bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revalorization of sheep-wool keratin for the preparation of fully biobased printable inks
Authors: Ugarte Lorena , Fernández-d’Arlas Borja , Larraza Izaskun , Berra Garazi , Gabilondo Nagore , Eceiza Arantxa
Published: May 2023

Sheep wool waste has become a problem affecting the environment, as today the wool of most species has no commercial application and is considered a waste product. Sheep’s wool is mainly composed of keratin which, due to its protein nature and multiple functional groups, has attracted great interest in applications such as support materials in tissue engineering, bioactive materials, and targeted drug delivery. Support materials can be fabricated by 3D printing by syringe extrusion. However, keratin is not suitable for this technique as it does not present proper rheological characteristics. Alginate, a biopolymer derived from brown seaweed, offers a wide range of viscosities at room temperature and offers good performance in 3D printing. Thus, keratin and alginate-based mixtures, due to their properties and ecoefficiency, are interesting candidates to prepare 3D-printed scaffolds. The aim of this work was to develop fully biobased printable inks containing keratin, alginate, salvia extracts, and cellulose nanofibers. In a first stage, keratose, an oxidized form of keratin, was obtained from sheep wool by a clean extraction methodology, and the miscibility and viscosity of keratose-alginate mixtures were assessed. In a second stage, biobased inks were prepared parting from miscible keratose-alginate mixtures. Flow analysis, spectromechanical analysis, and recovery tests were carried out to analyze the effect of the ink formulation over rheological parameters and printability. Mesh and cylinder geometries were 3D printed and their mechanical properties, as well as shape fidelity and self-standing ability, were assessed.
Recognition of human activity using GRU deep learning algorithm
Authors: Mohsen Saeed
Published: May 2023

Human activity recognition (HAR) is a challenging issue in several fields, such as medical diagnosis. Recent advances in the accuracy of deep learning have contributed to solving the HAR issues. Thus, it is necessary to implement deep learning algorithms that have high performance and greater accuracy. In this paper, a gated recurrent unit (GRU) algorithm is proposed to classify human activities. This algorithm is applied to the Wireless Sensor Data Mining (WISDM) dataset gathered from many individuals with six classes of various activities – walking, sitting, downstairs, jogging, standing, and upstairs. The proposed algorithm is tested and trained via a hyper-parameter tuning method with TensorFlow framework to achieve high accuracy. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the GRU algorithm using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and confusion matrices. The results demonstrate that the GRU algorithm provides high performance in the recognition of human activities. The GRU algorithm achieves a testing accuracy of 97.08%. The rate of testing loss for the GRU is 0.221, while the precision, sensitivity, and F1-score for the GRU are 97.11%, 97.09%, and 97.10%, respectively. Experimentally, the area under the ROC curves (AUCS) is 100%.
Rapid template-assisted self-assembly: a practical route to the fast assembly of colloidal particles
Authors: Laghrissi Ayoub , Gupta Prince , Rubahn Horst-Günter , Fiutowski Jacek
Published: May 2023

Simple and quick techniques for assembling nanoparticles in topographically designed Poly(dimethylsiloxane) moulds of nanosized shapes have great potential in many spectroscopic and sensing tools. Close-packed particles pose rich plasmonic resonances, enabling the optical response to be tailored on both the nano- and macroscale. Template-assisted self-assembly (TASA) is a method that creates colloidal aggregates with controlled sizes formed by dewetting aqueous dispersions of NPs across surfaces. We present rapid TASA (rTASA), a modified version with an overall process time of under 10 min, improving speed and user-friendliness. Depending on the array pitch distance and average number of NPs per trap, the transmission through the template drops by between 20 and 80%, enabling them to be detected with even the simplest spectroscopic solutions. This rapid method is useful as a building block to generate self-assembled systems that exhibit exciting optical properties in crucial areas, particularly in building a fast test for size-selective NP detection.

Graphical abstract
The Freiburg School and the Virginia School: introduction to the special issue
Authors: Feld Lars P. , Nientiedt Daniel
Published: May 2023

This is the introduction to the special issue “The Freiburg School and the Virginia School: The Research Programs of Ordnungsökonomik and Constitutional Political Economy”. It provides opening remarks and a brief overview of the individual articles.
Allelopathy as a source of bioherbicides: challenges and prospects for sustainable agriculture
Authors: Kostina-Bednarz Marianna , Płonka Joanna , Barchanska Hanna
Published: May 2023

