bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi-conductive carbon from industrial tea waste biomass for a p-n junction
Authors: Akgül Gökçen , Tomakin Murat , Erkaya Hasan Hüseyin
Published: February 2024

Some semiconducting carbonaceous material was developed from industrial tea waste biomass by catalytic pyrolysis and heteroatom doping; then, a p-n junction was realized on an n-type Si substrate. I-V characteristics of the structures revealed that each structure had a different reverse saturation current, ideality factor, cut-in voltage and series resistance. The variations in the characteristics are attributed to the amorphous and non-uniform nature of the carbonaceous material. Due to the high resistivity of the carbonaceous material, a significant amount of series resistance was present in the characteristics, resulting in very small levels of current that would inhibit the practical use of the structure as a semiconductor diode in electronic circuits.
Bridging the gap: enhancing socio-ecological resilience by breaking the debt cycle among small-scale hilsa fishers in Bangladesh
Authors: Mozumder Mohammad Mojibul Hoque , Schneider Petra , Islam Mohammad Mahmudul , Deb Dibash , Acharjee Mahima Ranjan , Washi Abdul Muhaimen Jamil
Published: February 2024

This study examines the plight of hilsa fishers in Bangladesh, grappling with challenges such as poor market access, scant capital, and shrinking fish stocks. This situation led to the seasonal dadon loan system, which provides immediate financial aid but often traps many fishers in a relentless debt cycle. We adopted a socio-ecological systems (SES) framework to examine the interconnected social and ecological dynamics of the hilsa fishery industry. Using a blend of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, we assessed the impact of the dadon loan system on small-scale fishers across four fishing locales in Bangladesh. The results indicate that the dadon loan system is a temporary financial prop for fishers but perpetuates debt cycles and curbs long-term financial security. Factors such as restricted access to formal credit, high fishing costs, and inadequate government support drive this system. This study identifies potential alternatives, such as government-backed loans, community finance schemes, and the promotion of alternative livelihoods, which could reduce reliance on the dadon loan system and improve fishers’ socioeconomic conditions. Implementing these strategies may dismantle the debt cycle, boost fishers’ welfare, and strengthen the socio-ecological resilience of fishing communities.
Investigation of obesity and its related factors among Chinese medical staff: a cross-sectional pilot study
Authors: Gao Guie , Liu Yuping , Dong Zhiyong , He Jinai , Wang Cunchuan , Chen Xiaomei , Chen Wenhui
Published: February 2024

Background

Many studies have covered the prevalence of obesity in different populations. However, studies on the prevalence and predictors of obesity among medical staff are lacking. The aim of our study is to investigate the prevalence of obesity among medical staff and to identify the related predictors.

Methods

Using a snowballing recruitment strategy in the form of an electronic questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1201 medical staff from cooperative hospitals between January and March 2022. We designed a questionnaire to investigate the participants’ demographic, lifestyle, diet, physical activity, and work status.

Results

The overall prevalence of obesity was 8.5%, with males (13.7%) having a greater incidence than females (5.7%) (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that alcohol drinking (OR, 2.34; 95% CI 1.23–4.42, p = 0.01), sugar-sweetened beverages consumed > 3/week (OR, 2.50; 95% CI 1.02–6.15, p = 0.046), and working a night shift > 1/week (OR, 2.17; 95% CI 1.02–4.61, p = 0.043) were independent predictive factors for obesity in men. For women, having midnight snack having midnight snack (OR, 2.93;95% CI 1.24–6.96, p = 0.015), good sleep quality (OR, 4.47; 95% CI 1.10–21.70, p = 0.038), and working a night shift > 1/week (OR, 3.62; 95% CI 1.73–7.57, p = 0.001) were independently associated with obesity.

Conclusions

Obesity presented a low prevalence among medical staff. Alcohol drinking, drinking sugar-sweetened beverages > 3/week, and night shift > 1/week predicted a higher risk of obesity in males. In females, having midnight snack, good sleep quality, and night shift > 1/week were independently associated with obesity.

Level of evidence: V, descriptive study.
Novel variants ensued genomic imprinting in familial central precocious puberty
Authors: Karaman V. , Karakilic-Ozturan E. , Poyrazoglu S. , Gelmez M. Y. , Bas F. , Darendeliler F. , Uyguner Z. O.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is characterized by the early onset of puberty and is associated with the critical processes involved in the pubertal switch. The puberty-related gene pool in the human genome is considerably large though few have been described in CPP. Within those genes, the genomic imprinting features of the MKRN3 and DLK1 genes add additional complexity to the understanding of the pathologic pathways. This study aimed to investigate the molecular etiology in the CPP cohort.

Methods

Eighteen familial CPP cases were investigated by Sanger sequencing for five CPP-related genes; DLK1, KISS1, KISS1R, MKRN3, and PROKR2. Segregation analysis was performed in all patients with pathogenic variants. Using an ELISA test, the functional pathogenicity of novel variants was also investigated in conjunction with serum delta-like 1 homolog (DLK1) concentrations.

