bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of crop diversity in escape agriculture; rice cultivation among Maroon communities in Suriname
Authors: Maat Harro , Pinas Nicholaas , van Andel Tinde
Published: September 2023

Societal Impact Statement

Agricultural techniques are inherently connected to social organization. Under colonialism, broadly understood as foreign powers suppressing (parts of) a local population, escape agriculture offers a way to avoid despotism by producing food and other produce in independent and sustainable ways. Crop diversity plays an important role in escape agriculture, demonstrated here by the variation of rice varieties on Maroon farms in Suriname. Histories of Maroon agricultural practices, and similarly marginalized groups in (formerly) colonized regions, are informative for current interventions in agriculture. Agronomic support to marginalized groups will only be successful when addressing historically grown social disengagement.

Rationale: Food is essential for successful marronage and produced by means of escape agriculture. Today, communities in the interior of Suriname continue to farm by following practices of escape agriculture. Our study traces the historical development of these farming practices, in particular the extensive cultivation of rice. Our aim is to show that the diversity of rice varieties used in their fields reveals the sophisticated farming techniques and social significance of escape agriculture.

Methods: We visited about 60 farm plots upstream the main rivers of Suriname where we interviewed the person in charge about the rice varieties grown in their fields. We asked about origin, names, and characteristics of each rice variety. We also screened historical sources, primary and secondary, as well as anthropological accounts of these communities for historical evidence of rice cultivation and varietal diversity.

Results: Plots were farmed primarily by women and contained a broad range of different rice varieties. Naming and origin stories show a clear reference to the escape from plantations and the leading role of women in farming and food security. In some fields, a small patch was reserved for a rice type with very dark grains, used mostly for ritual purposes. Results also show adoption of more recently introduced rice varieties.

Conclusion: Rice plays a key role in escape agriculture as practiced by Maroon communities in Suriname. Rice varieties are used as agricultural markers of difference.
Enantioselectivity in the enzymatic dehydration of malate and tartrate: Mirror image specificities of structurally similar dehydratases
Authors: Bellur Asutosh , Mukherjee Souradip , Sharma Pragya , Jayaraman Vijay , Balaram Hemalatha
Published: September 2023

Malate (2‐hydroxysuccinic acid) and tartrate (2,3‐dihydroxysuccinic acid) are chiral substrates; the former existing in two enantiomeric forms (R and S) while the latter exists as three stereoisomers (R,R; S,S; and R,S). Dehydration by stereospecific hydrogen abstraction and antielimination of the hydroxyl group yield the achiral products fumarate and oxaloacetate, respectively. Class‐I fumarate hydratase (FH) and L‐tartrate dehydratase (L‐TTD) are two highly conserved enzymes belonging to the iron–sulfur cluster hydrolyase family of enzymes that catalyze reactions on specific stereoisomers of malate and tartrate. FH from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii accepts only (S)‐malate and (S,S)‐tartrate as substrates while the structurally similar L‐TTD from Escherichia coli accepts only (R)‐malate and (R,R)‐tartrate as substrates. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a common evolutionary origin of L‐TTDs and two‐subunit archaeal FHs suggesting a divergence during evolution that may have led to the switch in substrate stereospecificity preference. Due to the high conservation of their sequences, a molecular basis for switch in stereospecificity is not evident from analysis of crystal structures of FH and predicted structure of L‐TTD. The switch in enantiomer preference may be rationalized by invoking conformational plasticity of the amino acids interacting with the substrate, together with substrate reorientation and conformer selection about the C2C3 bond of the dicarboxylic acid substrates. Although classical models of enzyme–substrate binding are insufficient to explain such a phenomenon, the enantiomer superposition model suggests that a minor reorientation in the active site residues could lead to the switch in substrate stereospecificity.
Development of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose films with corn silk polysaccharides and its application as biomaterial in enhancing the shelf life of mozzarella cheese
Authors: Abdin Mohamed , Naeem Mohamed Ahmed , Elmahdy Ahmed , Ali Mostafa
Published: September 2023

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPM) is a viscous modified natural polymer that is utilised as thickener, emulsifier and reducer of serum cholesterol. Novel films composed from HPM and corn silk polysaccharides (CSP) were prepared (HPM‐corn silk [CS]). The impact of using different percentages of CSP on the characteristics of HPM‐CS was studied. Results showed that replacing 37.5% of HPM with CSP led to a significant improvement in mechanical properties, with an increase of 58.71% for tensile strength and 54.29% for elongation at break. In addition, the produced films showed improved opacity, antioxidant activities and a smooth, continuous surface without any grooves, as well as being biodegradable. However, the thermal stability was reduced, and the crystallinity shapes were disrupted at higher concentrations due to the inclusion of CSP in the HPM‐CS films. The best HPM concentration (1 g/100 mL) with optimum CSP concentration of (0.6 g/100 mL) was used as food packaging material for low‐moisture mozzarella cheese. The packaging material kept the stability of total microbial count in hygienic scale up to 40 days of cold storage, moisture loss and pH values up to 30 days. Additionally, the results of hedonic sensory evaluation were satisfied compared with fresh cheese until 30 days of storage.
A general construction method for component orthogonal arrays
Authors: Wang Chunyan , King Caleb , Lin Dennis K. J.
Published: September 2023

