bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biological lability of terrestrial DOM increases CO2 outgassing across Arctic shelves
Authors: Polimene Luca , Torres R. , Powley H. R. , Bedington M. , Juhls B. , Palmtag J. , Strauss J. , Mann P. J.
Published: September 2022

Arctic shelf seas receive greater quantities of river runoff than any other ocean region and are experiencing increased freshwater loads and associated terrestrial matter inputs since recent decades. Amplified terrestrial permafrost thaw and coastal erosion is exposing previously frozen organic matter, enhancing its mobilization and release to nearshore regions. Changing terrestrial dissolved organic matter (terr-DOM) loads and composition may alter shelf primary productivity and respiration, ultimately affecting net regional CO2 air–sea fluxes. However, the future evolution of Arctic Ocean climate feedbacks are highly dependent upon the biological degradability of terr-DOM in coastal waters, a factor often omitted in modelling studies. Here, we assess the sensitivity of CO2 air–sea fluxes from East Siberian Arctic Shelf (ESAS) waters to changing terr-DOM supply and degradability using a biogeochemical model explicitly accounting for bacteria dynamics and shifting terr-DOM composition. We find increasing terr-DOM loads and degradability trigger a series of biogeochemical and ecological processes shifting ESAS waters from a net sink to a net source of CO2, even after accounting for strengthening coastal productivity by additional land-derived nutrients. Our results suggest that future projected inputs of labile terr-DOM from peat and permafrost thaw may strongly increase the CO2 efflux from the Arctic shelf sea, causing currently unquantified positive feedback to climate change.
Adaptive immunity or evolutionary adaptation? Transgenerational immune systems at the crossroads
Authors: Veigl Sophie Juliane
Published: September 2022

In recent years, immune systems have sparked considerable interest within the philosophy of science. One issue that has received increased attention is whether other phyla besides vertebrates display an adaptive immune system. Particularly the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9-based systems has triggered a discussion about how to classify adaptive immune systems. One question that has not been addressed yet is the transgenerational aspect of the CRISPR-Cas9-based response. If immunity is acquired and inherited, how to distinguish evolutionary from immunological adaptation? To shed light on this issue and obtain conceptual clarity, I will investigate the inheritance of small RNA responses to pathogens in the nematode C. elegans as a further potential instantiation of a transgenerational adaptive immune system. I will explore how to make sense of systems that lie at the crossroads between genetic, immunological, and evolutionary spheres and explore the consequences of a transgenerational perspective on immune systems for immunology and its philosophy.
Misrepresentation of Marginalized Groups: A Critique of Epistemic Neocolonialism
Authors: Chowdhury Rashedur
Published: September 2022

I argue that meta-ignorance and meta-insensitivity are the key sources influencing the reoccurrence of the (un)conscious misrepresentation of marginalized groups in management and organization research; such misrepresentation, in effect, perpetuates epistemic neocolonialism. Meta-ignorance describes incorrect epistemic attitudes, which render researchers ignorant about issues such as contextual history and emotional and political aspects of a social problem. Researcher meta-ignorance can be a permanent feature, given how researchers define, locate, and make use of their epistemic positionality and privilege. In contrast, meta-insensitivity is a special issue that arises when researchers miss multiple opportunities to capture valuable aspects of marginalized groups’ voices or their life experiences and expectations. The problem of meta-insensitivity during fieldwork is more serious because researchers—despite their apparent willingness to be innovative—fail to understand how to be sensitive toward marginalized groups. The perpetuation of these elements’ misrepresentation contributes to long-lasting negative consequences for marginalized groups. To counter this, I introduce and conceptualize the idea of oppositional views which researchers can mobilize to address misrepresentation of marginalized groups and challenge epistemic neocolonialism.
Cost-Effectiveness of CCTV Surveillance Systems: Evidence from a Polish City
Authors: Matczak Piotr , Wójtowicz Andrzej , Dąbrowski Adam , Mączka Krzysztof
Published: September 2022

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance has been increasingly popular worldwide as a crime prevention measure, while its effectiveness, efficiency, and related privacy issues are debated. In this paper, we investigated whether the municipal CCTV surveillance system is cost-effective in the case study of Poznan, Poland. The analysis comprised (a) the preventive effectiveness of CCTV, (b) costs of CCTV surveillance system installation and operation, and (c) costs of crime. We collected police data on three categories of street crimes: (a) car burglary/theft, (b) car damage, and (c) robbery, as well as data on the costs of CCTV surveillance system construction and maintenance. We searched for a year after installing the CCTV system when the accumulated, hypothetical financial cost of crime was higher than the actual accumulated cost of crime and CCTV installation and maintenance in any treatment area. The number of crimes in a given category was predicted based on a comparable control area, where there were no cameras. Our study suggests that CCTV surveillance is cost-ineffective in most areas. This result implies the cautious development of CCTV surveillance, taking into account the target crime types and costs, including social costs and benefits. Evaluating cost-effectiveness, although considered as a robust measure, is in practice difficult. However, analysis of the correlation between land use characteristics and cost-effectiveness may provide practical advice on where to develop CCTV surveillance monitoring.
HyperQuaternionE: A hyperbolic embedding model for qualitative spatial and temporal reasoning
Authors: Cai Ling , Janowicz Krzysztof , Zhu Rui , Mai Gengchen , Yan Bo , Wang Zhangyu
Published: September 2022

