bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extant Sequence Reconstruction: The Accuracy of Ancestral Sequence Reconstructions Evaluated by Extant Sequence Cross-Validation
Authors: Sennett Michael A. , Theobald Douglas L.
Published: March 2024

Ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) is a phylogenetic method widely used to analyze the properties of ancient biomolecules and to elucidate mechanisms of molecular evolution. Despite its increasingly widespread application, the accuracy of ASR is currently unknown, as it is generally impossible to compare resurrected proteins to the true ancestors. Which evolutionary models are best for ASR? How accurate are the resulting inferences? Here we answer these questions using a cross-validation method to reconstruct each extant sequence in an alignment with ASR methodology, a method we term “extant sequence reconstruction” (ESR). We thus can evaluate the accuracy of ASR methodology by comparing ESR reconstructions to the corresponding known true sequences. We find that a common measure of the quality of a reconstructed sequence, the average probability, is indeed a good estimate of the fraction of correct amino acids when the evolutionary model is accurate or overparameterized. However, the average probability is a poor measure for comparing reconstructions from different models, because, surprisingly, a more accurate phylogenetic model often results in reconstructions with lower probability. While better (more predictive) models may produce reconstructions with lower sequence identity to the true sequences, better models nevertheless produce reconstructions that are more biophysically similar to true ancestors. In addition, we find that a large fraction of sequences sampled from the reconstruction distribution may have fewer errors than the single most probable (SMP) sequence reconstruction, despite the fact that the SMP has the lowest expected error of all possible sequences. Our results emphasize the importance of model selection for ASR and the usefulness of sampling sequence reconstructions for analyzing ancestral protein properties. ESR is a powerful method for validating the evolutionary models used for ASR and can be applied in practice to any phylogenetic analysis of real biological sequences. Most significantly, ESR uses ASR methodology to provide a general method by which the biophysical properties of resurrected proteins can be compared to the properties of the true protein.
Wireless Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitor Implantation in a Patient with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Sisson T. Miller , Sublett-Smith Juli , Dupont Elizabeth , Hirsch Russel , Lorts Angela , Villa Chet
Published: March 2024

Assessing heart failure progression in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is challenging given the multi-system nature of disease. Herein we describe the first case use of an implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitor and describe the potential clinical utility of this approach in patients with DMD.
Perinatal arterial ischemic stroke: how informative is the placenta?
Authors: Hirschel Jessica , Barcos-Munoz Francisca , Chalard François , Chiodini Florence , Epiney Manuella , Fluss Joel , Rougemont Anne-Laure
Published: March 2024

Neuroplacentology is an expanding field of interest that addresses the placental influence on fetal and neonatal brain lesions and on further neurodevelopment. The objective of this study was to clarify the link between placental pathology and perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS). Prior publications have reported different types of perinatal stroke with diverse methodologies precluding firm conclusions. We report here the histological placental findings in a series of 16 neonates with radiologically confirmed PAIS. Findings were grouped into 3 categories of lesions: (1) inflammation, (2) placental and fetal hypoxic lesions, and (3) placentas with a high birthweight/placenta weight ratio. Matched control placentas were compared to the pathological placentas when feasible. The eight term singleton placentas were compared to a series of 20 placentas from a highly controlled amniotic membrane donation program; in three twin pregnancies, the placental portions from the affected twin and unaffected co-twin were compared. Slightly more than half (9/16, 56%) had histopathological features belonging to more than one category, a feature shared by the singleton control placentas (13/20, 65%). More severe and extensive lesions were however observed in the pathological placentas. One case occurring in the context of SARS-CoV-2 placentitis further expands the spectrum of COVID-related perinatal disease. Our study supports the assumption that PAIS can result from various combinations and interplay of maternal and fetal factors and confirms the value of placenta examination. Yet, placental findings must be interpreted with caution given their prevalence in well-designed controls.
Screening/diagnosis of pediatric endocrine disorders through the artificial intelligence model in different language settings
Authors: Ying Lingwen , Li Sichen , Chen Chunyang , Yang Fan , Li Xin , Chen Yao , Ding Yu , Chang Guoying , Li Juan , Wang Xiumin
Published: March 2024

This study is aimed at examining the impact of ChatGPT on pediatric endocrine and metabolic conditions, particularly in the areas of screening and diagnosis, in both Chinese and English modes. A 40-question questionnaire covering the four most common pediatric endocrine and metabolic conditions was posed to ChatGPT in both Chinese and English three times each. Six pediatric endocrinologists evaluated the responses. ChatGPT performed better when responding to questions in English, with an unreliable rate of 7.5% compared to 27.5% for Chinese questions, indicating a more consistent response pattern in English. Among the reliable questions, the answers were more comprehensive and satisfactory in the English mode. We also found disparities in ChatGPT’s performance when interacting with different target groups and diseases, with improved performance for questions posed by clinicians in English and better performance for questions related to diabetes and overweight/obesity in Chinese for both clinicians and patients. Language comprehension, providing incomprehensive answers, and errors in key data were the main contributors to the low scores, according to reviewer feedback.

