bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Research of Reradiation Interference on Corner Transmission Lines Based on Characteristic Mode Analysis
Authors: Huang Li , Zhang Wanwan , Tang Jiahui , Tang Bo , Zhang Jiangong , Zhao Zhibin
Published: August 2024

Radio stations are seriously affected by transmission line reradiation interference, but most of the existing methods for analyzing and solving reradiation interference on transmission lines focus on approximating the physical problem through mathematical models and algorithms, and it is difficult to study the correlation between transmission lines and reradiation interference in depth. This paper introduces the characteristic mode theory to study the influence factors of reradiation interference on transmission lines, which can decompose the surface induced current of transmission lines into a series of mutually orthogonal mode currents. This paper verifies the correctness of applying the MS (mode significance) value of the characteristic mode theory to analyze the reradiation interference through a simple transmission line example. Taking a line with 5 towers as an example, by analyzing the characteristic mode currents of transmission lines with different forwarding angles and linear arrangements, we not only verified that the characteristic mode currents can well characterize the reradiation interference, but also verified that the characteristic currents of different modes have a direct connection with the structure of the line, which can be applied in the process of designing or reconstructing the towers of the transmission lines, to predict the influence of different structural parameters on electromagnetic scattering, so as to optimize the tower design to reduce the reradiation interference effects and thus optimize the tower design to reduce reradiation interference. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
The influence of rutin and chlorogenic acid on oxidative stress and in vivo fertility: Evaluation of the quality and antioxidant status of post‐thaw semen from Azari water buffalo bulls
Authors: Mohammadi Tohid , Hosseinchi Gharehaghaji Mohammadreza
Published: August 2024

Background

The vulnerability of buffalo sperm to cryoinjury necessitates the improvement of sperm cryo‐resistance as a critical strategy for the widespread use of assisted reproductive technologies in buffalo.

Objectives

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of rutin and chlorogenic acid (CGA) on buffalo semen quality, antioxidant activity and fertility during cryopreservation.

Methods

The semen was collected and pooled from the 3 buffaloes using an artificial vagina (18 ejaculations). The pooled sperm were divided into nine different groups: control (Tris‐based extender); 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 mM rutin (rutin + Tris‐based extender); and 50, 100, 150 and 200 µM CGG (CGA + Tris‐based extender). Sperm kinematics, viability, hypo‐osmotic swelling test, mitochondrial activity, antioxidant activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of frozen and thawed buffalo sperm were evaluated. In addition, 48 buffalo were finally inseminated, and pregnancy was rectally determined 1 month after insemination.

Results

Compared to the control group, adding R‐0.4, R‐0.6, CGA‐100 and CGA‐150 can improve total and progressive motility, motility characteristics, viability, PMF and DNA damage in buffalo sperm. In addition, the results showed that R‐0.4, R‐0.6, CGA‐50, CGA‐100 and CGA‐150 increased total antioxidant capacity, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione activities and decreased MDA levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, it has been shown that adding 150 µM CGA and 0.6 mM rutin to an extender can increase in vivo fertility compared to the control group.

Conclusions

In conclusion, adding rutin and CGA to the extender improves membrane stability and in vivo fertility of buffalo sperm by reducing oxidative stress.
Potential contribution of alpha‐fetoprotein level to biomarker of pregnancy outcome in Asian elephants
Authors: Zeng Fanwen , Huang Mian , Huang Kang , Sa Jiaqi , Zhang Shouquan , Chen Xuanjiao
Published: August 2024

Alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) is a structural serum glycoprotein that plays vital roles in reproduction and mammalian development. Analysis of serum prolactin (PRL) is considered one of the useful methods for diagnosing pregnancy in Asian elephants. However, the expression profiles of AFP in pregnant and nonpregnant Asian elephants remain unclear, nor is the relationship with PRL. In this study, serum seven gonadal hormones and AFP in three pregnant and seven nonpregnant Asian elephants were analysed by via radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. We found that the mean (±SD) concentration of prolactin (PRL) in pregnant (136.782 ± 30.987 ng/mL) elephants was significantly higher than that in nonpregnant elephants (52.803 ± 21.070 ng/mL; p ≤ 0.0005). The mean (±SD) concentration of AFP in pregnant elephants (11.598 ± 0.824 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that in nonpregnant elephants (7.200 ± 2.283 ng/mL; p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the AFP concentration was positively correlated with the PRL concentration in the 10 Asian elephants studied. In conclusion, our findings suggest that serum AFP concentration is a potential biomarker of pregnancy outcomes in Asian elephants.
Accessibility in Tourism 5.0 Approach: Enabling Inclusive and Meaningful Tourist Experiences
Authors: Vujičić Miroslav D. , Stankov Uglješa , Basarin Biljana , Krejtz Izabela , Krejtz Krzysztof , Masliković Dejan
Published: August 2024

