bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of posterolateral oropharyngeal wall thickness and the potential implications for transoral surgical margins in tonsil cancer
Authors: Tomblinson Courtney M. , Fletcher Geoffrey P. , Hu Leland S. , Mi Lanyu , Howard Brittany E. , Nagel Thomas H. , Hinni Michael L. , Hoxworth Joseph M.
Published: March 2021

Background

Margins in transoral surgery for tonsil cancer can be limited by oropharyngeal wall thickness (OWT), but the normal range is not well established.

Methods

In 240 noncancer subjects, OWT was measured bilaterally in the vicinity of the tonsils with MRI. Statistical analysis was performed to assess for interaction of age, sex, location, and obesity.

Results

Mean(SD) OWT measured 3.4(0.6) mm posteriorly, 3.7(2.0) mm between the styloglossus and stylopharyngeus, and 5.3(0.8) mm laterally. OWT was greater in men, correlated with obesity, decreased posteriorly and laterally in the 60–80 versus 40–59 year age groups, and increased when styloglossus/stylopharyngeus were closer. OWT was <5 mm in 36.7%–97.9% of locations, with the largest percentage below this threshold located posteriorly.

Conclusions

OWT is frequently <5 mm, particularly in the posterior and intermuscular areas, suggesting that a smaller surgical margin may need to be accepted in transoral tonsil cancer surgery for anatomic reasons.
A mixed‐method pilot study to test a program for friend‐supporters of victims of dating violence
Authors: Park Sihyun , Kim Sin‐Hyang
Published: March 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability and impact of a bystander program (With You Education) in South Korea, designed to enhance the competencies of friend‐supporters to help victims of dating violence (DV). To assess the potential impact of the program, the participants (n = 46) were asked to complete pre‐, post‐, and 1‐year follow‐up surveys and take part in a focused group interview after the training. Participants exhibited significant changes from pretest to posttest evaluation in terms of their competencies as a supporter. Most improvements were sustained over time. Four qualitative themes revealed the multilayered outcomes of this program: increased readiness to help, awareness of DV, beginning to understand the victims, and awareness of DV as a public health problem. With You Education was seen to be an acceptable program for young adults, which can be potentially utilized as a formal violence‐related education.
Mid‐trimester absent nasal bone and transient unilateral hydronephrosis associated with 16p13.3 microduplication
Authors: Sherer David M. , Hsieh Vicky , Kheyman Mila , Field Alessia , Dalloul Mudar
Published: March 2021

Characteristic phenotypic features of 16p13.3 microduplication include impaired mental development, arthrogryposis‐like musculoskeletal anomalies (club‐feet, congenital hip dislocation, and camptodactyly of fingers and toes), facial dysmorphology, and at times congenital cardiac disease. Most of the described affected individuals have microduplications involving the CREBBP gene. Findings indicate this gene to be dosage‐sensitive and likely involved in the phenotypes of 16p13.3 microduplication syndrome. We describe the incidental finding of 16p13.3 microduplication in a fetus with mid‐trimester sonographic examination showing absent nasal bone and transient unilateral hydronephrosis.
Study of a Novel Carboxylic Cellulose Nanofibrils‐Ethoxylated Phytosterol‐Alcohol Environmentally Friendly System on the Application in Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Yuan Jie , Liu Dexin , Li Jiankang , Cui Jie , Tang Hongtao , Wei Xin , He Juan , Zhang Xuehao , Huang Pan , Jia Han
Published: March 2021

Bio‐polymers and bio‐surfactants have attracted increasing attention for their application in chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) due to the environmental concerns of synthetic chemical agents. Here, a ternary compound system consisted of carboxylic cellulose nanofibrils (CCNF), ethoxylated phytosterol (BPS), and n‐pentanol was constructed. The rheological property and interfacial activity of the compound system and the effects of each component at high temperature (80 °C) was investigated systematically. The ternary compound system exhibited excellent performance in thickening, IFT reduction (<10−2 mN m−1), emulsification, and better salt tolerance. CBP, the ternary system of CCNF (2000 mg L−1), BPS (2000 mg L−1), and n‐pentanol (5000 mg L−1), greatly enhanced the oil recovery (24.3%) in the core flooding tests by its high displacement efficiency and sweep enlargement, which was demonstrated directly in the visual micromodel flooding. As an eco‐friendly system with remarkable performance, the compound system of CBP shows great application potential in EOR.
Ditch and elevated organic thin film transistor‐based improved common source voltage amplifier: Frequency response characteristics and analytical modeling
Authors: Mittal Poornima
Published: March 2021

