bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical dataset evaluation: A case study on named entity recognition
Authors: Wang Chengwen , Dong Qingxiu , Wang Xiaochen , Sui Zhifang
Published: September 2024

Datasets serve as crucial training resources and model performance trackers. However, existing datasets have exposed a plethora of problems, inducing biased models and unreliable evaluation results. In this paper, we propose a model-agnostic dataset evaluation framework for automatic dataset quality evaluation. We seek the statistical properties of the datasets and address three fundamental dimensions: reliability, difficulty, and validity, following a Classical Test Theory (CTT). Taking the named entity recognition (NER) datasets as a case study, we introduce nine statistical metrics for a statistical dataset evaluation framework. Specifically, we investigate the reliability of a NER dataset with three metrics, including Redundancy, Accuracy, and Leakage Ratio. We assess the dataset difficulty through four metrics: Unseen Entity Ratio, Entity Ambiguity Degree, Entity Density, and Model Differentiation. For validity, we introduce the Entity Imbalance Degree and Entity-Null Rate to evaluate the effectiveness of the dataset in assessing language model performance. Experimental results validate that our evaluation framework effectively assesses various aspects of the dataset quality. Furthermore, we study how the dataset scores on our statistical metrics affect the model performance and appeal for dataset quality evaluation or targeted dataset improvement before training or testing models.
Late positive potential reveals sustained threat contingencies despite extinction in adolescents but not adults
Authors: Shner-Livne Gil , Barak Nadav , Shitrit Ido , Abend Rany , Shechner Tomer
Published: September 2024

Background

Major theories link threat learning processes to anxiety symptoms, which typically emerge during adolescence. While this developmental stage is marked by substantial maturation of the neural circuity involved in threat learning, research directly examining adolescence-specific patterns of neural responding during threat learning is scarce. This study compared adolescents and adults in acquisition and extinction of conditioned threat responses assessed at the cognitive, psychophysiological, and neural levels, focusing on the late positive potential (LPP), an event-related potential (ERP) component indexing emotional valence.

Method

Sixty-five adults and 63 adolescents completed threat acquisition and extinction, 24 h apart, using the bell conditioning paradigm. Self-reported fear, skin conductance responses (SCR), and ERPs were measured.

Results

Developmental differences emerged in neural and psychophysiological responses during threat acquisition, with adolescents displaying heightened LPP responses to threat and safety cues as well as heightened threat-specific SCR compared to adults. During extinction, SCR suggested comparable reduction in conditioned threat responses across groups, while LPP revealed incomplete extinction only among adolescents. Finally, age moderated the link between anxiety severity and LPP-assessed extinction, whereby greater anxiety severity was associated with reduced extinction among younger participants.

Conclusions

In line with developmental theories, adolescence is characterized by a specific age-related difficulty adapting to diminishing emotional significance of prior threats, contributing to heightened vulnerability to anxiety symptoms. Further, LPP appears to be sensitive to developmental differences in threat learning and may thus potentially serve as a useful biomarker in research on adolescents, threat learning, and anxiety.
Effort-based decision-making in ultra-high-risk for psychosis and bipolar disorder
Authors: Bora E. , Cesim E. , Eyuboglu M. S. , Demir M. , Yalincetin B. , Ermis C. , Özbek Uzman S. , Sut E. , Demirlek C. , Verim B. , Baykara B. , İnal N. , Akdede B. B.
Published: September 2024

Background

Effort-based decision-making has been proposed as a potential mechanism contributing to transdiagnostic motivational deficits in psychotic disorder and bipolar disorder. However, very limited information is available about deficits in effort-cost-decision-making in the early stages of psychotic disorder and no study has investigated effort allocation deficits before the onset of bipolar disorder. Our aim was to investigate effort-based-decision-making in ultra-high-risk for psychosis (UHR-P) and bipolar disorder (UHR-BD).

Methods

Effort-cost decision-making performance was evaluated in UHR-P (n = 72) and UHR-BD (n = 68) and healthy controls (n = 38). Effort-Expenditure for Reward Task (EEfRT) was used.