Results

In three probands, a known variant in the MKRN3 gene (c.982C>T/p.(Arg328Cys)) and two novel variants in the DLK1 gene (c.357C>G/p.(Tyr119Ter) and c.67+78C>T) were identified. All three were inherited from the paternal allele. The individuals carrying the DLK1 variants had low detectable DLK1 levels in their serum.

Conclusions

The frequencies were 5.5% (1/18) for MKRN3 11% (2/18) for DLK1, and none for either KISS1, KISS1R, and PROKR2. Low serum DLK1 levels in affected individuals supported the relationship between here described novel DLK1 gene variants with CPP. Nonsense nature of c.357C>G/p.(Tyr119Ter) and an alteration in the evolutionarily conserved nucleotide c.67+78C>T suggested the disruptive nature of the variant's compatibility with CPP.
A Self-Healing Optoacoustic Patch with High Damage Threshold and Conversion Efficiency for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Zhang Tao , Li Cheng-Hui , Li Wenbo , Wang Zhen , Gu Zhongya , Li Jiapu , Yuan Junru , Ou-Yang Jun , Yang Xiaofei , Zhu Benpeng
Published: February 2024

Compared with traditional piezoelectric ultrasonic devices, optoacoustic devices have unique advantages such as a simple preparation process, anti-electromagnetic interference, and wireless long-distance power supply. However, current optoacoustic devices remain limited due to a low damage threshold and energy conversion efficiency, which seriously hinder their widespread applications. In this study, using a self-healing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, Fe-Hpdca-PDMS) and carbon nanotube composite, a flexible optoacoustic patch is developed, which possesses the self-healing capability at room temperature, and can even recover from damage induced by cutting or laser irradiation. Moreover, this patch can generate high-intensity ultrasound (> 25 MPa) without the focusing structure. The laser damage threshold is greater than 183.44 mJ cm−2, and the optoacoustic energy conversion efficiency reaches a major achievement at 10.66 × 10−3, compared with other carbon-based nanomaterials and PDMS composites. This patch is also been successfully examined in the application of acoustic flow, thrombolysis, and wireless energy harvesting. All findings in this study provides new insight into designing and fabricating of novel ultrasound devices for biomedical applications.
Enhanced High-Temperature Cycling Stability of Garnet-Based All Solid-State Lithium Battery Using a Multi-Functional Catholyte Buffer Layer
Authors: Zhao Leqi , Zhong Yijun , Cao Chencheng , Tang Tony , Shao Zongping
Published: February 2024

The pursuit of safer and high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has triggered extensive research activities on solid-state batteries, while challenges related to the unstable electrode–electrolyte interface hinder their practical implementation. Polymer has been used extensively to improve the cathode-electrolyte interface in garnet-based all-solid-state LIBs (ASSLBs), while it introduces new concerns about thermal stability. In this study, we propose the incorporation of a multi-functional flame-retardant triphenyl phosphate additive into poly(ethylene oxide), acting as a thin buffer layer between LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode and garnet electrolyte. Through electrochemical stability tests, cycling performance evaluations, interfacial thermal stability analysis and flammability tests, improved thermal stability (capacity retention of 98.5% after 100 cycles at 60 °C, and 89.6% after 50 cycles at 80 °C) and safety characteristics (safe and stable cycling up to 100 °C) are demonstrated. Based on various materials characterizations, the mechanism for the improved thermal stability of the interface is proposed. The results highlight the potential of multi-functional flame-retardant additives to address the challenges associated with the electrode–electrolyte interface in ASSLBs at high temperature. Efficient thermal modification in ASSLBs operating at elevated temperatures is also essential for enabling large-scale energy storage with safety being the primary concern.
The effects of product and process innovation on employment: a meta-regression analysis
Authors: Arenas Díaz Guillermo , Guerrero Alex J. , Heijs Joost
Published: February 2024

The fast emergence of intensive robotization in combination with artificial intelligence implies a reappearance of the debate about the effects of innovation on the labor market. Many empirical studies have explored this phenomenon at the micro level, especially since the surge of innovation surveys, which use worldwide standardized indicators at the firm level. Most empirical studies suggest a robust, positive labor effect generated by new products, while the impact of process innovations on employment seems to be ambiguous. This paper offers a meta-regression analysis to seek some logical explanations for the results reflected in studies that apply the model proposed by Harrison et al. Our meta-regression suggests that the effect of sales growth due to new products on employment seems to be homogeneous and positive by different types of sub-samples. However, the labor effect of process innovation on employment depends on different circumstances. Its magnitude seems to be more negative for developing countries, manufacturing sectors, and periods of crisis. On the other hand, the magnitude tends to be positive for samples with the methodological approach (using instrumental variables), control variables, and high-tech sectors. The exercise is repeated, splitting the sample between developing and developed countries.
Inspiring self-regulated learning in everyday classrooms: teachers’ professional competences and promotion of self-regulated learning
Authors: Karlen Yves , Hertel Silke
Published: February 2024

