Original Data Sources Research Articles

Retraction: Temporary ditches are effective in reducing soil erosion in hilly areas. An evaluation with the RUSLE model

To: Pier Paolo Roggero, Editor-in-Chief, Italian Journal of Agronomy, and Michele Moscato, PAGEPress Publications, Publisher
 We take note of your communication following the report by Dr. Paolo Bazzoffi regarding the copyright infringement of the paper ‘Effectiveness of the GAEC cross-compliance standard short-term measures for runoff water control on sloping land (temporary ditches and grass strips) in controlling soil erosion’ (Authors: Bazzoffi, Ciancaglini, Laruccia), that can be found at the following address: https://www.agronomy.it/index.php/agro/ article/view/ija.2011.6.s1.e3. The title of the retracted publication is: ‘Temporary ditches are effective in reducing soil erosion in hilly areas. An evaluation with the RUSLE model’ (Authors: Francaviglia, Neri), that can be found at the following address: https://www.agronomy.it/index. php/agro/article/view/1762). The undersigned authors thoroughly agree with the points raised by Dr. Paolo Bazzoffi in relation to the copyright infringement. In particular, we agree that the original paper ‘Effectiveness of the GAEC cross compliance standard short-term measures for runoff water control on sloping land (temporary ditches and grass strips) in controlling soil erosion’ was not clearly indicated as original data source in the paper ‘Temporary ditches are effective in reducing soil erosion in hilly areas. An evaluation with the RUSLE model’. We also recognize that we did not give credit to Dr. Paolo Bazzoffi of the original methodology, particularly: i) the original materials and methods; ii) the GIS elaboration; and iii) the original data and results. The authors declare that: - they considered the opportunity to review the data published by Dr. Bazzoffi et al. shown in Table 7 of their original publication after a data re-elaboration, as shown in Table 3 of the publication to be retracted, with the aim to provide a statistical comparison of erosion in hilly agricultural land among the Italian Regions, as well as introducing an evaluation of the weight of the parameters implemented in the RUSLE model using a multiple regression technique; - they are aware of not having adequately recognized the copyrights of Dr. Bazzoffi and co-authors Ciancaglini and Laruccia. For these reasons, and as requested, we retract the paper ‘Temporary ditches are effective in reducing soil erosion in hilly areas. An evaluation with the RUSLE model’ from publication. We apologize to Dr. Bazzoffi, Dr. Ciancaglini and Dr. Laruccia for the unpleasant inconvenience caused. We also take the opportunity to thank Dr. Paolo Bazzoffi for coordinating the EFFICOND and MONACO projects, in which we participated in various work packages, offering the possibility of a valuable and constructive work experience.
 Sincerely, Rosa Francaviglia and Ulderico Neri

Healthy Aging Data Reports: Measures of Community Health to Identify Disparities and Spur Age-Friendly Progress

This translational research had 2 aims: first, to analyze and translate data from multiple original data sources to provide accurate, unbiased local community and statewide information about healthy aging; second, to work with stakeholders to use the tools to identify disparities in healthy aging and to support their efforts to advance healthy aging. Data sources from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, U.S. Census American Community Survey, and other sources were analyzed using small area estimation techniques to determine age/gender-adjusted local community rates in Connecticut (CT), Massachusetts (MA), New Hampshire (NH), and Rhode Island (RI). State-level analyses revealed gender and racial/ethnic disparities in healthy aging. A factor analysis identified 4 dimensions of community population healthy aging/morbidity: serious complex chronic disease, indolent conditions, physical disability, and psychological disability. Healthy Aging Data Reports now exist for MA (2014, 2015, and 2018), NH (2019), RI (2016 and 2020), and CT (2021) and demonstrate differences in health by place. Each report includes community profiles for every city, town, and some urban neighborhoods with more than 170-197 indicators. The reports include maps of the statewide distribution of rates, an infographic, highlights report with state-specific multivariate analyses, and 18 interactive web maps, 18 regional interactive web maps, and technical documentation about data sources and methods. Overall, the research has identified variations in healthy aging and provided tools to track change over time to support age-friendly efforts in the region.

