bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parasomnien bei Kindern und Erwachsenen als Differenzialdiagnose zu nichtläsionellen fokalen Epilepsien
Authors: Haberlandt Edda
Published: April 2023

Als Parasomnien werden auffällige Verhaltensweisen während des Schlafes definiert. Aufwachstörungen wie Pavor Nocturnus (Nachtschreck) und Schlafwandeln treten aus dem Non-Rapid-Eye-Movement(NREM)-Schlaf heraus auf und ereignen sich in der Regel während der 1. Nachthälfte. Albträume und Rapid-Eye-Movement(REM)-Schlafverhaltensstörungen werden vermehrt in der 2. Nachthälfte mit Zunahme des REM-Schlafes beobachtet. Alle Parasomnien müssen differenzialdiagnostisch von schlafgebundenen epileptischen Anfällen abgegrenzt werden. Der Goldstandard zur Differenzierung unklarer Fälle ist die Video-EEG-Dokumentation der nächtlichen Verhaltensstörungen.
(Not) sweeping invasive alien plants under the carpet: results from the use of mulching sheets for the control of invasive Carpobrotus spp.
Authors: Lazzaro Lorenzo , Mugnai Michele , Ferretti Giulio , Giannini Francesca , Giunti Michele , Benesperi Renato
Published: April 2023

Biological invasions represent a global threat to biodiversity. Particular attention should be made to the management of alien plants. The species from the Carpobrotus genus are well-known invasive plants native to South Africa, whose detrimental effects on native communities are widely documented. These impacts have become particularly important in terms of their invasive potential on small Mediterranean islands, where they often threaten particular ecosystems and endemic species. We report the experience from the efforts to eradicate this species from the island of Giannutri (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy)—an action included within the EU LIFE project “RESTO CON LIFE”—where the species occurred on about 14,000 m2 of coastal vegetation. The eradication employed an integrated approach with two control methods (manual removal and covering with mulching sheets) and involved mosaic rocky cliff coastal vegetation and disturbed areas with loose soil close to the cliffs. We present here the results obtained from five years of monitoring using permanent plots. Carpobrotus spp. exerted strong impacts on the invaded plant communities, with significant depletion and replacement of native species. Both of the control methods proved effective in the suppression of the mat formed by the invasive species and led to a positive response of native vegetation. Nevertheless, the recovery of native plant communities differed depending on the type of substratum, taking longer on rocky cliffs due to the harsher conditions. Improvements were driven by nitrophilous species in the plots treated with mulching sheets.
Towards a Terrestrially Ontological Philosophy of Technology
Authors: Ritter Martin
Published: April 2023

Technologies are undeniably having a decisive, transformative impact on Earth, yet the currently prevailing empirically orientated approaches in the philosophy of technology seem unable to get to conceptual grips with this fact. Some thinkers have therefore been trying to develop alternative methods capable of clarifying it. This paper focuses on Vincent Blok’s call for rehabilitating an ontologically oriented approach. It reconstructs the rationale of his method as well as its key elements and structure. Elucidating Blok’s emphasis on the experience of climate change, the paper clarifies his call for a terrestrial turn in the philosophy of technology. This turn is indisputably needed, but Blok’s conceptualisation of Earth is problematic: Apart from its speculative nature, it underestimates the impact of humans on Earth. Blok seeks to clarify how ontic phenomena, especially particular technologies, can have an ontological impact, but there is a friction between his Heideggerian concept of the world as grounding inner-worldly beings and the idea of technologies as founding a new world. Identifying the elements where the undoubtedly required ontological approach needs to be rethought, the paper suggests that we need more mundane conceptualisations of both Earth and the world, accompanied by more attention to ontic processes.
Exploring the Relationship Between Attitudes of Preservice Primary Science Teachers Toward Integrated STEM Teaching and Their Adaptive Expertise in Science Teaching
Authors: Saleh Mounir R. , Ibrahim Bashirah , Afari Ernest
Published: April 2023

The call for the implementation of integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (iSTEM) teaching has been on the rise. This teaching approach helps students to develop innovative skills and meet twenty-first century challenges. However, teachers need to possess positive attitudes toward iSTEM teaching to implement it. Therefore, studying factors that influence these attitudes is important. So far, investigated factors have focused on teachers’ personal and professional experiences. Predisposing and enabling factors related to iSTEM teaching are yet to be investigated. One putative construct that includes predisposing and enabling factors is adaptive expertise (AE) which allows professionals to highly perform in new tasks. Here, we argue that AE in science teaching is linked to teachers’ iSTEM attitudes through its three dimensions: perceived relevance (PR), self-efficacy (SE), and anxiety (Anx). We utilized a cross-sectional survey method to verify the proposed relationship on fourth year preservice primary science teachers (n = 91). They completed two online surveys measuring AE in science teaching and iSTEM attitudes, respectively. Results from multivariate regression modeling indicate a significant positive effect of AE in science teaching was found significantly positive on all three dimensions of iSTEM attitudes. These findings draw teacher educators’ attention to the importance of developing adaptive expertise while preparing iSTEM teaching advocates.
Marriage and divorce during a pandemic: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marital formation and dissolution in Mexico
Authors: Hoehn-Velasco Lauren , Balmori de la Miyar Jose Roberto , Silverio-Murillo Adan , Farin Sherajum Monira
Published: April 2023

