bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subtracting Reasons in Normative Domains
Authors: Faroldi Federico L. G.
Published: October 2023

Practical reasons can be aggregated to decide what one ought to do. This paper explores an operation that undoes aggregation: subtraction. I consider several distinctions concerning subtraction: subtracting content and subtracting strength; and subtracting one reason from one other reason or from a set of reasons. I put forward a precise understanding of subtracting the content of one reason from another, based on an operation of difference on a state-like, structured notion of content. Finally, I apply my approach to subtracting reasons to normative domains, and in particular to belief revision and norm change.
Bilingual Legal Resources for Arabic: State of Affairs and Future Perspectives
Authors: Halimi Sonia A.
Published: October 2023

The context-based use of terminology and phraseology is one of the essential building blocks of legal translation. The contextual nature of both components has implications when it comes to designing resources that are adapted to the needs of translators. For Arabic legal translation, there are a multitude of different print and online resources available, however, they do not integrate the context-related parameter for term choice acceptability. In this article, we will describe the main features of certain bilingual legal dictionaries with the English-Arabic and French-Arabic language pairs. We will then make a descriptive assessment of the tools available online, highlighting their limitations. Taking into consideration all the contextual parameters involved in making a translation choice, we will put forward the value of developing bilingual ontologies with Arabic. With the rapid expansion of information technologies, a move towards formalizing legal knowledge will help fill existing gaps in the representation of Arabic legal content and the retrieval of information, providing legal translators with a tool that provides specific details that will enable translators to make informed and relevant decisions, in addition to opening new research perspectives for Arabic legal translation.
Counter-Denunciations: How Suspects Blame Victims in Police Interviews for Low-Level Crimes
Authors: Ferraz de Almeida Fabio
Published: October 2023

This article explores the ways in which suspects attempt to make putative victims/complainants at least partially responsible for the incidents for which they are investigated, transforming themselves into the victim and the other into the perpetrator. Drawing upon conversation analysis, I examine audio-recorded police interviews for low-level crimes in England and in which suspects have constructed what I refer as counter-denunciations. I argue that suspects accomplish these counter-denunciations through discursive practices that involve, for example (a) contrasting the complainant’s actions with their own innocent conduct; (b) historicizing the event being investigated; and (c) discrediting the complainant’s character—stigmatizing. These practices have in common the suspects’ reliance on the relational and contextual character of the categories ‘offender’ and ‘victim’.
Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit as Bildungsroman
Authors: Saeverot Herner
Published: October 2023

This article argues that Hegel’s book The Phenomenology of Spirit can be read as a Bildungsroman or a theory of reception. Hegel (as he appears in this book) sets forth to educate his readers to a historical understanding. This is the article’s main argument which will be split up in three parts. First, it seems that Hegel tries to lead the uneducated reader to his own ideal philosophy. If so, the reception will be merely technical, i.e., the book has only one answer and the reader has to submit to Hegel to get him right. The article argues against such a reading. Secondly, it seems more likely that Hegel invites his readers to take an active part in the interpretation of the book. To substantiate this claim, the article argues that the hitherto unknown phenomenon in the book “touches” and challenges the reader, who must “touch” back and accept the challenge in order to grasp the phenomenon. This reception involves the experience of “touch” (not physical) and is therefore haptic. Thirdly, and in extension of the haptic reception, the article argues that there is a reception as recollection, meaning that Hegel invites the reader to reflect upon the recollected experiences or “the gallery of images” that Hegel has archived in his book. In doing so, the reader will see the gallery of images with new eyes—which ultimately is a process of Bildung as the reader gains self-awareness and knowledge through Hegel’s images.
TB-TBP: a task-based adaptive routing algorithm for network-on-chip in heterogenous CPU-GPU architectures
Authors: Fang Juan , Wei Zhichao , Liu Yaqi , Hou Yumin
Published: October 2023

With the rapid development of heterogeneous network-on-chip (NoC), a vast amount of shared resources are integrated into NoC. Intense resource competition exists between CPUs and GPUs, leading to congestion and a decrease in overall network performance. Reasonable node placement can minimize network conflicts at the topology level. This paper first discusses the placement of shared last-level cache and memory controller, then selects a more rational placement method and optimizes the path. To solve the hot spots problem in center placement method, a task-based routing algorithm is designed to plan the path. Simulation results demonstrate that, compared to the traditional routing algorithm, the overall network latency is reduced by 9%, and the CPU performance is improved by 13.6%. Furthermore, a dynamic task-based routing algorithm is proposed. Compared to the static task routing algorithm, the overall network latency is reduced by 2.08%, and the CPU performance is improved by 4.09%.
The Imbalance of Wanting and Liking Contributes to a Bias of Internal Attention Towards Positive Consequences of Tobacco Smoking
Authors: File Domonkos , Bőthe Beáta , Demetrovics Zsolt
Published: October 2023

