bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Does Vertical Wind Shear Influence Updraft Characteristics and Hydrometeor Distributions in Supercell Thunderstorms?
Authors: Mulholland Jake P. , Nowotarski Christopher J. , Peters John M. , Morrison Hugh , Nielsen Erik R.
Published: May 2024

Vertical wind shear is known to affect supercell thunderstorms by displacing updraft hydrometeor mass downshear, thereby facilitating the storms’ longevity. Shear also impacts the size of supercell updrafts, with stronger shear leading to wider, less dilute, and stronger updrafts with likely greater hydrometeor production. To more clearly define the role of shear across different vertical layers on hydrometeor concentrations and displacements relative to supercell updrafts, a suite of idealized numerical model simulations of supercells was conducted. Shear magnitudes were systematically varied across the 0–1, 1–6, and 6–12 km AGL layers, while the thermodynamic environment was held fixed. Simulations show that as shear magnitude increases, especially from 1 to 6 km, updrafts become wider and less dilute with an increase in hydrometeor loading, along with an increase in the low-level precipitation area/rate and total precipitation accumulation. Even with greater updraft hydrometeor loading amid stronger shear, updrafts are more intense in stronger shear simulations due to larger thermal buoyancy owing to wider, less dilute updraft cores. Furthermore, downshear hydrometeor displacements are larger in environments with stronger 1–6-km shear. In contrast, there is relatively less sensitivity of hydrometeor concentrations and displacements to variations in either 0–1- or 6–12-km shear. Results are consistent across free tropospheric relative humidity sensitivity simulations, which show an increase in updraft size and hydrometeor mass with increasing free tropospheric relative humidity owing to a reduction in entrainment-driven dilution for wider updrafts in moister environments.

Significance Statement

Rotating thunderstorms, known as supercells, are able to persist for multiple hours. One common explanation is that large changes in wind speed and/or direction with height, or shear, transport rain/hail away from supercell updrafts, supporting their maintenance. The strong shear within supercell environments, however, may also lead to greater rail/hail amounts, thereby leading to weaker storms due to this extra mass of water/ice within updrafts. Furthermore, the impact of shear across different height layers on supercell rain/hail characteristics has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, computer simulations of supercells were conducted to determine that shear occurring between 1 and 6 km above ground level has a large impact on rain/hail distribution in supercells and that stronger shear in this layer leads to wider/stronger supercells with greater rain/hail accumulations at the surface. Additionally, some of the extra mass of water/ice is transported farther away from updrafts due to the stronger environmental storm-relative winds.
Extreme Temperatures, Birth Outcomes, and Social Inequalities: Evidence from South China
Authors: Wang Meng , Huang Cheng , Zhao Qingguo
Published: May 2024

The impacts of climate change on health are a critical public health issue, but the association between extreme temperatures and birth outcomes remains poorly understood. This paper links over 1 million birth records from Dongguan, China, between 2004 and 2013, to meteorological data. We investigate the relationship between extreme temperatures and birth outcomes and explore the heterogeneity among different demographic and socioeconomic factors, including maternal migrant status, education level, and mode of delivery. We find that one percentage increase in the number of days exposed to extreme heat during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in birth weight of 2.31 g and a 2% increase in odds of low birth weight (LBW), while exposure to extreme cold temperatures is associated with a reduction in birth weight (0.66 g) and an increase in the risk of LBW (1%). The association between extreme high temperatures and adverse birth outcomes is stronger for groups with disadvantaged social status. Specifically, the migrant group (for extreme heat exposure, local residents, −0.37 g; intraprovincial migrants, −2.75 g; out-of-province migrants, −2.49 g), the less-educated group (for extreme heat exposure, middle school or below, −2.47 g; high school or above, −1.66 g), and the group with vaginal birth [for extreme heat exposure, cesarean sections (C-sections), −1.56 g; vaginal birth, −2.62 g] are more sensitive to extreme weather conditions. Our study provides further evidence about the association of extreme temperatures with birth outcomes and for vulnerable groups of pregnant women.
Development and Validation of Hospital Mental Health Screen to Detect Psychiatric Morbidity in Medically Ill Patients in India
Authors: Sutar Roshan , Lahiri Anuja , Ali Rashida , Solanki Vindhya , Majumdar Anindo , Sharma Manoj , Chaturvedi Santosh
Published: May 2024

Background:

Psychiatric morbidities often go unnoticed in medically ill patients. It is essential to screen patients with medical morbidity so that they can be referred to psychiatrists for early interventions in general hospitals in India. There is a potential lacuna in terms of the availability of a scale that can aptly identify psychiatric symptoms in medically ill patients beyond depression or anxiety, especially in low-resource settings like India.

Aim:

The aim was to detect psychiatric morbidity in medically ill patients in India.