Today’s success metrics extend beyond traditional literacy and numeracy to encompass strategic learning with a growth mindset, equipping individuals with the attitude and skills to navigate and surmount new challenges. In a digital era, where information is readily available and knowledge constantly evolves, the value placed on learners is not merely based on their current knowledge but on their courage and capability to continually engage cognitive, metacognitive, motivational, social, and emotional resources for lifelong learning. In this dynamic landscape, self-regulated learning (SRL) skills are crucial, empowering students of all ages to take control of their learning journey. SRL, the goal-directed process of monitoring and regulating one’s learning activities, has been shown to significantly influence academic outcomes. Although teachers acknowledge SRL’s relevance, it remains underrepresented in everyday teaching practices, impacting not just student learning but also the training and experiences of preservice teachers in the classroom. This gap perpetuates misconceptions about SRL and hinders its integration into educational settings. Therefore, this special issue first introduces the INSPIRE model of teachers’ multiple roles as instructors, navigators, strategists, promoters, innovators, role models, and encouragers in supporting students to become self-regulated learners and describes teachers’ professional competences to fulfil these roles. Second, it dedicates four articles to exploring teachers’ professional competences in SRL and its promotion in everyday school. The articles address particular aspects of the INSPIRE model and highlight the importance of teachers equipped with the necessary training and competences to guide students in becoming self-regulated learners. Linking the research areas of teachers’ professional competences in SRL and teachers’ promotion of SRL in the classroom this special issue offers a comprehensive approach to SRL in everyday school and opens up perspectives for the transfer into practice.
Post-operative Patellar Tilt More than 10° Can Affect Certain Components of Knee Society Score After Total Knee Arthroplasty at 2-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Singh Swapnil , Mingzhou Toh , Wang Jichuan , Krishna Lingaraj
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The effect of post-operative patella tilt on functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty remains unclear. Our study aimed to analyze the relationship of post-operative patellar tilt with functional outcome scores after total knee arthroplasty.

Materials and Methods

Patient data were retrieved from our institution’s prospectively maintained total knee arthroplasty. Three hundred three patients who underwent unilateral TKA from Jan 2012 to March 2017 were included in the study. After excluding patients with incomplete and lost follow-up data, 213 patients were analyzed. Radiographs of pre-operative and post-operative skyline views were used for patella tilt and patella displacement measurement at pre-op, post-op 1 year, and post-op 2 years. Three functional outcome scoring systems, SF-36, KSS, and WOMAC, were applied for function evaluation at different post-operative time points. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to the patella tilt, which includes less than 5°, 5.1–10°, and more than 10°. Statistical analysis was done to identify the relationship between patella tilt and functional outcomes.

Results

Mean post-operative patella tilt was significantly lower than the mean pre-operative patella tilt (3.35 ± 3.91 vs. 5.65 ± 4.41, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in patella displacement among pre- and post-operative status. KSS functional score was significantly poor at post-op 1 year and KSS objective score at post-op 2 years in patients with more than 10° patella tilt. SF-36 and WOMAC were not significantly different among the groups. There was no significant difference in post-operative function between non-resurfaced and resurfaced patella patients evaluated with three scoring systems.

Conclusion

We have found significantly less post-operative patella tilt after TKA than pre-operative patella tilt with or without patella resurfacing. Increased post-operative patella tilt of more than 10° can affect specific functional outcomes. Patella resurfacing does not affect the post-operative functional outcome compared to non-resurfacing of the patella post-op 2 years.

Level of Evidence

III.
Regional Prevalence of Hemoglobin C Across Saudi Arabia: An Epidemiological Survey
Authors: Aljabry Mansour , Sulimani Suha , Alotaibi Ghazi , Aljabri Hassan , Alomary Shaker , Adam Izzeldin , Aljabri Omar , Alzahrani Mansour Khater , Alsultan Abdulrahman
Published: February 2024

Introduction

HbC is a common structural hemoglobinopathy especially in West Africa. Prevalence and regional distribution of HbC in Saudi Arabia are widely undocumented. Patients with homozygous HbC disease may have mild hemolytic anemia whereas combination with hemoglobin S (HbS) leads to a clinically severe phenotype.

Aim

The current epidemiological study, considered the largest from Saudi Arabia, aimed to evaluate the regional prevalence of the HbC variant among the couples participating in the premarital screening program from 2011 to 2018.

Methods

Data from the PMSGC program were obtained for premarital screening and genetic counseling. The collected data were then entered into the SEHA platform, a centralized electronic repository for the 13 designated regions in Saudi Arabia. Hemoglobin electrophoresis samples are analyzed using either HPLC, capillary electrophoresis, or a combination of both methods to confirm the presence of abnormal hemoglobin bands.

