bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applications of propolis-based materials in wound healing
Authors: El-Sakhawy Mohamed , Salama Ahmed , Tohamy Hebat-Allah S.
Published: December 2023

Due to its excellent antiseptic efficacy and antimicrobial properties, propolis has shown attractive advantages in wound dressings. However, an inclusive review of the propolis-based materials as a wound dressing is still lacking. The current short review summarizes the skin wound healing process, relates evaluation parameters, and then reviews the refined propolis-based materials dressings such as antimicrobial property, adhesion and hemostasis, anti-inflammatory and substance delivery. The approaches implemented to achieve these functions are classified and discussed. Furthermore, applications of propolis wound dressing for treating different types of wounds such as heal wounds, burns, and ulcers are presented. The future directions of propolis-based wound dressings for wound healing are further proposed. This review showed that propolis-based materials might be a promising new dressing for wound occlusion and tissue repairing.
Probing the “Dead-Time” in NMR by Combining Single Pulse and Solid Echo Experiments Followed by a Global Model Fit Analysis
Authors: Hansen Eddy Walther
Published: December 2023

The main question addressed in this work is how to probe the “effective dead-time” in an NMR instrument, i.e., the time needed to blank the receiver after an rf-pulse excitation to prevent damage to the receiver and to avoid any distortion of the NMR signal being sampled. The strategy is to design a suitable FID-model to fit the single pulse excitation (SPE) and solid echo pulse (SEPS) data (on solid Tricosane) using a Global model-fit analysis technique. The derived dead time is discussed with respect to sampling temperature (25–40 °C) and—in particular—with respect to the number of SEPS data involved in the Global fit analysis by applying the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) in combination with more traditional statistical analysis. It is concluded that the “effective dead time” can be determined within a standard error of less than 2.5%.
Quantification of elemental sulfur in pulping liquors by thin-layer chromatography
Authors: Böhmdorfer Stefan , Santner Jakob , Potthast Antje , Rosenau Thomas
Published: December 2023

The inorganic sulfur compounds that are used as pulping agents in the production of pulp and paper from wood are converted into a variety of sulfur species during processing. How sulfur is allocated to different streams and products in a pulp mill is relevant for efficient mill operation and to avoid harmful emissions. Pulping liquors are a highly challenging and potentially destructive sample matrix. We describe a thin-layer chromatographic method for the direct quantification of elemental sulfur in pulping liquors. The liquors are spotted (not sprayed!) directly onto the plate without prior purification, extraction, or workup. Sulfur is then eluted with cyclo-hexane and detected by densitometry at 285 nm or fluorescence quenching close to the solvent front. The method was validated for a calibrated range from 60 to 2000 ng sulfur on plate. The limit of detection was determined at 20 ng; measurement uncertainty was about 20%. With this method, 27–54 mg/L elemental sulfur were found in Kraft pulping liquors, which corresponds to 0.24–0.48% of the total sulfur in these samples.
Using geodetic measurements derived terrestrial water storage to investigate the characteristics of drought in Yunnan, China
Authors: Chen Chao , Zou Rong , Fang Zhiwei , Cao Jiaming , Wang Qi
Published: December 2023

The use of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) for monitoring changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS) is growing. However, the density of GNSS stations is sparse in most areas, and the widely used Green’s function (GF) method cannot provide a satisfactory resolution for inversion problems. As the Slepian basis function (SBF) method has been successfully used for gravity inversions, GNSS geodesists have recently applied the SBF method to GNSS displacements. However, the evaluation of TWS differences inferred from GNSS using the SBF and the GF has been rarely assessed. In this study, we use both the GF and the SBF methods to investigate the TWS in Yunnan by using more than ten years (2010–2021) of GNSS observations. We observe a remarkable consistency between the two inversion methods employed for GNSS data, as well as a strong agreement with equivalent water heights (EWH) inferred from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On (GFO), hydrological model (GLDAS-NOAH), and precipitation data, despite variations in the amplitude. Furthermore, affected by monsoon climate and topography, Yunnan is prone to drought. We analyze the main nine drought events, evaluate the connection between GNSS-inverted TWS during 2010–2021, and find that almost all droughts in Yunnan occurred during the "trough period" within the GNSS-DSI.
Integrating Multicellular Systems: Physiological Control and Degrees of Biological Individuality
Authors: Bich Leonardo
Published: December 2023

