bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of ethnicity and native-country income in multiple sclerosis: the Italian multicentre study (MS-MigIT)
Authors: Bianchi Alessia , Matranga Domenica , Patti Francesco , Maniscalco Laura , Pilotto Silvy , Di Filippo Massimiliano , Zaffaroni Mauro , Annovazzi Pietro , Bertolotto Antonio , Gasperini Claudio , Quartuccio Esmeralda , Centonze Diego , Fantozzi Roberta , Gajofatto Alberto , Gobbin Francesca , Landi Doriana , Granella Franco , Buccafusca Maria , Marfia Girolama Alessandra , Chisari Clara , Naldi Paola , Bergamaschi Roberto , Greco Giacomo , Zarbo Ignazio Roberto , Rizzo Vincenzo , Ulivelli Monica , Bezzini Daiana , Florio Lucia , Turazzini Michelangelo , Di Gregorio Maria , Pugliatti Maura , Salemi Giuseppe , Ragonese Paolo ,   the the MS-MigIT Study Group
Published: February 2024

Objective

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder in which environmental and genetic factors interact modifying disease risk and course. This multicentre, case–control study involving 18 Italian MS Centres investigated MS course by ethnicity and native-country economic status in foreign-born patients living in Italy.

Methods

We identified 457 MS patients who migrated to Italy and 893 age- and sex-matched native-born Italian patients. In our population, 1225 (93.2%) subjects were White Europeans and White Northern Americans (WENA) and 89 (6.8%) patients were from other ethnical groups (OEG); 1109 (82.1%) patients were born in a high-income (HI) Country and 241 (17.9%) in a low-middle-income (LMI) Country. Medical records and patients interviews were used to collect demographic and disease data.

Results

We included 1350 individuals (973 women and 377 men); mean (SD) age was 45.0 (11.7) years. At onset, 25.45% OEG patients vs 12.47% WENA (p = 0.039) had > 3 STIR spine lesions. At recruitment, the same group featured mean (SD) EDSS score of 2.85 (2.23) vs 2.64 (2.28) (p = 0.044) reached in 8.9 (9.0) vs 12.0 (9.0) years (p = 0.018) and underwent 1.10 (4.44) vs. 0.99 (0.40) annual MRI examinations (p = 0.035). At disease onset, patients from LMI countries had higher EDSS score than HI patients (2.40 (1.43) vs 1.99 (1.17); p = 0.032).

Discussion

Our results suggested that both ethnicity and socio-economic status of native country shape MS presentation and course and should be considered for an appropriate management of patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting on the impact of ethnicity in MS at an individual level and beyond an ecological population-perspective.
Postoperative outcome and influencing factors of strabismus surgery in infants aged 1–6 years
Authors: Hinterhuber Laetitia , Rezar-Dreindl Sandra , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula , Stifter Eva
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the postoperative outcome of strabismus surgery performed in children aged 1–6 years by investigating the change of the preoperative angle of deviation (AOD), elevation in adduction, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and refractive error.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of 62 children who received strabismus surgery between January 2018 and December 2021 at the Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry of the Medical University of Vienna. Age, sex, type of strabismus, AOD, BCVA, refractive error and visual acuity were evaluated with respect to the postoperative outcome.

Results

Mean follow-up was 13.55 ± 11.38 months with a mean age of 3.94 ± 1.97 years (range: 1.0–6.0) at time of surgery. 74.19% of patients (n = 46) had isolated or combined esotropia, 12.90% (n = 8) had isolated or combined exotropia and 12.90% (n = 8) had isolated strabismus sursoadductorius. Mean preoperative AOD of 15.69 ± 16.91°/15.02 ± 14.88° (near/distance) decreased to 4.00 ± 9.18°/4.83 ± 7.32° (near/distance) at final follow-up (p < 0.001). BCVA improved from 0.26 ± 0.26/0.25 ± 0.23 (left/right) to 0.21 ± 0.25/0.20 ± 0.23 (left/right) (p = 0.038). There was no significant change regarding refractive error (p = 0.109) or elevation in adduction (p = 0.212). Success rate which was defined as a residual AOD of less than 10° was 74.19% (n = 46). In 3.23% (n = 2) retreatment was necessary.

Conclusion

Strabismus surgery in infants was shown to have a satisfactory outcome with a low retreatment rate. Surgical success rate was not linked to age, sex, type of strabismus or the preoperative parameters AOD, refractive error and visual acuity in this study.
The chytrid insurance hypothesis: integrating parasitic chytrids into a biodiversity–ecosystem functioning framework for phytoplankton–zooplankton population dynamics
Authors: Abonyi András , Fornberg Johanna , Rasconi Serena , Ptacnik Robert , Kainz Martin J. , Lafferty Kevin D.
Published: February 2024