Qualitative spatial/temporal reasoning (QSR/QTR) plays a key role in research on human cognition, e.g., as it relates to navigation, as well as in work on robotics and artificial intelligence. Although previous work has mainly focused on various spatial and temporal calculi, more recently representation learning techniques such as embedding have been applied to reasoning and inference tasks such as query answering and knowledge base completion. These subsymbolic and learnable representations are well suited for handling noise and efficiency problems that plagued prior work. However, applying embedding techniques to spatial and temporal reasoning has received little attention to date. In this paper, we explore two research questions: (1) How do embedding-based methods perform empirically compared to traditional reasoning methods on QSR/QTR problems? (2) If the embedding-based methods are better, what causes this superiority? In order to answer these questions, we first propose a hyperbolic embedding model, called HyperQuaternionE, to capture varying properties of relations (such as symmetry and anti-symmetry), to learn inversion relations and relation compositions (i.e., composition tables), and to model hierarchical structures over entities induced by transitive relations. We conduct various experiments on two synthetic datasets to demonstrate the advantages of our proposed embedding-based method against existing embedding models as well as traditional reasoners with respect to entity inference and relation inference. Additionally, our qualitative analysis reveals that our method is able to learn conceptual neighborhoods implicitly. We conclude that the success of our method is attributed to its ability to model composition tables and learn conceptual neighbors, which are among the core building blocks of QSR/QTR.
Extra-special quotients of surface braid groups and double Kodaira fibrations with small signature
Authors: Polizzi Francesco , Sabatino Pietro
Published: September 2022

We study some special systems of generators on finite groups, introduced in previous work by the first author and called diagonal double Kodaira structures, in order to investigate finite non-abelian quotients of the pure braid group on two strands $${\mathsf {P}}_2(\Sigma _b)$$

P
2

(

Σ
b

)

, where $$\Sigma _b$$

Σ
b

is a closed Riemann surface of genus b. In particular, we prove that, if a finite group G admits a diagonal double Kodaira structure, then $$|G|\ge 32$$

|
G
|
≥
32

, and equality holds if and only if G is extra-special. In the last section, as a geometrical application of our algebraic results, we construct two 3-dimensional families of double Kodaira fibrations having signature 16. Such surfaces are different from the ones recently constructed by Lee, Lönne and Rollenske and, as far as we know, they provide the first examples of positive-dimensional families of double Kodaira fibrations with small signature.
Identifying Metacognitive Behavior in Problem-Posing Processes
Authors: Baumanns Lukas , Rott Benjamin
Published: September 2022

Insights into the process of mathematical problem posing is a central concern in mathematics education research. However, little is known about regulative or metacognitive behaviors that are essential to understanding this process. In this study, we investigate metacognitive behavior in problem posing. We aim at (1) identifying problem-posing-specific metacognitive behaviors and (2) applying these identified metacognitive behaviors to illustrate differences in problem-posing processes. For these aims, we identified problem-posing-specific metacognitive behaviors of planning, monitoring & control, and evaluating in task-based interviews with primary and secondary pre-service teachers. As a proof of concept, the identified behaviors are applied on two selected transcript fragments to illustrate how a problem-posing-specific framework of metacognitive behavior reveals differences in problem-posing processes.
Epistemic Emotions and Observations Are Intertwined in Scientific Sensemaking: A Study among Upper Secondary Physics Students
Authors: Vilhunen Elisa , Chiu Mei-Hung , Salmela-Aro Katariina , Lavonen Jari , Juuti Kalle
Published: September 2022

This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between emotions and development of scientific understanding by examining (1) how students perform in scientific sensemaking in the context of a three-cycle predict-observe-explain (POE) activity, (2) what kind of trajectories of situational epistemic emotions students show when making sense of the phenomenon, and (3) how students’ performance in sensemaking is related to their emotional trajectories. Data from 109 participant students were collected in six upper secondary physics classes. Students’ performance in sensemaking was evaluated based on their answers on POE items and categorised through qualitative content analysis. Situational epistemic emotions (surprise, curiosity, confusion, and boredom) were measured using a four-point Likert scale after each POE cycle. Latent class growth analysis was used to identify groups of students with distinctive emotional trajectories. The relationship between the performance in POE activity and emotional trajectories was explored by a chi-square test. The results indicate that students’ inability to make relevant observations is significantly related to experienced boredom. Furthermore, students who perform better in making sense of the phenomenon are more likely to experience surprise, curiosity, and confusion. This implies that engaging students to be curious when they observe and test predictions is an important mission for curriculum designers and teachers in practice. The findings underline the importance of epistemic emotions in educational settings and the complexity of the interplay between cognitive and affective factors in learning situations.
Investigating how Explicit Contextual Cues Affect Predictive Sensorimotor Control in Autistic Adults
Authors: Arthur Tom , Brosnan Mark , Harris David , Buckingham Gavin , Wilson Mark , Williams Genevieve , Vine Sam
Published: September 2022

