bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing metal contamination and speciation in sewage sludge: implications for soil application and environmental risk
Authors: Feng Jianting , Burke Ian T. , Chen Xiaohui , Stewart Douglas I.
Published: October 2023

Based on the most recently published data, we definitively estimated that the annual global production of sewage sludge may rise from ~ 53 million tons dry solids currently to ~ 160 million tons if global wastewater were to be treated to a similar level as in the 27 European Union countries/UK. It is widely accepted that the agricultural application is a beneficial way to recycle the abundant organic matter and plant nutrients in sewage sludge. However, land application may need to be limited due to the presence of metals. This work presents a meticulous and systematic review of the sources, concentrations, partitioning, and speciation of metals in sewage sludge in order to determine the impacts of sludge application on metal behavior in soils. It identifies that industrial wastewater, domestic wastewater and urban runoff are main sources of metals in sludge. It shows conventional treatment processes generally result in the partitioning of over 70% of metals from wastewater into primary and secondary sludge. Typically, the order of metal concentrations in sewage sludge is Zn > Cu > Cr ≈ Pb ≈ Ni > Cd. The proportion of these metals that are easily mobilised is highest for Zn and Ni, followed by Cd and Cu, then Pb and Cr. Sludge application to land will lead to elevated metal concentrations, and potentially to short-term changes to the dominant metal species in soils. However, the speciation of sludge-associated metals will change over time due to interactions with plant roots and soil minerals and as organic matter is mineralised by rhizo-microbiome.
Values in Crisis: Societal Value Change under Existential Insecurity
Authors: Akaliyski Plamen , Taniguchi Naoko , Park Joonha , Gehrig Stefan , Tormos Raül
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on societies, with possible consequences for their fundamental values. Inglehart’s revised modernization theory links societal values to the underlying subjective sense of existential security in a given society (scarcity hypothesis), while also claiming that influences on values diminish once individuals reach adulthood (socialization hypothesis). An acute existential crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic offers a rare opportunity to test these assumptions. We analyze data from representative surveys conducted in Japan shortly before and after the onset of the pandemic. Remaining survey sample differences are statistically controlled via propensity score weighting and regression adjustment, while post-stratification weights allow conclusions about the Japanese population. In three sets of analyses, we reveal that the pandemic and the experienced psychological distress are negatively associated with emancipative and secular values, entailing a reversal to traditionalism, intolerance, and religiosity. First, we document a substantial decline in both emancipative and secular values in the first months of the pandemic compared to five months earlier. This decline remained stable a year later. Second, we find that value change was stronger in prefectures more severely affected by the pandemic. Third, individuals who experienced higher psychological distress emphasized the same values more strongly, as evident in two surveys from May 2020 and April 2021. In contrast to the socialization hypothesis, our study provides evidence that, under extraordinary environmental conditions, values can shift even within a negligibly short time period.
Quality of Life, Well-Being and the Human Development Index: A Media Narrative for the Developed World?
Authors: Morse Stephen
Published: October 2023

The Human Development Index (HDI) produced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been in existence since 1990. In its annual Human Development Reports (HDRs) the UNDP provides rankings of countries based on the HDI, and the idea is that these will help bring about positive change as countries compare their performance in the rankings with what they see as their peers. The HDRs are widely reported in the media, and previous research has suggested that the extent of newspaper reporting of the HDI (i.e. number of articles) is greater for those countries at the bottom and top end of the rankings. However, there are gaps in knowledge about how the HDI is reported in these media outlets. For example, to what extent does newspaper reporting of the HDI equate it to terms such as ‘quality of life’ and ‘well-being’, and how does this relate to the ranking of countries based on the HDI? This is the question addressed by the research reported in this paper. Results suggest that newspaper do often associate the terms ‘quality of life and ‘well-being’ with the HDI, and that the association appears to be stronger for countries towards the top-end of the rankings (i.e. those that have more ‘human development’) compared to those at the bottom-end of the rankings. This suggests that the association between reporting of the HDI and ‘quality of life’ and ‘well-being’ is a narrative that is perceived by the media to suit the developed rather than developing world.
Automatic suppression of false positive alerts in anti-money laundering systems using machine learning
Authors: Bakry Ahmed N. , Alsharkawy Almohammady S. , Farag Mohamed S. , Raslan K. R.
Published: October 2023

