bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Geometrically Motivated Two-Dimensional Collisional Abrasion Model to Resolve the Evolution of Natural Fragment Shapes
Authors: Havasi-Tóth Balázs , Fehér Eszter
Published: November 2024

In the present paper we propose a geometrically motivated mathematical model, which reveals the key features of natural coastal and fluvial fragment shape evolution from the earliest stages of the abrasion. Our collisional polygon model governs the evolution through an ordinary differential equation (ODE), which determines the rounding rate of initially sharp corners in the function of the size reduction of the fragment. As an approximation, the basic structure of our model adopts the concept of Bloore’s partial differential equation (PDE) in terms of the curvature-dependent local collisional frequency. We tested our model under various conditions and made comparisons with the predictions of Bloore’s PDE. Moreover, we applied the model to discover and quantify the mathematical conditions corresponding to typical and special shape evolution. By further extending our model to investigate the self-dual and mixed cases, we outline a possible explanation of the long-term preservation of initial pebble shape characteristics.
Spontaneous brain abscess formation: challenge of a shifting pathogen spectrum over the last 21 years – a single center experience
Authors: Kraus Luisa Mona , Overstijns Manou , Rahal Amir El , Behringer Simon , Buttler Klaus-Jürgen , Andereggen Lukas , Beck Jürgen , Schnell Oliver , Hornuss Daniel , Wagner Dirk , Cipriani Debora
Published: November 2024

Background

Spontaneous intracerebral abscess formation is a rare condition presenting with a disabling sequela. The origin of infection can either be primary or secondary to an infection at another location. The site of primary infection - due to the proximity, often the oral cavity, the sinuses, and the orbit - determines the causative pathogens. Treatment often combines surgical and antimicrobial therapies. To determine the microbiology and respective changes and treatment outcome, we performed this retrospective monocentric cohort study of patients requiring surgical treatment of brain abscesses.

Methods

Patients undergoing surgical treatment of a primary intracranial abscess between January 2000 and January 2021 in the Department of Neurosurgery, Freiburg University Hospital were included. Demographic, clinical and imaging data were extracted from patients’ medical records and databases. Treatment approaches were also analyzed, and surgical therapy and antibiotic therapy were reported. Outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin score (mRS) and was dichotomized into good (mRS 0–3) and poor (mRS 4–6) outcome.

Results

We included 65 patients with spontaneous intracerebral abscess that were treated with neurosurgical intervention at our institution. Analysis of the causative pathogens showed an increasing dominance of rare pathogens such as fungi, parasites, mycobacteria and anaerobes. Outcome measured by the mRS was similar from 2005 to 2021.

Conclusions

The pathogen spectrum of spontaneous intracerebral abscess at our institution is shifting with rarer pathogens being increasingly detected. This retrospective analysis highlights the need for microbiological diagnosis and of combined surgical and antibiological treatment.
Efficacy and safety of safinamide in Parkinson’s disease patients with motor fluctuations without levodopa dosage escalation over 18 weeks: KEEP study
Authors: Oh Eungseok , Cheon Sang-Myeong , Cho Jin Whan , Sung Young Hee , Kim Joong-Seok , Shin Hae-Won , Kim Jong-Min , Park Mee Young , Kwon Do-Young , Ma Hyeo , Park Jeong-Ho , Koh Seong-Beom , Choi Seong-Min , Park Jinse , Lee Phil Hyu , Ahn Tae-Beom , Kim Sang Jin , Lyoo Chul Hyoung , Lee Ho-Won , Kim Jieun , Lee Yoona , Baik Jong Sam
Published: November 2024

This multicentre, prospective, single-arm study evaluated safinamide as add-on therapy to levodopa in Korean patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) with motor fluctuations with ≥ 1.5 h of “off” time daily, who took levodopa ≥ 3 times/day (n = 199). Baseline levodopa and dopamine agonist doses were maintained without escalation during the 18-week treatment period. Participants received safinamide 50 mg/day for 2 weeks and 100 mg/day thereafter. PD diaries and questionnaires (Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire, PDQ-39; Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, MDS–UPDRS part 3 and part 4; King’s Parkinson’s Disease Pain Scale, KPPS; Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE) were assessed at baseline and at week 18. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were recorded. Mean disease duration was 6.6 years, and mean levodopa equivalent daily dose was 721.1 mg/day. At week 18, significant improvements from baseline were seen for the co-primary endpoints, mean daily “off” time (− 1.3 ± 2.4 h, p < 0.001) and quality of life (QoL) based on PDQ-39 summary index (− 2.7 ± 10.3, p < 0.001), Moreover, significant improvements were seen in motor symptoms and motor complications (MDS-UPDRS part 3 and 4), daily “on” time without dyskinesia (all p < 0.001) and pain (KPPS; p = 0.013). TEAEs occurred in 40.2% of patients, with most being mild in severity. In conclusion, safinamide at a dosage of 100 mg/day significantly improved motor symptoms, QoL, and pain, and demonstrated a favourable safety profile without levodopa dosage escalation during the 18-week treatment period in Korean patients with PD.

