bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dialogues across time and space in a video-based collaborative learning environment
Authors: Beal Charlotte , Steier Rolf
Published: April 2024

In this study, we investigate how pre-service teachers’ group dialogues emerged and intersected across time and space as students collaboratively constructed a video-based mind map to prepare for oral exams in a pedagogy course. The study was conducted as part of a design-based research project investigating the ways that video-based mind maps can support learning as both a collaborative activity and a classroom resource. We applied interaction analysis methods to recordings taken during the production of the mind map as well as the videos made by students within the mind map itself to analyze synchronous and asynchronous dialogues among group members as they viewed, recorded, and uploaded videos. The findings offer an in-depth understanding of how collaboration occurs in different space-time configurations within and across groups as mediated by video resources. We discuss how these findings contribute to computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) research on the ways collaboration can emerge across different levels of activity as well as the pedagogical implications for introducing video-based dialogues into the classroom.
A Beautiful China Initiative Towards the Harmony between Humanity and the Nature
Authors: Qin Changbo , Xue Qiang , Zhang Jiawei , Lu Lu , Xiong Shangao , Xiao Yang , Zhang Xiaojing , Wang Jinnan
Published: April 2024

The Beautiful China Initiative (BCI) is a vivid embodiment of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature during modernization. Implementing the BCI is an effective method for achieving the goals of building a beautiful China, while offering a “Chinese solution” to global sustainable development. This article summarizes the progress and main experiences of the BCI, as well as analyzing the primary challenges facing its future development. Finally, five policy recommendations are proposed, which emphasize the importance of top-level design, coordinated planning, and a robust support system in the implementation of the BCI.
Lubricated Wear Properties of Zn-30Al-3Cu-Si Alloys
Authors: Savaşkan Temel , Tan Hasan Onur
Published: April 2024

To assess the effect of silicon content (SC) and test parameters on the lubricated wear of Zn-30 wt.% Al-3 wt.% Cu-(0.5–5) wt.% Si alloys, six quaternary alloys were produced by casting. Their wear properties were investigated at different ranges of contact pressure (CP) of 1–8 MPa and sliding velocity (SV) of 1–3 ms−1 for two different sliding distances (SD) of 20 km and 108 km. It was observed that Si addition (SA) improved the tribological properties of Zn-30Al-3Cu alloy, but an increase in the SC above a certain percentage (0.5%) adversely affected these properties. Therefore, Zn-30Al-3Cu-0.5Si alloy demonstrated the lowest friction coefficient (FC) and wear volume (WV) among the alloys tested. The correlations between the lubricated wear properties (FC and WV) of the alloys and test conditions (CP and SV) were made by non-linear regression analysis using the wear test data. Finally, the equations for the relationship between the wear properties of the alloys and the test parameters were determined.
Wissenstransfer zwischen Studierenden, Fachkräften und Forschenden
Authors: Hunold Martin , Tobies-Jungenkrüger Maike , Hartung Kim
Published: April 2024

Im Rahmen eines zwölfmonatigem Lehrforschungsprojektes an der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) wurde der Erfahrungsaustausch und Wissenstransfer zwischen Fachkräften, Studierenden und Forschenden unterstützt. Durch den Austausch zwischen wissenschaftlicher Forschung, professioneller Praxis und akademischer Lehre in der Pädagogik wurden Erfahrungen reflektiert, Entwicklungen in Gang gesetzt, Kontakte geknüpft und künftige Kooperationen und Lernmöglichkeiten unterstützt. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird ein durchgeführtes Lehrforschungsprojekt als eine Möglichkeit des Wissenstransfers vorgestellt und gezeigt, wie Masterstudierende der Pädagogik in kleinen Forschungsteams über eine digitale Videokonferenzplattform narrative Expert_inneninterviews mit acht Führungskräften aus Dienstleistungsorganisationen der Sozialen Arbeit, Privatwirtschaft und Verwaltung durchführten und in einem Seminar vor- und nachbereiteten. Es wurden gezielt Fach- und Führungskräfte aus unterschiedlichen Organisationstypen einbezogen, um den Studierenden vielfältige Einblicke in die berufliche Praxis zu ermöglichen. Außerdem wurde das Interviewmaterial wissenschaftlich ausgewertet und als elektronische Lernressource aufbereitet.
Determining future scenarios of urban areas with cellular automata/Markov Chain Model method; example of Ereğli District Konya-Türkiye (2030–2040)
Authors: Aydın Taha Kağan , Durduran S. Savaş
Published: April 2024

