bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency- and polarization-dependent lensing of gravitational waves in strong gravitational fields
Authors: Oancea Marius A. , Stiskalek Richard , Zumalacárregui Miguel
Published: June 2024

The propagation of gravitational waves can be described in terms of null geodesics by using the geometrical optics approximation. However, at large but finite frequencies the propagation is affected by the spin-orbit coupling corrections to geometrical optics, known as the gravitational spin Hall effect. Consequently, gravitational waves follow slightly different frequency- and polarization-dependent trajectories, leading to dispersive and birefringent phenomena. We study the potential for detecting the gravitational spin Hall effect in hierarchical triple black hole systems, consisting of an emitting binary orbiting a more massive body acting as a gravitational lens. We calculate the difference in time of arrival with respect to the geodesic propagation and find that it follows a simple power-law dependence on frequency with a fixed exponent. We calculate the gravitational spin Hall-corrected waveform and its mismatch with respect to the original waveform. The waveform carries a measurable imprint of the strong gravitational field if the source, lens, and observer are sufficiently aligned, or for generic observers if the source is close enough to the lens. We present constraints on dispersive time delays from GWTC-3, translated from limits on Lorentz invariance violation. Finally, we address the sensitivity of current and future ground detectors to dispersive lensing. Our results demonstrate that the gravitational spin Hall effect can be detected, providing a novel probe of general relativity and the environments of compact binary systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Automated spectrometer alignment via machine learning
Authors: Feuer-Forson Peter , Hartmann Gregor , Mitzner Rolf , Baumgärtel Peter , Weniger Christian , Agåker Marcus , Meier David , Wernet Phillipe , Viefhaus Jens
Published: June 2024

During beam time at a research facility, alignment and optimization of instrumentation, such as spectrometers, is a time-intensive task and often needs to be performed multiple times throughout the operation of an experiment. Despite the motorization of individual components, automated alignment solutions are not always available. In this study, a novel approach that combines optimisers with neural network surrogate models to significantly reduce the alignment overhead for a mobile soft X-ray spectrometer is proposed. Neural networks were trained exclusively using simulated ray-tracing data, and the disparity between experiment and simulation was obtained through parameter optimization. Real-time validation of this process was performed using experimental data collected at the beamline. The results demonstrate the ability to reduce alignment time from one hour to approximately five minutes. This method can also be generalized beyond spectrometers, for example, towards the alignment of optical elements at beamlines, making it applicable to a broad spectrum of research facilities.
Novel multi-material topology optimization method for multi-segmented permanent magnet motors
Authors: Hidaka Yuki
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel optimization method that can improve the convergence of the multi-material topology.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed method, the optimization procedure is divided into two steps. In the first step, a global search is performed to probabilistically determine the material distribution of multi-segmented magnets. In the second step, the design area is limited and a local search is performed to determine the detailed magnet shape.

Findings

Because the first optimization step determines the arrangement of the magnetization vectors according to the rotational position, as in a d-axis flux concentration orientation, the optimal solution can be obtained with a smaller volume of magnets than the conventional method.

Research limitations/implications

Because a few case studies are considered in this paper, additional verification is required, such as application to different types of motors, to clarify scalability.

Practical implications

The solution obtained using the proposed method has a smaller amount of magnet than the solution obtained using the conventional method and can fully satisfy the average torque constraint.

Originality/value

The proposed method differs from the conventional method in that the material distribution is determined according to the probability function in the first optimization step.
No end and no beginning; race equity in higher education
Authors: Shakir Syra
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To provide insights around navigating, coping and tackling racial inequalities at university through three key areas: peer support through sharing stories, motivating others in the call to action through developing an anti-racist socially just consciousness and student staff co-creation to build belonging and community at university.

Design/methodology/approach

Varied approaches are included around pedagogy, curriculum, peer support, using creative outputs, sharing stories and valuing student wisdom through co-creation underpinned by empirical research.

Findings

I concede that establishing race equity in higher education continues to be an ongoing struggle, complete with trials, tribulations and trauma. As “The Forced Silence” outlines, to affect any changes in the institution or in the community and wider society, the changes have to take place at the peer level initially, as it is people and individuals who make up the system. This means that tackling racism is everyone’s business and we all have a responsibility for this work. Privileged folks who are seemingly disaffected by racial discrimination are indeed misguided, as racism is an illness in society and significantly harms our global community. Within higher education institutions, educators occupy a position of power (Hearn, 2012), which I argue we must use in a socially just manner to support all our students to succeed. By embodying and enacting care, compassion and respect within our practice, we can then instil the same in our students, just as we would do for our own children. Our students, just like our children, can then go into society as holistic and socially just conscious members of our community, which I argue is even more important than graduating with a good university degree.

