bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Schlussfolgerungen und Aussichten: Auf dem Weg zur Kreislaufwirtschaft
Authors: Gebetsroither Michaela , Honic Meliha , Kovacic Iva , Löffler Christoph , Marx Klemens , Pamminger Rainer , Robbi Steffen , Sustr Christian , Schützenhofer Stefan , Weber Gundula
Published: December 2023

Aktuell wird die Kreislaufwirtschaft von einem Top-down Prozess getrieben. Ausgehend von Europäischen Zielsetzungen der EU-Taxonomie und ESG-Verordnung im Allgemeinen werden die Anforderungen zur Ressourcenschonung und dem Übergang in eine Kreislaufwirtschaft von internationalen und nationalen Zertifizierungssystemen wie DGNB, (DGNB 2022) BREEAM (BREGroup 2022), ÖGNI (ÖGNI 2022) übernommen und individuell erweitert. Ressourcenschonendes Bauen ist damit keine Option mehr, sondern Voraussetzung, um zukünftig überhaupt noch am Markt bestehen zu können. Immer mehr Städte, Kommunen, öffentliche und private Auftraggeber bereiten sich daher aktiv auf den Paradigmenwechsel zur Kreislaufwirtschaft vor und verwenden Gebäude-/ Ressourcenpässe, um die Kreislauffähigkeit ihrer Immobilien optimieren und nachweisen zu können. Ein großvolumiges Gebäude ohne Nachhaltigkeitszertifizierung ist bereits heute nicht mehr marktfähig und kaum noch finanzierbar – Trend anhaltend bzw., mit Erweiterung der Taxonomiekriterien, steigend.
Disentangle neutrino electromagnetic properties with atomic radiative pair emission
Authors: Ge Shao-Feng , Pasquini Pedro
Published: December 2023

Abstract

We elaborate the possibility of using the atomic radiative emission of neutrino pair (RENP) to probe the neutrino electromagnetic properties, including magnetic and electric dipole moments, charge radius, and anapole. With the typical $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(eV) momentum transfer, the atomic RENP is sensitive to not just the tiny neutrino masses but also very light mediators to which the massless photon belongs. The neutrino EM properties introduce extra contribution besides the SM one induced by the heavy W/Z gauge bosons. Since the associated photon spectrum is divided into several sections whose boundaries are determined by the final-state neutrino masses, it is possible to identify the individual neutrino EM form factor elements. Most importantly, scanning the photon spectrum inside the particular section with deviation from the SM prediction once observed allows identification of the neutrino EM form factor type. The RENP provides an ultimate way of disentangling the neutrino EM properties to go beyond the current experimental searches or observations.
Machining of additively manufactured alloy 718 in as-built and heat-treated condition: surface integrity and cutting tool wear
Authors: Holmberg Jonas , Berglund Johan , Brohede Ulrika , Åkerfeldt Pia , Sandell Viktor , Rashid Amir , Zhao Xiaoyu , Dadbakhsh Sasan , Fischer Marie , Hryha Eduard , Wiklund Urban , Hassila Carl Johan Karlsson , Hosseini Seyed
Published: December 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM) using powder bed fusion is becoming a mature technology that offers great possibilities and design freedom for manufacturing of near net shape components. However, for many gas turbine and aerospace applications, machining is still required, which motivates further research on the machinability and work piece integrity of additive-manufactured superalloys. In this work, turning tests have been performed on components made with both Powder Bed Fusion for Laser Beam (PBF-LB) and Electron Beam (PBF-EB) in as-built and heat-treated conditions. The two AM processes and the respective heat-treatments have generated different microstructural features that have a great impact on both the tool wear and the work piece surface integrity. The results show that the PBF-EB components have relatively lower geometrical accuracy, a rough surface topography, a coarse microstructure with hard precipitates and low residual stresses after printing. Turning of the PBF-EB material results in high cutting tool wear, which induces moderate tensile surface stresses that are balanced by deep compressive stresses and a superficial deformed surface that is greater for the heat-treated material. In comparison, the PBF-LB components have a higher geometrical accuracy, a relatively smooth topography and a fine microstructure, but with high tensile stresses after printing. Machining of PBF-LB material resulted in higher tool wear for the heat-treated material, increase of 49%, and significantly higher tensile surface stresses followed by shallower compressive stresses below the surface compared to the PBF-EB materials, but with no superficially deformed surface. It is further observed an 87% higher tool wear for PBF-EB in as-built condition and 43% in the heat-treated condition compared to the PBF-LB material. These results show that the selection of cutting tools and cutting settings are critical, which requires the development of suitable machining parameters that are designed for the microstructure of the material.
Classification of fetal and adult red blood cells based on hydrodynamic deformation and deep video recognition
Authors: Kampen Peter Johannes Tejlgaard , Støttrup-Als Gustav Ragnar , Bruun-Andersen Nicklas , Secher Joachim , Høier Freja , Hansen Anne Todsen , Dziegiel Morten Hanefeld , Christensen Anders Nymark , Berg-Sørensen Kirstine
Published: December 2023

