bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictability of the Minimum Sea Ice Extent from Winter Fram Strait Ice Area Export: Model versus Observations
Authors: Trotechaud Sandrine , Tremblay Bruno , Williams James , Romanski Joy , Romanou Anastasia , Bushuk Mitchell , Merryfield William , Msadek Rym
Published: February 2024

Observations show predictive skill of the minimum sea ice extent (Min SIE) from late winter anomalous offshore ice drift along the Eurasian coastline, leading to local ice thickness anomalies at the onset of the melt season—a signal then amplified by the ice–albedo feedback. We assess whether the observed seasonal predictability of September sea ice extent (Sept SIE) from Fram Strait Ice Area Export (FSIAE; a proxy for Eurasian coastal divergence) is present in global climate model (GCM) large ensembles, namely the CESM2-LE, GISS-E2.1-G, FLOR-LE, CNRM-CM6-1, and CanESM5. All models show distinct periods where winter FSIAE anomalies are negatively correlated with the May sea ice thickness (May SIT) anomalies along the Eurasian coastline, and the following Sept Arctic SIE, as in observations. Counterintuitively, several models show occasional periods where winter FSIAE anomalies are positively correlated with the following Sept SIE anomalies when the mean ice thickness is large, or late in the simulation when the sea ice is thin, and/or when internal variability increases. More important, periods with weak correlation between winter FSIAE and the following Sept SIE dominate, suggesting that summer melt processes generally dominate over late-winter preconditioning and May SIT anomalies. In general, we find that the coupling between the winter FSIAE and ice thickness anomalies along the Eurasian coastline at the onset of the melt season is a ubiquitous feature of GCMs and that the relationship with the following Sept SIE is dependent on the mean Arctic sea ice thickness.
Hydrological Verification of Two Rainfall Short-Term Forecasting Methods with Floods Anticipation Perspective
Authors: Poletti Maria Laura , Lagasio Martina , Parodi Antonio , Milelli Massimo , Mazzarella Vincenzo , Federico Stefano , Campo Lorenzo , Falzacappa Marco , Silvestro Francesco
Published: February 2024

Flood forecasting remains a significant challenge, particularly when dealing with basins characterized by small drainage areas (i.e., 103 km2 or lower with response time in the range 0.5–10 h) especially because of the rainfall prediction uncertainties. This study aims to investigate the performances of streamflow predictions using two short-term rainfall forecast methods. These methods utilize a combination of a nowcasting extrapolation algorithm and numerical weather predictions by employing a three-dimensional variational assimilation system, and nudging assimilation techniques, meteorological radar, and lightning data that are frequently updated, allowing new forecasts with high temporal frequency (i.e., 1–3 h). A distributed hydrological model is used to convert rainfall forecasts into streamflow prediction. The potential of assimilating radar and lightning data, or radar data alone, is also discussed. A hindcast experiment on two rainy periods in the northwest region of Italy was designed. The selected skill scores were analyzed to assess their degradation with increasing lead time, and the results were further aggregated based on basin dimensions to investigate the catchment integration effect. The findings indicate that both rainfall forecast methods yield good performance, with neither definitively outperforming the other. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that, on average, assimilating both radar and lightning data enhances the performance.
Analysis of Snow Multibands and Their Environments with High-Resolution Idealized Simulations
Authors: Leonardo Nicholas M. , Colle Brian A.
Published: February 2024

Nested idealized baroclinic wave simulations at 4-km and 800-m grid spacing are used to analyze the precipitation structures and their evolution in the comma head of a developing extratropical cyclone. After the cyclone spins up by hour 120, snow multibands develop within a wedge-shaped region east of the near-surface low center within a region of 700–500-hPa potential and conditional instability. The cells deepen and elongate northeastward as they propagate north. There is also an increase in 600–500-hPa southwesterly vertical wind shear prior to band development. The system stops producing bands 12 h later as the differential moisture advection weakens, and the instability is depleted by the convection. Sensitivity experiments are run in which the initial stability and horizontal temperature gradient of the baroclinic wave are adjusted by 5%–10%. A 10% decrease in initial instability results in less than half the control run potential instability by 120 h and the cyclone fails to produce multibands. Meanwhile, a 5% decrease in instability delays the development of multibands by 18 h. Meanwhile, decreasing the initial horizontal temperature gradient by 10% delays the growth of vertical shear and instability, corresponding to multibands developing 12–18 h later. Conversely, increasing the horizontal temperature gradient by 10% corresponds to greater vertical shear, resulting in more prolific multiband activity developing ∼12 h earlier. Overall, the relatively large changes in band characteristics over a ∼12-h period (120–133 h) and band evolutions for the sensitivity experiments highlight the potential predictability challenges.

