bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual outcomes and patient satisfaction 1 and 12 months after combined implantation of extended depth of focus and trifocal intraocular lenses
Authors: McNeely Richard N. , Moutari Salissou , Stewart Stephen , Moore Jonathan E.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

To assess the 1-month and 12-month postoperative visual performance and subjective outcomes following combined implantation of an extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) and a trifocal IOL.

Methods

The study enrolled consecutive patients undergoing refractive lens extraction or cataract surgery with combined implantation of an EDOF IOL (dominant eye) and trifocal IOL. Uncorrected (UDVA) and best-corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities, uncorrected intermediate (UIVA) and near (UNVA) visual acuities, and subjective questionnaires were evaluated 1 month and 12 months postoperatively.

Results

The study enrolled 58 consecutive patients. Binocular UDVA, UIVA and UNVA were − 0.08 ± 0.07 logMAR, 0.15 ± 0.14 logMAR and 0.17 ± 0.11 logMAR at 1 month, compared to − 0.09 ± 0.06 logMAR (P = .323), 0.11 ± 0.10 logMAR (P = .030) and 0.13 ± 0.10 logMAR (P = 0.008) at 12 months. Satisfaction was high with 93.1% of patients fulfilled or more than fulfilled postoperatively, and 84.5% and 86.3% reported spectacle independence for near at the respective postoperative assessments. The mean daytime and nighttime quality of vision (QoV) scores were 9.12 ± 0.94 and 7.88 ± 1.74 at 1 month, compared to 9.24 ± 0.78 (P = .183) and 8.26 ± 1.38 (P = .043) at 12 months.

Conclusions

This IOL combination provides good unaided visual acuity at 1 and 12 months postoperatively, with high functional vision and postoperative satisfaction reported at 1 and 12 months. However, a significant improvement in overall nighttime QoV at the 12 months assessment was found.
(Sea)ways of Perception: an Integrated Maritime-Terrestrial Approach to Modelling Prehistoric Seafaring
Authors: Blankshein Stephanie L.
Published: September 2021

The seaways have played a significant role in the movement of people, goods and ideologies since prehistory; yet, the ephemerality of movement combined with the paucity of direct evidence for prehistoric seafaring has challenged more refined understandings of the role of early seafaring in anthropogeny. Advances in digital methodologies within archaeology, such as least-cost approaches, allow more nuanced models of movement to be generated but suffer from dichotomous approaches to land and sea. These disentangled land-sea perspectives have long been criticised as ineffectual for understanding past maritime cultures, and previous discussions of prehistoric seafaring more specifically have advocated the consideration of the unique character of maritime space in order to more closely actuate a seafarer’s perspective. Drawing on these ideas, this paper argues that more nuanced approaches to past seafaring are not only necessary but also achievable through holistic perspectives, heuristic methods and scaled-down resolutions, which allow for a more contextualised understanding of the spatiality and temporality—i.e. the human-scale—of maritime movement. This will be demonstrated through an integrated land-sea least-cost method to model Neolithic seafaring around the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is not the intention of this paper to advocate solely for the methodology outlined here but rather to demonstrate the need to consider and understand the unique character of maritime space and its many influences on the practices being studied. Only through such contextualised cognition can the perspectives and ideologies of past seafarers and the role of seafaring in anthropogeny truly be understood.
Individual exposure to ambient PM2.5 and hospital admissions for COPD in 110 hospitals: a case-crossover study in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Jin Jie-Qi , Han Dong , Tian Qi , Chen Zhao-Yue , Ye Yun-Shao , Lin Qiao-Xuan , Ou Chun-Quan , Li Li
Published: September 2021

Few studies have evaluated the short-term association between hospital admissions and individual exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM2.5). Particularly, no studies focused on hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the individual level. We assessed the short-term effects of PM2.5 on hospitalization admissions for COPD in Guangzhou, China, during 2014–2015, based on satellite-derived estimates of ambient PM2.5 concentrations at a 1-km resolution near the residential address as individual-level exposure for each patient. Around 40,002 patients with COPD admitted to 110 hospitals were included in this study. A time-stratified case-crossover design with conditional logistic regression models was applied to assess the effects of PM2.5 based on a 1-km grid data of aerosol optical depth provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on hospital admissions for COPD. Further, we performed stratified analyses by individual demographic characteristics and season of hospital admission. Around 10 μg/m3 increase in individual-level PM2.5 was associated with an increase of 1.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6%, 2.7%) in hospitalization for COPD at a lag of 0–5 days. The impact of PM2.5 on hospitalization for COPD was greater significantly in males and patients admitted in summer. Our study strengthened the evidence for the adverse effect of PM2.5 based on satellite-based individual-level exposure data.
Housing Conditions and Adolescents’ Socioemotional Well-being: An Empirical Examination from China
Authors: Zhou Zheng , Ma Ying , Du Wenbin , Zhou Kaiji , Qi Shaojie
Published: September 2021

