bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of quantitative risk analysis to fireproofing
Authors: Marx Jeffrey D. , Ishii Benjamin
Published: September 2023

One of the core elements of fire protection for petrochemical processing plants is the consideration of passive fire protection (PFP). This general category, often referred to as fireproofing, is addressed in the American Petroleum Institute (API)‐recommended practice (RP) 2218. This RP provides guidelines for the selection and application of fireproofing with what is mostly a qualitative risk assessment approach. The logic focuses on predicting pool fires based on rough characterizations of system properties combined with equipment layout. Although pool fire impacts are often localized, jet fires can affect larger areas. API RP 2218 addresses jet fires in an appendix because of their unpredictable nature, leaving pool fire exposures as the default basis for structural fireproofing. To properly account for both fire types, fire exposure can be evaluated with quantitative risk analysis (QRA) tools that incorporate both jet and pool fire impacts for a wide variety of accident scenarios, weather conditions, and release orientations. By evaluating the thermal radiation impacts of fires in relation to the vulnerability of steel structural elements, a QRA‐based approach to placement of PFP can be achieved. This approach has the benefit of applying PFP where it is needed the most, to best protect a company's infrastructure.
Polygamy Relation of Quantum Correlations with Equality
Authors: Jin Zhi‐Xiang , Yu Bing , Zhu Xue‐Na , Fei Shao‐Ming , Qiao Cong‐Feng
Published: September 2023

This study provides a generalized definition of polygamy relations for any quantum correlation measures. Instead of the usual polygamy inequality, a polygamy relation with equality is given by introducing the polygamy weight. From the polygamy relation with equality, it presents polygamy inequalities satisfied by the βth power of the quantum correlation measures. Taking concurrence of assistance as an example, it further illustrates the significance and advantages of these relations. It also obtains a polygamy relation with equality by considering the one‐to‐group entanglements for any quantum entanglement measures that do not satisfy the polygamy relations. It demonstrates that such relations for tripartite states can be generalized to multipartite systems.
Performance‐adjustable PPC policies for spacecraft attitude‐orbit coupled tracking under event‐triggered sampling
Authors: Niu Zhaoxiang , Dai Ming‐Zhe , Gao Junyang , Wei Caisheng , Zhang Chengxi
Published: September 2023

This paper investigates a performance‐adjustable prescribed performance control (PPC) policy under event‐triggered sampling for spacecraft attitude‐orbit coupled tracking with consideration of limited communications and performance constraints. Firstly, a logarithmic barrier Lyapunov function is introduced to derive the attitude‐orbit coupled tracking controller with guaranteed transient and steady‐state behaviors by applying the PPC algorithm. Then, to reduce the burden of the signal transmission under limited communications, the event‐triggered mechanism is applied to determine when the above attitude‐orbit coupled tracking controller updates. Furthermore, an indirect adaptive method with less computation that does not involve complex regression matrices or neural networks is designed to resist external disturbances. Compared with the traditional spacecraft control policies, the proposed strategy fully considers the state convergence performance, sampling performance, and calculation performance. The proposed one here can arbitrarily adjust the sampling performance and state convergence performance in an excellent trade‐off. Finally, a group of illustrative examples is organized to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control policy.
Expansive, positive changes to fish habitat diversity following the formation of a valley plug in a degraded desert river
Authors: Remiszewski Tansy T. , Budy Phaedra , Macfarlane William W.
Published: September 2023

Widespread hydrologic alterations have simplified in‐stream habitats in rivers globally, driving population declines and extirpations of many native fishes. Here, we examine how rapid geomorphic change in a historically degraded desert river has influenced habitat diversification and ecosystem persistence. In 2010, a large reach of the degraded and simplified lower San Rafael River (SRR), Utah, was impacted by the formation of a valley plug and began to shift from a homogenous, single‐thread channel to a complex, multi‐threaded riverscape. We combined field measurements and drone‐collected imagery to document changes in fish habitat due to the valley plug. Our results demonstrate that in 2021, the affected reach was more diverse than any other stream reach along the SRR, containing 641% more diverse habitat (e.g., pools, riffles, and backwaters) than what was measured in 2015. The plug reach also retained water for periods beyond what was expected during seasonal drying, with the total extent of inundation within the riverscape increasing by over 2800%. Since the formation of the valley plug, riparian habitat has increased by 230% and channel networks have expanded to more than 50 distinct channels throughout the zone of influence. Our results provide evidence of successful self‐restoration in a formerly highly degraded reach of desert river, and encourage new methods of desert river restoration. We aim to inform the use of large‐scale, disruptive restoration actions like intentional channel occlusions, with the goal of mitigating the impacts of simplification and increasing habitat persistence in the face of exacerbated aridity in the desert Southwest.
Univariate exploratory data analysis of satellite telemetry
Authors: Praveen Mv Ramachandra , Choudhury Sushabhan , Kuchhal Piyush , Singh Rajesh , Pandey Purnendu Shekhar , Galletta Antonino
Published: September 2023

