bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A reference architecture for the development of GLSP-based web modeling tools
Authors: Metin Haydar , Bork Dominik
Published: January 2025

Web-based modeling tools provide unprecedented opportunities for the realization of modern, powerful, and usable diagram editors running in the cloud. The development of such tools, however, still poses significant challenges for developers. The graphical language server platform (GLSP) aims to reduce some of these challenges by providing the necessary frameworks to efficiently create web modeling tools. However, realizing modeling tools with GLSP remains challenging and not much support for interested tool developers is provided yet. This paper discusses these challenges and lessons learned after working with GLSP and realizing several GLSP-based modeling tools. We present experiences, concepts, and a reusable reference architecture to develop and operate GLSP-based web modeling tools. As a proof of concept, we report on the realization of a GLSP-based UML editor called bigUML. Through bigUML, we show that our procedure and the reference architecture we developed resulted in a scalable and flexible GLSP-based web modeling tool for the UML. The lessons learned, the procedural approach, the reference architecture, and the critical reflection on the challenges and opportunities of using GLSP provide valuable insights to the community and shall ease the decision of whether or not to use GLSP for future tool development projects. With this paper, we publicly release a reference implementation of our architecture.
Targeting BMP-1 enhances anti-tumoral effects of doxorubicin in metastatic mammary cancer: common and distinct features of TGF-β inhibition
Authors: Erin Nuray , Tavşan Esra , Haksever Seren , Yerlikaya Azmi , Riganti Chiara
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Mammary carcinoma is comprised heterogeneous groups of cells with different metastatic potential. 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells metastasized to heart (4THM), liver (4TLM) and brain (4TBM) and demonstrate cancer-stem cell phenotype. Using these cancer cells we found thatTGF-β is the top upstream regulator of metastatic process. In addition, secretion of bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1), which is crucial for the proteolytic release of TGF-β, was markedly high in metastatic mammary cancer cells compared to non-metastatic cells. Although TGF-β inhibitors are in clinical trials, systemic inhibition of TGF-β may produce heavy side effects. We here hypothesize that inhibition of BMP-1 proteolytic activity inhibits TGF-β activity and induces anti-tumoral effects.

Method and Results

Effects of specific BMP-1 inhibitor on liver and brain metastatic murine mammary cancer cells (4TLM and 4TBM), as well as on human mammary cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, were examined and compared with the results of TGF-β inhibition. Inhibition of BMP-1 activity markedly suppressed proliferation of cancer cells and enhanced anti-tumoral effects of doxorubicin. Inhibition of BMP-1 activity but not of TGF-β activity decreased colony and spheroid formation. Differential effects of BMP-1 and TGF-β inhibitors on TGF-β secretion was also observed.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated for the first time that the inhibition of BMP-1 activity has therapeutic potential for treatment of metastatic mammary cancer and enhances the anti-tumoral effects of doxorubicin.
Norwegian Mathematics Teacher Educators’ and Research Mathematicians’ Views on Different Aspects of Mathematical Definitions: a Comparative Judgement Study
Authors: Torkildsen Hermund André , Forbregd Tore A. , Reid David A. , Kanwal Shaista
Published: January 2025

In this article we investigate the extent to which characteristics used to describe mathematical definitions in mathematics education research literature reflect what is important to research mathematicians and mathematics teacher educators. We report results from a comparative judgement survey of 57 research mathematicians and 62 mathematics teacher educators. Our results indicate that the two groups are mostly in agreement about the rankings, however, there are some differences. Research mathematicians rank most highly characteristics related to non-ambiguity and non-contradiction, while mathematics teacher educators rank characteristics related to comprehension and referential clarity as highly as characteristics related to non-ambiguity and non-contradiction. Neither group ranked minimality highly, even though this is the characteristic most often listed in the mathematics education research literature. Our study contributes towards a more consistent characterization of mathematical definitions in mathematics education research.
Principles of Service Provision for Young People with Complex Needs: Insights from the Australian Service System
Authors: Malvaso Catia , Klassman Kimberly , Delfabbro Paul , Moulds Lauren
Published: January 2025

The term “complex needs” has been used to describe young people who have a range of multiple and co-occurring problems that can be caused by individual level (e.g., psychosocial needs) and broader social-economic factors (e.g., homelessness, child maltreatment, justice system involvement). Coordinating the multiple services required to support these young people and successfully engaging them in services can be challenging. The purpose of this study was to gain deeper insight into the barriers to, and strategies for, service engagement among young people who require support from multiple services. Interviews and focus groups (N = 12) were conducted with relevant government and non-government stakeholders in an Australian jurisdiction to obtain qualitative insights into barriers and strategies for effective service engagement. Thematic analysis identified 20 principal themes that were differentiated into two overarching categories relating to service engagement: 1) Barriers, and 2) Strategies, and across three levels: 1) Systems; 2) Services; and 3) Individuals. Many of the strategies to facilitate engagement were applicable across all three levels. For example, ‘flexibility’ was identified as a facilitator of service engagement from the individual practitioner level to broader service and system structures. This study highlights barriers that need to be overcome, and strategies that can be employed, to facilitate engagement between services and young people who have complex needs. There is a need to create a service environment that is adaptive to the needs of young people rather than one which requires these young people to adapt to any particular service.
Constrained least squares simplicial-simplicial regression
Authors: Tsagris Michail
Published: January 2025

