bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulatory Effect of Competitive Exclusion on the Transmission of ESBL E. coli in Chickens
Authors: Ebrahem Amera F. , El-Demerdash Azza S. , Orady Rania M. , Nabil Nehal M.
Published: June 2023

The extensive use of antimicrobial agents in broiler farms causes the emergence of antimicrobial resistance of E. coli producing severe economic losses to the poultry industry; therefore, monitoring the transmission of ESBL E. coli is of great significance throughout broiler farms. For this reason, we investigated the efficiency of competitive exclusion (CE) products to control the excretion and transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli in broiler chickens. Three hundred samples from 100 broiler chickens were screened for the incidence of E. coli by standard microbiological techniques. The overall isolation percentage was 39% and differentiated serologically into ten different serotypes: O158, O128, O125, O124, O91, O78, O55, O44, O2, and O1. The isolates represented absolute resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime, and cephalexin. The effectiveness of CE (commercial probiotic product; Gro2MAX) on ESBL-producing E. coli (O78) isolate transmission and excretion was studied in vivo. The results showed that the CE product has interesting properties, making it an excellent candidate for targeted drug delivery by inhibiting bacterial growth and downregulating biofilm, adhesins, and toxin-associated genes loci. The histopathological findings demonstrated the capability of CE in repairing internal organ tissues. Our outcomes suggested that the administration of CE (probiotic products) in broiler farms could be a safe and alternative approach to control the transmission of ESBL-producing virulent E. coli in broiler chickens.
Efficacy and safety of metformin plus low-dose temozolomide in patients with recurrent or refractory glioblastoma: a randomized, prospective, multicenter, double-blind, controlled, phase 2 trial (KNOG-1501 study)
Authors: Yoon Wan-Soo , Chang Jong Hee , Kim Jeong Hoon , Kim Yu Jung , Jung Tae-Young , Yoo Heon , Kim Se-Hyuk , Ko Young-Cho , Nam Do-Hyun , Kim Tae Min , Kim Se Hoon , Park Sung-Hae , Lee Youn Soo , Yim Hyeon Woo , Hong Yong-Kil , Yang Seung Ho
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Glioblastoma (GBM) has a poor prognosis after standard treatment. Recently, metformin has been shown to have an antitumor effect on glioma cells. We performed the first randomized prospective phase II clinical trial to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of metformin in patients with recurrent or refractory GBM treated with low-dose temozolomide.

Methods

Included patients were randomly assigned to a control group [placebo plus low-dose temozolomide (50 mg/m2, daily)] or an experimental group [metformin (1000 mg, 1500 mg, and 2000 mg per day during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd week until disease progression, respectively) plus low-dose temozolomide]. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease control rate, overall response rate, health-related quality of life, and safety.

Results

Among the 92 patients screened, 81 were randomly assigned to the control group (43 patients) or the experimental group (38 patients). Although the control group showed a longer median PFS, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (2.66 versus 2.3 months,p = 0.679). The median OS was 17.22 months (95% CI 12.19–21.68 months) in the experimental group and 7.69 months (95% CI 5.16–22.67 months) in the control group, showing no significant difference by the log-rank test (HR: 0.78; 95% CI 0.39–1.58;p = 0.473). The overall response rate and disease control rate were 9.3% and 46.5% in the control group and 5.3% and 47.4% in the experimental group, respectively.

Conclusions

Although the metformin plus temozolomide regimen was well tolerated, it did not confer a clinical benefit in patients with recurrent or refractory GBM.

Trial registrationNCT03243851, registered August 4, 2017.
Fast and accurate computation of the Euclidean norm of a vector
Authors: Rump Siegfried M.
Published: June 2023

The numerical computation of the Euclidean norm of a vector is perfectly well conditioned with favorite a priori error estimates. Recently there is interest in computing a faithfully rounded approximation which means that there is no other floating-point number between the computed and the true real result. Hence the result is either the rounded to nearest result or its neighbor. Previous publications guarantee a faithfully rounded result for large dimension, but not the rounded to nearest result. In this note we present several new and fast algorithms producing a faithfully rounded result, as well as the first algorithm to compute the rounded to nearest result. Executable MATLAB codes are included. As a by product, a fast loop-free error-free vector transformation is given. That transforms a vector such that the sum remains unchanged but the condition number of the sum multiplies with the rounding error unit.
EM estimation for bivariate mixed poisson INAR(1) claim count regression models with correlated random effects
Authors: Chen Zezhun , Dassios Angelos , Tzougas George
Published: June 2023

This article considers bivariate mixed Poisson INAR(1) regression models with correlated random effects for modelling correlations of different signs and magnitude among time series of different types of claim counts. This is the first time that the proposed family of INAR(1) models is used in a statistical or actuarial context. For expository purposes, the bivariate mixed Poisson INAR(1) claim count regression models with correlated Lognormal and Gamma random effects paired via a Gaussian copula are presented as competitive alternatives to the classical bivariate Negative Binomial INAR(1) claim count regression model which only allows for positive dependence between the time series of claim count responses. Our main achievement is that we develop novel alternative Expectation-Maximization type algorithms for maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of the models which are demonstrated to perform satisfactory when the models are fitted to Local Government Property Insurance Fund data from the state of Wisconsin.
Cardinal inequalities involving the Hausdorff pseudocharacter
Authors: Bella Angelo , Carlson Nathan , Spadaro Santi
Published: June 2023