The advent of Industry 4.0 technologies, encompassing the Internet of Things (IoT), Big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, location-based services, and virtual and augmented (VR/AR) reality systems, has revolutionized the tourism landscape, automating production and service delivery. As the momentum of Industry 4.0 propels us toward the tourism-specific concept of Tourism 4.0, questions arise about the ability of humans to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements and ensure these innovations genuinely benefit society. The ongoing debate prompts a call for humanizing Industry 4.0, echoed in the emerging concept of Industry 5.0, advocating for more responsible and humane technology approaches. Concurrently, voices championing Tourism 5.0 emphasize the need to align technology with diverse human tourism needs and enhance accessibility for a more inclusive and meaningful travel experience. Through this chapter, we endeavor to establish Tourist 5.0 as a holistic alternative to the prevailing concept of digital accessibility practices within the typically limited and task-focused tourism sector. This chapter critically examines the evolution from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, drawing parallels with Tourism 4.0 and Tourism 5.0. The central focus of this chapter is placed on the imperative of technological accessibility, exploring how it takes precedence in the latest technological developments and contributes to the creation of more inclusive and fulfilling tourism experiences.
Media Accessibility in Education: Combining Bibliometric Study and Literature Review
Authors: Berigel Muhammet , Boztaş Gizem Dilan , Güdek Beyza , Neagu Gabriela , Duarte Carlos
Published: August 2024

Media accessibility in education is vital for inclusive learning. It ensures that all students can engage with educational content, regardless of their abilities. By offering accessible formats like closed captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions, barriers to learning are eliminated. Media accessibility benefits not only those with sensory impairments but also students with learning disabilities, language barriers, or different learning preferences. Legislation and scientific studies emphasize the importance of media accessibility in education. From a methodological point of view, we will use the bibliometric study and literature review. By applying criteria specific to the two methods of analysis (keywords, language of writing documents, type of journal, number of citations, etc.), we will select articles that correspond to the objectives of the research. From an empirical point of view, theories such as social-cognitive theory, social constructivism or media richness theory will guide us in analyzing the data and establishing relevant conclusions for this field. The results we obtained confirm the importance of the study of specialized literature through specific methods and techniques in the development of new perspectives in the field of media accessibility.
Cognitive Accessibility in Educational Games: A Set of Recommendations
Authors: Oliva-Zamora Miguel Ángel , Larreina-Morales María Eugenia
Published: August 2024

Educational games aim to teach players new knowledge or skills in an entertaining manner. However, they are often not accessible for players with disabilities, hindering their right to education. For players with cognitive disabilities and learning difficulties, it may be particularly challenging to determine the response to the game’s visual, auditory, and haptic stimuli. This chapter presents a set of recommendations to develop educational games that are accessible to these players. To that aim, a literature review was conducted comprising the past ten years of research about educational games and game accessibility. Ten papers were selected, which take diverse approaches to the topic: some review existing research, while others focus on the development of an accessible educational game. All of them address cognitive disabilities and learning difficulties, but some also include recommendations for visual, hearing, and motor accessibility. The review of these papers shows that, to develop an accessible game for players with cognitive disabilities and learning difficulties, it is recommended to provide stimuli through several channels of communication, to allow the game’s pace to be customizable, and to design simple but engaging content, among other features. Although these recommendations are not universally applicable to every educational game, they are a first step to bring together players, teachers, developers, and researchers to create more interactive and engaging educational experiences for all.
Digital Media Tools for Accessibility and Inclusion: A Case Study of Ukraine
Authors: Kostynets Valeriia , Kostynets Iuliia
Published: August 2024

Since Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, brutal military operations, and Russia’s terrorist missile attacks on territory in Ukraine, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have partially or completely lost their mobility. Today, many military and civilian individuals have suffered wounds, concussions, and injuries, requiring support and learning to live with ongoing disabilities. At least 2 million Ukrainians face challenges of social inclusion. Ukraine's social sphere is directly focused on the development of an inclusive society aiding people with war-related physical limitations and safe refuges in isolation. Social adaptation and orientation for people with disabilities are crucial at both local and provincial levels. Considering the high level of digitalization in Ukraine, the use of digital media tools to ensure accessibility and inclusivity in all areas of everyday life is incredibly effective. One of these tools can be an interactive map of inclusion, which is divided into an online platform (mobile app), where in one place all the information about inclusive spaces in the country will be collected. A place where an inclusive infrastructure has already been created. Digital media tools play a vital role in securing accessible and inclusive coverage.  Improvements in digital materials and special locations can be achieved through cooperation between public and private sectors.
‘Control the Stream of Sounds’: A Pilot Study on Intersemiotic Translation of Sound Effects and Music for Subtitling for the D/Deaf and Hard of Hearing in German, Spanish, and English in VOD Platforms
Authors: Bru García Vicente , Martínez-Martínez Silvia
Published: August 2024