The sustainable management of the environment and crop production in modern agriculture involves dealing with challenges from climate change, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, as well as pressure to cope with dependence on agricultural inputs. Balancing crop productivity with environmental sustainability is one of the main challenges for agriculture worldwide. The emergence of weeds resistant to synthetic herbicides generates huge economic losses, so unconventional weed control strategies, especially those based on ecological principles, are very much needed in modern agriculture. Incorporating a natural eco-friendly approach—allelopathy—as a tool in an integrated weed control plan by growing specific crops or spraying fields with extracts containing allelopathic compounds can significantly reduce the use of herbicides. Allelopathy is considered a multi-dimensional phenomenon occurring constantly in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, by which one organism produces biochemicals that influence the growth, survival, development, and reproduction of other organisms. The objective of this systematic literature review is to present a comprehensive overview of allelopathy, define this phenomenon, and classify allelochemicals. This paper also discusses and highlights recent advances, ongoing research, and prospects on plant allelopathy management practices applied in agriculture, and the underlying allelopathic mechanisms. The review suggested the holistic view of some allelochemicals as an ecological approach to integrated weed control and is an important contribution to future research directions of multidisciplinary programs, chemoinformatic tools, and novel biotechnology methods to plant breeding.
Understanding differences of the OA uptake within the German university landscape (2010–2020): part 1—journal-based OA
Authors: Taubert Niels , Hobert Anne , Jahn Najko , Bruns Andre , Iravani Elham
Published: May 2023

This study investigates the determinants for the uptake of Full and Hybrid Open Access (OA) in the university landscape of Germany and distinguishes between three factors: The disciplinary profile, infrastructures and services of universities that aim to support OA, and large transformative agreements. The uptake of OA, the influence of the disciplinary profile of universities and the influence of transformative agreements is measured by combining several data sources (incl. Web of Science, Unpaywall, an authority file of standardised German affiliation information, the ISSN-Gold-OA 4.0 list, and lists of publications covered by transformative agreements). For infrastructures and services that support OA, a structured data collection was created by harvesting different sources of information and by manual online search. To determine the explanatory power of the different factors, a series of regression analyses was performed for different periods and for both Full as well as Hybrid OA. As a result of the regression analyses, the most determining factor for the explanation of differences in the uptake of both OA-types turned out to be the disciplinary profile. For the year 2020, Hybrid OA transformative agreements have become a second relevant factor. However, all variables that reflect local infrastructural support and services for OA turned out to be non-significant. To deepen the understanding of the adoption of OA on the level of institutions, the outcomes of the regression analyses are contextualised by an interview study conducted with 20 OA officers of German universities.
Exploiting copy engines for intra-node MPI collective communication
Authors: Cho Joong-Yeon , Seo Pu-Rum , Jin Hyun-Wook
Published: May 2023

As multi/many-core processors are widely deployed in high-performance computing systems, efficient intra-node communication becomes more important. Intra-node communication involves data copy operations to move messages from source to destination buffer. Researchers have tried to reduce the overhead of this copy operation, but the copy operation performed by CPU still wastes the CPU resources and even hinders overlapping between computation and communication. The copy engine is a hardware component that can move data between intra-node buffers without intervention of CPU. Thus, we can offload the copy operation performed by CPU onto the copy engine. In this paper, we aim at exploiting copy engines for MPI blocking collective communication, such as broadcast and gather operations. MPI is a messaging-based parallel programming model and provides point-to-point, collective, and one-sided communications. Research has been conducted to utilize the copy engine for MPI, but the support for collective communication has not yet been studied. We propose the asynchronism in blocking collective communication and the CE-CPU hybrid approach to utilize both copy engine and CPU for intra-node collective communication. The measurement results show that the proposed approach can reduce the overall execution time of a microbenchmark and a synthetic application that perform collective communication and computation up to 72% and 57%, respectively.
Integrated characterisation of nine species of the Schistorchiinae (Trematoda: Apocreadiidae) from Indo-Pacific fishes: two new species, a new genus, and a resurrected but ‘cryptic’ genus
Authors: Magro Lori , Cutmore Scott C. , Carrasson Maite , Cribb Thomas H.
Published: May 2023

We report nine species of the Schistorchiinae Yamaguti, 1942 (Apocreadiidae Skrjabin, 1942) from Indo-Pacific marine fishes. Molecular data (ITS2 and 28S rDNA and cox1 mtDNA) are provided for all species and the genus-level classification of the subfamily is revised. For Schistorchis Lühe, 1906, we report the type-species Sch. carneus Lühe, 1906 and Sch. skrjabini Parukhin, 1963. For Sphinteristomum Oshmarin, Mamaev & Parukhin, 1961 we report the type-species, Sph. acollum Oshmarin, Mamaev & Parukhin, 1961. We report and re-recognise Lobatotrema Manter, 1963, for the type and only species, L. aniferum Manter, 1963, previously a synonym of Sph. acollum. Lobatotrema aniferum is phylogenetically distant from, but morphologically similar to, Sph. acollum and Lobatotrema is recognised as a ‘cryptic genus’. We propose Blendiellan. gen. for B. trigintatestisn. sp. and B. tridecimtestisn. sp. These species are broadly consistent with the present morphological concept of Schistorchis but are phylogenetically distant from the type-species; a larger number of testes and some other subtle morphological characters in species of Blendiella serve to distinguish the two genera. We report three species of Paraschistorchis Blend, Karar & Dronen, 2017: P. stenosoma (Hanson, 1953) Blend, Karar & Dronen, 2017 (type-species), P. seychellesiensis (Toman, 1989) Blend, Karar & Dronen, 2017, and P. zancli (Hanson, 1953) Blend, Karar & Dronen, 2017. Lobatotrema aniferum, P. stenosoma, and Sch. carneus each have two distinct cox1 populations either over geographical range or in sympatry. Available evidence suggests that most of these species, but not all, are widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific.
Hybrid Decentralized Systems of Non-potable Water Supply: Performance and Effectiveness Analysis
Authors: Ferreira A , Santos C. , Imteaz M. A. , Matos C.
Published: May 2023