In this work, the frequency response of single gate organic thin film transistor (OTFT)‐based common source (CS) voltage amplifier is analyzed. Also, the contact‐channel resistance models are developed to validate the lower/upper cutoff frequency and mid‐band gain. The bandwidth of single gate bottom contact (BC) OTFT‐based amplifier is found to be 16 GHz, but the gain is quite low than the predicted due to its lower transconductance. Surprisingly, voltage gain is improved by four times (12.6 dB more) for dual gate TFT‐based amplifier. Moreover, the bandwidth (1 MHz) is also reasonably good. On applying top gate, biasing the gain is enhanced by 46%. Furthermore, two modified single gate BC structures, ditch and elevated source/drain (S/D) contacts, are incorporated to further augment the amplifier characteristics. Correspondingly, it shows a significant enhancement of 45% and 39% in the gain than that of normal BC. Additionally, the bandwidth is observed to be large and obtained as 100 and 96 MHz, which is also close to the expected analytically.
Transvaginal Ultrasound Versus Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessing Myometrial Infiltration in Endometrioid Low Grade Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Gastón Begoña , Muruzábal Juan C. , Lapeña Sonia , Modroño Ana , Guarch Rosa , García de Eulate Inés , Alcázar Juan L.
Published: March 2021

Objective

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing myometrial infiltration (MI) in patients with low grade endometrioid endometrial cancer.

Methods

Observational prospective study performed at a single tertiary care center from 2016 to 2020, comprising 156 consecutive patients diagnosed by endometrial sampling as having an endometrioid grade 1/grade 2 endometrial cancer. TVS and MRI were performed prior to surgical staging for assessing MI, which was estimated using subjective examiner's impression and Karlsson's method for both TVS and MRI. During surgery, intraoperative assessment of MI was also performed. Definitive pathological study considered as reference standard. Diagnostic accuracy for ultrasound, MRI, and intraoperative biopsy was estimated and compared.

Results

Sensitivity and specificity of TVS for detecting deep MI were 75 and 73.5% for subjective impression and 65 and 70% for Karlsson method, respectively (P = .54). Sensitivity and specificity of MRI for detecting deep MI were 80 and 87% for subjective impression and 70 and 71.3% for Karlsson method. MRI subjective impression showed a significant better specificity than MRI Karlsson method (P = .03). MRI showed better specificity than TVS when subjective impression was considered (P <.05), but not for Karlsson method. Sensitivity and specificity of intraoperative were 75 and 97%, respectively. Intraoperative biopsy showed better specificity than ultrasound and MRI either using examiner's impression or Karlsson method (P <.05).

Conclusions

MRI revealed a significant higher specificity than TVS when assessing deep myometrial infiltration. However, the intraoperative biopsy offers a significant better diagnostic accuracy than preoperative imaging techniques.
Reproducing kernel approach for numerical solutions of fuzzy fractional initial value problems under the Mittag–Leffler kernel differential operator
Authors: Abu Arqub Omar , Singh Jagdev , Maayah Banan , Alhodaly Mohammed
Published: March 2021

In this research study, fuzzy fractional differential equations in presence of the Atangana–Baleanu–Caputo differential operators are analytically and numerically treated using extended reproducing kernel Hilbert space technique. With the utilization of a fuzzy strongly generalized differentiability form, a new fuzzy characterization theorem beside two fuzzy fractional solutions is constructed and computed. To besetment the attitude of fuzzy fractional numerical solutions, analysis of convergence and conduct of error beyond the reproducing kernel theory are explored and debated. In this tendency, three computational algorithms and modern trends in terms of analytic and numerical solutions are propagated. Meanwhile, the dynamical characteristics and mechanical features of these fuzzy fractional solutions are demonstrated and studied during two applications via three‐dimensional graphs and tabulated numerical values. In the end, highlights and future suggested research work are eluded.
Global dynamics of a nonautonomous SEIRS epidemic model with vaccination and nonlinear incidence
Authors: Zhang Long , Fan Xiaolin , Teng Zhidong
Published: March 2021

In this paper, a class of nonautonomous SEIRS epidemic models with vaccination and nonlinear incidence is investigated. Under some quite weak assumptions, a couple of new threshold values in the form of integral, i.e.,R1, ,R2, and on the extinction and permanence of disease for the model, are established. As special cases of our model, the autonomous, periodic, and almost periodic circumstances are discussed. The nearly necessary and sufficient criteria of threshold on the extinction and permanence of disease for above cases are obtained as well. Numerical examples and simulations are presented to illustrate the analytic results.
A self‐decoupled 32‐channel receive array for human‐brain MRI at 10.5 T
Authors: Tavaf Nader , Lagore Russell L. , Jungst Steve , Gunamony Shajan , Radder Jerahmie , Grant Andrea , Moeller Steen , Auerbach Edward , Ugurbil Kamil , Adriany Gregor , Van de Moortele Pierre‐Francois
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Receive array layout, noise mitigation, and B0field strength are crucial contributors to SNR and parallel‐imaging performance. Here, we investigate SNR and parallel‐imaging gains at 10.5 T compared with 7 T using 32‐channel receive arrays at both fields.

