bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new approach for hydrograph data interpolation and outlier removal for vector autoregressive modelling: a case study from the Odra/Oder River
Authors: Halicki Michał , Niedzielski Tomasz
Published: April 2024

This study presents a new approach for predicting water levels of the Odra/Oder river using vector autoregressive models (VAR). We use water level time series from 27 gauging stations, on which we interpolate no-data gaps using the LinAR method and detect outliers with two separate methods: the extreme values (EV) approach and the isolation forest (IFO) algorithm. Before removing potential outliers, we propose a hydrological evaluation based on multivariate data analysis. Finally, we consider three separate data scenarios, i.e. LinAR (no outlier rejection), EV, and IFO. VAR models for six prediction gauges were built in a moving window manner on the most recent 720 hourly water levels prior to each prediction. The analysis covered the time range from January 2016 to May 2022 and resulted in $$\varvec{\approx }$$

≈

1,000,000 water level forecasts (3 scenarios x 6 gauges x 55,000 hourly time steps) with lead time of 72 h. The analysis of root mean squared error (RMSE) indicates that the VAR model performs well, especially for 24-hour predictions, with RMSE values ranging from 8 to 28 cm. The model was also found to have skills in predicting a rising limb of a hydrograph. Our numerical experiments showed the susceptibility of the VAR predictions to artefacts. The IFO method was found to detect outliers skilfully, which allowed to produce the most accurate VAR-based predictions.
Unclassified acetabular fractures: Do they really exist?
Authors: Abdelnasser Mohammad Kamal , Ibrahim Bahaaeldin , Thabet Mostafa A. , Fergani Ali , Badran Mahmoud , Farouk Osama
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Although Letournel classification is considered the corner stone for classifying acetabular fractures, however, it might not be perfectly inclusive. Unclassified fractures were reported by many authors. The aim of this case series is to report the incidence of unclassified acetabular fractures and description of these rare patterns and why they are considered unclassified acetabular fractures.

Methods

This is a retrospective consecutive case series. In the period between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2017, 235 patients with 236 acetabular fractures were identified from our hospital records. Classification of the acetabular fractures according to Letournel was done by two surgeons. Any discrepancy in the classification between the two surgeons was resolved by the senior author. Before considering the fracture unclassifiable, all fractures were reviewed again by the two surgeon and the senior author.

Results

In the period between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2017, 235 patients with 236 acetabular fractures were included in our study. Twenty-two fractures (9.3%) did not fit into any of the fracture types according to Letournel Classification as follows: 1 case (4.5%) was pure Quadrilateral plate fracture, 1 case (4.5%) was labral avulsion with tiny posterior wall rim, 1 case (4.5%) was pure articular impaction, 1 case (4.5%) was both columns fracture with posterior wall, 4 cases (18.2%) were anterior column and quadrilateral plate fracture, and 14 cases (63.8%) were T with posterior wall.

Conclusion

Several acetabular fracture pattern could be considered unclassified fractures. These unique patterns may require special approaches or special fixation methods. However, this is not a call for a new classification for acetabular classification to include these new types. Subclassification or adding modifiers to Letournel classification can do the job.
Examples and Counterexamples of Renormalizability of an EFT in the Nonperturbative Regime
Authors: Gasparyan A. M. , Epelbaum E. , Jacobi N. , Komissarova Y.
Published: April 2024

An important feature of an effective field theory is its renormalizability, which implies that one can apply a certain power counting to renormalized quantities and perform a systematic expansion of the calculated observables in terms of some small parameter. When nonperturbative effects become relevant, the requirement of renormalizability imposes nontrivial constraints on a choice of the effective interaction and the renormalization scheme. We discuss several instructive examples and counterexamples of renormalizability to illustrate potential issues one has to deal with in realistic calculations such as nuclear chiral effective field theory.
How to solve novel problems: the role of associative learning in problem-solving performance in wild great tits Parus major
Authors: Cauchard Laure , Bize Pierre , Doligez Blandine
Published: April 2024

Although problem-solving tasks are frequently used to assess innovative ability, the extent to which problem-solving performance reflects variation in cognitive skills has been rarely formally investigated. Using wild breeding great tits facing a new non-food motivated problem-solving task, we investigated the role of associative learning in finding the solution, compared to multiple other non-cognitive factors. We first examined the role of accuracy (the proportion of contacts made with the opening part of a string-pulling task), neophobia, exploration, activity, age, sex, body condition and participation time on the ability to solve the task. To highlight the effect of associative learning, we then compared accuracy between solvers and non-solvers, before and after the first cue to the solution (i.e., the first time they pulled the string opening the door). We finally compared accuracy over consecutive entrances for solvers. Using 884 observations from 788 great tits tested from 2010 to 2015, we showed that, prior to initial successful entrance, solvers were more accurate and more explorative than non-solvers, and that females were more likely to solve the task than males. The accuracy of solvers, but not of non-solvers, increased significantly after they had the opportunity to associate string pulling with the movement of the door, giving them a first cue to the task solution. The accuracy of solvers also increased over successive entrances. Our results demonstrate that variations in problem-solving performance primarily reflect inherent individual differences in associative learning, and are also to a lesser extent shaped by sex and exploratory behaviour.
Cognitive assessment during the phases of a spontaneous migraine: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Ray Jason C. , Darby David , Butzkueven Helmut , Matharu Manjit S. , Hutton Elspeth J.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Cognitive symptoms are reported commonly throughout all phases of a migraine; however, there is a paucity of objective cognitive profiling. Previous studies have been limited by practice effect, and variable populations.