Large low Earth orbit satellite constellations require machine learning methods for enabling autonomy in health keeping of the satellites. Autonomy in health keeping entail's fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration. However, prior to model building, it becomes imperative to conduct exploratory data analysis of the data to gain an intuition of data and to decide the best model. Univariate exploratory data analysis has been carried out on a BUS CURRENT sensor of electrical power system of a low Earth orbit satellite to gain an understanding of data. Various aspects of data like presence of outliers, sampling frequency, missing values, comparison of imputation methods to fill missing values seasonality and trend analysis, stationarity test on data, rolling mean and autocorrelation and partial auto correlation plots have been made, and a detailed statistical analysis of results has been conducted.
Computer‐Assisted Identification of Inhibitor with Novel Pharmacophore Targeting First Kringle Domain of Hepatocyte Growth Factor
Authors: Taira Junichi , Yamaguchi Miho , Tashiro Anju , Kida Asuka , Suzuki Ko , Sakai Katsuya , Matsumoto Kunio , Aoki Shunsuke
Published: September 2023

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) participates in multiple biological and pathogenic processes, such as liver regeneration, wound healing, and tumor metastasis. These biological effects are initiated by its binding to Met, so it is anticipated that compounds that can disturb the HGF‐Met association could become novel modulating drugs targeting HGF and its related signaling. In this study, a chemical library composed of 154,118 compounds was screened by in silico structure‐based drug screening (SBDS) techniques to obtain HGF‐targeting compound. X‐ray structural data of the N‐terminal and first kringle domains of HGF (PDBid: 5CS9) were analyzed using the binding energy of known inhibitors and false positive inhibitors. The top five candidate compounds, identified by the DOCK‐GOLD combined screening program, were subjected to cell‐based ELISA assay to confirm experimentally these inhibitory activity on Met activation. The present in silico SBDS study enabled identification of compound which inhibits HGF‐promoted Met phosphorylation (compound 2). The present study also suggested that Trp188/Tyr198 in HGF are essential for compound 2 binding as well as Met activation.
Strategies for Advanced Supercapacitors Based on 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides: From Material Design to Device Setup
Authors: Song Zhifan , Wang Zumin , Yu Ranbo
Published: September 2023

Recently, the development of new materials and devices has become the main research focus in the field of energy. Supercapacitors (SCs) have attracted significant attention due to their high power density, fast charge/discharge rate, and excellent cycling stability. With a lamellar structure, 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDs) emerge as electrode materials for SCs. Although many 2D TMDs with excellent energy storage capability have been reported, further optimization of electrode materials and devices is still needed for competitive electrochemical performance. Previous reviews have focused on the performance of 2D TMDs as electrode materials in SCs, especially on their modification. Herein, the effects of element doping, morphology, structure and phase, composite, hybrid configuration, and electrolyte are emphatically discussed on the overall performance of 2D TMDs‐based SCs from the perspective of device optimization. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of 2D TMDs‐based SCs in the field are highlighted, and personal perspectives on methods and ideas for high‐performance energy storage devices are provided.
Optimal investment in health when lifetime is stochastic, or, rational agents do not often follow health recommendations
Authors: Bolin Kristian , Caputo Michael R.
Published: September 2023

There exists considerable evidence that people do not often follow the health recommendations issued by health authorities. It might be tempting to think that not following health recommendations is a sign of irrationality and that behavioral considerations are required in order to explain such behavior. Despite this temptation, and using a general health‐capital model which accounts for the consumption of many goods, a stock of health and investment in it, as well as an agent's random lifetime and accumulation of wealth, it is shown that such seemingly irrational decisions are in fact consistent with rational, forward‐looking, decision making. Moreover, it is shown, among other things, that the prototypical assumptions employed in the literature imply that rational agents invest more in their health at each point in time than that which minimizes the conditional probability of dying at that point in time, and thus lack sufficient explanatory reach.
Ultrahigh Bulk Photovoltaic Effect Responsivity in Thin Films: Unexpected Behavior in a Classic Ferroelectric Material
Authors: Shafir Or , Bennett-Jackson Andrew L. , Will-Cole Alexandria R , Samanta Atanu , Chen Dongfang , Podpirka Adrian , Burger Aaron , Wu Liyan , Sosa Eduardo Lupi , Martin Lane W. , Spanier Jonathan E. , Grinberg Ilya
Published: September 2023

The bulk photovoltaic effect (BPE) has drawn considerable attention due to its ability to generate photovoltages above the bandgap and reports of highly enhanced photovoltaic current when using nanoscale absorbers or nanoscale electrodes, which, however, do not lend themselves to practical, scalable implementation. Herein, it is shown that a strikingly high BPE photoresponse can be achieved in an ordinary thin‐film configuration merely by tuning fundamental ferroelectric properties. Nonmonotonic dependence of the responsivity (RSC) on the ferroelectric polarization is observed and at the optimal value of the film polarization, a more than three orders of magnitude increase in the RSC from the bulk BaTiO3 value is obtained, reaching RSC close to 10−2 A W−1, the highest value reported to date for the archetypical ferroelectric BaTiO3 films. Results challenge the applicability of standard first‐principles‐based descriptions of BPE to thin films and the inherent weakness of BPE in ferroelectric thin films.
Regulating Lewis Acid–Base Interaction in Poly (ethylene oxide)‐Based Electrolyte to Enhance the Cycling Stability of Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Zhang Chengkun , Zhang Shiyu , Zhang Yinggan , Wu Xiaoyu , Lin Liang , Hu Xinchao , Wang Laisen , Lin Jie , Sa Baisheng , Wei Guoying , Peng Dong-Liang , Xie Qingshui
Published: September 2023