Criminal activities generate an estimated $2 trillion in laundered money per year, highlighting the need for financial institutions to detect and report suspicious activity to protect their reputation. However, rule-based models commonly used for this purpose generate a high number of false positives, draining compliance team time, and increasing investigation costs. However, the application of machine learning in conjunction with rule-based models presents noteworthy implications, encompassing the potential reduction in false positives and the concomitant risk of machine learning inadvertently suppressing true positive alerts. This paper proposes a framework called automatic suppression based on XGBoost for anti-money laundering (ASXAML) to enhance detection by reducing false positives. ASXAML leverages recursive feature elimination with cross-validation for optimal feature selection. Subsequently, Optuna is employed to fine-tune hyperparameters for the XGBoost model. Results indicate that ASXAML achieves an optimal balance between reducing false positives and avoiding missed money laundering events, with an 86% F-beta score and only 11% money laundering customers were incorrectly closed out of 1926 in the test data.
Cost-(in)effective public good provision: an experimental exploration
Authors: Chan Nathan W. , Knowles Stephen , Peeters Ronald , Wolk Leonard
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the determinants of cost-(in)effective giving to public goods. We conduct a pre-registered experiment to elucidate how factors at the institutional and individual levels shape individual contributions and the cost-effectiveness of those contributions in a novel public good game. In particular, we examine the role of consequential uncertainty over the value of public good contributions (institutional level) as well as individual characteristics like risk and ambiguity attitudes, giving type, and demographics (individual level). We find cost-ineffective contributions in all institutions, but total contribution levels and the degree of cost-ineffectiveness are similar across institutions. Meanwhile, cost-effectiveness varies by giving type—which is a novel result that is consistent with hypotheses we generate from theory—but other individual characteristics have little influence on the cost-effectiveness of contributions. Our work has important positive and normative implications for charitable giving and public good provision in the real world, and it is particularly germane to emerging online crowdfunding and patronage platforms that confront users with a multitude of competing opportunities for giving.
Examining the Ethics of Spying: A Practitioner’s View
Authors: Omand David
Published: October 2023

This paper examines from the point of view of an intelligence practicioner the utility of the philosophical method that Professor Cecile Fabre has applied to intelligence ethics. Her emphasis on the duty that lies on governments to be sufficiently well informed about those who pose a real risk of serious violations of fundamental human rights is seen as a valuable addition to discourse on the ethics of intelligence activity. The just war tradition is put forward as an alternative framing of key ethical issues that can be translated into a practical code for intelligence officers that can be adapted to changing levels of threat in a way that is difficult to derive from a timeless philosophical analysis.
Niederfrequente Magnetfelder und das Risiko für das Auftreten von Alzheimer-Demenz
Authors: Sauter Cornelia , Dorn Hans , Hellmann-Regen Julian , Bueno-Lopez Ana , Danker-Hopfe Heidi
Published: October 2023

Hintergrund

Ein Teil der Bevölkerung befürchtet negative Auswirkungen niederfrequenter Magnetfelder (NF-MF), die z. B. von Hochspannungsleitungen und anderen Anlagen und Geräten mit der Frequenz 50 Hz bzw. 16 2/3 Hz ausgehen. Manche Studien zeigen einen Zusammenhang zwischen einer NF-MF-Exposition und einem erhöhten Risiko für neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, u. a. für die Alzheimer-Demenz (AD).

Ziel der Arbeit und Methode

In dem vorliegenden narrativen Review wird der aktuelle Stand der Forschung zu NF-MF und möglichen Auswirkungen auf das AD-Risiko und den Schlaf anhand epidemiologischer und experimenteller Studien zusammengefasst und methodenkritisch diskutiert.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

In epidemiologischen Studien konnte sowohl in Untersuchungen zur beruflichen Exposition gegenüber niederfrequenten Magnetfeldern als auch in Untersuchungen zur häuslichen Exposition durch Hochspannungsleitungen ein geringfügig erhöhtes Risiko für Alzheimer-Demenz beobachtet werden. Als signifikant erwies sich dieses Risiko allerdings nur in den Metaanalysen zur beruflichen Exposition. Die Studien zeichnen sich durch eine große Heterogenität aus, weshalb offen bleibt, ob den Beobachtungen ein ursächlicher Zusammenhang zugrunde liegt. Während ein Wirkmechanismus noch nicht bekannt ist, könnte der Schlaf bei der Suche nach einem solchen eine Schlüsselrolle spielen. Da ein gestörter Schlaf nachweislich zu einer erhöhten Konzentration der Biomarker der Alzheimer-Demenz (Amyloid und Tau und deren Ablagerungen) führt, ist eine Störung durch externe Faktoren als Auslöser oder Verstärker denkbar. In epidemiologischen Studien kann der Schlaf nur sehr ungenau gemessen werden und ist anfällig für Confounder, die im Rahmen von experimentellen Studien besser kontrolliert werden können.

