bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of anther thermotolerance genes by the integration of linkage and association analysis in maize
Authors: Feng Yijian , Li Xinlong , Qin Yongtian , Li Yibo , Yang Zeyuan , Xiong Xuehang , Wan Jiong , Qiu Meng , Hou Qiuchan , Zhang Zhanhui , Guo Zhanyong , Zhang Xuehai , Niu Jishan , Zhou Qingqian , Tang Jihua , Fu Zhiyuan
Published: June 2024

Maize is one of the world's most important staple crops, yet its production is increasingly threatened by the rising frequency of high‐temperature stress (HTS). To investigate the genetic basis of anther thermotolerance under field conditions, we performed linkage and association analysis to identify HTS response quantitative trait loci (QTL) using three recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations and an association panel containing 375 diverse maize inbred lines. These analyses resulted in the identification of 16 co‐located large QTL intervals. Among the 37 candidate genes identified in these QTL intervals, five have rice or Arabidopsis homologs known to influence pollen and filament development. Notably, one of the candidate genes, ZmDUP707, has been subject to selection pressure during breeding. Its expression is suppressed by HTS, leading to pollen abortion and barren seeds. We also identified several additional candidate genes potentially underly QTL previously reported by other researchers. Taken together, our results provide a pool of valuable candidate genes that could be employed by future breeding programs aiming at enhancing maize HTS tolerance.
The adaptive mechanisms of the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii to long‐term high CO2 and warming
Authors: Zhou Yunyue , Wu Fenghuang , Wu Jiao , Overmans Sebastian , Ye Mengcheng , Xiao Mengting , Peng Baoyi , Xu Leyao , Huang Jiali , Lu Yucong , Wang Yipeng , Liang Shiman , Zhang Hao , Liang Xiao , Zhong Zhirong , Liu Haobin , Ruan Zuoxi , Xia Jianrong , Jin Peng
Published: June 2024

While it is known that increased dissolved CO2 concentrations and rising sea surface temperature (ocean warming) can act interactively on marine phytoplankton, the ultimate molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction on a long‐term evolutionary scale are relatively unexplored. Here, we performed transcriptomics and quantitative metabolomics analyses, along with a physiological trait analysis, on the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii adapted for approximately 3.5 years to warming and/or high CO2 conditions. We show that long‐term warming has more pronounced impacts than elevated CO2 on gene expression, resulting in a greater number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The largest number of DEGs was observed in populations adapted to warming + high CO2, indicating a potential synergistic interaction between these factors. We further identified the metabolic pathways in which the DEGs function and the metabolites with significantly changed abundances. We found that ribosome biosynthesis‐related pathways were upregulated to meet the increased material and energy demands after warming or warming in combination with high CO2. This resulted in the upregulation of energy metabolism pathways such as glycolysis, photorespiration, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, as well as the associated metabolites. These metabolic changes help compensate for reduced photochemical efficiency and photosynthesis. Our study emphasizes that the upregulation of ribosome biosynthesis plays an essential role in facilitating the adaptation of phytoplankton to global ocean changes and elucidates the interactive effects of warming and high CO2 on the adaptation of marine phytoplankton in the context of global change.
Racial/ethnic disparities in chronic wounds: Perspectives on linking upstream factors to health outcomes
Authors: Cavalcante‐Silva Jacqueline , Fantuzzi Giamila , Minshall Richard , Wu Stephanie , Oddo Vanessa M. , Koh Timothy J.
Published: June 2024

This review explores the complex relationship between social determinants of health and the biology of chronic wounds associated with diabetes mellitus, with an emphasis on racial/ethnic disparities. Chronic wounds pose significant healthcare challenges, often leading to severe complications for millions of people in the United States, and disproportionally affect African American, Hispanic, and Native American individuals. Social determinants of health, including economic stability, access to healthcare, education, and environmental conditions, likely influence stress, weathering, and nutrition, collectively shaping vulnerability to chronic diseases, such as obesity and DM, and an elevated risk of chronic wounds and subsequent lower extremity amputations. Here, we review these issues and discuss the urgent need for further research focusing on understanding the mechanisms underlying racial/ethnic disparities in chronic wounds, particularly social deprivation, weathering, and nutrition, to inform interventions to address these disparities.
Review of The Governance, Risk and Compliance Approaches For Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Lau David , Samy Ganthan Narayana , Abdul Rahim Fiza , Maarop Nurazean , Hassan Noor Hafizah
Published: July 2024

Advancement in the domain of big data, computing power and internet of things continue to spur the development of algorithmic models that morphed into artificial intelligence. Notable achievements have been made in the application of artificial intelligence in image recognition, natural language processing, smart farming, personal learning assistance, and autonomous systems. As its adoption increases and proliferates into every sphere of activities, governments, businesses and organizations begin to formulate strategies and measures to facilitate its adoption even as it is still rapidly progressing. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence’s impact to the individual, organizational and societal levels as well as the mechanisms to ensure realization of its benefits and minimization of its drawbacks are actively being pursued by the academic communities. This study endeavours to aggregate the perspectives from multiple review studies to shed light on the approaches pertaining to the governance, risk management and compliance of artificial intelligence. The concepts, elements and practices relevant to the three aspects are presented together with the proposed way forward to facilitate artificial intelligence adoption by the organizations.
Professional Readiness of Secondary Pedagogical School Teachers in the Implementation of Cross-curricular Themes in Teaching
Authors: Kremnická Magdaléna , Rovňanová Lenka
Published: June 2024

