bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Review of Plan-Based Approaches for Dialogue Management
Authors: Santos Teixeira Milene , Dragoni Mauro 
Published: January 2022

AbstractDialogue systems deliver a more natural mean of communication between humans and machines when compared to traditional systems. Beyond input/output components that understand and generate natural language utterances, the core of a dialogue system is thedialogue manager. The aim of the dialogue manager is to mimic all cognitive aspects related to a natural conversation and it is responsible for identifying the current state of the dialogue and for deciding the next action to be taken by a dialogue system. Artificial intelligence (AI) planning is one of the techniques available in the literature for dialogue management. In a dialogue system, AI planning deals with the action selection problem by treating each utterance as an action and by choosing the actions that get closer to the dialogue goal. This work aims to provide a systematic literature review (SLR) that investigates recent contributions to plan-based dialogue management. This SLR aims at answering research questions concerning: (i) the types of AI planning exploited for dialogue management; (ii) the planning characteristics that justify its adoption in dialogue system; (iii) and, the challenges posed on the development of plan-based dialogue managers. The present SLR was performed by querying four scientific repositories, followed by a manual search on works from the most eminent authors in the field. Further works that were cited by the retrieved papers were also considered for inclusion. Our final corpus is composed of forty works, including only works published since 2014. The results indicate that AI planning is still an emerging strategy for dialogue management. Although AI planning can offer a strong contribution to dialogue systems, especially to those that require predictability, some relevant challenges might still limit its adoption. Our results contributed to discussions in the field and they highlight some research gaps to be addressed in future studies.
Revisiting Rwanda’s agricultural intensification policy: benefits of embracing farmer heterogeneity and crop-livestock integration strategies
Authors: Kim Sung Kyu , Marshall Fiona , Dawson Neil M. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe government of Rwanda is promoting agricultural intensification focused on the production of a small number of targeted commodities as a central strategy to pursue the joint policy goals of economic growth, food security and livelihood development. The dominant approach to increase the productive capacity of the land, crops and animal resources has been through large-scale land consolidation, soil fertility management, and the intensive use of biotechnology and external inputs. However, evidence has shown that many Rwandan farmers, who employ various strategies and mixed farming practices based on their specific economic, social, and environmental circumstances, face difficulties adopting the singular prescribed approach to become more productive, modern commodity producers. To empirically explore diversity in smallholders’ strategies and their contributions to livelihoods and compatibility with the recent intensification policies, we conducted household surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews in rural and peri-urban zones in Rwamagana district in Eastern Rwanda. Our analysis demonstrates how the dominant approach to intensification and specialisation overlooks the heterogeneity and dynamic nature of smallholder strategies. Moreover, our findings illustrate that a comprehensive understanding of farmer heterogeneity is necessary to explain the critical disjuncture between the government’s vision of modern agriculture and the ability of many smallholders to engage with this agenda and may inform opportunities to adapt policies to better align productivity goals and livelihoods. In doing so, we contribute to debates about the current framing of intensification policy that promotes Green Revolution technologies and emphasise alternative pathways for more inclusive and resilient agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa.
An improvised collocation algorithm to solve generalized Burgers’–Huxley equation
Authors: Shallu  , Kukreja Vijay Kumar 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn the proposed work, an improvised collocation technique with cubic B-spline as basis functions is applied to obtain the numerical solution of non-linear generalized Burgers’–Huxley equation, which has application in the soliton theory. In this technique, posteriori corrections are made to the cubic B-spline interpolant and its higher-order derivatives, which leads to enhancement in the order of convergence in the spatial domain. The temporal domain is discretized using a weighted finite difference scheme, to obtain the solution at each time level and the spatial domain is discretized using the improvised cubic B-spline collocation method. The stability analysis is carried out using the von Neumann scheme and the technique is found to be unconditionally stable. The theoretical proof of the order of convergence is discussed in detail using Green’s function approach. The $$L_{2}$$