Methods

A self‐decoupled 32‐channel receive array for human brain imaging at 10.5 T (10.5T‐32Rx), consisting of 31 loops and one cloverleaf element, was co‐designed and built in tandem with a 16‐channel dual‐row loop transmitter. Novel receive array design and self‐decoupling techniques were implemented. Parallel imaging performance, in terms of SNR and noise amplification (g‐factor), of the 10.5T‐32Rx was compared with the performance of an industry‐standard 32‐channel receiver at 7 T (7T‐32Rx) through experimental phantom measurements.

Results

Compared with the 7T‐32Rx, the 10.5T‐32Rx provided 1.46 times the central SNR and 2.08 times the peripheral SNR. Minimum inverse g‐factor value of the 10.5T‐32Rx (min[1/g] = 0.56) was 51% higher than that of the 7T‐32Rx (min[1/g] = 0.37) with R = 4 × 4 2D acceleration, resulting in significantly enhanced parallel‐imaging performance at 10.5 T compared with 7 T. The g‐factor values of 10.5 T‐32 Rx were on par with those of a 64‐channel receiver at 7 T (eg, 1.8 vs 1.9, respectively, with R = 4 × 4 axial acceleration).

Conclusion

Experimental measurements demonstrated effective self‐decoupling of the receive array as well as substantial gains in SNR and parallel‐imaging performance at 10.5 T compared with 7 T.
Patient view of the advanced practitioner (AP) role in primary care: A realist‐informed synthesis
Authors: Morris Leah , Moule Pam , Pearson Jennifer , Foster Dave , Walsh Nicola
Published: March 2021

Background

Approximately 30% of general practitioner consultations are due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs). Physiotherapists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat a range of MSKDs, and could provide the first point of contact for primary care patients. There is limited evidence on whether this role is acceptable to patients; however, previous research has explored advanced practitioner (AP) roles in primary care, which could inform this new initiative.

Aims

This study used realist synthesis to explore factors that influence patient acceptability of AP roles in primary care.

Materials & Methods

A realist synthesis was undertaken to identify initial programme theories regarding acceptability. Databases were searched to identify relevant literature. Identified studies were subject to inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 38 studies included for synthesis. Theory‐specific data extraction sheets were created and utilised. Data were analysed through identifying contexts, mechanisms and outcomes to formulate hypotheses. Hypotheses were validated through consultation with expert stakeholders.

Results

Eight theory areas were identified that potentially impacted on patient acceptability of the role: patient's prior experience of condition management; patient's expectations of condition management; communication; continuity of the individual practitioner; practitioner's scope of practice; accessibility; professional hierarchy and promoting the role. Nineteen hypotheses on the AP role were developed around these theory areas.

Discussion

Role acceptabiliy was influenced significantly by context and may change as the role develops, for instance, as waiting times change.

Conclusion

Hypotheses will inform a subsequent realist evaluation exploring the physiotherapy AP role in primary care. Future research is needed to understand the acceptability of first contact physiotherapists delivering certain skills.
Employee experience through academic culture emerges as a strongest predictor of overall performance of higher education institutes
Authors: Pandita Alka , Kiran Ravi
Published: March 2021

This research has been undertaken to examine the role of critical success factors (CSFs) for sustainability in quality of Higher Education Institutes in India. Sustainable development requires a holistic view being taken of all interests. The aspects considered here are: Branding, employability, employee experience, and student experience. The study tries to analyze their impact on overall performance. The results highlight that academic culture mediates between student experience and overall performance. The current research also indicates that academic culture mediates between employee experience and overall performance. Employee experience through academic culture emerges as a strongest predictor of overall performance. Student experience through academic culture emerges as an another important predictor of overall performance. Employability was next to follow. The beta values were low for branding. The results highlight that for improving performance, Indian higher educational Institutes need to focus on branding. Implementing this model will enable educational Institutions to focus on these predictors to boost overall performance and equip engineers with requisite skills through academic culture.
Multiple cross‐linked networks enhanced ENR‐based composite with excellent self‐healing properties
Authors: Peng Tao , Huang Jiarong , Gong Zhou , Ding Jianping , Chen Yukun
Published: March 2021

Self‐healing property is an excellent feature that can improve the reliability and durability of the materials. In this study, carboxylic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (S‐CNTs) and 2,2′‐dithiodibenzoic acid (DTSA) were introduced into epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) to prepare a self‐healing rubber. S‐CNTs and DTSA could react with epoxy groups of ENR to effectively cross‐link ENR, in which the cross‐linked network consisted of reversible disulfide bonds, β‐hydroxyl ester bonds, and hydrogen bonds. The reconfigurable cross‐linked network endowed the ENR/S‐CNTs/DTSA composites with great self‐healing behavior with efficiency up to 99.7%. The multiple cross‐linked networks also enhanced the mechanical properties of the composite, whose tensile strength reached more than 400% of the neat ENR. Additionally, optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy disclosed the evolution of the damaged area during the self‐healing process, and the crack could be completely repaired after the healing process. This work provides an effective and concise method to prepare self‐healing ENR‐based elastomer, and it may expand the research scope of self‐healing materials.
Dermatology Services: The New Normal Post COVID-19
Authors: Yuen S.
Published: March 2021