This paper examines the association between housing and adolescents’ socioemotional well-being in China using a large nationally representative dataset from the 2016 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The results showed that housing conditions were negatively correlated with adolescents’ depression and positively correlated with subjective well-being when family income was controlled. However, homeownership did not predict adolescent’s subjective well-being and depression. Adolescents living in urban areas have better socioemotional well-being than adolescents living in rural areas, as demonstrated by their higher subjective well-being, lower depression, and higher self-esteem. Both urban and rural adolescents were influenced by housing conditions in a similar pattern. In addition, self-esteem mediated the relationship between housing conditions and adolescents’ socioemotional well-being. The results indicate that housing conditions are an important factor for policymakers to consider when promoting children’s well-being in China.
How valuation approach choice affects financial analysts’ target price accuracy
Authors: Erkilet Gülcan , Janke Gerrit , Kasperzak Rainer
Published: September 2021

This paper examines which valuation approaches financial analysts use to value a company and whether the chosen valuation approach affects the target price accuracy. To address these questions, we conduct content analyses of 867 hand-collected analyst reports on German publicly listed companies published between January 2014 and June 2017. We find that sell-side analysts more frequently use the single-period market approach when formulating target prices, followed by the multi-period income approach, and a mixture of both by combining the results, the so-called hybrid valuation approach. Additionally, we show that 612 of the analyzed analyst reports are based on a holistic valuation methodology instead of a sum of the parts valuation technique. Both univariate and multivariate analyses emphasize that the choice of valuation approach is significantly associated with the accuracy of price targets. Specifically, the income and market approach lead to significantly more accurate target prices compared to the hybrid approach. We also find that the target price accuracy is higher when analysts apply the holistic rather than the sum of the parts valuation approach to determine the fundamental value of the company. Additional results emphasize that target price accuracy improves when analysts use the sum of the parts valuation that bases solely on market or income approaches rather than hybrid approaches. Hence, we contribute to theory and practice by providing evidence on the link between the choice of valuation approach and the analysts’ target price accuracy as well as on the performance of certain valuation techniques.
The Influences of Grain Refiner, Inclusion Level, and Filter Grade on the Filtration Performance of Aluminum Melt
Authors: Yang Jiawei , Bao Sarina , Akhtar Shahid , Tundal Ulf , Tjøtta Stig , Li Yanjun
Published: September 2021

The addition of grain refiner particles in the aluminum melt is known to reduce the filtration efficiency of ceramic foam filter (CFF). In the present work, a systematic study on the influence of the addition level of Al-Ti-B master alloys and the inclusion level on the filtration performance of aluminum melt has been investigated by pilot-scale filtration tests using 50 PPi and 80 PPi filters. The inclusion level of the melt has been measured using both LiMCA and PoDFA. For 80 PPi CFF, the N20 inclusion (diameter larger than 20 μm) value in the post-filtrated melt does not increase when an ultra-high level of inclusions is introduced in the form of chips. For the melts with a low level of grain refiners (~ 0.5 kg/ton), the filtration performance of CFF is not affected by grain refiners, regardless of inclusion load. An addition of 2.0 kg/ton grain refiners reduces the filtration performance for melts with a high inclusion level, where post-filtration inclusions with the size of 15-20 µm were significantly increased. It is found, however, for the melts with an ultra-high inclusion load, the filtration performance of 80 PPi CFF is not affected by the grain refiner addition up to 2.0 kg/ton. The interactions between inclusions and grain refiner particles and the filtration mechanism have been studied by characterizing the spent filter and measuring the pressure drop during the filtration process. It is revealed that the strong adherence between oxide film with grain refiner particles dominates the grain refiner influence on the filtration performance of CFF. During the filtration process, oxide films have strong influences on the capturing of other inclusions such as oxide particles and TiB2 particles by the filter. A mechanism based on the interactions between oxide films and grain refiner particles is proposed to explain the CFF performance under the influence of grain refiner.
Gray matter volume covariance networks are associated with altered emotional processing in bipolar disorder: a source-based morphometry study
Authors: Miola Alessandro , Trevisan Nicolò , Merola Arcangelo , Comini Francesco Folena , Olivo Daniele , Minerva Matteo , Valeggia Silvia , Toffanin Tommaso , Favaro Angela , Manara Renzo , Sambataro Fabio
Published: September 2021