Methodology:

Items were generated using deductive and inductive approaches. Item-Content Validity Index (I-CVI) and Scale-Content Validity Index/Universal Agreement (S-CVI/UA) were computed by involving eight subject matter specialists. The tool was circulated to 397 medically ill patients for computing The exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Domain-wise reliability using Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for six factors. The concurrent criterion validity of the Hospital Mental Health Screen (HMHS) tool was calculated by the receiver operating curve (ROC) against the gold standard of any psychiatric morbidity diagnosed by two psychiatrists in 397 medically ill patients. We used IBM SPSS version 23.

Results:

Initially, 34 items were generated. At the I-CVI threshold of 79%, seven items were discarded. The S-CVI/UA of the scale was 85.1%. The Kaiser–Meier–Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy (KMO MSA) was found to be 0.916. At a factor loading threshold of 0.4 and an eigenvalue above 1, a six-factor structure was extracted using principal component analysis and varimax rotation. Domain-wise reliability was computed, which was between 0.657 and 0.840. The final tool consisted of 27 Likert items (0 = never to 4 = always). Using the ROC curve at the 19.5 threshold, 91.4% of the positive outcomes were correctly classified and 9.5% of the adverse outcomes were expected to be incorrectly identified by the HMHS screening tool.

Conclusion:

HMHS is a valid and reliable tool with good screening properties, designed especially for the Indian setting. This scale can assist in identifying psychiatric morbidity in medically ill patients in low-resource settings. There is further scope for performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to reinforce the factor structure of HMHS.
Disaggregating Death Rates of Age-Groups Using Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Nigri Andrea , Levantesi Susanna , Scognamiglio Salvatore
Published: May 2024

Reliable estimates of age-specific vital rates are crucial in demographic studies, while ages are, in most cases, commonly grouped in bins of five years. Indeed, public health and national systems require single age-specific data to achieve accurate social planning. This paper introduces a deep learning approach for splitting the abridged death rates, providing a more comprehensive perspective on the indirect age-specific vital rates estimation from grouped data. Additionally, we contribute to the existing literature by introducing a multi-population (countries and genders) approach, providing reliable estimates considering the heterogeneity of longevity dynamics over age, years, and across populations. We also contribute to the state of the art in indirect estimation by introducing, for the first time, a multi-population indirect estimation leveraging subnational data. Our model accurately captures mortality dynamics by age over time and among different populations. We prove the model’s ability to estimate reliable predictions of age-specific mortality rates by also studying how the hyperparameters’ choice affects the model reliability and analyzing the age-specific relative differences between the real and the estimated mortality rates.
Parameter identification and NVH characteristic analysis of automotive suspension rubber bushing
Authors: Chen Hao , Lu Chihua , Liu Zhien
Published: May 2024

Accurate prediction of the dynamic stiffness of rubber bushings is crucial for optimizing vehicle vibration and noise performance. However, this task is highly challenging due to various influencing factors such as frequency and amplitude. Consequently, there has been limited research conducted in this area thus far. This paper presents a novel approach for predicting the dynamic stiffness of rubber bushings. The frequency and amplitude dependencies of rubber bushings were thoroughly investigated through dynamic loading tests. A comprehensive model for rubber bushings, incorporating parallel connections of elastic elements, friction elements, and higher-order fractional derivative viscous elements, was established. The model parameters were accurately identified using the GA-BP method. The results demonstrate that the proposed model exhibits a high level of precision in estimating dynamic stiffness across a frequency range of 0–200 Hz. In comparison to the conventional model, the proposed approach enables more precise computation of interior sound pressure response and enhances vehicle simulation accuracy.
Cascade control algorithm for slip rate in a brake-by-wire system based on direct drive valve
Authors: Zhu Jianhui , Gu Chaofan , Xue Mengmeng , Xie Jie , Yang Shuai , Sun Yujie , Tan Cao
Published: May 2024

To achieve a rapid response and precise control of braking hydraulic pressure, a brake-by-wire electro-hydraulic braking system based on a direct drive valve was designed. This system employs an electromagnetic linear actuator to drive the valve core directly, achieving swift adjustment of brake wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure. Given the strong coupling and non-linearity of the electromagnetic linear actuator, solely using a single-loop controller to control the slip rate can easily lead to weakened system performance. Hence, we proposed a cascade control algorithm for the brake-by-wire system, with an outer loop for slip rate control and an inner loop for direct drive valve position. The outer loop adopted a fuzzy PID control, while the inner loop adopted a model-free adaptive sliding mode control. By combining model-free adaptive control with a novel discrete exponential approach, we addressed the system’s non-linearity and unknown disturbances. A braking system test platform was constructed to verify the superior hydraulic tracking performance of this brake-by-wire system and to perform slip rate control performance analysis under different road conditions. Results demonstrated that compared to the fuzzy PID-MFAC algorithm, the proposed fuzzy PID-MFASMC control enhanced car slip rate control precision, and reduced both braking time and distance.
Research on dynamic stability of rolling missiles employing direct/aerodynamic force compound control
Authors: Bai Lu , Lin Defu , Zheng Duo , Lu Tianyu
Published: May 2024

