bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On value efficiency analysis and cone-ratio data envelopment analysis models
Authors: Ravanos Panagiotis , Karagiannis Giannis
Published: October 2024

In this paper we relate the Value Efficiency Analysis (VEA) efficiency scores with those of three different Cone-Ratio Data Envelopment Analysis (CR-DEA) models, when the chosen model Decision Making Units (DMUs) in CR-DEA jointly comprise the Most Preferred Solution (MPS) in VEA. In particular, we consider the cases where the set of feasible weight vectors is given respectively by (i) the weight vectors that are jointly optimal in DEA for all the model DMUs, (ii) every weight vector that is optimal in DEA for at least one of the model DMUs, and (iii) only those weight vectors with strictly positive input and output weights, each of which is jointly optimal in DEA for all the model DMUs. In each of these cases we show that the CR-DEA efficiency scores can be obtained or approximated by estimating either a VEA model or a series of VEA models, without the need of identifying a priori the set of feasible weight vectors. We illustrate the usefulness of our results by means of an empirical application using data on Japanese regional banks.
Censorship and Creative Communities: Fragility and Change of Fanfiction Writing in China
Authors: Wang Ran
Published: October 2024

Research on cultural production has recognized that artistic creation, especially fandom subcultures, depends on social interaction within artworlds. Yet less research has examined how creative production functions when exogenous social forces disrupt key forms of interaction. This study leverages the case of Chinese fanfiction writers’ response when state censorship interrupts and threatens fanfiction writing to better understand the vulnerability of creative communities. Based on interviews with Chinese fanfiction writers who experienced an unexpected intensification of online censorship in 2020, and following fandom studies in understanding fanfiction as rooted in a gift economy, I show how censorship discouraged writing by destabilizing interaction and interfering with gift exchanges. I find that censorship transformed cultural production by (1) reorganizing and fragmenting networks, (2) reshaping the meaning of visibility, and (3) opening up new opportunities in a disintegrated community. As this study argues, we need to go beyond asking whether censorship is effectively destructive or not. While creative communities are vulnerable to outside disruption, especially in online space, the pressure of censorship leads to new conventions, networks, and fields for artistic creation as censorship does not simply strangle creativity.
Merging Worklife Organizational Innovation and Educational Programs: Promoting Continuous Adaptations to the Global Economy
Authors: Haga Trond Sanne , Ravn Johan E. , Alias Oier Imaz , Greenwood Davydd J.
Published: October 2024

This essay honors the accomplishments of Morten Levin both by analyzing some of the key innovative educational programs he created and by extending the elements of that analysis to two other cases, that of Aker Solutions and the Mondragon Cooperatives. We acknowledge that the relationship between higher education institutions and manufacturing-service-public sector organizations is multiplex and has undergone multiple transformations over the decades. It is also affected by the national political economy and the scope and diversity of the higher education sector itself. Creating sustained and yet dynamic relations among these actors in service of both higher education and the efficacy and innovativeness of worklife organizations is a significant challenge which all the cases we present have addressed with some success. What the efforts have in common is a democratizing action research built on an ethos and worldview of the benefits of collaboration and co-creation, and organizational capabilities built on Actor Network strategies to promote collaboration and innovation as a way of adapting to the rapidly changing world conditions effectively. We argue that there are many more such examples in existence and that a key role for action research is to document them, show how more collaborative and adaptive organizational processes are possible and show how neoliberal New Public Management is an authoritarian “wrong turn” with dire consequences. Ultimately, this essay is an argument against the “iron cage” view of bureaucracy as always coercive and stultifying and show that it is not bureaucracy but the authoritarian approaches to creating coercive bureaucracies that destroy organizational collaborations and innovation.
Zur Wirksamkeit von systemischem Coaching im Arbeits- und Organisationskontext – Eine Metaanalyse
Authors: Bachmann Thomas , Willermann Lena
Published: October 2024

In der vorliegenden Metaanalyse werden Studien zur Wirksamkeit von professionellem systemischem Coaching im Einzelsetting gesichtet, systematisiert und statistisch zusammengefasst. Dabei werden die dokumentierten Wirkungen nach emotionalen, kognitiven und behavioralen Effekten kategorisiert. Insgesamt flossen k = 24 Studien mit 52 Effekten und n = 1405 Personen in die vorliegende Analyse ein. Eine Systematisierung nach Wirkfaktoren war aufgrund der Heterogenität der Studien nicht möglich. Im Ergebnis zeigen sich mittlere bis starke Effekte der Wirksamkeit von professionellem systemischem Coaching. Abschließend werden methodische Fragestellungen und weitere Forschungsansätze diskutiert.
Anti-Populism of the Left, Right, and Centre: Varieties of Anti-Populist Party Politics in the European “Populist Moment”
Authors: Kim Seongcheol
Published: October 2024