The study analyses the issue of professional preparation and education of teachers of selected secondary pedagogical schools in Slovakia in the field of cross-curricular themes and the implementation of their content in teaching with an emphasis on the development of functional literacy and key competencies of students, which are a solid basis for lifelong learning in any area of professional and personal life. The aim of the scientific study is to analyse teachers’ attitudes and opinions on (self-)education and its necessity in the field of implementation of cross-curricular themes into teaching with the intention of developing functional literacy and key competencies of their students. We chose a non-standardised electronic questionnaire of our own design as the research instrument. The research sample consisted of 72 teachers from selected secondary pedagogical schools in Slovakia, 25 to 62 years old. We processed the collected data using Excel, and for quantitative analysis, we used mathematical and statistical methods of univariate and multivariate inductive and descriptive statistics and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test from the IBM SPSS Statistics statistical software toolbox, version 19. Our findings confirmed a significant difference (p-value < 0.05) in the professional preparedness of the participants to implement the cross-curricular theme “Protection of life and health” in their own teaching, with respondents with 15 or more years of teaching experience rating their professional preparedness higher (Mdn = 3; AM = 3.25) than respondents with less than 15 years of experience (Mdn = 2; AM = 2.56). The results further showed that most of the participants in our dataset (26.4%) had received training in the implementation of the cross-curricular theme of “Presentation skills and project development” in the classroom in the past 10 years, and this interest remains with them in the future, as 66.1% of them plan to receive further training in the topic. The lowest number of participants (2.7%) participated in training on the implementation of the cross-curricular themes “Protection of life and health” and “Education for marriage and parenthood”.
A strong FKG inequality for multiple events
Authors: Gladkov Nikita
Published: June 2024

We extend the Fortuin–Kasteleyn–Ginibre (FKG) inequality to cover multiple events with equal pairwise intersections. We then apply this inequality to resolve Kahn's question on positive associated measures, as well as prove new inequalities concerning random graphs and probabilities of connection in Bernoulli percolation.
Radio-astronomical monitoring of active regions in the microwave range in the service of forecasting solar flares
Authors: Popova Elena , Bezrukovs Dmitrijs , Bezrukovs Vladislavs , Suchikova Yana , Popov Anatoli I.
Published: June 2024

One of the key factors of space weather is solar flare activity, the monitoring and prediction of which is an important task of specialized dedicated groups of space experts and solar astronomers. Solar flare forecasts are based on identifying and detecting the so-called precursors, specific processes in solar activity events that occur before flares. Collecting data for space weather analysis and prediction comes down to several types of measurements performed by more than a dozen spacecraft. Ground-based observations and monitoring nowadays are becoming more or less complimentary. One of the reasons for this is the limitation of observation time with ground-based telescopes due to adverse Earth weather conditions. However, solar radio astronomy is immune to almost any weather activity, and the main question here is what new quality it can bring. Observational data accumulated in the 20th century show that solar radio bursts can be associated with flare activity. In addition, the existing network of solar radio telescopes is already well established. As an example, in this paper, we describe the possibilities of a fully steerable 32-meter radio telescope of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC), Latvia, which can be useful for searching for new precursors of solar flares.
Cosmic gravitational background waves in the scenario of a deformed relativity with an invariant minimum speed
Authors: Cruz Cláudio Nassif , Amaro de Faria A. C.
Published: June 2024

We show the need of the emergence of an invariant minimum speed in the space–time. So, we propose a deformed special relativity with two limits of speed so-called Symmetrical Special Relativity (SSR). It presents a universal minimum speed V that plays the role of a preferred reference frame [Formula: see text] associated with vacuum. This new paradigm of space–time allows us to understand the origin of the cosmological constant [Formula: see text] starting from first principles given by a new kinematic invariance at low energies, which leads us to build a space–time metric with the presence of a minimum speed, so that such metric is equivalent to a de Sitter metric. In order to do that, we use a model of spherical universe with Hubble radius [Formula: see text] filled by a low vacuum energy density [Formula: see text] that governs the accelerated expansion of the universe with negative pressure shown by the equation of state (EOS) of vacuum given by SSR-theory ([Formula: see text]). Thus, we realize that such spherical universe made up of dark energy works like a black body with adiabatic expansion thermalized with a kind of dark gas that plays the role of the dark energy. From this model of virtual particles of dark gas that fills the sphere with dark energy, we are able to derive the law of universal gravitation, allowing us to understand the cosmological anti-gravity according to the EOS of vacuum in the space–time with a minimum speed. So, we estimate the tiny order of magnitude of the cosmological constant and the acceleration of expansion of the dark sphere. In this model, as the dark universe can be thought of as a black body with Hubble radius, we obtain its power and frequency of emission of radiation for a low temperature. We conclude that such radiation is a gravitational wave with an extremely low frequency and power due to the slight stretching of the fabric of space–time, since [Formula: see text] is very small.
Underwater Bubble Plume Recognition Algorithm Based on Multi-Feature Fusion Understanding
Authors: Yang Xue , Sun Shiming
Published: June 2024

