bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of social rhythm and sleep disruptions on waist circumference after job loss: A prospective 18‐month study
Authors: Haynes Patricia L. , Howe George W. , Silva Graciela E. , Quan Stuart F. , Thomson Cynthia A. , Glickenstein David A. , Sherrill Duane , Gengler Devan N. , Yingst April , Mayer Candace , Rojo‐Wissar Darlynn M. , Kobayashi Ume , Hoang Matthew
Published: September 2022

Objective

This study prospectively examined change in waist circumference (WC) as a function of daily social rhythms and sleep in the aftermath of involuntary job loss. It was hypothesized that disrupted social rhythms and fragmented/short sleep after job loss would independently predict gains in WC over 18 months and that resiliency to WC gain would be conferred by the converse.

Methods

Eligible participants (n = 191) completed six visits that included standardized measurements of WC. At the baseline visit, participants completed the social rhythm metric and daily sleep diary and wore an actigraph on their nondominant wrist each day for a period of 2 weeks.

Results

When controlling for obesity and other covariates, WC trajectories decreased for individuals with more consistent social rhythms, more activities in their sdiocial rhythms, and higher sleep quality after job loss. WC trajectories did not change for individuals with lower scores on these indicators.

Conclusions

The frequency and consistency of social rhythms after job loss play a key role in WC loss. These findings support the implementation of social rhythm interventions after job loss, a potentially sensitive time for the establishment of new daily routines that have an impact on metabolic health.
Effects of functionalized graphene oxide modified sizing agent on the interfacial and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 6 composites
Authors: Cai Guangbin , Yan Chun , Liu Dong , Xu Haibing , Lu Jiateng , Chen Gang , Chen Mingda , Zhu Yingdan
Published: September 2022

In this study, a novel functionalized graphene oxide (F‐GO) modified polyamide 6 (PA6) sizing agent is developed to improve the interfacial and mechanical properties of carbon fiber (CF) reinforced PA6 composites. To enhance compatibility between GO and sizing agent, PA6 molecular chains are covalently grafted onto the GO sheets in advance. The results show that the F‐GO modified sizing layer improves interfacial compatibility and wettability of the CF surface. Moreover, F‐GO nanoparticles retard crack propagation along the interface based on the reinforcement effect. Accordingly, the interfacial shear strength increases by 54.5% from 45.1 MPa for desized CF/PA6 composites to 69.7 MPa for F‐GO modified sizing agent treated CF/PA6 composites. Meanwhile, the average interlaminar shear strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength increase by 45.2%, 15.6%, and 19.3% from 45.7, 1307.4, and 792.2 MPa for desized CF/PA6 composites to 66.3, 1511.2, and 945.2 MPa for those reinforced with the CFs treated by the F‐GO modified sizing agent due to the effective stress transfer across the interface. The improvement in the mechanical properties is verified based on the cross‐section morphology and fracture surfaces.
An Aesthetic Frame for Three Modes of Knowing
Authors: Bao Yan , Zhang Dongxue , Zhao Chen , Pöppel Ernst , Zabotkina Vera
Published: September 2022

This is the claim: Human knowledge expresses itself in three different modes: explicit, implicit, and sensory (e.g., visual) knowledge. The reference to knowledge as explicit knowledge only (as it is usually done) neglects the other modes of knowledge. Instead of using the noun “knowledge,” it is suggested that we use “knowing” as a term to stress the active mode in cognition. The three modes of knowing are reflected in different mechanisms of cognitive and neural processing; these can already be observed in classical documents of humankind. This unity of the different modes of knowing can also be extracted from cultural artifacts such as poetry. Although possessing different characteristics, the three modes of knowing are related to each other in a complementary way, thus providing an integrative network for cognition. We suggest that a unifying frame of the modes of knowing lies in aesthetic principles. These different modes of knowing with their unifying frame reflect some general features of cognition. We stress that basic concepts in “artificial or machine intelligence” do not match at all human modes of knowing.
Bactericidal effects of plasma‐activated saline prepared by surface dielectric barrier discharge with different dielectric layers and working gases
Authors: Huang Lingling , Guo Li , Zhao Pengyu , Jing Xixi , Zhang Fugao , Niyazi Gulimire , Li Tianhui , Qi Yu , Yan Jinwei , Jia Yikang , Liu Dingxin
Published: September 2022

The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) serves as a dielectric layer for surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) and the prepared plasma‐activated saline (PAS) exhibited strong bactericidal effects, however, the fluorides are inevitably generated and bring about side effects in biological application. In this study, the SDBD devices with the dielectric layers of quartz or ceramic compared with that with PTFE were utilized to explore the effective and fluoride‐free PAS using different working gases. The Quartz‐PAS prepared with air exhibited a relatively strong bactericidal effect without inducing the DNA‐protein crosslinks (DPCs) in Escherichia coli cells, while the Ceramic‐PAS exhibited a weak bactericidal effect and induced the DPCs formation. This study supplies guidance in the preparation and regulation of PAS for biomedical applications.
Current status, prospects, and implications of renewable energy for achieving sustainable development goals in Nepal
Authors: Lohani Sunil Prasad , Gurung Prekshya , Gautam Bhawana , Kafle Ural , Fulford David , Jeuland Marc
Published: September 2022

