bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of future climate variability under CMIP6 scenarios based on a downscaling method considering wet days in the upper Yangtze River basin, China
Authors: Han Xu , Bocchiola Daniele
Published: January 2025

According to recent studies, the past decade was the hottest on record, and climate change is accelerating. As part of the Yangtze River Basin, the largest river basin in China, the Upper Yangtze River Basin (UYRB) plays a crucial role as the primary source of hydropower. However, the UYRB is also one of the most climate-sensitive regions within the basin, making the impact of climate change on this area particularly critical. We downscaled CMIP6 GCMs’ outputs of precipitation (including wet/dry spells sequence correction), and temperature projections (2024–2100), under four typical Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), and we pursued a trend analysis upon these potential future climate series. We found significant upward trends in temperature across all SSPs in August, but no significant trends in precipitation for the same month. Additionally, for SSP370 and SSP585, there are significant upward trends in temperature in December, while precipitation showed no significant trends during that month. This may result in drier winters than now, increased potential evapotranspiration, and reduced surface (snow) water storage, impacting water resources availability. Consecutive dry/wet days at station, and basin scale show spatial-temporal heterogeneity, but generally wet spells are longer, and dry spells shorten moving from South-East to North-West.
Spatiotemporal economic risk of national road networks to episodic coastal flooding and sea level rise
Authors: Paulik Ryan , Powell John , Wild Alec , Zorn Conrad , Wotherspoon Liam
Published: January 2025

This study delivers a spatiotemporal economic risk evaluation of New Zealand’s road network to extreme sea-level driven flooding and relative sea level (RSL) change from 2020 to 2120. A spatial risk analysis framework was developed to calculate direct monetary loss as the expected exceedance probability loss (EPL) and average annual loss (AAL) at the road component level. These risk metrics were estimated at national and regional levels between 2020 and 2120 using RSL projections for medium confidence Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSP) and local vertical land motion (VLM). New Zealand’s direct economic risk was primarily driven by direct damage to local access, collector, and arterial roads. At national levels, expected road AAL at 2100 could occur 10 to 20 years earlier as downward VLM accelerates local RSL rise later this century. Regional VLM trajectories may cause expected AAL to occur 20 years earlier from downward land motion and 5 years later from upward motion. This signals a need for VLM inclusion in future economic risk evaluations of episodic coastal flooding at all spatial and temporal scales. The spatiotemporal model approach has future potential for road network risk hotspot identification and structural or non-structural adaptation intervention evaluation under future RSL change.
Validation and otolith-mass prediction of age and growth for cardinal snapper Pristipomoides macrophthalmus of the Caribbean Sea
Authors: Baremore Ivy E. , Andrews Allen H. , Gulak Simon J. B. , Graham Rachel T. , Witt Matthew J. , Shervette Virginia R.
Published: January 2025

Cardinal snapper Pristipomoides macrophthalmus is a commercially important, but commonly misidentified, deepwater species in artisanal and semi-industrial fisheries throughout the Caribbean Sea. As with many tropical deepwater fishes, little is known about the biology or ecology of the species. Bomb radiocarbon (14C) dating was applied to cardinal snapper sagittal otoliths collected from the waters of Belize and Honduras during 2015–2019 to investigate the lifespan of the species from thin-sectioned otoliths with an evaluation of otolith mass as a proxy for age. Ages estimated from 28 thin-sectioned otoliths ranged from 7 to 68 years for fish that covered the range lengths and otolith masses available. Radiocarbon values were measured for each cardinal snapper otolith core, and two fish (one each from Belize and Honduras) had 14C signatures consistent with pre-bomb values, effectively validating a lifespan of at least 60 years. A curvilinear relationship between otolith mass and estimated age was robust (r
2 = 0.95) and is likely to produce age estimates with similar margins of error to traditional, more labor-intensive methods, such as counting increments from thin-sectioned otoliths. The otolith mass-to-age relationship is a well-supported method that provides a simple, low-cost approach that can be used by fishers, managers, and other stakeholders to assess the age composition of the cardinal snapper stock in the western Caribbean Sea for present and long-term monitoring.
Black holes beyond General Relativity
Authors: Barausse Enrico , Kunz Jutta
Published: January 2025

Here, we will discuss some ideas for possible classical/semi-classical modifications of the black hole solutions in General Relativity (GR). These modifications/extensions include black holes in higher dimensions; black holes with additional gravitational fields, or fields beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics; black holes in alternative classical theories of gravity and in semiclassical gravity; phenomenological models that extend the GR black hole solutions.
Can Gamification Foster Trust-Building in Human-Robot Collaboration? An Experiment in Virtual Reality
Authors: Riar Marc , Weber Mareike , Ebert Jens , Morschheuser Benedikt
Published: January 2025