Widespread regional gray matter volume (GMV) alterations have been reported in bipolar disorder (BD). Structural networks, which are thought to better reflect the complex multivariate organization of the brain, and their clinical and psychological function have not been investigated yet in BD. 24 patients with BD type-I (BD-I), and 30 with BD type-II (BD-II), and 45 controls underwent MRI scan. Voxel-based morphometry and source-based morphometry (SBM) were performed to extract structural covariation patterns of GMV. SBM components associated with morphometric differences were compared among diagnoses. Executive function and emotional processing correlated with morphometric characteristics. Compared to controls, BD-I showed reduced GMV in the temporo-insular-parieto-occipital cortex and in the culmen. An SBM component spanning the prefrontal-temporal-occipital network exhibited significantly lower GMV in BD-I compared to controls, but not between the other groups. The structural network covariance in BD-I was associated with the number of previous manic episodes and with worse executive performance. Compared to BD-II, BD-I showed a loss of GMV in the temporal-occipital regions, and this was correlated with impaired emotional processing. Altered prefrontal-temporal-occipital network structure could reflect a neural signature associated with visuospatial processing and problem-solving impairments as well as emotional processing and illness severity in BD-I.
Transfer of Self-Leadership Skills Within the Dutch Police: a Three-Wave Study
Authors: Botke Jolanda A. , Tims Maria , Khapova Svetlana N. , Jansen Paul G. W.
Published: September 2021

This three-wave study examined the training-to-work transfer process of a self-leadership skills training programme for crime scene investigators working for the Dutch police force. The transfer process is complex and depends on numerous factors. Two important steps forward are taken in the present study. First, we take into account all transfer steps in one study to gain insights into the transfer process, and second, by being specific about the work situation in which transfer outcomes should occur, we address the “criterion problem” that is often mentioned in transfer research. Based on the Ability Motivation Opportunity model, we hypothesised that the posttraining transfer process starts with being motivated to transfer and that this motivation increases the use of self-leadership during work. Another aspect that may facilitate the use of trained skills is supervisor support, as it offers opportunities to use self-leadership skills during work. In turn, self-leadership skills at work were hypothesised to lead to increased work performance. We tested our transfer model in two different work situations experienced by crime fighters. Our findings show that the use of self-leadership skills is positively related to the detached concern of crime fighters in specific situations. Additionally, our findings show that the use of self-leadership skills mediates the relation between the motivation to transfer and work performance in specific situations. Finally, our findings show that including different transfer steps (i.e. the motivation to transfer, use of skills, and performance), different performance measures, and different work situations in the transfer process provides more insight into when and how transfer-to-work after training occurs. These findings suggest that if organisations aspire to improve such transfer, then they should be specific about the intended posttraining behaviours and performance and the situations in which these outcomes should emerge.
Digital investigations: relevance and confidence in disclosure
Authors: Anderson Philip , Sampson Dave , Gilroy Seanpaul
Published: September 2021

The field of digital forensics has grown exponentially to include a variety of digital devices on which digitally stored information can be processed and used for different types of crimes. As a result, as this growth continues, new challenges for those conducting digital forensic examinations emerge. Digital forensics has become mainstream and grown in importance in situations where digital devices used in the commission of a crime need examining. This article reviews existing literature and highlights the challenges while exploring the lifecycle of a mobile phone examination and how the disclosure and admissibility of digital evidence develops.
Preparation of Three New Certified Reference Materials for Food and Environmental Analysis and Certification Using Laboratory Intercomparison as well as Primary Reference Measurement Procedures
Authors: Polkowska-Motrenko Halina , Samczyński Zbigniew , Dybczyński Rajmund S. , Chajduk Ewelina , Danko Bożena , Kalbarczyk Paweł , Krata Agnieszka A. , Pyszynska Marta , Zuba Iga
Published: September 2021

Three new reference materials: MODAS-3 Herring Tissue (M-3 HerTis), MODAS-4 Cormorant Tissue (M-4 CormTis), and MODAS-5 Cod Tissue (M-5 CodTis) were prepared and certified on the basis of results of a worldwide intercomparison exercise. Independently of our proven method of establishing the certified and information values, the content of several essential and toxic elements was additionally determined by the use of ratio primary reference measurement procedures (definitive methods) based on radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) in the case of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mo, Se, and U and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) in the case of Hg, respectively. Good agreement of the established certified values and the results obtained by ratio primary reference measurement procedures confirmed the validity of the certification procedure. The total number of elements which could be certified amounted to 30, 21, 18 in M-3 HerTis, M-4 CormTis, and M-5 CodTis, respectively. The relative frequency of use of individual analytical techniques in this intercomparison campaign was calculated and discussed. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is now a dominant technique, followed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), NAA, and emission spectroscopy (ES). The decreasing share of NAA as compared to several earlier intercomparison exercises should be noticed. NAA is the only method in the array of highly sensitive methods of inorganic trace analysis, which is essentially free from blank. The lack of this method in the foreseeable future may be an obstacle in the prospective certification campaigns and may endanger the implementation of quality assurance in trace analysis.
Gonfienti (Prato, Tuscany, Central Italy), a zooarchaeological snapshot on daily sixth-century Etruscan household life
Authors: Capalbo Chiara , Peri Giulia , Mazza Paul P. A.
Published: September 2021

