bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficient estimation for the proportional hazards model with left‐truncated and interval‐censored data
Authors: Lu Tianyi , Li Hongxi , Li Shuwei , Sun Liuquan 
Published: October 2023

SummaryInterval‐censored data often arise in prospective studies involving periodical follow‐up for monitoring the failure event occurrence. In addition to censoring, left truncation also occurs if only participants who have not experienced the failure event are enrolled in the study, which clearly induces the selection bias and makes the analysis more complicated. This work provides an efficient maximum likelihood estimation approach that appropriately adjusts the biased sampling for the proportional hazards model with left‐truncated and interval‐censored data. A flexible and stable expectation–maximisation algorithm via a two‐stage data augmentation is developed to maximise the intractable likelihood function. The asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established with the empirical process theory. The numerical results obtained from extensive simulations suggest that the proposed method performs satisfactorily and has some prominent advantages over the competing methods. An application to a colon cancer dataset also demonstrates the usefulness of the proposed method.
Polymer Biodegradability 2.0: A Holistic View on Polymer Biodegradation in Natural and Engineered Environments
Authors: Sander Michael , Weber Miriam , Lott Christian , Zumstein Michael , Künkel Andreas , Battagliarin Glauco 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBiodegradable polymers are an important part of the solution toolbox to achieve circularity in the plastic economy and overcome negative impacts of a linear plastic economy. Biodegradable polymers need to excel not only on a mechanical performance level in the application to fulfill their function during the use phase but also on a biodegradation performance level after use. The biodegradation performance is tailored to the application and the receiving environment of the polymer product after use, which can be both engineered systems (e.g., compost, anaerobic digestors, wastewater treatment plants) and natural systems (e.g., soils, freshwater, or marine environments). This chapter addresses key aspects of polymer biodegradability and biodegradation in both natural and engineered systems with the goal to advance a more holistic view on the topic and, thereby, provide guidance for all stakeholders working on developing, testing, and regulating biodegradable polymers. These aspects include definitions of biodegradability and biodegradation, elucidating polymer- and environmental factors that control the biodegradation process, a discussion of the analytical chemistry of polymer biodegradation, polymer biodegradability testing and certification, as well as a brief overview of research needs. In accordance with the diverse backgrounds of the authors of the chapter, this chapter targets all stakeholder groups from academics to industry and regulators.
2pf in single-trace $$ T\overline{T} $$ holography
Authors: Giveon Amit 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
The 2pf in single-trace $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

holography was computed and analyzed for operators in the w = 0 sector in [1]. Here we present its immediate generalization to non-zero winding w. For long strings, the result is identical to the one obtained within the TsT/$$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

approach in [2] (up to a factor of the reflection coefficient).
ZApprO versus ZÄPrO: Ergebnisse einer ersten Vergleichsstudie
Authors: Uzun Deniz , de Sousa Theresa , Görl Steffani , Brandt Silvia , Giraki Maria , Petsos Hari , Blauhut Thorsten , Heitkamp Stefan , Begic Amira , Obreja Karina , Sayahpour Babak , Bühling Sarah , Plein Nicolas , Möltner Andreas , Gerhardt-Szép Susanne , Zahn Tuğba 
Published: October 2023

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Mehr als 60 Jahre nach dem Erlass der ersten Approbationsordnung für Zahnärzte (ZÄPrO) trat im Jahr 2020 eine neue Approbationsordnung für Zahnärzte und Zahnärztinnen (ZApprO) in Kraft. Ziele dieser Untersuchung waren die Evaluation und ein Vergleich der auf den unterschiedlichen gesetzlichen Grundlagen basierenden Lehrveranstaltungen „Kurs der Technischen Propädeutik“ (TPK) und „Zahnmedizinische Propädeutik mit Schwerpunkt Dentale Technologie“ (ZPDT).