With the increasing deployment of robots to support humans in various activities, a crucial factor that has surfaced as a precondition for successful human-robot interaction (HRI) is the human’s level of trust in the robotic companion. A phenomenon that has recently shifted into the foreground for its potential to influence cognitive and affective dimensions in humans is gamification. However, there is a dearth of knowledge whether and how gamification can be employed to effectively cultivate trust in HRI. The present study investigates and compares the effects of three design interventions (i.e., non-gamified vs. gameful design vs. playful design) on cognitive and affective trust between humans and an autonomous mobile collaborative robot (cobot) in a virtual reality (VR) training experiment. The results reveal that affective trust and specific trust antecedents (i.e., a robot’s likability and perceived intelligence) are most significantly developed via playful design, revealing the importance of incorporating playful elements into a robot’s appearance, demeanor, and interaction to establish an emotional connection and trust in HRI.
Adapting the difficulty of hands-on tasks to pupils’ prior knowledge: effects on challenge and skill development
Authors: Wammes Dannie , Kester Liesbeth , Slof Bert
Published: January 2025

Hands-on activities promote interest in engineering, but their use in primary education is under pressure due to doubts about their effect on learning. Based on the Challenge Point Framework, we hypothesized that an adaptive approach in which a pupil starts with tasks at its level of prior knowledge would raise the learning results of hands-on activities. This hypothesis was tested in a lesson about electric circuits. Two experiments were carried out that compared the adaptive with non-adaptive approaches. Skill levels of 444 nine to twelve-year-old pupils were measured with a performance-based task before and after a lesson in which they worked individually on tasks that matched or did not match their level of prior knowledge. Questionnaires were used to asses challenge adequacy. Skill levels were significantly higher at the post-test and a six-month delayed post-test but only for low performers on the pre-test. Starting with tasks that transcended the level of prior knowledge with a single level offered the optimal challenge for pupils with low levels of prior knowledge but reduced the results for pupils who knew more about electric circuits.
Simulation of semiconductor wafer dicing induced faults on chips and their application as augmentation method for a deep learning based visual inspection system
Authors: Friedrich Michael , Schlosser Tobias , Kowerko Danny
Published: January 2025

In semiconductor wafer dicing, one particular area of interest is the process of visual inspection to detect manufacturing defects that occur throughout the manufacturing process. Emerging defect patterns are typically in the micrometer range, translating to barely visible defects in pixel size on high-resolution imagery. The availability of rarely occurring defects is generally limited due to the labor-intensive nature of the related, highly specialized annotation task. Therefore, this contribution proposes a hybrid system for wafer and chip image data synthesis utilizing wafer and dicing path templates for the synthetic generation of large quantities of labeled flawless and, rarely, faulty chip and dicing street imagery. These are utilized for subsequent deep learning based defect detection and classification by employing a residual neural network as the core classifier for our visual inspection system. Our results show promising prospects when the original image data are supplemented with synthesized images by creating so-called composite data sets. Compared to the system’s baseline on the original data set, an F1-score-based relative improvement of up to 3.98 times was achieved. Furthermore, a novel synthetic-composite leave-one-out cross-validation (SC-LOOCV) method is proposed as a means to analyze the quality of our synthesized data for each specific wafer type. Based on these experiments, we scored a relative improvement of up to 5.99. For all our wafer types, overall relative improvement factors of 1.99 (composite) and 2.83 (SC-LOOCV) highlight the benefits of our realized system.
Illuminating Gaslighting: A Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Review of Gaslighting Literature
Authors: Darke Lillian , Paterson Helen , van Golde Celine
Published: January 2025

Purpose

With the rise of coercive control legislation in Australia and the UK, it has become increasingly important to clarify the discourse surrounding common psychological abuse tactics, such as gaslighting. This literature review seeks to aid future research in conceptualising gaslighting by exploring its complex nature and tracing its evolution across different fields. The primary aim is to compile and synthesize research from various disciplines, enhancing cross-field communication and providing a clearer understanding of the term’s origins and potential future applications.

Method

This literature review synthesizes existing research on gaslighting by examining its evolution and operationalization across multiple fields, including medicine, psychiatry, psychodynamics, psychology and individual differences, sociology, and philosophy.

Results

The review reveals significant inconsistencies in the operationalization of gaslighting across various fields, such framing gaslighting as a type of family abuse used for personal or material gain, a form of interpersonal communication between couples, and an expression of structural power. It underscores the need for a stronger theoretical basis in empirical research on gaslighting and recommends moving away from the current focus on individual differences prevalent in empirical studies.

Conclusion

By providing a comprehensive synthesis of existing research, this review shines a light on the shifting conceptualization of gaslighting. It emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary communication and the need for a more robust theoretical framework to improve empirical studies. This unified understanding is crucial for developing more effective legal and psychological interventions to address gaslighting and other forms of psychological abuse.
Tree-volume and forest age increase bat species diversity in boreal urban landscape
Authors: Meramo Katarina , Vasko Ville , Pietikäinen Tia-Marie , Laine Veronika N. , Ovaskainen Otso , Lilley Thomas M.
Published: January 2025

Context

Given the rate at which humankind is changing habitats, it is essential to understand its impact on the surrounding nature and biota. The intensification of human activities and the fragmentation of forested habitats now affect many taxonomic groups, such as bats, which are largely dependent on forests (e.g. roosting sites and feeding areas). Northern Europe is generally considered very forested but intensive land-use changes, caused by urbanization and forestry, contribute to forest fragmentation and loss of biodiversity. Land-use changes are classified as the biggest threats for bats, but especially in the boreal zone, the impact of these environmental changes is not yet known at a sufficient level.