While Etruscan sites have received considerable attention over the years, scholarly focus has rarely been directed on the faunal remains from the various celebrated archaeological localities. The present is a zooarchaeological analysis of archaeofaunal material from Gonfienti, a renowned Etruscan locality near Prato, in north-central Tuscany. The vast, complex archaeological site includes a large building, called Edifice 1, that was constructed starting from the sixth century BC. Predominant taphonomic signatures, human-induced damage, archaeobiological evidence and mortality patterns obtained from the study of the faunal remains from the building’s main phase of occupation revealed that the householders depended principally on cattle and subordinately on domestic suids for much of their subsistence, although game also formed part of the diet. The zooarchaeological interpretations match up very well with the interpretations of the excavators and archaeologists concerning the function of Edifice 1 and the use of some of its rooms. In addition, the low incidence of in situ weathering, extensive corrosion of cortical bone surfaces possibly by exposure to alkaline solutions and the relatively high frequency of waterfowls in the studied samples suggest that the area hosting Edifice 1 experienced very humid conditions and was surrounded by large wetland expanses at the time of its main Etruscan occupation.
Effect of density dependence on coinfection dynamics
Authors: Andersson Jonathan , Ghersheen Samia , Kozlov Vladimir , Tkachev Vladimir G. , Wennergren Uno
Published: September 2021

In this paper we develop a compartmental model of SIR type (the abbreviation refers to the number of Susceptible, Infected and Recovered people) that models the population dynamics of two diseases that can coinfect. We discuss how the underlying dynamics depends on the carrying capacity K: from a simple dynamics to a more complex. This can also help in understanding the appearance of more complicated dynamics, for example, chaos and periodic oscillations, for large values of K. It is also presented that pathogens can invade in population and their invasion depends on the carrying capacity K which shows that the progression of disease in population depends on carrying capacity. More specifically, we establish all possible scenarios (the so-called transition diagrams) describing an evolution of an (always unique) locally stable equilibrium state (with only non-negative compartments) for fixed fundamental parameters (density independent transmission and vital rates) as a function of the carrying capacity K. An important implication of our results is the following important observation. Note that one can regard the value of K as the natural ‘size’ (the capacity) of a habitat. From this point of view, an isolation of individuals (the strategy which showed its efficiency for COVID-19 in various countries) into smaller resp. larger groups can be modelled by smaller resp. bigger values of K. Then we conclude that the infection dynamics becomes more complex for larger groups, as it fairly maybe expected for values of the reproduction number $$R_0\approx 1$$

R
0

≈
1

. We show even more, that for the values $$R_0>1$$

R
0

>
1

there are several (in fact four different) distinguished scenarios where the infection complexity (the number of nonzero infected classes) arises with growing K. Our approach is based on a bifurcation analysis which allows to generalize considerably the previous Lotka-Volterra model considered previously in Ghersheen et al. (Math Meth Appl Sci 42(8), 2019).
Different response of perennial ryegrass—Epichloë endophyte symbiota to the elevated concentration of heavy metals in soil
Authors: Żurek Grzegorz , Wiewióra Barbara , Rybka Krystyna , Prokopiuk Kamil
Published: September 2021

The phenomenon of plant mutualistic symbiosis with microbes may have a positive effect on the improvement of plant tolerance to environmental stresses as well as on the ability of plants to accumulate heavy metal (HM) ions from soil. The influence ofEpichloëfungal endophyte (Ascomycota,Clavicipitaceae) on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.) plants grown in the presence of elevated concentrations of HM ions (Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+) in soil was studied. The presence ofEpichloëin the host grass tissues resulted in different accumulation of HM ions in the aboveground parts of the plants. In some cases, endophyte infection positively affected ryegrass ability to accumulate HM ions from soil. In plants with (E +) and without (E −) endophytes, the hormesis effect was induced by the elevated concentration of Cu2+ions, resulting in better growth and photosynthesis, as examined by measurements of Chlafluorescence. The obtained results indicate that based on the laboratory evaluation of the efficiency of HM accumulation, we were able to choose the best associations of perennial ryegrass with endophytes for HM phytoremediation.
Monotonicity properties and solvability of dominated best approximation problem in Orlicz spaces equipped with s-norms
Authors: Cui Yunan , Wisła Marek
Published: September 2021

In the paper, Wisła (J Math Anal Appl 483(2):123659, 2020, 10.1016/j.jmaa.2019.123659), it was proved that the classical Orlicz norm, Luxemburg norm and (introduced in 2009) p-Amemiya norm are, in fact, special cases of the s-norms defined by the formula $$\left\| x\right\| _{\Phi ,s}=\inf _{k>0}\frac{1}{k}s\left( \int _T \Phi (kx)d\mu \right) $$

x

Φ
,
s

=

inf

k
>
0

1
k

s

∫
T

Φ

(
k
x
)

d
μ

, where s and $$\Phi $$
Φ
are an outer and Orlicz function respectively and x is a measurable real-valued function over a $$\sigma $$
σ
-finite measure space $$(T,\Sigma ,\mu )$$

(
T
,
Σ
,
μ
)