Results

This study included 1,871,184 individuals from 2011 to 2018. Of those, 49.8% were males and 50.2% were females. 112,618 (6.0%) had an abnormal test. Total number of Hb C cases were 778 (0.04%). HbC trait (HbAC) was detected in 764 participants while homozygous HbC (HbCC) and combined heterozygous (HbSC) were found in 9 and 5 cases, respectively. The regions near the Red Sea have higher rates than the central and eastern regions.

Conclusion

HbC is a rare variant in Saudi Arabia with varying regional frequencies. HbC variant is more common in Mecca and Madina regions. The geographic area of HbC distribution differs from the areas with high prevalence of HbS, which explains why HbSC disease cases are overwhelmingly rare.
Factors Associated with Reliable Contact Tracing During the 2021 Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Guinea
Authors: Keita Mory , Cherif Ibrahima Sory , Polonsky Jonathan A. , Boland Samuel T. , Kandako Youba , Cherif Mahamoud Sama , Kourouma Mamadou , Kamano Aly Antoine , Bah Houssainatou , Fofana Ibrahima Sory , Ki-zerbo Georges Alfred , Dagron Stephanie , Chamla Dick , Gueye Abdou Salam , Keiser Olivia
Published: February 2024

Background

In 2021, an Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak was declared in Guinea, linked to persistent virus from the 2014–2016 West Africa Epidemic. This paper analyzes factors associated with contact tracing reliability (defined as completion of a 21-day daily follow-up) during the 2021 outbreak, and transitively, provides recommendations for enhancing contact tracing reliability in future.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study using multivariate regression analysis of contact tracing data from 1071 EVD contacts of 23 EVD cases (16 confirmed and 7 probable).

Results

Findings revealed statistically significant factors affecting contact tracing reliability. Unmarried contacts were 12.76× more likely to miss follow-up than those married (OR = 12.76; 95% CI [3.39–48.05]; p < 0.001). Rural-dwelling contacts had 99% lower odds of being missed during the 21-day follow-up, compared to those living in urban areas (OR = 0.01; 95% CI [0.00–0.02]; p < 0.01). Contacts who did not receive food donations were 3× more likely to be missed (OR = 3.09; 95% CI [1.68–5.65]; p < 0.001) compared to those who received them. Contacts in health areas with a single team were 8× more likely to be missed (OR = 8.16; 95% CI [5.57–11.96]; p < 0.01) than those in health areas with two or more teams (OR = 1.00; 95% CI [1.68–5.65]; p < 0.001). Unvaccinated contacts were 30.1× more likely to be missed compared to vaccinated contacts (OR = 30.1; 95% CI [5.12–176.83]; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Findings suggest that contact tracing reliability can be significantly influenced by various demographic and organizational factors. Considering and understanding these factors—and where possible addressing them—may be crucial when designing and implementing contact tracing strategies during future outbreaks in low-resource settings.
Upregulation of lnc-FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 in patients with primary non-M3 AML is associated with a worse prognosis
Authors: Manoochehrabadi Saba , Talebi Morteza , Pashaiefar Hossein , Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh , Vaezi Mohammad , Omrani Mir Davood , Ahmadvand Mohammad
Published: February 2024

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy with an unfavorable outcome. The present research aimed to identify novel biological targets for AML diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we performed an in-silico method to identify antisense RNAs (AS-RNAs) and their related co-expression genes. GSE68172 was selected from the AML database of the Gene Expression Omnibus and compared using the GEO2R tool to find DEGs. Antisense RNAs were selected from all the genes that had significant expression and a survival plot was drawn for them in the GEPIA database, FOXD2-AS1 was chosen for further investigation based on predetermined criteria (logFC ≥|1| and P < 0.05) and its noteworthy association between elevated expression level and a marked reduction in the overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with AML. The GEPIA database was utilized to investigate FOXD2-AS1-related co-expression and similar genes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and gene ontology (GO) function analysis of the mentioned gene lists were performed using the DAVID database. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was then constructed using the STRING database. Hub genes were screened using Cytoscape software. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted using the GEPIA database to explore the relationship between FOXD2-AS1 and the hub genes. The transcription of the selected coding and non-coding genes, including FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, CDC20, CDK1, and CCNB1, was validated in 150 samples, including 100 primary AML non-M3 blood samples and 50 granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized healthy donors, using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR). qRT-PCR results displayed significant upregulation of lnc-FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 in primary AML non-M3 blood samples compared to healthy blood samples (P = 0.0032, P = 0.0078, and P = 0.0117, respectively). The expression levels of CDC20 and CCNB1 were not statistically different between the two sets of samples (P = 0.8315 and P = 0.2788, respectively). We identified that AML patients with upregulation of FOXD2-AS1, CDK1, and CDC45 had shorter overall survival (OS) and Relapse-free survival (RFS) compared those with low expression of FOXD2-AS1, CDK1, and CDC45. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed the potential biomarkers of lnc -FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 in primary AML non-M3 blood samples. This research proposed that the dysregulation of lnc-FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 can contribute to both disease state and diagnosis as well as treatment. The present study proposes the future evolution of the functional role of lnc-FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 in AML development.
Real-world incidence and risk factors of bortezomib-related cardiovascular adverse events in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Jang Bitna , Jeong Jonghyun , Heo Kyu-Nam , Koh Youngil , Lee Ju‑Yeun
Published: February 2024