Simplicial-simplicial regression refers to the regression setting where both the responses and predictor variables lie within the simplex space, i.e. they are compositional. For this setting, constrained least squares, where the regression coefficients themselves lie within the simplex, is proposed. The model is transformation-free but the adoption of a power transformation is straightforward, it can treat more than one compositional datasets as predictors and offers the possibility of weights among the simplicial predictors. Among the model’s advantages are its ability to treat zeros in a natural way and a highly computationally efficient algorithm to estimate its coefficients. Resampling based hypothesis testing procedures are employed regarding inference, such as linear independence, and equality of the regression coefficients to some pre-specified values. The strategy behind the formulation of the new model implemented is related to an existing methodology, that is of the same spirit, showcasing how other similar models can be employed as well. Finally, the performance of the proposed technique and its comparison to the existing methodology takes place using simulation studies and real data examples.
Release of PAHs from reclaimed asphalt mixtures into the water environment after passivation by cold in-place recycling technology
Authors: Jandová Vilma , Bucková Martina , Huzlík Jiří , Valentin Jan , Effenberger Karel , Svoboda Josef
Published: January 2025

The paper deals with an analysis of the amount of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—16 defined by US EPA.)) released from reclaimed asphalt mixtures used in base layers of road surfaces and in binder layers in road construction using cold in-place recycling. For the ten samples tested, the sum of 16 PAHs was determined directly for the crushed asphalt mixture and for its 24-h leachate. The crushed asphalt samples were used to make cylindrical asphalt specimens of the cold recycling mixture. The asphalt specimens were prepared to simulate as realistically as possible the use of the mixtures in road reconstructions implementing the cold in-place recycling technology, which should ensure the passivation of PAHs. The asphalt specimens were subjected to a dynamic leaching test under laboratory conditions with regular replacement of the leaching liquid. The results showed that the concentration of PAHs released into the water environment from the test specimens (passivated material) was approximately 40–50% lower than the amount of PAHs released from the asphalt mixtures in the 24-h leaching test. When compared to the input PAH concentrations in the asphalt mixtures (36–1323 mg.kg−1), on average, only 0.15% of PAHs is released from the passivated material. Dynamic leaching test has shown that the wrapping of the original asphalt mixture with a new binder and its subsequent compaction leads to the preservation of PAHs in the original material at such a level that their total concentrations are reduced by two orders of magnitude.
High prevalence of atrial conduction abnormalities in Lewy body disease – a marker of cardiac complications?
Authors: Javanshiri Keivan , Siotis Alexander , Heyman Isak , Haglund Mattias
Published: January 2025

Increasing evidence suggests that Lewy body disease (LBD) is associated with clinically important cardiac complications, including sick sinus syndrome, atrial fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. The high prevalence of sick sinus syndrome and atrial fibrillation in LBD suggests the presence of disease-related atrial conduction disorders. To explore whether LBD is associated with atrial conduction disorders, electrocardiographic (ECG) P wave parameters were analyzed in a cohort of LBD patients (n = 74), using age-matched Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients (n = 25) as controls. P wave terminal force in V1 and P wave duration were found to be significantly greater in the LBD group than in the AD group. In addition, 43 (58%) individuals in the LBD exhibited pathological P wave terminal force (> 4000 µV*ms) vs 3 (12%) in the AD group, and 60 (81%) in the LBD group exhibited pathological P wave duration (≥ 120 ms), vs 13 (52%) in the AD group. The difference could not be explained by atrial fibrillation or atrial enlargement on echocardiogram. The clinical significance of pathological P wave parameters in LBD is unknown, but their presence suggests an atrial cardiomyopathy that could be due to cardiac alpha-synuclein deposition, autonomic dysfunction, or a combination thereof. Future research is warranted to elucidate whether this proposed disease-related atrial cardiomyopathy is related to cardiac alpha-synuclein deposition, whether it is causally related to cardiac complications in LBD, and whether pathological P wave parameters hold potential as a screening tool for cardiac complications in LBD.
Inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Latilactobacillus sakei and Debaryomyces hansenii on dry-cured raw ham short-term treated with low-pressure mercury vapor lamp and UV-C LED module
Authors: Pech Josephine , Kunz Hans-Christian , Martin Annett , Seidler Tassilo , Reich Felix
Published: January 2025