This paper focuses on physiological integration in multicellular systems, a notion often associated with biological individuality, but which has not received enough attention and needs a thorough theoretical treatment. Broadly speaking, physiological integration consists in how different components come together into a cohesive unit in which they are dependent on one another for their existence and activity. This paper argues that physiological integration can be understood by considering how the components of a biological multicellular system are controlled and coordinated in such a way that their activities can contribute to the maintenance of the system. The main implication of this perspective is that different ways of controlling their parts may give rise to multicellular organizations with different degrees of integration. After defining control, this paper analyses how control is realized in two examples of multicellular systems located at different ends of the spectrum of multicellularity: biofilms and animals. It focuses on differences in control ranges, and it argues that a high degree of integration implies control exerted at both medium and long ranges, and that insofar as biofilms lack long-range control (relative to their size) they can be considered as less integrated than other multicellular systems. It then discusses the implication of this account for the debate on physiological individuality and the idea that degrees of physiological integration imply degrees of individuality.
A Latent Profile Analysis of Greek University Students’ Sexting Profiles: Associations with Big Five Personality Traits
Authors: Kokkinos Constantinos M. , Krommida Christina , Markos Angelos , Voulgaridou Ioanna
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between sexting profiles and five factor model (FFM) personality traits among Greek university students. A sample of 2913 participants predominantly aged between 18 and 25 years (M = 22; SD = 3.54; 69.6% females) completed a self-report online questionnaire that measured sexting behaviors and FFM traits. Latent profile analysis identified five distinct profiles which were labeled uninvolved, consensual sexters, non-consensual sexters, unwanted sexters, and highly involved sexters. The different sexting profiles were associated with distinct patterns of FFM trait scores. Specifically, the uninvolved scored higher on agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness than those highly involved in sexting, consensual, non-consensual, and unwanted sexters. Furthermore, those who sent unwanted sexts were more likely to be emotionally unstable than the consensual sexters and those not involved. These findings indicate that sexting behaviors may be related to certain personality traits and emphasize the importance of considering individual differences when studying sexting behaviors. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Design displacement for lifelines at fault crossings: the code-based approach for Europe
Authors: Melissianos Vasileios E. , Vamvatsikos Dimitrios , Danciu Laurentiu , Basili Roberto
Published: December 2023

The earthquake-resistant design of lifelines, such as pipelines, tunnels and bridges, is based on the reliable representation and estimation of the seismic loading. In the case of lifeline–fault crossings, the design fault displacement is typically derived from estimates based on fault dimensions via empirical fault scaling relations for a given “design” scenario event. This approach comes with an unknown level of safety because the fault productivity and the actual distribution of earthquake events are essentially disregarded. To overcome this challenge, a simplified approach is proposed by statistically analyzing the outcome of probabilistic fault displacement hazard analyses (PFDHAs). A selection of faults from the 2020 European Fault-Source Model is used to build the logic tree and to set the range of parameters considered in the PFDHAs. The methodology allows the (mostly conservative) approximation of the fault displacement corresponding to any given return period based on readily available data, namely fault productivity, fault mechanism, fault length, and lifeline crossing location on the fault. The proposed methodology has been proposed and adopted as an informative Annex in prEN 1998-4:2022.
Video expert assessment of high quality video for Video Assistant Referee (VAR): A comparative study
Authors: Brunnström Kjell , Djupsjöbacka Anders , Billingham Johsan , Wistel Katharina , Andrén Börje , Ozolins Oskars , Evans Nicolas
Published: December 2023

The International Football Association Board decided to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in 2018. This led to the need to develop methods for quality control of the VAR-systems. This article focuses on the important aspect to evaluate the video quality. Video Quality assessment has matured in the sense that there are standardized, commercial products and established open-source solutions to measure it with objective methods. Previous research has primarily focused on the end-user quality assessment. How to assess the video in the contribution phase of the chain is less studied. The novelties of this study are two-fold: 1) The user study is specifically targeting video experts i.e., to assess the perceived quality of video professionals working with video production. 2) Six video quality models have been independently benchmarked against the user data and evaluated to show which of the models could provide the best predictions of perceived quality. The independent evaluation is important to get unbiased results as shown by the Video Quality Experts Group. An experiment was performed involving 25 video experts in which they rated the perceived quality. The video formats tested were High-Definition TV both progressive and interlaced as well as a quarters size format that was scaled down half the size in both width and height. The videos were encoded with both H.264 and Motion JPEG for the full size but only H.264 for the quarter size. Bitrates ranged from 80 Mbit/s down to 10 Mbit/s. We could see that for H.264 that the quality was overall very good but dropped somewhat for 10 Mbit/s. For Motion JPEG the quality dropped over the whole range. For the interlaced format the degradation that was based on a simple deinterlacing method did receive overall low ratings. For the quarter size three different scaling algorithms were evaluated. Lanczos performed the best and Bilinear the worst. The performance of six different video quality models were evaluated for 1080p and 1080i. The Video Quality Metric for Variable Frame Delay had the best performance for both formats, followed by Video Multimethod Assessment Fusion method and the Video Quality Metric General model.
Comparison of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS®)-29 and PROMIS global physical and mental health scores
Authors: Hays Ron D. , Herman Patricia M. , Rodriguez Anthony , Edelen Maria Orlando
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement and Information System (PROMIS®): includes the PROMIS-29 physical and mental health summary and the PROMIS global physical and mental health scores. It is unknown how these scores coincide with one another. This study examines whether the scores yield similar or different information.

Methods

The PROMIS-29 and the PROMIS global health items were administered to 5804 adults from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) in 2021–2022 and to 4060 adults in the Ipsos KnowledgePanel (KP) in 2022.