Methoden
Nach Abschluss der Veranstaltungen wurden folgende Parameter untersucht: (1.) theoretisches und praktisches Wissen, (2.) reguläre fachbereichsinterne Evaluation durch die Lernenden, (3.) spezielle Evaluation der Lernbedingungen aus Sicht der Lernenden und (4.) aus Sicht der Lehrenden. Die theoretischen und praktischen Prüfungen und die Fragebögen wurden hinsichtlich ihrer teststatistischen Kenngrößen (Schwierigkeit, Trennschärfe, interne Konsistenz) analysiert. Gruppenvergleiche zwischen TPK und ZPDT erfolgten durch t‑Tests für unabhängige Gruppen.

Ergebnisse
Lediglich bei der Evaluation zur Erfassung der speziellen Lernbedingungen aus Sicht der Lernenden konnten signifikante Unterschiede festgestellt werden, wobei die theoretische und praktische Wissensvermittlung im TPK niedriger als im ZPDT bewertet wurde.

Diskussion
Die vergleichbaren Ergebnisse der Wissensüberprüfungen und der regulären Evaluation, trianguliert mit der umfangreichen Evaluation durch Lernende und Lehrende, ermöglichten eine umfassende Beurteilung beider Veranstaltungen. Die ermittelten signifikanten Unterschiede eröffnen Möglichkeiten zur Optimierung des neu implementierten ZPDT-Kurses.
Black Male Supervisors Navigating Racial Battle Fatigue: A Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Sanders Terrance J. , Romosz Ann M. , Roman Renee L. , Moore Irvin E. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractA significantly relevant issue that affects Black men in the workplace is a condition known as racial battle fatigue (RBF). RBF fosters systemic and systematic occupational and economic disparities that are experienced by Black men more regularly than their White counterparts (Smith et al., 2007). This qualitative study utilized a constructivist grounded theory methodology based on interviews with 11 Black male supervisors to understand the meaning of their cognitive and behavioral experiences as they navigated microaggressions, microinequities, and vicarious racism. These experiences contribute to our understanding of RBF. The findings revealed that Black male supervisors in various industries encountered and experienced RBF in the workplace. In addition, this research revealed that participants were subjected to various subtle and overt forms of racial stress due to microlevel and macrolevel RBF. The participants’ stories identified epistemic employment injustice and white fear as obstacles and barriers that Black men in supervisory roles face because of RBF in the workplace. The study also indicated that participants deployed managing and coping strategies to address the emotional contagions and emotional trauma resulting from their experiences. This research has implications for workplace policy change initiatives, cultural training and education, intergroup dialog courses, and clinical health practitioners. Recommendations pertaining to interventions that address trauma, mental health, and maladaptive behaviors are provided.
Bandwidth selection for treatment choice with binary outcomes
Authors: Ishihara Takuya 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis study considers the treatment choice problem when the outcome variable is binary. We focus on statistical treatment rules that plug in fitted values from a nonparametric kernel regression, and show that the maximum regret can be calculated by maximizing over two parameters. Using this result, we propose a novel bandwidth selection method based on the minimax regret criterion. Finally, we perform a numerical exercise to compare the optimal bandwidth choices for binary and normally distributed outcomes.
SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: the role of occupational and household exposures during the first three pandemic waves in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Carazo Sara , Denis Geoffroy , Padet Lauriane , Deshaies Pierre , Villeneuve Jasmin , Paquet-Bolduc Bianka , Laliberté Denis , Talbot Denis , De Serres Gaston 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Objective:
We described the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 source of infection in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) of Quebec, Canada, during the first three pandemic waves. We also estimated their household secondary attack rate (SAR) and its risk factors.

Design:
Cross-sectional surveys.

Participants:
HCWs with a SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerasa chain reaction and diagnosed between March 2020 and May 2021.

Methods:
We collected demographic, clinical, vaccination, and employment information, self-reported perceived source of infection, and transmission to household members during the first three pandemic waves. SAR was calculated for households with ≥2 members where the HCW was the index case. A Poisson regression model estimated the association between risk factors and SAR.