Methods

Participants completed 1 month of daily testing with a computerised cognitive battery involving a simple reaction (SRT), choice reaction (CRT) and a working memory test (WM). Results were correlated with their diary to identify interictal scores, and scores during each phase of a migraine, and non-migraine headache days.

Results

A total of 16 patients with episodic migraine participated. During the headache phase of a migraine, responses to SRT, CRT and WM tasks were significantly slower and less accurate than interictally. During the postdrome, WM task performance was slower and less accurate. Non-migraine headache days were not associated with significant change.

Conclusion

The headache and postdromal phase of a migraine day was associated with objective evidence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with episodic migraine.
Vertex-primitive digraphs with large fixity
Authors: Barbieri Marco , Potočnik Primož
Published: April 2024

The relative fixity of a digraph $$\Gamma $$
Γ
is defined as the ratio between the largest number of vertices fixed by a nontrivial automorphism of $$\Gamma $$
Γ
and the number of vertices of $$\Gamma $$
Γ
. We characterize the vertex-primitive digraphs whose relative fixity is at least $$\frac{1}{3}$$

1
3

, and we show that there are only finitely many vertex-primitive digraphs of bounded out-valency and relative fixity exceeding a positive constant.
Steady States of a Diffusive Population-Toxicant Model with Negative Toxicant-Taxis
Authors: Chu Jiawei
Published: April 2024

This paper is dedicated to studying the steady state problem of a population-toxicant model with negative toxicant-taxis, subject to homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. The model captures the phenomenon in which the population migrates away from regions with high toxicant density towards areas with lower toxicant concentration. This paper establishes sufficient conditions for the non-existence and existence of non-constant positive steady state solutions. The results indicate that in the case of a small toxicant input rate, a strong toxicant-taxis mechanism promotes population persistence and engenders spatially heterogeneous coexistence (see, Theorem 2.3). Moreover, when the toxicant input rate is relatively high, the results unequivocally demonstrate that the combination of a strong toxicant-taxis mechanism and a high natural growth rate of the population fosters population persistence, which is also characterized by spatial heterogeneity (see, Theorem 2.4).
The Effects of Heart Rhythm Meditation on Vagal Tone and Well-being: A Mixed Methods Research Study
Authors: Tisdell Elizabeth J. , Lukic Branka , Banerjee Ruhi , Liao Duanping , Palmer Charles
Published: April 2024

Many studies have examined the effects of meditation practice focused on the normal breath on vagal tone with mixed results. Heart Rhythm Meditation (HRM) is a unique meditation form that engages in the deep slow full breath, and puts the focus of attention on the heart. This form of breathing likely stimulates the vagus nerve with greater intensity. The purpose of this study was (a) to examine how the practice of HRM affects vagal activity as measured by heart rate variability (HRV); and (b) to examine how it affects participants’ well-being. 74 participants signed consent agreeing to: (a) take a six-week course to learn the practice of HRM; (b) engage in a daily practice for 10 weeks; (c) have their heart rate variability read through ECG technology and to take two validated well-being instruments at the beginning and end of the 10 weeks; and (d) participate in a focus group interview examining their perceptions of how the practice affected their well-being. 48 participants completed the study. Quantitative findings show the effect of the practice of HRM approached significance for multiple measures of HRV and vagal tone. An increase in well-being scores for those who did the meditation more than 10-minutes per day did meet statistical significance. Qualitative data indicate: (a) the positive effects of HRM on stress and well-being; (b) the development of a more expanded sense of self; and (c) an increased awareness of the interconnection of the body-heart-emotions and HRM’s role in emotion regulation.
Fuse and fracture? The janus face of proactive personality in ostracism
Authors: Zhang Ruixue , Gong Yaping , Li Anran , Zhou Mingjian
Published: April 2024

Despite the well identified personality-related factors that drive ostracism, the dual role that a proactive personality plays in influencing ostracism has received little scholarly attention. Drawing on social exchange and social comparison theories, we develop a social relational model of peers’ reactions to a focal proactive member. Findings reveal that a focal member’s proactive personality not only enhances peers’ cognition-based trust in the focal person, but also triggers peers’ feeling of relative deprivation. The peers’ cognition-based trust, in turn, weakens—whereas the feeling of relative deprivation strengthens—peers’ ostracism of the focal proactive member. The focal member’s prosocial motive and proself motive further moderate these relationships. Specifically, prosocial motive strengthens the negative indirect relationship between a focal person’s proactive personality and peers’ ostracism through peers’ cognition-based trust in the focal person. Moreover, proself motive amplifies the positive indirect relationship between a focal person’s proactive personality and peers’ ostracism through peers’ feeling of relative deprivation.
Automated quantum software engineering
Authors: Sarkar Aritra
Published: April 2024