Underwater bubble plume images contain a wealth of information on wave field and flow characteristics, which can provide valuable research data for marine development, environmental protection, and underwater surveys. However, based on fusing image features and wave field environment features, identifying accurately the underwater bubble plume is still very difficult. In order to improve the accuracy and robustness of bubble plume identification in complex underwater environments, an underwater bubble plume recognition algorithm based on multi-feature fusion understanding is proposed. In this paper, a weight-independent dual-channel residual convolutional neural network (CNN) for feature extraction of the original optical images and the nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) low-frequency images, and the multi-scale composite feature map groups are generated. Then adaptive fusion is performed based on the feature contribution of the target in different types of images. Next, logical region of interest (ROI) masks are generated by the attention mechanism and superimposed on the fused image to further highlight the target features. Finally, the multi-scale dual-channel fused feature maps containing ROI masks are used for underwater bubble plume target recognition. The experimental results show that the designed recognition network can effectively fuse the features of the original optical images and the NSCT low-frequency imagers, improve the depth of information fusion, and retain the target texture features and the morphological features while reducing the interference of the background information, and have good recognition accuracy and robustness for multi-scale bubble targets in the underwater environment.
Semantic Code Clone Detection Based on Community Detection
Authors: Wan Zexuan , Xie Chunli , Lv Quanrun , Fan Yasheng
Published: June 2024

Semantic code clone detection is to find code snippets that are structurally or syntactically different, but semantically identical. It plays an important role in software reuse, code compression. Many existing studies have achieved good performance in non-semantic clone, but semantic clone is still a challenging task. Recently, several works have used tree or graph, such as Abstract Syntax Tree (AST), Control Flow Graph (CFG) or Program Dependency Graph (PDG) to extract semantic information from source codes. In order to reduce the complexity of tree and graph, some studies transform them into node sequences. However, this transformation will lose some semantic information. To address this issue, we propose a novel high-performance method that utilizes community detection to extract features of AST while preserving its semantic information. First, based on the AST of source code, we exploit community detection to split AST into different subtrees to extract the underlying semantics information of different code blocks, and use centrality analysis to quantify the semantic information as the weight of AST nodes. Then, the AST is converted into a sequence of tokens with weights, and a Siamese neural network model is used to detect the similarity of token sequences for semantic code clone detection. Finally, to evaluate our approach, we conduct experiments on two standard benchmark datasets, Google Code Jam (GCJ) and BigCloneBench (BCB). Experimental results show that our model outperforms the eight publicly available state-of-the-art methods in detecting code clones. It is five times faster than the tree-based method (ASTNN) in terms of time complexity.
Reconciling microscopic and macroscopic tests of the Compton–Schwarzschild correspondence
Authors: Carr Bernard , Mureika Jonas , Nicolini Piero
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we review the experimental constraints on the parameter [Formula: see text] associated with the Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) and the parameter [Formula: see text] associated with the Generalized Event Horizon (GEH). The Compton–Schwarzschild correspondence implies a relationship between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], with both parameters being of order 1. This presents a problem for our previous “[Formula: see text]” model since the extra gravitational force at sub-Planckian masses contravenes observations. Various resolutions of this problem are discussed.
Origin of the arrow of time in quantum mechanics
Authors: Kaloper Nemanja
Published: June 2024

We point out that time’s arrow is naturally induced by quantum mechanical evolution, whenever the systems have a very large number [Formula: see text] of nondegenerate states and a Hamiltonian bounded from below. When [Formula: see text] is finite, the arrow is imperfect, since evolution can resurrect past states. In the limit [Formula: see text] the arrow is fixed by the “tooth of time”: the decay of excited states induced by spontaneous emission to the ground state, mediated by interactions and a large number of decay products which carry energy and information to infinity. This applies to individual isolated atoms, and does not require a coupling to a separate large heath bath.
Reheating constraints on mutated hilltop inflation
Authors: Yadav Sudhava , Gangal Dhwani , Venkataratnam K. K.
Published: June 2024

Future research studies of cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization seem likely to provide a more improved upper bound of [Formula: see text].03 on the tensor-to-scalar ratio (r). In this work, we present the reheating predictions of mutated hilltop inflation (MHI). We find that the model is well consistent with combined Planck+BK18+BAO observations over a range of effective equation of state (EoS) ([Formula: see text]) and model parameter ([Formula: see text]). For lower values of [Formula: see text], MHI generates considerably smaller r compared to normal hilltop potential by lying well within the observational bounds, making MHI a better choice as per recent and future observational studies.
Description of the odd 249−253No nuclei using Skyrme functionals with modified spin–spin interaction
Authors: Lyutorovich N.
Published: June 2024

