bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In utero Diagnosis of Spinal Dermal Sinus
Authors: Apte Anisha , Fauser Tobias , Carson Quinlan , Liechty Kenneth W. , Simpson Lauren N. , Avellino Anthony M.
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Congenital dermal sinus (CDS) is an open neural tube defect (NTD) that occurs in 1 in 2,500 births a year and often goes undetected until patients present with complications like infection and neurological deficits. Early diagnosis and repair of CDS may prevent formation of these complications. In utero diagnosis of these lesions may improve long-term outcomes by enabling referral to specialty services and planned postnatal repair; however, only 2 such cases have been reported in the literature. We present a third case of in utero diagnosis of CDS with a description and discussion of findings from surgical exploration and pathology. Case Presentation: Routine prenatal ultrasound scan detected a tethered cystic structure arising from the back of the fetus at 20 weeks of gestation. Dedicated fetal ultrasound confirmed the presence of a cystic lesion protruding through a lamina defect, while fetal magnetic resonance imaging showed an intact spinal cord and meninges, suggesting a diagnosis of CDS. Neurosurgery followed along closely and took the child for surgical exploration on day 2 of life. A fibrous stalk with an intradural component and associated cord tethering was excised. Histology showed fibrous tissue without an epithelial-lined lumen. Conclusion: CDS is a form of NTD that occurs from nondisjunction of the cutaneous ectoderm and neuroectoderm during formation of the neural tube. Slight differences in how this error occurs can explain variations seen in this spectrum of disease, including CDS without an epithelial-lined lumen as seen in this case. Newborns with CDS can go undiagnosed for years and present with long-term complications. Fetal imaging can assist in early recognition and surgical excision of CDS in newborns.
Palmprint recognition system using VR-LBP and KAZE features for better recognition accuracy
Authors: A. Khalid Noor Aldeen , Imran Ahmad Muhammad , Shie Chow Tan , H. Mandeel Thulfiqar , Majid Mohammed Ibrahim , Kadhim Alsaeedi Mokhalad Abdulameer
Published: February 2024

The palmprint recognition system has gained significant attention in security and law enforcement due to its unique features, such as principle lines, ridges, and wrinkles. However, many existing methods for extracting these features have limited accuracy, especially when the image illumination varies or the size of the processed pixels increases. Previous studies have shown that the local binary patterns (LBP) algorithm is effective for palmprint recognition due to the rich texture characteristics of a palmprint. In this paper, we propose a new technique for a robust contact-based palmprint identification system using vertical-LBP and KAZE feature detection. Our technique aims to improve recognition accuracy by using KAZE, which is a nonlinear diffusion approach that extracts nonlinear features from the evolution of the illuminance of an image. We also utilize principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of the generated descriptor vector elements. The proposed method was tested on the PolyU database and achieved recognition accuracy of 99.7%.
Microstrip antenna with reflector and air gap for short range communication in 900 MHz band
Authors: Shairi Noor Azwan , Zakaria Zahriladha , Mohd Ibrahim Imran , Osman Anwar Faizd
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes a microstrip antenna that was made of a microstrip fed slot with a complimentary stub on a single dielectric medium. This antenna was integrated with a reflector and air gap for the application of short range communication (SRC) in a 900 MHz band. Analyses were made on the dimension of the reflector and the height of the air gap towards the antenna performance. Besides, an antenna field test was done for the propagation distance of the proposed antenna. As a result, with the antenna size of 13,770 mm2 , the measured return loss was -10.79 dB and the directivity gain was 7.44 dBi. Besides, with the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of 7.44 dBm, it was predicted that at 100 m, the received signal would be around 60 to 70 dBm. Therefore, a high gain was produced by using a reflector with air gap and a compact size was achieved if compared to conventional high gain antenna designs such as Yagi Uda. Thus, it is suitable for a communication device such as the SRC application.
A machine learning-based computer model for the assessment of tsunami impact on built-up indices using 2A Sentinel imageries
Authors: Joko Prasetyo Sri Yulianto , Simanjuntak Bistok Hasiholan , Susatyo Yeremia Alfa , Sulistyo Wiwin
Published: February 2024

This study aims to build a computer model to detect built-up land in the identified tsunami hazard zone based on Sentinel 2A imagery using the normalized built up area index (NBI), urban index (UI), normalize difference build-up index (NDBI), a modified built-up index (MBI), index-based builtup index (IBI) algorithms, optimized with machine learning Random Forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGboost) algorithms and the spatial patterns are predicted using the ordinary kriging (OK) method. Testing of the accuracy of the classification and optimization results was performed using the Kohen Kappa and overall accuracy functions. The results of the study show that a built-up land consisting of open land and water, settlements, industry areas, and agriculture and tourism areas can be identified using the parameters of built-up indices. The accuracy testings that were performed using overall accuracy and Kohen Kappa methods show that classification and prediction are highly accurate using XGboost machine learning, namely 91%. This study produces a novelty of finding, namely a computer model to detect and predict the spatial distribution of built-up land in 4 scales, i.e., very low, low, high, and very high based on NBI, UI, NDBI, MBI, IBI data extracted from Sentinel 2A imagery.
A comprehensive achievement investigation of iterative mean filter for outlier extinguish aspiration on ubiquitous FVIN
Authors: Patanavijit Vorapoj , Thakulsukanant Kornkamol
Published: February 2024