Results

The median age of those in MTurk (KP) was 36 (54) and 53% (50%) were male. Mean T-scores on the PROMIS-29 and PROMIS global physical health scales were similar, but PROMIS global mental health was 3–4 points lower than the PROMIS-29 mental health summary score. Product-moment correlations ranged from 0.69 to 0.81 between the PROMIS-29 physical health and PROMIS global physical health scales and 0.56–0.69 between the mental health scales. Multi-trait multimethod analyses indicated that only a small proportion of the correlations between the two methods of measuring mental health were significantly more highly correlated with one another than correlations between physical and mental health.

Conclusions

PROMIS-29 and PROMIS global mental health scales provide different information and, therefore, study conclusions may vary depending on which measure is used. Interpretation of results needs to consider that the PROMIS-29 mental health scale is a weighted combination of specific domains while the PROMIS global mental health scale is based on general mental health perceptions. Further comparisons of methods of assessing mental health are needed.
Functional Concept Proxies and the Actually Smart Hans Problem: What’s Special About Deep Neural Networks in Science
Authors: Boge Florian J.
Published: December 2023

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are becoming increasingly important as scientific tools, as they excel in various scientific applications beyond what was considered possible. Yet from a certain vantage point, they are nothing but parametrized functions $$\varvec{f}_{\varvec{\theta }}(\varvec{x})$$

f

θ

(

x

)

of some data vector $$\varvec{x}$$

x

, and their ‘learning’ is nothing but an iterative, algorithmic fitting of the parameters to data. Hence, what could be special about them as a scientific tool or model? I will here suggest an integrated perspective that mediates between extremes, by arguing that what makes DNNs in science special is their ability to develop functional concept proxies (FCPs): Substructures that occasionally provide them with abilities that correspond to those facilitated by concepts in human reasoning. Furthermore, I will argue that this introduces a problem that has so far barely been recognized by practitioners and philosophers alike: That DNNs may succeed on some vast and unwieldy data sets because they develop FCPs for features that are not transparent to human researchers. The resulting breach between scientific success and human understanding I call the ‘Actually Smart Hans Problem’.
Can CPS better prepare 8th graders for problem-solving in electromagnetism and bridging the gap between high- and low-achievers than IPS?
Authors: Guo Jiun-Wei , She Hsiao-Ching , Chen Meng-Jun , Tsai Pei-Yi
Published: December 2023

The individual problem-solving (IPS) and collaborative problem-solving (CPS) have received a lot of attention, yet little research has been conducted to investigate whether CPS and IPS are equally effective in improving students’ understanding of physics concepts, problem-solving abilities, and minimizing achievement gaps. Therefore, the present study developed two types of online electromagnetism problem solving programs with simulation—IPS and CPS—for 8th grade students over five class sessions. Students in the CPS group significantly outperformed those in the IPS group on their performance of physics problem solving test and online problem-solving solution, while IPS and CPS both affected their physics concept test performance to the same degree. The CPS group allocated more time to the online problem-solving solution, evidence-based reasoning, simulation and data reporting than the IPS group. Both CPS and IPS affected high-achievers' problem-solving performance to the same extent. Nonetheless, CPS was more effective in maximizing low-achievers' problem-solving performance and minimizing the discrepancy between high- and low-achievers than IPS, possibly because low-achievers in CPS group requested and received more support from high-achieving students. Regression analysis indicated that students' online problem-solving solution significantly predict their posttest performance in the physics concept test and physics problem-solving test.
Serial assessment of computed tomography angiography for pulmonary and systemic arteries using a reduced contrast agent dose for the diagnosis of systemic artery-to-pulmonary artery shunts
Authors: Fukamatsu Fumiaki , Yamada Akira , Yamada Keiichi , Nonaka Tomofumi , Aonuma Takanori , Tsukahara Yoshinori , Kawakami Satoshi , Sasaki Hiroyuki , Fujinaga Yasunari
Published: December 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic performance and feasibility of a modified computed tomography (CT) scan protocol, we performed a serial assessment of the computed tomography angiography for pulmonary artery (CTA-P) and systemic artery (CTA-S) (CTA-PS) using a reduced contrast agent dose to diagnose systemic artery-to-pulmonary artery shunts (SPSs).

Materials and methods

Twenty-five patients who underwent multiphase contrast-enhanced chest CT and conventional chest angiography were included. Three image sets (CTA-P, CTA-S, and CTA-PS) were evaluated by two board-certified radiologists. The visualization of the CT image findings associated with SPSs, such as filling defects and enhancement in the pulmonary arteries, was evaluated using a 5-point scale.

Results

The diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy) of CT imaging findings associated with SPSs in CTA-P and CTA-PS were as follows: CTA-P, 57.1%, 87.5%, and 62.0%; CTA-PS, 81.0%, 100.0%, and 84.0%. CT findings associated with SPSs in CTA-P were significantly sensitive to the CTA-PS protocol. There were no significant differences between the CTA-S and CTA-PS protocols. The area under the curve (AUC) of the CT imaging findings associated with SPSs in the CTA-P and CTA-PS groups was 0.835 and 0.911, respectively (P = 0.191). The AUC of the CT imaging findings associated with SPSs in CTA-S and CTA-PS were 0.891 and 0.926, respectively (P = 0.373).

