bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feedback systems in the design and development process
Authors: Wynn David C. , Maier Anja M.
Published: March 2022

Feedback is essential in the design and development process, occurring in the generation of new designs, in the adaptation of development projects to emerging information, and in coordination and collaboration of project participants—among many other aspects. Feedback also contributes to development project complexity and may cause resistance to desirable changes. But despite the importance of feedback in the design and development process (DDP), relatively few publications have examined this topic in an integrated way. This article makes two contributions towards addressing the gap. First, a conceptual framework is developed to organise perspectives on feedback in the DDP literature. The framework shows how feedback occurs at different levels of the design and development process and how it affects important DDP behaviours, namely goal-seeking, learning and emergence. Second, a system-theoretic model of feedback situations in the design and development process is introduced to synthesise key ideas. We provide concrete examples to show how this new model can be used to frame DDP situations and draw out feedback-related insight.
Endpoint $$L^1$$ estimates for Hodge systems
Authors: Hernandez Felipe , Raiță Bogdan , Spector Daniel
Published: March 2022

Let$$d\ge 2$$d≥2. In this paper we give a simple proof of the endpoint Besov-Lorentz estimate$$\begin{aligned} \Vert I_\alpha F\Vert _{{\dot{B}}^{0,1}_{d/(d-\alpha ),1}(\mathbb {R}^d;\mathbb {R}^k)} \le C \Vert F \Vert _{L^1(\mathbb {R}^d;\mathbb {R}^k)} \end{aligned}$$‖IαF‖B˙d/(d-α),10,1(Rd;Rk)≤C‖F‖L1(Rd;Rk)for all$$F \in L^1(\mathbb {R}^d;\mathbb {R}^k)$$F∈L1(Rd;Rk)which satisfy a first order cocancelling differential constraint, where$$\alpha \in (0,d)$$α∈(0,d)and$$I_\alpha $$Iαis a Riesz potential. We show how this implies endpoint Besov–Lorentz estimates for Hodge systems with$$L^1$$L1data via fractional integration for exterior derivatives.
Time-dependent electromagnetic scattering from thin layers
Authors: Nick Jörg , Kovács Balázs , Lubich Christian
Published: March 2022

The scattering of electromagnetic waves from obstacles with wave-material interaction in thin layers on the surface is described by generalized impedance boundary conditions, which provide effective approximate models. In particular, this includes a thin coating around a perfect conductor and the skin effect of a highly conducting material. The approach taken in this work is to derive, analyse and discretize a system of time-dependent boundary integral equations that determines the tangential traces of the scattered electric and magnetic fields. In a familiar second step, the fields are evaluated in the exterior domain by a representation formula, which uses the time-dependent potential operators of Maxwell’s equations. The time-dependent boundary integral equation is discretized with Runge–Kutta based convolution quadrature in time and Raviart–Thomas boundary elements in space. Using the frequency-explicit bounds from the well-posedness analysis given here together with known approximation properties of the numerical methods, the full discretization is proved to be stable and convergent, with explicitly given rates in the case of sufficient regularity. Taking the same Runge–Kutta based convolution quadrature for discretizing the time-dependent representation formulas, the optimal order of convergence is obtained away from the scattering boundary, whereas an order reduction occurs close to the boundary. The theoretical results are illustrated by numerical experiments.
Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in the Canadian Freshwater Environment
Authors: Lalonde Benoit , Garron Christine
Published: March 2022

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are anthropogenic substances that are very stable in the receiving environment. Legacy perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) are especially persistent and resistant to typical environmental degradation processes and therefore are distributed across all trophic levels and environmental compartments (soil, air, water). Since most uses of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and LC-long-chain PFCAs are banned in Canada, alternative PFASs have been in use for a number of years. Twenty-nine sites across Canada were sampled for PFASs to determine concentrations and trends. Overall, 13 PFASs were measured in 566 Canadian freshwater samples from 2013 to 2020 with a range from below the detection limit (LOD range: 0.4–1.6 ng/L) of the laboratory to a maximum of 138 ng/L (for PFBS). While PFOS and PFOA concentrations are declining significantly over time, other compounds such as PFPeA and PFBA have increased significantly over 2013–2020. Overall, the range of concentrations found in this study was similar to that of other Canadian and international studies. However, this study also found a higher frequency of detections of the replacement PFASs than that of the other, older, Canadian studies.
Society of Skeletal Radiology– white paper. Guidelines for the diagnostic management of incidental solitary bone lesions on CT and MRI in adults: bone reporting and data system (Bone-RADS)
Authors: Chang Connie Y. , Garner Hillary W. , Ahlawat Shivani , Amini Behrang , Bucknor Matthew D. , Flug Jonathan A. , Khodarahmi Iman , Mulligan Michael E. , Peterson Jeffrey J. , Riley Geoffrey M. , Samim Mohammad , Lozano-Calderon Santiago A. , Wu Jim S.
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this article is to present algorithms for the diagnostic management of solitary bone lesions incidentally encountered on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MRI) in adults. Based on review of the current literature and expert opinion, the Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards Committee of the Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR) proposes a bone reporting and data system (Bone-RADS) for incidentally encountered solitary bone lesions on CT and MRI with four possible diagnostic management recommendations (Bone-RADS1, leave alone; Bone-RADS2, perform different imaging modality; Bone-RADS3, perform follow-up imaging; Bone-RADS4, biopsy and/or oncologic referral). Two algorithms for CT based on lesion density (lucent or sclerotic/mixed) and two for MRI allow the user to arrive at a specific Bone-RADS management recommendation. Representative cases are provided to illustrate the usability of the algorithms.
Bone tunnel placement influences shear stresses at the coracoid process after coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction: a finite element study and radiological analysis
Authors: Bockmann Benjamin , Dankl L. , Kucinskaite G. , Kumar A. , Timothy J. J. , Meschke G. , Venjakob A. J. , Schulte T. L.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Coracoid fractures after arthroscopic treatment of acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations lead to poor clinical outcomes. In this study, different configurations of bone tunnels in the lateral clavicle and coracoid were examined concerning the amount of stress induced in the coracoid.