This paper examines varieties of anti-populist party politics from left to right that emerged against the backdrop of the much-discussed “populist moment” of the mid- to late 2010s in Europe. Situating the analysis in the special issue’s interest in an “anti-populist moment” that discursively co-constituted this “populist moment,” the paper keys in on the anti-populist campaign discourses of three political parties that took centre stage in the 2017 national parliamentary elections in their respective countries: GreenLeft in the Netherlands, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Germany, and the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) in the Czech Republic. Drawing on and further developing a discursive approach to anti-populism as a political logic following Essex School or post-foundational discourse analysis, the paper identifies three distinct anti-populist constructions of the perceived threat of “populism”: a left-wing agonistic equating of populism with right-wing politics, a liberal-conservative claim to the centre ground against a horseshoe-like populist threat from left and right, and a right-wing appeal to resist an unholy alliance of “populists and communists.” The analysis situates each variety of anti-populism diachronically in these parties’ previous discursive-strategic orientations, especially their anti-far-right (GreenLeft) or anti-communist (CDU, ODS) appeals, as well as their subsequent developments over time.
Effect of layer thickness on the thermoelectric properties of fully sprayed poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) thin films doped with chloroauric acid
Authors: Sochor Benedikt , Schraad Simon , Huber Linus F. , Hexemer Alexander , Laarmann Tim , Vayalil Sarathlal Koyiloth , Müller-Buschbaum Peter , Roth Stephan V.
Published: October 2024

The thermoelectric properties of fully sprayed thin films of poly(3-hexylthiophen-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) doped with chloroauric acid are investigated for different film thicknesses. The film thickness increases logarithmically with increasing amount of deposited material on the surfaces. Both the electrical conductivity and measured Seebeck coefficients of the doped thin films show an optimal polymer layer thickness between 275 and 310 nm and yield a maximum power factor of $$(1.77\,\pm \,0.22) \frac{\mu \text {W}}{\text {m}\cdot \text {K}^2}$$

(
1.77

±

0.22
)

μ
W

m
·

K
2

. The optimum layer thickness results from the optimal amount of dopant molecules per monomer between 1.1 and 1.3 at these ratios of P3HT and HAuCl$$_4$$

4

for the thin film fabrication.
Exploring the lived experience and coping strategies of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) among emerging adults
Authors: Littman-Ovadia Hadassah , Russo-Netzer Pninit
Published: October 2024

The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) phenomenon has become increasingly prevalent in the 21st century, fueled by the rise of social media. FoMO, characterized by the apprehension that others may be having more rewarding experiences and a desire to stay continually connected, has significant implications for mental health, particularly among emerging adults. This qualitative study aims to explore the subjective lived experiences of FoMO and the coping strategies employed by emerging adults. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The findings revealed that participants experienced FoMO as involving feelings of exclusion, disconnection, and inadequacy upon becoming aware of experiences peers were having. However, FoMO was also perceived as an important signal of unmet needs, prompting reflection on the misalignment between one’s actual life and desired life. FoMO was amplified in contexts involving identity formation and pivotal life choices, such as social, professional (education/work/career), and dating situations. Participants described various spontaneous coping strategies, such as cognitive reappraisal and perspective-taking to reframe it constructively, emotional coping through self-soothing, and behavioral approaches like temporarily disconnecting from social media. These self-initiated coping methods suggest a potential for developing new interventions aimed at empowering emerging adults to manage the effects of FoMO on their well-being. While most research emphasizes the connection between FoMO and technology, this study advances the understanding of FoMO by highlighting its characteristics as an everyday experience in various life domains along with ways of coping during the developmental period of emerging adulthood.
Long-term safety profile of sutimlimab in adult Japanese patients with cold agglutinin disease
Authors: Miyakawa Yoshitaka , Sato Eriko , Ogawa Yoshiaki , Nishimura Jun-ichi , Nishimi Masashi , Kawaguchi Osamu , Tahara Sayaka , Yamaguchi Masaki
Published: October 2024

Sutimlimab, a complement inhibitor, has recently been approved in Japan for treating cold agglutinin disease (CAD). We report the safety and efficacy of sutimlimab in Japanese patients with CAD who completed a global phase 3 clinical trial (CARDINAL/CADENZA: 26-week treatment with 1–2 years of open-label extension [OLE] periods) and subsequently participated in the Japanese OLE study. Patients with a recent history of blood transfusion (CARDINAL, n = 3) and those without (CADENZA, n = 4) were analyzed (71.4% female; median [range] baseline age: 70 [46–83] years). For CARDINAL/CADENZA, the treatment duration (median [range]) was 140.9 (104.9–157.3) weeks, and the cessation period was 70 (61–133) weeks. For the Japanese OLE study, the treatment duration was 47.1 (15.1–49.1) weeks. Three (42.9%) patients experienced treatment-related and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs): injection site erythema, cystitis bacterial, viral infection, and blood pressure increased during CARDINAL/CADENZA. One (14.3%) patient experienced one treatment-related TEAE (urinary tract infection) during the Japanese OLE study. One patient died of renal failure, considered unrelated to sutimlimab, that was exacerbated by hepatorenal syndrome due to liver cirrhosis and bacterial peritonitis, in addition to CKD. Hemoglobin and bilirubin levels improved during treatment but deteriorated after withdrawal and recovered on retreatment. Sutimlimab was well tolerated over a median of 3.8 years, with no new safety concerns identified during retreatment.
Notes on pseudo symmetric and pseudo Ricci symmetric generalized Robertson–Walker space-times
Authors: Syied Abdallah Abdelhameed , De Uday Chand , Bin Turki Nasser , Vîlcu Gabriel-Eduard
Published: October 2024

