bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time‐continuous and time‐discontinuous space‐time finite elements for advection‐diffusion problems
Authors: von Danwitz Max , Voulis Igor , Hosters Norbert , Behr Marek
Published: March 2023

We construct four variants of space‐time finite element discretizations based on linear tensor‐product and simplex‐type finite elements. The resulting discretizations are continuous in space, and continuous or discontinuous in time. In a first test run, all four methods are applied to a linear scalar advection‐diffusion model problem. Then, the convergence properties of the time‐discontinuous space‐time finite element discretizations are studied in numerical experiments. Advection velocity and diffusion coefficient are varied, such that the parabolic case of pure diffusion (heat equation), as well as, the hyperbolic case of pure advection (transport equation) are included in the study. For each model parameter set, the error at the final time is computed for spatial and temporal element lengths ranging over several orders of magnitude to allow for an individual evaluation of the methods' spatial, temporal, and space‐time accuracy. In the parabolic case, particular attention is paid to the influence of time‐dependent boundary conditions. Key findings include a spatial accuracy of second order and a temporal accuracy between second and third order. The temporal accuracy tends toward third order depending on how advection‐dominated the test case is, on the choice of the specific discretization method, and on the time‐(in)dependence and treatment of the boundary conditions. Additionally, the potential of time‐continuous simplex space‐time finite elements for heat flux computations is demonstrated with a piston ring pack test case and a subtractive manufacturing test case.
Examining the intersection of culture and stewardship: Assessing how the most visited art museums promote their philanthropic missions
Authors: Pressgrove Geah , Waters Richard D. , Darrah Adrienne , Troy Cassandra
Published: March 2023

This manuscript provides a foundation of information to provide a benchmark for further understanding how culture impacts the presentation of art museums' mission as well as cultivating relationship with its supporters. Using content analysis methodology, the research investigates how a random sampling of the globe's most visited art museums incorporate Kelly's (1998, 2001) stewardship dimensions into their homepages and membership webpages as well as Hofstede's six cultural dimensions into the museums' “About Us” pages. Results from this investigation found that art museums widely use the reporting and relationship nurturing strategies to reach out to a broad range of supporters, but they fail to recognize and thank specific individuals or groups of supporters to deepen the relationship with their most ardent supporters. The intersection of stewardship strategies with Hofstede's cultural dimensions are also explored qualitatively based on patterns identified within the results.
Efficacy of non‐pharmacological interventions to reduce pain in children with sickle cell disease: A systematic review
Authors: van Veelen Sarah , Vuong Caroline , Gerritsma Jorn J. , Eckhardt Corien L. , Verbeek Sophie E. M. , Peters Marjolein , Fijnvandraat Karin
Published: March 2023

Background

Pain is the clinical hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD) leading to hospitalization, psychological sequelae and a decreased health‐related quality of life. The aim of this systematic literature review is to evaluate the efficacy of non‐pharmacological interventions in reducing sickle cell related pain in children with SCD.

Methods

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis guidelines, a comprehensive literature search up until October 2022 was performed to identify studies that investigated the efficacy of non‐pharmacological interventions on (1) pain frequency and/or intensity, and (2) analgesic and health service use in children with SCD until the age of 21. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi‐experimental designed (QED) studies were considered for inclusion.

Results

Ten articles (five RCTs and five QED studies) with 422 participants were included. They investigated cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (n = 5), biofeedback (n = 2), massage (n = 1), virtual reality (n = 1) and yoga (n = 1). The majority of the interventions were psychological (n = 7) and were performed in the outpatient clinic (n = 6). CBT and biofeedback significantly reduced frequency and/or intensity of SCD‐related pain in outpatient settings, while virtual reality and yoga significantly reduced pain in inpatient settings. Biofeedback also significantly reduced analgesic use. None of the included articles reported reduced health service use.

Conclusion

Non‐pharmacological interventions may be effective in reducing pain in paediatric patients with SCD. However, due to the heterogeneity of the included studies a quantitative analysis could not be performed. Awaiting further supporting evidence, healthcare providers should consider implementing these interventions as valuable part of a comprehensive pain management strategy plan.
Psychological grit moderates the relation between lifetime stressor exposure and functional outcomes among HIV‐seropositive and HIV‐seronegative adults
Authors: Delfel Everett , Hammond Andrea , Shields Grant S. , Moore David J. , Slavich George M. , Thames April D.
Published: March 2023