Under commonwealth of the outlier extinguish inspection, exclusively on the impulsive outlier, the outlier extinguish algorithm is a substantial step, which is early performed prior to further computer vision steps thereupon the iterative mean filter (IMF) is inaugurated for fix value impulsive noise (FVIN) and grown into one of the superior achievement outliers extinguish algorithms. This academic article focuses to investigate the correlative achievement of the outlier extinguish algorithm established on IMF, is inaugurated from mean filter (MF) for carrying out the poor achievement of the aforesaid outlier extinguish algorithms (standard median filter (SMF), MF, and adaptive median filter (AMF)), for FVIN at omnipresent scattering of outlier consistency (5-90%). The analytical experiment comprehensively exploits on bountiful figures (F16, Girl, Lena, and Pepper) that are inspected in order to analyze the correlative achievement of an outlier extinguish algorithm established on IMF. In contrast with the aforesaid outlier extinguish algorithms (SMF, MF, and AMF), the outlier extinguish algorithm established on IMF has superior achievement from the experimental results.
Secure Euclidean random distribution for patients’ magnetic resonance imaging privacy protection
Authors: Tayh Albderi Ali Jaber , Ben Said Lamjed
Published: February 2024

Patients’ information and images transfer among medical institutes represent a major tool for delivering better healthcare services. However, privacy and security for healthcare information are big challenges in telemedicine. Evidently, even a small change in patients’ information might lead to wrong diagnosis. This paper suggests a new model for hiding patient information inside magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cover image based on Euclidean distribution. Both least signification bit (LSB) and most signification bit (MSB) techniques are implemented for the physical hiding. A new method is proposed with a very high level of security information based on distributing the secret text in a random way on the cover image. Experimentally, the proposed method has high peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index metric (SSIM) and reduced mean square error (MSE). Finally, the obtained results are compared with approaches in the last five years and found to be better by increasing the security for patient information for telemedicine.
Distribution network reconfiguration utilizing the particle swarm optimization algorithm and exhaustive search methods
Authors: Siregar Yulianta , Jaya Tambun Tomi Saputra , Panjaitan Sihar Parlinggoman , Tanjung Kasmir , Yana Syiska
Published: February 2024

The load level for each period in the distribution network can be considered non-identical due to the increasing demand for loads and the bigger distribution network. The main problem in the transmission and distribution network system is power losses and voltage profiles, affecting the quality of service and operating costs. This study compares the reconfiguration of the network using exhaustive search techniques and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms on the IEEE 33 bus distribution network system. The study’s results compare the study of power flow before and after network reconfiguration, which is a decrease in the value of power losses from 202.7 kW to 139.6 kW. Then voltage profile improved from 91.309% to 93.782%. The simulation results also found that this reconfiguration can improve the system voltage profile, which initially contained 21 buses outside the standard limits of IEEE Std 1159-1995 to 7 buses.
FPGA implementation of DTCWT architecture's high-speed DA structure for OFDM-based transceiver with CS
Authors: Sindgi Anuapam , Mahadevaswamy Udigala Basavaraju
Published: February 2024

Communication systems at millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequencies with high propagation losses use radio frequency (RF) budget analysis. RF system gains and losses ensure the receiver can recover the broadcast signal. Modern communication systems use compressive sensing (CS) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT). Hardware implementation is hard. Fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGA) adaptability, configurability, and processing speed make them popular. More mm-wave transceivers use FPGAs and advanced signal processing. FPGA-based mm-wave transceivers use compressed sensing and dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT). RF budget analysis recovers receiver signals. Energy and data efficiency transceivers have baseband processors, transmitters, and receivers. RF-to-mm-wave transmitter. Receiver demodulation and baseband conversion. CS and DTCWT processing modules boost baseband signal processing 5 Gbps Xilinx virtex-6 FPGAs. The system retrieves the signal while conserving power, according to simulations and testing. This study found that FPGA-based mm-wave transceivers can use advanced signal processing in future high-speed communication systems.
Sistem Informasi Sumber Daya Manusia Era Digital
Authors: Riyadi R , Noerman Teuku
Published: February 2024

Buku ini ditulis untuk memberikan pemahaman tentang beberapa hal: (1) meninjau sejarah HRIS melalui perubahan evolusioner dalam teknologi; (2) mempertimbangkan bagaimana teknologi telah mengubah praktik HRM dan bagaimana praktik telah memodifikasi penggunaan dan pengembangan sistem baru; dan (3) mengkaji dampak empat inovasi teknologi utama terhadap perubahan proses dan praktik MSDM. Secara khusus, membahas juga bagaimana sistem informasi sumber daya manusia memanfaatkan teknologi digital berbasis web dan perangkat lunak berbasis cloud memengaruhi perubahan dalam HRM. Untuk setiap era teknologi dalam sejarah, kami membahas inovasi besar di bidang HRM dan HRIS serta interaksi antara praktik HRM dan inovasi teknologi. Selain itu, membahas bagaimana MSDe serta penggunaannya di lapangan.
Teknologi Pengolahan Minyak Asiri Jeruk Purut
Authors: Nurhadianty Vivi , Sukardi S , Dewi Luthfi Kurnia , Sarosa Aji Hendra , Bayu Ardian Indra
Published: February 2024