We establish two key results regarding pseudo symmetric and pseudo Ricci symmetric space-times. Firstly, we demonstrate that in pseudo symmetric generalized Robertson-Walker space-times either the scalar curvature remains constant or the associated vector field $$B_{i}$$

B
i

is irrotational. Secondly, in pseudo Ricci symmetric generalized Robertson-Walker space-times, we establish that either the scalar curvature is zero or the associated vector field $$A_{i}$$

A
i

is irrotational. We identify the conditions to ensure both $$B_{i}$$

B
i

and $$A_{i}$$

A
i

of these manifolds are acceleration-free and vorticity-free. We provide evidence that a pseudo symmetric and pseudo Ricci symmetric GRW space-time can be described as a perfect fluid. In a pseudo symmetric space-time, the state equation is given by $$p=\frac{4-n}{ 2n-2}\mu $$

p
=

4
-
n

2
n
-
2

μ

, whereas in a pseudo Ricci symmetric space-time, the state equation takes the form $$p=\frac{3-n}{n-1}\mu $$

p
=

3
-
n

n
-
1

μ

, where p and $$\mu $$
μ
are the isotropic pressure and the energy density. It is noteworthy that if $$n=4$$

n
=
4

, a pseudo symmetric space-time corresponds to the dust matter era, while a pseudo Ricci symmetric space-time corresponds to the phantom era.
Digital Duplicates, Relational Scarcity, and Value: Commentary on Danaher and Nyholm (2024)
Authors: Voinea Cristina , Mann Sebastian Porsdam , Register Christopher , Savulescu Julian , Earp Brian D.
Published: October 2024

Danaher and Nyholm (2024a) have recently proposed that digital duplicates—such as fine-tuned, “personalized” large language models that closely mimic a particular individual—might reduce that individual’s scarcity and thus increase the amount of instrumental value they can bring to the world. In this commentary, we introduce the notion of relational scarcity and explore how digital duplicates would affect the value of interpersonal relationships.
Criticality assessment for raw materials: perspectives and focuses
Authors: Schicho Michaela , Tercero Espinoza Luis
Published: October 2024

Over the last two decades, several methodologies have been developed to assess raw material criticality, and, more precisely, analyze risks jeopardizing a secure raw material supply in the present and the future. The scientific community has not yet established an international consensus on how to evaluate these risks. This might seem surprising, but is a logical outcome of differences in defining aspects such as strategic interests, local resource availability, past experiences of resource shortages or dependencies, the respective international context, and many others. These factors depend strongly on context and can vary over time. To associate methodological choices with different perspectives, this paper introduces a selection of major criticality studies, and anchors them in time, the economic position of the focal actor of the analysis, as well as the system under study. We find that the development of criticality methodologies is largely driven by demand-sided actors and has gained in detail and exhaustiveness over time. The evaluation of supply risk is central to all methodologies, whereas the associated damage is assessed at different levels depending on the complexity of the regarded system. Depending on the system perspective, the final purpose of the criticality assessment can vary from informing policies, comparing alternatives, identifying bottlenecks, or developing mitigation strategies.
Static or dynamic pear shapes in radioactive nucleus 224Rn?
Authors: Wu Xian-Ye , Cao Jin-Ze , Zhao Kun-Ning , Liu Zhong-Min , Xiang Jian , Zhou En-Fu
Published: October 2024

We report a comprehensive study on low-lying parity doublet states of 224Rn by mixing both quadrupole- and octupole-shaped configurations in multireference covariant density functional theory, in which broken symmetries in configurations are restored using projection techniques. The low-lying energy spectrum is reasonably reproduced when the shape fluctuations in both the quadrupole and octupole shapes are considered. Electric octupole transition strength in 224Rn is found to be $$B(E3; 3^-_1 \rightarrow 0^+_1)=43$$

B
(
E
3
;

3
1
-

→

0
1
+

)
=
43

W.u., comparable to that in 224Ra, whose data are 42(3) W.u.. Our results indicate that 224Rn shares similar low-energy structure with 224Ra despite the excitation energy of first $$3^-$$

3
-

state of the former nucleus is higher than that of the latter. This study suggests 224Rn is a candidate for the search for permanent electric dipole moment.
Quarta: quantum supervised and unsupervised learning for binary classification in domain-incremental learning
Authors: Loglisci Corrado , Malerba Donato , Pascazio Saverio
Published: October 2024

