bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of technology integration matters: Positive associations with students’ behavioral engagement and digital competencies for learning
Authors: Consoli Tessa , Schmitz Maria-Luisa , Antonietti Chiara , Gonon Philipp , Cattaneo Alberto , Petko Dominik
Published: October 2024

Despite extensive research on technology's potential to enhance teaching, large-scale studies often report mixed or negative impacts of technology use at school on student learning achievements. This ambiguity is often attributed to previous large-scale studies focusing more on the frequency rather than the quality of technology integration in the classroom. To further investigate this issue, our study developed the Technology Integration Quality Scale (TIQS) to measure students' perceptions of technology integration across different dimensions of teaching quality: support for learning, classroom management, individualized teaching, and cognitive activation. Using a sample of 2,281 students from 29 upper secondary schools in Switzerland, we validated the TIQS through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. We also employed cluster-robust structural equation modelling to examine how both the frequency and perceived quality of technology integration predict students’ self-assessed digital competencies and behavioral engagement for learning. The results show that quality explains considerably more variance than the frequency of technology integration in promoting both students' behavioral engagement and digital competencies for learning. However, for digital competencies, quantity also explains a substantial amount of variance. By simultaneously considering multiple dimensions of teaching quality, the frequency of technology use and two output variables, this study contributes to the existing research by offering a more nuanced perspective on the impact of technology integration. Furthermore, interaction effects between the independent variables highlight the need to further explore the relationships between different dimensions of teaching quality, which could also contribute to the development of the theory of generic teaching quality.
Harnessing Asynchronous Digital Simulations of Problem-based Lessons to Support Mathematics Teachers’ Professional Development: A Design-based Approach
Authors: Schwarts Gil , Herbst Patricio , Brown Amanda M.
Published: October 2024

The complexity of mathematics teaching is especially evident in lessons where teachers build on students’ genuine ideas, such as problem-based lessons. To enhance teachers’ capacity for rich discussions in problem-based instruction, we have developed a unique approximation of practice: digital asynchronous simulations where teachers make subject-specific decisions for a virtual teacher avatar. The simulations are based on materials and principles from a practice-based professional development (PD) program, implemented with small groups of teachers. The self-paced simulation model offers flexibility and scalability, allowing more teachers to participate on their own schedules, but it lacks key affordances of collaborative PD. To examine how to leverage the affordances of collaborative, practice-based PD, this paper uses a design-based research approach to explicate the mechanisms in which digital simulations can support mathematics teachers’ learning about problem-based lessons. We focus on two cycles of design, implementation, analysis, and revisions of the simulation model, drawing on data from focus groups with mathematics teacher educators, prospective teachers’ performance, and teachers’ reflective assignments. The analysis illustrates how two design principles – Authenticity to the teacher’s work, and Nuanced feedback – were transformed to better reflect aspects of practice-based teacher learning. We argue that self-paced, asynchronous simulations with indirect feedback can effectively emulate aspects of collaborative, practice-based PD in supporting teachers’ growth. The paper also contributes to the literature on mathematics teachers’ noticing and decision-making, examining how the two interact in simulated environments. We suggest implications for designing practice-based asynchronous digital simulations, drawing on emerging technologies.
Influence of alkali metal formates and calcium formate on workability, hydration and basic properties of reactive powder concrete
Authors: Šuleková Nikola , Šoukal František , Novotný Radoslav , Sedlačík Martin , Švec Jiří , Másilko Jiří , Ptáček Petr , Bocian Luboš , Hajzler Jan , Marko Michal
Published: October 2024

This work aims to study whether it would be possible to use alkali metal formates and calcium formate in order to increase the workability of reactive powder concrete (RPC) and how these additives affect hydration, mechanical properties and mineralogical composition of RPC. These substances were added together with superplasticizer. Therefore, paper deals with possibility of increase in workability which would be higher when compared to the sole addition of only the superplasticizer themself. The effect of alkali metal formates and their replacement with calcium formate on slump flow, mechanical properties and pH of RPC was studied. Furthermore, the influence of potassium formate and its replacement with calcium formate and with calcium oxide on the hydration of RPC was observed with the help of isothermal calorimetry and thermal analysis. The results showed that the addition of studied compounds allows to achieve an increase in RPC slump flow. However, it is necessary to add these substances in an optimal ratio of alkali metal formate/calcium formate because a higher content of calcium formate leads to a decrease in slump flow. For ideal ratios, the compressive strength after 90 days is still above 218 MPa and the flexural strength is still above 23 MPa. In calorimetric measurements, it was observed that the addition of potassium formate leads to a decrease in the total amount of heat developed in the induction period. According to thermal analysis, additions of the studied additives to RPC caused changes in the content of portlandite and calcite.
Is Unsupervised Clustering Somehow Truer?
Authors: Søgaard Anders
Published: October 2024