The energy mix in Nepal is currently dominated by the traditional and inefficient use of biomass (66.54%) and fossil fuels (27.24%), and energy poverty remains extremely high. This paper reviews relevant literature to provide an overview of the current renewable energy status and energy mix in Nepal, and to discuss prospects for the country to achieve a sustainable energy transition. Nepal‐specific papers from peer‐reviewed sources and other agency and academic reports were included insofar as these discussed renewable energy and provided recommendations for policy‐making on sustainable energy and related development goals. Despite the rapidly falling cost of solar photovoltaic, the share of modern renewable energy in Nepal is currently less than 3%. On this basis, and given the country's sustainable energy goals, we conclude that favorable and aggressive policies and strategies are needed to support adoption of clean energy in Nepal, comprised of a high share of solar generation equipped with battery storage, and balanced with storage such as off‐river pumped hydropower technology.
A Dual Sensing Platform for Human Exhaled Breath Enabled by Fe‐MIL‐101‐NH2 Metal–Organic Frameworks and its Derived Co/Ni/Fe Trimetallic Oxides
Authors: Cao Shuang , Xu Yifeng , Yu Zhongzheng , Zhang Peng , Xu Xiaoyi , Sui Ning , Zhou Tingting , Zhang Tong
Published: September 2022

Limited by the insufficient active sites and the interference from breath humidity, designing reliable gas sensing materials with high activity and moisture resistance remains a challenge to analyze human exhaled breath for the translational application of medical diagnostics. Herein, the dual sensing and cooperative diagnosis is achieved by utilizing metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and its derivative. The Fe‐MIL‐101‐NH2 serves as the quartz crystal microbalance humidity sensing layer, which exhibits high selectivity and rapid response time (16 s/15 s) to water vapor. Then, the Co2+ and Ni2+ cations are further co‐doped into Fe‐MIL‐101‐NH2 host to obtain the derived Co/Ni/Fe trimetallic  oxides (CoNiFe‐MOS‐n). The chemiresistive CoNiFe‐MOS‐n sensor displays the high sensitivity (560) and good selectivity to acetone, together with a lower original resistance compared with Fe2O3 and NiFe2O4. Moreover, as a proof‐of‐concept application, synergistic integration of Fe‐MIL‐101‐NH2 and derived CoNiFe‐MOS‐n is carried out. The Fe‐MIL‐101‐NH2 is applied as moisture sorbent materials, which realize a sensitivity compensation of CoNiFe‐MOS‐n sensors for the detection of acetone (biomarker gas of diabetes). The findings provide an insight for effective utilization of MOFs and the derived materials to achieve a trace gas detection in exhaled breath analysis.
Capabilities, wealth, and trade: Revisiting the evidence
Authors: Yue Kan
Published: September 2022

Sutton and Trefler (2016) present a model that explains how a country's quality capability simultaneously affects per capita income and the sectoral mix of its exports. The model predicts an inverted‐U relationship between an exporter's income and its world market share of export. This paper examines whether the prediction is consistent with the time‐series variations of trade data. We find inverted‐U relationships in all three groups of markets. While market shares do eventually drop as income grows, it happens only when incomes are very high. In addition, exporters' global market progression described in Sutton and Trefler (2016) is accelerated with the presence of a “super” exporter, such as China. Lastly, we confirm the model's implication on how quality capability improvements affect market entry by presenting an inverted‐U relationship between market entry and income in middle‐rank group, with the relationship being negative in low‐rank group and positive in high‐rank group.
Upper bound estimations of misclassification rate in the heteroscedastic clustering model with sub‐Gaussian noises
Authors: Zhang Zhentao , Wang Jinru
Published: September 2022

Clustering is an important tool in statistics, machine learning and applied mathematics. This paper considers the clustering model
, where the noise matrix
consists of independent sub‐Gaussian entries
and the variance
may vary across different coordinates. Our aim is to estimate the error between the label vector
and its defined estimator
. We provide upper bound estimations for the misclassification rate in the sense of expectation and probability, respectively. Finally, some simulations have been carried out to support our theoretical results and illustrate the advantage of our proposed estimator.
Alternative splicing in bladder cancer: potential strategies for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment
Authors: Montero‐Hidalgo Antonio J. , Pérez‐Gómez Jesús M. , Martínez‐Fuentes Antonio J. , Gómez‐Gómez Enrique , Gahete Manuel D. , Jiménez‐Vacas Juan M. , Luque Raúl M.
Published: September 2022