Flow based deformation cytometry has shown potential for cell classification. We demonstrate the principle with an injection moulded microfluidic chip from which we capture videos of adult and fetal red blood cells, as they are being deformed in a microfluidic chip. Using a deep neural network - SlowFast - that takes the temporal behavior into account, we are able to discriminate between the cells with high accuracy. The accuracy was larger for adult blood cells than for fetal blood cells. However, no significant difference was observed between donors of the two types.
Does satisfaction with amenities and environment influence the taste for revolt in the middle east?
Authors: Farzanegan Mohammad Reza , Gholipour Hassan F.
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between individuals’ satisfaction with amenities and environmental quality and taste for revolt in the Middle East. Using recent World Value Survey data (WVS7, 2017–2021) from Egypt and Iraq (which have been experiencing severe environmental degradation and inadequate and mismanagement of public infrastructure) and applying Probit regressions, our results show that satisfaction with amenities and environmental quality indicators are negatively and statistically related to individuals' inclination towards revolt in both countries. This finding is more pronounced in urban areas, particularly in large cities. We also find that individuals’ satisfaction with amenities and environmental quality affect the taste of revolt through the individual’s life satisfaction and satisfaction with the government’s provision of utilities. The analysis for Egypt suggests that satisfaction with public transportation systems, roads and highways, air quality, and housing quality are significantly and negatively associated with support for revolutionary action. For the Iraq sample, we find that dissatisfaction with roads and highways, water quality, school quality, and the physical settings of cities lead to a higher probability of support for uprising.
Dynamics of the Tachocline
Authors: Strugarek Antoine , Belucz Bernadett , Brun Allan Sacha , Dikpati Mausumi , Guerrero Gustavo
Published: December 2023

The solar tachocline is an internal region of the Sun possessing strong radial and latitudinal shears straddling the base of the convective envelope. Based on helioseismic inversions, the tachocline is known to be thin (less than 5% of the solar radius). Since the first theory of the solar tachocline in 1992, this thinness has not ceased to puzzle solar physicists. In this review, we lay out the grounds of our understanding of this fascinating region of the solar interior. We detail the various physical mechanisms at stake in the solar tachocline, and put a particular focus on the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain its thinness. We also examine the full range of MHD processes including waves and instabilities that are likely to occur in the tachocline, as well as their possible connection with active region patterns observed at the surface. We reflect on the most recent findings for each of them, and highlight the physical understanding that is still missing and that would allow the research community to understand, in a generic sense, how the solar tachocline and stellar tachocline are formed, are sustained, and evolve on secular timescales.
Advancements in number representation for high-precision computing
Authors: Mora H. , Signes-Pont M. T. , López F. A. Pujol , Mora-Pascual J. , Chamizo J. M. García
Published: December 2023

Efficient representation of data is a fundamental prerequisite for addressing computational problems effectively using computers. The continual improvement in methods for representing numbers in computers serves as a critical step in expanding the scope and capabilities of computing systems. In this research, we conduct a comprehensive review of both fundamental and advanced techniques for representing numbers in computers. Additionally, we propose a novel model capable of representing rational numbers with absolute precision, catering to specific high precision applications. Specifically, we adopt fractional positional notation coupled with explicit codification of the periodic parts, thereby accommodating the entire rational number set without any loss of accuracy. We elucidate the properties and hardware representation of this proposed format and provide the results of extensive experiments to demonstrate its expressiveness and minimal codification error when compared to other real number representation formats. This research contributes to the advancement of numerical representation in computer systems, empowering them to handle complex computations with heightened accuracy, making them more reliable and versatile in a wide range of applications.
Assessing Feasibility and Barriers to Implementing a Family-Based Intervention in Opioid Treatment Programs
Authors: Rigg Khary K. , Proctor Steven L. , Kusiak Ethan S. , Barber Sharon A. , Asous Lara W. , Bartholomew Tyler S.
Published: December 2023