The ability to maintain functional independence throughout the lifespan may be diminished among medically compromised and chronically stressed populations. People living with HIV are more likely to demonstrate functional impairment and report greater exposure to lifetime and chronic stressors than their seronegative counterparts. It is well‐known that exposure to stressors and adversity is associated with functional impairment outcomes. However, to our knowledge, no studies have examined how protective factors such as psychological grit mitigate the negative effects of lifetime and chronic stressor exposure on functional impairment, and how this association differs by HIV‐status. To address this issue, we studied associations between lifetime and chronic stressor exposure, grit, and functional impairment in 176 African American and non‐Hispanic White HIV‐seropositive (n = 100) and HIV‐seronegative (n = 76) adults, aged 24–85 (M = 57.28, SD = 9.02). As hypothesised, HIV‐seropositive status and lower grit, but not lifetime stressor exposure, were independently associated with more functional impairment. Moreover, there was a significant three‐way interaction between HIV‐status, grit, and lifetime stressor exposure, b = 0.07, p = 0.025, 95% CI [0.009, 0.135]. Specifically, lifetime stressor exposure was related to more functional impairment for HIV‐seronegative—but not HIV‐seropositive—adults who reported low levels of grit. These findings suggest that the protective effects of grit may differ across populations at risk for functional impairment.
Self‐Healing Perovskite Grain Boundaries in Efficient and Stable Solar Cells via Incorporation of 502 Adhesive
Authors: Feng Yifei , Que Zhongbao , Zhai Shuaibo , Li Jintian , Gong Jiaqi , Hu Ruiyuan , Liu Wei , Hu Jing , Li Xing'ao , Chu Liang
Published: March 2023

Additive engineering has become an effective method to passivate the grain boundary defects of perovskite films for enhanced photovoltaic performance. Herein, inspired by daily life, a 502 adhesive is directly introduced into perovskite films to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), where the perovskite grain boundaries are self‐healed through spontaneous polymerization of the 502 adhesive by tracing water molecules in the air at room temperature. The C=O and –CN groups in 502 adhesive molecules provide double bonding points to chemically anchor with perovskite gain boundaries, which effectively block the invaded channels of moisture and oxygen into the perovskite film. Meanwhile, the –CN groups can combine with the deficient coordination of Pb2+ to passivate the deep defects. The optimized PSCs via incorporation of 502 adhesive into perovskite film achieve PCE of 20.12% and remarkable long‐term and moisture stability compared to the control device with PCE of 17.30%.
COVID‐19 and climate change: The social‐psychological roots of conflict and conflict interventions during global crises
Authors: Burrows Brooke , Abellera Cierra , Markowitz Ezra M.
Published: March 2023

The current study reviews key social psychological mechanisms related to conflict and conflict resolution that manifest within both the coronavirus pandemic and climate change crises. The uncertainty, scale, and nature of both global crises generate various forms of individual‐ and group‐level conflicts that, mediated by psychological and cultural phenomena, impede beneficial action and sustainable adaptation. Specifically, we highlight five social psychological mechanisms (i.e., cognitive dissonance, responsibility diffusion, compassion fatigue, dehumanization, and competitive beliefs) known to interact with, produce, and amplify intrapersonal, interpersonal, and/or intergroup conflicts. We draw attention to how these mechanisms have been activated by the pandemic in ways that share important similarities with climate change and present evidence‐informed approaches to combating their contribution to conflict (i.e., motivating behavior change, implementing accountability mechanisms, creating collective action opportunities, fostering intergroup contact, and promoting perspective‐taking). By engaging social psychological research to better understand both the roots of conflict as well as outline potential individual, community, and societal responses that can help alleviate conflict during these global crises, we can increase our ability to successfully navigate and in some cases avoid future conflicts caused by climate change.

This article is categorized under:

Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Behavior Change and Responses
Heavy neutral leptons at muon colliders
Authors: Li Peiran , Liu Zhen , Lyu Kun-Feng
Published: March 2023

Abstract

The future high-energy muon colliders, featuring both high energy and low background, could play a critical role in our searches for new physics. The smallness of neutrino mass is a puzzle of particle physics. Broad classes of solutions to the neutrino puzzles can be best tested by seeking the partners of SM light neutrinos, dubbed as heavy neutral leptons (HNLs), at muon colliders. We can parametrize HNLs in terms of the mass mN and the mixing angle with ℓ-flavor Uℓ. In this work, we focus on the regime mN> O(100) GeV and study the projected sensitivities on the |Uℓ|2 − mN plane with the full-reconstructable HNL decay into a hadronic W and a charged lepton. The projected reach in |Uℓ|2 leads to the best sensitivities in the TeV realm.
J-shaped association between uric acid and breast cancer risk: a prospective case–control study
Authors: Fan Kexin , Sun Tengfei , Yin Fuzai
Published: March 2023

Background/aim

In terms of breast cancer risk, there is no consensus on the effect of uric acid (UA) levels. The aim of our study was to clarify the link between UA and breast cancer risk in a prospective case–control study and to find the UA threshold point.

Methods

We designed a case–control study with 1050 females (525 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 525 controls). We measured the UA levels at baseline and confirmed the incidence of breast cancer through postoperative pathology. We used binary logistic regression to study the association between breast cancer and UA. In addition, we performed restricted cubic splines to evaluate the potential nonlinear links between UA and breast cancer risk. We used threshold effect analysis to identify the UA cut-off point.

Results

After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, we found that compared with the referential level (3.5–4.4 mg/dl), the odds ratio (OR) of breast cancer was 1.946 (95% CI 1.140–3.321) (P < 0.05) in the lowest UA level and 2.245 (95% CI 0.946–5.326) (P > 0.05) in the highest level. Using the restricted cubic bar diagram, we disclosed a J-shaped association between UA and breast cancer risk (P-nonlinear < 0.05) after adjusting for all confounders. In our study, 3.6 mg/dl was found to be the UA threshold which acted as the optimal turning point of the curve. The OR for breast cancer was 0.170 (95% CI 0.056–0.512) to the left and 1.283 (95% CI 1.074–1.532) to the right of 3.6 mg/dl UA (P for log likelihood ratio test < 0.05).