Order‐of‐addition (OofA) experiments have gained renewed attention in recent years, especially in regard to their design. For these experiments, the response is determined by the order in which components are added. A particularly useful design introduced in OofA experiments is the component orthogonal array (COA). The COA maintains pairwise balance between any two components while also ensuring each component appears equally often in each position. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm for constructing COAs which can be naturally split into blocks of Latin squares. These blocks can be run sequentially in a systematic order, potentially requiring fewer runs to identify optimal orderings, while also preserving good properties should the overall design be needed. We also show how to extend this construction method to create designs for any number of components.
An efficient hierarchical electric vehicle charging control strategy
Authors: He Chenyuan , Zhang Zhouyu
Published: September 2023

Electric vehicle (EV) has emerged as a crucial component in addressing both energy and environmental problems, and has become an essential part of nowadays' intelligent transportation systems. However, the charging demands of large amounts of EVs can put substantial pressure on power grid systems and cause potential grid congestion problems. In this article, we propose a hierarchical EV charging control strategy that considers the network‐wide communication overheads, computational complexity, total energy cost, EV user preferences, and data privacy protection. The hierarchical charging structure contains two phases, that is, a centralized control for EV aggregators and a distributed control for EVs within an aggregator. We prove that the centralized control with the objective to minimize the total energy cost of the power system constitutes a convex quadratic programming problem. Then a unique global optimum for the energy consumption profiles of EV aggregators can be achieved. The distributed charging control for EVs within an aggregator is studied using a generalized Nash equilibrium problem (GNEP). We show that the solution of the GNEP can be obtained via a variational inequality. Then the Solodov and Svaiter hyperplane projection method is employed to iteratively approach the variational equilibrium while ensuring the protection of EV users' data privacy. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to verify the correctness and effectiveness of our proposed hierarchical charging control algorithm for EVs.
Investigation of the prediction of wildlife animals and its deployment using the robot
Authors: Kaur Parminder , Kansal Sachin , Singh Varinder P.
Published: September 2023

Monitoring Wildlife in their natural habitat requires direct human intervention. Some animals are scared of humans. In such situations, camera‐equipped devices are implemented to gain a clear picture of Wildlife. Objective: Current wildlife detection models detect and classify the animal from camera‐captured images, limiting the action to rescue or save them from mishaps. Also, the camera‐equipped devices are fixed at particular locations. Therefore, an efficient detection model capable of protecting the animal has potential to play an important role. Method: To this end, we present Pred‐WAR, a Convolution Neural Network (CNN)‐based image classification approach to detect and raise rescue alerts for real‐time Wildlife. In our approach, we have proposed a Mask Region‐based CNN (Mask RCNN or MRCNN) with an Automatic Mixed Precision model that is implemented on a Robot Operating System‐based mobile robot with Raspberry Pi4 to detect and raise acoustic of Lion or alarm to alert or rescue animal in real‐time. Results: Pred‐WAR obtained a mean Average Precision value of 85.47% and an F1 score of 87.73% with a precision value range between 92% to 99%, outperforming the current MRCNN model. Significance: This approach has fast computation speed and maintains accuracy that will be efficiently implemented in real‐time scenarios.
An Emerging Chemistry Revives Proton Batteries
Authors: Guo Haocheng , Zhao Chuan
Published: September 2023

Developing new energy techniques that simultaneously integrate the fast rate capabilities of supercapacitors and high capacities of batteries represents an ultimate goal in the field of electrochemical energy storage. A new possibility arises with an emerging battery chemistry that relies on proton‐ions as the ion‐charge‐carrier and benefits from the fast transportation kinetics. Proton‐based battery chemistry starts with the recent discoveries of materials for proton redox reactions and leads to a renaissance of proton batteries. In this article, the historical developments of proton batteries are outlined and key aspects of battery chemistry are reviewed. First, the fundamental knowledge of proton‐ions and their transportation characteristics is introduced; second, Faradaic electrodes for proton storage are categorized and highlighted in detail; then, reported electrolytes and different designs of proton batteries are summarized; last, perspectives of developments for proton batteries are proposed. It is hoped that this review will provide guidance on the rational designs of proton batteries and benefit future developments.
Complexity Patterning: A patterns‐based design and strategy for transformational education
Authors: Brown Shae L.
Published: September 2023