Objectives

We explored how bats (species occurrences and activity) were influenced by forestry and urbanization, and by landscape variables (tree volume, percentage of deciduous trees, vicinity of water bodies and built areas).

Methods

We used a bioacoustic dataset on bats from Finnish capital area (20 × 20 km, 51 sites) recorded during the summer season (May – September) to evaluate how different habitat classes (old forest, young economical forest, rural area, suburban and urban) and landscape variables influence activity and species richness of bats across this region. We used Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities (HMSC) approach to characterize the responses of species. We investigated with two different models: one focusing on species occurrences and the second one focusing on relative activity.

Results

Our findings indicate a distinct pattern, with the highest species richness in old forests, followed by a gradual decline with increased land-use intensity. Species-specific responses to habitat classes were evident in both presence and activity. Most of the species showed negative responses to built area, either by their presence or activity. Key landscape variables further underscored species-specific variations in different environmental conditions. Additionally, our study observed temporal dynamics, revealing species-specific variations in occurrences across the bats’ active season.

Conclusion

Our study sheds light on the complex dynamics of bats in diverse landscapes, emphasizing the crucial role of both habitats and specific environmental factors in conservation. Old natural forests emerge as vital for bats, while land-use changes, especially urbanization, pose challenges highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and strategic conservation actions.
Impfbusse – ein sinnvoller Ansatz zur Erhöhung der Impfquoten in Deutschland? Internationale Evidenz und konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen
Authors: Maier Patrizia Maria , Elegbusi Sophie , Haring Malte , Amelung Volker Eric
Published: January 2025

Hintergrund

Deutschland verfehlt bei den Durchimpfungsraten die Empfehlungen der WHO. Um eine flächendeckende Verbesserung der Impfprävention zu erreichen, sind neue Ansätze erforderlich. Während der COVID-19-Pandemie („coronavirus disease 2019“) hat sich der Einsatz mobiler Impfangebote bewährt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Eine Untersuchung der Eignung mobiler Impfbusse zur Verbesserung der Impfprävention in Deutschland. Es sollen Zielgruppen, Erfolgsfaktoren und Hindernisse identifiziert werden.

Material und Methoden

Es wurde eine Literaturrecherche in Form eines Rapid Scoping Reviews zu mobilen Impfangeboten durchgeführt. Die Suche umfasste deutsch- und englischsprachige Studien aus den Jahren 2013 bis 2024. Zusätzlich wurden elf Interviews mit Expertinnen und Experten geführt.

Ergebnisse

Die Ergebnisse aus 28 internationalen Studien wurden extrahiert und in Expertengesprächen validiert. Relevante Zielgruppen für mobile Impfungen waren Kinder, marginalisierte Gruppen sowie Menschen mit berufsbedingten oder lebensstilbezogenen Infektionsrisiken (z. B. ältere Menschen). Wichtige Erfolgsfaktoren waren der Einsatz begleitender Kommunikationsmaßnahmen und die Sicherstellung eines niedrigschwelligen Zugangs. Neben einer verbesserten Durchimpfung in unterversorgten Gruppen wurden positive sekundäre Effekte, wie z. B. eine verbesserte Inanspruchnahme traditioneller Angebote, berichtet. Zur Kosteneffektivität lagen nur wenige Informationen vor.

Schlussfolgerung

Impfbusse und andere mobile Angebote haben Potenzial zur Verbesserung der Impfprävention, insbesondere in unterversorgten Gruppen. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt Handlungsempfehlungen zur Umsetzung von Pilotprojekten. Diese sollten durch Evaluationen begleitet werden, um Wirkung und Kosteneffektivität beurteilen zu können.
Improved prediction of wheat baking quality by three novel approaches involving spectroscopic, rheological and analytical measurements and an optimized baking test
Authors: Ziegler Denise , Buck Lukas , Scherf Katharina Anne , Popper Lutz , Schaum Alexander , Hitzmann Bernd
Published: January 2025