Significance Statement

Multiple-banded precipitation structures are difficult to predict and can greatly impact snowfall forecasts. This study investigates the precipitation bands in the comma head of a low pressure system in a numerical model to systematically isolate the roles of different ambient conditions. The results emphasize that environments with instability (e.g., air free to rise after small upward displacement) and increasing winds with height favor the development of banded structures. The forecast challenge for these bands is illustrated by starting the model with relatively small changes in the temperature field. Decreasing the instability by 10% suppresses band development, while increasing (decreasing) the horizontal temperature change across the system by 10% corresponds to the bands developing 12 h earlier (later).
A Comparison between the Only Two Documented Tornado Outbreak Events in China: Tropical Cyclone versus Extratropical Cyclone Environments
Authors: Wen Jingyi , Meng Zhiyong , Bai Lanqiang , Zhou Ruilin
Published: February 2024

This study documents the features of tornadoes, their parent storms, and the environments of the only two documented tornado outbreak events in China. The two events were associated with Tropical Cyclone (TC) Yagi on 12 August 2018 with 11 tornadoes and with an extratropical cyclone (EC) on 11 July 2021 (EC 711) with 13 tornadoes. Most tornadoes in TC Yagi were spawned from discrete minisupercells, while a majority of tornadoes in EC 711 were produced from supercells imbedded in QLCSs or cloud clusters. In both events, the high-tornado-density area was better collocated with the K index rather than MLCAPE, and with entraining rather than non-entraining parameters possibly due to their sensitivity to midlevel moisture. EC 711 had a larger displacement between maximum entraining CAPE and vertical wind shear than TC Yagi, with the maximum entraining CAPE better collocated with the high-tornado-density area than vertical wind shear. Relative to TC Yagi, EC 711 had stronger entraining CAPE, 0–1-km storm relative helicity, 0–6-km vertical wind shear, and composite parameters such as an entraining significant tornado parameter, which caused its generally stronger tornado vortex signatures (TVSs) and mesocyclones with a larger diameter and longer life span. No significant differences were found in the composite parameter of these two events from U.S. statistics. Although obvious dry air intrusions were observed in both events, no apparent impact was observed on the potential of tornado outbreak in EC 711. In TC Yagi, however, the dry air intrusion may have helped tornado outbreak due to cloudiness erosion and thus the increase in surface temperature and low-level lapse rate.
Updates in the NCEP GFS PBL and Convection Models with Environmental Wind Shear Effect and Modified Entrainment and Detrainment Rates and Their Impacts on the GFS Hurricane and CAPE Forecasts
Authors: Han Jongil , Peng Jiayi , Li Wei , Wang Weiguo , Zhang Zhan , Yang Fanglin , Zheng Weizhong
Published: February 2024

To reduce hurricane intensity bias, the NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) planetary boundary layer (PBL) and convection schemes have been updated with a new parameterization for environmental wind shear and enhanced entrainment and detrainment rates with increasing PBL or subcloud mean turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in their updraft and downdraft mass-flux schemes. Tests with the GFS show that the updated schemes significantly reduce the hurricane intensity bias by reducing the momentum transport in the mass-flux schemes. Along with the reduced intensity bias, the hurricane intensity and track errors have also been reduced. On the other hand, to reduce the PBL overgrowth over areas with a higher vegetation fraction or larger surface roughness, the entrainment rate in the PBL mass-flux scheme has also been increased with increasing vegetation fraction or increasing surface roughness. This entrainment rate increase has increased near-surface moisture, and as a result, helped to increase the underestimated convective available potential energy (CAPE) forecasts over the continental United States.
Delegitimizing Rural Public Health Departments: How Decaying Local News Ecologies, Misinformation, and Radicalization Undermine Community Storytelling Networks
Authors: Usher Nikki
Published: February 2024

This article considers the public communication challenges that health officials in rural America faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. I analyze the role that public health officials played in communicating news and information about the pandemic in 29 rural counties in Illinois. These officials were challenged by a diminished reporting capacity among local media outlets, and by a political radicalization of local Republicans, who no longer regarded local media as trusted nodes in local storytelling networks. I find that while public health officials can help fill a community’s critical information needs about risk and emergency, the public’s take-up of this information depends on sociocultural and political forces that shape the broader communication context.
Local-Level Information-Seeking in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Repertoire Approach
Authors: Edgerly Stephanie , Xu Yu
Published: February 2024

What types of sources did people seek out for local information about COVID-19? In this study, we explore the information-seeking repertoires that Illinois residents had for obtaining information about the spread of COVID-19 within their local communities. We use data from a statewide survey of adults living in Illinois to identify five distinct repertoires that differ in terms of the range of sources consulted and the level of information sought. We then examine how differences in information-seeking repertoires relate to sociodemographics, the type of geographic community respondents live in, and their level of concern about COVID-19. Our results show similarity and divergence in the ways people sought out information about COVID-19 in their local communities, with local news playing a key role in all information-seeking repertoires.
Repairing Journalism’s History of Anti-Black Harm
Authors: Torres Joseph , Watson Collette
Published: February 2024