Originality/value

I use a range of original poetry and theory with a view to supporting my academic professional practice in higher education.
The relationship between inequality and poverty in developing countries: mitigating role of virtual social network and internet access in schools
Authors: Asongu Simplice , Agyemang-Mintah Peter
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This research complements the extant literature on poverty and inequality by assessing the role of “virtual social networks” and “internet access in schools” in mitigating the incidence of inequality on poverty.

Design/methodology/approach

Using secondary data, the focus of the study is on developing countries and the empirical evidence is based on Tobit regressions.

Findings

The study shows that inequality unconditionally increases poverty while “virtual social networks” and “internet access in schools” negatively moderate the effect of inequality on poverty. An extended analysis provides thresholds of “virtual social networks” and “internet access in schools” at which, the unconditional positive effect of inequality on poverty is completely dampened and above which, negative incidences on poverty are apparent. These attendant information technology thresholds are below average levels in the sampled countries.

Originality/value

The study complements that extant literature by assessing the role of virtual social networks and internet access in schools in mitigating the incidence of inequality on poverty in developing countries. Policy implications are discussed in the light of Sustainable Development Goals.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-09-2023-0695
Interlinkages between bilateral investment treaties and FDI flows to emerging economies: evidence from BRICS
Authors: Gupta Surbhi , Attree Arun Kumar , Thakur Ranjana , Garg Vishal
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) in attracting higher foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the major emerging economies namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) from the source developed, developing and other emerging economies over a period of 18 years from 2001 to 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

To estimate the results, panel data regression on a gravity-knowledge capital model has been used. To account for the problem of endogeneity we have used the two-step difference Generalised Method of Moments estimator proposed by Arellano and Bond (1991).

Findings

We find that contradictory to theory and expectations, BITs result in a fall in FDI inflows in BRICS economies. BITs ratified by BRICS economies are not able to provide a sound and secure investment environment to foreign investors, thereby discouraging FDI in these economies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the impact of BITs on FDI inflows into the emerging BRICS economies. Further, the impact of BITs on FDI flows among developed nations, i.e. north-north FDI and from developed to developing countries, i.e. north-south FDI has already been studied by many researchers. But so far, no study has examined this impact on FDI among developing and emerging economies (south-south FDI), despite an increase in FDI flows among these economies. Therefore, this study seeks to overcome the limitations of previous studies and tries to find out the impact of BITs on FDI inflows in BRICS economies not only from source developed but also from source developing and other emerging economies.
Working with service robots in the dining room: Employees’ perspectives and realities
Authors: Mejia Cynthia , Crandell Hannah A. , Broker Emily , Shoss Mindy
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate restaurant and foodservice workers’ perceptions of working with a service robot and the extent to which the workers’ well-being was impacted by a mandated service robot adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a qualitative methodology where 42 US restaurant and foodservice workers from two organizations were interviewed. The data analyzed generated 1,302 coded segments that clustered into six overarching themes.

Findings

The findings from this research revealed that restaurant and foodservice workers who regularly use service robots in the dining room experience a complex set of issues and challenges related to robot reliability, management training and support, leveraging the robot to entertain the customer, feelings of dread, anger and frustration, and indications of decreased physical exertion as a proxy for well-being.

Research limitations/implications

As an initial qualitative investigation, the results of this study can be used as a starting point for quantitative investigations, as well as informing restaurant and foodservice industry stakeholders as to the best practices for a comprehensive and successful service robot adoption and integration.

Originality/value

This research presents an intersection between service robot technology acceptance with worker well-being using a broad range of frameworks including National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Future of Work, SERVQUAL and technology acceptance models to gain a deep and rich set of service worker perspectives.
Multidimensional product market performance evaluation based on a weak expert comparative viewpoint mining framework
Authors: Wang Chao , Jiang Xiaoyan , Li Qing , Hu Zijuan , Lin Jie
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Market evaluation of products is the basis for product innovation, yet traditional expert-based evaluation methods are highly dependent on the specialization of experts. There exist a lot of weak expert-generated texts on the Internet of their own subjective evaluations of products. Analyzing these texts can indirectly extract the opinions of weak experts and transform them into decision-support information that assists product designers in understanding the market.

Design/methodology/approach

In social networks, a subset of users, termed “weak experts”, possess specialized knowledge and frequently share their product experiences online. This study introduces a comparative opinion mining framework that leverages the insights of “weak experts” to analyze user opinions.