The Skyrme energy-density functionals with modified spin–spin interaction and pairing strength are used for description of the [Formula: see text]No, [Formula: see text]No and [Formula: see text]No excited states. The results of the HFB and cranked HFB calculations taking into account the blocking effect are in reasonable agreement with the available data. For many states, including rotational and three-quasiparticle states, the results of self-consistent calculations were obtained for the first time.
Aeroelastic Stability and Design of Laminated Composite Sandwich MRE Plates Using Surrogate Metaheuristics Optimization
Authors: Naresh Jonna , Srinivas J.
Published: June 2024

Sandwich composite materials with elastomeric cores and high-strength face layers have widespread applications in various engineering sectors as passive damping structural materials. This study examines the dynamic properties of sandwich plate with laminated composite face layers and smart magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) core under the action of the aerodynamic and hygrothermal loads. The dynamic model based on Kirchhoff’s plate theory is employed and the equations of motion are derived using Hamilton’s principle. The flow conditions are assumed supersonic and modeled by the first-order piston theory. The natural frequencies and aerodynamic pressure distributions are obtained from finite element model. Upon validating the model, the effects of various factors such as moisture, temperature and plate geometry on the critical aerodynamic pressure for different boundary conditions and magnetic fields are studied. Using these parametric data, a regression model is developed using Back-Propagation Neural Network to predict the critical aerodynamic pressure as a function of effective geometrical parameters. In order to enhance the aerodynamic stability, the critical aerodynamic pressure is maximized by the optimal selection of plate aspect ratio, face layer ply orientation sequence and core layer thickness ratio via the modified teaching–learning-based optimization (MTLBO) technique employing the trained neural network-based surrogate model. The approach is very convenient and it has been found that nondimensional aerodynamic pressure along with loss factor has improved almost twice. In the sensitivity analysis study, it is noticed that changes in aspect ratio around the optimal point have a relatively drastic effect on the critical aerodynamic pressure at all the face layer ply configurations.
Parametric Resonance Control of Flexible Manipulator Based on Saturation and Quadratic Nonlinearity Enhancement
Authors: Bian Yushu , Shi Chunyang , Zhang Ge , Gao Zhihui
Published: June 2024

Parametric resonance is a complicated phenomenon that manifests itself in many areas. When subjected to parametric resonance, the amplitude of the flexible manipulator will increase abruptly, resulting in the rapid deterioration of working performance. Most conventional control methods are ineffective when approaching resonance. Because of this, a new method for suppressing the parametric resonance of the flexible manipulator is proposed. A novel parametric resonance absorber, characterized by controllable vibration parameters and adjustable nonlinear coupling parameters, is designed to strengthen quadratic modal coupling with the flexible manipulator and to construct a transfer tunnel for exchanging and dissipating parametric resonance energy. Dynamics equations of the controlled flexible arm mode and the parametric resonance absorber mode are derived, and the corresponding steady-state solutions of parametric resonance are solved. The saturation principle is revealed and implemented based on the stability analysis of the steady-state response of parametric resonance. With the help of the saturation principle, the parametric resonance response of the flexible manipulator can be effectively suppressed to a small amplitude by the proposed parametric resonance absorber. A series of numerical simulations and experiments have verified the proposed method’s effectiveness in suppressing the flexible manipulator’s parametric resonance.
Vibrational Characteristics of a Submerged Double-Shell Structure with Acoustic-Structure Coupling: An Analytical Model and Analysis
Authors: Guo Guoqiang , Zhao Yinglong , You Jingyue , Zhang Ben
Published: June 2024

The vibrational characteristics in a submerged double-shell structure, which consists of two concentric cylindrical shells coupled by the entrained fluid, are investigated in this paper considering the acoustic-structure coupling. An analytical model is proposed based on the wave propagation approach and the Flügge thin-shell theory, and then a detailed analysis is conducted. The spectrum of the averaged quadratic velocity of total modal superposition is calculated to elucidate the vibrational transmission between inner and outer shells, while that of typical modes are separated to further clarifies the strong and weak coupling. Furthermore, the natural frequencies of the inner and outer shell are determined by the location of the resonance peak in the separated spectrum. The impact of variation of the governing parameters such as the length, the radius and the thickness on the natural frequencies of double-shell structure are investigated and some conclusions are outlined.
Dynamic Response Analysis of a Beam–Spring–Arch Coupling Structure Under Moving Load/Oscillator
Authors: Xie K. Z. , Xue N. , Ma W. S. , Wang Q. G.
Published: June 2024