Irradiation with UV-C is a non-thermal decontamination treatment for food surfaces. It can be of particular interest for foods which are not usually heat treated, such as fermented, dried or cured meat products. An example of a food is dry-cured and smoked raw ham, which was short-term treated with UV-C for 5 to 60 s. Objective of this study was to determine the surface decontamination effect of short-term UV-C treatment, as higher treatment times and doses were usually applied in other studies. Quality parameters such as lipid oxidation and color were also evaluated. Raw ham samples were inoculated (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Latilactobacillus sakei, Debaryomyces hansenii) and treated with a conventional low-pressure mercury vapor (Hg-LP) lamp (mean intensity = 4.5 mW/cm2) and an UV-C LED module (mean intensity = 4.2 mW/cm2). Overall, the UV-C treatment resulted in a reduction of all inoculated microorganisms on raw ham, without affecting quality parameters. The antimicrobial effect was different for different microorganisms and UV-C applications. Highest reduction effect after 60 s was observed for E. coli with Hg-LP lamp (1.4 log10 cfu/cm2). The microbial inactivation effect with the Hg-LP lamp was larger even with a lower treatment dose than treatment with the LED module. Higher treatment doses did not result in significantly larger reductions of colony counts. The effect on surface decontamination was rather low as a single treatment. However, but it could be an additional measure as part of a multiple hurdle concept to reduce microbial load and improve food safety.
Electrospinning Encapsulation of Chlorophylls Microwave-Extracted from Spinach Waste and Utilization as Coloring Agent in Yogurt
Authors: Isik Beyza Sukran , Bayram Sinan , Altay Filiz
Published: January 2025

Natural colorants have become a developing market because of consumer preferences, and more cost-effective and stable production is necessary. In the present study, a natural green colorant was obtained via microwave-assisted extraction from spinach waste to produce affordable, environmentally-friendly, and innovative colorants. The extracts were encapsulated with zein via uniaxial and coaxial electrospinning techniques to overcome the stability issues associated with their natural green color. The encapsulation efficiencies of uniaxially encapsulated chlorophyll extracted from spinach waste by microwave were 63.50 and 57.18 for chlorophyll a and b, respectively. The efficiencies of chlorophyll a and b by coaxial electrospinning were found 49.53% and 88.58%, respectively. The microwave-assisted extraction and the addition of eumelanin may contribute positively to the antioxidant activity and thermal stability of electrospun samples. The stability test against light revealed that 61% of chlorophyll a could be preserved by uniaxial electrospinning. In addition, when chlorophyll-loaded nanofibers were incorporated into yogurt, a more stable green color was achieved during storage.
Intimate partner violence and eating disorders: a systematic review
Authors: Bretaña Ione , Mendia Jara , Díaz-Gorriti Virginia , Rotaetxe Oier
Published: January 2025

Eating disorders are one of the consequences suffered by individuals who are immersed in intimate partner violence. Knowing that intimate partner violence is a social problem that affects men and women all over the world, it is important to examine and detect which factors affect their physical and emotional health. The aim of the present work was to systematically review the association between IPV and ED. In February 2024, a systematic search of Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO databases was performed. A total of 689 papers were obtained, of which 155 were excluded as duplicates, resulting in 535 articles. After reviewing the title, abstract and keywords, 485 articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria were eliminated. Subsequently, the remaining 50 papers were read and discrepancies were resolved, achieving 87.3% agreement among judges. Finally, 40 papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. The results clearly show the relationship between IPV and various EDs. Being a victim of IPV, in its different forms (physical, psychological and sexual), has been related to disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. In general, some studies found differences between men and women in the association of the presence of sexual violence and ED symptoms. In conclusion, EDs may be a form of control that individuals exert over their bodies in response to the control exercised by their abusive partners. Addressing the interpersonal sphere by focusing on the management of violent dynamics within the couple is the key to change in individual coping.
The benefits of radical acceptance of reality as a standalone strategy for emotion regulation
Authors: Segal Or , Bronshtein Karin , Weinbach Noam
Published: January 2025

Acceptance-based skills are widely used in psychological treatments, yet evidence regarding the effectiveness of acceptance as a standalone strategy for downregulating negative emotions is mixed. This study compared two emotion regulation skills from Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT): an acceptance-based skill that encourages radical acceptance of reality (i.e., Radical Acceptance) and a cognitive-change-based skill that encourages reappraisal of negative events (i.e., Check the Facts). In a single session, 92 healthy young adults were randomly assigned to use radical acceptance (N = 46) or check the facts (N = 46) to cope with a personally distressing event. Before and after the session, participants completed an independent emotion regulation task involving exposure to aversive stimuli to assess their ability to engage in acceptance and cognitive reappraisal. The results showed that negative affect induced by the personal distressing event fully returned to baseline among those who used radical acceptance, but not among those who used check the facts. On the emotion regulation task, radical acceptance enhanced the ability to use both acceptance (particularly nonjudgmental awareness) and cognitive reappraisal to downregulate negative emotion more effectively than check the facts. These findings suggest that radical acceptance not only functions as a robust standalone method for emotion regulation but also as a catalyst for other emotion regulation strategies such as those based on cognitive change.
Solution of a fractional mathematical model of brain metabolite variations in the circadian rhythm containing the Caputo–Fabrizio derivative
Authors: Ziada E. A. A. , Botros Monica
Published: January 2025