Findings

An automotive product case study demonstrates that evaluations based on weak expert insights offer managerial insights with a 99.4% improvement in timeliness over traditional expert analyses. Furthermore, in the few-shot sentiment analysis module, with only 10% of the sample, the precision loss is just 1.59%. In addition, the quantitative module of specialization weighting balances low-specialization expert opinions and boosts the weight of high-specialization weak expert views. This new framework offers a valuable tool for companies in product innovation and market strategy development.

Originality/value

This study introduces a novel approach to opinion mining by focusing on the underutilized insights of weak experts. It combines few-shot sentiment analysis with specialization weighting and AHP, offering a comprehensive and efficient tool for product evaluation and market analysis.
Informal household-practiced urban agriculture as a contributor to sustainability and resilience: the case of Emirati neighbourhoods
Authors: Alhaddad Hadia , Galal Ahmed Khaled
Published: June 2024

Purpose

While urban farming is advocated as a contributor to urban sustainability and resilience, the “informal” household-practiced urban agriculture activities are taking place within urban spaces in most Emirati neighbourhoods but unfortunately without investigating their potential as participatory processes that could efficiently help attain urban sustainability and resilience on the neighbourhood level. So, this research is a humble attempt to bridge the gap of the lack of official recognition of informal residents-led processes and their products in a way that help understand them and their impacts and to explore the possibility of developing them further into wider community shared urban agriculture activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted the case study method and selected a representative neighbourhood to investigate informal residents-led urban agriculture practices. The utilized qualitative–quantitative investigation tools included map analysis, field observation and in-depth interviews with the residents of the selected neighbourhood.

Findings

The results of the research have revealed that the residents managed to successfully pursue informal urban farming processes that have led to significant environmental, social and economic sustainability and resilience outcomes. While these informal urban farming activities are performed individually by each household, the interviewed residents have shown enthusiasm to take part in larger-scale collective community urban farming activities, especially in the deserted public and semi-public spaces in their neighbourhood.

Originality/value

The research outcomes significantly contribute to the growing worldwide discourse about urban agriculture/farming, especially in a country like the UAE where such activities are almost overlooked. Based on its findings, the research concludes by proposing a set of recommended actions to legitimatize these informal urban agriculture processes in the urban development regulations and to build on them to encourage the local communities towards more collective urban farming activities.
Finotypic plasticity: Predator‐induced plasticity in fin size, darkness and display behaviour in a teleost fish
Authors: Hulthén Kaj , Vinterstare Jerker , Nilsson P. Anders , Brönmark Christer
Published: June 2024

Fish fins are remarkable devices of propulsion. Fin morphology is intimately linked to locomotor performance, and hence to behaviours that influence fitness, such as foraging and predator avoidance. This foreshadows a connection between fin morphology and variation in predation risk. Yet, whether prey can adjust fin morphology according to changes in perceived risk within their lifetime (a.k.a. predator‐induced plasticity) remains elusive.

Here, we quantify the structural size of five focal fins in crucian carp (Carassius carassius) following controlled manipulations to perceived predation risk (presence/absence of pike Esox lucius). We also assess if crucian carp respond to increased predation risk by shifts in dorsal fin colouration, and test for differences in how fish actively use their dorsal fins by quantifying the area of the fin displayed in behavioural trials.

We find that crucian carp show phenotypic plasticity with regards to fin size as predator‐exposed fish consistently have larger fins. Individuals exposed to perceived predation risk also increased dorsal fin darkness and actively displayed a larger area of the fin to potential predators.

Our results thus provide compelling evidence for predator‐induced fin enlargement, which should result in enhanced escape swimming performance. Moreover, fin‐size plasticity may evolve synergistically with fin colouration and display behaviour, and we suggest that the adaptive value of this synergy is to enhance the silhouette of deep‐bodied and hard‐to‐capture prey to deter gape‐limited predators prior to attack. Together, our results provide new perspectives on the role of predation risk in development and evolution of fins.
Evaluating diversionary feeding as a method to resolve conservation conflicts in a recovering ecosystem
Authors: Bamber Jack A. , Kortland Kenny , Sutherland Chris , Payo‐Payo Ana , Lambin Xavier
Published: June 2024

The recovery of mammalian predators of conservation concern in Europe is a success story, but their impact on some prey species of conservation concern may cause conservation dilemmas. This calls for effective intervention strategies that mitigate predator impacts without compromising their recovery.

We evaluated diversionary feeding as a management intervention tool to reduce depredation on nests of rapidly declining Western capercaillies in Scotland. We studied the influence of diversionary feeding provision on the fates of artificial nests deployed using a replicated and representative randomised landscape‐scale experiment. This comprised 30 'paired' control (no diversionary feeding) and treatment (diversionary feeding applied) sites, 60 in total, each containing six artificial nests distributed across 600 km2. The experiment was replicated over 2 years, and in the second year, the control‐treatment pairs were reversed, yielding 60 treatment and 60 control sites and 720 artificial nests.