Families Facing the Future (FFF) is an intervention designed specifically for families with a parent in methadone treatment. FFF is unique because it addresses prevention for children and recovery for parents in a single intervention. The primary goals of the program are to prevent parents’ relapse, help them cope with relapse if it occurs, and teach parenting skills in order to reduce the likelihood of substance use among their children. FFF has been implemented as an adjunct to treatment in several Opioid Treatment Programs, but has not been widely adopted due to various implementation barriers. The aims of this study, therefore, were to (1) assess the perceived feasibility of implementing FFF and (2) identify/describe barriers to implementing FFF. An online survey was used to assess implementation feasibility, while individual qualitative interviews were conducted to explore specific barriers to implementation. Data collection from a total of 40 participants (20 patients and 20 providers) was conducted from August 2022 to October 2022 at two Opioid Treatment Programs in Florida. Analyses revealed high feasibility scores, indicating that FFF was viewed by both patients and providers as a practical intervention to implement. Despite strong perceived feasibility of the intervention, qualitative findings identified several implementation barriers with respect to difficulty attending parent training sessions, aversion to in-home visits, and lack of funding (inability to provide patient incentives/bill insurance). This study provides evidence that while patients and providers view FFF as having high feasibility, significant implementation barriers exist. This paper fills a void in the literature by informing if and which modifications might be necessary to facilitate wider adoption of FFF in real-world Opioid Treatment Program settings.
Long-term effects of different VET-to-labor market transition patterns on subjective well-being
Authors: Michaelis Christian , Findeisen Stefanie
Published: December 2023

Several studies have analyzed the outcome of vocational education and training (VET); however, they primarily compared individuals with different qualification levels. This perspective neglects the fact that adolescents can differ in their training courses and transition to the labor market. Thus far, evidence on the consequences of different VET-to-labor market transition patterns is scarce. Therefore, the present study distinguished different VET-to-labor market transition patterns of German trainees and analyzed the long-term consequences on subjective well-being (SWB) later in life. Our results show in-between differences in the SWB of trainees in further life by different VET-to-labor market transition patterns. Compared to individuals with direct VET-to-labor market transitions, individuals who experienced a premature training termination and did not return to institutionalized education were more likely to have lower SWB later in life. Additionally, participating in general or higher education programs after VET seems to be beneficial. However, completing multiple VET programs did not influence SWB. The results underline the importance of strategies to prevent early leaving from education and training.
Geochemical prerequisites for the formation of oil and gas accumulation zones in the South Turgay basin, Kazakhstan
Authors: Madisheva Rima Kopbosynkyzy , Portnov Vassiliy Sergeevich , Amangeldiyeva Gulmadina Bulatovna , Demeuova Akmaral Bakhytbekovna , Seitkhaziyev Yessimkhan Sherekhanovich , Azhgaliev Dulat Kalimovich
Published: December 2023

This study predicts favorable oil and gas source-rock formation conditions in the Aryskum Depression of the South Turgay Basin, Kazakhstan. This study assesses the thermal maturity and characteristics of organic matter by determining its environmental conditions using data from geochemical analysis of core (pyrolysis) and oil (biomarkers and carbon isotopic compositions) samples. According to the geochemical parameters obtained by pyrolysis, the oil generation potential of the original rocks of most studied samples varies from poor to rich. The facies–genetic organic matter is predominantly humic and less frequently humus–sapropel, indicating organic matter accumulation in the studied samples were under moderately reducing conditions (kerogen III and II types) and coastal–marine environments (kerogen type I). The carbon isotopic compositions of oils derived from the Jurassic deposits of the Aryskum Depression also indicate the sapropelic and mixed humic–sapropelic type of organic matter (kerogen II and I). Biomarker analysis of oils indicates original organic matter formation in an anoxic environment.
How do emission reductions of individual national and local measures impact street-level air quality in a neighbourhood of Madrid, Spain?
Authors: Santiago J. L. , Rivas E. , Sanchez B. , Vivanco M. G. , Theobald M. R. , Garrido J. L. , Gil V. , Buccolieri R. , Martilli A. , Rodríguez-Sánchez A. , Martín F.
Published: December 2023

This paper aims to assess the impact of individual measures for NOx emission reduction on NO2 concentrations at very high spatial resolution in an urban district of Madrid City (Spain). A methodology based on a set of Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations for 16 meteorological scenarios combined with the CHIMERE model for background pollution is used to obtain annual NO2 concentration maps. Two scenarios included in the Spanish National Air Pollution Control Programme are investigated: NOx emission reductions from the installation of more efficient boilers for domestic heating (ECOBOIL) and from the partly substitution of passenger cars with combustion engines by electric cars (EC). This analysis is extended to 9 additional scenarios of more ambitious implementation of electric vehicles in order to determine what the NOx emission reduction required for the annual mean NO2 concentration EU limit value not being exceeded is. The ECOBOIL scenario has a very weak impact on the NO2 concentrations. However, the EC scenario implies a more significant reduction of the NO2 concentrations, but not enough to fully remove NO2 limit value exceedances in the study area. A small additional (compared with the EC scenario) implementation of electric vehicles seems to fulfil that the spatially averaged NO2 concentration be lower than the EU limit value, but the area with exceedances is still very large. However, stronger traffic emission reductions (80%) corresponding to the most ambitious scenarios are needed in order to reach that at least 95% of the domain is free of EU limit value exceedances.
Efficacy of Osteoporosis Medications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Vilaca Tatiane , Eastell Richard
Published: December 2023

