bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparation of bioplastic materials based on thermoplastic chitosan and starch by melting mixing method
Authors: Van Chien Nguyen , Yen Dao Hai , Phuong Hoang Thi , Trang Phạm Quynh , Diep Nguyen Thi , Huy Tran Huu , Phuong Pham Thi , Tuyet Phung Thi Anh 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe thermoplastic chitosan/starch material was prepared through the utilization of melt mixing in this research. The chitosan/starch compound is plasticized using a mixture of glycerol and ethylene glycol in a ratio of 2:1. The present study evaluated the impact of chitosan concentration on the structural and material properties through the utilization of various analytical techniques, including X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transformative infrared spectroscopy, scanning optical microscopy, water absorption, and mechanical properties. The utilization of SOM imaging revealed that the dispersion of chitosan within the starch phase was homogeneous when the chitosan content was below 9%. The study findings indicated that the incorporation of chitosan into thermoplastic chitosan/starch material resulted in a decrease in moisture absorption under varying humidity conditions (52%, 75%, and 85% RH). The results indicated that the material's hidden absorption is comparable in both environments, with a saturated moisture absorption range of 19%–25%. However, the material exhibited a significantly higher level of humidification at RH 85%, with an interaction range of 40%–48%. Furthermore, the findings suggested that an increase in chitosan content was positively correlated with an increase in tensile strength while negatively correlated with elongation at break.
Elasto‐thermodiffusive interaction under void due to nonlocal stress theory
Authors: Sur Abhik 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe current investigation address a novel generalized elasto‐thermodiffusion model for a thermoelastic porous half‐space incorporating the nonlocal stress theory proposed by Eringen. Modeling of the problem is performed by adopting Moore‐Gibson‐Thompson (MGT) thermoelasticity theory defined in an integral form of a common derivative on a slipping interval, well known as the memory‐dependent derivative. The bounding plane of the medium is subjected to time‐dependent thermal and chemical shocks and there is no change in the volume fraction field. Laplace transform and the Fourier transform techniques have been adopted to represent the analytical solutions in the transformed domain. The distributions of the physical fields such as the temperature, stress, chemical potential, mass concentration and the volume fraction field were found in the real space‐time domain adopting suitable numerical scheme based on the Fourier series expansion. According to the discussion of the computational results and the respective graphical representations, the prominent role of different parameters such as the effect of nonlocality, effect of void and thermodiffusion is analyzed. Moreover, the superiority of a nonlinear kernel function compared to a linear form is also reported.
Daytime spatial relationships in a family group of black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis at the Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park, Japan
Authors: Nakamichi Masayuki , Saito Miho , Kaigaishi Yu , Onishi Kenji 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAlthough black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis are mostly solitary in the wild, the Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park (Asa Zoo) has kept a family group together during the daytime, with good reproductive performance over five decades. Management procedures at the zoo include temporary single housing of the mother before and after giving birth, which facilitates maintenance of a compatible family group. We recorded intra‐group spatial relationships for 4 years and 4 months, during which time an adult female reared two consecutive calves. During daytime she remained in an enclosure with her new calf, one or two older offspring, and an adult male, the sire of all her offspring. Proximity (within two adult body‐lengths) scores between the mother and her two calves were especially high during the first year after birth, and only slightly lower for her older offspring. The adult male had the lowest proximity scores. The spatial relationships were visualized by applying multidimensional scaling (MDS) to the proximity scores. Mother and calves were plotted close to each other, with older offspring slightly farther apart on the two‐dimensional MDS representation; the adult male was more distant from the other group members. These findings indicate clear follower‐type characteristics in the mother−calf pair and also older immature offspring, albeit to a lesser degree. Although black rhinoceros are generally solitary in the wild, our results duplicate observations of some wild black rhinoceros groups containing an adult female, her calf, and an older immature, with adult males being largely solitary.
Aktueller Forschungsstand, Desiderate und das eigene Forschungsdesign
Authors: Lüder Stefan 
Published: March 2024

