bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Converting sounds to meaning with ventral semantic language networks: integration of interdisciplinary data on brain connectivity, direct electrical stimulation and clinical disconnection syndromes
Authors: Sefcikova Viktoria , Sporrer Juliana K. , Juvekar Parikshit , Golby Alexandra , Samandouras George
Published: March 2022

Numerous traditional linguistic theories propose that semantic language pathways convert sounds to meaningful concepts, generating interpretations ranging from simple object descriptions to communicating complex, analytical thinking. Although the dual-stream model of Hickok and Poeppel is widely employed, proposing a dorsal stream, mapping speech sounds to articulatory/phonological networks, and a ventral stream, mapping speech sounds to semantic representations, other language models have been proposed. Indeed, despite seemingly congruent models of semantic language pathways, research outputs from varied specialisms contain only partially congruent data, secondary to the diversity of applied disciplines, ranging from fibre dissection, tract tracing, and functional neuroimaging to neuropsychiatry, stroke neurology, and intraoperative direct electrical stimulation. The current review presents a comprehensive, interdisciplinary synthesis of the ventral, semantic connectivity pathways consisting of the uncinate, middle longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi, with special reference to areas of controversies or consensus. This is achieved by describing, for each tract, historical concept evolution, terminations, lateralisation, and segmentation models. Clinical implications are presented in three forms: (a) functional considerations derived from normal subject investigations, (b) outputs of direct electrical stimulation during awake brain surgery, and (c) results of disconnection syndromes following disease-related lesioning. The current review unifies interpretation of related specialisms and serves as a framework/thinking model for additional research on language data acquisition and integration.
Covid-19 Schutzmaßnahmen in Alten- und Pflegeheimen: zwischen Autonomie und Fürsorge – Ergebnisse einer Interviewstudie
Authors: Flatscher-Thöni Magdalena , Holzer Elisabeth , Pallauf Martin , Kreyer Christiane
Published: March 2022

Die vorliegende Interviewstudie untersucht ethische Herausforderungen des Pflegealltags in Einrichtungen der Langzeitpflege aus Sicht der Pflegepersonen während der Covid-19-Pandemie. Durch das explorative, wie auch deskriptive methodische Vorgehen liegen Interviewdaten vor, die vier Themenbereichen zugeordnet werden können, die eine komplexe und teilweise konfliktreiche Arbeits- und Lebenswirklichkeit der Langzeitpflege in der Pandemie aufzeigen. Zum einen werden von den Pflegepersonen die staatlich und institutionell getroffenen Schutzmaßnahmen sowie die daraus resultierenden Einschränkungen der persönlichen Freiheit der Bewohner:innen kritisch reflektiert und damit verbunden der Grad der Selbstbestimmtheit der Bewohner:innen von Alten- und Pflegeheimen in der Pandemie hinterfragt. Zum anderen wird – gegeben der pandemiebedingten Maßnahmen – das pflegerische Handeln im Arbeits- und Lebensort Heim als herausfordernd und die Möglichkeiten pflegerischer Fürsorge als stark eingeschränkt beschrieben. Genannt werden hier als konkrete Herausforderungen veränderte pflegerische Prozesse und Pflegequalität, wie auch eine veränderte Beziehungsqualität zu den Bewohner:innen.

Diese vier Themenbereiche können grundsätzlich den ethischen Prinzipien der Autonomie und Fürsorge zugeordnet werden und präsentieren eine inhaltlich relevante Konkretisierung der prinzipienorientierten ethischen Herausforderungen. In der Zusammenschau und Interpretation der Ergebnisse wird ersichtlich, dass die interviewten Pflegepersonen die Beachtung und Umsetzung des Autonomie-Prinzips im pflegerischen Alltag eng mit dem Fürsorgeprinzip und dem daraus resultierenden Wohltun für die Bewohner:innen verknüpfen.

Unsere Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass der in den letzten Jahrzehnten erarbeitete Paradigmenwechsel in der Langzeitpflege durch die Covid-19-Pandemie (zeitweise massiv) geschwächt wurde. Zudem machen die berichteten moralischen Unsicherheiten und Konflikte klar, dass Pflegepersonen Unterstützung hinsichtlich der ethischen Reflexion ihres pflegerischen Handelns benötigen und eine nachhaltige Integration von Ethikberatung in Langzeitpflegeeinrichtungen einen möglichen Lösungsansatz darstellen kann.
A review of cybersickness in head-mounted displays: raising attention to individual susceptibility
Authors: Tian Nana , Lopes Phil , Boulic Ronan
Published: March 2022