Quantum machine learning recently gained prominence due to the promise of quantum computers in solving machine learning problems that are intractable on a classical computer. Nevertheless, several studies on problems which remain challenging for classical computing algorithms are emerging. One of these is classifying continuously incoming data instances in incremental fashion, which is studied in this paper through a hybrid computational solution that combines classical and quantum techniques. Hybrid approaches represents one of the current ways for the use of quantum computation in practical applications. In this paper, we show how typical issues of domain-incremental learning can be equally addressed with the properties of quantum mechanics, until to offer often better results. We propose the framework QUARTA to combine algorithms of quantum supervised learning, that is, variational quantum circuits, and techniques used in quantum unsupervised learning, that is, distance estimation. We aim at keeping the classification capabilities, which have learned on previously processed data instances, preserved as much as possible, and then acquiring new knowledge on new data instances. Experiments are performed on real-world datasets with quantum simulators.
Altitude, Land Use and Soil Depth Effects on Earthworm Density and its Relationship to Soil Properties in an On-Farm Study
Authors: Adhikari Ameeta , Bajgai Yadunath , Rabgyal Jimba , Lal Rattan , Tshering Nima , Gurung Sarda , Wangdi Tashi
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Earthworms play a critical role in soil ecosystem functions through the cycling of organic matter and nutrients. However, some land uses or environmental conditions are more favorable habitats for them than others. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of earthworm density and its relationship to land uses and soil properties.

Methods

The study was conducted in three districts (Wangdue Phodrang, Chhukha and Dagana) in Bhutan in three land uses (organic fields - OrgF, conventional fields - ConF and natural vegetation - NatV) under three altitudes (high-, mid- and low-altitudes) and three soil depths.

Results

Overall, earthworm density at high-altitude was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than that at mid- and low-altitude sites. Further, across altitudes and soil depths, OrgF sites had a significantly (P < 0.001) higher earthworm density (120 earthworms m− 2) compared to that in the NatV (56 earthworms m− 2) and ConF (43 earthworms m− 2) sites, and the density decreased significantly (P < 0.001) and successively with the increase in soil depth. The coefficient of determination (R2 ≥ 0.51; P < 0.001) showed a positive and moderate relationship between the earthworm density with soil organic C and total N in OrgF sites, but the relationship was weak (R2 ≤ 0.22) in the ConF or none in the NatV sites.

Conclusions

Substituting chemical fertilizers with organic manures could increase earthworm density by enhancing soil health through the cycling of organic materials and nutrients in the soil. The findings demonstrate empirical evidence for earthworm prevalence in different land use types across altitudinal gradients and provide valuable decision-making insights to land users and policymakers alike.
Domestic and irrigation water quality on the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro
Authors: Codalli Fabia , Shagega Frank , Breuer Lutz , Munishi Subira , Jacobs Suzanne
Published: October 2024

This study assessed the water quality for drinking and irrigation purposes on the southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro during the dry season under low flow conditions. Fifty-one samples covering eight different water sources (i.e., stream water from natural and anthropogenic impacted streams, domestic water, spring water, rainfall, groundwater, lake water and water from irrigation canals) were collected in a snapshot sampling campaign over 10 days in February 2023. First, physical, chemical and biological parameters were analysed and compared with Tanzanian and international drinking and irrigation water quality requirements. The samples were then ranked according to their suitability for drinking and/or irrigation using water quality indices (WQI). All drinking water quality parameters except for E. coli and turbidity were within the permissible limits. A generalised problem of faecal contamination was found in the study area, including in domestic water, highlighting the need to identify sources of contamination and remediate them before distribution. The drinking water quality index (DWQI) classified 89% of the samples as unsuitable and 11% as excellent for drinking. Irrigation water quality parameters were within the guidelines of restriction of use except for pH in 5 samples. In contrast to the DWQI, the vast majority of the water samples (88%) can be used for irrigation without restrictions according to the irrigation water quality index (IWQI). The suitability of water for irrigation was also assessed using three indices, i.e., Kelley’s Index, Soluble Sodium Percentage and Magnesium Ratio, which indicated potential problems with excess of sodium (about 30% of the samples) and magnesium (about 20%). Further studies combining suitability indices, soil characteristics and crop types are recommended to assess water quality for irrigation use.
Impact of various fairness-based distribution models on supply chain networks from the perspective of customer satisfaction
Authors: Abushaega Mastoor M.
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the effectiveness of two fairness-based distribution approaches—type I and type II—in enhancing the resilience of supply chain networks (SCNs) during disruptions. The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on supply chain management by offering insights into how fairness principles can be applied to improve the restoration of disrupted networks. A mixed-integer programming model was developed to simulate these fairness-based distribution strategies, focusing on a water supply chain network of a privet company in Saudi Arabia. The SCN consists of a single supplier and ten demand nodes, each requiring multiple commodities. The model was tested under 100 random disruption scenarios, each reducing the capacity of randomly selected network segments. The performance of each fairness-based distribution approach was evaluated based on how quickly and effectively the SCN returned to its required service levels (SLs) across all demand nodes. Results indicate that Fairness Distribution Type I, which aims to minimize unmet demand across the entire network, generally outperformed Type II in terms of speed and efficiency. Type I was more effective at restoring SLs quickly at most nodes, while Type II showed localized advantages, particularly in restoring SLs for specific commodities at select nodes. The study concludes that while Type I is more suited for overall supply chain recovery, Type II may be beneficial in scenarios requiring focused recovery at specific demand nodes. These findings provide actionable insights for supply chain managers seeking to enhance network resilience through fairness-based distribution strategies, and suggest avenues for future research on hybrid and context-specific approaches.
Testing the expensive-tissue hypothesis’ prediction of inter-tissue competition using causal modelling with latent variables
Authors: Shirley Bezerra Meghan , Helle Samuli , Seunarine Kiran K. , Arthurs Owen J. , Eaton Simon , Williams Jane E. , Clark Chris A. , Wells Jonathan C. K.
Published: October 2024