Trial registration number and date: NCT05312632, First Posted: April 5, 2022
Renal tubular damage as an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a community-based population: the Takahata study
Authors: Suzuki Takaya , Ichikawa Kazunobu , Suzuki Natsuko , Watanabe Masafumi , Konta Tsuneo
Published: November 2024

Background

Renal tubular damage plays a crucial role in the development of end-stage kidney disease, a risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality. However, the relationship between renal tubular damage and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates in the general population remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a cohort study in the general population using the urinary β2-microglobulin-creatinine ratio (UBCR) as a marker of renal tubular damage.

Methods

This study included 3427 residents aged ≥ 40 years in Takahata, Japan. We examined the association between the UBCR values in single-spot urine samples at enrollment and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates within a median follow-up of 9.2 years.

Results

The participants were divided into two groups based on their UBCR levels (< 300 μg/g and ≥ 300 μg/g groups). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates in the high UBCR group (log-rank P < 0.01). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine albumin level, smoking, and comorbidities showed a significantly higher hazard ratio of 1.49 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–2.03, P = 0.01) for all-cause mortality and a hazard ratio of 1.73 (95% CI 1.00–2.98, P = 0.048) for cardiovascular mortality in the high-UBCR group. The net reclassification index was significantly improved by adding a high UBCR to the conventional risk factors.

Conclusion

UBCR is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population, independent of eGFR and urinary albumin levels.
A novel bootstrap goodness-of-fit test for normal linear regression models
Authors: Koeneman Scott H. , Cavanaugh Joseph E.
Published: November 2024

In this work, the distributional properties of the goodness-of-fit term in likelihood-based information criteria are explored. These properties are then leveraged to construct a novel goodness-of-fit test for normal linear regression models that relies on a nonparametric bootstrap. Several simulation studies are performed to investigate the properties and efficacy of the developed procedure, with these studies demonstrating that the bootstrap test offers distinct advantages as compared to other methods of assessing the goodness-of-fit of a normal linear regression model. Our inferential technique can be employed using the R package, available freely via the Comprehensive R Archive Network.
The 5-factor modified frailty index as a prognostic factor for stereotactic radiosurgery in meningioma management
Authors: Herr Sanjeev , Kite Trent , Vyas Praveer , Karlovits Stephen , Yu Alexander , Wegner Rodney E. , Shepard Matthew J.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Meningiomas are the most frequent primary intracranial malignancy. While surgical resection can confer long term tumor control, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is often used for small, asymptomatic tumors in the adjuvant setting. Frailty has been associated with increased rates of peri-operative morbidity but has yet to be defined in the setting of SRS for meningiomas. We therefore sought to examine the relationship between frailty and clinical/radiographic outcomes of patients with meningiomas who have undergone SRS.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective cohort study classified patients by their 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) score into pre-frail (0–1) and frail (2–5) at the time of SRS treatment. Evaluations of overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), local control (LC), and distant control (DC) were performed using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to further define factors associated with OS/PFS.

Results

94 patients met inclusion criteria and underwent SRS for meningioma treatment from 2019 to 2023. Analyses compared prefrail (0–1) and frail (2–5) individuals. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated a near significant association between frailty and OS (HR 3.66, 95% CI 0.49–26.8 p = 0.05) with 3-year OS rates of 75.4% in the pre-frail versus 36.6% in the frail group. However, a significant relationship was demonstrated between frailty and PFS (HR: 2.95 95% CI 1.12–7.81, p = 0.02) with 3-year PFS rates of 90.5% in the pre-frail group versus 49.2% in the frail group. Univariable regression analysis demonstrated that frailty, prior surgical excision, and cumulative tumor volume predicted PFS.

Conclusion

Frailty, as assessed by the mFI-5, did not independently predict OS but did predict PFS in individuals with meningioma undergoing SRS.
Quantification of uncertainties in reference and relative dose measurements, dose calculations, and patient setup in modern external beam radiotherapy
Authors: Kinoshita Naoki , Shimizu Morihito , Motegi Kana , Tsuruta Yusuke , Takakura Toru , Oguchi Hiroshi , Kurokawa Chie
Published: November 2024