This research aims to study an important fractional-order model that contains the Caputo–Fabrizio derivative (CFD) in view of its applications to brain metabolite variations in the circadian rhythm. The general form of this model is given, and the existence and uniqueness of its solution are proven. We solve this problem via two analytical methods: the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) and the Picard method (PM). The convergence of the series solution is proven, and the maximum value of the error is estimated. The solution stability is discussed. Given that, fractional-order models represent real-world phenomena better than integer-order models do, we aim to determine the effect of changing orders in this model. Therefore, four different cases of this fractional brain model (FBM) are solved.
Koalitionen mit der AfD? Determinanten der Präferenzbildung in Ost- und Westdeutschland vor der Bundestagswahl 2021
Authors: Walke Lian , Wurthmann L. Constantin
Published: January 2025

Nachdem der Einfluss von Koalitionspräferenzen auf individuelles Wahlverhalten schon seit geraumer Zeit ein substanzieller Bestandteil politikwissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen ist, befindet sich die Forschung zur Entstehung von Koalitionspräferenzen noch in den Kinderschuhen. Dabei wurden in den letzten Jahren allerdings erhebliche Fortschritte gemacht. Vor dem Hintergrund allgemein bekannter Unterschiede im politischen Verhalten und den Einstellungen zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschland ist es daher umso verwunderlicher, dass diese Perspektive in den Forschungsarbeiten zur Entstehung von Koalitionspräferenzen bisweilen vernachlässigt wurde. Insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund inhaltlicher und kooperativer Annäherungen durch etablierte Parteien an die in weiten Teilen rechtsextreme AfD – vor allem in Ostdeutschland – sowie steigender Umfragewerte, gemäß derer auch eine Zusammenarbeit mit der AfD zunehmend an Popularität gewinnt, widmet sich der vorliegende Beitrag der Frage, welche Faktoren in Ost- sowie Westdeutschland dazu beitragen, eine schwarz-blaue Koalition aus CDU/CSU und AfD sowie eine Bahamas-Koalition aus CDU/CSU, AfD und FDP als wünschenswert zu empfinden. Unter Verwendung der GLES-Vorwahlbefragung zur Bundestagswahl 2021 führen wir Belege an, dass sich die Determinanten, die zu einer Unterstützung solcher Bündnisse führen, zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschland substanziell unterscheiden. Zwar haben sie gemeinsam, dass vor allem eine subjektiv empfundene Nähe zu AfD-Positionen und Zuwanderungsskepsis die Befürwortung erhöhen. Sie trennt allerdings die Tatsache, dass es in Ostdeutschland anti-sozialistische Motive sind, welche entsprechende Präferenzen verstärken, während in Westdeutschland wirtschaftsliberale Positionen diesen Stellenwert einnehmen. Unsere Ergebnisse haben wichtige Implikationen, da sie die Berücksichtigung politisch-kultureller Unterschiede zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschland nachhaltig unterstreichen – auch hinsichtlich der Frage künftiger Regierungsbündnisse.
Accessible and inclusive online learning in higher education: a review of the literature
Authors: Lomellini Amy , Lowenthal Patrick R. , Snelson Chareen , Trespalacios Jesús H.
Published: January 2025

Disabled students are increasingly choosing to attend higher education. Online learning has the potential to meet the needs of disabled students in unique ways. However, questions remain about how well online learning is meeting the needs of disabled students and in what ways institutions are prepared for and actively providing students with accessible and inclusive online learning opportunities. This paper presents the results of a literature review of 91 sources focused on accessible and inclusive online learning. Themes that emerged from the literature are discussed, as are future implications for research and practice.
A Metagenomic Survey of Virological Hazards in Market-Ready Oysters
Authors: Dirks René A. M. , Sosef Nils P. , Zwartkruis-Nahuis Johanna T. M. , Thijssen Marijke M. A. , Jansen Claudia C. C. , Boxman Ingeborg L. A.
Published: January 2025

