bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of medication clusters and subsequent labor market marginalization in refugee and Swedish-born young adults with common mental disorders in Sweden
Authors: Chen J. , Mittendorfer-Rutz E. , Taipale H. , Rahman S. , Niederkrotenthaler T. , Klimek P.
Published: April 2023

Little is known about the association between common mental disorders (CMD) and labor market integration among refugee and Swedish-born young adults. Socially disadvantaged patients such as refugees are more likely to discontinue their medication use prematurely. This study aimed to identify clusters of individuals with similar psychotropic medication patterns; and examine the relationship between cluster membership with labor market marginalization (LMM) in refugee and Swedish-born young adults with CMD. The study uses a longitudinal matched cohort aged 18-24 years with CMD diagnoses from Swedish registers covering 2006–2016. Dispensed psychotropic medications (antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, sedative-hypnotics, mood stabilizers) were collected one year before and after CMD diagnosis. Clusters of patients with similar time courses of prescribed dosages were algorithmically identified. The association of cluster membership with subsequent LMM, (long-term sickness absence, SA, disability pension, DP, or long-term unemployment, UE) was assessed using Cox regression. Among 12,472 young adults with CMD, there were 13.9% with SA, 11.9% with DP, and 13.0% with UE during a mean follow-up of 4.1 years (SD 2.3 years). Six clusters of individuals were identified. A cluster with a sustained increase in all medication types yielded the highest hazard ratio (HR [95% CI]) 1.69 [1.34, 2.13] for SA and 2.63 [2.05, 3.38] for DP. The highest HRs of UE give a cluster with a concentrated peak in antidepressants at CMD diagnosis (HR 1.61[1.18, 2.18]). Refugees and Swedish-born showed similar associations between clusters and LMM. To prevent LMM, targeted support and early assessment of CMD treatment are needed for individuals with a sustained increase in psychotropic medication after CMD diagnosis and for refugees in high-risk clusters for UE characterized by a rapid lowering of treatment dosages, which could be an indicator for premature medication discontinuation.
Detecting deception using machine learning with facial expressions and pulse rate
Authors: Tsuchiya Kento , Hatano Ryo , Nishiyama Hiroyuki
Published: April 2023

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, remote interviews have become an increasingly popular approach in many fields. For example, a survey by the HR Research Institute (PCR Institute in Survey on hiring activities for graduates of 2021 and 2022. https://www.hrpro.co.jp/research_detail.php?r_no=273. Accessed 03 Oct 2021) shows that more than 80% of job interviews are conducted remotely, particularly in large companies. However, for some reason, an interviewee might attempt to deceive an interviewer or feel difficult to tell the truth. Although the ability of interviewers to detect deception among interviewees is significant for their company or organization, it still strongly depends on their individual experience and cannot be automated. To address this issue, in this study, we propose a machine learning approach to aid in detecting whether a person is attempting to deceive the interlocutor by associating the features of their facial expressions with those of their pulse rate. We also constructed a more realistic dataset for the task of deception detection by asking subjects not to respond artificially, but rather to improvise natural responses using a web camera and wearable device (smartwatch). The results of an experimental evaluation of the proposed approach with 10-fold cross-validation using random forests classifier show that the accuracy and the F1 value were in the range between 0.75 and 0.8 for each subject, and the highest values were 0.87 and 0.88, respectively. Through the analysis of the importance of the features the trained models, we revealed the crucial features of each subject during deception, which differed among the subjects.
Automatic generation of incremental taxonomies for supporting the users in the development of an RPA project
Authors: Martínez-Rojas Antonio , Barba Irene , Del Valle Carmelo , Jiménez-Ramírez Andrés , González-Enríquez José
Published: April 2023

The robotic process automation (RPA) paradigm is a discipline that is becoming increasingly popular thanks to the great interest shown by the industry. In such context, RPA solutions based on artificial intelligence, i.e., cognitive solutions, are receiving increasing attention. In a cognitive RPA project, the RPA developer is in charge of selecting the most suitable components that solve specific tasks from the sets of components provided by different RPA platforms. This selection is very challenging, especially since there is no homogeneity in component names or component classifications. Such a situation turns an RPA project’s development into a time-consuming, error-prone, and very tedious process. Therefore, supporting the RPA developer in developing a cognitive RPA project is desired. The industry has also pointed out this need. This work presents a proposal for supporting the users in developing a cognitive RPA project. To be more precise, an incremental method to automatically generate taxonomies from cognitive RPA platforms is proposed. Such taxonomies can be dynamically adapted when necessary. In previous work, the initial aspects of this research were presented. However, the current work greatly enhances such previous work by: (1) extending the proposed method to improve the management of real-world use cases from industry, (2) developing a proof-of-concept tool that is based on the proposed approach, (3) validating the proposed method by applying it to real-world use cases from industry, and (4) performing a literature review on related topics. The results obtained are auspicious and demonstrate that the proposed approach substantially improves the support given to users during the development of a cognitive RPA project.
Using psychological characteristics of situations for social situation comprehension in support agents
Authors: Kola Ilir , Jonker Catholijn M. , Riemsdijk M. Birna van
Published: April 2023