Previous studies have shown that addiction is associated with an attentional bias towards external stimuli. However, it is currently unclear whether this bias extends to internal attention. The aim of the present study was to address this question within the Incentive Sensitization theory framework. To this end, structural equation models delineating the relationships between nicotine dependence, the imbalance of wanting and liking (WmL), personal relevance of smoking consequences, and antismoking intention were tested using online survey data of 826 tobacco users. Consistent with previous findings, WmL was disrupted with increasing nicotine dependence. The key finding was that a moderate positive correlation was observed between WmL and personal relevance of positive consequences, which suggests that dependence-related attentional bias might not only relate to the processing of external stimuli but also to what an individual considers important, which is linked to the distribution of internal attention. However, such attentional bias might not apply to all smokers to the same extent, based on the comparison of latent profiles of smokers. The findings indicate that the bias of internal attention may play a significant role in both the initiation of smoking cessation, as well as in the likelihood of relapse. This suggests that including a more diverse array of topics in health communication could be beneficial, given the varying emphasis on smoking consequences among different profiles.
Populistisch und verschwörungstheoretisch?
Authors: Schmiege Johannes , Engelmann Ines , Lübke Simon
Published: October 2023

Parallel zu rechtspopulistischen Bewegungen und Parteien sind in Deutschland in den vergangenen zehn Jahren auch rechtsalternative Online-Medien entstanden. Während zur Entstehung und Verbreitung von Populismus und Falschinformationen in und durch etablierte und soziale Medien bereits einige empirische Erkenntnisse vorliegen, wissen wir bislang nur wenig über das Ausmaß von Populismus und Verschwörungstheorien in solchen rechtsalternativen Online-Angeboten. Deshalb beleuchtet der Beitrag am Beispiel der Covid-19-Pandemie, wie häufig Populismus und Verschwörungstheorien in diesen Medien vorkommen. Dafür untersucht die Studie Medienbeiträge der rechtsalternativen Online-Medien Compact, Journalistenwatch, PI News, Politikstube, Zuerst! und Junge Freiheit in einer standardisierten manuellen Inhaltsanalyse (N = 202). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Populismus und Verschwörungstheorien dort eher selten vorkommen. Primär sind die Inhalte durch eine spezifisch anti-elitäre Haltung gekennzeichnet. Weiterhin unterscheiden sich die rechtsalternativen Online-Medien im Ausmaß verschiedener Populismusformen und in den Verschwörungstheorien. Darüber hinaus liefern die Ergebnisse Anhaltspunkte dafür, das Konzept des Populismus operational neu zu denken.
Visceral larva Migrans in a Young Italian Patient: A Diagnostic Dilemma
Authors: Francalanci Emanuela , Manciulli Tommaso , Bandini Giulia , Blanc Pierluigi , Bonelli Sara Irene , Brunetti Enrico , Gotuzzo Eduardo , Cretu Carmen Michaela , Gobbi Federico , Bartoloni Alessandro , Zammarchi Lorenzo
Published: October 2023

Background

The association of fever, focal hepatic lesions and peripheral hyper-eosinophilia (FHLH) can be observed in both infectious and non-infectious conditions. Fascioliasis, capillariasis, toxocariasis, all causes of visceral larva migrans (VLM), represent most of the former, whilst lymphomas, eosinophilic leukemias and mastocytosis belong in the non-infectious conditions.

Methods

We prospectively followed a young patient presenting with FHLH in the Tuscany region of Italy.

Results

The patient was subject to serological and parasitological examination in an attempt to clarify the origin of the lesions. Serologies for both Fasciola hepatica and Toxocara spp. were positive, with the latter presenting a higher index. We opted for treatment with a prolonged course of albendazole due to the serological results and being toxocariasis more frequent in our setting. The patient was then subject to radiological follow-up. The patient responded to treatment with albendazole as shown by a decrease in eosinophils, seronegativization for Toxocara spp., clinical and radiological improvement. Toxocariasis was hence considered the most likely diagnosis.

Conclusions

Parasitic infections cannot be disregarded in the presence of FHLH. Differential diagnosis between these parasitic infections can be challenging due to the presence of similar clinical presentations and serological cross-reactions, and follow-up of the patient is needed to ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
Coastal compartments: the role of sediment supply and morphodynamics in a beach management context
Authors: Carvalho Rafael C. , Woodroffe Colin D.
Published: October 2023