Minyak asiri jeruk purut telah menjadi sangat populer dalam beberapa tahun terakhir karena aroma uniknya dan sifat terapeutiknya. Minyak ini banyak digunakan dalam berbagai industri, termasuk aromaterapi, perawatan kulit, dan aplikasi kuliner. Namun, proses ekstraksi dan pengolahan minyak berharga ini belum banyak dipahami secara luas. Melalui buku ini, penulis bertujuan untuk menjembatani kesenjangan dengan memberikan pemahaman yang mendalam dan praktis tentang Teknologi Pengolahan Minyak Asiri Jeruk Purut. Buku ini membahas tentang sumber minyak Asiri jeruk purut beserta kebutuhannya pada pasar global, teknologi pengolahan minyak Asiri daun jeruk purut dari proses pra-perlakuan, penyulingan, pemisahan, pengolahan limbah hingga aplikasinya yang sedang berkembang saat ini. Penulis mengambil inspirasi dari penelitian yang mendalam dan kajian studi terkini di bidang minyak Asiri untuk menyajikan gambaran yang komprehensif dan terkini tentang Teknologi Pengolahan Minyak Asiri Jeruk Purut. Harapannya, buku ini akan menjadi referensi berharga dan panduan bagi siapa pun yang tertarik pada pengolahan minyak Asiri jeruk purut. Dengan memahami kompleksitas pengolahan minyak Asiri jeruk purut, kita dapat berkontribusi pada pertumbuhan dan perkembangan industri yang menarik ini.
Pengembangan Produk Pangan: Rancangan Penelitian dan Aplikasinya
Authors: Kurniawati Adelya Desi
Published: February 2024

Proses pengembangan produk untuk setiap jenis produk akan berbeda tergantung tingkat kompleksitas produk, tujuan pengembangan produk, sasaran produk, dan berbagai faktor lain yang harus dipertimbangkan dalam suksesnya sebuah pengembangan produk. Pengembangan produk pangan yang dirancang dengan tepat mulai dari pengembangan ide hingga menggasilkan produk unggulan sangat penting sebagai dasar agar dapat menjawab tantangan konsumen dan perubahan pasar tersebut.
Adjunct Intraarterial or Intravenous Tirofiban Versus No Tirofiban After Successful Recanalization of Basilar Artery Occlusion Stroke: The BASILAR Registry
Authors: Li Huagang , Ju Dongsheng , Tao Zhaojun , Wang Jiayin , Nguyen Thanh N. , Saver Jeffrey L. , Nogueira Raul G. , Liu Chang , Yang Qingwu , Qiu Zhongming , Yin Congguo , Sun Dong , Liu Shudong
Published: February 2024

Background

Approximately half of patients who achieve successful reperfusion do not achieve functional independence. The present study sought to investigate the clinical outcomes and safety of intraarterial or intravenous tirofiban as adjunct therapy in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion who had achieved successful recanalization with endovascular treatment.

Methods and Results

In the national, prospective BASILAR (Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study) registry, 458 patients who met inclusion criteria were divided into 3 groups based on tirofiban administration (no tirofiban, n=262; intravenous tirofiban, n=101; intraarterial+intravenous tirofiban, n=95). Their clinical outcomes were compared with 90‐day modified Rankin Scale scores. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs were obtained by logistic regression models and propensity score matching. Safety outcomes included any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), symptomatic ICH, and mortality. Among 458 included patients, 184 (40.2%) achieved a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0–3). There were no differences between the intravenous tirofiban group and the no tirofiban group in terms of safety and clinical outcomes (all
P
>0.05). Compared with the no tirofiban group, the intraarterial+intravenous tirofiban group had higher odds of 90‐day modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 3 (aOR, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.30–4.64],
P
=0.006) and lower 3‐month mortality (aOR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.19–0.71],
P
=0.002) without an increase in any ICH (aOR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.09–1.01],
P
=0.07) or symptomatic ICH (aOR, 0.23 [95% CI, 0.03–0.90],
P
=0.05). Similar results of intraarterial+intravenous tirofiban on improving clinical outcomes were detected in novel cohorts constructed by propensity score matching.