Purpose of the Review

The purpose of the review is to summarise the current scientific evidence on the efficacy of osteoporosis medications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Recent Findings

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing global epidemic. The highest prevalence is observed in the elderly, the same population affected by osteoporosis. Despite normal or even increased bone mineral density and low bone turnover, T2D is associated with an increased risk of fractures in most skeletal sites. These findings raised concerns over the efficacy of anti-osteoporosis drugs in this population. There is no randomised controlled trial designed specifically for people with T2D. However, observational studies and post-hoc analyses of randomised controlled trials have provided valuable insights into the effects of various anti-osteoporosis treatments in this population. Overall, most anti-osteoporosis drugs seem to have similar efficacy and safety profiles for people with and without type 2 diabetes. However, continued research and long-term safety data are needed to optimise treatment strategies and improve bone health outcomes in this population.

The current evidence suggests that most anti-osteoporosis drugs exhibit comparable efficacy in people with and without T2D.
Clinical and Molecular Characteristics of Gonadotroph Pituitary Tumors According to the WHO Classification
Authors: Carbonara Francesca , Feola Tiziana , Gianno Francesca , Polidoro Michela Anna , Di Crescenzo Rosa Maria , Arcella Antonietta , De Angelis Michelangelo , Morace Roberta , de Alcubierre Dario , Esposito Vincenzo , Giangaspero Felice , Jaffrain-Rea Marie-Lise
Published: December 2023

Since 2017, hormone-negative pituitary neuroendocrine tumors expressing the steroidogenic factor SF1 have been recognized as gonadotroph tumors (GnPT) but have been poorly studied. To further characterize their bio-clinical spectrum, 54 GnPT defined by immunostaining for FSH and/or LH (group 1, n = 41) or SF1 only (group 2, n = 13) were compared and studied for SF1, βFSH, βLH, CCNA2, CCNB1, CCND1, caspase 3, D2R, and AIP gene expression by qRT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry for AIP and/or D2R was performed in representative cases. Overall, patients were significantly younger in group 1 (P = 0.040 vs group 2), with a similar trend excluding recurrent cases (P = 0.078), and no significant difference in gender, tumor size, invasion or Ki67. SF1 expression was similar in both groups but negatively correlated with the patient’s age (P = 0.013) and positively correlated with βLH (P < 0.001) expression. Beta-FSH and AIP were significantly higher in group 1 (P = 0.042 and P = 0.024, respectively). Ki67 was unrelated to gonadotroph markers but positively correlated with CCNB1 (P = 0.001) and negatively correlated with CCND1 (P = 0.008). D2R and AIP were strongly correlated with each other (P < 0.001), and both positively correlated with SF1, βFSH, βLH, and CCND1. AIP immunopositivity was frequently observed in both groups, with a similar median score, and unrelated to Ki67. D2R immunostaining was best detected with a polyclonal antibody and mostly cytoplasmic. This study indicates that hormone-negative GnPT tend to occur in older patients but do not significantly differ from other GnPT in terms of invasion or proliferation. It also points out the current limits of D2R immunostaining in such tumors.
What’s Fairness Got to Do with it? Fair Opportunity, Practice Dependence, and the Right to Freedom of Religion
Authors: Lægaard Sune
Published: December 2023

The right to religious liberty as for instance set out in the European Convention of Human Rights protects acts of religious observance. Such protection can clash with other considerations, including laws aimed at protecting other state interests. Religious freedom therefore requires an account of when the right should lead to exemptions from other laws and when the right can legitimately be limited. Alan Patten has proposed a Fair Opportunity view of the normative logic of religious liberty. But Patten’s view faces several problems. The normative work in his view is mainly done by added accounts of reasonable claims and of justifiability. So, the Fair Opportunity view in itself does not provide a normative criterion. Defenses of the Fair Opportunity view must therefore turn on the theoretical preferability of its structural features. But the Fair Opportunity view has the wrong form to capture the right to freedom of religion. The form of the right to freedom of religion is due to how its point is to address how states limit the liberty of citizens. Given a practice dependent approach, which assigns importance to the point and purpose of the right to freedom of religion, Patten’s theory is thus problematic.
Volunteers’ satisfaction with the voluntary association: exploring the role of service climate, organizational identification, and understanding motivation
Authors: Toscano Ferdinando , Zappalà Salvatore
Published: December 2023