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) offer an outstanding choice because of their lightweight, flexibility, and excellent thin‐film forming ability. However, the low ionic conductivity and poor lithium ion transfer number (tLi+) restrict its application in all‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). Herein, UIO66‐X metal‐organic frameworks with controllable Lewis basicity, acidity, or neutrality functional groups are synthesized successfully and then incorporated into the poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix to fabricate SPE. The influence of different organic ligands on the interface interaction between PEO and LiTFSI is investigated by solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectoscopy and Raman tests, as well as density functional theory calculations. The Lewis acidity group plays a key role in enhancing the ionic conductivity and tLi+. As a result, the constructed Li–Li symmetrical cells retain stable cycling for 2300 h and the LiFePO4‐based ASSLBs deliver outstanding electrochemical properties with 147 mAh g−1 of reversible capacity after 500 cycles at 1C and 60 °C, 131 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at 0.1C and 30 °C. The fabricated SPEs are self‐standing and flexible with good mechanical stability, demonstrating the great potential for practical application. The results can guide choosing the inorganic filler to prepare high‐performance SPE.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review
Authors: Norero Blanca , Bosch Jaume , Berzigotti Annalisa , Rodrigues Susana G.
Published: September 2023

Background/Aims

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may improve access to curative therapies, treat portal hypertension (PH)‐related complications without worsening liver function, and increase overall survival. Data on the efficacy and safety of TIPS to treat PH complications in HCC patients, as well as the HCC treatment response, were evaluated.

Methods

Studies reporting efficacy in controlling bleeding/ascites or response to HCC therapy, safety, and survival in patients with HCC and TIPS were searched systematically on PubMed and Embase. An extraction of articles using predefined data fields and quality indicators was used.

Results

We selected 19 studies and found 937 patients treated for ascites/bleeding and 177 evaluating HCC treatment response. Over half were under 5 cm and solitary lesions, and most studies included tumours with portal vein thrombosis. Regarding PH studies, TIPS resolved bleeding/ascites in >60% of patients, more effective for bleeding. There were no lethal complications reported and procedural bleeding occurred in <5%. Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 15%–30% within three months. In the HCC treatment‐response studies, major complication rates were low with no mortality. In the studies that evaluated the response to transarterial chemoembolization, complete response rate of patients with TIPS varied from 16% to 75%. Liver transplantation rate varied from 8% to 80%, with >40% rate in half of the studies.

Conclusions

In the published studies, TIPS is effective in treating PH complications in patients with HCC. Prospective studies on TIPS placement in patients with HCC are urgently needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TIPS in this setting.
Spinors in (Anti-)de Sitter Space
Authors: Schaub Vladimir
Published: September 2023

Abstract

We explore analytical aspects of correlators involving Dirac spinors in d + 1-dimensional de Sitter space. Adapting the formalism of Sleight and Taronna, we show how to relate processes involving fermions in the in-in formalism to equivalent Witten diagrams in (complexified) Euclidean anti-de Sitter space. We exemplify the method for a fermion-exchange diagram. We establish a positive spectral decomposition over the principal series of the Wightman function of two spinors, showing the consequences of unitarity.
On the master space for brane brick models
Authors: Kho Minsung , Seong Rak-Kyeong
Published: September 2023

Abstract

We systematically study the master space of brane brick models that represent a large class of 2d (0, 2) quiver gauge theories. These 2d (0, 2) theories are worldvolume theories of D1-branes that probe singular toric Calabi-Yau 4-folds. The master space is the freely generated space of chiral fields subject to the J- and E-terms and the non-abelian part of the gauge symmetry. We investigate several properties of the master space for abelian brane brick models with U(1) gauge groups. For example, we calculate the Hilbert series, which allows us by using the plethystic programme to identify the generators and defining relations of the master space. By studying several explicit examples, we also show that the Hilbert series of the master space can be expressed in terms of characters of irreducible representations of the full global symmetry of the master space.
Integument colouration and circulating carotenoids in relation to urbanisation in Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus)
Authors: Sumasgutner Petra , Nilles Tom , Hykollari Alba , de Chapa Manuela Merling , Isaksson Caroline , Hochleitner Lukas , Renner Swen , Fusani Leonida
Published: September 2023