This study aims to address the need for standardization in intersemiotic subtitling of sound effects and music in audiovisual products through the revision of standards and guidelines in subtitling for the D/deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) and the analysis of a corpus consisting of SDH from German, Spanish, and English Netflix series. The results, examined using the classification identified by Martínez-Martínez in El subtitulado para sordos: Estudio de corpus sobre tipología de estrategias de traducción (2015), reveal differences in the three languages analyzed in terms of the most used intersemiotic translation strategy, as well as a lack of consistency in the translation of the same sounds in different subtitles. This article underlines the importance of establishing quality guidelines to ensure access to leisure for people with hearing impairments (Martínez-Martínez in Lo audiovisual bajo el foco del siglo, 2021, p. 353) and establishes a starting point in an interdisciplinary approach to subtitling sound effects and music.
Mixed-Mode I/II Fracture
Authors: Zhao Yu , Zheng Kun , Wang Chaolin
Published: August 2024

As the inherent nature of rocks, natural cracks play a remarkable part in controlling the mechanics and permeability responses in rock masses. Due to the intense stress concentration at their neighborhoods, these cracks are extensively recognized as the initial locations for the initiation, extension, and convergence of cracking.
Dissecting polytopes: Landau singularities and asymptotic expansions in 2 → 2 scattering
Authors: Gardi Einan , Herzog Franz , Jones Stephen , Ma Yao
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Parametric representations of Feynman integrals have a key property: many, frequently all, of the Landau singularities appear as endpoint divergences. This leads to a geometric interpretation of the singularities as faces of Newton polytopes, which facilitates algorithmic evaluation by sector decomposition and asymptotic expansion by the method of regions. Here we identify cases where some singularities appear instead as pinches in parametric space for general kinematics, and we then extend the applicability of sector decomposition and the method of regions algorithms to such integrals, by dissecting the Newton polytope on the singular locus. We focus on 2 → 2 massless scattering, where we show that pinches in parameter space occur starting from three loops in particular nonplanar graphs due to cancellation between terms of opposite sign in the second Symanzik polynomial. While the affected integrals cannot be evaluated by standard sector decomposition, we show how they can be computed by first linearising the graph polynomial and then splitting the integration domain at the singularity, so as to turn it into an endpoint divergence. Furthermore, we demonstrate that obtaining the correct asymptotic expansion of such integrals by the method of regions requires the introduction of new regions, which can be systematically identified as facets of the dissected polytope. In certain instances, these hidden regions exclusively govern the leading power behaviour of the integral. In momentum space, we find that in the on-shell expansion for wide-angle scattering the new regions are characterised by having two or more connected hard subgraphs, while in the Regge limit they are characterised by Glauber modes.
Orbit design for a future geodetic satellite and gravity field recovery
Authors: Sośnica Krzysztof
Published: August 2024

Spherical geodetic satellites tracked by satellite laser ranging (SLR) stations provide indispensable scientific products that cannot be replaced by other sources. For studying the time-variable gravity field, two low-degree coefficientsC20andC30derived from GRACE and GRACE Follow-On missions are replaced by the values derived from SLR tracking of geodetic satellites, such as LAGEOS-1/2, LARES-1/2, Starlette, Stella, and Ajisai. The subset of these satellites is used to derive the geocenter motion which is fundamental in the realization of the origin of the terrestrial reference frames. LAGEOS satellites provide the most accurate standard gravitational product GM of the Earth. In this study, we use the Kaula theorem of gravitational perturbations to find the best possible satellite height, inclination, and eccentricity for a future geodetic satellite to maximize orbit sensitivity in terms of the recovery of low-degree gravity field coefficients, geocenter, and GM. We also derive the common station-satellite visibility-coverability coefficient as a function of the inclination angle and satellite height. We found that the best inclination for a future geodetic satellite is 35°–45° or 135°–145° with a height of about 1500–1700 km to support future GRACE/MAGIC missions withC20andC30. For a better geocenter recovery and derivation of the standard gravitational product, the preferable height is 2300–3500 km. Unfortunately, none of the existing geodetic satellites has the optimum height and inclination angle for deriving GM, geocenter, andC20because there are no spherical geodetic satellites at the heights between 1500 (Ajisai and LARES-1) and 5800 km (LAGEOS-1/2, LARES-2).
Daily life without cranial bone protection while awaiting cranioplasty: a qualitative study
Authors: Gustavsson Henrietta , Jangland Eva , Nyholm Lena
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Decompressive craniectomy is occasionally performed as a life-saving neurosurgical intervention in patients with acute severe brain injury to reduce refractory intracranial hypertension. Subsequently, cranioplasty (CP) is performed to repair the skull defect. In the meantime, patients are living without cranial bone protection, and little is known about their daily life. This study accordingly explored daily life among patients living without cranial bone protection after decompressive craniectomy while awaiting CP.