This work describes a novel and transformational educational curriculum and strategy, designed to calibrate human consciousness and cognition to the generativity of living complex phenomena. It is an approach that seeks to displace the outdated mechanistic paradigm within education in favour of the deep complexity paradigm. Towards this aim, a patterns‐based curriculum and educational strategy called Complexity Patterning was implemented in a research project with four cohorts of university students. The approach proved to be a sound basis for developing conscious metacognition of self and world as relational co‐generative complex phenomena. This understanding forms the foundation for the teaching and learning of complexity‐focused knowledge and skills, which are of vital importance to all young people as they engage with the increasingly complex challenges of the 21st century.
New penalty in information criteria for the ARCH sequence with structural changes
Authors: Ozaki Ryoto , Ninomiya Yoshiyuki
Published: September 2023

For change point models and autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) models, which have long been important especially in econometrics, we develop information criteria that work well even when considering a combination of these models. Since the change point model does not satisfy the conventional statistical asymptotics, a formal Akaike information criterion (AIC) with twice the number of parameters as the penalty term would clearly result in overfitting. Therefore, we derive an AIC‐type information criterion from its original definition using asymptotics peculiar to the change point model. Specifically, we suppose time series data treated in econometrics and derive Takeuchi information criterion (TIC) as the main information criterion allowing for model misspecification. It is confirmed that the penalty for the change point parameter is almost three times larger than the penalty for the regular parameter. We also derive the AIC in this setting from the TIC by removing the consideration of the model misspecification. In numerical experiments, the derived TIC and AIC are compared with the formal AIC and Bayesian information criterion (BIC). It is shown that the derived information criteria clearly outperform the others in light of the original purpose of AIC, which is to give an estimate close to the true structure. We also ensure that the TIC seems to be superior to the AIC in the presence of model misspecification.
On pairwise interaction multivariate Pareto models
Authors: Lalancette Michaël
Published: September 2023

The rich class of multivariate Pareto distributions forms the basis of recently introduced extremal graphical models. However, most existing literature on the topic is focused on the popular parametric family of Hüsler–Reiss distributions. It is shown that the Hüsler–Reiss family is in fact the only continuous multivariate Pareto model that exhibits the structure of a pairwise interaction model, justifying its use in many high‐dimensional problems. Along the way, useful insight is obtained concerning a certain class of distributions that generalize the Hüsler–Reiss family, a result of independent interest.
New method of video‐assisted vaginoscopy in Nellore heifers
Authors: Rodrigues Gabriela Jaques , Monteiro Bruno Moura , Viana Rinaldo Batista , da Silva Aluizio Otavio Almeida , Monteiro Francisco Décio de Oliveira , Teixeira Pedro Paulo Maia
Published: September 2023

Vaginoscopy allows an intravaginal endoscopic evaluation and can help in the diagnosis of female bovine genital tract disorders. The aim of this study is to validate a new method of gynaecological examination using a Scope VOR&GDI videovaginoscope. Twenty‐six heifers were used, divided into 2 groups with 13 animals, control group (GC) and videovaginoscopic group (GV). In the CG, vaginoscopy was performed with a vaginal speculum and in the GV with a Scope VOR&GDI videovaginoscope. All heifers underwent vaginoscopy on day 0 (D0), and 9 days later, on day 9 (D9). Vaginoscopy provided adequate intravaginal inspection. In the CG, 23% (3/13) of the heifers showed discomfort during the test. In GV, vaginal inspection was better due to better image quality. The videovaginoscope is the most effective equipment for carrying out the vaginoscopy procedure in Nellore heifers, as it produces sharper and clearer images and can help in the diagnostic and therapeutic routine of veterinarians.
Persistent left cranial vena cava in an alpaca cria incidentally identified with computed tomography
Authors: Atkinson Lucia , Orlandi Rocio , Sumping Jessica
Published: September 2023

A 12‐week‐old alpaca cria, that had been managed conservatively for a subluxation of the third and fourth cervical vertebrae (C) and possible C6–C7 subluxation identified several weeks previously following trauma at birth, was presented for investigations of acute onset tetraparesis. During investigations with computed tomography, a persistent left cranial vena cava, with an unusual phenotype, was incidentally identified with concurrent absence of the right cranial vena cava. The azygous vein could be seen crossing over the mediastinum to join the persistent left cranial vena cava, which continued caudally, passing left lateral to the heart and emptying into the caudal vena cava at the level of the diaphragm.
COVID‐19 pandemic, farming households' food and nutrition security, and response strategies in Ghana, West Africa
Authors: Suh Neville N. , Nyiawung Richard A. , Molua Ernest L. , Abay Canan F.
Published: September 2023