Results

Compared to controls, both UHR-P and UHR-BD groups were associated with a reduced possibility to choose the harder task when the reward magnitudes and/or the likelihood of receiving the reward were high. In both groups, effort allocation abnormalities were associated with poor social functioning.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that difficulties in effort-cost computation are transdiagnostic markers of illness liability in psychotic and bipolar disorders. In early intervention services, effort-based decision-making abnormalities should be considered as a target for interventions to manage motivational deficits in individuals at high risk for psychosis and BD.
The effectiveness of psychological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published over last 30 years
Authors: Wang Yingying , Miguel Clara , Ciharova Marketa , Amarnath Arpana , Lin Jingyuan , Zhao Ruiying , Toffolo Marieke B.J. , Struijs Sascha Y. , de Wit Leonore M. , Cuijpers Pim
Published: September 2024

Background

Although numerous studies have examined the effects of psychological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), their overall effectiveness remains unclear. We aimed to estimate their overall effect by combining all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing psychological treatments to control groups for OCD.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis of 48 RCTs with 55 comparisons published between 1992 and 1 January 2023. The primary outcome was OCD symptom severity, with Hedges' g calculated at post-treatment and follow-up. Random-effects models were employed for all analyses, and the risk of bias was assessed.

Results

In general, psychological treatments demonstrated a significantly large effect (g = −1.14; 95% CI [−1.31 to −0.97]; I2 = 72.23%) on reducing OCD symptom severity post-treatment, this finding remained consistent across measures and after excluding outliers, but lost significance in the sensitivity analysis for only studies with low risk of bias. Type of treatment, control group and treatment format were associated with treatment effects. Moreover, more severe baseline OCD symptom severity predicted higher degree of treatment efficacy. No significant differences were observed in dropout rates between the treatment and control groups. Treatment effects lost significance at 3–6 and 6–12 month follow-ups. 87% of RCTs were rated at high risk of bias.

Conclusions

Psychological treatments are effective in reducing OCD symptom severity. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting these results due to the high heterogeneity and risk of bias across RCTs. Future studies with more rigorous methodology are required, as well as studies examining their long-term effectiveness.
Maternal Characteristics in Natural and Medically Assisted Reproduction Dizygotic Twin Pregnancies
Authors: Hubers Nikki , Page Christian M. , Ligthart Lannie , Pool René , Hottenga Jouke-Jan , van Dongen Jenny , Lambalk Cornelis B. , Harris Jennifer R. , Willemsen Gonneke , Boomsma Dorret I.
Published: September 2024

Previous studies have shown that mothers of naturally conceived dizygotic (DZ) twins tend to be taller, older, and smoke more than mothers of naturally conceived monozygotic (MZ) twin and mothers of singletons. Here, we investigate whether mothers of naturally conceived DZ twins differ from mothers who conceived their DZ twins after medically assisted reproduction (MAR) in eight maternal traits related to fertility based on observational survey data. We include data from 33,648 mothers from the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) and 1660 mothers of twins from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBA). We contrast mothers of naturally conceived DZ twins with mothers of MAR DZ twins. Next, we further segment the MAR group into mothers who underwent hormonal induction of ovulation but not in vitro fertilization (IVF) and those who IVF twins, comparing them both to each other and against the mothers of naturally conceived DZ twins. Mothers of naturally conceived DZ twins smoke more often, differ in body composition, have a higher maternal age and have more offspring before the twins than mothers of MZ twins. Compared to MAR DZ twin mothers, mothers of naturally conceived DZ twins have fewer miscarriages, lower maternal age and increased height, more offspring and are more often smokers. BMI before the twin pregnancy is similar in both natural and MAR DZ twin mothers. Mothers who received hormonal induction of ovulation (OI) have a lower maternal age, fewer miscarriages, and a higher number of offspring before their twin pregnancy than twin mothers who received IVF and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatments. Our study shows that twin mothers are a heterogenous group and the differences between twin mothers should be taken into account in epidemiological and genetic research that includes twins.
Jugendliche mit Geschlechtsinkongruenz – besondere Fallkonstellationen
Authors: Pauli Dagmar
Published: September 2024