Support agents that help users in their daily lives need to take into account not only the user’s characteristics, but also the social situation of the user. Existing work on including social context uses some type of situation cue as an input to information processing techniques in order to assess the expected behavior of the user. However, research shows that it is important to also determine themeaningof a situation, a step which we refer to as social situation comprehension. We propose using psychological characteristics of situations, which have been proposed in social science for ascribing meaning to situations, as the basis for social situation comprehension. Using data from user studies, we evaluate this proposal from two perspectives. First, from a technical perspective, we show that psychological characteristics of situations can be used as input to predict the priority of social situations, and that psychological characteristics of situations can be predicted from the features of a social situation. Second, we investigate the role of the comprehension step in human–machine meaning making. We show that psychological characteristics can be successfully used as a basis for explanations given to users about the decisions of an agenda management personal assistant agent.
Empirically evaluating flaky test detection techniques combining test case rerunning and machine learning models
Authors: Parry Owain , Kapfhammer Gregory M. , Hilton Michael , McMinn Phil
Published: April 2023

A flaky test is a test case whose outcome changes without modification to the code of the test case or the program under test. These tests disrupt continuous integration, cause a loss of developer productivity, and limit the efficiency of testing. Many flaky test detection techniques are rerunning-based, meaning they require repeated test case executions at a considerable time cost, or are machine learning-based, and thus they are fast but offer only an approximate solution with variable detection performance. These two extremes leave developers with a stark choice. This paper introduces CANNIER, an approach for reducing the time cost of rerunning-based detection techniques by combining them with machine learning models. The empirical evaluation involving 89,668 test cases from 30 Python projects demonstrates that CANNIER can reduce the time cost of existing rerunning-based techniques by an order of magnitude while maintaining a detection performance that is significantly better than machine learning models alone. Furthermore, the comprehensive study extends existing work on machine learning-based detection and reveals a number of additional findings, including (1) the performance of machine learning models for detecting polluter test cases; (2) using the mean values of dynamic test case features from repeated measurements can slightly improve the detection performance of machine learning models; and (3) correlations between various test case features and the probability of the test case being flaky.
Exploring Knowledge and Awareness of HCV Infection and Screening Test: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among an Italian Sample
Authors: Lo Moro Giuseppina , Scaioli Giacomo , Vola Lorenzo , Guastavigna Laura , Frattin Roberta , De Vito Elisabetta , Bert Fabrizio , Siliquini Roberta
Published: April 2023

Addressing HCV represents a public health priority, especially in Italy, which has the highest HCV prevalence in Europe. This study primarily aimed to explore knowledge about the HCV infection and awareness of the existence of the HCV screening test in Italy, before the implementation of awareness campaigns in 2022. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted (December 2021–January 2022). The primary outcomes were: Disease Knowledge Score (DKS), Prevention and Transmission Knowledge Score (PTKS) (for both: scoring from 0 to 100%, higher scores corresponded to higher knowledge), and being unaware of the existence of the HCV screening. The final sample consisted of 813 participants. The median DKS was 75% (IQR = 66.7–83.3), the median PTKS was 46.2% (IQR = 38.5–53.8), and 23.2% of participants were unaware of HCV screening. Higher education, health-related study or profession, history of accidental injuries, being affected by HCV and having actively searched for information on HCV had positive associations with DKS. LGBT males showed significantly lower DKS. Considering PTKS, participants affected by HCV the disease had a negative association with this score. Having a postgraduate education reduced the likelihood of not knowing about the HCV screening test, while having at least one family member affected by hepatitis C increased this probability. This study highlighted a concerning lack of knowledge about prevention and transmission, indicating a need for targeted education campaigns. The findings emphasized the importance of information and motivation and identified male LGBT + individuals as a vulnerable group with limited disease knowledge. Future research should concern the effectiveness of awareness campaigns.
Examining Motivations to Walk the Camino de Santiago: A Typology of Pilgrims
Authors: Brumec Snežana , Lavrič Miran , Naterer Andrej
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this article is to develop a comprehensive understanding of people’s motivations for going on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage using qualitative and quantitative methods. The methodology comprised qualitative research based on content analysis of 32 travelogue testimonies and quantitative research based on an online survey of prospective pilgrims (N = 228). Three dimensions of motivation were identified using the following factor analyses: secular, spiritual, and religious. Then, a two-step cluster analysis was conducted to classify pilgrims into seven different types. The results revealed that pilgrims are not homogeneous in their motivations and that, except for two types with a total frequency of 4%, secular motivation is more or less present in all other types of prospective pilgrims. There are no “purely religious” pilgrims. Religious motivation always appears together with secular, spiritual, or, most often, both these forms of motivation. The findings suggest that secular motivation may be related to a need for exploration, the core motive underlying self-actualization.
Migrating Young Unaccompanied Children and the Mobile Commons: Law, Vulnerability, and the Practice of Family Reunification in Sweden
Authors: Andersson Ulrika
Published: April 2023

