bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Doing urban research on ‘hard-to-reach’ populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: advantages and ethical dilemmas using digital ethnography as a new alternative
Authors: Bhanye Johannes , Kachena Lameck , Matamanda Abraham , Shayamunda Ruvimbo 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis paper presents insights on conducting urban research amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the adoption of digital ethnography as an innovative and flexible approach. Drawing from an expanding body of literature on fieldwork among 'hard-to-reach' populations during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, we share our experiences from a study on the socio-economic impacts of mandatory lockdowns on poor urban residents in Harare, Zimbabwe. Our research highlighted several methodological benefits of digital ethnography, including its non-intrusive and non-intimidating nature, cost and time efficiency, ability to increase participant diversity, assurance of respondent safety, research flexibility, and the generation of impactful data. Unlike traditional immersive ethnography, digital ethnography proved adept at navigating the complexities of the 'global', 'local', and 'trans-local' dimensions of contemporary urban research subjects. However, this approach also presents several ethical challenges. These challenges include obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity, participants' potential misunderstanding of the research context, the risk of exacerbating stress during crises, and respecting privacy in digital spaces. Urban researchers must carefully consider these ethical issues before undertaking their studies. In conclusion, virtual environments have become integral to modern life and represent essential avenues for urban researchers, particularly during periods of limited physical interaction and when studying populations that are difficult to reach in person but more accessible online. Further, the adoption of digital ethnography, extends beyond the necessity imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It reflects an ongoing evolution in ethnographic practices, adapting to the realities of a digitally connected world. We suggest that urban researchers should think of digital ethnographic ethics from the point of view of reciprocal and mutual collaboration with participants. With this thinking, urban research subjects become co-participants and co-researchers rather than subjects of exploitation in the expanding and complex digital space.
Petrography and geomechanical properties of some mine waste rocks from the Tarkwaian Group in Ghana: implications for their use as aggregates in general engineering works
Authors: Sunkari Emmanuel Daanoba , Mensah Bismark , Asare Edmund Nana 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis research investigated some mine waste rocks from the southwestern part of the Tarkwaian Group in Ghana to check their suitability for general engineering works using petrography and geomechanical characteristics of the rocks. The rocks were subjected to a total of ten (10) tests, including Aggregate impact value (AIV), Aggregate crushing value (ACV), Loss Angeles abrasion (LAA), Specific gravity (SG), and Water absorption (WA), as well as flakiness and elongation index, slake durability (SD), chloride test (CT), sulphate test (ST), and ten percent fines (TPF). The tests were carried out per the American Society for Testing and Materials guidelines (ASTM). The following average test results were obtained: AIV (7.12%), ACV (15.60%), LAA (23.16%), TPF (269.7 kN), sulphate (0.0215%), chloride (0.00123%), flakiness (39.5%) and elongation (39.4%). The mine waste rocks are dominated by quartz and sericite, according to the petrographic examination and thus, can be classified as quartzites. Except for the flakiness and elongation index tests, all the results were consistent with the ASTM standards. The analysis carried out on the selected mine waste rocks from the southwestern part of the Tarkwaian Group could be catastrophic for heavy engineering works such as roads, bridges, and heavy buildings but can be used for pavements, lightweight buildings, monuments, and decoratives due to the percentage of quartz present to compensate for the weakness posed by the sericite.
Psychiatrische Begutachtung von Rechtsbrechern mit Substanzkonsumstörung auf Grundlage der Neufassung des § 64 StGB
Authors: Soyka Michael 
Published: August 2024

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Zum 01.10.2023 ist ohne weitere Übergangsfrist die Novellierung des § 64 StGB, der die Unterbringung psychisch kranker Rechtsbrecher mit Suchterkrankungen im Maßregelvollzug regelt, in Kraft getreten. Die Neufassung ist deutlich restriktiver als die bisherige Regelung und bringt für den psychiatrischen Gutachter und Kliniker einige Neuerungen mit sich. Ziel: Wesentliche Neuerungen für den forensischen Gutachter werden dargestellt. So muss zur Frage des Vorliegens und des Schweregrads einer Substanzkonsumstörung, möglicher Folgeschäden, dem Zusammenhang der Störung mit der Anlasstat und den Erfolgsaussichten einer möglichen Unterbringung nach § 64 StGB Stellung genommen werden. Relevante Aspekte der Novellierung werden dargestellt. Schlussfolgerung: Die Novellierung wird zu erheblichen Veränderungen in der Begutachtung und Rechtsprechung führen.