FAST CAT

Descriptive and empirical sciences, such as History, are the sciences that collect, observe and describe phenomena to explain them and draw interpretative conclusions about influences, driving forces and impacts under given circumstances. Spreadsheet software and relational database management systems are still the dominant tools for quantitative analysis and overall data management in these these sciences, allowing researchers to directly analyse the gathered data and perform scholarly interpretation. However, this current practice has a set of limitations, including the high dependency of the collected data on the initial research hypothesis, usually useless for other research, the lack of representation of the details from which the registered relations are inferred, and the difficulty to revisit the original data sources for verification, corrections or improvements. To cope with these problems, in this article we present FAST CAT, a collaborative system for assistive data entry and curation in Digital Humanities and similar forms of empirical research. We describe the related challenges, the overall methodology we follow for supporting semantic interoperability, and discuss the use of FAST CAT in the context of a European (ERC) project of Maritime History, called SeaLiT , which examines economic, social and demographic impacts of the introduction of steamboats in the Mediterranean area between the 1850s and the 1920s.

VEHICLE: Validation and Exploration of the Hierarchical Integration of Conflict Event Data

AbstractThe exploration of large‐scale conflicts, as well as their causes and effects, is an important aspect of socio‐political analysis. Since event data related to major conflicts are usually obtained from different sources, researchers developed a semi‐automatic matching algorithm to integrate event data of different origins into one comprehensive dataset using hierarchical taxonomies. The validity of the corresponding integration results is not easy to assess since the results depend on user‐defined input parameters and the relationships between the original data sources. However, only rudimentary visualization techniques have been used so far to analyze the results, allowing no trustworthy validation or exploration of how the final dataset is composed. To overcome this problem, we developed VEHICLE, a web‐based tool to validate and explore the results of the hierarchical integration. For the design, we collaborated with a domain expert to identify the underlying domain problems and derive a task and workflow description. The tool combines both traditional and novel visual analysis techniques, employing statistical and map‐based depictions as well as advanced interaction techniques. We showed the usefulness of VEHICLE in two case studies and by conducting an evaluation together with conflict researchers, confirming domain hypotheses and generating new insights.

Sound and Fury Signifying Something: The Political Consequences of the Opt-Out Movement

Background and Context Grassroots activism is on the rise in American education, leading some scholars to announce the arrival of a “New Politics of Education” in which political elites and grassroots actors clash over foundational questions of policy and power. However, little research has examined just how consequential grassroots education activism might actually be in this new era. This study takes up this area of inquiry by examining the political consequences of the opt-out movement, arguably the largest and most high-profile grassroots education movement in recent history. Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the political consequences of the opt-out movement in four New York school districts. Specifically, this study addresses the following research questions: What impact has the opt-out movement had on local education politics and policies, and do these effects vary across communities with different levels of opt-out activism? Research Design This study takes the form of a mixed methods, comparative case study analysis of the opt-out movement in four New York school districts purposefully sampled to exploit variation in district opt-out rates and racial demographics. Within each district, five sources of original data were collected, including a survey of Grade 3–8 parents, focus groups with opt-out parents and non-opt-out parents, interviews with district elites, interviews with key activists, and documentary sources. Data analysis was both quantitative (descriptive statistics) and qualitative (inductive simultaneous pattern coding). Findings Results suggest that while the opt-out movement has not yet produced many substantive changes in state or local test-based accountability policies, it has significantly increased and transformed parent engagement with education politics in the four case districts. These engagement effects were particularly pronounced in the high-opt-out districts. Conclusions and Recommendations This study concludes by offering a tempered view of the opt-out movement's impact on education policymaking while simultaneously indicating potentially significant changes in the way parents participate in education politics. In doing so, it produces implications for the study of education politics, policy, and activism more broadly. Principal among these are the importance for grassroots movements to build alliances with institutional actors in order to effect meaningful policy change, and the value of considering alternative definitions of movement “success” in future research on education politics and activism.