Conclusions

Intraarterial+intravenous rather than intravenous tirofiban improved clinical outcomes without increasing the frequency of symptomatic ICH among patients with basilar artery occlusion after successful endovascular treatment. Further studies are needed to delineate the roles of intraarterial+intravenous tirofiban in patients with basilar artery occlusion receiving endovascular treatment.
The Impact of School Desegregation on White Individuals’ Racial Attitudes and Politics in Adulthood
Authors: Chin Mark
Published: February 2024

In this paper I study how school desegregation by race following Brown v. Board of Education affected White individuals’ racial attitudes and politics in adulthood. I use geocoded nationwide data from the General Social Survey and difference-in-differences to identify causal impacts. Integration significantly reduced White individuals’ political conservatism as adults in the U.S. South but not elsewhere. I observe similar effect heterogeneity for attitudes towards Black individuals and policies promoting racial equity, but (positive) impacts and geographic variation are smaller in magnitude relative to those observed for conservatism. Investigations into mechanisms suggest that this heterogeneity may depend on the effectiveness of integration policies. In the south, White–Black exposure was greater following desegregation, and White disenrollment was lower. Finally, I demonstrate that results are robust to concerns of bias resulting from potential non-random in- and out-mobility of individuals into integrating contexts. My study provides the first causal evidence on how theories concerning intergroup contact and racial attitudes (i.e., the contact hypothesis) may have applied to school contexts following historical court mandates to desegregate.
Styles of Science and the Pluralist Turn: Between Inclusion and Exclusion
Authors: Vagelli Matteo
Published: February 2024

This paper aims to map out the links between style and science. Two moments mark the migration of style from the discursive field of the arts to that of the history and philosophy of science: the first occurred in the German-speaking world during the first decades of the twentieth century; the second appeared in an Anglo-American context between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, when the category of style became involved in the so-called “pluralist turn” in the history and philosophy of science. Taking this framework as its point of departure, the paper uncovers neglected contributions to the epistemology of style in order to foreground the concept of style as both a vector of inclusion (highlighting the plurality, historicity, and locality of scientific ways of knowing) and of exclusion (by generalizing the most correct ways of doing science and side-lining alternative ways of knowing).
Spatiotemporal Variations of Tropical- and Non-Tropical-Cyclone-Induced Rainfall over Southeast China and the Teleconnections to Climatic Indices
Authors: Zhou Yuanyuan , Gao Liang
Published: February 2024

The spatiotemporal variations of annual tropical-cyclone-induced rainfall (TCR) and non-tropical-cyclone-induced rainfall (NTCR) during 1960–2017 in Southeast China are investigated in this study. The teleconnections to sea surface temperature, the Arctic Oscillation, the Southern Oscillation, and the Indian Ocean dipole are examined. A significant decrease in annual TCR in the Pearl River basin was detected, while an increase in annual TCR in rainstorms was observed in the northeast of the Pearl River basin and south of the Yangtze River basin. A northward migration of a TCR belt was identified, which was also indicated by the pronounced anomalies of annual TCR. There was in general an increasing trend of non-tropical-cyclone-induced moderate rain, heavy rain, and rainstorms in Southeast China. Compared with the non-tropical-cyclone-induced heavy rain, the abnormal non-tropical-cyclone-induced rainstorms are more northerly. Both monthly TCR and NTCR were remarkably affected by the Arctic Oscillation, Southern Oscillation, and Indian Ocean dipole. TCR was more easily affected by the Arctic Oscillation compared to NTCR.

Significance Statement

Tropical-cyclone- and non-tropical-cyclone-induced rainfall (TCR and NTCR) prevails in Southeast China, and their characteristics of spatiotemporal variability are of significance in predicting rainfall over the study area. Therefore, this study aims to detect the degree to which rainfall varies in time and space, respectively, using the Mann–Kendall test and the empirical orthogonal function method. Moreover, to explore which climatic factor contributes the most to the spatiotemporal variability of TCR and NTCR, the teleconnections to the large-scale climatic indices including sea surface temperature, the Arctic Oscillation, the Southern Oscillation, and the Indian Ocean dipole are studied. The spatiotemporal variations of TCR and NTCR were affected by the sea surface temperature and the other three large-scale climatic indices. The findings in this study are expected to deepen the understanding of spatiotemporal variations of TCR and NTCR over Southeast China and the teleconnections to climatic indices.
Trajectories of Software Piracy and Multi-Domain Predictors
Authors: Lee Yeungjeom , Kim Jihoon , Jennings Wesley , Wu Ethan Yih Chian
Published: February 2024

This study aims to deepen the understanding of software piracy through a developmental perspective and risk and protective factors approach. We employ group-based trajectory modeling to identify the trajectories of software piracy and investigate the influence of various risk and protective factors via a series of multinomial logistic regressions. Youth engagement in software piracy generally increases over time, but there exist different patterns (i.e., increasing, decreasing, adolescent peak). In addition, various risk and protective factors demonstrated varying degrees of ability to distinguish software piracy trajectories. The findings of the study suggest the necessity of a comprehensive approach to software piracy prevention programs.
Beyond a Transformative Approach and Deep Understanding: External Factors and Mid-Level Leaders’ Policy Implementation to Expand Equity for English Learners
Authors: Bartlett Caroline , Callahan Rebecca , Mavrogordato Madeline
Published: February 2024

