bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stay at Home! A Comparative Analysis of the Implementation of Lockdowns as a Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Chazel Laura 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe year 2020 was marked by the implementation of lockdowns at the global scale to contain the COVID-19 pandemic by drastically minimizing human contacts. This public health measure was instantly described as “medieval” by several political actors but, facing the surge of the pandemic, most governments—with a few exceptions such as Sweden—opted for this choice. Social sciences literature has already begun to analyse the feelings and emotions of citizens towards lockdowns, the impact of health measures on trust in governments, the responses of so-called “populist” parties to this restriction of freedom of movement or the political aspect of lockdowns that were presented as health measures during the first wave of COVID-19. However, few studies have examined the different realities that lockdown measures recovered depending on the country in which they were implemented and the evolutions of these measures over time. This chapter aims to fill this gap and has a double objective. On the one hand, it aims to highlight these differences, and on the other hand to highlight the explanatory factors at the origins of these differences. The comparative analysis will be based on a database covering 32 countries to distinguish between strict and more flexible lockdowns by means of different variables such as the order to “stay home”, the number of kilometres of travel allowed outside home, or the presence or self-filled forms for leaving home. The study period is from March 2020 to July 2021 and spans across three different waves of COVID-19. A double synchronic and diachronic analysis will be performed to categorize the countries according to the strictness of the lockdowns for each wave but also in an evolutionary way to perform an average over the study period. The first results show that there is no correlation between the measures adopted by the countries and the actual circulation of the virus. One can also observe great divergences between countries according to the waves. For example, during the first wave, Southern Europe adopted much more drastic lockdown measures than Northern Europe, a trend that was subsequently reversed. These results will be controlled by the level of GDP or the confidence of citizens in institutions to understand the origin of these differences and their evolutions.
Masks and Social Distancing During COVID-19
Authors: de Saint-Phalle Eugénie 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis chapter of the book addresses the most widespread (and controversial) COVID-19 measure: social distancing and wearing of the masks. Social distancing, that is, keeping distance between people in public spaces and decreasing the number of social contacts, was one of the first health-related measures that were introduced in March–April 2020 in most countries. However, the strictness of these measures, as well as government’s understanding of how the virus spreads, varied a lot. In some countries, people were asked to keep their distance at 2 m from each other, in other countries one-meter distance was considered to be enough. Moreover, open and closed spaces were not treated equally; in Switzerland, for example, people were required to keep distance in open spaces like parks, but not in closed spaces like supermarkets. In Belgium, April 2020 legal acts actively discouraged people to wear masks. This chapter aims to present an overview of legal responses to the health requirements, that is, how European governments integrated the medical advice into the exceptional measures. Secondly, this chapter seeks to map and classify these responses against infection levels, death count, as well as country-specific system factors. Finally, it aims to reconstruct the public response to mask wearing, a highly controversial measure in numerous European countries.
Education in Times of COVID-19
Authors: Litvyak Olga 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe COVID-19 policies in the education sector have been particularly diverse, often with distinct approaches adopted not only across Europe but even at the regional level within one country, for example, in Spain or Germany. Furthermore, there has been a wide range of measures depending on the level of education. While universities largely switched to online learning, nursery and primary schools that initially also faced restrictions on face-to-face learning became crucial in providing support to parents working from home in the later stage of the pandemic. School closures during the lockdown periods largely disrupted education, leading to potential long-term consequences for children and increasing existing educational inequalities. Emerging research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education sector has shown that suspension of in-person learning has contributed to learning loss, exacerbating achievement gaps in several European countries and negatively impacted students’ well-being. At the same time, the switch to distance learning accelerated the digitalisation of education institutions and education systems across Europe, amplifying economic disparities across the countries. With digital learning becoming the dominant policy measure, supranational actors, such as the EU and the UN intensified competition for global education governance, proposing own policy solutions. This chapter discusses differences and similarities in education policy measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic in the countries of the European Economic Area and the role of supranational actors. It explores the country-level factors that influenced the policymaking process, such as economy, ideological stances of the government, level of education governance within the country, contrasting them with the COVID-19-related developments, such as the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Thus, it aims at providing an in-depth comparative examination of the emergency policymaking in the field of education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Compulsory Medical Examinations and “Green Pass”
Authors: Egger Clara , Magni-Berton Raul 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTo manage the COVID-19 pandemic, European governments have combined restrictive measures with a close monitoring of the epidemiological situation. The most stringent measures—such as the imposition of lockdowns, curfews and the closure of national borders—have always been justified by epidemiological indicators, in particular the evolution of COVID-19 cases and deaths. At the same time, the relaxing of containment measures has often come with the requirement to undergo compulsory medical examinations. This chapter discusses two types of medical procedures: compulsory testing policies predating the mass roll out of COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 passes. We show that, compared to other types of policies, the modalities of the pass were similar in the 26 European countries surveyed. Yet, its role and the epidemiological context in which it was implemented varied. Some countries introduced it when infections or deaths were increasing, while others did so during more stable periods. The vaccination rate following the introduction of the pass also varied. In countries with high vaccination rates but low confidence in vaccines, the impact of the pass was almost nil; conversely, it was high in countries with high confidence but low vaccination rates. Overall, we show the effectiveness of the COVID-19 pass to be context-dependent and preventing a blanket use in diverse countries.