Conclusion: Despite these limitations, as ChatGPT continues to evolve and expand its network, it has significant potential as a practical and effective tool for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

What is Known:• The deep learning-based large-language model ChatGPT holds great promise for improving clinical practice for both physicians and patients and has the potential to increase the speed and accuracy of disease screening and diagnosis, as well as enhance the overall efficiency of the medical process. However, the reliability and appropriateness of AI model responses in specific field remains unclear.• This study focused on the reliability and appropriateness of AI model responses to straightforward and fundamental questions related to the four most prevalent pediatric endocrine and metabolic disorders, for both healthcare providers and patients, in different language scenarios.

What is New:• The AI model performed better when responding to questions in English, with more consistent, as well as more comprehensive and satisfactory responses. In addition, we also found disparities in ChatGPT’s performance when interacting with different target groups and different diseases.• Despite these limitations, as ChatGPT continues to evolve and expand its network, it has significant potential as a practical and effective tool for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
VR interventions aimed to induce empathy: a scoping review
Authors: Trevena Lee , Paay Jeni , McDonald Rachael
Published: March 2024

To assess the methods and outcomes of virtual reality (VR), interventions aimed at inducing empathy and to evaluate if VR could be used in this manner for disability support worker (DSW) training, as well as highlight areas for future research. The authors conducted a scoping review of studies that used VR interventions to induce empathy in participants. We searched three databases for articles published between 1960 and 2021 using “virtual reality” and “empathy” as key terms. The search yielded 707 articles, and 44 were reviewed. VR interventions largely resulted in enhanced empathy skills for participants. Most studies agreed that VR’s ability to facilitate perspective-taking was key to inducing empathy for participants. Samples were often limited to the context of healthcare, medicine, and education. This literature provides preliminary evidence for the technology’s efficacy for inducing empathy. Identified research gaps relate to limited studies done, study quality and design, best practice intervention characteristics, populations and outcomes of interest, including lack of transfer and data across real-world settings.
Rechtliche Aspekte von schwimmenden Photovoltaikanlagen
Authors: Weber Max
Published: March 2024

Das nordrhein-westfälische Wirtschaftsministerium sieht im Ausbau von schwimmende Photovoltaikanlagen
(oder Floating-PV) einen “wichtigen Baustein”, um die Ausbauziele für die Erneuerbaren
Energien in Nordrhein-Westfalen und auf Bundesebene zu erreichen. Die Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien ist
von zentraler Bedeutung im globalen Bemühen, den Klimawandel einzudämmen. Schwimmende Photovoltaikanlagen,
auch bekannt als Solarinseln, stellen eine innovative Technologie dar, die die Energiegewinnung auf Gewässern
ermöglicht. Dieser Beitrag widmet sich den rechtlichen Fragestellungen und Problemen, die im Zusammenhang
mit der Errichtung von schwimmenden Photovoltaikanlagen auftreten können. Neben dem Bundesrecht dabei
insbesondere das nordrhein-westfälische Landesrecht behandelt.
The Liar Paradox: A Case of Mistaken Truth Attribution
Authors: Doomen Jasper
Published: March 2024

A semantic solution to the liar paradox (“This statement is not true”) is presented in this article. Since the liar paradox seems to evince a contradiction, the principle of non-contradiction is preliminarily discussed, in order to determine whether dismissing this principle may be reason enough to stop considering the liar paradox a problem. No conclusive outcome with respect to the value of this principle is aspired to here, so that the inquiry is not concluded at this point and the option to explore an alternative, semantic, solution remains open. This proposed solution is focused on what the liar paradox expresses and what it fails to express.
On the discrepancies between POD and Fourier modes on aperiodic domains
Authors: Hodžić Azur , Olesen Peder J. , Velte Clara M.
Published: March 2024

The application of Fourier analysis in combination with the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) is investigated. In this approach to turbulence decomposition, which has recently been termed Spectral POD (SPOD), Fourier modes are considered as solutions to the corresponding Fredholm integral equation of the second kind along homogeneous-periodic or homogeneous coordinates. In the present work, the notion that the POD modes formally converge to Fourier modes for increasing domain length is challenged. A family of analytical correlation functions parametrized by the Taylor macro/micro scale ratio (MMSR) is investigated numerically. The results of the analysis indicate that the discrepancy between POD and Fourier modes along locally translationally invariant coordinates is coupled to the MMSR of the flow. Increasing discrepancies are observed for smaller MMSRs, which are characteristic of low Reynolds number flows. The asymptotic convergence rate of the eigenspectrum matches the corresponding convergence rate of the exact analytical Fourier spectrum of the kernel in question, even for extremely small domains and small MMSRs where the corresponding DFT spectra suffer heavily from windowing effects. The Taylor micro scales are consistently underestimated when reconstructed using Fourier modes—failing to converge to the correct value even if all Fourier modes are used—while these are accurately reconstructed using POD modes.
Partnership Dynamics of LGB People and Heterosexuals: Patterns of First Partnership Formation and First Cohabitation
Authors: Bohr Jeanette , Lengerer Andrea
Published: March 2024

