bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colorimetric sensor to monitor the temperature with in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles embedded in carboxymethyl cellulose metallogel
Authors: Song Yujin , Ryu Suhyun , Baek Ki Ho , Bae Chaewon , Jo Cheorun , Lee Kangwon
Published: June 2024

A colorimetric sensing platform based on carboxymethyl cellulose-silver nanoparticles (CMC-AgNPs) metallogel was proposed to monitor the temperature history and quality of perishable products stored at low temperature. The carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) metallogel, fabricated in the presence of Ag+, incorporates ionic crosslinking of biopolymers, complexation between reactants, and subsequent in situ synthesis of AgNPs, which are designed to lead the color transition of metallogel from colorless to dark brown depending on temperature and time. The mechanical and structural properties of metallogels and AgNPs were characterized by rheology, XRD, and FT-IR. Color changes associated with temperature, time, and metal ion precursors were examined by UV–visible spectroscopy and colorimetry. The longer the exposure time to thermal stress condition such as room temperature (25 °C) or high temperature (60 °C), the deeper the color of metallogel. The CMC-AgNPs metallogel-based sensor provides an efficient, safe way to track temperature history and assess perishable products’ quality, crucial for the safe distribution of food, vaccines, and medicines. This cost-effective and reliable visual sensor minimizes spoilage and health risks by enabling accurate temperature monitoring without the need for complicated equipment.
Hierarchical Phased-Array Antennas Coupled to Al KIDs: A Scalable Architecture for Multi-band Millimeter/Submillimeter Focal Planes
Authors: Martin Jean-Marc , Kim Junhan , Defrance Fabien , Shu Shibo , Beyer Andrew D. , Day Peter K. , Sayers Jack , Golwala Sunil R.
Published: June 2024

We present the optical characterization of two-scale hierarchical phased-array antenna kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) for millimeter/submillimeter wavelengths. Our KIDs have a lumped-element architecture with parallel plate capacitors and aluminum inductors. The incoming light is received with a hierarchical phased array of slot dipole antennas, split into 4 frequency bands (between 125 GHz and 365 GHz) with on-chip lumped-element band-pass filters, and routed to different KIDs using microstriplines. Individual pixels detect light for the 3 higher-frequency bands (190–365 GHz), and the signals from four individual pixels are coherently summed to create a larger pixel detecting light for the lowest frequency band (125–175 GHz). The spectral response of the band-pass filters was measured using Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS), the far-field beam pattern of the phased-array antennas was obtained using an infrared source mounted on a 2-axis translating stage, and the optical efficiency of the KIDs was characterized by observing loads at 294 K and 77 K. We report on the results of these three measurements.
Too much of a good thing? High volumes of positive WOM can undermine adopters of new technology products
Authors: Alexander David L. , Moore Sarah G.
Published: June 2024

We explore how first-time adopters of complex new technology products are influenced by the volume of positive WOM that they receive prior to adoption. Such positive WOM can flow through to alter adopter’s goals during initial product use, with consequences for their usage experiences and strategies. Two longitudinal surveys and an experiment reveal a potential downside of positive WOM. Specifically, receiving a greater volume of positive WOM about a new technology product can establish normative standards for adopter’s performance during product use. This leads adopters to feel pressure to meet those standards, prompting avoidance-oriented performance goals for initial use of their new product. Together, these processes undermine adopter’s experiences with their new product, as well as their strategies for using it. Our findings offer insights for marketers and researchers by identifying and explaining an ironic post-adoption effect of PWOM.

Too much of a good thing? High volumes of positive WOM can undermine adopters of new technology products.
Online Abuse of Politicians: Experimental Evidence on Politicians’ Own Perceptions
Authors: Pedersen Rasmus T. , Petersen Niels Bjørn Grund , Thau Mads
Published: June 2024

Criticism from dissatisfied citizens is an inevitable part of being an elected politician in a democracy. However, when negative feedback from citizens turns into outright abuse, this can have pernicious personal and democratic consequences. In this study, we therefore investigate how politicians perceive criticisms, insults, threats, and sexist remarks in social media comments. Based on a survey experiment with more than 700 politicians from the local, regional, and national levels, we show that politicians’ assessment of the abusiveness of negative messages are not only affected by the content of the messages but also by political ideology and gender. Left-leaning politicians find negative social media comments to be more abusive than right-leaning politicians do. In addition, politicians are more averse to negative comments targeting women than negative comments targeting men, and male politicians are generally less averse to negative comments than female politicians are. Somewhat surprisingly, politicians are generally not affected by in-party biases, as they exhibit similar levels of aversion towards negative messages directed at co-partisans and out-partisans. While previous research has focused on the extent to which politicians receive online abuse, few studies have examined how politicians perceive potentially abusive messages, and our study thus provides novel insights into what exactly politicians consider to be abusive behavior on social media.
The Personalization of Electoral Participation? The Relationship Between Trait Evaluations of Presidential Candidates and Turnout Decisions in American Presidential Elections 1980–2020
Authors: Segerberg Tim
Published: June 2024