Diversionary feeding substantially reduced depredation of artificial nests, translating into an 82.5% increase in predicted nest survival over 28 days of incubation. The increase in survival was mostly accounted for by a reduction in the probability that a pine marten, the main nest predator, consumed or cached eggs. Diversionary food also significantly reduced nest predation by badgers, although the magnitude of this effect varied by year.

Synthesis and applications. Diversionary feeding is an easily employable method shown in this study to reduce predator impact (functional) without lethal (numerical) intervention. Managers should proceed with its application for conserving capercaillie in Scotland without delay.
Flight or fight: different strategies of intertidal periwinkle Littoraria sinensis coping with high temperature across populations
Authors: ZHANG Ning , MA Lin‐Xuan , DONG Yun‐Wei
Published: June 2024

Intertidal organisms usually live near their upper thermal limits, and are vulnerable to future global warming. As a vital response to thermal stress, thermoregulatory strategy in physiological and behavioral performance is essential for organisms coping with thermal stress and surviving the changing world. To investigate the relationship between the thermoregulatory strategy and habitat temperature, in the present study, we comparatively investigated the thermal responsive strategy among different geographic populations of the supralittoral snail Littoraria sinensis by determining snails’ cardiac function and behavioral performance. Our results indicated that populations inhabiting high ambient temperatures had higher sublethal temperatures (i.e. Arrhenius breakpoint temperatures, ABTs, the temperature at which the heart rate shapely decreases with further heating) and lethal temperatures (i.e. Flatline temperatures, FLTs, the temperature at which heart rate ceases), and behaved less actively (e.g. shorter moving distances and shorter moving time) in the face of high and rising temperatures—a physiological fight strategy. On the other hand, populations at relatively low ambient temperatures had relatively lower physiological upper thermal limits with lower ABTs and FLTs and moved more actively in the face of high and rising temperatures—a behavioral flight strategy. These results demonstrate that the thermoregulatory strategies of the snails are closely related to their habitat temperatures and are different among populations surviving divergent thermal environments.
Racial and ethnic disparities in receipt of specialty treatment across risk profiles of adults with heavy alcohol use
Authors: Palzes Vanessa A. , Chi Felicia W. , Weisner Constance , Kline‐Simon Andrea H. , Satre Derek D. , Sterling Stacy
Published: June 2024

Background

Variation in specialty treatment utilization for alcohol use disorder (AUD) by patient subgroups is poorly understood. This study examined whether and how patient risk profiles predict receipt of specialty treatment and whether there are disparities by race and ethnicity.

Methods

This cohort study included 206,956 adults with heavy alcohol use (that which exceeded National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines) between June 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014, using electronic health record data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Five risk profiles (characterized by daily or weekly heavy drinking and level of health risks) were identified in latent class analysis. Logistic regression models were fit to examine associations between risk profiles, race, ethnicity, and receipt of specialty treatment (including addiction medicine, psychiatry, or integrated behavioral health visits, and AUD pharmacotherapy), adjusting for other patient characteristics. Variation in the association between risk profiles and receipt of specialty treatment by race/ethnicity was also examined.

Results

Overall, 4.0% of patients received specialty treatment. Latino/Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander patients had lower odds of receiving specialty treatment than White patients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] [95% CI] = 0.80 [0.75, 0.85], and 0.64 [0.59, 0.70], respectively). The substance use disorder and mental health disorder (SUD/MH) risk profile had the highest odds of receiving specialty treatment (10.46 [9.65, 11.34]). Associations between risk profiles and receipt of specialty treatment significantly differed by race/ethnicity. Black patients in the SUD/MH risk profile, and Hispanic/Latino patients in the risk profile with heavy daily drinking and more health risks, had lower odds of receiving specialty treatment than their White counterparts (adjusted ratio of odds ratios [aROR] [95% CI] = 0.69 [0.50, 0.94], and 0.79 [0.67, 0.92], respectively).

