bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling Laws Behind Penetrative Turbulence: History and Perspectives
Authors: Ding Zijing , Huang Ruiqi , Ouyang Zhen
Published: July 2024

An unstably stratified flow entering into a stably stratified flow is referred to as penetrative convection, which is crucial to many physical processes and has been thought of as a key factor for extreme weather conditions. Past theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies on penetrative convection are reviewed, along with field studies providing insights into turbulence modeling. The physical factors that initiate penetrative convection, including internal heat sources, nonlinear constitutive relationships, centrifugal forces and other complicated factors are summarized. Cutting-edge methods for understanding transport mechanisms and statistical properties of penetrative turbulence are also documented, e.g., the variational approach and quasilinear approach, which derive scaling laws embedded in penetrative turbulence. Exploring these scaling laws in penetrative convection can improve our understanding of large-scale geophysical and astrophysical motions. To better the model of penetrative turbulence towards a practical situation, new directions, e.g., penetrative convection in spheres, and radiation-forced convection, are proposed.
Alteration of Piezo1 signaling in type 2 diabetic mice: focus on endothelium and BKCa channel
Authors: Haam Chae Eun , Choi Sooyeon , Byeon Seonhee , Oh Eun Yi , Choi Soo-Kyoung , Lee Young-Ho
Published: July 2024

Piezo1 mechanosensitive ion channel plays a important role in vascular physiology and disease. This study aimed to elucidate the altered signaling elicited by Piezo1 activation in the arteries of type 2 diabetes. Ten- to 12-week-old male C57BL/6 (control) and type 2 diabetic mice (db−/db−) were used. The second-order mesenteric arteries (~ 150 μm) were used for isometric tension experiments. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining were performed to observe protein expression. Piezo1 was significantly decreased in mesenteric arteries of type 2 diabetic mice compared to control mice, as analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Piezo1 agonist, Yoda1, concentration-dependently induced relaxation of mesenteric arteries in both groups. Interestingly, the relaxation response was significantly greater in control mice than in db−/db− mice. The removal of endothelium reduced relaxation responses induced by Yoda1, which was greater in control mice than db−/db− mice. Furthermore, the relaxation response was reduced by pre-treatment with various types of K+ channel blockers in endothelium-intact arteries in control mice. In endothelium-denuded arteries, pre-incubation with charybdotoxin, an Ca2+-activated K+ channel (BKCa channel) blocker, significantly attenuated Yoda1-induced relaxation in db−/db− mice, while there was no effect in control mice. Co-immunofluorescence staining showed co-localization of Piezo1 and BKCa channel was more pronounced in db−/db− mice than in control mice. These results indicate that the vascular responses induced by Piezo1 activation are different in the mesenteric resistance arteries in type 2 diabetic mice.
Fluctuations of the free energy in p-spin SK models on two scales
Authors: Bovier Anton , Schertzer Adrien
Published: July 2024

20 years ago, Bovier, Kurkova, and Löwe (Ann Probab 30(2):605–651, 2002) proved a central limit theorem (CLT) for the fluctuations of the free energy in the p-spin version of the Sherrington–Kirkpatrick model of spin glasses at high temperatures. In this paper we improve their results in two ways. First, we extend the range of temperatures to cover the entire regime where the quenched and annealed free energies are known to coincide. Second, we identify the main source of the fluctuations as a purely coupling dependent term, and we show a further CLT for the deviation of the free energy around this random object.
Stagnation Detection in Highly Multimodal Fitness Landscapes
Authors: Rajabi Amirhossein , Witt Carsten
Published: July 2024

Stagnation detection has been proposed as a mechanism for randomized search heuristics to escape from local optima by automatically increasing the size of the neighborhood to find the so-called gap size, i. e., the distance to the next improvement. Its usefulness has mostly been considered in simple multimodal landscapes with few local optima that could be crossed one after another. In multimodal landscapes with a more complex location of optima of similar gap size, stagnation detection suffers from the fact that the neighborhood size is frequently reset to  1 without using gap sizes that were promising in the past. In this paper, we investigate a new mechanism called radius memory which can be added to stagnation detection to control the search radius more carefully by giving preference to values that were successful in the past. We implement this idea in an algorithm called SD-RLS$$^{\text {m}}$$

m

and show compared to previous variants of stagnation detection that it yields speed-ups for linear functions under uniform constraints and the minimum spanning tree problem. Moreover, its running time does not significantly deteriorate on unimodal functions and a generalization of the Jump benchmark. Finally, we present experimental results carried out to study SD-RLS$$^{\text {m}}$$

m

and compare it with other algorithms.
The effects of previous abdominal surgery and the utilisation of modified access techniques on the operative difficulty and outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and bile duct exploration
Authors: Lucocq James , Nassar Ahmad H. M.
Published: July 2024

Background

Early reports suggested that previous abdominal surgery was a relative contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) on account of difficulty and potential access complications. This study analyses different types/systems of previous surgery and locations of scars and how they affect access difficulties. As modified access techniques to minimise risk of complications are under-reported the study details and evaluates them.