In this study, we consider the initial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family formation and dissolution. We use national microdata covering all marriages and divorces in Mexico, an event-study design and a difference-in-difference specification. Our findings indicate that over March through December of 2020, marriage rates declined by 54% and divorce rates by 43%. By the end of 2020, divorce rates recover back to baseline levels, but marriage rates remain 30% below the 2017–2019 baseline level. Overall, our findings suggest that marital dissolutions quickly recovered (6 months into the pandemic), but at the end of 2020, family formation remained at persistently lower levels.
Biodegradation of COVID19 antibiotic; azithromycin and its impact on soil microbial community in the presence of phenolic waste and with temperature variation
Authors: Ibrahim Shaimaa Abd El Mohsen , El-Bialy Heba Abdalla , Gomaa Ola M.
Published: April 2023

The increase in using antibiotics, especially Azithromycin have increased steadily since the beginning of COVID19 pandemic. This increase has led to its presence in water systems which consequently led to its presence upon using this water for irrigation. The aim of the present work is to study the impact of irrigation using Azithromycin containing water on soil microbial community and its catabolic activity in the presence of phenolic wastes as compost. Wild berry, red grapes, pomegranate, and spent tea waste were added to soil and the degradation was monitored after 5 and 7 days at ambient and high temperatures. The results obtained show that at 30 °C, soil microbial community collectively was able to degrade Azithromycin, while at 40 °C, addition of spent tea as compost was needed to reach higher degradation. To ensure that the degradation was biotic and depended on degradation by indigenous microflora, a 25 kGy irradiation dose was used to kill the microorganisms in the soil and this was used as negative control. The residual antibiotic was assayed using UV spectroscopy and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Indication of Azithromycin presence was studied using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) peaks and the same pattern was obtained using the 3 used detection methods, the ability to assign the peaks even in the presence of soil and not to have any overlaps, gives the chance to study this result in depth to prepare IR based sensor for quick sensing of antibiotic in environmental samples.
Effect of eucalyptus saponin and sophorolipid amendment on soil and sediment microbial communities and seed germination: potential application for PAH bioremediation
Authors: Kariyawasam Thiloka , Doran Gregory S. , Prenzler Paul D. , Howitt Julia A. , Stodart Benjamin
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The potential toxic effects due to the application of sophorolipid and the novel saponin biosurfactant extracted from the leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis for the purpose of bioremediating PAH-contaminated soils and sediments were studied.

Methods

The phytotoxic effects of sophorolipid and eucalyptus saponin were determined based on the seed germination assays carried out using the seeds of Lactuca sativa L and compared with commonly used rhamnolipid and Tween 20 surfactants. Further, biosurfactant-induced changes in soil/sediment bacterial structure and diversity were investigated by conducting Miseq amplicon sequencing of the bacterial genes.

Results

Germination indices (GI) demonstrated the non-phytotoxic effects (GI > 80%) of saponin and sophorolipid biosurfactants (100–500 mg/L), while rhamnolipid demonstrated greater phytotoxicity than Tween 20 at high concentrations (500 mg/L). Saponin-amended soil resulted in greater bacterial diversity and richness compared to controls, while sophorolipid produced the opposite effect. These significant variations were not observed in sediment samples. Incubation of biosurfactants for 20 and 40 days did not result in significant changes in bacterial diversity and structure in any of the samples. Increased abundance of some of the PAH-degrading bacteria was noted at OTU level, in the presence of saponin and sophorolipid. Saponin had less impact on native soil/sediment bacteria relative to sophorolipid based on the prevalence of the significantly shifted OTUs.

Conclusion

As saponin and sophorolipid were shown to have no adverse impacts on the microbiome, and non-phytotoxic effects, their sustainable applications to remediate PAH-contaminated soils and sediments can be recommended.
Effects of advertising and R&D on spillovers from a rival’s bankruptcy
Authors: Jindal Niket , Slotegraaf Rebecca J.
Published: April 2023

Research shows that marketing investments play a pivotal role in a firm’s own bankruptcy. However, there are even more firms that are not confronting bankruptcy themselves yet face spillovers from a rival’s bankruptcy. For such firms, it remains unknown whether their marketing investments affect these spillovers. We show that, in contrast to their generally positive effects in other contexts, advertising and R&D can either help or harm in the context of bankruptcy spillovers. The difference hinges on the industry’s growth and concentration. Advertising decreases (increases) a firm’s stock return when its rival files for bankruptcy in a low- (high-) growth industry and R&D decreases (increases) the stock return in a low- (high-) concentration industry. Further, advertising has a stronger effect in a higher concentration industry. The results provide insight on how a firm’s advertising and R&D help or harm its value, should one of its rivals file for bankruptcy.
A Spatiotemporal History of Key Pelagic Fish Species in the San Francisco Estuary, CA
Authors: Stompe Dylan K. , Moyle Peter B. , Oken Kiva L. , Hobbs James A. , Durand John R.
Published: April 2023