We establish several bounds on the cardinality of a topological space involving the Hausdorff pseudocharacter $$H\psi (X)$$

H
ψ
(
X
)

. This invariant has the property $$\psi _c(X)\le H\psi (X)\le \chi (X)$$

ψ
c

(
X
)

≤
H
ψ

(
X
)

≤
χ

(
X
)

for a Hausdorff space X. We show the cardinality of a Hausdorff space X is bounded by $$2^{pwL_c(X)H\psi (X)}$$

2

p
w

L
c

(
X
)

H
ψ

(
X
)

, where $$pwL_c(X)\le L(X)$$

p
w

L
c

(
X
)

≤
L

(
X
)

and $$pwL_c(X)\le c(X)$$

p
w

L
c

(
X
)

≤
c

(
X
)

. This generalizes results of Bella and Spadaro, as well as Hodel. We show additionally that if X is a Hausdorff linearly Lindelöf space such that $$H\psi (X)=\omega $$

H
ψ
(
X
)
=
ω

, then $$|X|\le 2^\omega $$

|
X
|

≤

2
ω

, under the assumption that either $$2^{<{\mathfrak {c}}}={\mathfrak {c}}$$

2

<
c

=
c

or $${\mathfrak {c}}<\aleph _\omega $$

c
<

ℵ
ω

. The following game-theoretic result is shown: if X is a regular space such that player two has a winning strategy in the game $$G^{\kappa }_1({\mathcal {O}}, {\mathcal {O}}_D)$$

G
1
κ

(
O
,

O
D

)

, $$H \psi (X) < \kappa $$

H
ψ
(
X
)
<
κ

and $$\chi (X) \le 2^{<\kappa }$$

χ

(
X
)

≤

2

<
κ

, then $$|X| \le 2^{<\kappa }$$

|
X
|

≤

2

<
κ

. This improves a result of Aurichi, Bella, and Spadaro. Generalizing a result for first-countable spaces, we demonstrate that if X is a Hausdorff almost discretely Lindelöf space satisfying $$H\psi (X)=\omega $$

H
ψ
(
X
)
=
ω

, then $$|X|\le 2^\omega $$

|
X
|

≤

2
ω

under the assumption $$2^{<{\mathfrak {c}}}={\mathfrak {c}}$$

2

<
c

=
c

. Finally, we show $$|X|\le 2^{wL(X)H\psi (X)}$$

|
X
|

≤

2

w
L
(
X
)
H
ψ
(
X
)

if X is a Hausdorff space with a $$\pi $$
π
-base with elements with compact closures. This is a variation of a result of Bella, Carlson, and Gotchev.
When Science Cannot Guide us: A Call to Action for Applied Behavior Analysts
Authors: Lerman Dorothea C.
Published: June 2023

Evidence presented in the ABAI Task Force Report on Contingent Electric Skin Shock (CESS) revealed serious ethical, clinical, and practical problems with the contemporary use of CESS. As a member of the task force, I ultimately concluded that our recommended position statement (“Position A”) was a misguided attempt to uphold the field’s commitment to client choice. Furthermore, information gathered by the task force supports an urgent call to find solutions to two additional troubling issues: a severe shortage of treatment services for severe problem behavior and the near-absence of research on treatment-resistant behavior. In this commentary, I discuss reasons Position A was not a tenable stance and why we must do better to help our most vulnerable clients.
Auxetic behavior of 3D-printed structure made in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide
Authors: Pellegrini Alessandro , Palmieri Maria Emanuela , Lavecchia Fulvio , Tricarico Luigi , Galantucci Luigi Maria
Published: June 2023

Parts with an auxetic structure, which exhibit negative Poisson’s ratio, can be associated with a novel class of smart materials. Such interesting property has been widely explored, over the time, for different applications, i.e., medical, automotive, robotic and aeronautic field. However, the research about the design and analysis of auxetic behavior is still on the way. In this paper, a 2D re-entrant honeycomb structure was realized using material extrusion additive manufacturing technology. Two different materials, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide were adopted. The technique of digital image correlation was implemented during the tensile test to evaluate over the time and in different areas of specimens the strain behavior of the auxetic structure for both investigated materials. The measured negative Poisson’s ratio confirmed the auxetic behavior of the designed structure. The comparison between the two investigated materials showed a different trend of negative Poisson’s ratio.
An Immersive Digital Commemoration of the Japanese Submarine I-124 Sunk in 1942 outside Darwin Harbor, Australia
Authors: McCarthy John , Steinberg David , Ishii Hiroshi
Published: June 2023