This article presents a study of Hybrid Rainwater/Greywater Systems (HRGS), with the objective of perceiving the main factors that influence their performance and how they can be optimized. For this goal, a decision support tool, that makes their dimensioning and performs an economic and performance analysis, was used for four different types of buildings: a single-family house, a multifamily building and two service buildings. For each case, distinct scenarios were defined, considering different end-uses of non-potable water, in order to evaluate the performance of the systems using effectiveness and performance indicators. Results show that the effectiveness of “non-potable water consumption” is influenced by two main factors: the final uses considered for non-potable water and the storage volume. In most of the study cases, values of effectiveness (ratio between the volume of non-potable water used and non-potable water demand for the final uses considered) greater than 50% were obtained. In the case of domestic buildings, such as single-family house and multifamily building effectiveness values above 67%, were obtained. And for the case of service buildings, the effectiveness was between 42.8 and 65.6% in one case, and between 12.9 and 93.6% for the other. The best performance of the studied hybrid systems is achieved when the volume of non-potable water used in the building is maximized, resulting in greater savings of potable water. In addition, the larger the fraction of greywater reused, the lower the volume of wastewater produced and sent directly to the sanitation network.
Plasmonic Modulator Based on Graphene and Dual Back-to-Back U-Shaped Silicon Waveguide for Optical Communication Networks
Authors: Elshahat Dina Reda , Areed Nihal F. F. , Yousif Bedir
Published: May 2023

A broadband plasmonic optical modulator based on a dual back-to-back U-shaped silicon waveguide and double layers of graphene has been investigated. The proposed structure is designed at TE mode over a range of wavelengths extending from 1.1 to 1.9 μm. By adjusting the geometry of the U-shaped structure, the modulator’s performance has been tuned. Utilizing propagation loss, bandwidth, power consumption, and modulation depth, the proposed modulator’s performance has been characterized. According to the results, at a wavelength of 1.55 μm, the loss, modulation depth, and small footprint read 0.0415 dB/μm, 0.6337 dB/μm, and (0.5 μm × 12.17 μm), respectively. Furthermore, the proposed modulator has a modulation bandwidth of about 151.7 GHz and a power consumption of 21.068 fJ/bit.
Life Satisfaction and Socio-Economic Vulnerability: Evidence from the Basic Income Experiment in Barcelona
Authors: Sekulova Filka , Bonilla Fabricio , Laín Bru
Published: May 2023

This work focuses on the implications of introducing a variation of a Basic Income for individuals in grim socio-economic conditions in Barcelona (Spain). We explore the happiness and socio-psychological imprint of living in material deprivation in a metropolitan city. Surveying people who joined the two-year Municipal Inclusion Support (MIS) scheme launched by the Municipality of Barcelona, we first identify the major constructs that contribute to recipients’ subjective well-being, paying particular attention to the sense of socio-economic vulnerability. Secondly, we explore the way beneficiaries’ subjective well-being changed over the project duration. Overall, the introduction of the MIS has had a positive effect on the subjective well-being of its recipients over the program duration. We also find that the profound and lasting effect of material and food deprivation, and the continuous stress these entail, explain changes in subjective well-being better than the actual income level. Notably, the creation and presence of networks for mutual support emerges as a pillar for human well-being in contexts of socio-economic vulnerability. This result stood out for women, who were majority group among the basic income recipients, pointing at high level of female economic vulnerability.
Does the Quality of Early Childhood Education and Care Centers Mitigate the Risk of Externalizing Problems? A Genetic-Sensitive Study of Preschoolers in Germany
Authors: Mönkediek Bastian , Schober Pia , Diewald Martin , Eichhorn Harald , Spiess C. Katharina
Published: May 2023

This paper examines the extent to which quality characteristics of early childhood education and care (ECEC) experienced at ages 4–6 influence externalizing problems at ages 6–8. Based on a random sample of 713 same-sex twins (55% female, 41% with a migration background) in 364 ECEC centers in Germany, the paper not only distinguishes between detailed ECEC quality characteristics but additionally investigates whether these characteristics affect the relevance of genetic and environmental influences on externalizing problem behavior. Results demonstrate that with educators’ further training and the child–staff ratio only a few specific ECEC quality indicators moderate the relevance of genetic and environmental influences. In particular, further training of educators reduces genetic contributions to externalizing problems in children. Although there was also evidence for gene–environment correlation owing to selection into ECEC centers with an unfavorable child–staff ratio, the findings suggest that improving educators’ training is the most promising way of counteracting externalizing problems.
The Role of Boron in Low Copper Spheroidal Graphite Irons
Authors: Bugten A. V. , Michels L. , Brurok R. B. , Hartung C. , Ott E. , Vines L. , Li Y. , Arnberg L. , Di Sabatino M.
Published: May 2023