Estuaries across the globe have been subject to extensive abiotic and biotic changes and are often monitored to track trends in species abundance. The San Francisco Estuary has been deeply altered by anthropogenic factors, which is reflected in substantial declines in some native and introduced fishes. To track trends in fish abundance, a multitude of monitoring programs have conducted regular fish surveys, some dating back to the late 1950s. While these surveys are all designed to track population-scale changes in fish abundance, they are methodologically distinct, with different target species, varying spatial coverage and sampling frequency, and different gear types. To compensate for individual survey limitations, we modeled pelagic fish distributions with integrated data from many sampling programs. We fit binomial generalized linear mixed models with spatial and spatiotemporal random effects to map annual trends in the spatially explicit detection probabilities of striped bass, Delta smelt, longfin smelt, threadfin shad, and American shad for the years 1980 to 2017. Overall, detection probability has declined by approximately 50% for striped bass and is now near zero for the two smelt species, while threadfin shad and American shad have both experienced fluctuations with only slightly reduced detection probabilities by 2017. Detection probabilities decreased dramatically for these fishes in the Central and South Delta, especially after the year 2000. In contrast, Suisun Marsh and the North Delta acted as refuge habitats with reduced levels of decline or even increased detection probabilities for some species. Our modeling approach, using disparate datasets, demonstrates the simultaneous spatially driven decline of pelagic fish species in a highly altered estuary.
Optimization and public transport tendering: a case study in Southern Italy
Authors: Corvello Vincenzo , Musmanno Roberto , Pavone Giuseppe , Santoro Francesco , Vocaturo Francesca
Published: April 2023

This article presents a multi-start heuristic approach to a design problem motivated by a real-world application in the Italian transport system. Specifically, it focuses on the problem of designing optimal lots in the public transport organization. In defining lots (in terms of number, size, and boundaries) both cost and service level have to be considered. Under certain assumptions, we model the problem as a graph partitioning problem and consider the same performance measure indicated by the relevant decree-law enacted by the Italian Ministry of Transport. The multi-start algorithm proposed for individuating high-quality solutions for the problem uses adaptive large neighbourhood search. The results of a computational study based on real data from a region in Southern Italy are reported.
Efficient MIP techniques for computing the relaxation complexity
Authors: Averkov Gennadiy , Hojny Christopher , Schymura Matthias
Published: April 2023

The relaxation complexity $${{\,\textrm{rc}\,}}(X)$$

rc

(
X
)

of the set of integer points X contained in a polyhedron is the minimal number of inequalities needed to formulate a linear optimization problem over X without using auxiliary variables. Besides its relevance in integer programming, this concept has interpretations in aspects of social choice, symmetric cryptanalysis, and machine learning. We employ efficient mixed-integer programming techniques to compute a robust and numerically more practical variant of the relaxation complexity. Our proposed models require row or column generation techniques and can be enhanced by symmetry handling and suitable propagation algorithms. Theoretically, we compare the quality of our models in terms of their LP relaxation values. The performance of those models is investigated on a broad test set and is underlined by their ability to solve challenging instances that could not be solved previously.
Electromagnetic interference assessment of a train–network–pipeline coupling system based on a harmonic transmission model
Authors: Chen Minwu , Zhao Jinyu , Liang Zongyou , Gong Xin , Cao Yu
Published: April 2023

The harmonics and resonance of traction power supply systems (TPSSs) aggravate the electromagnetic interference (EMI) to adjacent metallic pipelines (MPs), which has aroused widespread concern. In this paper, an evaluation method on pipeline interference voltage under harmonic induction is presented. The results show that the Carson integral formula is more accurate in calculating the mutual impedance at higher frequencies. Then, an integrated train–network–pipeline model is established to estimate the influences of harmonic distortion and resonance on an MP. It is revealed that the higher the harmonic current distortion rate of the traction load, the larger the interference voltage on an MP. Particularly, the interference voltage is amplified up to 7 times when the TPSS resonates, which is worthy of attention. In addition, the parameters that affect the variation and sensitivity of the interference voltage are studied, namely, the pipeline coating material, locomotive position, and soil resistivity, indicating that soil resistivity and 3PE (3-layer polyethylene) anticorrosive coating are more sensitive to harmonic induction. Field test results show that the harmonic distortion can make the interference voltage more serious, and the protective measures are optimized.
Quantifying the Effect Size of Management Actions on Aboveground Carbon Stocks in Forest Plantations
Authors: Melikov Cyril H. , Bukoski Jacob J. , Cook-Patton Susan C. , Ban Hongyi , Chen Jessica L. , Potts Matthew D.
Published: April 2023

Purpose of the Review

Improved forest management is a promising avenue for climate change mitigation. However, we lack synthetic understanding of how different management actions impact aboveground carbon stocks, particularly at scales relevant for designing and implementing forest-based climate solutions. Here, we quantitatively assess and review the impacts of three common practices—application of inorganic NPK fertilizer, interplanting with N-fixing species, and thinning—on aboveground carbon stocks in plantation forests.