In this article I call for an awareness of the mobile commons– the informal support that exists among migrating people, NGOs, and activists – in relation to the realization of family reunification. Taking its point of departure in a concrete case of family reunification for young unaccompanied children, the article seeks to expose how the traditional legal notion of the liberal subject fails to provide protection in the context of legal practice. I argue for using the vulnerable subject as a starting point, in order to make more visible the context in which law operates and ensure protection even for the youngest children.
Social Cohesion of Functional Urban Areas (Example of Eastern Poland)
Authors: Busłowska Anna , Marcinkiewicz Jacek
Published: April 2023

This paper is about studying social cohesion in functional urban areas (FUA). These territorial units become an important stakeholder and recipient of urban policy. Therefore, it is important to study problems of their development, including social cohesion. In the paper it is understood in spatial terms, i.e. it occurs when the differentiation of specific territorial units in terms of selected social indicators is reduced. In the research was studied the sigma convergence related to functional urban areas of vovodeship’s capital cities in five least-developed regions of Poland (so-called the Eastern Poland). The aim of this article is to investigate whether social cohesion is increased in the FUA of the Eastern Poland. The obtained results showed that only in three FUA in the analyzed period was sigma convergence but it was very slow process. In two FUA, no sigma convergence was identified. At the same time, it was observed that in all the analyzed areas there was an improvement in the social situation.
Identifying core beliefs of an intercultural educator: How polyculturalism and group malleability beliefs shape teachers’ pedagogical thinking and practice
Authors: Rissanen Inkeri , Kuusisto Elina , McMullen Jake
Published: April 2023

Manifestations of educational inequity in diversifying societies have led to a wide acknowledgement of the need to develop all teachers’ competencies to work in the context of diversity. The domain of beliefs and attitudes is generally included as one key component of teachers’ intercultural competence, but there is little consensus over what the core beliefs shaping teachers’ intercultural competencies are. This mixed methods study draws from social psychological research on inter-group relations and explores the role of polyculturalist beliefs and group malleability beliefs in shaping teachers’ orientation to teaching for diversity and social justice. A hypothesized model was tested on survey data from Finnish comprehensive school teachers (N = 231) with structural equation modeling. Findings indicate that polyculturalism, in particular, strongly explains teachers’ teaching for social justice beliefs and enthusiasm for teaching in the context of diversity. Furthermore, we present a case analysis, based on classroom observations and stimulated recall interviews, of how polyculturalism actualizes in one Finnish elementary school teacher’s pedagogical thinking and practice, and discuss the implications of our findings for teacher education and further research.
Combined β-sitosterol and trimetazidine mitigate potassium dichromate-induced cardiotoxicity in rats through the interplay between NF-κB/AMPK/mTOR/TLR4 and HO-1/NADPH signaling pathways
Authors: El-Shoura Ehab A. M. , Salem Maha A. , Ahmed Yasmine H. , Ahmed Lamiaa Khalaf , Zaafar Dalia
Published: April 2023

Hexavalent chromium salt, like potassium dichromate (PD), is chromium’s most precarious valence state in industrial wastes. Recently, there has been increasing interest in β-sitosterol (BSS), a bioactive phytosterol, as a dietary supplement. BSS is recommended in treating cardiovascular disorders due to its antioxidant effect. Trimetazidine (TMZ) was used traditionally for cardioprotection. Through the administration of BSS and TMZ, the cardiotoxic effects of PD were to be countered in this study, in addition to examining the precise mechanism of PD-induced cardiotoxicity. Thirty male albino rats were divided into five groups; the control group: administered normal saline daily (3 mL/kg); the PD group: administered normal saline daily (3 mL/kg); BSS group: administered BSS daily (20 mg/kg); TMZ group: administered TMZ daily (15 mg/kg); and the BSS + TMZ group: administered both BSS (20 mg/kg) and TMZ (15 mg/kg) daily. All experimental groups, except the control, received on the 19th day a single dose of PD (30 mg/kg/day, S.C.). Normal saline, BSS, and TMZ were received daily for 21 consecutive days p.o. The exposure to PD promoted different oxidative stresses, pro-inflammatory, and cardiotoxicity biomarkers. BSS or TMZ succeeded solely in reducing these deleterious effects; however, their combination notably returned measured biomarkers close to normal values. The histopathological investigations have supported the biochemical findings. The combination of BSS and TMZ protects against PD cardiotoxicity in rats by reducing oxidative stress and apoptotic and inflammatory biomarkers. It may be promising for alleviating and protecting against PD-induced cardiotoxicity in people at an early stage; however, these findings need further clinical studies to be confirmed.

Highlights

• Potassium dichromate induces cardiotoxicity in rats through the upregulation of oxidative stress, proinflammatory, and apoptotic pathways biomarkers.

• β-Sitosterol possesses a possible cardioprotective effect by modulating several signaling pathways.

• Trimetazidine, the antianginal agent, has a potential cardioprotective impact on PD-intoxicated rat model.