As a result of the rapid increase in the world population, the earth surface has started to be damaged due to natural and artificial effects. The extent of the damage to nature can be determined by examining the temporal changes of land use and land cover (LULC). In order to offer healthier and more sustainable living spaces, scientists have produced many studies on the changes in nature. Within the scope of this study, 5 basic training classes were created with the help of Landsat satellite images and CORINE data, covering the period of 1985–2018 for Ereğli-Bor Sub-Basin, which is one of the 9 sub-basins of Konya Closed Basin located in the Central Anatolian Region of Türkiye. Landsat Satellite images, Google Earth Program and CORINE data were overlaid to create a basic training class as artificial areas, agricultural areas—pasture areas—forest areas and wetlands and these areas were classified by supervised classification method. The study was carried out on an area of approximately 331057 ha in and around Ereğli district. Modeling was carried out with the Cellular Automata (CA) Markov Chain Model to determine the urban development potential in the region. In order to estimate the modeling accuracy, the 2018 prediction model was created according to the 2018 reference map, and the validation between the two data was analyzed with the kappa statistics. According to kappa statistics values, it was determined that K_location and K_standard values were 0.9301 and 0.8935, respectively. As a result of the validation in sufficient standards, future prediction models were applied; future models and result maps were prepared for the years 2030–2040. According to the modeling results, it is estimated that the artificial area class in Ereğli district will reach 122.74 km2by 2030 and 142.24 km2in 2040. In addition, it was expressed in detail with the prediction results and maps that there will be a decrease in pasture, forest and agricultural areas in the region until 2030 and 2040. As a result, it is predicted that the ecological balance in the region will change and agricultural production may decrease as a result of the decline in agricultural pasture and forest areas. For this reason, it has been revealed that it is important for the future of humanity that plans such as environmental layout and master development plans to be made by regional manager in the region for the future should be planned in line with the results to be obtained as a result of future prediction models.
A Family of Lempert Domains
Authors: Edigarian Armen
Published: April 2024

In Ghosh and Zwonek (2-proper holomorphic images of classical Cartan domains. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2303.11940) introduced a new class of domains $${{\mathbb {L}}}_n$$

L
n

, $$n\ge 1$$

n
≥
1

, which are 2-proper holomorphic images of the Cartan domains of type four. This family contains biholomorphic images of the symmetrized bidisc and the tetrablock. It is well-known, that symmetrized bidisc and tetrablock are Lempert domains. In our paper we show that the whole family of domains $${{\mathbb {L}}}_n$$

L
n

are Lempert domains.
Choosing the Right Tool: A Comparative Study of Wetland Assessment Approaches
Authors: Kleindl William J. , Church Sarah P. , Rains Mark C. , Ulrich Rachel
Published: April 2024

There are over 700 aquatic ecological assessment approaches across the globe that meet specific institutional goals. However, in many cases, multiple assessment tools are designed to meet the same management need, resulting in a confusing array of overlapping options. Here, we look at six riverine wetland assessments currently in use in Montana, USA, and ask which tool (1) best captures the condition across a disturbance gradient and (2) has the most utility to meet the regulatory or management needs. We used descriptive statistics to compare wetland assessments (n = 18) across a disturbance gradient determined by a landscape development intensity. Factor analysis showed that many of the tools had internal metrics that did not correspond well with overall results, hindering the tool’s ability to act as designed. We surveyed regional wetland managers (n = 56) to determine the extent of their use of each of the six tools and how well they trusted the information the assessment tool provided. We found that the Montana Wetland Assessment Methodology best measured the range of disturbance and had the highest utility to meet Clean Water Act (CWA§ 404) needs. Montana Department of Environmental Quality was best for the CWA§ 303(d) & 305(b) needs. The US Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Riparian Assessment Tool was the third most used by managers but was the tool that had the least ability to distinguish across a disturbance, followed by the US Bureau of Land Management’s Proper Functioning Condition.
The Effect of Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Properties and Oxidation Resistance of AlSi10Mg Alloy
Authors: Beder Murat , Akçay Serhatcan Berk , Varol Temel , Çuvalcı Hamdullah
Published: April 2024

In this study, the microstructure, hardness, tensile strength, and dry wear properties of the cast AlSi10Mg alloy as well as the effects of processing parameters on the oxidation behavior of this alloy were investigated. In this context, AlSi10Mg (wt%) alloy was produced by gravity die casting method, and then, air cooling, quenching, and T6 treatment were applied. The microstructure of the alloy was investigated using an optical microscope, SEM, and EDS. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to determine the effect of processing parameters on the oxidation behavior of the samples. The friction and wear properties of the alloy were investigated using a ball-on-disk wear test device. It was founded that the as-cast AlSi10Mg alloy's microstructure contained phases of α(Al), Si, and β-Mg2Si. It has been observed that the microstructure of the cast AlSi10Mg alloy gradually turns into a spherical form when quenching and air-cooling heat treatments are applied. Also, T6 heat treatment led to further spheroidization of Si particles, formation of β-Mg2Si precipitates, and elimination of the Chinese script morphology of the β-Mg2Si phase. It was observed that the yield strength of the AlSi10Mg alloy in the as-cast state decreased negligibly compared to the air-cooled state, while there was an increase of up to 70% in the aging-treated condition. The results show that the tensile strength of the as-cast AlSi10Mg alloy increased by 115% after aging. Additionally, it was found that the AlSi10Mg alloy's wear resistance increased with the aging process.
Long-term trajectories of peak expiratory flow rate in older men and women show linear decline mainly determined by baseline levels
Authors: van Schoor Natasja M. , de Jongh Renate T. , Lips Paul , Deeg Dorly J. H. , Kok Almar A. L.
Published: April 2024

Background

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) predicts mortality and other negative health outcomes. However, little evidence exists on how PEFR changes with ageing and how trajectories of change differ among older people.