The expensive-tissue hypothesis (ETH) posited a brain–gut trade-off to explain how humans evolved large, costly brains. Versions of the ETH interrogating gut or other body tissues have been tested in non-human animals, but not humans. We collected brain and body composition data in 70 South Asian women and used structural equation modelling with instrumental variables, an approach that handles threats to causal inference including measurement error, unmeasured confounding and reverse causality. We tested a negative, causal effect of the latent construct ‘nutritional investment in brain tissues’ (MRI-derived brain volumes) on the construct ‘nutritional investment in lean body tissues’ (organ volume and skeletal muscle). We also predicted a negative causal effect of the brain latent on fat mass. We found negative causal estimates for both brain and lean tissue (−0.41, 95% CI, −1.13, 0.23) and brain and fat (−0.56, 95% CI, −2.46, 2.28). These results, although inconclusive, are consistent with theory and prior evidence of the brain trading off with lean and fat tissues, and they are an important step in assessing empirical evidence for the ETH in humans. Analyses using larger datasets, genetic data and causal modelling are required to build on these findings and expand the evidence base.
Clustering, coalescing and bursting processes in surface bubbles of surfactant water flows
Authors: Watanabe Yasunori , Saruwatari Ayumi
Published: October 2024

Breaking waves aerate seawater surfaces and form whitecaps in the open ocean. The aerated surface area, or whitecap coverage, has been used to macroscopically parametrize air–sea momentum and gas exchange. However, the microscopic mechanisms of the generation, evolution and attenuation of surface bubbles in whitecaps remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the size distributions and size-dependent lifetimes of surface bubbles generated by water sheet entry and air injection on a porous plate during the clustering, coalescing and bursting processes, depending on surfactant concentrations and bubble mobility. Mechanisms of coalescence through film thinning of adjacent bubble walls owing to the inter-bubble attraction and Marangoni forces experimentally described the surfactant-dependent bubble growth, finally achieving bubble bursting, which were statistically characterized in a population balance analysis. Lagrangian bubble lifetimes were described by the Weibull distribution, providing that surfactant in seawater extended the probabilistic survival periods of surface bubbles two times longer than those of clean bubbles.
Comparing rates of recurrent infection for first occurrence of Clostridioides difficile between tapered oral vancomycin and standard vancomycin: a retrospective, propensity matched cohort study
Authors: Moore Sarah E. , Song Matthew , Swingler Elena A. , Furmanek Stephen , Chandler Thomas , Smith Dakota , Brenneman Martin T. , Wilde Ashley M.
Published: October 2024

Objective:

To compare rates of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence following initial occurrence treated with tapered enteral vancomycin compared to standard vancomycin.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Community health system.

Patients:

Adults ≥18 years of age hospitalized with positive C. difficile polymerase chain reaction or toxin enzyme immunoassay who were prescribed either standard 10–14 days of enteral vancomycin four times daily or a 12-week tapered vancomycin regimen.

Methods:

Retrospective propensity score pair matched cohort study. Groups were matched based on age < or ≥ 65 years and receipt of non-C. difficile antibiotics during hospitalization or within 6 months post-discharge. Recurrence rates were analyzed via logistic regression conditioned on matched pairs and reported as conditional odds ratios. The primary outcome was recurrence rates compared between standard vancomycin versus tapered vancomycin for treatment of initial CDI.

Results:

The CDI recurrence rate at 6 months was 5.3% (4/75) in the taper cohort versus 28% (21/75) in the standard vancomycin cohort. The median time to CDI recurrence was 115 days versus 20 days in the taper and standard vancomycin cohorts, respectively. When adjusted for matching, patients in the taper arm were less likely to experience CDI recurrence at 6 months when compared to standard vancomycin (cOR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.07–0.56, p < 0.002).

Conclusions:

Larger prospective trials are needed to elucidate the clinical utility of tapered oral vancomycin as a treatment option to achieve sustained clinical cure in first occurrences of CDI.
Memory Wars and Emotional Politics: “Feel Good” Holocaust Appropriation in Central Europe
Authors: Kubátová Hana , Láníček Jan
Published: October 2024

This article analyzes the patriotic turn in Holocaust memory politics, exploring the processes through which the narrative of a morally upright national majority has been pitted against transnational entities such as the European Union. The EU is considered to foster multiculturalism, leading to interpretations of what some perceive as national guilt. The article investigates invocations of shame and pride in Czechia and Slovakia, two countries that are often overlooked in works on Holocaust memory politics yet are symptomatic of larger changes in the region and history appropriation in general. Building on research into emotional communities, it traces how and why political actors across the ideological spectrum have adopted notions of pride to mobilize domestic audiences against “accusations” of local guilt and complicity in the Nazi genocides of Jews and Roma. By doing so, our article demonstrates how Holocaust memory has become entangled with Europeanization and highlights the role of emotions in shaping national identity and belonging.
Novel multidisciplinary approach detects multiple individuals within the same Late Bronze–Early Iron Age cremation graves
Authors: Sabaux Charlotte , Snoeck Christophe , Capuzzo Giacomo , Veselka Barbara , Dalle Sarah , Warmenbol Eugène , Stamataki Elisavet , Hlad Marta , Sengeløv Amanda , Debaille Vinciane , Boudin Mathieu , Salesse Kevin , Annaert Rica , Vercauteren Martine , De Mulder Guy
Published: October 2024