Urbanisation is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time, yet we still lack an integrative understanding of how cities affect behaviour, physiology and parasite susceptibility of free-living organisms. In this study, we focus on carotenoids, strictly dietary micronutrients that can either be used as yellow-red pigments, for integument colouration (signalling function), or as antioxidants, to strengthen the immune system (physiological function) in an urban predator, the Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Kestrels are specialised vole hunters but shift to avian prey in cities where diurnal rodents are not sufficiently available. This different foraging strategy might determine the quantity of carotenoids available. We measured integument colouration, circulating carotenoids in the blood and ectoparasite burden in kestrels along an urban gradient. Our results showed that nestlings that were raised in more urbanised areas displayed, unrelated to their ectoparasite burden, a paler integument colouration. Paler colours were furthermore associated with a lower concentration of circulating carotenoids. These findings support the hypothesis that the entire urban food web is carotenoid deprived and only prey of low quality with low carotenoid content is available (e.g. fewer carotenoids in urban trees, insects, small birds and finally kestrels). The alternative hypothesis that nestlings allocate carotenoids to reduce physiological stress and/or to cope with parasites rather than invest into colouration could not be supported. Our study adds to existing evidence that urban stressors negatively affect carotenoid production in urban areas, a deficiency that dissipate into higher trophic levels.
Cut elimination by unthreading
Authors: Pulcini Gabriele
Published: September 2023

We provide a non-Gentzen, though fully syntactical, cut-elimination algorithm for classical propositional logic. The designed procedure is implemented on $$\textsf{GS4}$$

GS
4

, the one-sided version of Kleene’s sequent system $$\textsf{G4}$$

G
4

. The algorithm here proposed proves to be more ‘dexterous’ than other, more traditional, Gentzen-style techniques as the size of proofs decreases at each step of reduction. As a corollary result, we show that analyticity always guarantees minimality of the size of $$\textsf{GS4}$$

GS
4

-proofs.
Classification of solutions to $$-\Delta u={u^{-\gamma }}$$ in the half-space
Authors: Montoro Luigi , Muglia Luigi , Sciunzi Berardino
Published: September 2023

We provide a classification result for positive solutions to $$-\Delta u=\frac{1}{u^\gamma }$$

-
Δ
u
=

1

u
γ

in the half space, under zero Dirichlet boundary condition.
A characterization of the individual maximum and anti-maximum principle
Authors: Arora Sahiba , Glück Jochen
Published: September 2023

Abstract approaches to maximum and anti-maximum principles for differential operators typically rely on the condition that all vectors in the domain of the operator are dominated by the leading eigenfunction of the operator. We study the necessity of this condition. In particular, we show that under a number of natural assumptions, so-called individual versions of both the maximum and the anti-maximum principle simultaneously hold if and only if the aforementioned domination condition is satisfied. Consequently, we are able to show that a variety of concrete differential operators do not satisfy an anti-maximum principle.
GK-1 effectively reduces angiogenesis and prevents T cell exhaustion in a breast cancer murine experimental model
Authors: Hernández-Aceves Juan A. , Cervantes-Torres Jacquelynne , Torres-García Diana , Zuñiga-Flores Francisco J. , Patiño-Chávez Osiris J. , Peña Agudelo Jorge A. , Aguayo-Flores José Eduardo , Garfias Yonathan , Montero-León Laura , Romero-Romero Laura , Pérez-Torres Armando , Fragoso Gladis , Sciutto Edda
Published: September 2023

Breast cancer is the leading malignancy in women worldwide, both in terms of incidence and mortality. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the type with the worst clinical outcomes and with fewer therapeutic options than other types of breast cancer. GK-1 is a peptide that in the experimental model of the metastatic 4T1 breast cancer has demonstrated anti-tumor and anti-metastatic properties. Herein, GK-1 (5 mg/kg, i.v.) weekly administrated not only decreases tumor growth and the number of lung macro-metastases but also lung and lymph nodes micro-metastases. Histological analysis reveals that GK-1 reduced 57% of the intra-tumor vascular areas, diminished the leukemoid reaction's progression, and the spleens' weight and length. A significant reduction in VEGF-C, SDF-1, angiopoietin-2, and endothelin-1 angiogenic factors was induced. Moreover, GK-1 prevents T cell exhaustion in the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) decreasing PD-1 expression. It also increased IFN-γ and granzyme-B expression and the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ TILs cells against tumor cells. All these features were found to be associated with a better antitumor response and prognosis. Altogether, these results reinforce the potential of GK-1 to improve the clinical outcome of triple-negative breast cancer immunotherapy. Translation research is ongoing towards its evaluation in humans.
Marine diets of anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in Svalbard, Norway
Authors: Bengtsson Olof , Lydersen Christian , Christensen Guttorm , Węsławski Jan Marcin , Kovacs Kit M.
Published: September 2023

