systems that use a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). The goal is to enhance the reliability of the inverter by implementing an fault detection method and fault-tolerant control. The converter incorporates an extra leg with two switches that can be quickly connected in place of a malfunctioning leg, ensuring continued operation. Our fault detection and isolation module employs a threshold-based approach, utilizing real-time signal measurements to identify anomalies exceeding predefined limits. The experimental validation of this module is conducted on a high-performance dSpace DS1104 controller board using MATLAB Simulink. Finally, a real-world experiment was conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed fault detection and isolation (FDI) algorithm. The results successfully demonstrated the algorithm’s ability to detect and isolate switch faults.
Exploring augmentation strategies in mixed reality for autonomous driving with depth cameras
Authors: Argui Imane , Gueriau Maxime , Ainouz Samia
Published: December 2024

One significant challenge in improving autonomous driving algorithms is the lack of diverse real-world data. Moreover, transferring models from simulation to reality faces the reality gap problem. This study addresses this issue by developing an augmentation technique for mixed-reality environments, aimed at improving the testing and training of autonomous vehicles. Tested offline, it lays the groundwork for future online applications. The methodology focuses on creating virtual depth images using a virtual camera and applying an augmentation strategy to the KITTI data set. This creates a mixed-reality representation by combining virtual and real depth maps, leveraging depth information in the fusion process. The outcomes of this process are notably effective, achieving a balance between virtual and real-world aspects. This fusion method adeptly combines elements from both environments, maintaining the quality of the images. The novel contributions of this work include a detailed augmentation strategy that seamlessly integrates virtual objects into real depth maps, accounting for occlusions and ensuring realistic depth representations. In addition, this work demonstrates the feasibility of generating a large data set using the proposed method, significantly expanding the available data for training autonomous driving models. The use of metrics such as SSIM, peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and MAE, alongside object detection models such as Faster RCNN, provides a complete evaluation of both quantitative and qualitative aspects. The results demonstrate the quality of the augmented images, setting a foundation for potential online applications. The proposed strategy enables the generation of larger data set and facilitates safe, effective training in scenarios considered too risky or challenging to simulate accurately.
Political Directors and the Recruitment of Foreign Workers
Authors: Sauerwald Steve , Norlander Peter
Published: December 2024

Companies strive to gain a competitive advantage by recruiting highly qualified employees. One way to achieve this goal is by recruiting foreign workers, frequently through the H-1B visa program. However, immigration has become a contentious political issue in the United States, making it more difficult to recruit foreign workers. We examine how politicians on the board influence recruitment strategies aimed at attracting foreign workers. Studying the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and President Donald Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” policy, we estimate the impact of political directors on recruiting strategies. By analyzing the near-universe of job advertisements in the United States, we develop novel firm-level measures of employment barriers for foreign workers. We find that the presence of political directors increased the employment barriers for foreign workers after Trump’s inauguration. We also argue that the information processing capabilities of the board moderate this effect: diverse boards and boards with Human Resources committees decrease the employment barriers for foreign workers, whereas shareholder meetings during periods of heightened political risk increase these employment barriers.
A Book Review of Nursing Theory, Postmodernism, Post-Structuralism, and Foucault, Olga Petrovskaya (2023), Routledge
Authors: Alligood Martha Raile
Published: December 2024

This is a review of the recent book, Nursing Theory, Postmodernism, Post-Structuralism, and Foucault by Olga Petrovskaya (2023). The author draws on the discourse in the literature from the late 1980s to 2010, with a critique of nursing theory from the perspective of a contrast she claims between the philosophical bases of American nursing theory development and other potential bases in postmodernism and post-structuralism when viewed from the perspective of Foucault, the French philosopher.
Attending to children’s voices within environmental education
Authors: Ambreen Samyia , Badwan Khawla , Pahl Kate
Published: December 2024