. In this paper the strict monotonicity, lower and upper uniform monotonicity and uniform monotonicity of Orlicz spaces equipped with the s-norm are studied. Criteria for these properties are given. In particular, it is proved that all of these monotonicity properties (except strict monotonicity) are equivalent, provided the outer function s is strictly increasing or the measure $$\mu $$
μ
is atomless. Finally, some applications of the obtained results to the best dominated approximation problems are presented.
Functionele en oncologische uitkomsten van salvage cryochirurgie voor lokaal recidief prostaatcarcinoom na radiotherapie
Authors: Nuijens Siberyn T. , Exterkate L. , Dijkstra Siebren , Peters Max , Somford Diederik M. , Vergunst Henk
Published: September 2021

Samenvatting

Het doel van deze studie was de oncologische en functionele uitkomsten van salvage cryochirurgie (sCC) te beoordelen bij lokaal recidief prostaatcarcinoom na radiotherapie (rrPCA). De studie werd uitgevoerd bij 169 patiënten. Er vond retrospectieve analyse plaats van recidiefvrije overleving (BRFS), algehele overleving, metastasevrije overleving, androgeendeprivatietherapie (ADT)-vrije overleving, functionele uitkomsten en complicaties. De mediane follow-up was 36 maanden (IQR = 18–66). BRFS na vijf en acht jaar was 52% (95%-BI = 43–62) en 45% (95%-BI = 35–57), respectievelijk. PSA bij initiële diagnose, de initiële behandeling, het interval tussen de primaire behandeling en SCS, leeftijd bij SCS en post-SCS PSA-nadir waren significante voorspellers van BRFS. De vijf-jaars ADT-vrije overleving was 70% (95%-BI = 62–79). Complicaties van graad III of hoger traden op bij 1,2% van de patiënten. Bij 19% en 92% van de patiënten trad new onset urine-incontinentie respectievelijk erectiele disfunctie op, bij 6,5% persisterende urinaire fistels en bij 12% desobstructie. SCS heeft aanvaardbare oncologische resultaten, maar kan gepaard gaan met ernstige complicaties (urine-incontinentie, stenose en fistels).
Beneficial effects of empagliflozin on hematocrit levels in a patient with severe anemia
Authors: Budzianowski Jan , Rzeźniczak Janusz , Hiczkiewicz Jarosław , Kasprzak Dominika , Winnicka-Zielińska Anna , Musielak Bogdan , Pieszko Konrad , Burchardt Paweł
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT2) inhibitors may additionally benefit patients with diabetes by improving their erythropoiesis followed by the elevation of hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.

Reason for the report

In the case described, severe normocytic normochromic anemia was resolved when empagliflozin had been introduced to the therapy.

Case summary

A 78-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. His past medical history included diabetes, right coronary artery angioplasty, myocardial infarction and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation which required anticoagulant treatment. When examined, severe normocytic normochromic anemia was also diagnosed. About two years prior to his admission, the patient began suffering from persistent anemia despite the modification of his anticoagulant therapy with warfarin, rivaroxaban and dabigatran. An extensive evaluation failed to provide an explanation for his anemia.

Outcome

Eventually, only the introduction of empagliflozin successfully increased the values of hemoglobin and hematocrit. Therefore, it transpires that SGLT2 enhances erythropoietin (EPO) secretion which subsequently raises hematocrit levels in patients with severe anemia.

Graphic abstract
Accelerating privacy-preserving momentum federated learning for industrial cyber-physical systems
Authors: Zhang Linlin , Zhang Zehui , Guan Cong
Published: September 2021

Federated learning (FL) is a distributed learning approach, which allows the distributed computing nodes to collaboratively develop a global model while keeping their data locally. However, the issues of privacy-preserving and performance improvement hinder the applications of the FL in the industrial cyber-physical systems (ICPSs). In this work, we propose a privacy-preserving momentum FL approach, named PMFL, which uses the momentum term to accelerate the model convergence rate during the training process. Furthermore, a fully homomorphic encryption scheme CKKS is adopted to encrypt the gradient parameters of the industrial agents’ models for preserving their local privacy information. In particular, the cloud server calculates the global encrypted momentum term by utilizing the encrypted gradients based on the momentum gradient descent optimization algorithm (MGD). The performance of the proposed PMFL is evaluated on two common deep learning datasets, i.e., MNIST and Fashion-MNIST. Theoretical analysis and experiment results confirm that the proposed approach can improve the convergence rate while preserving the privacy information of the industrial agents.
Tip-Based Nanomachining on Thin Films: A Mini Review
Authors: Chang Shunyu , Geng Yanquan , Yan Yongda
Published: September 2021