Baking quality, defined as loaf volume, is one of the most important quality attributes of wheat. An accurate and rapid determination is of great interest for the wheat supply chain. However, this remains difficult to date, because reported predictions based on other wheat characteristics (e.g. protein content) or flour spectroscopy are poor. This study investigates three novel approaches to improve the prediction of specific loaf volume determined by an optimized mini-baking test. The predictions are based on a large variety of rheological and analytical data as well as fluorescence, near-infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopy of flour and flour fractions. Furthermore, the influence of data fusion on the predictions is investigated. All three approaches presented promising results and showed great potential for practical application with R
2
CV > 0.90 for various regression models. For example, the combination of farinograph data with solvent retention capacity data or NIR flour spectra yielded R
2
CV of 0.91 in both cases. Combining Raman spectra of the < 32 μm and 75–100 μm fractions as well as NIR spectra of gluten, flour and starch both also yielded R
2
CV of 0.91. The results underline that loaf volume is a complex quality characteristic that can be better predicted when different data types are combined. Different rheological and analytical tests and different spectroscopic methods capture specific wheat quality characteristics that have different relations to baking volume and can therefore provide complementary information for improved predictions. Furthermore, the importance of rheological tests (especially farinograph, extensograph, alveograph) and the baking procedure for the prediction of baking quality are emphasized.
A remedy for the liability of smallness? How digital work platforms augment the smallest enterprises
Authors: Gusenbauer Michael , Könitzer Sarah , Kitowski Marius
Published: January 2025

We investigate how digital work platforms (DWPs) such as Upwork and Fiverr are pivotal for small and micro enterprises (SAMEs) in tackling their resource and capability constraints, also called liability of smallness. By conducting qualitative interviews with executives from SAMEs in Austria and Germany, we reveal that these enterprises leverage such platforms primarily for resource access and cost optimization. DWPs lower the entry barrier to outsourcing by acting as a trust-building catalyst and by reducing the invisible work associated with outsourcing. With outsourcing more readily available, SAMEs can build strategic flexibility to better scale their business activities and more readily seize business opportunities. With this research, we contribute to the discourse on digital entrepreneurship, outsourcing, and small business management, underscoring the role of digital platforms in enhancing the competitiveness and survival of SAMEs. Our findings also allow for best practice recommendations to help SAMEs overcome the hurdles associated with outsourcing engagements.
Developing recycled asphalt binder using ecofriendly bio additives
Authors: Refaat Aya , Saleh Amina M. , Farag Reem K. , Mostafa Abdelzaher E. A.
Published: January 2025

Paving recycling technique gaining high attention for environmental and economic considerations. Bio oils among which Waste Engine Oil (WEO) can been used as aged asphalt rejuvenators. WEO has a bad effect on high temperature rutting performance in spite of it is a good flow improver at low temperature. In this research, Starch (ST) and Bone Glue (BG) as natural modifiers were used to increase the high temperature performance of rejuvenated aged asphalt using WEO previously prepared. ST and BG were chosen as inexpensive, available, and ecofriendly modifiers to overcome artificial modifiers disadvantages as storage stability, high cost, air pollution and incompatibility. WEO was used in rejuvenating asphalt mix consisted of 100% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in a previous work. 0.75% ST and 0.5% BG (%wt. of binder) were found to be optimum contents for modifying rejuvenated RAP using Marshall test. All binders were characterized for physical, chemical, rutting factor at high temperature using Dynamic Shear Rheometer, and molecular structure. Modified RAP mixes were evaluated for mechanical tests and compared to new mix containing virgin asphalt. The results revealed that comparing to new mix, modified RAP mixes have higher rut, raveling, fatigue, and moisture resistances in percentages of 62,24,10&34% respectively. Also, the failure temperature of modified asphalt increased from 52 °C for rejuvenated aged asphalt using WEO to 70 °C as that recorded for virgin binder. ST and BG were bind physically with the rejuvenated aged binder. Finally, natural modifiers can be used practically with bio-oil in paving recycling.
Exploring the Impact of Human Rights and Mental Health Training on Practice in Ghana
Authors: Wang Ling , Tawiah Priscilla Elikplim , Brobbey Kwaku , Orrell Martin , Funk Michelle , Drew Nathalie , Poynton-Smith Emma , Sobers Thea , Gyimah Leveana , Arthur Yaw Amankwa , Adadey Emmanuel Adonis , Yaro Peter Badimak , Ohene Sally-Ann , Ansong Joana , Moro Maria Francesca , Cole Celline , Baingana Florence , Amissah Caroline , Carta Mauro Giovanni , Osei Akwasi
Published: January 2025

The World Health Organization’s QualityRights initiative is being implemented globally to improve human rights in mental health services. This e-training was rolled out for mental health staff and other stakeholders across Ghana in 2019 in order to address persistent challenges of mental health services related to stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations against people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities that exist in the country. The study design was a post-training questionnaire survey conducted after QualityRights e-training. Overall, 1082 participants responded to the follow-up questionnaire and some provided comments about their intentions to alter their practices after the e-training. The comments were qualitatively analysed. Of the 579 participants who provided 579 free-text comments, 577 (99%) indicated a positive intention to improve practice and to protect human rights by respecting autonomy, providing support, and preventing abuse. Seven themes were identified: overall rights-based approach, discrimination and stigma, legal capacity and supported decision-making, eliminating coercive practices, promotion of recovery, advocating for rights, and practical change. Participants expressed the intention to stop human rights violations and to promote rehabilitation and empowerment of persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities. The e-training therefore inspired people to put a human rights–based approach into practice, which laid the foundation for stigma reduction and a focus on person-centred care.
Mining exceptional Rasch models
Authors: Kiefer Ch. , Sengewald M.-A.
Published: January 2025