Scientists increasingly approach the world through machine learning techniques, but philosophers of science often question their epistemic status. Some philosophers have argued that the use of unsupervised clustering algorithms is more justified than the use of supervised classification, because supervised classification is more biased, and because (parametric) simplicity plays a different and more interesting role in unsupervised clustering. I call these arguments the No-Bias Argument and the Simplicity-Truth Argument. I show how both arguments are fallacious and how, on the contrary, the use of supervised classification is at least as justified as the use of unsupervised clustering.
Destabilizing effect of Coulomb friction induced limit cycles on sampled-data linear systems
Authors: Budai Csaba
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a counterintuitive effect of Coulomb friction on the dynamics of sampled-data linear systems. Due to dry friction, the motion becomes sensitive to the initial conditions, and the different possible motion trajectories are separated by limit cycles. This paper shows that the linearly stable behavior of the frictionless case degrades due to the presence of dry friction and how the stable domain of operation decreases. The results are illustrated through the example of a single-degree-of-freedom system model. The presented analysis of the nonlinear system gives insight into the intricate dynamics of sampled-data systems due to the effect of dry friction, and numerical simulations verify the results.
Unpossessed evidence revisited: our options are limited
Authors: Goldberg Sanford C.
Published: October 2024

Several influential thought experiments from Harman 1973 purport to show that unpossessed evidence can undermine knowledge. Recently, some epistemologists have appealed to these thought experiments in defense of a logically stronger thesis: unpossessed evidence can defeat justification. But these appeals fail to appreciate that Harman himself thought of his examples as Gettier cases, and so would have rejected this strengthening of his thesis. On the contrary, he would have held that while unpossessed evidence can undermine knowledge, it leaves justification intact. In this paper I seek to undermine the viability of Harman’s position. If this is correct, contemporary epistemology faces a choice: either we reject that unpossessed evidence in Harman-style cases bears on knowledge at all, or else we must allow that it undermines knowledge by defeating justification. The former option must explain why Harman’s thought experiments elicit strong ‘no knowledge’ intuitions; the latter option embraces a minority view about the bearing of social expectations on the assessment of knowledge and justification (= the doctrine of normative defeat).
Treatment Preferences in Acute Psychosis: A Comparison of Patient and Staff Perspectives on Symptom Prioritization and Biopsychosocial Interventions
Authors: Fischer Rabea , Moritz Steffen , Scheunemann Jakob , Nagel Matthias , Osthues Charlotte , Schöttle Daniel , Luedecke Daniel
Published: October 2024

Patients with acute psychosis are often confronted with the prejudice that they refuse all treatment due to lack of insight. This study examined and compared the aims and preferences for treatment of patients with acute psychosis and of psychiatric inpatient staff. A total of 142 inpatients being treated for a psychotic disorder on either a locked or an open ward indicated which of a range of symptoms they want to be treated and which of various biopsychosocial treatment options they would like to receive. Staff members from the same wards reported which psychiatric symptoms they deemed relevant in the treatment of psychosis and which treatment options should be offered. Patients assigned the highest treatment need to neurocognitive symptoms, followed by affective and positive symptoms. In contrast, staff assigned the highest treatment need to positive symptoms, followed by neurocognitive and affective symptoms. Patients and staff on open wards expressed more treatment needs overall than did patients and staff on locked wards. Patients’ desire for treatment differed across treatment types. In comparing patients on locked versus open wards, patients on open wards expressed higher approval of medication than patients on locked wards. Even patients with highly acute psychosis being treated on locked psychiatric wards endorsed treatment. Treatment preferences of this group deviated markedly in some instances from staffs’ preferences. Considering their specific needs may contribute to increasing patient self-efficacy, and improving adherence to treatment.
Strategic leader reputation: a review and research agenda
Authors: Kamp Lena , Graf-Vlachy Lorenz
Published: October 2024

Strategic leaders’ reputation plays a pivotal role in shaping organizations and their success. Numerous authors across disciplines have begun to study strategic leader reputation, leading to the results being scattered across different literatures. We perform a systematic literature review to synthesize the literature across the different academic subfields of business administration and economics. First, we establish a multidimensional definition of strategic leader reputation. Next, we structure and synthesize the relevant literature on three types of strategic leaders: CEOs, other top executives, and directors. We structured our study around three overarching themes: the antecedents of strategic leader reputation, the consequences of such reputation, and moderating effects. We present these themes in a coherent and comprehensive framework, accounting for different theoretical lenses, contexts, and empirical methods. We consequently contribute by providing a holistic perspective on strategic leader reputation in organizational research. Finally, we develop a comprehensive roadmap for future research, specifically highlighting measurement issues and the question of the stability of reputation.
Improving the use of public e-services through explainability
Authors: Fahr Marie Christine , Förster Maximilian , Moestue Lars , Brasse Julia , Klier Julia , Klier Mathias
Published: October 2024