Purpose: We examine the ways state education agency (SEA) and local education agency (LEA) leaders interpret and use educational policy to guide the provision of services for multilingual students classified as English learners (ELs) in their contexts. Our inquiry focuses on the external factors leaders describe that either enable or constrain their ability to interpret and implement policies designed to expand equity for EL students. Research Method: We conduct semi-structured interviews with 17 SEA and LEA leaders across three states. We use an interview-based approach to understand how educational leaders leverage policy to guide EL services in their states and districts. Findings: Three external factors (resources to serve EL students, networks to share EL expertise, and concrete policy monitoring and guidance from the state) interact with leaders’ individual understandings of and approaches to policy implementation to shape the ultimate degree to which equity is enabled or constrained for EL students in their contexts. Implications: Educational policy intends to provide SEA and LEA leaders with guidance to expand equity for ELs. However, our study suggests that the degree to which these policies expand equity for ELs in practice depends not only on the leader's understanding of the policy, but also their access to resources, human capital, and professional networks. SEA and LEA leaders that take a deep, transformative approach to implementation may partner to assess how SEAs can create external conditions that help to expand equity for ELs.
Wagner Group—A Tool and Target of Great Power Competition in Africa: Implications for Canada
Authors: Spearin Christopher
Published: February 2024

Wagner Group, the armed non-state actor linked to the Kremlin, is both a tool and target of great power competition in Africa. Moscow employs Wagner Group as a tool to consolidate and expand the Russian presence on the continent. Washington designated Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organization in January 2023 in response to the Russian entity's roles in Ukraine and Africa. This article explores the implications that Wagner Group, and the great power dynamics that envelop it, pose for Canadian policy, especially vis-à-vis Africa. It contends that Wagner Group's activities in Africa upset longstanding Canadian expectations about armed non-state actors and their role in extractive industries, and undermine, with Russian support, the UN and its peacekeeping in Africa. However, mounting a robust opposition to Wagner Group in Africa, as Washington hopes for, will require greater commitment, focus, and risk tolerance than Ottawa has shown in recent years.
Offensive Cyber Operations and State Power: Lessons from Russia in Ukraine
Authors: Wilner Alex S. , Williams Gabriel , Thuns-Rondeau Mattias , Beaulieu Nathanaël , Cossette-Sharkey Veronique
Published: February 2024

Offensive cyber operations are an increasingly important tool of authoritarian statecraft, used in the pursuit of foreign policy objectives and functioning as an expression of state power. Our article informs Canadian cybersecurity policy by pulling lessons from Russia's use of cyber aggression against Ukraine between 2014 and 2022. Our analysis explores the nexus between Russian cyber operations and foreign and domestic policy, the relationship between private and public cybersecurity organizations, and the purported intent and effectiveness of Russian cyber operations.
Realist or Just Anti-Liberal? Trump's Foreign Policy in Retrospect
Authors: Snyder Robert S.
Published: February 2024

Donald Trump's foreign policy has been characterized as realist. His “America First” theme, economic nationalism, and scorn for traditional alliances and international norms are alleged evidence. But was Trump's foreign policy realist? Instead, it is better seen as anti-liberal. Trump was most realist in his recognition of China as a great power rival not committed to liberal values. But he was also a protectionist. With respect to Russia, Europe, the Middle East, and various international issues, Trump's foreign policy was decidedly more anti-liberal than realist. The shocking event of January 6, 2021 suggests that Trump's foreign policy be re-evaluated in a different light: Trump sought to promote anti-liberal values abroad in order to advance them at home. This article evaluates Trump's foreign policy in light of these two theoretical perspectives.
The discovery and naming of Trojan asteroids
Authors: Connors Martin
Published: February 2024

German astronomer Max Wolf (1863–1932) pioneered photographic observation of asteroids and is credited as the discoverer of Trojan asteroids in 1906. His partnership with the Austro-Hungarian Empire astronomer Johann Palisa for visual confirmation led to the suggestion to call these bodies, with apparently common properties, “Trojans.” Wolf’s systematic approach led the Heidelberg-Königstuhl Observatory to be a world power in asteroid discovery around the turn of the twentieth century and led to the recognition of a new orbital class. E. E. Barnard had made an isolated observation of a Trojan in 1904, but the credit for Trojan discovery nevertheless rests with Wolf and Palisa, who immediately identified the unusual motion of 588 Achilles. Despite Wolf’s extensive education in orbital mechanics, the association of Trojan asteroids with the elegant three-body solution of Lagrange seemed unknown to him. It was quickly pointed out by his Swedish colleague C. V. L. Charlier, who had just completed a textbook on celestial mechanics.
Receiving Each Other's Gifts
Authors: Sattler Dorothea , Nüssel Friederike
Published: February 2024