ZusammenfassungDie Forschungsfragen und das Erkenntnisinteresse dieses Buchs erfordern eine Einführung in verschiedene relevante Forschungsgebiete und eine detaillierte Herausarbeitung der jeweiligen Desiderate. Zum Einstieg werden deshalb zunächst etymologischen und ideengeschichtliche Ursprünge von unterschiedlichen Legitimationsbegriffen thematisiert und in die Anfänge der wissenschaftlichen Legitimationsforschung in den Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften einführend diskutiert. Im nächsten Schritt geht es dann etwas spezifischer um die Legitimationsforschung in den Geschichtswissenschaften mit einem besonderen Fokus auf den aktuellen Stand der Forschung im Kontext Asiens.
Dynamiken der Staatsbildung im überlangen 19. Jahrhundert des zentralen Himalayas
Authors: Lüder Stefan 
Published: March 2024

ZusammenfassungEine zusammenfassende Beschreibung der regionalen Dynamiken der Staatsbildungsprozesse im überlangen 19. Jahrhundert des zentralen Himalayas etabliert den notwendigen narrativen Rahmen für die nachfolgende Analyse der Strategien zur Herrschaftslegitimation. Zudem werden anschließend die spezifischen Legitimationsdefizite herausgearbeitet, mit denen die verschiedenen herrschenden Eliten während der unterschiedlichen Phasen der Staatsbildung konfrontiert waren.
Legitimation in der formativen und expansiven Phase der Staatsbildung
Authors: Lüder Stefan 
Published: March 2024

ZusammenfassungDie bisherige Erforschung von Legitimationsstrategien der herrschenden Eliten der Gorkhālī während den Anfängen der staatsbildenden Prozesse und der anschließenden expansiven Phase fokussiert fast ausschließlich das Königtum. Als besonders einflussreich gelten anthropologische, ethnologische und indologische Forschungen in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. und zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts, die hauptsächlich von Forschenden aus Europa und Nordamerika durchgeführt wurden.
Herrschaftslegitimation durch Gesundheitswesen und Bildungsinstitutionen
Authors: Lüder Stefan 
Published: March 2024

ZusammenfassungIn den vergangenen zwei Jahrzehnten wurde in der Forschung zu europäischen Zivilisierungsmissionen herausgearbeitet, dass die Schaffung eines Gesundheitswesens, medizinische Wissens- und Methodenkanons sowie Bildungsinstitutionen und -inhalte in der Hochphase der europäischen Hegemonie im 19. Jahrhundert oft als Merkmal für den Grad der Zivilisiertheit von Gesellschaften verstanden wurden. Im Folgenden Kapitel geht es um die Frage, welche Rolle die selektive Aneignung von Wissen und Institutionen in der Entstehung eines Bildungssystems und Gesundheitswesens im Gorkhā-Staat spielte und inwieweit diese zur Herrschaftslegitimation von den herrschenden Eliten instrumentalisiert worden sind.
Technologie zur Herrschaftslegitimation
Authors: Lüder Stefan 
Published: March 2024