Viral contamination of bivalve molluscs, such as oysters, is a well-recognized food safety risk. The aim of this study was to assess virological hazards in market-ready oysters on the Dutch market. Non-targeted metagenome analysis was first performed on norovirus spiked-in samples showing linear and sensitive detection of norovirus GI.2 and GII.4 down to 14 and 5 genome copies per reaction, respectively. Subsequently, metagenomic measurements were performed to detect vertebrate viral genomes present in 24 undepurated B-area samples and 144 market-ready oyster samples taken in November up to and including February of the years 2015–2021. Genome sequences from fifteen viral species were identified in market-ready oysters which are associated with infections in humans and were detected above the genomic coverage threshold (5%) applied. Among these, the two genera from the Caliciviridae family, norovirus and sapovirus were detected at high prevalence (44 and 30%). Additionally, adeno-associated dependoparvovirus A and B as well as Aichi virus A and B (ribo)nucleic acids were detected (42, 33, 6, and 11%). Nucleic acids from virus species in oysters included potentially hazardous Picobirnavirus, Anellovirus, and multiple Circoviridae and Genomoviridae species. By integrating metagenome analysis into the monitoring process, researchers, food producers and regulatory bodies can gain valuable insights into the viral communities present in the food chain. This allows for the detection of potential pathogenic hazards at an early stage, providing an opportunity for tailored monitoring programs and targeted interventions to maintain the sanitary quality of the production area and safeguard public health.
HOBEM Computations for Wave-Induced Motion Responses and Connector Loads of a Modular Floating Island
Authors: Park Hyo-Jin , Nam Bo Woo
Published: January 2025

Modular floating islands are a promising option for ocean space utilization, offering affordability and sustainability. In this study, the motion response and connector load of a modular floating island in waves were numerically investigated based on potential flow theory. Numerical analysis was performed by adopting a Higher-order Boundary Element Method with the wave Green function. First, the motion response and connector loads of floating islands with different number of outer-module layers were studied. It was found that the single-layer island shows a significant advantage in terms of motion response and has a wider peak frequency range of the vertical load compared to the double-layers island. In addition, it was numerically confirmed that substantial horizontal connector loads can be induced by the horizontal motion responses associated with several dominant Eigen-modes of the floating island. Then, the effect of connector stiffness on the connector loads of the floating islands was also investigated. It was confirmed that the horizontal and vertical connector loads within the floating island can be reduced by adjusting the connector stiffness.
Functionalization of surgical mask polypropylene layers with application of natural substances
Authors: Simonič Marjana , Plohl Olivija , Vračevič Maša , Zemljič Lidija Fras
Published: January 2025

The anti-viral efficacy of face mask was enhanced by applying the protein lactoferrin, the polyphenol catechin individually, and in combination. Individual solutions of protein and polyphenol were meticulously prepared and subsequently sprayed onto the inner surface of face mask layers composed of polypropylene. The functionalized mask layers were subjected to comprehensive characterization through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta-potential measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Goniometry was employed to assess the wettability of the modified surface layer, and air permeability was quantified both before and after the application of potential anti-viral agents. Bioactivity, such as anti-oxidant activity using ABTS assay and anti-viral efficiency against the model virus phi6, was followed as well. Our findings indicate the successful modification of mask with lactoferrin, while functionalization by catechin proved to be unsuccessful. The measured contact angles underscored the hydrophobic nature of the functionalized samples, ensuring reduced wettability in the presence of saliva droplets. Notably, the individual coating layers exhibited enhanced anti-oxidant activity and demonstrated anti-viral properties against the model virus phi6, when the outer layer of the mask was spray-coated. These results suggest promising technology to integrating these functionalized layers into masks for enhanced safety performance.

Graphical Abstract
A Consistent Lack of Consistency: Definitions, Evidentiary Expectations and Potential Use of Meaningful Change Data in Clinical Outcome Assessments Across Stakeholders. Results from a DIA Working Group Literature Review and Survey
Authors: Reaney M. , Shih V. , Wilson A. , Byrom B. , Medic N. , Oberdhan D. , Mamolo C. , Majumder M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Clinical outcome assessments (COAs) measure how patients feel or function and can be used to understand which patients experience benefits of treatment and which do not. Interpretation of COA data is influenced by how meaningful change is defined. We aimed to compare how different stakeholders define, assess, and use meaningful change for decisions that impact patients.

Methods

A targeted literature review was undertaken in July 2021 using Medline, Embase, online grey literature search engines, and stakeholder organization websites. Additionally, a stakeholder survey on meaningful change was fielded between March and June 2023. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze responses and identify key themes.

Results

The literature review resulted in 86 references. These revealed different approaches to define, measure and validate meaningful change. There were 248 survey responses. Many respondents felt the terminology and methods for defining meaningful change are confusing. Respondents also emphasized the importance of distinguishing within-patient and between-group change, and defining meaningfulness from the patient perspective (most patients and caregivers do not share a similar definition of meaningfulness as their healthcare professionals).