Conclusion

CTA-PS using a reduced contrast agent dose protocol could improve the overall diagnostic confidence of SPSs, owing to better visualization of CT imaging findings associated with SPSs compared to individual assessments of CTA-P or CTA-S. Therefore, CTA-PS can be used as an alternative preembolization evaluation modality to conventional angiography in patients with hemoptysis suspected of having SPSs.
Managing Hypertension in Older Adults
Authors: Egan Brent M. , Mattix-Kramer Holly J. , Basile Jan N. , Sutherland Susan E.
Published: December 2023

Purpose of Review

The population of older adults 60–79 years globally is projected to double from 800 million to 1.6 billion between 2015 and 2050, while adults ≥ 80 years were forecast to more than triple from 125 to 430 million. The risk for cardiovascular events doubles with each decade of aging and each 20 mmHg increase of systolic blood pressure. Thus, successful management of hypertension in older adults is critical in mitigating the projected global health and economic burden of cardiovascular disease.

Recent Findings

Women live longer than men, yet with aging systolic blood pressure and prevalent hypertension increase more, and hypertension control decreases more than in men, i.e., hypertension in older adults is disproportionately a women’s health issue. Among older adults who are healthy to mildly frail, the absolute benefit of hypertension control, including more intensive control, on cardiovascular events is greater in adults ≥ 80 than 60–79 years old. The absolute rate of serious adverse events during antihypertensive therapy is greater in adults ≥ 80 years older than 60–79 years, yet the excess adverse event rate with intensive versus standard care is only moderately increased. Among adults ≥ 80 years, benefits of more intensive therapy appear non-existent to reversed with moderate to marked frailty and when cognitive function is less than roughly the twenty-fifth percentile. Accordingly, assessment of functional and cognitive status is important in setting blood pressure targets in older adults.

Given substantial absolute cardiovascular benefits of more intensive antihypertensive therapy in independent-living older adults, this group merits shared-decision making for hypertension targets.
Embracing fairness within a cross-efficiency hierarchical network DEA system
Authors: Xiao Siwei , Kremantzis Marios Dominikos , Kyrgiakos Leonidas Sotirios , Vlontzos George , Pardalos Panos M.
Published: December 2023

Several scholars have utilized hierarchical network Data Envelopment Analysis modeling techniques to assess the performance of complex structures. However, there has been limited consideration given to the integration of a peer-appraisal setting within a self-evaluation hierarchical context. This aims to enhance discriminatory power and mitigate the issue of unrealistic weighting scheme. To this end, our study extends the single-stage hierarchical additive self-evaluation model of Kao (Omega 51:121–127, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2014.09.008), by integrating the well-established cross-efficiency method. An original combination of a maxmin secondary goal model and the Criteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC) method is proposed, to expand the basic hierarchical self-evaluation model. The maxmin model addresses the issue of the non-unique optimal multipliers obtained from the self-evaluation model, ensuring a more realistic weight scheme. The CRITIC method, that tackles the aggregation problem by objectively determining weights of criteria, rewards the minority and is conducive to a fairer evaluation. Results indicate that the proposed approach is more likely to obtain a unique efficiency and ranking score for the units under consideration. This study entails a numerical experimentation aimed at evaluating the efficiency of a set of 20 universities while validating the applicability of our proposed approach. To conclude, the practical applications of this methodological framework could encompass assessing services within the higher education sector or fostering sustainable development across various operations within a hierarchical structure.
Towards implementation of warrant-based content self-moderation
Authors: Lin Herbert S.
Published: December 2023

This paper recaps the issue of online mis- and disinformation as a societal problem, reviews why government roles in defining mis- and disinformation are constitutionally suspect under First Amendment jurisprudence, and builds on a content-neutral theory of disincentivizing the production of mis- and disinformation first proposed by Marshall Van Alstyne. The purpose of this paper is to develop some key implementation details that would be necessary to resolve if the theory is to be adopted operationally.
The Dynamics of Interorganizational Collaboration in Disaster Management: A Network Study Based on Flood Disasters in China
Authors: Li Zhichao , Liu Long , Liu Shaodan
Published: December 2023