ZusammenfassungMit der perspektivischen Erweiterung der historischen Wissenschaften im Laufe der 1980er Jahre wurden auch verschiedene Aspekte materieller Kultur wie Technologien in der Imperialismus- und Kolonialismus-Forschung auf ihre ideologischen Implikationen hin untersucht und zum Gegenstand wissenschaftlicher Debatten. Dabei befasst man sich mit der Frage, wie Technologien als Maßeinheit zur Bestimmung des Zivilisierungsgrades von Gesellschaften herangezogen, zur Herrschaftslegitimation instrumentalisiert worden und Ansprüche auf Macht, Autorität und zivilisatorische Überlegenheit implizierten wurden. Aber während es zahlreiche Publikationen gibt, die sich mit den Zusammenhängen von Herrschaftslegitimation und Technologie in der südasiatischen Geschichte auseinandergesetzt haben, bleibt die Region des zentralen Himalayas in der Empirie dieser Forschungen bis heute gänzlich außen vor. Deshalb wird in diesem Kapitel der Frage nachgegangen, inwieweit Technologien im Verlauf des überlangen 19. Jahrhunderts als Ausdruck der materiellen Dimension von Selbstzivilisierung der Gesellschaft des Gorkhā-Staates und daher als Manifestation sich gegenseitig ergänzender Elemente von Legitimationsdiskurse und -praktiken verstanden werden können.
Synthesis and characterization of graft copolymer hydrogel by “grafting from” atom transfer radical polymerization using brominated macro monomeric initiator and investigation of hydrogel properties
Authors: Göktaş Melahat , Aslan Ümran 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this study, poly(ɛ-caprolactone-g-2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) [P(CL-g-HEMA)] graft copolymer hydrogels were successfully synthesized through multi-step reactions. For this purpose, firstly, hydroxyl-terminated poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL-OH) was obtained by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) method of ɛ-caprolactone using 3-chlor-1,2-propanediol initiator, which is suitable for ring-opening polymerization method. Then, from the reaction of synthesized PCL-OH and 3-bromopropionyl chloride, a new brominated poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL-Br) was synthesized for use as a functionalized atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator. Poly(ɛ-caprolactone-g-2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) [P(CL-g-HEMA)] graft copolymer hydrogels were synthesized by “grafting from” atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) presence the new synthesized functionalized ATRP initiator (PCL-Br) and hydrogel properties were investigated. The synthesized functionalized initiators and graft copolymer hydrogel were characterized by spectroscopic methods such as 1H-NMR, FT-IR, TGA, DSC and SEM. The observation of two different decomposition temperatures, respectively, from the TGA analysis results may support the formation of the biblock graft copolymer. A glass transition temperature (Tg) of the graft copolymer hydrogel was found by DSC, and this value is between the Tg values of the homopolymers forming the graft copolymer hydrogel. Water swelling values of graft copolymer hydrogels were measured and calculated every 24 h in pure water with pH = 7 at from + 4 to 65 °C. Considering the weight of dry graft copolymer hydrogels, it was seen that water was absorbed at most at + 4 °C. As the temperature increased, the water absorption or swelling of the hydrogel decreased.
Comparing the latent state–trait structure of the PANSS in cariprazine-medicated and placebo-controlled patients with acute schizophrenia
Authors: Krückl Jana S. , Acsai Károly , Dombi Zsófia B. , Moeller Julian , Lieb Roselind , Lang Undine E. , Barabássy Ágota , Huber Christian G. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAfter over a hundred years of research, the question whether the symptoms of schizophrenia are rather trait-like (being a relatively stable quality of individuals) or state-like (being substance to change) is still unanswered. To assess the trait and the state component in patients with acute schizophrenia, one group receiving antipsychotic treatment, the other not. Data from four phase II/III, 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of similar design that included patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia were pooled. In every trial, one treatment group received a third-generation antipsychotic, cariprazine, and the other group placebo. To assess symptoms of schizophrenia, the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) was applied. Further analyses were conducted using the five subscales as proposed by Wallwork and colleagues. A latent state–trait (LST) model was developed to estimate the trait and state components of the total variance of the observed scores. All symptom dimensions behaved more in a trait-like manner. The proportions of all sources of variability changed over the course of the observational period, with a bent around weeks 3 and 4. Visually inspected, no major differences were found between the two treatment groups regarding the LST structure of symptom dimensions. This high proportion of inter-individual stability may represent an inherent part of symptomatology that behaves independently from treatment status.
Discrete Scale Invariance and U(2) Family of Two-Body Contact Interactions in One Dimension
Authors: Ohya Satoshi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBecause of the absence of indistinguishability constraint, interparticle interactions between nonidentical particles have in general much more variety than those between identical particles. In particular, it is known that there exists a U(2) family of two-body contact interactions between nonidentical particles in one spatial dimension. This paper studies breakdown of continuous scale invariance to discrete scale invariance under this U(2) family of two-body contact interactions in two-body problems of nonidentical particles on the half line. We show that, in contrast to the corresponding identical-particle problem, there exist two distinct channels that admit geometric sequences of two-body bound states.
Mesh vs. non-mesh repair of type I hiatal hernias: a propensity-score matching analysis of 6533 patients from the Herniamed registry
Authors: Hoffmann H. , Glauser P. , Adolf D. , Kirchhoff P. , Köckerling F. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Introduction
Surgical treatment of type I hiatal sliding hernias aims to control the gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and prevention of hernia recurrence. Usually, a cruroplasty is performed to narrow the hiatal orifice. Here, it remains controversial if a mesh reinforcement of the cruroplasty should be performed, since benefits as well as mesh-associated complications have been described.