Zusammenfassung: Jugendliche mit Geschlechtsinkongruenz und Varianten der Geschlechtsidentität weisen eine hohe Rate an psychischen Begleitstörungen auf zum Beispiel Depressionen, Autismusspektrumsstörungen oder Essstörungen. Die Interaktion zwischen der Geschlechtsinkongruenz, dem geschlechtsdypshorischen Leidensdruck und begleitenden psychischen Störungen sind komplex und differieren von Fall zu Fall erheblich. Eine individualisierte Herangehensweise und sorgfältige fachliche Einschätzung sind erforderlich, um in komplexen Fallkonstellationen die Betroffenen und deren Sorgeberechtigte zu einer informierten Entscheidung hinsichtlich möglicher Behandlungsschritte zu begleiten. Durch sorgfältige Prozessbegleitung und Planung der Behandlungsschritte kann eine Auflösung blockierter Entwicklungsprozesse bei Jugendlichen mit Geschlechtsinkongruenz und psychischen Begleitstörungen oder jungen Menschen mit instabiler Geschlechtsidentitätsentwicklung gelingen.
Comprehensive Flow Turbulence Metrics to Improve Bar Rack Guidance for Downstream Migrating Fish
Authors: Fang X. , Kumahor S. , Tachie M. F. , Katopodis C. , Ghamry H.
Published: September 2024

Turbulent flows are investigated upstream of a bar rack system that is recommended as optimum in recent literature from tests with several fish species of different morphology, swimming ability, and behavior. Both two‐dimensional two‐component and two‐dimensional three‐component state‐of‐the‐art particle image velocimetry were used to quantify and analyze hydrodynamic metrics important for downstream migrating species. The inclination angles of the bar and rack were 45° and 30°, respectively, and the thickness of the bottom overlay was 13% of the water depth. The two Reynolds numbers investigated, based on incoming velocity and bar thickness, were 4,000 and 6,000. The statistical and structural characteristics of turbulent flows in the streamwise‐spanwise plane at 5% water depth, and the streamwise‐vertical plane at channel mid‐span are discussed. Upstream of the bottom overlay, the mean flow is deflected and accelerated toward the bypass, leading to an increase in the Reynolds stresses, while the turbulence eddies become smaller. For effective fish guidance, it is recommended that sweeping velocity (Vp) be larger than normal velocity (Vn), with Vp parallel and Vn perpendicular to the bar rack and bottom overlay. In the downstream half of the bar rack, Vn may increase sufficiently to surpass Vp near the bypass, possibly reducing effective guidance for some species and sizes. Upstream of the bars, the levels of streamwise mean velocity vary abruptly, which may deter fish from contacting the bars. Although inferences on passage effectiveness are made based on previous studies, tests with different species and sizes are needed to confirm fish responses.
Cyclone Gabrielle as a Design Storm for Northeastern Aotearoa New Zealand Under Anthropogenic Warming
Authors: Stone Dáithí A. , Noble Christopher J. , Bodeker Greg E. , Dean Sam M. , Harrington Luke J. , Rosier Suzanne M. , Rye Graham D. , Tradowsky Jordis S.
Published: September 2024

Cyclone Gabrielle passed along the northern coast of Aotearoa New Zealand in February 2023, producing historic rainfall accumulations and impacts. Gabrielle was an ex‐tropical cyclone that stalled and re‐energised off the north coast, resembling descriptions of worst case scenarios for the northeast of the country. Here we report on a comparison of the actual forecast of the storm against forecasts under conditions representative of a climate without anthropogenic interference and of a climate +2.0°C warmer than pre‐industrial (about 1.0°C cooler and warmer than present respectively). We find that regional total rainfall accumulations from a Gabrielle‐like storm are about 10% higher because of the historical anthropogenic warming, and will increase by a larger amount under similar future warming. These differences are driven by a 20% (relative to a non‐anthropogenic world) to 30% (relative to a +2.0°C world) rise in peak rainfall rates, which in turn is mainly driven by a more temporally concentrated column‐integrated moisture flux. The forecast model generates the larger increase for the +2.0°C world through greater precipitation efficiency, reflecting the importance of unresolved precipitation processes in the climate change response of rainfall extremes.
Local Empirical Modeling of NmF2 Using Ionosonde Observations and the FISM2 Solar EUV Model
Authors: Singh D. , Goncharenko L. P. , Galkin I. A. , Chamberlin P. C. , Redondo F.
Published: September 2024