Interorganizational collaboration networks have become an important tool for disaster management. However, research on how different organizations can effectively collaborate throughout the entire disaster management process in centralized states such as China is scarce. This study begins to fill this lacuna by investigating interorganizational collaboration in different phases of disaster management and analyzing changes in the structure of the networks constructed during the preparedness and response phases of the 2020 flood disaster in Hubei Province, China. Building on the complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory, we argue that interorganizational collaboration changes dynamically according to its tasks and requirements. In the preparedness phase, interorganizational collaborations primarily follow established plans and choose horizontal self-organized collaboration mechanisms. However, when the urgent information and resource requirements increase in the response phase, many organizations choose vertical mandatory collaboration mechanisms. We found that organizations at the central and provincial levels in China were well positioned to coordinate information and resources and strengthen the interorganizational collaboration and communication that is crucial in disaster management. These findings contribute to the study of interorganizational collaboration networks in disaster management.
Prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months: a cross-sectional analysis from South-East Ethiopia
Authors: Ararsa Gosa Girma , Getachew Meheret Tena , Diddana Tona Zema , Alemayehu Fikadu Reta
Published: December 2023

To meet the 2030 goal to end all types of malnutrition, thoroughly investigating and addressing context-specific factors of undernutrition is crucial. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in South-East Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 580 randomly sampled mother–child pairs in February 2022. Socio-demographic, dietary intake, household food security (HFS), maternal knowledge and practices of child feeding, and the child's weight and height data were collected. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was done. The prevalence of stunted, wasted, and underweight children was 32⋅1, 7, and 9 %, respectively. Being male (AOR = 1⋅75), not using the growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) service (AOR = 1⋅50), household food insecurity (HFI) (AOR = 1⋅67), lack of improved water (AOR = 2⋅26), and bottle-feeding (AOR = 1⋅54) were significantly associated with stunting. Being male (AOR = 3⋅02), having low maternal knowledge on child-feeding practices (AOR = 3⋅89), not listening to the radio/television (AOR = 3⋅69), having a history of fever (AOR = 3⋅39), bottle-feeding (AOR = 3⋅58), and HFI (AOR = 3⋅77) were significantly predicted wasting. Being male (AOR = 3⋅44), not using GMP service (AOR = 2⋅00), having a history of fever (AOR = 4⋅24), lack of knowledge on optimal breastfeeding duration (AOR = 3⋅58), low maternal knowledge on child feeding (AOR = 2⋅21), HFI (AOR = 2⋅04), and lack of improved water (AOR = 3⋅00) showed significant association with underweight. In conclusion, stunting is alarmingly common while wasting and underweight are sub-optimal. Prevention of infectious disease, providing basic education for fathers, ensuring HFS; enhancing media access, maternal knowledge about IYCFP and improving water access; and GMP service utilisation are crucial to improve child nutrition.
Narration and Representation of Space in Amar Mezdad's Novel Tettḍilli-d ur d-tkeččem
Authors: Salhi Mohand Akli , Akli Samir
Published: December 2023

This article analyzes the narration and representation of space in Amar Mezdad's novel Tettḍilli-d ur d-tkeččem. Concretely, we highlight the relation between the spatial dimension and the narrative fulfillment of the novel. The main objective is to accentuate the way in which the spatial dimension is inscribed in the narration and in moments of narrative suspension (commentaries, descriptions, secondary tales, dialogues) and to present a more global reflection on the organization and the meaning of the space as well as the writing style of Mezdad.
Lyrical Opponency in Amazigh Music: The Racial and Gender Question in Tanddamt
Authors: Oudadene Hassane
Published: December 2023

A very significant sub-version that derives from Tirruyssa (ⵜⵉⵔⴻⵢⵙⴰ) is called Tanddamt (ⵜⴰⵏⴹⴰⵎⵜ), which refers to musical jousting between two seemingly opponent Rways and/or Raysat. Each singer attempts to address convincing and satirical chants to the opponent singer. Tanddamt is rich of social topoi such as race and gender. This chapter aims to deconstruct the discursive contexts that gave rise to the derivative form of tanddamt, and provide an in-depth analysis of the assorted images of eloquence and satire in the discourse of this melodious genre of contest. A close reading of the conversational poetics of tanddamt shall provide us with profound insight into individual as well as social worries and memories as expressed in the art of Tirruyssa. While the black-versus-white tanddamt triggers an historical debate of racial discourse, blackness, negritude, and slavery, the male-versus-female tanddamt revisits an everlasting discourse of gender discontentment. These binaries are an inherent subject in Amazigh music and constitute a source of acoustic pleasure for the audience. I argue that Tanddamt, as a refined art of lyrical opponency provides a considerable space for ‘subaltern’ expression in the public sphere, which sets it as a propitious canonical genre, amply instrumental in the enrichment of world literature.
Scientizing the ‘environment’: Solly Zuckerman and the idea of the School of Environmental Sciences
Authors: Honeybun-Arnolda Elliot
Published: December 2023

In 1960 Sir Solly Zuckerman proposed the idea of an interdisciplinary department of ‘environmental sciences’ (ENV) for the newly established University of East Anglia (UEA). Prior to this point, the concept of ‘environmental sciences’ was little known: since then, departments and degree courses have rapidly proliferated through universities and colleges around the globe. This paper draws on archival research to explore the conditions and contexts that led to the proposal of a new and interdisciplinary grouping of sciences by Zuckerman. It argues that the activities of Zuckerman and other scientists in Britain during the Second World War and in the post-war period helped to create fertile conditions for a new kind of scientific authority to emerge as a tool of governance and source of policy advice. In particular, the specific challenges of post-war Britain – as addressed through scientific advisers and civil servants – led to the ‘environment’ becoming both the subject of sustained scientific study and an object of concern.
Gyrokinetic moment-based simulations of the Dimits shift
Authors: Hoffmann A.C.D. , Frei B.J. , Ricci P.
Published: December 2023