This study employs the Attraction-Selection-Attrition model and Social Identity Theory to examine if organizational identification mediates the relationship between volunteers’ perception of service climate and satisfaction with the voluntary association they belong to. The study also investigates if understanding motivation, a component of motivation to volunteer, moderates the relationship between volunteers’ organizational identification and satisfaction with the voluntary association. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire completed by 166 participants serving as volunteers in a Red Cross local committee in an Italian city. Results suggest that there is a significant positive relationship between service climate and satisfaction with the voluntary association. Additionally, it was observed that organizational identification partially and positively mediates the relationship between service climate and satisfaction with the voluntary association. Contrary to what expected, the moderation effect was negative instead of positive. Specifically, the findings suggest that understanding motivation improves the satisfaction with the voluntary association when volunteers have low level of organizational identification but decreases the satisfaction with the voluntary association when volunteers have high level of organizational identification. In the discussion, it is emphasized the importance of volunteers’ satisfaction with the association for organizational functioning and discussed the moderation results in the context of known theories. Finally, the paper presents the practical and research implications of the findings.
Machine learning and experiments identifies SPINK1 as a candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yi Shiming , Zhang Chunlei , Li Ming , Qu Tianyi , Wang Jiafeng
Published: December 2023

Machine learning techniques have been widely used in predicting disease prognosis, including cancer prognosis. One of the major challenges in cancer prognosis is to accurately classify cancer types and stages to optimize early screening and detection, and machine learning techniques have proven to be very useful in this regard. In this study, we aimed at identifying critical genes for diagnosis and outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients using machine learning. The HCC expression dataset was downloaded from GSE65372 datasets and TCGA datasets. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between 39 HCC and 15 normal samples. For the purpose of locating potential biomarkers, the LASSO and the SVM-RFE assays were performed. The ssGSEA method was used to analyze the TCGA to determine whether there was an association between SPINK1 and tumor immune infiltrates. RT-PCR was applied to examine the expression of SPINK1 in HCC specimens and cells. A series of functional assays were applied to examine the function of SPINK1 knockdown on the proliferation of HCC cells. In this study, 103 DEGs were obtained. Based on LASSO and SVM-RFE analysis, we identified nine critical diagnostic genes, including C10orf113, SPINK1, CNTLN, NRG3, HIST1H2AI, GPRIN3, SCTR, C2orf40 and PITX1. Importantly, we confirmed SPINK1 as a prognostic gene in HCC. Multivariate analysis confirmed that SPINK1 was an independent prognostic factor for overall survivals of HCC patients. We also found that SPINK1 level was positively associated with Macrophages, B cells, TFH, T cells, Th2 cells, iDC, NK CD56bright cells, Th1 cells, aDC, while negatively associated with Tcm and Eosinophils. Finally, we demonstrated that SPINK1 expression was distinctly increased in HCC specimens and cells. Functionally, silence of SPINK1 distinctly suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells via regulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The evidence provided suggested that SPINK1 may possess oncogenic properties by inducing dysregulated immune infiltration in HCC. Additionally, SPINK1 was identified as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
Learning robust features alignment for cross-domain medical image analysis
Authors: Zheng Zhen , Li Rui , Liu Cheng
Published: December 2023

Deep learning demonstrates impressive performance in many medical image analysis tasks. However, its reliability builds on the labeled medical datasets and the assumption of the same distributions between the training data (source domain) and the test data (target domain). Therefore, some unsupervised medical domain adaptation networks transfer knowledge from the source domain with rich labeled data to the target domain with only unlabeled data by learning domain-invariant features. We observe that conventional adversarial-training-based methods focus on the global distributions alignment and may overlook the class-level information, which will lead to negative transfer. In this paper, we attempt to learn the robust features alignment for the cross-domain medical image analysis. Specifically, in addition to a discriminator for alleviating the domain shift, we further introduce an auxiliary classifier to achieve robust features alignment with the class-level information. We first detect the unreliable target samples, which are far from the source distribution via diverse training between two classifiers. Next, a cross-classifier consistency regularization is proposed to align these unreliable samples and the negative transfer can be avoided. In addition, for fully exploiting the knowledge of unlabeled target data, we further propose a within-classifier consistency regularization to improve the robustness of the classifiers in the target domain, which enhances the unreliable target samples detection as well. We demonstrate that our proposed dual-consistency regularizations achieve state-of-the-art performance on multiple medical adaptation tasks in terms of both accuracy and Macro-F1-measure. Extensive ablation studies and visualization results are also presented to verify the effectiveness of each proposed module. For the skin adaptation results, our method outperforms the baseline and the second-best method by around 10 and 4 percentage points. Similarly, for the COVID-19 adaptation task, our model achieves consistently the best performance in terms of both accuracy (96.93%) and Macro-F1 (86.52%).
Marine algae inspired dispersion of swarm robots with binary sensory information
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Lei Xiaokang , Peng Xingguang
Published: December 2023