L
2

, $$L_{\infty }$$

L
∞

, and absolute error norms are calculated as well as compared with the results available in the literature, which shows the improvement and efficacy of the proposed technique over the existing ones.
The utility of a genetic kidney disease clinic employing a broad range of genomic testing platforms: experience of the Irish Kidney Gene Project
Authors: Elhassan Elhussein A. E. , Murray Susan L. , Connaughton Dervla M. , Kennedy Claire , Cormican Sarah , Cowhig Cliona , Stapleton Caragh , Little Mark A. , Kidd Kendrah , Bleyer Anthony J. , Živná Martina , Kmoch Stanislav , Fennelly Neil K. , Doyle Brendan , Dorman Anthony , Griffin Matthew D. , Casserly Liam , Harris Peter C. , Hildebrandt Friedhelm , Cavalleri Gianpiero L. , Benson Katherine A. , Conlon Peter J. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background and aims
Genetic testing presents a unique opportunity for diagnosis and management of genetic kidney diseases (GKD). Here, we describe the clinical utility and valuable impact of a specialized GKD clinic, which uses a variety of genomic sequencing strategies.

Methods
In this prospective cohort study, we undertook genetic testing in adults with suspected GKD according to prespecified criteria. Over 7 years, patients were referred from tertiary centres across Ireland to an academic medical centre as part of the Irish Kidney Gene Project.

Results
Among 677 patients, the mean age was of 37.2 ± 13 years, and 73.9% of the patients had family history of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We achieved a molecular diagnostic rate of 50.9%. Four genes accounted for more than 70% of identified pathogenic variants: PKD1 and PKD2 (n = 186, 53.4%), MUC1 (8.9%), and COL4A5 (8.3%). In 162 patients with a genetic diagnosis, excluding PKD1/PKD2, the a priori diagnosis was confirmed in 58% and in 13% the diagnosis was reclassified. A genetic diagnosis was established in 22 (29.7%) patients with CKD of uncertain aetiology. Based on genetic testing, a diagnostic kidney biopsy was unnecessary in 13 (8%) patients. Presence of family history of CKD and the underlying a priori diagnosis were independent predictors (P < 0.001) of a positive genetic diagnosis.

Conclusions
A dedicated GKD clinic is a valuable resource, and its implementation of various genomic strategies has resulted in a direct, demonstrable clinical and therapeutic benefits to affected patients.