Einige experimentelle Studien zeigen eine negative Auswirkung von NF-MF auf den Schlaf von Menschen. Dabei ist allerdings zu berücksichtigen, dass die Aussagekraft der meisten dieser Studien aufgrund einer schlechten Studienqualität nur sehr beschränkt ist, weshalb hier ein deutlicher Bedarf an Studien mit guter Qualität besteht.
Assignment of the disordered, proline-rich N-terminal domain of the tumour suppressor p53 protein using 1HN and 1Hα-detected NMR measurements
Authors: Sebák Fanni , Ecsédi Péter , Nyitray László , Bodor Andrea
Published: October 2023

Protein p53 is mostly known for playing a key role in tumour suppression, and mutations in the p53 gene are amongst the most frequent genomic events accompanying oncogenic transformation. Continuous research is conducted to target disordered proteins/protein regions for cancer therapy, for which atomic level information is also necessary. The disordered N-terminal part of p53 contains the transactivation and the proline-rich domains—which besides being abundant in proline residues—contains repetitive Pro-Ala motifs. NMR assignment of such repetitive, proline-rich regions is challenging due to the lack of amide protons in the 1HN-detected approaches, as well as due to the small chemical shift dispersion. In the present study we perform the full assignment of the p531–100 region by applying a combination of 1HN- and 1Hα-detected NMR experiments. We also show the increased information content when using real-time homo- and heteronuclear decoupled acquisition schemes. On the other hand, we highlight the presence of minor proline species, and using Pro-selective experiments we determine the corresponding cis or trans conformation. Secondary chemical shifts for (Cα–Cβ) atoms indicate the disordered nature of this region, with expected helical tendency for the TAD1 region. As the role of the proline-rich domain is yet not well understood our results can contribute to further successful investigations.
Exploring Migration Determinants: a Meta-Analysis of Migration Drivers and Estimates
Authors: Soto Nishimura Akira , Czaika Mathias
Published: October 2023

This comprehensive study delves into over 100 empirical articles, examining the influence of structural drivers on both internal and international migration. Employing a meta-analysis approach, we dissect these studies to pinpoint the prevalent migration drivers frequently subjected to quantitative scrutiny. Our investigation extends to scrutinizing major migration drivers in terms of their statistical impact, directional tendencies, and statistical significance. Our findings underscore that indicators such as income or GDP, education, migrant networks, gender, age, and family characteristics are the most commonly scrutinized factors shaping migration patterns. Notably, geographical distance, gender, and migrant networks emerge as highly consistent drivers, exhibiting a remarkable uniformity in both effect direction and statistical significance across the most frequently studied factors. Numerous migration drivers exhibit statistical significance roughly around 50% of the time, while several others fall considerably below this threshold. Intriguingly, we delve into the complex variations characterizing the impact of destination country GDP per capita. Our exploration reveals that articles reporting a negative effect for destination country GDP per capita are more likely to focus on irregular or asylum migration flows. However, an intriguing subset of articles that also explore asylum migration flows finds a positive effect. These nuanced disparities are further influenced by variations in sample composition, control variables, statistical models, and the operationalization of GDP per capita. In sum, our in-depth analysis sheds light on the multifaceted landscape of migration drivers, offering critical insights into both the consensus and divergence within migration research.
Student-led replication studies in comparative politics: new findings by fresh eyes?
Authors: Korell Daniel , Reinecke Niklas , Lott Lars
Published: October 2023

This research note presents two replication studies that were conducted during a research-oriented course at Heidelberg University in summer 2022. The first study, initially conducted by Korell, replicates the findings from Albert’s original contribution on rebel governance. Albert conducted an explorative study in analyzing the associations between rebel governance and rebel military capacity. Our replication study indicates support for Albert’s argument of the relevance of disaggregating rebel governance, while we also show that the original findings are mainly driven by Albert’s explorative model specifications. The second study, initially conducted by Reinecke, tests the robustness of Levin et al.’s study on the democratic peacekeeping hypothesis and expands upon the original study by directly testing the “selectorate-theoretic causal mechanism” for the democratic peacekeeping hypothesis. Overall, the replication studies presented in this research note provide interesting findings regarding empirical conflict studies and contribute to ongoing efforts to promote replication initiatives in the education of future political scientists.
Stellenwert der Insemination in der modernen Kinderwunschbehandlung
Authors: Zajc-Mauersberger Anna Maria
Published: October 2023

Weltweit ist es für mehr als 70 Mio. Paare nicht möglich, über den Zeitraum von einem Jahr ihren Kinderwunsch zu realisieren, sie gelten somit als infertil. Die intrauterine Insemination stellt für jene Paare eine essenzielle Therapieoption dar. Bei Paaren mit idiopathischer Sterilität, mild eingeschränkter Samenqualität sowie bei stimulierten, primär anovulatorischen Zyklen sind 3–4 intrauterine Inseminationszyklen als First-Line-Therapie von internationalen Gesellschaften wie der Europäischen Gesellschaft für Humane Reproduktion und Embryologie (ESHRE) sowie der Amerikanischen Gesellschaft für Reproduktionsmedizin (ASRM) empfohlen. Neben der donogenen Anwendung bei gleichgeschlechtlichen Paaren gibt es noch eine große Menge weiterer Indikationen zur Durchführung einer Insemination als erste reproduktionsmedizinische Maßnahme. Im Wissen der erwartbaren natürlichen Fertilität ist es essenziell, PatientInnen zeitgerecht an ein Kompetenzzentrum zur reproduktionsmedizinischen Abklärung zu überweisen. Wichtig ist es, neben dem Alter der Patientin auch die Kinderwunschdauer, vor allem auch bei jüngeren Patientinnen, miteinzubeziehen. Die Insemination ist bei korrekter Indikationsstellung eine kosteneffektive Alternative zur In-vitro-Fertilisation und sollte in jeder reproduktionsmedizinischen Praxis mitangeboten werden.
Solidarity Typologies in Dynamics Between Portuguese Emigrants and Their Parents
Authors: Barros Carlos , McGarrigle Jennifer , Santos Ana Sofia , Albert Isabelle , Murdock Elke
Published: October 2023