The coupling of beam and arch in bridge engineering introduces intricate dynamic responses. To more efficiently and comprehensively evaluate the coupling dynamic characteristics of arch bridge, this study examines the natural frequencies and dynamic responses of a beam–spring–arch coupling structure under moving loads/oscillators. A mathematical model of the coupling structure is formulated, with the corresponding partial differential equations derived using Hamilton’s principle. The transfer matrix method is employed to establish state vector connections for each segment of the structure, leading to the derivation of a frequency equation to calculate natural frequencies based on specific boundary conditions. Modal functions are determined by transferring the state vectors of each segment, and the Galerkin method is used to discretize the first six-order vibration in the form of ordinary differential equations. The study explores the characteristics of free vibration modes and natural frequencies, and numerically calculates the dynamic responses of the coupling structure under moving loads/oscillators. Responses for the first six modes are superimposed, and the effects of key parameters on the dynamic response are analyzed. The calculated natural frequencies show less than 5% deviation from those obtained via finite element models. The oscillator mass block displacement exhibits an inverted M-shape. Increased structural stiffness raises natural frequencies and induces a curve veering phenomenon. While higher stiffness can reduce oscillator displacement during movement, it does not entirely eliminate member response and may amplify displacement in certain sections. The developed coupling dynamics model and findings provide guidance for the stiffness design of beams, arches, and supporting components, as well as for the vibration reduction of arch bridges.
A multifractional option pricing formula
Authors: Araneda Axel A.
Published: June 2024

Fractional Brownian motion has become a standard tool to address long-range dependence in financial time series. However, a constant memory parameter is too restrictive to address different market conditions. Here, we model the price fluctuations using a multifractional Brownian motion assuming that the Hurst exponent is a time-deterministic function. Through the multifractional Itô calculus, both the related transition density function and the analytical European Call option pricing formula are obtained. The empirical performance of the multifractional Black–Scholes model is tested by calibration of option market quotes for the SPX index and offers best fit than its counterparts based on standard and fractional Brownian motions.
Existence and multiplicity of solutions for Kirchhoff elliptic problems with nondegenerate points via nonlinear Rayleigh quotient in ℝN
Authors: Silva Edcarlos D. , Lima Eduardo D. , Oliveira Junior José C.
Published: June 2024

In this work, we prove existence and multiplicity of solutions to a Kirchhoff elliptic problem in the whole space [Formula: see text]. More specifically, we consider the following nonlocal elliptic problem: [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text], the parameters [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] almost everywhere in [Formula: see text]. This type of problem contains the function [Formula: see text] known as the Kirchhoff function given by [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Under our assumptions the potential [Formula: see text] and the nonlinearities can be sign changing functions. Hence, our main objective is to prove that the above problem has at least two distinct nontrivial solutions, one of them being a ground state, whenever [Formula: see text] for some suitable [Formula: see text]. The main idea is to use the minimization method in the Nehari manifold together with the nonlinear Rayleigh quotient. In our setting, the main difficulty is ensuring the existence of nontrivial solutions by using the Nehari method considering the Lagrange Multipliers Theorem. In other words, we study the case where the fibering map admits inflections points with [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, for each [Formula: see text], we show a nonexistence result for our main problem. It is important to emphasize that [Formula: see text] is sharp in order to find the existence and multiplicity of nontrivial solutions for our main problem.
Performance Improvement of Three-Spring Quasi-Zero-Stiffness Isolator by Shape Memory Alloy Damper
Authors: Sheng P. , Jing S. , Ding L. , Zhou H. , Zhang Z.
Published: June 2024

Quasi-zero stiffness vibration isolators (QZSI) can effectively resolve the contradiction between the load bearing and the vibration isolation for low-frequency vibration systems. The three-spring QZSI is a classical QZSI. However, constrained by its geometrical relationship, the working stroke of the QZSI is limited, and the isolation performance will deteriorate when the displacement response is significant. To solve this question, the shape memory alloy (SMA) damper, characterized by lower secondary stiffness, partially replaces the positive-stiffness spring of the three-spring QZS isolator to widen its effective working stroke, which forms a novel SMA-QZSI. Based on a piecewise linear constitutive model of SMA, a theoretical model of the force–displacement relationship of SMA-QZSI is established. Subsequently, the approximate analytic amplitude–frequency response equation of the non-smooth nonlinear SMA-QZSI system under harmonic excitation is obtained by the average method and verified numerically. In addition, the effects of mechanical parameters of SMA springs and external excitation parameters on mechanical behaviors and low-frequency isolation performance of the SMA-QZSI isolator are discussed. Finally, the static and dynamic experiments of SMA-QZSI are conducted to verify its force–displacement relationship and isolation performance. The results show that the proposed SMA-QZSI has remarkable low-frequency vibration isolation performance.
Both Effective Elastic Properties and Voids Interaction Energy Estimations within the Context of 3D Nano-Porous Materials
Authors: Hachi B. E. , Benkhechiba A. E. , Hachi D. , Ramtani S. , Moussaoui M. , Hafaifa A. , Haboussi M.
Published: June 2024