Cybersickness still poses a significant challenge to the widespread usage of virtual reality, leading to different levels of discomfort and potentially breaking the immersive experience. Researchers have attempted to discover the possible fundamental causes of cybersickness for years. Despite the longstanding interest in the research field, inconsistent results have been drawn on the contributing factors and solutions to combating cybersickness. Moreover, little attention has been paid to individual susceptibility. A consolidated explanation remains under development, requiring more empirical studies with robust and reproducible methodologies. This review presents an integrated survey connecting the findings from previous review papers and the state of the art involving empirical studies and participants. A literature review is then presented, focusing on the practical studies of different contributing factors, the pros and cons of measurements, profiles of cybersickness, and solutions to reduce this phenomenon. Our findings suggest a lack of considerations regarding user susceptibility and gender balance in between groups studies. In addition, incongruities among empirical findings raised concerns. We conclude by suggesting points of insights for future empirical investigations.
Maximum principles and related problems for a class of nonlocal extremal operators
Authors: Birindelli Isabeau , Galise Giulio , Schiera Delia
Published: March 2022

We study the validity of the comparison and maximum principles and their relation with principal eigenvalues, for a class of degenerate nonlinear operators that are extremal among operators with one-dimensional fractional diffusion.
A teamwork effectiveness model for agile software development
Authors: Strode Diane , Dingsøyr Torgeir , Lindsjorn Yngve
Published: March 2022

Teamwork is crucial in software development, particularly in agile development teams which are cross-functional and where team members work intensively together to develop a cohesive software solution. Effective teamwork is not easy; prior studies indicate challenges with communication, learning, prioritization, and leadership. Nevertheless, there is much advice available for teams, from agile methods, practitioner literature, and general studies on teamwork to a growing body of empirical studies on teamwork in the specific context of agile software development. This article presents the agile teamwork effectiveness model (ATEM) for colocated agile development teams. The model is based on evidence from focus groups, case studies, and multi-vocal literature and is a revision of a general team effectiveness model. Our model of agile teamwork effectiveness is composed of shared leadership, team orientation, redundancy, adaptability, and peer feedback. Coordinating mechanisms are needed to facilitate these components. The coordinating mechanisms are shared mental models, communication, and mutual trust. We critically examine the model and discuss extensions for very small, multi-team, distributed, and safety-critical development contexts. The model is intended for researchers, team members, coaches, and leaders in the agile community.
Scientific Exploration and Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Zednik Carlos , Boelsen Hannes
Published: March 2022

Models developed using machine learning are increasingly prevalent in scientific research. At the same time, these models are notoriously opaque. Explainable AI aims to mitigate the impact of opacity by rendering opaque models transparent. More than being just the solution to a problem, however, Explainable AI can also play an invaluable role in scientific exploration. This paper describes how post-hoc analytic techniques from Explainable AI can be used to refine target phenomena in medical science, to identify starting points for future investigations of (potentially) causal relationships, and to generate possible explanations of target phenomena in cognitive science. In this way, this paper describes how Explainable AI—over and above machine learning itself—contributes to the efficiency and scope of data-driven scientific research.
Driven to Death: a Chinese Case Study on the Counterfeiting of Automotive Components
Authors: Shen Anqi , Turner Sue , Antonopoulos Georgios
Published: March 2022

Unlike other counterfeit products, automotive components are hidden from view and, at least by the lay person, little understood. While the potential scale, scope and impact of the problem is vast, knowledge of this illicit trade is limited. In seeking to contribute to the existing literature on the counterfeiting of auto components, this article focuses on China, a major and growing economy with an expanding vehicle market, a ready internal market for counterfeits and a frequently identified source country of counterfeit goods. Rested upon empirical data from published court judgments in China and open source materials, this article critically explores the counterfeiting of motor vehicle parts inside the country, from manufacture to sale, including identifying the parties involved in the illegitimate business, the counterfeiting process and what motivates the players to engage in it, to gain insights into the social organisation of the illicit trade. Our findings suggest that the trade in counterfeit automotive components does not appear robust from an organisational viewpoint, which tends to be carried out by individuals on the basis of necessity and opportunity rather than authority and formal rationality. The article’s findings forge a link between counterfeiting and social inequality and help argue that given the current socio-economic settings and a booming market of used vehicles, the dirty economy is likely to persist. Furthermore, as the empirical data shows, currently, the nature of the trade in dangerous counterfeit goods is not duly recognised in law enforcement and legal practices.
Outward-sensitive phonologically-conditioned suppletive allomorphy vs. first-last tone harmony in Cilungu
Authors: Rolle Nicholas , Bickmore Lee
Published: March 2022