Aims

To identify trajectories of PEFR in older men and women, and to study characteristics associated with these trajectories.

Methods

Data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used, an ongoing cohort study in a representative sample of Dutch older men and women. PEFR was assessed using the Mini-Wright peak flow meter across a 13-year follow-up in 991 men and 1107 women. Trajectories were analyzed using Latent Class Growth Analysis.

Results

Mean age was 72.5 (SD 8.4) in men and 72.4 (SD 8.4) in women. In men, three declining trajectories were identified, i.e. high, intermediate and low, with prevalences of 30%, 46% and 24%, respectively. In women, two declining trajectories were identified, i.e. high and low, with prevalences of 62 and 38%. All trajectories showed linear decline and differed mostly with regard to their intercept. Significant differences between trajectories with regard to baseline demographic, health and lifestyle characteristics were observed, e.g., men and women in the low PEFR trajectory were older, had more chronic diseases, and were more often smoker.

Discussion and conclusions

Trajectories in both men and women differ mainly in baseline level of PEFR and not in rate of decline over time. Therefore, one PEFR measurement might be sufficient to give an indication of the trajectory that an older adult is likely to follow.
Eco-efficient asphalt recycling for urban slow mobility
Authors: Bruno Salvatore , Loprencipe Giuseppe , Di Mascio Paola , Cantisani Giuseppe , Fiore Nicola , Polidori Carlo , Riccio Gennaro , D’Andrea Antonio , Moretti Laura
Published: April 2024

Cycling infrastructures contribute to advancing zero-impact transport systems, aligning with the European Commission’s proactive climate change mitigation policies. This paper explores the potential of innovative and sustainable pavements for cycling paths with mixtures composed of road-milling materials. This investigation involves low-environmental-impact bituminous-based mixtures differing from recipe, mixing method, and laying. Up to 100% secondary aggregates are used as alternative materials to design the Grande Raccordo Anulare delle Biciclette (GRAB), a 44-km cycling ring in Rome. According to the European standard EN 15804, their “from cradle to gate” life cycle analysis allows a comprehensive assessment and comparison of the environmental impact. Core and additional environmental impact categories and resource use indicators were quantified using primary data from asphalt producers and secondary data from the Ecoinvent database in the SimaPro software. Within the H2020 InfraROB project (grant agreement no. 955337), which aims at enhancing road infrastructure integrity, performance, and safety through autonomous robotic solutions and modularization, experimental sections have been constructed using a cold-mixed asphalt composed entirely of recycled asphalt and a rejuvenating additive. The results underscore the potential of the examined low-impact approach in conserving Earth’s resources, ensuring long-lasting infrastructure for vulnerable urban populations and fostering sustainable environmental management.
Nutritional composition of wild sour plum (Ximenia caffra subs caffra) fruit harvested in varying geographical regions and its potential role in human nutrition
Authors: Lekoba Boitumelo , Maluleke Mdungazi K. , Mphahlele Rebogile
Published: April 2024

By 2030, the United Nations, through their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), hope to have eradicated hunger and malnutrition, ensuring that everyone has access to enough nutritious food throughout the year. This is especially aimed at developing countries. There is untapped potential for food and nutrition security in Africa's wide variety of native fruit trees. One example of a wild fruit tree that is underutilised is the wild sour plum (Ximenia caffra subs caffra), a fruit crop from the Oleaceae family that grows in the Southern Africa. The objective of the study was to determine the nutritional variation of the wild sour plum, harvested from varying geographical regions, to possibly assist the potential breeders’ suitable methods for selecting accessions that could be used for potential breeding of highly nutritious fruit crop. Ripe wild sour plum fruit were harvested from varying plant selections in three different regions (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, and Tzaneen) during December 2022. Dried, frozen samples were analysed for biochemical constituents, such as total phenols and vitamin E. The highest total phenols (17.2 GAE g) and vitamin E (31.8 mg 100/g DW) of wild sour plum were obtained from selection three (3) fruit in Bushbuckridge. Therefore, plant breeders and horticulturalists should be mindful of these factors when considering breeding programmes of wild sour plum for commercial purposes.
Addressing the teacher shortage in Australia: what do the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) completion data tell us?
Authors: Dao Loan , Allen Jeanne , Pullen Darren , Cowie Scott
Published: April 2024

With projections from the Australian federal government indicating an impending exacerbation of the teacher shortage by 2025, it is timely to explore potential approaches that could help mitigate this imminent national crisis. In teaching, there is an historical tendency for the teaching profession to attract more women than men and this study therefore aims to analyse trends in female completion rates of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) degrees. The study objective was to identify the specific teaching degree levels (undergraduate and postgraduate) and modes of attendance that are most likely to continue attracting women to pursue careers in teaching. This research relies on non-identifiable open access data obtained from Australian ITE providers between 2001 and 2021, which have been collected by the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment. The study findings reveal an upward trend in female completions of ITE programs offered through external and multimodal study modes, while the internal mode of attendance show a decline. These findings hold significant implications for policy and practice, suggesting the need to enhance the accessibility of external and multimodal ITE degrees for women.
The impact of implementation of rapid blood culture identification panels on antimicrobial optimization: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Martin Tyler , Wilber Eli , Advani Shreena , Torrisi Joseph , Patel Manish , Rebolledo Paulina A. , Wang Yun F. , Kandiah Sheetal
Published: April 2024