The detection of differential item function (DIF) is a crucial task in item response theory modeling. In recent years, machine learning (ML) techniques are increasingly used for this task, for example, using model-based recursive partitioning (MOB) techniques. For example, Rasch trees are a combination of MOB and Rasch models. In this paper, we propose an alternative ML technique for DIF detection in Rasch models, called exceptional model mining in Rasch models (RaschEMM). While Rasch trees and RaschEMM share an algorithmic base and the goal to identify covariate-based subgroups, they have different goals. Rasch trees aim at identifying a “global model of the data”, whereas RaschEMM aims at identifying exceptional subgroups. After a general and comprehensive presentation of RaschEMM, we present the results from two simulation studies and provide an applied example.
Elastic robotic structures: a multidisciplinary framework for the design and control of shape-morphing elastic system for architectural and design applications
Authors: Soana Valentina , Minooee Sabery Sharam , Bosi Federico , Wurdemann Helge
Published: January 2025

The design of adaptive structures and objects takes place at the intersection of design, architecture, robotics and engineering. Evolving from 1960s cybernetics to today’s interactive projects, technological advancements shape new visions for adaptive systems. A key challenge in this field is developing human-scale, shape-morphing structures. Elastic materials offer a promising solution for creating lightweight systems capable of large transformations with minimal components and energy, unlike conventional rigid systems. This approach requires methodologies for designing and controlling complex material deformations. While architectural and structural design methods focus on large-scale but static elastic structures, soft robotics explores dynamic behaviors. However these approaches are limited for complex shapes and large-scale, as their focus is on specialized applications. To address these issues, this research introduces a multidisciplinary framework for the design and control of shape-morphing elastic system for architectural and design applications. It also presents the concept of elastic robotic structures (ERS), which refers to a body of work developed with the framework. ERS are defined as large-scale elastic systems that are robotically actuated and can achieve multiple geometrical states, interacting with humans and adapting to diverse conditions. The multidisciplinary framework is presented for ERS design, characterization and control, showing how it leverages the integration of architecture, engineering and robotics to overcome the limitations of discipline-specific traditional approaches. The framework is applied in the realization of different types of ERS, which are presented and categorized. Combining the flexibility and interactivity of design methodologies with the reliability of robotic solutions will enable designers and engineers to develop innovative elastic shape-changing systems and program their behaviors.
Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels and the Parity-Dependent Differential Uterine Response to Oxytocin in Rats
Authors: Sondgeroth Korie , Boyman Elisabeth , Pathare Riya , Porta Maura
Published: January 2025

The experience of pregnancy affects uterine function well beyond delivery. We previously demonstrated that the response to oxytocin is more robust in the uteri of proven breeder rats. This study investigates the contribution of T-type calcium channels (TTCCs) and L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) to the distinct response of virgin (V) and proven breeder (PB) rat uteri to oxytocin. Dose-inhibition responses to mibefradil (TTCC inhibitor) and verapamil (LTCC inhibitor) were conducted on isolated V and PB uterine strips. These experiments were followed by dose–response curves to oxytocin (10–10 to 10–5 M) in the presence of 10 µM of each inhibitor. Area-under-the-curve (AUC), amplitude, frequency, and duration of contractions were measured. V uteri generally showed a greater dependence on VGCCs, especially TTCCs. However, PB uteri exhibited a stronger frequency response to oxytocin. Blocking TTCCs had a more pronounced impact on the differential oxytocin response, particularly affecting the frequency component of contractions. The stronger frequency response in PB uteri may be due to a higher concentration of TTCCs in their myometrial pacemaker cells. This study provides supporting evidence that pregnancy induces lasting changes in uterine calcium handling. Our findings suggest that TTCCs play a more important role than LTCC in the parity-dependent differential response to oxytocin. The impact of ORAI and TRP channels still needs to be evaluated, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the relative impact of voltage-gated calcium channels vs. storage-operated calcium entry channels on this phenomenon.
Clinical efficacy of cytoreductive radical prostatectomy in the treatment of oligometastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer
Authors: Qi Feng , Xu Yihang , Xu Zicheng , Zou Qing
Published: January 2025

Objective

To investigate the clinical efficacy of cytoreductive surgery in oligometastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (omHSPC).

Methods

The basic characteristics, treatment strategies and long-term follow-up of 181 patients with omHSPC were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into cytoreductive surgery group and no local therapy group according to the administration of cytoreductive surgery before progression to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Subsequently, our study explored the effect of cytoreductive surgery on CRPC-free survival in omHSPC patients.