Recent Findings

Site-level empirical studies show both positive and negative effects of inorganic fertilization, interplanting, and thinning on aboveground carbon stocks in plantation forests. Recent findings and the results of our analysis suggest that these effects are heavily moderated by factors such as species selection, precipitation, time since practice, soil moisture regime, and previous land use. Interplanting of N-fixing crops initially has no effect on carbon storage in main tree crops, but the effect becomes positive in older stands. Conversely, the application of NPK fertilizers increases aboveground carbon stocks, though the effect lessens with time. Moreover, increases in aboveground carbon stocks may be partially or completely offset by emissions from the application of inorganic fertilizer. Thinning results in a strong reduction of aboveground carbon stocks, though the effect lessens with time.

Management practices tend to have strong directional effects on aboveground carbon stocks in plantation forests but are moderated by site-specific management, climatic, and edaphic factors. The effect sizes quantified in our meta-analysis can serve as benchmarks for the design and scoping of improved forest management projects as forest-based climate solutions. Overall, management actions can enhance the climate mitigation potential of plantation forests, if performed with sufficient attention to the nuances of local conditions.
Removal of Toxic Metals from Water by Nanocomposites through Advanced Remediation Processes and Photocatalytic Oxidation
Authors: Farhan Ahmad , Zulfiqar Misbah , Samiah  , Rashid Ehsan Ullah , Nawaz Shahid , Iqbal Hafiz M.N. , Jesionowski Teofil , Bilal Muhammad , Zdarta Jakub
Published: April 2023

Purpose of Review

Heavy and toxic metals are becoming more prevalent in the water sources of the globe, which has detrimental repercussions for both human health and the health of ecosystems. The summary of recent findings on treatment possibilities of toxic metal species by nanomaterials should facilitate the development of more advanced techniques of their removal.

Recent Findings

The high concentrations of chromium, mercury, and arsenic identified in wastewater cause a hazard to human health. There is a wide variety of nanoadsorbents and nanophotocatalysts used for heavy/hazardous metal removal. Recent research has resulted in the production of advanced nanostructures that exhibit extraordinary heavy/hazardous metal adsorption effectiveness and photocatalytic diminution of metal ions. These nanostructures have physically and chemically tunable features.

In this review article, the use of carbon-based nanomaterials, polymer-based nanomaterials, and semiconductor-based nanomaterials are extensively discussed to remove mercury, chromium, and arsenic ions from wastewater by the adsorption process. Advanced nanomaterials involved in photocatalytic reduction are also comprehensively discussed.
Policy gradients using variational quantum circuits
Authors: Sequeira André , Santos Luis Paulo , Barbosa Luis Soares
Published: April 2023

Variational quantum circuits are being used as versatile quantum machine learning models. Some empirical results exhibit an advantage in supervised and generative learning tasks. However, when applied to reinforcement learning, less is known. In this work, we considered a variational quantum circuit composed of a low-depth hardware-efficient ansatz as the parameterized policy of a reinforcement learning agent. We show that an 𝜖-approximation of the policy gradient can be obtained using a logarithmic number of samples concerning the total number of parameters. We empirically verify that such quantum models behave similarly to typical classical neural networks used in standard benchmarking environments and quantum control, using only a fraction of the parameters. Moreover, we study the barren plateau phenomenon in quantum policy gradients using the Fisher information matrix spectrum.
Nanoparticles coated by chloramphenicol in hydrogels as a useful tool to increase the antibiotic release and antibacterial activity in dermal drug delivery
Authors: Bursy Dawid , Balwierz Radosław , Groch Paweł , Biernat Paweł , Byrski Adam , Kasperkiewicz Katarzyna , Ochędzan-Siodłak Wioletta
Published: April 2023

Background

Nanocarriers for antibacterial drugs became hopeful tools against the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. This work focuses on a comprehensive study of the applicability and therapeutic suitability of dermal carbopol-based hydrogels containing chloramphenicol carried by various nanoparticles (AuNPs and SiNPs).

Methods

The different forms of carbopol-based drugs for dermal use were obtained. Five different concentrations of chloramphenicol and two types of nanoparticles (silica and gold) in carbopol-based ointments were tested. The influence of different carbopol formulations with nanocarriers on the rheological properties as well as the release profile of active substances and bacteriostatic activity on five reference strains were determined.

Results

The properties of the obtained hydrogels were compared to a commercial formulation, and finally it was possible to obtain a formulation that allowed improved antimicrobial activity over a commercially available detreomycin ointment while reducing the concentration of the antibiotic.

Conclusion

The work indicates that it is possible to reduce the concentration of chloramphenicol by four times while maintaining its bacteriostatic activity, which can improve the patient’s safety profile while increasing the effectiveness of the therapy.