The effects of boron at concentrations ranging from 5 to 525 ppm in low copper spheroidal graphite iron (SGI) has been studied. At 130 to 140 ppm, no particular effect of boron was observed on the size distributions, number densities, or morphologies of the microparticle populations in the material. Neither was there observed any effects on the size distributions or number densities of graphite nodules. However, boron was observed to lead to a rough surface morphology of the graphite nodules at concentrations as small as 24 ppm. Intercellular carbides were found to form in alloys containing more than 70 ppm boron. Additionally, the graphite shape began to degenerate in alloys with more than 300 ppm of boron. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed these carbides contain relatively high amounts of boron. In an alloy containing 74 ppm boron, it was inferred by using electron backscatter diffraction that these were of the type $${{\hbox {M}}_{23}({\hbox {C}},{\hbox {B}})_{6}}$$

M
23

(
C
,
B
)

6

borocarbides, where M = Fe, Mn, V, or a combination of them. Mass spectrometry analyses also revealed elevated concentrations of boron in the surface layers of the graphite nodules.
Laser In Situ Synthesis and Computational Thermal Analysis of Ti-Al-xCr Alloys: Microhardness, Electrochemical Behavior and Tribological Properties
Authors: Kanyane L. R. , Popoola A. P. I. , Pityana S. , Raji S. A. , Tlotleng M.
Published: May 2023

This work aims to evaluate the effect of chromium (Cr) as a dopant on microstructural evolution, microhardness, electrochemical behavior and tribological properties of ternary Ti-Al-xCr alloys synthesized via laser in situ alloying technology produced from their elemental powders. Computational thermal analyses of 3D printed Ti-48Al and Ti-Al-4Cr alloys were modeled and simulated by means of COMSOL Multiphysics. This was compared to the laser processing parameters to understand the thermal behavior of the alloys during manufacturing. The ternary Ti-Al-xCr alloys were synthesized at a scan speed of 10.58 mm/s and laser power of 450 W. The effects of Cr powder feed rate on Ti-Al matrix were studied at a gas carrier of 1 and 2 L/min, respectively. The microstructural evolution of Ti-Al-xCr alloys was examined using scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The corrosion and oxidation behavior of the in situ alloyed Ti-Al-xCr were studied using potentiodynamic and thermal gravimetric techniques, respectively. Normalizing heat treatment on microhardness was performed at the temperature of 1350 °C. The findings showed that there was significant decrease in microhardness properties after HT. The computational model demonstrated minimal thermal distribution change proving that minimal or crack free alloys were developed. The results also showed that Cr addition to Ti-Al matrix resulted in improved tribological properties and oxidation behavior of the alloy.
Click to learn, learn to click: undergraduate synthetic organic chemistry experiments
Authors: Lopez-Ruiz Alejandro , Ortega-Muñoz Mariano , Santoyo-Gonzalez Francisco , Megia-Fernandez Alicia
Published: May 2023

The optimization of an undergraduate experiment for Organic Chemistry students is described to explore the concept of click chemistry. The preparation of a terminal fluorescent alkyne and an organic azide is reported consisting of simple steps. These are employed in the Cu(I)-catalized azide-alkyne cycloaddition to obtain a novel molecule containing a triazole ring whose characterization allows the students to practice a variety of techniques: NMR (1H, 13C, COSY and HSQC), melting point, thin layer chromatography, IR, fluorescence spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to confirm the structure of their obtained product. An alternative methodology in a one-pot reaction is also explored and a full laboratory manual provided.
Effect of aerobic exercise alone or combined with Mediterranean diet on dry eye in obese hypertensive elderly
Authors: Ismail Ali Mohamed Ali , El-Azeim Alshaymaa Shaaban Abd , Saif Hatem Fawzy Abd Elfatah Abo
Published: May 2023

Background

Lifestyle modification is a newly recommended complementary treatment for dry eye (DE) disorder.

Objective

To investigate the effect of a 6-month high-intensity interval aerobic exercise (HIIAE) (conducted 30 min, 3 times weekly) alone or combined with a caloric-restriction approach, the Mediterranean diet (MD), on DE parameters in obese hypertensive elderly.

The design, settings, participants, and intervention

This is a randomized controlled trial included sixty obese hypertensive elderly with DE based on university-based hospital recruitment. Elderly were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 30 elderly received HIIAE plus MD) and control group (n = 30 elderly received only HIIAE). Besides anthropometry (abdominal circumference, body weight, and body mass index) and blood pressure (measured in systole and diastole), DE parameters (tear film break-up time, DE scoring system, ocular surface disability index questionnaire, Schirmer’s test, and Oxford grading system) were evaluated.