The direct/aerodynamic force compound control can enhance the maneuverability and response characteristics of missiles, and the dynamic stabilization is the precondition of normal operation for rolling missiles. Aiming at the stability problem caused by the cross-coupling effect of rolling missiles employing direct/aerodynamic force compound control, proposing a typical topological control system structure described by the complex coefficient theory, and deducing the dynamic stability conditions. Firstly, the mathematic model is established based on the kinematics and dynamics theories of rotating airframes and the direct/aerodynamic force compound control mechanism. Then, a three-loop autopilot and the direct/aerodynamic force ratio distribution method are designed to establish the complex summation model of the compound control system by selecting suitable complex variables. Furthermore, deducing the dynamic stability conditions and verifying them by numerical simulations. Finally, the stable regions of the rolling missile in different cases are obtained and found to be influenced by many factors, such as parameters of the autopilot, hybrid force distribution proportion and rolling rate. The derived dynamic stability criterion is effective for evaluating the stability of rolling missiles employing direct/aerodynamic force compound control and the research method used in this paper can provide reference for the stability study of strongly coupled nonlinear systems.
Gonococcal peritonitis: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Al-Ali Alya , Zahra Garzilella , Padovese Valeska
Published: May 2024

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) is a major cause of morbidity among sexually active individuals, occasionally leading to serious complications if left untreated. We describe a case of gonococcal peritonitis as a rare complication of Ng infection in a woman presenting with acute abdomen and intestinal subacute occlusion. Due to the rarity of this clinical presentation, we review the scientific literature to identify best practices and inform guidelines.
Research on speculation method for compressor map of PG9351FA gas turbine
Authors: Hao Xuedi , Zhang Zeyuan , Chi Jinling , Sun Lei , Zhang Jiajin
Published: May 2024

A compressor map is usually represented by a limited number of feature points to speculate the entire operating range. Also, accurate compressor map models can be obtained quickly by using the appropriate methods. In this paper, 9351FA gas turbine is used as the research object, and a set of targeted compressor map speculation scheme is proposed. At 15 data points, high-precision compressor maps are obtained based on BP neural network, and this method is suitable for a large number of data points. At 6 data points, compressor maps are obtained based on the parameter estimation method, and this method is suitable for a small number of data points. The mean square deviation of the compressor map obtained by the neural network is about 0.002, while the minimum mean square deviation of the results of the parameter estimation method is 0.026 and the maximum mean square deviation is 0.088. Since the corrected speed line of 106.4 is almost vertical, the maximum error mean squared deviation and the maximum standard deviation occur on this line. Both methods are suitable for different sample sizes, and the speculated compressor maps are more reliable. The combination of the two methods can provide a set of reference methods for compressor map speculation.
Interplays and Interactions on the Maritime and Overland Silk Roads in the First Millennium ce
Authors: Church Sally K.
Published: May 2024

This article concerns the contacts and interactions that took place on the Maritime Silk Road during the first millennium ce. The term ‘Maritime Silk Road’, like the ‘Silk Road’ itself, can be quite vague. It has come to mean any trade or travel from Japan and Korea across the sea routes of East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, to the Mediterranean and Europe. The focus here, however, follows the subject of the October 2021 ‘China, India and Iran’ conference in Cambridge, where the article was first delivered, and is confined to China, Southeast Asia, India and Persia. It first explains how my interest in this topic came about. Then it highlights some of the ways in which these interconnections manifested themselves during the first millennium by analysing examples from the Chinese dynastic histories and the travel accounts of Buddhist pilgrims. Finally, it discusses two sets of examples of these phenomena mentioned in Rong Xinjiang’s 榮新江, Sichou zhilu yu dong-xi wenhua jiaoliu 絲綢之路與東西文化交流. One of these examples concerns China’s relations with the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 ce) during the Tang period (618–907), and the other concerns the overland and maritime movement of Persian nobles and merchants to China after the fall of the Sasanian Empire (224–651 ce), and their integration into Chinese society.
Evaluation of Turkey’s Healthcare System Performance in COVID-19 Pandemic Period
Authors: Çapar Haşim , Çınar Fadime , Ekinci Gülay
Published: May 2024