The Japanese submarine I-124 was sunk in a military engagement with Allied forces outside Darwin Harbor, Australia, with 80 submariners aboard on 20 January 1942. To mark the 80th anniversary of this historic event and complement more traditional commemorative activities, a virtual-reality experience was created for general public engagement. The experience was based on a high-resolution multi-beam sonar survey completed in October 2021 by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and used an animation-based workflow to illustrate the survey of the submarine, the events of its sinking and the historical data used to digitally reconstruct it. The animation culminates in a virtual dive across its decks as they may have appeared in the years after the sinking. Future plans for the site include diver-based surveys for photogrammetric survey and management-based monitoring. The creation of the experience required an in-depth consideration of a wide range of stakeholder needs and Australian and Japanese cultural attitudes to commemoration of World War II casualties. We describe the technical and cultural challenges encountered throughout the project.
Student Perceptions of AI-Generated Avatars in Teaching Business Ethics: We Might not be Impressed
Authors: Vallis Carmen , Wilson Stephanie , Gozman Daniel , Buchanan John
Published: June 2023

In our postdigital world, unseen algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) underpin most business and educational technologies and systems. Also, the use of educational data to better understand and support teaching and learning is growing in higher education. Other AI technologies such as synthetic media and AI-generated avatars are increasingly used to present video-based content in business and society but are less common in educational content and lectures, as their effectiveness and impact on learning are still being researched and debated. In this study, an AI-generated avatar was implemented in the redesign of business ethics material in a postgraduate course to present videos and online activities and to prompt critical reflection and discussion of the social and ethical implications of algorithms. Using a qualitative research design, we then explored students’ perceptions of teaching and learning with AI-generated avatars. The students interviewed felt AI avatars were suitable, sometimes even preferred, for lecture delivery, with some enhancements. This study contributes insights into the use of AI-generated avatars in education by examining their potential benefits and challenges and generating three key pedagogical principles to consider. Future directions for educational design and research are discussed, particularly the pressing need to engage students creatively and critically with the social and ethical implications of AI avatars.
Spectra and photorelaxation of tris-biphenyl-triazine-type UV absorbers: from monomers to nanoparticles
Authors: Naumov Sergej , Herzog Bernd , Abel Bernd
Published: June 2023

Water-insoluble organic UV filters like tris-biphenyl-triazine (TBPT) can be prepared as aqueous dispersions of nanoparticles. The particles consist of the respective UV absorber molecules and show strong UV absorbance. Since there is a certain solubility of such UV absorbers in organic solvents, it is possible to measure the absorbance spectrum also in solution, for instance in ethanol or dioxane. The UV spectrum of the aqueous dispersion shows a slight hypsochromic shift of the original band with an additional shoulder at longer wavelengths. For the understanding of the observed changes of UV–Vis spectra of this UV absorber, either dissolved in an organic solvent or dispersed as nanoparticles in water, DFT calculations were carried out with the respective monomer and aggregates of TBPT molecules in the different media. The calculated UV–Vis spectra of isolated, that means dissolved, TBPT molecules in ethanol and in dioxane agree well with experimentally observed ones. The observed changes in the shape of experimental UV–Vis spectra in aqueous dispersion cannot be explained with a solvent effect only. It was found that the studied molecules could form stable energetically favorable π-stacked aggregates, which show UV–Vis spectra in reasonable agreement with those experimentally observed in aqueous dispersion. Such aggregates of TBPT are most likely the reason for the observed additional shoulder in the UV/vis absorbance spectrum. In addition, the mechanism of the photochemical deactivation of excited TBPT molecules was studied in detail with TD DFT in dioxane and in water.

Graphical abstract
Evaluating deep generative models on cognitive tasks: a case study
Authors: Tang Zhisheng , Kejriwal Mayank
Published: June 2023

We present a detailed case study evaluating selective cognitive abilities (decision making and spatial reasoning) of two recently released generative transformer models, ChatGPT and DALL-E 2. Input prompts were constructed following neutral a priori guidelines, rather than adversarial intent. Post hoc qualitative analysis of the outputs shows that DALL-E 2 is able to generate at least one correct image for each spatial reasoning prompt, but most images generated are incorrect, even though the model seems to have a clear understanding of the objects mentioned in the prompt. Similarly, in evaluating ChatGPT on the rationality axioms developed under the classical Von Neumann-Morgenstern utility theorem, we find that, although it demonstrates some level of rational decision-making, many of its decisions violate at least one of the axioms even under reasonable constructions of preferences, bets, and decision-making prompts. ChatGPT’s outputs on such problems generally tended to be unpredictable: even as it made irrational decisions (or employed an incorrect reasoning process) for some simpler decision-making problems, it was able to draw correct conclusions for more complex bet structures. We briefly comment on the nuances and challenges involved in scaling up such a ‘cognitive’ evaluation or conducting it with a closed set of answer keys (‘ground truth’), given that these models are inherently generative and open-ended in responding to prompts.
Neutrality and Collaboration in South China
Authors: Lopes Helena F. S.
Published: June 2023