Background

Although most studies on the cardiovascular toxicity of proteasome inhibitors have focused on carfilzomib, the risk of cardiotoxicity associated with bortezomib remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) associated with bortezomib in patients with multiple myeloma in a real-world setting.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included patients who were treated with bortezomib at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. CVAEs, defined as hypertension, arrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, pulmonary arterial hypertension, angina, and venous thromboembolism, were detected using cardiac markers, ECG, echocardiography, medications, or documentation by clinicians. The patients were observed for at least 6 months and up to 2 years after starting bortezomib administration.

Results

Among the 395 patients, 20.8% experienced CVAEs of any grade, and 14.7% experienced severe adverse events. The median onset time for any CVAE was 101.5 days (IQR, 42–182 days), and new-onset/worsened hypertension was the most prevalent CVAE. The risk of CVAEs increased in patients with a body mass index lower than 18.5 (adjusted HR (aHR) 3.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-11.72), light chain (1.80, 1.04-3.13), and IgD (4.63, 1.06-20.20) as the multiple myeloma subtype, baseline stroke (4.52, 1.59-12.80), and hypertension (1.99, 1.23-3.23). However, CVAEs did not significantly affect the 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival.

Conclusion

Approximately 15% of the Korean patients treated with bortezomib experienced severe CVAEs. Thus, patients, especially those with identified risk factors, should be closely monitored for CVAE symptoms during bortezomib treatment.
Jewish Monotheism and Slavery
Authors: Hezser Catherine
Published: February 2024

Biblical monotheism imagines God as a slave master who owns and has total control over humans as his slaves, who are expected to show obedience to him. The theological use of slavery metaphors has a limited value, however, and is deeply problematic from the perspective of real-life slave practices. Ancient authors already supplemented the metaphor of God as a slave master with other images and emphasized God's difference from human slave owners. Ancient and modern experiences of and attitudes toward slavery determined the understanding and applicability of the slavery metaphors. This Element examines the use of slavery metaphors in ancient Judaism and Christianity in the context of the social reality of slavery, modern abolitionism, and historical-critical approaches to the ancient texts.
Antinatalism, Extinction, and the End of Procreative Self-Corruption
Authors: Häyry Matti , Sukenick Amanda
Published: February 2024

This Element provides an exploration of antinatalism, the view that assigns a negative value to reproduction. First, the history of Western philosophy as a two-and-a-half millennia reaction to antinatalist sentiments. Human life has no obvious meaning and philosophers have been forced to build elaborate theories to invent imaginary purposes. Second, analysis of the concept of antinatalism in the light of human extinction. If people stop having children, the species will cease to exist, and this prospect has prompted attempts to find alternatives and excuses. Third, outlines a normative view defending antinatalism both theoretically and practically. If it is wrong to bring about suffering in the absence of redeeming meaning and if it is possible to create meaning only by imposing a pronatalist mentality upon children before they can make up their own minds, parents morally corrupt themselves by procreating. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Vauxhall Motors and the Luton Economy, 1900-2002
Authors: Holden Len
Published: February 2024

This book traces the rise and decline of the once mighty company, Vauxhall, which in the third quarter of the twentieth century dominated the Luton economy.
Assessing the quality of European Impact Assessments
Authors: Danciu Diana-Maria , Martens Laura , Marneffe Wim
Published: February 2024

This paper explores the possibility of developing a framework to assess the quality of Impact Assessments (IAs) by examining the common elements found in the existent academic literature around this concept, the stocktaking exercises carried out by the European institutions and the opinions of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board. At this intersection, we find that diversity in the interpretation and application of the guidelines is not only acceptable but also necessary in tailoring IAs to the needs they represent. Our findings are relevant because a universal framework that avoids focusing solely on assessing quality not only will provide much-needed coherence in this field but will also raise awareness about the normality of variability in the application of any European Union guidelines, thus reflecting the inherent nature of the IAs.
Acquitted on the Benefit of Doubt … but not Proven Innocent! The Judgment of the German Federal Constitutional Court on the Next Generation EU Program
Authors: Anagnostaras Georgios
Published: February 2024

Until recently, the recognition to the European Union of the capacity to borrow from capital markets for spending purposes was considered almost inconceivable without a treaty amendment. When borrowing for spending was authorized under the Next Generation EU program to support the recovery of member states from the unprecedented consequences of the coronavirus, it was immediately faced with the suspicion that the pandemic was being used as a pretext to promote the creation of a fiscal and transfer union by the back door in violation of the principle of conferral. In its NGEU judgment, the German Federal Constitutional Court concluded that the authorization to borrow under the program could not be considered ultra vires. However, the ambiguous and controversial reasoning of the Constitutional Court gives rise to uncertainty as to whether the funding and financing model introduced by the recovery program could be used again in the future, beyond the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic. At the same time, it appears that, in this case, the Constitutional Court applied a considerably more restrained version of its ultra vires review compared to its recent case law on the asset purchase programs of the European Central Bank.
Field-induced macroscopic flow of a dilute self-assembling magnetic colloid under rotating magnetic fields
Authors: Queiros Campos J. , Raboisson-Michel M. , Schaub S. , Toe S. , Boulant L. , Verger-Dubois G. , Zubarev A. , Kuzhir P.
Published: February 2024