Cremation graves appear in different forms and shapes, from urns to simple pits and from single to plural graves. The challenging nature of highly fragmented cremated human remains renders the identification of multiple individuals within the same cremation grave rather complex. Osteological analyses alone are often insufficient to detect the presence of bone fragments from different individuals as they are small and diagnostic elements are often missing, although, detection of nonadult bone fragments within adult bone assemblages (or the other way around) points to the presence of at least two individuals—one adult and one nonadult—within the same grave. The combination of osteological analyses, radiocarbon dating, and strontium isotope ratios has proven to be particularly powerful. At different Belgian Metal Age sites, this novel multi-disciplinary approach enabled to identify the presence of bone fragments belonging to up to three different individuals within the same cremation grave who were cremated up to several centuries apart. Whether the presence of these two or three individuals in the same grave is intentional (e.g. curation) or not requires more in-depth analyses. This study shows the high level of complexity of cremation burial (intentionally or not) and shows the necessity to carry out all analytical measurements (i.e. radiocarbon dating, infrared, elemental and isotope analyses) on the same bone fragment to ensure the results are related to the same individual.
A high-precision radiocarbon chronology of Inka rule in the Upper Loa River Region of northern Chile
Authors: Murphy Beau , Salazar Diego , Dee Michael W , Hayashida Frances M , Troncoso Andrés , Parcero-Oubiña César , Berenguer José , Erdil Pınar
Published: October 2024

The chronology of the Inka Empire is poorly resolved, with most scholars utilizing a post hoc ethnohistoric reconstruction of imperial expansion as a common reference point. Radiocarbon-based analyses can now accomplish sufficient resolution for meaningful independent estimates of Inka chronology, however, and it is incumbent upon archaeologists to develop such appraisals. Here we produce a Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon data from the Upper Loa River area of northern Chile to estimate the timing of Inka incorporation of this region. In order to accurately associate samples with Inka rule, only radiocarbon dates from Inka sites without prior occupations are used (n = 34), producing a model for the onset of Inka rule of AD 1401–1437 (95% hpd) with a median date of AD 1420. This estimate is further used as a point of comparison for understanding diachronic imperial processes in the region. Site-level models of a variety of site types indicate that the Inka rapidly founded several administrative/mining bases at the onset, followed by the addition of smaller infrastructure components during a second pulse of activity near the middle of the 15th century. Date assemblages at the agricultural sites of Topaín and Paniri also indicate a decline in activity at the former and an increase in activity at the latter from early on in Inka rule. These results provide a high-resolution data point for reconstructing Inka imperial chronology, and expanding such studies will be essential to understanding processes of Inka imperialism at larger scales.
MONOGENIC QUARTIC POLYNOMIALS AND THEIR GALOIS GROUPS
Authors: HARRINGTON JOSHUA , JONES LENNY
Published: October 2024

A monic polynomial

$f(x)\in {\mathbb Z}[x]$

of degree N is called monogenic if

$f(x)$

is irreducible over

${\mathbb Q}$

and

$\{1,\theta ,\theta ^2,\ldots ,\theta ^{N-1}\}$

is a basis for the ring of integers of

${\mathbb Q}(\theta )$

, where

$f(\theta )=0$

. We use the classification of the Galois groups of quartic polynomials, due to Kappe and Warren [‘An elementary test for the Galois group of a quartic polynomial’, Amer. Math. Monthly96(2) (1989), 133–137], to investigate the existence of infinite collections of monogenic quartic polynomials having a prescribed Galois group, such that each member of the collection generates a distinct quartic field. With the exception of the cyclic case, we provide such an infinite single-parameter collection for each possible Galois group. We believe these examples are new and we provide evidence to support this belief by showing that they are distinct from other infinite collections in the literature. Finally, we devote a separate section to the cyclic case.
REIDEMEISTER’S THEOREM USING TRANSVERSALITY
Authors: QUEFFELEC HOEL
Published: October 2024

We recover Reidemeister’s theorem using

$\mathcal {C}^{\infty }$

functions and transversality.
A NOTE ON THE FINITELY GENERATED FIXED SUBGROUP PROPERTY
Authors: LEI JIALIN , MA JIMING , ZHANG QIANG
Published: October 2024

We investigate when a group of the form

$G\times \mathbb {Z}^m\ (m\geq 1)$

has the finitely generated fixed subgroup property of automorphisms (

$\mathrm {FGFP_a}$

), by using the BNS-invariant, and provide some partial answers and nontrivial examples.
Vertical back movement of cows during locomotion: detecting lameness with a simple image processing technique
Authors: Akin Ibrahim , Kalkan Yilmaz , Ozturan Yalcin Alper
Published: October 2024