Methods

A multiple-case study examined six purposively sampled patients, patients’ family members, and healthcare staff. The participants were interviewed and the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The cross-case analysis identified five categories: “Adapting to new ways of living,” “Constant awareness of the absence of cranial bone protection,” “Managing daily life requires available staff with adequate qualifications,” “Impact of daily life depends on the degree of recovery,” and “Daily life stuck in limbo while awaiting cranioplasty.” The patients living without cranial bone protection coped with daily life by developing new habits and routines, but the absence of cranial bone protection also entailed inconveniences and limitations, particularly among the patients with greater independence in their everyday living. Time spent awaiting CP was experienced as being in limbo, and uncertainty regarding planning was perceived as frustrating.

Conclusion

The results indicate a vulnerable group of patients with brain damage and communication impairments struggling to find new routines during a waiting period experienced as being in limbo. Making this period safe and reducing some problems in daily life for those living without cranial bone protection calls for a person-centered approach to care involving providing contact information for the correct healthcare institution and individually planned scheduling for CP.
Exploring the impact of maternal early life adversity on interoceptive sensibility in pregnancy: implications for prenatal depression
Authors: Savoca Paul W. , Glynn Laura M. , Fox Molly M. , Richards Misty C. , Callaghan Bridget L.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Pregnancy is a sensitive period of development in adult life characterized by massive changes in physical, emotional, and cognitive function. Such changes may be adaptive, e.g., facilitating adjustment to physical demands, but they may also reflect or contribute to risks inherent to this stage of life, e.g., prenatal depression. One cognitive ability that may undergo change during pregnancy and contribute to mental wellness is interoception - the ability to perceive, integrate, and model sensory information originating from the body. Strong interoceptive abilities are associated with lower rates of depression in non-pregnant adult populations, and interoception is generally weaker in individuals at higher risk for depression, for example, exposure to early life adversity (ELA). In the present online, cross-sectional study, we investigated whether interoception in pregnant women differed based on histories of ELA, in ways that increased their relative risk for prenatal depression symptoms.

Methods

The pregnant individuals were in the second trimester of their first pregnancy and were compared to a group of nulliparous, non-parenting women.

Results

Previous exposure to ELA significantly moderated pregnancy-related differences in self-reported interoception (interoceptive sensibility). A further moderated-mediation analysis revealed that the extent to which interoceptive sensibility buffered against depressive symptoms was conditional on ELA exposure, suggesting more ELA is associated with lower interoceptive sensibility during pregnancy, which increased prenatal depression risk.

Conclusions

Together this work suggests that levels of interoception during pregnancy are sensitive to previous adversity exposure. It also suggests that interoceptive-focused interventions for preventing/treating prenatal depressive symptoms in high-risk women may be worth exploring.
Welche Notfallbilder stellen den Einsatzalltag von Notfallsanitäter:innen dar? Eine Sekundärdatenanalyse von Krankenhauszuweisungscodes aus Hessen
Authors: Hofmann Thomas , Kirschenlohr Roland , Reuter-Oppermann Melanie , Lefering Rolf
Published: August 2024

Einführung

Die Diskussion um die Weiterentwicklung des Berufsbilds des/der Notfallsanitäter:in wird heftig und emotional geführt. Bevor sinnvoll über die Zukunft diskutiert werden kann, gilt es aber erst einmal den Ist-Zustand zu erfassen. Diese Arbeit hat das Ziel, das Tätigkeitsspektrum von Notfallsanitäter:innen hinsichtlich Einsatzindikationen und -charakteristika zu beschreiben.

Methodik

Die Analyse basiert auf Rückmeldeindikationen (RMI) der Rettungsdienste aus sieben hessischen Gebietskörperschaften für 2022. Dadurch werden die Einsätze eines Versorgungsgebiets von knapp 1,5 Mio. Einwohnern erfasst. Diese Zuweisungscodes werden detailliert deskriptiv aufgearbeitet und zusammengefasst.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt werden 185.780 Einsätze in 211 RMI und diese wiederum in 22 Zuweisungsdiagnosegruppen (ZDG) eingeteilt. Basierend auf diesen Daten ist die/der durchschnittliche Rettungsdienstpatient:in 60,4 Jahre alt (SD 25,8). In ca. 8,1 % der Einsätze von Notfallsanitäter:innen sind die Patient:innen jünger als 18 Jahre. Die häufigsten Einsätze von Notfallsanitäter:innen stammen aus der ZDG „Trauma“ mit 20,8 % (n = 38.541) gefolgt von „Innere allgemein“ mit 15,6 % (n = 28.920). Insgesamt 7,0 % (n = 12.988) der Einsätze leisten Notfallsanitäter:innen im Bereich „Tragehilfe und Krankentransport“ ab. Patienten der ZDG „Sonstige Notfallsituationen“ werden zu 91,8 % (n = 10.368) nicht in ein Krankenhaus transportiert.

Fazit

Mit dieser explorativen Arbeit gelingt es erstmals, einen Überblick über die Einsatzindikationen und -charakteristika deutscher Notfallsanitäter:innen – und damit des gesamten Rettungsdiensts – zu erlangen. Trotz der rein deskriptiven Analytik deuten sich Optimierungsmöglichkeiten an. Beispielsweise die Reduktion der Notarztquote bei kardiologischen Einsätzen oder die Reduktion der Krankentransporte kann helfen, erhebliche Ressourcen effizienter einzusetzen.