Coastal compartments provide a hierarchical framework to manage beaches and coastal ecosystems in Australia. This study examines the individual behaviour of three adjacent beaches within Shoalhaven Bight, a secondary compartment on the south coast of New South Wales (NSW). The Shoalhaven River discharges intermittently into the northernmost of the beaches, and a fluvial component is detectable within beach and foredune sands. The distribution and orientation of headlands constrains dispersal of fluvial sediments, and results in lower wave-energy conditions further south, implying limited sand transport from one beach, or tertiary compartment, to another. Two years of monthly subaerial surveys across ten different profiles and modelled storm-wave conditions during the major storms, were used to compare the response of beach volume and shoreline position. The greatest changes in volume were observed near Shoalhaven Heads and the northern ends of Culburra and Warrain-Currarong beaches. Results indicate the distinct individual response of neighbouring beaches over the two-year period, in contrast to general trends in beach behavior that might be inferred from long-term regional monitoring programs. However, they also demonstrate the limitations of short-term observations in comparison to those longer-term studies. The NSW beach systems of are some of the best understood in the world in terms of regional behaviour, as a consequence of several decades of surveys on key beaches. However, more focused local monitoring programs may be needed to establish detailed coastal sand transport, and an understanding of intermittent delivery of fluvial sand and longshore inputs and outputs, within and between different compartments.
Are they worth it? – An evaluation of predictions for NBA ‘Fantasy Sports’
Authors: Döpke Jörg , Köhler Tim , Tegtmeier Lars
Published: October 2023

‘Fantasy Sports’ - an internet-based game in which participants chose virtual teams of real professional athletes - has recently gained in popularity. Various firms provide projections regarding athletes’ future performance to help participants choose their virtual teams. We evaluate such forecasts based on 1658 projections regarding NBA basketball of four selected projection providers that were collected in February 2022. We calculate standard measures of forecast quality and find that the use of professional forecasts reduces the errors made in naïve forecasts, but only to a moderate extent. Applying regression-based tests of forecast efficiency, we find that the predictions are inefficient and, in some cases, even biased. Third, pairwise comparisons of the accuracy of the providers suggest notable differences among such providers in the short run. We use a simple optimization algorithm to choose a virtual team for each match day and feed it with the forecasts of the providers. Subsequently, we rank the providers according to the score obtained by these teams. We find small, although in one case significant, long-run differences between the providers, among whom each provides better accuracy than that of a naïve projection based on these athletes’ past performances. Finally, we simulate one-on-one competition among various forecast providers to ascertain the long-term profitability of their services. Given the small magnitude of the detected differences, our results, in brief, raise doubts as to whether the forecasts provided are worth the money.
Taxonomy and phylogeny of Dalytyphloplanida Willems et al., 2006 (Platyhelminthes: Rhabdocoela), with the description of a new family, a new genus, and sixteen new species from Cuba and Panama
Authors: Diez Yander L. , Monnens Marlies , Wuyts Arlien , Brendonck Luc , Reygel Patrick , Schmidt-Rhaesa Andreas , Artois Tom
Published: October 2023

Twenty-two marine species of Dalytyphloplanida from Cuba, Panama, and Lanzarote are presented, sixteen of which are new to science. Five known species are recorded from Cuba: Kytorhynchus microstylus, Ceratopera paragracilis, Trigonostomum armatum, T. franki, and T. vanmecheleni. Neokytorhynchus pacificus is recorded for the first time in the Atlantic (Lanzarote). For one species, a new genus is erected to be included in a new family. A new genus and thirteen new species from Cuba and three new species from Panama are described. The new species are mainly distinguished from their congeners by the specific morphology of the copulatory structures. The new taxa are discussed in the context of a new phylogenetic analysis of Dalytyphloplanida. This analysis includes sequences of 238 species, 14 of which were sequenced for the first time. The phylogenetic analysis and the detailed morphology suggest that K. microstylus may constitute a complex of cryptic species. The internal phylogenetic relationships of Trigonostomum and Promesostoma were separately analysed to include new sequence data of the mitochondrial cox1 gene. These genera are shown to consist of several diagnosable clades, concurring with the results of early morphological studies of these taxa. Morphological and molecular data support the notion that Trigonostomum sinensis is a junior synonym of T. vanmecheleni, and we therefore propose their synonymisation. A new family is erected, Schockaertiidae fam. n., to include a monophyletic clade of neodalyellids with a pharynx rosulatus and a copulatory bulb devoid of hard structures (Schockaertia aprostatica gen. n. sp. n. and Einarella argillophyla). We propose a new classification into families of Thalassotyphloplanida, which envolves elevating the status of Adenorhynchinae to family level (Adenorhynchidae status novus). All previously recognised thalassotyphloplanid families are recovered as monophyletic (Kytorhynchidae, Byrsophlebidae, Promesostomidae, and Trigonostomidae). No support was found for the previously described subfamilies, except Paramesostominae, and we, therefore, propose to suppress these taxa.
Outstanding women scientists who have broadened the knowledge on biological photoreceptors
Authors: Braslavsky Silvia E.
Published: October 2023

Short biographical sketches are given of women born before 1955 who have contributed to our knowledge on the function, structure, and molecular basis of biological photoreceptors, both energy converters and photosensors.