As bigger quantum processors with hundreds of qubits become increasingly available, the potential for quantum computing to solve problems intractable for classical computers is becoming more tangible. Designing efficient quantum algorithms and software in tandem is key to achieving quantum advantage. Quantum software engineering is challenging due to the unique counterintuitive nature of quantum logic. Moreover, with larger quantum systems, traditional programming using quantum assembly language and qubit-level reasoning is becoming infeasible. Automated Quantum Software Engineering (AQSE) can help to reduce the barrier to entry, speed up development, reduce errors, and improve the efficiency of quantum software. This article elucidates the motivation to research AQSE (why), a precise description of such a framework (what), and reflections on components that are required for implementing it (how).
Identifying Adolescents at Risk for Emotional Disorders with Latent Profile Analysis: A Personalized, Transdiagnostic Preventive Intervention
Authors: Piqueras José A. , Falcó Raquel , Rico-Bordera Pilar , Canals Josefa , Espinosa-Fernández Lourdes , Vivas-Fernández Manuel , Garcia-Lopez Luis-Joaquin ,   on behalf of PROCARE team, del Mar Diaz-Castela María , Jimenez-Vázquez David , Parras-Blanca Eva Mª , Morales-Hidalgo Paula , Muela-Martínez Jose A. , Rivera-Riquelme María
Published: April 2024

It can be challenging to assign patients to the appropriate intervention programs, as risk and protective factors for developing emotional disorders are multiple and shared across disorders. This study aimed to provide a theoretical and empirical approach to identify and categorise adolescents into different levels of severity. The risk of developing emotional symptoms was assessed in 1425 Spanish adolescents (M = 14.34, SD = 1.76; 59.9% women). Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify subgroups based on their emotional symptom severity, risk, and resilience factors. Results revealed four profiles: at low risk (emotionally healthy), moderate risk (for selective interventions), high risk (for indicated interventions), and severe risk (for clinical referral). Older age and especially female gender were predictors of higher risk clusters, and there were differences in the levels of psychopathology and health-related quality of life across clusters. Identification of at-risk adolescents for emotional disorders by means of LPA may contribute to designing personalised and tailored prevention programs that match adolescents’ specific needs.
Network-aware virtual machine placement using enriched butterfly optimisation algorithm in cloud computing paradigm
Authors: Shanmugam Veeramani , Ling Huo-Chong , Gopal Lenin , Eswaran Sivaraman , Chiong Choo W. R.
Published: April 2024

This article presents a virtual machine placement technique aimed at minimizing power usage in heterogeneous cloud data centers. In this study, an innovative model for minimizing the power usage of a datacenter’s network is provided. The Enriched Discrete Butterfly Optimization method (EDBOA) is used as a meta-heuristic method in order to achieve an effective mapping of virtual machines (VMs) onto physical machines (PMs). The Reverse Order Filling Method (ROFM) was developed as a solution repair technique to meet the requirements of the BOA. It is used to manipulate the solutions in order to identify potential candidates for more optimum solutions. Furthermore, we constructed VM’s that had both Left-Right and Top-Down communication capabilities. Additionally, PM’s with limited capacities in terms of CPU, memory, and bandwidth are designed and included for the purpose of testing. The integration of our network power model into the EDBOA algorithms facilitates the calculation of both power modules and network power consumption. A detailed comparative analysis was conducted on our suggested approaches and many other comparable methods. The evaluation findings demonstrate that the offered approaches exhibit strong performance, with the BOA algorithm using the ROFM solution repair surpassing other methods in terms of power usage. The assessment findings also demonstrate the importance of network power usage.
Hybrid metaheuristic schemes with different configurations and feedback mechanisms for optimal clustering applications
Authors: Molokomme Daisy Nkele , Onumanyi Adeiza James , Abu-Mahfouz Adnan M.
Published: April 2024

This paper addresses the critical gap in the understanding of the effects of various configurations and feedback mechanisms on the performance of hybrid metaheuristics (HMs) in unsupervised clustering applications. Despite the widespread use of HMs due to their ability to leverage multiple optimization methods, the lack of comprehensive studies on their configuration and feedback mechanisms effects often results in sub-optimal clustering performances and premature convergence. To tackle these issues, we introduce two algorithms for implementing eight distinct HM schemes, focusing on the impacts of parallel and serial processing models along with different feedback mechanisms. Our approach involves selecting candidate metaheuristics based on a mix of evolutionary and swarm-based methods, including the k-means algorithm, to form various HM-based clustering schemes. These schemes were then rigorously evaluated across a range of datasets and feedback mechanisms, further assessing their efficiency in the deployment of smart grid base stations. Performance analysis was based on total fitness evaluations, timing capabilities, and clustering accuracy. The results revealed that parallel HMs with decoupled feedback mechanisms performed best in terms of accuracy but at the cost of slower convergence rates as compared to serial HMs. Our findings further suggest that serial HMs will be best suited for time-sensitive applications where a compromise between speed and accuracy is acceptable, while parallel HMs with decoupled feedback mechanisms are preferable for scenarios where precision is paramount. This research significantly contributes to the field by providing a detailed analysis of HM performance in varying conditions, thereby guiding the selection of appropriate HM schemes for specific clustering tasks.
Assessing the environmental contribution of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) rice in the presence of insect pest uncertainty
Authors: Jin Yan , Gil José María
Published: April 2024