We present a convergence study of the gyromoment (GM) approach, which is based on projecting the gyrokinetic distribution function onto a Hermite–Laguerre polynomial basis, focused on the cyclone base case (CBC) (Lin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 83, no. 18, 1999, pp. 3645–3648) and Dimits shift (Dimits et al., Phys. Plasmas, vol. 7, no. 3, 2000, pp. 969–983) as benchmarks. We report that the GM approach converges more rapidly in capturing the nonlinear dynamics of the CBC than the continuum GENE code (Jenko et al., Phys. Plasmas, vol. 7, no. 5, 2000, pp. 1904–1910) when comparing the number of points representing the velocity space. Increasing the velocity dissipation improves the convergence properties of the GM approach, albeit yielding a slightly larger saturated heat flux. By varying the temperature equilibrium gradient, we show that the GM approach successfully reproduces the Dimits shift (Dimits et al., Phys. Plasmas, vol. 7, no. 3, 2000, pp. 969–983) and effectively captures its width, which is in contrast to the gyrofluid framework. In the collisional regime, the convergence properties of the GM approach improve and a good agreement with previous global particle-in-cell results on transport is obtained (Lin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 83, no. 18, 1999, pp. 3645–3648). Finally, we report that the choice of collision model has a minimal impact both on the ion temperature gradient growth rate and on the nonlinear saturated heat flux, at tokamak-relevant collisionality.
Development and implementation of a new approach for posture control of a hexapod robot to walk in irregular terrains
Authors: Coelho Joana , Dias Bruno , Lopes Gil , Ribeiro Fernando , Flores Paulo
Published: December 2023

The adaptability of hexapods for various locomotion tasks, especially in rescue and exploration missions, drives their application. Unlike controlled environments, these robots need to navigate ever-changing terrains, where ground irregularities impact foothold positions and origin shifts in contact forces. This dynamic interaction leads to varying hexapod postures, affecting overall system stability. This study introduces a posture control approach that adjusts the hexapod’s main body orientation and height based on terrain topology. The strategy estimates ground slope using limb positions, thereby calculating novel limb trajectories to modify the hexapod’s angular position. Adjusting the hexapod’s height, based on the calculated slope, further enhances main body stability. The proposed methodology is implemented and evaluated on the ATHENA hexapod (All-Terrain Hexapod for Environment Adaptability). Control feasibility is assessed through dynamic analysis of the hexapod’s multibody model on irregular surfaces, using computational simulations in Gazebo software. Environmental complexity’s impact on hexapod stability is tested on both a ramp and uneven terrain. Independent analyses for each scenario evaluate the controller’s effect on roll and pitch angular velocities, as well as height variations. Results demonstrate the strategy’s suitability for both environments, significantly enhancing posture stability.
Beverage industry TV advertising shifts after a stepwise mandatory food marketing restriction: achievements and challenges with regulating the food marketing environment
Authors: Mediano Stoltze Fernanda , Correa Teresa , Corvalán Aguilar Camila Luz , Taillie Lindsey Smith , Reyes Marcela , Dillman Carpentier Francesca Renee
Published: December 2023

Objective:

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are heavily advertised globally, and SSB consumption is linked to increased health risk. To reduce unhealthy food marketing, Chile implemented a regulation for products classified as high in energies, sugar, saturated fat or sodium, starting with a 2016 ban on child-targeted advertising of these products and adding a 06.00–22.00 daytime advertising ban in 2019. This study assesses changes in television advertising prevalence of ready-to-drink beverages, including and beyond SSB, to analyse how the beverage industry shifted its marketing strategies across Chile’s implementation phases.

Design:

Beverage advertisements were recorded during two randomly constructed weeks in April-May of 2016 (pre-implementation) through 2019 (daytime ban). Ad products were classified as ‘high-in’ or ‘non-high-in’ according to regulation nutrient thresholds. Ads were analysed for their programme placement and marketing content.

Setting:

Chile.

Results:

From pre-regulation to daytime ban, child-targeted, daytime and total ads decreased by 51·8 percentage points (p.p.), 51·5 p.p. and 61·8 p.p. for high-in products and increased by 62·9 p.p., 54·9 p.p. and 61·8 p.p. for non-high-in products (Ps < 0·001). Additionally, total ready-to-drink beverage ads increased by 5·4 p.p. and brand-only ads (no product shown) by 7 p.p.