In temperate lakes, eutrophication and warm temperatures can promote cyanobacteria blooms that reduce water quality and impair food-chain support. Although parasitic chytrids of phytoplankton might compete with zooplankton, they also indirectly support zooplankton populations through the “mycoloop”, which helps move energy and essential dietary molecules from inedible phytoplankton to zooplankton. Here, we consider how the mycoloop might fit into the biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) framework. BEF considers how more diverse communities can benefit ecosystem functions like zooplankton production. Chytrids are themselves part of pelagic food webs and they directly contribute to zooplankton diets through spore production and by increasing host edibility. The additional way that chytrids might support BEF is if they engage in “kill-the-winner” dynamics. In contrast to grazers, which result in “eat-the-edible” dynamics, kill-the-winner dynamics can occur for host-specific infectious diseases that control the abundance of dominant (in this case inedible) hosts and thus limit the competitive exclusion of poorer (in this case edible) competitors. Thus, if phytoplankton diversity provides functions, and chytrids support algal diversity, chytrids could indirectly favour edible phytoplankton. All three mechanisms are linked to diversity and therefore provide some “insurance” for zooplankton production against the impacts of eutrophication and warming. In our perspective piece, we explore evidence for the chytrid insurance hypothesis, identify exceptions and knowledge gaps, and outline future research directions.
An assessment of WRF-urban schemes in simulating local meteorology for heat stress analysis in a tropical sub-Saharan African city, Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Obe Oluwafemi Benjamin , Morakinyo Tobi Eniolu , Mills Gerald
Published: February 2024

Megacities, such as Lagos, Nigeria, face significant challenges due to rapid urbanization and climate change, resulting in a higher intensity of the urban heat island effect, coupled with high population density, making the city fall under the category of moderate to high heat stress/risk. Despite this, very few studies have analyzed the urban impact on heat stress over the coastal city, albeit with poor resolution data. In this study, we assessed the performance of an integrated high-resolution WRF-urban scheme driven by the readily available urban canopy information of the local climate zone (LCZ) to simulate local meteorological data for analyzing the spatiotemporal pattern of heat stress over the megacity. Our results show that the WRF-BEP scheme outperformed the other evaluated urban schemes, reducing the normalized root mean squared error by 25%. Furthermore, using humidex, we found a generally high incidence of intense discomfort in highly urbanized areas and noted the significant influence of urban morphology on the pattern of heat stress, particularly at night due to the combined effect of urban warming and higher relative humidity. The most socioeconomically disadvantaged urban areas, LCZ7, were most affected, with “hot” heat stress conditions observed over 90% of the time. However, during the afternoon, we found reduced heat stress in the core urban areas which might be due to the shading effect and/or cold air advection. Our findings would be relevant in the development of the urgently needed climate/heat adaptation plans for the city and other sub-Saharan African cities.
Global regularity for nonlinear systems with symmetric gradients
Authors: Behn Linus , Diening Lars
Published: February 2024

We study global regularity of nonlinear systems of partial differential equations depending on the symmetric part of the gradient with Dirichlet boundary conditions. These systems arise from variational problems in plasticity with power growth. We cover the full range of exponents $$p \in (1,\infty )$$

p
∈
(
1
,
∞
)

. As a novelty the degenerate case for $$p>2$$

p
>
2

is included. We present a unified approach for all exponents by showing the regularity for general systems of Orlicz growth.
Position Paper: fragmented youth healthcare services in the Netherlands endanger treatment of teenage boys with psychiatric disorders
Authors: IJsselhof Rinske , Hintjens Amy , Pelzer Anne , Nieuwenhuis Edward
Published: February 2024

For children who show strongly deviant behaviour in the Netherlands, a distinction is made between behavioural problems and psychiatric problems. As a result, two different domains have emerged over time, each with its own legal frameworks and inclusion and exclusion criteria. Consequently, there is no well-organized, coherent system for youth mental health care in the Netherlands. This strong dichotomy raises the question whether patients are being admitted to facilities where they are receiving appropriate care. In addition, referral bias can arise, because the type of complaint with which a young person presents is often dependent on the type of coping of the individual and thus, in turn, the gender of the patient. In this Position Paper, we examined the gender distribution at a youth psychiatric high and intensive care (HIC-Y) and other streams of youth care in the Netherlands to explore possible inequities in access to psychiatric care among children and adolescents. Results show that girls are significantly more likely than boys to be admitted to the HIC-Y for suicidal thoughts, self-harm and emotional dysregulation. In fact, girls account for 80% of all admissions, while boys account for only 20%. In contrast, regional and national reports from youth services and probation show a majority of boys being admitted (56–89%). The way care is organized (lack of cross-domain collaboration and the interplay between gender-dependent coping and exclusion criteria) seems to play a role in the underrepresentation of boys in acute psychiatry and their overrepresentation in secure youth care. Based on our research results, the concern is raised whether boys have a greater chance of undertreatment for psychiatric problems. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying factors that contribute to gender bias in psychiatric admissions, and to develop interventions that promote gender equality in healthcare.
Scale dependency of anisotropic thermal conductivity of heterogeneous geomaterials
Authors: Li Kai-Qi , Chen Qi-Min , Chen Guan
Published: February 2024