Graphical abstract
Artificial intelligence in Africa: a bibliometric analysis from 2013 to 2022
Authors: Kondo Tabu S. , Diwani Salim A.
Published: October 2023

This study employs bibliometric analysis to investigate the evolving research landscape of Artificial intelligence (AI) within Africa, focusing on the years 2013 to 2022. The central objective is to discern and analyze AI studies conducted in Africa, using a dataset compiled from research papers within the Scopus database. By conducting a comprehensive analysis, this research uncovers crucial insights, including primary authors, influential journals and publishers, nations with the highest research productivity, noteworthy funding sources, influential organizations, and prevalent research domains. Additionally, the study examines year-by-year growth trends and authorship patterns. Employing the VOSviewer software, it creates visual representations that illustrate the dynamic evolution of AI research within the African context. Notably, the analysis of 1646 publications reveals a significant increase in publications over the last decade, with South Africa emerging as a global leader in AI development, and the IEEE, Elsevier, and Springer as prominent publishers. The study also highlights the leading institutions, with the University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Cape Town, and University of Pretoria at the forefront of AI research in Africa. The National Research Foundation is identified as the primary funder supporting AI research across the continent. In conclusion, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of AI’s role in addressing African challenges, fostering innovation, and contributing to the continent’s technological advancement, shedding light on prevalent research areas and significant funding sources in the process.
Village funds and poverty reduction in Indonesia: new policy insight
Authors: Anam Choirul , Plaček Michal , Valentinov Vladislav , Del Campo Cristina
Published: October 2023

This short communication describes the current experience of implementing village funds in Indonesia, with an emphasis on the impact on poverty reduction. The authors' field observation is complemented by structured interviews and regression analysis. Our findings suggest that the potential of village funds is not fully realized. We point out that officials underestimated the significance of bottlenecks related to the capacity of local governments, to the implementation of coordination mechanisms, and to the installation of feedback mechanisms, each of which critically hinge on administrative and technical policy processes. At the same time, we felt that the officials overestimated the importance and effectiveness their own political agendas promoting community empowerment and corruption prevention.
The False Promise of Constitutionalism
Authors: Bugarič Bojan
Published: October 2023

Constitutional engineering is a complicated practice, and much less is known about the relationship between constitutionalism and democracy than many are willing to admit. A cursory look at the political science literature reveals that constitutional design has only a moderate to small impact on the stability of a democratic regime. This is not to suggest that constitutionalism is altogether irrelevant, but the findings of different social scientists suggest that we should be humbler and more realistic about the role of constitutionalism and institutions in fostering peace, democracy, and development. Anna Saunders's article, “Constitution-Making as a Technique of International Law: Reconsidering the Post-War Inheritance,” provides an important contribution to such a realistic reassessment of constitutionalism. Nevertheless, her critique of constitutional assistance needs to be developed further, examining the limitations of constitutional law in itself as a promoter of peace and democracy, rather than just the fact that material and economic questions are often neglected in international constitution-making. A key question is not so much whether and how to create a better constitutional design that would integrate economic and structural issues more openly, but, more fundamentally, whether traditional constitutional approaches are in fact appropriate for the promotion of peace, democracy, and development in post-conflict settings. In this essay, I argue for a democratic and experimentalist form of constitutionalism, which is often at odds with the core ideas of traditional constitutionalism, namely, rigidity and entrenchment.
National Healthcare Safety Network Antimicrobial Use Option reporting … finding the path forward
Authors: Neuhauser Melinda M. , Webb Amy K. , Srinivasan Arjun
Published: October 2023

Through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Promoting Interoperability Program, more hospitals will be reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network Antimicrobial Use (AU) Option. We highlight the next steps and opportunities for measurement of AU to optimize prescribing.
School-based universal mental health promotion intervention for adolescents in Vietnam: Two-arm, parallel, controlled trial
Authors: Tran Thach Duc , Nguyen Huong , Shochet Ian , Nguyen Nga , La Nga , Wurfl Astrid , Orr Jayne , Nguyen Hau , Stocker Ruby , Fisher Jane
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Happy House, a universal school-based programme, in reducing adolescents’ depressive symptoms and improving their mental well-being, coping self-efficacy and school connectedness. This was a school-based, two-arm parallel controlled trial. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were collected at recruitment, and at 2 weeks and 6 months post-intervention. Mixed-effect models were conducted to estimate the effects of the intervention on the outcomes. A total of 1,084 students were recruited. At 2 weeks post-intervention, the effect size on depressive symptoms was 0.11 (p = 0.011) and the odds of having clinically significant depressive symptoms were lower in the intervention compared to the control (0.56, p = 0.027). Both of these were no longer significant at 6 months post-intervention. Psychological well-being mean scores in the intervention were significantly higher than in the control at 2 weeks post-intervention (effect size 0.13). Coping self-efficacy mean scores were significantly higher in the intervention group at both 2-week and 6-month post-intervention (effect sizes from 0.17 to 0.26). Data support the potential of Happy House to reduce the prevalence of adolescent mental health problems and to promote positive mental health in the school context in Vietnam.
Initial and 5-day positivity rate of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in exposed inpatients within shared rooms during the omicron-variant dominant period
Authors: Park Sunghee , Lee Seung Hyun , Jung Hye Jung , Shin Ji Eun , Moon Ji Eun , Choo Eun Ju , Shin Hee Bong , Kim Tark
Published: October 2023