The personalization thesis claims that leaders’ influence over voters has increased. While research consistently shows that candidates influence party choice, we know little about their effects on the prior decision to turn out in elections. This article represents the first study to examine the relationship between candidate trait evaluations and turnout decisions in the American context and the first longitudinal study of the phenomenon. The study utilizes ANES data to test three hypotheses drawn from theories on electoral participation and personalized politics in U.S. presidential elections between 1980 and 2020. The results show that while trait evaluations of Republican candidates consistently affect turnout, perceptions of Democratic candidates’ competence mobilize voters in specific elections. Moreover, individual polarization promotes turnout, particularly among partisan dealigned voters with different perceptions of the candidates’ competence. The results indicate a personalization of electoral participation that can benefit civic engagement and democratic quality.
Quantum variations of cyclotomic cosets for cyclic stabiliser codes construction
Authors: Yap En Chong , Ong Kai Lin
Published: June 2024

Cyclotomic cosets are intrinsically linked with the design and construction of classical cyclic codes whose properties can be inferred from the coset structures. This paper proposes some new quantum variations of cyclotomic cosets for cyclic stabiliser construction. These variations are governed by several parameters which are devoted to designing the two essential parts: the error part and the position part of these cosets. Criteria on these cosets in generating additive cyclic stabiliser are extensively studied, followed by actual implementation on stabiliser codes construction of several selected classes of length.
The Sun’s Non-Potential Corona over Solar Cycle 24
Authors: Yeates Anthony R.
Published: June 2024

The global magnetic field in the solar corona is known to contain free magnetic energy and magnetic helicity above that of a current-free (potential) state. But the strength of this non-potentiality and its evolution over the solar cycle remain uncertain. Here we model the corona over Solar Cycle 24 using a simplified magneto-frictional model that retains the magnetohydrodynamic induction equation but assumes relaxation towards force-free equilibrium, driven by solar surface motions and flux emergence. The model is relatively conservative compared to some others in the literature, with free energy approximately 20 – 25% of the potential field energy. We find that unsigned helicity is about a factor 10 higher at Maximum than Minimum, while free magnetic energy shows an even greater increase. The cycle averages of these two quantities are linearly correlated, extending a result found previously for active regions. Also, we propose a practical measure of eruptivity for these simulations, and show that this increases concurrently with the sunspot number, in accordance with observed coronal mass ejection rates. Whilst shearing by surface motions generates $50\%$
50
%
or more of the free energy and helicity in the corona, we show that active regions must emerge with their own internal helicity otherwise the eruptivity is substantially reduced and follows the wrong pattern over time.
Time-Delay Cosmography: Measuring the Hubble Constant and Other Cosmological Parameters with Strong Gravitational Lensing
Authors: Birrer S. , Millon M. , Sluse D. , Shajib A. J. , Courbin F. , Erickson S. , Koopmans L. V. E. , Suyu S. H. , Treu T.
Published: June 2024

Multiply lensed images of a same source experience a relative time delay in the arrival of photons due to the path length difference and the different gravitational potentials the photons travel through. This effect can be used to measure absolute distances and the Hubble constant ($H_{0}$

H
0

) and is known as time-delay cosmography. The method is independent of the local distance ladder and early-universe physics and provides a precise and competitive measurement of $H_{0}$

H
0

. With upcoming observatories, time-delay cosmography can provide a 1% precision measurement of $H_{0}$

H
0

and can decisively shed light on the current reported ‘Hubble tension’. This manuscript details the general methodology developed over the past decades in time-delay cosmography, discusses recent advances and results, and, foremost, provides a foundation and outlook for the next decade in providing accurate and ever more precise measurements with increased sample size and improved observational techniques.
An invitation to conventionalism: a philosophy for modern (space-)times
Authors: Dürr Patrick , Read James
Published: June 2024

Geometric underdetermination (i.e., the underdetermination of the geometric properties of space and time) is a live possibility in light of some of our best theories of physics. In response to this, geometric conventionalism offers a selective anti-realism, refusing to assign truth values to variant geometric propositions. Although often regarded as being dead in the water by modern philosophers, in this article we propose to revitalise the programme of geometric conventionalism both on its own terms, and as an attractive response to the above-mentioned live cases of geometric underdetermination. Specifically, we (1) articulate geometrical conventionalism as we conceive it, (2) anticipate various objections to the view, and defend it against those objections, and (3) demonstrate how geometric conventionalism plays out in the context of a wide variety of spacetime theories, both classical and relativistic.
Associations of Blood and Urinary Heavy Metals with Stress Urinary Incontinence Risk Among Adults in NHANES, 2003–2018
Authors: Fu Maoling , Zhu Zifan , Xiang Yechen , Yang Qiaoyue , Yuan Quan , Li Xinyu , Yu Genzhen
Published: June 2024