Graphical abstract
Photocatalytic water purification under visible light using carbon nitride materials and β-Bi2O3 immobilized on electrospun polyvinyl acetate fibers
Authors: Köwitsch Isabel , Schäfer Adrien , Hornig Dominik , Mehring Michael 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWe report on the immobilization of carbon nitride (CN) materials and β-Bi2O3 on electrospun polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) fiber substrates using a dispersion based dip coating process. The spinning process was optimized by variation of several parameters to finally obtain continuous droplet-free fibers at 15 kV and a flow rate of 50 µL min−1 using a needle with 1.2 mm diameter. The polymer substrates were coated with the β-Bi2O3 and CN materials, which were characterized using SEM and applied in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants such as Rhodamine B (RhB), ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and triclosan using visible light irradiation. The pollutants were degraded with up to 50% of the initial concentration within 8 h. Different amounts of CN material were deposited to evaluate the photocatalytic activity per mass. Immobilized CN materials were shown to be of higher activity (2.0 × 10−10 mol mg−1 min−1) than β-Bi2O3 (1.3 × 10−10 mol mg−1 min−1) and the mixture CN/β-Bi2O3 (1.6 × 10−10 mol mg−1 min−1). Reference samples with CN particles partially embedded in the polymer fleece showed minor degradaton rates (18% RhB degradation within 8 h) as compared to coated fiber substrates (47% RhB degradation within 8 h). Minor leaching of the carbon nitride material and no leaching of β-Bi2O3 occurs as shown by NPOC (non purgeable organic carbon) and ICP-MS measurements.
Increasing vaccination intention in pandemic times: a social marketing perspective
Authors: Wassler Philipp , Del Chiappa Giacomo , Nguyen Thi Hong Hai , Fedeli Giancarlo , Williams Nigel L. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWith the release of several COVID-19 vaccines, hopes for ending the pandemic have emerged. However, the uptake of the vaccines is largely voluntary and depends on the intentions of the public. From a social marketing perspective, this study takes the case of Italy to identify and test factors that are likely to increase COVID-19-vaccine intention. A sample of 3893 respondents was collected throughout Italy and a model empirically tested by structural equation modeling. The findings suggest that a social marketing campaign for undertaking COVID-19 vaccines should educate the public, going beyond just safety and efficacy, and create positive social norms by combatting misinformation on various platforms, including social media. Furthermore, it was found that economic hardship from COVID-19 does not automatically translate to vaccination intention and that social marketing campaigns should particularly target economically vulnerable and important segments. Also, instilling a craving for travel could potentially stimulate citizens to undertake COVID-19 inoculation. Finally, contributions and implications for social marketing COVID-19 vaccines in Italy and elsewhere are addressed.
Parenting style and its effect on eating disorders and substance abuse across the young population
Authors: Ramsewak Shalina , Moty Numrata , Putteeraj Manish , Somanah Jhoti , Nirmala Loung-Poorunder 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis article attempts to examine the occurrence of two behavioural changes, namely, substance abuse and eating disorders in order of onset mediated by ineffective parenting styles during young age. The four parenting styles and their consequential behavioural adverse effects are taken as the focal point of this study and are synthesized to provide an outlook on the status of ineffective parenting and deviant offspring behaviours. A review of literature was primarily undertaken to examine the characteristic features of ineffective parenting. A causal relationship was then drawn between the onset of behavioural disorders with an emphasis on substance abuse and eating disorders, along the parenting spectrum. We probed into the order and directionality of the offspring behavioural changes against ineffective parenting. The current available data shows the superimposition of the parenting style spectrum on a bell-shaped distribution of behavioural outcomes as exemplified by authoritarian, permissive and neglectful parenting as a prime determinant of several disorders among the young age; parenting styles being at the extremities of the parenting spectrum. The sweet spot of parenting, mainly associated to the authoritative approach, bears the most positive effect on the growing child. The extreme ends of parenting as per the varying degree of responsiveness and demandingness, generally observed in authoritarian and neglectful parenting precipitate concomitant deviant behaviours cascading from one another; intricately linking substance abuse and eating disorders. A number of studies describe the isolated effects of ineffective parenting on the development of substance abuse and eating disorders during the adolescent period. However, the relationship between both eating disorders and substance abuse is underplayed and need to be stressed upon to tailor behaviour-specific targeted therapies and restore the normalcy of these altered behaviours.
The long-term sustainability of a respiratory culture nudge
Authors: Kaur Supreet , Hutton Mary , Kenney Rachel M. , Weinmann Allison , Samuel Linoj , Tibbetts Robert , Davis Susan L. , Medler Corey 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Resource-intensive interventions and education are susceptible to a lack of long-term sustainability and regression to the mean. The respiratory culture nudge changed reporting to “Commensal Respiratory Flora only: No S. aureus/MRSA or P. aeruginosa.” This study demonstrated sustained reduction in broad-spectrum antibiotic duration and long-term sustainability 3 years after implementation.
Spatiotemporal distribution and control measure evaluation of droplets and aerosol clouds in dental procedures