Graphical abstract
Pelvic Exam Laws in the United States: A Systematic Review
Authors: Plantak Mihael , Alter Scott M. , Clayton Lisa M. , Hughes Patrick G. , Shih Richard D. , Mendiola Monica , Solano Joshua J.
Published: April 2023

Laws regulating patient care are an essential component of protecting patients and doctors alike. No studies have previously examined what laws exist regarding pelvic examinations in the United States (US). This study systematically reviews and compares regulation and legislation of pelvic examinations in the U.S. and provides a comprehensive resource to educate clinicians, patients, and lawmakers. Each of the fifty States in the U.S. was included. The primary outcome was existence of any pelvic or rectal exam laws. Data was obtained for the type of examination defined within the law, exceptions to the law, to whom the law applied to, the type of consent required, and to whom the consent applied to. Laws were identified from each of the individual state legislative websites. All sections of each law pertaining to pelvic examination were reviewed and organized by state. Descriptive statistics were performed for each of the variables, including frequencies of each amongst the fifty states. State regulation for pelvic examinations varied from no law or regulation to laws pertaining to pelvic, rectal, prostate, and breast examination performed in any context. As of November 22, 2022, there are twenty states (40%) with pelvic examination laws applying to anesthetized or unconscious patients. Thirteen additional states (26%) have proposed pelvic exam laws. Seventeen states (34%) do not have any laws regarding pelvic examinations. Regulation of pelvic examinations has become an increasingly important issue over the past few years in response to growing concerns of patient autonomy and the ethical issues raised by such sensitive examinations. While pelvic examination laws that balance protection for patient autonomy and the needs of caregivers and educators exist in much of the U.S., more work needs to continue in consultation with physicians and health care providers to ensure that all states have reasonable laws protecting the autonomy of patients while also maintaining quality of care.
Straight Teeth and Misaligned Interests: Courtrooms Are Crowded with SmileDirectClub Litigation
Authors: Zweihorn Chaninah
Published: April 2023

SmileDirectClub markets, manufactures, and delivers clear plastic dental aligners directly to the consumer: no dental office necessary. This well-known business strategy—cut costs by cutting out the middleman—has in several instances caught the attention of state dental regulators. While the dental boards consider some of SmileDirectClub’s practices to be violative of state dental practice law, the corporation has fought back in federal court, charging dental regulators with antitrust violations and with denying SmileDirectClub its constitutional rights.

The Supreme Court, as noted by SmileDirectClub, has insisted that a self-regulating state professional board is not itself the state, so a board’s actions might be subject to federal antitrust law. In the SmileDirectClub cases, however, state regulators have acted as required by state legislatures and as expressed in state dental practice acts. The boards’ activities here are therefore cloaked in the states’ immunity to antitrust litigation and should be treated deferentially by federal courts. Furthermore, judicial review of the substance of every regulation to which SmileDirectClub objects is inappropriate under principles of constitutional law. In the interest of public safety, courts should permit state dental regulators to fulfill their mandates and ensure that all dental providers comply with state health regulations.
Synthetic Biology: State Regulation in the Biomedical Context
Authors: Watson Julia
Published: April 2023

Synthetic biology is an emerging, interdisciplinary research field with much promise for biomedicine. Broadly defined as “the design and construction of new biological systems to perform specific tasks,” researchers and clinicians are using synthetic biology to develop targeted treatments for cancer, coronaviruses, and so forth. Because of the experimental nature of synthetic biology, regulation is necessary. Current federal frameworks, such as the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, The Toxic Substances Act of 1976, Institutional Review Boards, and self-regulation are not enough. As a result, states have a unique opportunity to develop statutory and regulatory frameworks to develop a pathway for regulating synthetic biology. In developing legislation, state lawmakers should look to build a comprehensive framework that addresses businesses selling technology for synthesizing DNA codes, monitors orders for synthetic DNA, and develops statewide documentation systems. Additionally, public health information on treatments using synthetic biology can help to educate the public and reduce the prevalence of misconceptions about the technology. In the absence of federal regulation, states should step into the synthetic biology regulatory space to ensure that their citizens are not harmed by therapies developed using synthetic biology.
Dark ice in a warming world: advances and challenges in the study of Greenland Ice Sheet's biological darkening
Authors: Halbach Laura , Chevrollier Lou-Anne , Cook Joseph M. , Stevens Ian T. , Hansen Martin , Anesio Alexandre M. , Benning Liane G. , Tranter Martyn
Published: April 2023

The surface of the Greenland Ice Sheet is darkening, which accelerates its surface melt. The role of glacier ice algae in reducing surface albedo is widely recognised but not well quantified and the feedbacks between the algae and the weathering crust remain poorly understood. In this letter, we summarise recent advances in the study of the biological darkening of the Greenland Ice Sheet and highlight three key research priorities that are required to better understand and forecast algal-driven melt: (i) identifying the controls on glacier ice algal growth and mortality, (ii) quantifying the spatio-temporal variability in glacier ice algal biomass and processes involved in cell redistribution and (iii) determining the albedo feedbacks between algal biomass and weathering crust characteristics. Addressing these key research priorities will allow us to better understand the supraglacial ice-algal system and to develop an integrated model incorporating the algal and physical controls on ice surface albedo.
Religious Dynamics and Conflicts in Contemporary Ethiopia: Expansion, Protection, and Reclaiming Space
Authors: Østebø Terje
Published: April 2023