Results:
Among the 11,670 HCWs completing the survey, 91%, perceived their workplace as the source of infection during the first wave (March–July 2020), 71% during the second wave (July 2020–March 2021), and 40% during the third wave (March–May 2021). Conversely, HCWs reported an increasing proportion of household-acquired infections with each wave from 4% to 14% and 33%, respectively. The overall household SAR of 7,990 HCWs living with ≥1 person was 30% (95%CI: 29–30). SAR increased with the presence of symptoms, older age, and during Alpha-variant predominant period.

Conclusions:
HCWs and their household members were largely affected during the first pandemic waves of COVID-19, but the relative importance of occupational exposure changed overtime. Pandemic preparedness in healthcare settings is essential to protect HCWs from emerging biological hazard exposures.
Decision-Making Prepandemic: University Curtailment of Academic Operations Closure Processes During the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak
Authors: Victor Samjeris , Barnett Daniel J. , Hayanga J. W. Awori , Pascual-Ferrá Paola , Hayanga Heather K. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Objective:
Through in-depth interviews, this study aimed to understand perspectives of key stakeholders regarding the decision to curtail academic operations in the setting of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak before the declaration of a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and how such processes may be optimized in the future to best protect public health and safety.

Methods:
Virtual interviews with key stakeholders from 4 academic institutions were conducted from September to December 2020 using a standardized interview question template. The interviews lasted approximately 30-45 minutes and each interview was recorded with permission. The interviews were then transcribed and reviewed for qualitative analysis.

Results:
The decision to curtail academic operations involved several common themes, such as discussing how institutions would control the outbreak and the process of transitioning to virtual learning and remote work. Universities were monitoring other universities’ responses as well as evaluating the prevalence of cases nationally and globally. Risks and challenges identified included housing for international students, financial implications, and loss of academic productivity.

Conclusions:
The decision-making process may be optimized in the future by focusing on communication within a smaller committee, prioritizing epidemiology over fiscal implications, and embracing an openness to consider new strategies. Further research regarding this topic should be pursued to best protect public health and safety.
Resentment and Polarization in Indonesia
Authors: Soderborg Seth , Muhtadi Burhanuddin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Is political polarization in Indonesia here to stay? For years, scholarly consensus on partisanship in Indonesia viewed weak partisan identity, collusive party behavior, and the predominance of personality as features of a system that would prevent the emergence of deep polarization. In the wake of religious and ethnic mobilizations during three contentious elections, the question of whether polarization has come to Indonesia is increasingly salient. Where previous studies have focused on elite polarization, we focus on whether polarization has a mass base. Using an original, nationally representative survey of 1,520 Indonesian adults shortly before the 2019 election, we tested whether political preferences in Indonesia reflected any of four underlying sets of resentment—religious, anti-Chinese, anti-Java, or regional. We found links of varying strength between each of these resentments and political preferences. Analyzing the sources of resentments, we find evidence that different resentments may travel through different channels: religious resentment through organizational membership, anti-Chinese resentment through exposure to social media, regional resentment through awareness of regional resource disparities, and resentment of Java through having experienced the old politics of Java—Outer Islands conflict. These links between political affiliation and resentment suggest that polarization is here to stay, so long as politicians make use of real, underlying resentments.
Study of the linear models in estimating coherent velocity and temperature structures for compressible turbulent channel flows
Authors: Chen Xianliang , Cheng Cheng , Gan Jianping , Fu Lin 
Published: October 2023