In this observational study conducted in 2022, 12.3% of patients who shared a room with a patient positive for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, either at initial screening or during a 5-day quarantine. Therefore, screening and quarantine are still necessary within hospitals for close-contact inpatients during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron-variant dominant period.
On the role of unsteadiness in impulsive-flow-driven shear instabilities: precursors of fragmentation
Authors: Shen N. , Bourouiba L.
Published: October 2023

Shear instabilities at the interface of two fluids, such as classical Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI), is the precursor of interface destabilization, leading to fluid fragmentation critical in a wide range of applications. While many insights into such instabilities are derived for steady background forcing flow, unsteady impulse flows are ubiquitous in environmental and physiological processes. Yet, little is understood on how unsteadiness shapes the initial interface amplification necessary for the onset of its topological change enabling subsequent fragmentation. In this combined theoretical, numerical and experimental study, we focus on an air-on-liquid interface exposed to canonical unsteady shear flow profiles. Evolution of the perturbed interface is formulated theoretically as an impulse-driven initial value problem using both linearized potential flow and nonlinear boundary integral methods. We show that the unsteady airflow forcing can amplify the interface's inherent gravity–capillary wave, up to wave-breaking transition, even if the configuration is classically KH stable. For impulses much shorter than the gravity–capillary wave period, it is the cumulative action, akin to total energy, that determines amplification, independent of the details of the impulse profile. However, for longer impulses, the details of the impulse profile become important. In this limit, akin to a resonance, it is the entangled history of the interaction of the forcing, i.e. the impulse, that changes rapidly in amplitude, and the response of the oscillating interface that matters. The insights gained are discussed and experimentally illustrated in the context of interface distortion and destabilization relevant for upper respiratory mucosalivary fluid fragmentation in violent exhalations.
Flow and deformation due to periodic loading in a soft porous material
Authors: Fiori Matilde , Pramanik Satyajit , MacMinn Christopher W.
Published: October 2023

Soft porous materials, such as biological tissues and soils, are exposed to periodic deformations in a variety of natural and industrial contexts. The detailed flow and mechanics of these deformations have not yet been systematically investigated. Here, we fill this gap by identifying and exploring the complete parameter space associated with periodic deformations in the context of a one-dimensional model problem. We use large-deformation poroelasticity to consider a wide range of loading periods and amplitudes. We identify two distinct mechanical regimes, distinguished by whether the loading period is slow or fast relative to the characteristic poroelastic timescale. We develop analytical solutions for slow loading at any amplitude and for infinitesimal amplitude at any period. We use these analytical solutions and a full numerical solution to explore the localisation of the deformation near the permeable boundary as the period decreases and the emergence of nonlinear effects as the amplitude increases. We show that large deformations lead to asymmetry between the loading and unloading phases of each cycle in terms of the distributions of porosity and fluid flux.
Equivalence and Convention
Authors: Dewar Neil
Published: October 2023

The goal of this article is to analyze the role of convention in interpreting physical theories—in particular, how the distinction between the conventional and the nonconventional interacts with judgments of equivalence. We will begin with a discussion of what, if anything, distinguishes those statements of a theory that might be dubbed “conventions.” This will lead us to consider the conventions that are not themselves part of a theory’s content but are rather applied to the theory in interpreting it. Finally, we will consider the idea that what conventions to adopt might, itself, be regarded as a matter of convention.
Provision of dietary education in UK-based cardiac rehabilitation: a cross-sectional survey conducted in conjunction with the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation
Authors: James Emily , Butler Tom , Nichols Simon , Goodall Stuart , O’Doherty Alasdair F.
Published: October 2023

Dietary education is a core component of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). It is unknown how or what dietary education is delivered across the UK. We aimed to characterise practitioners who deliver dietary education in UK CR and determine the format and content of the education sessions. A fifty-four-item survey was approved by the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR) committee and circulated between July and October 2021 via two emails to the BACPR mailing list and on social media. Practitioners providing dietary education within CR programmes were eligible to respond. Survey questions encompassed: practitioner job title and qualifications, resources, and the format, content and individual tailoring of diet education. Forty-nine different centres responded. Nurses (65·1 %) and dietitians (55·3 %) frequently provided dietary education. Practitioners had no nutrition-related qualifications in 46·9 % of services. Most services used credible resources to support their education, and 24·5 % used BACPR core competencies. CR programmes were mostly community based (40·8 %), lasting 8 weeks (range: 2–25) and included two (range: 1–7) diet sessions. Dietary history was assessed at the start (79·6 %) and followed up (83·7 %) by most centres; barriers to completing assessment were insufficient time, staffing or other priorities. Services mainly focused on the Mediterranean diet while topics such as malnutrition and protein intake were lower priority topics. Service improvement should focus on increasing qualifications of practitioners, standardisation of dietary assessment and improvement in protein and malnutrition screening and assessment.
Metrics proposed for measuring the distance between two rigid-body poses: review, comparison, and combination
Authors: Di Gregorio Raffaele
Published: October 2023