We explored the association between COVID‐19 disruptions and food and nutrition security, including the various coping strategies adopted by farming households in Ghana. The different COVID‐19 shocks experienced and coping strategies implemented by farming households are identified through focus group discussions. A multistage random sampling method was used to survey 252 farming households, and data were analyzed using different regression techniques. We observe no significant differences in the food and nutrition security status of male‐ and female‐headed households, while the COVID‐19 disruptions affected male‐headed households more than female‐headed households. Our data shows a higher vulnerability of urban households to food and nutrition insecurity than rural households, with the COVID‐19 disruptions affecting urban households more than rural households. We find that the COVID‐19 disruptions pushed households to reduce their frequency of food consumption, consume less diverse diets, and hinder their adoption of coping strategies. Hence, responses that aim to strengthen farming households' frequency of consumption of essential food groups and access to nutritional and healthy diets are crucial to either help maintain or improve farming households' food and nutrition security during shocks such as COVID‐19 in Ghana.
Preventing reforming unequally
Authors: Börsch-Supan Axel , Härtl Klaus , Leite Duarte N. , Ludwig Alexander
Published: September 2023

Population aging has forced policy makers in most developed countries to reform pension systems with the aim of maintaining or re-establishing financial sustainability. This usually involves cost-cutting measures like later pension eligibility ages and lower replacement rates. Such reforms face harsh trade-offs with the objective of providing adequate pensions. Social welfare and inequality have emerged as crucial concerns about recent pension reforms, stressing that the lack of “social sustainability” may undermine financial sustainability. This paper analyzes such trade-offs and may explain why support for pension reform has dwindled in Europe. The paper evaluates reform effects on financial sustainability, social welfare, and intra- and inter-generational equality in a rich unified framework with several dimensions of heterogeneity and various behavioral reactions. Our simulations shed light on the complex distributional effects of pension reform on different cohorts and societal groups. They show where policy tends to reform unequally and why reforms may fail to find voters’ approval.
BREAST-Q-Based Survey of the Satisfaction and Health Status of Patients with Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Jiang Lina , Ji Xiaohui , Liu Wei , Qi Chuanchuan , Zhai Xiaomei
Published: September 2023

Aims

To explore the patients’ satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients who received reconstruction after breast cancer surgery using the BREAST-Q questionnaire and further investigate the influencing risk factors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled patients who underwent first-ever breast reconstruction after unilateral or bilateral mastectomy at the Breast Surgery Department of First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University or People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou between January 2016 and December 2021. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors.

Results

A total of 202 participants were included. Age of >45 years (vs.≤35 years, β = − 3.74, P < 0.001) was an independent risk factor influencing the satisfaction degree score. Age between 36 and 45 years (vs. ≤35 years, β = − 0.26, P < 0.001), age of >45 years (vs. ≤35 years, β = − 0.45, P < 0.001), nipple-preserving mastectomy (NSM)/ skin-preserving mastectomy (SSM) + sentinel lymph node dissection + prosthesis implantation + contralateral breast augmentation (vs. NSM/SSM + sentinel lymph node dissection + prosthesis implantation, β = − 0.16, P=0.012), and the use of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) matrix (β = 0.13, P = 0.044) were independent risk factors influencing the HRQOL scores.

Conclusion

Age, the surgical procedure, and the use of matrix were associated with the satisfaction degree and HRQOL after breast reconstruction in patients receiving mastectomy.

Level of Evidence II

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Operative Case Volumes and Variation for General Surgery Training in East, Central, and Southern Africa
Authors: Mwachiro Michael M. , Yankunze Yves , Bachheta Niraj , Scroope Emma , Mangaoang Deirdre , Bekele Abebe , White Russell E. , Parker Robert K.
Published: September 2023

Background

Operative experience is a necessary part of surgical training. The College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA), which oversees general surgery training programs in the region, has implemented guidelines for the minimum necessary case volumes upon completion of two (Membership) and five (Fellowship) years of surgical training. We aimed to review trainee experience to determine whether guidelines are being met and examine the variation of cases between countries.

Methods

Operative procedures were categorized from a cohort of COSECSA general surgery trainees and compared to the guideline minimum case volumes for Membership and Fellowship levels. The primary and secondary outcomes were total observed case volumes and cases within defined categories. Variations by country and development indices were explored.

Results

One hundred ninety‐four trainees performed 69,283 unique procedures related to general surgery training. The review included 70 accredited hospitals and sixteen countries within Africa. Eighty percent of MCS trainees met the guideline minimum of 200 overall cases; however, numerous trainees did not meet the guideline minimum for each procedure. All FCS trainees met the volume target for total cases and orthopedics; however, many did not meet the guideline minimums for other categories, especially breast, head and neck, urology, and vascular surgery. The operative experience of trainees varied significantly by location and national income level.