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract worldwide. The therapeutic options to tackle this disease comprise surgery, intravesical or systemic chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Unfortunately, a wide number of patients ultimately become resistant to these treatments and develop aggressive metastatic disease, presenting a poor prognosis. Therefore, the identification of novel therapeutic approaches to tackle this devastating pathology is urgently needed. However, a significant limitation is that the progression and drug response of bladder cancer is strongly associated with its intrinsic molecular heterogeneity. In this sense, RNA splicing is recently gaining importance as a critical hallmark of cancer since can have a significant clinical value. In fact, a profound dysregulation of the splicing process has been reported in bladder cancer, especially in the expression of certain key splicing variants and circular RNAs with a potential clinical value as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets in this pathology. Indeed, some authors have already evidenced a profound antitumor effect by targeting some splicing factors (e.g., PTBP1), mRNA splicing variants (e.g., PKM2, HYAL4‐v1), and circular RNAs (e.g., circITCH, circMYLK), which illustrates new possibilities to significantly improve the management of this pathology. This review represents the first detailed overview of the splicing process and its alterations in bladder cancer, and highlights opportunities for the development of novel diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and their clinical potential for the treatment of this devastating cancer type.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease
Interlinkage of a siliconoid with a silsesquioxane: en route to a molecular model system for silicon monoxide
Authors: Hunsicker Marc , Poitiers Nadine E. , Huch Volker , Morgenstern Bernd , Zimmer Michael , Scheschkewitz David
Published: September 2022

A new potential model system for silicon monoxide (SiO) is synthesized by the interlinkage of an unsaturated silicon cluster (siliconoid) with a polyhedral silsequioxane cage. Two derivatives with variable linker size are obtained by the corner‐capping reaction of Ph7T7(ONa)3 with a trichlorosilane featuring a remote benzylic chloride functionality and the subsequent nucleophilic substitution of the latter by the anionic hexasilabenzpolarene‐type Si6 siliconoid. Based on the recently proposed heterogeneous cluster model for the SiO structure, the stoichiometry between silicon and oxygen reiterates the suboxidic interface of the nano‐composite in a Si : O ratio of 14 : 12.
The Twin Executive
Authors: Duff Andrew
Published: September 2022

One of the main flaws in the structure of governance of the EU is the lack of a single effective executive. The two presidents of the Commission and European Council, who risk duplication and confusion, should be merged. The system of rotating the presidency of the Council of ministers should be phased out. The role of the General Affairs Council should be enhanced. The Commission should be reduced in size and restructured to include a law officer and treasury secretary.
Fiscal Union
Authors: Duff Andrew
Published: September 2022

Economic and monetary union is incomplete, not least because there is no common fiscal policy and the European Central Bank is not the lender of last resort. The EU’s supervisory machinery introduced after the financial crash is due for an overhaul. A watershed was reached when eurobonds were launched to recover from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. But these eurobonds should be scaled up, made permanent and fully federal. The EU budget should be subdivided into federal and national parts, with the former part funded by direct EU taxation.
The Immigrant Sensemaker
Authors: Nardon Luciara , Hari Amrita
Published: September 2022

Sensemaking starts with the sensemaker; the process of identity work is thus central to immigrant integration. In this chapter, we discuss individual level sensemaking to understand how qualified immigrants (QIs) facing similar work integration challenges, with comparable education and work experiences, can have widely different career trajectories and outcomes. We integrate narratives from QIs to explore identity processes involved in sensemaking and argue that identity work is a social process that is continuously in flux; it is dependent on context and imbued with power discrepancies.
Organizing for Immigrant Workforce Integration
Authors: Nardon Luciara , Hari Amrita
Published: September 2022

This chapter explores the role of organizational level sensemaking in qualified immigrants’ (QIs’) work integration. A sensemaking perspective on organizations uncovers the social processes through which discriminatory practices in workplaces and work-related institutions become acceptable and are maintained over time. We also explore the effect of these practices on QIs’ sensemaking of their work options, experiences, and trajectories. To do this, we identify and examine different organizations involved in QIs’ work integration, the influence of organizational goals, structures, and scripts, and the ways in which organizations can rethink how they facilitate QIs’ successful work integration.
The Macro Context of Immigration
Authors: Nardon Luciara , Hari Amrita
Published: September 2022

This chapter explores the role of the broader social context in QIs’ work integration and sensemaking of their career options and actions. Sensemaking is ongoing and occurs within a dynamic social environment. The institutional level of sensemaking exposes the relationship between the broader society and individual actions. We discuss narratives of multiculturalism and professional attainment as prevailing master narratives that inform QIs’ and local citizens’ sensemaking of immigration and the influence on immigrants’ work integration. We conclude with a reflection on the relationship between immigration and settler colonialism.
Extending Sensemaking of Immigrant Integration
Authors: Nardon Luciara , Hari Amrita
Published: September 2022