Conclusions

This study provides new insights into racial/ethnic disparities in specialty treatment utilization for alcohol problems. Findings may help inform strategies for tailoring interventions to address heavy alcohol use.
Australia in the International Sphere 1901–1914: An Emerging Foreign Policy Capacity?
Authors: Cotton James
Published: June 2024

Although the early Federation has been characterised as a “dependency,” some items in the existing literature suggest the exertion by the Commonwealth of a degree of initiative in foreign policies in the years before the Great War, notably with respect to trade, immigration, defence, and the Pacific region. This paper argues that—impelled by globalising forces—this initiative was also exercised in the emerging international sphere, a fact largely neglected in the literature heretofore. The examples discussed include in relation to global postal conventions, international radiotelegraphy, international safety conventions, and the collection of commercial and customs statistics according to agreed transnational standards. Dispatching plenipotentiary delegates to international meetings on its own account, the Commonwealth assumed the status of a separate and distinct state jurisdiction, joining the relevant international conventions in question and implementing their provisions where relevant through legislation.
Identifying novel proteins for migraine by integrating proteomes from blood and CSF with genome‐wide association data
Authors: Niu Peng‐Peng , Zhang Rui , Zhang Chan , Li Shuo , Li Yu‐Sheng
Published: June 2024

Background

Proteome‐wide Mendelian randomization studies have been increasingly utilized to identify potential drug targets for diseases. We aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets for migraine and its subtypes through the application of Mendelian randomization and co‐localization analysis methods.

Methods

We utilized cis‐protein quantitative trait loci data for 1378 plasma proteins available from two studies with 7213 individuals and 35,559 individuals, respectively. Summary data for migraine and its subtypes were obtained from a genetic study involving up to 1,339,303 individuals. Proteins that passed both the discovery and validation Mendelian randomization analysis, sensitivity analysis, heterogeneity test, and pleiotropy test, were associated with ≥2 outcomes, and received strong support from co‐localization analysis (PP.H4.abf ≥0.80) and were classified as tier 1 proteins.

Results

We identified three tier 1 proteins (LRP11, ITIH1, and ADGRF5), whose genes have not been previously identified as causal genes for migraine in genetic studies. LRP11 was significantly associated with the risk of any migraine (OR [odds ratio] = 0.968, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 0.955–0.981, p = 1.27 × 10−6) and significantly/suggestively associated with three migraine subtypes. ITIH1 was significantly associated with the risk of any migraine (OR = 1.044, 95% CI = 1.024–1.065, p = 1.08 × 10−5) and migraine with visual disturbances. ADGRF5 was significantly associated with the risk of any migraine (OR = 0.964, 95% CI = 0.946–0.982, p = 8.74 × 10−5) and suggestively associated with migraine with aura. The effects of LRP11 and ADGRF5 were further replicated using cerebrospinal fluid protein data. Apart from ADGRF5, there was no evidence of potential adverse consequences when modulating the plasma levels. We also identified another four proteins (PLCG1, ARHGAP25, CHGA, and MANBA) with no potential adverse consequences when modulating the plasma levels, and their genes were not reported by previous genetic studies.

Conclusions

We found compelling evidence for two proteins and suggestive evidence for four proteins that could be promising targets for migraine treatment without significant adverse consequences. The corresponding genes were not reported in previous genetic studies. Future studies are needed to confirm the causal role of these proteins and explore the underlying mechanisms.
Decadal change in soil carbon and nitrogen with a Miscanthus × giganteus crop on abandoned agricultural land in southeast Ohio
Authors: Adu Fosu Samuel , Davis Sarah C.
Published: June 2024

Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus) is considered a beneficial biomass energy crop because of its carbon (C) sequestration potential and low fertilizer requirements, but few studies in the United States have measured long‐term C sequestration of miscanthus on suboptimal agricultural lands over a decadal scale, and none have been conducted in southeast Ohio. The objective of this study was to measure the soil C sequestration on abandoned agricultural land with a miscanthus crop that is harvested annually, the long‐term changes in plant and soil nitrogen (N), and the photosynthetic capacity in the tenth year of growth. This study was conducted over a 10‐year period from 2013 through 2023. A significant amount of C was accumulated in the soil (p < 0.05) and the mean C sequestration rates were 0.83 and 1.37 Mg C ha−1 year−1 at two different sites. The amount of C accumulated in the miscanthus plots by the tenth year was also greater than soil C in unmanaged grassland soils, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant change in the amount of N found in soil and plants over 10 years (p > 0.05), but the variability in plant N was greater in some years relative to others. Even though miscanthus was grown without N fertilizers in this study, soil N at 0–30 cm depth was not depleted over 10 years of crop management. The photosynthetic capacity of miscanthus measured in this study indicated that the plants were thriving after 10 years, and C assimilation for growth was consistent with the findings of prior work that evaluated the maximum photosynthetic rates of this species. The combination of significant soil C sequestration, sustained soil N, and high photosynthetic rates has important implications for the sustainability of miscanthus as a biomass crop.
Structural Uncertainty Due to Fault Timing: A Multimodel Case Study from the Perth Basin
Authors: Bardot Kerry , Lesueur Martin , Siade Adam J. , Lang Simon C. , McCallum James L.
Published: June 2024