Method

Prospectively collected data from consecutive LC and common bile duct explorations (LCBDE) performed by a single surgeon over 30 years was analysed. Previous abdominal surgery was documented and peri-operative outcomes were compared with patients who had no previous surgery using Chi-squared analysis.

Results

Of 5916 LC and LCBDE, 1846 patients (31.2%) had previous abdominal surgery. The median age was 60 years. Those with previous surgery required more frequent duodenal (RR 1.07; p = 0.023), hepatic flexure (RR 1.11; p = 0.043) and distal adhesiolysis (RR 3.57; p < 0.001) and had more access related bowel injuries (0.4% vs. 0.0%; p < 0.001). Previous upper gastrointestinal and biliary surgery had the highest rates of adhesiolysis (76.3%), difficult cystic pedicles (58.8%), fundus-first approach (7.2%), difficulty grades (64.9% Grades 3–5) and utilisation of abdominal drains (71.1%). Previous open surgery resulted in longer operative time compared to previous laparoscopic procedures (65vs.55 min; p < 0.001), increased difficulty of pedicle dissection (42.4% vs. 36.0%; p < 0.05) and required more duodenal, hepatic flexure and distant adhesiolysis (p < 0.05) and fundus-first dissection (4% vs 2%; p < 0.05). Epigastric and supraumbilical access and access through umbilical and other hernias were used in 163 patients (8.8%) with no bowel complications.

Conclusion

The risks of access and adhesiolysis in patients with previous abdominal scars undergoing biliary surgery are dependent on the nature of previous surgery. Previous open, upper gastrointestinal and biliary surgery carried the most significant risks. Modified access techniques can be adopted to safely mitigate these risks.

Graphical abstract
Cancer-related cognitive impairment as a key contributor to psychopathology in cancer survivors: implications for prevention, treatment and supportive care
Authors: Haywood Darren , Henry Melissa , Dauer Evan , Lederman Oscar , Farley Morgan , Henneghan Ashley M. , O’Connor Moira , Jefford Michael , Rossell Susan L. , Hart Nicolas H.
Published: July 2024

A significant proportion of cancer survivors will experience some form of mental health compromise across domains including mood, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, and substance use. This psychopathology within cancer survivors is related to a range of negative outcomes and can also have a substantial negative impact on quality of life. Along with psychopathology, cognitive impairments are also commonly experienced, resulting in deficits in memory, reasoning, decision-making, speed of processing, and concentration, collectively referred to as cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Within the non-oncology literature, cognitive deficits are consistently demonstrated to be a key transdiagnostic aetiological feature of psychopathology, functionally contributing to the development and perpetuation of symptoms. Whilst there is an acknowledgement of the role mental health concerns might play in the development of and perception of CRCI, there has been limited acknowledgement and research exploring the potential for CRCI to functionally contribute toward the development of transdiagnostic psychopathology in cancer survivors beyond simply psychosocial distress. Given the theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting cognitive deficits to be an aetiological factor in psychopathology, we provide a rationale for the potential for CRCI to be a factor in the development and perpetuation of transdiagnostic psychopathology in cancer survivors. This potential functional association has significant implications for risk identification, prevention, treatment, and supportive cancer care approaches regarding psychopathology in cancer survivorship. We conclude by providing directions for future research in this area.
Downstream wake features of a Rood wing predicted by different turbulence models
Authors: Huong Yieng Teen , Leong Zhi Quan , Conway Alexander , Duffy Jonathan , Ranmuthugala Dev
Published: July 2024

Computational fluid dynamics is used to analyze the influence of the horseshoe vortex on the wake features of a simplified geometry representing an underwater vehicle sail (i.e. Rood wing). The sail wake features are of interest as they influence the performance of the downstream components of an underwater vehicle such as the aft appendages and propeller. This paper uses the Rood wing, a generic wing body, mounted on a flat plate as its low aspect ratio is comparable to the underwater vehicle sail and there are substantial published experimental data for validation. Two main simulation schemes were adopted in this paper, i.e. the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and hybrid RANS–large Eddy simulation (LES) incorporating several turbulence models. Both schemes were also examined in their ability to predict the downstream wake features as the literature available to date have primarily focused only on the near-field flow features around the wing root. Three main parameters were investigated including the pressure distribution along the wing’s body, the mean streamwise velocity, and its root mean square fluctuation at three different downstream planes, two in the near field and one in the far field. Results show that the RANS and the hybrid RANS–LES models are capable of predicting the wing-body pressure distribution and the paths of the horseshoe vortex (HSV) as it moves downstream with acceptable numerical dissipation. It was found that different models provided higher accuracy when compared to the experiment depending on the downstream location of the plane. The re-normalization group k-epsilon model with enhanced wall treatment (RNG KE-EN) model captured the wake properties with the highest accuracy within the near field, while further downstream (in the far field), the scale adaptive simulation (SAS) model predicted the flow field with the highest accuracy followed by the RNGKE-EN model.
Spatial resolution measurement method for 3D displays from contrast modulation
Authors: Lee Tae Hee , Jeong Young Ju
Published: July 2024