The South China enclave of Macau was the first and last European colonial settlement in East Asia and a territory at the crossroads of different empires. In this highly original study, Helena F. S. Lopes analyses the layers of collaboration that developed from neutrality in Macau during the Second World War. Exploring the intersections of local, regional and global dynamics, she unpacks the connections between a plurality of actors with competing and collaborative interests, including Chinese Nationalists, Communists and collaborators with Japan, Portuguese colonial authorities and British and Japanese representatives. Lopes argues that neutrality eased the movement of refugees of different nationalities who sought shelter in Macau during the war and that it helped to guarantee the maintenance of two remnants of European colonialism – Macau and Hong Kong. Drawing on extensive research from multilingual archival material from Asia, Europe, Australasia and America, this book brings to light the multiple global connections framing the experiences of neutrality and collaboration in the Portuguese-administered enclave of Macau.
Kosovo’s Competing Nationalisms: Theorizing an Internal Challenge to Rebel Victor Legitimacy
Authors: Toman Grief Isaac
Published: June 2023

This article highlights the significance of Lëvizja Vetëvendosje’s (LVV) left-wing Kosovar Albanian nationalist challenge to the authoritarian and patrimonial nationalist system of Kosovo’s rebel victors. LVV used the political settlement’s own legitimizing metanarrative – that of Kosovar Albanian nationalism – to bolster their own legitimacy while undermining that of post-war elites drawn from organizations active in the conflict of the 1990s. A methodology based on Discursive Institutionalism makes sense of LVV’s position as both a challenger of rebel victors but also as a representative of the same ideological culture that underpins Kosovo’s political culture. There are two key contributions here. Empirically, this study characterizes LVV as a nationalist challenge to the rebel victor parties rather than as a distinctively nationalist or a protest party. The second contribution is theoretical: peacebuilding and political settlements theories must take a more dynamic and agency-sensitive view of legitimacy creation than they have hitherto.
UPDATING THE CLASSIC NEW YORK LAMOKA LAKE AND SCACCIA SITES: REFINED CHRONOLOGIES THROUGH AMS DATING AND BAYESIAN MODELING
Authors: Hart John P , Birch Jennifer , Manning Sturt W , Lorentzen Brita
Published: June 2023

The Lamoka Lake and Scaccia sites in present-day New York have played important roles in the development of archaeology in New York, and in the case of Lamoka Lake, in eastern North America. Lamoka Lake is the type site for the “Archaic” period in eastern North American culture history and the “Late Archaic” “Lamoka phase” in New York culture history. The Scaccia site is the largest “Early Woodland” “Meadowood phase” site in New York and has the earliest evidence for pottery and agriculture crop use in the state. Lamoka Lake has been dated to 2500 BC based on a series of solid carbon and gas-proportional counting radiometric dates on bulk wood charcoal obtained in the 1950s and 1960s. Scaccia has been dated to 870 BC based on a single uncalibrated radiometric date obtained on bulk charcoal in the early 1970s. As a result, the ages of these important sites need to be refined. New AMS dates and Bayesian analyses presented here place Lamoka Lake at 2962–2902 BC (68.3% highest posterior density [hpd])) and Scaccia at 1049–838 BC (68.3% hpd).
Complications of cochlear implants: a MAUDE database study
Authors: Jinka S , Wase S , Jeyakumar A
Published: June 2023

Objective

A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted of the US Food and Drug Administration's MAUDE (Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience) database, to evaluate the complication profile of cochlear implantation according to manufacturer.

Methods

A review of the MAUDE database was conducted from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2020. Complications, including infection, extrusion, facial nerve stimulation, meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid leak, were identified using key word searches. The categorised data were analysed using a chi-square test to determine a difference in global complication incidence between three major cochlear implant manufacturers: manufacturer A (Cochlear Limited), manufacturer B (Med-El) and manufacturer C (Advanced Bionics).

Results

A total of 31 857 adverse events were analysed. Implants of manufacturer C were associated with a statistically higher rate of infection (0.97 per cent), cerebrospinal fluid leak (0.07 per cent), extrusion (0.44 per cent) and facial nerve stimulation (0.11 per cent). Implants of manufacturer B were associated with a statistically higher rate of meningitis (0.07 per cent).

Conclusion

Consideration of patient risk factors along with cochlear implant manufacturers can heighten awareness of cochlear implant complications pre-operatively, intra-operatively and post-operatively.
What a discourse unit can teach us about the relationship between the Mishnah and Tosefta: an examination of the parallelism between the compilations in the halakhic give-and-take conversation
Authors: Shemesh-Raiskin Rivka
Published: June 2023

This article presents an examination of the parallelism between the Mishnah and Tosefta in one discourse unit – the halakhic give-and-take conversation. It aims to show that a description of discourse units found in both compilations can contribute to the discussion of the relationship between the two compilations and the status of the Tosefta in regard to Mishnah. In the examined corpus of halakhic give-and-take conversations from the Mishnah and Tosefta from three orders, for only 16 conversations in the Tosefta (14%) was there found a parallel conversation in the Mishnah, and in most cases the parallels are not identical. The structural and linguistic comparison between these 16 parallel conversations showed that the conversations in the Tosefta contain more exchanges as well as more complete exchanges, and that the language in the Tosefta seems less redacted and earlier compared with the language in the parallel conversations in the Mishnah.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation and “Preventive Self-Defence”: Why Attacking Iran Would Be Illegal
Authors: Terry Patrick C.R. , Openshaw Karen s.
Published: June 2023

Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology continues to place a major strain on US–Iranian relations, with many US decision makers still sceptical of Iran’s claims that its uranium-enrichment program is aimed only at providing fuel for civilian purposes, not at developing nuclear weapons capability. In spite of the diplomatic progress made to date, the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement resolving the issue remains elusive, with powerful elements in both states resistant to any compromise, and the United States’ key regional allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia, strongly opposed to the Obama administration’s decision to negotiate with the government of Hassan Rouhani. Consequently, a US attack on Iran in order to (at least) severely delay Iran’s nuclear program remains a distinct possibility. After outlining the causes of the current situation, and noting the extent to which both Iran and the United States have disregarded their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, this article considers the lawfulness of a potential US military strike against Iran, examining in detail relevant international legal rules governing the use of force. The conclusion reached is that such a preventive use of force would be — and should remain — illegal and that adherence to their respective legal obligations still offers the best way forward for both countries.
Renewable Energy and Trade: Interpreting against Fragmentation
Authors: Irish Maureen
Published: June 2023

Several disputes relating to renewable energy are underway at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Appellate Body has released its first decision on this subject on the feed-in tariff for electricity in the province of Ontario. The disputes raise once again the issue of the relationship between international trade law and environmental protection. Evolving WTO jurisprudence should be able to resolve many of the difficulties, although the crucial problem of the treatment of production and processing methods remains obscure after the Canada – Renewable Energy decision. Questions of fundamental theory lie close to the surface of these debates. The recent expansion in the number of international regimes and tribunals highlights the importance of approaches to interpretation in public international law. As countries negotiate new treaties to address the needs of global society, potential conflicts and overlapping provisions are likely to appear. Differences of opinion about reliance on non-WTO treaties in the WTO dispute settlement system illustrate problems that can be anticipated in several fora. To achieve workable solutions for renewable energy disputes and many others, interpretation should promote the harmonious integration of obligations, in accordance with the intent of the negotiators.
Does International Criminal Law Create Humanitarian Law Obligations? The Case of Exclusively Non-State Armed Conflict under the Rome Statute
Authors: Tachou-Sipowo Alain-Guy
Published: June 2023

This article argues that since the Tadić case before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, a new category of armed conflict has migrated from international criminal law to international humanitarian law: that of armed groups fighting each other within the borders of a state without the intervention of the armed forces of the latter. However, the extent to which the rules of this category of conflict cover issues that may arise in such a conflict has not been comprehensively examined. One may infer, from the war crimes that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court criminalizes in this type of conflict, a dozen rules of international humanitarian law. After giving an historical account of the codification of this category of armed conflict, the author argues that there is a need to further develop these rules in order to provide a more comprehensive humanitarian law regime applicable to conflict exclusively between non-state armed groups. The absence of such a comprehensive regime should not, however, be taken as evidence of a legal vacuum. The author suggests that a law enforcement regime resting on international human rights law should be applied to relations between the armed groups and the territorial state, while the warring relationship between the armed groups should fall under the law of armed conflict, including those core customary rules that are now recognized as being equally applicable to international and non-international armed conflict.
Taxing Wealth in the Just City: Cicero and the Roman Census
Authors: Monson Andrew
Published: June 2023

Cicero claims that states were created for the protection of property, so a statesman should try to avoid levying property taxes. A contrary principle holds that, as long as the state is common to all, those who benefit from it most should compensate those who benefit least to maintain distributive justice. With this frame of reference, the article asks two related questions. First, to what extent does Cicero differ from Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Livy, and the Stoics, who describe compensation or common ownership as a principle of fiscal fairness? Second, how does Cicero's political theory reflect the misgivings of wealthy Romans about state power and redistribution in the absence of compensatory taxation from 167 to 43b.c.e.? I argue that his interpretation of the Servian census entrenches the ‘pre-fiscal’ distribution of property in the Roman constitution, which compromises the impartiality of the state and weakens its ability to respond to fiscal crises.
Imperial power, anti-imperial resistance, and the shaping of international hierarchies: Lessons from 1930s Persia
Authors: Pesaran Evaleila
Published: June 2023