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of Turkey’s Health System during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey among 656 people using a questionnaire. STATA 14.0 statistical software package was used for analysing the data. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test and one-way analysis of variance test were used. The participants’ Healthcare System Performance Evaluation Scale total score mean [Formula: see text] = 3.60 ± 0.6 in the sub-dimension of ‘Safe and Security’ [Formula: see text] = 3.63 ± 0.8, in the sub-dimension of ‘Transparency’ [Formula: see text] = 3.15 ± 1.1, in the sub-dimension ‘Accessibility’ [Formula: see text] = 3.79 ± 0.9, in the sub-dimension ‘Affordability’ [Formula: see text] = 3.83 ± 0.8 was determined. The Healthcare System Performance Evaluation Scale and a sub-dimension of this scale, accessibility, scores of them are high and differed statistically by age. The affordability sub-scale score was statistically different from income groups ( F = 6.47; p < .05). Although the performance of the general healthcare system is high, it was seen that the scores regarding the transparency of the information shared during COVID-19 were partially lower than other dimensions.
Investigating the Anti-adipogenic Potential of Xanthium strumarium Linn. Leaves Fractions: HPTLC-MS Characterization, Enzymatic Analysis, and 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Differentiation Assay in Oxidative Stress-modulated Adipogenesis Cascade
Authors: Nayak Nikita , Pattnaik Ashok
Published: May 2024

Background

Molecular pathogenesis of obesity is initiated by cellular oxidative stress along with increased adipogenesis. For the search of better alternatives of synthetic molecules in terms of their adverse events, naturally, existing compounds are now a research focus. In this context, Xanthium strumarium ( X. strumarium) Linn. exhibited anti-diabetic activities and proved to have efficacy in neutralizing very near pathological targets to obesity.

Purpose

This study is aimed toward bioactivity-guided fraction isolation of methanolic leaves extract, where bioactivity refers to anti-adipogenesis and antioxidant efficacy in in vitro enzymatic and three-day transfer, inoculum 3×105 cells (3T3-L1) adipocyte differentiation assay.

Materials and Methods

Collection and drying of the raw leaves followed by cold extraction in methanol and flash chromatography for bioactive fraction isolation. 3T3-L1 cell line was utilized for adipocyte differentiation assay of those and on the other hand in vitro pancreatic lipase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase enzymatic assays were analyzed. Based on exhibited activities, selected fractions are further characterized by high-performance thin-layer chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPTLC-MS).

Results

The most active fractions from these assays underwent characterization via HPTLC-MS. Fractions 2 and 3 exhibited potent activities in all enzymatic assays (α-glucosidase IC50: 2.48 ± 0.015, 2.84 ± 0.030 µg/mL; α-amylase IC50: 1.98 ± 0.050, 1.79 ± 0.045 µg/mL; pancreatic lipase IC50: 3.16 ± 0.030, 3.18 ± 0.040 µg/mL) and displayed significant inhibition of adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cell line. These fractions further identified through HPTLC-MS, contained compounds like β-sitosterol and quercetin, affirming their potential bioactivity.

Conclusion

The study underscores the potential of X. strumarium Linn. fractions as promising natural alternatives for combating obesity-related pathways, highlighting their significance in developing future anti-obesity therapeutics.
Mapping Higher Education Internationalisation as a Research Space via Natural Language Processing (NLP) Techniques
Authors: Gao Yuan , Wang Xuechun , Liu Xu
Published: May 2024

The productivity of a specific research field hinges on the periodic examination of both the knowledge produced and the knowledge production activities. By harnessing the strength of traditional bibliometric analyses and a variety of Natural language processing (NLP) techniques, this study portrayed a holistic landscape of higher education internationalisation (HEI) research that incorporated time and region through a spatial lens. The findings reveal the field's evolution into establishment, significant regional variations in research focus, and the expansion of networks for disseminating knowledge. These factors collectively contribute to a diverse ‘lived’ space of HEI research. However, the dominance of Western-centric key concepts, theories, and discourses highlights a homogenous ‘conceived’ space, pointing to an underlying tension between these spaces. Despite these challenges, opportunities for breakthroughs exist. Additionally, the study underscores the immense potential of NLP techniques in facilitating the exploration of how research fields evolve, further enriching our understanding of HEI.
Canadian Undergraduate Perspectives on Medical Assistance in Dying for Mental Illness: Does Psychiatric Illness Type, Age, and Exposure to Information Influence Acceptance of MAiD?
Authors: Harper Lori , Tomaras Christina A. , Powell Russell A. , Reddon John R. , Hawrelak Erin
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives

In 2027, Canadians whose only medical condition is an untreatable mental illness and who otherwise meet all eligibility criteria will be able to request Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). This study investigates the attitudes of undergraduate students towards widening the scope of MAiD for physical illness for certain psychiatric conditions. We were interested in understanding if age, information, and type of mental illness influenced undergraduates’ acceptance or rejection of MAiD for mental illness (MAiD-MI).