This article addresses current debates about the future of journalism by arguing that efforts to “save” local journalism will not succeed unless they reckon with the historical role that journalism has played in undermining democracy for Black people and Black communities. The authors are cofounders of a project that calls for media reparations to reconcile and repair the history of anti-Black racism in the U.S. media system. We describe the media industry’s history of racist harms, the structural racism that enabled those harms, and the role that government policy can play in creating a media ecosystem where Black media outlets and voices control the creation and distribution of their own narratives. We then discuss prospects for a reparative approach to the reform of media practice and media policy that focuses on acknowledging and reconciling the media system’s racial harms.
New Ideas for Improving the Economics of Producing Local Journalism
Authors: Nadel Mark S.
Published: February 2024

Many ideas have been proposed for improving the economics of producing journalism, but this article explores a few new ones focused on local journalism. These ideas include an increased reliance upon retired journalists, more collaboration with academic researchers, providing reports to aid those looking to move to a new community, and an outline for allowing news organizations to gain a legal right to a much larger portion of the financial benefits associated with prosocial investigative journalism.
Impact of Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury on One-Year Outcomes in Very Elderly STEMI Patients: Insights From a Multicenter Registry in Northern Italy
Authors: Ruzzarin Alessandro , Muraglia Simone , Fabris Enrico , Caretta Giorgio , Zilio Filippo , Pezzato Andrea , Campo Gianluca , Unterhuber Matthias , Donazzan Luca
Published: February 2024

Data about contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in oldest old (age ≥85 years) ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are scarce. We evaluated the incidence and the 1-year prognostic impact of CA-AKI in this population. Patients were included in a multicenter real-world registry, and CA-AKI was defined according to KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) criteria. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were defined as the composite of all-cause death, stroke, unplanned coronary revascularization, and heart failure hospitalization. The primary outcome was the incidence and impact of CA-AKI on MACCEs at 1 year follow-up. Out of 461 STEMI patients (mean age 88.6 ± 2.9 years), 102 (22.1%) patients developed CA-AKI. Chronic kidney disease was the strongest predictor of CA-AKI (odds ratio [OR]: 4.52, 95% CI: 2.81–7.30, P < .01). The CA-AKI cohort showed a higher risk of MACCEs (adjusted HR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.13–2.71, P = .01), driven mainly by all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.41–4.07, P = .01) and followed by heart failure hospitalization (adjusted HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.08–3.76, P = .01). Among oldest old STEMI, CA-AKI was frequent and associated with a higher incidence of MACCEs at 1-year follow-up.
Governance by intermediarization. Insights into the digital infrastructuring of education in Estonia
Authors: Hartong Sigrid
Published: February 2024

With the rising prevalence of digital data, infrastructures and platforms in education, the challenge of conceptualizing and investigating ‘intermediaries’ has substantially increased. This not only refers to various new types of actors that have been materializing around practices of data infrastructuring (e.g., data management), but equally to the rising empowerment of data infrastructures themselves as intermediaries of policy and governance. The aim of this article is to sharpen our conceptual understanding of this interrelation between intermediaries and data infrastructuring. More specifically, the article suggests to approach intermediaries through a lens on performative contexting, thus shifting the focus towards how ‘intermediary contexting’ is used, by whom and where exactly, rather than seeking to map intermediaries as an object ‘from the outside’. Data infrastructuring, then, can be regarded both as part, and as a result, of such contexting efforts. Using Estonia as a case study, it is shown what we see (differently) when applying such a lens to the digital transformation of education. The findings hereby indicate a gradual emergence of what could be described as ‘governance by intermediarization’: a process in which more and more actors are shifted into the (self)contexting as infrastructural stewards, while the politics of digital transformation become centered – i.e., seemingly depoliticized – around asserting continuous change through digital connection.
National Economic Association (NEA) Accomplishments: February 2023 – January 2024
Authors: Viceisza Angelino
Published: February 2024

This article lists the NEA board’s main accomplishments during the period from February 2023 to January 2024 as summarized in my farewell letter to the NEA membership (sent on January 31, 2024).
Social Inequalities in Study Trajectories: A Comparison of the United States and Germany
Authors: Haas Christina , Hadjar Andreas
Published: February 2024

Social origin affects not only access to higher education but also how students proceed through higher education. Based on the argument that an advantageous family background facilitates linear study trajectories through parents’ provision of cultural and economic resources, this article investigates study trajectories in Germany and the United States, assessing the institutional structures as an intermediating factor. We reconstruct study trajectories of bachelor-degree-seeking students using sequence analysis based on two high-quality panel data sets (U.S. Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study and the German National Educational Panel Study). The findings reveal that study trajectories are more complex overall and shaped by social origin in the United States. In both countries, study trajectories differ by higher education institution type. We conclude that not only are access pathways to higher education shaped by the institutional context of higher education systems but also that study trajectories and the disparities structured by socioeconomic background are equally institutionally embedded.
Technocratic totalitarianism: Gunnar Kaiser and dissident discourse in pandemic-era Germany
Authors: Crew Thomas
Published: February 2024