Ethiopia has often been portrayed as a unique case of peaceful inter-religious relations. The country has, however, seen an increase in violence between religious communities over the last decades, something which has been interpreted within the prism of extremism. Analyzing inter-religious dynamics in Ethiopia, Østebø argues that the notion of extremism is an inadequate analytical tool, and proposes instead an alternative approach that explores how mutually constitutive developments within each of the main religious communities in Ethiopia together have contributed to exacerbate inter-religious tensions. In particular, Østebø suggests a typology consisting of the intersected processes of expansion, protection, and reclaiming of space.
Crime Victimization, Trust and Performance Evaluation of Donald Trump: Exploring Gender and Race Determinants
Authors: Solar Carlos
Published: April 2023

Two of Donald Trump administration’s most salient legacies are the high level of crime victimization and low popularity ratings among groups likely to be targeted by crime, such as females and race and ethnic minorities. To explore crime victimization and public opinion towards the president, the article tests whether gender and race determinants among crime victims were associated with trust in the president and job performance approval. Results indicated that females and female victims of crime were less likely to reward presidential performance and trust Trump. Blacks and Latinos were less likely to trust Trump and less likely to reward his job performance; however, there was no effect when moderating by whether they reported being victims of crime. Victims of crime in unsafe neighbourhoods were less likely to trust and reward presidential performance. More surprisingly, being a crime victim was a significant and positive predictor of trusting Trump and rewarding his job performance. The results tell us about the need to continue studying the public’s wishes for the authorities to respond to the problem of victimization, oftentimes rewarding populist approaches to punitive justice, incarceration and overall tougher criminal policies.
Educational video while “waiting-to-be-seen” in a cardiology outpatient clinic promotes opt-in self-consent for biobanking of remnant clinical biospecimens: A randomized-controlled trial
Authors: López Javier E. , Kyle Andrew , Hosseini Armon J. , Wilson Machelle , Soares Stephanie
Published: April 2023

Objectives:

Consenting donors for remnant clinical biospecimen donation is critical for scaling research biorepositories. Opt-in, low-cost, self-consenting for donations that solely relied on clinical staff and printed materials was recently shown to yield ∼30% consent rate. We hypothesized that adding an educational video to this process would improve consent rates.

Methods:

Randomized patients (by clinic day) in a Cardiology clinic received either printed materials (control) or the same materials plus an educational video on donations (intervention) while waiting to be seen. Engaged patients were surveyed at the clinic checkout for an “opt-in” or “opt-out” response. The decision was documented digitally in the electronic medical record. The primary outcome of this study was the consent rate.

Results:

Thirty-five clinic days were randomized to intervention (18) or control (17). Three hundred and fifty-five patients were engaged, 217 in the intervention and 158 in the control. No significant demographic differences were noted between treatment groups. Following an intention-to-treat analysis, the rate of opt-in for remnant biospecimen donation was 53% for the intervention and 41% for the control group (p-value = 0.03). This represents a 62% increase in the odds of consenting (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.05–2.5).

Conclusion:

This is the first randomized trial showing that an educational video is superior to printed materials alone when patients are self-consenting for remnant biospecimen donation. This result adds to the evidence that efficient and effective consenting processes can be integrated into clinical workflows to advance universal consenting in medical research.
Large deviations, moment estimates and almost sure invariance principles for skew products with mixing base maps and expanding-on-average fibers
Authors: HAFOUTA YEOR
Published: April 2023

In this paper we show how to apply classical probabilistic tools for partial sums
$\sum _{j=0}^{n-1}\varphi \circ \tau ^j$
generated by a skew product
$\tau $
, built over a sufficiently well-mixing base map and a random expanding dynamical system. Under certain regularity assumptions on the observable
$\varphi $
, we obtain a central limit theorem (CLT) with rates, a functional CLT, an almost sure invariance principle (ASIP), a moderate-deviations principle, several exponential concentration inequalities and Rosenthal-type moment estimates for skew products with
$\alpha $
-,
$\phi $
- or
$\psi $
-mixing base maps and expanding-on-average random fiber maps. All of the results are new even in the uniformly expanding case. The main novelty here (in contrast to [2]) is that the random maps are not independent, they do not preserve the same measure and the observable
$\varphi $
depends also on the base space. For stretched exponentially
${\alpha }$
-mixing base maps our proofs are based on multiple correlation estimates, which make the classical method of cumulants applicable. For
$\phi $
- or
$\psi $
-mixing base maps, we obtain an ASIP and maximal and concentration inequalities by establishing an
$L^\infty $
convergence of the iterates
${\mathcal K}^{\,n}$
of a certain transfer operator
${\mathcal K}$
with respect to a certain sub-
${\sigma }$
-algebra, which yields an appropriate (reverse) martingale-coboundary decomposition.
Reinforcement learning of control strategies for reducing skin friction drag in a fully developed turbulent channel flow
Authors: Sonoda Takahiro , Liu Zhuchen , Itoh Toshitaka , Hasegawa Yosuke
Published: April 2023