Despite an omnipresent call for public e-services, the potential of digitalization in the public sector is still untapped. A promising means to increase the use of public e-services may be explainability. In this study, we follow the Design Science Research methodology to propose and evaluate design principles for explainability of public e-services. We instantiate the design principles in cooperation with the German Federal Statistical Office using the example of its public e-service Personal Inflation Calculator. We evaluate the design principles in a user study with 226 users and an expert survey with 17 public sector digitalization experts. Results confirm the design principles’ utility and applicability. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of explainability on the use of public e-services. In a randomized online experiment with 204 citizens, we demonstrate the positive impact of explainability of public e-services on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, self-efficacy, trust, and intention to use. With our design principles, we provide applicable and prescriptive knowledge on explainability of public e-services. Our findings on the impact of explainability on the use of public e-services contribute to the understanding of the role of explainability in digitizing the public sector.
A high-performance sports career as a signal in the job application process
Authors: Lindt Katrin , Wallrodt Sören , Thieme Lutz
Published: October 2024

The decision to pursue a career in sports often has far-reaching consequences in the professional career planning of high-performance athletes. Therefore, it is highly relevant to examine how the high-performance sports career is perceived as a signal in terms of the signaling theory (Spence, 1973) during a job application. To this end, an experiment was conducted to investigate how recruiters evaluate job applications from former high-performance athletes (both single and team sports), considering social, motivational, and cognitive competencies. In total, 303 subjects participated in this study. It is shown that the same person as a team athlete was considered significantly more capable for a professional entry than as an individual athlete or someone without a high-performance sports background. Although careers in high-performance sports can be considered a risky way to earn a living, our findings indicate that this is not necessarily the case: athletes who manage to complete an apprenticeship alongside their sport reduce their risk enormously, as their high-performance sports career is interpreted as a positive signal when applying.
Machining-Induced Damage and Corrosion Behavior of Monel-400 Alloy Under Cryogenic Cooling Conditions: A Sustainable Initiative
Authors: Demirbaş Ali , Köklü Uğur , Morkavuk Sezer , Giasin Khaled , Kocaman Engin , Sarıkaya Murat
Published: October 2024

Monel-400 is a nickel-based heat-resistant superalloy (HRSA) that is primarily used in oil and marine applications. Machining Monel-400 alloy for marine applications usually involves drilling and milling operations for assembly purposes, which should meet the requirements to withstand use in salt-water environments (i.e. lower surface finish to reduce corrosion and lack of burrs for tight sealing between mating parts). However, drilling of Monel-400 alloy can be challenging due to its high strength and density, which induces thermal effects that can influence the surface and geometrical integrity of the holes. Consequently, the use of environmentally friendly cooling technologies, such as cryogenics, is an excellent alternative to mitigate these effects, something which has not been widely investigated in the open literature when drilling Monel-400 alloy. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the machinability of Monel-400 alloy under dry and cryogenic cooling conditions. The effects of cutting parameters and the use of a cryogenic liquid nitrogen bath on the surface integrity and corrosion resistance of holes were evaluated. Additionally, cutting forces, chip formation, and corrosion performance were analyzed. The results showed that the cutting forces increased by up to 8% under cryogenic cooling. Under cryogenic conditions, reduced elastic deformation resulted in a smaller chip size. Both cutting conditions produced a smooth surface finish with a roughness value of less than 0.2 µm. Corrosion resistance was reduced under cryogenic conditions at spindle speed of 5000 rpm. The current work showcases that cryogenic cooling is recommended for drilling Monel-400 alloy used in marine applications, but care should be taken in employing optimal cutting parameters to mitigate any effects on corrosion resistance.
Das sind die Füsse, die Euch in das Land der Freiheit tragen werden
Authors: Filatkina Natalia
Published: October 2024

Im vorliegenden Beitrag geht es um die Analyse der sprachlichen Muster der Argumentation in den Akten des Internationalen Kongresses für Frauenwerke und Frauenbestrebungen, der am 19.-26. September 1896 zum ersten Mal auf dem binnendeutschen Boden in Berlin stattfand und unterschiedlichen Facetten der sog. Frauenfrage gewidmet war. Es wird gezeigt, dass Sprache bei der Legitimation des Kongresses und der Frauenbewegung, bei den Entwürfen von unterschiedlichen Frauenbildern sowie bei der Handlungsorientierung eine konstruktive Rolle übernimmt, die linguistisch durch die Analyse von Sprachmustern greifbar ist. Konkrete Realisierungen von Sprachmustern schließen im Folgenden Topoi, Metaphern, zeitgenössische Schlüsselwörter sowie kommunikative Mittel der Handlungsorientierung ein. Die Sprachmuster der Kongressakten weisen zum einen Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede zum Sprachgebrauch des beginnenden 19. Jahrhunderts, zum anderen zu anderen zeitgenössischen Textsorten der frühen Frauenbewegung auf.
Robotic safe adaptation in unprecedented situations: the RoboSAPIENS project
Authors: Larsen Peter G. , Ali Shaukat , Behrens Roland , Cavalcanti Ana , Gomes Claudio , Li Guoyuan , De Meulenaere Paul , Olsen Mikkel L. , Passalis Nikolaos , Peyrucain Thomas , Tapia Jesús , Tefas Anastasios , Zhang Houxiang
Published: October 2024