This article examines the ideas, reception and social role of Germany’s most prominent cultural critic of lockdown politics, Gunnar Kaiser. In contrast to the majority of European intellectuals, Kaiser took an early public stand against the naive adoption of science as a social authority and the unprecedented overturning of core democratic principles. He argued that without vigorous, open debate, the worldwide state of emergency threatened to usher in a fundamentally new (bio)political era, in which liberal democracy would be replaced by an increasingly totalitarian technocracy. Yet despite his voluminous philosophical output, which included a highly creative and increasingly professionalised YouTube channel as well as two best-selling books, Kaiser found himself largely excluded from mainstream German discourse. Crew analyses the full range of Kaiser’s interventions while also situating him within the broader landscape of European dissent.
Model predictive control for three-axle trucks during tire blowout on expressway based on equivalent chassis
Authors: Fang Chao , Yue Ming , Shangguan Jinyong , Xu Chen
Published: February 2024

Unexpected tire blowout on expressway is one of the most dangerous scenarios for heavy load multi-axle trucks, especially under the inexperienced driver’s improper intervention. To this end, this paper proposes an autonomous tire blowout controller for three-axle trucks based on model predictive control (MPC) method. First of all, aiming at balancing the computing load and the path-tracking accuracy, an equivalent chassis is transformed based on the stable two-dimensional vehicle dynamic model. Second, a tire blowout–oriented vehicle high-fidelity dynamic model is established based on the equivalent chassis, in which the vehicle lateral, yaw, and roll motions are all considered at the same time. Then, an MPC-based dynamic control strategy is proposed to achieve effective tire blowout suppression with the consideration of vehicle rollover stability. Afterward, a transient vertical tire force shock is employed to simulate the real tire blowout behavior, on which two typical scenarios are constructed based on the TruckSim–Simulink co-simulation platform. The simulation results illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. In two different dangerous tire blowout conditions, the lateral load transfer rate (LTR) value of the vehicle is reduced by 3.45% and 40.87%, respectively, while the trajectory tracking error is reduced at the same time.
How palliative care professionals develop coping competence through their career: A grounded theory
Authors: Arantzamendi Maria , Sapeta Paula , Belar Alazne , Centeno Carlos
Published: February 2024

Background:

Palliative care professionals face emotional challenges when caring for patients with serious advanced diseases. Coping skills are essential for working in palliative care. Several types of coping strategies are mentioned in the literature as protective. However, little is known about how coping skills are developed throughout a professional career.

Aim:

To develop an explanatory model of coping for palliative care professionals throughout their professional career.

Design:

A grounded theory study. Two researchers conducted constant comparative analysis of interviews.

Setting/participants:

Palliative care nurses and physicians across nine services from Spain and Portugal ( n = 21). Theoretical sampling included professionals who had not continued working in palliative care.

Results:

Professionals develop their coping mechanisms in an iterative five-stage process. Although these are successive stages, each one can be revisited later. First: commencing with a very positive outlook and emotion, characterized by contention. Second: recognizing one’s own vulnerability and experiencing the need to disconnect. Third: proactively managing emotions with the support of workmates. Fourth: cultivating an integrative approach to care and understanding one’s own limitations. Fifth: grounding care on inner balance and a transcendent perspective. This is a transformative process in which clinical cases, teamwork, and selfcare are key factors. Through this process, the sensations of feeling overwhelmed sometimes can be reversed because the professional has come to understand how to care for themselves.

Conclusions:

The explicative model presents a pathway for personal and professional growth, by accumulating strategies that modulate emotional responses and encourage an ongoing passion for work.
A transhumeral prosthesis with an artificial neuromuscular system: Sim2real-guided design, modeling, and control
Authors: Toedtheide Alexander , Fortunić Edmundo Pozo , Kühn Johannes , Jensen Elisabeth , Haddadin Sami
Published: February 2024

In this work we introduce a new type of human-inspired upper-limb prostheses. The Artificial Neuromuscular Prosthesis (ANP) imitates the human neuromuscular system in the sense of its compliance, backdrivability, natural motion, proprioceptive sensing, and kinesthetics. To realize this challenging goal, we introduce a novel human-inspired and simulation-based development paradigm to design the prosthesis mechatronics in correspondence to the human body. The ANP provides body awareness, contact awareness, and human-like contact response, realized via floating base rigid-body models, disturbance observers, and joint impedance control—concepts known from established state-of-the-art robotics. The ANP mechatronics is characterized by a four degrees of freedom (dof) torque-controlled human-like kinematics, a tendon-driven 2-dof wrist, and spatial orientation sensing at a weight of 1.7 kg (without hand and battery). The paper deals with the rigorous mathematical modeling, control, design and evaluation of this device type along initially defined requirements within a single prototype only. The proposed systemic and grasping capabilities are verified under laboratory conditions by an unimpaired user. Future work will increase the technology readiness level of the next generation device, where human studies with impaired users will be done.
RoBUTCHER: A novel robotic meat factory cell platform
Authors: Mason Alex , de Medeiros Esper Ian , Korostynska Olga , Cordova-Lopez Luis Eduardo , Romanov Dmytro , Pinceková Michaela , Bjørnstad Per Håkon , Alvseike Ole , Popov Anton , Smolkin Oleh , Manko Maksym , Christensen Lars Bager , Takács Kristóf , Haidegger Tamás
Published: February 2024