The dynamics of swarm robotic systems are complex and often nonlinear. One key issue is to design the controllers of a large number of simple, low-cost robots so that emergence can be observed. This paper presents a sensor and computation-friendly controller for swarm robotic systems inspired by the mechanisms observed in algae. The aim is to achieve uniform dispersion of robots by mimicking the circular movement observed in marine algae systems. The proposed controller utilizes binary sensory information (i.e., see or not see) to guide the robots’ motion. By moving circularly and switching the radii based on the perception of other robots in their line of sight, the robots imitate the repulsion behavior observed in algae. The controller relies solely on binary-state sensory input, eliminating the need for additional memory or communication. Up to 1024 simulated robots are used to validate the effectiveness of the dispersion controller, while experiments with 30 physical robots demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Non-axisymmetric Modeling of a Moving Heat Source for Thermal Stress and Fatigue Analysis of Railway Vehicle Disc Brakes
Authors: Deressa Kejela Temesgen , Ambie Demiss Alemu
Published: December 2023

Railroad vehicles require the use of disc brakes for safety purposes, however, the brakes are susceptible to thermal stress, which ultimately shortens their lifespan. Hence, to accurately predict the life of railway disc brakes in thermal load simulations, the availability of a model that considers spatial and temporal variations of temperature and thermal stress is essential. A non-axisymmetric moving heat source model was successfully developed to address spatial temperature variations (Deressa and Ambie in Urban Rail Transit 8(3–4):198–216, 2022. 10.1007/s40864-022-00176-9), and this study aims to extend this model to predict thermal stress and fatigue life, and assess its effectiveness. The analysis includes braking time thermal analysis, cooling time thermal analysis, and structural analysis. Spatially varying temperature is incorporated into the structural analysis to calculate thermal stress and strain. A fracture mechanics-based fatigue life estimation method is applied to critical areas of the friction surface. The model is implemented on two braking conditions (service and emergency) and two disc geometries (actual and modified). The model successfully resolves spatial heat considerations by estimating maximum stress variations of up to 46 MPa along the disc circumference. Stress differences of 3 MPa and 6 MPa are observed between the leading and trailing edges of the pad trace during late and mid-braking times, respectively. Fatigue life results identify critical positions and directions for fatigue life initiation. Additionally, these results are in accord with previous observations available in the literature. The proposed model can be easily implemented in various sliding friction applications such as drum brakes, engine pistons/cylinders, and camshafts.
Strengthening Parents' and Children's Wellbeing Through Positive Psychology: A Qualitative Study of Parents' Experiences of a Structured Training in Mindfulness and Character Strength
Authors: von Kraemer Melina , Fagerlund Åse , Pettersson Katarina
Published: December 2023

Few studies have examined how positive psychology can be implemented in a family context. Further, there is a lack of qualitative research of participant's experiences of mindfulness and character strengths. This study examined how Flourishing Families, a structured training in mindfulness and character strengths, may improve parental wellbeing and family life. Data were gathered through questionnaires and a total of 37 parents participated. A qualitative thematic analysis was used to examine the parents' experiences. Three main themes arose from the analysis: positive, negative and ambivalent experiences. The results demonstrated that a majority of the parents experienced positive effects on their wellbeing, parenthood and family dynamics after the training. Some parents reported stress and performance anxiety while others were uncertain if they had benefited from the course. These findings offer insights into how individuals experience mindfulness and character strengths and shed light on some common obstacles with the practices. The results contribute to the positive psychology literature by offering insights into how parents build their wellbeing and grow as parents.
Bayesian penalization for explanatory cognitive diagnostic models: covariate DINA model and covariate LCDM with the lasso prior
Authors: Tan Yoshito , Ito Tetsuro , Okada Kensuke
Published: December 2023

Diagnostic assessment data obtained from online learning platforms for schools are typically accompanied by student background variables and item responses. To leverage such information for cognitive diagnosis, the present study examines the applicability of the lasso prior for variable selection in explanatory cognitive diagnostic models (ECDMs) with attribute-level explanatory variables. We proposed the covariate log-linear cognitive diagnostic model (LCDM) and covariate deterministic input, noisy, and gate (DINA) model and compared the models with and without the lasso prior using a real-world data analysis and a simulation study. In the real-world data analysis, which used a school-sized sample collected from an online learning platform, we found that the lasso prior selected only relatively large effects without substantially affecting the diagnostic classification and item parameter estimation. In the simulation study, we found that the lasso prior did not degrade the accuracy of the diagnostic classification or parameter estimation. Finally, we discuss the situations in which the lasso prior can be useful with the ECDMs.
Technology Diffusion and Climate Action: A Leader–Follower Model
Authors: Brandt Urs Steiner , Svendsen Gert Tinggaard
Published: December 2023