The precise determination of subsurface thermal properties is critical for ground-source heating systems. The geomaterials are inherently heterogeneous, and their thermal conductivity measured in laboratory and field tests often exhibits anisotropic behaviours. However, the accurate measurement of thermal responses in geomaterials presents a challenging task due to the anisotropy’s variation with the observed scale. Hence, a numerical method is developed in this work and illustrated by taking a typical anisotropic structure of geomaterials with the porosity of 0.5 as an example. The differences in data from laboratory measurements and field tests are discussed to explore the scale effect on anisotropic thermal properties. A series of simulation tests are conducted on specimens with varying dimensions using the finite element method. Results indicate that the thermal properties show a substantial sensitivity to the observation scale, the variation of which decreases with the sample dimensions. By comparing in situ data and laboratory results, the values of average thermal conductivity and corresponding anisotropy ratio are lower than those at small scales, indicating that careful consideration should be given to the thermal properties to account for heterogeneity and anisotropy. In addition, four upscaling schemes based on the averaging method are discussed. This study sheds light on the gap between the laboratory results and the field’s inherent properties and provides guidelines for upscaling small-scale results to field-scale applications.
The relationshıp between health literacy and eating attitudes of adolescents
Authors: ÇINKIL Zeliha , TURAL BÜYÜK Esra
Published: February 2024

Aim

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between health literacy and eating attitudes of adolescents.

Subject and methods

This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 1519 adolescents. A Personal Information Form, Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32, and Eating Attitudes Test were used to collect data. Data were assessed by using the SPSS 21 statistical package program with Independent samples t test, ANOVA test, and Pearson correlation test.

Results

The mean total score of the adolescents on the Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 was 33.68 ± 10.33 and 31.3% had a sufficient and 28.8% had a problematic-limited level of health literacy. The mean eating attitudes score of the adolescents was calculated as 12.20 ± 12.24 and 20.4% were determined to have a risky eating attitude.

Conclusion

In this study, it was found that most of the adolescents had a sufficient level of health literacy and normal eating attitudes.
Generalized Structured Component Analysis Accommodating Convex Components: A Knowledge-Based Multivariate Method with Interpretable Composite Indexes
Authors: Cho Gyeongcheol , Hwang Heungsun
Published: February 2024

Generalized structured component analysis (GSCA) is a multivariate method for examining theory-driven relationships between variables including components. GSCA can provide the deterministic component score for each individual once model parameters are estimated. As the traditional GSCA always standardizes all indicators and components, however, it could not utilize information on the indicators’ scale in parameter estimation. Consequently, its component scores could just show the relative standing of each individual for a component, rather than the individual’s absolute standing in terms of the original indicators’ measurement scales. In the paper, we propose a new version of GSCA, named convex GSCA, which can produce a new type of unstandardized components, termed convex components, which can be intuitively interpreted in terms of the original indicators’ scales. We investigate the empirical performance of the proposed method through the analyses of simulated and real data.
Effects of a homework implementation method (MITCA) on self-regulation of learning
Authors: Vieites Tania , Gonida Eleftheria , Díaz-Freire Fátima , Rodríguez Susana , Valle Antonio
Published: February 2024

The MITCA method (Homework Implementation Method) was developed with the purpose of turning homework into an educational resource capable of improving students' self-regulated learning and school engagement. In this paper, following current theoretical frameworks, we evaluate the effect of the MITCA method on students' self-regulated learning. In general, MITCA includes the assignment of diverse, concrete and valued by the students tasks which are completed on a weekly basis. We analyze the differences in self-regulation strategies in a sample of 533 fifth (n = 270) and sixth graders (n = 262) with an age range of 10–12 years old (47.5% boys and 52.5% girls), who were about equally distributed to an experimental and a control group. Trained teachers used MITCA to prescribe homework in the experimental group for twelve weeks. The students of the experimental group reported significantly higher time management and environmental management. However, there were no significant differences observed in other aspects of self-regulation, and the experimental group did not perceive a deficit in these areas. Our results indicate the effectiveness of MITCA on students’ self-regulation of learning and discussed in light of current theories and evidence in the field.
Frühpädagogische Qualität in Kindertageseinrichtungen: Eine Erweiterung des Struktur-Prozess-Modells
Authors: Anders Yvonne , Oppermann Elisa
Published: February 2024

Hohe pädagogische Qualität in Kindertageseinrichtungen ist ausschlaggebend für die kindliche Entwicklung. Ausgehend von dieser Bedeutsamkeit hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten eine umfangreiche nationale sowie internationale Forschungsliteratur zu Voraussetzungen, Struktur, Weiterentwicklung und Auswirkungen der frühpädagogischen Qualität entwickelt. Diese unterschiedlichen Forschungsstränge, theoretischen Annahmen und Forschungsbefunde wurden jedoch nicht in einem einheitlichen theoretischen Modell integriert. Dies hat zur Folge, dass für viele Forschungsfragen unterschiedliche Modelle herangezogen werden müssen. Im Mittelpunkt des vorliegenden Beitrags steht daher eine theoretische Auseinandersetzung mit den Annahmen zu Dimensionen und Beschreibungen der frühpädagogischen Qualität sowie ein Überblick des empirischen Forschungstandes. Den Ausgangspunkt bildet dabei das international wie auch in Deutschland bewährte strukturell-prozessuale Modell frühpädagogischer Qualität (Roux und Tietze 2007). Auf Basis des Forschungsstands werden blinde Flecken in diesem Modell identifiziert, durch andere theoretische Modelle angereichert und eigenständig erweitert. Die Diskussion mündet in einen Vorschlag eines integrierten Modells frühpädagogischer Qualität.
An NMR-based model for determining irreducible water saturation in carbonate gas reservoirs
Authors: Heidary Mohammad
Published: February 2024