People come into contact with heavy metals in various ways in their daily lives. Accumulating evidence shows that toxic metal exposure is hazardous to human health. However, limited information is available regarding the impact of metal mixtures on stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Therefore, we used data from 10,622 adults from the 2003–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate the independent and comprehensive association between heavy metal co-exposure and SUI. Among them, 2455 (23.1%) had been diagnosed with SUI, while the rest had no SUI. We evaluated the independent and combined associations of 3 blood metals and 10 urinary metals with SUI risk, along with subgroup analyses according to age and gender. In the single-exposure model, blood cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), urinary Cd, Pb, and cesium (Cs) were found to be positively connected with SUI risk. Moreover, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) consistently demonstrated blood and urinary metal–mixed exposure were positively associated with the risk of SUI, and emphasized that blood Pb and Cd and urinary Cd and Cs were the main positive drivers, respectively. This association was more pronounced in the young and middle-aged group (20–59 years old) and the female group. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to validate these significant findings.
Effect of exercise on postoperative recovery of patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jiao Mingyue , Liang Hanping , Zhang Mengge
Published: June 2024

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the postoperative recovery period often experience reduced exercise capacity and impaired lung function, which affects their overall quality of life. This paper investigated the effect of exercise interventions on exercise capacity, lung function, quality of life, and symptoms in these patients. Methods: We performed a literature search across Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases were comprehensively searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to September 2023, all English RCTs were eligible if they assessed the effects of exercise interventions on postoperative NSCLC patients. Results: Twelve articles met our inclusion criteria, evidencing that exercise interventions could significantly improve the functional capacity of NSCLC patients in postoperative recovery. Notably, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) was improved, indicating enhanced lung function. Furthermore, exercise improved the physical and mental health scores of SF-36, along with increased quadriceps strength and relieved dyspnea. However, fatigue levels were not significantly changed. Conclusions: Exercise interventions of NSCLC patients in the postoperative recovery are associated with improved functional capacity, lung function, quality of life, and quadriceps strength, as well as alleviated symptoms of dyspnea. These findings underscore the potential benefits of incorporating exercise into postoperative care for NSCLC patients. Nonetheless, further large-scale RCTs are required to solidify the evidence base on the clinical outcomes of exercise following pneumonectomy.
DcR3-associated risk score: correlating better prognosis and enhanced predictive power in colorectal cancer
Authors: Duan Ying , Fang Hangrong , Wang Juanhong , Ruan Banlai , Yang Juan , Liu Jie , Gou Siqi , Li Yijie , Cheng Zhengyi
Published: June 2024

Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a novel soluble protein belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family, has been previously associated with tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, in our study, we unexpectedly found that DcR3 may promote patient survival time in colorectal cancer (CRC). Through an analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, we discovered that high levels of DcR3 are associated with improved overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in CRC patients. Further investigation revealed that DcR3 is correlated with favorable clinical features in Metastasis 0 (M0) and stage I/II CRC patients, suggesting it may act as a suppressive factor in CRC. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) demonstrated that the high DcR3 group is enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway and other immune-related pathways, and Single Sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) revealed a higher abundance of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) in the DcR3 high group. To better understand the function of DcR3, we constructed a DcR3-associated riskscore (DARS) model using machine learning, comprising three genes (DPP7, KDM3A, and TMEM86B). The DARS model indicated that high riskscore patients have an unfavorable prognosis, and it is associated with advanced stages (III/IV), T3/4 tumors, and N1/2 lymph node involvement. Additionally, high riskscore group exhibited more frequent gene mutations, such as TTN, MUC16, and SYNE1, with SYNE1 mutation being related to poor prognosis. Intriguingly, DcR3 showed higher expression in the low riskscore group. These results suggest that DcR3 could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in CRC and may play a crucial role in favorably modulating the immune response in this malignancy.
Microgels for Cell Delivery in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Xuan Leyan , Hou Yingying , Liang Lu , Wu Jialin , Fan Kai , Lian Liming , Qiu Jianhua , Miao Yingling , Ravanbakhsh Hossein , Xu Mingen , Tang Guosheng
Published: June 2024

Microgels prepared from natural or synthetic hydrogel materials have aroused extensive attention as multifunctional cells or drug carriers, that are promising for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Microgels can also be aggregated into microporous scaffolds, promoting cell infiltration and proliferation for tissue repair. This review gives an overview of recent developments in the fabrication techniques and applications of microgels. A series of conventional and novel strategies including emulsification, microfluidic, lithography, electrospray, centrifugation, gas-shearing, three-dimensional bioprinting, etc. are discussed in depth. The characteristics and applications of microgels and microgel-based scaffolds for cell culture and delivery are elaborated with an emphasis on the advantages of these carriers in cell therapy. Additionally, we expound on the ongoing and foreseeable applications and current limitations of microgels and their aggregate in the field of biomedical engineering. Through stimulating innovative ideas, the present review paves new avenues for expanding the application of microgels in cell delivery techniques.
MXene Sediment-Based Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Sodium Alginate Aerogel Evaporator with Vertically Aligned Channels for Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generation
Authors: Wang Tian , Li Meng , Xu Hongxing , Wang Xiao , Jia Mingshu , Hou Xianguang , Gao Shuai , Liu Qingman , Yang Qihang , Tian Mingwei , Qu Lijun , Song Zhenhua , Wu Xiaohu , Wang Lili , Zhang Xiansheng
Published: June 2024