Automation is critically important for sustainability in meat production, where heavy reliance on human labour is a growing challenge. In this work, a novel robotic Meat Factory Cell (MFC) platform presents the opportunity for unconventional automation in pork meat processing, particularly abattoirs. Instead of following line-based approaches, which are the main option today, it uses robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to perform complex cutting and manipulation operations on entire unchilled pork carcasses, with awareness of biological variation and deformation. The long-term goal of the MFC is to take a pork carcass as an input and produce seven primal outputs: hams, shoulders, saddle, belly and entire organ set. However, the MFC platform is under continuous development – therefore, this paper aims to demonstrate it through a specific use-case: shoulder removal. The system is evaluated based on data from testing and development sessions (June–November 2022), with a total of 34 attempted shoulder removals. Data regarding the MFCs’ ability to handle variation, in addition to success rate and process timing models are presented. Qualitative feedback from skilled butchers is also discussed. The authors propose that, as well as technical development of the platform, it is important to consider new ways of comparing unconventional systems with their conventional counterparts. Innovative manufacturing systems have more to offer than raw speed and volume; traits such as flexibility, robustness and scalability – particularly economic scalability – should play a prominent role. Future legislation and standards must also encourage innovation rather than hinder innovative robotics solutions.
The Sexual Landscape of Youth: How Adolescents From the U.S. Make Sense of Sexting
Authors: Daniels Elizabeth A. , Dajches Leah , Terán Larissa , Gahler Heather , Choi Hye Jeong , Speno Ashton , Stevens Aubrey Jennifer
Published: February 2024

The present study examined the role of sexting in adolescents’ peer environment and romantic relationships with attention to gender patterns. Thirty adolescent girls and boys (ages 16 or 17) of varying racial/ethnic background residing in Los Angeles or Phoenix participated in in-depth interviews about their experiences and attitudes toward sexting. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. In total, we identified 5 main themes and 15 subthemes. Participants reported that sexting is normal in their peer groups (Main theme #1 Everyone’s Doing It) and that sexting occurs within a cultural milieu of the sexual double standard (Main theme #2 Sexual Double Standard). They described sexting as a part of expressing romantic interest in someone and playing a role in defining and furthering romantic relationships (Main theme #3 Romantic Relationships). Participants also identified social (Main theme #4 Social Consequences) as well as psychological and long-term consequences of sexting (Main theme #5 Psychological or Long-Term Consequences). Findings of this study have implications for educational interventions.
Spain’s Long Shadow: The Black Legend, Off-Whiteness, and Anglo-American Empire: A retrospective
Authors: DeGuzmán María
Published: February 2024

Located at the intersection of American Studies, LatinX Studies, and Romance Studies, the scholarly book Spain’s Long Shadow: The Black Legend, Off-Whiteness, and Anglo-American Empire turns a “critical ethnic studies” lens on Anglo-American culture. It argues that constructions of Anglo-American identity as “American” have depended on figures of Spain. These figurations have been crucial to the dominant Anglo fictions of “American” exceptionalism, revolution, and manifest destiny; to Anglo-America’s articulation of its empire as an anti-empire; and to its fears of racial contamination and hybridity. Spain’s Long Shadow unfolds the story of one imperialist shadowing another. Now, nearly two decades since its publication, what insights and which questions linger, especially as we engage with what Claudia Milian has termed “a globally entangled LatinX Studies”? Pushing off from Spain’s Long Shadow’s concluding thoughts, this essay responds to that question in relation to the more than 3 million-plus people of a heterogeneous LatinX diaspora living in Spain today. This estimate constitutes approximately 6.4% of Spain’s current population, which is also Europe’s largest concentration of LatinXs. This undertaking is conceptualized as a retrospective—a thinking piece that looks at the past, the present time, and the speculative future to postulate and assess global LatinX processes. The piece fleshes out and updates Spain’s Long Shadow’s invitation to develop new perspectives, frameworks, and scholarship on the transatlantic transcultural impetus of LatinX cultural production from South-North and West-East axes of orientation.
Shifts at the margin of European welfare states: How important is food aid in complementing inadequate minimum incomes?
Authors: Hermans Karen , Cantillon Bea , Marchal Sarah
Published: February 2024