Adopting genome editing with the trait of pest resistance contributes to sustainable development by reducing pesticide use. Developed by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology, CRISPR rice is resistant to two of its most destructive insect pests. However, there exists a trade-off between pest resistance and lower potential yield. In the presence of uncertainty of pest severity, adopting CRISPR rice demonstrates positive environmental benefits at its optimal planting ratio, estimated based on a microeconomic model extended with environmental externalities of rice cultivation. We estimate the optimal planting ratio to be 37%, with the environmental benefit of co-planting CRISPR rice to be 560 million US dollars annually in China. The environmental benefit accounts for 4–22% of the total value of co-planting CRISPR rice in the Monte Carlo simulations. Regional heterogeneity regarding optimal planting ratio and environmental benefit is studied for 12 major rice-cultivating provinces in China. We conclude with policy implications that policymakers need to consider the vast environmental benefit of CRISPR rice adoption to have a more comprehensive view of its economic and environmental market potential, contributing to the heated debate on regulating CRISPR technology in China and worldwide.
The sustainability challenges of fresh food supply chains: an integrative framework
Authors: de Castro Moura Duarte André Luís , Picanço Rodrigues Vinicius , Bonome Message Costa Luana
Published: April 2024

Fresh food supply chains (FFSC) are pivotal in food and agricultural systems, with effective management crucial for addressing hunger and poverty globally and contributing to various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasing consumer demand for safer, eco-friendly, and sustainably produced fresh products has highlighted the importance of sustainability in FFSC. This growing focus poses challenges for academics and practitioners dedicated to sustainable development and meeting evolving consumer expectations. FFSC management is notably complex due to unique factors such as varying perishability, seasonal production, and the need for adherence to safety and quality standards, amidst complex and diverse networks. Despite its critical role, a structured approach to navigating FFSC sustainability challenges is lacking. Our research undertakes a thorough two-stage examination of current scholarly work to identify key factors affecting FFSC sustainability. Initially, we reviewed 182 papers on broader FFSC management to gauge the field's research landscape, guiding a focused review. Subsequently, a detailed analysis of 39 papers specifically on FFSC sustainability led to the development of a comprehensive framework, comprising FFSC characteristics, entities, management practices, and enabling factors. This framework aims to enhance understanding and guide efforts by researchers, practitioners, and policymakers towards fostering sustainability in FFSC, thereby supporting the achievement of SDGs.
Now you see me, now you don’t: an exploration of religious exnomination in DALL-E
Authors: Alfano Mark , Abedin Ehsan , Reimann Ritsaart , Ferreira Marinus , Cheong Marc
Published: April 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly being used not only to classify and analyze but also to generate images and text. As recent work on the content produced by text and image Generative AIs has shown (e.g., Cheong et al., 2024, Acerbi & Stubbersfield, 2023), there is a risk that harms of representation and bias, already documented in prior AI and natural language processing (NLP) algorithms may also be present in generative models. These harms relate to protected categories such as gender, race, age, and religion. There are several kinds of harms of representation to consider in this context, including stereotyping, lack of recognition, denigration, under-representation, and many others (Crawford in Soundings 41:45–55, 2009; in: Barocas et al., SIGCIS Conference, 2017). Whereas the bulk of researchers’ attention thus far has been given to stereotyping and denigration, in this study we examine ‘exnomination’, as conceived by Roland Barthes (1972), of religious groups. Our case study is DALL-E, a tool that generates images from natural language prompts. Using DALL-E mini, we generate images from generic prompts such as “religious person.” We then examine whether the generated images are recognizably members of a nominated group. Thus, we assess whether the generated images normalize some religions while neglecting others. We hypothesize that Christianity will be recognizably represented more frequently than other religious groups. Our results partially support this hypothesis but introduce further complexities, which we then explore.
Under pressure: evidence for selection on color-related genes in poison frogs of the genus Ranitomeya
Authors: Rubio Andrew O. , Stuckert Adam M. M. , LaPolice Troy M. , Cole T. Jeffrey , Summers Kyle
Published: April 2024