Research suggests that sensorimotor difficulties in autism could be reduced by providing individuals with explicit contextual information. To test this, we examined autistic visuomotor control during a virtual racquetball task, in which participants hit normal and unexpectedly-bouncy balls using a handheld controller. The probability of facing each type of ball was varied unpredictably over time. However, during cued trials, participants received explicit information about the likelihood of facing each uncertain outcome. When compared to neurotypical controls, autistic individuals displayed poorer task performance, atypical gaze profiles, and more restricted swing kinematics. These visuomotor patterns were not significantly affected by contextual cues, indicating that autistic people exhibit underlying differences in how prior information and environmental uncertainty are dynamically modulated during movement tasks.
Will You Make Me Happy? The Role of Dating and Dating Violence Victimisation in Happiness Among Adolescents in Europe
Authors: Jaskulska Sylwia , Jankowiak Barbara , Sanz-Barbero Belén , De Claire Karen , Bowes Nicola , Silva Estefânia , Neves Sofia , Albaladejo-Blázquez Natalia , Pyżalski Jacek , Waszyńska Katarzyna , Chmura-Rutkowska Iwona , Vives-Cases Carmen
Published: September 2022

Purpose: the aim of the article is to show the role of dating and dating violence victimisation, different socioeconomic characteristics, personal experiences of abuse, perceived social support, and the ability to resolve social problems in happiness among adolescents in Europe.

Methods: the study had a cross-sectional design. The study participants were 1.528 students from secondary schools (age 13–16) in Spain, Italy, Romania, Portugal, Poland, and the UK. In order to understand which variables were associated with happiness, we fit multiple regression models.

Results: the mean value of happiness is lower when teens are in a romantic or dating relationship and have suffered physical and/or sexual violence [β (CI 95%): -1.32(-2.41; -0.22)].

Both not being a victim of bullying and cyberbullying [β(CI 95%):0.90 (0.38; 1.41)] and not witnessing domestic violence against the mother β(CI 95%):1.97(1.06; 2.87)] is associated with relatively higher mean happiness value compared to having such experiences of violence. Also, problem-solving skills [β (CI 95%):0.13 (0.11; 0.14)] and perception of social support [β (CI 95%): 0.03 (0.02, 0.03)] is positively associated with mean value of happiness.

Conclusions: there is an association between dating violence victimisation, and happiness among adolescents in Europe. The results suggest the importance of creating healthy, non-violent romantic relationships to build happiness during adolescence, the importance of seeking social support and to provide educational interventions focused on the development of problem-solving skills.
Investigation of Superconducting Molybdenum Silicide Nanostrips and Microstrips for Single Photon Detectors
Authors: Parlato L. , Salvoni D. , Ejrnaes M. , Mattioli F. , Gaggero A. , Martini F. , Massarotti D. , Montemurro D. , Satariano R. , Ferraiuolo R. , Chianese F. , Tafuri F. , Cristiano R. , Pepe G. P.
Published: September 2022

Superconducting nanostrip single photon detectors have emerged as the highest performing single-photon detectors; however, the possibility to use superconducting microstrip as single photon detectors is very appealing both to use them as larger areas detectors and for an easier technology in the manufacturing. The aim of this work is to test the photoresponse in liquid helium dewar of 9 nm thick MoSi covered with a very thin (2 nm) layer of Al, in two different configurations: nanomeanders and microstrips. We demonstrate that MoSi/Al microstrips can work as photodetectors also at T = 4.2 K. We also compare the dark count rate of the microstrip and the nanowire, confirming the lower noise for the microstrips also at 4.2 K.
A Testbed for Modeling Validation and Characterization of Quasi-optical Elements in Microwave Receivers
Authors: Lamagna L. , Basilicata M. , Occhiuzzi A. , Columbro F. , Coppolecchia A. , D’Alessandro G. , Bernardis P. de , Masi S. , Mele L. , Paiella A. , Pisano G.
Published: September 2022

We describe the setup for the broadband millimeter/submillimeter characterization of the quasi-optical elements and the dielectric materials commonly used in microwave receivers operated in microwave astronomy. The setup is made of a large aperture (100 mm) Fourier transform spectrometer coupled to a transition edge superconducting detector. The system has been assembled and characterized in different configurations and operation modes for the acquisition of interferograms from various kinds of samples. After the initial test runs, the configuration is now being updated to ensure a broader range of measurements, including reflectance and scattering. We plan to first use this testbed for the characterization of the dielectric materials used in the LSPE/SWIPE experiment, devoted to the study the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background.
Development of an Organic Plastic Scintillator-based Muon Veto Operating at Sub-Kelvin Temperatures for the NUCLEUS Experiment
Authors: Erhart A. , Wagner V. , Klinkenberg L. , Lasserre T. , Lhuillier D. , Nones C. , Rogly R. , Savu V. , Strauss R. , Vivier M. ,   on behalf of the NUCLEUS collaboration
Published: September 2022