Conclusions:

After the regulation implementation, ‘high-in’ ads fell significantly, but ‘non-high-in’ ads rose and continued using strategies targeting children and being aired during daytime. Given research showing that advertising one product can increase preferences for a different product from that same brand and product categories, broader food marketing regulation approaches may be needed to protect children from the harmful effects of food marketing.
Bridging the Blue Divide: The Democrats’ New Metro Coalition and the Unexpected Prominence of Redistribution
Authors: Hacker Jacob S. , Malpas Amelia , Pierson Paul , Zacher Sam
Published: December 2023

The electoral base of the Democratic Party has been transformed over the past generation. Democrats have lost ground in rural America while adding strength in cities and, more recently, suburbs. A major consequence of this shift has been the creation of a “U-shaped” Democratic voting base, with both poorer metro voters and affluent suburbanites siding with the party. This spatial alliance overlays a multi-racial one, as Democrats rely more heavily on voters of color than any other major party in American history. Many analysts have argued that the Democratic Party has managed this sea change by shifting from economic to cultural and identity appeals. This claim is consistent with leading models of two-dimensional party competition, as well as a fair amount of cross-national research on parties of the left and center-left in contemporary knowledge economies. However, we find little evidence for this claim in national Democrats’ messaging (via party platforms and on Twitter), nor, more important, in their actual policy efforts. Instead, we show that even as Democrats have increasingly relied on affluent, educated voters, the party has embraced a more ambitious economic agenda. The national party has bridged the Blue Divide not by foreswearing redistribution or foregrounding cultural liberalism, but by formulating an increasingly bold economic program—albeit one that elides important inequalities within its metro-based multi-racial coalition. Understanding how and why Democrats have taken this path is central to understanding not just the party’s response to its shifting electorate, but the way parties manage coalitional change more broadly.
Phosphorus influence on the critical period of weed control in sweet corn
Authors: Rodriguez Alex G. , Sandhu Hardev S. , Wright Alan L. , Odero D. Calvin
Published: December 2023

Understanding the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilization on weed interference with sweet corn is important for deciding appropriate fertilization levels and weed control programs. Field experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 in Belle Glade, FL, to determine the influence of P fertilization levels (0 or residual P, 62.5, and 120 kg P2O5 ha−1) on the critical period of weed control (CPWC) in sweet corn on organic soils. Experimental plots were subjected to increased duration of weed interference and weed-free period treatments for each P fertilization level. The beginning and end of the CPWC based on 5% and 10% acceptable yield loss (AYL) levels were determined by fitting log-logistic and Gompertz models to represent the increasing duration of weed interference and duration of the weed-free period, respectively. The log-logistic curves did not estimate the beginning of the CPWC at 5% AYL for 0 and 125 kg P2O5 ha−1 because the estimated upper limits of the curves were lower than the 95% relative yield used for estimation of 5% AYL. Based on a 10% AYL level, the length of the CPWC in sweet corn under optimum P fertilization levels was estimated to be 27 d, from the 6- to 7-leaf stage until the silking stage of growth. Reducing P fertilization by 50% increased the CPWC to 36 d, from the 5-leaf stage until the silking to blister stage of growth. Lack of P fertilization increased the CPWC to 64 d, from sweet corn emergence until the blister to milk stage of growth. These results show that the beginning of the CPWC in sweet corn is delayed and the end is shortened as P fertilization level increases. Therefore reduction in P fertilization will require a more intensive weed management program for sweet corn because of the prolonged duration of the CPWC.
The Hemispheric Difference in Electric Potential and Electron Precipitation Observed by DMSP in the Auroral Zone
Authors: Chen Yun‐Ju , Heelis Roderick , Hairston Marc , Valladares Cesar
Published: December 2023

In this case study, we focus on how hemispheric differences in the electric potential distribution in the auroral zones are related to hemispheric differences in the energetic particle precipitation that indicate the presence of field‐aligned potential drops. Utilizing data during the spring and fall equinox in 2013 and 2014 from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F16 and F17 satellites, we systematically examine simultaneous measurements of plasma drift velocity and particle precipitation in magnetically conjugate regions across the auroral zone in both hemispheres. This allows us to establish the degree to which the interhemispheric differences in ionospheric electric potential may be accounted for by field‐aligned potential drops. Thirty‐seven eligible cases examined show accelerated electron energy spectra at conjugate locations in the northern and/or southern hemispheres. Of these 37 cases, 23 show conjugate differences in electric potential that agree qualitatively with the observed electron acceleration and average energy of precipitating electrons in each hemisphere. This result suggests that the hemispheric differences in ionospheric electric potential in the auroral zone may be most frequently accounted for by field‐aligned potential drops along the magnetic flux tubes connecting conjugate points to the equatorial plane. The spatial and temporal variability of the potential distribution, electron precipitation, and magnetic field configuration could account for deviations from the normally observed situation in the remaining cases. More magnetically conjugate observations at various altitudes in both hemispheres are needed to investigate this hemispheric coupling in more detail.
Impact of a Large Shallow Semi‐Enclosed Lagoon on Freshwater Exchange Across an Inlet Channel
Authors: Kida Shinichiro , Tanaka Kiyoshi , Isada Tomonori , Nakamura Tomohiro
Published: December 2023