Aposematic organisms rely on their bright conspicuous coloration to communicate to potential predators that they are toxic and unpalatable. These aposematic phenotypes are strongly tied to survival and therefore make excellent opportunities to investigate the genetic underpinning of coloration. The genus Ranitomeya includes phenotypically diverse members of Neotropical aposematic poison frogs native to South America. Significant progress has been made in elucidating the molecular mechanisms responsible for aposematic coloration in poison frogs, which have paved the way for future studies to test hypotheses of the evolution of coloration across aposematic vertebrates. However, very little is known about whether these color related genes are under positive selection. We assembled transcriptomes from publicly available data reads sets for 9 different color morphs of poison frogs in the Ranitomeya genus that display bright conspicuous coloration (four morphs of R. imitator, two morphs of R. variabilis, two morphs of R. fantastica, one morph of R. summersi) to identify protein-coding genes responsible for color production that are under positive selection. Our results show that there are multiple genes under strong positive selection that are predicted to play roles in melanin synthesis (dct, tyrp1, irf4), iridophore development (fhl1), keratin metabolism (ovol1), pteridine synthesis (prps1, xdh), and carotenoid metabolism (adh1b, aldh2). The identification of positive selection affecting candidate color-pattern genes is consistent with the possibility that these genes mediate (in part) the molecular evolution of coloration. This may be attributed to aposematic phenotypes being directly tied to survival and reproduction in poison frogs.
Evaluation of EGFR and COX pathway inhibition in human colon organoids of serrated polyposis and other hereditary cancer syndromes
Authors: Kanth Priyanka , Hazel Mark W. , Schell John C. , Rutter Jared , Yao Ruoxin , Mills Alyssa P. , Delker Don A.
Published: April 2024

Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) presents with multiple sessile serrated lesions (SSL) in the large intestine and confers increased colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. However, the etiology of SPS is not known. SSL-derived organoids have not been previously studied but may help provide insights into SPS pathogenesis and identify novel biomarkers and chemopreventive strategies. This study examined effects of EGFR and COX pathway inhibition in organoid cultures derived from uninvolved colon and polyps of SPS patients. We also compared with organoids representing the hereditary gastrointestinal syndromes, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome (LS). Eighteen total organoid colon cultures were generated from uninvolved colon and polyps in SPS, FAP, LS, and non-syndromic screening colonoscopy patients. BRAF and KRAS mutation status was determined for each culture. Erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor) and sulindac (COX inhibitor) were applied individually and in combination. A 44-target gene custom mRNA panel (including WNT and COX pathway genes) and a 798-gene microRNA gene panel were used to quantitate organoid RNA expression by NanoString analysis. Erlotinib treatment significantly decreased levels of mRNAs associated with WNT and MAPK kinase signaling in organoids from uninvolved colon from all four patient categories and from all SSL and adenomatous polyps. Sulindac did not change the mRNA profile in any culture. Our findings suggest that EGFR inhibitors may contribute to the chemopreventive treatment of SSLs. These findings may also facilitate clinical trial design using these agents in SPS patients. Differentially expressed genes identified in our study (MYC, FOSL1, EGR1, IL33, LGR5 and FOXQ1) may be used to identify other new molecular targets for chemoprevention of SSLs.
Practical challenges in mediation analysis: a guide for applied researchers
Authors: Schuler Megan S. , Coffman Donna L. , Stuart Elizabeth A. , Nguyen Trang Q. , Vegetabile Brian , McCaffrey Daniel F.
Published: April 2024

Mediation analysis is a statistical approach that can provide insights regarding the intermediary processes by which an intervention or exposure affects a given outcome. Mediation analyses rose to prominence, particularly in social science research, with the publication of Baron and Kenny’s seminal paper and is now commonly applied in many research disciplines, including health services research. Despite the growth in popularity, applied researchers may still encounter challenges in terms of conducting mediation analyses in practice. In this paper, we provide an overview of conceptual and methodological challenges that researchers face when conducting mediation analyses. Specifically, we discuss the following key challenges: (1) Conceptually differentiating mediators from other “third variables,” (2) Extending beyond the single mediator context, (3) Identifying appropriate datasets in which measurement and temporal ordering support the hypothesized mediation model, (4) Selecting mediation effects that reflect the scientific question of interest, (5) Assessing the validity of underlying assumptions of no omitted confounders, (6) Addressing measurement error regarding the mediator, and (7) Clearly reporting results from mediation analyses. We discuss each challenge and highlight ways in which the applied researcher can approach these challenges.
Domain Adaptation for Fear of Heights Classification in a VR Environment Based on EEG and ECG
Authors: Apicella Andrea , Arpaia Pasquale , Barbato Simone , D’Errico Giovanni , Mastrati Giovanna , Moccaldi Nicola , Vallefuoco Ersilia , Wriessnegger Selina Christin
Published: April 2024