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation from seawater is considered an effective way to alleviate the emerging freshwater crisis because of its green and environmentally friendly characteristics. However, developing an evaporator with high efficiency, stability, and salt resistance remains a key challenge. MXene, with an internal photothermal conversion efficiency of 100%, has received tremendous research interest as a photothermal material. However, the process to prepare the MXene with monolayer is inefficient and generates a large amount of “waste” MXene sediments (MS). Here, MXene sediments is selected as the photothermal material, and a three-dimensional MXene sediments/poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate aerogel evaporator with vertically aligned pores by directional freezing method is innovatively designed. The vertical porous structure enables the evaporator to improve water transport, light capture, and high evaporation rate. Cotton swabs and polypropylene are used as the water channel and support, respectively, thus fabricating a self-floating evaporator. The evaporator exhibits an evaporation rate of 3.6 kg m−2 h−1 under one-sun illumination, and 18.37 kg m−2 of freshwater is collected in the condensation collection device after 7 h of outdoor sun irradiation. The evaporator also displays excellent oil and salt resistance. This research fully utilizes “waste” MS, enabling a self-floating evaporation device for freshwater collection.
Mixed-Dimensional Assembly Strategy to Construct Reduced Graphene Oxide/Carbon Foams Heterostructures for Microwave Absorption, Anti-Corrosion and Thermal Insulation
Authors: Zhan Beibei , Qu Yunpeng , Qi Xiaosi , Ding Junfei , Shao Jiao-jing , Gong Xiu , Yang Jing-Liang , Chen Yanli , Peng Qiong , Zhong Wei , Lv Hualiang
Published: June 2024

Considering the serious electromagnetic wave (EMW) pollution problems and complex application condition, there is a pressing need to amalgamate multiple functionalities within a single substance. However, the effective integration of diverse functions into designed EMW absorption materials still faces the huge challenges. Herein, reduced graphene oxide/carbon foams (RGO/CFs) with two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) van der Waals (vdWs) heterostructures were meticulously engineered and synthesized utilizing an efficient methodology involving freeze-drying, immersing absorption, secondary freeze-drying, followed by carbonization treatment. Thanks to their excellent linkage effect of amplified dielectric loss and optimized impedance matching, the designed 2D/3D RGO/CFs vdWs heterostructures demonstrated commendable EMW absorption performances, achieving a broad absorption bandwidth of 6.2 GHz and a reflection loss of − 50.58 dB with the low matching thicknesses. Furthermore, the obtained 2D/3D RGO/CFs vdWs heterostructures also displayed the significant radar stealth properties, good corrosion resistance performances as well as outstanding thermal insulation capabilities, displaying the great potential in complex and variable environments. Accordingly, this work not only demonstrated a straightforward method for fabricating 2D/3D vdWs heterostructures, but also outlined a powerful mixed-dimensional assembly strategy for engineering multifunctional foams for electromagnetic protection, aerospace and other complex conditions.
Lightweight Dual-Functional Segregated Nanocomposite Foams for Integrated Infrared Stealth and Absorption-Dominant Electromagnetic Interference Shielding
Authors: Ma Zhonglei , Jiang Ruochu , Jing Jiayao , Kang Songlei , Ma Li , Zhang Kefan , Li Junxian , Zhang Yu , Qin Jianbin , Yun Shuhuan , Zhang Guangcheng
Published: June 2024

Lightweight infrared stealth and absorption-dominant electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are highly desirable in areas of aerospace, weapons, military and wearable electronics. Herein, lightweight and high-efficiency dual-functional segregated nanocomposite foams with microcellular structures are developed for integrated infrared stealth and absorption-dominant EMI shielding via the efficient and scalable supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) foaming combined with hydrogen bonding assembly and compression molding strategy. The obtained lightweight segregated nanocomposite foams exhibit superior infrared stealth performances benefitting from the synergistic effect of highly effective thermal insulation and low infrared emissivity, and outstanding absorption-dominant EMI shielding performances attributed to the synchronous construction of microcellular structures and segregated structures. Particularly, the segregated nanocomposite foams present a large radiation temperature reduction of 70.2 °C at the object temperature of 100 °C, and a significantly improved EM wave absorptivity/reflectivity (A/R) ratio of 2.15 at an ultralow Ti3C2Tx content of 1.7 vol%. Moreover, the segregated nanocomposite foams exhibit outstanding working reliability and stability upon dynamic compression cycles. The results demonstrate that the lightweight and high-efficiency dual-functional segregated nanocomposite foams have excellent potentials for infrared stealth and absorption-dominant EMI shielding applications in aerospace, weapons, military and wearable electronics.
The value of ACR, European, Korean, and ATA ultrasound risk stratification systems combined with RAS mutations for detecting thyroid carcinoma in cytologically indeterminate and suspicious for malignancy thyroid nodules
Authors: Scappaticcio Lorenzo , Di Martino Nicole , Caruso Paola , Ferrazzano Pamela , Marino Federica Zito , Clery Eduardo , Cioce Alessandro , Cozzolino Giovanni , Maiorino Maria Ida , Docimo Giovanni , Trimboli Pierpaolo , Franco Renato , Esposito Katherine , Bellastella Giuseppe
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of four commonly utilized ultrasound (US) RSSs, namely, the American College of Radiology [ACR], European [EU], Korean [K] TI-RADSs and American Thyroid Association [ATA] US-based RSS criteria, in combination with activating point mutations of the RAS genes (NRAS, HRAS, and KRAS) for detection of thyroid carcinoma in cytologically indeterminate and suspicious for malignancy thyroid nodules.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed cytologically indeterminate and suspicious for malignancy thyroid nodules which underwent US, molecular testing and surgery between September 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated, and the area under the curve (AUC, 95% confidence interval [CI]) was calculated.