In this study we examine partnership dynamics among people with different sexual orientations in Germany. More specifically, we explore the process of first partnership formation and first cohabitation among men and women who self-identify as heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. Given the various discriminations against same-sex lifestyles, and the limited opportunities to meet potential partners, we assume that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people form partnerships later in life and less frequently than heterosexuals. We further expect that the constantly improving social and legal climate for sexual minorities will lead to a reduction in differences in partnership behaviour by sexual orientation. We use retrospectively reported partnership biographies from the German Socio-Economic Panel, which was supplemented in 2019 with a boost sample of sexual and gender minority households. Using discrete-time event history models, we analyse nearly 15,000 episodes of being single and nearly 20,000 episodes of living without a partner in the household. Around 4.5% of these episodes are from people who self-identify as LGB. The results clearly show that patterns of partnership and coresidential union formation differ by sexual orientation. People with a homosexual orientation—and to a lesser extent people with a bisexual orientation—are less likely to enter into a first partnership and a first cohabitation than people with a heterosexual orientation. Significant changes occur across cohorts: LGB people from younger birth cohorts enter (cohabiting) partnerships much earlier and more frequently than those from older cohorts. Thus, the union formation patterns of LGB and straight people have converged slightly.
Gender and National Collective Narcissism: Gender Asymmetries and Obstacles to Gender Equality
Authors: Golec de Zavala Agnieszka , Keenan Oliver
Published: March 2024

To elucidate how ingroup identification is implicated in attitudes towards gender equality, it is important to consider that (1) people simultaneously identify with more (a nation) vs. less abstract groups (gender), and (2) gender collective narcissism is the specific aspect of ingroup identification likely to inspire opposite attitudes towards gender equality among men (negative) and women (positive), but (3) national narcissism is likely to align with men’s interests and inspire negative attitudes towards gender equality among men and women. In Study 1, we demonstrate that gender collective narcissism is the same variable among men and women. In Study 2, we show that among women (but not among men) in Poland, gender collective narcissism predicts intentions to engage in normative and non-normative collective action for gender equality. In Study 3, we show that gender collective narcissists among women endorse an egalitarian outlook, whereas gender collective narcissists among men reject it. In contrast, national narcissism predicts refusal to engage in collective action for gender equality and endorsement of an anti-egalitarian outlook among women and among men. Thus, national narcissism and gender collective narcissism among men impair pursuit of gender equality. Gender collective narcissism among women facilitates engagement in collective action for gender equality. Low gender collective narcissism among men and low national narcissism may also facilitate support for gender equality.
A constant-per-iteration likelihood ratio test for online changepoint detection for exponential family models
Authors: Ward Kes , Romano Gaetano , Eckley Idris , Fearnhead Paul
Published: March 2024

Online changepoint detection algorithms that are based on (generalised) likelihood-ratio tests have been shown to have excellent statistical properties. However, a simple online implementation is computationally infeasible as, at time T, it involves considering O(T) possible locations for the change. Recently, the FOCuS algorithm has been introduced for detecting changes in mean in Gaussian data that decreases the per-iteration cost to $$O(\log T)$$

O
(
log
T
)

. This is possible by using pruning ideas, which reduce the set of changepoint locations that need to be considered at time T to approximately $$\log T$$

log
T

. We show that if one wishes to perform the likelihood ratio test for a different one-parameter exponential family model, then exactly the same pruning rule can be used, and again one need only consider approximately $$\log T$$

log
T

locations at iteration T. Furthermore, we show how we can adaptively perform the maximisation step of the algorithm so that we need only maximise the test statistic over a small subset of these possible locations. Empirical results show that the resulting online algorithm, which can detect changes under a wide range of models, has a constant-per-iteration cost on average.
Toward HPC application portability via C++ PSTL: the Gaia AVU-GSR code assessment
Authors: Malenza Giulio , Cesare Valentina , Aldinucci Marco , Becciani Ugo , Vecchiato Alberto
Published: March 2024

The computing capacity needed to process the data generated in modern scientific experiments is approaching ExaFLOPs. Currently, achieving such performances is only feasible through GPU-accelerated supercomputers. Different languages were developed to program GPUs at different levels of abstraction. Typically, the more abstract the languages, the more portable they are across different GPUs. However, the less abstract and co-designed with the hardware, the more room for code optimization and, eventually, the more performance. In the HPC context, portability and performance are a fairly traditional dichotomy. The current C++ Parallel Standard Template Library (PSTL) has the potential to go beyond this dichotomy. In this work, we analyze the main performance benefits and limitations of PSTL using as a use-case the Gaia Astrometric Verification Unit-Global Sphere Reconstruction parallel solver developed by the European Space Agency Gaia mission. The code aims to find the astrometric parameters of $$\sim10^8$$

∼

10
8

stars in the Milky Way by iteratively solving a linear system of equations with the LSQR algorithm, originally GPU-ported with the CUDA language. We show that the performance obtained with the PSTL version, which is intrinsically more portable than CUDA, is comparable to the CUDA one on NVIDIA GPU architecture.
Joint Attention in Team Sport
Authors: Birse Gordon
Published: March 2024