The article reports on a study that explores children’s epistemologies of the environment. We drew on Nxumalo’s (2016) concept of ‘refiguring presences’ as a conceptual and methodological orientation. Such an orientation develops an expansive understanding of voice, encourages researchers to resist absences and erasures, and braids together activities of attending, remembering, disrupting, and imagining. Based on a study in a diverse multilingual primary school in the North West of England, we explore children’s relationships with the natural environment with a focus on treescapes. We use an anti-colonial lens and propose a mode of listening to voices in ways that recognise the emergence and entanglements of data, distributed stories, knowledge systems and concepts in ways that challenge neat theorisations about children’s relationship with the environment.
The mode of bone conservation does not affect the architecture and the tensile properties of rat femurs
Authors: Beaupied Hélène , Dupuis Aurélie , Arlettaz Alexandre , Brunet-Imbault Barbara , Bonnet Nicolas , Jaffré Christelle , Benhamou Claude-Laurent , Courteix Daniel
Published: December 2024

The bone samples used in clinical and experimental trials must be the less damaged as possible to avoid alterations of their properties. However, the mode of storage might possibly alter the bone properties, particularly microarchitecture and strength. The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of deep-freezing and alcohol conservation techniques on the densitometric, microarchitectural and biomechanical parameters of rat femurs. The left femurs were elongated in uniaxial tension up to breakdown in order to calculate biomechanical parameters. The densitometric and microarchitectural properties of right femurs were evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and microcomputed tomography, respectively. Results showed no significant difference in the parameters investigated between deep-freezing, alcohol storage and fresh femurs when comparing each parameter separately. Therefore, one month storage in alcohol or deep-freezing seemed to induce no harmful effect on densitometric, microarchitectural and biomechanical parameters of rat femurs.
A Bayesian hierarchical model for disease mapping that accounts for scaling and heavy-tailed latent effects
Authors: Michal Victoire , Schmidt Alexandra M , Freitas Laís Picinini , Cruz Oswaldo Gonçalves
Published: December 2024

In disease mapping, the relative risk of a disease is commonly estimated across different areas within a region of interest. The number of cases in an area is often assumed to follow a Poisson distribution whose mean is decomposed as the product between an offset and the logarithm of the disease’s relative risk. The log risk may be written as the sum of fixed effects and latent random effects. A modified Besag-York-Mollié (BYM2) model decomposes each latent effect into a weighted sum of independent and spatial effects. We build on the BYM2 model to allow for heavy-tailed latent effects and accommodate potentially outlying risks, after accounting for the fixed effects. We assume a scale mixture structure wherein the variance of the latent process changes across areas and allows for outlier identification. We propose two prior specifications for this scale mixture parameter. These are compared through various simulation studies and in the analysis of Zika cases from the first (2015-2016) epidemic in Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil. The simulation studies show that the proposed model always performs at least as well as an alternative available in the literature, and often better, both in terms of widely applicable information criterion, mean squared error and of outlier identification. In particular, the proposed parametrisations are more efficient, in terms of outlier detection, when outliers are neighbours. Our analysis of Zika cases finds 23 out of 160 districts of Rio as potential outliers, after accounting for the socio-development index. Our proposed model may help prioritise interventions and identify potential issues in the recording of cases.
Markovian Pricing With Price Guarantees
Authors: Wu Jianghua , Zhang Dan , Liu Yan
Published: December 2024

A stream of recent research considers the practice of random price discounts (a.k.a randomized pricing) when selling to forward-looking customers and shows that such pricing strategies can mitigate strategic customer waiting and boost seller profit. In practice, random price discounts are often offered together with price guarantees, in which customers are refunded the price difference if the price is lowered within a given time window after purchase. This paper investigates the efficacy of price guarantees under randomized pricing. To that end, we consider a model in which a firm adopts Markovian pricing and interacts with customers over an infinite time horizon. The following results are obtained. First, while Markovian pricing allows firms to price discriminate customers based on their monitoring costs, price guarantees further allow firms to price discriminate customers based on their willingness to pay. Second, offering price guarantees under Markovian pricing can help retain customers effectively by inducing high-valuation customers to purchase early, regardless of their arrival time. Third, even with price guarantees, Markovian pricing can dominate static pricing only when high-valuation customers are more likely to have a high monitoring cost, which illustrates that customer composition plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of the firm’s pricing strategy. Fourth, the optimal duration of price guarantees is closely related to customers’ lifetime duration. Finally, perhaps surprisingly, offering price guarantees can decrease the aggregate customer surplus since the firm offers sale prices less often under price guarantees.
Travoprost Intracameral Implant: A Review on the Novel Treatment Modality for Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension
Authors: Huston Jessica , Paauw Mark , Orey Dontia , Centner Aliya , Hasan Azeem , Shetty Rajesh , Freidl Kathryn , Goldfaden Rebecca
Published: December 2024

Objective:

This article reviews the published data encompassing the development, pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of travoprost, intracameral implant, a treatment for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension.