Mechanisms and Morphological Time Scales of Avulsed Channel Process on the Modern Yellow River Delta
Authors: Li Wei , Zhu Lehong , Hu Peng , Cheng Niansheng 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe modern Yellow River Delta (YRD) has witnessed frequent channel avulsions followed by the morphological processes of “wandering‐ short‐lived braiding ‐merging” in history. However, process‐based investigation and relevant physics behind these processes remain poorly constrained. The present study complements the understanding for this evolution through numerical experiments. This is achieved by applying a two‐dimensional (2‐D) depth‐averaged fully coupled morphodynamic model that considers the feedbacks of sediment‐laden flow and bed deformation to a schematized fan‐shaped YRD. Under an uneven bed of uniform sediment, the avulsed processes of “wandering‐ short‐lived braiding ‐merging” during new channel routing on the YRD are satisfactorily reproduced by the present modelling in terms of the time evolution of planar channel pattern and channel length. Moreover, the mechanisms of the avulsed evolution have been elucidated through factor analysis on delta slope, incoming flow‐sediment conditions and artificial trenching, etc. It is suggested that morphological stability could be reached when a single meandering channel is finally sustained, of which the time scale is 4–8 years echoing the documented data of abandoned channels on the YRD. In addition, quantitative criteria have been advocated to help distinguishing the sub‐stages of the avulsed evolution together with the characteristic pattern judgement. Based on the above, implications for the YRD management are discussed.
Zonal‐Mean N2 and Ar Densities and Temperatures in Mars Thermosphere From MAVEN
Authors: Forbes Jeffrey M. , Zhang Xiaoli , Fang Xiaohua , Benna Mehdi 
Published: August 2024

AbstractMeasurements of Ar and N2 densities at 160–250 km altitude from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) during February 2015–February 2023 are analyzed to provide a comprehensive analysis of their diurnal‐ and zonal‐mean (DZM) structures, and ZM (solar‐synchronous) diurnal (DW1) and semidiurnal (SW2) tides. After applying a solar flux trend correction, multi‐year binning and averaging with respect to longitude, local solar time (LST), latitude and Ls at each height results in the first full global picture of these components of the ZM thermosphere for a single climatological Mars year. The following new observational insights into Mars thermosphere are obtained: The DZM N2 latitude versus Ls (latvsLs) structures contain a prominent latitudinally‐symmetric annual component (∼±25%–35%) due to the eccentricity of Mars orbit around the Sun, and an antisymmetric component (∼±30%–45%) below about 190 km that is seasonally‐symmetric and thus consistent with the tilt of Mars rotation axis. Aperiodic deviations from these symmetries increase with height and are tentatively attributed to dissipation of waves originating in the lower atmosphere. DW1 and SW2 maximize around 200–220 km altitude, suggesting existence of an unknown dissipation mechanism at higher altitudes. The DZM, DW1 and SW2 components of Ar generally exceed those of N2 by factors of 1.4–2.5. The scale heights of Ar and N2 between 205 and 245 km are also employed to derive DZM exosphere temperatures, which reflect aperiodic ∼±15K deviations from the annual‐mean in the latvsLs frame.