Conclusion

We found a J-shaped association between UA and breast cancer risk. Controlling the UA level around the threshold point of 3.6 mg/dl provides a novel insight into breast cancer prevention.
Impact of tumor markers on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in CNS germ cell tumors: correlations with clinical practice and histopathology
Authors: Takami Hirokazu , Graffeo Christopher S. , Perry Avital , Giannini Caterina , Nakazato Yoichi , Saito Nobuhito , Matsutani Masao , Nishikawa Ryo , Daniels David J. , Ichimura Koichi
Published: March 2023

Tumor markers in CNS germ cell tumors (GCTs) include human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP), which have significant diagnostic implications, as elevation of either one leads to clinical diagnosis of non-germinomatous GCTs without histopathological confirmation, justifying intensified chemotherapy and irradiation. The current study, based on an international cohort of histopathologically verified GCTs that underwent biopsy (n = 85) or resection (n = 76), sought to better define the clinical role and prognostic significance of tumor markers from serum and CSF in this challenging patient population. We found that HCG was elevated only in cases with a germinoma or choriocarcinoma component, and there existed a clear cut-off HCG value between the two. AFP was often elevated in GCTs without a yolk sac tumor component, especially immature teratoma. HCG was elevated only in CSF in 3-of-52 cases, and AFP was elevated only in serum in 7-of-49 cases, emphasizing the potential utilization of both serum and CSF studies. Immature teratoma demonstrated unfavorable prognosis independent of tumor marker status, with 56% 5-year overall survival; however, co-existent germinoma components indicated a more favorable prognosis. Taken together, the study findings emphasize the importance for routine assessment and guarded interpretation of tumor markers in CNS GCTs.
Kernel regression for errors-in-variables problems in the circular domain
Authors: Di Marzio Marco , Fensore Stefania , Taylor Charles C.
Published: March 2023

We study the problem of estimating a regression function when the predictor and/or the response are circular random variables in the presence of measurement errors. We propose estimators whose weight functions are deconvolution kernels defined according to the nature of the involved variables. We derive the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators and consider possible generalizations and extensions. We provide some simulation results and a real data case study to illustrate and compare the proposed methods.
Sequencing Targeted and Immune Therapy in BRAF-Mutant Melanoma: Lessons Learned
Authors: Trojaniello Claudia , Sparano Francesca , Cioli Eleonora , Ascierto Paolo Antonio
Published: March 2023

Purpose of Review

The treatment strategy for BRAF-mutated melanoma remains unsatisfactory, although the advent of immune checkpoint inhibition has improved the prognosis of advanced melanoma. This article reports current evidence on the efficacy and safety of sequential immunotherapy with targeted therapy in patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma. It discusses criteria for the use of available options in clinical practice.

Recent Findings

Targeted therapy provides rapid disease control in a relatively high proportion of patients, although the development of secondary resistance limits the duration of responses; in contrast, immunotherapy may induce slow but more durable responses in a subset of patients.

Therefore, the identification of a combination strategy for the use of these therapies seems a promising perspective. Currently, inconsistent data have been obtained, but most studies indicate that the administration of BRAFi/MEKi prior to immune checkpoint inhibitors appears to reduce the efficacy of immunotherapy. On the contrary, several clinical and real-life studies suggest that frontline immunotherapy with subsequent targeted therapy may be associated with better tumor control than immunotherapy alone. Larger clinical studies are ongoing to confirm the efficacy and safety of this sequencing strategy for treating BRAF-mutated melanoma with immunotherapy followed by targeted therapy.
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone induces mitochondrial apoptosis and down-regulates the expression of ganglioside GD3 in malignant melanoma cells
Authors: Ju Won Seok , Seo Sang Young , Mun Seong-eun , Kim Kyongtae , Yu Jin Ok , Ryu Jae-Sung , Kim Ji-Su , Choo Young-Kug
Published: March 2023

Malignant melanoma is a skin cancer with poor prognosis and high resistance to conventional treatment. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) has shown anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and pharmacological effects in several types of cancer. However, the relationship between ganglioside expression and the anti-cancer effects of 7,8-DHF in melanoma is not fully understood. In the present study, 7,8-DHF exhibits specific anti-proliferation, anti-migration, and G2/M phase cell-cycle arrest effects on both melanoma cancer cell lines, and induces mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, making it a potent candidate for anti-melanoma treatment. Furthermore, we confirmed that 7,8-DHF significantly reduces the expression levels of ganglioside GD3 and its synthase, which are known to be closely involved in carcinogenesis. Taken together, our findings suggest that 7,8-DHF may be a potent anti-cancer drug candidate for the treatment of malignant melanoma.
The Influence of Focused Attention and Open Monitoring Mindfulness Meditation States on True and False Memory
Authors: Bitton Sara , Chatburn Alex , Immink Maarten A.
Published: March 2023