Data Sources:

A literature search was conducted from drug discovery until September 2024 through PubMed, MEDLINE, and National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry utilizing the following search terms: iDose, travoprost, intracameral implant, OTX-TIC, open-angle glaucoma, and ocular hypertension.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

All relevant English-language studies, or studies that could be appropriately translated into English, containing the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of travoprost intracameral implant were selected for review.

Data Synthesis:

Travoprost implants showed significant reductions in IOP compared with other treatment options with fewer limitations often associated with topical medications resulting in travoprost implant patients favoring reduced concomitant use of topical IOP-lowering medications (with 81% of patients being medication free).

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice in Comparison with Existing Drugs:

Due to limited compliance with topical treatment modalities, the travoprost implant presents a promising alternative pathway for drug delivery. With a duration of 3 years and removal of the need for patient dexterity and application compliance, the travoprost implant serves an unmet need for patients and prescribers.

Conclusion:

Travoprost intracameral implant is a safe and effective delivery system for intracameral travoprost administration for patients with OAG or ocular hypertension.
A Multidimensional Approach to Understanding Calling’s Paths to Well-Being Through Career Development
Authors: Marsh Dylan R. , Dik Bryan J.
Published: December 2024

A sense of calling is an established predictor of both career-related and general well-being, but little is known about the mechanisms that link calling’s specific dimensions (i.e., transcendent summons, purposeful work, prosocial orientation) to criterion variables such as life satisfaction. This study investigated hypothesized pathways through which perceiving a calling’s dimensions are associated with life satisfaction among a sample of 607 undergraduate students. We used path analysis to examine a serial multiple mediation model in which relationships of calling’s dimensions with life satisfaction were mediated through career development variables (i.e., vocational identity and occupational self-efficacy) and, in turn, eudaimonic and hedonic well-being variables (i.e., meaning in life and subjective happiness). Supporting our hypotheses, transcendent summons’ link with life satisfaction was mediated through vocational identity and, in turn, meaning in life and subjective happiness. Also, in line with hypotheses, purposeful work and prosocial orientation’s associations with life satisfaction were mediated through occupational self-efficacy and, in turn, meaning in life and subjective happiness. These results illuminate mechanisms through which perceiving a calling’s dimensions may influence eudaimonic and hedonic well-being, and through these variables, life satisfaction, which future research may examine further using longitudinal methods. Further implications for research and practice are discussed.
The Relationship Between the Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Cryptogenic Stroke in Patients with Patent Foramen Ovale
Authors: Esin Fatma , Ince Hüseyin Sefa , Aktürk Semih , Citekci Fahrettin Tugrul , Celik Aykan , Kocabas Ugur , Kiris Tuncay , Karaca Mustafa
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and cryptogenic stroke (CS) in patients diagnosed with patent foramen ovale (PFO) using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Methods

A retrospective, single-center study was conducted at a tertiary education and research hospital from January 2015 to December 2023. The study population included 1017 consecutive patients with sinus rhythm diagnosed with PFO, of whom 210 had CS. The TyG Index was calculated using triglyceride and fasting glucose levels.

Results

Patients with CS were older (47.53 ± 12.34 years) compared to control group (44.40 ± 17.82 years, p = .005). The proportion of males was higher in the CS group (56.2%) compared to the control group (48.3%, p = .042). Laboratory findings revealed higher TyG Index (8.87 ± 0.51 vs 8.63 ± 0.55, p < .001) in patients with CS. TyG Index was an independent predictor of CS in patients with PFO (OR: 2.832, 95%CI: 1.979-4.053 p < .001).