Unambiguously determining irreducible water saturation $$\left({S}_{\rm{wirr}}\right)$$

S
wirr

poses a formidable challenge, given the availability of multiple independent methods. Traditional approaches often depend on semi-experimental relationships derived from simplified assumptions. These methods, originally designed for oil sandstone reservoirs, result in varying $${S}_{{\text{wirr}}}$$

S
wirr

values when employed in carbonate gas reservoirs. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is the most advanced technique for determining $${S}_{{\text{wirr}}}$$

S
wirr

. While highly accurate, the NMR-based method necessitates the laboratory measurement of the transverse relaxation time $$\left({T}_{2}\right)$$

T
2

cutoff. Laboratory-based $${T}_{2}$$

T
2

cutoff determination is resource-intensive and time-consuming. This research aims to develop a robust model for determining $${S}_{{\text{wirr}}}$$

S
wirr

in carbonate gas reservoirs by utilizing NMR well logging measurements and special core analysis (SCAL) tests. Various $${T}_{2}$$

T
2

cutoff values were initially employed to compute bound water saturation $$\left({S}_{{\text{bw}}}\right)$$

S
bw

at different depths to achieve this. Subsequently, the data points $$\left({T}_{2}, {S}_{{\text{bw}}}\right)$$

T
2

,

S
bw

were graphed on a scatter plot to unveil the relationship between $${S}_{{\text{bw}}}$$

S
bw

and $${T}_{2}$$

T
2

. The scatter plot illustrates an exponential decrease in $${S}_{bw}$$

S

bw

with increasing $${T}_{2}$$

T
2

, forming the basis for the $${S}_{{\text{wirr}}}$$

S
wirr

model derived from this relationship. Finally, the parameters of the $${S}_{{\text{wirr}}}$$

S
wirr

model were fine-tuned using SCAL tests. Notably, this $${S}_{{\text{wirr}}}$$

S
wirr

model not only accurately yields $${S}_{{\text{wirr}}}$$

S
wirr

at each depth but also offers a dependable determination of the optimal $${T}_{2}$$

T
2

cutoff for the reservoir interval.
Aligning agri-environmental-climate public good supply and desire in a sustainable Dutch agricultural sector
Authors: Farokhi Atoesa S. , Harmanny Kina S. , Schulp Catharina J. E.
Published: February 2024

European agricultural policies increasingly incorporate mechanisms for delivery of public goods. Sustainable public good delivery requires alignment between societal demand and landscape supply. However, the variation of demands or desires regarding future public good delivery among society is hardly known. We inventoried the desires for public goods across Dutch society, and projections of agricultural supply. A multi-method approach was used to find agreement levels between desired and expected change in good delivery. Most stakeholders expressed a desire for biodiversity and climate regulation from agriculture, whilst desire for natural heritage and recreation was less common. The utility of a public good to a stakeholder appears to influence its desire. Scenarios for agriculture focus on extensification, sustainable intensification, regionalization, or meadow bird conservation. Regionalized scenarios showed the highest agreement between public good supply and desire. Maximizing alignment between desire and supply thus requires a challenging transition towards region-specific agricultural sustainability strategies.
Algorithmic Transparency, Manipulation, and Two Concepts of Liberty
Authors: Franke Ulrik
Published: February 2024

As more decisions are made by automated algorithmic systems, the transparency of these systems has come under scrutiny. While such transparency is typically seen as beneficial, there is a also a critical, Foucauldian account of it. From this perspective, worries have recently been articulated that algorithmic transparency can be used for manipulation, as part of a disciplinary power structure. Klenk (Philosophy & Technology 36, 79, 2023) recently argued that such manipulation should not be understood as exploitation of vulnerable victims, but rather as indifference to whether the information provided enhances decision-making by revealing reasons. This short commentary on Klenk uses Berlin’s (1958) two concepts of liberty to further illuminate the concept of transparency as manipulation, finding alignment between positive liberty and the critical account.
Outbreak of severe community-acquired bacterial infections among children in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), October to December 2022
Authors: Goretzki Sarah C. , van der Linden Mark , Itzek Andreas , Hühne Tom , Adelmann Roland O. , Ala Eldin Firas , Albarouni Mohamed , Becker Jan-Claudius , Berghäuser Martin A. , Boesing Thomas , Boeswald Michael , Brasche Milian , Brevis Nuñez Francisco , Camara Rokya , Deibert Clara , Dohle Frank , Dolgner Jörg , Dziobaka Jan , Eifinger Frank , Elting Natalie , Endmann Matthias , Engelmann Guido , Frenzke Holger , Gappa Monika , Gharavi Bahman , Goletz Christine , Hahn Eva , Heidenreich Yvonne , Heimann Konrad , Hensel Kai O. , Hoffmann Hans-Georg , Hoppenz Marc , Horneff Gerd , Klassen Helene , Koerner-Rettberg Cordula , Längler Alfred , Lenz Pascal , Lohmeier Klaus , Müller Andreas , Niemann Frank , Paulussen Michael , Pentek Falk , Perez Ruy , Pingel Markus , Repges Philip , Rothoeft Tobias , Rübo Jochen , Schade Herbert , Schmitz Robert , Schonhoff Peter , Schwade Jan N. , Schwarz Tobias , Seiffert Peter , Selzer Georg , Spille Uwe , Thiel Carsten , Thimm Ansgar , Urgatz Bartholomäus , van den Heuvel Alijda , van Hop Tan , Giesen Verena , Wirth Stefan , Wollbrink Thomas , Wüller Daniel , Felderhoff-Müser Ursula , Dohna-Schwake Christian , Lâm Thiên-Trí , Claus Heike , Bruns Nora
Published: February 2024