Three levels of fear of heights were detected in subjects with different severities of acrophobia, based on the electroencephalographic (EEG) and electrocardiographic (ECG) signals. The study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a data-fusion-based method for real-time assessment of the fear of heights intensity to integrate into adaptive Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for acrophobia. The generalization performance of classification tasks on fear states is improved by exploiting both trait-based clustering and Domain Adaptation methods. Participants were gradually exposed to increasing height levels through a Virtual Reality (VR) scenario representing a canyon. The initial severity of fear of heights, the level of distress at each height, and the anxiety level before and after the exposure were assessed through the Acrophobia Questionnaire, the Subjective Unit of Distress, and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire was administered to exclude possible motion sickness interference in the experiment. The EEG and ECG signals were acquired through a 32-channel headset and 1 Lead ECG derivation during the exposure to the eliciting VR scenario. Four classifiers (i.e. Support Vector Machines, Deep Neural Networks, Random Forests, and k-Nearest Neighbors) were adopted in the experimental environment. Preliminary tests were performed in a within-subject experiment, achieving the best classification accuracy of $$87.1 \% \pm 7.8 \%$$

87.1
%
±
7.8
%

with a Deep Neural Network. As the cross-subject approach is concerned, three strategies, namely Domain Adaptation (DA), data fusion (combining EEG with ECG), and participant clustering (based on the acrophobia severity), were evaluated. DA resulted in the most effective strategies by determining an improvement of more than 20 % in classification accuracy. Random Forest performed the best classification accuracy for the severe acrophobia cluster with a mean of $$63.6 \%$$

63.6
%

and a standard deviation of $$ 13.4 \%$$

13.4
%

over three classes by exploiting Stratified Normalization.
Examining Relationships Among Alcohol Use Disorder, Child Caretaking, and Intimate Partner Violence in High-Risk Couples
Authors: Giff Sarah T. , Forkus Shannon R. , Massa Andrea A. , Brower Jessica L. , Jarnecke Amber M. , Flanagan Julianne C.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health concern that is highly prevalent among couples with alcohol misuse. It is well-established that alcohol can exacerbate negative IPV outcomes; however, less is known about how hazardous alcohol consumption, combined with family composition, such as the presence of children in the home, may impact IPV in a dyadic context. The current study examined the separate and interactive roles of the couple’s caretaking status and alcohol use disorder (AUD) severity on psychological and physical IPV victimization.

Methods

Secondary data were analyzed from 100 couples considered high risk due to reporting physical IPV and at least one partner meeting criteria for AUD. Multilevel mixture models were used to dyadically test how caretaking status and each partner’s AUD severity, separately and interactively, related to the couple’s psychological and physical IPV severity.

Results

Caretaking status and one’s own AUD severity, when examined separately, were positively related to psychological and physical IPV victimization. One’s partner’s AUD severity was also related to severity of physical IPV victimization. There was no evidence of an interaction in this sample.

Conclusions

Caretaking status played an important role in IPV victimization even when accounting for AUD in high-risk couples. Caretaking status and AUD did not interact; however, the significant main effects suggest an additive association, such that the combination of AUD severity and caretaking is more risky for IPV victimization than either factor alone. Findings highlight the importance of considering family composition and alcohol use behaviors on IPV risk.
RFSoC Gen3-Based Software-Defined Radio Characterization for the Readout System of Low-Temperature Bolometers
Authors: Redondo M. E. García , Muscheid T. , Gartmann R. , Salum J. M. , Ferreyro L. P. , Müller N. A. , Bonilla-Neira J. D. , Geria J. M. , Bonaparte J. J. , Almela A. , Ardila-Perez L. E. , Hampel M. R. , Fuster A. E. , Platino M. , Sander O. , Weber M. , Etchegoyen A.
Published: April 2024

This work reports the performance evaluation of an SDR readout system based on the latest generation (Gen3) of AMD’s Radio-Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSoC) processing platform, which integrates a full-stack processing system and a powerful FPGA with up to 32 high-speed and high-resolution 14-bit Digital-to-Analog Converters and 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converters. The proposed readout system uses a previously developed multi-band, double-conversion IQ RF-mixing board targeting a multiplexing factor of approximately 1000 bolometers in a bandwidth between 4 and 8 GHz, in line with state-of-the-art microwave SQUID multiplexers. The characterization of the system was performed in two stages, under the conditions typically imposed by the multiplexer and the cold readout circuit: first, in transmission, showing that noise and spurious levels of the generated tones are close to the values imposed by the cold readout, and second, in RF loopback, presenting noise values better than −100 dBc/Hz totally in agreement with the state-of-the-art readout systems. It was demonstrated that the RFSoC Gen3 device is a suitable enabling technology for the next generation of superconducting detector readout systems, reducing system complexity, increasing system integration, and achieving these goals without performance degradation.
Adverse Effects of Meditation: Autonomic Nervous System Activation and Individual Nauseous Responses During Samadhi Meditation in the Czech Republic
Authors: Kotherová Silvie , Cigán Jakub , Štěpánková Lenka , Vyskočilová Mária , Littnerová Simona , Ejova Anastasia , Sepši Milan
Published: April 2024