Augmented Reality 3D head-up displays use a autostereoscopic 3D display as a panel. The 3D optical unit of autostereoscopic 3D displays controls the direction of the light rays in each pixel, allowing the users enjoy 3D world without glasses. However, these 3D optics cause image quality degradation. Deterioration of resolution has a serious impact on 3D image quality. Therefore, it is important to properly measure the 3D resolution according to 3D optics and analyze its impact. In this study, a method for measuring spatial resolution in 3D displays using contrast modulation is proposed. We describe a conventional 2D resolution measurement methods that are standardized. Based on the existing 2D resolution methods, we propose a 3D resolution method. The spatial and frequency signal responses of 3D displays were investigated. The first method is determined by the predominant frequency series. The second method is conducted by contrast modulation. Through experiments with 3D displays, 3D resolution was measured using the proposed method, and the relationship between the parameters and resolution of 3D optics was examined.
Partial separability and symplectic-Haantjes manifolds
Authors: Reyes Daniel , Tempesta Piergiulio , Tondo Giorgio
Published: July 2024

A theory of partial separability for classical Hamiltonian systems is proposed in the context of Haantjes geometry. As a general result, we show that the knowledge of a non-semisimple symplectic-Haantjes manifold for a given Hamiltonian system is sufficient to construct sets of coordinates (called Darboux-Haantjes coordinates) that allow both the partial separability of the associated Hamilton-Jacobi equations and the block-diagonalization of the operators of the corresponding Haantjes algebra. We also introduce a novel class of Hamiltonian systems, characterized by the existence of a generalized Stäckel matrix, which by construction are partially separable. They widely generalize the known families of partially separable Hamiltonian systems. The new systems can be described in terms of semisimple but non-maximal-rank symplectic-Haantjes manifolds.
Nest structure and breeding success in two tit species: a long-term study
Authors: Glądalski Michał , Bańbura Mirosława , Kaliński Adam , Markowski Marcin , Skwarska Joanna , Wawrzyniak Jarosław , Zieliński Piotr , Bańbura Jerzy
Published: July 2024

One of the most critical functions of nests in parids is thermal insulation, particularly during egg incubation by females and during the first week of the hatchlings’ life when they are poikilothermic. Several avian studies reported associations between aspects of breeding success and nest parameters. In this study, we present results regarding long-term (eleven breeding seasons) impact of nest parameters on breeding characteristics in Great Tits (Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in a deciduous forest and an urban parkland study area. Our findings indicate that in Great Tits and Eurasian Blue Tits the number of fledglings (and in Eurasian Blue Tits also clutch size tended to be) was positively associated with lining mass and was influenced by the study area, with higher values observed in the forest. Additionally, there was a relationship between lining mass and higher hatching success in both tit species. We also demonstrated that both clutch size and number of fledglings were higher in Great Tits in the forest and in Eurasian Blue Tits the number of fledglings was higher in the forest. The study site also impacted hatching success, with Great Tits showing higher rates in the forest, and fledging success for Eurasian Blue Tits being higher in the forest. The number of fledglings differed between years in Great Tits and hatching success and fledging success differed between years in both Great and Eurasian Blue Tit species. We conclude that avian nests play an important role during reproduction, and the materials used to construct nests contribute to various functional properties. However, further studies are needed to establish clear relationships between nest parameters and breeding performance.
A 2-Year Longitudinal Randomized Control Trial of Speed of Processing Cognitive Training in Aging Adults with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: Results of the Think Fast Study
Authors: Vance David E. , Fazeli Pariya L. , Azuero Andres , Frank Jennifer S. , Wadley Virginia G. , Raper James L. , Pope Caitlin N. , Ball Karlene K.
Published: July 2024

Nearly 40% of people with HIV (PWH) experience HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). In this 3-group efficacy study, 216 PWH 40 + years with HAND or borderline HAND were randomized to either: (1) 10 h of SOP training (n = 70); (2) 20 h of SOP training (n = 73), or (3) 10 h of Internet navigation training (n = 73; contact control group). Participants were administered a measure of SOP [i.e., the Useful Field of View Test (UFOV®)] at baseline, at posttest immediately after training, and at year 1 and year 2 follow up. Intent-to-treat linear mixed-effect models with subject-specific intercept and slope were fitted to estimate between-group mean differences at the follow-up time-points. At the post-intervention time-point, small beneficial SOP training effects were observed for the 10-h group in UFOV® total (d = 0.28, p = 0.002). Effects were of larger magnitude for the 20-h group in these same outcomes [UFOV® total (d = 0.43, p < 0.001)]. These results indicated better benefit with more training. No intervention effect was observed at year 1. At year 2, beneficial effects of small magnitude were observed again in the 10-h group [UFOV® total (d = 0.22, p = 0.253)] with larger small-to-moderate magnitude in the 20-h group [UFOV® total (d = 0.32, p = 0.104)]. This study suggests that SOP training can improve a key indicator of this cognitive performance and that treatment gains are small-to-moderate over a two-year period. Prior literature suggests slower SOP is predictive of impairment in everyday functioning in older PWH; such an approach could potentially improve everyday functioning in PWH.
An offset calibration scheme for on-chip thermal profiling with differential temperature sensors
Authors: Yan Mengting , Onabajo Marvin
Published: July 2024