This paper explores how the phenomenon of Joint Attention (JA) drives certain core features of team sport and how sport illuminates the nature of JA. In JA, two or more agents focus on the same object in mutual awareness that the content of their experience is thus shared. JA is essential to joint sporting actions. The sporting context is particularly useful for illustrating the phenomenon of JA and provides a valuable lens through which to examine rival theoretical accounts of its workings. This paper draws novel connections between the respective philosophical literatures on JA and sport, suggesting prospects for mutually advantageous cross-pollination. I contend that the workings of JA within joint sporting action are misconstrued on intellectualistic and individualistic theories which posit reductive explanations in terms of the contents of individual minds. The best evidence and strongest philosophical arguments support ‘relational’ accounts whereby joint sporting actions exceed the sum of their parts. I reject the ‘extensionalist’ contention, associated with ‘lean’ versions of the relationalist approach, that objects of JA are individuated in terms of causal properties not sensitive to how they are perceived. Siding instead with ‘rich’ versions of the view, I argue that team collaboration depends on convergence in terms of the ‘aspectual shape’ of the objects of JA. Finally, a further possible application for these ideas is suggested: that JA plays a central role in the constitution of sport-specific kinds. On this proposal, JA facilitates collective perceptual recognition of particular objects and situations as embodying the general types described in the rulebook, playing an important role in creating and sustaining the public ‘social space’ of sporting competition.
Oxygen Distribution at the Hot Spot in BOF Steelmaking
Authors: Mitas Bernhard , Schenk Johannes
Published: March 2024

The distribution of oxygen between the gaseous and liquid oxidation products at the hot spot is modeled. The simplified model accurately describes the interaction of the gas jet exiting the lance nozzles with the gaseous surrounding of the jet. This interaction changes the chemical composition of the gas jet influencing the subsequent interaction with the hot spot. The iterative procedure then calculates the chemical composition of the gas exiting the cavity. The characterization of the exiting gas flowing past the lance head as well as the generation rate of FeO is attained by combining the modeled gas composition exiting the cavity with an oxygen mass balance based on a quasi-stationary BOF operation.
Beam deflection coupled systems of fractional differential equations: existence of solutions, Ulam–Hyers stability and travelling waves
Authors: Bensassa Kamel , Dahmani Zoubir , Rakah Mahdi , Sarikaya Mehmet Zeki
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we study a coupled system of beam deflection type that involves nonlinear equations with sequential Caputo fractional derivatives. Under flexible/fixed end-conditions, two main theorems on the existence and uniqueness of solutions are proved by using two fixed point theorems. Some examples are discussed to illustrate the applications of the existence and uniqueness of solution results. Another main result on the Ulam–Hyers stability of solutions for the introduced system is also discussed. Some examples of stability are discussed. New travelling wave solutions are obtained for another conformable coupled system of beam type that has a connection with the first considered system. A conclusion follows at the end.
Multi-dimensional characterization of apoptosis in the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic relevance in melanoma
Authors: Ye Jing , Wei Benliang , Zhou Guowei , Xu Yantao , He Yi , Hu Xiheng , Chen Xiang , Zhang Guanxiong , Liu Hong
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Melanoma is widely utilized as a prominent model for the development of immunotherapy, thought an inadequate immune response can occur. Moreover, the development of apoptosis-related therapies and combinations with other therapeutic strategies is impeded by the limited understanding of apoptosis’s role within diverse tumor immune microenvironments (TMEs).

Methods

Here, we constructed an apoptosis-related tumor microenvironment signature (ATM) and employ multi-dimensional analysis to understand the roles of apoptosis in tumor microenvironment. We further assessed the clinical applications of ATM in nine independent cohorts, and anticipated the impact of ATM on cellular drug response in cultured cells.

Results

Our ATM model exhibits robust performance in survival prediction in multiple melanoma cohorts. Different ATM groups exhibited distinct molecular signatures and biological processes. The low ATM group exhibited significant enrichment in B cell activation-related pathways. What’s more, plasma cells showed the lowest ATM score, highlighting their role as pivotal contributors in the ATM model. Mechanistically, the analysis of the interplay between plasma cells and other immune cells elucidated their crucial role in orchestrating an effective anti-tumor immune response. Significantly, the ATM signature exhibited associations with therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade and the drug sensitivity of various agents, including FDA-approved and clinically utilized drugs targeting the VEGF signaling pathway. Finally, ATM was associated with tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), exhibiting stronger patient stratification ability compared to classical “hot tumors”.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that ATM is a prognostic factor and is associated with the immune response and drug sensitivity in melanoma.
Canonical notch activation in patients with scrub typhus: association with organ dysfunction and poor outcome
Authors: Damås Jan K. , Otterdal Kari , Astrup Elisabeth , Lekva Tove , Janardhanan Jeshina , Michelsen Annika , Aukrust Pål , Varghese George M. , Ueland Thor
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The mechanisms that control inflammation in scrub typhus are not fully elucidated. The Notch pathways are important regulators of inflammation and infection, but have not been investigated in scrub typhus.