We present a case study of grammatical tone allomorphy in Cilungu (Bantu). Tense/Aspect/Mood designations (TAMs) are realized via co-exponence of prefixes, suffixes, and floating tones. In a minority of TAMs, there is allomorphy with the floating tones. For example, in the Recent Past one allomorph involves floating tone targeting the final mora of the stem ("Equation missing") versus one targeting the stem’s second mora ("Equation missing"2). For all such allomorphic TAMs, the alternation is conditioned by the tone of subject agreement markers (SMs) at the left edge of the word. If the SM is high-toned the "Equation missing"variant occurs, but if it is toneless then "Equation missing"2occurs. We present two competing accounts of these data. Under a morphological account, we posit contextual realizational rules with multiple suppletive exponents conditioned by SM tone. In contrast, under a phonological account a ‘first-last tone harmony’ applies here, morphologically restricted to the context of SMs with a small set of TAMs. Such a harmony rule captures a generalization of these alternations: if the SM is high at the left edge then there is a grammatical high at the right edge, but if the left edge is toneless then grammatical tone does not fall on the right edge. We present several arguments in favor of the morphological analysis (suppletion) over a phonological one (harmony). Specifically, the patterns are not subject to phonological locality, other TAMs involving similar tone patterns are not subject to this harmony, and the proposed first-last tone harmony would be a highly phonologically-unnatural rule with little cross-linguistic support, and exceeding the computational properties of all well-known and established phonological operations. We conclude by discussing a major theoretical implication of the morphological account: this constitutes outward-sensitive phonologically-conditioned suppletive allomorphy, standardly argued to be unattested and/or impossible. Ultimately, we hold that under either account Cilungu presents a novel and important contribution to linguistic theory.
Crustal thickness and structural pattern evaluation of Sinai Peninsula using three-dimensional density modeling with aeromagnetic and earthquake data
Authors: Gaber Gaber M. , Saleh Salah , Toni Mostafa
Published: March 2022

The Sinai Peninsula is a subplate located between the African and Arabian plates. It is an important subplate in the world; however, this region is poorly understood because of the shortage of geophysical data. Thus, this study focuses on built a three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution forward model of the crustal thickness with a new tectonic model and structural evaluation of the Sinai Peninsula to understand this area tectonically and determine its lithospheric and crustal thicknesses. Qualitative and quantitative interpretations of Bouguer gravity, reduced-to-the-pole (RTP) aeromagnetic, and earthquake data are explained to achieve the goals of this study. Two-dimensional (2D) interactive sequential modeling of gravity data is performed along with some well-selected profiles with existing crustal layer depth points from previous works in the studied region. Seventeen 2D models are constructed and used to determine the basement, Conrad (lower crust boundary), and Moho (upper mantle boundary) depths and to build a 3D model. Accuracy of the 3D built model is evaluated by extracting observed, calculated, and residual gravity anomaly maps. The results show that the basement rocks appear on the surface in the South of Sinai and deepen (down to 4.5 km) toward the North. The Conrad surface varies approximately from 16 km (in the northeast and southwest of Sinai) to 22.8 km (in the southeast). The Moho surface depth (i.e., crustal thickness) varies approximately from 28.8 to 34.2 km, and it deepens toward the northeastern and southwestern parts of Sinai. A tentative basement structure map is constructed from the horizontal gradient (H-gradient) filter and the 3D Euler deconvolution of the Bouguer gravity and RTP aeromagnetic data. Correlation between the geological background of the study area and the obtained results suggests that the Sinai Peninsula is tectonically active, mainly in its southern portion due to the tectonic movements along the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. The crustal thickness increases southward and thins northward.
Mathematical modelling and discrete mathematics: opportunities for modern mathematics teaching
Authors: Greefrath Gilbert , Siller Hans-Stefan , Vorhölter Katrin , Kaiser Gabriele
Published: March 2022

Discrete mathematics and mathematical modelling, along with the educational discourse surrounding these, have many connections. However, ways that the educational discourse on discrete mathematics can benefit from the inclusion of examples of mathematical modelling and the accompanying discussion are currently under-researched. In this paper, we elaborate on the educational potential of examples of mathematical modelling based on the usage of methods from discrete mathematics, with a focus on secondary education. We first describe vertex-edge graphs as possible topics of discrete mathematics that are accessible at school level within modelling lessons. Secondly, in the context of a case study, we describe modelling activities with students at the end of lower-secondary education, using a classical problem of discrete mathematics originating from the Königsberg bridge problem. The students’ solution processes for this optimisation problem based on graph theory are described. Their approaches are examined referring to the phases of the modelling cycle, using the method of qualitative content analysis. We studied in particular the extent to which students use concepts related to vertex-edge graphs in specific sub-phases of the modelling process. The analysis allows the required sub-competences of modelling to be identified and the connection of these competences with discrete mathematics to be worked out. On the basis of this analysis, educational opportunities of teaching discrete mathematics and mathematical modelling are assessed. Overall, we point out the possibilities and opportunities for using examples from the field of discrete mathematics to acquire modelling competences and to foster the linkage of mathematical modelling and discrete mathematics at school level.
The role of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) in primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (PBMAH): a study of 16 patients
Authors: Rubinstein German , Osswald Andrea , Braun Leah Theresa , Vogel Frederick , Kroiss Matthias , Pilz Stefan , Deniz Sinan , Aigner Laura , Knösel Thomas , Bertherat Jérôme , Bouys Lucas , Ladurner Roland , Riester Anna , Bidlingmaier Martin , Beuschlein Felix , Reincke Martin
Published: March 2022

Objective

Primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (PBMAH) is a rare cause of ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome. Current guidelines recommend bilateral adrenalectomy for PBMAH, but several studies showed clinical effectiveness of unilateral adrenalectomy despite bilateral disease in selected patients. Our aim was to evaluate the gain of information which can be obtained through adrenal venous sampling (AVS) based cortisol lateralization ratios for guidance of unilateral adrenalectomy.