During summer, native anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and the alien species pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) now coexist in marine environments in Svalbard, following the introduction of the latter in the Barents Region. To investigate potential dietary competition between these two salmonid species, stomach contents from Arctic char (n = 301) and pink salmon (n = 28) were sampled from different areas within the archipelago. The most important prey in terms of biomass for both salmonid species were amphipods; Themisto libellula (B = 26.0%) for Arctic char and Onisimus litoralis (B = 35.0%) for pink salmon. Pianka’s niche overlap revealed that dietary overlap between the two species was moderately high (Oobs = 0.59); both species had strong associations with intertidal invertebrates in areas where direct comparisons were possible (Kongsfjorden/Krossfjorden). However, both salmonid species did also eat some fish, with Arctic char consuming more offshore pelagic fish, while the small number of fish eaten by pink salmon were primarily coastal demersal fish species. Arctic char was a more generalist feeder, while pink salmon was more of a dietary specialist. Furthermore, the diet composition of the Arctic char consisted of 32.9% Atlantic prey while the pink salmon, surprisingly, ate only Arctic species, likely due to their tightly coastal feeding habits. Even though the sample size for pink salmon was low, this study contributes new insights into salmonid diets in Svalbard and the potential for introduced species to compete with native Arctic endemics, particularly in the expected warmer Arctic of the future.
Heat-evolved microalgal symbionts increase thermal bleaching tolerance of coral juveniles without a trade-off against growth
Authors: Quigley Kate M. , Alvarez-Roa Carlos , Raina Jean-Baptiste , Pernice Mathieu , van Oppen Madeleine J. H.
Published: September 2023

Global climate change is threatening the persistence of coral reefs as associated summer heatwaves trigger the loss of microalgal endosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) from the coral tissues, or coral bleaching. We infected aposymbiotic juveniles of the coral Acropora tenuis with either wildtype (WT10) or heat-evolved (SS1 or SS8) Symbiodiniaceae strains Cladocopium proliferum (formerly referred to as Cladocopium goreaui and Cladocopium C1acro). After 10 months at 27 °C, SS8-juveniles were 2 × larger than SS1- or WT10-juveniles. In response to a simulated heatwave (31 °C for 41 days), the WT10-juveniles bleached and showed a decline in respiration while cell densities and respiration in both SS-juvenile groups remained unchanged compared to the controls. These results reveal that some heat-evolved strains can increase the bleaching tolerance of juvenile corals without a trade-off against growth. This response is opposite to the lower nutrient provisioning often reported for naturally thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae (e.g. genus Durusdinium), thereby offering enhanced fitness to the host without the ecological consequences of diminished growth.
Strongyloidiasis in humans and dogs in Southern Italy: an observational study
Authors: Paradies Paola , Digiaro Serena , Colella Antonella , Greco Beatrice , Recchia Alessandra , Prato Marco Giuseppe , Mazzi Cristina , Losurdo Giuseppe , Di Leo Alfredo , Formenti Fabio , Buonfrate Dora
Published: September 2023

Strongyloidiasis is a clinical issue both in humans and in dogs. Moreover, there are concerns about its zoonotic potential. We aimed to explore Strongyloides stercoralis epidemiology in Southern Italy in humans and dogs sharing the same environment in three different settings: (1) kennels (group K); (2) livestock farms (group L) and (3) agricultural farms (group A). For humans, a commercial ELISA test was used for screening. RT-PCR on faecal samples was done for people testing positive or equivocal at serology. On dog’s faecal samples, Baermann test and RT-PCR were performed. A total of 145 dogs and 139 persons were tested. Based on faecal tests in dogs and serology in humans, a S. stercoralis positivity of 4.1% and 6.5% was revealed, respectively. The sites where cases were found were different for animals and humans. In dogs the highest positivity was in group K (6.7% against 2% and 0% in L and A). Differently, in humans the proportion of positive results was similar between the groups (p = 0.883). Fifty percent (3/6) of positive dogs were healthy; the other dogs presented weight loss and/or diarrhoea. ELISA-positive persons (n=9) were all in health, but abdominal pain (37.5%), urticaria (22.2%) and asthma (22.2%) were reported, resolving after treatment with oral ivermectin 200 μg/kg. RT-PCR performed on 13 human faecal samples resulted negative. These findings suggest that strongyloidiasis is present in humans and dogs in Southern Italy, and screening in larger cohorts would be needed for more accurate estimates.
One size doesn’t fit all: Attitudes towards work modify the relation between parental leave length and postpartum depression
Authors: Chang Christine Y. , Liu Sabrina R. , Glynn Laura M.
Published: September 2023

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental leave length and maternal depressive symptoms at six- and twelve-months postpartum and whether this relation was influenced by women’s attitudes towards leave, whether leave was paid or unpaid, and the reason they returned to work. The sample included 115 working women recruited during pregnancy as part of a larger longitudinal study. Analyses revealed that maternal attitudes toward leave influenced the association between leave length and depressive symptoms. Specifically, longer leaves were associated with increased depressive symptoms for women who missed their previous activities at work. Furthermore, women who missed work and had leave for 16 weeks or more, exhibited higher depressive symptoms at six- and twelve-months. Last, results also indicated that women who returned to work solely for monetary reasons exhibited more depressive symptoms at six-months postpartum than those who returned to work for other reasons. This study is among the first to show that women’s attitudes towards parental leave and their individual reasons for returning to work are important factors to consider that may have potential implications for parental leave policies.
General and local predictors of mandibular cortical bone morphology in adult females and males: the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study
Authors: Teterina Anna , Niratisairak Sanyalak , Morseth Bente , Bolstad Napat
Published: September 2023

Objectives

To analyze factors predicting mandibular cortical width (MCW) and mandibular cortical index (MCI) in adult females and males.