Methods

Plasma levels of the canonical Notch ligand Delta-like protein 1 (DLL1) were measured by enzyme immunoassay and RNA expression of the Notch receptors (NOTCH1, NOTCH2 and NOTCH4) in whole blood was analyzed by real-time PCR in patients with scrub typhus (n = 129), in patients with similar febrile illness without O. tsutsugamushi infection (n = 31) and in healthy controls (n = 31); all from the same area of South India.

Results

Our main results were: (i) plasma DLL1 was markedly increased in scrub typhus patients at hospital admission with a significant decrease during recovery. (ii) RNA expression of NOTCH4 was decreased at admission in whole blood. (iii) A similar pattern for DLL1 and NOTCH4 was seen in febrile disease controls. (iv) Admission DLL1 in plasma was associated with disease severity and short-term survival. (vi) Regulation of Notch pathways in O. tsutsugamushi-infected monocytes as evaluated by public repository data revealed enhanced canonical Notch activation with upregulation of DLL1 and downregulation of NOTCH4.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that scrub typhus patients are characterized by enhanced canonical Notch activation. Elevated plasma levels of DLL1 were associated with organ dysfunction and poor outcomes in these patients.
Menopause und Sport
Authors: Vollrath Sabrina , Stute Petra
Published: March 2024

Die postmenopausale Periode der Frau mit dem Östrogen- und Progesteronabfall ist mit metabolischen, kardiovaskulären und muskuloskeletalen Anpassungen verbunden, was die Relevanz präventiver Lifestyle-Modifikationen wie beispielsweise vermehrter sportlicher Aktivität unterstreicht. Physiologische Adaptationen in dieser Lebensphase umfassen eine Reduktion des Ruheenergieverbrauchs sowie eine Verschiebung der Körperzusammensetzung mit erhöhter Fettmasse und Verlust der Magermasse. Regelmässige körperliche Aktivität wirkt protektiv gegen Sarkopenie, moduliert das metabolische Profil günstig, schützt vor chronischen Erkrankungen und fördert die psychologische Resilienz. Die Kombination von menopausaler Hormonersatztherapie (MHT) mit Sport zeigt synergistisch positive Effekte auf die Muskelfunktion und den Erhalt der Muskelmasse. Die zunehmende Anwendung von Testosteron aufgrund von Libidomangel im Rahmen der menopausalen Hormonersatztherapie erfordert bei sportlich kompetitiven Frauen eine sorgfältige Abwägung im Kontext antidopingrechtlicher Bestimmungen.
Rapid prototyping of a modular optical flow cell for image-based droplet size measurements in emulsification processes
Authors: Burke Inga , Assies Christina , Kockmann Norbert
Published: March 2024

Emulsification processes are often found in the process industry and their evaluation is crucial for product quality and safety. Numerous methods exist to analyze critical quality attributes (CQA) such as the droplet sizes and droplet size distribution (DSD) of an emulsification process. During the emulsification process, the optical process accessibility may be limited due to high disperse phase content of liquid-liquid systems. To overcome this challenge, a modular, optical measurement flow cell is presented to widen the application window of optical methods in emulsification processes. In this contribution, the channel geometry is subject of optimization to modify the flow characteristics and produce high optical quality. In terms of rapid prototyping, an iterative optimization procedure via SLA-3D printing was used to increase operability. The results demonstrated that the flow cell resulting from the optimization procedure provides a broad observation window for droplet detection.

Graphical abstract
Event detection algorithm based on label semantic encoding
Authors: Feng Haibo , Zhang Yulai
Published: March 2024

One major challenge in event detection tasks is the lack of a large amount of annotated data. In a low-sample learning environment, effectively utilizing label semantic information can mitigate the impact of limited samples on model training. Therefore, this chapter proposes the SALM-Net (Semantic Attention Labeling & Matching Network) model. Firstly, a Label Semantic Encoding (LSE) module is designed to obtain semantic encodings for labels. Next, a contrastive learning fine-tuning module is introduced to fine-tune the label semantic encodings produced by the LSE module. Finally, an attention module is used to match text encodings with label semantic encodings of events and arguments, thus obtaining event detection results. Experiments are conducted on the publicly available ACE2004 dataset, and the algorithm’s effectiveness is validated through an analysis of experimental results, comparing them with state-of-the-art algorithms.
The classification of SSVEP-BCI based on ear-EEG via RandOm Convolutional KErnel Transform with Morlet wavelet
Authors: Li Xueyuan , Haba Taichi , Cui Gaochao , Kinoshita Fumiya , Touyama Hideaki
Published: March 2024