Uncertainties in the steps of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) affect patient outcomes. However, few studies have investigated major contributors to these uncertainties. This study investigated factors contributing to reducing uncertainty in delivering a dose to a target volume. The EBRT process was classified into four steps: reference dosimetry, relative dosimetry [percentage depth doses (PDDs) and off-center ratios (OCRs)], dose calculations (PDDs and OCRs in a virtual water phantom), and patient setup using an image-guided radiation therapy system. We evaluated the uncertainties for these steps in conventionally fractionated EBRT for intracranial disease using 4-, 6-, and 10-MV flattened photon beams generated from clinical linear accelerators following the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement and an uncertainty evaluation method with uncorrected deflection. The following were the major contributors to these uncertainties: beam quality conversion factors for reference dosimetry; charge measurements, chamber depth, source-to-surface distance, water evaporation, and field size for relative dosimetry; dose calculation accuracy for the dose calculations; image registration, radiation-imaging isocenter coincidence, variation in radiation isocenter due to gantry and couch rotation, and intrafractional motion for the patient setup. Among the four steps, the relative dosimetry and dose calculation (namely, both penumbral OCRs) steps involved an uncertainty of more than 5% with a coverage factor of 1. In the EBRT process evaluated herein, the uncertainties in the relative dosimetry and dose calculations must be reduced.
Allergen Immunotherapy: Optimal Duration for Respiratory Allergy
Authors: Penagos Martin , Durham Stephen R.
Published: November 2024

Purpose of the Review

To analyse the evidence regarding the optimal duration of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapies to induce long-lasting benefits after treatment cessation for allergic rhinitis and asthma and to identify unmet needs.

Recent Findings

Subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapies are highly effective in desensitising selected subjects with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trials of both routes of immunotherapy support international guidelines that recommend their use for at least three years to achieve disease modification and continued clinical and immunological tolerance for allergic rhinitis. Evidence of the long-term effects of allergen immunotherapy in the context of randomised controlled trials for allergic asthma as opposed to rhinitis is limited. Nonetheless, real-world studies suggest the long-lasting benefits of allergen immunotherapy for allergic asthma, as this reduces prescriptions for pharmacotherapy and decreases the risk of asthma exacerbations and hospitalisations. The GINA guideline 2023 recommends the use of house dust mite sublingual immunotherapy as an add-on therapy in subjects with suboptimally controlled asthma, despite the use of low to high doses of inhaled corticosteroids, provided that the FEV1 is > 70% predicted.

Robust clinical trials of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapies have shown that 3 years of continuous treatment modifies the underlying course of allergic rhinitis with long-lasting clinical effects years after withdrawal. Further evaluations of the long-lasting effects of novel routes of allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and long-term studies for allergic asthma are needed in the context of randomised clinical trials.
Recognizing Multi-Party Epistemic Dialogue Acts During Collaborative Game-Based Learning Using Large Language Models
Authors: Acosta Halim , Lee Seung , Bae Haesol , Feng Chen , Rowe Jonathan , Glazewski Krista , Hmelo-Silver Cindy , Mott Bradford , C. Lester James
Published: November 2024

Understanding students’ multi-party epistemic and topic based-dialogue contributions, or how students present knowledge in group-based chat interactions during collaborative game-based learning, offers valuable insights into group dynamics and learning processes. However, manually annotating these contributions is labor-intensive and challenging. To address this, we develop an automated method for recognizing dialogue acts from text chat data of small groups of middle school students interacting in a collaborative game-based learning environment. Our approach utilizes dual contrastive learning and label-aware data augmentation to fine-tune large language models’ underlying embedding representations within a supervised learning framework for epistemic and topic-based dialogue act classification. Results show that our method achieves a performance improvement of 4% to 8% over baseline methods in two key classification scenarios. These findings highlight the potential for automated dialogue act recognition to support understanding of how meaning-making occurs by focusing on the development and evolution of knowledge in group discourse, ultimately providing teachers with actionable insights to better support student learning.
Student Engagement in Medical Research Curriculum Development Strategies: A Comprehensive Approach Utilizing Mixed-Methods Study and SWOT-TOWS-AHP Analysis
Authors: Lertsakulbunlue Sethapong , Sertsuwankul Panrawee , Thammasoon Kaophiphat , Jongcherdchootrakul Kanlaya , Sakboonyarat Boonsub , Kantiwong Anupong
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Student engagement in medical curriculum development has become increasingly important, yet structured frameworks for decision-making and prioritizing strategies remain limited. This study demonstrates an approach integrating student representatives into strategy development to enhance engagement in medical research (MR) curriculum design and highlights students’ perspectives on MR.

Methods

A mixed-methods study was conducted with 262 clinical year medical students and intern doctors. Participants completed a questionnaire on practices, perceptions, attitudes, motivations, and barriers related to MR. Focused group discussions evaluated beliefs towards MR and the faculty’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Thematic analysis was performed. Strategies were developed using the TOWS matrix, and student representatives ranked the strategies using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

Results

MR is perceived as complex and nonessential, yet its benefits in career development, patient care, and knowledge advancement are well-recognized. The chance to pursue research on personally interesting topics motivates student engagement in MR. However, curriculum overload has emerged as a significant barrier. The opportunity-strength strategy received the highest priority score of 0.33. The preferred sub-strategy involves establishing a centralized communication and coordination system to connect expert professors in both pre-clinical and clinical medical fields, both within and outside the institution, thereby enhancing the diversity of available mentors (priority score = 0.12).