Methods

An authentic 3D finite element model of an ac joint was established. Three 2.4 mm bone tunnels were inserted in the lateral clavicle, which were situated above, medially and laterally of the coracoid. Then, two 2.4 mm bone tunnels were inserted in the latter, each simulating a proximal and a distal suture button position. Von Mises stress analyses were performed to evaluate the amount of stress caused in the coracoid process by the different configurations. Then, a clinical series of radiographs was examined, the placement of the clavicle drill hole was analyzed and the number of dangerous configurations was recorded.

Results

The safest configuration was a proximal tunnel in the coracoid combined with a lateral bone tunnel in the clavicle, leading to an oblique traction at the coracoid. A distal bone tunnel in the coracoid and perpendicular traction as well as a proximal tunnel in the coracoid with medial traction caused the highest stresses. Anatomical placement of the clavicle drill hole does lead to configurations with smaller stresses.

Conclusion

The bone tunnel placement with the smallest amount of shear stresses was found when the traction of the suture button was directed slightly lateral, towards the AC joint. Anatomical placement of the clavicle drill hole alone was not sufficient in preventing dangerous configurations.

Level of evidence

Controlled laboratory study.
The ‘Empirical’ in the Empirical Turn: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Bosschaert Mariska Thalitha , Blok Vincent
Published: March 2022

During the second half of the twentieth century, several philosophers of technology argued that their predecessors had reflected too abstractly and pessimistically on technology. In the view of these critics, one should study technologies empirically in order to fully understand them. They developed several strategies to empirically inform the philosophy of technology and called their new approach the empirical turn. However, they provide insufficient indications of what exactly is meant by empirical study in their work. This leads to the critical question of what counts as an empirically informed philosophy of technology in the empirical turn. In order to answer this question, we first elaborate on the problems that the empirical turn philosophers tried to address; secondly, we sketch their solutions, and, thirdly, we critically discuss their conceptions of empirical study. Our critical analysis of the empirical turn contributes to new efforts to engage in an empirically informed philosophy of technology.
Alphabetized co-authorship in economics reconsidered
Authors: Wohlrabe Klaus , Bornmann Lutz
Published: March 2022

In this article, we revisit the analysis of Laband and Tollison (Appl Econ 38(14):1649–1653, 2006) who documented that articles with two authors in alphabetical order are cited much more often than non-alphabetized papers with two authors in the American Economic Review and the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Using more than 120,000 multi-authored articles from the Web of Science economics subject category, we demonstrate first that the alphabetization rate in economics has declined over the last decade. Second, we find no statistically significant relationship between alphabetized co-authorship and citations in economics using six different regression settings (the coefficients are very small). This result holds mostly true when accounting both for journal heterogeneity and intentionally or incidentally alphabetical ordering of authors. We find some evidence that alphabetization in case of two authos increases citations rates for very high-impact journals. Third, we show that the likelihood of non-alphabetized co-authorship increases the more authors an article has.
Saying yes to mess: disorganization as an antecedent to dynamic capabilities
Authors: Herath Dinuka B. , Harrington Shelley
Published: March 2022

Modern businesses constantly operate in an environment filled with unpredictability. Such unpredictability and heightened dynamism require rapid responses, mainly prompted by the realization that such irregular phenomena cannot be dealt with using conventionally structured and organized approaches alone. In line with this ongoing conversation fuelled notably by the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated digital acceleration, in this paper, we lay out the case for how “actively embracing disorganization” as a new work form can be a mechanism that facilitates the creation and enactment of important dynamic capabilities thus enhancing a firm’s ability to cope with unpredictable environments. In doing so, we attempt to make a novel contribution outlining the relationship between disorganization and dynamic capabilities through propositions and an accompanying conceptual framework. In this article, we position disorganization as a form of organizational design capable of enabling the link between dynamic capabilities and performance.
Cytotoxic and Radiosensitising Effects of a Novel Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitor in Brain Cancers
Authors: Yao Anqi , Storr Sarah J. , Inman Martyn , Barwell Lucy , Moody Christopher J. , Martin Stewart G.
Published: March 2022