This study aims to estimate elastic properties as well as voids interaction energy within the context of 3D nano-porous materials exhibiting spherical or cylindrical voids, with or without the effect of surface energy. For this purpose, numerical homogenization is applied, based on the finite element method (FEM) in combination with the level-set technique. Surface energy is approximated by explicitly taking into account its contribution to overall stiffness in the variational formulation. Several cases are then investigated to appreciate the interaction energy between multiple 3D nanovoids on the actual behavior of nanomaterials. As expected, and like surface energy, the results show that interaction energy keeps affecting the effective behavior by increasing the size of RVE as well as the number of voids inside. This influence is more marked the more cylindrical the voids and the more closely they are adjacent to each other.
Global stability and optimal control of an age-structured quit-smoking model with quit-smoking duration
Authors: Liu Yawei , Tan Yuanshun , Liu Zijian , Yang Jin
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we introduce an age-structured quit-smoking model that incorporates the duration of smoking cessation, a crucial parameter related to smoking cessation counseling and disease treatment. We identify the threshold value [Formula: see text], which determines the existence and stability of the smoking-free steady state. Our findings show that the smoking-free steady state is locally and globally stable if [Formula: see text], whereas it becomes unstable, and the unique steady state with present smokers emerges and is locally and globally stable if [Formula: see text]. We propose an optimal control strategy, and our results show its ability to effectively decrease the number of smokers and promote smoking cessation. To validate our findings and to study the influence of varying parameters on the model’s dynamics, numerical simulations are carried out. A concise conclusion is then shared at the end of the paper.
Maximal productivity rate of threading machine operations
Authors: Usubamatov Ryspek , Kurganova Darina , Kapayeva Sarken
Published: June 2024

The quality of products in manufacturing engineering depends first of all on the machining processes. One of the crucial economic components of the production processes is the metal-cutting machining technologies that form the quality of manufactured objects. The physics of metal-cutting technologies is complex and cannot be described by one mathematical model because of different natures. Researchers derived an empirical formula of their tool life that describes the properties of the metal-cutting tools depending on many mechanical factors mentioned above. Engineers investigated and worked the metal-cutting regimes for manufacturing processes that comprise recommendations for the tool life. The components of the tool life are obtained by the practical tests at the research laboratories that give the approximated results. Practice shows the recommendations of the handbooks for metal-cutting regimes are not always optimal for manufacturing processes. The machine tools’ work in the manufacturing environment differs from the research laboratories. This work considers the analytical optimization of the cutting speed for the threading machine tool by the criterion of its maximal productivity rate.
Understanding the Longitudinal Impact of a Chatbot to Facilitate a Virtual Community of Practice for Teachers in Rural Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Cannanure Vikram Kamath , Ngoon Tricia , Wolf Sharon , Jasińska Kaja , Brown Timothy X. , Ogan Amy
Published: June 2024

Communities of practice can improve teachers’ professional development through informal in-person discussions among community members. However, infrastructural challenges pose difficulties in fostering in-person connections, particularly in rural communities in the Global South. The emergence of social media and chatbots has presented an avenue for creating virtual communities for teachers, especially those in rural areas. An unanswered question is the potential impact of a chatbot-supported virtual teacher community on teachers’ professional development. To answer this question, we conducted a longitudinal quasi-experiment involving 313 teachers participating in a new training program in rural Côte d’Ivoire by deploying a chatbot on Facebook Messenger. Our experiment had two chatbot versions for two regions, i.e., one version supporting virtual community and one control. Our findings indicate that teachers in the virtual community condition exhibited modest enhancements in motivation and knowledge indicators. We make a case for implementing virtual communities of practice facilitated by chatbots to bolster the professional development of teachers in rural African contexts.
Ask the players! Player-centric principles as guidelines for ethical microtransactions
Authors: Petrovskaya Elena
Published: June 2024

This viewpoint paper synthesizes the author's previous work with players on their experiences and perceptions of problematic microtransactions to provide a set of values for ethically designing microtransactions. As such, it provides a practical starting point for any reader with an interest in implementing good practices in microtransaction design and regulation.
Constrained Reinforcement Learning for Fair and Environmentally Efficient Traffic Signal Controllers
Authors: Haydari Ammar , Aggarwal Vaneet , Zhang Michael , Chuah Chen-Nee
Published: June 2024

Traffic signal controller (TSC) has a crucial role in managing traffic flow in urban areas. Recently, reinforcement learning (RL) models have received a great attention for TSC with promising results. However, these RL-TSC models still need to be improved for real-world deployment due to limited exploration of different performance metrics such as fair traffic scheduling or air quality impact. In this work, we introduce a constrained multi-objective RL model that minimizes multiple constrained objectives while achieving a higher expected reward. Furthermore, our proposed RL strategy integrates the peak and average constraint models to the RL problem formulation with maximum entropy off-policy models. We applied this strategy to a single TSC and a network of TSCs. As part of this constrained RL-TSC formulation, we discuss fairness and air quality parameters as constraints for the closed-loop control system optimization model at TSCs called
FAirLight
. Our experimental analysis shows that the proposed
FAirLight
achieves a good traffic flow performance in terms of average waiting time while being fair and environmentally friendly. Our method outperforms the baseline models and allows a more comprehensive view of RL-TSC regarding its applicability to the real world.
Una odontología sustentable para Chile: revisión narrativa desde una perspectiva ecológica y sustentable
Authors: Ricaldi Soto Lucas
Published: June 2024