Design

We performed a retrospective analysis of 16 patients with PBMAH and clinical overt cortisol secretion in three centers

Methods

Selectivity of adrenal vein sampling during AVS was defined as a gradient of cortisol or a reference adrenal hormone ≥2.0 between adrenal and peripheral vein. Lateralization was assumed if the dominant to non-dominant ratio of cortisol to reference hormone was ≥4.0.

Results

AVS was technically successful in all patients based on absolute cortisol levels and in 13 of 16 patients (81%) based on reference hormone levels. Lateralization was documented in 8 of 16 patients. In patients with lateralization, in 5 of 8 cases this occurred toward morphologically larger adrenals, while in 3 patients lateralization was present in bilaterally identical adrenals. The combined volume of adrenals correlated positively with urinary free cortisol, suggesting that adrenal size is the dominant determinant of cortisol secretion.

Conclusions

In this study the gain of information through AVS for unilateral adrenalectomy was limited in patients with PBMAH and marked adrenal asymmetry.
Regularization of shear banding and prediction of size effects in manufacturing operations: A micromorphic plasticity explicit scheme
Authors: Russo Raffaele , Phalke Vikram , Croizet Didier , Ziane Mustapha , Forest Samuel , Mata Frank Andrés Girot , Chang Hyung-Jun , Roos Arjen
Published: March 2022

Good quality manufacturing operation simulations are essential to obtain reliable numerical predictions of the processes. In many cases, it is possible to observe that the deformation localizes in narrow areas, and since the primary deformation mode is under shear, these areas are called shear bands. In classical continuum mechanics models, the deformation localization may lead to spurious mesh dependency if the material locally experiences thermal or plastic strain softening. One option to regularize such a non-physical behavior is to resort to non-local continuum mechanics theories. This paper adopts a scalar micromorphic approach, which includes a characteristic length scale in the constitutive framework to enforce the plastic strain gradient theory to regularize the solution. Since many manufacturing process simulations are often assessed through finite element methods with an explicit solver to facilitate convergence, we present an original model formulation and procedure for the implementation of the micromorphic continuum in an explicit finite element code. The approach is illustrated in the case of the VPS explicit solver from ESI GROUP. According to the original formulation, we propose an easy way to implement a scalar micromorphic approach by taking advantage of an analogy with the thermal balance equation. The numerical implementation is verified against the analytical solution of a semi-infinite glide problem. Finally, the correctness of the method is addressed by successfully predicting size effects both in a cutting and a bending tests.
Comprehensive analysis of pyroptosis regulation patterns and their influence on tumor immune microenvironment and patient prognosis in glioma
Authors: Fan Tianyu , Wan Yi , Niu Delei , Wang Bin , Zhang Bei , Zhang Zugui , Zhang Yue , Gong Zheng , Zhang Li
Published: March 2022

Background

Glioma is the most common intracranial malignancy with a poor prognosis. Although remarkable advances have been made in the study of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, the efficacy of current treatment strategies is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, developing novel and reliable targets is desperately needed for glioma patients. Pyroptosis reshapes tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and promotes the destruction of the tumor by the immune system. Moreover, pyroptosis levels correlate with prognosis and immunotherapy response in many cancer patients. This study performed a comprehensive analysis of pyroptosis in the glioma, unveiling its potential value in glioma prognosis prediction and therapy efficacy.

Methods

Firstly, the pyroptosis regulation patterns were comprehensively evaluated on 33 pyroptosis-related genes in 1716 glioma samples. The correlations were analyzed between pyroptosis regulation patterns and TME immune cell infiltration properties. Next, pyroptosis regulation patterns were measured by the PSscore model based on principal component analysis algorithms. The correlations were analyzed between PSscore and tumor mutational burden (TMB), immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapeutic advantages. Last, the findings were validated in an independently collected external clinical cohort.