The thioredoxin (Trx) system, a key antioxidant pathway, represents an attractive target for cancer therapy. This study investigated the chemotherapeutic and radiosensitising effects of a novel Trx reductase (TrxR) inhibitor, IQ10, on brain cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms of action. Five brain cancer cell lines and a normal cell type were used. TrxR activity and expression were assessed by insulin reduction assay and Western blotting, respectively. IQ10 cytotoxicity was evaluated using growth curve, resazurin reduction and clonogenic assays. Radiosensitivity was examined using clonogenic assay. Reactive oxygen species levels were examined by flow cytometry and DNA damage assessed by immunofluorescence. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene expression was examined by RT-PCR array. IQ10 significantly inhibited TrxR activity but did not affect Trx system protein expression in brain cancer cells. The drug exhibited potent anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects against brain cancer cells under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions in both 2D and 3D systems, with IC50s in the low micromolar range. It was up to ~ 1000-fold more potent than temozolomide. IQ10 substantially sensitised various brain cancer cells to radiation, with such effect being due, in part, to functional inhibition of TrxR, making cells less able to deal with oxidative stress and leading to increased oxidative DNA damage. IQ10 significantly downregulated EMT-associated gene expression suggesting potential anti-invasive and antimetastatic properties. This study suggests that IQ10 is a potent anticancer agent and could be used as either a single agent or combined with radiation, to treat brain cancers.
Road Cut Slope Stability Analysis at Kotropi Landslide Zone Along NH-154 in Himachal Pradesh, India
Authors: Singh Kanwarpreet , Sharma Abhishek
Published: March 2022

A landslide is a natural phenomenon that generally occurs in mountainous regions leading to severe damage to life and property. Most of the landslides occur due to rapid snowmelt, rainfall and human activities in terms of road cutting, and mining, etc. In the present study, slope stability analysis of Kotropi landslide along NH-154 in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, India was carried out by using circular failure charts (CFC). The various input parameters such as ground water table and shear strength of soil were considered in the analysis. The factor of safety (FOS) was evaluated for different moisture conditions such as completely dry, 25% and 50% saturation for the selected four sections at Kotropi landslide. These sections were found as marginally stable with factor of safety greater than unity when the slope is completely dry while further increase in the moisture made slope sections unstable with FOS <1 in case of slope sections 2, 3, and 4. Hence, the precautionary control measures were suggested based on the factor of safety analysis which will be helpful for various stake holders like engineers, designers, geologists etc., for stabilizing the current slope.
A parametric study using Box-Behnken design for melanoidin removal via Cu-impregnated activated carbon prepared from waste leaves biomass
Authors: Rizvi Subhi , Singh Anju , Gupta Sanjiv Kumar
Published: March 2022

Distillery industry is amidst the top source of surface water pollution owing to its very high content of recalcitrant organics, inorganics, and persistent turbidity contents. Melanoidins are the chief dark brown-colored complex contaminant existing in the distillery generated effluent with a very high organic load. The present investigation examined the melanoidin elimination from a model wastewater system utilizing Cu-impregnated activated carbon derived from waste leaves of Mangifera indica. With the initial surface characterization utilizing SEM equipped with EDX and FTIR, the Box-Behnken design of experiments was engaged for determining the influence of different factors for the melanoidin removal from the aqueous system. Adsorbent dose, initial melanoidin concentration, and contact time have imposed the maximum effect on to the melanoidin removal (73%) using the synthesized activated carbon, clearly showing its ability for the melanoidin removal from the aqueous contaminated system.
Graphene- and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Coated Tapered Plastic Optical Fiber for Detection of Lard Adulteration in Olive Oil
Authors: Puspita Ika , Irawati Ninik , Madurani Kartika Anoraga , Kurniawan Fredy , Koentjoro Sekartedjo , Hatta Agus Muhamad
Published: March 2022

A rapid and high-performance sensor for lard adulterant in edible oil was developed using the tapered plastic optical fiber (POF) coated with graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The coating material was deposited onto a tapered POF with a taper waist diameter and a taper length of 0.45 mm and 1 cm, respectively. The addition of the coating material was used to increase the sensitivity and selectivity coefficient of the tapered POF toward the lard substance. The sensing mechanism is based on a simultaneous interaction of lard substance and an evanescent wave of tapered POF with the coating layers. The results showed that graphene coating on the tapered POF increased the selectivity coefficient of the tapered POF towards lard substance from 33.54 to 324.19, and it gave a sensitivity of 0.427 dBm/%. In comparison, multi-walled carbon nanotubes coating increased the selectivity coefficient to 71.65 and increased its sensitivity to 1.189dBm/%. Thus, the proposed configuration of the tapered POF with the coating material offered a simple configuration for a rapid, high sensitivity and selectivity detection of lard adulterant in edible oils.
Sumsets and Veronese varieties
Authors: Colarte-Gómez Liena , Elias Joan , Miró-Roig Rosa M.
Published: March 2022