This concluding chapter reiterates the importance of the multiple levels of sensemaking and different actors to understand QIs’ work integration. We discuss some of the challenges to studying the process of sensemaking and propose some implications for research and practice. We end on a futuristic note with emerging avenues for research.
Correction to: Dynamic transmission conditions for linear hyperbolic systems on networks
Authors: Fijavž Marjeta Kramar , Mugnolo Delio , Nicaise Serge
Published: September 2022

A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s00028-021-00715-0
Social identity and labor market outcomes of immigrants
Authors: Carillo Maria Rosaria , Lombardo Vincenzo , Venittelli Tiziana
Published: September 2022

This paper explores the relationship between social identity and labor market outcomes of immigrants. Using survey data from Italy, we provide robust evidence that integrated immigrants, who state they have strong feelings of belonging to the societies of both the host and home country, have higher employment rates than do assimilated immigrants, who identify exclusively with the host country culture. Unlike previous literature, our findings indicate that assimilation does not necessarily provide a clear labor market advantage over immigrants who identify only with their original ethnic group. The positive labor market effect of integration is especially large for women, low-skilled, and immigrants with a brief experience in Italy and arriving in Italy at older ages, who generally face stronger barriers to entry into the labor market. The main mechanism driving the positive effect of multiple social identities points to belonging to local networks that ensure in-group favoritism and sharing of information.
Double Hurwitz numbers: polynomiality, topological recursion and intersection theory
Authors: Borot Gaëtan , Do Norman , Karev Maksim , Lewański Danilo , Moskovsky Ellena
Published: September 2022

Double Hurwitz numbers enumerate branched covers of $${{{\mathbb {C}}}}{{{\mathbb {P}}}}^1$$

C

P

1

with prescribed ramification over two points and simple ramification elsewhere. In contrast to the single case, their underlying geometry is not well understood. In previous work by the second- and third-named authors, the double Hurwitz numbers were conjectured to satisfy a polynomiality structure and to be governed by the topological recursion, analogous to existing results concerning single Hurwitz numbers. In this paper, we resolve these conjectures by a careful analysis of the semi-infinite wedge representation for double Hurwitz numbers. We prove an ELSV-like formula for double Hurwitz numbers, by deforming the Johnson–Pandharipande–Tseng formula for orbifold Hurwitz numbers and using properties of the topological recursion under variation of spectral curves. In the course of this analysis, we unveil certain vanishing properties of $$\Omega $$
Ω
-classes.
Imaging in neuroblastoma
Authors: Littooij Annemieke S. , de Keizer Bart
Published: September 2022

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid malignancy of childhood. The prognosis is highly variable ranging from spontaneous involution in infants to fatal outcome, despite aggressive treatment, in disseminated high-risk neuroblastoma. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the crucial role of imaging during the extensive treatment course.
Platelet‐Rich Plasma (PRP) for Sacrococcygeal Pilonidal Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Brewer C. F. , Correia I. F. S. , Miranda B. H.
Published: September 2022

Background

Pilonidal disease can be a debilitating condition which carries a significant physical and economic burden. This systematic review and updated meta‐analysis presents the evidence for the use of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) for wound healing following open and minimally‐invasive sacrococcygeal pilonidal surgery.

Methods

A literature search was performed during December 2021 for studies relating to platelet‐rich plasma and pilonidal wound healing following surgery.

Results

Nine studies remained after applying the exclusion criteria, incorporating a total of 621 (open surgery group) and 309 (minimally‐invasive group) patients, respectively. Pooled analysis of the six open surgery group studies demonstrated a significant reduction in wound healing time (mean difference [MD] = − 13.98 days, 95% CI − 18.41 to − 9.55, p < 0.001, I2 = 98%). Three open surgery group studies compared post‐operative time off work, while three recorded mean pain duration; pooled analysis also revealed a significant reduction in both outcomes, respectively (MD = − 8.7 days, 95% CI − 9.4 to − 8.0, p < 0.001, I2 = 57%; MD = − 9.5 days, 95% CI − 15.6 to − 3.3, p = 0.002, I2 = 98%). Methodological heterogeneity among the minimally‐invasive studies precluded formal meta‐analysis; however, two studies demonstrated a modest improvement in wound healing when treated with PRP.

Conclusions

This systematic review and updated meta‐analysis provide further evidence supporting the use of PRP for wound healing in sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease. PRP application was demonstrated to significantly reduce healing time, postoperative pain and time off work in the open surgery group. Nevertheless, there is still considerable heterogeneity among PRP manufacture and administration techniques, and further high‐powered RCTs with consistent methodology are required to substantiate these findings.
The impact of low-pressure pneumoperitoneum on robotic-assisted radical cystectomy and intracorporeal ileal conduit urinary diversion: a case–control study
Authors: Kostakopoulos Nikolaos , Athanasiadis Grigorios , Omar Muhammad Imran , Abraham Jacalyn , Dimitropoulos Konstantinos
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the role of low intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in improving postoperative recovery in Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) and intracorporeal ileal conduit urinary diversion (ICUD).