Results

We determined two distinct pyroptosis regulation patterns. The cluster-A was high immune cell infiltration with a poor prognosis (p < 0.001), whereas the cluster-B was low immune cell infiltration with a better prognosis (p < 0.001). We developed the PSscore as a measure for pyroptosis regulation patterns. The high PSscore with an inflamed TME phenotype, a high TMB (p < 0.0001), increased innate immune response, and a poor prognosis (p < 0.001). It was in stark contrast to the low PSscore (p < 0.001). Analysis of PSscore with checkpoint therapy indicated high PSscore were correlated with enhanced response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy (p = 0.0046). For validation, we utilized in vitro experiments on an external clinical cohort. The results demonstrated that GSDMD expression level in the high PSscore group was significantly upregulated compared to the low PSscore group (p < 0.001); the CD3+ T cells and the CD3+PD-1+ cells significantly increased in the high PSscore group compared to the low PSscore group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The PSscore of pyroptosis regulation pattern is a reliable biomarker, and it is valuable to predict prognosis, TME, and ICB therapeutic efficiency in glioma patients.
Prediction Models for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in India: Methodological Considerations for an Emerging Topic
Authors: Pereira Gavin
Published: March 2022

Stillbirth is over-represented in lower and lower-middle-income countries and understandably this has motivated greater research investment in the development of prediction models. Prediction is particularly challenging for pregnancy outcomes because only part of the population is represented in observational research. Notably, unrecognised pregnancies and miscarriages are typically excluded from the development of prediction models and the consequences of such selection are not well understood. Other methodological challenges in developing stillbirth prediction models are within the control of the researcher. Identifying whether the intended model is for aetiological explanation versus prediction, attainment of a sufficiently large representative sample, and internal and external validation are among such methodological considerations. These considerations are discussed in relation to a recently published study on prediction of stillbirth after 28 weeks of pregnancy for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in India. The predictive ability of this model amounts to the flip of a coin. Future screening based on such a model may be expensive, increase psychological distress among patients and introduce additional iatrogenic perinatal morbidities from over-treatment. Future research should address the methodological considerations described in this article.
Agronomic performance, nitrogen acquisition and water-use efficiency of the perennial grain crop Thinopyrum intermedium in a monoculture and intercropped with alfalfa in Scandinavia
Authors: Mårtensson Linda-Maria Dimitrova , Barreiro Ana , Li Shoujiao , Jensen Erik Steen
Published: March 2022

The perennial forage grass Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & Dewey, commonly known as intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) or by the commercial name Kernza™, is being developed as a perennial grain crop, i.e. being bred for its improved agronomic performance and food qualities. Intercropping legumes and grasses is a strategy for improving resource use and sustainability in cropping systems. Here, we show for the first time the agronomic performance of IWG as a perennial cereal grown as a monocrop and as an intercrop (alternate row, 0.5:0.5) with Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa/lucerne) in southern Sweden. The seeds of cycle 3 IWG were accessed from The Land Institute (TLI) of Salinas, Kansas, USA, and used to establish a local seed production plot (in 2014) for the establishment of the perennial systems (in 2016) utilised in this study. Both the monocrop and intercrop were sown with 25 cm row spacing with alternate rows of IWG and alfalfa in the intercrop (i.e. replacement design) with unknown sowing density. Intercropping provided sustained IWG grain production under the dry conditions of 2018, but also in the following year. This was evidently associated with a higher nitrogen accumulation in intercropped practice. Thus, intercropping seems to have stabilised the IWG grain production in the dry conditions of 2018, when the grain production in the intercrop was similar to that of the monocrop in the same year. This result was further supported by the lower discrimination against 13C (as an indicator of water use efficiency) in the intercrop components compared to the sole crop in 2018. The lower discrimination indicates high water use efficiency in the intercropped IWG in comparison to the IWG in monoculture, and we conclude that intercropping perennial cereal grain crops with legumes provides better growing conditions in terms of nitrogen acquisition, and water status, to cope with more extreme drought spells expected from climate change.
Do one-hour exposures provide a valid assessment of physiological heat strain?
Authors: Kampmann Bernhard , Bröde Peter
Published: March 2022

For time- and cost-efficient heat stress assessment procedures at workplaces or in experimental studies, short-time measurement periods (e.g. 1 h) are sometimes employed in lieu of whole shift observations assuming that the short time period will provide valid figures of equilibrium physiological responses. We studied the influence of exposure duration on physiological heat strain considering the modifying effects of clothing and heat acclimation using a database of 564 climatic chamber exposures performed by 28 young males under heat stress conditions with widely varying air temperature and humidity levels. We compared heart rates, rectal and mean skin temperatures, and sweat rates recorded after 1 h with the values averaged over the third hour of exposure representing steady-state. One-hour measurements agreed with equilibrium values for rather low strain levels only, with heart rates below 100 bpm and rectal temperatures below 37.2 °C. On average, one-hour values underestimated all heat strain parameters. This underestimation error was only moderately influenced by clothing and heat acclimation status, but increased significantly with air temperature and humidity, reaching considerable magnitude under hot-humid conditions associated with elevated heat strain. Regression analyses of the prediction error depending on the equilibrium response revealed that underestimation increased with equilibrium strain level. This correlation was strongest for heart rate and core temperature, and was shown to potentially cause a misclassification of hazardous working conditions as safe by given heat strain criteria.