Objective:

Determine the impact of limited implementation of a rapid blood culture identification (BCID) panel.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods:

From February to April 2022, positive blood cultures identified via e-Plex BCID (Roche, Carlsbad, CA) were compared to those identified using standard microbial identification techniques. The primary outcomes assessed were time to optimal therapy, time to de-escalation of anti-MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) agents, and time to de-escalation of anti-pseudomonal agents. Additional analysis investigated the impact of the availability of antimicrobial stewardship program support. This study was conducted at Grady Health System, a large metropolitan safety-net hospital in the southeastern United States.

Results:

A total of 253 blood cultures were included in this study (153 BCID and 100 standard). Blood culture identification use was associated with a reduction in median time to optimal antimicrobial therapy (43.4 vs 72.1 h, P < .001) and median time to de-escalation of anti-MRSA agents (27.7 vs 46.7 h, P = .006), and a trend towards reduction of median time to de-escalation of anti-pseudomonal agents (38.8 vs 54.8 h, P = .07). These reductions persisted when controlling for patient age, sex, intensive care unit status, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and antimicrobial stewardship program availability.

Conclusions:

Despite restricted use and lack of 24/7 antimicrobial stewardship program availability, BCID panel utilization was associated with earlier initiation of optimal therapy and pathogen identification with subsequent de-escalation of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, as compared to standard antimicrobial techniques. This suggests the potential for benefit from adopting novel diagnostic technologies outside of idealized fully-resourced settings.
The C2DREAM framework: Investigating the structural mechanisms undergirding racial health inequities
Authors: Orakwue Kene , Hing Anna K. , Chantarat Tongtan , Hersch Derek , Okah Ebiere , Allen Michele , Patten Christi A. , Enders Felicity T. , Hardeman Rachel , Phelan Sean M.
Published: April 2024

Racism shapes the distribution of the social determinants of health (SDoH) along racial lines. Racism determines the environments in which people live, the quality of housing, and access to healthcare. Extensive research shows racism in its various forms negatively impacts health status, yet few studies and interventions seriously interrogate the role of racism in impacting health. The C2DREAM framework illuminates how exposure to racism, in multiple forms, connects to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity. The goal of the C2DREAM framework is to guide researchers to critically think about and measure the role of racism across its many levels of influence to better elucidate the ways it contributes to persistent health inequities. The conceptual framework highlights the interconnectedness between forms of racism, SDoH, and the lifecourse to provide a greater context to individual health outcomes. Utilizing this framework and critically contending with the effects of racism in its multiple and cumulative forms will lead to better research and interventions.
The rapacious ambivalence of VC investment: Venture capital, value capture, and the valorization of crisis
Authors: Howard Mark
Published: April 2024

This article explores venture capital (VC) as a means and process of accumulating future social necessity. It explores the mechanisms of growth that make VC-backed firms distinct. I argue that a distinctive feature of surplus value capture through VC is valorization via socially necessary contracted space-time, a corrective to Marx’s theorization of socially necessary labor time, which appears incomplete in the context of VC. First, extending Marx’s general formula for capital, I develop a general formula for VC, demonstrating how the VC investment upends traditional theories of capitalist accumulation. Second, I argue that VC invests in firms seeking to capture ‘human capital’ resources and uncapitalized market ‘space’ (noncapitalist social logics of exchange) with the aim of achieving ‘product-market fit’. Third, I demonstrate how time and space are contracted under the VC process as a value capture (VC) mechanism relating to future social necessity. VC is, I argue, about accumulating today what we will all need to be consuming tomorrow, just to keep up with social norms. Finally, I explore how the valorization of crisis (VC) demonstrates the accumulation of future social necessity in practice. I conclude with thoughts concerning the possibility of alternatives beyond the overdetermined rapacity of ‘VC’.
Cylinder flow and noise control by active base blowing
Authors: Maryami Reza , Liu Yu
Published: April 2024