Local empirical models of the F2 layer peak electron density (NmF2) are developed for 43 low‐ middle latitude ionosonde stations using auto‐scaled data from Lowell GIRO data center and manually scaled data from World Data Center for Ionosphere and Space Weather. Data coverage at these stations ranges from a few years to up to 6 decades. Flare Irradiance Spectral Model index version 2 (FISM2) and ap3 index are used to parametrize the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) flux and geomagnetic activity dependence of NmF2. Learning curves suggest that approximately 8 years of data coverage is required to constrain the solar activity dependence of NmF2. Output of local models altogether captures well known anomalies of the F2 ionospheric layer. Performance metrics demonstrate that the model parametrized using FISM2 has better accuracy than a similarly parametrized model with F10.7, as well as than the IRI‐2020 model. Skill score metrics indicate that the FISM2 based model outperforms F10.7 model at all solar activity levels. The improved accuracy of model with FISM2 over F10.7 is due to better representation of solar rotation by FISM2, and due to its performance at solar extremum. Application of singular spectrum analysis to model output reveals that solar rotation contributes to about 2%–3% of the variance in NmF2 data and FISM2 based model, while F10.7 based models overestimate the strength of solar rotation to be at 4%–7%. At solar extremum, both F10.7‐based model and IRI‐2020 tend to overestimate the NmF2 while FISM2 provides the most accurate prediction out of three.
Evidence of Plasma Mixing at the Earth's Magnetopause Due To Kelvin Helmholtz Vortices
Authors: Radhakrishnan Dinesh K. V. , Fuselier Stephen A. , Petrinec Steven M. , Rice Rachel C. , Nykyri Katariina , Trattner Karlheinz J. , Gershman Daniel J. , Burch James L.
Published: September 2024

Kelvin Helmholtz Instabilities (KHI) result from interactions between the shocked solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere. These are formed due to the velocity shear between the plasma in the magnetosphere and magnetosheath. The role of KHI in bringing in the shocked solar wind into the terrestrial magnetosphere has been studied extensively using MHD, Hall‐MHD, hybrid and PIC simulations. Such simulations oftentimes make simplifying assumptions of the boundary layer in the magnetopause. To experimentally study the effects of KHI on the boundary layer and its effectiveness in bringing in solar wind, we analyze 43 KHI events. All these events have quasi‐constant IMF orientation during its interval, thereby mitigating the effects of variation of IMF in the ongoing transient magnetopause process. In this statistical study of KHIs, we demonstrate that there is a preexisting boundary layer before KHIs begin to develop. As KHI develops to its non‐linear state, the ions in the magnetosphere, magnetopause, and magnetosheath are mixed, which is demonstrated using the alpha‐to‐proton density ratio. As a result of this mixing, the well‐defined preexisting boundary layer is replaced by a much more uniformly mixed boundary layer.
Synoptic Circulation Forcing of Large‐Scale Extreme Precipitation Events Over Southeastern China
Authors: Wu Xinxin , Tan Xuezhi , Chen Xiaohong , Huang Zeqin
Published: September 2024

Large‐scale extreme precipitation (LSExP) events, characterized by widespread extent, persistence, and high intensity, can pose devastating threats to millions of people, infrastructure, and ecology in highly urbanized southeastern China. Here we explore the three‐dimensional (spatial and temporal) characteristics and movements of LSExPs and their direct drivers (vertical velocity, water vapor and moisture advection) under six synoptic‐scale circulation patterns in southeastern China. LSExPs are classified as low‐pressure or non‐low types based on circulation anomaly patterns. The low‐pressure LSExPs are associated with anomalous cyclonic low‐pressure systems in the mid‐ and lower‐troposphere, occurring with main coastal precipitation, while the non‐low LSExPs mainly result from cold‐warm air convergence and primarily affect inland areas. Low‐pressure LSExPs exhibit relatively high intensity compared to non‐low types, particularly on days featuring a south‐low and north‐high dipole pattern, which tend to produce more localized and intense precipitation events. Non‐low LSExPs show larger precipitation areas, longer durations, and greater movement distances, and thus impact wider regions, compared to low‐pressure LSExPs. Single high‐pressure or low‐pressure systems are less likely to result in LSExPs, and LSExPs are less severe if occur, compared to other types. All LSExP types move in a direction similar to that of moisture transport, strongly influenced by extreme upward motion of moisture. Low‐pressure LSExPs are more related to the upward motion of the atmosphere at 850 hPa, and they also involve extreme water vapor and moisture transport.
Sources of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds During the Salt Lake Regional Smoke, Ozone and Aerosol Study (SAMOZA) 2022
Authors: Cope Emily M. , Ketcherside Damien T. , Jin Lixu , Tan Lu , Mansfield Marc , Jones Colleen , Lyman Seth , Jaffe Dan , Hu Lu
Published: September 2024