In this paper, to any subset $$\mathcal {A}\subset \mathbb {Z}^{n}$$

A
⊂

Z

n

we explicitly associate a unique monomial projection $$Y_{n,d_{\mathcal {A}}}$$

Y

n
,

d
A

of a Veronese variety, whose Hilbert function coincides with the cardinality of the t-fold sumsets $$t\mathcal {A}$$

t
A

. This link allows us to tackle the classical problem of determining the polynomial $$p_{\mathcal {A}} \in \mathbb {Q}[t]$$

p
A

∈
Q

[
t
]

such that $$|t\mathcal {A}| = p_{\mathcal {A}}(t)$$

|
t
A
|

=

p
A

(
t
)

for all $$t \ge t_0$$

t
≥

t
0

and the minimum integer $$n_0(\mathcal {A}) \le t_0$$

n
0

(
A
)

≤

t
0

for which this condition is satisfied, i.e. the so-called phase transition of $$|t\mathcal {A}|$$

|
t
A
|

. We use the Castelnuovo–Mumford regularity and the geometry of $$Y_{n,d_{\mathcal {A}}}$$

Y

n
,

d
A

to describe the polynomial $$p_{\mathcal {A}}(t)$$

p
A

(
t
)

and to derive new bounds for $$n_0(\mathcal {A})$$

n
0

(
A
)

under some technical assumptions on the convex hull of $$\mathcal {A}$$
A
; and vice versa we apply the theory of sumsets to obtain geometric information of the varieties $$Y_{n,d_{\mathcal {A}}}$$

Y

n
,

d
A

.
Effectiveness of allyl isothiocyanate microencapsulated in polyethylene as a repellent against Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) infestation of corrugated cardboard boxes in field experiment
Authors: Hashimoto Yoshiaki , Sakamoto Hironori , Asai Hiromi , Yasoshima Masamitsu , Lin Hui-Min , Goka Koichi
Published: March 2022

Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae; red imported fire ant) is an invasive species in several parts of the world. A major contributor to the spread of S. invicta is infested shipping containers. The vapor of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a naturally occurring organosulfur compound, is highly toxic to S. invicta; however, AITC is highly volatile. Microencapsulation of AITC in polyethylene (PE) resin slows the release of AITC, making it a potentially useful material for preventing S. invicta infestations. Here, we examined the efficacy of AITC microencapsulated in PE (mAITC) as a repellent against S. invicta infestation of cardboard boxes, a common containerized cargo. Using baited cardboard boxes, we found that the number of S. invicta individuals entering boxes containing an mAITC sheet was significantly less than that entering boxes without an mAITC sheet. When a PE cover, which is often used to protect carboard boxes during shipping, was used, vapor concentrations of AITC inside the boxes were increased and the number of S. invicta individuals entering the boxes was reduced almost to zero. These findings indicate that mAITC sheeting, especially in combination with a PE cover, is a promising material for the protection of containerized cardboard-box cargo against S. invicta infestation.
Roof weighting and support of a largely mined shallow coal seam
Authors: Sun Ming , Ye Ziqi , Zhang Xueliang , Guo Chen , Zheng Wenxiang , Qian Lei
Published: March 2022

To study roof weighting and the support of a largely mined shallow coal seam, the hydraulic support resistances in both small and large periodic weightings were derived by different theoretical formulae. Support working resistances of the 12,401 mining face in small and large periodic weighting were 10,442 and 17,064 kN, which represented a loading-increase coefficient of up to 1.64. Mining cracks were formed up to land surface and were visible to the naked eye, and numerical simulation of roof stratum structure by 3DEC has been proven to be realistic. A 1.2-MPa supporting intensity represented a critical threshold for effectively reducing horizontal displacement and inhibiting rib spalling using FLAC3D. Hydraulic fracturing and micro-seismic monitoring were used to ensure the safety of the 12,401 mining face. These findings can explain the mechanism of mining a shallow coal seam for effective prevention and controlled design. The results show high accuracy and are consistent with reality.
The ethical issues of the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Karimian Golnar , Petelos Elena , Evers Silvia M. A. A.
Published: March 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being increasingly applied in healthcare. The expansion of AI in healthcare necessitates AI-related ethical issues to be studied and addressed. This systematic scoping review was conducted to identify the ethical issues of AI application in healthcare, to highlight gaps, and to propose steps to move towards an evidence-informed approach for addressing them. A systematic search was conducted to retrieve all articles examining the ethical aspects of AI application in healthcare from Medline (PubMed) and Embase (OVID), published between 2010 and July 21, 2020. The search terms were “artificial intelligence” or “machine learning” or “deep learning” in combination with “ethics” or “bioethics”. The studies were selected utilizing a PRISMA flowchart and predefined inclusion criteria. Ethical principles of respect for human autonomy, prevention of harm, fairness, explicability, and privacy were charted. The search yielded 2166 articles, of which 18 articles were selected for data charting on the basis of the predefined inclusion criteria. The focus of many articles was a general discussion about ethics and AI. Nevertheless, there was limited examination of ethical principles in terms of consideration for design or deployment of AI in most retrieved studies. In the few instances where ethical principles were considered, fairness, preservation of human autonomy, explicability and privacy were equally discussed. The principle of prevention of harm was the least explored topic. Practical tools for testing and upholding ethical requirements across the lifecycle of AI-based technologies are largely absent from the body of reported evidence. In addition, the perspective of different stakeholders is largely missing.
Re-imagining narrative writing and assessment: a post-NAPLAN craft-based rubric for creative writing
Authors: Carey Michael D. , Davidow Shelley , Williams Paul
Published: March 2022