Methods

A retrospective case–control study of 49 bladder cancer patients offered RARC/ICUD with standard (12 mmHg, n = 24) or low IAP (8 mmHg, n = 25). Outcomes of interest included length of procedure (LoP), estimated blood loss (EBL), blood transfusion, margin positivity rates, time to first flatus (TtFF), time to first bowel movement (TtFBM), ileus and small bowel obstruction (SBO) rates, time to safe discharge (TtSD), postoperative hospital stay (PHS) and pain levels on a postoperative day (POD) 1 and 3. Perioperative complications were recorded using the Clavien-Dindo system.

Results

Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics, LoP, EBL and margin positivity rates were similar between groups. No transfusions were recorded. Median (IQR) TtFF, TtFBM and TtSD were significantly longer in Group 1 vs Group 2 (4 (1) vs 2 (1), 7 (3) vs 6 (2) and 8.5 (5.75) vs 5.0 (1), respectively). PHS and rates of postoperative ileus and SBO were lower in Group 2, however not statistically significant. Severe pain was uncommon in both groups but moderate/severe pain was significantly higher in Group 1 (95.8% vs 48% on POD1 and 62.5% vs 16% on POD3). No significant intraoperative complications were recorded and ≥ Grade 3 postoperative complications at 30 and 90 days were similar.

Conclusion

With limitations, Low-IAP RARC can be safely offered to RARC/ICUD patients and leads to faster bowel recovery, and shorter time to safe discharge compared to standard pneumoperitoneum.
Beyond Wilson–Cowan dynamics: oscillations and chaos without inhibition
Authors: Painchaud Vincent , Doyon Nicolas , Desrosiers Patrick
Published: September 2022

Fifty years ago, Wilson and Cowan developed a mathematical model to describe the activity of neural populations. In this seminal work, they divided the cells in three groups: active, sensitive and refractory, and obtained a dynamical system to describe the evolution of the average firing rates of the populations. In the present work, we investigate the impact of the often neglected refractory state and show that taking it into account can introduce new dynamics. Starting from a continuous-time Markov chain, we perform a rigorous derivation of a mean-field model that includes the refractory fractions of populations as dynamical variables. Then, we perform bifurcation analysis to explain the occurrence of periodic solutions in cases where the classical Wilson–Cowan does not predict oscillations. We also show that our mean-field model is able to predict chaotic behavior in the dynamics of networks with as little as two populations.
Dynamic Data Structures for Timed Automata Acceptance
Authors: Grez Alejandro , Mazowiecki Filip , Pilipczuk Michał , Puppis Gabriele , Riveros Cristian
Published: September 2022

We study a variant of the classical membership problem in automata theory, which consists of deciding whether a given input word is accepted by a given automaton. We do so through the lenses of parameterized dynamic data structures: we assume that the automaton is fixed and its size is the parameter, while the input word is revealed as in a stream, one symbol at a time following the natural order on positions. The goal is to design a dynamic data structure that can be efficiently updated upon revealing the next symbol, while maintaining the answer to the query on whether the word consisting of symbols revealed so far is accepted by the automaton. We provide complexity bounds for this dynamic acceptance problem for timed automata that process symbols interleaved with time spans. The main contribution is a dynamic data structure that maintains acceptance of a fixed one-clock timed automaton $${\mathcal {A}}$$
A
with amortized update time $$2^{{\mathcal {O}}(|{\mathcal {A}}|)}$$

2

O
(
|
A
|
)

per input symbol.
Consistency plots: a simple graphical tool for investigating agreement in key comparisons
Authors: Ellison Stephen L. R.
Published: September 2022

A simple graphical display is described for investigating agreement among interlaboratory data with reported uncertainties. The plot consists of a measure of agreement—the significance level of a test for significant pairwise difference, adjusted for multiple comparisons—plotted as an image in which significance is represented by colour or intensity. This provides an easily interpretable graphical presentation in which the degree of consensus can be judged and in which anomalies are easily visible. The construction of the plot is discussed, with attention to the choice of adjustment for the size of the data set in checking for anomalies. The advantage over visual inspection using error bars is discussed, and some examples from metrology comparisons are presented.
Development of a robust Wi-Fi/4G-based ROS communication platform for an assembly and repair mobile robot with reliable behavior under unstable network or connection failure
Authors: Poberezkin Efim , Roozbahani Hamid , Alizadeh Marjan , Handroos Heikki
Published: September 2022