Conclusion

Elevated TyG Index levels was associated with CS in patients with PFO. The TyG index may serve as a useful biomarker for assessing CS risk in this population.
Prediction of Human Papillomavirus-Host Oncoprotein Interactions Using Deep Learning
Authors: Santa Sheila , Kwofie Samuel Kojo , Agyenkwa-Mawuli Kwasi , Quaye Osbourne , Brown Charles A , Tagoe Emmanuel A
Published: December 2024

Background:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes disease through complex interactions between viral and host proteins, with the PI3K signaling pathway playing a key role. Proteins like AKT, IQGAP1, and MMP16 are involved in HPV-related cancer development. Traditional methods for studying protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are labor-intensive and time-consuming. Computational models are becoming more popular as they are less labor-intensive and often more efficient. This study aimed to develop a deep learning model to predict interactions between HPV and host proteins.

Method:

To achieve this, available HPV and host protein interaction data was retrieved from the protocol of Eckhardt et al and used to train a Recurrent Neural Network algorithm. Training of the model was performed on the SPYDER (scientific python development environment) platform using python libraries; Scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy, and TensorFlow. The data was split into training, validation, and testing sets in the ratio 7:1:2, respectively. After the training and validation, the model was then used to predict the possible interactions between HPV 31 and 18 E6 and E7, and host oncoproteins AKT, IQGAP1 and MMP16.

Results:

The model showed good performance, with an MCC score of 0.7937 and all other metrics above 88%. The model predicted an interaction between E6 and E7 of both HPV types with AKT, while only HPV31 E7 was shown to interact with IQGAP1 and MMP16 with confidence scores of 0.9638 and 0.5793, respectively.

Conclusion:

The current model strongly predicted HPVs E6 and E7 interactions with PI3K pathway, and the viral proteins may be involved in AKT activation, driving HPV-associated cancers. This model supports the robust prediction of interactomes for experimental validation.
Does early childhood multilingualism lead to enhanced executive functioning in early adulthood? A study examining inhibitory control (Stroop effect) in Swedish university students
Authors: Dvorak Martin
Published: December 2024

Aims and objectives:

The paper describes a study whose objective was to find whether there are any differences in inhibitory control measured with the Stroop test between Swedish early childhood (EC) monolingual and EC (bi-) multilingual university students in the language which is not their EC language and whether one can observe a relationship between the perceived proficiency in the subjects’ mother tongues and their Stroop Effect.

Methodology:

The analyses were conducted on a cohort of 105 students (41 EC monolinguals and 64 EC multilinguals) who took the Stroop test, the results of which (Stroop Effect) were compared for both the groups. A comparison was also made for multilinguals’ perceived proficiency in their mother tongues.

Data and analysis:

The data obtained via questionnaires and from a computerized version of the Stroop test were compared for EC monolinguals/EC multilinguals and evaluated statistically.

Findings/conclusion:

The results show no statistically significant difference in the inhibitory control measured by the Stroop test between the EC monolinguals and EC multilinguals. The only significant difference the analysis found between the groups is in reaction times, as the EC multilinguals reacted faster in both congruent and incongruent conditions. The analysis conducted among the EC multilinguals does not indicate any relationship between the perceived proficiency in their mother tongues and Stroop effect.

Originality and implication:

The findings contribute to a recent debate questioning cognitive early adulthood advantages of being an EC multilingual. Unlike the majority of other studies investigating inhibitory control, the Stroop test in this study was conducted in young adults and in the language (learnt at school and through extracurricular activities) in which all the students were on approximately the same proficiency level. The findings also bear relevance to future research on the relationship between inhibitory control and academic performance in young adults.
Dynamic characteristics of a semi-active fractional-order inerter-based suspension with acceleration-velocity switch control
Authors: Wang Yong , Li Jiachen , Ji Mingzhu , Qiao Xiwen , Wang Yang
Published: December 2024