• The combination of β-Sitosterol and trimetazidine was the best in modulating different pathways involved in PD cardiotoxicity in rats via the interplay between NF-κB/AMPK/mTOR/TLR4 and HO-1/NADPH signaling pathways.

Graphical Abstract
Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and infrared (IR) measurements for studying biofilm formation on common plastic litter polymer (LDPE and PET) surfaces in three different laboratory aquatic environments
Authors: Tziourrou Pavlos , Vakros John , Karapanagioti Hrissi Kassiani
Published: April 2023

Different species of microorganisms colonize the plastic surfaces and form biofilms depending on the aquatic environment. In the current investigation, characteristics of the plastic surface after exposure to three different aquatic environments based on visualization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectroscopic (diffuse reflectance (DR) and infrared (IR)) techniques were examined in laboratory bioreactors with time. For both materials, there were no differences observed in the ultraviolet (UV) region among the reactors and several peaks were observed with fluctuating intensities and without any trends. For light density polyethylene (LDPE), peaks indicating the presence of biofilm could be observed in the visible region for activated sludge bioreactor, and for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), freshwater algae biofilm was also visible. PET in freshwater bioreactor is the most densely populated sample both under the optical microscope and SEM. Based on the DR spectra, different visible peaks for LDPE and PET were observed but, in both cases, the visible region peaks (~ 450 and 670 nm) correspond to the peaks found in the water samples of the bioreactors. The difference on these surfaces could not be identified with IR but the fluctuations observed in the UV wavelength region were also detectable using indices obtained from the IR spectra such as keto, ester, and vinyl. For instance, the virgin PET sample shows higher values in all the indices than the virgin LDPE sample [(virgin LDPE: ester Index (I) = 0.051, keto I = 0.039, vinyl I = 0.067), (virgin PET: ester I = 3.5, keto I = 19, vinyl I = 0.18)]. This suggests that virgin PET surface is hydrophilic as expected. At the same time, for all the LDPE samples, all the indices demonstrated higher values (especially for R2) than the virgin LDPE. On the other hand, ester and keto indices for PET samples demonstrated lower values than virgin PET. In addition, DRS technique was able to identify the formation of the biofilm both on wet and dry samples. Both DRS and IR can describe changes in the hydrophobicity during the initial formation of biofilm but DRS can better describe the fluctuations of biofilm in the visible spectra region.
The Feasibility of Goal Management Training to Address Cognitive Impairment in an Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Population: Findings from a Novel Case Series
Authors: Monds Lauren A. , Crowe Amy , Bravo Maria , Ridley Nicole , Newcombe David , Mantell Rhys , Lintzeris Nicholas , Withall Adrienne
Published: April 2023

People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibit high rates of comorbidity with cognitive deficits, particularly for executive function (EF). Cognitive impairment has been related to poorer outcomes in substance use treatment. Goal management training (GMT), a structured, therapist-led manualised intervention targeting EF, has demonstrated positive preliminary results in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs.. However, these studies have had strict exclusion criteria (e.g. excluding clients with mental health disorders), and the feasibility of running such a program in a broader SUD outpatient setting is unclear. The primary aim of this study was to determine the outcomes and feasibility of a cognitive remediation intervention at an outpatient alcohol treatment service in Sydney, Australia. Clients were referred to the study based on risk of cognitive deficits (as indicated by objective cognitive impairment on a screening tool or relevant collateral clinical information). Eligibility criteria included diagnosis of a current alcohol use disorder and abstinence for 2 or more weeks. The intervention consisted of 9 weekly GMT sessions. Out of 34 clients referred, 11 were eligible to participate, and of these, five were allocated to the intervention group and two to a waitlist control group. Due to poor recruitment, statistical analyses between groups were not possible; instead, this study presents a case series of the five clients recruited to the 9-week group intervention using GMT. Clients engaged in the intervention presented with a range of deficits in their cognitive functioning at baseline. Despite positive comments from participants regarding the intervention, there was a high level of attrition; while four clients (80%) completed at least four sessions, only one participant remained until the end of the nine-session program. In its current form, this program is not suitable for this cohort in the outpatient setting. Suggestions are made for tailoring GMT and other approaches to increase engagement and retention in future interventions.
Gastroesophageal Junction and Pylorus Distensibility Before and After Sleeve Gastrectomy—pilot Study with EndoFlipTM
Authors: Magyar Christian Tibor Josef , Borbély Yves , Wiest Reiner , Stirnimann Guido , Candinas Daniel , Lenglinger Johannes , Nett Philipp C. , Kröll Dino
Published: April 2023