Introducción: la gestión inadecuada de residuos en el sector de la salud, especialmente en odontología, conlleva riesgos para la salud y el medio ambiente. En Chile, el reglamento sobre manejo de residuos de establecimientos de atención de salud (REAS) clasifica los residuos según su riesgo. La odontología sostenible, mediante prácticas como las 3 R y un modelo ampliado de 5 R, reduce impactos ambientales y costos, atrayendo a pacientes ecoconscientes. Objetivos: identificar el impacto ambiental de residuos en odontología y, utilizando el modelo de 5R, proponer acciones ecológicas basadas en evidencia, que se puedan aplicar en Chile. Materiales y Métodos: se realizó una revisión narrativa sobre el manejo de residuos generados en servicios dentales y prácticas sustentables durante la atención. Se utilizaron 30 artículos para lograr los objetivos. Resultados: los residuos odontológicos, en especial los quirúrgicos, provocan un impacto desmesurado en el medio ambiente. La generación y gestión de estos residuos dependen directamente de los profesionales. La odontología ecológica se centra en la adopción de prácticas sustentables y diferentes tecnologías e innovaciones para reducir el consumo de energía y la generación de residuos. Se presentan alternativas basadas en las 5R (reducir, reutilizar, reciclar, reflexionar e investigar) para disminuir la huella ambiental en la odontología. Conclusión: abordar el impacto ambiental de la odontología es crucial. La odontología sostenible requiere un enfoque interdisciplinario, prácticas más ecoamigables y políticas públicas adecuadas. La educación continua, la investigación y la concienciación ambiental son esenciales para este cambio. El método de las 5R es clave para fomentar la sostenibilidad en la odontología.
Descripción de necesidades sobre capacitación en una población de cuidadores de pacientes con dependencia severa en el contexto del CESFAM Madre Teresa de Calcuta
Authors: De la Barra Osorio Juan , Moreno Nicolás , Portilla Gabriel , Martínez Daniel , Rioseco-Castillo Andrea
Published: June 2024

Introducción: el envejecimiento poblacional, junto al aumento de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles han llevado a un incremento en la prevalencia de las personas en situación de dependencia severa, requiriendo que familiares, amigos o vecinos asuman roles de cuidadores. Este estudio se enfoca en identificar a la población de cuidadores de personas con dependencia severa y facilitar su adherencia en programas de capacitación para en un Centro de Salud Familiar (CESFAM) en Puente Alto, Santiago de Chile. Métodos: se detectaron 82 cuidadores de pacientes con dependencia severa, de los cuales 47 seguían siendo cuidadores activos. Se encuestó telefónicamente a 35 cuidadores de pacientes con dependencia severa. Se recopiló información sobre acceso a internet, tiempo disponible y conocimiento sobre la disponibilidad de capacitaciones. Además, se evaluó el nivel de sobrecarga en los cuidadores utilizando la escala de Zarit abreviada (EZA). Resultados: el 83% de los cuidadores encuestados tenía acceso a internet, aunque se identificaron barreras como la falta de tiempo y conocimiento sobre las capacitaciones disponibles. Se encontró que el 62.8% de los cuidadores experimentaba sobrecarga severa. Estos resultados sugieren la falta de mecanismos para el cuidado de pacientes dependientes y la necesidad de facilitar la participación en programas de capacitación. Conclusiones: el estudio ofrece una breve representación sobre los cuidadores de personas con dependencia severa en un contexto de atención primaria. Se concluye que se requieren intervenciones multidisciplinarias para acercar instancias de capacitación y optimizar el cuidado del cuidador. Como parte de estas intervenciones, se desarrolló un manual del cuidador que servirá como recurso para el equipo de salud del CESFAM Madre Teresa de Calcuta, con el fin de brindar apoyo efectivo a los cuidadores.
Supplementary Table S3 from Optimization and Local Cost-Effectiveness of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Screening Strategies in Southern China: Secondary Analysis of the Guangdong Randomized Trial
Authors: Miller Jacob A. , Liu Zhiwei , Pinsky Benjamin A. , Le Quynh-Thu , Li Tong , Yu Kelly J. , Hildesheim Allan , Cao Su-Mei
Published: July 2024

The supplementary table S3 shows comparison of triage testing methods among serologic high-risk subjects.
Supplementary Table S3 from Assessing Management of Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Results and Concordance with Guideline Recommendations in Three US Healthcare Settings
Authors: Cheng David , Rieu-Werden Meghan L. , Lykken Jacquelyn M. , Werner Claudia L. , Feldman Sarah , Silver Michelle I. , Atlas Steven J. , Tiro Jasmin A. , Haas Jennifer S. , Kamineni Aruna
Published: July 2024

Supplementary Table S3 shows associations between patient characteristics and guideline-concordant follow-up after the index abnormality and the initial colposcopy based on multivariable logistic regression among patients at MGB.
Supplementary Table S2 from Assessing Management of Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Results and Concordance with Guideline Recommendations in Three US Healthcare Settings
Authors: Cheng David , Rieu-Werden Meghan L. , Lykken Jacquelyn M. , Werner Claudia L. , Feldman Sarah , Silver Michelle I. , Atlas Steven J. , Tiro Jasmin A. , Haas Jennifer S. , Kamineni Aruna
Published: July 2024