Motivations for migratory movements tend to be contextualised at an individual level and refer to opportunities related to the country of destination. In the Portuguese context, this view is increasingly limited when we analyse the emigration of young adults since this process directly involves family figures in the country of origin, as they tend to be the first source of support. This paper aims to explore the dimensions of intergenerational solidarity, analysing conflict as transversal dimension and the presence of ambivalence, for a proposal of behaviour typologies in Portuguese transnational families. Using a qualitative approach, young Portuguese adults who emigrated in the European space and Schengen area (N = 22) were interviewed addressing questions about their migratory projects, as well as their dynamics with their parents in Portugal. A thematic analysis was carried out with the support of the NVivo software. The results indicate four behaviour typologies: (1) high cohesion and dependence, (2) full solidarity tested with resilience, (3) affective and functional solidarities, with normative and value divergences, and (4) no solidarity and irreconcilable differences. The findings suggest the impact of intergenerational norms and values, as they may be at the origin of communicational patterns that increase well-being and resilience in migration projects.
Makers, Not Users: Inscriptions of Design in the Development of Postdigital Technology Education
Authors: Gahoonia Simy Kaur
Published: October 2023

This paper directs attention to a recent government-led school development initiative in Denmark, where a broad concept and practice of design became central to imagining and reworking technology education for the postdigital condition, in which schoolchildren were imagined to become makers, not users of technological society. Using an analytical apparatus inspired by Science and Technology Studies (STS), the paper examines how and what understandings of design were propagated in the trial of technology comprehension in the public school. The paper examines two design models as didactic-pedagogical translation of design into the epistemic practices of the public school, articulated in the intellectual traditions of Bildung and Didaktik. Examining the knowledges that make knowledges, the paper contributes an elucidation of the features, capacities, and limitations of the concept and practice of design, as it is mobilised to make knowledge and subjectivities about agency and change for schooling in the postdigital educational future.
A low power varactor based digitally controlled oscillator design in 180 nm CMOS technology
Authors: Dabas Shweta , Kumar Manoj
Published: October 2023

This paper reports two distinct architectures for digitally-controlled oscillators (DCOs) utilizing MOS varactor, designed in TSMC 180 nm CMOS technology. The first DCO design employs a CMOS inverter, while the second design features a Three-Transistors (3T) NAND gate as a delay stage inverter. Using these delay stages, three-bit, five-bit, and seven-bit controlled DCO circuits have been designed. For the inverter-based DCO circuit, the frequency spans from 4.844 to 2.708 GHz, 2.523 to 0.853 GHz, and 1.364 to 0.253 GHz, with a power consumption of 0.958 mW, 1.597 mW, and 2.236 mW for three-bit, five-bit, and seven-bit DCO variants, respectively. Further, the 3T-NAND gate-based DCO circuit exhibits oscillation frequencies ranging from 2.024 to 0.517 GHz, 0.867 to 0.131 GHz, and 0.341 to 0.033 GHz, with the resulting power consumption of 0.335 mW, 0.559 mW, and 0.782 mW. Equally significant, the proposed inverter-based DCO attains phase noise of − 102.61 dBc/Hz@1MHz, − 99.65 dBc/Hz@1MHz, and − 117.54 dBc/Hz@1MHz, accompanied by corresponding figures of merit (FoM) 174.94 dBc/Hz, 161.27 dBc/Hz, and 165.10 dBc/Hz for three-bit, five-bit, and seven-bit control words, respectively. For the 3T-NAND gate-based DCO, phase noise levels register at − 93.51 dBc/Hz@1MHz, − 113.07 dBc/Hz@1MHz, and − 106.96 dBc/Hz@1MHz, with FoM values of 160.23 dBc/Hz, 166.70 dBc/Hz, and 150.30 dBc/Hz for three-bit, five-bit, and seven-bit DCO variants, respectively. The comprehensive analysis of the proposed DCOs demonstrates the power supply variations, phase noise deviations, and frequency variations. The reported DCOs perform better with regard to output frequency range, power consumption, and overall FoM.
Longitudinal Changes in Physical Fitness Attributes of Male Police Officers During a 12-Week Physical Training Program
Authors: Massuça Luís Miguel , Rasteiro André
Published: October 2023