Conclusion

Four key recommendations for defining, establishing, and interpreting meaningful change estimates for COAs are: (1) Be clear on the type of “meaningful change” that is discussed or needed for a COA, (2) Ensure the “patient voice” is informing meaningful change estimates/definitions, (3) Acknowledge that a meaningful change estimate for a COA may differ between populations, diseases, and disease states, and (4) Disseminate data in a way that reduces ambiguity.
Analysis of state responsibility for Japan’s nuclear-contaminated water discharge into the sea
Authors: Zhao Qian , Wang Chuanliang
Published: January 2025

The oceans and seas are the common heritage of humanity and should, therefore, be protected. Japan, as a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, discharged noncompliant nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean without fulfilling its obligations of notification and consultation, which is a violation of several international commitments and international principles. Japan’s act of discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea meets the constitutive criteria of state responsibility of the Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, which has no exemptions, so Japan should bear state responsibility. Given the obstacles to the identification of damage, the lag in the mechanism of ex post facto liability and the difficulties in the implementation of state liability in practice, corresponding solutions are proposed: At the international level, clear criteria for determining damage should be established, and a system for disposing of nuclear wastewater should be set up based on the principle of risk prevention; at the domestic level, consideration should be given to the adoption of interim measures and the initiation of domestic litigation based on investigation, evidence collection, and information exchange.
Foodways in the Twentieth-Century City
Authors: Lopes Maria-Aparecida , Zuleta María Cecilia
Published: January 2025

Foodways in the Twentieth-Century City explores a fundamental question through the lens of the modern metropolis: How did the experience of food and eating evolve throughout the twentieth century? In answering this query, this Element examines significant changes in the production, distribution, and consumption of food in cities worldwide. It takes a comprehensive view of foodways, encompassing the material, institutional, and sociocultural conditions that shaped food's journey from farm to table. The work delves into everyday practices like buying, selling, cooking, and eating, both at home and in public spaces. Central themes include local and global food governance and food access inequality as urban communities, markets, and governments navigated the complex landscape of abundance and scarcity. This Element highlights the unique dynamics of food supply and consumption over time.
International Economics
Authors: Chinn Menzie D. , Irwin Douglas A.
Published: January 2025

The globalized world economy is more important than ever before. This book provides a clear and up-to-date look at the economic foundations of international economics. Through accessible language and attractive presentation with abundant full-colour diagrams and graphs incorporating contemporary trade data, the authors explain the principal concepts in an engaging manner open to students from any discipline. Throughout, economic models are discussed in the context of recent and current international trade issues to ensure students gain a concrete understanding and see how the field impacts the real world. Written for upper undergraduate courses, the book includes feature boxes that marry theory and economics in practice to show models applied, a featured real-world application for every chapter, and over 240 end of chapter questions help students fully engage with and consolidate their learning. Online resources for instructors include a solutions manual, lecture slides and the book figures as jpgs.
What research participants say about their research experiences in Empowering the Participant Voice: Outcomes and actionable data
Authors: Kost Rhonda G. , Andrews Joseph , Chatterjee Ranee , Cheng Alex C. , Connally Lisa , Dozier Ann , Dykes Carrie , Ford Daniel , Green Nancy S. , Jiang Caroline , Khoury-Shakour Sana , Lindo Sierra , Marder Karen , Martinez Liz , Qureshi Adam , Roberts Jamie , Schlesinger Natalie
Published: January 2025

Background:

Research participants” feedback about their participation experiences offers critical insights for improving programs. A shared Empowering the Participant Voice (EPV) infrastructure enabled a multiorganization collaborative to collect, analyze, and act on participants’ feedback using validated participant-centered measures.

Methods:

A consortium of academic research organizations with Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) programs administered the Research Participant Perception Survey (RPPS) to active or recent research participants. Local response data also aggregated into a Consortium database, facilitating analysis of feedback overall and for subgroups.

Results:

From February 2022 to June 2024, participating organizations sent surveys to 28,096 participants and received 5045 responses (18%). Respondents were 60% female, 80% White, 13% Black, 2% Asian, and 6% Latino/x. Most respondents (85–95%) felt respected and listened to by study staff; 68% gave their overall experience the top rating. Only 60% felt fully prepared by the consent process. Consent, feeling valued, language assistance, age, study demands, and other factors were significantly associated with overall experience ratings. 63% of participants said that receiving a summary of the study results would be very important to joining a future study. Intersite scores differed significantly for some measures; initiatives piloted in response to local findings raised experience scores.

Conclusion:

RPPS results from 5045 participants from seven CTSAs provide a valuable evidence base for evaluating participants’ research experiences and using participant feedback to improve research programs. Analyses revealed opportunities for improving research practices. Sites piloting local change initiatives based on RPPS findings demonstrated measurable positive impact.
Thermally driven cross-shore flows in stratified basins: a review on the thermal siphon dynamics
Authors: Bouffard Damien , Doda Tomy , Ramón Cintia L. , Ulloa Hugo N.
Published: January 2025