Branched Crustal Flow and Its Dynamic Significance in Sanjiang Area, Eastern Tibetan Plateau——Insights From 3‐D Magnetotelluric Imaging
Authors: Cui Tengfa , Chen Xiaobin , Fan Ye , Liu Zhongyin , Li Wenqiao 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe crustal material from central Tibet is extruded in a clockwise direction along a belt on the eastern plateau. In the inner arc region of the escaping belt, the absence of key and detailed 3‐D crustal resistivity structure hinders a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic processes of material escape in both the inner and outer arc regions. Here, we conducted magnetotelluric imaging and obtained the crustal 3‐D resistivity structure in Sanjiang area. The results reveal the presence of two branched high‐conductivity anomaly belts in the middle crust. Combining with other resistivity and velocity models, we speculated that crustal flow is widely distributed in the middle crust of the Chuan‐Dian block. The crustal flow in the Sanjiang area may connect to that in the outer arc region. The crustal flow in the eastern part is extensively continuous, causing decoupling and flowing that facilitate intense horizontal movements and deformation of the upper crust. In the western Sanjiang area, the upper crust is strongly coupled with the lithosphere beneath the decoupling layer, resulting in weaker horizontal deformation, and fewer larger earthquakes. The initially weak crustal zone in the eastern Tibet may have been caused by uplift of hot mantle material. The high heat flow associated with uplift of hot mantle material and the frictional heating caused by the horizontal movement of weakly coupled crust further facilitated the formation of crustal flow in the outer arc region. The branched crustal flow in the Sanjiang area may have flowed from the outer arc region of the escaping belt.
Synthesis of model heterojunction interfaces reveals molecular-configuration-dependent photoinduced charge transfer
Authors: Royakkers Jeroen , Yang Hanbo , Gillett Alexander J. , Eisner Flurin , Ghosh Pratyush , Congrave Daniel G. , Azzouzi Mohammed , Andaji-Garmaroudi Zahra , Leventis Anastasia , Rao Akshay , Frost Jarvist Moore , Nelson Jenny , Bronstein Hugo 
Published: August 2024

AbstractControl of the molecular configuration at the interface of an organic heterojunction is key to the development of efficient optoelectronic devices. Due to the difficulty in characterizing these buried and (probably) disordered heterointerfaces, the interfacial structure in most systems remains a mystery. Here we demonstrate a synthetic strategy to design and control model interfaces, enabling their detailed study in isolation from the bulk material. This is achieved by the synthesis of a polymer in which a non-fullerene acceptor moiety is covalently bonded to a donor polymer backbone using dual alkyl chain links, constraining the acceptor and donor units in a through space co-facial arrangement. The constrained geometry of the acceptor relative to the electron-rich and -poor moieties in the polymer backbone can be tuned to control the kinetics of charge separation and the energy of the resultant charge-transfer state giving insight into factors that govern charge generation at organic heterojunctions.
Self-care behaviors, medication adherence status, and associated factors among elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Amerzadeh Mohammad , Shafiei Kisomi Zahra , Senmar Mojtaba , Khatooni Marzieh , Hosseinkhani Zahra , Bahrami Mahdie 
Published: August 2024

AbstractElderly individuals face an increased likelihood of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes. Self-care practices and medication adherence play crucial roles in preventing complications and adverse effects of this condition. Therefore, this study aimed to determine self-care behaviors, medication adherence status, and related factors among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 374 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes who visited educational healthcare centers in Qazvin, Iran, during 2023 (March–September). Sampling was performed using the convenience method. Data collection instruments included a demographic characteristics checklist, the summary of diabetes self-care activities questionnaire, and the Morisky medication adherence scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-22 software, employing the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, mean, standard deviation, univariate and multivariate regression analyses. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. The mean age of participants was 67.56 ± 5.93 years. In the self-care questionnaire, the highest score pertained to adherence to the diet recommended by the treating physician (3.16 ± 1.87). In contrast, the lowest scores were related to the frequency of checking inside shoes (0.17 ± 0.93) and foot examination (0.31 ± 1.07), respectively. Furthermore, results in self-care behaviors indicated that with increasing education levels, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) significantly decreased (P = 0.048). This variable was considerably higher in rural residents than in urban dwellers (P = 0.016). Additionally, the frequency of blood glucose measurements was significantly higher in urban residents than in rural inhabitants (p = 0.006). Based on the results, the mean score for medication adherence among patients was 5.53 ± 1.65. Based on our findings, the level of self-care in physical activity, SMBG, and foot care among the elderly is below average. Furthermore, medication adherence in these patients is poor. We expect that managers and policymakers take steps to reduce complications and improve these two variables by developing educational programs on self-care and emphasizing the importance of treatment adherence for these patients.