The robots of tomorrow should be endowed with the ability to adapt to drastic and unpredicted changes in their environment and interactions with humans. Such adaptations, however, cannot be boundless: the robot must stay trustworthy. So, the adaptations should not be just a recovery into a degraded functionality. Instead, they must be true adaptations: the robot must change its behaviour while maintaining or even increasing its expected performance and staying at least as safe and robust as before. The RoboSAPIENS project will focus on autonomous robotic software adaptations and will lay the foundations for ensuring that they are carried out in an intrinsically trustworthy, safe and efficient manner, thereby reconciling open-ended self-adaptation with safety by design. RoboSAPIENS will transform these foundations into ‘first time right’-design tools and platforms and will validate and demonstrate them.
Two-dimensional Rayleigh–Bénard convection without boundaries
Authors: Winchester Philip , Dallas Vassilios , Howell Peter D.
Published: October 2024

We study the effects of Prandtl number

$\mathit {Pr}$

and Rayleigh number

$\mathit {Ra}$

in two-dimensional Rayleigh–Bénard convection without boundaries, i.e. with periodic boundary conditions. For Prandtl numbers in the range

$10^{-3} \leqslant \mathit {Pr} \leqslant 10^2$

, the viscous dissipation scales as

$\epsilon _\nu \propto \mathit {Pr}^{1/2}\mathit {Ra}^{-1/4}$

, which is based on the observation that enstrophy

$\langle {\omega ^2}\rangle \propto \mathit {Pr}^0 \mathit {Ra}^{1/4}$

, and the Nusselt number tends to follow the ‘ultimate’ scaling

$\mathit {Nu} \propto \mathit {Pr}^{1/2}\mathit {Ra}^{1/2}$

for all values of

$\mathit {Pr}$

considered. The inverse cascade of kinetic energy forms the power-law spectrum

$\hat {E}_u(k) \propto k^{-2.3}$

, which is close to

$k^{-11/5}$

proposed by the Bolgiano–Obukhov (BO) scaling. The potential energy flux is not constant, in contrast to one of the main assumptions underlying the BO phenomenology. So, the direct cascade of potential energy forms the power-law spectrum

$\hat {E}_\theta (k) \propto k^{-1.2}$

, which deviates from the expected

$k^{-7/5}$

. Finally, at

$\mathit {Pr} \to 0$

and

$\infty$

, we find that the dynamics is dominated by vertically oriented elevator modes that grow without bound, even at high Rayleigh numbers and with large-scale dissipation present.
Feasibility of a multifaceted nutrition-risk screening tool for mental health settings: the NutriMental screener
Authors: Mueller-Stierlin Annabel S. , Mötteli Sonja , Hotzy Florian , Mörkl Sabrina , Burrows Tracy , Ardill-Young Oliver , Hiltensperger Ramona , Prelog Polona Rus , Teasdale Scott B.
Published: October 2024

People living with mental illness report a broad spectrum of nutrition risks, beyond malnutrition, but appropriate and adequately validated nutrition risk screening tools for mental health settings are lacking. This study aimed to develop a nutrition-risk screening tool, the NutriMental Screener, and to perform preliminary feasibility and validity testing. In an international, stakeholder engaging approach, a multifaceted nutrition-risk screening tool for mental health services was developed by means of workshops with international stakeholders and two online surveys. Feasibility of the NutriMental screener was tested as part of a research study in Switzerland with 196 participants, evenly distributed across the three study groups (sixty-seven outpatients and sixty-five inpatients with psychotic or depressive disorders as well as sixty-four controls without mental illness). The NutriMental screener consists of ten items covering different nutritional issues that indicate the need for referral to a dietitian or clinical nutritionist. Almost all patients (94·7 %) reported at least one nutrition risk by means of the NutriMental screener. Prevalence for nutrition risks via NutriMental screener was higher in patients than in controls. Almost every second patient expressed a desire for nutritional support (44·7 %). After further validity testing is completed, there is the potential for the NutriMental Screener to replace malnutrition screening tools as routine screening in various mental health settings aiming to organise nutritional therapy prescriptions in a more targeted and efficient manner.
Together till the end: endosymbiosis of the annelid Haplosyllides floridana in the giant barrel-shaped sponge Xestospongia muta throughout the Tropical Atlantic
Authors: Nascimento Rodolfo Leandro , Bispo André , Fukuda Marcelo V. , Paresque Karla , de Paiva Paulo Cesar
Published: October 2024

The symbiotic relationship between the syllid polychaete, Haplosyllides floridana Augener, 1922, and the barrel-shaped sponge Xestospongia muta (Schmidt, 1870), originally documented solely in the Caribbean, is presumed to be species-specific. Recently, the host sponge has been found as a single species distributed across approximately 8000 km (from 26°N to 22°S). Herein we addressed new spatial and bathymetric population records of H. floridana to question the persistence of the association with X. muta, and whether, in the case of an association, the polychaete remains as a single species throughout this extensive distribution. Our findings change the restricted distribution of H. floridana, revealing a remarkable association with X. muta from Tropical north-western to south-western Atlantic including records in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and the Almirante Saldanha Seamount, at 270 m deep. The populations analysed in this study are morphologically consistent. The study underscores the need for further investigations into the connectivity of Xestospongia species, the presence of Haplosyllides in other ocean basins, and the shared evolutionary history between Xestospongia and Haplosyllides. The observed life cycle completion of H. floridana within the host sponge suggests a potential co-evolutionary relationship, offering insights into the intricate dynamics of symbiotic associations in marine ecosystems.
New discovery of two subtropical and one boreal marine fish species in Korean waters during summer reveals their habitat range expansion
Authors: Lee Yu-Jin , Park Jeong-Ho , Kim Jin-Koo
Published: October 2024