Flow generation by colloidal motors activated by external stimuli is an important issue for active matter physics and several nanotechnological or biomedical applications. For instance, flow recirculation generated by rotating magnetic self-assemblies allows effective ‘pumping’ of a thrombolytic drug towards a blood clot along a blocked vessel. However, the physics of the flow generation in this case remains still poorly explored. This study is focused on the generation of a recirculation flow of a magnetic colloid (aqueous suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles with partially screened electrostatic repulsion) within a closed microfluidic channel via application of an external rotating magnetic field. The colloid undergoes reversible phase separation manifested through the appearance of micron-sized elongated aggregates. They synchronously rotate with the magnetic field and can generate macroscopic flows only in the presence of gradients of the aggregate concentration across the channel induced by superposition of a weak magnetic field gradient to the homogeneous rotating field. We achieve recirculation flows with a characteristic speed

${\sim} 5{-}8\;{\rm \mu}\textrm{m}\;{\textrm{s}^{ - \textrm{1}}}$

at low magnetic field amplitude and frequency (

${H_0} \approx 3{-}10\;\textrm{kA}\;{\textrm{m}^{ - 1}}$

,

${f = 5{-}15\ \textrm{Hz}}$

) at low nanoparticle volume fraction

${\varphi _p} = (1.6{-}3.2) \times {10^{ - 3}}$

. The concentration and velocity profiles have been assessed experimentally through particle tracking and particle image velocimetry, and have also been computed using the hydrodynamic diffusion approach coupled with the momentum balance equation with a magnetic torque term. The model correctly reproduces the shape of the experimental concentration and velocity fields and explains complex behaviours of the average recirculation speed as a function of governing parameters (

${H_0}$

, f,

${\varphi _p}$

, channel size).
Using local ecological knowledge to determine the status of Cantor's giant softshell turtle Pelochelys cantorii in Kerala, India
Authors: Jain Ayushi , Akshay V.A. , Deepak V. , Das Abhijit , Barnes Paul , Tapley Benjamin , Cavada-Blanco Francoise
Published: February 2024

The Critically Endangered Cantor's giant softshell turtle Pelochelys cantorii is a freshwater turtle found in South and Southeast Asia. Its population is declining because of habitat destruction and alteration, and hunting for its meat. Data on the species’ ecology, behaviour, population size, distribution and threats are limited, and previous surveys undertaken in India have failed to detect individuals in the wild. This lack of data hinders strategic conservation planning. Ecologists and conservationists increasingly utilize local ecological knowledge to determine the status and gain insights into the ecology of threatened and rare species that are difficult to detect in field studies. To examine the historical and current occurrence of Cantor's giant softshell turtle, we conducted community interviews along the Chandragiri River in Kerala, India. With data from these interviews, we identified multiple sites where the species continues to occur. Older respondents and those that used the river for fishing and irrigation were more likely to report sightings of the species. Our findings also improved knowledge about the turtles’ seasonal and diel activity patterns. A network of key informants identified through the interviews provided information on turtle bycatch, sightings and nesting. This network is being utilized for the continued monitoring of the species and could help in devising evidence-based management strategies for softshell turtles in India. These methods can also be adopted more widely for other threatened species of freshwater turtles globally.
Gender and the Displaced Worker in Contemporary France: Women, Mobility, and Economic Restructuring Beyond the Industrial Heartlands
Authors: Clarke Jackie , Gallot Fanny
Published: February 2024

A considerable proportion of the research conducted within the developing field of deindustrialisation studies has focused on the loss of work in industrial closures, and on the attachments that long-serving workers feel to their former workplace. This article focuses instead on the phenomenon of constrained mobility which often occurs as companies restructure and workers are offered a choice between redundancy or relocation to another site. Steven High (2003) has examined the ‘transplanted identities’ of male workers who had moved repeatedly as plants downsized and closed across the American rust belt, highlighting a group who styled themselves as the ‘I-75 gypsies’ (after the interstate highway that runs through Michigan and Ohio). Forging a new identity articulated in terms of mobility rather than place, these men constructed a new version of heroic working-class masculinity as they moved from site to site. This article draws on a case study of the Moulinex domestic appliance company in north western France to examine how such mobility has been experienced by women workers in a region beyond the industrial heartlands. In doing so, it considers the particular relationship to place that was constructed as companies like Moulinex established factories in rural regions of France after the Second World War and the implications of this for work-based identities. The article highlights the intersecting effects of age and gender, the significance of the gendered division of labour for women's experiences of mobility, and the extent to which identities were reshaped as women moved to stay in work.
Botany and national identities: The Tokyo Cherry
Authors: Kuitert Wybe
Published: February 2024