Linear models, based on stochastically forced linearized equations, are deployed for spectral linear stochastic estimation (SLSE) of the velocity and temperature fluctuations in compressible turbulent channel flows with a bulk Mach number of 1.5. Through comparison with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) data, an eddy-viscosity-enhanced model (eLNS) outperforms the one not enhanced (LNS) in computing the coherence and amplitude ratio of streamwise velocity at different wall-normal heights, but they both largely deviate from DNS regarding the temperature prediction. For further investigation, the eigenspectra and pseudospectra of the linear operators are scrutinized. The eddy viscosity is shown to stabilize the eigenmodes and decrease the non-normality of the vortical modes. Consequently, the relative importance of acoustic and entropy modes increases, and they can contribute 20 % to 55 % of the response growth, which is not supported by DNS. Hence, it is an intrinsic defect of the eLNS model introduced by turbulence modelling. After a procedure of cospectrum decomposition, the contributions of acoustic and entropy components are filtered out. The resulting SLSE quantities for velocity, temperature and their coupling are basically agreeable with DNS, demonstrating that the coherent temperature fluctuation is dominated by advection and other vortical motions, instead of the compressibility effects. Moreover, a parameter study of Reynolds and Mach numbers (from 0.3 to 4) is conducted. The semi-local units are shown to well collapse the velocity SLSE quantities to the incompressible case for streamwise-elongated structures of high coherence.
Comparative Learning
Authors: Eva Benjamin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis article concerns the diachronic rationality norms for comparative confidence judgments, that is, judgments of the form “I am at least as confident in $p$ as I am in $q$.” Specifically, it identifies, characterizes, and evaluates an intuitively compelling learning rule called comparative conditionalization that specifies how agents should revise their comparative confidence judgments in the face of novel evidence.
The Making of the Modern State: Social Scientization and Education Legislation in the United Kingdom, 1800–1914
Authors: Smith Daniel Scott 
Published: October 2023

AbstractUntil the 19th century, the UK state stayed out of education. Only in 1833 would Parliament first pass an act that subsidized education for the poor. By 1914, 160 education acts had been passed, consolidating into the state schooling system we recognize today. This paper seeks to explain this remarkable progression. I argue that the emergence of social-knowledge institutions across the West was a powerful force of cultural construction. What I term social scientization, this process was multidimensional and translocal, entailing the elaboration, reification, and diffusion of functionalist theories of the nation-state that centered national education as means to greater cultural rationalization. Longitudinal analyses on comprehensive population data comprising over 10,100 UK parliamentary acts support the core historical insight of this piece: increasingly routine and aggressive forms of state intervention in education were the progressive instantiation of the 19th-century nation-state model, which was fundamentally epistemic in character and inextricably linked to the expansive cultural content of the ascendant social sciences.
Political trust and informal traders in African cities
Authors: Resnick Danielle , Sivasubramanian Bhavna 
Published: October 2023

AbstractHow do cities foster political trust among informal workers? This question is particularly salient in Africa's growing cities where local governments must reconcile policy priorities across highly heterogeneous constituencies, including a burgeoning middle-class and a large informal economy. We argue that expectations about reciprocity and procedural justice shape the probability that informal traders trust their local government. In doing so, we analyse a survey of approximately 1000 informal traders in Ghana's three main cities – Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. We find that traders who paid requisite fees to local assemblies and could attribute a benefit from those payments were more likely to trust their local government while those who had experienced harassment by city authorities were less likely to do so. The paper highlights that drivers of trust among diverse urban constituencies deserve greater empirical and comparative attention, especially as countries deepen decentralisation initiatives and cities commit to development goals around inclusivity.
Which psychological interventions improve quality of life in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Petkari Eleni , Nikolaou Elena , Oberleiter Sandra , Priebe Stefan , Pietschnig Jakob 
Published: October 2023