Results

A total of 100 cytologically indeterminate and 24 suspicious for malignancy thyroid nodules were analyzed. Compared to the four US-based RSSs alone, the diagnostic value of the four US-based RSSs combined with RAS mutations did not significantly improved (cytologically indeterminate, AUC [95% CI] 0.6 [0.5–0.7] and 0.6 [0.5–0.7], respectively, p = 0.70; cytologically suspicious for malignancy, AUC [95% CI] 0.7 [0.5–0.9] and 0.8 [0.6–0.9], respectively, p = 0.23).

Conclusions

The diagnostic value of the four main US-based RSSs (ACR, EU, K, and ATA) was not improved in conjunction with the evaluation of RAS mutations for preoperative risk stratification of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Clinical relevance statement

In cytologically indeterminate nodules categorized according to US-based RSSs, isolated RAS positivity does not reliably distinguish between benignity and malignancy.
A review on removal CO2, SO2, and H2S from flue gases using zeolite based adsorbents
Authors: Zewdie Deribew Tefera , Bizualem Yonas Desta , Nurie Amare Gashu
Published: June 2024

This review was carried out on removal of flue gases (CO2, SO2, and H2S) that are emitted from various sources. Burning solid fuels for heat, such as natural gas, gasoline, and coal or biomass, results in the production of flue gas. Adsorption of flue gases by utilizing Zeolites was properly explained, including the zeolite synthesis technique, characteristics, zeolite sensitivity, variables that influence the adsorption process, zeolite efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Zeolites have a notable adsorption capability for CO2, SO2, and H2S, despite their major disadvantage of being poor long-term durability and stability. Remarkable advancements are being made in present-day CO2capture methods, especially concerning the use of zeolites. Zeolites are unique materials with great potential for CO2collection because of their tiny holes, high porosity, structural variety, and recyclability. Since atmospheric CO2concentrations are already more than 415 parts per million, it is imperative to limit future releases of this gas and keep it out of the carbon cycle. The elimination of SO2by the majority of zeolites was shown to rise with temperatures up to 200 °C and subsequently decrease at higher temperatures. It was also shown that SO2uptake and breakthrough time are significantly affected by drying zeolite using microwave and traditional heating methods. The sorption capacity and sorbent regenerability of SO2are sensitive to the presence of other gases in the flue gas, such as O2, CO2, NOx, and water vapor, as well as the reaction temperature. Zeolites must possess strong sulfur loading capacity, good regenerability, and a stable structure to be an effective adsorbent for the removal of H2S. Regarding the utilization of zeolites as adsorbents for the flue gases, new developments, and continuing difficulties have been concluded in this review work.
Improved vehicle detection: unveiling the potential of modified YOLOv5
Authors: Rana Md. Milon , Hossain Md. Selim , Hossain Md. Mahabub , Haque Md. Dulal
Published: June 2024

The detection of vehicles is a crucial task in various applications. In recent years, the quantity of vehicles on the road has been rapidly increasing, resulting in the challenge of efficient traffic management. To address this, the study introduces a model of enhancing the accuracy of vehicle detection using a proposed improved version of the popular You Only Look Once (YOLO) model, known as YOLOv5. The accuracy of vehicle detection using both the original versions of YOLOv5 and our proposed YOLOv5 algorithm has been evaluated. The evaluation is based on key accuracy metrics such as precision, recall, and mean Average Precision (mAP) at an Intersection over Union (IoU). The study's experimental results show that the original YOLOv5 model achieved a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 61.4% and the proposed model achieved an mAP of 67.4%, outperforming the original by 6%. The performance of the proposed model was improved based on the architectural modifications, which involved adding an extra layer to the backbone. The results reveal the potential of our proposed YOLOv5 for real-world applications such as autonomous driving and traffic monitoring and may involve further fine-tuning, robotics and security system and exploring broader object detection domains.
Does carbon intensity affect technical efficiency? An empirical assessment of manufacturing industries in Maharashtra, Odisha, and India
Authors: Samal Liza , Tripathy Prajukta , Mishra Bikash Ranjan
Published: June 2024