The concept of distance between two rigid-body poses is important in path planning, positioning precision, mechanism synthesis, and in many other applications. In the definition of such a distance, two approaches mainly prevail, which lead to a number of formulas devised to match the needs of motion tasks. Despite the different approaches and formulas, some important theoretical results, which drive toward distance-metrics definitions useful for design and application purposes, have been stated. This paper summarizes the two different approaches together with a critical review of the literature on the distance metrics they generated, and, then, it illustrates a technique, previously proposed by the author, for combining different metrics to obtain novel distance-metric definitions that are tailored to specific applications.
The 2023 Model Core Content of Disaster Medicine
Authors: Wexler Bryan J. , Schultz Carl , Biddinger Paul D. , Ciottone Gregory , Cornelius Angela , Fuller Robert , Lefort Roxanna , Milsten Andrew , Phillips James , Nemeth Ira
Published: October 2023

Introduction:

Disaster Medicine (DM) is the clinical specialty whose expertise includes the care and management of patients and populations outside conventional care protocols. While traditional standards of care assume the availability of adequate resources, DM practitioners operate in situations where resources are not adequate, necessitating a modification in practice. While prior academic efforts have succeeded in developing a list of core disaster competencies for emergency medicine residency programs, international fellowships, and affiliated health care providers, no official standardized curriculum or consensus has yet been published to date for DM fellowship programs based in the United States.

Study Objective:

The objective of this work is to define the core curriculum for DM physician fellowships in the United States, drawing consensus among existing DM fellowship directors.

Methods:

A panel of DM experts was created from the members of the Council of Disaster Medicine Fellowship Directors. This council is an independent group of DM fellowship directors in the United States that have met annually at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)’s Scientific Assembly for the last eight years with meeting support from the Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee. Using a modified Delphi technique, the panel members revised and expanded on the existing Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) DM fellowship curriculum, with the final draft being ratified by an anonymous vote. Multiple publications were reviewed during the process to ensure all potential topics were identified.

Results:

The results of this effort produced the foundational curriculum, the 2023 Model Core Content of Disaster Medicine.

Conclusion:

Members from the Council of Disaster Medicine Fellowship Directors have developed the 2023 Model Core Content for Disaster Medicine in the United States. This living document defines the foundational curriculum for DM fellowships, providing the basis of a standardized experience, contributing to the development of a board-certified subspecialty, and informing fellowship directors and DM practitioners of content and topics that may appear on future certification examinations.
Teaching Greek mythology through a scenario-based game
Authors: Salapata Gina , Tracy Jonathan , Loke Kevan
Published: October 2023

In this article, we showcase the pilot scenario of The Trojan War, an educational self-directed game that combines text inspired by ancient Greek (as well as Roman) literature with graphics based on the ‘Geometric style’, an authentic Greek style of painting contemporary with the composition of the Homeric epics. Our game uses interactive scenarios to support active learning strategies of students interested in Classical Studies in both tertiary and secondary education. Players can take on the role of key characters, making choices that can prevent, start, or stop the Trojan War, as well as determine their own personal outcomes. The learners are thus presented with the opportunity to explore alternative pathways to rewrite the history of the War. In the process, they can apply their subject knowledge and develop their intellectual and critical skills. They also become familiar with a distinctive and expressive early Greek artistic style, the so-called Geometric. Rather than focusing on winning, the game aims to give students the opportunity to engage with important ideas and values of ancient Greek culture by exploring multiple perspectives on the topic. It also provides a valuable lesson on the potentially wide-ranging consequences of individual choices, which is a core element of responsible citizenship.
Lake Evaporation and Its Effects on Basin Evapotranspiration and Lake Water Storage on the Inner Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Liuming , Wang Junxiao , Wang Lachun , Zhu Liping , Li Xingong
Published: October 2023