This study presents the first Korean records of two subtropical fish species, Pseudojuloides paradiseus and Diplogrammus xenicus, collected around Jeju-do Island, as well as one boreal fish species, Erilepis zonifer, collected in Busan (approximately 200 km away from Jeju-do Island). In this study, we discuss the implications of the species’ habitat range expansion. Previously, P. paradiseus was known as an endemic species of Japan, while D. xenicus was known to inhabit the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean excluding around the equator, and E. zonifer was only known to inhabit the Pacific Ocean between eastern Japan and the western USA. Their habitat range expansions might be attributed to the expansion of the Tsushima Warm Current at the surface layer and/or the North Korean Cold Current at the bottom layer. Our findings may suggest that habitat of marine fish is being changed continuously by climate change or oceanic currents. Therefore, it needs to conduct integrated and systematic monitoring of fish fauna to response changing marine biodiversity.
Constitutionalising a Right to Abortion: Unveiling its Transformative Potential Amidst Challenges in Europe
Authors: De Meyer Fien , Romainville Céline
Published: October 2024

Enshrining a right to abortion in the constitution – functions and effects of constitutionalisation – the fundamental nature of abortion and its link to core principles of constitutionalism – the instrumental-procedural function of constitutionalisation – limits to protection of abortion rights at the level of the European Court of Human Rights – unpredictability of judicial interpretation of fundamental rights – constitutional design pathways to specify the content and scope of a right to abortion – the potential of the standstill principle
Detection of two common ACCase mutations associated with high levels of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl resistance in shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) using loop-mediated isothermal amplification
Authors: Yin Fan , Wang Mali , Liao Min , Cao Haiqun , Zhao Ning
Published: October 2024

The resistance to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, a herbicide that inhibits acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase), has emerged in shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis Sobol.) since the 1990s, presenting a considerable challenge to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in China. One of the primary mechanisms responsible for this high-level resistance is the presence of mutations at codons 1781, 2041, and 2078 in the ACCase gene. However, the conventional methods used to detect these mutations, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequencing, are time-consuming and labor-intensive. To address this issue and enable the prompt and effective detection of these common ACCase mutations in A. aequalis, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) strategy was developed. The LAMP assay specifically targets the Ile-1781-Leu and Asp-2078-Gly mutations within the ACCase gene of A. aequalis. Through the optimization of primers, systems, and conditions, the LAMP assay enables rapid differentiation between wild-type individuals and mutants of A. aequalis carrying either of these two mutations. Including SYBR Green I dye in the final reaction mixtures enables detection of the target mutation through a noticeable color change that can be observed with the naked eye. It is noteworthy that the sensitivity of the LAMP assay was approximately 104-fold greater than that of conventional PCR methods. Additionally, a derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) assay was established for each mutation to distinguish between homozygous and heterozygous mutants. Overall, the developed LAMP assay could efficiently detect the Ile-1781-Leu and Asp-2078-Gly mutations in the ACCase gene of A. aequalis, offering significant advantages for the monitoring and management of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl resistance.
Agricultural spray drone deposition, Part 1: methods for high-throughput spray pattern analysis
Authors: Koo Daewon , Henderson Caleb A. , Askew Shawn D.
Published: October 2024