Technical progress has a tremendous potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by reducing energy consumption, a major concern across production units. However, the existing empirical literature concerning technical efficiency and carbon intensity is scanty. Thus, this paper examines the relationship between technical efficiency and carbon intensity for the organized manufacturing sector of two states, Maharashtra and Odisha, and the all-India level from 2001 to 2018. The paper uses data envelopment analysis to estimate technical efficiency scores. It applies the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Tier 1 methodology for estimating carbon intensity for each 3-digit manufacturing industry in all three sample cases. The study has used static panel regression and fractional logit regression techniques to examine the deterministic relationship between technical efficiency and carbon intensity. The result shows that technical efficiency is highly sensitive to carbon intensity in the Indian manufacturing industries. The findings also addressed that the size of the industries also reduces the technical performance of manufacturing units. This paper also confirmed that increased profit could boost the Indian manufacturing industries’ technical efficiency. Thus, this study addresses that carbon intensity as a proxy for the manufacturing sector’s potential to affect climate change plays a crucial role in explaining the technical efficiency variations across industries. Thus, it calls for better policies aimed at reducing the emissions of industries specifically to achieve sustainable growth for the Indian manufacturing sector.
Measuring Risk Tolerance Among Japanese Adults and Cross-National Comparison of Its Role in COVID-19 Attitudes
Authors: Shou Yiyun , Liu Fang , Takemura Kazuhisa , Olney Joel
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Risk propensity and attitudes influence how one responds and behaves in situations with different levels of risk. To date, limited studies have investigated domain-specific risk attitudes and their measurement in Japanese contexts or had direct comparisons between Japanese and other cultural contexts. In Study 1 ( N = 567), we developed a Japanese version of the multi-domain risk tolerance (MDRT) scale applicable to Japanese populations. The scale was further examined in Study 2 ( N = 509). We also tested cross-cultural measurement invariance between the Japanese and a US sample ( N = 495). In addition, we explored cultural differences in the predictive validity of MDRT on the concerns and attitudes relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results demonstrated that MDRT has promising structure validity, reliability, convergent validity, and measurement invariance in the Japanese population. Results also showed that domain-specific risk attitudes as measured by MDRT have similarly important relationships with individuals’ concerns about COVID-19 in many life aspects, and their support for COVID-19 restrictions in both Japanese and US samples.
Measuring Empathizing and Systemizing in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Welberg Julia , Laumann Daniel , Heinicke Susanne
Published: June 2024

Abstract: The Empathizing Quotient (EQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ) are validated and extensively applied instruments for measurements within the empathizing–systemizing theory (EST) for adults, however not yet adapted to assess children and adolescents. To implement measurements of the EST in children and adolescents, short and comprehensible instruments are needed. Therefore, a German-language short version was developed and statistically tested in multiple studies. In a first study ( N = 193), wording and contexts were improved, and exploratory factor analyses were used to perform scale reduction. In a second study ( N = 299), the stability of the scale was tested. In a third study ( N = 129), high test–retest reliabilities (empathizing: r = .83, p < .001; systemizing: r = .88, p < .001) were found for the new scales (14 empathizing, 10 systemizing items). In a fourth study ( N = 3062), the factor structure was confirmed, and internal consistency was checked to be in a good range (EQ: Cronbach’s α = .85; SQ: Cronbach’s α = .82). An extensive validity check was carried out in a fifth study, using a subsample of Study 4 ( N = 205), which indicated good agreement with existing studies with respect to, for example, gender or school grades.
Climate Driven Trends in Historical Extreme Low Streamflows on Four Continents
Authors: Hodgkins Glenn A. , Renard Benjamin , Whitfield Paul H. , Laaha Gregor , Stahl Kerstin , Hannaford Jamie , Burn Donald H. , Westra Seth , Fleig Anne K. , Araújo Lopes Walszon Terllizzie , Murphy Conor , Mediero Luis , Hanel Martin
Published: June 2024

Understanding temporal trends in low streamflows is important for water management and ecosystems. This work focuses on trends in the occurrence rate of extreme low‐flow events (5‐ to 100‐year return periods) for pooled groups of stations. We use data from 1,184 minimally altered catchments in Europe, North and South America, and Australia to discern historical climate‐driven trends in extreme low flows (1976–2015 and 1946–2015). The understanding of low streamflows is complicated by different hydrological regimes in cold, transitional, and warm regions. We use a novel classification to define low‐flow regimes using air temperature and monthly low‐flow frequency. Trends in the annual occurrence rate of extreme low‐flow events (proportion of pooled stations each year) were assessed for each regime. Most regimes on multiple continents did not have significant (p < 0.05) trends in the occurrence rate of extreme low streamflows from 1976 to 2015; however, occurrence rates for the cold‐season low‐flow regime in North America were found to be significantly decreasing for low return‐period events. In contrast, there were statistically significant increases for this period in warm regions of NA which were associated with the variation in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Significant decreases in extreme low‐flow occurrence rates were dominant from 1946 to 2015 in Europe and NA for both cold‐ and warm‐season low‐flow regimes; there were also some non‐significant trends. The difference in the results between the shorter (40‐year) and longer (70‐year) records and between low‐flow regimes highlights the complexities of low‐flow response to changing climatic conditions.
Strong El Niño Events Lead to Robust Multi‐Year ENSO Predictability
Authors: Lenssen N. , DiNezio P. , Goddard L. , Deser C. , Kushnir Y. , Mason S. J. , Newman M. , Okumura Y.
Published: June 2024