As one of the most widely used nanofabrication methods, the atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip-based nanomachining technique offers important advantages, including nanoscale manipulation accuracy, low maintenance cost, and flexible experimental operation. This technique has been applied to one-, two-, and even three-dimensional nanomachining patterns on thin films made of polymers, metals, and two-dimensional materials. These structures are widely used in the fields of nanooptics, nanoelectronics, data storage, super lubrication, and so forth. Moreover, they are believed to have a wide application in other fields, and their possible industrialization may be realized in the future. In this work, the current state of the research into the use of the AFM tip-based nanomachining method in thin-film machining is presented. First, the state of the structures machined on thin films is reviewed according to the type of thin-film materials (i.e., polymers, metals, and two-dimensional materials). Second, the related applications of tip-based nanomachining to film machining are presented. Finally, the current situation of this area and its potential development direction are discussed. This review is expected to enrich the understanding of the research status of the use of the tip-based nanomachining method in thin-film machining and ultimately broaden its application.
The Taphonomy of Echinoids
Authors: Nebelsick James H. , Mancosu Andrea
Published: September 2021

The study of echinoid evolution, diversity, and ecology has always suffered from the fact that they are represented by taxa showing widely differing architectural designs of their multi-plated skeletons, inhabiting a large range of marine paleoenvironments, which result in highly varying taphonomic biases dictating their presence and recognition. This Element addresses the taphonomy of echinoids and includes: a general introduction to the morphological features of echinoids that play a role in their preservation; a review of processes which play an important role in the differential preservation of both regular and irregular echinoids including predation and transport; a summary of taphonomic pathways included in actualistic studies for recent sea urchins and then reconstructed for fossil taxa; and finally, a case study of the variation of echinoid taphonomy across a shelf gradient using the rich Miocene echinoid fauna of Sardinia.
Research Design in Clinical Psychology
Authors: Kazdin Alan E.
Published: September 2021

Research Design in Clinical Psychology helps students to achieve a thorough understanding of the entire research process – developing the idea, selecting methods, analyzing the results, and preparing the written scientific report. Drawing examples from clinical research, health, and medicine, author Alan E. Kazdin offers detailed coverage of experimental design, assessment, data evaluation and interpretation, case-control and cohort designs, and qualitative research methods. In addition to new pedagogical tools that guide students through the text, the Fifth Edition offers expanded coverage of key topic areas, such as cultural issues, scientific integrity, and recent changes in the publication and communication of research.
The Occupational Health Effects of Responding to a Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion Among Emergency First Responders – Lincoln County, Kentucky, 2019
Authors: Bui David P. , Kukielka Esther A. , Blau Erin F. , Tompkins Lindsay K. , Bing K. Leann , Edge Charles , Hardin Rebecca , Miller Diane , House James , Boehmer Tegan , Winquist Andrea , Orr Maureen , Funk Renée , Thoroughman Doug
Published: September 2021

Objective:

The aim of the study was to assess occupational health effects 1 month after responding to a natural gas pipeline explosion.

Methods:

First responders to a pipeline explosion in Kentucky were interviewed about pre- and post-response health symptoms, post-response health care, and physical exertion and personal protective equipment (PPE) use during the response. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between several risk factors and development of post-response symptoms.

Results:

Among 173 first responders involved, 105 (firefighters [58%], emergency medical services [19%], law enforcement [10%], and others [12%]) were interviewed. Half (53%) reported at least 1 new or worsening symptom, including upper respiratory symptoms (39%), headache (18%), eye irritation (17%), and lower respiratory symptoms (16%). The majority (79%) of symptomatic responders did not seek post-response care. Compared with light-exertion responders, hard-exertion responders (48%) had significantly greater odds of upper respiratory symptoms (aOR: 2.99, 95% CI: 1.25–7.50). Forty-four percent of responders and 77% of non-firefighter responders reported not using any PPE.

Conclusions:

Upper respiratory symptoms were common among first responders of a natural gas pipeline explosion and associated with hard-exertion activity. Emergency managers should ensure responders are trained in, equipped with, and properly use PPE during these incidents and encourage responders to seek post-response health care when needed.
An evaluation of sustainability and societal impact of high-power laser and fusion technologies: a case for a new European research infrastructure
Authors: Atzeni S. , Batani D. , Danson C. N. , Gizzi L. A. , Perlado M. , Tatarakis M. , Tikhonchuk V. , Volpe L.
Published: September 2021

Fusion energy research is delivering impressive new results emerging from different infrastructures and industrial devices evolving rapidly from ideas to proof-of-principle demonstration and aiming at the conceptual design of reactors for the production of electricity. A major milestone has recently been announced in laser fusion by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and is giving new thrust to laser-fusion energy research worldwide. Here we discuss how these circumstances strongly suggest the need for a European intermediate-energy facility dedicated to the physics and technology of laser-fusion ignition, the physics of fusion materials and advanced technologies for high-repetition-rate, high-average-power broadband lasers. We believe that the participation of the broader scientific community and the increased engagement of industry, in partnership with research and academic institutions, make most timely the construction of this infrastructure of extreme scientific attractiveness.
Pretty (and) invasive: The potential global distribution of Tithonia diversifolia under current and future climates
Authors: Kriticos Jessica M. , Kriticos Darren J.
Published: September 2021