This article explores how relations of both domination and resistance have been involved in the constitution of international hierarchies. Focusing on events arising from the Persian government’s 1932 cancellation of the D’Arcy oil concession, it argues that while Western-dominated international hierarchies have proved resilient, some aspects of these hierarchical relationships have been altered by episodes of resistance such as the one under examination in this article. The case study has been chosen because of its ability to highlight the interwar years as an important period of transition to a new world order, as well as the significance of Persia as one of the few non-Western countries that remained uncolonised at that time. The article revisits detailed historical documents from the BP Archives and the National Archives to show how the events of the 1930s oil dispute contributed to the emergence of shifts in the material, legal, and social hierarchies of the interwar period, while nevertheless reinforcing the existence of hierarchies overall. It shows how multilateral diplomacy replaced overt military intimidation, the framework of international law broadened, and peripheral countries found strength in numbers. Finally, the article considers the longer-term resilience of the hierarchical international system.
Safety analysis of RNP approach procedure using fusion of FRAM model and Bayesian belief network
Authors: Oliveira Diogo , Moraes Alison , Cardoso Junior Moacyr , Marini-Pereira Leonardo
Published: June 2023

The use of the required navigation performance (RNP) procedure has been increasing for aircraft navigation, since it allows for better optimisation of the airspace, which is increasingly congested. The present work aims to investigate the application of the functional resonance analysis method (FRAM), combined with the quantitative analysis provided by the Bayesian belief network (BBN), to demonstrate the existing variability in functions that are part of the complex navigation system based on the RNP procedure, specifically when the aircraft approaches the airport (approach phase). As a result, it is possible to analyse the variability that occurs in the studied system and the BBN complemented the study by allowing a quantitative interpretation of the functions considered most important for the execution of an RNP approach procedure.
Multi-Level Factors Associated with Relationship-Centred and Task-Focused Mealtime Practices in Long-Term Care: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Making the Most of Mealtimes Study
Authors: Wu Sarah A. , Morrison-Koechl Jill M. , McAiney Carrie , Middleton Laura , Lengyel Christina , Slaughter Susan , Carrier Natalie , Yoon Minn-Nyoung , Keller Heather H.
Published: June 2023

Mealtimes in long-term care (LTC) can reinforce relationships between staff and residents through relationship-centred care (RCC) practices; however, meals are often task-focused (TF). This cross-sectional study explores multi-level contextual factors that contribute to RCC and TF mealtime practices. Secondary data from residents in 32 Canadian LTC homes were analyzed (n = 634; mean age 86.7 ± 7.8; 31.1% male). Data included resident health record review, standardized mealtime observation tools, and valid questionnaires. A higher average number of RCC (9.6 ± 1.4) than TF (5.6 ± 2.1) practices per meal were observed. Multi-level regression revealed that a significant proportion of variation in the RCC and TF scores was explained at the resident- (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]RCC = 0.736; ICCTF = 0.482), dining room- (ICCRCC = 0.210; ICCTF = 0.162), and home- (ICCRCC = 0.054; ICCTF = 0.356) levels. For-profit status and home size modified the associations between functional dependency and practices. Addressing multi-level factors can reinforce RCC practices and reduce TF practices.
The Strange Career of Federal Indian Policy: Rural Politics, Native Nations, and the Path Away from Assimilation
Authors: Evans Laura E.
Published: June 2023

U.S. national policies toward Native Americans followed a zig-zag path of change from 1889 to 1970. How do we explain policymakers’ unsteady attraction to the rights of Native Nations? I argue that in precarious circumstances, Native Americans forged interest-based political coalitions with non-Native American western rural interests. At times, this cross-racial, interest-based coalition successfully challenged the power of non-Native American eastern ideologues. These findings advance our understanding of the interplay of race and federalism. Also, these findings illustrate the unique importance of Native Nations for American political development. This article presents quantitative and qualitative analyses of a new dataset on federal Indian policy. It also reviews existing historical scholarship.
Symptoms of sleep problems and adherence to dietary guidelines in older women: evidence from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health
Authors: Khalesi Saman , Vandelanotte Corneel , Irwin Christopher , Vincent Grace E , Gupta Charlotte , Mishra Gita D
Published: June 2023

Objective:

This study examined adherence to dietary guidelines and symptoms of sleep problems (e.g. taking a long time to fall sleep or waking up early) and their associations in a sample of older Australian women (68–73 years of age).

Design:

This was a population-based cross-sectional study. Adherence to the dietary guidelines was measured using a validated FFQ and reported as a diet quality score. Symptoms of sleep problems were measured using five questions and a total score was derived. Multivariate linear regression was used to investigate the association between these outcomes, adjusted for the potential confounding influence of demographic (i.e. age and marital status) and lifestyle (i.e. physical activity, stress, alcohol intake, sleep medication use) variables.

Setting:

Respondents from the 1946–1951 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health who completed Survey 9 were included.

Participants:

Data from n 7956 older women (mean age ± sd: 70·8 ± 1·5) were included.

Results:

70·2 % reported having at least one symptom and 20·5 % had between 3 and 5 symptoms of sleep problems (mean score ± sd: 1·4 ± 1·4, range 0–5). Adherence to dietary guidelines was poor with an average diet quality score of 56·9 ± 10·7 (range 0–100). Better adherence to dietary guidelines was associated with fewer sleep problem symptoms (β: –0·065, 95 % CI: –0·012, –0·005) and remained significant after adjusting for confounding influences.