Methods
We performed a propensity-score matching analysis with data derived from the Herniamed registry comparing patients undergoing laparoscopic type I hiatal hernia repair with and without synthetic mesh. We analyzed perioperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data including data derived from the 1-year follow-up in the registry.

Results
6.533 patients with an axial, type I hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux are included in this analysis. Mesh augmentation of the hiatoplasty was performed in n = 1.252/6.533 (19.2%) of patients. The defect size in the subgroup of patients with mesh augmentation was with mean 16.3 cm2 [14.5; 18.2] significantly larger as in the subgroups without mesh augmentation with 10.8 cm2 [8.7; 12.9]; (p < 0.001). In patients with mesh hiatoplasty n = 479 (38.3%) Nissen and n = 773 (61.7%) Toupet fundoplications are performed. 1.207 matched pairs could be analyzed. The mean defect size after matching was with 15.9 cm2 comparable in both groups. A significant association was seen regarding recurrence (4.72% mesh vs. 7.29% non-mesh hiatoplasty, p = 0.012). The same relation can be seen for pain on exertion (8.78% vs 12.10%; p = 0.014) and pain requiring treatment (6.13% vs 9.11%; p = 0.010). All other outcome parameter showed no significant correlation.

Conclusions
Our data demonstrate that mesh-reinforced laparoscopic type I hiatal hernia repair in larger defects is associated with significantly lower rates for recurrence, pain on exertion and pain requiring treatment.
Behavioral intention, perception and user assessment in an immersive virtual reality environment with CFD simulations
Authors: Solmaz Serkan , Gerling Kathrin , Kester Liesbeth , Van Gerven Tom 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study explores technology acceptance, perception and user assessment of an immersive virtual reality environment with computational fluid dynamics simulations in engineering education. 57 participants from three different institutions tested the virtual reality application. Partial least squares structural equation modeling and interferential statistics were performed to predict and assess interrelations among constructs. Results show that the learning value, content value, intrinsic motivation and personal innovativeness are underlying factors behind students’ intention to use virtual reality. Pair-wise analysis indicates that users’ perceptions matter and positively affect their attitudes. In addition, the virtual reality application helps students perform significantly better in the post-knowledge test. Findings also highlight that prior experience and interest can affect students’ attitudes and behavioral intentions to accept the virtual reality application in education. Our study can guide lecturers and developers to achieve on-target immersive virtual reality learning environments in higher education.
Optimization of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) concentration in polycaprolactone bio-composites for bio-plotting: a robust interpretation of the reinforcement mechanisms
Authors: Vidakis Nectarios , Petousis Markos , Michailidis Nikolaos , David Constantine , Mountakis Nikolaos , Papadakis Vassilis , Sfakiotakis Evangelos , Sagris Dimitrios , Argyros Apostolos 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBioabsorbable and biodegradable composites have experienced rapid growth, owing to their high demand in the biomedical sector. Polymer-cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) compounds were developed using a medical-grade poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix to improve the stiffness and load-bearing capacity of pure PCL. Five PCL/CNCs filament grades were melt-extruded, pelletized, and fed into an industrial bioplotter to fabricate specimens. To assess the effects of CNCs on pure PCL, 14 tests were conducted, including rheological, thermomechanical, and in situ micro-mechanical testing, among others. The porosity and dimensional accuracy of the samples were also documented using micro-computed tomography while scanning electron microscopy was employed for morphological characterization. Overall, the 4.0 wt % CNCs loading accomplished the optimum mechanical response, with an increase in its tensile (19.1%) and flexural strength (12.6%) compared to pure PCL. Concurrently, this grade exhibited the highest MFR, minimum porosity, and highest nominal-to-actual geometric accuracy, thereby convincingly interpreting the reinforcement mechanisms.