Reinforcement learning is applied to the development of control strategies in order to reduce skin friction drag in a fully developed turbulent channel flow at a low Reynolds number. Motivated by the so-called opposition control (Choi et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 253, 1993, pp. 509–543), in which a control input is applied so as to cancel the wall-normal velocity fluctuation on a detection plane at a certain distance from the wall, we consider wall blowing and suction as a control input, and its spatial distribution is determined by the instantaneous streamwise and wall-normal velocity fluctuations at distance 15 wall units above the wall. A deep neural network is used to express the nonlinear relationship between the sensing information and the control input, and it is trained so as to maximize the expected long-term reward, i.e. drag reduction. When only the wall-normal velocity fluctuation is measured and a linear network is used, the present framework reproduces successfully the optimal linear weight for the opposition control reported in a previous study (Chung & Talha, Phys. Fluids, vol. 23, 2011, 025102). In contrast, when a nonlinear network is used, more complex control strategies based on the instantaneous streamwise and wall-normal velocity fluctuations are obtained. Specifically, the obtained control strategies switch abruptly between strong wall blowing and suction for downwelling of a high-speed fluid towards the wall and upwelling of a low-speed fluid away from the wall, respectively. Extracting key features from the obtained policies allows us to develop novel control strategies leading to drag reduction rates as high as 37 %, which is higher than the 23 % achieved by the conventional opposition control at the same Reynolds number. Finding such an effective and nonlinear control policy is quite difficult by relying solely on human insights. The present results indicate that reinforcement learning can be a novel framework for the development of effective control strategies through systematic learning based on a large number of trials.
Glaciological and climatological drivers of heterogeneous glacier mass loss in the Tanggula Shan (Central-Eastern Tibetan Plateau), since the 1960s
Authors: King Owen , Ghuffar Sajid , Bhattacharya Atanu , Yao Ruzhen , Yao Tandong , Bolch Tobias
Published: April 2023

Despite their extreme elevation, glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau are losing mass in response to atmospheric warming, the pattern of which purportedly reflects regional contrasts in climate. Here we examine the evolution of glaciers along ~500 km of the Tanggula Shan, Central-Eastern Tibetan Plateau. Using remotely sensed datasets, we quantified changes in glacier mass, area and surface velocity, and compared these results to time series of meteorological observations, in order to disentangle drivers of glacier mass loss since the 1960s. Glacier mass loss has increased (from −0.21 ± 0.12 m w.e. a−1 in 1960s–2000s, to −0.52 ± 0.18 m w.e. a−1 in 2000s–2015/18) in association with pervasive positive temperature anomalies (up to 1.85°C), which are pronounced at the end of the now lengthened ablation season. However, glacier mass budget perturbations do not mirror the magnitude of temperature anomalies in sub-regions, thus additional factors have heightened glacier recession. We show how proglacial lake expansion and glacier surging have compounded glacier recession over decadal/multi-decadal time periods, and exert similar influence on glacier mass budgets as temperature changes. Our results demonstrate the importance of ice loss mechanisms not often incorporated into broad-scale glacier projections, which need to be better considered to refine future glacier runoff estimates.
Stein’s method and approximating the multidimensional quantum harmonic oscillator
Authors: McKeague Ian W. , Swan Yvik
Published: April 2023

Stein’s method is used to study discrete representations of multidimensional distributions that arise as approximations of states of quantum harmonic oscillators. These representations model how quantum effects result from the interaction of finitely many classical ‘worlds’, with the role of sample size played by the number of worlds. Each approximation arises as the ground state of a Hamiltonian involving a particular interworld potential function. Our approach, framed in terms of spherical coordinates, provides the rate of convergence of the discrete approximation to the ground state in terms of Wasserstein distance. Applying a novel Stein’s method technique to the radial component of the ground state solution, the fastest rate of convergence to the ground state is found to occur in three dimensions.
Two measures are better than one: combining iconicity ratings and guessing experiments for a more nuanced picture of iconicity in the lexicon
Authors: McLean Bonnie , Dunn Michael , Dingemanse Mark
Published: April 2023