Purpose

In late 2022, a surge of severe S. pyogenes infections was reported in several European countries. This study assessed hospitalizations and disease severity of community-acquired bacterial infections with S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae among children in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, during the last quarter of 2022 compared to long-term incidences.

Methods

Hospital cases due to bacterial infections between October and December 2022 were collected in a multicenter study (MC) from 59/62 (95%) children's hospitals in NRW and combined with surveillance data (2016–2023) from the national reference laboratories for streptococci, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae. Overall and pathogen-specific incidence rates (IR) from January 2016 to March 2023 were estimated via capture–recapture analyses. Expected annual deaths from the studied pathogens were calculated from national death cause statistics.

Results

In the MC study, 153 cases with high overall disease severity were reported with pneumonia being most common (59%, n = 91). IRs of bacterial infections declined at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and massively surged to unprecedented levels in late 2022 and early 2023 (overall hospitalizations 3.5-fold), with S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae as main drivers (18-fold and threefold). Observed deaths during the study period exceeded the expected number for the entire year in NRW by far (7 vs. 0.9).

Discussion

The unprecedented peak of bacterial infections and deaths in late 2022 and early 2023 was caused mainly by S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae. Improved precautionary measures are needed to attenuate future outbreaks.
Perfluorocarbon-based artificial oxygen carriers for red blood cell substitutes: considerations and direction of technology
Authors: Kim Ji-Hui , Jung Eun-A. , Kim Joo-Eun
Published: February 2024

Background

Recently, the development of an artificial oxygen carrier that can replace blood transfusions is gaining attention, particularly in response to war and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as yet, none of the existing hemoglobin-based artificial oxygen carriers (HBOCs) and perfluorocarbon-based artificial oxygen carriers (PFOCs) have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Area covered

Several difficulties are encountered during the development of PFOCs. Here, we discuss the possibility of developing PFOCs using a safe and feasible method. The problems of the existing PFOCs were primarily identified as their large particle size, persistence in the body, and high content of PFOCs based on the second generation. On the basis of these problems, we present the unmet needs of five existing PFOCs that require to be overcome before they can be developed clinically.

Expert opinion

In previous studies, there have been mentions of the composition, indications, and side effects of PFOCs (Perfluorocarbon-based oxygen carriers). However, there has been little or no mention of unmet needs for the development of PFOCs. Furthermore, this review provides a categorized list of unmet needs for PFOCs, which is expected to contribute to increasing the development potential of PFOCs by providing guidance for future directions.
The Roadmap of 2D Materials and Devices Toward Chips
Authors: Liu Anhan , Zhang Xiaowei , Liu Ziyu , Li Yuning , Peng Xueyang , Li Xin , Qin Yue , Hu Chen , Qiu Yanqing , Jiang Han , Wang Yang , Li Yifan , Tang Jun , Liu Jun , Guo Hao , Deng Tao , Peng Songang , Tian He , Ren Tian-Ling
Published: February 2024

Due to the constraints imposed by physical effects and performance degradation, silicon-based chip technology is facing certain limitations in sustaining the advancement of Moore’s law. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as highly promising candidates for the post-Moore era, offering significant potential in domains such as integrated circuits and next-generation computing. Here, in this review, the progress of 2D semiconductors in process engineering and various electronic applications are summarized. A careful introduction of material synthesis, transistor engineering focused on device configuration, dielectric engineering, contact engineering, and material integration are given first. Then 2D transistors for certain electronic applications including digital and analog circuits, heterogeneous integration chips, and sensing circuits are discussed. Moreover, several promising applications (artificial intelligence chips and quantum chips) based on specific mechanism devices are introduced. Finally, the challenges for 2D materials encountered in achieving circuit-level or system-level applications are analyzed, and potential development pathways or roadmaps are further speculated and outlooked.
Butler, Hegel and the Role of Recognition in Organizations
Authors: Visser Max
Published: February 2024

In the past decade, the concept of recognition appears to have acquired an important theoretical position in the work and organization literature. While in principle recognition denotes a positive and social form of freedom, in current-day organizations recognition may be often negative or instrumental. In order to capture this ambivalence in organizational recognitive conditions, the recent work of the American philosopher Judith Butler appears particularly applicable. The purpose of this paper is to explore theoretically to what extent her views on recognition shed new light on the variety of recognition patterns in current-day organizations. Towards that purpose, this paper first turns to the ‘master-slave’ episode in the work of Hegel and its influential interpretation by Kojève, which are at the heart of Butler’s reading and conception of recognition. As a second step, the ambivalent conception of recognition in the work of Butler is discussed and critically assessed, while in the final section this conception is extended to work and organizations.
Robust machine learning models: linear and nonlinear
Authors: Giudici Paolo , Raffinetti Emanuela , Riani Marco
Published: February 2024