Practical Relevance: The severe underestimation of heat strain due to short measurement periods, as observed under hot-humid conditions and/or when associated with high physiological strain, will immediately impact the exposed personnel, but will also inform occupational health professionals and standard writers regarding the heat stress assessment for work shifts with high activity levels or with protective clothing.
Systematic Application of Extreme-User Experiences: Impact on the Outcomes of an Undergraduate Medical Device Design Module
Authors: Raviselvam Sujithra , Subburaj Karupppasamy , Hölttä-Otto Katja , Wood Kristin L.
Published: March 2022

Extreme-user experiences refer to experiences that simulate the extremes of user abilities like reduced or no visual attention or auditory attention. Inspired by the needs experienced by the users who experience physical or cognitive challenges, extreme-user perspectives can make designers understand their designs from an inclusive design perspective and address the latent needs experienced by their users. Yet, they are seldom leveraged in mainstream designs that may or may not be used by extreme users, for example, medical devices. This study applies the extreme-user experiences along the initial stages of the design process to help design students identify the latent needs of six different medical devices. Students used Activity Diagrams for a systematic application of extreme-user experiences. Six teams with a total of 25 students took part in the study. We apply a latency metric to validate the identified needs and discuss the metric's impact in evaluating the latency of design needs. Outcomes support the potential of extreme-user experiences in capturing the latent design needs in medical device design and demonstrate the potential of extreme-user experiences in changing designers' perceptions over their design solutions. The proposed approach aims to help students and medical device design professionals to have a first-person experience on the nuances of user needs that get missed in the current design process. We believe this could lead to future works that focus on designs that reduce the mishaps associated with medical device design.
Second-Class Daughters
Authors: Hordge-Freeman Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

A legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, Brazil is home to the largest number of African descendants outside Africa and the greatest number of domestic workers in the world. Drawing on ten years of interviews and ethnographic research, the author examines the lives of marginalized informal domestic workers who are called 'adopted daughters' but who live in slave-like conditions in the homes of their adoptive families. She traces a nuanced and, at times, disturbing account of how adopted daughters, who are trapped in a system of racial, gender, and class oppression, live with the coexistence of extreme forms of exploitation and seemingly loving familial interactions and affective relationships. Highlighting the humanity of her respondents, Hordge-Freeman examines how filhas de criação (raised daughters) navigate the realities of their structural constraints and in the context of pervasive norms of morality, gratitude, and kinship. In all, the author clarifies the link between contemporary and colonial forms of exploitation, while highlighting the resistance and agency of informal domestic workers.
The Myth of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
Authors: Tobolowsky Andrew
Published: March 2022

The Myth of the Twelve Tribes of Israel is the first study to treat the history of claims to an Israelite identity as an ongoing historical phenomenon from biblical times to the present. By treating the Hebrew Bible's accounts of Israel as one of many efforts to construct an Israelite history, rather than source material for later legends, Andrew Tobolowsky brings a long-term comparative approach to biblical and nonbiblical “Israelite” histories. In the process, he sheds new light on how the structure of the twelve tribes tradition enables the creation of so many different visions of Israel, and generates new questions: How can we explain the enduring power of the myth of the twelve tribes of Israel? How does “becoming Israel” work, why has it proven so popular, and how did it change over time? Finally, what can the changing shape of Israel itself reveal about those who claimed it?
Superconductivity
Authors: Combescot Roland
Published: March 2022

Superconductivity is among the most exciting of quantum phenomena in condensed matter physics, and has important applications across science and technology, from fusion reactors to particle accelerators. This self-contained text provides a comprehensive account of the physical foundations of superconductivity and related recent developments in the field. Beginning with a detailed description of the BSC theory of superconductivity, the book then describes the subsequent successes of this landmark theory and proceeds to more advanced topics such as Josephson effects and vortices. The strong coupling theory of superconductivity is introduced in later chapters, providing a springboard to important current research on hydride superconductors, which have displayed very high critical temperatures. Recent manifestations of superfluidity in ultracold atoms physics are also described. This book will give readers a solid grounding in the theory and applications of superconductivity, and an appreciation of its broader importance in the field of modern condensed matter physics.
Partial Reliance
Authors: Schulz Moritz
Published: March 2022

According to a prominent thought, in one’s practical reasoning one should rely only on what one knows (Fantl and McGrath 2002; Hawthorne and Stanley 2008; Williamson 2000, 2005a, 2017). Yet for many choices, the relevant information is uncertain. This has led Schiffer (2007, 189) to the following objection: oftentimes, we are fully rational in reasoning from uncertain premises which we do not know. For example, we may decide to take an umbrella based on a 0.4 credence that it will rain. There are various ways proponents of a knowledge norm for practical reasoning can respond. One option is to say that the right way of dealing with uncertain information requires knowledge of probabilities (Hawthorne and Stanley 2008, 581–85). Another option is to say that credences can be knowledge because they really are beliefs with an unusual kind of content that consists of a set of probability spaces (Moss 2018, chap. 9). Mixed accounts are possible as well (Weisberg 2013). On neither of the accounts in the literature, however, can reasoning from uncertain premises be taken as reasoning based on a graded attitude, a credence, toward an ordinary proposition. To make room for this possibility, I argue that reliance comes in degrees. The knowledge norm is only plausible when taken to be concerned withfull reliance.Partial reliance, on the other hand, goes hand in hand with credence.
The power of public–private partnership in medical technology innovation: Lessons from the development of FDA-cleared medical devices for assessment of concussion
Authors: Singer Michael E. , Hack Dallas C. , Hanley Daniel F.
Published: March 2022