The NUCLEUS experiment aims at measuring the coherent elastic scattering of nuclear reactor antineutrinos off nuclei using cryogenic calorimeters. Operating at an overburden of 3 m.w.e., muon-induced backgrounds are expected to be dominant. It is therefore essential to develop an efficient muon veto, with a detection efficiency of more than 99 %. This will be realized in NUCLEUS through a compact cube assembly of plastic scintillator panels. In order to prevent a large unshielded area where the cryostat intersects the shielding arrangement without unnecessarily increasing the induced detector dead time, a novel concept has been investigated, featuring a plastic scintillator-based active muon veto operating inside the NUCLEUS cryostat at sub-Kelvin temperatures. The verification of the key physical aspects of this cryogenic muon veto detector led to the first reported measurements of organic plastic scintillators at sub-Kelvin temperatures. The functionality of the principal scintillation process of organic plastic scintillators at these temperatures has been confirmed. On the basis of these findings, a disk-shape plastic scintillator equipped with wavelength shifting fibers and a silicon photomultiplier to guide and detect the scintillation light has been developed. The NUCLEUS cryogenic muon veto will be the first of its kind to be operated at sub-Kelvin temperatures.
Thermal analysis of the biceps tendon samples obtained from patients underwent reversed shoulder arthroplasty for comminuted proximal humerus fractures
Authors: Nöt László G. , Bata András , Lábas Zoltán , Szabó Hajnalka , Cifra János , Lőrinczy Dénes
Published: September 2022

Most commonly occurring in elderly patients, the comminuted 4-part or Neer VI type proximal humerus fractures frequently necessitate complete shoulder replacement. Despite the recent advances in imaging technologies, there is still a need for more information about the degree of joint degeneration and changes of the collagen content of tendons to select the proper implant type. It is known that human long head biceps tendon subjected to synovial inflammation and mechanical wear could result in tear and structural damage. Differential scanning calorimetry has already been demonstrated to be a dependable in the assessment of collagen in degenerative tendon conditions. The purpose of the study was to determine whether variations in thermal parameters detected by DSC are related to the degenerative changes of LHBT samples. LHBT tendons were collected from patients who had reversed shoulder arthroplasty because of trauma. DSC was utilized to measure the thermodynamic changes. Macroscopical, radiological and histological assessment were also performed. Based on the thermal parameters and denaturation curves, LHBT samples collected of patients underwent reversed shoulder arthroplasty due to comminuted proximal humerus fracture have shown minimal or mild degenerative injuries. These data were supported by preoperative radiological examination and histological analysis. The authors suggest that DSC could be a useful investigative tool in the clinical evaluation of tendon injuries.
The objective that freed me: a multi-objective local search approach for continuous single-objective optimization
Authors: Aspar Pelin , Steinhoff Vera , Schäpermeier Lennart , Kerschke Pascal , Trautmann Heike , Grimme Christian
Published: September 2022

Single-objective continuous optimization can be challenging, especially when dealing with multimodal problems. This work sheds light on the effects that multi-objective optimization may have in the single-objective space. For this purpose, we examine the inner mechanisms of the recently developed sophisticated local search procedure SOMOGSA. This method solves multimodal single-objective continuous optimization problems based on first expanding the problem with an additional objective (e.g., a sphere function) to the bi-objective domain and subsequently exploiting local structures of the resulting landscapes. Our study particularly focuses on the sensitivity of this multiobjectivization approach w.r.t. (1) the parametrization of the artificial second objective, as well as (2) the position of the initial starting points in the search space. As SOMOGSA is a modular framework for encapsulating local search, we integrate Nelder–Mead local search as optimizer in the respective module and compare the performance of the resulting hybrid local search to its original single-objective counterpart. We show that the SOMOGSA framework can significantly boost local search by multiobjectivization. Hence, combined with more sophisticated local search and metaheuristics, this may help solve highly multimodal optimization problems in the future.
Synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles by decomposition of iron-oleate: influence of the heating rate on the particle size
Authors: Ullrich Aladin , Rahman Mohammad Mostafizar , Azhar Ahmed , Kühn Michael , Albrecht Manfred
Published: September 2022