Can a small technology-developing country increase technology diffusion to developing countries in climate action? We argue that when a country takes into account all direct and indirect benefits from pushing forward the transnational diffusion of national green technology, a free transfer may give the country a net benefit. This result is driven by the idea that technology transfer partnerships enable the countries to tailor technology development to best fit the special circumstances of receiving countries. Such decentralised cooperation can pave the way for scalable technology diffusion. The focus is on one country’s renewable energy technology development and how this can affect climate action in major developing countries such as China and India. We propose a leader–follower model between the technology-developing country and the developing country that allows complex payoffs and focuses on a situation in which one country makes a cooperative move to solve the inherent collective action problem. This effective shared learning platform has an upscaling potential, and international organisations, such as the European External Action Service, could further facilitate technology diffusion to developing countries.
Health risks of potentially toxic metals in cereal-based breakfast meals in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana
Authors: Oduro Priscilla Akwaboah , Ankar-Brewoo Gloria , Dodd Matt , Ansah Eugene , Darko Cynthia , Borquaye Lawrence Sheringham , Darko Godfred
Published: December 2023

Metal exposure through cereal-based breakfasts was studied in humans of varied ages (infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly) to assess the potential health risks metals in food pose to consumers. The total concentrations of As (0.59–0.69 mg/kg), Cd (1.27–1.41 mg/kg), Cr (4.66–9.85 mg/kg), Mn (8.26–9.73 mg/kg), Ni (5.01–5.81 mg/kg) and Pb (0.83–0.92 mg/kg) were all higher than the regulatory limits for metals in cereal-based foods. Metal concentrations assessed via in-vitro bioaccessibility extracts were below the detection limits. Toxicity indices of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb were above their respective WHO-permissible tolerable daily intake for all age groups, implying possible health risks due to over-exposure to metals. While the hazard quotients for Cr and Mn among the age groups were less than 1, those for Cd and Ni were greater than 1. There was no public health concern for cancer risk associated with oral exposure to Pb among the various age groups. However, the estimated cancer risk of Cd (185.4 × 10–3) and As (9.2 × 10–3) was greater than the de minimus (10–6), suggesting a public health concern among various age groups. The study found a significant level of metal contaminants in cereal-based foods, which can potentially pose health risks to consumers who consume them.
Introductory Quantum Optics
Authors: Gerry Christopher C. , Knight Peter L.
Published: December 2023

This established textbook provides an accessible but comprehensive introduction to the quantum nature of light and its interaction with matter. The field of quantum optics is covered with clarity and depth, from the underlying theoretical framework of field quantization, atom–field interactions, and quantum coherence theory, to important and modern applications at the forefront of current research such as quantum interferometry, squeezed light, quantum entanglement, cavity quantum electrodynamics, laser-cooled trapped ions, and quantum information processing. The text is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and would be an ideal main text for a course on quantum optics. This long-awaited second edition builds upon the success of the first edition, including many new developments in the field, particularly in the area of quantum state engineering. Additional homework problems have been added, and content from the first edition has been updated and clarified throughout.
Terra Nova
Authors: Bouchard Jack
Published: December 2023

In the early sixteenth century, European mariners established a commercial fishery and site of permanent occupation in the northwest Atlantic. What are we to call this place? This article argues that mariners developed their own concept of space through the creation of the fishery, reflecting mental maps that evolved via the practice of fishwork. It contends that rather than modern terminology like “Newfoundland,” scholars should utilize this distinct geographic framework when discussing the early fishery and colonization. Mariners across Europe used variations of the term Terra Nova to label a malleable, vast, and watery world in the northwest Atlantic. Their usage was consistent across time and space, and tied geography to the act of fishing. The article reconstructs the nature of sixteenth-century mental maps, traces the origin and spread of the term Terra Nova, and considers how it differed from the geographies and labels of cartographers. In its final section, it reflects on the relationship between work, water, and space, and the ways this contributed to the use of Terra Nova. In so doing, it offers a way to recover lost mental maps and demonstrates the flexibility of maritime geographies in the early history of European expansion into the Atlantic.
Strategies and rules for tuning TCR-derived therapy
Authors: Mo Guoheng , Lu Xinyu , Wu Sha , Zhu Wei
Published: December 2023

Manipulation of T cells has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. Notably, the use of T cells carrying engineered T cell receptors (TCR-T) offers a favourable therapeutic pathway, particularly in the treatment of solid tumours. However, major challenges such as limited clinical response efficacy, off-target effects and tumour immunosuppressive microenvironment have hindered the clinical translation of this approach. In this review, we mainly want to guide TCR-T investigators on several major issues they face in the treatment of solid tumours after obtaining specific TCR sequences: (1) whether we have to undergo affinity maturation or not, and what parameter we should use as a criterion for being more effective. (2) What modifications can be added to counteract the tumour inhibitory microenvironment to make our specific T cells to be more effective and what is the safety profile of such modifications? (3) What are the new forms and possibilities for TCR-T cell therapy in the future?
Syrian, Armenian, and Lebanese Claims to Whiteness in Post-War Canadian Immigration Policy
Authors: Satzewich Vic , Yousefi Leili
Published: December 2023