Conclusions

Surgical trainees in East, Central, and Southern Africa have diverse operative training experience. Most trainees fulfill the overall case volume requirements; however, further exploration of how to meet the demands of specific categories and procedures is necessary.
Intraventricular central neurocytoma molecularly defined as extraventricular neurocytoma: a case representing the discrepancy between clinicopathological and molecular classifications
Authors: Sato Daisuke , Takami Hirokazu , Takayanagi Shunsaku , Ikemura Masako , Matsuura Reiko , Tanaka Shota , Saito Nobuhito
Published: September 2023

Central neurocytoma (CN) is classically defined by its intraventricular location, neuronal/neurocytic differentiation, and histological resemblance to oligodendroglioma. Extraventricular neurocytoma (EVN) shares similar histological features with CN, while it distributes any site without contact with the ventricular system. CN and EVN have distinct methylation landscapes, and EVN has a signature fusion gene, FGFR1-TACC1. These characteristics distinguish between CN and EVN. A 30-year-old female underwent craniotomy and resection of a left intraventricular tumor at our institution. The histopathology demonstrated the classical findings of CN. Adjuvant irradiation with 60 Gy followed. No recurrence has been recorded for 25 years postoperatively. RNA sequencing revealed FGFR1-TACC1 fusion and methylation profile was discrepant with CN but compatible with EVN. We experienced a case of anatomically and histologically proven CN in the lateral ventricle. However, the FGFR1-TACC1 fusion gene and methylation profiling suggested the molecular diagnosis of EVN. The representative case was an “intraventricular” neurocytoma displaying molecular features of an “extraventricular” neurocytoma. Clinicopathological and molecular definitions have collided in our case and raised questions about the current definition of CN and EVN.
First report of bacterial brown root rot in pea sprouts (Pisum sativum L.) caused by a Pseudomonas species
Authors: Suzuki Takumi , Kitazawa Yugo , Motohashi Tomohiro Neil , Koinuma Hiroaki , Kimura Kan , Nishikawa Minaho , Maejima Kensaku , Ichikawa Kazunori , Namba Shigetou , Yamaji Yasuyuki
Published: September 2023

In 2019, brown root rot symptoms were observed in pea sprouts (Pisum sativum L.) grown in a plant factory in Japan. Bacteria were isolated from symptomatic plants and confirmed to cause the same symptoms in inoculation to pea seedlings. Based on multilocus sequence analysis and the bacteriological characteristics, the isolates were identified as a Pseudomonas species belonging to the Pseudomonas asplenii subgroup, which is most closely related to Pseudomonas vanderleydeniana. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a bacterial root disease in pea plants and of a P. asplenii subgroup member that is pathogenic to legumes.
A fully integrated duplex RT-LAMP device for the detection of viral infections
Authors: Mytzka Nicolas , Arbaciauskaite Skaiste , Sandetskaya Natalia , Mattern Kai , Kuhlmeier Dirk
Published: September 2023

Respiratory viruses can cause epidemics or pandemics, which are worldwide outbreaks of disease. The severity of these events varies depending on the virus, its characteristics, along with environmental factors. The frequency of epidemics and pandemics caused by respiratory viruses is difficult to predict, but the potential severity of such events underlines the importance of continued monitoring, research, and preparation for emerging infectious diseases. To help improve pandemic preparedness, we created a fully integrated duplex reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) device targeting two respiratory viruses, influenza A/X-31 virus and bovine coronavirus, as a replacement for SARS-CoV-2. This device can be adapted to any other respiratory virus. In this study, we showed and evaluated a prototype of a microfluidic system, and showed that duplex RT-LAMP can detect and distinguish between the two viruses, with LoDs of 2,000 copies/ml for bovine coronavirus and 200 copies/ml for influenza A/X-31 virus.

Graphical abstract
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with acute myocarditis and chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy
Authors: Caobelli Federico , Cabrero Jordi Broncano , Galea Nicola , Haaf Philip , Loewe Christian , Luetkens Julian A. , Muscogiuri Giuseppe , Francone Marco
Published: September 2023

Advanced cardiac imaging techniques such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) are widely used in clinical practice in patients with acute myocarditis and chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathies (I-CMP). We aimed to provide a review article with practical recommendations from the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR), in order to guide physicians in the use and interpretation of CMR and PET in clinical practice both for acute myocarditis and follow-up in chronic forms of I-CMP.
Misophonia in Children and Adolescents: Age Differences, Risk Factors, Psychiatric and Psychological Correlates. A Pilot Study with Mothers’ Involvement
Authors: Siepsiak Marta , Turek Anna , Michałowska Magdalena , Gambin Małgorzata , Dragan Wojciech Łukasz
Published: September 2023

Misophonia is a type of disorder characterized by decreased sound tolerance. While it typically begins in childhood, research on its characteristics in this population is limited. We assessed 90 children aged 7–18 with and without misophonia, along with their mothers, using interviews, questionnaires, and performance-based tests. Younger children with misophonia were more likely to use aggression in response to triggers than older, while adolescents largely reported self-harm during triggers. Children with misophonia did not differ from their peers in terms of ADHD, ODD, ASD, dyslexia, social and emotional competencies, head injuries, epilepsy, tinnitus, being prematurely born, or delivered via cesarean sections. However, they had significantly higher symptoms of anxiety and depression, more frequent occurrences of OCD, migraines, and psychosomatic complaints. Their mothers self-reported postpartum depression significantly more frequently than mothers in the control group. There is a need for further research on pediatric misophonia, with the involvement and assessment of parents.
Applying recommendation system for developing programming competencies in children from a non-weird context
Authors: Cárdenas-Cobo Jesennia , Vidal-Silva Cristian , Arévalo Lisett , Torres Magali
Published: September 2023