Nanoparticles from transition metal oxides can be synthesized in various ways. A common synthesis route uses metal-oleate complex precursors that can be thermally decomposed, leading to crystalline metal-oxide nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. The morphology of nanoparticles synthesized in such a way is strongly influenced by the synthesis parameters. In this study, the influence of the heating profile during the decomposition of iron oleate precursor on the size of the resulting iron oxide nanoparticles in the presence of surfactants was investigated. As surfactants oleic acid and sodium oleate were utilized for nanoparticle synthesis allowing additionally for shape control. Most of the prepared nanoparticles reveal a characteristic core–shell structure. The dominant structure is the cubic spinel structure of maghemite (γ-(Fe3+)2O3) or magnetite (Fe2+(Fe3+)2O4), while in the core region of the nanoparticles, wustite (Fe2+O) is present. The heating rate applied for the nanoparticle synthesis was systematically varied from 1 to 30 °C/min, while all other parameters were kept constant. A strong increase of the particle size (> 20 nm) was observed for low heating rates, which could be explained qualitatively in the frame of the LaMer model and allows for fine-tuning and control of the particle size.
Evidence that financing decisions contribute to the zero-earnings discontinuity
Authors: Makarem Naser , Liu Frank Hong , Chen Lei
Published: September 2022

In this paper we argue that financing decisions contribute to the zero-earnings discontinuity. We find a discontinuity in the distribution of earnings before tax and earnings before special items, but not in the distribution of earnings before interest which suggests that interest expense contributes to the zero-earnings discontinuity. To investigate the role of interest expense in the zero-earnings discontinuity, we further show that there was a discontinuity in the distribution of the level of debt issues around zero earnings contemporaneous with the zero-earnings discontinuity. We also show that the recent disappearance of zero-earnings discontinuity is coincident with the disappearance of the discontinuity in the debt issuance distribution. Overall, our findings suggest that the level of debt contributed to the zero-earnings discontinuity when it existed.
Was unterscheidet Führung in Präsenz vom virtuellen Raum?
Authors: Schullan Bernhard
Published: September 2022

Die Diskussion über Führung in Präsenz und in der virtuellen Welt hat durch die Covid19 bedingte Verlagerung von Arbeitsplätzen in die Homeoffices neuen Schwung aufgenommen. Jedoch muss in die Diskussion miteinfließen, wie und wodurch Führung wirksam wird. Kommunikation auf sachlicher, affektiver und emotionaler Ebene ist das Bindeglied zwischen Führungskraft und Geführten. Aber gerade Kommunikation unterscheidet sich grundlegend in Präsenz und im virtuellen Raum. Das Kommunikationsmodell von Owen Hargie beschreibt detailliert die einzelnen Kommunikationsanteile in verbaler und nonverbaler Kommunikation. Somit können die einzelnen Kommunikationsanteile für die virtuelle, also technische Übertragung einzeln untersucht und bewertet werden.
Thermal and photoperiodic requirements of the seedling stage of three tropical forest species
Authors: Martins Fabrina Bolzan , de Cássia Ferreira Mábele , Fagundes Flávia Fernanda Azevedo , Florêncio Gabriel Wilson Lorena
Published: September 2022

Air temperature and photoperiod play an important role in the seedling development for tropical forest species. Both variables are sensitive to climate, and so evaluating thermal and photoperiodic effects on seedling development is fundamental, especially for climate change studies. Methods to quantify thermal time and the energy required for plants to reach a development stage include air temperature and cardinal temperatures. The photoperiod will also affect physiological reactions of a plant and thus its development. Here we evaluated the six thermal time methods widely used to compute thermal requirement, and identified the influence of the photoperiod from the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons and 12 sowing dates in Itajubá, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, on seedling development of three native tropical forest species Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae), Citharexylum myrianthum Cham. (Verbenaceae), and Bixa orellana L. (Bixaceae). The method used to quantify thermal time influenced the analytical results of seedling development; the one that considered three cardinal temperatures and compared them with the mean air temperature (Method 5) performed better in computing thermal requirements. The influence of photoperiod on seedling development was inconclusive for the three species, but all three developed better in mild temperatures (between 13.3 °C and 26.9 °C) with a photoperiod shorter than 13 h.
Husband is a Priority: Gender Roles, Patriarchy and the Naming of Female Children in Nigeria
Authors: Mensah Eyo O.
Published: September 2022

In onomastic practices of some traditional societies in Nigeria, stereotyped gender roles and patriarchy are deliberately perpetuated in the naming of female children, thus using naming traditions as weapons against girl-children. In these cultures, names are bestowed on female children to align with existing sexist norms and gender ideology in which the namer is dominant and the named is subservient. This article explores, from an ethnographic qualitative approach, the politics of this naming regime, and highlights the centrality of naming in the social construction of gender in two cultural traditions in Nigeria: Bette (South-east), and Owe (North-central), which entrench inequality and illuminate power and dominance against the girl-child. It considers the implications of this regime of names on the girl-child from the perspective of “doing gender” (West and Zimmermann in Gender Soc 1:125–151, 1987), which simultaneously recreates and reinforces the cultural meaning of gender and the systems of power and oppression on which it rests. I demonstrate how personal names are overtly used to enact conformism and/or resistance to patriarchy and the results, based on linguistic evidence, reveal that participants who conform to traditional gender norms or ideologies tended to reify inequality and oppressive gender regime through the choice of their names. Participants who resisted normative conception of gender opened up space for agency and autonomy, and thus expanded the frontiers of their gender expression.
On the Use of Eye Movements in Symptom Validity Assessment of Feigned Schizophrenia
Authors: Ales Francesca , Giromini Luciano , Warmelink Lara , Polden Megan , Wilcockson Thomas , Kelly Claire , Winters Christina , Zennaro Alessandro , Crawford Trevor
Published: September 2022