The article discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the future of dermatology services. It will explore the changes dermatology services may need to follow to minimise disease transmission. This will include an integration of teledermatology into everyday practice, a shift in dermatology training, and change in dermoscopy technique.
New psychoactive substances—Designer benzodiazepines
Authors: Wilde Maurice , Auwärter Volker , Moosmann Bjoern
Published: March 2021

Designer benzodiazepines are a rather new class of new psychoactive substances counting 26 compounds by the end of 2019. However, due to their high habit‐forming potential, the easy availability of these drugs in online shops is rather alarming. While the risk of acute health effects or intoxications after the sole consumption of benzodiazepines is low, combined consumption with other central nervous system depressant drugs such as opioids or alcohol can lead to life‐threating conditions. Furthermore, long term use can lead to tolerance and addiction. In this review article the emergence of this drug class is described and the literature on pharmacokinetics and the various methods of detection is discussed. Furthermore, the structure activity relationships of benzodiazepines are summarized in order to predict the potency of newly emerging compounds.

This article is categorized under:

Toxicology > New Psychoactive Substances
Reordering Occupation, Race, and Place in Metropolitan New York
Authors: Zapatka Kasey , Mollenkopf John , Romalewski Steven
Published: March 2021

The New York metropolitan area is one of the oldest, largest, and perhaps most complex urban region in the United States (U.S.). Its 23.7 million residents live across four states, produce a GDP of more than $1.7 trillion, are governed by a fragmented political system, and experience persistently high degrees of geographic and racial/ethnic inequality and segregation. This chapter investigates the evolving spatial organization of occupation and race across the metropolitan area. While white professionals have traditionally lived in an outer ring of suburbs and blue-collar immigrant and minority groups have lived closer to the city center, our research shows that the forces of gentrification and minority and immigrant suburbanization have been turning the metropolitan area inside out. Specifically, young, usually white, professionals are increasingly located in and around the central city whereas many working-class minorities have shifted away from it. At the heart of this spatial reordering lie the diminishing plurality of native-born whites within the region and the increasing share of immigrant minority groups, especially for foreign-born Hispanics and Asians. This trend has lessened the share of white males in better occupations even as the region’s occupational structure slowly but inexorably tilts toward managerial and professional occupations. Technology is transforming white-collar work as blue-collar work continues to disappear. Dramatic shifts are thus afoot, yet inequality and segregation remain high. We argue that these changes in the spatial organization of the metropolitan area challenge us to see these inequalities from a new vantage point. As elites are now more likely to live among less advantaged groups, this may provide the social basis for new thinking.
Socioeconomic Residential Segregation and Income Inequality in Bogotá: An Analysis Based on Census Data of 2005
Authors: López Martínez Alexandra , Ceballos Mina Owen Eli
Published: March 2021

Residential segregation is both a cause and consequence of socioeconomic inequalities. Since the 1990s, segregation patterns in Latin American cities have changed significantly. This is related to major urban transformations caused by privatization policies related to urban development, commercialization, and real estate activity. The main purpose of this chapter is to study residential socioeconomic segregation in the city of Bogotá, Colombia in 2005, using educational attainment as an indicator of socioeconomic status while considering the drivers of segregation during the 1990s. We also introduce a brief analysis of the relationship between residential segregation and inequality based on a model that allows replicating the income distribution of the population using census variables. This chapter shows that residential segregation in Bogotá is related to per capita income inequality, however, segregation may be caused by the dynamics of land and housing markets rather than inequality.
Socio-spatial Segregation and Exclusion in Mumbai
Authors: Shaban Abdul , Aboli Zinat
Published: March 2021

Indian society is characterised by significant horizontal (religious, regional, linguistic) and vertical (income, occupation, caste) divisions. These socio-economic fragmentations significantly shape the production of space in cities. In fact, all major cities in the country are pervaded by socio-spatial divides, which often become sources of conflict, violence, exclusion and, also, solidarity. Mumbai is the industrial, commercial and financial capital of the country. Bollywood has, over the years, helped in carving out a distinct (pan) Indian identity for itself and the city, both within and outside India, and is a major rallying and unifying aspect for India. Among all its glitter, the city is also infamous for its underworld (originating from its excluded and marginalised neighbourhoods), slums and poor residential areas. The city is pervaded by socio-spatial fragmentation and is a divided city. This chapter shows that the highest level of segregation in Mumbai is based on religion (Muslims and Non-Muslims), followed by class, caste and tribe.
Revolution and Warfare: The North Before Conquest
Authors: van der Burg Martijn
Published: March 2021