Graphic abstract
An insight on the powerful of bacterial quorum sensing inhibition
Authors: Naga Nourhan G. , Shaaban Mona I. , El-Metwally Mohammad Magdy
Published: August 2024

Bacteria have their own language through which they communicate with one another like all higher organisms. So, many researchers are working hard to identify and comprehend the components of this bacterial communication, known as quorum sensing (QS). In quorum sensing, bacteria use signaling molecules called autoinducers (AIs) to exchange information. Many natural compounds and extraction techniques have been intensively studied to disrupt bacterial signaling and examine their effectiveness for bacterial pathogenesis control. Quorum sensing inhibitors can interfere with QS and block the action of AI signaling molecules. Recent research indicates that quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) and quorum quenching enzymes (QQEs) show great promise in reducing the pathogenicity of bacteria and inhibiting biofilm synthesis. In addition, the effectiveness of QQEs and QSIs in experimental animal models was demonstrated. These are taken into account in the development of innovative medical devices, such as dressings and catheters, to prevent bacterial infections. The present review highlights this aspect with a prospective vision for its development and application.
Decoupling of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved black carbon (DBC) in a temperate fluvial network
Authors: Bass Adrian M. , Gu Chao
Published: August 2024

Black carbon (BC) is a significant component of the global carbon cycle both in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Dissolved black carbon (DBC) is a significant portion of the total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool and represents a major flux of recalcitrant carbon to the coastal and deep oceans. Dissolved black carbon can originate from multiple sources related to its relative biogeochemical reactivity with the dynamics of highly recalcitrant DBC integral to long-term sequestration. Thus, understanding how the more recalcitrant fractions of DBC varies in diverse catchments is critical and currently underexplored. We used hydrogen pyrolysis to isolate the fraction of DBC with aromatic clusters above 7 rings, representing the more stable components. Here we report the dynamics of DBCHyPy over a hydrological year in a temperate catchment, with a long history of coal mining extraction. Quarterly measurements of DBC were undertaken from two main channel and four tributary sites. Hydrogen pyrolysis derived DBC comprised a significant percentage of the total DOC flux (3.2% to 28.3%) and included significant spatial variability. Unlike other studies examining more reactive DBC fractions, bulk DOC concentrations and DBCHyPy were poorly correlated when considered over an annual scale. Rather, DBCHyPy was correlated with indicators of groundwater such as dissolved inorganic carbon and conductivity. Data suggest a consistent source of DBCHyPy not subject to the same mobilisation drivers as DOC, which shows substantial seasonality. Rather, our data shows a potentially consistent supply of stable DBC originating from the coal mining-influenced groundwater. Petrogenic sources of DBC have been poorly constrained to date, the data presented here suggests in some catchments it may be significant and yield catchment scale DOC-DBC decoupling. The dynamics of DBC have implications for carbon fluxes, pollution transport and water quality/treatment requirements. These preliminary findings suggest potentially complex drivers in spatially heterogeneous catchments, contrasting with previous work finding tight DOC-DBC mobilisation dynamics.
Who Loses in Win-Win Investing? A Mixed Methods Study of Impact Risk
Authors: Kaufmann Lauren , Botha Helet
Published: August 2024

Existing scholarship grapples with how impact investors measure positive impacts, but little attention has been paid to negative impact or limitations to positive impact, indicating a need to study “impact risk.” Impact risk refers to the likelihood that impact will be different than expected. In this paper, we study how impact risk is considered in practice. First, through a yearlong data collection effort including interviews with 124 impact investors, we are the first, to our knowledge, to document the consideration of impact risk by practitioners. From this qualitative study, we develop two hypotheses about cognitive mechanisms related to impact risk. Second, we test these hypotheses through a vignette-based experiment with an online sample (N = 435). We find that win–win views of business, exemplified by the impact investing industry, can lead to inadequate consideration of impact risk. Inadequate consideration of impact risk matters for ethical reasons: with beneficiaries—people and planet—in urgent need of real solutions, investors and academics should take impact risk seriously.
Comedy and Masculine Hegemony: Adapting Masculinities in Humorous Children’s Fiction
Authors: Potter Troy
Published: August 2024