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the most frequently performed bariatric surgical intervention worldwide. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is frequently observed after SG and is a relevant clinical problem. This prospective study investigated the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and pyloric sphincter by impedance planimetry (EndoFlipTM) and their association with GERD at a tertiary university hospital center. Between January and December 2018, patients undergoing routine laparoscopic SG had pre-, intra-, and postoperative assessments of the GEJ and pyloric sphincter by EndoFlipTM. The distensibility index (DI) was measured at different volumes and correlated with GERD (in accordance with the Lyon consensus guidelines). Nine patients were included (median age 48 years, preoperative BMI 45.1 kg/m2, 55.6% female). GERD (de novo or stable) was observed in 44.4% of patients one year postoperatively. At a 40-ml filling volume, DI increased significantly pre- vs. post-SG of the GEJ (1.4 mm2/mmHg [IQR 1.1–2.6] vs. 2.9 mm2/mmHg [2.6–5.3], p VALUE=0.046) and of the pylorus (6.0 mm2/mmHg [4.1–10.7] vs. 13.1 mm2/mmHg [7.6–19.2], p VALUE=0.046). Patients with postoperative de novo or stable GERD had a significantly increased preoperative DI at 40 ml of the GEJ (2.6 mm2/mmHg [1.9–3.5] vs. 0.5 mm2/mmHg [0.5–1.1], p VALUE=0.031). There was no significant difference in DI at 40 mL filling in the preoperative pylorus and postoperative GEJ or pylorus. In this prospective study, the DI of the GEJ and the pylorus significantly increased after SG. Postoperative GERD was associated with a significantly higher preoperative DI of the GEJ but not of the pylorus.

Graphical Abstract
Mediation by Thyroid Hormone in the Relationships Between Gestational Exposure to Methylmercury and Birth Size
Authors: Gustin Klara , Ekvall Karl Oskar , Barman Malin , Jacobsson Bo , Sandin Anna , Sandberg Ann-Sofie , Wold Agnes E. , Vahter Marie , Kippler Maria
Published: April 2023

Our previous studies have linked gestational methylmercury exposure, originating from seafood, to changes in maternal thyroid hormones and infant birth size in a Swedish birth cohort. Herein we aimed to determine associations between maternal thyroid hormones and infant birth size and elucidate if maternal hormones could mediate the relationship between methylmercury and lower birth size. In 515 women, without known thyroid disease, we assessed metal exposure by erythrocyte mercury concentrations (mainly methylmercury, reflecting exposure over the past months) in early third trimester measured with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Plasma concentrations of total and free thyroxine (tT4 and fT4) and triiodothyronine (tT3 and fT3), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured at an accredited clinical laboratory. In multivariable-adjusted linear regression models, maternal tT3 (per 1 nmol/L increase) was positively associated with birth weight (B: 125 g; 95% CI 36, 214) and length (B: 0.59 cm; 95% CI 0.21, 0.97). Maternal fT4 was inversely associated with birth weight (B: − 33 g; 95% CI − 57, − 9.5), driven by obese women (n = 76). Causal mediation analyses suggested that a doubling of erythrocyte mercury (> 1 µg/kg; n = 374) was associated with a mean tT3-mediated decrease in birth weight of 11 g (95% CI − 25, − 1.6) and in birth length of 0.1 cm (95% CI − 0.12, − 0.01), both equivalent to about 12% of the total effect. To conclude, tT3 was positively associated with infant birth size. Reduced tT3 levels appeared to mediate a minor part of the inverse association between methylmercury exposure and birth size.
Thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor
Authors: Jiang Jiapeng , Chen Zhixin , Gong Jiali , Han Na , Lu Hongyang
Published: April 2023

Thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor (SMARCA4-UT) is a recently described smoking-related malignancy. The pathogenesis of SMARCA4-UT is the mutational inactivation and loss of expression of a subunit encoding the mammalian switch/sucrose nonfermenting ATPase-dependent chromatin remodeling complex (which can be mobilized using adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis nucleosomes and regulate other cellular processes including development, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis), in particular SMARCA4 and SMARCA2. The dynamic activity of this complex plays an important role in regulating the activation and repression of gene expression programs. SMARCA4-UT exhibits morphological features similar to the malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT), small cell carcinoma of the ovary of the hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT), and INI1-deficient tumor, but SMARCA4-UT differs from SCCOHT and MRT from a genomic perspective. SMARCA4-UT mainly involves the mediastinum and lung parenchyma, and appears as a large infiltrative mass that easily compresses surrounding tissues. At present, chemotherapy is a common treatment, but its efficacy is not clear. Moreover, the inhibitor of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 showed promising efficacy in some patients with SMARCA4-UT. This study aimed to review the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of SMARCA4-UT.
Methane Emission from a Small Lake after Artificially Created Ebullition
Authors: Forner Jan , Schaller Carsten , Klemm Otto
Published: April 2023

The total amount of methane
(CH4) that is emitted from wetlands worldwide is still uncertain. A major factor contributing to this uncertainty is ebullition, which is the emission of virtually pure methane gas bubbles from water bodies; these short, high-flux pulses are highly variable in space and time. Small, shallow lakes have been found to be prone to high CH4 emissions related to ebullition, and the fluxes from these ecosystems have been quantified using the eddy covariance (EC) method. However, this method was found to cause systematic biases during high-flux events. In this study, the EC method was used to quantify the CH4 flux from a small, shallow lake in which an artificial ebullition event was conducted to analyze the EC method’s performance under such conditions. Results showed that the flux quality was not necessarily subject to flux biases during the ebullition event but was of sufficient quality to quantify the CH4 emissions. The total emission flux of CH4 from the small lake during the artificial ebullition event was of the same magnitude as the respective CH4 flux over 2.7 days during regular conditions.
Evaluation of chlorination efficiency on improving microbiological and physicochemical parameters in water samples available in Sheble Berenta district Amhara region, Ethiopia
Authors: Temesgen Getahun , Lelago Alemu , Assefa Etagegnehu , Admasie Amha
Published: April 2023