The information society is part of current life, and algorithmic thinking and programming are relevant for everybody regardless of educational background. Today’s world needs professionals with computing competencies from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic Societies) and non-WEIRD contexts. Traditional programming languages include syntax barriers that complicate their overall adoption and usefulness for people from a non-WEIRD context. To solve it, block-based programming languages like Scratch permit the development of programming competencies without syntax restrictions in online environments. This article presents empirical evidence of the positive impact of Scratch with the CARAMBA recommendation system for lessons and exercises proposals based on collaborative filtering of personalized learning from students’ experiences. Previous experiences demonstrated that students require assistance in successfully defining sub-competencies and exercises to develop programming competencies by applying Scratch. This work shows the application of Scratch and CARAMBA in a non-WEIRD school context for developing programming competencies. Obtained results show that developing exercises with Scratch and CARAMBA motivated students’ autonomy, and as well, the programming learning application increased exam scores in all the analyzed grades. Those results encourage us to continue using Scratch and CARAMBA for developing programming competencies in similar non-WEIRD contexts.
Parenting Style and Child Aggressive Behavior from Preschool to Elementary School: The Mediating Effect of Emotion Dysregulation
Authors: Rademacher Annika , Zumbach Jelena , Koglin Ute
Published: September 2023

Parenting styles act as a risk or a protective factor for the development of aggressive behavior problems in children. Moreover, children with deficits in emotion regulation often show increased aggressive behaviors. Previous studies confirm that parenting style also contributes to the development of emotion dysregulation. The present longitudinal study aims to understand this complex interplay and analyzes emotion dysregulation as mediating variable for the relationship between parental warmth or strictness and aggressive behavior from preschool through elementary school. Additionally, parents’ educational level and their unity in parenting were considered as antecedent factors influencing parenting styles. The present path analyses are based on questionnaire data from 442 children and their families. The results show indirect effects for the associations between parenting style and aggressive behavior in preschool and elementary school via children’s emotion dysregulation. At the same time, a lower level of education and unity in parenting are more strongly associated with a strict parenting style. Children’s emotion dysregulation can be positively influenced by a warm and less strict parenting style, leading to a reduction in problems with aggressive behavior from preschool to elementary school.
Experimental investigation and integral simulation of a thermal annular plume
Authors: Stefanidou Maria K. , Bloutsos Aristeidis A. , Yannopoulos Panayotis C.
Published: September 2023

Thermal plumes issued with mean exit velocities of 0.527 and 0.702 m/s from internally closed annular nozzles are investigated experimentally, theoretically, and numerically. The experimental setup and the measurement and analysis methodologies for flow and mixing are described in detail. The experimental setup consists of an air heating box with an annular slot of 0.12-m mean diameter and 0.01-m width, accompanied by equipment for setup operation and measurement of mean velocities and temperatures. The trajectory of maximum velocities and the isovelocity contours indicate reattachment due to plume self-merging at $$z_{\textrm{P0}}= 0.161$$

z
P0

=
0.161

 m and around 0.20 m in correspondence to exit velocities. It was found that $$z_{\textrm{P0}}$$

z
P0

depends mainly upon initial Froude number and annulus equivalent diameter. Experiments detected a vortex ring right after the exit followed by a stagnation point at $$z_{\textrm{P1}}\cong 0.055$$

z
P1

≅
0.055

 m on the plume centreline. The annular plume core obtains almost uniform temperature and on average 15 times higher dilutions than bulk dilutions of the equivalnt round plume. To predict the self-merging trajectory, a novel integral model was developed named self-merging approach (SMA). SMA is based on the solution of the ordinary differential equations of momentum and buoyancy applied to an infinitesimal sector of the annular plume, which is equivalent to two identical slot plumes. These plumes are reattached due to outer entrainment, inner entrainment starvation, and a series of sinks along the annular plume centreline with strengths calculated by an original relationship. SMA predictions agree very well with the observations. The present findings contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon and offer new ideas for designing buoyancy-operating disposal systems with low momentum, using annular- or rosette-type diffusers mainly in shallow water bodies.
Caught between academic calling and academic pressure? Working time characteristics, time pressure and time sovereignty predict PhD students’ research engagement
Authors: van Tienoven Theun Pieter , Glorieux Anaïs , Minnen Joeri , Spruyt Bram
Published: September 2023