Effective pesticide application is dependent on precise and sufficient delivery of active ingredients to targeted pests. Water-sensitive papers (WSPs) have been used to estimate the stain coverage, droplet density, droplet size, total spray volume, and other spray-quality metrics by analyzing deposit stains using image analysis software. However, because WSPs are expensive, they are typically distributed along unidimensional transects at intervals of 0.5 m or more, which comprises 0.5% or less of the total treated area. This might limit the ability to accurately represent the deposition of agricultural sprayers with irregular patterns, such as agricultural drone sprayers in the early developmental stage. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing white Kraft paper and a blue colorant proxy for assessing spray deposition. A custom Python-based image analysis tool, SprayDAT (Spray Droplet Analysis Tool), was developed and compared with traditional image analysis software, DepositScan. Both models showed increased accuracy in detecting larger objects, with SprayDAT generally performing better for smaller droplets. DepositScan underestimated the total deposited spray volume by up to 2.7 times less compared with the colorant extraction assessed via spectrophotometry and the predicted output based on flow rate, coverage, and speed. Accuracy of software-estimated spray volume declined with increasing total stain coverage, likely due to overlapping stain objects. Droplet density exhibited a Gaussian trend, with peak density at approximately 22% stain cover, offering evidence for overlapped stains for both DepositScan and SprayDAT as stain cover increased. Both models showed exponential growth in volumetric median diameter (VMD) with increasing stain cover. SprayDAT is freely accessible through an online repository. It features a user-friendly interface for batch processing large sets of scanned images and offers versatility for customization to meet individual needs, such as adjusting spread factor, updating the standard curve for spray volume estimation, or modifying the stain detection threshold.
Adaptation and Validation of Decision-Making Questionnaire Among Physicians of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Authors: Younas Sana , Khanum Saeeda
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Introduction: Healthcare decision-making is a critical yet understudied aspect of medical education. It holds significant importance among healthcare professionals and influences their overall behavior. We adapted and validated the Decision-Making Questionnaire, which measures factors affecting decision-making among obstetricians and gynecologists. Methods: We used a cross-sectional survey design to establish the construct validity of the DMQ. We established content validity using the Lawshe content validity ratio and conducted a survey to establish the construct validity. Results: Exploratory factor analysis ( n = 150) revealed three factors, task-related, context-related, and individual-related, having eigenvalues greater than 1 and adequate alpha reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis ( n = 197) found adequate model fit indices. We assessed the reliability coefficient of the Decision-Making Questionnaire using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega coefficient, which showed an acceptable range (0.86–0.90). Hence, the scale appears to be psychometrically sound and a practical measure for obstetricians and gynecologists. Discussion: The Decision-Making Questionnaire demonstrated convergent validity by positively correlating with the Team Decision-Making Questionnaire and divergent validity by showing correlations with the measure of professional quality of life. The scale is useful for practitioners and researchers to measure factors affecting decision-making in naturalistic settings.
Arctic and Antarctic Sea Ice Thickness and Volume Changes From Observations Between 1994 and 2023
Authors: Bocquet Marion , Fleury Sara , Rémy Frédérique , Piras Fanny
Published: October 2024

Both Arctic and Antarctic sea ice are affected by climate change. While Arctic sea ice has been declining for several decades, Antarctic sea ice extent slowly increased until 2015, followed by a sharp drop in 2016. Quantifying sea ice changes is essential to assess their impacts on the ocean, atmosphere, ecosystems and Arctic communities. In this study, we combine sea ice thickness estimates from four satellite radar altimeters to derive the longest time series of homogeneous sea ice thickness for both hemispheres over 30 years (1994–2023). The record supports the rapid loss of sea ice in the Arctic for each month of the year and the heterogeneous changes in sea ice thickness in the Antarctic. The study confirms that most of the volume variability is due to the thickness variability, which holds true for both hemispheres. The sea ice thickness time series presented here offer new insights for models, in particular the possibility to evaluate sea ice reanalyses and to initialize forecasts, especially in the Antarctic, where the data set presented here has no equivalent in terms of spatial and temporal coverage.
The Evolution of Earth's Outer Radiation Belt Over Geomagnetic Storm Phase in Van Allen Probe Era
Authors: Wang Xu , Dai Lei , Yong Ren , Xiong Senlin , Wang Chi
Published: October 2024

Earth's outer radiation belts are highly dynamic during geomagnetic storms. Using electron flux data from 226 keV to 2.6 MeV measured by the Van Allen Probes, we statistically analyzed the peak flux position and inner boundary position of the outer radiation belt across different storm phases: pre‐storm quiet time, main phase, early recovery phase, and later recovery phase. This analysis covered 196 geomagnetic storm events from October 2012 to September 2019. Our results indicate that: (a) During the pre‐storm, decreases with increasing energy. From the pre‐storm to the early recovery phase, shifts inward for energies below 1 MeV and outward for energies above 1 MeV. For all energies, converges to approximately L = 4.3–4.6 in the early recovery phase. (b) Below approximately 1 MeV, generally move inward from the main phase to the early recovery phase. Above 1 MeV, remains nearly unchanged across different storm phases. (c) The half‐width (−) of the outer belt decreases during the main phase for energies below 1 MeV and increases during the recovery phase for energies above 1.5 MeV. (d) In the early recovery phase, and at 593–742 keV show a moderate correlation with storm intensity (CC 0.7–0.8), while and at energies greater than 1.1 MeV exhibit low correlations (CC0.4) during each phase. These results confirm the complex, energy‐dependent morphology of the outer radiation belt throughout geomagnetic storm phases.
Revisiting the Superstorm on 6–7 April 2000 Caused by an Extraordinary Corotating Interaction Region (With an Embedded Coronal Jet?)
Authors: Tsurutani Bruce T. , Hajra Rajkumar , Lakhina Gurbax , Meng Xing
Published: October 2024