This chapter lays the foundation for an understanding of Napoleonic governance in the Netherlands and Northwest Germany. Dutch and German lands were governed in many different ways in the early modern age. During the eighteenth century attempts at reform were made in both areas, with varying results. The French Revolution was both admired and feared, especially as it became clear that the ‘liberation’ of Europe entailed aggressive expansionism. France’s growth showed the difficulties of imposing rules and practices on a hitherto foreign population. Which policies were effective, which not? True, German secularization and mediatization (the historic Reichsdeputationshauptschluss of 1803), and repeated coup d’états in the Batavian Republic, restructured governance on the right bank of the Rhine. Yet, both in the Netherlands and Northwest Germany, the combination of awe of, and fear for, the French Empire strengthened identity formation, whether local, regional, or national, which was not necessarily beneficial for future integration into France.
Conquest and Incorporation: Pays Conquis or Pays Réunies?
Authors: van der Burg Martijn
Published: March 2021

This chapter investigates how the (nominally) independent states in the Netherlands and Northwest Germany were slowly but surely seized by French troops, and subsequently incorporated by imperial decree. The conquest and incorporation of the northern lands brought about radical political changes, as well as dilemmas. How were new territories to be fitted in: as dependencies taken by force (pays conquis), or as new departments on equal footing (pays réunies)? And to which extent did ‘on equal footing’ mean eradicating regional diversity within the Empire? Whether uniform structures were imposed too promptly, or not, was contested. The Emperor sent confidants northbound, to investigate existing conditions. Vice versa, Northerners visited Paris, to exert influence on the status of their projected departments. For Dutch and German dignitaries it was of the utmost importance to acknowledge Napoleon’s droit de conquête, while lobbying for an integration form that did justice to local circumstances. Eventually, both areas were given a full status within the Empire, taking into account national peculiarities to a certain extent, but only as long as that did not harm the interests of Old France.
Conclusions: Incomplete Integration
Authors: van der Burg Martijn
Published: March 2021

This study set out to provide insight into the integration of the Netherlands and Northwest Germany into the Napoleonic Empire, through the implementation of Napoleonic governance, distinguishing several phases. This concluding chapter puts the research findings into a larger context. After exploring the collapse and legacy of Napoleonic rule, the successive stages of conquest, incorporation, and integration are reflected upon. Both areas experienced similar tensions between the Napoleonic desire for uniformity and diverse traditions. Either a ‘harsh’ approach or a ‘mild’ approach was chosen, depending on the actors involved and the interaction between core and periphery. Interests and actions were not aligned, and in more extreme cases, there was downright animosity between Napoleonic officials. Therefore, in neither the Netherlands nor Northwest Germany complete integration was achieved. However, there was no definite blueprint for integration, as different groups had conflicting ideas on the desirable level of, and path to, integration. Ultimately, integration was incomplete, but the degree of incompleteness depends on the divergent norms set by the various parties.
Can Encrypted DNS Be Fast?
Authors: Hounsel Austin , Schmitt Paul , Borgolte Kevin , Feamster Nick
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we study the performance of encrypted DNS protocols and conventional DNS from thousands of home networks in the United States, over one month in 2020. We perform these measurements from the homes of 2,693 participating panelists in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Measuring Broadband America program. We found that clients do not have to trade DNS performance for privacy. For certain resolvers, DoT was able to perform faster than DNS in median response times, even as latency increased. We also found significant variation in DoH performance across recursive resolvers. Based on these results, we recommend that DNS clients (e.g., web browsers) should periodically conduct simple latency and response time measurements to determine which protocol and resolver a client should use. No single DNS protocol nor resolver performed the best for all clients.
Optimized cast components in the drive train of wind turbines and inner ring creep in the main bearing seat
Authors: Kirsch Julian , Kyling Hans
Published: March 2021

Using large components made of nodular cast iron (GJS) in wind turbines enables the application of lightweight construction through the high degree of design freedom. Besides the sand-casting process, casting into a permanent metal mould, i.e. chill casting, leads to a finer microstructure and higher quasi-static mechanical properties as well as higher fatigue strength. Unfortunately, in present design methodologies specific fatigue data is only available for sand cast and not for chilled cast GJS. Thus, lightweight design strategies for large, chilled cast components are not achievable, which led to the publicly funded project “Gusswelle”. Based on material investigations of EN-GJS-400-18-LT chill cast, an optimized hollow rotor shaft is developed. The design process and the resulting shaft design are presented. The optimized hollow rotor shaft prototype will be tested on a full-scale test bench to validate the design methodology. The intended validation plan as well as the test bench setup is shown in this paper. Furthermore, the decreasing wall thickness influences the interference fit between main bearing and hollow rotor shaft. Thus, through the applied bending moment, inner ring creep is more probable to occur in the main bearing seat. The creeping behaviour is investigated with finite element simulations and a measuring method is presented.
Development of a wind turbine gearbox virtual load sensor using multibody simulation and artificial neural networks
Authors: Azzam Baher , Schelenz Ralf , Roscher Björn , Baseer Abdul , Jacobs Georg
Published: March 2021