Using the example of the Lord's Supper and the eucharist, this article seeks to show the conditions which make a common liturgical celebration a gift of God to the community of believers in Jesus Christ. The form chosen is a dialogue between two theologians, both members of the German “Ecumenical Study Group of Protestant and Catholic Theologians”: Friederike Nüssel (Protestant, Heidelberg) and Dorothea Sattler (Roman Catholic, Münster). The focus is the group’s study “Together at the Lord's Table.” Based on extensive research the study group has formulated the vote to be invited to join in the celebration of the eucharist and the Lord's Supper, trusting in the self-giving presence of Jesus Christ. Ecumenical sensitivity in the shaping of liturgies is an obvious consequence. Individual confessional traditions have preserved an asset that others today can experience as a gift in the form of a reminder of the common origin: the celebration with shared bread and the chalice offered to all (in the background is the controversy over the lay chalice), the binding lectionaries and the remembrance of the dead. The criticism of the vote of the Ecumenical Study Group, especially from the Roman Catholic doctrinal side, primarily relates to the topics of ministry and understanding of the church. The Ecumenical Study Group advocates that eucharistic celebrations be led by duly ordained persons. The contribution is framed by introductory remarks on basic questions of ecumenical hermeneutics and by an outlook on the great importance of interdisciplinary theological study work from an ecumenical perspective.
Employee Performance Management: The Impact of Competing Goals, Red Tape, and PSM
Authors: Hill Kendra , Plimmer Geoff
Published: February 2024

Employee performance management (PM) can benefit employees, organizations, and wider stakeholders, but it is often done poorly, and public administrations pose contextual constraints to doing it well. It has inherent tensions between the goal of accountability and development, is complex, and requires alignment across both a formal administrative level and an informal psychosocial level. In public administration, three contextual factors add complexity and difficulty—competing goals, red tape and public service motivation. This study examines how line managers—a neglected group in PM studies—“do” performance management in practice. Data were collected via interviews with public sector managers in the “new public management” influenced New Zealand public sector. Competing goals and red tape make PM difficult, offer little accountability, and inhibit employee development, which often must run parallel to formal practices. They also limit managerial skill development. Failings in one practice, such as setting employee goals, impact subsequent formal and informal practices. Public service motivation provides workarounds. To work well, modern performance management could be reconstrued less as a compliance activity and more as a psychosocial process reinforced by a formal, prescribed organization system. Practical insights into barriers and opportunities, to improve performance management, are identified.
Religiosity, Aging in the Homeland, and Growing Old in the Diaspora: A Longitudinal Study of Two Cohorts of Indian Older Adults
Authors: Pandya Samta P.
Published: February 2024

This article reports a longitudinal study comparing religiosity among two cohorts of Indian older adults—those who age in the homeland of India (AIH cohort) and immigrants (to the USA) or diaspora older adults (DOA). Results indicated that AIH and DOA cohorts’ religiosity outcomes were comparable at baseline but there was a statistically significant increase in all outcomes of the DOA cohort at subsequent time points. Women and single older adults in both the cohorts had higher religiosity scores at baseline. Religiosity scores were higher among those in the DOA cohort who migrated following marital disruption (widowhood, divorce) or grandchild birth and lived with adult immigrant children and their families. The immigration process can have an impact on religious orientation of older adults and place is a significant variable impacting religiosity possibly for augmenting the sense of self, acquire social capital and preserve cultural identity in the foreign land.
Humberside enhanced resettlement service (HERS) evaluation report
Authors: Atkinson John , Finley Elizabeth , Ramsden Joanne , Sefton Wendy
Published: February 2024

The Humberside Enhanced Resettlement Service (HERS) was a psychologically informed, supported accommodation service for people on probation whose presentation is consistent with personality disorder. An evaluation, utilising semi-structured interviews, identified four themes of experience for people on probation and their probation practitioners who worked with HERS: (1) relationships; (2) practical support; (3) expectations, and (4) risk. This suggested that providing psychologically led supported accommodation enhances therapeutic relationships between professionals and people on probation, which may assist in reducing reoffending. Conclusions are tentative due to methodological limitations and future research should employ more robust methods to assess the impact of similar psychologically informed supported accommodation projects.
Silhouette Profiles in the Assessment of Facial Aesthetics: A Comparison of Cases Treated with Damon and Traditional Braces
Authors: Gopinath Aadhirai , Samyuktha  , Srinivasan Dilip , Kishore Shreya
Published: February 2024

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the perception of patient’s soft tissue profiles treated with Damon and traditional braces (MBT) in non-extraction cases.

Methods

The record of 14 patients (five Damon, five MBT, and four Duplicated) non extraction cases was included in the study. A total of 28 resulting profile silhouettes (pre- and post-treatment profile photographs) were evaluated by 90 examiners (orthodontists, general dentists, laypersons) using a Likert scale to rate the profiles randomly. Statistical analysis (Student t-test, ANOVA) revealed significant differences both between and within groups.

Results

The Laypersons, General dentist, and Orthodontist significantly gave high scores for Damon system compared to (MBT system). It is seen that both male and female examiners gave high scores for Damon compared to MBT system.