This paper presents various perspectives on designing and implementing a communication platform for a teleoperated mobile robot. The deployment of a communication network for a mobile robot and the integration of robot components in the developed communication platform are discussed in this article. A Wi-Fi-based communication network has been established, and to secure remote control over long distances, Internet-based communication via the 4G protocol has been launched using a virtual private network setup. Since an unstable network can damage the robot or the surrounding environment, an algorithm has been developed to monitor the state of the network connection through different protocols. The developed algorithm is able to detect network failure independently of the wireless communication technology used and notify the system of any disruptive communication. The robot's primary reactions to connection failure have been programmed to keep the robot under control until the communication with the control station is restored. Various experiments were carried out to validate the performance of the designed algorithm and statistical analysis was performed for each experiment. One of the main contributions of this study is the development of an algorithm for communication between the mobile robot and the control station based on both Wi-Fi and 4G, which is capable to keep the robot behavior safe and reliable in the presence of an unstable network or connection failure.
Capuchin monkeys learn to use information equally well from individual exploration and social demonstration
Authors: Kean Donna , Renner Elizabeth , Atkinson Mark , Caldwell Christine A.
Published: September 2022

The limited evidence of complex culture in non-human primates contrasts strikingly with human behaviour. This may be because non-human primates fail to use information acquired socially as effectively as they use information acquired individually. Here, monkeys were trained on a stimulus discrimination task with a win-stay, lose-shift (WSLS) reward structure. In a social learning condition, the experimenter performed an information trial by choosing between the available stimuli; in an individual condition, monkeys made this choice themselves. The monkeys’ subsequent test trials displayed the same stimulus array. They were rewarded for repetition of rewarded (‘win-stay’) and avoidance of unrewarded (‘lose-shift’) information trial selections. Nine monkeys reached our pre-determined performance criterion on the initial two-stimulus stage. Their ability to generalise the WSLS strategy was then evaluated by transfer to a three-stimulus stage. Minimal differences were found in information use between the social and individual conditions on two-stimuli. However, a bias was found towards repetition of the information trial, regardless of information source condition or whether the information trial selection was rewarded. Proficient subjects were found to generalise the strategy to three-stimuli following rewarded information trials, but performed at chance on unrewarded. Again, this was not found to vary by source condition. Overall, results suggest no fundamental barrier to non-human primates’ use of information from a social source. However, the apparent struggle to learn from the absence of rewards hints at a difficulty with using information acquired from unsuccessful attempts; this could be linked to the limited evidence for cumulative culture in non-human primates.
Safe reuse in modelling language engineering using model subtyping with OCL constraints
Authors: Boronat Artur
Published: September 2022

Low-code software development promises rapid delivery of software cloud applications by employing domain-specific languages (DSLs), requiring minimal traditional coding. Model-driven engineering (MDE) provides tools, modelling notations and practices suited for engineering such DSLs, both from a syntactic and semantic perspective. However, low-code software development is heavily reliant on software reuse. It is imperative to provide safe mechanisms that guarantee valid semantic reuse of structural components and their behaviour, most often in a stepwise manner. This article presents a semantic reuse technique based on model subtyping over metamodels to manage correct model-driven engineering of DSLs. Model subtyping is generalized to structural semantics by considering OCL constraints. Moreover, model subtyping is generalized to behavioural semantics by considering specifications of model transformation operations, which may encode operational or translational semantics. Model subtyping facilitates structural and behavioural refinement. It has been implemented atop a bounded model checker, realizing a semi-decidable procedure for verifying that DSL elements are safely reused. The algorithm finds semantic witnesses of inconsistencies when refinement principles are not satisfied, fostering a correct stepwise engineering of DSLs. Moreover, the algorithm produces an extension metamodel that permits the as-is reuse of implementations of model transformation operation specifications. Finally, the versatility of the model subtyping technique is illustrated with common use cases extracted from the research literature.
Attracting private capital for development: Are poorer countries less efficient?
Authors: Naeher Dominik , Narayanan Raghavan
Published: September 2022

According to common measures of private capital mobilization, such as the shares of foreign direct and portfolio investment in GDP, many low-income countries perform poorly in attracting private capital flows. However, these indicators do not account for differences in economic characteristics across countries, and thus cannot provide insights on countries’ performance relative to their potential levels of private capital flows as determined by their domestic economic structure and constraints. This paper addresses this gap by using nonparametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) to empirically calculate the efficient frontier for private capital mobilization as a function of countries’ domestic enabling environment, and then assess each country’s performance relative to that of other countries featuring similar domestic conditions. Our results reveal that many low-income countries, particularly in Africa and South Asia, which do not rank high according to achieved levels of private capital flows, are in fact performing on or very close to the efficient frontier. This indicates that these countries are good performers given the limited resources available to them. Tracking the performance of countries and regions over time, we furthermore find that sub-Saharan Africa experienced the strongest increases in DEA efficiency scores between 2007 and 2018, indicating that various countries in this region were catching up with the frontier.
Reliability based maintenance programming by a new index for electrical distribution system components ranking
Authors: Mirhosseini Mina , Heydari Azim , Astiaso Garcia Davide , Mancini Francesco , Keynia Farshid
Published: September 2022