Chlorination is the most common method of water disinfection of pathogens before discharged into receiving streams, rivers, or oceans. This study evaluates chlorination efficiency in improving microbiological and physicochemical parameters in water samples available in the Sheble Bernta district, Amhara region, from May 2020 to June 2020. Water samples were collected from selected five sampling points from unprotected springs, groundwater, hand-dug well, and river in five kebele from the district. All samples were undergone sample preparation. The chlorination process was made by calcium hypochlorite and then analyzed for bacteriological and physicochemical parameters before and after chlorination using standard procedures. The results of this study before chlorination showed that total coliform (TC) of water ranged between 71 and 127,000 (CFU)/100 ml, pH = 6.89-.35, turbidity = 196–270 NTU, and total dissolved solid (TDS) = 315–404 mg/l. Then the result of the microbiological and physicochemical parameters of water after chlorination was changed into total coliform ranging between1 50 (CFU)/100 ml, pH = 7.25–8.10, and turbidity = 2.9–5.6 NTU, TDS = 93–134 mg/l. Finally, the result confirmed that the removal efficiency of chlorination in total coliform (TC), turbidity, and TDS was ranged between 98.29 and 99.99%, 97 and 92-98.61%, and 62.03 and 73.31%, respectively. It was observed that there is a significant difference in removing turbidity, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) before and after chlorination, but the pH test did not show a significant difference (p < 0.05). The efficiency of chlorination in removing total coliform and impurity of water is very efficient. It plays a vital role in the bactericide effect, reducing turbidity, and water's total dissolved solids. However, chlorinated compounds' (Ca(OCl)2) increased the pH of water after treatments. This study concluded that the efficiency of chlorination in improving the quality of water is highly significant (p < 0.05) and made water under permeable level compared to the World Health Organization standard. Hence, the chlorination water treatment process in a household can be granted to get quality water at the household level.
Arbeitszeit bei Ärzt:innen und Auswirkungen auf Gesundheit, Zufriedenheit und Gesundheitsversorgung
Authors: Jung F. U. , Luppa M. , Riedel-Heller S. G.
Published: April 2023

Veränderungen der Arbeitswelt hinsichtlich innovativer Arbeitszeitmodelle erreichen zunehmend auch die Patient:innenversorgung, so steigt beispielsweise die Zahl der in Teilzeit arbeitenden Ärzt:innen kontinuierlich an. Gleichzeitig führt eine allgemeine Zunahme chronischer Erkrankungen und multimorbider Leiden, als auch der steigende ärztliche Personalmangel zu mehr Arbeitsbelastung und Unzufriedenheit. Die vorliegende Kurzübersicht fasst die aktuelle Studienlage hinsichtlich der Arbeitszeit von Ärzt:innen und damit verbundenen Konsequenzen zusammen und gibt einen ersten Überblick zu möglichen Lösungsansätzen.
Integrated microseismic and geomechanical analysis of hydraulic fracturing induced fault reactivation: a case study in Sichuan Basin, Southwest China
Authors: Feng Rui , Luo Haoran , Chen Zhaowei , Zhang Fengshou
Published: April 2023

Because of the special geographical location adjacent to the Tibetan Plateau, the geological setting of the Sichuan Basin is very complex, which brings a great challenge to shale gas development. In this study, we conducted an integrated microseismic and geomechanical analysis on a refracturing well in the Sichuan Basin. We observed that casing deformation occurred in the area of fault reactivation. However, the reactivation of pre-existing faults does not always cause casing deformation. In addition, a cluster of high-magnitude microseismic events will be triggered during the fault reactivation, which is also helpful to recognize the reactivated faults. Furthermore, according to the definition of b-value in the Gutenberg–Richter law, a group of high-magnitude microseismic events usually shows a low b-value and vice versa. Based on the analysis of treatment data and microseismicity, we found that there is a positive relationship between b-value and instantaneous shut-in pressure (ISIP): lower b-value represents lower ISIP. The investigation of the stress shadow effect based on the theoretical solution of a plane strain fracture is also convincing to prove the relationship between b-value and ISIP. Therefore, a significant relationship between hydraulic fracturing, microseismicity, and fault reactivation is established. Importantly, some useful implications of this relationship could be utilized for early warning of fault reactivation (probably casing deformation) and optimization of refracturing design for unconventional shale plays.
Analysis of the Psychometric Properties of the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale Through Classical Test Theory, Item Response Theory, and Network Analysis
Authors: Dias Sofia Fontoura , Gomes Ana Allen , Espie Colin A. , Ruivo Marques Daniel
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale was developed with the aim of measuring sleep effort. The present study evaluates the psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of the scale through classical test theory (specifically confirmatory factor analysis), item response theory, and network analysis.