Artificial Intelligence relies on the application of machine learning models which, while reaching high predictive accuracy, lack explainability and robustness. This is a problem in regulated industries, as authorities aimed at monitoring the risks arising from the application of Artificial Intelligence methods may not validate them. No measurement methodologies are yet available to jointly assess accuracy, explainability and robustness of machine learning models. We propose a methodology which fills the gap, extending the Forward Search approach, employed in robust statistical learning, to machine learning models. Doing so, we will be able to evaluate, by means of interpretable statistical tests, whether a specific Artificial Intelligence application is accurate, explainable and robust, through a unified methodology. We apply our proposal to the context of Bitcoin price prediction, comparing a linear regression model against a nonlinear neural network model.
Teachers’ and students’ perception of effectiveness of english textbook grade VIII in Public Schools in Pakistan in digital era
Authors: Bhatti Nargis , Abdullah Nauman Ahmed
Published: February 2024

English language is one of the mostly used languages across the world for communication as well as academic purpose. English subject is taught as compulsory from primary to bachelor level in Pakistan. Textbook is used as a teaching and learning resource for teaching English. Evaluation of textbooks remains a pertinent task in curriculum studies. The present study was aimed at evaluating the grade VIII English textbook used in public sector schools of Punjab (Pakistan). A mixed methods approach was used to seek perceptions of 24 teachers and 240 students about the textbook on specifically designed instruments of interview and close-ended questionnaires, respectively. Thematic analysis for interviews and descriptive analysis for questionnaire were carried out on the data. Keys findings included positive remarks on some of the aspects of the textbooks and few suggestions on improving the textbook on a few aspects regarding making the content interesting through including topics consisting of daily use and creative activities. Study presents results and recommendations for policy makers to incorporate in revised versions of the textbook.
Predicting building energy consumption in urban neighborhoods using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Jiang Qingrui , Huang Chenyu , Wu Zhiqiang , Yao Jiawei , Wang Jinyu , Liu Xiaochang , Qiao Renlu
Published: February 2024

Assessing building energy consumption in urban neighborhoods at the early stages of urban planning assists decision-makers in developing detailed urban renewal plans and sustainable development strategies. At the city-level, the use of physical simulation-based urban building energy modeling (UBEM) is too costly, and data-driven approaches often are hampered by a lack of available building energy monitoring data. This paper combines a simulation-based approach with a data-driven approach, using UBEM to provide a dataset for machine learning and deploying the trained model for large-scale urban building energy consumption prediction. Firstly, we collected 18,789 neighborhoods containing 248,938 buildings in the Shanghai central area, of which 2,702 neighborhoods were used for UBEM. Simultaneously, building functions were defined by POI data and land use data. We used 14 impact factors related to land use and building morphology to define each neighborhood. Next, we compared the performance of six ensemble learning methods modeling impact factors with building energy consumption and used SHAP to explain the best model; we also filtered out the features that contributed the most to the model output to reduce the model complexity. Finally, the balanced regressor that had the best prediction accuracy with the minimum number of features was used to predict the remaining urban neighborhoods in the Shanghai central area. The results show that XGBoost achieves the best performance. The balanced regressor, constructed with the 9 most contributing features, predicted the building rooftop photovoltaics potential, total load, cooling load, and heating load with test set accuracies of 0.956, 0.674, 0.608, and 0.762, respectively. Our method offers an 85.5%-time advantage over traditional methods, with only a maximum of 22.75% of error.
Uncertainty and Emotion in the 1900 Sydney Plague
Authors: Barr Philippa Nicole
Published: February 2024

When the third global plague pandemic reached Sydney in 1900, theories regarding the ecology and biology of disease transmission were transforming. Changing understandings led to conflicts over the appropriate response. Medical and government authorities employed symbols like dirt to address gaps in knowledge. They used these symbols strategically to compel emotional responses and to advocate for specific political and social interventions, authorising institutional actions to shape social identity and the city in preparation for Australia's 1901 Federation. Through theoretical and historical analysis, this Element argues that disgust and aversion were effectively mobilised to legitimise these actions. As an intervention in contemporary debates about the impact of knowledge on emotion and affect, it presents a case for the plasticity of emotions like disgust, and for how both emotion and affect can change with new medical information.
Impact of a midline catheter prioritization initiative on device utilization and central line-associated bloodstream infections at an urban safety-net community hospital
Authors: Mena Lora Alfredo J. , Lindsey Brenna , Echeverria Stephanie , Ali Mirza , Krill Candice , Takhsh Eden , Bleasdale Susan C.
Published: February 2024

Overuse of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) can lead to idle central line (CL) days and increased risk for CL-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). We established a midline prioritization initiative at a safety-net community hospital. This initiative led to possible CLABSI avoidance and a decline in PICC use.
Vertical convection regimes in a two-dimensional rectangular cavity: Prandtl and aspect ratio dependence
Authors: Khoubani Arman , Mohanan Ashwin Vishnu , Augier Pierre , Flór Jan-Bert
Published: February 2024