Conclusion

To address curriculum overload, a centralized communication system and coordination between students and experts are necessary. Additionally, cultivating time management skills is essential. Involving students in curriculum development ensures that their perspectives and needs are considered, leading to the creation of insightful strategies.
Representations of integers as sums of four polygonal numbers and partial theta functions
Authors: Bringmann Kathrin , Jang Min-Joo , Kane Ben , Tse Alvin Cheuk Hin
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we consider representations of integers as sums of at most four distinct polygonal numbers with a prescribed number of repeats of each distinct polygonal number. We compare such representations with classical polygonal numbers, and those representations with generalized polygonal numbers. Our main result is that representations with classical polygonal numbers are equidistributed in the sense that the number of representations in the nonnegative quadrant in four-dimensional space is asymptotically $$\frac{1}{16}$$

1
16

of the representations in the entire space.
The urban footprint of rural forced displacement
Authors: Calderon Edwar A. , Patino Jorge E. , Duque Juan C. , Keith Michael
Published: November 2024

The rapid growth of marginal settlements in the Global South, largely fueled by the resettlement of millions of internally displaced people (IDPs), underscores the urgent need for tailored housing solutions for these vulnerable populations. However, prevailing approaches have often relied on a one-size-fits-all model, overlooking the diverse socio-spatial realities of IDP communities. Drawing on a case study in Medellin, Colombia, where a significant portion of the population consists of forced migrants, this interdisciplinary study merges concepts from human geography and urban theory with computational methods in remote sensing and exploratory spatial data analysis. By integrating socio-spatial theory with quantitative analysis, we challenge the conventional housing paradigm and propose a novel framework for addressing the housing needs of IDPs. Employing a three-phase methodology rooted in Lefebvre’s theoretical framework on the production of space, including participatory mapping, urban morphology characterization, and similarity analysis, we identify distinct patterns within urban IDP settlements and advocate for culturally sensitive housing policies. Our analysis, focusing on Colombia, the country with the largest IDP population globally, reveals the limitations of standardized approaches and highlights the importance of recognizing and accommodating socio-cultural diversity in urban planning. By contesting standardized socio-spatial practices, our research aims not only to promote equality but also to foster recognition and inclusivity within marginalized communities.
The Impact of Undernutrition and Anemia on HIV-Related Mortality Among Children on ART in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Moges Sisay , Lajore Bereket Aberham , Oleba Abera Feyisa , Godebo Abraham Samuel , Funga Mengistu Lodebo
Published: November 2024

Background

Although there have been significant advancements in providing HIV-infected children with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the mortality rates have remained unacceptably high. Inadequate nutrient intake or absorption is a widespread problem in several African nations, resulting in undernutrition and anemia. However, the pooled effect of malnutrition and anemia on HIV-related death related to children receiving ART was not investigated in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

We searched multiple electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science) for observational studies published between January 1, 2010, and April 24, 2024 that reported the risk factors or effects of undernutrition and, anemia on HIV-related mortality among children. Study selection, data extraction, and quality evaluation were carried out separately by two reviewers. A meta-analysis was conducted using random effect models.

Results

The review included 27 studies with a combined total of 61,796 study participants. The study findings showed that severe wasting (HR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.87–3.30), being underweight (HR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.64–2.72), and Anemia (HR: 2.58; 95% CI: 2.08–3.19) were highly linked to HIV-related death among children. The risk of death due to anemia was greater among children under the age of 5 years than older children.

Conclusion

Undernutrition and anemia in sub-Saharan African children increased the risk of HIV-related death. The impact of malnutrition and anemia among under 5 years old children with HIV/AIDS was more pronounced, suggesting that these conditions at this early age can have more serious consequences for a child’s survival. The importance of combining nutrition with HIV treatment programs in sub-Saharan African countries is crucial.
Phase-field based shape optimization of uni- and multiaxially loaded nature-inspired porous structures while maintaining characteristic properties
Authors: Selzer Michael , Wallat Leonie , Kersch Nils , Reder Martin , Seiler Marcus , Poehler Frank , Nestler Britta
Published: November 2024

Triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) are highly versatile porous formations that can be defined by formulas. Computationally based, load-specific shape optimization enables tailoring these structures for their respective application areas and thereby enhance their potential. In this investigation, individual sheet-based gyroid structures with varying porosities are specifically optimized with respect to their stiffness. A modified phase-field method is employed to establish a simulation framework for the shape optimization process. Despite constant volume and the preservation of the periodicity of the unit cells, volume redistribution occurs through displacement of the interfaces. The phase-field-based optimization process is detailed using unidirectional loading on three gyroidal unit cells with porosities of 75 %, 80 %, and 85 %. Subsequently, the gyroidal unit cell with a porosity of 85 % is shape-optimized under multidirectional loading. A subsequent experimental validation of the unidirectionally loaded cells confirms that the shape-optimized structures exhibit, on average, higher stiffness than the non-optimized structures. The highest increase of 40 % in effective modulus is achieved with the gyroid structure having a porosity of 75 %, while maintaining minimal alteration to the surface-to-volume ratio and preserving periodicity. Additionally, the experimental data show that the optimization process resulted in a shift in the linear elasticity and plasticity range. In summary, the phase-field method proves to be a valid optimization technique for complex porous structures, allowing the preservation of characteristic properties.
Constitutional Symmetry
Authors: Price Zachary S.
Published: November 2024

Intense political disagreements over constitutional law and the Supreme Court have divided America. Constitutional Symmetry offers a fresh perspective by urging judges to make decisions that work 'symmetrically' across major partisan and ideological divides instead of favoring one partisan coalition over the other. Zachary S. Price argues this approach will aid the political process, align with the role morality of judging, and advance the framers' hopes for the Constitution. Chapters explore how this approach can encourage new solutions to fraught debates over free speech, religious liberty, separation of powers, federalism, affirmative action, gun rights, abortion, parental rights, and the law of democracy. Timely and innovative, this book is must-read for anyone seeking to understand the sources and implications of constitutional polarization in the contemporary United States.
Take-off performance of a single engine battery-electric aeroplane
Authors: Gratton G.B. , Delaney T. , Zaghari B. , Kendall G.
Published: November 2024

This paper investigates the take-off performance of a single engine battery-electric aeroplane, using the example of the 300kg Sherwood eKub. It shows analysis of take-off performance of such an aeroplane must include as a minimum two new parameters not normally considered: time at full throttle and state of charge. It was shown in both ground and flight test that the state of available power reduces both as the throttle is fully open, and as battery charge is consumed, although recovers partially when power is reduced for a period. It is possible to schedule take-off performance as a function of the usual parameters plus state of charge. Because of the reducing climb performance with use of state of charge, and the requirement in airworthiness standards for minimum climb performance being available, it becomes necessary to introduce the concept of minimum-indicated state of charge for take-off, SoCiMTO; means to calculate that are shown for compliance with both microlight aeroplane standards and larger aeroplane standards, and the calculations are demonstrated for the eKub. Conclusions are also drawn about the use of commercial products SkyDemon and Google Earth for recording and analysing aeroplane performance data.
Navigating Concurrent Disasters: Lessons learned from a Hospital Evacuation Amidst a Pandemic and an Earthquake
Authors: Sofuoglu Zeynep , Ozturk Merdiye , Er Metin , Arslan Gul , Sönmez Ömer Faruk , Oncel Mehmet Yekta
Published: November 2024

The concurrent challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant earthquake in Izmir on October 30, 2020, presented a unique scenario for disaster management and response. This study focuses on the impact of the earthquake, which resulted in 117 fatalities, including 1 due to drowning, and injured 1034 individuals, alongside widespread structural damage including to the Izmir Democracy University Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital. The objective is to assess the activation and implementation of the hospital disaster plan amidst the ongoing pandemic. Through a retrospective evaluation of all actions undertaken as per the Hospital Disaster Emergency Plan within the Disaster Management cycle, this study examines the decision-making process for the hospital evacuation on October 30, 2020, the evacuation of COVID-19 patients, and the strategies employed to increase hospital capacity. Of 216 patients hospitalized at the time of the earthquake, 65 were transferred to other facilities under COVID-19 protocols. The prolonged nature of pandemics and the likelihood of secondary disasters underscore the importance of comprehensive risk assessments and dynamic disaster planning, considering simultaneous multiple hazards. This study suggests the inclusion of multi hazard scenarios and diverse evacuation methods by using types of ambulances, such as ground, helicopter, and boat.
Overcoming ambiguities in war on terror mechanisms in Africa: Acknowledging Africa is not a country
Authors: Oando Samwel
Published: November 2024

This article critically examines the major shortcomings in multi-country security investments in East Africa during the war on terror. It argues that these investments have not only failed to adequately recognise African contexts but also falls short of recognising the agency of local communities in counterterrorism efforts. Drawing on critical terrorism and security studies, as well as excerpts from interviews with practitioners in Kenya, the article identifies gaps in the prevailing approach that treats Africa as a unitary entity and critiques the notion of universality of knowledge ingrained in these interventions. By taking a decolonial perspective, the article challenges some prevailing constructions about Africa, linked to the war on terror, as the source of this notion of universality of knowledge. By highlighting the connection of counterterrorism strategies to coloniality and the systemic exclusion of subaltern voices, the discussion suggests that a more contextually informed approach is a precursor to envisioning Africa positioned beyond the war on terror.
Alternative study designs and nonparametric statistical methods for adaptive management studies of invasive plants
Authors: McNair James N. , Frobish Daniel , Rice Emma K. , Thum Ryan A.
Published: November 2024