The El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon—the dominant source of climate variability on seasonal to multi‐year timescales—is predictable a few seasons in advance. Forecast skill at longer multi‐year timescales has been found in a few models and forecast systems, but the robustness of this predictability across models has not been firmly established owing to the cost of running dynamical model predictions at longer lead times. In this study, we use a massive collection of multi‐model hindcasts performed using model analogs to show that multi‐year ENSO predictability is robust across models and arises predominantly due to skillful prediction of multi‐year La Nina events following strong El Niño events.
Statistical Comparison of Southern and Northern Auroral Electrojet Indices as a Function of Solar Wind and IMF Conditions
Authors: Boudouridis A. , Weygand J. M. , Zesta E.
Published: June 2024

A Southern Auroral Electrojet (SAE) index has been recently constructed using several Antarctica magnetometer stations. It has been compared for case studies with the standard Auroral Electrojet (AE) index, and a near‐conjugate to the southern stations Northern Auroral Electrojet (NAE) index. We compare the three indices statistically as a function of the accompanying solar wind (SW) and Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) conditions to further explore conjugacy issues. We use 274 days of common north/south data presence between December 2005 and August 2010. We calculate the cross‐correlation coefficients and differences between all three pairs. We estimate the effect of the SW/IMF conditions on the index correlations and differences using three groups of data: (a) the entire data set, (b) two separate sets based on the presence or not of Southern Hemisphere stations within the 21‐03 Magnetic Local Time (MLT) sector where substorms occur, and (c) separately for the four different seasons. We find that high north‐south correlation coefficients are more common during strong SW/IMF driving, while the index differences are also higher, suggesting that the SAE index follows better the northern indices' trend, but has even lower values during active times. The UT study shows that the number of high AE/SAE correlations is slightly lower at all clock angles and dynamic pressure levels for the periods within 1454–1941 UT (when no southern station is within 21–03 MLT). Finally, the results show that the number of high correlations is greater during the northern spring than the winter period.
Relating Pore‐Scale Observations to Continuum‐Scale Models: Impact of Ganglion Dynamics on Flow Transport Kinetics
Authors: Nhunduru Rumbidzai A. E. , Jahanbakhsh Amir , Shahrokhi Omid , Wlodarczyk Krystian L. , Garcia Susana , Maroto‐Valer M. Mercedes
Published: June 2024

Continuum‐scale models used to model and predict two‐phase flow in the subsurface are often based on averaged flow parameters and do not consider pore‐scale fluid flow phenomena, for example, ganglion dynamics and thin‐film flow. As such, a major challenge in upscaling two‐phase flow for groundwater engineering applications is understanding the impact of disconnected flow and ganglion dynamics on continuum‐scale flow functions such as relative permeability‐saturation and capillary pressure‐saturation curves. In this study, we explored how changes in wettability and fluid velocity affect ganglion dynamics. We conducted pore‐scale numerical simulations with OpenFOAM to investigate the displacement of decane by water. Additionally, we examined how displaced phase saturation (a continuum‐scale flow function) responds to changes in dynamic fluid connectivity. We identified three different fluid flow regimes, that is, the connected pathway flow regime, ganglion dynamics (GD) flow regime, and droplet traffic flow regime, and studied the effects of changes in the wettability of the porous medium and the velocity of the invading fluid on the transitions between these different regimes. Our research showed that transitions between connected and disconnected pore‐scale flow regimes, which are induced by changes in fluid velocity and wettability, have a significant impact on both fluid displacement efficiency and average fluid flow transport kinetics.
An Electrical Parameter Characterizing Solute Heterogeneity: The Mixing Factor M
Authors: Fernandez Visentini Alejandro , Linde Niklas
Published: June 2024