Buddhist meditation practices, including Samadhi meditation, which forms the basis for mindfulness practice, are broadly promoted as pathways to wellbeing, but evidence of their adverse effects is emerging. In a single-group observational study with assessments of autonomic system before, during, and after Samadhi meditation, we explore the relationship between post-meditation nausea symptoms and the degree of change in autonomic system activity during meditation as compared to before and after in 57 university students (42 women; mean age = 22.6) without any previous experience in meditation or yoga practices. We hypothesize that nauseous feelings in meditation are connected to a rapid increase of activity in the sympathetic nervous system, as indicated by decreased heart-rate variability (HRV). We additionally explore links between meditation-induced nausea and two markers of parasympathetic activity: increased HRV and vasovagal syncope. Engaging in meditation and increased nausea during meditation were both associated with increased markers of HRV parasympathetic activity, but 12 individuals with markedly higher nausea demonstrated increased HRV markers of sympathetic activity during meditation. Vasovagal syncope was observed but found to be unrelated to nausea levels. Drivers of adverse effects of meditation in some individuals require further investigation.
Spirituality, Organizational Gratefulness, and Well-Being Among Polish Workers
Authors: Wnuk Marcin
Published: April 2024

The relationship between spirituality at work and occupational and subjective well-being is not a well-recognized area of research. Many studies have indicated the beneficial effects of spiritual activities on employees’ flourishing, but the mechanisms of this influence are still not sufficiently explained. This study aimed to verify the proposed mechanisms that underlie employees’ spirituality, stress at work, and life satisfaction, and the role of gratitude toward the organization in these relationships. It was assumed that employees’ spirituality is indirectly related to stress at work via gratitude toward the organization. In turn, gratitude toward the organization is directly and indirectly related to life satisfaction through stress at work. The study encompassed 754 individuals working in different companies in Poland. In a sample of women, both spirituality dimensions were indirectly related to stress at work and life satisfaction. Among men, only the secular dimension of spirituality, such as attitude toward coworkers, was indirectly related to stress at work and life satisfaction. Gratitude toward the organization was negatively directly related to stress at work and, through this variable, indirectly positively related to life satisfaction. The benefits of employees’ spirituality for their well-being were confirmed, emphasizing a grateful attitude toward the organization as a significant factor in this relationship.
Real-world university course timetabling at the International Timetabling Competition 2019
Authors: Müller Tomáš , Rudová Hana , Müllerová Zuzana
Published: April 2024

The paper discusses the organization of the International Timetabling Competition (ITC 2019), which intends to motivate further research on complex university course timetabling problems coming from practice. Thanks to the UniTime timetabling system, we have collected a strong set of benchmark instances with diverse characteristics for the competition. The key novelty lies in the combination of student sectioning with standard time and room assignment of particular course events. The paper analyzes the real-world course timetabling problems present in the competition. The characteristics of thirty competition instances are described together with their representative features, which are discussed institution by institution. The existing solvers are described and compared based on their competition, current, and time-limited results whenever available. As of October 2023, the competition website has about 490 registered users from 66 countries worldwide and is kept up to date with new results.
Application of Portfolio Optimization to Achieve Persistent Time Series
Authors: Zlatniczki Adam , Telcs Andras
Published: April 2024

The greater the persistence in a financial time series, the more predictable it becomes, allowing for the development of more effective investment strategies. Desirable attributes for financial portfolios include persistence, smoothness, long memory, and higher auto-correlation. We argue that these properties can be achieved by adjusting the composition weights of the portfolio. Considering the fractal nature of typical financial time series, the fractal dimension emerges as a natural metric to gauge the smoothness of the portfolio trajectory. Specifically, the Hurst exponent is designed for measuring the persistence of time series. In this paper, we introduce an optimization method inspired by the Hurst exponent and signal processing to mitigate the irregularities in the portfolio trajectory. We illustrate the effectiveness of this approach using real data from an S &P100 dataset.
Experimental analysis and numerical simulation of biomass pyrolysis
Authors: Elhenawy Yasser , Fouad Kareem , Mansi Amr , Bassyouni M. , Gadalla Mamdouh , Ashour Fatma , Majozi Thokozani
Published: April 2024

Finding alternatives to fossil fuels is extremely important for economic and environmental considerations. Biomass pyrolysis stands out as an efficient method for generating fuels and chemical intermediates. This study explored the influence of wood particle size (ranging from 1 to 3 cm) and pyrolysis temperature (ranging from about 300 to 480 °C) on the process. Characterization of wood residues utilized energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to comprehend surface morphology and resultant biochar structure. Results revealed a significant temperature-dependent impact on pyrolysis product concentrations. Biomass composition analysis indicates lignin, hemicellulose, extractive contents, and cellulose percentages at 11.23%, 39%, 2.15%, and 47.62% mass/mass, respectively. Reduction in particle size to less than 2 mm enhances heat transfer, elevating overall bio-oil production. Major bio-oil components comprise phenolics, acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. Optimal conditions are identified at a wood particle size of 1 cm and a heating temperature of 480 °C. For every 1.0 kg of wood biomass residues, bio-oil, syngas, and biochar yields are 0.38 kg, 0.22 kg, and 0.4 kg, respectively. Notably, the agreement between Aspen Plus simulation and experimental findings underscored the robustness of the study.
Application of a Heuristic Framework for Multilevel Interventions to Eliminate the Impact of Unjust Social Processes and Other Harmful Social Determinants of Health
Authors: Guilamo-Ramos Vincent , Thimm-Kaiser Marco , Benzekri Adam , Johnson Celia , Williams Desiree , Wilhelm-Hilkey Nash , Goodman Melody , Hagan Holly
Published: April 2024