Islam and Mass Preferences Toward Foreign Direct Investment in Tunisia

AbstractAre FDI and Islam in conflict with one another in the eyes of Tunisians? Does support for globalization fall or increase when it embraces or challenges Islamic dress, prayer, and other practices? We examine through different experimental tests how Tunisians react to foreign direct investment when it accommodates or conflicts with Islamic norms. Using three original sources of data, including a large representative survey (N = 4,986), a conjoint survey experiment (N = 1,502), and an original survey experiment with experimental social vignettes (N = 504), we examine how threats (and non-threats) from FDI to Islamic norms affect support for FDI. We find strong support for FDI, but these levels of support are not stable. We find the support for FDI falls by almost 32% if it is seen to clash with female Islamic dress. Support is highest when it accommodates Islamic practices, especially the female hijab and lowest when it is perceived to disregard these practices.

Quantarctica, an integrated mapping environment for Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, and sub-Antarctic islands

Quantarctica (https://www.npolar.no/quantarctica) is a geospatial data package, analysis environment, and visualization platform for the Antarctic Continent, Southern Ocean (>40oS), and sub-Antarctic islands. Quantarctica works with the free, cross-platform Geographical Information System (GIS) software QGIS and can run without an Internet connection, making it a viable tool for fieldwork in remote areas. The data package includes basemaps, satellite imagery, terrain models, and scientific data in nine disciplines, including physical and biological sciences, environmental management, and social science. To provide a clear and responsive user experience, cartography and rendering settings are carefully prepared using colour sets that work well for typical data combinations and with consideration of users with common colour vision deficiencies. Metadata included in each dataset provides brief abstracts for non-specialists and references to the original data sources. Thus, Quantarctica provides an integrated environment to view and analyse multiple Antarctic datasets together conveniently and with a low entry barrier.

Unreflective use of old data sources produced echo chambers in the water–electricity nexus

Echo chambers in science describe the amplification and repetition of information within closed networks. Frequently used data sources can cause echo chambers as scientists keep reading similar outputs from different sources, creating false perceptions of certainty and variety of data sources. We show this effect by studying the scientific and grey literature on water use by electricity systems. The power sector is the largest contributor to anthropogenic carbon emissions and the second largest water consumer. We have assessed the scope and references of 2,426 papers and created a citation network to trace original data sources. Most data sources used for the last 30 years originate from a few old US publications, recently also Chinese, that echo through publications. This echo effect, also reflected in recent scientific publications, creates a confirmation bias, also facilitating double counting of the water intensities of electricity generation. This example from sustainability science warns of the risk of echo chambers in other scientific disciplines. This meta-analysis of over 2,400 papers tracks the influence of older publications that have ‘echoed’ through the decades, cited in countless publications and creating a potentially false confirmation bias.

Public Sentiment Big Data Query Processing and Optimization with Unified Storage of Source and Meta Data

Public sentiment big data has the characteristics of mass, multi-source, heterogeneity and multi-mode. At present, it mostly adopts separate storage strategies and has low storage and query efficiency. To this end, a distributed storage model is proposed in which structured and unstructured data correspond and are stored uniformly. By establishing a unified storage framework for source metadata, the original source data and characteristic metadata are stored uniformly according to different storage methods. Based on the above storage architecture, a hierarchical index structure is proposed to improve the efficiency of big data query. The unified storage model of source metadata is compared with the common storage methods, and is in the leading position in terms of Block number and query processing efficiency.

Anuran Traits of the United States (ATraiU): a database for anuran traits-based conservation, management, and research.