A current development trend in wind energy is characterized by the installation of wind turbines (WT) with increasing rated power output. Higher towers and larger rotor diameters increase rated power leading to an intensification of the load situation on the drive train and the main gearbox. However, current main gearbox condition monitoring systems (CMS) do not record the 6‑degree of freedom (6-DOF) input loads to the transmission as it is too expensive. Therefore, this investigation aims to present an approach to develop and validate a low-cost virtual sensor for measuring the input loads of a WT main gearbox. A prototype of the virtual sensor system was developed in a virtual environment using a multi-body simulation (MBS) model of a WT drivetrain and artificial neural network (ANN) models. Simulated wind fields according to IEC 61400‑1 covering a variety of wind speeds were generated and applied to a MBS model of a Vestas V52 wind turbine. The turbine contains a high-speed drivetrain with 4‑points bearing suspension, a common drivetrain configuration. The simulation was used to generate time-series data of the target and input parameters for the virtual sensor algorithm, an ANN model. After the ANN was trained using the time-series data collected from the MBS, the developed virtual sensor algorithm was tested by comparing the estimated 6‑DOF transmission input loads from the ANN to the simulated 6‑DOF transmission input loads from the MBS. The results show high potential for virtual sensing 6‑DOF wind turbine transmission input loads using the presented method.
Low-stakes performance testing in Germany by the VERA assessment: analysis of the mode effects between computer-based testing and paper-pencil testing
Authors: Wagner Inga , Loesche Philipp , Bißantz Steven
Published: March 2021

The German school system employs centrally organized performance assessments (some of which are called “VERA”) as a way of promoting lesson development. In recent years, several German federal states introduced a computer-based performance testing system which will replace the paper-pencil testing system in the future. Scores from computer-based testing are required to be equivalent to paper-pencil testing scores so that the new testing medium does not lead to disadvantages for students. Therefore, the current study aimed at investigating the size of the mode effect and the moderating impact of students’ gender, academic achievement and mainly spoken language in everyday life. In addition, the variance of the mode effect across tasks was investigated. The study was conducted in four German federal states in 2019 using a field experimental design. The test scores of 5140 eighth-graders from 165 schools in the subject German were analysed. The results of multi-level modelling revealed that students’ test scores in the computerized version of the VERA test were significantly lower than in the paper-pencil version. Students with a lower academic achievement were more disadvantaged by the VERA computerized test. The results were inconsistent regarding the interactions between testing mode and students’ gender and mainly spoken language in everyday life. The variance of the mode effect across tasks was high. Research into different subjects and in other federal states and countries under different testing conditions might yield further evidence about the generalizability of these results.
It does not have to be either or! Assessing competence in medicine should be a continuum between an analytic and a holistic approach
Authors: Rotthoff Thomas , Kadmon Martina , Harendza Sigrid
Published: March 2021

Assessing competence is a tremendous challenge in medical education. There are two contrasting approaches in competence assessment: an analytic approach that aims to precisely measure observable constituents and facets of competence and a holistic approach that focuses on a comprehensive assessment of competences in complex real situations reflecting actual performance. We would like to contribute to the existing discourse about medical competence and its assessment by proposing an approach that can provide orientation for the development of competence-based assessment concepts in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. The approach follows Kane's framework of an “argument-based approach” to validity and is based on insights into task complexity, testing and learning theories as well as the importance of the learning environment. It describes a continuum from analytic to holistic approaches to assess the constituents and facets of competence to performance. We conclude that the complexity of a task should determine the selection of the assessment and suggest to use this approach to reorganize and adapt competence assessment.
Institutionalizing school failure: From abandoning to reintroducing a failing grade—the rationales behind Swedish grading reforms
Authors: Arensmeier Cecilia
Published: March 2021

The article aims to depict the political framing of three grading reforms in Swedish compulsory school, in terms of the political problem they are supposed to solve and what kind of attention is given to the lowest performing pupils. Discourse analysis is employed, focusing on statement producers. The empirical material consists of policy documents from the late 1930s to 2010. The analyses show that three cases of the same type of policy change, a new grading system, rely on very different problem representations. The changes were launched as an equality tool, an accountability measure and a remedy for declining results, respectively. The discourse about the least successful pupils differs. Reasonable demands and a ranking scale without a failing grade characterize the introduction of a norm-referenced system; a first criterion-referenced system rests on a belief that virtually all pupils will meet the formulated levels for passing, an expectation not met, and a changed focus behind the second criterion-referenced system normalizes that some pupils will fail compulsory school. The article also illustrates the merits of studying educational policy change through the theoretical lens of problem representations and directs attention to how reforms can have discursive effects as well as unintended side effects that matter substantially for some people.
Girls suffer: the prevalence and predicting factors of emotional problems among adolescents during upper secondary school in Norway
Authors: Haugan Jan Arvid , Frostad Per , Mjaavatn Per-Egil
Published: March 2021