Adaptive management studies of invasive plants on non-agricultural lands typically employ an empirical approach based on designed field experiments that permit rigorous statistical analysis of results to quantify outcomes and assess the efficacy of management practices. When habitat restoration is the primary goal of a project, traditional plot-based study designs (e.g., the randomized complete-block design) are sometimes infeasible (this is often true in aquatic habitats) or inappropriate (e.g., when the goal is to assess effects of management practices on survival or resprouting of individual plants, such as trees or shrubs). Moreover, the assumptions of distribution-specific parametric statistical methods such as ANOVA often cannot be convincingly verified or are clearly untenable when properly assessed. For these reasons, it is worthwhile to be aware of alternative study designs that do not employ plots as experimental units and nonparametric statistical methods that require only weak distributional assumptions. The purpose of this paper is to review several of these alternative study designs and nonparametric statistical methods that we have found useful in our own studies of invasive aquatic and terrestrial plants. We motivate each statistical method by a research question it is well suited to answer, provide corresponding references to the statistical literature, and identify at least one R function that implements the method. In the Supplementary Material, we present additional technical information about the statistical methods, numerical examples with data, and a set of complete R programs to illustrate application of the statistical methods.
Italian parties and the European Union's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine: A qualitative content analysis
Authors: Capati Andrea
Published: November 2024

This paper analyses Italian party positions on the EU's response to the Russo-Ukrainian war, singling out the adoption of sanctions against Russia, the provision of military support to Kiev, enlargement to Ukraine and the welcoming of Ukrainian refugees into the Union's territory as the four main dimension of such a response. The paper draws on the literatures on cleavage politics, the inverted U curve and the differentiated forms of politicisation, thereby testing theory-driven research hypotheses through a qualitative content analysis of Italian parties' Facebook posts in the three months following the outbreak of the conflict, combining an inductive and a deductive approach. The findings show that party families are a good explanatory factor behind Italian party positions vis-à-vis the EU's response to the war outbreak as parties belonging to the same family shared a similar stance on the four dimensions of such a response. On the contrary, the Europeanism/Euroscepticism divide does not explain Italian party positions on the EU's reaction to the Ukrainian conflict as Europeanist parties split over the EU's provision of weapons to Ukraine about as much as Eurosceptic partis split over the adoption of sanctions against Moscow. Finally, the paper shows that policy issues in the EU's response to the war (such as sanctions and arms delivery) were much more salient for and contested by Italian political parties than constitutive issues (such as enlargement and asylum).
Dynamic large-eddy simulation of hypersonic transition delay over broadband wall impedance
Authors: Sousa Victor C.B. , Wartemann Viola , Wagner Alexander , Scalo Carlo
Published: November 2024

Three-dimensional numerical simulations of hypersonic boundary layer transition delay due to porosity representative of carbon-fibre-reinforced carbon-matrix ceramics (C/C) were carried out on a 7

$^{\circ {}}$

half-angle cone for unit Reynolds numbers

$Re_m=2.43 \times 10^6$

–

$6.40\times 10^6\ \text {m}^{-1}$

, at the free-stream Mach number

$M_\infty =7.4$

, for both sharp and 2.5 mm nose tip radii. A broadband time-domain impedance boundary condition was used to model the acoustic effects of the porous surface on the flow field. A quasi-spectral sub-filter-scale dynamic closure was adopted to stabilize the computations upon turbulent breakdown under extreme cooling conditions, with wall-to-adiabatic temperature ratio of

$T_{w}/ T_{ad} \simeq 0.08 $

, while accurately recovering the growth rates of the unstable modes present in the early transition stages. Good agreement is observed with the reference experimental data, both in terms of the predicted extent of the transition delay and the measured second-mode frequency spectrum. The latter is strongly modulated by the formation of near-wall low-temperature three-dimensional streaks. Pressure disturbances concentrate in corridors of locally thickened boundary layer, with frequencies lower than what predicted by linear theory. Here, trapped wavetrains are formed, which can persist long into the turbulent region. Finally, it is shown that the presence of a porous wall simply shifts the onset of turbulence downstream, without affecting its structure.
New understanding of the regimes and controlling mechanisms in a falling curtain of particles
Authors: Bi Xiaopeng , Lau Timothy C.W. , Sun Zhiwei , Nathan Graham J.
Published: November 2024