Since the early 2000s, there has been increasing scholarly focus on the representations of masculinities in children’s literature. In part, this is due to the growing field of critical studies in men and masculinities coupled with wider public concern about boys’ development and education. This paper contributes to this work by analysing constructions of masculinity in four popular humorous series for children: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007–2022), The Treehouse books (2011–2023), The Bad Guys (2015–2023), and Planet Omar (2019–2023). Understanding genre as a reciprocal dynamic, the analysis demonstrates how these texts both intercede and shape the social and national milieu in which they are produced. As our understanding of acceptable masculine behaviours has adapted, so too has there been a shift in both the represented masculine dynamics and role of comedy in humorous junior fiction for boys. While some early series attempt to invert the hierarchical ordering of boys to validate alternative masculinities, the farcical genre conventions rest on limited models of masculinity, and frequently reaffirm the very tropes and behaviours that they seek to redress. In contrast, later series attempt to expand the repertoire of qualities that are acceptable for boys and men, challenging patterns of masculine hegemony, thereby revisioning what it means to be male. While humorous texts for young people may engage young male readers, the operation of humour and its relationship to masculinities is political, and can operate in either reductive or expansive ways.
Modelling climate change impacts on lake ice and snow demonstrates breeding habitat decline of the endangered Saimaa ringed seal
Authors: Jakkila Juho , Auttila Miina , Tuukkanen Tapio , Veijalainen Noora
Published: August 2024

Snowdrifts on lake ice provide vital breeding habitats for the endangered Saimaa ringed seal. In this study, a lake ice model of Watershed Simulation and Forecasting System (WSFS-Ice) was developed for improved estimation of ice and snow conditions in Lake Saimaa during the pupping season of the Saimaa ringed seal. The WSFS-Ice model is based on energy balance, enabling reliable estimation of the ice cover evolution in current and future climate. In addition, a simple snowdrift model was used to simulate formation of snowdrifts, which are essential for the seals breeding success in Lake Saimaa. The model was calibrated against ice thickness, ice type and snow depth measurements. According to our results based on climate scenarios with intermediate representative concentration pathway (RCP4.5), the breeding habitat of the Saimaa ringed seal is significantly deteriorating during the twenty-first century. The mean depth of the snowdrifts is projected to decrease approximately to half from the 1981–2010 to 2070–99 period and at the same time the ice-covered period is reduced by one and a half months. During the mildest winters the ice cover is projected to melt even before the pupping season has ended. The results highlight the importance of climate change mitigation and active conservation measures to enhance seal population growth, enabling it to survive in a changing climate.
Exploring the relationship between teachers’ competencies in AI-TPACK and digital proficiency
Authors: Hava Kevser , Babayiğit Özgür
Published: August 2024

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in educational settings. As a result, it is essential to assess teachers’ competencies in Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) as it pertains to AI and examine the factors that influence these competencies. This study aims to analyze the impact of digital proficiency on teachers’ AI-TPACK competencies. The study utilized a correlational survey model and involved 401 teachers from various provinces and departments in Turkey. The data collection tools included a personal information form, an AI-TPACK scale, and a digital proficiency scale. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The research findings revealed that teachers’ AI-TPACK competencies were below average, whereas their levels of digital proficiency were above average. Furthermore, a significant relationship between teachers’ AI-TPACK and digital proficiency levels was identified, with digital proficiency as a significant predictor of AI-TPACK competencies. Based on the research findings, recommendations for future studies are provided.
Study Demands–Resources Theory: Understanding Student Well-Being in Higher Education
Authors: Bakker Arnold B. , Mostert Karina
Published: August 2024

This article reviews the literature on student well-being (burnout and engagement) and their relationships with study demands and resources, student behaviors (proactive and self-undermining study behaviors), and student outcomes in higher education. Building on research that used Job Demands–Resources and Study Demands–Resources models to investigate student well-being, we develop the Study Demands–Resources (SD–R) theory to delineate the various processes, mechanisms, and behaviors involved in student burnout and engagement. Study demands and resources have unique and combined effects on higher education students’ well-being. In addition, students can influence their own well-being and study-related outcomes by either proactively optimizing their study demands and resources or displaying self-undermining behaviors that can adversely affect their study environment. We discuss several avenues for future research, including (a) rigorous tests of SD–R propositions; (b) trait versus state effects in SD–R theory; (c) the impact of the higher education climate and lecturer influence; and (d) an expanded SD–R theory.
The HOPE cohort: cohort profile and evaluation of selection bias
Authors: Zacher Kjeldsen Mette-Marie , Mægbæk Merete Lund , Liu Xiaoqin , Madsen Malene Galle , Bliddal Mette , Egsgaard Sofie , Bang Madsen Kathrine , Munk-Olsen Trine
Published: August 2024