According to creative writing pedagogies academic Susanne Gannon (English in Australia, 54(2), 43–56, 2019), and the Federal government-commissioned NAPLAN review (McGaw et al., 2020), NAPLAN has restricted how writing is taught in secondary schools. A NAPLAN-influenced structural approach to teaching writing has subsumed the development of imaginative capacity. Given the considerable negative criticism of the NAPLAN writing tests, including the negative impact it has had on the teaching of writing, there is a need, we argue, for a fit-for-purpose assessment rubric that assesses creative writing. In a 10-week project, teaching creative writing with three classes of Year 9 students in Steiner schools, we evaluated the use of a novel creative writing rubric, created by published creative writers and lecturers (the second and third authors), to assess the students’ creative writing pre- and post-program. Consecutively, the NAPLAN narrative criteria were also used to assess the same writing scripts as a point of comparison. The creative writing criteria privileged craft-based approaches to imaginative writing compared to the function and form-focused criteria of NAPLAN. Statistical analyses of the reliability and validity of the creative writing rubric showed that the construct can be scored with a significant moderate level of reliably by different raters (r = 0.5–0.7;ICC = 0.6). Internal consistency reliability of the criteria was found to be excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94). Content validity of the instrument was found to be strong (r = 0.7–0.9) and significant. Unexpectedly, analyses for concurrent validity showed that the instrument correlates strongly (r = 0.7) and significantly with the NAPLAN narrative rubric, suggesting some overlap, but not parity with the NAPLAN assessment. We found that students’ post-project writing improved in all aspects according to the creative writing rubric, with a statistically significant improvement in students’structural elements and presentationand group average improvement approaching significance in two other criteria:words,sentence, and voiceandcharacters and context(effect sizesd = 0.3–0.4). However, there were no significant improvements in the students’ post-program writing according to the NAPLAN criteria, possibly because the NAPLAN narrative task criteria did not capture student development of a unique writing style or individual “voice” or other craft-based standards of proficiency measured by the creative writing rubric. Given the validity and reliability evidence, we conclude that the creative writing rubric is a fit-for-purpose guide to school-based learning and assessment of creative writing.
A survey of middle years students’ perceptions of aesthetic literacies, their importance and inclusion in curriculum and the workforce
Authors: Barton Georgina , Le Anh Hai
Published: March 2022

The ways in which we communicate have expanded substantially. Not only are we expected to read and create print-based text but also those that include images and other modes. To effectively make meaning from contemporary texts, students need to know about aesthetics, that is, how various texts are appreciated and presented. However, evidence suggests that limited attention to aesthetics occurs in schools. The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent middle years students understand the importance of aesthetics in their school and work across different professions. To address this, we share data from a survey distributed to two schools and completed by 80 middle years students aged 8–13 years of age. The survey aimed to determine these students’ knowledge and understanding of aesthetics and their associated literacies and if they knew of their inclusion in the curriculum. We also asked about their knowledge of aesthetics in different jobs. Findings showed that students are aware of aesthetics in society and work, but they also indicated that they did not feel they had been taught these important literacies at school despite thinking they could improve their grades. These findings suggest that teachers and students may require more development in the area of aesthetic literacies to enhance language and material resources for meaning making. It is hoped that research on aesthetic literacies can provide further insight on their importance in preparing students to be job ready.
The utility of NAPLAN data: issues of access, use and expertise for teaching and learning.
Authors: Jackson Christine J.
Published: March 2022

Internationally, assessment and the use of diagnostic data are recognized as critical capabilities for teachers. This is not a recent development, with assessment recognized for some decades as playing a significant role in informing learning and learners.

This paper will examine whether teachers and members of the school leadership team utilize the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) data for informing teaching and improving learning. Using a theoretical framework that draws on the conceptualisation of assessment as a social practice and Wenger’s social theory of learning as a shared enterprise in a community of practice, this paper will provide evidence of the common power relationships (school leaders and teachers) that exist as part of social structures within a community of practice. The paper will present how these power relationships impede access to, use of or enable expertise in the analysis of NAPLAN data.