Iconicity in language is receiving increased attention from many fields, but our understanding of iconicity is only as good as the measures we use to quantify it. We collected iconicity measures for 304 Japanese words from English-speaking participants, using rating and guessing tasks. The words included ideophones (structurally marked depictive words) along with regular lexical items from similar semantic domains (e.g., fuwafuwa ‘fluffy’, jawarakai ‘soft’). The two measures correlated, speaking to their validity. However, ideophones received consistently higher iconicity ratings than other items, even when guessed at the same accuracies, suggesting the rating task is more sensitive to cues like structural markedness that frame words as iconic. These cues did not always guide participants to the meanings of ideophones in the guessing task, but they did make them more confident in their guesses, even when they were wrong. Consistently poor guessing results reflect the role different experiences play in shaping construals of iconicity. Using multiple measures in tandem allows us to explore the interplay between iconicity and these external factors. To facilitate this, we introduce a reproducible workflow for creating rating and guessing tasks from standardised wordlists, while also making improvements to the robustness, sensitivity and discriminability of previous approaches.
Belarus: “Securitization” of State Politics and the Impact on State-Society Relations
Authors: Douglas Nadja
Published: April 2023

State-society relations in authoritarian settings are a recurrent topic in the respective literature. Phenomena ranging from loyalty and apathy to dissent, open protest, and resistance have been widely researched. The different patterns of regime response or the way authorities mobilize forces themselves have been discussed to a much lesser extent. This contribution analyzes the gradual deterioration of the state-society relationship in Belarus. These fragile relations have been brought to the brink of collapse by the authorities’ mishandling of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the fraudulent presidential election in August 2020, which became a catalyst for the eruption of mass protests in the country. As a consequence, Belarus has developed into a state obsessed with security concerns. The pretense of legitimacy and the promise of a social welfare state have been replaced by an unvarnished clientelist dictatorship, relying on an inflated security apparatus. The article identifies indicators for an increased “securitization” of state politics in recent years and corresponding measures that guided authorities in their endeavor to counteract societal resistance. The aim is to shed light on how securitized interactions have become emblematic of dysfunctional state-society relations in Belarus.
Is the hyoid a constraint on innovation? A study in convergence driving feeding in fish-shaped marine tetrapods
Authors: Delsett Lene Liebe , Pyenson Nicholas , Miedema Feiko , Hammer Øyvind
Published: April 2023

The hyoid apparatus is essential for underwater feeding in marine tetrapods, but it is unclear whether this complex has evolved as convergently as other traits, such as dentition or locomotion. Here we compare the ossified hyoid elements in ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs and odontocete cetaceans, two groups with an overall similar body shape, to understand whether the hyoid elements show any signs of convergence in the context of feeding. We examined three types of data (size, morphology, and internal bone microstructure) in ophthalmosaurid and odontocete taxa in which these elements are preserved. Our data show that ichthyosaurs never experienced a shift in feeding mode, which might indicate that their hyoid apparatus never adapted to suction feeding. Also, the internal microstructure of the two animal groups differs; where the odontocetes have an overall less compact structure, ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs have cancellous inner cones in an outer, more compact sheath. These differences are likely explained as biomechanical adaptations to different feeding modes. Thus, the hyoid changed less and acted more as a constraint for feeding innovation in ichthyosaurs compared with cetaceans, and through a much longer time span (more than 150 Myr).
Mandersian Relationism: Space, Modality, and Equivalence
Authors: Babic Joshua , Cocco Lorenzo
Published: April 2023

Modal relationism is the view that our best physical theories can dispense with substantival space or spacetime in favor of possible configurations of particles. Kenneth Manders argues that the substantivalist conception is equivalent to this Leibnizian conception of space. To do so, Manders provides a translation $f$ from the Newtonian theory ${T_N}$ into the Leibnizian modal relationist account ${T_L}$. In this article, we show that the translation does not establish equivalence because there is no translation $g:{T_L} \mapsto {T_N}$ that preserves theoremhood. This seems to show that the modal relationist theory ${T_L}$ is less parsimonious than its substantivalist rival.
Human–animal–environment dynamics and formation of pastoralism in the southern Tibetan Plateau during the Middle–Late Holocene
Authors: Wang Yiru , Gao Yu , Zhang Zhengwei , Gu Zhengquan , Yang Jishuai , Wang Yanren , Sun Qingli , He Wei , tsho Yang , Shargan Wangdue , Ma Chunmei , Peters Joris , Yang Xiaoyan
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we apply standard zooarchaeological methods and novel osteological approaches to analyse faunal remains from five Middle–Late Holocene sites in the southern Tibetan Plateau (STP). Framed by direct radiocarbon dates on taxonomically classified bioarchaeological remains and compared with published palaeoclimate data, our findings revealed a three-stage process of agro-pastoral development in the STP ca. 5.5 to 1.0 ka. In the first phase, habitation was restricted to the lower southeastern part of the plateau and human subsistence essentially based on foraging and low-level pig–millet farming. With the onset of colder and drier climatic conditions ca. 3.8 ka, the study area witnessed a growing human presence at higher elevations in its central and western parts, together with a shift towards bovid husbandry and barley cultivation, that is, agricultural practices that originated in west Asia; these were likely introduced to the STP following the eastern margin of the TP and/or arrived by sub-Himalayan transfer. Climate and ecological degradation might have contributed to the decline of local game in favour of cold-and-dry-tolerant pastoral livestock and crops. Our work shows that Middle–Late Holocene climate change, ecological change, human subsistence shifts, and prehistoric cultural transmissions are intimately connected.