The fractional-order differential theory is applied in the hydraulic inerter to describe its mechanical characteristic, a semi-active fractional-order (SA-FO) inerter based on the hydraulic inerter is proposed and used in the vehicle suspension to constitute the semi-active fractional-order inerter-based (SA-FOIB) suspension, which consists of two adjustable inertances. According to the mechanical characteristic of the inerter, the acceleration-velocity switch (AVS) control strategy is proposed to adjust the inertance of the SA-FO inerter. The dynamic model of the SA-FOIB suspension with AVS control is established, its dynamic response under road harmonic excitation is obtained using the averaging method, the dynamic performance under road harmonic and random excitations is analyzed and evaluated by the vehicle body acceleration, suspension dynamic deflection and wheel dynamic load, the optimized structural parameters are obtained using the genetic algorithm optimization method. The results show that for road harmonic excitation, the SA-FOIB suspension can further enhance the high-frequency dynamic performance of the passive fractional-order inerter-based (P-FOIB) suspension, which the high-frequency resonance peaks of the dynamic performance indices are smaller. For road random excitation, the SA-FOIB suspension can decrease the root-mean-square (RMS) values of the suspension dynamic deflection and wheel dynamic load compared with the P-FOIB suspension, while increases the RMS value of the vehicle body acceleration. The optimized SA-FOIB suspension further improves the dynamic performance of the suspension dynamic deflection and wheel dynamic load, which the corresponding RMS values are smaller than the unoptimized SA-FOIB suspension, while deteriorates the vehicle body acceleration.
Axisymmetric cavity noise control using passive protrusion
Authors: Baskaran Kabilan , Srinivasan Kothandaraman
Published: December 2024

This paper introduces a passive protrusions to reduce undesirable structural loading and high-amplitude noise radiation in axisymmetric cavities, are common in industries, including pipelines and aerospace. A comprehensive experimental investigation of the pipe-cavity noise control system is conducted, exploring various protrusion locations and lengths at different Nozzle Pressure Ratios (NPRs). The study examines protrusions placed at the leading, trailing, and both leading and trailing edges of the axisymmetric cavity. Additionally, detailed experiments are performed to analyze the impact of protrusion lengths on unsteady cavity pressure and far-field noise radiation. Cavity pressure fluctuations and far-field noise levels are measured for both cases: with and without protrusions in the pipe-cavity setup. The Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) technique is applied to the time-resolved Schlieren images to show the effect of passive protrusions on the exit jet flow structure. Results demonstrate that a protrusion located at the trailing edge yields superior noise reduction compared to other configurations. The efficacy of this protrusion in mitigating cavity noise is attributed to its ability to efficiently alleviate the feedback mechanism responsible for cavity noise generation and break down the recirculation region within the cavity system. Significant noise reduction, approximately 4 dB, is achieved at lower NPRs, and substantial noise reductions are also observed for the underexpanded jet condition.
On the relationship between acoustic absorption and temperature gradient in a thermoacoustic liner
Authors: Biswas Samarjith , Kresl William , Manimala James M
Published: December 2024

The thermoacoustic effect provides a means to convert acoustic energy to heat and vice versa without the need for moving parts. This makes thermoacoustic devices of interest for multifunctional applications in harsh or remote service environments. Embedding thermoacoustic stacks within the framework of acoustic liners could provide opportunities to simultaneously optimize both acoustic absorption and thermal output as well as to integrate energy harvesting and sensing and monitoring functionalities. In this study, the influence of sound pressure level and frequency as well as stack length and position on the performance of a thermoacoustic liner is investigated using normal incidence impedance tube tests and DeltaEC simulations. Using Rott’s approximation, the stack’s pore width and wall thickness are optimized for additively manufactured thermoacoustic liner test articles. A peak steady-state temperature gradient of 9.5°C is obtained at 790 Hz for 140 dB tonal dwells. It is found that the temperature gradient correlates directly with the acoustic power available at the leading stack-face, which is highest when the stack is near the center of the resonator. In contrast, acoustic absorption diminishes when the stack is nearer to the closed-end of the resonator. At higher excitation pressure levels, the contribution of viscous heating to the deviation in the thermoacoustic gradient becomes significant. Further, the relationship between the acoustic absorption and the thermoacoustic temperature gradient was examined. In application scenarios requiring multifunctional optimization, a tradeoff may be required in terms of the absorption in order to maximize the temperature gradient. With current additive and hybrid fabrication processes and materials reaching commercial maturity, opportunities exist to realize thermoacoustic liners with enriched functionalities.