Serological indication of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy as an extrahepatic manifestation of hepatitis E virus infection
Authors: Pischke S. , Kjasimov A. , Skripuletz T. , Casar C. , Bannasch J. , Mader M. , Huber S. , Konen F. , Wolski A. , Horvatits T. , Gingele S. , Peine S. , Hiller J. , Seeliger T. , Thayssen G. , Lütgehetmann M. , Schulze zur Wiesch J. , Golsari A. , Gelderblom M. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractGuillain–Barré syndrome and neuralgic amyotrophy have been associated with hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 infections, while myasthenia gravis (MG) has been associated with HEV genotype 4 infections. However, whether chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is associated with HEV infections has not been conclusively clarified yet. 102 CIDP patients, 102 age- and sex-matched blood donors, 61 peripheral neuropathy patients (non-CIDP patients), and 26 MG patients were tested for HEV and anti-HEV IgM and IgG. Sixty-five of the 102 (64%) CIDP patients tested positive for anti-HEV IgG and one (1%) for anti-HEV IgM. No other patient tested positive for ati-HEV IgM. In the subgroup of CIDP patients with initial diagnosis (without previous IVIG treatment), 30/54 (56%) tested positive for anti-HEV IgG. Anti-HEV rates were significantly lower in blood donors (28%), non-CIDP peripheral neuropathy patients (20%), and MG patients (12%). No subject tested positive for HEV viremia. CSF tested negative for in 61 CIDP patients (54 patients with primary diagnosis). The development of CIDP but not non-CIDP polyneuropathy may be triggered by HEV exposure in an HEV genotype 3 endemic region. The increased anti-HEV seroprevalence in CIDP patients is not a consequence of IVIG therapy.
Power allocation between radar and jammer using conflict game theory
Authors: He Bin , Yang Ning 
Published: August 2024

AbstractConflict game theory is employed to analyze the countermeasure relationship between radar systems and jammers. To address this issue, a novel utility function and a Conflict Power Allocation Game (CPAG) algorithm are introduced for determining the Nash Equilibrium (NE) solution of the game. The utility function enables the calculation of optimal power response functions for both the radar system and the jammer, with the NE solution of the CPAG algorithm obtained through numerical computation. Simulation results demonstrate the convergence of the proposed CPAG algorithm to the NE solution, validating its efficacy. Finally, an analysis of the relationship between the utility function and pricing factors is conducted based on the proposed CPAG algorithm and simulation outcomes.
Load restoration of electricity distribution systems using a novel two‐stage method
Authors: Asadi Qasem , Falaghi Hamid , Ramezani Maryam 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis paper proposes a new comprehensive load restoration (LR) method for electrical distribution networks. Since two main technologies of switching equipment are there in the modern distribution networks, namely manual switches (MSs) and remote‐controlled switches (RCSs), this article has benefited from this concept effectively. A two‐stage algorithm that provides the system operators with the ability to recover part of the loads in the shortest possible time by RCSs is proposed. After this step, the remaining loads will be restored by a combination of MSs and RCSs. The other strength of this algorithm is to provide accurate and practical solutions so that the sequence of switching actions is clearly defined. Also, using an innovative index called expected weighted energy not supplied as the objective function of the main problem will ensure the operators recover the maximum amount of load in the shortest time possible. This novel method was applied on a sample standard IEEE distribution test network. The simulation results proved the effectiveness of this proposed method.
Formation of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) via SH radicals in interstellar CO-rich ice under dense cloud conditions
Authors: Santos J. C. , Linnartz H. , Chuang K.-J. 
Published: August 2024

Context. Carbonyl sulfide (OCS) is widely observed in the gas phase toward star-forming regions and was the first of the only two sulfur-bearing species to be detected in interstellar ices so far. However, the chemical network governing its formation is still not fully understood. While the sulfurization of CO and the oxidation of CS are often invoked to form OCS, other mechanisms could have a significant contribution. In particular, the multistep reaction involving CO and SH is a good candidate for forming a significant portion of the OCS in dense cloud environments.