Method

413 undergraduate students participated in this study which examined the factors that correlate with the acceptance or rejection of MAiD-MI. Four scenarios were presented in which age (older or younger) and illness type (depression or schizophrenia) were manipulated. Demographic questions and measures assessing personality, religion, and attitudes towards euthanasia were administered. Questions assessing participants’ general understanding of MAiD and their life experiences with death and suicide were also asked.

Results

Most of the participants accepted MAiD-MI for both depression and schizophrenia. As hypothesized, support for MAiD-MI was higher for patients with schizophrenia than for depression. Also as hypothesized, support was higher for older patients than for younger patients. Variables such as religion, personality and political affiliation were also associated with acceptance or rejection of MAiD-MI. Finally, consistent with our hypotheses, participants’ understanding of MAiD and experiences with death and suicide was predictive of support for MAiD-MI.
Physician Unionization in the United States: Fad or Phenomenon?
Authors: Hoff Timothy J.
Published: May 2024

This article explores the current trends and issues surrounding physician unionization in the United States, using data from secondary sources and nine interviews with leaders of organizations at the forefront of physician unionizing efforts. Several key points are supported by these data and prior unionization research. First, unions should become a viable organizing alternative for the almost 50% of doctors who are salaried employees because of fewer legal barriers to collective representation, the involvement of national labor unions with resources to spend on organizing, more physicians belonging to demographic groups less hostile to organized labor, and work -related pressures faced by physician-employee under managed care. A second key point is that unions will find it difficult to represent self-employed physicians because of the influence of organized medicine and legal barriers to gaining collective bargaining rights for this group. This discussion is intended to raise awareness of the physician union issue among health care policy-makers and researchers.
Gaining Strategic Advantages through Partnerships with Public Health Departments
Authors: Reid W. Michael , Page David P. , Cookro Dennis V. , Mandel Ira G. , Hostetler Russel M. , Mason Katherine P.
Published: May 2024

Public health officials have advocated in public health and public policy journals for collaboration with private sector health care organizations for nearly a decade. There has been little written in the management literature on this topic, however. There are several important areas in which public health departments have expertise that could be valuable to private sector health care organizations, including health maintenance organizations (HMOs). These include the delivery of services in some geographic areas and to some special populations, provision of preventive and health promotion services to HMO members, performance of epidemiology services, assistance in accreditation, and repair of the damaged image of HMOs. HMOs and local health departments in many parts of the country are already entering into contracts for these purposes. Such partnerships between HMOs and local health departments can improve the health of the members of HMO plans and contribute to improving the health of the community.
International Health and Emerging Infectious Diseases
Authors: Ebomoyi William , Ebomoyi Josephine I.
Published: May 2024

This article explored the role of international health in reducing the impact of infectious diseases by espousing the monumental application of global electronic communication and socioeconomic development initiatives. The interaction between the society and environmental changes have dramatic effects on the frequency of infectious diseases worldwide. Development of dams, human population expansion, migration patterns, urbanization and the invasion of hitherto virgin forests, and global warming enhance the proliferation of vectors of infectious diseases. Sustainable development and emphasis on primary prevention initiatives, coupled with the application of technology to improve farming, provision of safe water and electrification of rural communities, are significant steps in infectious disease control.
Conflict of Interest: Organizational Vs. Executive Ethics in Health Care
Authors: Jurkiewicz Carole L. , Thompson Carolyn R.
Published: May 2024

This survey of 207 senior- and mid-level administrators from across the U.S. details the surprising level and type of ethical conflicts and unethical practices they face on the job and how their organizations create and respond to these challenges. The findings suggest widespread ethical conflict caused by situational and environmental factors, financial incentives, boards of directors, and stakeholder pressure. Particularly poignant is the apparent inability of executives to alter the ethical environment. Substantial differences were found between nonprofit and proprietary sector administrators as well as gender and age groups.
Managing the Consequences of Hospital Cutbacks: The Role of Workforce Reduction Practices
Authors: Rondeau Kent V. , Wagar Terry H.
Published: May 2024

In recent years, hospitals in Canada as elsewhere have witnessed unprecedented downsizing of their workforces. It is generally assumed that planned workforce reductions can have deleterious consequences on an organization's human resources. Scholars and practitioners alike have identified a number of humane or progressive approaches that are widely considered to be effective for organizations undergoing downsizing. This study examines the impact that workforce reduction approaches have on perceptions of organizational performance in a large sample of Canadian hospitals undergoing permanent workforce reductions.
Cytauxzoonosis in Indiana, USA: a case series of cats infected with Cytauxzoon felis (2018–2022)
Authors: Reichard Mason V , Cotey Stacy R , Dangoudoubiyam Sriveny , Weerarathne Pabasara , Tussey Kenneth , Wilkes Rebecca P , Miller Craig A , Mehringer Lori , Burcham Grant N
Published: May 2024