Vertical convection is the fluid motion that is induced by the heating and cooling of two opposed vertical boundaries of a rectangular cavity (see e.g. Wang et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 917, 2021, A6). We consider the linear stability of the steady two-dimensional flow reached at Rayleigh numbers of O(

$10^8$

). As a function of the Prandtl number,

$Pr$

, and the height-to-width aspect ratio of the domain,

$A$

, the base flow of each case is computed numerically and linear simulations are used to obtain the properties of the leading linear instability mode. Flow regimes depend on the presence of a circulation in the entire cavity, detachment of the thermal layer from the boundary or the corner regions and on the oscillation frequency relative to the natural frequency of oscillation in the stably temperature-stratified interior, allowing for the presence of internal waves or not. Accordingly, the regime is called slow or fast, respectively. Either the global circulation or internal waves in the interior may couple the top and bottom buoyancy currents, while their absence implies asymmetry in their perturbation amplitude. Six flow regimes are found in the range of

$0.1 \leq Pr \leq 4$

and

$0.5 \leq A \leq 2$

. For

$Pr \lessapprox 0.4$

and

$A>1$

, the base flow is driven by a large circulation in the entire cavity. For

$Pr \gtrapprox 0.7$

, the thermal boundary layers are thin and the instability is driven by the motion along the wall and the detached boundary layer. A transition between these regimes is marked by a dramatic change in oscillation frequency at

$Pr = 0.55 \pm 0.15$

and

$A <2$

.
Lateral and temporal constraints on the depositional history of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA
Authors: Bernau Jeremiah A. , Bowen Brenda B. , Oviatt Charles G. , Clark Donald L. , Hart Isaac A.
Published: February 2024

The depositional history of the Bonneville Salt Flats, a perennial saline pan in Utah's Bonneville basin, has poor temporal constraints, and the climatic and geomorphic conditions that led to saline pan formation there are poorly understood. We explore the late Pleistocene to Holocene depositional record of Bonneville Salt Flats cores. Our data challenge the assumption that the saline pan formed from the desiccation of Lake Bonneville, the largest late Pleistocene lake in the Great Basin, which covered this area from 30 to 13 cal ka BP. We test two hypotheses: whether climatic transitions from (1) wet to arid or (2) arid to wet led to saline pan deposition. We describe the depositional record with radiocarbon dating, sedimentological structures, mineralogy, diatom, ostracode, and portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer measurements. Gypsum and carbonate strontium isotope ratio measurements reflect changes in water sources. Three shallow saline lake to desiccation cycles occurred from >45 and >28 cal ka BP. Deflation removed Lake Bonneville sediments between 13 and 8.3 cal ka BP. Gypsum deposition spanned 8.3 to 5.4 cal ka BP, while the oldest halite interval formed from 5.4 to 3.5 cal ka BP during a wetter period. These findings offer valuable insights for sedimentologists, archaeologists, geomorphologists, and land managers.
Late Homesteading: Native Land Dispossession through Strategic Occupation
Authors: ALLEN DOUGLAS W. , LEONARD BRYAN
Published: February 2024

U.S. homesteading has been linked to establishing federal sovereignty over western lands threatened by the Confederacy, foreign powers, and the Indian Wars in the last half of the nineteenth century. However, the bulk of homesteading actually took place in the early twentieth century, long after these threats to federal ownership ceased. We argue that this “late homesteading” was also an effort to enforce federal rights, but in response to a different threat—a legal one. Questionable federal land policies in the late nineteenth century dispossessed massive amounts of Indigenous lands, and exposed the federal government to legal, rather than violent, conflict. Late homesteading was used to make the dispossession permanent, even in cases where a legal defeat eventually occurred. Examining the qualitative evidence, and using data on the universe of individual homesteads and federal land cessions across the 16 western states, we find evidence consistent with this hypothesis.
On twisted group ring isomorphism problem for p-groups
Authors: Kaur Gurleen , Kaur Surinder , Singla Pooja
Published: February 2024

In this article, we explore the problem of determining isomorphisms between the twisted complex group algebras of finite
$p$
-groups. This problem bears similarity to the classical group algebra isomorphism problem and has been recently examined by Margolis-Schnabel. Our focus lies on a specific invariant, referred to as the generalized corank, which relates to the twisted complex group algebra isomorphism problem. We provide a solution for non-abelian
$p$
-groups with generalized corank at most three.
The Avestan ī̆šti- in Middle Persian texts
Authors: Musavi S. Fatemeh
Published: February 2024

Middle Persian translations and interpretations of Avestan texts employ the word īšt in the translation of the Avestan ī̆šti- “capability, capacity, competence”. The word became a vocabulary item in the Middle Persian corpus. It seems to be a calque of its Avestan counterpart. The Avestan ī̆šti- has presented challenges in the Avesta scholarship and is translated with words from different semantic domains. This article discusses the definition of Avestan ī̆šti- and how it is reinterpreted and understood in the Middle Persian translations. It is argued here that Av. ī̆šti- refers to “capability, capacity, and competence”. However, it is understood and interpreted in the MP texts as “wealth, property”, “remuneration”, or “reward”. It is sometimes translated to a verb form from xwāstan “desire, want”.
Time Matters in Cross-Strait Relations: Tsai Ing-wen and Taiwan's Future
Authors: Sullivan Jonathan
Published: February 2024