During the advantages of shorter training and higher information throughput, steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) is widely used in brain–computer interface (BCI) research. Recently, collecting EEG signals from the ear area (ear-EEG) has gained increasing attention because it is more comfortable and convenient than scalp electrodes. The ear-EEG-based BCI system based on ear electrodes has weaker signals and more noise components because the electrodes are located far away from the top of the head. In this study, the RandOm Convolutional KErnel Transform (ROCKET) algorithm integrated with the Morlet wavelet transform (Morlet-ROCKET) was proposed to solve this issue. This study compared the performence of Morlet-ROCKET with two established methods: canonical correlation analysis-based (FBCCA) and Transformer methods. The proposed Morlet-ROCKET model demonstrated superior performance across multiple measures, including increased classification accuracy in 1 s, 3 s, and 4 s time windows and higher area under the curve (AUC) values in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The analysis result proved that with efficient data processing algorithms, ear-EEG-based BCI systems can also have good performance, and providing support for the popularization of BCI.
Evidence from temperature analog for traditional and economic cities in Nigeria: implications for sustainable city-related actions
Authors: Asonibare Oluwatosin Femi , Umaru Emmanuel Tanko , Adesina Francis , Ademola Adenle A. , Okhimamhe Appollonia A.
Published: March 2024

Responding to the threats of climate change by cities requires taking relevant actions that will communicate future conditions in reliable and effective manner for sustainable and transformational climate actions. We used the analog approach to assess the geographical shifts and changes in average temperature conditions for six traditional and economic cities under different climate scenarios (Mitigated and Unmitigated scenarios). We calculated the similarity in temperature between each pixel for the current (2021–2050) and future (2041–2070) conditions of the cities, with every pixel globally in the historical (1971–200) period. Our analysis revealed that; (1) the temperature of the cities in the current and future periods will be similar to conditions of another place on the globe during the historical period; (2) Kano city will experience even more drastic changes because of the low level of similarity to other places; (3) the new places found with similar temperature conditions are generally to the south of the corresponding cities thus indicating warming. The overall results show that the analogues of the cities are within the domain of the global tropical zone which occurs around the equator. Drawing from the interaction between cities and their analogues, we highlighted sustainable city related actions such as the incorporation of urban designs and policies to enhance human thermal comfort as adaptation and solution strategies. While future research might apply qualitative studies and additional data to support the analog results, our findings can guide the understanding and application of the analog approach into environmental issues in Nigeria and other West African countries in accordance to sustainable city goals (SDG 11).
Enhancing carbapenem antimicrobial dosing optimization: synergy of antimicrobial stewardship teams and ward-based clinical pharmacists
Authors: Tai Tatsuya , Motoki Takahiro , Yamaguchi Kazunori , Watanabe Masahiro , Ito Taichi , Yokota Kyoko , Ishikawa Kaori , Tanaka Hiroaki , Muraki Yuichi , Kosaka Shinji , Dainichi Teruki
Published: March 2024

Antimicrobial-product package inserts and insufficient staffing impede routine carbapenem monitoring in the inpatient setting in Japan. The collaboration between antimicrobial stewardship teams and clinical pharmacists was associated with a sustained improvement in carbapenem dosing optimization. Our findings could be of use to countries with inadequate monitoring of carbapenem antimicrobial use.
The -eci Syncretism in Korean: Implications for the Theory of v and Voice
Authors: Jung Hyun Kyoung
Published: March 2024

This paper investigates the syncretism exhibited by the Korean verbal suffix -eci. In addition to its widely known appearance in the passive construction, -eci can also be used to derive verbs expressing potentiality. In this paper, I show that two independently motivated theoretical tools — (i) the articulated verbal structure with root, verbalizer, and Voice; and (ii) the assumption that morphological identity signifies the morpheme's realization of an identical syntactic head — accurately explain the passive-potential syncretism in Korean. Specifically, I argue that -eci realizes a syntactic head that the passive and potential structures have in common: vGO, the verbalizer marking the eventuality of ‘change’. I attribute the systematic morpho-syntactic and semantic contrasts between passives and potentials to the (non)existence of VoicePASS, the projection introducing an implicit external argument. The analysis successfully captures the properties of the other constructions formed upon -eci — namely, derived change-of-state and lexical inchoative predicates.
Household structure decisions and positive wealth shocks: a natural experiment from the Spanish Christmas lottery
Authors: Pérez Levi , Muñiz Álvaro
Published: March 2024

This paper explores whether a positive unexpected exogenous (unearned) wealth shock affects household structure decisions in different Spanish regions. The Christmas draw of the Spanish National Lottery is used in a natural experiment as a proxy for exogenous random variations in provincial wealth. A static and dynamic linear panel event-study design allows for control of changing economic and demographic conditions at the province level and the dynamic effects on the analyzed decisions. The evidence is consistent with families getting divorced and having children when the province in which they live experiences an unexpected increase in wealth, but no conclusive effect on wedding plans is found.
Resistance and Reform as Responses to Human Rights Criticism: Relativism at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Authors: Jain Shubham
Published: March 2024