The United States is home to many anuran species, each with traits that set them apart from one another. Understanding trait variation within and between anurans is key to many successful conservation, management, and research efforts. However, compiling trait data is intensive and time consuming. Trait databases can meet this need, but currently there is no detailed database that collates trait data for anurans of the contiguous United States. into a single location with transparency regarding original data sources. Furthermore, many currently available trait databases rarely report multiple data points for a given species' trait, frequently reporting a single averaged value. We present an anuran traits database for the contiguous United States that includes trait data from 411 unique references. We collated trait values for 106 native and nonnative species using a tiered search protocol. First, we digitized trait data from 33 state guide books for 12 ecological, morphological, and life history traits commonly reported in the literature. We then performed a targeted search of the primary literature to address data gaps, ultimately identifying an additional 356 peer-reviewed publications, theses, and agency reports with data fitting our criteria. Finally, we digitized trait data from 22 national and regional guidebooks. Following data compilation, we conducted an intensive data quality check procedure that included both manual and statistical analyses. For full transparency, all trait values are traceable to their original reference with additional metrics (e.g., reference count, data tier) to allow users to easily filter the full data set to fit the user's needs. Overall, we report 89% of included species with trait values for at least half of the 12 traits included, providing high coverage for interspecific analyses. With a high degree of transparency, inclusion of all original data sources, and a tiered system for cataloguing data source type, ATraiU can uniquely contribute to anuran ecology and conservation in the United States. Please cite this data paper when using the data. If using a specific trait value or values, please cite the original reference(s).

Surmounting an existential challenge: The European banking authority’s search for a sustainable supervisory role after the banking union

With the advent of the Banking Union and its confluence with the single banking market, the European Banking Authority (EBA) has been pushed into an ‘existential search’ for a sustainable role in supervisory policy. This is a challenging task whose success is dependent on the EBA’s ability to deal with policy diversity across member states. This paper examines the relationship between the EBA and member states by focusing on the authority’s internal governance and its ‘national anchoring’. Challenging the political economy critique that overstates the disadvantages of national anchoring, the paper draws on experimentalist governance scholarship, as well as several original data sources, to argue that such anchoring is critical for the EBA to overcome its existential challenge. To support this claim, the paper examines the EBA’s core supervisory activities: first, the development of guidelines for the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP), and second, its enforcement powers in cases of explicit breach of EU law. Its findings suggest first that the future of the EBA’s role lies in supervisory convergence rather than enforcement; and second, that national anchoring allows the authority to make the most of experimentalist practices and should thus be viewed as an internal governance advantage.

The Quality of Government OECD Dataset, version Jan21

In the QoG OECD CS dataset, data from and around 2017 is included. Data from 2017 is prioritized, however, if no data is available for a country for 2017, data for 2018 is included. If no data exists for 2018, data for 2016 is included, and so on up to a maximum of +/- 3 years. In the QoG OECD TS dataset, data from 1946 to 2020 is included and the unit of analysis is country-year (e.g., Sweden-1946, Sweden-1947, etc.). In the Codebook, you can find a description of all data sources and variables. We provide a list of the variables categorized into eighteen thematic topics. Detailed descriptions of all variables are sorted by original data sources. We hope that this will facilitate your search for variables.

The Quality of Government Standard Dataset, version Jan21

In the QoG Standard CS dataset, data from and around 2017 is included. Data from 2017 is prioritized, however, if no data is available for a country for 2017, data for 2018 is included. If no data exists for 2018, data for 2016 is included, and so on up to a maximum of +/- 3 years. In the QoG Standard TS dataset, data from 1946 to 2020 is included and the unit of analysis is country-year (e.g., Sweden-1946, Sweden-1947, etc.). In the Codebook, you can find a description of all data sources and variables. We provide a list of the variables categorized into eighteen thematic topics. Detailed descriptions of all variables are sorted by original data sources. We hope that this will facilitate your search for variables. In 2009, the QoG Standard Dataset received the Lijphart, Przeworski, Verba Award for Best Dataset by the APSA Comparative Politics Section.