This study aims to evaluate the effect of a 12-week physical training program on police officers’ physical fitness attributes. Thirty male police officers (age, 31.03 ± 3.15 years) participated in this experimental study, having carried out a 12-week physical training program (01−04/2023), 3 times/week with an average duration of 1 h/session (through circuit work, body weight exercises, and exercises with additional weight). The physical fitness evaluations were performed at three time points (weeks: 0, T0; 8, T1; 12, T2), and consisted of morphological (height, weight, waist circumference, fat and muscle mass, body mass index, and waist-to-height ratio) and fitness (push-ups; sit-ups; pull-ups; handgrip; horizontal jump; shuttle-run test; t-test; sit-reach test) evaluations. Were observed significant improvements at (i) 8 week (T1), in waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and all fitness tests (except in flexibility, handgrip right/left sum, and VO2max); and (ii) 12 weeks (T2), in relative fat mass, relative muscle mass, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and all the fitness tests. Although 8 weeks of training allowed us to observe improvements in most of the physical fitness attributes, all of them improved significantly in the 12-week physical training program. In accordance, prolonging the duration of the training program from, 8 to 12 weeks, results in strong improvement in the physical fitness of police officers.
Semiotics in architecture of public spaces: contemporary city-centers; case of Bangalore, India
Authors: Raj Mamatha P. , Patil Dakshayini R.
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the public space architecture in urban centers of contemporary cities. Through time cities evolve with a certain traditional profile either spontaneous or planned; correspondingly, urban spaces emerge responding to the current developments, community aspirations, and architectural influences of the era. The study adopts a research methodology of triangulation involving review of theoretical derivatives, legislations for urban aesthetics, and conducting visual surveys of urbanscapes. Three fundamental theories are explored-‘Semiotics/Semiology’ by Saussure (1916) and Peirce (1902), ‘Duck and decorated shed’ by Robert Venturi (1972) and ‘Urban semiotics’ by Kevin Lynch (1960). The premise is investigated with the case of Bangalore (also, Bengaluru) in India; a city which has a rich historical profile while also being one of the progressive cities, resulting in transitions in its urbanscapes profile and existence of two distinct city cores, old and the new. This analysis is ensued by adopting comparative analysis of façades investigated in these two Central Business Districts, with a ‘Façade grid’ assessment methodology leading to interpretation of varying semiotics in both scenarios. The surveys conducted reveal an interesting semiology in the older and newer nodes reflecting intense objectives of commercial architecture and leads to formulation of a strategic proposal framework for façade architecture and management to reconnect to the use-experiential factors in urban centers.
Surface deformation induced by the 2016 Meinong earthquake and its implications to active folds
Authors: Yi De-Cheng , Chuang Ray Y. , Chung Ling-Ho , Lin Ching-Weei , Rau Ruey-Juin
Published: October 2023

We present 230 field observations on the location, trending, and displacement vectors of the coseismic surface cracks induced by the 2016 Meinong earthquake in the Guanmiao area, SW Taiwan. Coseismic surface cracks trends from the north to northeast. The coseismic deformed region moved toward the W-WNW. In Guanmiao town, surface cracks were mainly distributed on both limbs of the Guanmiao syncline. The preseismic deformation was also observed along the axial trace of the Guanmiao syncline. These results give clues to high structural activities in SW Taiwan. We argue that Guanmiao syncline is an active fold with both coseismic activity and interseismic creeping, which induced nonnegligible micro-geohazards because of the continual loss. We report a new case of the normal bending-moment fault, the Luosianliao fault, which locates between the Guanmiao syncline and Chungchou anticline. However, the linkage between the shallow Luosianliao fault and the deep-seated causative fault of Guanmiao aftershocks are not known yet. We demonstrate the kinematic process of coseismic surface deformation and argue that the bending-moment fault could provide an opportunity to understand the recurrence interval of folding. The mechanism of earthquake-induced folding amplification through high fluid-pressure rocks may play a critical role in assessing earthquake hazard risks in regions with similar geology to SW Taiwan.
Advances and applications of machine learning in underwater acoustics
Authors: Niu Haiqiang , Li Xiaolei , Zhang Yonglin , Xu Ji
Published: October 2023

Recent advancements in machine learning (ML) techniques applied to underwater acoustics have significantly impacted various aspects of this field, such as source localization, target recognition, communication, and geoacoustic inversion. This review provides a comprehensive summary and evaluation of these developments. As a data-driven approach, ML played a pivotal role in discerning intricate relationships between input features and desired labels based on the provided training dataset. They are achieving success in ocean acoustic applications through ML hinges on several critical factors, including well-designed input feature preprocessing, appropriate labels, choice of ML models, effective training strategy, and availability of ample training and validation datasets. This review highlights noteworthy results from published studies to illustrate the effectiveness of ML methods in diverse application scenarios. In addition, it delves into the essential techniques employed within these applications. To understand the utility of ML in underwater acoustics, one must analyze its advantages and limitations. This assessment will aid in identifying scenarios where ML excels and those where it may face challenges. In addition, it provides insights into promising avenues for future research, shedding light on potential research directions that warrant exploration.
Social Determinants Predicting the Community Pharmacists’ Workforce Preparedness for, and Response to, the Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Venkataraman Rajesh , Rajiah Kingston , Anand Meghana , Surendran Gopika
Published: October 2023

Objectives:

To identify the predicting factors that contribute to preparedness for public health emergencies among community pharmacists in India.