Argument

When Japan faced the world after the collapse of its feudal system, it had to invent its own modern identity in which the Tokyo Cherry became the National Flower. Despite being a garden plant, it received a Latin scientific species name as if it was an endemic species. After Japan’s colonial conquest of Korea, exploring the flora of the peninsula became part of imperial knowledge practices of Japan. In the wild, a different cherry was discovered in Korea that was proposed as the endemic parent of the Tokyo Cherry, supporting imperialist policies. Following Japan’s defeat after the Pacific War, South Korea in turn entered its search for cultural identity. The supposed parent of the Tokyo Cherry was now successfully acclaimed as the parent species of the colonial oppressor’s Tokyo Cherry and named the King Cherry. Such scientific practice into cherries smoothly intertwined with nationalism and its legacy continues to interfere with research today.
Daydreaming and grandiose delusions: development of the Qualities of Daydreaming Scale
Authors: Isham Louise , Loe Bao Sheng , Hicks Alice , Wilson Natalie , Bentall Richard P. , Freeman Daniel
Published: February 2024

Background:

Daydreaming may contribute to the maintenance of grandiose delusions. Repeated, pleasant and vivid daydreams about the content of grandiose delusions may keep the ideas in mind, elaborate the details, and increase the degree of conviction in the delusion. Pleasant daydreams more generally could contribute to elevated mood, which may influence the delusion content.

Aims:

We sought to develop a brief questionnaire, suitable for research and clinical practice, to assess daydreaming and test potential associations with grandiosity.

Method:

798 patients with psychosis (375 with grandiose delusions) and 4518 non-clinical adults (1788 with high grandiosity) were recruited. Participants completed a daydreaming item pool and measures of grandiosity, time spent thinking about the grandiose belief, and grandiose belief conviction. Factor analysis was used to derive the Qualities of Daydreaming Scale (QuOD) and associations were tested using pairwise correlations and structural equation modelling.

Results:

The questionnaire had three factors: realism, pleasantness, and frequency of daydreams. The measure was invariant across clinical and non-clinical groups. Internal consistency was good (alpha-ordinals: realism=0.86, pleasantness=0.93, frequency=0.82) as was test–retest reliability (intra-class coefficient=0.75). Daydreaming scores were higher in patients with grandiose delusions than in patients without grandiose delusions or in the non-clinical group. Daydreaming was significantly associated with grandiosity, time spent thinking about the grandiose delusion, and grandiose delusion conviction, explaining 19.1, 7.7 and 5.2% of the variance in the clinical group data, respectively. Similar associations were found in the non-clinical group.

Conclusions:

The process of daydreaming may be one target in psychological interventions for grandiose delusions.
New insights on what leads bilinguals to be able to name some pictures only in their nondominant language: Immersion, dominance reversal, and balanced bilingualism
Authors: Neveu Anne , Gollan Tamar H.
Published: February 2024

Objective:

The present study asked if bilinguals who are immersed in their nondominant language are more likely to know some words only in their nondominant language.

Method:

The either-language scoring benefit (ELSB) reflects how many more points bilinguals get when credited for pictures named regardless of which language is used. We asked if the ELSB varies with self-rated proficiency level of the nondominant language in young English-dominant (n = 68) compared to Spanish-dominant (n = 33) bilinguals, and in older English-dominant (n = 36) compared to Spanish-dominant (n = 32) bilinguals. All bilinguals were immersed in English (in the USA) at the time of testing.

Results:

Spanish-dominant bilinguals showed a larger ELSB than English-dominant bilinguals (in both young and older groups), but simple correlations showed that the degree of Spanish dominance was associated with a higher ELSB only in young bilinguals. Additionally, the ELSB was larger for bilinguals with more years of immersion and for more balanced bilinguals, whether measured by naming scores or self-rated balance (in both age groups). Nearly half (n = 14/33) of the young bilinguals who said they were Spanish-dominant scored higher in English than in Spanish, and on average these participants had similar naming scores in English and Spanish.

Conclusions:

Either-language scoring benefits bilinguals with higher proficiency level in the nondominant language, which is more likely in bilinguals with extended immersion in the nondominant language, who also tend to be more balanced bilinguals, and for young adult bilinguals who may be in the process of a switch in which language is dominant.
The expansion and remaining suitable areas of global oil palm plantations
Authors: Zhao Qiang , Yu Le , Li Xiyu , Xu Yidi , Du Zhenrong , Kanniah Kasturi , Li Chengxiu , Cai Wenhua , Lin Hui , Peng Dailiang , Zhang Yongguang , Gong Peng
Published: February 2024

Non-technical summary

Oil palm has been criticized for being an environmentally unfriendly oil crop. In recent decades, oil palm plantations have extended into conservation landscapes, causing severe environmental damage and harming biodiversity. Nevertheless, oil palm remains a highly productive oil crop from which most of the world's vegetable oil is produced. Therefore, measuring the environmental impact of oil palm plantations and identifying suitable land to support its sustainable development is crucial.