Mexican sunflower [Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray] is an invasive plant, native to the New World, and an exemplary conflict species. It has been planted widely for its ornamental and soil fertility enhancement qualities and has become a notorious environmental weed in introduced habitats. Here we use a bioclimatic niche model (CLIMEX) to estimate the potential global distribution of this invasive plant under historical climatic conditions. We apply a future climate scenario to the model to assess the sensitivity of the modeled potential geographic range to expected climate changes to 2050. Under current climatic conditions, there is potential for substantial range expansion into southern Europe with moderate climate suitability, and in southern China with highly suitable climates. Under the near-term future climate scenario, there is potential for poleward range expansion in the order of 200 to 500 km. In the tropics, climatic conditions are likely to become less favorable due to the increasing frequency of supra-optimal temperatures. In areas experiencing Mediterranean or warm temperate climates, the suitability for T. diversifolia appears set to increase as temperatures warm. There are vast areas in North America, Europe, and Asia (particularly China and India) that can support ephemeral populations of T. diversifolia. One means of enjoying the aesthetic benefits of T. diversifolia in gardens while avoiding the unwanted environmental impacts where it invades is to prevent its spread into areas climatically suitable for establishment and only allow it to be propagated in areas where it cannot persist naturally.
Inertial stretching separation in binary droplet collisions
Authors: Al-Dirawi Karrar H. , Al-Ghaithi Khaled H.A. , Sykes Thomas C. , Castrejón-Pita J. Rafael , Bayly Andrew E.
Published: September 2021

Binary droplet collisions exhibit a wide range of outcomes, including coalescence and stretching separation, with a transition between these two outcomes arising for high Weber numbers and impact parameters. Our experimental study elucidates the effect of viscosity on this transition, which we show exhibits inertial (viscosity-independent) behaviour over an order-of-magnitude-wide range of Ohnesorge numbers. That is, the transition is not always shifted towards higher impact parameters by increasing droplet viscosity, as it might be thought from the existing literature. Moreover, we provide compelling experimental evidence that stretching separation only arises if the length of the coalesced droplet exceeds a critical multiple of the original droplet diameters (3.35). Using this as a criterion, we provide a simple but robust model (without any arbitrarily chosen free parameters) to predict the coalescence/stretching-separation transition.
Boundary integrals for oscillating bodies in stratified fluids
Authors: Voisin Bruno
Published: September 2021

The theoretical foundations of the boundary integral method are considered for inviscid monochromatic internal waves, and an analytical approach is presented for the solution of the boundary integral equation for oscillating bodies of simple shape: an elliptic cylinder in two dimensions, and a spheroid in three dimensions. The method combines the coordinate stretching introduced by Bryan and Hurley in the frequency range of evanescent waves, with analytic continuation to the range of propagating waves by Lighthill's radiation condition. Not only are the waves obtained for arbitrary oscillations of the body, with application to radial pulsations and rigid vibrations, but also the distribution of singularities equivalent to the body, allowing later inclusion of viscosity in the theory. Both a direct representation of the body as a Kirchhoff–Helmholtz integral involving single and double layers together, and an indirect representation involving a single layer alone, are considered. The indirect representation is seen to require a certain degree of symmetry of the body with respect to the horizontal and the vertical. As the surface of the body is approached the single- and double-layer potentials exhibit the same discontinuities as in classical potential theory.
Instability of co-flow in a Hele-Shaw cell with cross-flow varying thickness
Authors: Grenfell-Shaw John C. , Hinton Edward M. , Woods Andrew W.
Published: September 2021

We analyse the stability of the interface between two immiscible fluids both flowing in the horizontal direction in a thin cell with vertically varying gap width. The dispersion relation for the growth rate of each mode is derived. The stability is approximately determined by the sign of a simple expression, which incorporates the density difference between the fluids and the effect of surface tension in the along- and cross-cell directions. The latter arises from the varying channel width: if the non-wetting fluid is in the thinner part of the channel, the interface is unstable as it will preferentially migrate into the thicker part. The density difference may suppress or complement this effect. The system is always stable to sufficiently large wavenumbers owing to the along-flow component of surface tension.
Digital transformation: a conceptual framing for attaining Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 9 in Nigeria
Authors: Ufua Daniel E. , Emielu Emmanuel T. , Olujobi Olusola J. , Lakhani Faraz , Borishade Taiye T. , Ibidunni Ayodotun S. , Osabuohien Evans S.
Published: September 2021