This paper introduces an on-chip analog calibration method tailored for differential temperature sensors in thermal monitoring applications. A three-step calibration process is proposed within a two-stage high-gain instrumentation amplifier to compensate for the output voltage offset due to device mismatches and on-chip temperature gradients. The calibration circuits were designed in a standard 65 nm CMOS process for simulation. Results indicate that an input-referred offset with a mean of 0.2 μV can be achieved after calibration, through which the standard deviation is greatly reduced fromσ = 880.3 toσ = 5086 μV. Furthermore, the proposed analog offset calibration scheme has negligible impact on the sensitivity of the complete temperature sensor circuit, as shown by Monte Carlo and process-temperature corner simulation results.
Using interfacial behavior and adsorption kinetics measurements as a predictor of bulk hydrophobic development of paper supercritically impregnated with food-grade waxes
Authors: Hutton-Prager Brenda Helen , Fallon Joseph P. , Henke Blake , Zhang Raymond , Perera Withanage Keshani Rangika
Published: July 2024

Supercritical Impregnation methods are becoming popular in the development of food packaging materials. Bulk functional improvements of cellulose substrates using this method may be influenced by interfacial interactions between the impregnated solutes and cellulose. Hence, an interfacial adsorption kinetics study of solute molecules onto the substrate can provide insight on bulk property development, leading to an optimized packaging material with improved functionality. Paper substrates were impregnated with two food-grade waxes: Alkyl Ketene Dimer (AKD) and Carnauba Wax (CW). Hydrophobic development was monitored over a 3-week period. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) was used to determine interfacial characteristics and behavior of each wax with cellulose, and adsorption kinetics were quantified to compare the mass transfer processes of each wax at the interface. AKD significantly contributed to the substrate’s hydrophobic development over time. CW generated mildly hydrophobic substrates only when heated. AKD strongly adhered to the cellulose fibers at the interface, and demonstrated a 3-stage kinetic adsorption process, tentatively assigned (i) diffusion through the solvent; (ii) diffusion through the substrate; and (iii) attachment onto the fibers. CW readily washed off the cellulose surface, demonstrating only the first adsorption process. The different chemical structures also impacted these behaviors, as did concentration and temperature.

Graphical Abstract
Spoken Spanish PoS tagging: gold standard dataset
Authors: Bonilla Johnatan E.
Published: July 2024

The development of a benchmark for part-of-speech (PoS) tagging of spoken dialectal European Spanish is presented, which will serve as the foundation for a future treebank. The benchmark is constructed using transcriptions of the Corpus Oral y Sonoro del Español Rural (COSER;“Audible corpus of spoken rural Spanish”) and follows the Universal Dependencies project guidelines. We describe the methodology used to create a gold standard, which serves to evaluate different state-of-the-art PoS taggers (spaCy, Stanza NLP, and UDPipe), originally trained on written data and to fine-tune and evaluate a model for spoken Spanish. It is shown that the accuracy of these taggers drops from 0.98$$-$$
-
0.99 to 0.94$$-$$
-
0.95 when tested on spoken data. Of these three taggers, the spaCy’s trf (transformers) and Stanza NLP models performed the best. Finally, the spaCy trf model is fine-tuned using our gold standard, which resulted in an accuracy of 0.98 for coarse-grained tags (UPOS) and 0.97 for fine-grained tags (FEATS). Our benchmark will enable the development of more accurate PoS taggers for spoken Spanish and facilitate the construction of a treebank for European Spanish varieties.
Examining the effect of augmented reality experience duration on reading comprehension and cognitive load
Authors: Şimşek Bilal , Direkci Bekir , Koparan Betül , Canbulat Mehmet , Gülmez Mevlüt , Nalçacıgil Emel
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the duration of students’ augmented reality (AR) experience on reading comprehension and cognitive load in reading activities carried out with an augmented reality storybook. The participants are 134 secondary school students aged between 11 and 12 attending a school in Antalya. They were divided into three groups. The same texts were designed with different AR durations producing three different AR storybooks. At the pre-test all groups read the coursebook texts in a traditional manner and then answered the comprehension items. At the post-test groups read the texts in accordance with their specific AR design and answered the items. In addition, the students completed the cognitive load survey after reading AR storybooks. The results of the within-group evaluations showed that the use of AR content had a strong effect on their reading comprehension. Therefore, it can be stated that augmented reality storybooks increase the reading comprehension performance of the children aged 11–12. In the comparisons between the groups, it is found that the comprehension scores of Group-2 (24–27 s) and Group-3 (37–39 s) were significantly higher than Group-1 (11–13 s). In addition, the cognitive loads of Group-2 and Group-3 are significantly lower than Group-1. On the other hand, it is found that the group with the lowest mental load was Group-2. These results suggest that the duration of AR content while reading a storybook has an impact on the students’ comprehension and cognitive load.
Numerical modeling on wave–current flows and bed shear stresses over an algal reef
Authors: Lan Yi-Ru , Huang Zhi-Cheng
Published: July 2024