The 6–7 April 2000 superstorm of SYM‐H intensity = −319 nT discussed in Meng et al. (2019; https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JA026425) was misidentified as being due to an interplanetary coronal mass ejection associated with a solar flare. The interplanetary cause was a highly unusual corotating interaction region (CIR) bounded by a strong fast forward shock (FS) with magnetosonic Mach number Mms = 4.6 and a fast reverse shock (RS) with Mms = 1.9. The exceptionally strong FS caused a ∼3‐factor interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) magnitude amplification in the leading half of the CIR with peak southward IMF Bz = −27 nT causing the superstorm. A plasma region between a tangential discontinuity and the stream interface had a scale size of ∼0.096 AU. We hypothesize that this is the first detection of a coronal jet at 1 AU. The jet/Gold magnetic tongue (1959; https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ064i011p01665) was embedded within the CIR, contained the southward Bz and caused the magnetic storm. We hypothesize that a shrinking coronal hole and magnetic reconnection caused the formation and release of the jet.
Mitigation and Optimization of Induced Seismicity Using Physics‐Based Forecasting
Authors: Hill Ryley G. , Weingarten Matthew , Langenbruch Cornelius , Fialko Yuri
Published: October 2024

Fluid injection can induce seismicity by altering stresses on pre‐existing faults. Here, we investigate minimizing induced earthquake potential by optimizing injection operations in a physics‐based forecasting framework. We built a 3D finite element model of the poroelastic crust for the Raton Basin, Central US, and used it to estimate time dependent Coulomb stress changes due to 25 years of wastewater injection in the region. Our finite element model is complemented by a statistical analysis of the seismogenic index (SI), a proxy for critically stressed faults affected by variations in the pore pressure. Forecasts of seismicity rate from our hybrid physics‐based statistical model suggest that induced seismicity in the Raton Basin, from 2001 to 2022, is still driven by wastewater injection despite declining injection rates since 2011. Our model suggests that pore pressure diffusion is the dominant cause of Coulomb stress changes at seismogenic depth, with poroelastic stress changes contributing about 5% to the driving force. Linear programming optimization for the Raton Basin reveals that it is feasible to reduce earthquake potential for a given amount of injected fluid (safety objective) or maximize fluid injection for a prescribed earthquake potential (economic objective). The optimization tends to spread out high‐rate injectors and shift them to regions of lower SI. The framework has practical importance as a tool to manage injection rate per unit field area to reduce induced earthquake potential. Our optimization framework is both flexible and adaptable to mitigate induced earthquake potential in other regions and for other types of subsurface fluid injection.
Numerical Simulation on the Electrical Conductivity of Ternary Mixtures Containing NaCl Solution, Quartz, and Smectite
Authors: Aoyama K. , Hashimoto T.
Published: October 2024

While the electrical conductivity of smectite‐rich rocks is high, previous studies have only partially revealed its dependence on temperature, salinity, and porosity. This knowledge gap mainly arises from challenges in controlling various experimental conditions when measuring the conductivity of real smectite‐bearing rock samples and quantifying the smectite content. To mimic conductivity measurements under ideal conditions, this study aimed to develop a simulator capable of accurately configuring the conditions to predict the direct‐current conductivity of saturated rocks composed of an aqueous NaCl solution, quartz, and smectite under various temperatures (20°C–200°C), salinities (10−4–5 mol kg−1), porosities (0–1), and smectite fractions (0–1). The simulator reproduced the experimental conductivity measurements from drilled core samples by giving the anisotropy of those components' distribution. In addition, simulations with randomly assigned components revealed that when rocks contain abundant smectite, the bulk conductivity partially decreases with increasing NaCl solution's salinity or volume fraction. These negative slopes were approximated using empirical equations derived from previous studies. Percolation analysis further revealed that when the components are randomly assigned, conductive paths begin to form between the ends of the modeled sample once the sum of the volume fraction of bulk pore and smectite reaches 0.1.
Structure and Non‐Ideal Mixing of Fe‐Ni‐S Liquid at High Temperature and Pressure and Its Implication for the Earth's Outer Core Composition
Authors: Satyal Sajin , Wang Jianwei
Published: October 2024

The effect of light elements (LEs) such as sulfur on the physical properties of liquid iron‐nickel alloy under the earth's outer core conditions is critical for understanding the core composition and dynamics. First‐principles molecular dynamics simulations were employed to model Fe‐Ni‐S liquid with S concentrations in the range of (0–25) atomic percent (at%) at 4050 K and (0–33.33) at% at 5530 K and pressures relevant to the core‐mantle boundary (CMB) and inner core boundary (ICB), respectively. The thermodynamic mixing properties of Fe‐Ni‐S liquid were calculated, showing that the excess volume for Fe‐Ni‐S alloys deviates negatively from ideal mixing by −0.33% at 12.5 at% S at the CMB and −0.35% at 17 at% S at the ICB. Similarly, the excess enthalpy negatively deviated from the ideal mixing by −3.4 kJ/mole and −13 kJ/mole at the similar S concentrations at CMB and ICB, respectively, indicating non‐ideal mixing throughout the outer core. Similar behaviors are observed for isothermal bulk modulus (KT) and seismic velocity. The short‐ and intermediate‐range structures were analyzed and used to explain the non‐ideal mixing behaviors. The results suggest that extrapolations using ideal mixing underestimates the sound velocity by ∼0.14 km/s near CMB and ∼0.10 km/s near ICB, which is significant for constraining the core composition. If S is the only LE, the density at 10–12 wt% S matches the preliminary reference earth model (PREM). The seismic velocity at 12–15 wt% S matches PREM. These results suggest the presence of other LEs in the outer core.
Anthropogenic Extremely Low Volatility Organics (ELVOCs) Govern the Growth of Molecular Clusters Over the Southern Great Plains During the Springtime
Authors: Shrivastava Manish , Zhang Jie , Zaveri Rahul A. , Zhao Bin , Pierce Jeffrey R. , O’Donnell Samuel E. , Fast Jerome D. , Gaudet Brian , Shilling John E. , Zelenyuk Alla , Murphy Benjamin N. , Pye Havala O. T. , Zhang Qi , Trousdell Justin , Chen Qi
Published: October 2024