Previous investigations into the effect of mindfulness meditation on false memory have reported mixed findings. One potential issue is that mindfulness meditation involves different styles that establish distinct cognitive control states. The present work aimed to address this issue by comparing the effects of single-session focused attention (FAM) and open monitoring (OMM) mindfulness meditation styles on true and false memory recall. Strengthened cognitive control states associated with FAM were predicted to increase true memory recall and decrease false memory recall. Conversely, weakened cognitive control established by OMM was predicted to increase false memory recall. Thirty-four meditation-naïve participants (23 females, mean age = 23.4 years, range = 18–33) first completed pre-meditation learning and recall phases of the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) task. Participants then completed a single session of FAM or OMM prior to a second, post-meditation, round of DRM task learning and recall phases with a novel word list. Finally, participants completed a recognition test with true and false memory, and distractor words. Both FAM and OMM groups demonstrated significant increase in false memory recall between pre- and post-meditation recall tests but these groups did not differ with respect to true and false memory recall and recognition. The present findings are consistent with previous reports of increased false memory arising from mindfulness meditation. Distinct cognitive control states associated with FAM and OMM states do not result in distinct true and false memory formation, at least in meditation-naïve adults.
Policing the Delinquent Child in Ghana: Talk or Action?
Authors: Marfo Samuel , Musah Halidu , Bamora Florence Naah , Aniagyei Wilson
Published: March 2023

In Ghana, persons below 18 years of age are presumed to be children and vulnerable, and are expected to enjoy special protection and care against all hazards, even if they go against the law. This agrees with Ghana’s legal provision and other international legal documents. This study examined the knowledge of the police and their relationship with children in conflict with the law in Ghana using the Northern Region as a case study. Primary data were generated through interviews and questionnaire administration from a combined 219 participants who were purposely and systematically selected in a convergent mixed-methods design. The study found good knowledge of the police as to who a child in conflict with the law was (76%), yet only 40% rightly knew the criminal capacity of a child. The study revealed that the rights of children in conflict with the law, such as non-torture, access to legal assistance and right to safe custody, were flouted.
Effectiveness and cost of a rapid response campaign against Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) along a Canadian river
Authors: Rouleau Gabriel , Bouchard Marianne , Matte Rébecca , Lavoie Claude
Published: March 2023

Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonicaHoutt.) is an invasive Asian plant abundant along rivers in its introduced range. In riparian areas, floods and ice flows uproot the rhizomes, facilitating their dissemination downstream. Control of large, well-establishedR. japonicaclones in riparian areas is difficult if the use of herbicides is prohibited. An alternative to controlling entrenched clones is the rapid detection and manual unearthing of rhizome fragments that have recently rooted after being deposited by floodwaters. We applied this strategy along a Canadian river where spring floods with abundant ice are recurrent. Two river stretches, with approximately 10 km of shoreline each, were selected for the fragment removal campaign. One of the stretches was heavily invaded byR. japonica, while the other was only sparsely invaded. In the heavily invaded stretch, 1,550 and 737R. japonicarhizome fragments were unearthed in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Unearthed fragments had an average length of 27 to 32 cm. Only 21 fragments were found in the sparsely invaded stretch in 2020. Despite similar distances being surveyed, the detection and unearthing took 62% less time (overall) in the sparsely invaded than in the heavily invaded stretch. Along sparsely invaded riverbanks, a rapid response removal campaign forR. japonicacost, including transportation and labor, an estimated Can$142 (US$105) per aborted clone (i.e., fragment removed). A rapid response removal campaign is economically advantageous compared with the hypothetical eradication of large, well-established clones, but for it to be cost-effective, the time spent locating rhizome fragments must exceed the time spent unearthing them. The question is not whether rapid response unearthing is economically feasible—it is—but rather what invasion level renders the intervention practicable. In highly invaded river stretches generating thousands of fragments annually, finding and removing these fragments year after year would require a massive, unsustainable effort.
Asymmetry of motion: vortex rings crossing a density gradient
Authors: Su Yunxing , Wilhelmus Monica M. , Zenit Roberto
Published: March 2023

Vortex rings are critical for thrust production underwater. In the ocean, self-propelled mesozooplankton generate vortices while swimming within a weakly stratified fluid. While large-scale biogenic transport has been observed during vertical migration in the wild and lab experiments, little focus has been given to the evolution of induced vortex rings as a function of their propagation direction relative to the density gradient. In this study, the evolution of an isolated vortex ring crossing the interface of a stable two-layer system is examined as a function of its translation direction with respect to gravity. The vortex ring size and position are visualized using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and the induced vorticity field derived from particle image velocimetry (PIV) is examined. It is found that the production of baroclinic vorticity significantly affects the propagation of vortex rings crossing the density interface. As a result, any expected symmetry between vortex rings travelling from dense to light fluids and from light to dense fluids breaks down. In turn, the maximum penetration depth of the vortex ring occurs in the case in which the vortex propagates against the density gradient due to the misalignment of the pressure and density gradients. Our results have far-reaching implications for the characterization of local ecosystems in marine environments.
The role of organisational factors and environmental conditions on the success of newly founded firms
Authors: Fuertes-Callén Yolanda , Cuellar-Fernández Beatriz , Serrano-Cinca Carlos
Published: March 2023