In recent decades, disappointing poverty trends and welfare state limitations in many European countries – including constraints on minimum income benefits – have paved the way for a larger role of the third sector. An interesting but controversial form of third-sector in-kind support is food aid provision. In Europe, food aid is, so far, a non-rights-based practice displaying worrisome discretionary and stigmatizing characteristics. Yet, the phenomenon of food aid in Europe has spread, professionalized, and penetrated the institutions of the welfare state. This raises the question if, how and to what extent food aid plays a role in bypassing structural constraints on minimum income protection. This article applies an exploratory case study approach to estimate the monetary value of food aid in relation to statutory minimum incomes in four EU-countries. We use cross-nationally comparable food reference budgets to price food aid packages in Belgium, Finland, Hungary and Spain. The results show that food aid, although not sufficient to close the at-risk-of-poverty gap, is non-trivial for some European households. In Spain and Belgium food aid packages can reach up to €100 a month (expressing 7% to 11% of respective minimum income benefit levels). Importantly, we perceive (formalized) cooperation and interaction between local welfare agencies and food charities in all countries, suggesting that welfare state actors use non-rights-based food aid for filling gaps in the social safety net. The large between- and within-country variation of the monetary values of food aid packages points, however, to food aid as a problematic discretionary practice.
The barn owl as an accumulator of bone remains in central western Argentina: multi-taxa neo-taphonomic approach and implications for Holocene contexts
Authors: Rubini Facundo Sesto , Mignino Julián , Guardia Nicolás M , Zarco Agustín , Teta Pablo , Ojeda Agustina A , López José Manuel
Published: February 2024

Barn owls are the most widely distributed group of owls in the world and are among the most common accumulators of small vertebrate remains at archeological and paleontological sites. Despite its importance as a bone remains accumulator and predictor of paleoenvironmental conditions due to its generalist habits, the vertebrate prey of this raptor has been scarcely studied from an ecological community perspective, especially considering the diverse range of prey it captures. Archeological, paleontological, and taphonomic studies typically reveal taxon-specific patterns, focusing primarily on small rodents. In order to overcome this problem, we studied an assemblage of vertebrate bones from barn owl pellets in the central Monte Desert of Argentina. Our analysis included the full range of prey taxa, including rodents, marsupials, birds, and reptiles, addressed from both an ecological and neo-taphonomic perspective. We compare the taxonomic and taphonomic findings with those from regional small vertebrate records obtained from various sampling types over the past 50 years to explore recent environmental changes within the Anthropocene. The assemblage of small vertebrate prey presented here comprises five species of cricetids, one species from the Caviidae family, and at least one ctenomyid rodent species. Additionally, the assemblage includes one species of didelphid marsupial, one reptile species, and at least six passeriform bird species that belong to separate families. The overall taphonomic trends are consistent with the typical barn owl pattern. However, our analysis identified a larger percentage of postcranial elements exhibiting signs of digestion compared to pellet-derived vertebrate bone assemblages previously documented. Furthermore, it is important to note that a significant proportion of avian bone fragments exhibit distinct signs of digestion.
Informal Mindfulness Practices: A New Approach to the Prevention and Treatment of Parental Burnout
Authors: Urbanowicz Agata M. , Shankland Rebecca , Rance Jaynie , Bennett Paul , Gauchet Aurélie
Published: February 2024

The present study assessed the effectiveness of informal mindfulness practice among parents in terms of parental burnout prevention and treatment. The objective was to test the new approach of informal mindfulness practice, the FOVEA program, implemented in daily activities rather than based on formal meditations. Indeed, traditional mindfulness programs (e.g., mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, MBSR) require a 45-min daily meditation practice which can be difficult to include in parents’ tight schedules, and even more for the parents suffering from or at risk of parental burnout. In contrast, the FOVEA program was designed to enhance the awareness of the present moment in ecological context mainly using the five senses and awareness of breath and body sensations. We tested the hypothesis that compared to the waitlist control group parents participating in the program would present a greater reduction of parental burnout scores following the intervention. The results revealed a statistically significant large effect of FOVEA intervention on parental burnout severity. There was a statistically significant decrease in parental burnout symptoms between T1 and T2 within the intervention group and no statistically significant difference in parental burnout within the waitlist control group. Thus, informal mindfulness practice seems to effectively prevent and reduce parental burnout.
Liesegang Rings in a Patient With Pulmonary Tuberculosis: The First Report
Authors: Pujani Mukta , Jain Manjula , Pujani Meenu , Rajpoot Jyoti , Yadav Alka , Goel Himani
Published: February 2024

Liesegang rings are eosinophilic, concentric, lamellated structures that can assume a variety of shapes and sizes ranging from a few microns to hundreds of microns. To date, Liesegang rings have been reported in around 30 examples in the English literature, in the kidney, breast, female genital tract, and skin, and only a single report in the lung associated with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Liesegang rings are usually incidental discoveries and have been associated with benign cystic lesions, inflammatory diseases, fibrosis, and tissue necrosis. Their typical appearance helps differentiate them from their mimics including parasites, foreign materials, corpora amylacae, and psammoma bodies. We report Liesegang rings in a 62-year-old male patient with pulmonary tuberculosis to create awareness about this rare entity among pathologists to avoid its misdiagnosis as a parasitic infection.
Us Versus Them? The Problem of Cognitive Distortions in Policing
Authors: Wolfe Scott E. , Mclean Kyle , Alpert Geoffrey P. , Rojek Jeff
Published: February 2024