The sloping boundaries of stratified aquatic systems, such as lakes, are crucial environmental dynamic zones. While the role of sloping boundaries as energy dissipation hotspots is well established, their contribution to triggering large-scale motions has received less attention. This review delves into the development of thermally driven cross-shore flows on sloping boundaries under weak wind conditions. We specifically examine ‘thermal siphons’ (TS), a dynamical process that occurs when local free convection transforms into a horizontal circulation over sloping boundaries. Thermal siphons result from bathymetrically induced temperature (i.e. density) gradients when a lake experiences a uniform surface buoyancy flux, also known as differential cooling or heating. In the most common case of differential cooling of waters above the temperature of maximum density, TS lead to an overturning circulation characterised by a downslope density current and a surface return flow within a convective environment. Field observations, laboratory experiments and high-fidelity simulations of TS provide insights into their temporal occurrence, formation mechanisms, water transport dynamics and cross-shore pathways, addressing pivotal questions from an aquatic system perspective. Fluid mechanics is a fundamental tool in addressing such environmental questions and thereby serves as the central theme in this review.
Do Citizens in Backsliding Democracies Support International Courts’ Judicial Power? Evidence from Hungary
Authors: Cheruvu Sivaram , Krehbiel Jay N.
Published: January 2025

International courts are increasingly serving as bulwarks of democracy. These courts, however, often depend on the cooperation of the very governments they seek to hold accountable, exposing them to potential retaliation for attempting to constrain their behavior. As governments’ response to adverse decision-making is often conditional on public support, we explore whether citizens actually support international courts’ judicial power over questions of democracy. We argue that citizens’ support for this form of judicial power depends on their democratic values and their desire for institutional checks and balances against the executive. Furthermore, we contest that this support is conditional on partisanship, with this relationship holding for opposition partisans while government partisans are generally opposed to international courts’ judicial power. We support our expectations using original survey data collected from Hungary before their 2022 national legislative elections, and examining citizens’ support for judicial power for the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Elite Fractures, Public Capture: The Strategic Use of Public Consultation in Global Constitution-Making
Authors: Martin Matthew
Published: January 2025

Since 1974, two out of every five constitutions (40.3%) were prepared via processes that included public consultation. The reasons for adopting these participatory mechanisms, however, are largely unexplored. I argue that public consultation is a tool for elite contestation of power. Introducing an original dataset of public consultations in constitution-making processes from 1974–2021 (n = 300), I find that in democracies, factional majorities and newcomer elites use public consultation to legitimate a break from the status quo. In autocracies, governing coalitions that depend on performance and enjoy greater party institutionalization push for public consultation to preserve favorable power-sharing arrangements.
The influence of three-gendered grammatical systems on simultaneous bilingual cognition: The case of Ukrainian-Russian bilinguals
Authors: Osypenko Oleksandra , Brandt Silke , Athanasopoulos Panos
Published: January 2025

This paper examines the linguistic relativity principle (Whorf, 1956) by investigating the impact of grammatical gender on cognition in simultaneous bilinguals of three-gendered Ukrainian and Russian. It examines whether speakers of three-gendered languages show grammatical gender effects on categorisation, empirically addressing claims that such effects are insignificant due to the presence of the neuter gender (Sera et al., 2002). We conducted two experiments using a similarity judgement paradigm while manipulating the presence of neuter gender stimuli (Phillips & Boroditsky, 2003). Experiment 1, including neuter gender, revealed no significant effects, compatible with earlier studies on three-gendered languages. Conversely, Experiment 2, excluding neuter gender stimuli, showed significant language effects. Bilingual participants rated pairs as more similar when grammatical genders in both languages were congruent with the biological sex of a character. Significant effects were also found for pairs with mismatching grammatical genders in Ukrainian and Russian. Participants with higher proficiency in Ukrainian rated pairs as more similar when the grammatical gender of a noun in Ukrainian was congruent with the character’s biological sex, and incongruent in Russian. Our findings thus provide the first empirical demonstration that the exclusion of neuter gender online induces grammatical gender effects in speakers of three-gendered languages.
Answering the “National Question”: Marxist Theories and the Intellectual Origins of Soviet Nationality Policies
Authors: Altman James
Published: January 2025

This article examines the writings of late 19th and early 20th-century Marxist theorists and political leaders from the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires and their influence on the chief Bolshevik theorist of Soviet nationality policies, Joseph Stalin. It argues that although many early Marxist theorists held divergent views on managing nationalism, they uniformly rejected biological or romantic spiritual conceptions of the nation and instead posited that nationalism and contemporary nations are relatively new, socially constructed phenomena arising from processes linked to economic and political modernization. These perspectives align with what contemporary academia labels as “modernist” theories of nationality and this analysis therefore challenges prevailing views on the genesis of these theories, tracing them back to early Marxist thinkers rather than late 20th-century Western European theorists such as Benedict Anderson and Ernest Gellner. This modernist understanding of nations as products of material forces and processes enabled socialists to envision steering nation formation. For the Bolsheviks and some of the later international revolutionaries they inspired, this meant that just as they believed they could accelerate the transition to a socialist future through active class management, so too they believed they could control and expedite the construction of national identities through carefully designed policies.
Purifying Istanbul: The Greek Revolution, Population Surveillance, and Non-Muslim Religious Authorities in the Early Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Empire
Authors: Ueno Masayuki
Published: January 2025