Effects of lake evaporation (EW) on basin evapotranspiration (ETB) and lake water storage change (LWSC) at lake‐basin scale have never been reported for most basins on the inner Tibetan Plateau (IB). In this study, EW of 118 large lakes in 95 closed lake‐basins were estimated, and its effects on ETB and LWSC over 2001–2018 were examined using a derivative‐guided framework from the aspects of EW amount, rate, trend slope and inter‐annual variability. We found that EW amount has a high effect (17%) on regional ETB amount compared to the average lake area ratio (α) (∼5%), and the effect has increased significantly (2%/10 a). The spatial pattern of the effect is mainly controlled by α, and the increasing trend of α (0.6%/10 a) also dominated the increasing trend in regional ETB rate (0.30 mm/a) though with large spatial heterogeneity. Variance in α and EW rate have a minor effect (∼3%) on ETB variance, especially for the basins with lower α. The combination of quasi lake inflow (RL, 41%) and lake surface precipitation (PW, 16%) offset the depletion of EW (−43%), resulting in the surplus of regional lake water (LWSC > 0). The increase in EW mount, which is mainly from lake area expansion (90%), caused a decreasing trend in LWSC (i.e., slower growth rate) with a contribution of −59%. This suggests a negative feedback between lake area expansion and EW amount in the IB, and the feedback may continue with the predicted area increases.
Organic Phases in Bivalve (Arctica Islandica) Shells: Their Bulk and Amino Acid Nitrogen Stable Isotope Compositions
Authors: Huang Qian , Agbaje Oluwatoosin B. A. , Conti Martina , Schöne Bernd R.
Published: October 2023

The stable nitrogen isotope composition of bivalve shell organics serves as a proxy for nitrogen fluxes in modern and past ecosystems. An essential prerequisite to reconstruct environmental variables from δ15N values of bivalve shells is to understand if pristine isotope signals can be retrieved from shell organics after sample pretreatment. δ15N analyses of fossil shells should be limited to the intra‐crystalline organic matrix (intra‐OM), which is trapped within biomineral units and less likely contaminated or diagenetically overprinted than inter‐crystalline organics (inter‐OM). However, it remains unclear whether the different shell organic phases (insoluble/soluble inter‐OM, intra‐OM) are isotopically distinct and whether δ15N values of intra‐OM agree with those of bulk organic matter. These questions were tackled by applying different solvents (H2O, HCl, H2O2, NaOCl) to homogenized shell powder of a modern Arctica islandica. Milli‐Q water did not alter bulk δ15N values indicating the dissolution of the inter‐OM was negligible. Acid‐extracted intra‐OM exhibited a larger isotope variation within replicates and showed a minor but significant fractionation in bulk δ15N values related to the loss of acid‐soluble components. Compared to H2O2, NaOCl oxidative treatment was more effective in cleaning inter‐OM and produced reliable bulk and amino acid (AA)‐specific δ15N data of intra‐OM. Furthermore, differences in the relative abundance and δ15N values of individual AAs suggested that the N isotope composition is not uniform within shells, and the N‐bearing content and AA composition differ between organic phases. Future studies should test the capability of bulk and CSIA‐AA δ15N proxies in fossil shells as paleoenvironmental archives.
Global ULF Waves Excited by Solar Wind Dynamic Pressure Impulses: 1. Timescales and Geomagnetic Activity Dependence
Authors: Xie Zi‐Kang , Zong Q. G. , Ren Jie , Yue Chao , Liu Zhi‐Yang , Liu Jian‐Jun , Hu Ze‐Jun , Li Xing‐Yu , Yin Ze‐Fan , Yan Yun , Li Li , Gjerloev J. W.
Published: October 2023

Solar wind dynamic pressure pulse is one of the sources of ultra‐low frequency (ULF) waves. Based on 1‐second resolution magnetic field observations from SuperMAG from 2012 to 2019, we conducted a statistical study on temporal and spatial variations of global ULF power after the arrival of positive dynamic pressure pulses. The magnetosphere responds quickly to the dynamic pressure pulse within 1 min. At low L‐shells, it takes 4–6 min for the ULF waves to reach a power maximum, then ULF waves decay on a timescale of about 10 min. The spatial distribution of ULF wave power is closely related to the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) when the dynamic pressure pulse arrives. The southward IMF leads to the reconnection on the dayside and more intense substorm activities on the nightside, accompanied by stronger ULF wave power globally. The power enhancement in the Pc2 band exhibits a notable fluctuation concentrated primarily in the range of L = 7 to 9, compared with the quiet period. In contrast, the amplification of Pc3 wave power occurs predominantly at higher L‐shells. However, the fluctuation of Pc5 power exhibits an opposite pattern, indicating disparate excitation and propagation mechanisms. In addition, seasonal effects affect the ULF power in different bands, which can be explained by the Russell‐McPherron (R‐M) effect. Our statistical results on long‐term, global‐scale geomagnetic observations illustrate that pressure pulses are important sources of ULF waves, and the spatial distribution of wave power varies greatly under different solar wind conditions.
Nyiragongo Crater Collapses Measured by Multi‐Sensor SAR Amplitude Time Series
Authors: Smittarello D. , Grandin R. , Jaspard M. , Derauw D. , d'Oreye N. , Shreve T. , Debret M. , Theys N. , Brenot H.
Published: October 2023