This study examines the influence of founding conditions and decisions on new companies' performance, analysing how both environmental context and organisational dynamics interact to determine their success. It distinguishes between two different success indicators: survival and profitable growth. An empirical study conducted using a sample of 3,722 new agri-food companies in two different periods, one of economic stability and the other of recession, showed that founding conditions had long-lasting effects on post-entry performance. The economic context acted as a moderator of the relationship between individual factors and success. Adverse environmental conditions were also a determinant of success, making surviving firms more competitive and resilient. The results reflect the survival of the fitter principle by showing that early profitability reduced the risk of failure and made firms more likely to become profitable in the medium term. Internationalisation strategies developed organisational capabilities that created an imprint for adaptability and growth.
Rebecca Jackson and the Problem of Celibacy
Authors: Trollinger Rebekah
Published: March 2023

This paper examines the writings of Black Shaker visionary Rebecca Jackson, who was active in the middle of the nineteenth century. Jackson's accounts of her dreams, visions, and theology repeatedly demonstrate her deep commitment to celibacy and to obedience to God. Recent work on Jackson reads her celibacy as an example of defiance of white heteropatriarchy; this article suggests that reading her celibacy as disruptive flattens the most animating question in her life: How might I best serve God? Using Jackson's writings, including substantial descriptions of visions and dreams, I argue that her celibacy is a piece of her larger obedience to God, obedience that provides protection and fulfillment. Further, Jackson uses explicitly antiflesh theology to first re-center women in the Biblical story of redemption, and second, serve as the basis for her critique of gendered and racialized violence. Finally, Jackson's celibacy undergirds an understanding of pleasure that blurs the lines between the physical and spiritual, and that, for Jackson, makes possible earthly freedom and spiritual joy.
TORTURE, TRUTH AND NATIONAL SECURITY IN SENECA'S TROADES
Authors: Payne Matthew F.
Published: March 2023

This article argues that the encounter between Andromache and Ulysses in Seneca's Troades engages with the genre of declamation to juxtapose two different discourses surrounding torture: one focussed on torture's connection to truth, the other on its connection to tyranny. It describes how the Greek general Ulysses, convinced of the danger of letting the Trojan prince Astyanax live, threatens his mother Andromache with physical torture in order to ascertain the truth of Astyanax's whereabouts. However, Ulysses is countered by Andromache's rhetoric, through which, the article shows, she depicts herself as the archetypal heroic victim of a tyrant. It discusses how Ulysses innovates with an effective psychological torture in response. The article sets the scenario within the broader rhetorical context and demonstrates how it reflects debate among the contemporary elite about the necessity of, and the risks from, the rising use of torture by the Julio-Claudian emperors, a debate which resonates in the modern era.
Free rank of symmetry of products of Dold manifolds
Authors: Dey Pinka
Published: March 2023

Dold manifolds $P(m,n)$ are certain twisted complex projective space bundles over real projective spaces and serve as generators for the unoriented cobordism algebra of smooth manifolds. The paper investigates the structure of finite groups that act freely on products of Dold manifolds. It is proved that if a finite group G acts freely and $ \mathbb{Z}_2 $ cohomologically trivially on a finite CW-complex homotopy equivalent to ${\prod_{i=1}^{k} P(2m_i,n_i)}$, then $G\cong (\mathbb{Z}_2)^l$ for some $l\leq k$ (see Theorem A for the exact bound). We also determine some bounds in the case when for each i, ni is even and mi is arbitrary. As a consequence, the free rank of symmetry of these manifolds is determined for cohomologically trivial actions.
Synchronization of coupled map lattices
Authors: Baraviera Alexandre , Duarte Pedro , Torres Maria Joana
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we address the issue of synchronization of coupled systems, introducing concepts of local and global synchronization for a class of systems that extend the model of coupled map lattices. A criterion for local synchronization is given; numerical experiments are exhibited to illustrate the criteria and also to raise some questions in the end of the text.
The Indian Civil Service, Classical Studies, and an Education in Empire, 1890–1914
Authors: Ellis Heather
Published: March 2023

The years between 1890 and 1914 saw several prominent studies from statesmen-administrators comparing British India with the Roman empire. These were not the self-congratulatory comparisons of earlier decades, but serious comparative studies aimed at learning practical lessons from Rome's successes and failures. To gain a clearer picture of the significance of these analogies and how they were used, the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination papers from the same period are analysed. It is argued that, following a move in 1892 to make the ICS a fully graduate service, the Civil Service commissioners showed a sustained interest in asking candidates to compare India (and the wider British empire) with the empires of Rome and Greece. Rome was considered particularly relevant for the directly ruled parts of the empire, with a focus on provincial administration and frontier defence, while Athens was preferred for questions of colonial federation. In the final section, the spread of subjects and weighting of marks within the examination are considered. It is argued that a series of changes post-1892 were designed to favour candidates who had studied Classics at university enabling them to obtain a higher proportion of the overall marks than those specializing in other subjects.
Alberto Beneduce, a Technocrat in the Fascist Era
Authors: Castellani Lorenzo
Published: March 2023