Internal pressure driven finite element model of a single pulmonary acinus

A computer simulated, poroelastic, hyperelastic model was developed to replicate the pressure-volume response of a single pulmonary acinus (15th branch of the respiratory tree and daughter branches) with air flow at its core. An internal pressure driven approach was taken upon a small spherical geometry (99.2 mm3 in volume) representing this small segment of lung parenchyma. A reference porcine tracheal pressure at tidal breathing was adjusted from 1471 Pa to 998 Pa to accommodate for pressure drop, and the pressure of 998 Pa was applied to the model for parametric analysis of its pressure-volume characteristics. In targeting a proportional tidal volume change of approximately 15% while also inducing a pressure-volume hysteresis, material parameters of Young’s modulus of 4 kPa, Poisson’s ratio of 0.4, and a permeability of 5×10-5 cm3s-1cm-2 were identified as suitable. The energy loss over a single pressure-volume cycle for a pulmonary acinus was found to be 6.3×10-6 J. This model was qualitatively compared to the pressure-volume relationship of the original porcine data source, and then with experimental findings of the material parameters for lung parenchyma in medical literature, demonstrating same-order agreement.

Video Data Extraction and Processing for Investigation of Vehicles’ Impact on the Asphalt Deformation Through the Prism of Computational Algorithms

There are numerous algorithms and solutions for car or object detection as humanity is aiming towards the smart city solutions. Most solutions are based on counting, speed detection, traffic accidents and vehicle classification. The mentioned solutions are mostly based on high-quality videos, wide angles camera view, vehicles in motion, and are optimized for good visibility conditions intervals. A novelty of the proposed algorithm and solution is more accurate digital data extraction from video file sources generated by security cameras in Bosnia and Herzegovina from M18 roadway, but not limited only to that particular source. From the video file sources, data regarding number of vehicles, speed, traveling direction, and time intervals for the region of interest will be collected. Since finding contours approach is effective only on objects that are mobile, and because the application of this approach on traffic junctions did not yield desired results, a more specific approach of classification using a combination of Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) and Support Vector Machines (Linear SVM) has shown to be more appropriate as the original source data can be used for training where the main benefit is the preservation of local second-order interactions, providing tolerance to local geometric misalignment and ability to work with small data samples. The features of the objects within a frame are extracted first by standardizing the feature variables and then computing the first order gradients of the frame. In the next stage, an encoding that remains robust to small changes while being sensitive to local frame content is produced. Finally, the HOG descriptors are generated and normalized again. In this way the channel histogram and spatial vector becomes the feature vector for the Linear SVM classifier. With the following parameters and setup system accuracy was around 85 to 95%. In the next phase, after cleaning protocols on collected data parameters, data will be used to research asphalt deformation effects.

MARHYS (MARine HYdrothermal Solutions) Database: A Global Compilation of Marine Hydrothermal Vent Fluid, End Member, and Seawater Compositions

AbstractWe introduce a database of hydrothermal vent fluid compositions extracted from peer‐reviewed publications. The database includes general fluid parameters (e.g., temperature, salinity, and pH) as well as major‐, minor‐, and trace‐element concentrations (including rare earth elements) of dissolved cations, anions, reduced carbon compounds, and gases. In addition, isotopic compositions of elements and molecules are included. Each parameter in the database is given in a uniform unit and enables direct intercomparison of data from the incorporated sources. The database provides detailed information about geographic location, the date of sampling, and a broad set of supplementary information that enables clear identification of each individual sample and the original data source. This type of metadata was used to merge compositional data for discrete vent fluid samples that originate from different publications. Hence, the database provides a more complete set of compositional parameters than the original sources do. To facilitate operability, the database is provided as ®Excel sheet, which enables users to visualize, sort, filter, and evaluate the database in a straightforward way. The sample information metadata enables extraction of available vent fluid data for specific regions, tectonic settings, host rock types, etc. The database will be a useful tool in determining (1) mechanisms that set fluid chemistry, as well as (2) regional and global geochemical fluxes across the seabed. To demonstrate the extent of the database, we examine the global distribution of magnesium, chloride, and sodium concentrations in vent fluid samples that are incorporated in MARHYS Database.