PhD students come to work in academic environments that are characterized by long working hours and work done on non-standard hours due to increasing job demands and metric evaluation systems. Yet their long working hours and work at non-standard hours are often seen as a logical consequence of their intellectual quest and academic calling and may even serve as a proxy for their research engagement. Against that background, quantitative data from 514 PhD students were used to unravel the complex relationships between different aspects of time use and PhD students’ work engagement. While the results support the academia as a calling thesis to some extent, they also show that the relationships between long and non-standard working hours and research engagement are partly negated by the fact that the same working time characteristics lead to perceived time pressure and lack of time sovereignty, which in turn negatively affects their engagement. Moreover, the mechanism behind this negation varies across scientific disciplines. These subjective working time characteristics are the same alarm signals that are flagged as risk factors in academic staff for occupational stress, burnout, and work-life imbalance and thus cannot be ignored.
Attachment Security with Mothers and Fathers: A Meta-Analysis on Mean-Level Differences and Correlations of Verbal Attachment Measures
Authors: Pinquart Martin
Published: September 2023

As mothers and fathers remain important attachment figures beyond infancy and toddlerhood, comparisons of attachment security of older children with their mothers and fathers are relevant for family researchers and practitioners. We analyzed mean-level differences between verbal reports of attachment security with mothers and fathers, and correlations between both attachments. A systematic search in electronic databases identified 826 studies that were included in random-effects meta-analyses. Although security of attachment with fathers was, on average, lower than security of attachment with mothers, mean-level differences were small (g = −0.29). Large correlations were found between security with mothers and fathers (r = 0.53). While mean-level differences were larger in studies with questionnaires rather than interviews, the reverse was found when analyzing correlation. The size of mean-level differences increased with age, while the size of the correlation between security with mothers and fathers declined. More recent studies found smaller mean-level differences and larger correlations of security with both attachment figures. There were smaller differences between security with mothers and fathers as well as larger correlations of security with both parents if samples included more intact families. Mean level-differences were smaller and correlations were stronger if studies included more males. Finally, there were larger correlations of security with mothers and fathers in low-risk samples than in clinical/high-risk samples. We conclude that correlations and mean-level differences of self-reported attachment security are stronger than in studies with behavioral measures of observed security in younger children. Further research is recommended on factors that explain the observed correlations and mean-level differences.
Temperature alters the toxicological impacts of plant terpenoids on the polyphagous model herbivore Vanessa cardui
Authors: Irving Mari R. , Goolsby Eric W. , Stanford Hannah , Lim-Hing Simone , Urrea Maria , Mason Chase M.
Published: September 2023

Terpenes are a major class of secondary metabolites present in all plants, and long hypothesized to have diversified in response to specific plant-herbivore interactions. Herbivory is a major biotic interaction that plays out across broad temporal and spatial scales that vary dramatically in temperature regimes, both due to climatic variation across geographic locations as well as the effect of seasonality. In addition, there is an emerging understanding that global climate change will continue to alter the temperature regimes of nearly every habitat on Earth over the coming centuries. Regardless of source, variation in temperature may influence herbivory, in particular via changes in the efficacy and impacts of plant defensive chemistry. This study aims to characterize temperature-driven variation in toxicological effects across several structural classes of terpenes in the model herbivore Vanessa cardui, the painted lady butterfly. We observed a general increase in monoterpene toxicity to larvae, pupa, and adults at higher temperatures, as well as an increase in development time as terpene concentration increased. Results obtained from this study yield insights into possible drivers of seasonal variation in plant terpene production as well as inform effects of rising global temperatures on plant-insect interactions. In the context of other known effects of climate change on plant-herbivore interactions like carbon fertilization and compensatory feeding, temperature-driven changes in plant chemical defense efficacy may further complicate the prediction of climate change impacts on the fundamental ecological process of herbivory.
Improved energy formula for highly excited vibrational states of Kratzer-Fues oscillator
Authors: Molski Marcin
Published: September 2023

A mixed supersymmetric-algebraic approach is employed to derive an improved Kratzer-Fues energy formula, which describes the highly excited states of vibrating diatomic systems up to the dissociation limit. The approach proposed has been used to reproduce the coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectra generated by the vibrational transitions of the nitrogen molecule $$^{14}$$

14

N$$_2$$

2

in the ground electronic state $$X^1\Sigma _g^+$$

X
1

Σ
g
+

and the energy levels of dioxygen $$^{16}$$

16

O$$_2$$

2

in the ground electronic state $$X^3\Sigma _g^-$$

X
3

Σ
g
-

. The model includes v-dependence of the potential depth $$D_0\rightarrow D_v$$

D
0

→

D
v

as well as interatomic equilibrium separation $$r_0\rightarrow r_v$$

r
0

→

r
v

and can be used to describe vibrations of diatomic molecules in which nonadiabatic vibrational effects play a significant role. Exact analytical formulae relating the vibrational spectroscopic constants $$\omega _e$$