The literature on cognitive distortions offers insight on why we continue to face reform challenges regarding police use of force- and citizen interaction-related outcomes. We used two studies of police officers to determine the extent to which one cognitive distortion—dichotomous thinking—was associated with problematic orientations about use of force and citizen interactions. In Study 1, we found that dichotomous thinking was associated with weaker support for de-escalation, procedural justice, and maintaining self-control during hypothetical citizen interactions. Dichotomous thinking also was associated with more support for force-related misconduct. Study 2 showed that officers who engaged in dichotomous thinking were more likely to perceive an immediate and serious threat from watching suspects in body-worn camera videos. Also, they were more likely to believe suspects had greater ability, opportunity, and intent to cause harm. We discuss the practical implications of these findings for policing and police reform.
Impact of weight reduction on structural and functional parameters of the optic nerve in idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Authors: Banerjee Mousumi , Phuljhele Swati , Saxena Rohit , Sharma Pradeep , Misra Vasundhra , Vibha Deepti , Pandit Awadh Kishor
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of weight reduction on the structural and functional parameters of the optic nerve in established cases of papilledema in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH).

Methods

A prospective observational study in early and established cases of papilledema in IIH presenting from December 2019 to February 2021. Functional parameters (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, mean deviation, VER), structural parameters (RNFL, GCL-IPL, and optic disc height), and clinical grading of papilledema were measured at baseline and every 6 weeks for 6 months. All patients underwent medical (oral acetazolamide) and diet therapy.

Results

Mean body mass index (BMI) at presentation was 26.32 ± 3.52 kg/m² and the mean change in BMI over 6 months was 1.27 ± 0.50 kg/m². 67% of eyes had papilledema of grades 2–3 at the presentation. At the end of 6 months, 75% of eyes had grade 1 papilledema while 13% showed complete resolution. A reduction of 5.32 ± 3.58 in mean deviation (r = 0.316; p-value 0.01) and gain in VER P100 amplitude of 4.2 ± 2.7 µV (r = 0.40; p-value 0.003) were noted over 6 months with reduction in BMI over 6 months. A statistically significant reduction in optic disc height (ODH) was noticed with BMI reduction over 6 months (p = 0.0007; r = 0.45). A reduction of 1.72 ± 0.90 kg/m² ( equivalent to 6.53% weight loss) in BMI was associated with a four-grade change in clinical grading of papilledema.

Conclusion

Reduction in BMI had a significant impact on both structural and functional parameters of the optic nerve in IIH. The involvement of a well-certified dietician should be an integral part of treatment in IIH.
Epibulbar simple cartilaginous choristoma associated with unique pigmented multicystic component
Authors: Yu Julia , Eagle Ralph C , Syed Zeba A
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To report an atypical presentation of an epibulbar simple cartilaginous choristoma with a unique pigmented multicystic component.

Case Description

A 69-year-old African American female presented for evaluation of a right nasal epibulbar lesion that had progressed over the prior year. Slit-lamp evaluation revealed an immobile, mildly pigmented multicystic lesion measuring 6.0 × 4.5 mm that involved the nasal bulbar conjunctiva and the plica semilunaris. The lesion appeared benign, without feeder vessels or features of epithelial dysplasia. Given its recent growth and the patient's cosmetic concerns, the lesion was excised with ocular surface reconstruction. Histopathological evaluation disclosed a well-circumscribed nodule of well-differentiated cartilage in the substantia propria, consistent with a simple cartilaginous choristoma. The overlying conjunctival stroma contained multiple cysts lined by focally pigment epithelium. The patient recovered well from surgery, with satisfactory cosmetic results.

Conclusions

Our case of epibulbar simple cartilaginous choristoma includes a prominent superficial component of pigmented epithelial cysts, which has not been previously reported in the literature. This augments our knowledge on the spectrum of presentations of cartilaginous choristomas and underscores the importance of histopathological evaluation for definitive diagnosis.
Development and characterization of eco-friendly extruded green composites using PLA/wood dust fillers
Authors: Parikh Hiral H , Chokshi Sagar , Chaudhary Vijay , Oza Ankit D , Prakash Chander
Published: February 2024