The language of human rights is a prominent tool of choice to push for moral principles such as justice, equity, and fairness in the social, economic, and political spheres. Simultaneously, the concept and practice of human rights have attracted critiques. Relativism is one such enduring critique. Relativists advocate due and reasonable consideration towards cultural diversity and specificity of diverse human communities, within the limits allowed by universality of human rights. The relativist critique featured prominently in the debates surrounding Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Commentators have spoken about Qatar’s scrutiny often moving beyond legitimate human rights criticism, uninformed activism being counterproductive; and the appropriateness of, largely, Western and maximalist ideals of human rights being applied without accounting for local needs and peculiarities. In this Article, I bring together the literature on the relativist critique and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a case study, to examine the usefulness and limitation of human rights as a language of critique to achieve meaningful transformative change in sporting contexts. I focus on the debates surrounding the rights of migrant workers and the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community; and argue that while human rights advocacy had a notable impact in relation to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, it is a tale full of cautions and lessons.
Perceptions regarding the Indian Mental Healthcare Act 2017 among psychiatrists: Review and critical appraisal in the light of CRPD guidelines
Authors: Uvais N.A. , Joag Kaustubh
Published: March 2024

Background

Informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Indian government replaced the 1987 Mental Health Act with the transformative “Indian Mental Healthcare Act, 2017” (IMHCA 2017), which gained presidential approval on April 7, 2017. While the new act aligns with CRPD guidelines, emphasizing the promotion, protection and realization of complete and equitable human rights, legal capacity, equality and dignity for persons with mental illness, it has faced diverse criticism from various stakeholders, particularly psychiatrists. This study systematically explores the critiques and apprehensions expressed by psychiatrists regarding the IMHCA 2017 using available published resources and assesses these criticisms within the context of CRPD guidelines.

Methodology

We conducted a scoping review of the literature, using two search engines like PubMed and Scopus. The review covered academic publications, reports and documents from both national and international sources, authored by psychiatrists and psychiatric organizations, related to the IMHCA 2017. The primary search term “IMHCA 2017” was used without temporal restrictions. Publications authored by mental health professionals from India and around the world were included in the final analysis. Through qualitative analysis, key themes reflecting psychiatrists’ viewpoints were identified. These themes, marked by substantial criticism, were then assessed in accordance with the guiding principles of the CRPD, including its optional protocol and general comments.

Results

The study analyzed 33 manuscripts discussing criticisms and concerns about IMHCA 2017. Manuscript types included opinion papers (60.6%), original research articles (21.21%), review articles (9.09%), editorials (6.06%) and comments (3.03%). All but one article were authored by psychiatrists, with five by non-Indian authors and the rest by Indian psychiatrists. Most articles were published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry (75.76%), with some in other journals. About 54.55% critically scrutinized act provisions, while 45.45% highlighted positive aspects. The analysis identified seven prominent criticism themes: clinical apprehensions, lack of clarity and comprehensiveness, feasibility challenges, neglect of caregivers, mistrust toward psychiatrists, crises in general hospital psychiatry units and ideological reservations.

Conclusions

Each theme was critically assessed in the context of CRPD guidelines, and corresponding recommendations were formulated.
Evolution of sub-ice-shelf channels reveals changes in ocean-driven melt in West Antarctica
Authors: Alley Karen E. , Alley Richard B. , Crawford Alex D. , Ochwat Naomi , Wild Christian T. , Marson Juliana , Snow Tasha , Muto Atsuhiro , Pettit Erin C. , Child Sarah F. , Truffer Martin , Collao-Barrios Gabriela , Scambos Ted A.
Published: March 2024

Basal channels, which are troughs carved into the undersides of ice shelves by buoyant plumes of water, are modulators of ice-shelf basal melt and structural stability. In this study, we track the evolution of 12 large basal channels beneath ice shelves of the Amundsen and Bellingshausen seas region in West Antarctica using the Landsat record since its start in the 1970s through 2020. We observe examples of channel growth, interactions with ice-shelf features, and systematic changes in sinuosity that give insight into the life cycles of basal channels. We use the last two decades of the record, combined with contemporary ice-flow velocity datasets, to separate channel-path evolution into components related to advection by ice flow and those controlled by other forcings, such as ocean melt or surface accumulation. Our results show that ice-flow-independent lateral channel migration is overwhelmingly to the left when viewed down-flow, suggesting that it is dominated by Coriolis-influenced ocean melt. By applying a model of channel-path evolution dominantly controlled by ice flow and ocean melt, we show that the majority of channels surveyed exhibit non-steady behavior that serves as a novel proxy for increased ocean forcing in West Antarctica starting at least in the early 1970s.
Variaciones en el aprovechamiento del guanaco en Patagonia meridional: El sitio Río Bote 1
Authors: Fiel M. Victoria , Franco Nora V.
Published: March 2024

Estudios previos han mostrado que la Lama guanicoe fue la presa principal de los cazadores-recolectores que habitaron Patagonia a lo largo del Holoceno. No obstante, su forma de aprovechamiento pudo haber variado a lo largo del tiempo en respuesta a las condiciones paleoambientales y a la dinámica poblacional. Sin embargo, hasta la actualidad esta problemática ha sido poco explorada en la cuenca del río Santa Cruz (Patagonia, Argentina). En este trabajo se analiza la existencia de variaciones en el procesamiento del guanaco por parte de los grupos humanos que habitaron el sitio Río Bote 1 entre circa 4200 y 350 años aP. Los resultados alcanzados, si bien sugieren continuidades, tales como el predominio de una estrategia basada en el aprovechamiento de su porción apendicular, también señalan la existencia de variaciones en el procesamiento de sus recursos a lo largo del tiempo. Estas últimas parecen relacionarse tanto con los efectos de las fluctuaciones climáticas, como con los cambios demográficos en las poblaciones humanas.
Comparative epidemiology of outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants in China
Authors: Peng Liping , Huang Xiaotong , Wang Can , Xin Hualei , Cowling Benjamin J. , Wu Peng , Tsang Tim K.
Published: March 2024