We present measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other trace gases taken in Salt Lake City, Utah in August and September 2022. As part of the Salt Lake regional Smoke, Ozone and Aerosol Study (SAMOZA), 35 VOCs were measured with two methods: a proton‐transfer‐reaction time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer (PTR‐ToF‐MS) and 2,4‐dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) cartridges analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Over two months, the total measured VOCs averaged 32 ± 24 ppb (mean ± standard deviation) with the hourly maximum at 141 ppb, and the total calculated OH reactivity averaged 3.7 ± 3.0 s−1 (maximum at 20.7 s−1). Among them, methanol and ethanol were the most abundant VOCs, making up 42% of the ambient mixing ratio. Isoprene and monoterpenes contributed 25% of the OH reactivity from VOCs, while formaldehyde and acetaldehyde made up another 30%. The positive matrix factorization analysis showed 5 major sources of VOCs, with 32% of abundance being attributed to secondary production/biogenic sources, 44% from the combination of traffic and personal care products, 15% from industrial solvent use, and the rest from biomass burning (10%). Moderate smoke‐impacted days elevated various hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) on average by 45%–217% compared to smoke‐free days. The ratio of OH reactivity from NOx to that from VOCs showed that ozone production was mostly VOC‐limited throughout the campaign, consistent with our modeling study. VOCs and NOx both showed increased OH reactivity due to smoke influence. NOx featured increased reactivity on weekdays compared to weekends, an effect not shown for VOC reactivity during SAMOZA.
Alcohol use disorders after bariatric surgery: a study using linked health claims and survey data
Authors: Riedel Oliver , Braitmaier Malte , Dankhoff Mark , Haug Ulrike , Klein Melanie , Zachariassen Wiebke , Hoyer Jana
Published: September 2024

Background

Previous studies have repeatedly reported alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in patients after bariatric surgery (BS). This research field can benefit from studies combining health claims data with survey data.

Methods

Based on a combined retrospective cohort and cross-sectional study, 2151 patients with BS identified in a large health claims database received a questionnaire, by which we assessed the presence of AUDs based on a validated instrument (AUDIT) as well as by ICD-10 codes from the health claims data. We described patients with vs. without AUDs regarding sex, time since surgery, satisfaction with weight loss and health care resource utilization (HCRU).

Results

The majority of patients were female (80.7%) with a median time since surgery of 6 years (Interquartile range: 4–9 years). For the majority of patients, the bariatric intervention was either a RYGB-Bypass (50%) or sleeve gastrectomy (43%). Overall, 3% had at least one AUD diagnosis code in the claims data (men: 5.5%, women: 2.5%). Among men, 43.6% of diagnoses were coded after but not before the surgery (women: 52%). According to AUDIT (completed by 1496 patients), 9.4% of all patients showed at least hazardous/harmful alcohol consumption. Higher scores were associated with sex of the person, longer time since surgery, dissatisfaction with the weight loss and higher HCRU, with contradicting results regarding psychotherapeutic care.

Conclusions

The proportion with AUDs in the study population gives rise to concern as alcohol consumption should be restricted after BS. The results suggest the necessity for close monitoring and post-surgical care.
Effects of spironolactone on exercise blood pressure in patients at increased risk of developing heart failure: report from the HOMAGE trial
Authors: Wei Fang-Fei , Pellicori Pierpaolo , Ferreira João Pedro , González Arantxa , Mariottoni Beatrice , An De-Wei , Verdonschot Job A. J. , Liu Chen , Ahmed Fozia Z. , Petutschnigg Johannes , Rossignol Patrick , Heymans Stephane , Cuthbert Joe , Girerd Nicolas , Clark Andrew L. , Li Yan , Nawrot Tim S. , Díez Javier , Zannad Faiez , Cleland John G. F. , Staessen Jan A. ,   on behalf of the HOMAGE Investigators, Asayama Kei , Bozec Erwan , Brunner La Rocca Hans P. , Cosmi Franco , Cleland John G. F. , Collier Tim , Díez Javier , Edelmann Frank , Ferreira João P. , Girerd Nicolas , Grojean Stephanie , Hazebroek Mark , Heymans Stephane , Hansen Tine W. , Khan Javed , López Begoñia , Latini Roberto , Mariottoni Beatrice , McDonald Ken , Maestre Gladys E. , Moreno María U. , Mamas Mamas A. , Pizard Anne , Pieske Burkert , Petutschnigg Johannes , Pellicori Pierpaolo , Rossignol Patrick , Rouet Philippe , Ravassa Suzanna , Staessen Jan A. , Thijs Lutgarde , Verdonschot Job A. J. , Wei Fang-Fei , Zannad Faiez
Published: September 2024