Assessing the credibility of reported mental health problems is critical in a variety of assessment situations, particularly in forensic contexts. Previous research has examined how the assessment of performance validity can be improved through the use of bio-behavioral measures (e.g., eye movements). To date, however, there is a paucity of literature on the use of eye tracking technology in assessing the validity of presented symptoms of schizophrenia, a disorder that is known to be associated with oculomotor abnormalities. Thus, we collected eye tracking data from 83 healthy individuals during the completion of the Inventory of Problems – 29 and investigated whether the oculomotor behavior of participants instructed to feign schizophrenia would differ from those of control participants asked to respond honestly. Results showed that feigners had a longer dwell time and a greater number of fixations in the feigning-keyed response options, regardless of whether they eventually endorsed those options (d > 0.80). Implications on how eye tracking technology can deepen comprehension on simulation strategies are discussed, as well as the potential of investigating eye movements to advance the field of symptom validity assessment.
What do Older Adults Want from Social Robots? A Qualitative Research Approach to Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Studies
Authors: Søraa Roger Andre , Tøndel Gunhild , Kharas Mark W. , Serrano J Artur
Published: September 2022

This study investigates what older adults want from social robots. Older adults are often presented with social robots designed based on developers’ assumptions that only vaguely address their actual needs. By lacking an understanding of older adults’ opinions of what technology should or could do for them–and what it should not do–we risk users of robots not finding them useful. Social and humanistic research on the robotization of care argues that it is important to prioritize user needs in technology design and implementation. Following this urgent call, we investigate older adults’ experiences of and approach to social robots in their everyday lives. This is done empirically through a qualitative analysis of data collected from six group interviews on care robots with health care service users, informal caregivers (relatives), and professional caregivers (healthcare workers). Through this “Need-Driven-Innovation” study we argue that, to secure a functional and valuable technology-fit for the user, it is crucial to take older adults’ wishes, fears, and desires about technology into account when implementing robots. It is also crucial to consider their wider networks of care, as the people in these networks also often interact with the assistive technology service users receive. Our study shows that more qualitative knowledge on the social aspect of human-robot interaction is needed to support future robot development and use in the health and care field and advocates for the crucial importance of strengthening the position of user-centered qualitative research in the field of social robotics.
Accuracy of mobile 6-lead electrocardiogram device for assessment of QT interval: a prospective validation study
Authors: Bergeman A. T. , Pultoo S. N. J. , Winter M. M. , Somsen G. A. , Tulevski I. I. , Wilde A. A. M. , Postema P. G. , van der Werf C.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Ambulatory assessment of the heart rate–corrected QT interval (QTc) can be of diagnostic value, for example in patients on QTc-prolonging medication. Repeating sequential 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) to monitor the QTc is cumbersome, but mobile ECG (mECG) devices can potentially solve this problem. As the accuracy of single-lead mECG devices is reportedly variable, a multilead mECG device may be more accurate.

Methods

This prospective dual-centre study included outpatients visiting our cardiology clinics for any indication. Participants underwent an mECG recording using a smartphone-enabled 6‑lead mECG device immediately before or immediately after a conventional 12-lead ECG recording. Multiple QTc values in both recordings were manually measured in leads I and II using the tangent method and subsequently compared.

Results

In total, 234 subjects were included (mean ± standard deviation (SD) age: 57 ± 17 years; 58% males), of whom 133 (57%) had cardiac disease. QTc measurement in any lead was impossible due to artefacts in 16 mECGs (7%) and no 12-lead ECGs. Mean (± SD) QTc in lead II on the mECG and 12-lead ECG was 401 ± 30 and 406 ± 31 ms, respectively. Mean (± SD) absolute difference in QTc values between both modalities was 12 ± 9 ms (r = 0.856; p < 0.001). In 55% of the subjects, the absolute difference between QTc values was < 10 ms.

Conclusion

A 6-lead mECG allows for QTc assessment with good accuracy and can be used safely in ambulatory QTc monitoring. This may improve patient satisfaction and reduce healthcare costs.
Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Peer Relationships of Children and Adolescents: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Dai Xiaolu , Du Nan , Shi Songyun , Lu Shuang
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Peer relationships play a critical role throughout childhood and adolescence. This meta-analysis systematically reviews the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on peer relationships of children and adolescents.

Methods

We identified 21 relevant studies from 12 databases. The overall intervention effect size was estimated with the pooled standardized mean difference using random-effects models. Moderator analyses were performed to explore the variability in intervention effects. Fidelity data were synthesized narratively. Risk of bias and publication bias were also assessed.