There is consensus about the importance of developing a strong cadre of effective multilevel interventions to eliminate the impacts of unjust social processes, such as structural racism and other harmful social determinants of health (SDOH), on health inequities in the USA. However, the available cadre of rigorously evaluated evidence-based interventions for SDOH mitigation remains underdeveloped relative to the magnitude of historic and current health inequities. The proposed manuscript addresses this gap in two ways: first, by introducing a heuristic framework to inform decisions in multilevel intervention development, study design, and selection of analytic methods and, second, by providing a roadmap for future applications of the framework in multilevel intervention research through an exemplar application using the ongoing NIH-funded evaluation study of the Nurse-Community-Family Partnership (NCFP) intervention. NCFP leverages individual, family, institutional, and system factors to shape COVID-19 mitigation outcomes at the individual and household levels. NCFP takes an approach informed by the heuristic framework to addressing and mitigating unjust social processes and other harmful SDOH. We discuss the application of a two-arm parallel explanatory group randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of NCFP in improving the primary (COVID-19 testing uptake) and secondary (adoption of COVID-19 control measures, COVID-19 vaccine uptake, mutual aid capacity, etc.) outcomes at the individual and household levels. The analysis approach relies on random-intercept models, and we calculate the variance partitioning coefficient to estimate the extent to which household- and individual-level variables contribute to the outcome, allowing examination of NCFP effects at multiple levels.
Diet and habitat as determinants of intestine length in fishes
Authors: Duque-Correa Maria J. , Clements Kendall D. , Meloro Carlo , Ronco Fabrizia , Boila Anna , Indermaur Adrian , Salzburger Walter , Clauss Marcus
Published: April 2024

Fish biologists have long assumed a link between intestinal length and diet, and relative gut length or Zihler’s index are often used to classify species into trophic groups. This has been done for specific fish taxa or specific ecosystems, but not for a global fish dataset. Here, we assess these relationships across a dataset of 468 fish species (254 marine, 191 freshwater, and 23 that occupy both habitats) in relation to body mass and fish length. Herbivores had significantly relatively stouter bodies and longer intestines than omni- and faunivores. Among faunivores, corallivores had longer intestines than invertivores, with piscivores having the shortest. There were no detectable differences between herbivore groups, possibly due to insufficient understanding of herbivorous fish diets. We propose that reasons for long intestines in fish include (i) difficult-to-digest items that require a symbiotic microbiome, and (ii) the dilution of easily digestible compounds with indigestible material (e.g., sand, wood, exoskeleton). Intestinal indices differed significantly between dietary groups, but there was substantial group overlap. Counter-intuitively, in the largest dataset, marine species had significantly shorter intestines than freshwater fish. These results put fish together with mammals as vertebrate taxa with clear convergence in intestine length in association with trophic level, in contrast to reptiles and birds, even if the peculiar feeding ecology of herbivorous fish is probably more varied than that of mammalian herbivores.
Statutory Interpretation and Levels of Conceptual Categorisation: The Presumption of Legal Language Explained in Terms of Cognitive Linguistics
Authors: Wojtczak Sylwia , Zeifert Mateusz
Published: April 2024

This article probes the usefulness of selected theories from Cognitive Linguistics in the context of statutory interpretation. The presumption of legal language is a well-established rule of statutory construction in Polish legal practice that comes from the internationally recognised theory by Jerzy Wróblewski. It rests on a controversial assumption that there are different levels of generality in legal language (i.e. the language of statutes) and a single term may be given different meanings depending on the level of generality that is referred to. The authors use the notion of basic level categorisation from the cognitive theory of prototypes to explain this mechanism. Legal concepts, not unlike ordinary concepts, form hierarchical taxonomies. A single term may denote concepts that are situated at different levels in different conceptual taxonomies. In the absence of special circumstances, a legal term should be given the meaning that resides at a higher level of categorisation in the respective legal taxonomy. This way, the presumption of legal language is found to be justified on both linguistic and psychological grounds.
Lagrangian possibilities
Authors: Ruyant Quentin , Guay Alexandre
Published: April 2024

Natural modalities are often analysed from an abstract point of view where they are associated with putative laws of nature. However, the way possibilities are represented in physics is more complex. Lagrangian mechanics, for instance, involves two different layers of modalities: kinematical and dynamical possibilities. This paper examines the status of these two layers, both in the classical and quantum case. The quantum case is particularly problematic: we identify four possible interpretive options. The upshot is that a close inspection of the way possibilities are represented in physics could lead to new ways of thinking about natural modalities.