An extensive experimental investigation was undertaken to control the flow and noise characteristics influenced by vortex shedding from a circular cylinder by implementing air blowing at the base of the cylinder. The study synchronised near-field pressure and far-field noise measurements with the wake velocity field to understand the noise reduction mechanism of base blowing. Surface pressure fluctuations were measured using pressure taps distributed around the cylinder's circumference through a remote-sensing method, while velocity measurements were obtained using planar particle image velocimetry at the midspan to examine the flow dynamics. The study unveiled the crucial role of near-field pressure, particularly induced at the shoulders of the cylinder, in generating far-field noise. The rapid vertical flow movement, arising from the interaction between shear layers, was identified as a mechanism responsible for inducing surface pressure fluctuations. This phenomenon occurred as high-momentum fluid moved from the free stream into the interior of the vortex-formation region. By applying base blowing, a remarkable reduction in both near-field pressure and far-field noise was achieved at the fundamental vortex-shedding frequency, with reductions of approximately 20 and 25 dB, respectively, compared with the baseline. Additionally, base blowing caused the shear layers to roll up farther downstream than in the baseline by decreasing the entrainment of fluid-bearing opposite vorticity by the shear layer upstream of the growing vortex. Consequently, there was a substantial decrease in turbulent kinetic energy and Reynolds stress near the cylinder, resulting in slower vertical flow movement and weaker near-field pressure.
The maximum-J property in quasi-isodynamic stellarators
Authors: Rodríguez E. , Helander P. , Goodman A.G.
Published: April 2024

Some stellarators tend to benefit from favourable average magnetic curvature for trapped particles when the plasma pressure is sufficiently high. This so-called maximum-

$J$

property has several positive implications, such as good fast-particle confinement, magnetohydrodynamic stability and suppression of certain trapped-particle instabilities. This property cannot be attained in quasisymmetric stellarators, in which deeply trapped particles experience average bad curvature and therefore precess in the diamagnetic direction close to the magnetic axis. However, quasi-isodynamic stellarators offer greater flexibility and allow the average curvature to be favourable and the precession to be reversed. We find that it is possible to design such stellarators so that the maximum-

$J$

condition is satisfied for the great majority of all particles, even when the plasma pressure vanishes. The qualitative properties of such a stellarator field can be derived analytically by examining the most deeply and the most shallowly trapped particles, although some small fraction of the latter will inevitably not behave as desired. However, through numerical optimisation, we construct a vacuum field in which 99.6 % of all trapped particles satisfy the maximum-

$J$

condition.
Density jump for oblique collisionless shocks in pair plasmas: physical solutions
Authors: Bret Antoine , Haggerty Colby C. , Narayan Ramesh
Published: April 2024

Collisionless shocks are frequently analysed using the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) formalism, even though MHD assumes a small mean free path. Yet, isotropy of pressure, the fruit of binary collisions and assumed in MHD, may not apply in collisionless shocks. This is especially true within a magnetized plasma, where the field can stabilize an anisotropy. In a previous article (Bret & Narayan, J. Plasma Phys., vol. 88, no. 6, 2022b, p. 905880615), a model was presented capable of dealing with the anisotropies that may arise at the front crossing. It was solved for any orientation of the field with respect to the shock front. Yet, for some values of the upstream parameters, several downstream solutions were found. Here, we complete the work started in Bret & Narayan (J. Plasma Phys., vol. 88, no. 6, 2022b, p. 905880615) by showing how to pick the physical solution out of the ones offered by the algebra. This is achieved by 2 means: (i) selecting the solution that has the downstream field obliquity closest to the upstream one. This criterion is exemplified on the parallel case and backed up by particle-in-cell simulations. (ii) Filtering out solutions which do not satisfy a criteria already invoked to trim multiple solutions in MHD: the evolutionarity criterion, that we assume valid in the collisionless case. The end result is a model in which a given upstream configuration results in a unique, or no downstream configuration (as in MHD). The largest departure from MHD is found for the case of a parallel shock.
Distribution of Avicennia spp. in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with special reference to new distributional reports and post-tsunami colonization patterns
Authors: Singh Anoop Raj , Thirumurugan Vedagiri , Prabakaran Nehru
Published: April 2024

Post 2004 tsunami and earthquake, the landmass of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI's) experienced uplift (North Andaman and Mayabunder) and subsidence (South Andaman & Nicobar Islands). The altered geomorphology modified the tidal regime, which resulted in mangrove degradation in their current locations and the formation of new intertidal zones potential for mangrove colonization. Avicennia species; a pioneer in mangrove succession was expected to colonize such new intertidal zones. Therefore, to understand the colonization pattern of Avicennia species in these new intertidal zones and their distribution in the old forests, we surveyed 79 sites across ANI's (55 Andaman and 24 Nicobar Islands). Our survey confirms the presence of three Avicennia species namely A. marina, A. officinalis, and A. alba – a new distribution record to the ANI's. Further, A. marina was found to be the most widely distributed, and abundant among three Avicennia species (Relative Abundance (RA) – 97.92%; Relative Frequency (RF) – 68.75%). In contrast, A. officinalis (RA – 1.93%; RF – 26.25%) and A. alba (RA – 0.16%; RF – 5%) were found limited in their distribution and abundance. As per the IUCN Red List, the Avicennia population is decreasing globally, whereas, its population may increase significantly across ANI's due to the availability of vast new intertidal zones. Hence, Avicennia spp. can be utilized in the plantation programs to facilitate rapid colonization in the unvegetated potential mangrove habitats across ANI's. Such an effort will improve the mangrove ecosystem services that were hampered due to mangrove degradation by the 2004 tsunami.
Nuttalliellidae in Burmese amber: implications for tick evolution
Authors: Chitimia-Dobler Lidia , Handschuh Stephan , Dunlop Jason A. , Pienaar Ronel , Mans Ben J.
Published: April 2024