Lockdowns and Mobility Rate Variation in the COVID-19 Era
Authors: Vulcano Rossella 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis chapter assesses the impact of lockdowns on mobility rates. It notes the variation in mobility rates during lockdowns and the importance of understanding why citizens in different countries respond differently. The results suggest that the severity of lockdowns and the capacity to enforce the rules significantly reduce mobility rates. Interestingly, however, trust in government also significantly influences the impact of restrictions on mobility rates. Finally, the influence of COVID-19 risk perception on compliance does not appear to be very relevant. The research highlights the importance of political factors in shaping compliance during crises and provides insights for policy makers.
Conclusion: Learning from the COVID-19 Cases for Future Emergencies
Authors: Egger Clara , Magni-Berton Raul , de Saint-Phalle Eugénie 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis concluding chapter offers recommendations for the future of emergency policymaking. The contributions gathered in this edited volume found that the policies implemented during the pandemic heavily depended on what had been done before. We argue that more attention should be paid to the principle of proportionality, especially in countries with low levels of institutional trust. Also, investing in legal preparedness is crucial to face situations where the emergency could lead to both ineffective policies and unnecessary curtailment of individual rights. Finally, in many countries, we have observed severe restrictions on data access that reduce the quality of evidence we can provide. We advocate the principle of evidence-based information restriction to promote access to information on a reasonable basis.
Elections and Special Voting Arrangements
Authors: Ehin Piret , Talving Liisa 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a disruptive effect on elections worldwide. Faced with health risks that a mass event such as an election poses, national decision-makers have had to make two major choices: whether to hold elections as scheduled or postpone them, and whether and how to modify the way elections are conducted. With regard to the second question, both policy and academic debates have focused on the introduction and expansion of special voting arrangements, including early, postal, proxy and remote internet voting, as well as the availability of the mobile ballot box. This chapter examines policy responses to the pandemic in the realm of election management in 27 member states of the European Union (EU), focusing on decisions to hold, postpone and modify elections. We find that 15 out of 60 scheduled national, regional and local elections were delayed in EU-27 over the first two years of the pandemic, with the length of the delay varying from seven weeks to nearly half a year. Most of the postponed events were local elections scheduled for the spring of 2020. In nationwide elections held amid the health crisis, voter turnout fell by 2.9 percentage points on average. We also find extensive differences among EU countries in terms of the use of special voting arrangements (SVAs). While 16 countries introduced new SVAs or expanded existing ones during the first two years of the pandemic, the modifications were, overall, limited in scope, attesting to the complexities of changing electoral legislation and practices over a short period of time. While the question of how to conduct elections amid the pandemic gave rise to heated debates in many EU countries, the controversies were most pronounced—and contributed to democratic backsliding—in settings where democracy had been eroding already before the health crisis.