Faults can fundamentally change a groundwater flow regime and represent a major source of uncertainty in groundwater studies. Much research has been devoted to uncertainty around their location and their barrier‐conduit behavior. However, fault timing is one aspect of fault uncertainty that appears to be somewhat overlooked. Many faulted models feature consistent layer offsets, thereby presuming that block faulting has occurred recently and almost instantaneously. Additionally, barrier and/or conduit behavior is often shown to extend vertically through all layers when a fault may in fact terminate well below‐ground surface. In this study, we create three plausible geological interpretations for a transect in the Perth Basin. Adjacent boreholes show stratigraphic offsets and thickening which indicate faulting; however, fault timing is unknown. Flow modeling demonstrates that the model with the most recent faulting shows profoundly different flow patterns due to aquifer juxtaposition. Additionally, multiple realizations with stochastically generated parameter sets for layer, fault core, and fault damage zone conductivity show that fault timing influences flow more than layer or fault zone conductivity. Finally, fault conduit behavior that penetrates aquitards has significant implications for transport, while fault barrier behavior has surprisingly little. This research advocates for adequate data collection where faults may cause breaches in aquitards due to layer offsets or conduit behavior in the damage zone. It also promotes the use of multiple geological models to address structural uncertainty, and highlights some of the hurdles in doing so such as computational expense and the availability of seamless geological‐flow modeling workflows.
Comparative study on the quality characteristics of wheat‐based broken rice noodles from different rice varieties
Authors: Li Limin , Wang Qingfa , Ren Zhenzhen , Liu Chong , Zheng Xueling
Published: June 2024

Making noodles based on broken rice (BR) is a green approach to promote the utilisation of rice byproducts (the underutilised bio‐materials with vast annual production). In this study, BR of Indica, Japonica and Glutinous varieties were semi‐dry milled to yield flour (BRI, BRJ and BRG). They were substituted for wheat flour at the level of 10% to prepare W‐BRI, W‐BRJ and W‐BRG noodles respectively. Among three varieties, BRG showed greatest whiteness, highest relative crystallinity and lowest pasting viscosities. Substitution of all BR flours decreased percentage of α‐helix but increased β‐sheet in fresh noodles. BRG substitution markedly enhanced the binding tightness of water to gluten or starch. Owing to the strongest swelling power and lowest pasting temperature (59.1 °C) of BRG, W‐BRG noodles showed shortest cooking time and highest cooking yield (190.64%). All noodles were sensorily acceptable, among which W‐BRG noodles had the greatest softness and least stickiness. W‐BRJ noodles presented more uniform and tightly packed microstructure, which might explain their lowest cooking loss (6.65%) and greater springiness. W‐BRI dough sheet had the most viscoelastic, and its noodles had the highest cohesiveness (0.65). Selective utilisation of rice variety is crucial for producing noodles with characteristic quality.
Rheological and stability of mayonnaise‐based Pickering emulsions stabilised by modified rice starch granules as a plant‐based emulsifier
Authors: Taghavi Elham , Andriani Cynthia , Nordin Nordalia , Awang Seruji Awang Zulfikar Rizal , Wan Rasdi Nadiah , Abdul Hadi Nabilah
Published: June 2024

Polysaccharide‐based particles present a promising alternative emulsifier to egg yolk to stabilise mayonnaise. Starch granules, inherently hydrophilic, can be modified to enhance their wettability. This study aimed to characterise the rheological and stability of mayonnaise‐based Pickering emulsions stabilised by native and modified rice starch granules. The mayonnaise was formulated with 50% (w/w) olive oil and 50% (w/w) lemon juice, with varying starch concentrations (200 and 400 mg starch mL−1 of oil). The emulsifying capacity and stability of mayonnaise, such as droplet size, morphology, emulsion index, accelerated stability, rheological behaviour and long‐term storage stability of the mayonnaise were investigated at time intervals (1, 7 and 14 days). The result showed that mayonnaise stabilised by pre‐gelatinised rice starch at low‐starch concentrations (200 mg mL−1) exhibited a higher emulsion index of 100% and a smaller droplet size of 17.0 ± 10.55 μm compared to emulsions stabilised by native and OSA rice starch. All mayonnaise‐based Pickering emulsions exhibited shear‐thinning properties, with emulsions stabilised by pre‐gelatinised rice starch exhibited the highest viscosity and viscoelastic properties (G′ > G″). Thus, it contributed to greater stability in the Pickering emulsion system with longer storage stability. This study offers valuable insights into the potential of modified starch granules as an alternative plant‐based emulsifier in food applications. The use of plant‐based emulsifier (solid particles) instead of egg yolk as emulsifiers provide an insight for food industry in providing healthy plant‐based emulsion formulations.
Females have a higher risk of urinary tract infections and experience more worries than males
Authors: Lauridsen Susanne Vahr , Vaabengaard Rikke , Zeeberg R. , Jacobsen Lotte , Islamoska Sabrina
Published: June 2024

Introduction and Objectives

Evidence shows differences in referral and management patterns for urinary symptoms between sexes, which seem to influence catheterization rates and that females experience more urinary tract infections (UTIs). Using patient‐reported data from clean intermittent catheter (CIC) users, we investigated sex differences in UTI symptoms, behaviour when having a UTI, and worries related to UTIs.