The HOPE cohort is a Danish nationwide cohort with ongoing follow-up, holding information on postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms and diagnoses on 170,218 childbirths (142,795 unique mothers). These data have been linked with extensive register data on health and socioeconomic information on the mothers, their partners, parents, and children. This cohort profile aimed to provide an overview of the data collection and content, describe characteristics, and evaluate potential selection bias. PPD screenings, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, were collected from 67 of the 98 Danish municipalities, covering the period January 2015 to December 2021. This data was linked with register data on PPD diagnoses (identified through medication prescriptions and hospital contacts) as well as background information. Cohort characteristics were compared to the source population, defined as all childbirths by women residing in Denmark during the same period (452,207 childbirths). Potential selection bias was evaluated by comparing odds ratios of five well-established associations between the cohort and the source population. The HOPE cohort holds information on 170,218 childbirths (38% of the source population) involving 142,795 unique mothers. The HOPE cohort only differed slightly from the source population on most characteristics examined, but larger differences were observed on specific characteristics with an underrepresentation of the youngest and oldest age groups, women with more than three children or twins/triplets, and women born outside Denmark. Similar associations were identified across the two populations within the five well-established associations. There was no indication of selection bias on the five examined associations, and the HOPE cohort is representative of the source population on important perinatal characteristics.
Quantifying the resistance of Australian wheat genotypes to Pratylenchus thornei based on a continuous metric from a factor analytic linear mixed model
Authors: Rognoni Bethany , Forknall Clayton R. , Simpfendorfer Steven , Daniel Richard , Neale Luke , Kelly Alison M.
Published: August 2024

Genetic resistance to the parasitic root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei, is one of the main management strategies cereal growers can use to minimise the impact of nematodes on winter cereal cropping. Screening of genotypes in the presence of P. thornei populations must provide reliable resistance measures that are realised under field conditions. Adoption of the latest statistical methodologies can help to better differentiate between resistant and susceptible genotypes. In this study, post-harvest P. thornei population densities were measured from a collection of 17 field experiments, with varying starting P. thornei population densities, conducted between 2011 and 2018 in locations across the northern grain growing region of eastern Australia. The experiments primarily consisted of wheat genotypes. The post-harvest P. thornei population densities were analysed across multiple environments in a linear mixed model framework, with a factor analytic structure used to model genotype by environment (G $$\times$$
×
E) interaction effects exclusively for wheat genotypes. In general, genetic correlations between environments were found to be high, indicating limited G $$\times$$
×
E interaction for resistance to P. thornei. Post-processing of results using the factor analytic selection tools (FAST) method provided a measure of the overall performance for each wheat genotype, as well as a stability measure reflecting the consistency of the resistance status across environments. The FAST method quantified genotype resistance on a continuous scale, better reflecting the nature of genetic resistance based on a quantitative variable such as nematode population density, and provided a statistically robust and informative means of aiding selection decisions for resistance to P. thornei.
Cultivating Wheat in the Philippines, ca. 1600–1800 CE: Why a Grain Was Not Adopted by Local Populations
Authors: Findley David Max , Roberts Patrick
Published: August 2024

Studying why newly introduced cultivars fail to make inroads with local populations is notoriously difficult, as these “rejected” crops often leave little or no physical evidence. Taking advantage of unusually ample historical documentation, this paper studies wheat’s introduction, dispersal, and sporadic cultivation in the Philippine archipelago, with an emphasis on the period between 1640 and 1670 CE when sustained wheat cultivation began near Manila. Using documents and comparisons to other cultivars imported during the Pacific Columbian Exchange, the paper identifies several independent barriers to wheat’s cultivation, all of which aligned to ensure wheat was never widely farmed by local populations.
Should we regulate forests through free trade agreements?
Authors: Grigoras Tamara
Published: August 2024

The international forest regime—if there ever was such a thing—traditionally developed on the fringes of various environmental treaty regimes. In recent years, however, the regime’s boundaries have conquered new, historically hostile territories. The last two decades have indeed witnessed the emergence, and then proliferation, of a new generation of free trade agreements that incorporate commitments pertaining to forests. These commitments have developed along two lines: either through the establishment of linkages to pre-existing forest-related obligations enshrined in multilateral environmental agreements or through the creation of new forest commitments. To the extent that such trade-forest commitments have now become part and parcel of the international law governing forests, their existence raises important policy choice questions that have not been addressed yet. This article aims to fill this gap by answering the following question: should we, for the sake of the protection of our forests, welcome such a development or, on the contrary, oppose it? Using a legal-dogmatic approach, this article provides, based on a cross-study analysis of a selection of trade agreements including forest-related provisions, a doctrinal evaluation of the fitness of these commitments to achieve forest protection and identifies the opportunities and risks associated therewith. In so doing, this article debates the adequacy of international trade law for regulating forests.
Autistic Adults Avoid Unpredictability in Decision-Making
Authors: Macchia Ana , Albantakis Laura , Zebhauser Paul Theo , Brandi Marie-Luise , Schilbach Leonhard , Brem Anna-Katharine
Published: August 2024