Methods

It was used an existing database comprising a community sample of 227 Portuguese adults, aged 20–74 (M = 42.99; SD = 12.44) years old, comprising 49.8% women and 50.2% men.

Results

In confirmatory factor analysis, a well-adjusted to data one-factor model was identified, with sleep effort as the single factor. Item response theory analysis indicated an adequate performance of all items and satisfactory coverage of the latent trait, with items 3 (a = 3.37), 4 (a = 3.18), and 6 (a = 3.02) as the most discriminative ones. Considering network analysis, items 4 and 7 presented the strongest edge weight (.48). Item 1 was displayed at the centre of the networks and accounted for the largest number of connections with the remaining items.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale is a reliable measure, comprising highly discriminative items with good centrality indices.
Selbstberichtete Gründe für die (Nicht‑)Nutzung von Familiensprachen beim mehrsprachigkeitssensiblen Reziproken Lehren
Authors: Reitenbach V. , Decristan J. , Rauch D. P. , Bertram V. , Schneider K. M.
Published: April 2023

Der Einbezug von Familiensprachen der Schüler*innen im Unterricht lässt sich aus kognitiver sowie aus anerkennungstheoretischer Perspektive begründen. Dennoch zeigen erste Studien, dass mehrsprachige Schüler*innen ihre Familiensprachen vergleichsweise selten nutzen, selbst wenn sie dazu angeregt werden. In diesem Beitrag werden aus der Perspektive der Schüler*innen Gründe für die (Nicht‑)Nutzung ihrer Familiensprachen beim Reziproken Lehren im Grundschulunterricht dargestellt.

Für die Analysen wurden Daten aus einer Leseinterventionsstudie mit 667 Viertklässler*innen verwendet. Die Lehrkräfte nahmen an einer Fortbildung teil, in die eine Sensibilisierung für Mehrsprachigkeit und die kooperative Methode des Reziproken Lehrens in eine Unterrichtseinheit eingebettet waren. Anschließend setzten die Lehrkräfte diese in ihrem Deutschunterricht um. Neben der Zuordnung von Sprachpartner*innen in Kleingruppen wurden Sprachenportraits, zweisprachiges Unterrichtsmaterial und Sprachlernstifte eingesetzt, um mehrsprachige Interaktion anzuregen. Die Schüler*innen beantworteten am Ende der Einheit im Rahmen eines Fragebogens die Frage, ob sie während der Intervention eine andere Sprache als Deutsch gesprochen haben und wurden gebeten, ihre Antwort zu begründen.

Von den mehrsprachigen Schüler*innen gaben 63 % an, dass sie eine andere Sprache als Deutsch gesprochen haben. Mithilfe der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse wurden fünf Hauptkategorien der selbstberichteten Gründe für die (Nicht‑)Nutzung des Sprachangebots identifiziert: Individuum, Gruppe, Sprachangebot, Material und Zeit. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Schüler*innen sowohl für die Nutzung als auch für die Nicht-Nutzung ihrer Familiensprachen während der Unterrichtseinheit hauptsächlich individuelle und gruppenbezogene Gründe angaben, die sich jeweils auf Sprachkompetenzen bezogen. Für individuumsbezogene Begründungen der Nutzung waren darüber hinaus sprachbezogene Emotionen bedeutsam. Aus den Ergebnissen lassen sich Implikationen für die Umsetzung einer mehrsprachigkeitssensiblen und -aktivierendenden Lernumgebung ableiten.
Progress in thermal energy storage technologies for achieving carbon neutrality
Authors: Zhao Changying , Yan Jun , Tian Xikun , Xue Xinjie , Zhao Yao
Published: April 2023

China is committed to the targets of achieving peak CO2 emissions around 2030 and realizing carbon neutrality around 2060. To realize carbon neutrality, people are seeking to replace fossil fuel with renewable energy. Thermal energy storage is the key to overcoming the intermittence and fluctuation of renewable energy utilization. In this paper, the relation between renewable energy and thermal energy storage is first addressed. Then, the classifications of thermal energy storage and Carnot batteries are given. The aim of this review is to provide an insight into the promising thermal energy storage technologies for the application of renewable energy in order to realize carbon neutrality. Three types of heat storage methods, especially latent heat storage and thermochemical heat storage, are analyzed in detail. The application of thermal energy storage is influenced by many heat storage properties, such as temperature range, heat storage capacity, cost, stability, and technical readiness. Therefore, the heat storage properties for different heat storage technologies are reviewed and compared. The advantage and challenge of different heat storage technologies and Carnot batteries for carbon neutrality processes are analyzed. Finally, the prospects of different heat storage technologies are summarized.
Effect of flow–thermodynamics interactions on the stability of compressible boundary layers: insights from Helmholtz decomposition
Authors: Sharma Bajrang , Girimaji Sharath S.
Published: April 2023