Territorial Countervailing Powers Under the Pandemic
Authors: Magni-Berton Raul 
Published: May 2024

AbstractFederal and decentralised countries are often expected to perform worse in crises for two reasons. First, they require more coordination resources, which are particularly costly when decisions must be made quickly. Second, in federal countries, subnational territories are countervailing powers. Counterpowers favour consensual policies but prevent policy changes and make countries less responsive to crises. While in economic crises this expectation is not clearly congruent with the data, during the COVID-19 pandemic much attention has been paid to its management in federal countries. The comparisons within federal states and between federal and centralised states were intended to illustrate different ways of dealing with the pandemic. Other studies assume that federal states are less efficient and try to find solutions. More surprisingly, no systematic study has attempted to assess whether decentralised management is less effective. This chapter takes advantage of EXCEPTIUS data, which covers the management of the pandemic at the subnational level to address this gap. Interestingly, France, like several other unitary states, has progressively decentralised its pandemic management. Federal states, such as Germany or Switzerland, were decentralised at the beginning of the pandemic, but centralised their management in subsequent waves. In regionalised states, such as Italy and Spain, the evolution of the regions’ competences follows contrasting patterns. The analysis of the role of territorial units and counter-powers in the management of the first three waves of the pandemic (January 2020–April 2021) makes it possible to identify in detail the type of approach chosen by each country and why. This systematic review allows a first preliminary assessment of the relative effectiveness of decentralised versus centralised management by comparing the lethality of the pandemic according to the territorial style of management, with inconclusive results.
The Impact of Measures Against COVID-19 on Freedom of Press and Expression
Authors: Neves Catarina , Merrill Roberto , Miguel Ricardo , Forte Rui 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis chapter aims to analyse the impact of the first measures against COVID-19 regarding freedom of press and freedom of expression in the first pandemic wave (from January to June 2020). To do this, we used EXCEPTIUS data and discuss whether the policies used to fight COVID-19, particularly those targeting the spread of information, contributed to the erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms in the European context. Our chapter describes how restrictive measures varied across Europe and engages in a normative debate on the extent to which liberal democracies had a legitimate claim to restrict freedom to fight COVID-19. It is a debate on whether freedom of expression should be curtailed or not, a process that might lead to the erosion of democracy, or instead contribute to making it more robust, particularly in the context of a public health crisis, such as the one imposed by COVID-19.
Quantitative genomics-enabled selection for simultaneous improvement of lint yield and seed traits in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Li Zitong , Zhu Qian-Hao , Moncuquet Philippe , Wilson Iain , Llewellyn Danny , Stiller Warwick , Liu Shiming 
Published: May 2024

AbstractKey messageA Bayesian linkage disequilibrium-based multiple-locus mixed model identified QTLs for fibre, seed and oil traits and predicted breeding worthiness of test lines, enabling their simultaneous improvement in cotton.AbstractImproving cotton seed and oil yields has become increasingly important while continuing to breed for higher lint yield. In this study, a novel Bayesian linkage disequilibrium-based multiple-locus mixed model was developed for QTL identification and genomic prediction (GP). A multi-parent population consisting of 256 recombinant inbred lines, derived from four elite cultivars with distinct combinations of traits, was used in the analysis of QTLs for lint percentage, seed index, lint index and seed oil content and their interrelations. All four traits were moderately heritable and correlated but with no large influence of genotype × environment interactions across multiple seasons. Seven to ten major QTLs were identified for each trait with many being adjacent or overlapping for different trait pairs. A fivefold cross-validation of the model indicated prediction accuracies of 0.46–0.62. GP results based on any two-season phenotypes were strongly correlated with phenotypic means of a pooled analysis of three-season experiments (r = 0.83–0.92). When used for selection of improvement in lint, seed and oil yields, GP captured 40–100% of individuals with comparable lint yields of those selected based on the three-season phenotypic results. Thus, this quantitative genomics-enabled approach can not only decipher the genomic variation underlying lint, seed and seed oil traits and their interrelations, but can provide predictions for their simultaneous improvement. We discuss future breeding strategies in cotton that will enhance the entire value of the crop, not just its fibre.