Technical summary

To meet the rising global palm oil demand sustainably, we tracked annual land cover changes in oil palm plantation and mapped areas worldwide suitable for sustainable oil palm cultivation. From 1982 to 2019, 3.6 Mha of forests were converted to oil palm plantations. Despite a recent decline in overall conversion, the shift from forest to oil palm plantations has become increasingly more common over the last decade, rising from 14.1 to 34.5% between 2009 and 2019. During 1982–2019, 2.23 Mha of peatland and 0.1 Mha of protected areas were converted for oil palm plantations. The potential sustainable land amounts to 103.5–317.9 Mha (Asia: 44.6–105.1 Mha, Africa: 34.7–96.4 Mha, and Latin America: 35.2–116.5 Mha). Future oil palm expansion is anticipated to take place in countries like Brazil, Nigeria, Colombia, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ghana, where more sustainable land is available for cultivation. Malaysia, on the other hand, is about to exceed the area of sustainable cultivation, and further expansion is not recommended. These findings can advance our understanding of the environmentally damaging impacts of oil palm and enhance the feasibility of sustainable oil palm development.

Social media summary

How should suitable land be chosen for the establishment of oil palm plantations to support the sustainable development of the oil palm plantation industry?
More than meets the ITT: A guide for anticipating and investigating nonsignificant results in survey experiments
Authors: Kane John V.
Published: February 2024

Survey experiments often yield intention-to-treat effects that are either statistically and/or practically “non-significant.” There has been a commendable shift toward publishing such results, either to avoid the “file drawer problem” and/or to encourage studies that conclude in favor of the null hypothesis. But how can researchers more confidently adjudicate between true, versus erroneous, nonsignificant results? Guidance on this critically important question has yet to be synthesized into a single, comprehensive text. The present essay therefore highlights seven “alternative explanations” that can lead to (erroneous) nonsignificant findings. It details how researchers can more rigorously anticipate and investigate these alternative explanations in the design and analysis stages of their studies, and also offers recommendations for subsequent studies. Researchers are thus provided with a set of strategies for better designing their experiments, and more thoroughly investigating their survey-experimental data, before concluding that a given result is indicative of “no significant effect.”
Psychology and Its Response to Major Human Rights	Abuses
Authors: Essex Ryan
Published: February 2024

Abstract. Australian immigration detention has been criticized both domestically and internationally for the harm that it creates and promotes and for violating human rights and international law. Psychologists have worked within centers and have thus been central to their operation, but have also long called for reform of these policies. Despite this and despite broader criticism from all corners of Australian society, the government has continued to consolidate power in relation to the administration of these policies and has actively attempted to shut down dissent. How should Psychologists respond? This article will argue that current approaches are inadequate and more adversarial action is needed. Supporting such an approach, social movement theory will be introduced and applied to examine how it may inform future action. Psychologists have an obligation to protect human rights and health, and while more adversarial action may not typically fit in traditional repertoires, there are few other professionals who are better skilled to begin to deal with these questions. In light of this, Psychologists in Australia and across the globe should carefully consider their roles in social change and whether they can do more in the face of major human rights abuses.
The Human Right to Make One’s Own Choices –	Implications for Supported Decision-Making in Persons With	Dementia
Authors: Wied Theresa S. , Knebel Maren , Tesky Valentina A. , Haberstroh Julia
Published: February 2024

Abstract. Autonomy is a human right and implies the “freedom to make one’s own choices.” The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD) is a human rights treaty granting persons with disabilities, such as persons with dementia (PwD), legal capacity regardless of their impairments. State parties and healthcare practitioners (HCP) are obliged to enable PwD to make decisions with legal effect. The UN-CRPD does not specify the nature of support, thus, the implementation of supported decision-making (SDM) remains unclear. The objective of this review is to compile empirical support strategies for decision-making in dementia and address the specific needs of PwD. Using search terms related to “dementia,” “decision-making,” and “support,” we conducted a systematic review (following PRISMA guidelines) and searched MEDLINE and PsycINFO for empirical studies. References were cross-referenced. Information on support strategies was extracted, summarized, and thematically categorized to provide an overview of international literature on SDM in dementia. Initially, we found 2,348 articles. Thirty-five full-text articles were screened for eligibility (criteria followed PICOS model), 11 of which met the inclusion criteria. Strategies to support decision-making in PwD were categorized according to approach. Support began either with the individual and his/her specific abilities or with the social, spatial, and procedure-oriented environment. As the first systematic review on SDM for PwD, this article contributes to the implementation of SDM in practice. Despite heterogeneous evidence, the findings have crucial implications for HCP on how to enable PwD to exercise their human right to make decisions with legal effect.