This research paper proposes a simple image processing technique for automatic lameness detection in dairy cows under farm conditions. Seventy-five cows were selected from a dairy farm and visually assessed for a reference/real lameness score (RLS) as they left the milking parlor, while simultaneously being video-captured. The method employed a designated walking path and video recordings processed through image analysis to derive a new computerized automatic lameness score (ALDS) based on calculated factors from back arch posture. The proposed automatic lameness detection system was calibrated using 12 cows, and the remaining 63 were used to evaluate the diagnostic characteristics of the ALDS. The agreement and correlation between ALDS and RLS were investigated. ALDS demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy with 100% sensitivity and specificity and was found to be 100% accurate with a perfect agreement (ρc = 1) and strong correlation (r = 1, P < 0.001) for lameness detection in binary scores (lame/non-lame). Moreover, the ALDS had a strong agreement (ρc = 0.885) and was highly correlated (r = 0.840; 0.796–1.000 95% confidence interval, P < 0.001) with RLS in ordinal scores (lameness severity; LS1 to LS5). Our findings suggest that the proposed method has the potential to compete with vision-based lameness detection methods in dairy cows in farm conditions.
SARS-CoV-2 infection and the risk of depressive symptoms: a retrospective longitudinal study from the population-based CONSTANCES cohort
Authors: Pignon Baptiste , Wiernik Emmanuel , Ranque Brigitte , Robineau Olivier , Carrat Fabrice , Severi Gianluca , Touvier Mathilde , Gouraud Clément , Ouazana Vedrines Charles , Pitron Victor , Hoertel Nicolas , Kab Sofiane , Tebeka Sarah , Goldberg Marcel , Zins Marie , Lemogne Cédric
Published: October 2024

Background

Should COVID-19 have a direct impact on the risk of depression, it would suggest specific pathways for prevention and treatment. In this retrospective population-based study, we aimed to examine the association of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection with depressive symptoms, distinguishing self-reported v. biologically confirmed COVID-19.

Methods

32 007 participants from the SAPRIS survey nested in the French CONSTANCES cohort were included. COVID-19 was measured as followed: ad hoc serologic testing, self-reported PCR or serology positive test results, and self-reported COVID-19. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center of Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Outcomes were depressive symptoms (total CES-D score, its four dimensions, and clinically significant depressive symptoms) and exposure was prior COVID-19 (no COVID-19/self-reported unconfirmed COVID-19/biologically confirmed COVID-19).

Results

In comparison to participants without COVID-19, participants with self-reported unconfirmed COVID-19 and biologically confirmed COVID-19 had higher CES-D scores (β for one interquartile range increase [95% CI]: 0.15 [0.08–0.22] and 0.09 [0.05–0.13], respectively) and somatic complaints dimension scores (0.15 [0.09–0.21] and 0.10 [0.07–0.13]). Only those with self-reported but unconfirmed COVID-19 had higher depressed affect dimension scores (0.08 [0.01–0.14]). Accounting for ad hoc serologic testing only, the CES-D score and the somatic complaints dimension were only associated with the combination of self-reported COVID-19 and negative serology test results.

Conclusions

The association between COVID-19 and depressive symptoms was merely driven by somatic symptoms of depression and did not follow a gradient consistent with the hypothesis of a direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the risk of depression.
‘Pity the poor independent scholar!’: The Lament of a Latecomer Historian
Authors: Sanders John
Published: October 2024

This commentary article explores some of the problems encountered by independent scholars seeking to get their work published in peer-reviewed journals and in particular the difficulties they face in accessing online resources. Though often hidden, these issues are nevertheless very real for aspiring historians and those who have returned late to the historical fold. The article acknowledges the efforts of a number of journals to encourage different voices, but highlights how the limitations of current licensing and Open Access arrangements hinders this ambition.
Design and analysis of a thick-panel origami-inspired soft crawling robot with multiple locomotion patterns
Authors: Shen Feiyang , Yang Shuofei
Published: October 2024

Due to the flexibility obtained through both materials and structures, soft robots have wide potential applications in complicated internal and external environments. This paper presents a new soft crawling robot with multiple locomotion patterns that integrate inchworm motion and various turning motions. First, the conceptual design of the proposed robot is presented by introducing thick-panel origami into the synthesis of a crawling robot, resulting in a Waterbomb-structure-inspired hybrid mechanism. Second, all locomotion patterns of the robot are precisely described and analyzed by screw theory in an algebraic manner, which include inchworm motion, restricted planar motion, quantitative turning motion, and marginal exploration motion. Then, the output motion parameter for each locomotion pattern is analytically modeled as a function of the robotic dimensional parameters, and the robot can thus be designed and controlled in a customized way for the expected output motion. Finally, the theoretical analysis and derivations are validated by simulation and physical prototype building, which lay the foundations for the design and manufacture of small-scale soft crawling robots with precise output motions in a complex planar environment.
Bidirectional effects of parenting and ADHD symptoms in young children: Effects of comorbid oppositional symptoms
Authors: Lavigne John V. , Gouze Karen R. , Hopkins Joyce , Bryant Fred B.
Published: October 2024