The impact of a large shallow semi‐enclosed lagoon on freshwater exchange across an inlet channel is investigated using an idealized numerical model. Lagoons are often found between a river mouth and the ocean; we focus on those where the river discharge rate is small and the inlet channel is narrower and deeper than the lagoon. Tides generate freshwater and oceanic‐water plumes across the channel; a stratified freshwater plume forms in the ocean from the late ebb to early flood phase, while a vertically well‐mixed oceanic‐water plume forms in the lagoon from the late flood to early ebb phase. The shallow depth of the lagoon increases the flow speed of the oceanic‐water plume, which results in the formation of a sharp and vertically well‐mixed salinity front within the lagoon. When this front moves toward the ocean during the ebb phase, vertical mixing increases where the bathymetry deepens and freshwater encounters oceanic water below. Without a dredged bottom slope, the impact of mixing would be greatly reduced within the shallow lagoon and channel, as the shallow depth would limit the subsurface intrusion of oceanic water. The narrow channel further causes the flow to converge and accelerate, enhancing both internal shear‐driven and bottom boundary‐layer mixing at the channel and increasing freshwater plume thickness where it enters the ocean. Sensitivity experiments showed that the role of tidal pumping in freshwater exchange across the channel increases when the lagoon area and tidal mixing increase and when the estuarine Richardson number decreases.
Radium Isotopes as Tracers of Shelf‐Basin Exchange Processes in the Eastern Arctic Ocean
Authors: Kipp Lauren , Charette Matthew , Robbins Alyssa , Pnyushkov Andrey , Polyakov Igor , Whitmore Laura
Published: December 2023

Radium isotopes, which are sourced from sediments, are useful tools for studying potential climate‐driven changes in the transfer of shelf‐derived elements to the open Arctic Ocean. Here we present observations of radium‐228 and radium‐226 from the Siberian Arctic, focusing on the shelf‐basin boundary north of the Laptev and East Siberian Seas. Water isotopes and nutrients are used to deconvolve the contributions from different water masses in the study region, and modeled currents and water parcel back‐trajectories provide insights on water pathways and residence times. High radium levels and fractions of meteoric water, along with modeled water parcel back‐trajectories, indicate that shelf‐ and river‐influenced water left the East Siberian Shelf around 170°E in 2021; this is likely where the Transpolar Drift was entering the central Arctic. A transect extending from the East Siberian Slope into the basin is used to estimate a radium‐228 flux of 2.67 × 107 atoms m−2 d−1 (possible range of 1.23 × 107–1.04 × 108 atoms m−2 d−1) from slope sediments, which is comparable to slope fluxes in other regions of the world. A box model is used to determine that the flux of radium‐228 from the Laptev and East Siberian Shelves is 9.03 × 107 atoms m−2 d−1 (possible range of 3.87 × 107–1.56 × 108 atoms m−2 d−1), similar to previously estimated fluxes from the Chukchi Shelf. These three shelves contribute a disproportionately high amount of radium to the Arctic, highlighting their importance in regulating the chemistry of Arctic surface waters.
Two‐Dimensional Analytical Solution for Transient Flow in Unsaturated Soils Considering Hydromechanical Coupling
Authors: Tracy Fred T. , Vahedifard Farshid
Published: December 2023

This paper presents a two‐dimensional solution for unsaturated transient seepage flow in a trapezoidal region using analytical solutions for flow in a series of rectangular regions. The coupled formulation considers the interaction among fluid flow due to differences in head and displacement of soil particles. The solution in each rectangular region is derived using Laplace Transform and Discrete Fourier Series for two top boundary conditions: specified pressure head and specified flow rate. The accuracy of the proposed solution is verified by comparing the results against those attained from the finite difference method. The proposed solution is applied to two example problems, demonstrating its efficacy and accuracy. The findings show a significant difference in the coupled and uncoupled results for fine‐grained soils possessing a small Gardner's coefficient. Additionally, the uncoupled pressure heads advanced quicker to a steady state than the coupled ones for soils with a small Gardner's coefficient. The coupling effect becomes less prominent as Gardner's coefficient increases. This study is the first attempt in the literature to provide a solution for unsaturated flow in a trapezoidal or non‐rectangular domain using analytical solution techniques, which can better represent complex real‐world applications (e.g., slopes, embankments, dams).
Aspergillus fumigatus strains that evolve resistance to the agrochemical fungicide ipflufenoquin in vitro are also resistant to olorofim
Authors: van Rhijn Norman , Storer Isabelle S. R. , Birch Mike , Oliver Jason D. , Bottery Michael J. , Bromley Michael J.
Published: December 2023

Widespread use of azole antifungals in agriculture has been linked to resistance in the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. We show that exposure of A. fumigatus to the agrochemical fungicide, ipflufenoquin, in vitro can select for strains that are resistant to olorofim, a first-in-class clinical antifungal with the same mechanism of action. Resistance is caused by non-synonymous mutations within the target of ipflufenoquin/olorofim activity, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), and these variants have no overt growth defects.