In the 1930s, Alberto Beneduce was considered ‘the dictator of the Italian economy’. He was the main financial advisor of the Duce; he founded many public entities, corporations and state-owned companies; and he mastered Italian banking and industrial policy between 1925 and 1940. Beneduce's career is particularly important for his position within the regime: he was very close to Mussolini but he never had any political role. He represented the spearhead of that bureaucratic and managerial class that neither joined the Fascist Party nor opposed it, yet chose to cooperate with the regime once it was established. In political terms, the figure of Beneduce has remained in a twilight zone. This article takes into account the vision of Alberto Beneduce throughout his career, focusing particularly on the fascist period when he played a major role as gatekeeper between financial, industrial and political power.
Does Language Entropy Shape Cognitive Performance? A Tale of Two Cities
Authors: Wagner Danika , Bekas Katerina , Bialystok Ellen
Published: March 2023

Research examining the cognitive consequences of bilingualism has increasingly relied on continuous measures to capture the degree and nature of bilingual experience, using such variables as proficiency, age of acquisition, and language environments. One such measure, language entropy, indexes the social diversity of contexts in which each language is used. The construct was developed in a particular bilingual context, Montréal, Canada. The present study investigated the extent to which it also applies to a context in which social language use is substantially different from that of Montréal – namely, Toronto, Canada. Following the procedures in the original study, participants were assigned an entropy score and performed the AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT). Performance was associated with self-rated language proficiency, but unlike the results from Montréal, was not associated with entropy scores. Therefore, differences in the language context influence whether language entropy is related to behavioral performance on a cognitive task.
Faktorenstruktur und Validierung einer Kurzversion des Fragebogens zur Erfassung von therapiebezogenen Einstellungen (TBE-SV) im Straf- und Maßregelvollzug
Authors: Hausam Joscha , Querengässer Jan , Sauter Julia , Vogel Joanna , Dahle und Klaus-Peter
Published: March 2023

Zusammenfassung: Therapiemotivation von Straftäter_innen gilt gemeinhin als wichtige Voraussetzung für eine erfolgreiche Behandlung. Dennoch mangelt es derzeit an reliablen und validen Messinstrumenten. Die vorliegende Studie untersuchte eine Kurzversion des Fragebogens zur Erfassung von therapiebezogenen Einstellungen (TBE-SV) in einer männlichen Stichprobe des Straf- ( n = 215, M = 34.56 Jahre, SD = 14.07) und Maßregelvollzugs ( n = 281, M = 38.08 Jahre, SD = 11.91). Die fünf Faktoren des TBE-SV konnten mit einer konfirmatorischen Faktorenaanalyse weitestgehend repliziert werden χ²‍(242) = 421.46, p < .001, CFI = .92, RMSEA = .039) und eine Messinvarianzprüfung wies auf metrische Invarianz hin. Die Subskalen wiesen niedrige bis akzeptable Reliabilitätskoeffizienten auf (McDonalds ω = .51 – .87). Jüngere Probanden ( r = -.28) und jene mit niedrigerem Bildungsniveau ( r = -.17) gaben ungünstigere Theapieeinstellungen an. Schließlich unterstreichen die Korrelationen mit diversen Selbstbeurteilungsfragebögen die konvergente und diskriminante Validität des TBE-SV. Es kann geschlussfolgert werden, dass der TBE-SV, der ursprünglich für Personen im Strafvollzug konzipiert wurde, auch für die Anwendung im Maßregelvollzug geeignet ist. Ansatzpunkte zur Weiterentwicklung des Fragebogens werden abschließend kritisch diskutiert.
The Environmental Responsibility Framework: A Toolbox for Recognizing and Promoting Ecologically Conscious Research
Authors: Murray Desneiges S. , Cole Isabel , Nunez Nicholas , Parker Eric M. , Mikulis Anna , Herreid Allison M. , Donovan Mitchell , Fazekas Hannah M. , Wymore Adam S.
Published: March 2023

Ethical guidelines have provided a cornerstone for morally appropriate research on human or other vertebrate animal subjects since at least 1945. By contrast, although there are environmental impacts associated with all science research activities (including field, laboratory, and computational projects), no comprehensive guiding framework to determine environmentally responsible research practices has been proposed. Drawing from existing models within social, medical, and animal sciences, we propose a framework for explicitly incorporating environmentally focused ethics into scientific research. The Environmental Responsibility 5‐R Framework (ER5F) is centered around Recognition, Refinement, Reduction, Replacement, and Restoration. ER5F starts with Recognizing that research can have environmental consequences, while each subsequent “R” serves as an opportunity for acknowledging, evaluating, and mitigating the environmental impacts of scientific research. These R's include: Refining research questions, Reducing the resources and energy consumed, Replacing materials with sustainable options and altering methods, and in the case of field research, Restoring an environment to mitigate any harm done. By introducing this novel and approachable framework, we strive to promote enhanced awareness across the entire scientific community by encouraging researchers to recognize their responsibility and identify potential mitigation opportunities for the environmental consequences of their research activities. We affirm that in doing so, scientists can more effectively balance the dual goals of maximizing their novel research outputs while minimizing possible harm to the environment.
Comment on “Ionospheric and Magnetic Signatures of a Space Weather Event on 25–29 August 2018: CME and HSSWs” by Younas et al. (2020)
Authors: Kader Sk Samin , Dashora N. , Niranjan K.
Published: March 2023