Currents in coastal zones under multiple mechanisms in terms of tides, waves, wind, and high roughness are difficult to model; bed shear stresses under wave–current flows are particularly challenging yet not being well studied. Few studies reported the modeling and validation of the bed shear stress in reef environments. In this paper, we present the first direct assessment of numerical modeling on depth-averaged currents and bed shear stresses over an algal reef using a coupled wave–current model (Delft-3D). The modeled results were validated and compared to the field observed data. The model considers hydrodynamic forcing in terms of tides, waves, wind stresses, and bed friction. Results show that the model generally reproduces the depth-averaged currents and bed shear stresses when considering all the mechanisms. Two numerical cases with and without wind forcing were tested to examine the effects of the winds. We found that the tide is mostly the primary factor driving the current, even in shallow waters within a depth of 3 m; however, the currents are also significantly affected by wind speeds and wind directions during high-wind events. When the wind direction is in the same direction as the tidal current, the current speed increases, suggesting the importance of the wind stress on the coastal currents. In addition, two models were chosen to study the nonlinear enhancement of bed shear stress by waves. We found a significant difference between the two models in predicting the bed shear stresses compared to the observed data. Nonlinear contribution from wave enhances the magnitude of bed shear stresses, which reduces the model error. The results highlight the nonlinear interaction between waves and currents is meaningful in predicting the bed shear stresses during high-wave-orbital motions; improvement of the present wave-current nonlinear interaction model for predicting the bed shear stresses may be needed.
A bibliometric and systematic review of scientific publications on metaverse research in architecture: web of science (WoS)
Authors: Mutlu Avinç Güneş , Yıldız Aslı
Published: July 2024

The global trends related to the concept of Metaverse in architecture have significantly expanded in recent years, thanks to the increasing number of scientific publications. Systematically examining the literature on this topic and identifying research trends and potential directions provides comprehensive data maps, thus charting a roadmap for researchers interested in working in this field. In this context, the research aims to identify the trends and tendencies of the concept of the Metaverse in the scientific literature over time at the primary analysis levels, such as countries, institutions, resources, articles, authors, and research topics. The research conducted with this aim involves a dynamic, visual, and systematic examination of the academic literature on academic publishing using data accessed without year limitations from the Web of Science Core Collection-Citation database. In the research conducted without year limitations, a sample comprising 334 articles published/planned to be published between 2005 and 2024 is analyzed. The bibliometrix R-Tool was used to enhance the analysis, and metadata was obtained from the WoS database. This analysis analyzed publications, citations, and information sources, including the most published journals, the most used keywords, the most cited and leading articles, the most cited academics, and the most contributing institutions and countries. In conclusion, this study aims to define the profile of international academic publishing in the field of the Metaverse, present its development, identify research fronts, detect emerging trends, and uncover the working themes and trends in the Metaverse specific to architecture. This study describes the profile of international academic publishing on the metaverse, presents its development, identifies research frontiers, identifies emerging trends, and reveals metaverse study themes and trends in architecture. As a result, education, virtual perception of space, building operation and maintenance, building evacuation, BIM (Building Information Modeling), cultural heritage, physical environment, built environment/planning, smart home, design and creativity, universal design/accessibility, sustainability, smart city/GIS, urban transportation systems, and in-use evaluation are identified as themes that have been studied in relation to the metaverse concept in architecture and design disciplines.
Investigation of Menstrual Hygiene and Self-Care Skills of Adolescent Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Mother Views
Authors: Arslan Rukiye , Yanık Derya , Pekşen Akça Raziye
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Puberty a period of transition from childhood to adulthood, poses problems that are difficult to manage for typically developing adolescents, but even more difficult for adolescents with autism. It is vital that girls with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like their typically developing peers, are able to manage these physiological processes in a healthy way and learn self-care and hygiene behaviours without being dependent on others. Given the contribution of mothers to the menstrual hygiene and self-care skills of adolescent girls, this study aims to explore the views of mothers.

Methods

The study is a case study designed in the qualitative research model. The research was carried out with the participation of 10 mothers met the necessary criteria and agreed to take part in the study voluntarily. The data obtained were subjected to descriptive and thematic analysis. Codes, sub-themes and main themes were created.