Methods:

Multistage cluster sampling was done. The geographic breakdown was done based on villages and areas and used as clusters. A simple random method was done in the first stage to select the villages as clusters. From each selected village, a simple random method was done in the second stage to select the areas. From each selected area, all the community pharmacies were selected. The survey questionnaire had 3 sections with 43 items: (A) demographic information, (B) preparedness, (C) response toward infectious diseases. The participants chose “Yes/No”, in sections B and C. A score of 1 was given for “Yes”, and a score of zero was given for “No”.

Results:

Multiple correlation analyses were conducted between participants’ preparedness and response (PR) scores and independent variables. The independent variables such as “More than one Pharmacist working in a pharmacy”, “Pharmacists who are trained more than once on disaster management”, and encountered more than 1 patient with the infectious disease were positively and significantly correlated with the dependent variable (PR scores).

Conclusions:

Community pharmacists were aware of the issues they may face in their community concerning public health emergencies. They believed that the medications available in their pharmacy are sufficient to face any emergency. They could identify the clinical manifestations of public health emergency conditions and provide counselling to the customers toward them. Community pharmacists who were trained more than once in disaster management were the strongest predicting factor.
Historicizing Real Estate: The East India Company in Early Colonial Bombay
Authors: Issar Sukriti
Published: October 2023

Property-as-real-estate emerged in Bombay at least by the turn of the nineteenth century. Real estate is historicized through previously unexplored archival sources (qualitative and quantitative) by analyzing how property was transacted in a colonial port, and how it became embedded in global circuits of commerce and the accumulation strategies of locals and the English East India Company. The paper demonstrates the existence by this time of legal institutions of publicity and property registration, specialized intermediaries, price-finding mechanisms such as auctions, and imaginaries of a property market as an abstract entity marked by general trends and values. Contrary to the literature that sees prices in this period as erratic and inconsistent, a systematic analysis of prices suggests a rationalized and standardized property market. These findings push back the timeline usually associated with the development of real estate in India.
Deep reinforcement transfer learning of active control for bluff body flows at high Reynolds number
Authors: Wang Zhicheng , Fan Dixia , Jiang Xiaomo , Triantafyllou Michael S. , Karniadakis George Em
Published: October 2023

We demonstrate how to accelerate the computationally taxing process of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) in numerical simulations for active control of bluff body flows at high Reynolds number (

$Re$

) using transfer learning. We consider the canonical flow past a circular cylinder whose wake is controlled by two small rotating cylinders. We first pre-train the DRL agent using data from inexpensive simulations at low

$Re$

, and subsequently we train the agent with small data from the simulation at high

$Re$

(up to

$Re=1.4\times 10^5$

). We apply transfer learning (TL) to three different tasks, the results of which show that TL can greatly reduce the training episodes, while the control method selected by TL is more stable compared with training DRL from scratch. We analyse for the first time the wake flow at

$Re=1.4\times 10^5$

in detail and discover that the hydrodynamic forces on the two rotating control cylinders are not symmetric.
The Disunity of Science and the Unity of the World Presidential Address, PSA 2022
Authors: Dupré John
Published: October 2023

This paper recapitulates earlier work in which I argued for the disunity of science, the plurality of partly incommensurable ways in which the world can be conceptualised for scientific purposes. It then aims to show how this plurality is intelligible, even to be expected, from the perspective of a process philosophy that sees the world as largely disorganised, but as allowing the emergence of pockets of stability, most notably the stability provided by biological organisms. It incidentally aims to demonstrate the importance to one another of science and metaphysics.
Niche development: the International Foundation for Science and the road to Sweden
Authors: Beckman Jenny
Published: October 2023

This paper examines the crowded landscape of conferences and organizations within which the International Foundation for Science (IFS) was shaped in the early 1970s. The IFS aimed to support scientists from developing countries, circumventing the bureaucracy of established international organizations such as UNESCO and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The new foundation was a potential rival to such institutions, which ironically provided the conditions essential to its emergence. Their conferences, board meetings and assemblies, where scientists and policy makers convened, provided key infrastructure for the development of the IFS. This infrastructure appears simultaneously both as an almost invisible feature of international science policy, and as a political problem. The solution to this problem was Stockholm: a geographical place that was also placeless, occupying both national and international status, desirable in its political, scientific and geographical neutrality. In an organizational context, academies and scientific societies who found their role circumscribed by existing international institutions used the IFS to argue for their particular role and expertise in funding and promoting scientific development. Geographically and politically, neutral Sweden provided a setting which was located between East and West, and which added to the country's own reputation for championing the causes of developing nations.
Fast-ion transport in quasisymmetric equilibria in the presence of a resonant Alfvénic perturbation
Authors: Paul Elizabeth J. , Mynick Harry E. , Bhattacharjee Amitava
Published: October 2023