Results

Significant improvements in anthropometry, blood pressure, and DE parameters were higher in the experimental group than in the control group.

Conclusion

Aging-related DE symptoms and signs can be prevented and/or treated with HIIAE alone or combined with MD in obese hypertensive elderly with DE disorder.
The Driver Role of Pathologists in Endocrine Oncology: What Clinicians Seek in Pathology Reports
Authors: Ezzat Shereen , de Herder Wouter W. , Volante Marco , Grossman Ashley
Published: May 2023

Endocrine neoplasia represents an increasingly broad spectrum of disorders. Endocrine neoplasms range from incidental findings to potentially lethal malignancies. In this paper, we cover the impact of pathology in the interpretation of the clinic-pathological, genetic, and radiographic features underpinning these neoplasms. We highlight the critical role of multidisciplinary interactions in structuring a rational diagnostic and efficient therapeutic plan and emphasize the role of histopathological input in decision-making. In this context, standardized pathology reporting and second opinion endocrine pathology review represent relevant tools to improve the overall diagnostic workup of patients affected by endocrine tumors in every specific scenario. In fact, although a relevant proportion of cases may be correctly identified based on clinical presentation and biochemical/imaging investigations, a subset of cases presents with atypical findings that may lead to an inappropriate diagnosis and treatment plan based on a wrong pathological diagnosis if all pieces of the puzzle are not correctly considered. Pathologists have a responsibility to actively guide clinicians before and during surgical procedures to prevent unnecessary interventions. In all areas of endocrine pathology, pathologists must understand the complexity of tissue preservation and assay sensitivities and specificities to ensure the optimal quality and interpretation of diagnostic material. Finally, pathologists are central actors in tumor tissue biobanking, which is an expanding field in oncology that should be promoted while adhering to strict ethical and methodological standards.
The MiFIR Review and a European Consolidated Tape: the next step towards a Capital Markets Union
Authors: Rogge Ebbe
Published: May 2023

One of the main elements of the MiFIR Review is the revision of the framework for a Consolidated Tape in Europe. The objective is to establish a tape for each of the three main asset classes: bonds, equity, and derivatives. The objective is to provide a single reference source of information for transactions. It would thus reduce fragmentation and information asymmetries within the Capital Markets Union. This paper examines the main elements of the proposals, tailored to each asset class, as well as different use cases. Overall, the proposals appear to be a significant improvement on the current unsuccessful framework.
Functional diversity increases the resistance of a tritrophic food web to environmental changes
Authors: Adje George , Wojcik Laurie A. , Gaedke Ursula
Published: May 2023

In the light of global climate change and biodiversity loss, understanding the role of functional diversity in the response of food webs to environmental change is growing ever more important. Using a tritrophic food web model, with a variable degree of functional diversity at each trophic level, we studied the role of functional diversity on the resistance of a system against press perturbations. Perturbations affected either nutrient availability or the mortality of the species, which can be interpreted as effects of eutrophication and warming, respectively. We compared food webs with different levels of functional diversity by investigating the species trait and biomass dynamics, the overall changes in the species’ standing biomass as measured by the warping distance, and the duration of the system transients after the onset of a press perturbation (transition time). We found that higher functional diversity increased resistance since it buffered trophic cascading effects and delayed the onset of oscillatory behaviour caused by either bottom-up forcing via perturbations to nutrient concentration or top-down forcing via perturbations to mortality rate. This increased resistance emerged from a higher top-down control of the intermediate species on the basal species. Functional diversity also promoted a higher top biomass, in particular via a higher proportion of top selective species undergoing high mortality rates. Additionally, functional diversity had context-dependent effects on warping distances, and increased transition times. Overall, this study encourages accounting for functional diversity in future investigations about the response of multitrophic systems to global change and in management strategies.
The signing of the peace agreement in Colombia. Old wine in new skins: Implications for national security and organized crime
Authors: Badrán Farid
Published: May 2023

Recent scholarship has seen the peace agreement between Colombian government and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) guerrillas a milestone in closing more than 50 years of internal armed conflict. Indeed, the traditional practice of subversive warfare between the two sides ended. However, this did not imply a true path to peacebuilding. The empirical and statistical evidence indicates the worsening of the conflict through the transformation of its practices and representations, into terrorism and transnational organized crime. This article contends that the FARC, as a political party, a new insurgent group, and a criminal actor, continues to have a main role.
Levels and predictors of postpartum depression and anxiety during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in a confined cross-border city
Authors: Remartínez-Hamed Alicia , Pérez-Morente María Ángeles , Álvarez-Serrano María Adelaida , Martínez-García Encarnación , González-García Alberto , García-García Inmaculada , Martín-Salvador Adelina
Published: May 2023