A stream of free-falling particles from a rectangular hopper, hereafter called a ‘curtain’, was characterised systematically using a well-resolved, non-intrusive optical shadowgraphic method, to reveal both an additional axial region and an additional dilute region distributed laterally on either side of the curtain, relative to those identified previously. The effects of particle size and hopper outlet thickness on the evolution of the particle curtain were separately isolated, whilst measuring particle mass flow rate. The curtains were characterised into four distinct axial regions, namely a near-field expansion region near to the hopper exit, a neck zone where the curtain contracts, a region of intermediate-field expansion and a far field with particles reaching terminal velocity. The initial expansion half-angle,

$2.3^{\circ } \le \alpha \le 4.8^{\circ }$

, was found to be insensitive to particle size, but to increase with hopper outlet thickness. The ‘trough’ in the neck zone was deduced to be caused by a pressure gradient driven by particle acceleration. The curtain expansion rate at the intermediate field was found to increase with a decrease in particle size and hopper outlet thickness. The outermost dilute-particle region was deduced to be caused by collisions, induced by gradients in the velocity profile near to the hopper exit. New dimensionless analysis reveals that the dynamics of curtains can be characterised broadly into two regimes, one in which the aerodynamics is dominant and the other where it is weak. Curtain transmittance was found to scale with the Froude number, highlighting the importance of particle momentum.
The confined stresslet for suspensions in a spherical cavity. Part 1. Traceless elements
Authors: Gonzalez Emma , Zia Roseanna N.
Published: November 2024

The confined Stokesian dynamics (CSD) algorithm recently reported equilibrium properties but was missing hydrodynamic functions required for suspension stress and non-equilibrium properties. In this first of a two-part series, we expand the CSD algorithm to model the traceless part of the stress tensor. To obtain quantities needed to solve the integral expressions for the stress, we developed a general method to solve Stokes’ equations in bispherical coordinates. We calculate the traceless stress tensor for arbitrary particle-to-enclosure size ratio. We next compute rheology of a confined suspension by implementing the stresslet hydrodynamic coefficients into CSD, yielding the deviatoric part of the many-body hydrodynamic stresslet. We employed energy methods to relate this stresslet to the high-frequency viscosity of the confined suspension, finding an increase in viscous dissipation with crowding and confinement well beyond the unconfined value. We show that confinement effects on viscosity are dominated by near-field interactions between the particles that reside very near the cavity wall (rather than particle–wall interactions). Surprisingly, this near-field effect is stronger than the viscosity of an unconfined suspension, showing that entropic exclusion driven by the wall sets up many lubrication interactions that then generate strong viscous dissipation. The limiting case of a particle near a flat wall reveals a correction to prior literature. The theory presented in this work can be expanded to study the Brownian contribution to the viscosity of confined suspensions in and away from equilibrium. In part 2, we report the osmotic pressure, via the trace of the stress tensor.
A theoretical model for compressible bubble dynamics considering phase transition and migration
Authors: Zhang A-Man , Li Shi-Min , Xu Run-Ze , Pei Shao-Cong , Li Shuai , Liu Yun-Long
Published: November 2024

A novel theoretical model for bubble dynamics is established that simultaneously accounts for the liquid compressibility, phase transition, oscillation, migration, ambient flow field, etc. The bubble dynamics equations are presented in a unified and concise mathematical form, with clear physical meanings and extensibility. The bubble oscillation equation can be simplified to the Keller–Miksis equation by neglecting the effects of phase transition and bubble migration. The present theoretical model effectively captures the experimental results for bubbles generated in free fields, near free surfaces, adjacent to rigid walls, and in the vicinity of other bubbles. Based on the present theory, we explore the effect of the bubble content by changing the vapour proportion inside the cavitation bubble for an initial high-pressure bubble. It is found that the energy loss of the bubble shows a consistent increase with increasing Mach number and initial vapour proportion. However, the radiated pressure peak by the bubble at the collapse stage increases with decreasing Mach number and increasing vapour proportion. The energy analyses of the bubble reveal that the presence of vapour inside the bubble not only directly contributes to the energy loss of the bubble through phase transition but also intensifies the bubble collapse, which leads to greater radiation of energy into the surrounding flow field due to the fluid compressibility.
Enforcement agencies and an emerging category of law: examining EEOC processing of sexual orientation and gender identity charges
Authors: Baumle Amanda K. , Boutcher Steven , Badgett M. V. Lee , Tomaskovic-Devey Donald
Published: November 2024