Material and methods

Data on 427 females and 335 males aged 40–84 from The Tromsø study: Tromsø7 were used. T-score, age, menopausal status (for females), remaining teeth, and periodontal status were analyzed in linear and logistic regression analyses as predictors of MCW and MCI, respectively.

Results

T-score, age, and the number of remaining teeth significantly predicted MCW in females but not males. Standardized β coefficients were 0.286, −0.231, and 0.131, respectively. The linear regression model explained 24% of MCW variation in females. MCI in females was significantly predicted by T-score, age, and remaining teeth with the Wald values of 9.65, 6.17, and 5.83, respectively. The logistic regression model explained 16.3−23% of the variation in MCI in females. In males, T-score was the only significant predictor of the eroded cortex, and the logistic model explained only 4.3–5.8% of the variation in MCI.

Conclusions

The T-score demonstrated a stronger relationship with MCW and MCI than other factors in females, which supports the usefulness of those indices for osteoporosis screening. Conversely, the T-score exhibited no association with MCW and remained the only significant predictor of MCI in males, yet to a lesser extent than in females.

Clinical relevance

Understanding factors affecting mandibular cortical morphology is essential for further investigations of MCW and MCI usefulness for osteoporosis screening in females and males.
Candidate Key Proteins in Tinnitus: A Bioinformatic Study of Synaptic Transmission in Spiral Ganglion Neurons
Authors: Gross Johann , Knipper Marlies , Mazurek Birgit
Published: September 2023

To study key proteins associated with changes in synaptic transmission in the spiral ganglion in tinnitus, we build three gene lists from the GeneCard database: 1. Perception of sound (PoS), 2. Acoustic stimulation (AcouStim), and 3. Tinnitus (Tin). Enrichment analysis by the DAVID database resulted in similar Gene Ontology (GO) terms for cellular components in all gene lists, reflecting synaptic structures known to be involved in auditory processing. The STRING protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and the Cytoscape data analyzer were used to identify the top two high-degree proteins (HDPs) and their high-score interaction proteins (HSIPs) identified by the combined score (CS) of the corresponding edges. The top two protein pairs (key proteins) for the PoS are BDNF-GDNF and OTOF-CACNA1D and for the AcouStim process BDNF-NTRK2 and TH-CALB1. The Tin process showed BDNF and NGF as HDPs, with high-score interactions with NTRK1 and NGFR at a comparable level. Compared to the PoS and AcouStim process, the number of HSIPs of key proteins (CS > 90. percentile) increases strongly in Tin. In the PoS and AcouStim networks, BDNF receptor signaling is the dominant pathway, and in the Tin network, the NGF-signaling pathway is of similar importance. Key proteins and their HSIPs are good indicators of biological processes and of signaling pathways characteristic for the normal hearing on the one hand and tinnitus on the other.

Graphical Abstract
A matheuristic approach for the family traveling salesman problem
Authors: Nourmohammadzadeh Abtin , Sarhani Malek , Voß Stefan
Published: September 2023

In the family traveling salesman problem (FTSP), there is a set of cities which are divided into a number of clusters called families. The salesman has to find a shortest possible tour visiting a specific number of cities from each of the families without any restriction of visiting one family before starting the visit of another one. In this work, the general concept of the Partial OPtimization Metaheuristic Under Special Intensification Conditions is linked with the exact optimization by a classical solver using a mathematical programming formulation for the FTSP to develop a matheuristic. Moreover, a genetic and a simulated annealing algorithm are used as metaheuristics embedded in the approach. The method is examined on a set of benchmark instances and its performance is favorably compared with a state-of-the-art approach from literature. Moreover, a careful analysis of the specific components of the approach is undertaken to provide insights into the impact of their interplay.
Originality, influence, and success: a model of creative style
Authors: Borowiecki Karol Jan , Mauri Caterina Adelaide
Published: September 2023

Creative workers strive to achieve success and influence by producing original output. In this paper we define and measure originality and influence, based on a new model of style. We apply the methodology to Western classical music composed since the 15th century, and test it using extensive data on the content of musical compositions, popular success, and biographical information. We find that more original composers tend to be more influential upon the work of their later peers and more successful with present-day audiences. A positive association between originality and influence also holds across works by a given composer.
Applications of the Wide Reflective Equilibrium
Authors: Helms Kevin
Published: September 2023

The wide reflective equilibrium (WRE) is considered the most important method of ethical justification and is intensively discussed in the scientific community. However, it is unclear to what extent it is actually applied in the ethical literature. The objective of this paper is to fill this gap by providing a critical overview of its explicit applications. Explicit application refers to studies that, following Daniels’ definition, contain three levels, name their elements, and provide a connection between the levels. Philosophers Index, ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for studies that explicitly used the WRE method and were written in German or English. All topics, disciplines, and publication forms were considered. Nineteen studies were found in which the WRE was applied 23 times. In the 23 applications, 50 equilibria were discussed, and 19 times it was reported that an equilibrium state was reached. The authors applied the WRE in various disciplines, for different purposes, and to diverse topics. The applications themselves differed considerably regarding the application procedure and the scope. Differences can be seen in particular with regard to the presentation of the adjustment process and the WRE criteria used. The results indicate that the WRE can be successfully applied, but the number of explicit applications is still very low. Further research is needed to develop the WRE into an established method of justification. In particular, standards are needed for adjustment and for WRE criteria.
Land use change rather than surrounding vegetation affects fungal endophyte assemblages in the African wild olive
Authors: Ngubane Nombuso P. , Dreyer Leanne L. , Slippers Bernard , Kemler Martin , Witfeld Frederick , Begerow Dominik , Brachmann Andreas , Roets Francois
Published: September 2023

Context

Land use change can significantly affect plant-fungal interactions.