Reliability and accessibility of distribution systems are important goals that have significant impacts on the costs. The proper strategy of maintenance based on components arrangement and assets is the best way to reach these goals. This strategy is a kind of uses reliability-centered maintenance (RCM). Due to the limited maintenance budget, performing maintenance activities for all components of the system is neither possible nor logical. So most of the resources should be allocated to the most critical and important components. This paper presents a novel analytical method of prioritization of distribution systems’ components by introducing a new weighted cumulative Reliability-based diagnostic importance factor. This new factor includes different reliability indexes in form of diagnostic factors and will show that the order of components obtained by this method is better than another method in saving the budget and providing reliability of the system. The process of decision-making for prioritization of distribution systems’ components based on their criticality degree will both improve the reliability level of the total system and decrease the cost of load interruption and finally maintenance costs. The proposed model is implemented on a radial distribution network. Numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed RCM model for micro-grids.
Cognitive mechanisms for the formation of public perception about national testing: A case of NAPLAN in Australia
Authors: Lee Jihyun , Lee Jung-Sook , Lawton Jodi
Published: September 2022

Although there has been intense criticism of NAPLAN in educational policy debates in Australia, little scholarly efforts have been made to understand the underlying cognitive mechanisms that contribute to the public narrative about the national testing program. We aim to provide tentative evidence about the way public perceptions about NAPLAN may be formed. Our results show empirical support for the incentive, interpretative, and institutional effects, which suggest ways that national testing program can be improved. That is, it needs to (a) provide a diverse range of incentives to promote people’s self-interest (incentive effect); (b) demonstrate good alignment with the core values, social norms, and attitudes of the given society (interpretative effect); and (c) build a consensus about the institutional use of the test results (institutional effect). We conclude with practical implications and recommendations about seeking public support for the seemingly unpopular national educational policy.
Understanding the relationships among self-ascribed gender traits, social desirability, and ambivalent sexism
Authors: Agut Sonia , Martín-Hernández Pilar , Soto Grisela , Arahuete Lorena
Published: September 2022

The stereotypical gender traits used in self-descriptions could contribute to shape ambivalent sexist attitudes toward women, including antipathy toward women who appear to threaten the gender hierarchy (i.e., hostile sexist attitudes) and affection for women who embrace traditional feminine roles (i.e., benevolent sexism). Empirical evidence associates more stereotypically feminine traits with benevolent sexism and masculine traits with hostile sexism but does not offer a clear picture, likely because of the non-controlled effect of social desirability and other gender traits in those relationships. We examine whether self-ascribed masculine traits moderate the modulating influence of social desirability in the linkage between feminine traits and benevolent sexism, and whether self-ascribed feminine traits moderate the modulating effect of social desirability in the association between masculine traits and hostile sexist attitudes. Results reveal that stereotypical gender traits and social desirability are connected to benevolent and hostile sexism, although differently. The gendered profile of those with benevolent attitudes (i.e., participants who self-attribute largely feminine traits) is different from those with hostile attitudes (i.e., participants who self-ascribe mainly masculine traits). In addition, the need to gain others’ approval or, more importantly, to avoid their disapproval, leads individuals to offer more socially desirable responses that mask their hostility toward women, whereas this need is less evident when hiding benevolent attitudes. As benevolent sexism is more pervasive in society and, unlike hostile sexism, is not easily recognized as a type of prejudice, it is harder to counteract and, therefore, to eliminate.
Application of arsenic surveying for determining the position of former mining and metallurgical constructions: an example from the Radzimowice area (Lower Silesia, SW Poland)
Authors: Kałaska Maciej , Siuda Rafał , Sierpień Paula , Werra Dagmara H.
Published: September 2022

Soil geochemical prospecting is becoming an increasingly important part of archaeological research. Therefore, it is possible to determine the location of various archaeological facilities that no longer exist in the study region. In this study, a morphological analysis of the “Stara Góra” deposit in Radzimowice (Lower Silesia, Poland) was performed using LiDAR DTM (light detection and ranging digital terrain model) images and historical data that describe mining in the vicinity of Radzimowice. This method identified numerous remains of centuries-old mining and metallurgical activity. The data collected were used to create a map of arsenic soil concentrations in this area. The map helped point to the exact locations of the old ore-processing facilities. Geochemical mapping was performed on a 20 × 20-m grid at a sampling depth of approximately 0.2 m. The samples were analysed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XRF-EDS). The highest concentrations of this element occurred near the arsenic calciner and related dumps, as well as near dumps created during extraction from the Arnold shaft. In summary, in this article, we present the possibility of using a geochemical map of arsenic concentrations in soils supported by LiDAR data for archaeological purposes.
Farsighted Rationality in Hedonic Games
Authors: Demeze-Jouatsa G.-Herman , Karos Dominik
Published: September 2022