Case series summary

This case series describes six cases involving seven cats naturally infected with Cytauxzoon felis in Indiana, USA. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and all available information on signalment, history, clinical and diagnostic findings, treatment, outcome and pathology was reported. Cats infected with C felis were domestic shorthairs, were aged between 2 and 9 years and all but one of the cats were male. The seven infected cats originated from five counties in southwestern Indiana. Six of seven cats were found to have acute cytauxzoonosis based on clinical signs, gross pathologic lesions, observation of C felis in tissues and/or detection of C felis DNA. One cat was identified as a subclinical survivor cat with no known clinical history of cytauxzoonosis.

Relevance and novel information

The reported cases are the first confirmed reports of acute and chronic cytauxzoonosis in cats from Indiana and document an expansion in the range of C felis. Veterinary practitioners in Indiana should consider infection with C felis as a differential diagnosis for cats that present with fever, inappetence, lethargy, depression, dehydration, dyspnea, hemolytic crisis, anorexia or icterus. Administration of approved acaricides to cats currently offers the best protection and control against C felis infection.
Coalition government, frustrated majorities, and minority rule
Authors: Willumsen David M , Otjes Simon
Published: May 2024

Responsiveness to voters is key for democratic rule, yet often fails to occur. We argue that coalition government adds an additional hurdle to responsiveness. Multi-issue policy log-rolls between coalition parties in coalition agreement negotiations, none of which are individually supported by a parliamentary majority, can lead to policy change opposed by a majority, that is: Minority rule. Similarly, coalition agreements can block policy change supported by a parliamentary majority through a veto by one of the government parties, frustrating majority rule. Drawing on data from the Netherlands Bureau of Economic Analysis, we assess how often coalition agreements include policies supported by less than a parliamentary majority, and how often they exclude policies supported by parliamentary majorities. We show that two-thirds of policies included in coalition agreements are not supported by a floor majority, and that 30% of policies supported by a floor majority fail to be included in a coalition agreement.
Why leaders can be bad: Linking rigor with relevance using machine learning analysis to test the transgression credit theory of leadership
Authors: Davies Ben , Abrams Dominic , Leicht Carola
Published: May 2024

Transgression credit is a form of deviance credit that occurs when people are more permissive towards transgressions by in-group leaders than by in-group nonleaders and out-group members and leaders. Despite rigorous experimental and simulation evidence for transgression credit, the ability to make such group processes research relevant to organizations and wider policy requires evidence with greater ecological validity. We examine transgression credit using spontaneously arising data from Twitter (now X) to test theoretically specified reactions to instances of transgressive leadership by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Studies 1a and 1b compared Conservative and Labour Members of Parliament’s (MPs’) tweets in response to Boris Johnson’s unlawful prorogation of Parliament (Study 1a) and his publication of an Internal Market Bill that would break international law (Study 1b) with tweets responding to a nonleader, Dominic Cummings, breaking coronavirus lockdown rules. Conservative, but not Labour, MPs were more permissive of Johnson’s, but not Cummings’, transgression. Study 2 examined the semantic themes occurring among supportive and unsupportive tweets posted by the UK general public in response to Boris Johnson’s unlawful prorogation of Parliament. Across studies, the evidence is consistent with propositions from deviance credit and social identity theories.
Biodiversity management challenges: A policy brief
Authors: Holden Laura , Lee Robert G , Orsini Luisa , Eastwood Niamh , Zhou Jiarui , Čavoški Aleksandra
Published: May 2024

Global biodiversity has been lost at an alarming rate in the past century leading to what is often described as ‘the sixth mass extinction'. Leading causes of this loss are chemical pollution, habitat loss, unsustainable use of resources, invasive species, and climate change. Such environmental change can alter ecosystem functions irreversibly, leading to a direct loss of ecosystem services, such as food provision, climate regulation, and cultural services, which are estimated to have a global value of tens of trillions of dollars. International governing bodies have repeatedly set targets to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially within the framework of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Despite nation states’ pledges at the Rio Summit in 1992 to conserve biological diversity, progress has been lamentable. One reason for such failure is that action to redress biodiversity loss depends on national governments but it is of relatively low concern on the public agenda. This article reviews the UK and EU legal and policy biodiversity frameworks and exposes some of the complexities surrounding biodiversity loss, including non-compliance, public awareness, and valuation. Following a multidisciplinary roundtable on biodiversity in 2023, we suggest policy recommendations to overcome these issues.
Deep learning neural networks with input processing for vibration-based bearing fault diagnosis under imbalanced data conditions
Authors: Prawin J.
Published: May 2024