Results

The research identifies the themes of self-care and menstrual hygiene, preparations made during menstruation, behavioral problems in adolescents, the person who carries out hygiene and self-care, and situations that tire/strain mothers during menstruation.

Conclusion

At the end of the research, it was concluded that the adolescent girls with ASD are mostly unable to perform their self-care and hygiene adequately, and that the mothers do nothing to prepare their daughters for adolescence. It was also concluded that the most stressful situation for mothers during adolescence is usually the difficulty their daughters have in using sanitary pads, cleaning armpits and genital hair, and bathing.
SACCIA Communication, Attitudes Towards Cheating and Academic Misconduct
Authors: Stojanov Ana , Hannawa Annegret , Adam Lee
Published: July 2024

Academic misconduct by students is a serious issue that threatens the public trust in higher education institutions. In the current study, we examine whether SACCIA (Sufficient, Accurate, Clear, Contextualised and Interpersonally Adaptive) communication predicts lower academic misconduct via attitudes towards cheating and understanding what ‘counts’ as academic misconduct. Participants (N = 319) completed an online questionnaire in Qualtrics measuring SACCIA-adherent communication, academic misconduct, positive attitudes towards cheating and understanding what constitutes misconduct, along with control variables (Big 5 personality traits and Honesty-Humility). The results indicated that the effect of SACCIA communication on academic misconduct was exerted via attitudes, but not via understanding of what constitutes ‘academic misconduct’. The more SACCIA-conforming the communication was, the lower the positive attitudes towards cheating, and the lower the positive attitudes the less self-reported misconduct. The findings suggest that universities could facilitate negative attitudes towards cheating and subsequently lower misconduct if they communicate about academic integrity in a SACCIA-adherent manner.
The biased narrative of vulnerable women: gender analysis of smallholder farmers’ contextual vulnerability to climate change in the Taita Hills, Kenya
Authors: Palosaari Maiju , Autio Antti , Mbinga Elizabeth , Pellikka Petri , Johansson Tino
Published: July 2024

Climate change is increasing challenges in the agricultural sector for smallholder farmers. A key element in successful formulation of adaptation strategies is the analysis of vulnerability to climate change. This study examines smallholder farmers’ contextual vulnerability to climate change through their perceived vulnerability and focuses on gendered narratives and power structures in the Taita Hills, Kenya. The key methods are semi-structured interviews (N = 28) and a critical discourse analysis. The collected data consists of two-headed household interviews, single-headed household interviews, and key informant interviews with different stakeholders from the agriculture sector. Results indicate that contextual vulnerability can form a baseline for understanding individuals’ possibilities to adapt to changing environmental and climatic conditions. Outcome vulnerability analysis, that treats vulnerability as an endpoint output following mitigation actions, offers highly relevant information, but it is not alone enough for understanding the challenges and possibilities of climate change adaptation. Women and men farmers’ coping and adaptation response strategies did not differ notably, which supports the criticism of the gendered nature of vulnerability discourse. Differences in strategies appeared to be more linked in intersectional aspects between farmers in single-headed and two-headed households. Furthermore, the vulnerable women narrative did not reflect women farmers’ agency and centrality in the agriculture sector. The discourse of climate change adaptation should be corrected towards addressing structural challenges that can place people in a vulnerable position within diverse contextual conditions and intersecting attributes.
Exploring the variability of root system architecture under drought stress in heat-tolerant spring-wheat lines
Authors: Asadullah  , Kalhoro Shahmir Ali , Farhad Wajid , Iqbal Azhar , Sultan  , Waheed Abdul , Rashid Muhammad , Shah Syed Rehmat Ullah
Published: July 2024

Background and aims

Global wheat production is under threat due to climate change, specifically heat and drought and their combination. This study aims to address the root trait responses of heat-tolerant wheat genotypes to drought.

Methods

The variability in root traits of CIMMYT wheat lines, which were previously developed for heat stress tolerance (HTWL), was evaluated alongside 10 Pakistani-approved varieties under three cultivation conditions and soil moisture levels.

Results

Our findings revealed that the plasticity of the wheat root system is highly pronounced, with rhizosphere conditions exerting a more substantial influence (5–49%) than the genotypic response (1–14%). Furthermore, in the hydroponic and pot system, we noted higher maximum-root length (1.5–1.8 fold) and root-to-shoot ratio (3.4–10.6 fold) as compared to field condition, while the root biomass was substantially higher in the field trial (3-57 fold). Nonetheless, persistent drought conditions exerted contrasting impact with reduction in most of the traits except specific root length and harvest index which were increased under drought.