Aims. We aim to constrain the viability of the CO + SH route for forming solid OCS in the interstellar medium, in a similar manner as CO + OH is known to produce CO2 ice. This is achieved by conducting a systematic laboratory investigation of the targeted reactions on interstellar ice analogs under dense cloud conditions.
Methods. We used an ultrahigh vacuum chamber to simultaneously deposit CO, H2S, and atomic H at 10 K. SH radicals produced in situ via hydrogen abstraction from H2S reacted with CO to form OCS. We monitored the ice composition during deposition and subsequent warm-up by means of Fourier-transform reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS). Complementarily, desorbed species were recorded with a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) during temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments. Control experiments were performed to secure the product identification. We also explored the effect of different H2S:CO mixing ratios – with decreasing H2S concentrations – on the OCS formation yield.
Results. OCS is efficiently formed through surface reactions involving CO, H2S, and H atoms. The suggested underlying mechanism behind OCS formation is CO + SH → HSCO, followed by HSCO + H → OCS + H2. The OCS yield reduces slowly, but remains significant with increasing CO:H2S mixing ratios (CO:H2S = 1:1, 5:1, 10:1, and 20:1).
Conclusions. Our experiments provide unambiguous evidence that OCS can be formed from CO + SH in the presence of H atoms. This route remains efficient for large H2S dilutions (5% with respect to CO), suggesting that it is a viable mechanism in interstellar ices. Given that SH radicals can be created in clouds over a wide evolutionary timescale, this mechanism could make a non-negligible contribution to the formation of interstellar OCS ice.
Living in the slipstream of defeat: neoliberalism and the far-right
Authors: Virdee Satnam 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis essay suggests stretching Saull's structuralist account of the relationship between neoliberal globalisation and the far-right to accommodate subaltern agency and resistance. Taking this step makes transparent that the rising fortunes of the far-right is indivisible from the historic defeat that neoliberal globalisation inflicted on the global Left in the 1970s and 1980s. The victorious neoliberal elites went onto produce a refashioned differentialist racism to replace the now discredited scientific racism but also married this to the ideology of multicultural capitalism to accommodate the new postcolonial centres of accumulation. However, in the absence of a socialist alternative to neoliberal globalisation and the continuing technical and political decomposition of class as a social force, the resulting political void since the 2007 crisis has been increasingly filled by the forces of the far-right. Tragically, the choice facing us today seems to be the slow but relentless asphyxiation of the remaining progressive elements of capitalist modernity or their overnight destruction through a fascist ‘big bang’ ideologically dressed as the restoration of ‘rights for whites.’
Exploring the mechanism of path-creating strategy for latecomers: a combined approach of econometrics and causal machine learning
Authors: Teng Yuanyang , Li Yicun , Wu Xiaobo 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn this paper, the traditional econometrics method and causal machine-learning method are combined to study the mechanism of a path-creating strategy of latecomers to influence latecomers’ catch-up performance. A total of 283 high-tech manufacturing enterprises listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2007 to 2019 were selected for the study. OLS linear regression model verifies that path-creating has a positive impact on latecomers’ technological catch-up performance, technological capability plays an intermediary role between path-creating and technology catch-up performance, technological innovation appropriability positively moderates the effect of path-creating on technological capability, and technological innovation cumulativeness negatively moderates the effect of path-creating on technological catch-up but positively moderate the effect of technological capability on catch-up performance. Through machine learning, on the one hand, a conclusion basically consistent with the linear regression model is obtained, but on the other hand, a more heterogeneous situation is presented. Through analyses of the individual treatment effect of a path-creating strategy of latecomers, the Shapley value graph shows the complex influence of different features on the treatment effect of the enterprise using the path-creating strategy. Through the decision tree, some more complex patterns are found. In addition, the decision tree model based on causal analysis can also assist enterprises in making strategic decisions.