Deep learning (DL) networks, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and long short-term memory (LSTM), have gained popularity for bearing fault diagnosis utilizing raw vibration signals. However, their accuracy and stability are compromised when facing imbalanced real-world datasets. This research investigates the impact of imbalanced datasets and explores the potential of signal processing techniques on network inputs compared to the direct use of raw vibration signals. The DL techniques studied include LSTM, one-dimensional CNN, and two-dimensional (2D) CNN, and a novel hybrid 2DCNNLSTM algorithm, incorporating signal processing methods such as Fourier transform and continuous wavelet transform while maintaining nearly equal parameters and the same base architecture. The proposed hybrid 2DCNNLSTM algorithm combines the strengths of LSTM and CNN, allowing for improved bearing diagnosis by capturing both spatial and temporal information in vibration signals. The proposed 2DCNNLSTM algorithm also considers multi-channel input augmenting raw vibration signal, mean, and variance channels to extract meaningful features and enhance classification efficiency. The publicly available Case Western Reserve University benchmark-bearing test rig dataset with ten fault classes, the Paderborn University dataset with three fault classes, and NASA Centre for Intelligent Maintenance Systems bearing datasets with five fault classes are utilized to test the proposed deep learning networks’ accuracy, effectiveness, robustness, and stability. The studies reveal that the hybrid 2DCNNLSTM-based networks outperform both CNN and LSTM networks, even without input processing. Further, utilizing multi-channel input by augmenting the 2D raw signal with mean and variance value channels proves to be more efficient in handling imbalanced and complex datasets while employing a 2DCNNLSTM-based network.
The Stability Pact and Inefficiencies in Fiscal Policy Making in EMU
Authors: Alho Kari E.O.
Published: May 2024

The aim of the paper is to analyse the Stability and Growth Pact of EMU in a two-country model of monetary union with rational expectations and with spillovers of macroeconomic policies between the countries. the paper concentrates on tax policy, and shows that the results on optimal policy crucially depend on whether the demand channel of taxes through aggregate demand, or the supply channel, from taxes through wage formation, dominates in the determination of the rate of inflation and the international spillovers of policy. An optimal stability pact, which corrects the inefficiencies in policy making considered here, i.e., the lack of fiscal policy coordination between the countries and that between fiscal and monetary policies, and political myopia, is derived. Finally, an evaluation of the deterrent power of the existing Stability Pact with respect to deficit spending is derived and found to be quite small in comparison to the short-run gains related to risking the sanctions of the Pact.
Setting Medium-Term Fiscal Targets in the EMU
Authors: Artis Michael J. , Buti Marco
Published: May 2024

Under the Stability and Growth Pact, countries are committed to achieve medium-term budget positions of “close to balance or in surplus”. the rationale for this commitment is that such budgetary positions would allow for the full working of the built-in stabilisers without triggering the sanctions procedures of the Pact. the paper sets out to explore what factors affect the level of the budgetary target and suggests how the safety margin for cyclical fluctuations and unforeseen budgetary variability may be allowed for. All in all, on the basis of past fiscal behaviour, broadly balanced budgets in the medium term appear to be adequate for most EU countries in safeguarding the 3% of GDP deficit ceiling. of course, as the cyclical behaviour of the euro-area economy adapts to the new EMU environment, the medium-term targets will need to be addressed again.
The Calculus of Consent Revisited
Authors: Block Walter , DiLorenzo Thomas J.
Published: May 2024

Buchanan and Tullock have a reputation as radical defenders of private property, markets, free enterprise, limited government and libertarianism. While this account is to some degree correct, the present paper shall argue that it is exaggerated. It will show that their supposed adherence to these doctrines and philosophies is at best a moderate, not a radical, one, because of numerous errors with respect to their theories of democracy, ruling class, constitutionalism, contract, voting, methodological individualism, and the relation between government and private enterprise
An Economic Assessment of German Fiscal Equalization Schemes since 1970: What Prospects for A Unified Germany?
Authors: Guihéry Laurent
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this contribution is to assess the spatial impact of the German fiscal equalization system between 1970 and 1993, but also since 1995, when the new Länder joined the complex mechanism of German fiscal federalism. One of the most interesting results shows that since 1970, there has been a slow convergence of regional fiscal capacities before redistribution among Western German Länder.
Public Enterprises and Privatization in East Asia: Paths, Politics and Prospects(1)
Authors: Cheung Anthony B. L.
Published: May 2024

While the privatization of public enterprises has been a worldwide policy trend in the latter part of the 20th century and has often been forced on developing countries by international aid organizations, there is much evidence to suggest that the implementation and delivery of this policy are heavily influenced by national and local considerations. This article reports first on the varying reasons for establishing public enterprise systems in the countries of East Asia, and then on the various privatization initiatives taken and the issues that have arisen in relation to them in those countries. in contemplating the future, it is likely that present trends will continue, with public enterprises remaining significant, though subject to reforms seeking enhanced efficiency and accountability; and with privatization viewed as a ready tool to be resorted to as required, mostly for short-term purposes.
Globalization, Privatization and the Future of Modern Governance: A Critical Assessment
Authors: Farazmand Ali
Published: May 2024