Supplementary Table S2 shows the parameters used to define guideline-concordant management after the index abnormality and the initial colposcopy.
Supplementary Table S2 from Appendectomy and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study
Authors: Zhang Yiwen , Feng Xiaotong , Giovannucci Edward L.
Published: July 2024

Supplementary Table S2 shows the history of appendectomy and risk of prostate cancer by age subgroup in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study by PSA screening history, 1986-2016.
Supplementary Table 6 from Associations of Early-Life and Adult Anthropometric Measures with the Expression of Stem Cell Markers CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 in Women with Benign Breast Biopsies
Authors: Oh Hannah , Yaghjyan Lusine , Heng Yujing J. , Rosner Bernard , Mahoney Matt B. , Murthy Divya , Baker Gabrielle M. , Tamimi Rulla M.
Published: July 2024

This table shows the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations of birthweight, childhood body fatness, BMI at age 18, current BMI, change in BMI since age 18, and adult height with CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 expression levels in histopathologically normal epithelial and stromal tissue from benign breast biopsies, using binary cut-points for high (≥10% positivity) vs. low (<10% positivity) marker expression.
Supplementary Table 4 from Associations of Early-Life and Adult Anthropometric Measures with the Expression of Stem Cell Markers CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 in Women with Benign Breast Biopsies
Authors: Oh Hannah , Yaghjyan Lusine , Heng Yujing J. , Rosner Bernard , Mahoney Matt B. , Murthy Divya , Baker Gabrielle M. , Tamimi Rulla M.
Published: July 2024

This table shows the beta coefficients and 95% confidence intervals for the associations of birthweight, childhood body fatness, BMI at age 18, current BMI, change in BMI since age 18, and adult height with log-transformed CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 expression levels in histopathologically normal epithelial and stromal tissue from benign breast biopsies among women who had BBD diagnosis in year 1950 to 1979 and 1980 to 1998, separately.
Supplementary Table S1 from Red Blood Cell Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Mortality Following Breast Cancer
Authors: Parada Humberto , Wu Tianying , Hoh Eunha , Rock Cheryl L. , Martinez Maria E.
Published: July 2024

Supplementary Table S1. Conditional logistic regression odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality and red blood cell (RBC) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) composition in the WHEL Study, excluding women who died within one year of study randomization.
Supplementary Table S3 from Association of Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Youth with Cancer Risk in Adulthood: A Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
Authors: Niemelä Jussi , Nuotio Joel , Laitinen Tomi T. , Kähönen Mika , Hutri Nina , Lehtimäki Terho , Jokinen Eero , Tossavainen Päivi , Laitinen Tomi P. , Heinonen Olli J. , Dwyer Terence , Pahkala Katja , Rovio Suvi P. , Viikari Jorma , Raitakari Olli , Juonala Markus
Published: July 2024

Supplementary Table S3: The association of weekly Hours of moderate to vigorous Physical Activity in 1986 with subsequent Cancer Incidence
Data from Red Blood Cell Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Mortality Following Breast Cancer
Authors: Parada Humberto , Wu Tianying , Hoh Eunha , Rock Cheryl L. , Martinez Maria E.
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackground:
Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may affect mortality following breast cancer; however, epidemiological studies have relied on the self-reported assessment of PUFA intake. Herein, we examined the associations between red blood cell (RBC) PUFAs and mortality.
Methods:
This nested case–control study included 1,104 women from the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living study, a multistate randomized controlled trial. Cases (n = 290) comprised women who died from 1995 to 2006. Matched controls (n = 814) comprised women who were alive at the end of follow-up. PUFAs were measured in baseline RBC samples and included four ω-3 and seven ω-6 PUFAs. We examined each PUFA individually and principal components factor analysis (PCFA)-derived scores in association with all-cause mortality (ACM) and breast cancer–specific mortality (BCM) using conditional logistic regression to estimate ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results:
In fully adjusted models, ACM ORs were elevated among women with PUFAs above the median  (>median) versus at the median or below (≤median) for α-linolenic acid (ALA; OR = 1.63, 95% CI, 1.18–2.24) and linolenic acid (LA; OR = 1.56, 95% CI, 1.16–2.09). BCM ORs were elevated for ALA (OR = 1.83, 95% CI, 1.27–2.63), LA (OR = 1.70, 95% CI, 1.23–2.37), and γ-linolenic acid (GLA; OR = 1.50, 95% CI, 1.04–2.16). PCFA Factor 1 (arachidonic acid–adrenic acid–docosapentaenoic acid) scores above the median (vs. ≤median) were associated with lower odds of ACM (OR = 0.71, 95% CI, 0.52–0.97) and BCM (OR = 0.69, 95% CI, 0.49–0.97). PCFA Factor 4 (ALA/GLA) scores above the median (vs. ≤median) were associated with increased odds of BCM (OR = 1.47, 95% CI, 1.04–2.09).
Conclusions:
RBC ALA, LA, and GLA may be prognostic indicators among breast cancer survivors.
Impact:
These results are important for understanding the associations between a biomarker of PUFA intake and mortality among BC survivors.