Psychosocial factors play an important role in the manifestation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and accompanying impairment levels in children. In a community sample of 796 children evaluated at 4, 5, and 6 years of age, bidirectional effects were examined for each of three components of parenting (parental support, hostility, scaffolding skills) and ADHD-specific symptoms that are not associated with symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder. Results indicated that (a) age 4 parenting factors were not associated with changes in ADHD-I (inattention) or ADHD-H (hyperactive-impulsive) symptoms in the subsequent year, (b) ADHD-I and ADHD-H symptoms at age 4 were not associated with changes in parenting factors at age 5, (c) age 5 ADHD-I and ADHD-H symptoms were associated with decreases in parental scaffolding skills and increases in parental hostility from ages 5 to 6 years, and (d) parental support at age 5 was associated with a decrease in ADHD-H symptoms at age 6. Findings suggest that ADHD symptoms can lead to poorer parenting attitudes and behavior, while parental support during kindergarten has a small effect on decreasing ADHD-H symptoms over time.
Haemodynamic monitoring after paediatric cardiac surgery using echocardiography and PiCCO
Authors: Pernbro Fredrik , Wåhlander Håkan , Romlin Birgitta
Published: October 2024

Background:

Haemodynamic instability is common after surgical repair of CHDs in infants and children. Monitoring cardiac output in addition to traditional circulation parameters could improve the postoperative care of these patients. Echocardiography and transpulmonary thermodilution are the two most common methods for measuring cardiac output in infants.

Objectives:

To compare the results of cardiac output measurements using echocardiography and a transpulmonary thermodilution setup after paediatric cardiac surgery.

Methods:

Forty children, scheduled for elective repair of a ventricular septal defect or of an atrio-ventricular septal defect using cardiopulmonary bypass, were enrolled in this prospective, observational study. Cardiac output was simultaneously measured using echocardiography and a commercially available transpulmonary thermodilution method (PiCCO™) at 18 h after the end of surgery.

Results:

At 18 h after surgery, PiCCO™ gave a mean of 3.0% higher cardiac output than echocardiography. This difference was not statistically significant. 95% of the observations fell within –50.0 to 82.6%.

Conclusion:

The methods were found to have a good agreement on average, with no statistically significant difference between them. However, the spread of the results was large. It is questionable whether the methods can be used interchangeably in clinical practice.
Hypersensitivity myocarditis induced by isoniazid overdose in a 15-year-old girl: a case report
Authors: Akçay Nihal , Ateş Büşra , Topal Neval , Bornaun Helen , Tosun Demet , Bingöl İlyas
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

Myocarditis represents a diverse group of inflammatory diseases affecting the heart muscle, with both infectious and non-infectious etiologies. Among the non-infectious causes, drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions are rare but serious. Isoniazid, a cornerstone in tuberculosis treatment, is known for its hepatotoxicity but has rarely been documented to cause hypersensitivity myocarditis.

Case report:

We present a case of a 15-year-old girl from Eastern Turkmenistan who was admitted to our emergency department with altered consciousness and seizure activity. She was diagnosed with status epilepticus and treated accordingly. The patient, with no prior medical history, was found to have hypotensive shock and myocarditis upon further examination. A detailed history revealed she had ingested 45 tablets of expired isoniazid in a suicide attempt. She was treated with pyridoxine and supportive therapies, resulting in a gradual recovery.

Conclusion:

This case underscores the critical need to consider drug-induced hypersensitivity myocarditis in the differential diagnosis of myocarditis, especially in patients with recent medication use. Prompt recognition and appropriate treatment with pyridoxine, steroid, and supportive cardiac care can be lifesaving. This case also highlights the importance of awareness regarding the potential cardiotoxic effects of isoniazid overdose.
Depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and perceived social support among Ugandan palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Horvath Mariah , Kizito Simon , Ghiaseddin Roya , Irumba Lisa Christine , Mwesiga Mark Donald , Ahern Lacey N.
Published: October 2024

Objectives

To identify the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychosocial distress among Ugandan palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, measure providers’ perceived levels of social support, and identify factors affecting a provider’s likelihood of being depressed, anxious, distressed, or perceiving various levels of social support.

Methods

Data was collected from 123 palliative care providers using an online survey. Depression, anxiety, and psychological distress were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire, respectively. Information on perceived level of social support was gathered through the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The survey also asked about mental health resources available to providers at their place of work and what resources are still needed.

Results

Participants ranged in age, gender, religion, marital status, clinical position, and years of experience in palliative care. Results indicate that 20% of respondents show signs of moderate to severe depression, 14% show signs of moderate to severe anxiety, and 33% show signs of psychological distress. Additionally, 50% of respondents reported a low total level of social support. Depression, anxiety, and psychological distress scores were all negatively correlated with perceived social support scores. Over 50% expressed a desire for additional mental health resources at their place of work.

Significance of results

In 2021–2022, the severity of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress varied among palliative care providers in Uganda, with some experiencing moderate to severe mental health effects. Higher degrees of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress were correlated with lower levels of perceived social support, highlighting the importance of social support during times of crisis. The results highlight a desire for improved access to mental health resources and will help providers and organizations provide better support and better prepare for future crises.