Objectives

We assessed how fungal endophytes within African wild olive (Olea europaeasubsp.cuspidata) twigs are influenced by different levels of land use change and differences in surrounding vegetation types.

Methods

Twigs were sampled in the Western Cape Province (South Africa) and their fungal endophyte assemblages were characterised using culture-independent DNA metabarcoding. We assessed the effects of land use change (natural, semi-natural and planted (completely transformed)) and differences in surrounding vegetation types (grasses/low-growing plants versus shrubs/trees versus other olives) using fungal endophyte alpha and beta diversity measures. Co-occurrence networks were constructed to assess assemblage connectivity under different scenarios and to identify OTUs of potential ecological significance.

Results

OTU richness, but not abundance, was significantly influenced by both land use change and differences in the surrounding vegetation types. Planted African olives and those surrounded by heterospecific trees harboured the highest OTU richness. Only levels of land use change significantly influenced fungal endophyte assemblage composition. Specifically, fungal assemblages from natural habitats were distinct from those in planted and semi-natural habitats, which were similar to each other. Co-occurrence network analyses revealed that cohesive and species rich networks could only be maintained within the natural habitats.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that although the African olive is widespread, the identity and composition of their associated fungal assemblages are particularly sensitive to land use change. This study highlights the importance of conserving natural habitats, not just for the plants, but also for the maintenance of their associated fungal endophytes.
Investigating the Role of Race and Stressful Life Events on the Smoking Patterns of Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States: A Multistate Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Phase 8 (2016–2018) Analysis
Authors: Yakubu Rauta Aver , Ajayi Kobi V. , Dhaurali Shubhecchha , Carvalho Keri , Kheyfets Anna , Lawrence Blessing Chidiuto , Amutah-Onukagha Ndidiamaka
Published: September 2023

Objective

To examine the smoking patterns of women who experienced stressful life events and the impact of racial disparities on the relationship between stressful life events, and prenatal/ postpartum smoking.

Methods

The study analyzed data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Phase 8 (2016–2018) survey across five states (CT, LA, MA, MO, WI). Four stressful life event categories were created using thirteen affiliated questions: financial, trauma, partner, and emotional. We assessed: 1) the association between smoking and stressful life events, 2) the impact of race on the relation between smoking and stressful life events, and 3) the long-term effects of smoking on health by assessing the association between smoking and maternal morbidity. Bivariate statistics and multivariate Poisson regression models were conducted.

Results

A total of 24,209 women from five states were included. 8.9% of respondents reported smoking during pregnancy, and 12.7% reported smoking postpartum. There was a significant association between all stressful life events and smoking. Trauma stressful life event had the strongest association with smoking during pregnancy (adjusted PR=2.01; CI: 1.79-2.27) and postpartum (adjusted PR= 1.80; CI: 1.64-1.98). Race and stressful life event interaction effects on smoking had varied significant findings, but at least one racial/ ethnic minority group (Black, Hispanic, Asian) had a higher smoking prevalence than non-Hispanic White per stressful life event category. Lastly, the prevalence of maternal morbidity was higher for smoking during pregnancy (adjusted PR= 1.28; CI: 1.19-1.38) and postpartum (adjusted PR= 1.30; CI: 1.22-1.38) compared to no smoking.

Conclusions for Practice

Culturally congruent, multi-disciplinary care teams are needed to address both clinical and social needs to reduce stressful life events and smoking. Screenings for stress should be standardized with a referral system in place to provide ongoing support.
A New Separation Index and Classification Techniques Based on Shannon Entropy
Authors: Navarro Jorge , Buono Francesco , Arevalillo Jorge M.
Published: September 2023

The purpose is to use Shannon entropy measures to develop classification techniques and an index which estimates the separation of the groups in a finite mixture model. These measures can be applied to machine learning techniques such as discriminant analysis, cluster analysis, exploratory data analysis, etc. If we know the number of groups and we have training samples from each group (supervised learning) the index is used to measure the separation of the groups. Here some entropy measures are used to classify new individuals in one of these groups. If we are not sure about the number of groups (unsupervised learning), the index can be used to determine the optimal number of groups from an entropy (information/uncertainty) criterion. It can also be used to determine the best variables in order to separate the groups. In all the cases we assume that we have absolutely continuous random variables and we use the Shannon entropy based on the probability density function. Theoretical, parametric and non-parametric techniques are proposed to get approximations of these entropy measures in practice. An application to gene selection in a colon cancer discrimination study with a lot of variables is provided as well.
The Ethics of Online Controlled Experiments (A/B Testing)
Authors: Polonioli Andrea , Ghioni Riccardo , Greco Ciro , Juneja Prathm , Tagliabue Jacopo , Watson David , Floridi Luciano
Published: September 2023