Quantitative estimates of hydrological state variables using electrical or electromagnetic geophysical methods are systematically biased by overlooked heterogeneity below the spatial scale resolved by the method. We generalize the high‐salinity asymptotic limit of electrical conduction in porous media at the continuous (e.g., Darcy) scale, by introducing a new petrophysical parameter, the mixing factor M, which accounts for the effect of fluid conductivity heterogeneity on the equivalent electrical conductivity tensor; it is expressed in terms of the volume‐average of the product of mean‐removed fluid conductivity and electric fields. We investigate the behavior of M for static and evolving fluid conductivity scenarios. Considering 2‐D ergodic log‐normal random fields of fluid conductivity, we demonstrate, in absence of surface conductivity, that observing the components of the M‐tensor allows univocally determining the variance and anisotropy of the field. Further, time‐series of the M‐tensor under diffusion‐limited mixing allows distinguishing between different characteristic temporal scales of diffusion, which are directly related to the initial integral scales of the salinity field. Under advective‐diffusive transport and for a pulse injection, the time‐series of M have a strong dependence on the Péclet number. Since M is defined in the absence of surface conductivity, we investigate how to correct measurements for surface conductivity effects. The parameter M provides conceptual understanding about the impact of saline heterogeneity on electrical measurements. Further work will investigate how it can be incorporated into hydrogeophysical inverse formulations and interpretative frameworks.
Geographic Characteristics and Meteorological Factors Dominate the Variation of Chlorophyll‐a in Lakes and Reservoirs With Higher TP Concentrations
Authors: Zhang Hanxiao , Huo Shouliang , Feng Lian , Ma Chunzi , Li Wenpan , Liu Yong , Wu Fengchang
Published: June 2024

Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen lead to extensive growth of harmful algae in lakes and reservoirs, which results in eutrophication. The driving mechanism of primary productivity change in lakes and reservoirs at a wide spatial and temporal scale remains largely unknown. We establish a water quality database using a stacking machine learning model, including monthly chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a), total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) concentrations in 255 lakes and 332 reservoirs from 1980 to 2018. We find an increase in the number of lakes and reservoirs at risk of algal blooms, with approximately 2.66% exhibiting Chl‐a concentrations exceeding 30 μg L−1 by 2018. Variations in Chl‐a concentrations were not entirely synchronized at the individual and regional levels with TN and TP concentrations, or their stoichiometric ratios, as estimated by a hierarchical linear model spanning 1980 to 2018. Further, we discovered unexpected effects of geographical features (i.e., latitude, longitude, and slope) and meteorological factors (i.e., air temperature) on Chl‐a concentrations in the lakes and reservoirs with higher TP concentrations (>0.041 mg L−1 for lakes and >0.027 mg L−1 for reservoirs), through the use of multiple regression trees and structural equation model analysis. Our findings underscore the importance of (a) implementing flexible nutrient pollution control approaches based on nutrient ecoregions that consider geographical variations, and (b) developing mitigation and adaptation strategies to address the uncertain risks posed by climate change in the prevention and control of eutrophication in lakes and reservoirs.
Comparative Analysis of Supervised Classification Algorithms for Residential Water End Uses
Authors: Heydari Zahra , Stillwell Ashlynn S.
Published: June 2024

Water sustainability in the built environment requires an accurate estimation of residential water end uses (e.g., showers, toilets, faucets, etc.). In this study, we evaluate the performance of four models (Random Forest, RF; Support Vector Machines, SVM; Logistic Regression, Log‐reg; and Neural Networks, NN) for residential water end‐use classification using actual (measured) and synthetic labeled data sets. We generated synthetic labeled data using Conditional Tabular Generative Adversarial Networks. We then utilized grid search to train each model on their respective optimized hyperparameters. The RF model exhibited the best model performance overall, while the Log‐reg model had the shortest execution times under different balanced and imbalanced (based on number of events per class) synthetic data scenarios, demonstrating a computationally efficient alternative for RF for specific end uses. The NN model exhibited high performance with the tradeoff of longer execution times compared to the other classification models. In the balanced data set scenario, all models achieved closely aligned F1‐scores, ranging from 0.83 to 0.90. However, when faced with imbalanced data reflective of actual conditions, both the SVM and Log‐reg models showed inferior performance compared to the RF and NN models. Overall, we concluded that decision tree‐based models emerge as the optimal choice for classification tasks in the context of water end‐use data. Our study advances residential smart water metering systems through creating synthetic labeled end‐use data and providing insight into the strengths and weaknesses of various supervised machine learning classifiers for end‐use identification.
Chromosome-level genome assembly of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera flipjevi
Authors: Yao Ke , Cui Jiangkuan , Jian Jinzhuo , Peng Deliang , Huang Wenkun , Kong Lingan , Wang Qianghui , Peng Huan
Published: June 2024

As an economically important plant parasitic nematode (PPN), Heterodera filipjevi causes great damage on wheat, and now it was widely recorded in many countries. While multiple genomes of PPNs have been published, high-quality genome assembly and annotation on H. filipjevi have yet to be performed. This study presents a chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation for H. filipjevi, utilizing a combination of Illumina short-read, PacBio long-read, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The genome consists of 9 pseudo-chromosomes that contain 134.19 Mb of sequence, with a scaffold N50 length of 11.88 Mb. In total, 10,036 genes were annotated, representing 75.20% of the total predicted protein-coding genes. Our study provides the first chromosome-scale genome for H. filipjevi, which is also the inaugural high-quality genome of cereal cyst nematodes (CCNs). It provides a valuable genomic resource for further biological research and pest management of cereal cyst nematodes disease.