Pregnancy and/or the puerperium involve social, physiological and psychological changes that make women more vulnerable to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, even more so if these develop in stressful contexts such as the pandemic. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with the risk of postpartum anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted among postpartum women (n = 69) who gave birth between March 2020 and March 2021 in Melilla, a Spanish cross-border city with Morocco whose borders were closed, making it a confined city. The scales used were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results reported an elevated risk of depression (85.5%) and anxiety (63.8%), with severe anxiety reaching 40.6% of cases. Predictors of postpartum depression comprised a personal history of mood disorders (β = 8.421; CI95% = 4.863/11.978) and having been diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy or postpartum (β = 4.488; CI95% = 1.331/7.646). As regards anxiety, it is predicted on the basis of mood antecedents (β = 14.175; CI95% = 7.870/20.479), the fact of having been diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy or postpartum (β = 8.781; CI95% = 2.970/14.592) and the fact of being a multipara (β = 5.513; CI95% = 0.706/10.321). In conclusion, special attention should be paid to women with a history of mood disorders and a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 during pregnancy or postpartum, even more so in the case of multiparous women, because of its impact on mental health during the postpartum period.
Comparative examination of the pons and corpus callosum as reference regions for quantitative evaluation in positron emission tomography imaging for Alzheimer’s disease using 11C-Pittsburgh Compound-B
Authors: Tada Tomohiro , Hara Kazuhiro , Fujita Naotoshi , Ito Yoshinori , Yamaguchi Hiroshi , Ohdake Reiko , Kawabata Kazuya , Ogura Aya , Kato Toshiyasu , Yokoi Takamasa , Masuda Michihito , Abe Shinji , Miyao Shinichi , Naganawa Shinji , Katsuno Masahisa , Watanabe Hirohisa , Sobue Gen , Kato Katsuhiko
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Standardised uptake value ratio (SUVR) is usually obtained by dividing the SUV of the region of interest (ROI) by that of the cerebellar cortex. Cerebellar cortex is not a valid reference in cases where amyloid β deposition or lesions are present. Only few studies have evaluated the use of other regions as references. We compared the validity of the pons and corpus callosum as reference regions for the quantitative evaluation of brain positron emission tomography (PET) using 11C-PiB compared to the cerebellar cortex.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated data from 86 subjects with or without Alzheimer’s disease (AD). All subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging, PET imaging, and cognitive function testing. For the quantitative analysis, three-dimensional ROIs were automatically placed, and SUV and SUVR were obtained. We compared these values between AD and healthy control (HC) groups.

Results

SUVR data obtained using the pons and corpus callosum as reference regions strongly correlated with that using the cerebellar cortex. The sensitivity and specificity were high when either the pons or corpus callosum was used as the reference region. However, the SUV values of the corpus callosum were different between AD and HC (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the pons and corpus callosum might be valid reference regions.
Teaching Here and Now but for the Future: Vocational Teachers’ Perspective on Teaching in Flux
Authors: Carlsson Sandra , Willermark Sara
Published: May 2023

As working life changes, it places new demands on vocational competence and the use of different digital technologies. It affects vocational teaching, yet digitalization within vocational education constitutes a scarcely researched area. In this study, we explore how vocational teachers relate to teaching in a digitalized society from a socio-material perspective and explore the possibilities as well as the discursive manifestations of contradictions it gives rise to. Data includes semi-structured interviews with ten vocational teachers, representing eight vocational programs in Sweden. Findings show how vocational teachers benefit from digital technology to realize pedagogical strategies and facilitate students’ vocational competence. At the same time, digitalization entails challenges of keeping up with changes in working life and providing students with relevant vocational digital technologies. Contributions include increased knowledge about digitalization in vocational education, and how it entails navigating different contradictions.
Geotourism Route through Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (Vila Real, Galicia-North Portugal Euroregion): a Space of Public Outreach of Geology
Authors: Freire-Lista David Martín , Becerra Javier Eduardo Becerra , Vázquez Ezequiel , de Abreu Mila Simões
Published: May 2023

Geoconservation, geotourism and geodiversity are concepts that should be taught at all educational levels. The entire society should preserve the natural resources in a sustainable way. Geological processes and quarrying created and still creates cultural heritage in landscapes, villages and cities worldwide. Rock outcrops, historical quarries, forms of extraction and buildings built with stones are a heritage that should safeguard. This work details a geotourism route that would bring new life to Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD) campus. The proposed route connects a historical quarry located in the UTAD campus with the main church built with its granite and different rock outcrops that show the geological history of the city of Vila Real (Portugal). It envisages a three-points of interest tour from the Fernando Real Geology Museum (UTAD) to a church built with Prezandães granite from Folhadela.
Explanation matters: An experimental study on explainable AI
Authors: Hamm Pascal , Klesel Michael , Coberger Patricia , Wittmann H. Felix
Published: May 2023

Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is an important advance in the field of machine learning to shed light on black box algorithms and thus a promising approach to improving artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. While previous literature has already addressed the technological benefits of XAI, there has been little research on XAI from the user’s perspective. Building upon the theory of trust, we propose a model that hypothesizes that post hoc explainability (using Shapley Additive Explanations) has a significant impact on use-related variables in this context. To test our model, we designed an experiment using a randomized controlled trial design where participants compare signatures and detect forged signatures. Surprisingly, our study shows that XAI only has a small but significant impact on perceived explainability. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that a high level of perceived explainability has a strong impact on important constructs including trust and perceived usefulness. A post hoc analysis shows that hedonic factors are significantly related to perceived explainability and require more attention in future research. We conclude with important directions for academia and for organizations.
A review on recent research on bio-based building materials and their applications
Authors: Bourbia S. , Kazeoui H. , Belarbi R.
Published: May 2023