Given the convergence of the long and challenging development path for medical devices with the need for diagnostic capabilities for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI/concussion), the effective role of public–private partnership (PPP) can be demonstrated to yield Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearances and innovative product introductions. An overview of the mTBI problem and landscape was performed. A detailed situation analysis of an example of a PPP yielding an innovative product was further demonstrated. The example of PPP has led to multiple FDA clearances and product introductions in the TBI diagnostic product category where there was an urgent military and public need. Important lessons included defining the primary public and military health objective for new product introduction, the importance of the government–academia–industry PPP triad with a “collaboration towards solutions” Quality-by-Design (QbD) mindset to assure clinical validity with regulatory compliance, the development of device comparators and integration of measurements into a robust, evidence-based statistical and FDA pathway, and the utility of top-down, flexible, practical action while operating within governmental guidelines and patient safety.
The Interplay between the Digital Services Act and Sector Regulation: How Special Is Copyright?
Authors: Quintais João Pedro , Schwemer Sebastian Felix
Published: March 2022

On 15 December 2020, the European Commission published its proposal for the Digital Services Act, which is expected to be adopted before summer 2022. It carries out a regulatory overhaul of the twenty-one-year-old horizontal rules on intermediary liability in the e-Commerce Directive and introduces new due diligence obligations for intermediary services. Our analysis illuminates an important point that has so far received little attention: how would the Digital Services Act’s rules interact with existing sector-specific lex specialis rules? In this article, we look specifically at the intersection of the Digital Services Act with the regime for online content-sharing service providers (OCSSPs) set forth in Article 17 of Directive (EU) 2019/790 on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (CDSM Directive). At first glance, these regimes do not appear to overlap, as the rules on copyright are lex specialis to the Digital Services Act. A closer look shows a more complex and nuanced picture. Our analysis concludes that the Digital Services Act will apply to OCSSPs insofar as it contains rules that regulate matters not covered by Article 17 CDSM Directive, as well as specific rules on matters where Article 17 leaves a margin of discretion to Member States. This includes, to varying degrees, rules in the Digital Services Act relating to the liability of intermediary providers and to due diligence obligations for online platforms of different sizes. Importantly, we consider that such rules apply even where Article 17 CDSM Directive contains specific (but less precise) regulation on the matter. From a normative perspective, this might be a desirable outcome, to the extent that the Digital Services Act aims to establish “uniform rules for a safe, predictable and trusted online environment, where fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter are effectively protected”. Based on our analysis, we suggest a number of clarifications that might help us to achieve that goal.
Use of standard, contact, and droplet precautions with eye protection for the prevention of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission among home healthcare personnel in hospice and home healthcare settings—King and Snohomish counties, Washington, February–October 2020
Authors: McMichael Temet M. , Duca Lindsey M. , Lewis James , Riedo Francis X. , Wilde Nancy , McDonald Molly , Spitters Christopher , Wechkin Hope A.
Published: March 2022

Among EvergreenHealth Home Care Service professionals, no coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases were reported when they were instructed to use standard, contact, and droplet precautions with eye protection while providing home health care to patients diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These precautions might provide some level of protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among home healthcare personnel.
Boundary layer transition and linear modal instabilities of hypersonic flow over a lifting body
Authors: Chen Xi , Dong Siwei , Tu Guohua , Yuan Xianxu , Chen Jianqiang
Published: March 2022

Boundary layer transition over a lifting body of 1.6 m length at $2^\circ$ angle of attack has been simulated at Mach 6 and a unit Reynolds number $1.0 \times 10^7$ m$^{-1}$. The model geometry is the same as the Hypersonic Transition Research Vehicle designed by the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center. Four distinct transitional regions are identified, i.e. windward vortex region, shoulder vortex region, windward cross-flow region and shoulder cross-flow region. Multi-dimensional linear stability analyses by solving the two-dimensional eigenvalue problem (spatial BiGlobal approach) and the plane-marching parabolized stability equations (PSE3D approach) are further carried out to uncover the dominant instabilities in the last three regions as well as the shoulder attachment-line region. The shoulder vortex is conducive to both inner and outer modes of shear-layer instability, of which the latter most likely trigger the vortex breakdown. A novel method is presented to substantially reduce the computational cost of BiGlobal and PSE3D in resolving the cross-flow instabilities in cross-flow regions. The peak frequencies of cross-flow modes lie between 15 and 45 kHz. Whereas oblique second Mack modes are marginally unstable in the windward cross-flow region, they could be strong enough to compete with the cross-flow modes in the shoulder cross-flow region. In the shoulder attachment-line region, there exists only one unstable mode of Mack instability, differing from previous studies that show a hierarchy of modes in the context of symmetrical attachment-line flows. Results of the numerical simulation and multi-dimensional stability analyses are compared when possible, showing a fair agreement between the two approaches and highlighting the necessity of considering non-parallel effects.
Relaxation for an optimal design problem inBD(Ω)
Authors: Barroso Ana Cristina , Matias José , Zappale Elvira
Published: March 2022