Decision-making under unpredictable conditions can cause discomfort in autistic persons due to their preference for predictability. Decision-making impairments might furthermore be associated with a dysregulation of sex and stress hormones. This prospective, cross-sectional study investigated decision-making in 32 autistic participants (AP, 14 female) and 31 non-autistic participants (NAP, 20 female) aged 18–64 years. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Cambridge Risk Task (CRT) were used to assess decision-making under ambiguity and under risk with known outcome probabilities, respectively. Cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone serum levels were related to decision-making performance. Groups did not differ in overall IGT and CRT performance, but compared with NAP, AP preferred less profitable card decks with predictable outcomes while avoiding those with unpredictable outcomes. AP required more time to reach decisions compared to NAP. Additionally, AP without comorbid depression performed significantly worse than NAP in the IGT. Estradiol and cortisol concentrations were significant predictors of CRT scores in NAP, but not in AP. The study results imply that AP are ‘risk-averse’ in decision-making under ambiguity as they avoided choice options with unpredictable losses in comparison to NAP. Our findings highlight the intolerance for uncertainty, particularly in ambiguous situations. Thus, we recommend being as transparent and precise as possible when interacting with autistic individuals. Future research should explore decision-making in social situations among individuals with ASD, factoring in person-dependent variables such as depression.
Tiny but mighty mayfly - probing Prosopistoma pennigerum (Müller 1785) as the Flagship species for the Vjosa Wild River National Park
Authors: Schwingshackl Thea , Martini Jan , Yegon Mourine , Singer Gabriel , Vitecek Simon
Published: August 2024

The recently created Vjosa Wild River National Park sets precedence at the European scale to protect a rare river ecosystem and, at the same time, the last refuge of the almost extinct mayfly Prosopistoma pennigerum (Müller 1785, Fig. 1). We extensively searched for the species in the Vjosa and five abiotically similar but fragmented surrounding rivers. To characterize the genetic diversity of the Vjosa population and assess its potential as a source population, we analysed partial mtCOI data. Besides high abundances in the Vjosa River, we observed only a few specimens in the free-flowing section of the Osumi River, but in no other investigated river although suitable habitat appears to be widely available at site-scale. Molecular analysis of 174 specimens revealed largely homogeneous sequences across all sampling sites and an almost 100% infection rate with Wolbachia sp. that suggests parthenogenetic reproduction, possibly as a strategy to increase resilience to high natural disturbance dynamics. We argue that P. pennigerum should serve as a flagship species for the Vjosa Wild River National Park. The species is exceptionally aesthetic, and its most viable, but apparently parthenogenetic populations are restricted to the Vjosa River where the species is widespread. The restricted regional distribution indicates only weak (or no) potential to recolonize and/or re-establish in other rivers, and the absence from fragmented rivers suggests dependence on high ecological integrity. Implications for conservation: Our findings thus sanction our nomination of P. pennigerum as the flagship species for the Vjosa Wild River National Park.
Molecular and Crystal Structures of Some Bromocymantrenes
Authors: Sünkel Karlheinz , Klein-Heßling Christian
Published: August 2024

Crystals of mono- and dibromo as well as two isomeric tribromocymantrenes [Mn(C5H5-nBrn)(CO)2(PPh3)] (n = 1–3) were obtained and examined by X-ray diffraction. The degree of substitution has only minor influence on bond lengths and angles. However, the relative orientations of bromo substituents and PPh3 ligand as well as relative orientation of the cyclopentadienyl ring and the MnC2P tripod are sensitive to the number and position of bromines. All compounds show weak Br…O interactions, mostly combined with hydrogen bonds, while Br…Br interactions are unimportant. These interactions lead to sometimes complicated chain structures.

Graphical Abstract

In the crystal structures of the bromocymantrenes [Mn(C5H5-nBrn)(CO)2(PPh3)] (n = 1–3) a combination of H bonds and Br…O/Br…Br interactions leads to one-dimensional molecular chains or double-chains, which are not further connected in the other dimensions.
Aligning adaptation and sustainability agendas: lessons from protected areas
Authors: Múnera-Roldán Claudia , Colloff Matthew J. , Pittock Jamie , van Kerkhoff Lorrae
Published: August 2024

Nations worldwide are committing to international environmental agreements and defining aspirational goals aligned with their sustainable development priorities and responsibilities. The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is an example of such aspirations. Under this framework, nations aim to expand protected areas or create new ones as one way to integrate conservation and climate change agendas. However, implementing those high-level agreements does not necessarily align with local realities and dynamics. In this paper we examined the operational challenges experienced by protected areas actors to adapt conservation strategies to climate change. Based on interviews at the local level and a policy analysis, we identify adaptation narratives and explore potential mismatches in their implementation at the national and local level (protected areas) in three countries: Australia, Colombia, and South Africa. We assess how local visions and interpretations of adaptation align with high-level policies and how existing institutional arrangements facilitate or constrain the implementation of adaptation and, therefore, aspirations for long-term sustainability. We found that adaptation narratives at the local level are framed by common ideas and identities based on local relations within a territory. At the same time, existing governance arrangements and political contexts determine the feasibility of adaptation. The primary mismatches are high-level political and economic interests denoting different interpretations about the territory and of local realities, including the readiness, technical, and resource capacity of protected areas actors to implement adaptation. Place-based adaptation provides a common ground for scaling adaptation. However, scaling adaptation requires enabling institutional contexts, clear rules and policies to facilitate deliberations and coordinated responses across different actors and sectors, while guiding the uptake and integration of local needs and realities within national agendas.