Conclusions

The variation in root traits against drought indicates the potential for the development of improved genotypes that can withstand multiple stresses. Furthermore, it is crucial to consider rhizosphere conditions when selecting genotypes, as the plasticity of wheat roots may lead to misinterpretations if rhizosphere conditions are disregarded. Root dry weight and root-to-shoot ratio are more stable traits as compared to maximum root length and specific root length. It is recommended to evaluate a broader range of rhizosphere conditions to select tolerant genotypes.
Voluntary disclosures by activist investors: the role of activist expectations*
Authors: McDonough Ryan , Nagar Venky , Schoenfeld Jordan
Published: July 2024

Activist investors in a firm often voluntarily release information about their governance intentions to the public. Voluntary disclosure theory suggests that an activist investor will disclose when she expects other investors to respond positively and support her in upcoming corporate control contests. We find that activists’ disclosures are accompanied by positive abnormal returns, reductions in bid-ask spreads, and increases in future earnings relative to similar targets without voluntary activist disclosures. Disclosures by activists who demand a board seat (the most common demand) have the highest announcement returns, and disclosers also win proxy contests and directorships more frequently than non-disclosers. These findings suggest that the activist’s beliefs about investor response in both pricing and voting are an important driver of her disclosure choice.
Fluorometric detection of β-carotene with novel green synthesis carbon quantum dot from Asphodelus
Authors: Hergül Bilgin Adile Yagmur , Bozkurt Ebru
Published: July 2024

Asphodelus-based CQDs were successfully synthesized in a single step by the hydrothermal synthesis method for detection of β-carotene. TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, Zeta potential, UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence measurements were taken to structurally and optically characterize the newly synthesized CQDs. It was determined that the characterized CQDs show high selectivity and sensitivity only to β-carotene among 11 different biomolecules. The detection limit of CQDs for β-carotene was calculated as 8.28 µM. It was determined that the new CQDs respond very quickly and stably without interfering with any other biomolecules. The studies in different pH environments exhibited that CQDs can detect β-carotene at all pH studied. Real sample experiments show that β-carotene can be determined accurately and reliably in practical applications with the novel CQDs. It was thought that the results obtained from this study will make significant contributions to the studies on β-carotene detection, which are limited in the literature.
Newly qualified teachers in the eyes of principals: Moving beyond deficit perspectives
Authors: Lundberg Adrian , Collberg Philippe , Lindh Christina
Published: July 2024

Feelings of shock, a difficult professional socialization process and unrealistic expectations create a challenging career entry phase for teachers. Too many newly qualified teachers feel stressed and leave the profession early, leading to a lingering teacher shortage. Much research in the field and many well-meant support interventions follow a deficit perspective and overlook newly qualified teachers’ potential for school development. This study aimed to better understand how school principals, a crucial but comparatively under-researched stakeholder group, characterize newly qualified teachers’ competences. Q methodology was selected to holistically study the views of 24 principals of compulsory schools in Southern Sweden without imposing any potentially deficit-oriented categories. Following standard protocol and enriched with interviews, four distinct factors were identified and qualitatively interpreted. Results show that newly qualified teachers are perceived as confident and well-prepared concerning pedagogical and didactical aspects of their profession. Regarding the use of digital tools, they are regarded as assets for school development, while diversity management and relationship-building emerged as areas of improvement. Based on our findings, we argue for more practical elements during campus-based pre-service teacher education and an intensified focus on reflective teacher identity development. Teachers’ career entry phase should be treated as a specific area of in-service teachers’ professional development at teacher education institutions, where a strengthened cooperation with employing schools will be particularly important. We expect these adaptations to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of support matters and provide future avenues that acknowledge newly qualified teachers’ expertise.
When boys and girls make their first career decisions: Exploring the role of gender and field in high school major choice
Authors: Slobodin Ortal , Samuha Tzvia , Hannona-Saban Adi , Katz Idit
Published: July 2024

Although choosing a high school major is often adolescents’ first significant career decision, little is known about the factors that enable adolescents to choose a high school major autonomously (i.e., a major that reflects their values and preferences) or the familial and individual constellations that affect this decision. The current study examined the mediating role of adolescents’ identity processing style in the association between perceived parental need support and adolescents’ level of autonomous motivation when choosing their high school major. Second, we examined whether these proposed relationships differed for gender-stereotyped and non-stereotyped fields. The sample was composed of 571 9th -grade students (296 boys) who self-reported their perceived parental need support, motivation for choosing a high school major, identity processing style, and their preference for a high school major. Results showed that an informative identity style mediated the relationship between parental need support and adolescents’ autonomous motivation. Gender played a moderating role in this relationship so boys’ autonomous motivation for choosing a non-STEM major was more strongly linked to parental support than girls’ motivation to make a similar choice. In contrast, girls’ autonomous motivation for choosing a STEM major was more strongly related to the provision of parental support than boys. These findings emphasize the importance of nuanced parental need-support considering the students’ gender and major (STEM vs. non-STEM) and the need to promote self-exploration when deciding on a high school major.
An Efficient Method to Compute Capillary Pressure Functions and Saturation-Dependent Permeabilities in Porous Domains Spanning Several Length Scales
Authors: Becker Dominik , Steiner Konrad , Rief Stefan
Published: July 2024