Conclusions:

These findings support the evidence that adherence to dietary guidelines is associated with symptoms of sleep problems in older women.
A survey of statistical methods utilized for analysis of randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions
Authors: Tutino Rebecca , Schofield Elizabeth , Saracino Rebecca M. , Walsh Leah , Straus Emma , Nelson Christian J.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Given the many statistical analysis options used for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of behavioral interventions and the lack of clear guidance for analysis selection, the present study aimed to characterize the predominate statistical analyses utilized in RCTs in palliative care and behavioral research and to highlight the relative strengths and weaknesses of each of these methods as guidance for future researchers and reform.

Methods

All RCTs published between 2015 and 2021 were systematically extracted from 4 behavioral medicine journals and analyzed based on prespecified inclusion criteria. Two independent raters classified each of the manuscripts into 1 of 5 RCT analysis strategies.

Results

There was wide variation in the methods used. The 2 most prevalent analyses for RCTs were longitudinal modeling and analysis of covariance. Application of method varied significantly by sample size.

Significance of results

Each statistical analysis presents its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The information resulting from this research may prove helpful for researchers in palliative care and behavioral medicine in navigating the variety of statistical methods available. Future discussion around best practices in RCT analyses is warranted to compare the relative impact of interventions in a more standardized way.
Increased preparedness for caregiving among family caregivers in specialized home care by using the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention
Authors: Norinder Maria , Årestedt Kristofer , Axelsson Lena , Grande Gunn , Ewing Gail , Alvariza Anette
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Family caregivers often feel insufficiently prepared for a caregiving role, experiencing challenges and demands related to care at home that may negatively affect their own quality of life. Supportive interventions have been shown to influence negative effects, but more studies are needed. Therefore, this study aims to explore potential effects of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention on preparedness, caregiver burden, and quality of life among Swedish family caregivers in specialized home care.

Methods

The study had a pre–post intervention design and was conducted at 6 specialized home care services in Sweden. Family caregivers who received the intervention completed a questionnaire, including the Preparedness for caregiving scale, Caregiver Burden Scale, and Quality of Life in Life-Threatening Illness – Family carer version, at 2 time points, baseline and follow up, about 5 weeks later. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

Altogether, 33 family caregivers completed the baseline and follow-up assessment. A majority were retired (n = 26, 81%) and women (n = 19, 58%) and two-fifths had a university degree (n = 13, 41%). The family caregivers had significantly increased their preparedness for caregiving between the baseline and follow-up assessment (Mdn = 18 vs. 20,p = 0.002). No significant changes were found on caregiver burden or quality of life.

Significance of results

The results add to knowledge regarding the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention’s potential to improve family caregiver outcomes. Findings suggest that the intervention may be used to improve the preparedness for caregiving and support among family caregivers in specialized home care.
A review of heath economic evaluation practice in the Netherlands: are we moving forward?
Authors: Gabrio Andrea
Published: June 2023

Economic evaluations have been increasingly conducted in different countries to aid national decision-making bodies in resource allocation problems based on current and prospective evidence on costs and effects data for a set of competing health care interventions. In 2016, the Dutch National Health Care Institute issued new guidelines that aggregated and updated previous recommendations on key elements for conducting economic evaluation. However, the impact on standard practice after the introduction of the guidelines in terms of design, methodology and reporting choices, is still uncertain. To assess this impact, we examine and compare key analysis components of economic evaluations conducted in the Netherlands before (2010–2015) and after (2016–2020) the introduction of the recent guidelines. We specifically focus on two aspects of the analysis that are crucial in determining the plausibility of the results: statistical methodology and missing data handling. Our review shows how, over the last period, many components of economic evaluations have changed in accordance with the new recommendations towards more transparent and advanced analytic approaches. However, potential limitations are identified in terms of the use of less advanced statistical software together with rarely satisfactory information to support the choice of missing data methods, especially in sensitivity analysis.
Wideband quasi-reflectionless bandstop filters using open/shorted coupled lines
Authors: Weng Yijun , Feng Wenjie , Xu Sha , Shen Gaungxu , Shi Yongrong , Che Wenquan
Published: June 2023

Two wideband bandstop filters (BSFs) for single and dual-band are proposed and then extended to reflectionless BSFs based on the analysis from input impedance/admittance perspective. Also, topologies of higher-number-stopband input-reflectionless BSF are provided to broaden the design scope. Open/shorted coupled lines are adopted to obtain multi transmission zeros and desired stopband bandwidth by adjusting the even-/odd-mode impedance of coupled lines. Resistor-loaded coupled lines are connected with Port 1 to absorb unwanted signals and obtain input-reflectionless behavior. For validation of the proposed theory analysis, BSFs with corresponding absorptive prototypes are constructed and measured.
Low-profile wideband miniaturized tag antenna mounted on the human body
Authors: Nguyen Minh-Tan , Lin Yi-Fang , Chen Chien-Hung , Chang Chin-Cheng , Chen Hua-Ming
Published: June 2023