Authors: Yuan Chao , Yang Hongtao , Zheng Siyuan , Sun Xiangyu , Chen Xiaochi , Chen Yuntao , Kang Jian , Liu Moubin , Zheng Shuguo 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWe evaluated the distributions of dental splatters and the corresponding control measure effects with high-speed videography and laser diffraction. Most of the dental splatters were small droplets (<50 μm). High-volume evacuation combined with a suction air purifier could clear away most of the droplets and aerosols.
Effectiveness of commercial portable air cleaners and a do-it-yourself minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV)-13 filter box fan air cleaner in reducing aerosolized bacteriophage MS2
Authors: Cadnum Jennifer L. , Bolomey Austin , Jencson Annette L. , Wilson Brigid M. , Donskey Curtis J. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn an unventilated room, 2 commercial portable air cleaners with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and a do-it-yourself box fan air cleaner with minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV)-13 filters significantly reduced aerosolized bacteriophage MS2. Increasing airflow and addition of ultraviolet-C light plus titanium dioxide–generated photocatalytic oxidation enhanced viral clearance.
Positive degree-day sums in the Alps: a direct link between glacier melt and international climate policy
Authors: Braithwaite Roger J. , Hughes Philip D. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Annual balances of eight alpine glaciers were slightly negative for 1961–90 and highly negative for 1991–2018. We explain this by changes in positive degree-day sums and summer temperatures extrapolated to the median altitudes of the glaciers. We test a new way of calculating degree-day sums that performs better than the traditional method which used daily mean temperatures. Annual degree-day sums are highly correlated with May–September temperatures as suggested in 1866 by Karl von Sonklar. We find moderate correlations between annual balances and degree-day sums, and with May–September temperatures. Calculated degree-day factors for the eight glaciers cover the reported range for snow and ice ablation, while the temperature sensitivity of annual balance is from −0.4 to −1.0 m w.e. for a +1°C temperature change. We accurately predict mean balances for 1991–2018 using May–September temperatures in regression models calibrated for 1961–90. May–September temperatures in the Alps have already increased ~+3°C since 1880 and, if temperatures continue to rise, these glaciers will shrink rapidly. As annual balances are already negative for present-day temperatures, these glaciers will not be ‘safe’ under the further temperature increase permitted by the Paris Agreement.
What Counts as a Memory? Definitions, Hypotheses, and “Kinding in Progress”
Authors: Colaço David 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis paper accounts for broad definitions of memory, which extend to paradigmatic memory phenomena, like episodic memory in humans, and phenomena in worms and sea snails. These definitions may seem too broad, suggesting that they extend to phenomena that don’t count as memory or illustrate that memory is not a natural kind. However, these responses fail to consider a definition as a hypothesis. As opposed to construing definitions as expressing memory’s properties, a definition as a hypothesis is the basis to test inferences about phenomena. A definition as a hypothesis is valuable when the “kinding” of phenomena is ongoing.
Accuracy-First Epistemology Without Additivity
Authors: Pettigrew Richard 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAccuracy arguments for the core tenets of Bayesian epistemology differ mainly in the conditions they place on the legitimate ways of measuring the inaccuracy of our credences. The best existing arguments rely on three conditions: Continuity, additivity, and strict propriety. In this paper, I show how to strengthen the arguments based on these conditions by showing that the central mathematical theorem on which each depends goes through without assuming additivity.
There Is Cause to Randomize
Authors: Larroulet Philippi Cristian 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWhile practitioners think highly of randomized studies, some philosophers argue that there is no epistemic reason to randomize. Here I show that their arguments do not entail their conclusion. Moreover, I provide novel reasons for randomizing in the context of interventional studies. The overall discussion provides a unified framework for assessing baseline balance, one that holds for interventional and observational studies alike. The upshot: Practitioners’ strong preference for randomized studies can be defended in some cases, while still offering a nuanced approach to evidence appraisal, one where not all nonrandomized studies are treated equally.
Can Raising the Stakes of Election Outcomes Increase Participation? Results from a Large-Scale Field Experiment in Local Elections
Authors: Huber Gregory A. , Gerber Alan S. , Biggers Daniel R. , Hendry David J. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPolitical campaigns frequently emphasize the material stakes at play in election outcomes to motivate participation. However, field-experimental academic work has given greater attention to other aspects of voters' decisions to participate despite theoretical models of turnout and substantial observational work signaling that a contest's perceived importance affects the propensity to vote. We identify two classes of treatments that may increase the material incentive to participate and test these messages in a large-scale placebo-controlled field experiment in which approximately 24,500 treatment letters were delivered during Connecticut's 2013 municipal elections. We find some evidence that these messages are effective in increasing participation, as well as that some of them may be more effective than typical nonpartisan get-out-the-vote appeals. While these results remain somewhat preliminary, our findings have important implications for our understanding of how voters decide whether to participate and how best to mobilize citizens who would otherwise sit out elections.
Nudges, Regulations and Liberty
Authors: Dowding Keith , Oprea Alexandra 
Published: January 2022