Using polyphenol-rich extracts from tropical fruit byproducts to control lipid and protein oxidation in cooked chicken models
Authors: Cava Ramón , Ladero Luis 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe present work aimed to analyse the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of peel and seed extracts obtained from three tropical fruits: papaya, mango, and loquat, with different solvents (water, ethanol, and water:ethanol, 1:1) and evaluate their potential effects as antioxidants in a cooked chicken model under refrigerated storage. In the seed and peel extracts produced, bioactive compounds (total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and condensed tannins) were quantified. Additionally, antioxidant activities (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP) were assayed spectrophotometrically. Seed extracts from the three fruits were selected for application in a cooked chicken model in which colour, lipids, and protein oxidation were evaluated during refrigerated storage. Moreover, compared with the other extracts, the mango seed extracts (MSEs), irrespective of the extraction solvent used, had the highest contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities. MSEs significantly reduced the CIE L* and increased the CIE a* while effectively controlling lipid and protein oxidation in cooked chicken models during refrigerated storage. Due to their high antioxidant activity and high concentration of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, MSEs are interesting sources of natural antioxidants and bioactive compounds for use in the meat industry.
How thermal treatment affects the chemical composition and the physical, mechanical and swelling properties of Scots pine juvenile and mature wood
Authors: Broda Magdalena , Popescu Carmen-Mihaela , Poszwa Kamil , Roszyk Edward 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHigh variations in juvenile wood properties in the radial direction and its worse performance than mature wood make it less suitable for some applications and often treated as waste material. This study aimed to assess how thermal modification affects the chemical composition and the physical, mechanical and swelling properties of Scots pine juvenile and mature wood. An additional goal was to evaluate if the modification can equalise the differences in selected properties of juvenile wood to those of mature wood so that from waste material, juvenile wood can become a fully-fledged raw material for various industrial applications. Thermal treatment at 220 °C influenced wood chemical composition, degrading mainly hemicelluloses but also affecting cellulose and lignin, which resulted in a reduction of hydroxyls and carbonyl/carboxyl groups. These changes were more pronounced for mature than juvenile wood. It reduced mass loss and swelling rate, and increased swelling pressure in the tangential and radial directions to a higher degree for juvenile than mature wood. Changes in mechanical properties in compression were statistically significant only for mature wood, while wood hardness remained unaffected. Although the applied heat treatment improved the performance of juvenile wood by reducing its swelling rate, it did not equalise the examined properties between juvenile and mature wood. Since higher juvenile wood proportion is expected in the wood supply from the future intensively managed forests, there is still a need to find suitable modification methods or better processing techniques so that instead of being thrown away as waste, it could be used broadly in various industrial applications.
Deep learning nomogram for predicting neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in locally advanced gastric cancer patients
Authors: Zhang Jingjing , Zhang Qiang , Zhao Bo , Shi Gaofeng 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Developed and validated a deep learning radiomics nomogram using multi-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) response in locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) patients.

Methods
This multi-center study retrospectively included 322 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer from January 2013 to June 2023 at two hospitals. Handcrafted radiomics technique and the EfficientNet V2 neural network were applied to arterial, portal venous, and delayed phase CT images to extract two-dimensional handcrafted and deep learning features. A nomogram model was built by integrating the handcrafted signature, the deep learning signature, with clinical features. Discriminative ability was assessed using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve and the precision-recall (P-R) curve. Model fitting was evaluated using calibration curves, and clinical utility was assessed through decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results
The nomogram exhibited excellent performance. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.848 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.793–0.893)], 0.802 (95% CI 0.688–0.889), and 0.751 (95% CI 0.652–0.833) for the training, internal validation, and external validation sets, respectively. The AUCs of the P-R curves were 0.838 (95% CI 0.756–0.895), 0.541 (95% CI 0.329–0.740), and 0.556 (95% CI 0.376–0.722) for the corresponding sets. The nomogram outperformed the clinical model and handcrafted signature across all sets (all P < 0.05). The nomogram model demonstrated good calibration and provided greater net benefit within the relevant threshold range compared to other models.

Conclusion
This study created a deep learning nomogram using CECT images and clinical data to predict NAC response in LAGC patients undergoing surgical resection, offering personalized treatment insights.

Graphical abstract