Ticks are composed of 3 extant families (Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae) and 2 extinct families (Deinocrotonidae and Khimairidae). The Nuttalliellidae possess one extant species (Nuttalliella namaqua) limited to the Afrotropic region. A basal relationship to the hard and soft tick families and its limited distribution suggested an origin for ticks in the Afrotropics. The Deinocrotonidae has been found in Burmese amber from Myanmar and Iberian amber from Spain, suggesting a wider distribution of the lineage composed of Deinocrotonidae and Nuttalliellidae. The current study describes 8 fossils from mid-Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma) Burmese amber: 2 Deinocroton species (Deinocroton bicornis sp. nov.; Deinocroton lacrimus sp. nov.), 5 Nuttalliella species (Nuttalliella gratae sp. nov., Nuttalliella tuberculata sp. nov., Nuttalliella placaventrala sp. nov., Nuttalliella odyssea sp. nov., Nuttalliella tropicasylvae sp. nov.) and a new genus and species (Legionaris nov. gen., Legionaris robustus sp. nov.). The argument is advanced that Deinocroton do not warrant its own family, but forms part of the Nuttalliellidae comprising 3 genera, Deinocroton, Legionaris nov. gen. and Nuttalliella). Affinities of Burmese tick fossils to the Australasian region, specifically related to rifting of the Burma terrane from northern Australia ~150 million years ago, suggest that Nuttalliella had a much wider distribution than its current limited distribution. The distribution of Nuttalliella likely stretched from Africa over Antarctica and much of Australia, suggesting that extant members of this family may still be found in Australia. Considerations for the geographic origins of ticks conclude that an Afrotropic origin can as yet not be discarded.
Slow passage through the Busse balloon – predicting steps on the Eckhaus staircase
Authors: Asch Anna , Avery Montie , Cortez Anthony , Scheel Arnd
Published: April 2024

Motivated by the impact of worsening climate conditions on vegetation patches, we study dynamic instabilities in an idealised Ginzburg–Landau model. Our main results predict time instances of sudden drops in wavenumber and the resulting target states. The changes in wavenumber correspond to the annihilation of individual vegetation patches when resources are scarce and cannot support the original number of patches. Drops happen well after the primary pattern has destabilised at the Eckhaus boundary and key to distinguishing between the disappearance of 1,2 or more patches during the drop are complex spatio-temporal resonances in the linearisation at the unstable pattern. We support our results with numerical simulations and expect our results to be conceptually applicable universally near the Eckhaus boundary, in particular in more realistic models.
A Pint-Sized Public Sphere: Compensatory Colonialism in Literature by Elite Children During the Gilded Age and Progressive Era
Authors: Rouleau Brian
Published: April 2024

During the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, thousands of middle-class youths published their own amateur newspapers. These periodicals were printed using the so-called toy (or “novelty”) press, a portable tabletop device that helped democratize word processing. Children often used their presses to compose miniature novels and short stories. They then shared their prose with a national community of fellow juvenile writers collectively known as “Amateurdom.” Adolescent fiction explored an array of subjects, but the frontier, territorial expansion, and empire in the West became some of its particular fixations. All that imperial storytelling, however, possessed a rich subtext. Boys and girls, reacting to late-nineteenth-century changes in the lived experience of childhood, used their printing presses to challenge various constraints imposed upon them. But in so doing, they both perpetuated and reinforced a pernicious culture of settler colonialism that celebrated the subjugation of American Indians. Ultimately, the amateur publications of children remind us that fiction is not exclusively an adult enterprise. The creative output of young people provides important insight into an underexplored realm of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era’s literary world.
Understanding the Assessment of the Will to Die and Its Link With	Hastened Death Requests
Authors: Pereira Helena P. , Marina Sílvia , Simões Mário R. , Ricou Miguel
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Understanding the will to die in patients with a serious and incurable disease is essential due to its complexity and potential connection with requests for hastened death. This systematic review aimed to identify any new assessment tools developed since 2016 to evaluate the will to die and determine if there is a relationship with the growing legalization of hastened death processes. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines, and out of 1,588 initially identified studies, 33 were selected for analysis. Within this review, 12 assessment tools were identified, of which 7 were new instruments used since 2016. However, the overall reliability and validity of these new tools ranged from inadequate to good when analyzing the psychometric information. The identified assessment tools appear to have conceptual limitations when applied in the context of hastened death evaluation. Based on the findings of this systematic review, there is a need for new instruments specifically designed for assessing the will to die within the context of hastened death. These new tools should have robust content validity, focusing on the motivators behind the will to hasten death to address this process’s increasing legalization.
Personal Resources, Well-Being, Internalizing and Externalizing	Symptoms of Youth in Out-Of-Home Care
Authors: Dunkel Sophia , Rueth Jana-Elisa , Wiemann Ann-Katrin , Werner Anika , Konrad Kerstin , Lohaus Arnold
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Background: Many youth living in out-of-home care have higher rates of mental health problems and more negative developmental outcomes than youth who live in their biological families. Aims: While previous studies have focused primarily on risk factors that increase the likelihood of behavioral problems, this study focuses on resources that contribute to positive development. Method: As part of the EMPOWERYOU research project, youth aged 11–18 years living in out-of-home care ( n = 79, living in foster and adoptive families and residential groups) and living with their biological families ( n = 71) participated in an online survey. Youth reported on their personal resources, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and well-being. Results: Youth in out-of-home care reported significantly fewer personal resources, less well-being, and more internalizing and especially externalizing symptoms than youth growing up in their biological families. Path analysis results showed that high self-esteem and high self-control were associated with less externalizing symptoms. Lower empathy/perspective-taking and more self-esteem were associated with less internalizing symptoms. More optimism was associated with increased well-being. These relationships were independent of family placement as there was no moderating effect for placement type. Limitations: Potential limitations arise from focusing solely on self-report and using of a cross-sectional design. Conclusion: The results highlight the relevance of promoting the personal resources of youth in out-of-home care. Since the path analysis did not reveal moderation by family placement, possible interventions do not need to be specified for them, but (already existing) effective interventions can be used.
A Hyperactive Geomagnetic Field in the Late Visean (Early Carboniferous) From the Late Asbian Stratotype Section in Northwest England, UK
Authors: Hounslow Mark W. , Biggin Andrew J. , Cózar Pedro , Somerville Ian D. , Kamenikova Tereza , Sprain Courtney J.
Published: April 2024