Scholars have recognized the role that legal intermediaries can play in shaping the law through their interpretations of legal ambiguity and guidance to rule-takers on legal compliance. Although legal intermediaries thus have the potential to effect social change, most research in the area of employment discrimination has focused on the way they facilitate only symbolic compliance with the law. In this article, we examine how the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) took steps that legitimized a new area of claiming, classifying sexual orientation and gender identity (“SOGI”) discrimination as prohibited sex discrimination. Drawing on 2012–2016 confidential charge data, we analyze which alleged issues had a greater likelihood of being identified by EEOC actors as strong cases of discrimination. We use quantitative administrative data and a unique dataset generated from the coding of charge narratives to develop our description of the EEOC’s categorization of SOGI charges. Our findings indicate that first by accepting SOGI charges and then by assigning 34% – much higher than other discrimination charge bases – with the highest processing category, the EEOC made new law, expanding Title VII protection. At the same time, our findings reflect that the EEOC exhibited restraint in this expansion through prioritizing charges that were closely aligned to prior gender stereotyping cases, rather than more directly signaling an SOGI identity-based protection. These findings illustrate the exercise of initiative within prior legal constraint, defining a new area of legal claiming.
“It’s two separate systems that … keep you under a thumb”: dual debt in the child support and criminal legal systems
Authors: Schwendeman Hannah , Horowitz Veronica L. , Edwards Frank , Stewart Robert , Larson Ryan , Uggen Christopher
Published: November 2024

People simultaneously entangled in multiple state systems are often subject to contradictory legal mandates that can foster distrust and incentivize system avoidance. This study focuses on those indebted to both the child support system and the criminal legal system, a situation we describe as dual debt. We ask whether and how the imposition of legal debts with punitive surveillance and collections mechanisms fosters alienation in the form of legal cynicism and estrangement, which we refer to jointly as legal anomie. Drawing from interview data in Minnesota, we find that legal anomie and system avoidance are mutually reinforcing processes, as debts in these systems triggered consequences that pushed people out of the formal labor market and heightened their distrust of legal institutions. The case of dual debt demonstrates how alienating and contradictory policy systems can foster both legal anomie and system avoidance, particularly in the context of economic and social precarity.
Skinny fat model of metabolic syndrome induced by a high-salt/sucrose diet in young male rats
Authors: Cavalcante Keilah Valéria Naves , Ferreira-Junior Marcos Divino , Moreira Marina Conceição dos Santos , Marques Stefanne Madalena , Fajemiroye James Oluwagbamigbe , Miranda Rosiane Aparecida , Lisboa Patrícia Cristina , Moura Egberto Gaspar de , Xavier Carlos Henrique , Colombari Eduardo , Gomes Rodrigo Mello , Pedrino Gustavo Rodrigues
Published: November 2024

Childhood and puberty can affect metabolism, leading to tissue injury and malfunction later in life. The consumption of high-processed foods rich in salt and sugar is increasing in middle- and high-income countries, especially among young people. It is necessary to evaluate the effects of high salt and sugar levels in the youth on most injured organs during metabolic challenges. We aimed to investigate whether high-salt/sucrose intake affects whole-body development and leads to end-organ injury. Weaned male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: a control group fed a standard diet and tap water, and an experimental group (SS) fed a standard diet and a beverage containing 1·8 % NaCl and 20 % sucrose instead of tap water. The animals were treated for 60 d, starting after weaning at 21 d of age, after which the animals were subjected to glucose and insulin tolerance tests, urine collection and heart rate monitoring and euthanised for sample collection at 81 d of age. SS showed reduced body weight gain and increased food intake of sodium/sucrose solution. Interestingly, high-salt/sucrose intake led to increased body adiposity, liver lipid inclusion, heart rate and renal dysfunction. SS exhibits increased levels of PPAR alpha to counterbalance the hypertrophy of brown adipose tissue. Our findings reveal that the SS rat model exhibits non-obvious obesity with end-organ damage and preserved brown adipose tissue function. This model closely parallels human conditions with normal BMI but elevated visceral adiposity, providing a relevant tool for studying atypical metabolic disorders.
Race, Representation, and the Legitimacy of International Organizations
Authors: Steinberg David A. , McDowell Daniel
Published: November 2024

This study explores how race impacts the legitimacy of international organizations (IOs). Specifically, we examine whether the representation of Black people in IO leadership positions influences perceptions of IO legitimacy among Black and white individuals. To do so, we fielded seven survey experiments in two racially diverse countries, South Africa and the United States, and three experiments in one predominantly Black country, Kenya. Our experiments were designed to distinguish the effects of an IO leader's race from their region of origin. We find that Black IO leadership enhances perceptions of institutional legitimacy among Black citizens, but does not strongly influence the legitimacy perceptions of their white counterparts. Our findings suggest that improving the representation of historically marginalized racial groups within IOs can enhance their popular legitimacy.
The End of Tutela Mulierum
Authors: Arjava Antti
Published: November 2024

Despite the well-known weakening of the Roman guardianship of women by the early Principate, its final disappearance from Roman law has remained a mystery. In modern scholarship, the proposed dates for the abolishment of tutela have ranged from the late third century to the early fifth, or to the claim that it just fell out of use without ever being formally abrogated. This article combines legal and papyrological sources to show that we can in fact establish the time when tutela was abolished in the reign of Constantine. It further places the disappearance of the guardianship in the broader context of the historical development of Roman law and the legal independence of women in the Roman world.