This article asks how, in early post-World War II Canada, Syrian, Armenian, and Lebanese communities claimed whiteness in the context of Canada’s racially restrictive immigration regulations that defined them as “Asiatics,” and hence inadmissible. But, it also examines how Canadian politicians and immigration bureaucrats responded to those claims. Using so-far untapped archival records, this article shows that immigration authorities were unwilling to redefine the racial status of these groups out of fear that doing so would provide a wedge for other groups of “Asiatics” to press for the ability to migrate to Canada. In this case, Syrians, Armenians, and Lebanese could be regarded as experiencing collateral damage in the politics of whiteness. While Canadian immigration authorities seemed to privately accept the white/European identity claims of these groups, they were nonetheless unwilling to publicly grant them one of the privileges of whiteness – namely the ability to migrate to Canada on a basis equal to that of other white immigrants. Instead, the government used “merit-based” orders-in-council as an under the radar administrative mechanism to admit members of these groups. This allowed the government and the immigration department to avoid a larger public debate about racial discrimination against “Asiatic” immigrants.
Negotiating Transnational Belonging: Post-WWII Migration as Life Experience and Collective Memory
Authors: Koleva Daniela
Published: December 2023

This article explores the subjective experience of nationality and (trans)national belonging based on biographical interviews with two groups of Jewish participants born in Bulgaria before the Second World War, and residing in Bulgaria and in Israel, respectively. I focus on their retrospective accounts of the mass exodus to Israel in 1948–1949 and the maintenance of transnational family and kinship ties thereafter, during the Cold War. The comparison brings into relief the challenges of their integration into the respective national contexts, and the ways in which the memory cultures in the two countries have molded biographical reminiscences. I argue that despite these differences, a unique case of a transnational generation is at hand, formed by their past experiences as well as by the re-negotiation of these experiences, which was made possible from the 1990s on.
Computed tomography-based radiomic markers are independent prognosticators of survival in advanced laryngeal cancer: a pilot study
Authors: Rajgor Amarkumar Dhirajlal , Kui Christopher , McQueen Andrew , Cowley Josh , Gillespie Colin , Mill Aileen , Rushton Stephen , Obara Boguslaw , Bigirumurame Theophile , Kallas Khaled , O'Hara James , Aboagye Eric , Hamilton David Winston
Published: December 2023

Objective

Advanced laryngeal cancers are clinically complex; there is a paucity of modern decision-making models to guide tumour-specific management. This pilot study aims to identify computed tomography-based radiomic features that may predict survival and enhance prognostication.

Methods

Pre-biopsy, contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans were assembled from a retrospective cohort (n = 72) with advanced laryngeal cancers (T3 and T4). The LIFEx software was used for radiomic feature extraction. Two features: shape compacity (irregularity of tumour volume) and grey-level zone length matrix – grey-level non-uniformity (tumour heterogeneity) were selected via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-based Cox regression and explored for prognostic potential.

Results

A greater shape compacity (hazard ratio 2.89) and grey-level zone length matrix – grey-level non-uniformity (hazard ratio 1.64) were significantly associated with worse 5-year disease-specific survival (p < 0.05). Cox regression models yielded a superior C-index when incorporating radiomic features (0.759) versus clinicopathological variables alone (0.655).

Conclusions

Two radiomic features were identified as independent prognostic biomarkers. A multi-centre prospective study is necessary for further exploration. Integrated radiomic models may refine the treatment of advanced laryngeal cancers.
THE “SECOND SYNOD OF ST. PATRICK” AND THE “ROMANS” OF THE EARLY IRISH CHURCH
Authors: SOWERBY RICHARD
Published: December 2023

It is usually thought that during the seventh century, a formal split in the Irish Church had resulted in the creation of two rival factions: a “Roman party” of reform-minded ecclesiastics, and an “Irish party” intent instead on maintaining current practices. A partial record of their decades-long schism has been thought to be preserved in the Irish canonical compilation, the Collectio canonum Hibernensis, which attributes a substantial number of canons either to “Roman synods” or to “Irish synods,” and we have understood this to reflect a period in which the two groups had sought to advance their cause by holding separate synods from which their opponents were excluded. The foundations for this interpretation of the “Roman” and “Irish” canons of the Hibernensis were laid more than a century ago, but more recent scholarship provides reasons for rethinking the hypothesis. The article focuses especially on one of the texts which the compilers of the Hibernensis understood to be the work of the “Romans” — a short text which has come to be known as the “Second Synod of St. Patrick” — and argues that certain details within the text suggest an association with documents produced on the Continent, in the network of monasteries founded by the Irish peregrinus Columbanus. I suggest a new context for the creation of the “Second Synod of St. Patrick,” and argue that this in turn offers a new way of thinking about the meaning of the “Roman synods” and “Irish synods” attested in the Hibernensis.