In this study, a novel, cost-effective miniaturized tag antenna was developed for applications on the human body. To achieve impedance matching with the complex conjugate impedance of the Monza-4 tag chip (7.17–j74.22 Ω at 915 MHz), the proposed structure was configured by coarsely tuning the positions of vias and fine-tuning the small gaps of its coupled patches. For further reducing the profile and dimensions of the antenna, a design technique based on the three-dimensional dipole antenna current distribution was used. The proposed antenna configuration was not only miniaturized but also achieved a long stable reading distance (>5.0 m) and a wide impedance bandwidth of 71 MHz or 7.65% (covering the ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification ranges in most regions), regardless of the location of the tag on the human body. Experiments were conducted to validate the simulated results, and adequate agreement was found between the simulated results and the measured results.
Angle-independent wideband metamaterial microwave absorber for C and X band application
Authors: Barde Chetan , Gupta Neelesh Kumar , Ranjan Prakash , Roy Komal , Sinha Rashmi
Published: June 2023

In this article, an angle-independent wideband metamaterial microwave absorber (MMA) for C (4–8 GHz) and X (8–12 GHz) band frequency is presented. The unit cell of the proposed MMA consists of outer and inner structure associated with lumped resistors. The outer structure consists of rectangular split-ring resonator, whereas the inner structure consists of circular split-ring resonator. The structure is made up of three layers, in which top and bottom layers are made up of copper acting as a conducting material. The middle layer is made up of FR-4 acting as a dielectric substrate. The resonating structure at the top is designed in such a way that wideband absorption is achieved in the range from 6.11 to 13.52 GHz. The wideband absorption within the range approaches almost unity having a bandwidth of 7.41 GHz. Three different peaks are considered in the range of interest having maximum absorption of 0.94, 0.94, and 0.99 at frequencies of 6.76, 11.15, and 13.07 GHz, respectively. The structure is analyzed with respect to the effective parameters, i.e., effective permittivity (${\varepsilon _{{\textrm{eff}}}}$) and effective permeability (${\mu _{{\textrm{eff}}}}$), to prove that the structure acts as a metamaterial. Electric field and current distribution are plotted at three different peaks to prove the mechanism of wideband absorption. Normal and oblique incidence are plotted to determine that the structure is behaving as an angle independent. The simulated structure is fabricated on FR-4 substrate and measured inside an anechoic chamber. Finally, to prove the novelty of the work, the proposed structure is compared with the already reported MMA. The proposed MMA finds practical applications in radar cross section reduction, terrestrial communication, keyless entry system, space communication, radar, and baby monitor.
The Bystander, the Good Samaritan and the Just in the Holocaust and international humanitarian law
Authors: Meron Theodor
Published: June 2023

Despite the thousands of pages written and words said about the Holocaust, I still am at a loss in trying to understand it. How a European people with a rich cultural tradition that produced some of the world's greatest composers, philosophers and poets could invent, enforce and docilely follow the first industrial genocide in human history remains, for me, an enigma. This essay focuses on the Jews, both numerically and ideologically the principal, but not the only, victims, the Roma being the other principal victims.
Photogrammetry and 3D modelling in university teaching. A case study applied to the history degree
Authors: Chapinal-Heras Diego , Díaz-Sánchez Carlos , España-Chamorro Sergio , Gómez-García Natalia , Pagola-Sánchez Lucía , Parada López de Corselas Manuel , Rey-Álvarez Zafiria Manuel Elías
Published: June 2023

The aim of this contribution is to provide a new methodology regarding the use of photogrammetry and 3D modelling in the classroom. By means of a practicum taught at Complutense University of Madrid and a survey conducted afterwards, we show the different steps of the activity, as well as the reception of the students, who learnt to elaborate 3D figures.
On the Variation of Column Density Ratio ΣO/N2 in the Upper Atmosphere Using Principal Component Analysis in 2‐Dimensional Images
Authors: Goel Divyam , Wu Yen‐Jung J. , Harding Brian J. , Triplett Colin C. , Immel Thomas J. , Cullens Chihoko , England Scott
Published: June 2023

The variability of the thermosphere on a daily basis is influenced by a variety of factors, including solar, geomagnetic, and meteorological drivers. The column density ratio of atomic oxygen to molecular nitrogen (ΣO/N2) is a useful parameter for quantifying this variability, and has been shown to closely correspond to F‐region electron density, total electron content, and upper atmospheric transport. Despite the significance of the ΣO/N2, the relative contributions of these drivers to thermospheric variability are not well understood. In order to shed light on this issue, principal component analysis was performed in this study to distinguish and rank the various sources of variability in the ΣO/N2. The analysis was based on the ΣO/N2 data from the Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk mission from days 81–135 of 2020. The resulting two‐dimensional eigen spatial patterns reveal the dominant variabilities during the specified period. The first six principal components are reported and associated with the major drivers through their spatial and temporal features. Geomagnetic storms, interhemispheric transport, atmospheric tides, and planetary waves were identified as the drivers of the first, second, third, and fifth components, respectively. The order of these components highlights that geomagnetic activity is the dominant source of daily variability in the ΣO/N2, followed by interhemispheric transport and meteorological drivers from the lower atmosphere.