New particle formation (NPF) often drives cloud condensation nuclei concentrations and the processes governing nucleation of molecular clusters vary substantially in different regions. The growth of these clusters from ∼2 to >10 nm diameters is often driven by the availability of extremely low volatility organic vapors (ELVOCs). Although the pathways to ELVOC formation from the oxidation of biogenic terpenes are better understood, the mechanistic pathways for ELVOC formation from oxidation of anthropogenic organics are less well understood. We integrate measurements and detailed regional model simulations to understand the processes governing NPF and secondary organic aerosol formation at the Southern Great Plain (SGP) observatory in Oklahoma and compare these with a site within the Bankhead National Forest (BNF) in Alabama, southeast USA. During our two simulated NPF event days, nucleation rates are predicted to be at least an order of magnitude higher at SGP compared to BNF largely due to lower sulfuric acid (H2SO4) concentrations at BNF. Among the different nucleation mechanisms in WRF‐Chem, we find that the dimethylamine (DMA) + H2SO4 nucleation mechanism dominates at SGP. We find that anthropogenic ELVOCs are critical for explaining the growth of particles observed at SGP. Treating organic particles as semisolid, with strong diffusion limitations for organic vapor uptake in the particle phase, brings model predictions into closer agreement with observations. We also simulate two non‐NPF event days observed at the SGP site and show that low‐level clouds reduce photochemical activity with corresponding reductions in H2SO4 and anthropogenic ELVOC concentrations, thereby explaining the lack of NPF.
Sensitivity enhancement of nonlinear micromechanical sensors using parametric symmetry breaking
Authors: Xu Yutao , Yang Qiqi , Song Jiahao , Wei Xueyong
Published: October 2024

The working mechanism of resonant sensors is based on tracking the frequency shift in the linear vibration range. Contrary to the conventional paradigm, in this paper, we show that by tracking the dramatic frequency shift of the saddle-node bifurcation on the nonlinear parametric isolated branches in response to external forces, we can dramatically boost the sensitivity of MEMS force sensors. Specifically, we first theoretically and experimentally investigate the double hysteresis phenomena of a parametrically driven micromechanical resonator under the interaction of intrinsic nonlinearities and direct external drive. We demonstrate that the double hysteresis is caused by symmetry breaking in the phase states. The frequency response undergoes an additional amplitude jump from the symmetry-breaking-induced parametric isolated branch to the main branch, resulting in double hysteresis in the frequency domain. We further demonstrate that significant force sensitivity enhancement can be achieved by monitoring the dramatic frequency shift of the saddle-node bifurcations on the parametric isolated branches before the bifurcations annihilate. Based on the sensitivity enhancement effect, we propose a new sensing scheme which employs the frequency of the top saddle-node bifurcation in the parametric isolated branches as an output metric to quantify external forces. The concept is verified on a resonant MEMS charge sensor. A sensitivity of up to 39.5 ppm/fC is achieved, significantly surpassing the state-of-the-art resonant charge sensors. This work provides a new mechanism for developing force sensors of high sensitivity.
4D-printed intelligent reflecting surface with improved beam resolution via both phase modulation and space modulation
Authors: Kim Kyounghwan , Phon Ratanak , Park Eiyong , Lim Sungjoon
Published: October 2024

Recently, intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs) have emerged as potential candidates for overcoming the line-of-sight issue in 5 G/6 G wireless communication. These IRSs can manipulate the direction of reflected beams, enabling efficient beam steering to enhance the performance of wireless communication. Each unit cell (or unit structure) of an IRS commonly consists of electrical elements for phase modulation. However, by employing phase modulation alone, an IRS can steer the reflected electromagnetic waves toward only discrete and specific angles, leaving a wide range of out-of-beam areas. In this work, an IRS that uses both phase modulation and space modulation is presented to improve the beam resolution and continuously cover out-of-beam areas that phase modulation alone cannot address. A positive-intrinsic-negative diode is mounted on a unit cell for phase modulation, and a 4D-printed reconfigured structure is fabricated to demonstrate space modulation. The beam-steering function is achieved by alternating the states of the diodes in the same columns, while the beam resolution is improved by controlling the gaps between the columns. The functions are first theoretically and numerically analyzed and then experimentally verified, demonstrating that additional angles of −46°/+50°, −22°/+14°, and −16°/+12° are achieved with space modulation and −60°/+62°, −30°/+22°, and ±16° are achieved by phase modulation alone. The proposed IRS offers the possibility of functional integration in a variety of indoor applications within the wireless communication field.