The findings are based on an empirical study of nine case study schools across two Australian states and suggest there are inequalities of access to NAPLAN data between school leaders and teachers. The study discovered variegated access and distinct pathways of data dissemination and analysis dependent on a teacher’s specified role within the school. The paper concludes with suggestions for greater stewardship from school leaders in building school cultures of data literacy and highlights the importance of collaboration between school leaders and teachers to build professional capability in this area.
Efficient Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Process Mining from Event Logs
Authors: Li Gong-Liang , Jing Si-Yuan , Shen Yan , Guo Bing
Published: March 2022

Process mining, which aims to mine a high-quality process model from event log, provides a powerful tool to support the design, enactment, management, and analysis of operational business processes. However, the task is not easy because the algorithm needs to discover various complex process structures, handle noisy and incomplete event logs and balance multiple performance indicators. In this paper, a novel algorithm (called PSOMiner) for process mining is proposed, which consists of a discrete particle swarm optimization algorithm and guided local mutation. The former is in charge of searching the solution space of causal matrix and the latter is used to help the algorithm skip out the local optimum when it suffers from premature. A fine-grained scoring strategy which used to assign a score to each position of a particle (i.e. causal matrix) is presented to direct the mutation. The experiments were performed on 28 synthetic event logs with/without noise and 4 real-life event logs, and three classical algorithms of process mining (ETM, Hybrid ILP Miner, HM) were chosen for comparison. The results show that (1) PSOMiner achieved the best f-score on 25 synthetic event logs; (2) The average f-score of PSOMiner is 0.825 on 4 real-life event logs, which is superior to ETM whose average f-score is 0.703.
Poor Knowledge of Acute Mountain Sickness in Latin American Medical Students
Authors: Alarcón Renzo F. , Huayanay Ronal , Monge Eduardo
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Acute altitude exposure is a common event in Latin America that can result in mild to severe altitude illness. Medical students from some Latin American countries receive little information on this topic. Our aim was to determine the knowledge and incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS), as well as the methods used to prevent AMS among medical students attending the Pan-American Student Meeting in Cusco, Peru, a city at high altitude (3400 m).

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study on medical students attending a conference. Participants completed a questionnaire on the day of registration that collected demographic data and investigated students’ knowledge of AMS, its prophylaxis, and their personal experience of symptoms.

Results

A total of 840 students attended the meeting. Two hundred eighty-eight returned surveys, 51 from high altitude locations. Respondent age was 23±3 y (mean±SD), and 72% were female. Thirty-two percent had basic knowledge about symptoms of AMS. Headache was recognized as a symptom by 79%. Knowledge of AMS prophylaxis was reported by 70%. Coca leaf products and dimenhydrinate were mentioned by 30 and 16%, respectively, whereas acetazolamide was recognized by only 10% of participants. AMS incidence was 42%. Prophylactic measures were adopted by 47% of the participants in our study. Thirty-six percent used dimenhydrinate and 27% used coca tea. Less than 1% used acetazolamide as recommended.

Conclusions

We found poor knowledge of AMS and effective prophylaxis among medical students from several South American countries traveling to 3400 m.
Risk-Efficient Coverage Selection Strategies for the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Insurance Program
Authors: Zapata Samuel D. , García José María
Published: March 2022

The Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) insurance program is aimed to assist producers to manage the risk of forage loss due to the lack of precipitation. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the implications of policyholders’ coverage selection decisions. In this study, three alternative risk-efficient portfolio selection strategies are assessed in to the context of the PRF program. Proposed methods consider all the decision parameters and program restrictions, and they highlighted the underlying relationships between expected revenue, risk, and choice of the coverage parameters. Selection strategies are illustrated by examining the optimal coverage for a grid in South Texas.
Art and Transformation
Authors: AUMANN ANTONY
Published: March 2022

Encounters with art can change us in ways both big and small. This paper focuses on one of the more dramatic cases. I argue that works of art can inspire what L. A. Paul calls transformations, classic examples of which include getting married, having a child, and undergoing a religious conversion. Two features distinguish transformations from other changes we undergo. First, they involve the discovery of something new. Second, they result in a change in our core preferences. These two features make transformations hard to motivate. I argue, however, that art can help on both fronts. First, works of art can guide our attempt to imagine unfamiliar ways of living. Second, they can attract us to values we currently reject. I conclude by observing that what makes art powerful also makes it dangerous. Transformations are not always for the good, and art's ability to inspire them can be put to immoral ends.
From paper to screen: regulatory and operational considerations for modernizing the informed consent process
Authors: Cobb Nichelle L. , Edwards Dorothy F. , Chin Erin M. , Lah James J. , Goldstein Felicia C. , Manzanares Cecilia M. , Suver Christine M.
Published: March 2022