Results

A total of 181 patients were enrolled in the study, including 48 patients who received cytoreductive surgery and 133 patients who did not receive local therapy. No significant differences were detected between the two groups regarding prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at the initial diagnosis (P = 0.194), the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group (P = 0.158), the treatment options during omHSPC (P = 0.090), common comorbidities (P = 0.649) and the number of metastases (P = 0.291). The proportions of patients with Tx stage (P = 0.027) and Nx stage (P = 0.027) in the no local therapy group were significantly higher than that in the cytoreductive group. After propensity score matching (PSM), it was found that cytoreductive surgery could significantly improve the CRPC-free survival of omHSPC patients (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.537, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.317–0.909, P = 0.016).

Conclusion

Cytoreductive surgery can significantly improve the CRPC-free survival of omHSPC patients. Additionally, large sample-size, prospective and randomized controlled studies are needed to validate the results of our study in the future.
Differences in and relationship between digital access, use, connectivity, skill, engagement, and motivation: implications for digital inequality in online learning among first-generation and continuing-generation undergraduate students
Authors: Michikyan Minas , Subrahmanyam Kaveri , Regan Pamela , Cano Miguel Ángel , Castillo Linda G. , Harkness Audrey , Schwartz Seth J.
Published: January 2025

Disruptions in education may exacerbate digital inequality among college student groups. This study examined differences in and relationships between digital access, use, and connectivity, digital skills and engagement, and academic motivation among first-generation (learners whose parents/guardians have no college education) and continuing-generation (learners whose parents/guardians have a college education) undergraduate students in the United States (N = 1224; M age = 21, 902 women, 56.8% first-generation status) in the context of COVID-19. Most first-generation and continuing-generation students reported unlimited and stable internet access at home. First-generation students reported less frequent access to fast and reliable internet and using multiple devices for online learning. First-generation and continuing-generation students reported similar levels of digital skills and engagement in online learning. Digital access and various digital skills and engagement were differentially associated with academic motivation. First-generation students reported greater academic motivation than their continuing-generation peers. Implications for reducing digital inequality for undergraduate students are discussed.
The Future of the Criminology of Place
Authors: Weisburd David , Ariel Barak , Braga Anthony A. , Eck John , Gill Charlotte , Groff Elizabeth , Uding Clair V. , Zaatut Amarat
Published: January 2025

Microgeographic units of analysis have moved to the center of criminological inquiry. This Element brings together leading crime-and-place scholars to identify promising areas for future study. Section 1 introduces the Element and the importance of focusing on the future of studies of crime and place. Section 2 examines the development of hot-spots policing and the importance of focusing on its impact on communities. It also looks at how 'pracademics' can advance the science and practice of place-based policing. Section 3 focuses on place managers as prevention agents and examines how city government can influence crime at place. It further contends that rural communities need to become a key focus of crime-and-place scholarship. Section 4 emphasizes the importance of the connection of health, crime, and place. It also argues for the importance of expanding the methodological tools of crime and place to include careful ethnographic and qualitative research.
Exploring Consumer Preferences for Potting Mix Characteristics Using Best-Worst Scaling
Authors: Penn Jerrod , Medlock Mallie , Kirk-Ballard Heather , Hu Wuyang
Published: January 2025

Little is known about the preferences of US at-home gardeners for potting mix characteristics. This study uses a Best-Worst Scaling approach to evaluate consumer preferences for eleven characteristics of potting mix. The most important characteristics identified are formulated for specific plant or garden types, pre-mixed ingredients, and price. The least important are the brand, packaging, and home delivery. There is some variation in the relative importance of these potting mix characteristics depending on consumer demographics. This study guides Industry stakeholders and policymakers on product development while enhancing environmental sustainability.
The Moral Obligation to Resist Complacency about One’s Own Oppression
Authors: ZHU YINGSHIHAN
Published: January 2025

While philosophers have highlighted important reasons to resist one’s own oppression, they tend to overlook the phenomenon of complacency about one’s own oppression. This article addresses this gap by arguing that some oppressed agents are obligated to resist complacency about their own oppression because failing to do so would significantly harm themselves and others. Complacent members of oppressed groups fail to resist meaningfully, are self-satisfied, and are epistemically culpable. I contend that focusing on the obligation to combat complacency is useful for at least two reasons. First, complacency about one’s own oppression is a distinctive phenomenon that warrants separate philosophical attention. Second, focusing on the obligation to resist complacency helps analyze an undertheorized group of oppressed agents by challenging the binary understanding of power prevalent in the literature on the duty to resist, thereby sharpening philosophical accounts of resistance and filling a gap in a prominent well-being-based theory of resistance.
Antibiotic use in different hospital administrative categories: an overview of 10 years of a statewide surveillance program in Brazil
Authors: Piastrelli Filipe , Assis Denise Brandão de , Madalosso Geraldine , Boszczowski Ícaro
Published: January 2025

Objective:

The present study aimed to describe ICU antibiotic use based on data reported from 2009 to 2018 to the Nosocomial Surveillance System (NSS) of the State Health Department in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Design:

Ecological study.

Setting:

Data obtained from hospitals located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil from 2009 to 2018.

Participants:

Intensive care units located at participant hospitals.