ω
e

, $$\omega _ex_e$$

ω
e

x
e

and $$\omega _ey_e$$

ω
e

y
e

to the parameters defining the model proposed are derived. They enable calculation of the spectral parameters or determination of the model parameters from the experimental data using the inverse spectroscopic procedure. It has been proven that the improved Kratzer-Fues oscillator has a finite number of vibrational quantum states, which distinguishes it from the original model, endowed with infinite number of states.
Movement computation of an articulated body using coordinate transformation
Authors: Park Jihun
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we propose a new formula for calculating the motion of an articulated rigid body using images obtained with a moving camera with an autofocus ability. Each of the input image scenes consists of moving joints with their own position and orientation unknown. Based on the computed coordinate system of the previous joint, the triangulation method finds the position of the feature point, and the computed feature point establishes the coordinate system for the next adjacent joint. First, the external and internal parameters of a camera are calculated using the optimization technique using the feature points in fixed environmental objects. The first joint is defined as the joint in contact with the environment. Based on the first joint, the movements of subsequent joints are computed in order. Afterwards, we calculate the motion for the connected joint with respect to the previous joint in a tree structure. To verify the accuracy of the movement of a model, a three-dimensional reconstruction was performed by using computed joint movements. The proposed formula is verified by the result of 3D reconstruction.
Three-Dimensional Integrated Geo-Static Modeling for Prospect Identification and Reserve Estimation in the Middle Miocene Multi-Reservoirs: A Case Study from Amal Field, Southern Gulf of Suez Province
Authors: Amer Mohammed , Mabrouk Walid M. , Soliman Khaled S. , Noureldin Ahmed M. , Metwally Ahmed
Published: September 2023

Middle Miocene reservoirs in the southern part of the Gulf of Suez province are characterized by geometrical uncertainties due to their structural settings, lateral facies change, different lithologies, and diverse reservoir quality. Therefore, in this study, detailed 3D geo-static models were constructed by integrating multiple datasets, including 2D seismic sections and digital well-logs. The 3D models were constructed for the Belayim Formation (Hammam Faraun Member), Kareem Formation (Markha Member), and Rudies Formation (Upper Rudies Member) with detailed structuration, zonation, and layering for Amal Field in the southern Gulf of Suez province to assess the hydrocarbon potential, calculate accurate reserves, recommend development and exploration plans, and propose locations for future drilling. The resultant structural model exhibited a compartmentalized area of major and minor normal faults trending NW–SE, forming structurally high potential hydrocarbon trapping locations in the study area. The petrophysical models indicated the good potentiality of Hammam Faraun as a reservoir with porosity values of 15–23%, increasing towards the central part of the area, volume of shale (Vsh) of 21–31%, water saturation (Sw) of 34–49%, and sand thickness increasing toward the northeastern part of the area. The Markha Member was also interpreted as a good reservoir, with porosity values of 15–22%, increasing towards the southeastern part of the area, Vsh of 13–29%, Sw of 16–38%, and sandy facies accumulating in the central horst block. Upper Rudies exhibits good reservoir properties with porosity values of 16–23%, Vsh of 29–37%, Sw of 35–40%, and good sandy facies in the central horst block of the area. The study results showed hydrocarbon potential in the central horst block of the study area for the Middle Miocene multi-reservoirs.
The first negative Fourier coefficient of an Eisenstein series newform
Authors: Carrillo Santana Sebastián
Published: September 2023

There have been a number of papers on statistical questions concerning the sign changes of Fourier coefficients of newforms. In one such paper, Linowitz and Thompson gave a conjecture describing when, on average, the first negative sign of the Fourier coefficients of an Eisenstein series newform occurs. In this paper, we correct their conjecture and prove the corrected version.
Getting off to a good start: emerging academic fields and early-stage equity financing
Authors: Esposito Ciro D. , Szatmari Balazs , Sitruk Jonathan M. C. , Wijnberg Nachoem M.
Published: September 2023

Prior studies show that access to academic knowledge plays a crucial role in new venture financing. We extend this research by shifting the focus from the access to academic knowledge to the developmental state of the academic field, where the academic knowledge is generated. Using natural language processing (NLP), we clustered peer-reviewed academic knowledge from Scopus into various fields. We then analyzed a sample of 341 new biotech ventures from Crunchbase to determine if increased past activity by (1) academics and (2) early-stage venture investors in a particular academic field is associated with the early-stage equity financing of new ventures associated with that field. We found that new ventures associated with academic fields for which academic activity has grown in the past receive more early-stage equity capital. However, contrary to our expectations, we also revealed that when a particular academic field shows greater early-stage venture investments in the past, the amount of early-stage equity capital received by subsequent ventures associated with the same academic field decreases. This suggests that while emerging academic fields signal the presence of business opportunities with high reward potential, past increase in the number of investments by peer early-stage investors associated with a particular academic field signals the opposite.