Significant progress has been made in designing magnetic fields that provide excellent confinement of the guiding-centre trajectories of alpha particles using quasisymmetry (QS). Given the reduction in this transport channel, we assess the impact of resonant Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs) on the guiding-centre motion. The AE amplitudes are chosen to be consistent with experimental measurements and large-scale simulations. We evaluate the drift resonance condition, phase-space island width and island overlap criterion for quasisymmetric configurations. Kinetic Poincaré plots elucidate features of the transport, including stiff transport above a critical perturbation amplitude. Our analysis highlights key departures from the AE-driven transport in tokamaks, such as the avoidance of phase-space island overlap in quasihelical configurations and the enhanced transport due to wide phase-space islands in low magnetic shear configurations. In configurations that are closer to QS, with QS deviations

$\delta B/B_0 \lesssim 10^{-3}$

, the transport is primarily driven by the AE, while configurations that are further from QS,

$\delta B/B_0 \sim 10^{-2}$

, experience significant transport due to the QS-breaking fields in addition to the AE.
Trematode genetic patterns at host individual and population scales provide insights about infection mechanisms
Authors: Correia Simão , Fernández-Boo Sergio , Magalhães Luísa , de Montaudouin Xavier , Daffe Guillemine , Poulin Robert , Vera Manuel
Published: October 2023

Multiple parasites can infect a single host, creating a dynamic environment where each parasite must compete over host resources. Such interactions can cause greater harm to the host than single infections and can also have negative consequences for the parasites themselves. In their first intermediate hosts, trematodes multiply asexually and can eventually reach up to 20% of the host's biomass. In most species, it is unclear whether this biomass results from a single infection or co-infection by 2 or more infective stages (miracidia), the latter being more likely a priori in areas where prevalence of infection is high. Using as model system the trematode Bucephalus minimus and its first intermediate host cockles, we examined the genetic diversity of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I region in B. minimus from 3 distinct geographical areas and performed a phylogeographic study of B. minimus populations along the Northeast Atlantic coast. Within localities, the high genetic variability found across trematodes infecting different individual cockles, compared to the absence of variability within the same host, suggests that infections could be generally originating from a single miracidium. On a large spatial scale, we uncovered significant population structure of B. minimus, specifically between the north and south of Bay of Biscay. Although other explanations are possible, we suggest this pattern may be driven by the population structure of the final host.
Effect of next-step antidepressant treatment on suicidal ideation: findings from the VAST-D trial
Authors: Zisook Sidney , Moutier Christine Yu , Rush A. John , Johnson Gary R , Tal Ilanit , Chen PJ. , Davis Lori L , Hicks Paul B , Wilcox James , Planeta Beata , Lauro Kimberly (Weingart) , Scrymgeour Alexandra A. , Kasckow John , Mohamed Somaia
Published: October 2023

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) contributes to suicide risk. Treating MDD effectively is considered a key suicide prevention intervention. Yet many patients with MDD do not respond to their initial medication and require a ‘next-step’. The relationship between next-step treatments and suicidal thoughts and behaviors is uncharted.

Method

The VA Augmentation and Switching Treatments for Depression trial randomized 1522 participants to one of three next-step treatments: Switching to Bupropion, combining with Bupropion, and augmenting with Aripiprazole. In this secondary analysis, features associated with lifetime suicidal ideation (SI) and attempts (SA) at baseline and current SI during treatment were explored.

Results

Compared to those with SI only, those with lifetime SI + SA were more likely to be female, divorced, or separated, unemployed; and to have experienced more childhood adversity. They had a more severe depressive episode and were more likely to respond to ‘next-step’ treatment. The prevalence of SI decreased from 46.5% (694/1492) at baseline to 21.1% (315/1492) at end-of-treatment. SI during treatment was associated with baseline SI; low positive mental health, more anxiety, greater severity and longer duration of current MDD episode; being male and White; and treatment with S-BUP or C-BUP as compared to A-ARI.

Conclusion

SI declines for most patients during next-step medication treatments. But about 1 in 5 experienced emergent or worsening SI during treatment, so vigilance for suicide risk through the entire 12-week acute treatment period is necessary. Treatment selection may affect the risk of SI.
FRIAR WILLIAM HEREBERT’S CAROLS RECONSIDERED
Authors: Loewen Peter V. , Waugh Robin
Published: October 2023