We consider a hedonic coalition formation game in which a coalition chooses for each partition of the player set the probability with which it forms and thereby destroys the current partition. These probabilities are commonly known so that farsighted players know at every partition what future partitions, and hence payoffs, will be reached with what probability. Thus, players can make rational decisions about the moves they support. We show that if coalitions make mistakes with small but positive probability, then there is a behavior profile in which no coalition has a profitable one-shot deviation.
Sendai Framework’s Global Targets A and B: Opinions from the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction’s Ignite Stage 2019
Authors: Ray-Bennett Nibedita S. , Clarke Krishna , Mendez Daniel
Published: September 2022

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015−2030 set seven global targets of which the first two targets are to reduce disaster deaths (target A) and diminish the number of affected people globally (target B) by 2030. To realize these targets, the United Nations General Assembly’s Expert Working Group provided indicators to measure progress as well as terminologies for these targets in 2017. Research around these targets is nascent. This article contributes to the understanding of the targets by exploring: (1) what are the conditions that may hinder achieving targets, as well as those that may accelerate their achievement at the national and local levels; and (2) which types of organizations should lead a country’s effort to reduce disaster deaths? These questions were answered by opinion survey research carried out at the Sixth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. The participants identified disaster risk reduction efforts, early warning systems, awareness, finance and investment (among others) as the important facilitating factors to achieve targets A and B. Minimal investment in human security, lack of response and coordination, uncertainty of climate change, poor information, lack of campaigns and low budget allocation (among others) are considered as the important hindering factors for these targets by the participants. The findings also suggest that the facilitating and hindering variables of targets A and B are interconnected with global target E (disaster risk governance and capacity building). The majority of the participants thought that it is the national government who should lead in a country’s effort to reduce disaster deaths. Based on these findings, a few recommendations have been made to improve policy and practice related to the indicators as well as to reimagine theories so that targets A and B can be realized in alignment with target E at the national and local levels by 2030.
Data mining of scientific research on artificial intelligence in teaching and administration in higher education institutions: a bibliometrics analysis and recommendation for future research
Authors: Ullrich André , Vladova Gergana , Eigelshoven Felix , Renz André
Published: September 2022

Teaching and learning as well as administrative processes are still experiencing intensive changes with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and its diverse application opportunities in the context of higher education. Therewith, the scientific interest in the topic in general, but also specific focal points rose as well. However, there is no structured overview on AI in teaching and administration processes in higher education institutions that allows to identify major research topics and trends, and concretizing peculiarities and develops recommendations for further action. To overcome this gap, this study seeks to systematize the current scientific discourse on AI in teaching and administration in higher education institutions. This study identified an (1) imbalance in research on AI in educational and administrative contexts, (2) an imbalance in disciplines and lack of interdisciplinary research, (3) inequalities in cross-national research activities, as well as (4) neglected research topics and paths. In this way, a comparative analysis between AI usage in administration and teaching and learning processes, a systematization of the state of research, an identification of research gaps as well as further research path on AI in higher education institutions are contributed to research.
Brace for turbulence: EU Member States’ climate strategies in the aviation sector
Authors: Schmidt Nicole M. , Tobin Paul , Moore Brendan
Published: September 2022

The European Green Deal (EGD) aims to transform the European Union (EU) into a climate neutral continent by 2050, requiring significant changes within carbon-intensive sectors. In this article, we examine EU Member States’ climate strategies in the aviation sector, where greenhouse gas emissions have doubled since 1990. We analyse EU National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) in order to examine national commitments on aviation. How frequently do EU Member States refer to aviation in their NECPs, and how can these references be understood thematically? First, by conducting a content analysis on all 54 draft and final NECPs, we identify how frequently 11 aviation-related terms were used. While all states increased the number of aviation references between their draft and final NECPs, Central and Eastern states showed the smallest increase. We show that Southern and Western Member States reference aviation most frequently in their final NECPs. Second, in our thematic analysis, we identify three key themes—‘contextual information’, ‘public policy’, and ‘fuels and propulsion’—that we divide into 17 sub-themes. Approximately half of the themes focused on contextual information, such as current aviation emissions, with the other half focusing on carbon reduction strategies, especially the EU Emissions Trading System, biofuels, and taxation. Western EU states provided the largest number of concrete policy statements on reducing aviation emissions and the promotion of biofuels. There were only two references to reducing the number of flights, across almost 7500 pages of climate documents. We conclude that the NECPs represent a promising means of conducting cross-country climate policy analysis, in order to compare efforts across economic sectors within Europe. With our analysis, we create a pre-pandemic sectoral baseline for aviation which can be used for further study.