A method for calculating capillary pressure functions and saturation-dependent permeabilities of geometries containing several length scales is presented. The method does not require the exact geometries of the smaller length scales. Instead, it requires the effective two-phase flow parameters. It does this by generating phase distributions that form static equilibria at a selected capillary pressure value, similar to pore-morphology methods. Within a porous material, the effective parameters are used to obtain the corresponding phase saturation. It is shown how these phase distributions can be used in geometries spanning several length scales to calculate the capillary pressure function and saturation-dependent permeabilities. The method is tested on a geometry containing a simple isotropic porous material and it is applied to a complex textile stack geometry from a liquid composite molding process. In this geometry, three different length scales can be distinguished. The effective two-phase flow parameters of the textile stack are calculated by the proposed method, avoiding expensive simulations.
Enhancing visible light photocatalytic activity of holmium doped g-C3N4 and DFT theoretical insights
Authors: Yavuz Adem , Aydin Didem , Disli Besime , Ozturk Teoman , Gul Berna , Gubbuk Ilkay Hilal , Ersoz Mustafa
Published: July 2024

In the search of novel photocatalysts to increase the effect of visible light in photocatalysis, g-C3N4 (CN) has become a shining star. Rare earth metals have been used as dopant material to reinforce the photocatalytic activity of CN due to their unique electron configuration recently. In this present study, the pure and different amounts of Ho-doped g-C3N4 (HoCN) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized using urea as a precursor by the one-pot method. Morphological, structural, optical, and vibrational properties of the synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by SEM, EDX, XRD, TGA, XPS, FTIR, PL, TRPL, Raman, DRS, and BET analyses. In addition, theoretical calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were meticulously carried out to delve the changes in the structural and electronic structure of CN with holmium doping. According to calculations, the chemical potential, electrophilicity, and chemical softness are higher for HoCN, while HOMO–LUMO gap, dipole moment, and the chemical hardness are lower for the pure one. Thus, holmium doping becomes desirable with low chemical hardness which indicates more effectivity and smaller HOMO–LUMO gap designate high chemical reactivity. To determine the photocatalytic efficiency of the pure and doped CN photocatalysts, the degradation of methylene blue (MB) was monitored under visible light. The results indicate that holmium doping has improved the photocatalytic activities of CN samples. Most strikingly, this improvement is noticeable for the 0.2 mmol doped CN sample that showed two times better photocatalytic activity than the pure one.
Exploring the role of microRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in canine mammary tumors
Authors: Ferreira Tiago , da Costa Rui M. Gil , Dias Francisca , Gama Adelina , Gaspar Vítor M. , Mano João F. , Oliveira Paula A. , Medeiros Rui
Published: July 2024

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) represent a significant health concern in dogs, with a high incidence among intact female dogs. CMTs are a promising comparative model for human breast cancer, due to sharing several pathophysiological features. Additionally, CMTs have a strong genetic correlation with their human counterpart, including the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs that play important roles in post-translational regulation of gene expression, being implicated in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. Moreover, miRNAs hold promise as diagnostic, prognostic, and metastatic biomarkers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying CMTs is crucial for improving diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatments. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on miRNAs in CMTs, highlighting their roles in carcinogenesis and their potential as biomarkers. Additionally, we highlight the current limitations and critically discuss the overarching challenges in this field, emphasizing the need for future research to translate miRNA findings into veterinary clinical practice.
Comprehensive analysis of social subcategories throughout life cycle assessment approach for the textile industry
Authors: Fidan Fatma Şener , Aydoğan Emel Kızılkaya , Uzal Nigmet
Published: July 2024

Purpose

While the environmental and economic aspects of sustainability have been extensively studied, social sustainability has been largely neglected and necessitates a thorough investigation. The study examines the intricate nature of social impact assessments, considering the substantial significance of the textile industry in the global economy and its wide-ranging social implications. This study comprehensively examines critical social subcategories used in the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to highlight the social sustainability of the textile sector. The objective of the study is to enhance and optimize the subcategories proposed by UNEP/SETAC for social LCA by examining, expanding, and adapting them specifically to the textile industry, offering a more focused and sector-specific viewpoint on key metrics.

Methods

The study examines its use in textile production and distribution by first carefully evaluating the subcategories established by UNEP/SETAC for social LCA. A systematic assessment of positive and negative social impacts throughout the entire supply chain is examined through global standards, textile-specific standards, and literature. Analysis of semi-structured stakeholder interviews and a comprehensive literature review reveals important social subcategories, some of which go beyond the S-LCA guidelines.

Results

New social metrics, including quality, women’s rights, gender pay gap, collaboration with NGOs, academic research, circularity implementation, and environmental issues, were formulated from stakeholders’ perspectives, tailored specifically for the textile sector.

Conclusions

The results of the study aim to promote a socially sustainable textile industry by guiding stakeholders to make informed decisions and adopt methods that prioritize social responsibility as well as environmental and economic factors.