Results

MBIs showed small positive within-group effects (g = 0.48, 95% CI [0.33, 0.62]) and between-group effects (g = 0.40, 95% CI [0.18, 0.62]) on peer relationships. The effects of MBIs on peer relationships varied significantly by participant age and facilitator background.

Conclusions

MBIs show promising effects in improving peer relationships among children and adolescents. However, considering the limited evidence currently available, more studies are needed to validate the efficacy of the interventions.

Meta-analysis Pre-registration

PROSPERO #CRD42021232836
Durability of lightweight oil-well geopolymer system in sulfate environment
Authors: Adjei Stephen , Abdelaal Ahmed , Elkatatny Salaheldin , Abdelfattah Ahmed Mohsen
Published: September 2022

Sulfates when present in the formation water would attack and deteriorate the cementitious system. In the quest to investigate the possibility of using geopolymer systems in oil-well cementing, the durability of geopolymer in various corrosive environments has been simulated. Lightweight geopolymer systems exhibit different microstructural and macroscopic properties compared to the conventional geopolymer systems whose durability under sulfate attack has been widely investigated. It is therefore important to study the resistance of lightweight geopolymer to sulfate attack. A ternary geopolymer was formulated at 13 ppg (1.56 g/cm3) by admixing metakaolin, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), and silica fume in an alkaline solution composed of sodium silicate and 10 M sodium hydroxide solution in a mass ratio 1:3. The geopolymer specimen was cured in a water bath at 163 °F for 72 h and subsequently submerged in a 50 g/L sodium sulfate solution for up to 2 days. The effect of the sulfate solution on the strength and the mechanism of the sulfate attack was analyzed using analytical techniques, pH, and ion exchange measurements. The compressive strength of the specimen at 72 h, having a value of 802 psi decreased by 19.8% and 26.2% after day 1 and day 2 in the sodium sulfate solution, respectively. Investigation of the mechanism indicated that the loss in strength was not a result of the formation of deleterious phases but rather the leaching of Na ions from the geopolymer indicated by the rise in the pH and amount of Na ions in the sodium sulfate solution after the geopolymer was submerged in a sulfate solution. Lightweight geopolymer has a relatively loose microstructure that reduces its tendency to inhibit the transport of alkalis during sulfate attack, making the effect of the sulfate environment more pronounced.
The role of cover crops in improving soil fertility and plant nutritional status in temperate climates. A review
Authors: Scavo Aurelio , Fontanazza Stefania , Restuccia Alessia , Pesce Gaetano Roberto , Abbate Cristina , Mauromicale Giovanni
Published: September 2022

Cover crops (CCs) are a promising and sustainable agronomic practice to ameliorate soil health and crop performances. However, the complex of relationships between CCs, the soil, and the plant nutritional status has been little investigated. In this article, for the first time, we critically review, under a holistic approach, the reciprocal relationships between CCs and the soil physical and hydraulic properties, microbial, and faunal communities, soil nutrient availability, and plant nutritional status in temperate climates. For each of these topics, we report the current state of understanding, the influence of CC management options and suggested strategies, thus including both fundamental and applied aspects. In addition, we provide a detailed focus on the history of CCs and a list of the main temperate CCs. Cover cropping is a helpful practice in improving the physical, chemical, and biological soil properties, optimizing nutrient use efficiency and reducing the dependency of crops on external supplies of nutrients. The interactions between CCs and the nutritional status of soil and plants are complex and dynamic. Their understanding could be useful to set up an appropriate and site-specific management of fertilization. Management options play a key role in developing an effective and context-specific cover cropping.
Pediatric hospital admissions, case severity, and length of hospital stay during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary children’s hospital in Switzerland
Authors: Bögli Jasmin , Güsewell Sabine , Strässle Rita , Kahlert Christian R. , Albrich Werner C.
Published: September 2022

Background

SARS-CoV-2 directly contributes to the burden of respiratory disease in children, but indirect effects of protective measures also need to be considered to assess the overall impact of the pandemic on children's health.

Methods

We retrospectively compared pre-pandemic and pandemic data of main admission diagnoses, sorted by ICD-10 diagnosis groups, in a tertiary children's hospital in Switzerland from 2017 until August 2021. Hospital admission rates, severity, and length of stay (LOS) of the individual ICD-10 groups during the pandemic were compared with three previous years accounting for seasonal differences.

Results

Among 20,168 hospital admissions (n = 13′950 in pre-pandemic years; n = 3′120 in 2020 and n = 3′098 in 2021), there were significant decreases in numbers of admissions for respiratory diseases during the early pandemic with a rebound in summer 2021. During the pandemic, admissions for non-respiratory infections, neoplasms, and skin diseases decreased but increased for trauma. Particularly, a drop in admissions for different respiratory infections [e.g. respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and bronchiolitis] was pronounced after introduction of strict measures, but admissions increased again after restrictions were loosened. While disease severity was lower for respiratory and neurologic diseases and bronchiolitis throughout the pandemic, gastrointestinal disease admissions had longer LOS and in the first pandemic year greater severity. For RSV and pneumonia, disease severity and LOS were higher in the first pandemic year and lower in the second pandemic year.