This longitudinal, quantitative survey examined factors predicting 1077 Norwegian adolescents` emotional problems during Upper Secondary School (grades I–III, approximately 16–19 years old) considering the following research question: “To what extent do students in Upper Secondary School experience emotional problems, and how are these problems predicted by gender, academic/social self-concept, coping beliefs, appearance pressure and school stress?”. The mentioned variables were scrutinized through analysis of frequencies, zero order correlations and structural equation modeling. Results verified previous findings that there was an increase in emotional problems for adolescents, especially among girls. Furthermore, the study results indicate that coping beliefs is a crucial factor when it comes to the perception of pressure and stress, and the subsequent development of emotional health problems.
Multidimensional Retirement Planning Behaviors, Retirement Confidence, and Post-Retirement Health and Well-Being Among Chinese Older Adults in Hong Kong
Authors: Liu Chang , Bai Xue , Knapp Martin
Published: March 2021

Maintaining health and well-being in later life is becoming increasingly crucial because of rapid population aging and prolonged years in retirement. Retirement planning may effectively enhance retirement preparedness and confidence and contribute to better post-retirement outcomes. The present study aimed to examine Hong Kong aging adults’ engagement in multidimensional retirement planning activities, their retirement confidence, as well as the mediating effects of retirement confidence on the relationships between retirement planning and health and subjective well-being (i.e., physical health, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction). Face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from 630 retirees aged 50 years and over. The results showed that retirement planning both directly and indirectly influenced physical health, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction through retirement confidence. Among the four planning subdomains (i.e., financial, health, social life, and psychological planning), health, social life, and psychological planning were found to have positive impacts on physical health and life satisfaction through increased retirement confidence levels, while only social life planning influenced depressive symptoms through retirement confidence. Retirement planning in financial domain was not correlated with retirement confidence but could directly benefit life satisfaction in retirement. The findings reveal the need for the policymakers and service providers to improve public education to raise future retirees’ awareness of the importance of retirement planning and promote retirement planning activities, especially social life planning.
Measuring institutional overlap in global governance
Authors: Haftel Yoram Z. , Lenz Tobias
Published: March 2021

Over the past decade, an increasingly sophisticated literature has sought to capture the nature, sources, and consequences of a novel empirical phenomenon in world politics: the growing complexity of global governance. However, this literature has paid only limited attention to questions of measurement, which is a prerequisite for a more comprehensive understanding of global governance complexity across space and time. In taking a first step in this direction, we make two contributions in the article. First, we propose new quantitative measures that gauge the extent of complexity in global governance, which we conceptualize as the degree to which global governance institutions overlap. Dyadic, weighted, directed-dyadic, and monadic measures enable a multifaceted understanding of this important development in world politics. Second, we illustrate these measures by applying them to an updated version of the most comprehensive data set on the design of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs): the Measure of International Authority (MIA). This allows us to identify cross-sectional and temporal patterns in the extent to which important IGOs, which tend to form the core of sprawling regime complexes in many issue areas, overlap. We conclude by outlining notable implications for, and potential applications of, our measures for research on institutional design and evolution, legitimacy, and legitimation, as well as effectiveness and performance. This discussion underscores the utility of the proposed measures, as both dependent and independent variables, to researchers examining the sources and consequences of institutional overlap in global governance and beyond.
Enhancing students’ language in collective processes of knowledge construction in group work: the case of enlarging figures
Authors: Erath Kirstin
Published: March 2021

Against the background of providing learning opportunities for meaningful mathematics for all students, the presented Design Research study had the goal of investigating how to support students facing language barriers while learning mathematics in phases of unmoderated group work. For this purpose, learning meaningful mathematics and demanding discourse practices are connected with quality interaction characteristics identified in research on productive group work. This theoretical consideration was implemented in a learning arrangement on similarity by means of four design principles for enhancing language in group work on meaningful mathematics. The empirical insights show to what extent the intended demanding discourse practices and quality interaction characteristics can be identified in different steps of knowledge construction, and to what extent they are supported by the design element ‘role cards’. Instead of calling for less unmoderated group work for students facing language barriers, the results of the study suggest that more research is needed to design scaffolds matching students’ needs, aside from whole-class discussions.
The Availability and Assessment of Potential Agricultural Residues for the Regional Development of Second-Generation Bioethanol in Thailand
Authors: Jusakulvijit Piradee , Bezama Alberto , Thrän Daniela
Published: March 2021