William Herebert’s Middle English poems, which appear in his Commonplace Book (c. 1314), have been undervalued by scholars. Yet, far from being a lonely purveyor of an ungainly series of translations, Herebert instead was a skillful adapter of Latin hymns into dance songs. Echoing his contemporaries and following the example of St Francis, Herebert revised the forms of two Latin poems, ‘Gloria, laus et honor’ and ‘Popule meus, quid feci tibi’, into two English lyrics: ‘Wele, heriȝyng and worshype’ and ‘My volk, what habbe y do þe?’ In doing so, he dealt imaginatively with poetic form, liturgical content, concepts of time and matching words to music – and he ended up producing early examples of English carols. Herebert’s achievements in dance song demonstrate that the seemingly outrageous idea of the dancing friar is not as alien to religious devotions as one might expect. We conclude with speculations concerning the performance of Herebert’s songs.
On a retrial queue with negative customers, passive breakdown, and delayed repairs
Authors: Han Yunna , Tian Ruiling , Wu Xinyu , He Liuqing
Published: October 2023

This paper studies an M/M/1 retrial queue with negative customers, passive breakdown, and delayed repairs. Assume that the breakdown behavior of the server during idle periods is different from that during busy periods. Passive breakdowns may occur when the server is idle, due to the lack of monitoring of the server during idle periods. When the passive breakdown occurs, the server does not get repaired immediately and enters a delayed repair phase. Negative customers arrive during the busy period, which will cause the server to break down and remove the serving customers. Under steady-state conditions, we obtain explicit expressions of the probability generating functions for the steady-state distribution, together with some important performance measures for the system. In addition, we present some numerical examples to illustrate the effects of some system parameters on important performance measures and the cost function. Finally, based on the reward-cost structure, we discuss Nash equilibrium and socially optimal strategy and numerically analyze the influence of system parameters on optimal strategies and optimal social benefits.
Nuclear DNA-based phylogenetic analysis of Neocinnamomum species
Authors: Li Qishao , Yang Linyi , Yu Qunfei , Xu Wenbin , Xin Yaxuan , Song Yu , Xin Peiyao
Published: October 2023

Neocinnamomum plants are evergreen shrubs or small trees belonging to the Neocinnamomeae tribe of the Lauraceae family. Their seeds are rich in fatty acids, and their leaves are often used in traditional Chinese medicine. Presently, only a few studies have been performed on Neocinnamomum plants; therefore, the genome-based phylogeny among Neocinnamomum species has not been determined, which limits the germplasm innovation of this genus. In this study, by the Illumina (next-generation sequencing) and third-generation sequencing technologies, the whole genomes of seven Neocinnamomum species samples were sequenced, their nuclear DNA (nrDNA) sequences were assembled and characterized, and their phylogeny was reconstructed. The results revealed four hypervariable regions (i.e. transcribed spacer regions) in the nrDNA sequences, among which the highest degree of variation was observed in the external transcribed spacer (ETS) region localized behind the 26S gene. A total of 27 insertions/deletions and 184 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, both localized mainly in the ETS and internal transcribed spacer regions, were identified. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on the nrDNA sequences using the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods with Caryodaphnopsis henryi as the outgroup. The ML tree divided the seven Neocinnamomum species into four clades. Clade I consisted of Neocinnamomum caudatum var. macrocarpum and Neocinnamomum caudatum, clade II included Neocinnamomum delavayi and Neocinnamomum mekongense, clade III included Neocinnamomum fargesii and a branch species of N. delavayi and clade IV included Neocinnamomum lecomtei, constituting a monophyletic and basal group. The BI tree shared the same topological structure as the ML tree, and all the support values of the BI tree were one except for that of one Neocinnamomum species (0.98). The results of this study provide new evidence regarding the phylogenetic evolution of the Neocinnamomum plants.
Implementing dialectical behaviour therapy in routine practice: an evaluation of a national CAMHS DBT service for adolescents
Authors: Camp J. , Hunt K. , Smith L.M.
Published: October 2023

Self-harming behaviours are reported to be increasing amongst young people and are associated with increased risk of suicide. The recently published UK clinical guidelines highlight that cross-sector awareness and early psychosocial assessment of self-harming is necessary, alongside careful triaging as to the level of support required. Dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) is a recommended intervention for young people with more severe difficulties. The current study aims to contribute to the data available to inform ongoing clinical decisions about the feasibility and implementation of DBT-A by reporting the intervention method, participant characteristics, and clinical outcomes of a national (UK) DBT service for young people with high levels of need and risk. Young people who commenced treatment between 2015 and 2021 were included. Completion rates, reasons for non-completion, and discharge pathways are reported. Measurement and changes in outcomes, including self-harm, in-patient bed days, accident and emergency department attendances and education/work status, are reported, as well as for routine outcome measures assessing emotion dysregulation and symptoms of emerging borderline personality disorder, depression and anxiety. The clinical significance of these outcomes are considered. Ideas for service evaluation, which are feasible and replicable in busy clinical settings are proposed, as well as a discussion of potential adaptations to standardised protocols needed in this context to fit with National Health Service (NHS) resources and the needs of the target population.

Key learning aims

(1)

To learn about the implementation of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and concurrent outcome monitoring in a UK National Health Service CAMHS out-patient setting.

(2)

To understand the clinical profile and response to treatment of young people with high levels of suicidal and non-suicidal self-harming behaviours.

(3)

To present a potential method for outcome monitoring and collection for CAMHS DBT services.