A Consolidated MCDM Framework for Overall Performance Assessment of Listed Insurance Companies Based on Ranking Strategies
Authors: Işık Özcan , Çalık Ahmet , Shabir Mohsin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe main objective of this study is to analyze the performance of non-life insurance companies operating in the Turkish insurance industry with a hybrid model including Pythagorean Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (PFAHP) and Multi-Attributive Ideal-Real Comparative Analysis (MAIRCA) methods. For this purpose, the performance assessment indicators, consisting of fourteen sub-criteria in three dimensions are taken into account for comparing five insurance companies traded on the Borsa Istanbul (BIST) over five consecutive years (2015 to 2019). Subsequently, year-wise rankings are aggregated using the Borda count (BC) procedure. The results of PFAHP indicate that service network is the most important main criterion (dimension) for performance assessment of non-life insurance companies, followed by stock market performance and financial ratios that come in the second and third ranks, respectively. Furthermore, the results of MAIRCA based on BC procedure reveal that Halk Sigorta, a state-owned insurance company, is the most successful company in terms of selected performance indicators in the period examined. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis is performed in order to test stability and the robustness of the results from the proposed framework, and the results of sensitivity analysis confirms the rationality and robustness of the suggested integrated MCDM framework. As a result, the suggested assessment framework can be applied by different decision-making groups in the industry as a valuable and practical decision-making tool for monitoring and improving the performance of insurance companies. Finally, some of managerial implications are also discussed.
A comparative study of methods for estimating model-agnostic Shapley value explanations
Authors: Olsen Lars Henry Berge , Glad Ingrid Kristine , Jullum Martin , Aas Kjersti 
Published: March 2024

AbstractShapley values originated in cooperative game theory but are extensively used today as a model-agnostic explanation framework to explain predictions made by complex machine learning models in the industry and academia. There are several algorithmic approaches for computing different versions of Shapley value explanations. Here, we consider Shapley values incorporating feature dependencies, referred to as conditional Shapley values, for predictive models fitted to tabular data. Estimating precise conditional Shapley values is difficult as they require the estimation of non-trivial conditional expectations. In this article, we develop new methods, extend earlier proposed approaches, and systematize the new refined and existing methods into different method classes for comparison and evaluation. The method classes use either Monte Carlo integration or regression to model the conditional expectations. We conduct extensive simulation studies to evaluate how precisely the different method classes estimate the conditional expectations, and thereby the conditional Shapley values, for different setups. We also apply the methods to several real-world data experiments and provide recommendations for when to use the different method classes and approaches. Roughly speaking, we recommend using parametric methods when we can specify the data distribution almost correctly, as they generally produce the most accurate Shapley value explanations. When the distribution is unknown, both generative methods and regression models with a similar form as the underlying predictive model are good and stable options. Regression-based methods are often slow to train but quickly produce the Shapley value explanations once trained. The vice versa is true for Monte Carlo-based methods, making the different methods appropriate in different practical situations.