Helmholtz decomposition of velocity perturbations is performed in conjunction with linear stability analysis to examine the effects of flow-thermodynamics interactions on the stability of high-speed boundary layers. A corresponding decomposition of the pressure field is also proposed. The contributions of perturbation solenoidal kinetic, dilatational kinetic and internal energy to the various instability modes are examined as a function of Mach number (

$M$

). As expected, dilatational and pressure field effects play an insignificant part in the first-mode behaviour at all Mach numbers. The second (Mack) mode, however, is dominantly dilatational in nature, and perturbation internal energy is significant compared to perturbation kinetic energy. The observed behaviour is explicated by examining the key processes of production and pressure-dilatation. Production of the second-mode dilatational kinetic energy is mostly due to the solenoidal-dilatational covariance stress tensor interacting with the mean (background) velocity gradient. This cross production component also inhibits the first mode. The dilatational pressure facilitates energy transfer from the kinetic to the internal field in the near‐wall region, whereas the energy transfer away from the wall is mostly due to the solenoidal pressure work. The dilatational characters of the fast and slow modes are also examined. The fast mode is dominantly dilatational at both

$M=4$

and

$M=6$

, while the nature of the slow mode is dependent on

$M$

. Finally, Helmholtz decomposition of the perturbation momentum vector is performed. Interestingly, both first and second modes are dominated by solenoidal components of momentum.
Interaction of mode-one internal solitary waves of opposite polarity in double-pycnocline stratifications
Authors: Lamb Kevin G.
Published: April 2023

Numerical simulations of the interaction of internal solitary waves (ISWs) of opposite polarity are conducted by solving the incompressible Euler equations under the Boussinesq approximation. A double-pycnocline stratification is used. A method to determine when ISWs of both polarities exist is also presented. The simulations confirm previous work that the interaction of waves of the same polarity are soliton-like; however, here it is shown that when a fast ISW with the same polarity as a Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) solitary wave catches up and interacts with a slower ISW of opposite polarity, the interaction can be far from soliton-like. The energy in the fast KdV-polarity wave can increase by more than a factor of 5 while the energy in the slower negative-KdV-polarity wave can decrease by 50 %. Large trailing wave trains may be generated and in some cases multiple ISWs with KdV polarity may be formed by the interaction.
Prefigurative Legality
Authors: Cohen Amy J. , Morgan Bronwen
Published: April 2023

Since the early 2000s, many of the left groups that spurred the alt-globalization movement have embraced directly democratic organizing and the creation of ethical relationships and subjectivities far more than they have pursued projects to reform legal and political institutions. These practices are often described as prefigurative because people are working to build alternative possible futures in the here-and-now outside of dominant statist and capitalist rationalities. In this essay, we ask if prefiguration can also involve imagining legal forms anew. Drawing on Amelia Thorpe, Owning the Street: The Everyday Life of Property (2020), we discuss contemporary efforts to use the language, form, and legitimacy of law to imagine it otherwise, efforts that occur through various kinds of direct actions rather than primarily through appeals to courts, legislators, or other state officials. In so doing, we point to an emergent field of critical and sociolegal scholarship that we call prefigurative legality.
Relatio: Text Semantics Capture Political and Economic Narratives
Authors: Ash Elliott , Gauthier Germain , Widmer Philine
Published: April 2023

Social scientists have become increasingly interested in how narratives—the stories in fiction, politics, and life—shape beliefs, behavior, and government policies. This paper provides an unsupervised method to quantify latent narrative structures in text documents. Our new software package relatio identifies coherent entity groups and maps explicit relations between them in the text. We provide an application to the U.S. Congressional Record to analyze political and economic narratives in recent decades. Our analysis highlights the dynamics, sentiment, polarization, and interconnectedness of narratives in political discourse.
Foraminifers and conodonts in the Danlu section, South China: implications for the Viséan–Serpukhovian boundary (Mississippian)
Authors: Liu Chao , Cózar Pedro , Coronado Ismael , Liang Tian , Liu Xiaoxiao , Chen Hao , Li Xin , An Haihua , Zhang Fukai
Published: April 2023

The Viséan–Serpukhovian boundary is poorly defined in South China, hampering regional and global stratigraphical correlations. The foraminiferal and conodont distribution of the Baping Formation in the carbonate-slope Danlu section permits the recognition of an interval from the middle Viséan to the uppermost Serpukhovian in a continuous succession. The base of the Serpukhovian in Danlu is recognized by the first occurrences of Janischewskina delicata, Howchinia subplana and questionable ‘Millerella’ tortula. At a slightly younger level, the conodont Lochriea ziegleri is first recorded. A calibration on the first occurrence of L. ziegleri in different basins at a global scale has been revised compared to auxiliary markers within the ammonoids and foraminifers. The late occurrence of L. ziegleri in the Danlu section also supports a lack of synchronicity in the global first occurrence of this taxon. This study calls for the recognition of a new base for the Serpukhovian under a far better correlation between different zonal schemes and fossil groups.