Bio-based materials represent a promising alternative in building envelope applications, with the aim of improving in-use energy efficiency. They have the advantage of being renewable, low embodied energy and CO2neutral or negative. In addition, they are excellent thermal regulators. This paper presents an overview of the state-of-the-art of bio-based materials used in building construction and their applications. The materials outlined include hemp, wood, date palm wood, cork, alfa and straw. Through this literature study we want to get a broad overview of the current state of theoretical and experimental studies of their hygrothermal characteristics and their thermal and energy performances. The aim is not to be exhaustive but to summarise the most important research results on these materials. This is the first part of a research work that deals with the contribution to the development of a new bio-based construction material to be used in building.
Alkaline electrolysis using CuOx cathode for the conversion of carbon dioxide into liquid fuels
Authors: Zignani S. C. , Lo Faro M. , Carbone A. , Pallela A. , Spadaro L. , Aricò A. S.
Published: May 2023

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 is an effective method for storing intermittent renewable energy. This could result in fuel additives and chemical feedstocks such as alcohols. A challenge of electrochemical alcohol production is the transfer of electrons and protons, as well as the formation of C–C bonds. As of now, copper-based materials are the most commonly used and effective catalysts. Although CuOx is considered a promising catalyst for electrochemical CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR), significant improvements in product selectivity are still needed. This paper presents some results obtained using copper oxide as a cathode, combined with 33% of ionomer, nickel iron as anode, and membrane Fumatech as electrolyte. As a result of physico-chemical experiments, morphological measurements of the cathode, electrochemical experiments carried out with a complete zero-gap cell operating under alkaline conditions, and gas-chromatographic (GC) analyses of the cathode outlet stream, we determined that methyl formate, ethanol, and propanol were mainly obtained at a rate of 116.3 μmol $${\text{g}}_{\text{cat}}^{-1} \, {\text{h}}^{-{1}}$$

g

cat

-
1

h

-
1

during operation at 2.2 V.
The Generalized Stackelberg Equilibrium of the Two-Person Stopping Game
Authors: Skarupski Marek , Szajowski Krzysztof J.
Published: May 2023

In modeling the bilateral selection of states of the process, Dynkin (Dokl Akad Nauk USSR 185:241–288, 1969) proposed a two-person game in which players use stopping moments as strategies. The purpose of this work is to present a model of the game in which the players have different information about the process itself, as well as various laws to stop the process and accept its state. The game model uses the stochastic process apparatus, in particular, the ability to create different filters for the same process. The sets of stopping moments based on different filters are not identical, which allows us to model different sets of strategies for players. We show that the follower, by observing the behavior of a rational leader, can recover information that is lost due to the lack of complete observation of the state of the process. In the competition of two opponents for the maximum of the i.i.d. sequence, one of whom has access to full information and the other only knows their relative ranks, we found the generalized Stackelberg equilibrium. If the priority of a player observing the relative ranks is less than 50%, then that player modifies his strategy based on the behavior of the second player. For a player with full information, information about the behavior of the player observing the relative ranks is useless.
Nuove strategie di indagine delle linfoadenopatie nel carcinoma tiroideo
Authors: Tumino Dario , Piticchio Tommaso , Frasca Francesco
Published: May 2023

Sommario

L’identificazione delle metastasi linfonodali è fondamentale nella gestione iniziale dei pazienti con noduli tiroidei sospetti, in quanto può modificare la tipologia dell’intervento chirurgico, e nella gestione a lungo termine dei pazienti con linfonodi cervicali sospetti. Questa rassegna si focalizza sulle nuove tecniche disponibili, tra cui l’ecografia con mezzo di contrasto, il dosaggio del frammento 21-1 della citocheratina 19 nel liquido di lavaggio linfonodale, la biopsia del linfonodo sentinella e l’utilizzo dell’intelligenza artificiale applicata all’imaging dei linfonodi cervicali.
On Due Diligence and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in International Law: What a Māori World View Can Offer
Authors: Malaihollo Medes
Published: May 2023

Due diligence is on the rise in international law. However, its roots and historic narrative remain heavily Eurocentric in nature. This becomes problematic in the context of states’ due diligence obligations relating to the rights of indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, due diligence can also be found in indigenous legal systems. An example istikanga, which regulates the lives of the Māori in New Zealand. This paper attempts to investigate principles oftikangareflecting features of a standard of care and compares this to the way due diligence is currently given meaning in international law. From this it follows thattikangaputs more emphasis on ‘relationships and balance’ than contemporary positive international law does. This paper argues for a culturally appropriate approach that integrates this feature with respect to states’ due diligence obligations relating to the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in the context of the Māori in New Zealand. In doing so, it will become clear that this approach leads to a situation where an indigenous people is being heard and taken seriously, which forms the anchor of the international legal framework protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. With that in mind, this paper offers a template on due diligence and the rights of indigenous peoples in international law.
On equivariant derived categories
Authors: Beckmann Thorsten , Oberdieck Georg
Published: May 2023