Materials and Methods

In March–April 2022, an online survey of 60 questions was distributed among 55 235 CIC users recruited through a customer panel in 11 European countries, Australia, and the United States. Results are based on descriptive analyses presented in proportions and percentages. The participants' data were treated with confidentiality in compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and the analyses were performed with aggregated anonymous data.

Results

Among 3464 CIC users who responded to the survey, there were 37% females. The four most prevalent urinary problems among females were urinary retention (34%), urinary incontinence (34%), residual urine (32%), and overactive bladder (32%). In addition, among females, 65% had bowel dysfunction, 63% experienced minimum one antibiotic treated UTI within the last year, 53% worried about not emptying their bladder completely, while 71% worried about acquiring a UTI. The overall UTI mean in the study population was 1.88 UTIs/year (95% CI; 1.71–2.07). Females had a 43% higher risk of UTIs compared with males (relative risk: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.26–1.62).

When having UTIs, there was a significant difference when comparing the reporting of UTI symptoms in females versus males, as females experienced more incontinence (33% vs. 21%), more lower abdominal pain (30% vs. 15%), more discomfort or pain when urinating (41% vs. 31%), discomfort or pain over the kidneys (29% vs. 13%), and less fever (16% vs. 29%). Females also used more supplements (36% vs. 25%), drank more fluid (66% vs. 55%), and took home urine tests (21% vs. 13%).

Conclusions

Findings from this cross‐sectional study underline the sex differences in reporting of UTI symptoms, behaviour when having a UTI, and worries related to UTIs. Untreated urinary symptoms may have impactful consequences for health‐related quality of life, thus, it is important for nurses to know the sex differences in urinary symptoms to identify any risk of UTIs.

Implications for nursing practice or research: Our study results add new insight to the sparse evidence about female CIC user symptoms and behaviour when having a UTI. This knowledge is useful when assessing the risk of UTIs among CIC users.
Global scale efficiency in data envelopment analysis
Authors: Aparicio Juan , Santín Daniel
Published: June 2024

In the realm of assessing scale efficiency (SE), it tends to be computed as a firm‐specific phenomenon rather than something associated with the whole shape of the frontier of the technology under evaluation. This circumstance may lead to inaccuracies in the conclusions drawn regarding the returns to scale (RTS) exhibited across the entire frontiers since they can be biased by the location of the observations. This paper addresses this gap by defining the notion of global SE measured through projecting synthetic observations randomly generated within a unit‐hypercube against the technologies under constant and variable RTS. Our approach enables the comparison of the local SE exhibited by each firm in relation to the global expected percentage of production points that display a similar type of RTS across the production frontier. The approach is illustrated through a numerical example and applied to a set of hospitals in Spain.
Active defence mechanisms in brood parasitism hosts and their consequences for parasite adaptation and speciation
Authors: Dillenseger Guillaume
Published: June 2024

Obligate brood parasitism is a peculiar behaviour found in some bird species. The costs for their hosts can be high, generating selection for active defence strategies including foreign egg and chick rejection. Only one of these two rejection strategies seems to be expressed in any given host species, which in turn selects for mimicry in parasites only at one stage of the nesting cycle. Here, I review the cues used by hosts to recognise brood parasites in the nest and the behaviours to neutralise them, as well as counteradaptations found in parasites. Furthermore, I link these adaptations with theoretical and known processes of genetic transmission of the involved mimicry traits to the offspring. I suggest that the stage at which the parasite is recognised by the host can impose selection on the mating system of the parasite and increase the likelihood of speciation. When hosts discriminate against foreign eggs, interbreeding by male and female parasites reared by different hosts may impede speciation, but not the evolution of egg mimicry if inherited through the maternal line (via the W‐chromosome). When hosts discriminate against chicks, an effective mimetic phenotype requires autosomal (or Z‐chromosome) inheritance to allow expression in both male and female chicks, thus favouring assortative mating in the parasites, and potentially leading to speciation. To my knowledge, this review is the first to link host defence strategies with their potential consequences for speciation in brood parasites. I suggest future steps to fill knowledge gaps in brood parasitism.
Electrophysiological patterns and structural substrates of Brugada syndrome: Critical appraisal and computational analyses
Authors: Seghetti Paolo , Latrofa Sara , Biasi Niccolò , Giannoni Alberto , Hartwig Valentina , Rossi Andrea , Tognetti Alessandro
Published: June 2024