Electronic platforms provide an opportunity to improve the informed consent (IC) process by permitting elements shown to increase research participant understanding and satisfaction, such as graphics, self-pacing, meaningful engagement, and access to additional information on demand. However, including these elements can pose operational and regulatory challenges for study teams and institutional review boards (IRBs) responsible for the ethical conduct and oversight of research. We examined the experience of two study teams at Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers who chose to move from a paper-based IC process to an electronic informed consent (eIC) process to highlight some of these complexities and explore how IRBs and study teams can navigate them. Here, we identify the key regulations that should be considered when developing and using an eIC process as well as some of the operational considerations eIC presents related to IRB review and how they can be addressed.
On the Foundations of the Problem of Free Will
Authors: Galeazzi Paolo , Rendsvig Rasmus K.
Published: March 2022

In a recent paper, Christian List (2014) has argued for the compatibilism of free will and determinism. Drawing on a distinction between physical possibility (used in defining determinism) and agential possibility (used in defining free will), List constructs a formal two-level model in which the two concepts are consistent. This paper's first contribution is to show that though List's model is formally consistent, philosophically it falls short of establishing a satisfactory compatibilist position. Ensuingly, an analysis of the shortcomings of the model leads to the identification of a controversial epistemological assumption implicit in the statements of both compatibilist and incompatibilist positions. Arguing that this assumption is not currently satisfied, the paper's second contribution is to show that neither the compatibilist nor the incompatibilist position is presently well-founded.
Outbreak and control of Achromobacter denitrificans at an academic hospital in Pretoria, South Africa
Authors: Said Mohamed , Mitton Barend , Skosana Lebogang Busisiwe , Kopotsa Katlego , Naidoo Rashmika , Amutenya Victoria
Published: March 2022

Objective:

In this study, we sought to determine the source of an outbreak of Achromobacter denitrificans infections in patients at a tertiary-care academic hospital.

Design:

Outbreak report study with intervention. The study period extended from February 2018 to December 2018.

Setting:

The study was conducted at a tertiary-care academic hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.

Patients and participants:

All patients who cultured A. denitrificans from any site were included in this study. During the study period, 43 patients met this criterion.

Interventions:

Once an outbreak was confirmed, the microbiology laboratory compiled a list of affected patients. A common agent, chlorhexidine-and-water solution, was used as a disinfectant–antiseptic for all affected patients. The laboratory proceeded to culture this solution. Environmental and surface swabs were also cultured from the hospital pharmacy area where this solution was prepared. Repetitive-element, sequence-based, polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) was performed on the initial clinical isolates to confirm the relatedness of the isolates.

Results:

In total, 43 isolates of A. denitrificans were cultured from patient specimens during the outbreak. The laboratory cultured A. denitrificans from all bottles of chlorhexidine-and-water solutions sampled from the wards and the pharmacy. The culture of the dispenser device used to prepare this solution also grew A. denitrificans. The rep-PCR confirmed the clonality of the clinical isolates with 2 genotypes dominating.

Conclusions:

Contaminated chlorhexidine-and-water solutions prepared at the hospital pharmacy was determined to be the source of the outbreak. Once this item was removed from the hospital, the laboratory did not culture any further A. denitrificans isolates from patient specimens.
Gender and rural-urban differences in hypertension among youth in India: Insights from a large scale survey, 2015-16
Authors: Rani Ritu , Kannaujiya Ajit Kumar , Talukdar Poushaly , Sikarwar Ankit
Published: March 2022

Hypertension is considered one of the most persistent public health issues and the single largest contributor to avoidable morbidity and mortality in India. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension in youths (15-29 years) by gender and rural-urban place of residence. Data from the fourth round of the National Family and Health Survey – 2015-16 (n = 395,207) was utilised for the study. After estimation of the stratified prevalence of hypertension by various characteristics, multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the correlates of hypertension. The results revealed that the prevalence of hypertension in youths at the national level varied from 9.16% (Meghalaya) to 3.34% (Delhi). The stratified analysis suggests pronounced gender differences in the prevalence of hypertension among youth with insignificant rural-urban differences, although the prevalence was higher in urban areas. Overall, the prevalence of hypertension was found higher for male youths living in urban areas (7.82%) and females in rural areas (5.08%). Concurrently, results from regression analysis also suggest higher odds of hypertension for males residing in urban areas for a variety of demographic, socioeconomic, and health-risk factors. Advancing age, having no education, living in the northeast region, being overweight/obese and high blood glucose level was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of hypertension for both the gender and place of residence. Public health awareness regarding blood pressure needs to be tailored differently for both males and females considering the place of residence. The study suggests that more research should focus on blood pressure/hypertension among children, adolescents and youth since they point towards adult blood pressure patterns.
A novel approach for Mediterranean monk seal conservation: an artificial ledge in a marine cave
Authors: Saydam Ezgi , Güçlüsoy Harun , Kızılkaya Zafer Alı
Published: March 2022