We study the equivariant category associated to a finite group action on the derived category of coherent sheaves of a smooth projective variety. In particular, we discuss decompositions of the equivariant category, prove the existence of a Serre functor, and give a criterion for the equivariant category to be Calabi–Yau. We describe an obstruction for a subgroup of the group of auto-equivalences to act on the derived category. As application we show that the equivariant category of any Calabi–Yau action on the derived category of an elliptic curve is equivalent to the derived category of an elliptic curve.
Plasma parameter measurement on a RIT-10 using empirical correlations between non-invasive optical emission spectroscopy and Langmuir diagnostics
Authors: Becker Felix , Nauschütt Benny , Chen Limei , Holste Kristof , Klar Peter J.
Published: May 2023

Characterising and understanding the plasma properties of a rf-coupled electric propulsion device is crucial during testing, qualification and development. Therefore, the optimization of existing diagnostic systems as well as the development of new ones is an important area of electric propulsion research. Here, we present an approach to non-invasively determine the plasma parameters of an operating radio-frequency ion-thruster. For this purpose, a correlation between non-invasive optical emission (OE) spectroscopy and intrusive Langmuir probe diagnostics measurements is established for a reference system. Both types of measurements are performed simultaneously for a wide range of operation points yielding a large reference data set. Based on a principal component analysis (PCA), a correlation between plasma parameters and corresponding OE spectra at different operational points is established. This correlation can then be applied to OE spectra of the plasma of an operating thruster to obtain non-invasively the corresponding plasma parameters, i.e., without having to employ intrusive Langmuir probes. This approach for evaluating optical spectroscopic data in terms of plasma parameters has no need for a theoretical microscopic modeling of the plasma. This makes this approach very versatile and easily transferable to cases where other propellants are used, since no knowledge of excitation cross sections or transition matrix elements and other microscopic parameters of the species of the plasma is required. Such an approach enables continuous monitoring of a thruster’s behavior during the qualification process.
The effect of automation on firms’ carbon dioxide emissions of China
Authors: Lu Yue , Tian Jilin , Ma Minghui
Published: May 2023

This paper empirically analyzes the impact of automation upon firms’ carbon dioxide emissions (CO2 emissions) of China by using data for the period 1998–2009. Our research yields a few findings. First, we find that automation as measured by the robot density can reduce firms’ CO2 emissions intensity. Specifically, 1% increase in the robot density leads to a 0.018% decrease in CO2 emissions intensity. Second, we find that automation reduces firms’ CO2 emissions intensity by promoting firms’ technological innovation and improving management efficiency. Finally, we find that automation exerts a greater impact on reducing CO2 emissions intensity for firms in industries with high CO2 emissions intensity rather than low CO2 emissions intensity, and for firms in capital-intensive industries rather than non-capital-intensive industries, as well as firms in industries with high servitization of manufacturing rather than low servitization of manufacturing. Moreover, the mitigating effects of automation have been given greater play on firms’ CO2 emissions intensity after the global financial crisis.
A Student's Guide to the Ising Model
Authors: Walker James S.
Published: May 2023

The Ising model provides a detailed mathematical description of ferromagnetism and is widely used in statistical physics and condensed matter physics. In this Student's Guide, the author demystifies the mathematical framework of the Ising model and provides students with a clear understanding of both its physical significance, and how to apply it successfully in their calculations. Key topics related to the Ising model are covered, including exact solutions of both finite and infinite systems, series expansions about high and low temperatures, mean-field approximation methods, and renormalization-group calculations. The book also incorporates plots, figures, and tables to highlight the significance of the results. Designed as a supplementary resource for undergraduate and graduate students, each chapter includes a selection of exercises intended to reinforce and extend important concepts, and solutions are also available for all exercises.
The Philippines
Authors: Thompson Mark R.
Published: May 2023

This Element explores how in the Philippines a 'whiggish' narrative of democracy and good governance triumphing over dictatorship and kleptocracy after the 'people power' uprising against Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1986 was upended by strongman Rodrigo R. Duterte three decades later. Portraying his father's authoritarian rule as a 'golden age,' Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. succeeded Duterte by easily winning the 2022 presidential election, suggesting democratic backsliding will persist. A structuralist account of the inherent instability of the country's oligarchical democracy offers a plausible explanation of repeated crises but underplays agency. Strategic groups have pushed back against executive aggrandizement. Offering a 'structuration' perspective, presidential power and elite pushback are examined as is the reliance on political violence and the instrumentalization of mass poverty. These factors have recurrently combined to lead to the fall, restoration, and now steep decline of democracy in the Philippines.