AbstractQuality of life (QoL) is a major patient reported outcome used to measure the psychological treatments success in people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. To date, the specific impact of different interventions on QoL remains undefined. A meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) was carried out for this purpose. We searched Proquest, PUBMED/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, WOS, Scopus, the Cochrane Library for RCTs published until January 2023. We used multilevel meta-analysis to examine differences between intervention effectiveness of experimental and control conditions whilst accounting for data dependencies. By means of subgroup analyses, we investigated influences of intervention types (i.e. psychoeducation v. CBT v. cognitive v. combination of several types v. other, such as psychodynamic, systemic, etc.) and continuous moderators were examined with precision-weighted meta-regressions. The generalizability of results across moderators, their combinations, and analytical approaches was investigated with multiverse meta-analyses. We examined data of 60 independent studies, reporting intervention effects for objective and subjective QoL (k = 19 and 70 effect sizes based on N = 1024 and 6254 participants, respectively). Overall, psychological interventions seemed to be more effective for objective than for subjective QoL. However, specific intervention results were differentiated, suggesting largest effects of psychoeducation on objective and combined interventions on subjective QoL. Our findings suggest that QoL is a valid outcome criterion for testing intervention effectiveness, as it is sensitive to change. Additionally, psychological interventions can improve patients' QoL, though the effects are small. Further testing of less widely used interventions and a shift toward the multidimensional nature of QoL is still necessary.
Social functioning and personal development among individuals with low literacy skills; the role of active labour market policy
Authors: Nordheim Oda , Huijts Tim 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Even as education becomes increasingly important for functioning in society, and many welfare states have taken responsibility for providing education, many individuals have insufficient skill levels to fully participate in society. This paper investigates the relationship between literacy skills and basic functioning and participation in society, focusing on the role of the welfare state, and whether individuals with low literacy skills are better off in terms of labour market outcomes, quality of life, digital participation and adult learning in countries with higher investments in active labour market policies (ALMPs), and three underlying spending categories: 1) public employment services, 2) training and 3) private sector employment incentives. Through multi-level analysis of 25 Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and 139,449 individuals, using individual-level data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and country-level data from the OECD, our results show that while low literacy is associated with less favourable conditions related to all outcome variables investigated, ALMPs do not always moderate these negative associations. This is especially true for labour market participation, health and on-the-job training. However, higher ALMP spending is associated with more favourable conditions among low-literate individuals when it comes to job satisfaction, digital participation and life-long learning.
Improved intraindividual variability in cognitive performance following cognitive and exercise training in older adults
Authors: Boa Sorte Silva Nárlon C. , ten Brinke Lisanne F. , Bielak Allison A. M. , Handy Todd C. , Liu-Ambrose Teresa 
Published: October 2023

AbstractObjective:Increased intraindividual variability (IIV) of cognitive performance is a marker of cognitive decline in older adults. Whether computerized cognitive training (CCT) and aerobic exercise counteracts cognitive decline by reducing IIV is unknown. We investigated the effects of CCT with or without aerobic exercise on IIV in older adults.Methods:This was a secondary analysis of an 8-week randomized controlled trial. Older adults (aged 65–85 years) were randomized to CCT alone (n = 41), CCT with aerobic exercise (n = 41), or an active control group (n = 42). The CCT group trained using the Fit Brains® platform 3×/week for 1 hr (plus 3×/week of home-based training). The CCT with aerobic exercise group received 15 min of walking plus 45 min of Fit Brains® 3×/week (plus 3×/week of home-based training). The control group received sham exercise and cognitive training (3×/week for 1 hr). We computed reaction time IIV from the Dimensional Change Card Sort Test, Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Flanker), and Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PACPS).Results:Compared with the control group, IIV reduced in a processing speed task (PACPS) following CCT alone (mean difference [95% confidence interval]: −0.144 [−0.255 to −0.034], p < 0.01) and CCT with aerobic exercise (−0.113 [−0.225 to −0.001], p < 0.05). Attention (Flanker congruent) IIV was reduced only after CCT with aerobic exercise (−0.130 [−0.242 to −0.017], p < 0.05).Conclusions:A CCT program promoted cognitive health via reductions in IIV of cognitive performance and combining it with aerobic exercise may result in broader benefits.