The agricultural sector is a major source of biomass feedstocks for biofuels. Even though biomass potential in Thailand has been analyzed on a national level, its distribution and potential have yet to be assessed on a regional and provincial scale. Therefore, the study aims to verify the possibility of decentralized second-generation bioethanol production from regionally available agricultural residues. Most of the generated residues stem from the country’s major crops (sugarcane, cassava, rice and palm), totaling 174.1 million tons per year. The volume of bioethanol from these residues is projected to be 20,213.5 million liters per year, meeting 31.2% of the overall fuel demand of the transport sector. At the regional level, the northeast produces the highest amount of bioethanol at 9099.7 million liters per year, followed by the central, northern and southern regions. In terms of provincial distribution, the highest amount of bioethanol is converted in Nakhon Ratchasima, amounting to 1328 million liters per year. Data from the top ten potential provinces suggest that decentralizing production facilities is possible. One of the hotspots is Surat Thani in the south which can potentially utilize palm residues as feedstocks. This regionalized assessment also found that conventional feedstocks could be substituted with regionally available residues in the 26 production plants currently in operation. The results confirm that there would be enough alternative regional feedstocks to meet existing production capacities and they indicate that there would be enough regional residues left over for future value-added utilization.

Graphic Abstract
Setting population-size targets for geese causing socio-economic conflicts
Authors: Johnson Fred A. , Heldbjerg Henning , Nagy Szabolcs , Madsen Jesper
Published: March 2021

Most European goose populations have increased exponentially, and this has increasingly brought them into conflict with human activities. To manage this conflict, we used multi-criteria decision analysis to help set population targets for a super-abundant population of greylag geese (Anser anser). We relied on expert elicitation to assess the consequences of varying goose abundance on nine ecological, economic, and societal objectives. Representatives from national governments and from non-governmental organizations then weighted the objectives based on their perceived relative importance, and we used a consensus-convergence model to reach stakeholder agreement on the tradeoffs among objectives. The preferred population targets for two management units represent about a 20% reduction from current abundances, which from a management perspective would require considerable effort above and beyond current population-control measures. We believe that multi-criteria decision analysis can provide a systematic and transparent framework for building consensus among diverse stakeholders in a wide array of human-wildlife conflicts.
Temporal trends in opportunistic citizen science reports across multiple taxa
Authors: Knape Jonas , Coulson Stephen James , van der Wal René , Arlt Debora
Published: March 2021

Opportunistic reporting of species observations to online platforms provide one of the most extensive sources of information about the distribution and status of organisms in the wild. The lack of a clear sampling design, and changes in reporting over time, leads to challenges when analysing these data for temporal change in organisms. To better understand temporal changes in reporting, we use records submitted to an online platform in Sweden (Artportalen), currently containing 80 million records. Focussing on five taxonomic groups, fungi, plants, beetles, butterflies and birds, we decompose change in reporting into long-term and seasonal trends, and effects of weekdays, holidays and weather variables. The large surge in number of records since the launch of the, initially taxa-specific, portals is accompanied by non-trivial long-term and seasonal changes that differ between the taxonomic groups and are likely due to changes in, and differences between, the user communities and observer behaviour.
Methods of yield stability analysis in long-term field experiments. A review
Authors: Reckling Moritz , Ahrends Hella , Chen Tsu-Wei , Eugster Werner , Hadasch Steffen , Knapp Samuel , Laidig Friedrich , Linstädter Anja , Macholdt Janna , Piepho Hans-Peter , Schiffers Katja , Döring Thomas F.
Published: March 2021

In the face of a changing climate, yield stability is becoming increasingly important for farmers and breeders. Long-term field experiments (LTEs) generate data sets that allow the quantification of stability for different agronomic treatments. However, there are no commonly accepted guidelines for assessing yield stability in LTEs. The large diversity of options impedes comparability of results and reduces confidence in conclusions. Here, we review and provide guidance for the most commonly encountered methodological issues when analysing yield stability in LTEs. The major points we recommend and discuss in individual sections are the following: researchers should (1) make data quality and methodological approaches in the analysis of yield stability from LTEs as transparent as possible; (2) test for and deal with outliers; (3) investigate and include, if present, potentially confounding factors in the statistical model; (4) explore the need for detrending of yield data; (5) account for temporal autocorrelation if necessary; (6) make explicit choice for the stability measures and consider the correlation between some of the measures; (7) consider and account for dependence of stability measures on the mean yield; (8) explore temporal trends of stability; and (9) report standard errors and statistical inference of stability measures where possible. For these issues, we discuss the pros and cons of the various methodological approaches and provide solutions and examples for illustration. We conclude to make ample use of linking up data sets, and to publish data, so that different approaches can be compared by other authors and, finally, consider the impacts of the choice of methods on the results when interpreting results of yield stability analyses. Consistent use of the suggested guidelines and recommendations may provide a basis for robust analyses of yield stability in LTEs and to subsequently design stable cropping systems that are better adapted to a changing climate.