Crater morphology undergoes rapid changes at active volcanoes, and quantifying these changes during volcanic unrest episodes is crucial for assessing volcanic activity levels. However, various limitations, including restricted crater access, cloud cover, haze, and intra‐crater eruptive activity, often impede regular optical or on‐site crater monitoring. To overcome these challenges, we utilize multi‐sensor satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery to generate dense time series of quantitative indicators for monitoring crater morphological changes. By combining images from diverse satellites and acquisition modes, we achieve high temporal resolution. Nevertheless, due to variations in acquisition geometries, direct image comparisons become impractical. To address this, we develop PickCraterSAR, an open‐access Python tool that employs basic trigonometry assumptions to measure crater radius and depth from SAR amplitude images in radar geometry. We apply our methodology to study the crater collapse associated with the May 2021 and January 2002 eruptions of Nyiragongo volcano. Following the 2021 collapse, we estimate the maximum depth of the crater to be 850 m below the rim, with a total volume of 84 ± 10 Mm3. Notably, the post‐2021 eruption crater was 270 m deeper but only 15%–20% more voluminous compared to the post‐2002 eruption crater. Additionally, we demonstrate that the 2021 crater collapse occurred progressively while a dike intrusion migrated southward as a consequence of the drainage of the lava lake system. Overall, our study showcases the utility of multi‐sensor SAR imagery and introduces PickCraterSAR as a valuable tool for monitoring and analyzing crater morphological changes, providing insights into the dynamics of volcanic activity.
Strengthened Connections Between Arctic Sea Ice and Thermal Conditions Over the Tibetan Plateau in May After the 2000s
Authors: Hu Rui , Zhang Jie , Chen Lin , Ma Qianrong , Chen Zhiheng , Wu Shiying , Li Junjun , Kuang Yuxin , Liu Jiang
Published: October 2023

The thermal conditions of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) during spring are significantly related to climate changes on regional and hemispheric scales. The surface skin temperature over the TP in May exhibits an increasing trend over the northern and central‐western regions since the 2000s. This heterogeneous distribution has a strengthened relationship with changes in Arctic sea‐ice concentration (SIC) over the Barents‐Kara Seas after 2001, showing a significant negative correlation. Along with the dramatic SIC variations after 2001, there is a mid‐latitude wave train akin to the Circumglobal Teleconnection (CGT), accompanied by an anomalous anticyclone around the TP. On the one hand, the high‐latitude energy associated with the SIC changes spreads through the Barents‐Kara Seas toward the southeast, causing intensified westerly winds over the West Siberian Plain. The anomalies imply a poleward subtropical jet, which affects the anticyclonic anomaly over the TP, situated south of the jet axis, through dynamic processes. On the other hand, the cyclonic anomalies at high latitudes, linked with reduced SIC, inhibit snow melting and bring lower soil moisture content. Consequently, increased meridional temperature gradients and background baroclinicity cover the West Siberian Plain and regions encompassing the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, demonstrating the impacts of SIC variations on mid‐latitude Rossby waves. Responses to the anomalous anticyclone over the TP, heightened downward motions favor enhanced adiabatic heating and result in reduced cloud cover, further causing decreased snow depth. Influenced by snow‐albedo and cloud‐radiation feedback, the net downward short‐wave radiation increases and leads to the TP warming after 2001.
Air‐Sea Heat Fluxes Associated With Convective Cold Pools
Authors: Wills Samantha M. , Cronin Meghan F. , Zhang Dongxiao
Published: October 2023

High‐resolution air‐sea observations collected by a suite of remotely‐piloted uncrewed surface vehicles (USV) provide new insight on surface latent and sensible heat fluxes associated with convective cold pools over the eastern Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Convective cold pools are linked to isolated, heavily precipitating cells over the ocean that yield downdrafts of evaporatively‐cooled air that spreads out horizontally in all directions and are characterized by strong air temperature gradients and horizontal wind speeds. Cold pool frontal signatures are identified based on air temperature depression criteria of −1.5°C in 10 min or less, resulting in a total of 276 events observed within the eastern Pacific ITCZ across 590 total seadays of data from 10 drones over the course of 3 years. Composite analysis reveals enhanced latent and sensible heat fluxes from the ocean to the atmosphere immediately following the frontal passage, and a decomposition of the bulk flux formulas indicates that variations in latent heat flux are largely influenced by the anomalous wind field (i.e., the cold pool gust front) acting on the mean background air‐sea moisture gradient, while variations in sensible heat flux are largely influenced by the mean background wind acting on the anomalous air‐sea temperature gradient (i.e., the cold pool temperature front). High‐frequency variations in wind speed and velocity are further explored in the context of “gustiness” and averaging intervals used in bulk flux algorithms. A case study is also presented for a convective cold pool event captured by a traveling mesoscale network, or mesonet, of USVs.