We obtain a measure representation for a functional arising in the context of optimal design problems under linear growth conditions. The functional in question corresponds to the relaxation with respect to a pair$(\chi,u)$, where$\chi$is the characteristic function of a set of finite perimeter and$u$is a function of bounded deformation, of an energy with a bulk term depending on the symmetrized gradient as well as a perimeter term.
Host plant stimuli effects on survival and duration of dormancy ofRhagoletis zoqui,Rhagoletis completa(Diptera: Tephritidae) and associated parasitoids
Authors: Rull J. , Lasa R. , Aguas-Lanzagorta S. , Aluja M.
Published: March 2022

Tephritid fruit flies in the genusRhagoletisbridge between predictable periods of fruit availability by becoming dormant. To cope with acyclic unpredictable events (e.g., frost, mast seeding, etc), a proportion of the population can undergo prolonged dormancy. In the case of walnut infestingRhagoletis, host plant-derived cues such as juglone soil concentration vary seasonally in predictable patterns. Here, we examined the effects of host plant parts and derived compounds on emergence rates and dormancy duration ofRhagoletis completa(Cresson),Rhagoletis zoqui(Bush) (Diptera: Tephritidae), and associated parasitoids. Pupae of both species were exposed to walnut leaves, fruit, or fruit and leaves and compared to a control. In a second experiment,R. zoquiwere exposed to 10 mg l−1of juglone applied to pupation medium during four consecutive 4-week time periods under variable combinations of temperature and frequency of exposure. Overall, the presence of fruit resulted in greater overwintering survival ofR. completabut had no effect on the duration of dormancy of either fly species. Application of juglone over two consecutive periods produced greater mortality ofR. zoquithan the control. Three parasitoid species emerged fromR. completaand one fromR. zoqui. Duration of dormancy for parasitoids was longer than that of fly hosts. Regardless of treatment, 13.3–18.4% ofR. completapupae and 1.3–2.8%R. zoquiengaged in prolonged (>year) dormancy. Our results indicate that host plant derived cues have little or no effect on survival and duration of dormancy of walnut infestingRhagoletis,and at the tested concentration juglone is toxic toR. zoquipupae. Testing the effect of juglone at lower concentrations is necessary to rule out its role as an environmental cue for regulation of dormancy. So far, host plant fruiting phenology appears to play a greater role than host plant derived cues in selecting for fly eclosion times.
Civility, Trust, and Responding to Echo Chambers
Authors: Rodrigues Daniel
Published: March 2022

Due to the rampant epistemic distrust present in echo chamber members towards outsiders, responding to echo chambers with civil debate is unlikely to lead to any agreement or compromise. Moreover, a civil response may contribute to the echo chamber's inflated sense of epistemic status, which is precisely what needs to be dismantled or diminished if agreement/compromise is to be made possible. When responding to particularly dangerous and resistant echo chambers, a moderately uncivil response may be warranted.
Ricœur et l'anonymat des institutions
Authors: Rioux Jean-François
Published: March 2022

Dans ce court article, je propose en m'appuyant sur l’œuvre de Paul Ricœur que la réalisation de la liberté dépend en partie de l'anonymat des institutions politiques. D'abord, j'explique que les institutions constituent la nécessaire médiation de la liberté. Ensuite, je distingue deux formes d'anonymat des institutions. Alors que la première exprime la perversion de certaines institutions, la seconde appartient à leur essence. Je conclus en suggérant que toute critique de l'anonymat des institutions devrait prendre en compte cette distinction.
“Warphans” and “Quiet” Heroines: Depictions of Chinese Women and Children in the Comité mondial des femmes contre la guerre et le fascisme's Campaigns during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Authors: Calver Jasmine
Published: March 2022

The Comité mondial des femmes contre la guerre et le fascisme (CMF) was an international organization formed under the direction of the Communist International in 1934 in response to the threat of Nazi fascism. However, it did not restrict its activities to tackling issues in Germany; it expanded its remit to confront many of the crises that marked the mid- to late-1930s across the globe. This article analyses the CMF's work to aid civilians and refugees during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It discusses how the predominantly European committee perpetuated some essentialist and imperialist assumptions in its work and how they utilized violent and emotive language in the “Warphans” child sponsorship fundraising scheme. However, the committee also provided spaces for Chinese women to vocalize their experiences to women in the West, creating an effective humanitarian aid strategy.