Methods:

Data on healthcare-associated infections, antibiotic usage, and bacterial identification were collected and reported monthly by hospitals. Antibiotic consumption was quantified as defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 patient-days. The relationship between antibiotic use and bacterial resistance, categorized by hospital type and ICU complexity, was analyzed using statistical methods to assess correlations and significance.

Results:

Our findings reveal an escalating trend in antibiotic consumption over the study period, with a notable increase from 588.16 DDD per 1000 patient-days in the initial year to 943.12 DDD/1000 patient-days in the final year (p < 0.01). Cephalosporins emerged as the most frequently utilized class, accounting for 33.9% of total antibiotic consumption. Public hospitals exhibited significantly higher antibiotic use compared to private and philanthropic institutions, with a mean of 889.11 DDD/1000 patient-days in public hospitals compared to 849.07 DDD/1000 patient-days in private hospitals and 785.12 DDD/1000 patient-days in philanthropic hospitals (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The study provides critical insights into antibiotic use and resistance in different hospital settings, emphasizing the importance of tailored antimicrobial stewardship strategies.
Applying the Regulatory Report Card to Tax Regulations
Authors: Dooling Bridget C.E. , Hickman Kristin E.
Published: January 2025

An invited contribution to an issue of the Journal of Benefit–Cost Analysis honoring the work of the late Dr. Jerry Ellig, this essay recognizes and draws upon the Regulatory Report Card methodology developed by Ellig and Dr. Patrick McLaughlin to evaluate the quality of regulatory impact analysis published by federal government agencies in conjunction with notice-and-comment rulemaking. The essay anticipates a forthcoming study of changes to tax regulatory practices as a result of a 2018 Memorandum of Agreement between the Treasury Department and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs – a study the authors discussed and hoped to conduct with Ellig before he passed away. The essay summarizes the Regulatory Report Card methodology, offers a brief typology of tax regulations, addresses why regulatory impact analysis and the Regulatory Report Card methodology are appropriate for the tax context, but also documents a few tax-specific adjustments to the Regulatory Report Card methodology.
Citizen Preferences and BCA: A Model of Willingness-to-Pay behind a Veil of Ignorance
Authors: Beeson Morgan , Chilton Susan , Metcalf Hugh , Nielsen Jytte Seested
Published: January 2025

Public sector allocative decisions should reflect, as far as possible, the preferences of those affected by the decisions. Conventional benefit–cost analysis (BCA) will simply aggregate individuals’ private willingness-to-pay (WTP) over all affected individuals to estimate the total benefits of a policy that delivers a public good. Given the nature of a public good, it is not unreasonable to consider that an individual may have altruistic preferences over the consumption of the public good by others. In this paper, we set out the theoretical underpinnings for a new citizen-based WTP, informed by political philosophy. Our model extends the standard social utility model (Bergstrom, 2006) of WTP for a public good when individuals are altruists by incorporating a Veil of Ignorance (VoI; Harsanyi, 1955). Our findings show that our WTP (Citizen) correctly includes altruistic as well as distributional preferences of individuals in society into WTP for use in a BCA. When WTP (Citizen) are aggregated for use in a BCA, equal weight is given to each individual’s preference and the BCA will correctly identify potentially Pareto-improving projects in a consistent manner.
A response to criticism of the global mental health movement. How polarization can be overcome in theory and in west African social psychiatric practice
Authors: Huppertz Michael
Published: January 2025

Since the turn of the 21st century, we have seen the development of an international movement that works in various ways to ensure that everyone in the world has access to adequate mental health care. There is indeed a great need for action, especially in countries with weak and underfunded health systems. The Movement for Global Mental Health (MGMH) is supported by strong organizations such as the WHO, academic institutions and NGOs. As this movement has gained momentum, however, it has been accompanied by fierce criticism, in particular from scholars of the humanities and social science, who see the global expansion of psychiatry as a medical discipline as a form of power-grabbing, neocolonialism and capitalist expansion. They also consider psychiatry to be a biologistic discipline, the justification of which they question, in continuation of a long anti-psychiatric tradition. This criticism prompted several adaptations of the MGMH and various efforts towards integration, but these have not been widely accepted by the critics. The following text primarily summarizes, classifies and critically engages with the basic arguments of the aforementioned critique. Theoretical misconceptions regarding the practice of psychiatry are clarified. Subsequently a specific project in Côte d’Ivoire is presented that demonstrates how contextual psychiatry can proceed and how unnecessary dichotomies and polarizations can be overcome in the interests of the persons concerned.
Exploring the delivery of empathic care in task-shared settings: A psychometric study in rural Pakistan
Authors: Liaquat Rakhshanda , Waqas Ahmed , Qadeer Tayyaba , Malik Abid , Atif Najia , Sikander Siham , Wang Duolao , Rahman Atif
Published: January 2025

Empathy plays a crucial role in psychosocial and psychological interventions, greatly impacting rapport building, patient adherence, and satisfaction with treatment. Empathetic interactions enhance patient’s self-reflection and the delivery of more personalized therapeutic interventions tailored to the unique needs of each patient, thereby improving the overall quality of care. Despite empathy being central to psychosocial interventions, there are currently no valid and reliable patient-centered tools that assess the lay-therapist empathy that they show and/or exhibit toward their patients.