The Greek anti-Ottoman revolt in the 1820s brought increased suspicion among the empire’s ruling circles toward not only Greeks but non-Muslim subjects in general. This sparked government security measures in Istanbul, home to substantial Christian and Jewish populations. This article examines such measures intended to bring non-Muslim subjects under control, and the overall impact the Greek revolt had on the Ottoman approach to its subjects. It argues that the revolt catalyzed changes in the state’s attitude toward population surveillance and its treatment of non-Muslims. When the empire felt the need to bring non-Muslims under control, a major challenge was how to verify and vouch for the latter’s identity, since they deemed Muslim officials incapable of doing so. Thus, though they were suspicious of non-Muslims, they actively used the religious authorities of their communities to implement various security measures, including the creation of a population record and the introduction of internal passports. At the same time, religious authorities found it essential to demonstrate their and their community’s pro-Ottoman position by cooperating with the state in its efforts to find enemies within. Incorporation of non-Muslim religious authorities into imperial governance led to official recognition of the representatives of smaller non-Muslim groups, including Latin subjects, Armenian Catholics, and Jews. The result was a standardization of non-Muslim communities with officially recognized representatives before the government.
Crop diversification and reduced tillage for improved grain and nutritional yields in rain-fed maize-based cropping systems of semi-arid Malawi
Authors: Nyamayevu Donald , Nyagumbo Isaiah , Chipindu Lovemore , Li Rui-qi , Liang Wei-li
Published: January 2025

Conservation agriculture (CA), as a key component of sustainable intensification, has been widely promoted across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to address low crop productivity. However, the focus has mainly been on improving cereal grain yields, with less focus to its impact on nutritional outcomes. This study sought to assess the productivity potential of CA crop diversification systems and associated crop establishment techniques in terms of grain, protein, and energy yields. An on-station trial was implemented in Malawi for four cropping seasons (2014/15 to 2017/18). Four crop establishment techniques (ridge and furrow, jab planter, dibble sticks, and CA basins) were tested, while cropping systems included conventional cropping system (Conv), CA sole cropping (CaSole), CA intercropping (CA-intercropping), and CA rotations (CA-rotation). In 2014/15 and 2015/16 cropping seasons, characterised by medium and low rainfall, respectively, planting basins and ridge-furrow systems produced higher maize yields compared to jab planter and dibble stick systems. In 2015/16, big and small basins yielded 5061 and 3969 kg ha–1, while jab planter and dibble stick yielded 3476 and 3213 kg ha–1. When there was high and persistent rainfall (2016/17 and 2017/18), direct seeding (jab planter and dibble stick) outperformed basins and ridge-furrow systems. Therefore, the choice of planting basin sizes and whether or not to use dibble stick and jab planter needs to be guided by location or site-specific seasonal forecasts for best results. Grain yield in maize-legume rotation systems consistently outperformed other systems, with maize-groundnut rotations surpassing maize-cowpea intercrops by 987–2700 kg ha–1 over four cropping seasons. In intercropping systems, maize-pigeon pea outperformed maize-cowpea by 4–45% during the same period, while maize-cowpea rotation consistently out yielded maize-cowpea intercropping. Intercropping systems, however, provided substantial protein benefits, with maize-pigeon yielding +9.5% (2015/2016), +29.1% (2016/2017) over CA sole, and +2.2% (2017/2018) over cowpea intercropping. Sole systems (conventional and CA sole) yielded the highest caloric energy, while maize-cowpea rotation consistently reduced energy yield by 35% to 54% compared to the highest-yielding systems. Overall intercropping systems can outperform rotation systems in nutritional security but when focus is on maize grain yield alone, intercropping may reduce maize yield when compared to both cereal sole and maize-legume rotation systems.
Nuclear Shibboleths: The Logics and Future of Nuclear Nonuse
Authors: Goddard Stacie E. , Larkin Colleen
Published: January 2025

Thomas Schelling argued that “The most spectacular event of the past half century is one that did not occur. We have enjoyed sixty years without nuclear weapons exploded in anger.” To this, he added a question: “Can we make it through another half dozen decades?” Contemporary technological innovation, weapons proliferation, increased modernization efforts, and nuclear saber-rattling have made Schelling's question an urgent one. Recently, there has been an explosion in scholarship attempting to test the resilience of nonuse. These scholars have focused primarily on methodological innovations, generating an impressive body of evidence about the future of nonuse. Yet we argue that this literature is theoretically problematic: it reduces mechanisms of nuclear nonuse to a “rationalist” versus “normative” dichotomy which obscures the distinct pathways to nuclear (non)use within each theoretical framework. With rationalist theories, the current literature commits the sin of conflation, treating what should be distinct mechanisms—cost and credibility—as a single causal story. With normative theories, scholars have committed a sin of omission, treating norms as structural and overlooking mechanisms of norm contestation. We show that teasing out these different causal pathways reveals radically different expectations about the future of nonuse, especially in a world of precision nuclear weapons.