There is a close but hitherto little-studied relationship between globalization and privatization. This article explores the connection between them from a political economy viewpoint. on globalization, it identifies several theoretical approaches to understanding the phenomenon, notes the various ways in which the word is used, and considers causes and consequences. in exploring the connection with privatization, it is essentially concerned to view the privatizations of the later 20th century as a strategic instrument of the globalization of capital, and a number of reasons are advanced to support this view. the article then looks at the implications of what has gone before for the education of public managers, which has also reflected these late 20th century tendencies. It seeks a reorientation of such education, as we move into a new century, to restore the spirit of public administration as an agent of “public trust”.
Public Enterprise and Privatization in A New Century: Evolving Patterns of Governance and Public Management
Authors: Wettenhall Roger , Thynne Ian
Published: May 2024

This article serves to introduce the symposium in three interrelated ways. It begins by noting the genesis of the project and acknowledging the need for caution in making predictions. It then addresses several issues and concerns of historical, contemporary, and likely future significance to public enterprise and privatization. These include the advent and implications of new public management (NPM), the extent to which privatization by way of divestment has won public acceptance, the emerging modes and styles of governance, and the changing role and capacity of the modern state. It ends by highlighting the thrust of the discussions in the next five articles which provide relevant perspectives of national, regional and global importance.
The Impact of A “Minimum Guaranteed Income Program” in Portugal
Authors: Gouveia Miguel , Rodrigues Carlos Farinha
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the impact of the Portuguese Minimum Guaranteed Income Program (RMIG) on the distribution of household incomes, poverty, and the size of government expenditures necessary to finance the program. the baseline adopted is constructed under the assumption of no behavioural responses to the transfer mechanism and of total participation of all eligible households. the Program has small but positive impacts both in reducing inequality and on the poverty rate for individuals. These gains are almost cancelled when labour supply reactions are taken into account. However, the most important consequences of the RMIG are sharp gains in the measures of poverty severity and intensity. in these dimensions, taking into account the labour supply incentives of the RMIG does not reduce substantially the positive impacts of the Program.
Taxing Hazardous Waste: The U.S. Experience
Authors: Sigman Hilary
Published: May 2024

Many states in the US impose taxes on hazardous waste. This paper conducts an empirical evaluation of the determinants of these taxes and reviews earlier research on their effects on hazardous waste. Earlier studies have shown that the taxes affect waste management, but my results and other evidence suggest that the tax-induced changes may not have improved welfare.
Water Pollution Taxes: A Good Idea Doomed to Failure?
Authors: Boyd James
Published: May 2024

Water pollution taxes, or effluent fees, have long been advocated by environmental economists as a regulatory approach to cost effectively achieve water quality improvements. the article reviews the arguments in favor of taxes and traces the history of the idea in U.S. policy debates. Particular attention is given to the institutional challenges presented by a tax system and its application in watershed contexts where transport phenomena are important. the article also addresses the question of why effluent taxes are so rarely seen in practice.
Environmental Taxes in Europe
Authors: Sterner Thomas , Köhlin Gunnar
Published: May 2024

This paper provides an overview and a discussion of environmental taxes in Europe. on the whole, most European countries have fairly high levels of environmental taxation – at least compared to the US. This appears broadly speaking to be true of both tax levels and tax revenues. It is partly related to a greater reliance on taxes as an instrument of environmental policy and partly due to a greater acceptance of taxes and maybe a larger public sector overall. It may also be due to a more ambitious goal when it comes to reductions in fossil energy use, particularly for transportation. There is still considerable variation within Europe when it comes to the level of taxation, the use of the revenues collected and other issues.
Entrepreneurship: Between Sustainable Development and Reality
Authors: Potocan Vojko , Mulej Matjaz
Published: May 2024

Due to changes resulting from the economic trends of the last decades, entrepreneurs are faced with a new requirement, called sustainable development and demanding systems / holistic thinking, an explicit or implicit one, as a precondition of success. It is supposed to enable the existence and development of humankind after recent centuries in which production and trade used to matter more than survival and has caused profit to kill profit, because a biased and short-term achievement may cause high cost in a broader view and a longer term. Reality shows up as a much more complex feature than a purely biased economic viewpoint shows. It requires us to return to Adam Smith who actually required business persons to adhere to ethics of interdependence, to be altruistic for selfish reasons, for self-interest. One resulting issue reads: What makes entrepreneurs accept the idea of sustainable development?