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a cardiac electrophysiological disease with unknown etiology, associated with sudden cardiac death. Symptomatic patients are treated with implanted cardiac defibrillator, but no risk stratification strategy is effective in patients that are at low to medium arrhythmic risk. Cardiac computational modeling is an emerging tool that can be used to verify the hypotheses of pathogenesis and inspire new risk stratification strategies. However, to obtain reliable results computational models must be validated with consistent experimental data. We reviewed the main electrophysiological and structural variables from BrS clinical studies to assess which data could be used to validate a computational approach. Activation delay in the epicardial right ventricular outflow tract is a consistent finding, as well as increased fibrosis and subclinical alterations of right ventricular functional and morphological parameters. The comparison between other electrophysiological variables is hindered by methodological differences between studies, which we commented. We conclude by presenting a recent theory unifying electrophysiological and structural substrate in BrS and illustrate how computational modeling could help translation to risk stratification.
Exosomes isolated from TNF‐α‐treated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate pelvic floor dysfunction in rats
Authors: Zhou Chenchen , Wu Yuelin , Wan Sheng , Lou Liqun , Gu Shengyi , Peng Jing , Zhao Shifeng , Hua Xiaolin
Published: June 2024

Exosomes derived from bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can alleviate the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in rats. However, the potential therapeutical effects of exosomes derived from BMSCs treated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α on the symptoms of PFD in rats are unknown. Exosomes extracted from BMSCs treated with or without TNF‐α were applied to treat PFD rats. Our findings revealed a significant elevation in interleukin (IL)‐6 and TNF‐α, and matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP2) levels in the vaginal wall tissues of patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) compared with the control group. Daily administration of exosomes derived from BMSCs, treated either with or without TNF‐α (referred to as Exo and TNF‐Exo), resulted in increased void volume and bladder void pressure, along with reduced peak bladder pressure and leak point pressure in PFD rats. Notably, TNF‐Exo treatment demonstrated superior efficacy in restoring void volume, bladder void pressure and the mentioned parameters compared with Exo treatment. Importantly, TNF‐Exo exhibited greater potency than Exo in restoring the levels of multiple proteins (Elastin, Collagen I, Collagen III, IL‐6, TNF‐α and MMP2) in the anterior vaginal walls of PFD rats. The application of exosomes derived from TNF‐α‐treated BMSCs holds promise as a novel therapeutic approach for treating PFD.
Conveying “Fun” Through Communicative Moves of Facial Expressions: Investigating the Theory of Affective Pragmatics
Authors: Namba Shushi , Fukuda Haruka , Nakashima Miharu , Takeuchi Mone , Yamamoto Reika , Yoshikawa Kota
Published: June 2024

According to the theory of affective pragmatics, emotional expressions synchronously convey information of the following four types: expressing the expressor's emotions, committing the expressor to a future course of action, representing world circumstances, and directing other people's behavior. Nevertheless, few reports have described studies examining prioritization of the conveyed information. The present study was conducted to explore how information is conveyed by facial expressions of fun in the context of the presence or absence of another person. Results show that expression of the internal state (fun) is conveyed primarily in comparison to other information, but it is weaker in the state of being with a stranger than in the state of being alone or with a friend. Although directing other people's behavior is the least conveyed information in all conditions, the presence of another person amplified the intensity of directing other people's behavior. Overall, these findings provide new evidence supporting the theory related to emotional expressions.
Environmentalism and Christian Values in Hong Kong: The Potential Influences of Stewardship, Justice, Love, and Church Environmental Education
Authors: Ho Mei Yan , Hui Tin Yan , Chan Janet K. Y.
Published: June 2024

Religious attributes affecting Christians’ environmentalism have received considerable attention since the publication of Lynn White's thesis in 1967, which accused Christianity as the root cause of the ecological crisis. This study aims to assess the relationship between Christianity and environmentalism in Hong Kong, an Asian city where Christianity has been introduced for just more than two centuries. In general, Hong Kong Christians had a stronger willingness to sacrifice for the environment as compared to non‐Christians. Both stewardship worldview and Christian justice and love were identified as the main drivers for environmentalism in Christians, which can be further improved via church environmental education. Our findings provide a particular example to broaden the diversity of the Christianity‐environmentalism nexus and highlight the functional role of stewardship worldview in the Hong Kong context. However, we also call for stronger environmental education in Hong Kong's church to bridge the willingness‐behavior gap among local Christians.