AbstractNudge advocates contend that nudges are liberty preserving, while government regulations are not. We interrogate that assumption by considering negative liberty in the forms suggested by the proponents of nudges. Specifically, we examine three ways of measuring negative liberty – liberty as freedom of choice, liberty as absence of coercion and liberty as absence of interference – applying the measures to a case study relevant to the nudge literature: regulations governing healthy food manufacture. We show that, depending on the liberty measure adopted and the estimated impact on producer and consumer behaviour, some regulations can be liberty reducing, while others are liberty preserving or liberty enhancing. When it comes to comparing nudges and more traditional policies aimed at increasing the health and welfare of citizens, there is no a priori negative liberty ground for preferring nudges.
Relationship between pest grasshopper densities and climate variables in the southern Pampas of Argentina
Authors: Mariottini Y. , Marinelli C. , Cepeda R. , De Wysiecki M. L. , Lange C. E. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractGrasshoppers are one of the most predominant insects in the grasslands of the southern Pampas. In this region,Dichroplus elongatus,Dichroplus maculipennis, Dichroplus pratensisandBorellia bruneriare the most abundant species and have the greatest economic importance. This study aimed to assess the relationship between temporal changes in the density of these species and climate variables associated with temperature and rainfall over an 11-year study period., We monitored 22 sites in different areas of Laprida county from 2005 to 2016. A total of 25 grasshopper species were collected. The most abundant species wereD. maculipennisandB. bruneriwhich reached the highest densities from 2008–2009 to 2010–2011. The rainfall accumulated from September (RAS) to the sampling date and the number of rainy days (RD) largely explained the density variation ofB. bruneri. Besides RD and RAS, winter rainfall, rainfall accumulated from October to the sampling date, and thermal amplitude of October (TAO) influenced the density ofD. maculipennis. Our results indicated that seasons with less rainfall and fewer RD favored these two species’ abundance. We identified that the RD and TAO contributed significantly to variations in the density ofD. elongatus.In contrast to the other two species, we recordedD. elongatusin seasons with high rainfall and high RD. A better understanding of the climate influence on the life cycle of these economically important insects may identify key factors in their population dynamics which in turn may improve management options.
The Informational Role of Ownership Networks in Bank Lending
Authors: Gao Haoyu , Ru Hong , Yang Xiaoguang 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis article documents novel large-sample evidence on the informational role of interfirm ownership networks in bank lending. Using comprehensive loan-level data in China, we find that banks’ internal loan ratings at issuance predict subsequent delinquent events more accurately when borrowers are connected to banks’ existing customers via ownership networks. In post-issuance monitoring for delinquent loans, banks with access to ownership networks manage to downgrade their initial ratings before late payments. These findings suggest that ownership networks facilitate the transmission of private information for bank lending. Moreover, ownership networks are more important for transmitting information related to small and medium enterprises.
Blockholder Disclosure Thresholds and Hedge Fund Activism
Authors: Ordóñez-Calafi Guillem , Bernhardt Dan 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBlockholder disclosure thresholds shape incentives for hedge fund activism, which are jointly determined with real investment and managerial behavior. Uninformed investors value lower thresholds (greater transparency) when the cost of trading against an informed activist outweighs the benefits of the activist’s disciplining of management. Conversely, activists may desire disclosure thresholds if the threat of their participation discourages managerial malfeasance, which is their source of profits. Hedge fund activism can be excessive: If market opacity sufficiently harms uninformed investors, the costs of reduced real investment outweigh the social benefits from managerial disciplining, and society benefits from lower thresholds.