A recent study by Younas et al. (2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ja027981, referred to hereafter as Y20) has shown incorrect results of the variations in the level‐3 data of [O/N2] ratio obtained from global ultra violet imager on board TIMED satellite. Y20 have shown the variations in [O/N2] ratio during 25–28 August 2018 but they have wrongly mapped the corresponding longitudes of the orbits in east‐west direction. So, the decrements and enhancements in the [O/N2] ratio are misinterpreted by Y20 in combination with their results on TEC (total electron content). Also, they have derived hemispheric asymmetry in [O/N2] ratio, the variations of which are not reproducible in similar shape from the same data set and method. The results of Y20 on wrong mapping of [O/N2] ratio are further repeated by Bolaji et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ja029068). We provide a correct method, validate it and call for the needful corrections in both the papers.
Downward Momentum Flux: An Important Mechanism of Typhoon Maintaining Ground Destructive Force
Authors: Lan Changxing , Xie Jielan , Li Lei , Wang Baomin , Yang Honglong , Lu Jieying
Published: March 2023

Under the background of global climate change, typhoons have been attracting increasing attention due to their extraordinary destructive potential and great impact on the coastal areas of the South China Sea. Although the risk of strong winds related to typhoons has long been of interest, less is known about the underlying mechanism responsible for the severe near‐surface winds. Using eddy covariance data collected at four different heights on a 365‐m meteorological tower located in a coastal region, the characteristics of the convective typhoon boundary layer and the associated turbulence structures are compared with their counterparts in the “textbook” dynamically unstable boundary layer. In the convective typhoon boundary layer, bulk wind shear predominates the generation of mechanical turbulence, enhancing the vertical correlation between vertical layers. The spectral analysis highlights the salient features of turbulent structures under the convective typhoon boundary layer, confirming that the gust disturbance with the nondimensional frequency ranging from 0.003 to 0.3 modulates not only turbulent transports but also the horizontal flow. Such gusts with reduced phase difference enhance the downward momentum transport, mainly responsible for the maintenance of the strong near‐surface winds during typhoon landfalls.
Impact of the Indian Ocean SST on Wintertime Total Column Ozone Over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Duan Jiakang , Tian Wenshou , Zhang Jiankai , Hu Yihang , Yang Jingyi , Wang Tao , Huang Rui
Published: March 2023

Using various observations and a chemistry‐climate model, this study investigates the impact of the Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) on the wintertime total column ozone (TCO) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Our analysis reveals that increases in TCO over the TP are accompanied by anomalously high Indian Ocean SSTs, and vice versa. Further analysis reveals that high Indian Ocean SSTs are accompanied by a narrowing of the northern branch of the Hadley cell, and consequently, the subtropical westerly jet in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) tends to shift southward. The southward shift of subtropical westerly jet can lead to a descent of tropopause and higher lower‐stratospheric temperatures over the TP. The latter causes a descent of isentropic surfaces in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Rossby waves triggered by diabatic heating in the upper troposphere over the Indian Ocean can also lead to a descent of isentropic surfaces over the TP. On the other hand, local descending motions over the TP caused by the Gill Pattern circulation and enhanced Brewer‐Dobson circulation bring ozone‐rich air in the lower stratosphere downward. The descent of tropopause and isentropic surfaces and the downward transport of ozone lead to a downward shift of ozone profiles, and consequently, TCO increases over the TP. Based on multiple linear regression analysis, during 1996–2020 the Indian Ocean SST increase and the equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine decline dominate the wintertime TCO increase over the TP, which is partly offset by the TCO decline due to the TP warming.
Three‐Dimensional Simulations of Ultra‐Relativistic Electron Acceleration During the 21 April 2017 Storm
Authors: Guo Deyu , Xiang Zheng , Ni Binbin , Jin Taifeng , Zhou Ruoxian , Yi Juan , Liu Yangxizi , Dong Junhu
Published: March 2023

The acceleration mechanisms of ultra‐relativistic electrons (>∼5 MeV) have received more and more attention in the Van Allen Probes era. Both chorus waves and radial diffusion are considered capable of accelerating ultra‐relativistic electrons, and their roles in acceleration still under debate today. In this study, we present 3‐D simulations for evaluating the evolutions of ultra‐relativistic electron phase space density (PSD) during a weak storm on April 2017. Comparison of simulation results with observations suggests that local peaks in PSD profile of ultra‐relativistic electrons are generated by chorus waves, then smoothed and widened due to the transport of electrons from the peak to either side by radial diffusion. Chorus waves act dominantly in the acceleration of ultra‐relativistic electrons while radial diffusion assists. We also found that radial diffusion coefficient model of W. Liu et al. (2016, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL067398) is more suitable and reasonable than model of Brautigam and Albert (2000, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JA900344) for 3‐D simulation of ultra‐relativistic electrons. A more accurate radial diffusion coefficient model is vital and demanded for quantitatively evaluating the contribution of these two mechanisms for ultra‐relativistic electrons acceleration in the future.
Environmental selection, rather than neutral processes, best explain regional patterns of diversity in a tropical rainforest fish
Authors: Gates Katie , Sandoval-Castillo Jonathan , Brauer Chris J. , Unmack Peter J. , Laporte Martin , Bernatchez Louis , Beheregaray Luciano B.
Published: March 2023