Conclusion

Damon system was found to have a perceptible difference in the profile improvement when compared to MBT with all three groups of examiners.
Boosting Resilience: Photovoice as a Tool for Promoting Well-Being, Social Cohesion, and Empowerment Among the Older Adult During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Malka Menny , Edelstein Offer E. , Huss Ephrat , Hillel Lavian Rivka
Published: February 2024

This paper examines how older adults who participated in an online photovoice-based group intervention program reported their experience. In a qualitative-phenomenological study, in which 13 older-adult people participated, data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed through content analysis. The findings point to three central themes: a) Challenges—technical difficulties, difficulties in finding a subject for photography, investing time in photography, and an emotional-intellectual effort to put their experience into photography; b) Growth: New knowledge and skills—acquiring new knowledge, acquiring skills, experiencing skills regardless of age, and empowerment; c) Meaning—reflexivity, the ability to project feelings onto images, connection to the outside world, mindfulness, ability to choose, creativity, and critical consciousness. The findings share the way in which the use of creative visual engagement with photography contributed to coping with various challenges and enabled various gains within the process among the older-adult participants.
State estimation of a novel brake-by-wire system based on cascade observer
Authors: Wei Lingtao , Zhu Zheng , Liu Yicai , Wang Xiangyu , Li Liang
Published: February 2024

Pressure regulation is the primary function of the brake-by-wire (BBW) system, and its prerequisite is the precise pressure acquisition. In autonomous vehicles(AVs), a higher fail-safe level is required that a backup pressure source is available when the main pressure source fails. So the use of pressure sensors, like the existing method, for pressure regulation will increase the cost of BBW systems in AVs. To meet the requirement of brake redundancy and the cost limit, a novel BBW system with a redundant pressure supply unit is designed and its electro-mechanical-hydraulic model is analyzed in this research. A time-domain observer (TDO) of motor speed is designed based on the periodic characteristics of motor current to get more system information. Next, the robust observer of pressure is proposed based on the existing current sensor and the derived motor speed. Its computational burden is reduced by calculating the matrices offline. The estimator developed in this paper is verified in typical pressure regulation conditions. Experimental results show that the estimation error of the motor speed is within 3% and has the potential to be improved, and the error of pressure is within 0.1 MPa, and the observer exhibits enough robustness under different initial condition perturbations.
Investigation on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer combined with graphene nanoparticles subjected to drilling operation using response surface methodology and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II
Authors: Baraheni Mohammad , Hoseini Ali Malek , Najimi Mohammad Reza
Published: February 2024

In this article, drilling of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics combined with graphene nanoparticles is investigated. These nanocomposites have the potential to be used widely in different industrial applications such as electrical, biomedical and aerospace engineering due to their superior mechanical and thermal specifications. Nonetheless, to be assembled on different sets, drilling nanocomposites is required especially for rivets and joints. In drilling carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), delamination is one of the main challenges that should be minimized in order to enhance the produced hole quality. Besides, machining force is a chief factor to control the drilling-induced damages, especially delamination. This article evaluates the effects of machining parameters on machining force and delamination using response surface methodology experimental design and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) multiobjective optimization methodology. Examining delamination is conducted in two parts including peel-up and push-down delamination which are the principal drawbacks in drilling of fiber-reinforced composites. Analysis of variance is also carried out in order to examine the effects of the machining parameters. In addition, predictive quadratic correlations are established by regression analysis. Eventually, multiobjective optimization was implemented by NSGA-II and the optimal values were obtained from pareto-optimal solution set aimed at enhancing the drilling process.
A failure diagnosis method of ball bearing based on optimized multiscale variational modal extraction with synchro squeezing transformation
Authors: Li Yongpeng , Yu Mingyue , Wu Peng , Qiao Baodong
Published: February 2024

When a compound failure occurs in a bearing, the failure information included in vibration signals is featured by being weak, complex and combined. This fact makes it difficult to identify a compound failure precisely. Variational mode extraction (VME) solves the problem of variational mode decomposition (VMD) in being difficult to determine the number of decomposition layers and has certain applications in the identification of bearing failures. However, the initial expected central frequency of VME and option of penalty factor is crucial to the extraction of expected mode. To precisely determine the central frequency and penalty factor of VME and fulfill the correct extraction of feature information of compound failures in bearing, the paper has proposed a method based on synchro squeezing transform (SST) and information entropy to adaptively determine the parameters in VME (SST-VME). Firstly, SST is used to make time-frequency analysis of original vibration signals and characteristic frequency bands with larger energy are chosen from time-frequency spectrum to adaptively determine the expected central frequency of VME. Secondly, as information entropy has representation capacity for information included in the signal, penalty factor of VME was adaptively determined according to information entropy. Thirdly, original signals were subjected to VME according to expected central frequency and penalty factor adaptively determined; the expectation mode obtained was denoised by singular value decomposition algorithm. Finally, the type of compound failures of bearing is determined according to the frequency spectrum of denoised signals. To verify the effectiveness of proposed method, a comparison with VMD algorithm is conducted. As indicated by the result, the proposed method is more precise and comprehensive than VMD algorithm to extract the feature information corresponding to compound faults of bearing, and thereby correctly determines the type of compound failures.
Analyzing regional disparities and spatial distribution dynamics of energy consumption levels in China
Authors: Yang Shubo , Jahanger Atif , Zhang Shun , Murshed Muntasir
Published: February 2024