From 2020 to December 2022, China implemented strict measures to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. However, despite these efforts, sustained outbreaks of the Omicron variants occurred in 2022. We extracted COVID-19 case numbers from May 2021 to October 2022 to identify outbreaks of the Delta and Omicron variants in all provinces of mainland China. We found that omicron outbreaks were more frequent (4.3 vs. 1.6 outbreaks per month) and longer-lasting (mean duration: 13 vs. 4 weeks per outbreak) than Delta outbreaks, resulting in a total of 865,100 cases, of which 85% were asymptomatic. Despite the average Government Response Index being 12% higher (95% confidence interval (CI): 9%, 15%) in Omicron outbreaks, the average daily effective reproduction number (Rt) was 0.45 higher (95% CI: 0.38, 0.52, p < 0.001) than in Delta outbreaks. Omicron outbreaks were suppressed in 32 days on average (95% CI: 26, 39), which was substantially longer than Delta outbreaks (14 days; 95% CI: 11, 19; p = 0.004). We concluded that control measures effective against Delta could not contain Omicron outbreaks in China. This highlights the need for continuous evaluation of new variants’ epidemiology to inform COVID-19 response decisions.
Refusals and Requests: In Defense of Consistency
Authors: Davis Jeremy , Mathison Eric
Published: March 2024

Physicians place significant weight on the distinction between acts and omissions. Most believe that autonomous refusals for procedures, such as blood transfusions and resuscitation, ought to be respected, but they feel no similar obligation to accede to requests for treatment that will, in the physician’s opinion, harm the patient (e.g., assisted death). Thus, there is an asymmetry. In this paper, we challenge the strength of this distinction by arguing that the ordering of values should be the same in both cases. The reason for respecting refusals is that, in such cases, autonomy outweighs well-being. We argue that the same should be true in request cases, which means that requests should not be denied only due to the treatment being too harmful in the physician’s opinion. Our strategy is to consider and reject a number of arguments for the asymmetrical view, including an appeal to the doing–allowing distinction and positive and negative rights. The duty to respect refusals is still greater than the duty to grant requests on our view, but, by arguing that the ordering of values is the same in both cases, we show that there is less of a distinction in healthcare between requests and refusals than many currently believe.
Semen sexing and its impact on fertility and genetic gain in cattle
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Magotra Ankit , Kumar Manoj , Dalal D.S. , Kumari Sonu
Published: March 2024

Semen sexing is among one of the most remarkable inventions of the past few decades in the field of reproductive biotechnology. The urge to produce offspring of a desired sex has remained since traditional times. Researchers have tried many methods for accurate semen sexing, but only the flow cytometry method has proved to be effective for commercial utilization. However, there were always concerns about the effects of sexed semen, especially on fertility and the rate of genetic gain. Some concerns were genuine because of factors such as low semen dosage in sexed semen straws and damage to sperm during the sorting process. Various researchers have conducted numerous studies to find out the effect of sexed semen on fertility and, in this article, we reflect on their findings. Initially, there were comparatively much lower conception rates (∼70% of conventional semen) but, with refinement in technology, this gap is bridging and the use of sexed semen will increase over time. Concerning genetic gain with use of sexed semen, a positive effect on rate of genetic progress with the use of sexed semen has been observed based on various simulation studies, although there has been a mild increase in inbreeding.
SPECFY - an important tool of the Leiden Ice Database for Astrochemistry in the era of the James Webb Space Telescope
Authors: Rocha W. R. M. , Rachid M. G. , Olsthoorn B. , van Dishoeck E. F. , McClure M. K. , Slavicinska K. , Linnartz H.
Published: March 2024

Molecular data obtained from laboratory studies are crucial for deriving chemical abundances in astrophysical environments. The Leiden Ice Database for Astrochemistry (LIDA; https://icedb.strw.leidenuniv.nl/) has supported these studies for years in the context of astrophysical ices. For the era of the James Webb Space Telescope - JWST, LIDA hosts more than 1100 infrared spectra of pure and mixed ices that mimic different astrophysical conditions and UV-vis optical constants of water ice. Additionally, LIDA has an online tool - SPECFY, that allows the creation of protostar synthetic spectra. In this paper, we create a synthetic spectrum including OCS ice to check the detection feasibility of this molecule with a 3σ significance using JWST. The calculations are made with the exposure time calculator (ETC). LIDA is a prime deliverable of Ice Age, an Early Release Science JWST program. The collected data and online tools are also accessible for other programs collecting ice data.