In this study, the patient-rated Empathy Scale for Lay Therapists was developed to assess empathy in community health workers delivering psychosocial interventions. Psychometric validation was based on a cross-sectional study embedded in a non-inferiority cluster randomized trial of the Thinking Healthy Programme for perinatal depression in Pakistan.

Community testing with perinatal women confirmed the scale’s understandability and logical structure, highlighting its face validity. Among the 980 trial participants, a high level of agreement with the Empathy Scale for Lay Therapists (mean score 2.616) was observed, indicating effective communication and empathy from health workers. The scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.96). Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a unidimensional structure, capturing 87.81% of the total variance, with strong factor loadings.
When and why does observability increase honesty? The role of gossip and reputational concern
Authors: Nieper Annika S. , Beersma Bianca , Dijkstra Maria T. M. , Van Kleef Gerben A.
Published: January 2025

People frequently engage in dishonest behavior, which entails costs to society. A common advice to increase honesty is to enhance observability. However, previous research produced conflicting findings, making it unclear when and why observability increases honesty. Here we show that observability enhances honesty when observers can gossip to relevant others (i.e., to future interaction partners who can influence the gossip target’s outcome), because it increases reputational concern. In 2 incentivized and pre-registered studies, participants privately rolled a die 30 times and were informed that reporting higher numbers would lead to higher outcomes (total N = 1608; 28650 observations). We manipulated observability and gossip. Both studies revealed that gossip to relevant others decreased dishonest reporting, whereas mere observation did not. Importantly, reputational concern partly mediated the impact of gossip on dishonesty. Moreover, gossip influenced recipients’ trust in gossip targets, with messages denoting dishonesty swaying trust more than messages denoting honesty. Our findings demonstrate when and why observability promotes honesty.
Energy thickness in turbulent boundary layer flows
Authors: Wei Tie , Knopp Tobias , Li Zhaorui
Published: January 2025

In this study, we investigate the properties of energy thickness

$\delta _3$

in turbulent boundary layer (TBL) flows, a parameter derived solely from the mean streamwise velocity (

$U$

) profile. Through an analysis of the energy integral equation for zero pressure gradient TBLs, we establish a close relationship between turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) production and

$\delta _3$

, offering a practical method to estimate TKE production, which is particularly useful in physical experiments where direct measurements are challenging. The significance of

$\delta _3$

becomes even more pronounced in TBLs under pressure gradient. Through extensive analysis of numerical and experimental data, we show that the ratio between

$\delta _3$

and the momentum thickness

$\delta _2$

is a promising criterion for predicting flow separation. Moreover, we derive a new energy integral equation for TBLs under arbitrary pressure gradients, and provide approximations for TKE productions terms by

$R_{uv}\,\partial U/\partial y$

and

$R_{uu}\,\partial U/\partial x$

, and dissipation term by the mean shear. Here,

$x, y$

represent the streamwise and wall-normal directions, respectively, and

$R_{uu}$

and

$R_{uv}$

are the Reynolds normal and shear stresses. The accuracy and robustness of the new energy integral equation and the approximation equations are validated using direct numerical simulations data. Our results show that the TKE production by

$R_{uv}\,\partial U/\partial y$

and the overall productions consistently remain positive, reflecting a continuous conversion of mean kinetic energy into TKE across all TBLs. However, under strong favourable pressure gradients, TKE production by

$R_{uu}\,\partial U/\partial x$

becomes negative, indicating a reverse energy transfer from TKE to mean kinetic energy.
Dilatancy and its coupling to the kinematics in sheared granular media
Authors: Vatsa Gautam , Fazelpour Farnaz , Gautam Ravi , Daniels Karen E. , Nott Prabhu R.
Published: January 2025

Models for slow flow of dense granular materials often treat the medium as incompressible, thereby neglecting the role of Reynolds dilatancy. However, recent particle simulations have demonstrated the presence of a significant coupling between the volume fraction and velocity fields. The model of Dsouza & Nott (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 888, 2020, R3) incorporates dilatancy and captures the coupling, but it has thus far lacked experimental validation. In this paper, we provide the first experimental demonstration of dilatancy and its coupling to the kinematics in a two-dimensional cylindrical Couette cell. We find a shear layer near the inner cylinder within which there is significant dilation. Within the shear layer, the azimuthal velocity decays roughly exponentially and the volume fraction rises with radial distance from the inner cylinder. The predictions of the model of Dsouza & Nott (2020) are in good agreement with the experimental data for a variety of roughness features of the outer cylinder. Moreover, by comparing the steady states resulting from different initial volume fraction profiles (but having the same average), we show the inter-dependence of the velocity and volume fraction fields, as predicted by the model. Our results establish the importance of shear dilatancy even in systems of constant volume.