The homogenizing and diversifying effects of migration policy in the internationalization of higher education

Amid internationalizing shifts in higher education, universities around the world are simultaneously becoming more integrated and more disparate. This paper examines the role of immigration policy in producing convergent and divergent educational attainment among international and domestic students at Indian and US universities and shows that student and work visas influence international students’ decisions about where to study, what to study, and how much education to pursue. Using original data sources and a transnational data collection strategy, this study develops new approaches to measuring international student mobility and offers a window into transnational phenomena not easily observable in other datasets. An analysis of 7177 education histories and 105 in-depth interviews with international students, university administrators, and immigration lawyers shows that migration policy contributes to the growth of international student enrollment and multinational educations but also creates asymmetrical student flows and funnels international students into certain fields of study. The results of this study indicate that migration policies simultaneously contribute to integration and differentiation between the US and Indian university systems. The findings show that immigration policies play an important role in regulating the flow and nature of international student migration streams and lead to simultaneous convergence and divergence in the educational attainment and field of study between Indian international students enrolled in US universities and their domestically educated peers in India. Through an empirical case, this paper develops a conceptual bridge between two dominant frameworks on internationalization and theorizes the central role of migration policy in shaping processes of higher education internationalization.

Inequalities in the uptake of, adherence to and effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions: systematic review protocol

IntroductionIt has been suggested that interventions focusing on individual behaviour change, such as behavioural weight management interventions, may exacerbate health inequalities. These intervention-generated inequalities may occur at different stages, including...

Application of Artificial Intelligence Methods to Pharmacy Data for Cancer Surveillance and Epidemiology Research: A Systematic Review.

The implementation and utilization of electronic health records is generating a large volume and variety of data, which are difficult to process using traditional techniques. However, these data could help answer important questions in cancer surveillance and epidemiology research. Artificial intelligence (AI) data processing methods are capable of evaluating large volumes of data, yet current literature on their use in this context of pharmacy informatics is not well characterized. A systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate relevant publications within four domains (cancer, pharmacy, AI methods, population science) across PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library and included all publications indexed between July 17, 2008, and December 31, 2018. The search returned 3,271 publications, which were evaluated for inclusion. There were 36 studies that met criteria for full-text abstraction. Of those, only 45% specifically identified the pharmacy data source, and 55% specified drug agents or drug classes. Multiple AI methods were used; 25% used machine learning (ML), 67% used natural language processing (NLP), and 8% combined ML and NLP. This review demonstrates that the application of AI data methods for pharmacy informatics and cancer epidemiology research is expanding. However, the data sources and representations are often missing, challenging study replicability. In addition, there is no consistent format for reporting results, and one of the preferred metrics, F-score, is often missing. There is a resultant need for greater transparency of original data sources and performance of AI methods with pharmacy data to improve the translation of these results into meaningful outcomes.

Estimating the severity of COVID-19: Evidence from the Italian epicenter.

We provide results on the level of COVID-19 excess mortality in the Italian region of Lombardy and in the province of Bergamo using official and original data sources. Since February 2020 Lombardy and in particular the province of Bergamo have been severely hit by the novel COVID-19 infectious disease. Combining official statistics, retrospective data and original data (i.e., obituaries and death notices) we provide a tentative estimate of the number of deaths either directly or indirectly, associated with COVID-19 as well as the total number of persons infected. Our findings suggest that the reported number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 identified by public authorities accounts only for one half of the observed excess mortality between March 2020 and previous years.