Conclusion

The pandemic and associated protective measures had a significant effect on respiratory and non-respiratory admissions, particularly with decreases in hospital admissions for respiratory infections followed by a rebound after loosening of measures.
Fear, freedom and political culture during COVID-19
Authors: Soutphommasane Tim , Stears Marc
Published: September 2022

Australia’s experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely perceived to have been a successful one, based on the relatively few number of lives lost to the virus compared to the rest of the world. There remain, nonetheless, serious ethical challenges at the heart of the Australian response to COVID-19. The broadly positive outcomes of Australia’s pandemic response mask more troubling developments within its political culture, and the costs it has imposed on its society. This article examines two concerns in particular: the normalisation of fear and emergency through the language and policy responses adopted by governments, and the significant diminution of individual freedoms and human rights.
Sentiment analysis in learning resources
Authors: Salazar Camilo , Montoya-Múnera Edwin , Aguilar Jose
Published: September 2022

In this work, we aim to analyze the sentiments of learning resources from their textual contents. This work proposes a method for automatic assignment of emotional state to learning resources, based on their feature similarity with previously labeled learning resources. Then, various feature extraction strategies, which describe the relevant information in the texts, are compared for the task of sentiments analysis, considering the two main dimensions of emotions: arousal and valence. The results are very promising, showing a very high value in the performance metrics, like the $$R^2$$

R
2

score.
Numerical analysis of all-steel sandwich panel with drilled I-core subjected to air blast scenarios
Authors: Kiakojouri Foad , Tavakoli Hamid Reza , Sheidaii Mohammad Reza , De Biagi Valerio
Published: September 2022

This paper reports a numerical study carried out with the aim of quantifying nonlinear dynamic response of drilled I-core steel sandwich panel when subjected to air blast loading. Several parameters, i.e., boundary conditions, explosive charge weight and asymmetrical loading, that can affect structural response under blast loads, are considered. The material and geometric nonlinearities and strain-rate effects are also taken into account in the modeling. Obtained results are compared with available experimental data to verify the developed finite element model and good agreement is observed. According to the results, sandwich panels with drilled I-core allow more plastic deformation and energy dissipation and less midpoint displacement compared with equivalent structures, i.e., conventional I-core sandwich panels and also solid plate with same weight and material.
Alexithymia, impulsiveness, emotion, and eating dyscontrol: similarities and differences between narcolepsy type 1 and type 2
Authors: Del Bianco Chiara , Ulivi Martina , Liguori Claudio , Pisani Antonio , Mercuri Nicola Biagio , Placidi Fabio , Izzi Francesca
Published: September 2022

Non-sleep symptoms, as depression, anxiety and overweight, are often encountered in narcoleptic patients. The purposes of this study are to evaluate mood, impulsiveness, emotion, alexithymia, and eating behavior in patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) and narcolepsy type 2 (NT2) compared to healthy controls and to investigate possible correlations between clinical-demographic data, polysomnographic parameters, and subjective questionnaires. Consecutive patients affected by NT1 and NT2 underwent to Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Eating Disorder Evaluation Questionnaire. Daytime sleepiness was assessed using Epworth sleepiness score. Data were compared with controls. Fourteen NT1, 10 NT2, and 24 healthy subjects were enrolled. Toronto Alexithymia Scale total score was significantly higher in NT1 than NT2. Compared to controls, NT1 patients exhibited significantly higher scores at Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. A positive correlation between hypnagogic hallucinations and Difficulties in emotion regulation was found. NT1 and NT2 share several psycho-emotional aspects, but whereas NT1 patients exhibit more depressive mood and emotion dysregulation compared to controls, alexithymic symptoms are more prominent in NT1 than NT2. Hypnagogic hallucinations, emotion dysregulation, and alexithymia appear to be correlated, supporting the hypothesis of mutual interaction of the above areas in narcolepsy.
Graph neural network inspired algorithm for unsupervised network community detection
Authors: Sobolevsky Stanislav , Belyi Alexander
Published: September 2022

Network community detection often relies on optimizing partition quality functions, like modularity. This optimization appears to be a complex problem traditionally relying on discrete heuristics. And although the problem could be reformulated as continuous optimization, direct application of the standard optimization methods has limited efficiency in overcoming the numerous local extrema. However, the rise of deep learning and its applications to graphs offers new opportunities. And while graph neural networks have been used for supervised and unsupervised learning on networks, their application to modularity optimization has not been explored yet. This paper proposes a new variant of the recurrent graph neural network algorithm for unsupervised network community detection through modularity optimization. The new algorithm’s performance is compared against the state-of-the-art methods. The approach also serves as a proof-of-concept for the broader application of recurrent graph neural networks to unsupervised network optimization.