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus, categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, comprises 600–700 individuals in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean. Habitat degradation is a severe threat to the species. In 2016 and 2017, coastline surveys were conducted in Gökova Bay, south-west Turkey, to identify suitable monk seal habitat. A significant factor hindering recovery of the monk seal population of this Turkish coast and the nearby Greek islands is the limited number of marine caves suitable for resting and/or pupping. We identified four caves as possible monk seal resting and pupping caves. An additional cave with all essential features for seal usage except a ledge was also identified. An artificial ledge was built in this cave in July 2019 and seal usage was monitored by camera trap until September 2020. A total of 405 camera-trap events were analysed to examine presence of any monk seals on the ledge, and to understand the purpose (resting and/or pupping), frequency of use, sex and age group of any individuals using the cave. One juvenile used the cave four times for resting (420 minutes in total), predominantly nocturnally. This is the first construction of a dry ledge in a cave of this kind for monk seals. The camera recordings suggest this approach could provide habitat for this species in areas where there is insufficient dry protected area on land.
Longitudinal PTSD network structure: measuring PTSD symptom networks over 5 years
Authors: Crowe Michael L. , Harper Kelly L. , Moshier Samantha J. , Keane Terence M. , Marx Brian P.
Published: March 2022

Background

Network modeling has been applied in a range of trauma-exposed samples, yet results are limited by an over reliance on cross-sectional data. The current analyses used posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom data collected over a 5-year period to estimate a more robust between-subject network and an associated symptom change network.

Methods

A PTSD symptom network is measured in a sample of military veterans across four time points (Ns = 1254, 1231, 1106, 925). The repeated measures permit isolating between-subject associations by limiting the effects of within-subject variability. The result is a highly reliable PTSD symptom network. A symptom slope network depicting covariation of symptom change over time is also estimated.

Results

Negative trauma-related emotions had particularly strong associations with the network. Trauma-related amnesia, sleep disturbance, and self-destructive behavior had weaker overall associations with other PTSD symptoms.

Conclusions

PTSD's network structure appears stable over time. There is no single ‘most important’ node or node cluster. The relevance of self-destructive behavior, sleep disturbance, and trauma-related amnesia to the PTSD construct may deserve additional consideration.
Follow the money: Assessing Women, Peace, and Security through financing for gender-inclusive peace
Authors: Davies Sara E. , True Jacqui
Published: March 2022

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and women's participation in peace processes are strongly supported by states. Yet financing to support the implementation of WPS has lagged behind overt international commitments to the agenda. WPS scholars and practitioners have highlighted the funding shortfalls for enabling WPS implementation and continued under-investment in gender-inclusive peace. In this article, we ask how much are donor states financially backing the implementation of gender-inclusive peace agreements which they promote? We use a high ambiguity-conflict model of policy implementation to explore the mechanisms of bilateral and multilateral financing for gender-inclusive peace. We trace to what extent international investments are supporting specific gender provisions in two progressive gender-inclusive peace processes, the 2016 Colombian Peace Agreement and 2015 Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the Philippines. In both case studies, we reveal a drastic gap between the international donor rhetoric and the funding. Patterns of financial investment do not follow nor support the life cycle of inclusive peace processes. We suggest key strategies for further research to address this policy and recommend that all gender provisions of peace agreements be monitored in-country and all gender-responsive investments be tracked and evaluated.
Inhibitory control and verb inflection in Italian preschool children
Authors: GANDOLFI Elena , USAI Maria Carmen , TRAVERSO Laura , VITERBORI Paola
Published: March 2022

The study investigates whether Italian verbal inflectional morphology is associated with inhibitory control skills after controlling for receptive vocabulary and verbal working memory. A sample of Italian preschoolers aged 4;0 to 6;0 was assessed using a standardized inhibitory control task tapping two different inhibitory skills (response inhibition and interference suppression), and a morphological task requiring simple and complex inflections of verbs. The hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that working memory and the interference suppression scores were significantly associated with complex inflections but not with simple inflections of the verbs.
Infants aged 12 months use the gender feature in determiners to anticipate upcoming words: an eye-tracking study
Authors: MORNATI Giulia , RIVA Valentina , VISMARA Elena , MOLTENI Massimo , CANTIANI Chiara
Published: March 2022

We investigated online early comprehension in Italian children aged 12 and 20 months, focusing on the role of morphosyntactic features (i.e., gender) carried by determiners in facilitating comprehension and anticipating upcoming words. A naturalistic eye-tracking procedure was employed, recording looking behaviours during a classical Looking-While-Listening task. Children were presented with sentences and pictures of two objects representing nouns characterised by either the same gender (determiner was uninformative) or a different gender (determiner was informative). As expected, 20-month-old children recognised the target picture when this was named, and they were faster in the different-gender condition. Interestingly, 12-month-old infants identified the target picture only when presented with an informative determiner (different-gender condition). These results suggest that, as early as 12 months of age and with an improvement seen at 20 months of age, toddlers can extract and use determiner gender features to enhance comprehension and make predictions about upcoming words.