Online controlled experiments, also known as A/B tests, have become ubiquitous. While many practical challenges in running experiments at scale have been thoroughly discussed, the ethical dimension of A/B testing has been neglected. This article fills this gap in the literature by introducing a new, soft ethics and governance framework that explicitly recognizes how the rise of an experimentation culture in industry settings brings not only unprecedented opportunities to businesses but also significant responsibilities. More precisely, the article (a) introduces a set of principles to encourage ethical and responsible experimentation to protect users, customers, and society; (b) argues that ensuring compliance with the proposed principles is a complex challenge unlikely to be addressed by resorting to a one-solution response; (c) discusses the relevance and effectiveness of several mechanisms and policies in educating, governing, and incentivizing companies conducting online controlled experiments; and (d) offers a list of prompting questions specifically designed to help and empower practitioners by stimulating specific ethical deliberations and facilitating coordination among different groups of stakeholders.
Two grammars of A’ingae glottalization: A case for Cophonologies by Phase
Authors: Dąbkowski Maksymilian
Published: September 2023

This paper describes and analyzes phonological processes pertinent to the glottal stop in A’ingae (or Cofán, iso 639-3: ). The operations which the glottal stops undergo and trigger reveal an interaction of two morphophonological parameters: stratum and stress dominance. First, verbal suffixes are organized in two morphophonological domains, or strata. Within the inner domain, glottal stops affect stress placement, which I analyze as an interaction with foot structure. In the outer domain, glottal stops do not have any effects on stress. Second, some verbal suffixes delete stress (i. e. they are dominant). Dominance is unpredictable and independent of the suffix’s morphophonological domain, but dominance and the phonological domain interact in a non-trivial way: only inner dominant suffixes delete glottalization. To account for the A’ingae data, I adopt Cophonologies by Phase (Sande et al. 2020), which (i) models phonological stratification while (ii) allowing for morpheme-specific phonological idiosyncrasies, which (iii) interact with the phonological grammar of their stratum. Stress deletion triggered by the dominant suffixes is modeled with AntiFaithfulness (Alderete 1999, 2001). Antifaithfulness to a metrical foot entails antifaithfulness to its features (glottalization). This captures the fact that only the inner dominant suffixes delete glottal stops.
Anaphora and agreement in the Turkish DP
Authors: Paparounas Lefteris , Akkuş Faruk
Published: September 2023

Whether the operation Agree should be taken to underlie anaphoric binding has been the topic of much recent debate. In this paper, we provide a novel empirical argument in favor of the role of ϕ-features and Agree in binding. The argument revolves around the intimate relationship between agreement and anaphora in the Turkish nominal domain, where certain complex pronominals can agree only if they locally bind an anaphor or bound pronoun. We argue that these facts can be readily understood if ϕ-features are crucially implicated in the syntactic derivation of binding. At the same time, we argue that not all binding can be reduced to Agree, based on data from Turkish PPs.
Dynamic rainfall thresholds for landslide early warning in Progo Catchment, Java, Indonesia
Authors: Satyaningsih Ratna , Jetten Victor , Ettema Janneke , Sopaheluwakan Ardhasena , Lombardo Luigi , Nuryanto Danang Eko
Published: September 2023

This study aims to derive and evaluate new empirical rainfall thresholds as the basis for landslide early warning in Progo Catchment, Indonesia, using high-resolution rainfall datasets. Although attempts have been made to determine such thresholds for regions in Indonesia, they used coarse-resolution data and fixed rainfall duration that might not reflect the characteristics of rainfall events that induced the landslides. Therefore, we evaluated gauge-adjusted global satellite mapping of precipitation (GSMaP-GNRT) and bias-corrected climate prediction center morphing method (CMORPH-CRT) hourly rainfall estimates against measurements at rainfall stations. Based on this evaluation, a minimum rainfall of 0.2 mm/h was used to identify rain events, in addition to a minimum of 24 h of consecutive no-rain to separate two rainfall events. Rainfall thresholds were determined at various levels of non-exceedance probability, using accumulated and duration of rainfall events corresponding to 213 landslide occurrences from 2012 to 2021 compiled in this study. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed that thresholds based on rainfall station data, GSMaP-GNRT, and CMORPH-CRT resulted in area under ROC curve values of 0.72, 0.73, and 0.64, respectively. This result indicates that the performance of high-resolution satellite-derived data is comparable to that of ground observations in the Progo Catchment. However, GSMaP-GNRT outperformed CMORPH-CRT in discriminating the occurrence/non-occurrence of landslide-triggering rainfall events. For early warning purposes, the rainfall threshold is selected based on the probability exlevel at which the threshold maximizes the true skill score, i.e., at 10% if based on station data, or at 20% if based on GSMaP-GNRT.