This study explores the potentials of digital transformation for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with emphasis on SDG 4 and SDG 9 in Nigeria. The study adopts a conceptual approach, reviewing existing literature to explore the topic from various views of authors on the issue. It focuses on the contextual factors such as stakeholder input to the process of the implementation of digitalisation and SDGs 4 and 9 which focuses on educational development at all levels, industrial collaborations and improvements, respectively. The results indicate that digital transformation potentially enhances the attainment of SDGs 4 and 9, but this is mediated by the level of stakeholder commitment and e-governance performance. Part of the recommendation is the adoption of a multi-disciplinary approach to development-oriented digital transformation interventions for SDGs 4 and 9 in Nigeria, through a process of effective stakeholder engagement and transparent institutional signalling. The study draws research attention to the use of digital transformation for social development, especially in a developing economy such as Nigeria, to enhance the compendium of knowledge in the implementation of digital approach to the attainment of SDGs 4 and 9. It is also suggested for the government institutions to take further responsibility to provide a fair platform for the implementation of digital transformation and the attainment of SDGs 4 and 9 in Nigeria.
Entrepreneurship and the Post-COVID-19 Recovery in Emerging Economies
Authors: Meyer Klaus E. , Prashantham Shameen , Xu Shiqi
Published: September 2021

Entrepreneurs play a focal role in a society's economic recovery from major disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that entrepreneurs’ ability to identify and act on entrepreneurial opportunities during the crisis reflects their resilience, and their innovations facilitate new patterns of work, learning, and leisure activities in post-COVID-19 societies. However, how, how quickly they act, and how influential their actions are depends on their context in terms of institutions, resource access, and market volatility. In China, some entrepreneurs have shown great resilience by utilizing network relationships and digital technology, not only to overcome short-term disruptions in 2020 but to shape the evolving ‘new normal’ where behaviors and capabilities have changed as a consequence of the experience of the pandemic. We discuss drivers of such resilient entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and call for further research on the interplay between external disruptions, different types of entrepreneurship, and the consequences for resilience in emerging economies.
Strategic Configurations and International Performance of Emerging Economy Multinationals
Authors: Li Yi , Cui Lin , Meyer Klaus E. , Fan Di
Published: September 2021

This study examines the international performance of emerging economy multinational enterprises (EMNEs) from a strategic configuration perspective. We propose that the strategic patterns of EMNEs that deliver growth and/or profitability are characterized by different configurations of environment, strategy, and managerial resource factors. Therefore, identifying and assessing strategic configurations is key to understanding EMNEs’ international performance. Employing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, we analyze a multi-sourced dataset of Chinese firms’ outward investment and identify multiple equifinal strategic configurations that are associated with superior international performance in terms of sales growth and/or profitability. These findings inform the development of a taxonomy of EMNEs’ strategic configurations corresponding with three performance groups, namely profitable growth, profitable niche, and poor performers.
Can a beautiful smile win the vote?
Authors: Masch Lena , Gassner Anna , Rosar Ulrich
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Several empirical studies have linked political candidates’ electoral success to their physical appearance. We reexamine the effects of candidates’ physical attractiveness by taking into account emotional facial expressions as measured by automated facial recognition software. The analysis is based on an observational case study of candidate characteristics in the 2017 German federal election. Using hierarchical regression modeling and controlling for candidates’ displays of happiness, consistent effects of physical attractiveness remain. The results suggest that a potential interaction effect between displays of happiness and attractiveness positively affects vote shares. The study emphasizes the importance of considering emotional expressions when analyzing the impact of candidate appearance on electoral outcomes.
Using cover crops to offset greenhouse gas emissions from a tropical soil under no-till
Authors: Rigon João Paulo Gonsiorkiewicz , Calonego Juliano Carlos , Pivetta Laércio Augusto , Castoldi Gustavo , Raphael Juan Piero Antonio , Rosolem Ciro Antônio
Published: September 2021

Crop rotations under no-till (NT) have been a strategy to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing the cropping system efficiency. However, there is still controversy on the role of grasses and legumes, and species diversity and their impacts. This study aimed to assess the GHG emissions, SOC, and Nitrogen (TN) in a soybean production system managed under NT in rotation with different species in the fall–winter and the spring seasons. Main plots during the fall–winter were (1) Triticale (x Triticosecale) and (2) Sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Subplots established in the spring were (a) Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), (b) Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), (c) Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), plus a (d) Fallow treatment. Soybean was grown every year in the summer, in sub-subplots. The GHG emission was affected according to crop species. In the spring, Sunn hemp emitted more nitrous oxide (N2O) (0.82 kg ha−1) than fallow (0.58 kg ha−1); however, the high C and N inputs by the legume and also other cover crop residues reduced the relative emissions compared with fallow. Growing pearl millet or Sunn hemp as a spring cover crop increases SOC by 7% on average compared with fallow. The N2O emission of Sunn hemp accounted for only 0.28% of the total N accumulated in the legume residues, notably lower than IPCC estimates. In the fall–winter, Triticale increased SOC by 7%, decreased CO2 emission by 18%, and emitted 20% lower GHG to produce the same soybean yield compared with sunflower. Soybean rotation with triticale in fall–winter and Sunn hemp or pearl millet in spring decreases GHG emissions. Our results indicate that the right choice of species in rotation with soybean under NT increases SOC and may offset GHG emissions from tropical soils. It may be an important tool in mitigating potential global warming.