Plain Language Summary

Nearly synchronous global changes in geomagnetic polarity give both a detailed irregular pacing to geological time and provide a glimpse into heat transfer processes across the core—mantle boundary which drives the Earth's geodynamo. Although the Late Carboniferous is characterized by some well‐studied reversals, details of the tempo of polarity changes in the Early Carboniferous are unknown. This work addresses this by providing a detailed record of polarity changes over a ∼2 million year interval at around 334.5–332.5 million years ago‐from the Trowbarrow Quarry section in NW England. We demonstrate that these limestones likely preserve magnetization from close to their time of formation and record at least 31 polarity reversals. These observations support the idea that the Earth's dynamo was in a hyperactive reversing state similar to those sustained for tens of Myr in the Late Jurassic, parts of the Cambrian and the Late Ediacaran. It further corroborates a ∼200 Myr cyclicity in paleomagnetic field behavior since the Precambrian, potentially linked to variable core heat flow forced by mantle convection.
Responses of Mesoscale Convective System to Global Warming: A Study on the Henan 2021 Record‐Breaking Rainfall Event
Authors: Lin Zhongxi , Nie Ji , Wang Jun , Chen Yang , Meng Zhiyong
Published: April 2024

The limited capabilities of global climate models in simulating mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) restrict our understanding of how global warming impacts MCSs. This study uses a high‐resolution numerical model with large‐ensemble experiments to simulate MCSs during the record‐breaking extreme rainfall event in Henan Province, China, in July 2021. We compare the changes in the MCS's strength, size, and structure in a real‐world simulation (RW) and a 0.8°C colder simulation (analog to no‐anthropogenic‐warming‐world simulation, short for NAWW) to assess the response of MCSs to global warming. Our results show that the total rainfall from the MCS increased by 10.0% in RW compared to NAWW, with a 3.1% increase in area and a 6.7% increase in rainfall intensity. The development of MCS becomes more rapid in response to warming since the pre‐industrial era. The warmer and wetter climate results in higher convective available potential energy, and accelerates the MCS growth, but then the narrower low‐convective inhibition regions suppress the continuous growth of MCS. During the mature phase, the maximum hourly rainfall intensity (Pmax) can increase by up to 26.5%/K, while Pmax locations can either remain unchanged or shift depending on the interaction of flows and terrains. These results highlight varying responses of MCSs to global warming during its different stages and provide valuable insights into the changing characteristics of extreme rainfall events under global warming.
How Might the May 2015 Flood in the U.S. Southern Great Plains Induced by Clustered MCSs Unfold in the Future?
Authors: Feng Zhe , Chen Xiaodong , Leung L. Ruby
Published: April 2024

The historic 22–26 May 2015 flood event in Texas and Oklahoma was caused by anomalous clustered mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) that produced record‐breaking rainfall and $3 billion of damage in the region. A month‐long regional convection‐permitting simulation is conducted to reconstruct multiple clustered MCSs that lead to this flood event. We further use the pseudo global warming approach to examine how a similar event may unfold in a warmer climate and the driving physical factors for the changes. Tracking of MCSs in observations and simulations shows that the historical simulation reproduces the salient characteristics of the observed MCSs. In a warmer climate under a high‐emission (SSP5‐8.5) scenario, the Southern Great Plains is projected to experience a near surface warming of 4–6 K, accompanied by enhanced moisture transport by the strengthened Great Plains low‐level jet. A warmer and moister lower troposphere leads to 36%–59% larger convective available potential energy, supporting wider and more intense convective updrafts and rainfall production. Consistently, MCSs have wider convective areas and stronger rainfall intensities, producing 50% larger rain volumes during the mature stage. Extreme (99.5%) MCS rainfall frequency and amount will increase by threefold. However, MCS stratiform rain area decreases as a result of elevated stratiform cloud bases that lead to stronger sublimation and evaporation of precipitation in response to warming, resulting in reduced weak‐to‐moderate surface precipitation. Results suggest that global warming greatly increases precipitation intensity of clustered MCS events under strong synoptic influence, with much higher potential to produce serious floods without additional climate adaptation.
Km‐Scale Simulations of Mesoscale Convective Systems Over South America—A Feature Tracker Intercomparison
Authors: Prein Andreas F. , Feng Zhe , Fiolleau Thomas , Moon Zachary L. , Núñez Ocasio Kelly M. , Kukulies Julia , Roca Rémy , Varble Adam C. , Rehbein Amanda , Liu Changhai , Ikeda Kyoko , Mu Ye , Rasmussen Roy M.
Published: April 2024