To conserve the high functional and genetic variation in hotspots such as tropical rainforests, it is essential to understand the forces driving and maintaining biodiversity. We asked to what extent environmental gradients and terrain structure affect morphological and genomic variation across the wet tropical distribution of an Australian rainbowfish,Melanotaenia splendida splendida. We used an integrative riverscape genomics and morphometrics framework to assess the influence of these factors on both putative adaptive and non-adaptive spatial divergence. We found that neutral genetic population structure was largely explainable by restricted gene flow among drainages. However, environmental associations revealed that ecological variables had a similar power to explain overall genetic variation, and greater power to explain body shape variation, than the included neutral covariables. Hydrological and thermal variables were the strongest environmental predictors and were correlated with traits previously linked to heritable habitat-associated dimorphism in rainbowfishes. In addition, climate-associated genetic variation was significantly associated with morphology, supporting heritability of shape variation. These results support the inference of evolved functional differences among localities, and the importance of hydroclimate in early stages of diversification. We expect that substantial evolutionary responses will be required in tropical rainforest endemics to mitigate local fitness losses due to changing climates.
Design and synthesis of strong root gravitropism inhibitors with no concomitant growth inhibition
Authors: Nishimura Takeshi , Makigawa Saki , Sun Jun , Kodama Kozue , Sugiyama Hiromi , Matsumoto Kenji , Iwata Takayuki , Wasano Naoya , Kano Arihiro , Morita Miyo Terao , Fujii Yoshiharu , Shindo Mitsuru
Published: March 2023

Herein, we describe a highly potent gravitropic bending inhibitor with no concomitant growth inhibition. Previously, we reported that (2Z,4E)-5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid (ku-76) selectively inhibits root gravitropic bending of lettuce radicles at 5 μM. Based on the structure–activity relationship study of ku-76 as a lead compound, we designed and synthesized various C4-substituted analogs of ku-76. Among the analogs, 4-phenylethynyl analog exhibited the highest potency for gravitropic bending inhibition, which was effective at only 0.01 μM. Remarkably, 4-phenylethynyl analog is much more potent than the known inhibitor, NPA. Substitution in the para position on the aromatic ring of 4-phenylethynyl group was tolerated without diminished activity. In addition, evaluation using Arabidopsis indicated that 4-phenylethynyl analog inhibits gravitropism by affecting auxin distribution in the root tips. Based on the effects on Arabidopsis phenotypes, 4-phenylethynyl analog may be a novel inhibitor that differs in action from the previously reported auxin transport inhibitors.
Alkyl chain length of quaternized SBA-15 and solution conditions determine hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions for carbamazepine adsorption
Authors: Kang Jin-Kyu , Lee Hyebin , Kim Song-Bae , Bae Hyokwan
Published: March 2023

Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA) is a stable and mesoporous silica material. Quaternized SBA-15 with alkyl chains (QSBA) exhibits electrostatic attraction for anionic molecules via the N+ moiety of the ammonium group, whereas its alkyl chain length determines its hydrophobic interactions. In this study, QSBA with different alkyl chain lengths were synthesized using the trimethyl, dimethyloctyl, and dimethyoctadecyl groups (C1QSBA, C8QSBA, and C18QSBA, respectively). Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a widely prescribed pharmaceutical compound, but is difficult to remove using conventional water treatments. The CBZ adsorption characteristics of QSBA were examined to determine its adsorption mechanism by changing the alkyl chain length and solution conditions (pH and ionic strength). A longer alkyl chain resulted in slower adsorption (up to 120 min), while the amount of CBZ adsorbed was higher for longer alkyl chains per unit mass of QSBA at equilibrium. The maximum adsorption capacities of C1QSBA, C8QSBA, and C18QSBA, were 3.14, 6.56, and 24.5 mg/g, respectively, as obtained using the Langmuir model. For the tested initial CBZ concentrations (2–100 mg/L), the adsorption capacity increased with increasing alkyl chain length. Because CBZ does not dissociate readily (pKa = 13.9), stable hydrophobic adsorption was observed despite the changes in pH (0.41–0.92, 1.70–2.24, and 7.56–9.10 mg/g for C1QSBA, C8QSBA, and C18QSBA, respectively); the exception was pH 2. Increasing the ionic strength from 0.1 to 100 mM enhanced the adsorption capacity of C18QSBA from 9.27 ± 0.42 to 14.94 ± 0.17 mg/g because the hydrophobic interactions were increased while the electrostatic attraction of the N+ was reduced. Thus, the ionic strength was a stronger control factor determining hydrophobic adsorption of CBZ than the solution pH. Based on the changes in hydrophobicity, which depends on the alkyl chain length, it was possible to enhance CBZ adsorption and investigate the adsorption mechanism in detail. Thus, this study aids the development of adsorbents suitable for pharmaceuticals with controlling molecular structure of QSBA and solution conditions.