This article uses the Dagum Gini coefficient and kernel density estimation to analyze the regional differences and distribution dynamics of energy consumption and applies the coefficient of variation with a static panel model to test its σ-convergence and β-convergence characteristics. The study finds noticeable differences in energy consumption intensity among provinces and regions, and the main source of regional differences is inter-regional differences. In contrast, the contribution of intra-regional differences and hypervariable intensity is smaller and more similar. Specifically, the absolute difference in the eastern region experienced a first decline, then a rise, and finally a slight decline; the absolute difference in the central region had a more significant overall fluctuation and a declining trend in the later period, and the absolute difference in the western region tended to narrow. No polarization trend was observed during the sample period in the eastern, central, and western regions. Not only σ-convergence but also absolute β-convergence and conditional β-convergence exist in the whole country and the eastern, central, and western regions. Therefore, it provides a factual basis for deepening the perception of the spatial pattern and regional disparity of energy utilization levels in China and has policy implications for promoting inter-regional and intra-regional coordinated development.
Fostering Executive-Function Skills and Promoting Far Transfer to Real-World Outcomes: The Importance of Life Skills and Civic Science
Authors: Zelazo Philip David , Calma-Birling Destany , Galinsky Ellen
Published: February 2024

Executive-function (EF) skills are a set of attention-regulation skills that provide a neurocognitive foundation for adapting to changing circumstances across the life span; EF skills measured in childhood are associated with important real-world outcomes (e.g., school and job success). Although training can improve EF skills, the benefits of training frequently fail to transfer to these outcomes. We argue that EF skills are associated with outcomes such as school success only to the extent that they first contribute to intermediate-level EF-based life skills that are more directly instrumental in achieving key outcomes. These intentional intermediate-level skills are configurations of specific EF skills and non-EF skills that are used when reasoning and solving problems in a variety of domains. We further argue that an effective way to bridge the gap between specific EF skills and real-world outcomes is by training these EF-based life skills that people need to function effectively in society. We propose that this can best be achieved using a civic-scientific approach, engaging citizens (e.g., children, youth, parents, teachers) in the design process from the beginning so that interventions are responsive to perceived needs and address perceived obstacles to success and sustainability.
An Insight Into the Experiences of Malaysian Patients With Advanced Cancer and Their Preferences in End-of-Life Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Chung Iris , Khoo Shiao-Yen , Low Lee Lan
Published: February 2024

Background: Preferences of patients with advanced cancer are well studied in Western countries but less so in Asian communities where end-of-life discussions can be seen as taboo. This may lead to patients receiving care that is incongruent with their wishes as their disease progress. It is important for healthcare providers to have a better understanding of patients’ experiences and preferences especially in a multicultural country like Malaysia with its diverse beliefs and values to facilitate better planning for future medical care. Objectives: To explore the experiences and preferences of Malaysian patients with advanced cancer. Design: Qualitative study of semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis. Setting/subjects: Purposive sampling of 19 patients with Stage 4 cancer recruited from inpatient and outpatient settings in National Cancer Institute Malaysia. Results: Three major themes emerged in the exploration of patients’ experiences and care preferences in facing advanced cancer namely: 1) Dealing with poor prognosis 2) Spirituality as a source of strength and 3) Enablers of advance care planning. Conclusion: This study highlighted the preference for healthcare providers to be culturally sensitive during end-of-life care discussion and the need for improved spiritual care for Malaysian patients with advanced cancer. Further studies exploring the role of spiritual and cultural factors in advance care planning among Malaysians would be helpful in guiding these efforts.
Occlusal Outcomes in Non-Robin Sequence Patients with Isolated Cleft Palate
Authors: Beaumont Catherine , Bellerive Audrey , Julien Anne-Sophie , Leclerc Jacques E.
Published: February 2024

Objectives

1. To assess the skeletal class occlusion and lateral cephalometry in children with isolated cleft palates (non-Robin sequence) and 2. to identify associations between these findings and pre-palatoplasty cleft palate measurements.

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

North American Institutional Tertiary Paediatric Center.

Patients

Our cleft database was reviewed, and patients were included if they had an isolated cleft palate without a Robin Sequence diagnosis, had a Furlow palatoplasty and had available per operative cleft palate measurements and available lateral cephalogram between 6 and 8 years old. Thirty-two patients matched to inclusion criteria.

Intervention

Furlow's Palatoplasty.

Main Outcome and Measures

Cleft size at palatoplasty, cephalometric measurements and skeletal occlusal classes were analysed. ANOVA was used to test the association between cephalometric measurements and occlusal classes. Results are presented as means with a 95% confidence interval. The association between cleft measurements and cephalometric parameters was tested with Spearman Correlation (rs).

Results

The skeletal occlusal outcome at 7 years old for this series of patients was: Class I: 19%; Class II: 59% and Class III: 22%. No single cleft measurement at palatoplasty was predictive of the skeletal occlusal outcome. A larger hard palate cleft was associated with a shorter antero-posterior maxilla.

Conclusions

The skeletal occlusal class outcomes were similar to those found in a previous study in the literature. The occlusal prognosis appears to be better than in patients with Robin Sequence or with an associated cleft lip. No preoperative measurement was found to be associated with the occlusal outcome.