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are clusters of thunderstorms that are important in Earth's water and energy cycle. Additionally, they are responsible for extreme events such as large hail, strong winds, and extreme precipitation. Automated object‐based analyses that track MCSs have become popular since they allow us to identify and follow MCSs over their entire life cycle in a Lagrangian framework. This rise in popularity was accompanied by an increasing number of MCS tracking algorithms, however, little is known about how sensitive analyses are concerning the MCS tracker formulation. Here, we assess differences between six MCS tracking algorithms on South American MCS characteristics and evaluate MCSs in kilometer‐scale simulations with observational‐based MCSs over 3 years. All trackers are run with a common set of MCS classification criteria to isolate tracker formulation differences. The tracker formulation substantially impacts MCS characteristics such as frequency, size, duration, and contribution to total precipitation. The evaluation of simulated MCS characteristics is less sensitive to the tracker formulation and all trackers agree that the model can capture MCS characteristics well across different South American climate zones. Dominant sources of uncertainty are the segmentation of cloud systems in space and time and the treatment of how MCSs are linked in time. Our results highlight that comparing MCS analyses that use different tracking algorithms is challenging. We provide general guidelines on how MCS characteristics compare between trackers to facilitate a more robust assessment of MCS statistics in future studies.
Surface Albedo Dominates Radiation Efficiency of Alpine Grasslands Along an Elevation Profile of Qilian Mountains
Authors: Li Hongqin , Zhang Fawei , Zhu Jingbin , Li Jiexia , Guo Xiaowei , Zhou Huakun , Li Yingnian
Published: April 2024

Quantifying the elevation dependency of radiation partitioning in high‐altitude mountains is crucial for projecting regional energy balance while remains highly uncertain. We compared the surface radiation partitioning parameters across a meadow (3,200 m), shrub (3,400 m), and forb (3,600 m) along a southern slope of the Qilian Mountains. At a daily scale, the downward shortwave radiation (Rs) fluctuated minimally among the grassland types probably induced by similar site orientations. The greatest downward and upward longwave radiation (Ld and Lu) happened at the lowest meadow while the largest net shortwave (Sn) and longwave (Ln) radiation occurred at the deciduous shrub. The net all‐wave radiation (Rn) of the meadow and shrub was similar and exceeded that of the forb by ∼20%. The differences in Rn between the sites were jointly explained by those of upward shortwave radiation (Ru) and Lu, more than by Rs and Ld, suggesting the importance of surface attributes. The monthly normalized effective terrestrial radiation (λ, the ratio of Ln to Rs) varied insignificantly among the sites and averaged 0.25 ± 0.05, which was comparable to the global mean value (0.26). The smallest surface albedo (α, the ratio of Ru to Rs) and largest radiation efficiency (η, the ratio of Rn to Rs) were 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.64 ± 0.09, respectively, both at the shrub. Grassland type dominated the spatial variations of monthly α and η. These findings highlighted the importance of grassland types to explain the spatiotemporal variations of radiation partitioning parameters in high‐altitude alpine grasslands.
Tetrahedral framework nucleic acids/hyaluronic acid-methacrylic anhydride hybrid hydrogel with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties for infected wound healing
Authors: Qi Cai , Sun Qiang , Xiao Dexuan , Zhang Mei , Gao Shaojingya , Guo Bin , Lin Yunfeng
Published: April 2024

Bacterial resistance and excessive inflammation are common issues that hinder wound healing. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising and versatile antibacterial option compared to traditional antibiotics, with additional anti-inflammatory properties. However, the applications of AMPs are limited by their antimicrobial effects and stability against bacterial degradation. TFNAs are regarded as a promising drug delivery platform that could enhance the antibacterial properties and stability of nanodrugs. Therefore, in this study, a composite hydrogel (HAMA/t-GL13K) was prepared via the photocross-linking method, in which tFNAs carry GL13K. The hydrogel was injectable, biocompatible, and could be instantly photocured. It exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors and scavenging ROS. Thereby, the hydrogel inhibited bacterial infection, shortened the wound healing time of skin defects in infected skin full-thickness defect wound models and reduced scarring. The constructed HAMA/tFNA-AMPs hydrogels exhibit the potential for clinical use in treating microbial infections and promoting wound healing.