Nowadays, there is a rising demand for bio-composite materials driven by the increasing need for sustainable alternatives and a desire to lessen dependence on conventional materials. These bio-composites resent eco-friendly solutions to address these challenges. In line with this, the present study focuses on the bio composite material which developed from polylactic acid (PLA) and wood dust (NF). Wood dust sourced from teak wood plants was employed as fillers. PLA served as the matrix material, supplemented with the plasticizer polyethylene glycol (PEG) to enhance PLA processing. The PLA/NF filament was produced through the extrusion process, and specimens were prepared using 3D printing techniques in accordance with ASTM standards. Various properties including mechanical, physical, thermal stability, and tribological properties were examined. Morphological structures were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The test results demonstrated improvements in enhanced mechanical robustness and tribological performance of the PLA composite. The tensile strength of the PLA/wood composite was enhanced by 11%. The hardness value of the PLA/wood composite increased by 27% with the addition of wood as filler material. However, the introduction of wood as filler material led to degradation in physical properties. The water absorption test revealed a thickness change of approximately 14% for the PLA wood composite, whereas for pure PLA, it was 9%. Thermal stability tests showed that the temperature resistance of PLA improved to 250 °C with the introduction of wood fillers. Biodegradability tests indicated that PLA wood composite has the potential to address environmental concerns associated with conventional materials.
Teachers’ cognition and classroom implementation of tasks in task-supported language teaching (TSLT)
Authors: Tajeddin Zia , Mansouri Abbas
Published: February 2024

Research into language teacher cognition has expanded over the past two decades. This line of inquiry has contributed to our understanding of teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and classroom behaviors. Whereas prior studies have investigated teachers’ cognition of tasks in task-based language teaching (TBLT), to date exploring their cognition in task-supported language teaching (TSLT), particularly in the Iranian context, has received scant attention. To fill this research gap, the present study aimed to provide insights into English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ cognition of tasks and task implementation in a TSLT setting. Data were collected through classroom observations and semi-structured interviews with four Iranian EFL teachers. Findings revealed that the teachers perceived tasks as a worthwhile area for their teaching as these pedagogical tools provide learners with opportunities to practice previously taught language items orally and enhance motivation and interaction among learners. However, the participants’ cognition of tasks and task implementation were not completely aligned with the conceptualizations proposed in the literature. On the other hand, there was a relatively strong consistency between teachers’ cognition of tasks and their task implementation practices. In light of the present findings, possible implications for teacher-preparation programs in TSLT including equipping teachers with professional knowledge about tasks and task implementation are presented.
Microstructure and failure behavior of ultrasonic-assisted resistance spot welded AA6061/Ti6Al4V joints
Authors: He Mohan , He Yingjun , He Hongyi , Wang Jinxiang , Wang Yuanxun
Published: February 2024

The ultrasonic-assisted resistance spot welding (UaRSW) technique was applied to join AA6061 aluminum alloy to Ti6Al4V titanium alloy, the microstructure and mechanical performance of the joints with and without ultrasonic were investigated. Ultrasonic increased the maximum load by 43%, doubled the displacement at fracture and significantly enhanced energy absorption capacity. The solid phase transformation zone formed in Ti6Al4V, and its microstructure was lath martensite. Due to the welding defects and coarse columnar dendrite, conventional spot welded joints fractured by interfacial failure mode with poor performance. Ultrasonic promoted the diffusion of AA6061, removed the welding defects, generated consistent equiaxed grains in weld zone, and the joints fractured in AA6061 base metal by button pull-out mode result from the higher bonding strength.
Literacy in nonspeaking autistic people
Authors: Jaswal Vikram K , Lampi Andrew J , Stockwell Kayden M
Published: February 2024

Autistic people who cannot speak risk being underestimated. Their inability to speak, along with other unconventional behaviors and mannerisms, can give rise to limiting assumptions about their capacities, including their capacity to acquire literacy. In this preregistered study, we developed a task to investigate whether autistic adolescents and adults with limited or no phrase speech ( N = 31) have learned English orthographic conventions. Participants played a game that involved tapping sequentially pulsing targets on an iPad as quickly as they could. Three patterns in their response times suggest they know how to spell: (a) They were faster to tap letters of the alphabet that pulsed in sequences that spelled sentences than letters or nonsense symbols that pulsed in closely matched but meaningless sequences; (b) they responded more quickly to pairs of letters in meaningful sequences the more often the letters co-occur in English; and (c) they spontaneously paused before tapping the first pulsing letter of a new word. These findings suggest that nonspeaking autistic people can acquire foundational literacy skills. With appropriate instruction and support, it might be possible to harness these skills to provide nonspeaking autistic people access to written forms of communication as an alternative to speech.

Lay abstract

Many autistic people who do not talk cannot tell other people what they know or what they are thinking. As a result, they might not be able to go to the schools they want, share feelings with friends, or get jobs they like. It might be possible to teach them to type on a computer or tablet instead of talking. But first, they would have to know how to spell. Some people do not believe that nonspeaking autistic people can learn to spell. We did a study to see if they can. We tested 31 autistic teenagers and adults who do not talk much or at all. They played a game on an iPad where they had to tap flashing letters. After they played the game, we looked at how fast they tapped the letters. They did three things that people who know how to spell would do. First, they tapped flashing letters faster when the letters spelled out sentences than when the letters made no sense. Second, they tapped letters that usually go together faster than letters that do not usually go together. This shows that they knew some spelling rules. Third, they paused before tapping the first letter of a new word. This shows that they knew where one word ended and the next word began. These results suggest that many autistic people who do not talk can learn how to spell. If they are given appropriate opportunities, they might be able to learn to communicate by typing.