In this article, I examine the ROC president's discursive response to PRC efforts to limit Taiwan's future possibilities and undermine confidence in Taiwan's future. I argue that the capacity to imagine the future, and perceiving agency to affect future outcomes, is crucial for national resilience. Since Taiwan is routinely exposed to factors known to cause reduced self-efficacy and morale – uncertainty, threat, marginalization, restricted agency, circumscribed action repertoires – it is crucial that Taiwanese people have a meaningful sense of “what are we striving for?” and confidence that they have the agency to realize these aspirations. The article sets out an empirical examination of discursive constructions of the future as a vector for enhancing cohesion and resolve in Taiwanese society. Foregrounding a novel dimension in the study of Taiwan, the article contributes both an interpretivist account of President Tsai Ing-wen's discourse and opens a new avenue for research on the largely neglected issue of futurity in cross-Strait relations.
Introduction: Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Publication Patterns in Political Science
Authors: Stockemer Daniel , Reidy Theresa
Published: February 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered rapid transformations across the globe. Probably no other event in the past 50 years has changed the working environment more comprehensively. When the pandemic started in February and March of 2020, university campuses all over the globe shut down in less than a week. Most remained closed or had heavily restricted access for almost two years, depending on the country and the city. Overnight online teaching replaced in-person instruction; all professional and student interactions moved to Zoom, Teams, or Skype; academic conferences either did not take place or moved to an online format; and field research became almost impossible. In addition, contact restrictions, lockdowns, curfews, and homeschooling were unprecedented challenges for many people, especially members of the academic community who had small children (Del Boca et al. 2020). It is important to note that even in normal times women bear the greatest burden of childcare, social care for older people, and general household tasks. The COVID-19 pandemic quickly amplified these disparities (Ohlbrecht and Jellen 2021; Yerkes et al. 2022). Discussions emerged in many sectors, including academia, about specific ways that the pandemic was impacting professional lives, especially those of women. Given the acute pressure to publish in most higher-education institutions, it is important to evaluate the effect that the pandemic had on this central aspect of scholarly careers.
Identification and estimation of the intake of fermented foods and their contribution to energy and nutrients among Japanese adults
Authors: Fujihashi Hitomi , Sasaki Satoshi
Published: February 2024

Objective:

Few studies have reported intakes of fermented foods with their clear definitions. This study aimed to identify fermented foods and beverages consumed in Japan based on international definitions and to estimate their intake and contribution to energy and nutrients.

Design:

Data from a 16-d (four non-consecutive days within each season at 3-month intervals) semi-weighted dietary records (DR) were used. To identify ‘entirely fermented foods’ and ‘partially fermented foods’, a literature search on food processing and ingredients was conducted for all foods that appeared in the DR. For ‘partially fermented foods’, only the weight of the fermented food component was included in the estimation of total fermented food intake.

Setting:

Four regions in Japan: Osaka, Nagano, Tottori and Okinawa.

Participants:

Two-hundred forty-two apparently healthy Japanese adults aged 31–81 years.

Results:

Of the 1396 kinds of unique foods that appeared in the DR, 101 were ‘entirely fermented foods’ and 104 were ‘partially fermented foods’. The mean intake of fermented foods was 438 g/d per person (17 % of the total weight). They were mainly derived from beer, coffee, bread and yogurt. The mean contribution of fermented foods to the total energy intake was 18 %. For nutrients, the contribution to total intake was high to Na (46 %), Mg (22 %) and Ca (20 %).

Conclusions:

Fermented foods account for approximately one-fifth of the total weight and energy of dietary intake and are important contributors to some nutrients in Japanese adults.
From Musical Writings To Writing Music: Book-Writing Leading to Music School in Nineteenth-Century Calcutta
Authors: Bhattacharyya Anirban
Published: February 2024

Print created the urge to innovate new modalities of musical knowledge production and dissemination in nineteenth-century Bengal. Publication of music books made the bifurcation between music theory and practice clearer, but only as a textual category. As the literature suggests, these were two categories for organizing musical knowledge, intimately entwined, where one produces the other and also doesn't exist without each other. The technology of ‘swaralipi’ (musical notation) used in the modern printed books materialized the project of disseminating music to the reader who could now ‘read’ the music from the book. For some book writers, music books were meant to be a replacement for the oral tutelage, published as ‘self-instructors’. But, on the contrary, the most prolific book-writers of the time used their books as the basis of oral tutelage in the music school. In the modern setting of the music school, the person of the ‘guru’ or ‘ustad’ was replaced by the formalized, systematic teaching of the ‘professors’ of music. Music books, as the medium of modern music pedagogy, thus changed not only the way students learned – making it possible to learn from the book with no instructor – but also the role of teachers, whose teaching was validated by the book. The music books came to function as the ‘modern shastras’ – to exercise regulatory authority over music practice, and how music is learned and taught. The ‘orality’ of music emerges as a liminal space in the gap between the writings on music and the writing of music. What emerges is an unlikely milieu where a new form of musical education is devised, the possibility of an education without a guru is conceived, and the schema of musical notation brings the entire process to life.