None of the spironolactone trials in heart failure (HF) assessed the blood pressure (BP) responses to exercise, while conflicting results were reported for exercise capacity. In the HOMAGE trial, 527 patients at increased HF risk were randomized to usual treatment with or without spironolactone (25–50 mg/day). The current substudy included 113 controls and 114 patients assigned spironolactone, who all completed the incremental shuttle walk test at baseline and months 1 and 9. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed by EQ5D questionnaire. Between-group differences (spironolactone minus control [Δs]) were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA with adjustment for baseline and, if appropriate, additionally for sex, age and body mass index. Δs in the pre-exercise systolic/diastolic BP were −8.00 mm Hg (95% CI, −11.6 to −4.43)/−0.85 mm Hg (−2.96 to 1.26) at month 1 and −9.58 mm Hg (−14.0 to −5.19)/−3.84 mm Hg (−6.22 to −1.47) at month 9. Δs in the post-exercise systolic/diastolic BP were −8.08 mm Hg (−14.2 to −2.01)/−2.07 mm Hg (−5.79 to 1.65) and −13.3 mm Hg (−19.9 to −6.75)/−4.62 mm Hg (−8.07 to −1.17), respectively. For completed shuttles, Δs at months 1 and 9 were 2.15 (−0.10 to 4.40) and 2.49 (−0.79 to 5.67), respectively. Δs in QoL were not significant. The correlations between the exercise-induced BP increases and the number of completed shuttles were similar in both groups. In conclusion, in patients at increased risk of developing HF, spironolactone reduced the pre- and post-exercise BP, but did not improve exercise capacity or QoL.
Designing a reliable machine learning system for accurately estimating the ultimate condition of FRP-confined concrete
Authors: Alizamir Meysam , Gholampour Aliakbar , Kim Sungwon , Keshtegar Behrooz , Jung Woo-tai
Published: September 2024

Precisely forecasting how concrete reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) responds under compression is essential for fine-tuning structural designs, ensuring constructions fulfill safety criteria, avoiding overdesigning, and consequently minimizing material expenses and environmental impact. Therefore, this study explores the viability of gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT), random forest (RF), artificial neural network-multilayer perceptron (ANNMLP) and artificial neural network-radial basis function (ANNRBF) in predicting the compressive behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-confined concrete at ultimate. The accuracy of the proposed machine learning approaches was evaluated by comparing them with several empirical models concerning three different measures, including root mean square errors (RMSE), mean absolute errors (MAE), and determination coefficient (R2). In this study, the evaluations were conducted using a substantial collection of axial compression test data involving 765 circular specimens of FRP-confined concrete assembled from published sources. The results indicate that the proposed GBRT algorithm considerably enhances the performance of machine learning models and empirical approaches for predicting strength ratio of confinement (f′cc/f′co) by an average improvement in RMSE as 17.3%, 0.65%, 66.81%, 46.12%, 46.31%, 46.87% and 69.94% compared to RF, ANNMLP, ANNRBF, and four applied empirical models, respectively. It is also found that the proposed ANNMLP algorithm exhibits notable superiority compared to other models in terms of reducing RMSE values as 9.67%, 11.29%, 75.11%, 68.83%, 73.64%, 69.49% and 83.74% compared to GBRT, RF, ANNRBF and four applied empirical models for predicting strain ratio of confinement (εcc/εco), respectively. The superior performance of the GBRT and ANNMLP compared to other methods in predicting the strength and strain ratio confinements is important in evaluating structural integrity, guaranteeing secure functionality, and streamlining engineering plans for effective utilization of FRP confinement in building projects.
Dogs with prior experience of a task still overimitate their caregiver
Authors: Mackie Louise , Huber Ludwig
Published: September 2024

Domestic dogs have been shown to copy their caregiver’s actions, including ones which are causally-irrelevant to a physical goal—a behaviour called “overimitation”. In a new overimitation task with a non-food reward, this study investigated “causal misunderstanding”—falsely assuming causally-irrelevant actions to have functional relevancy—as an explanation for dog overimitation (N = 81). By providing dogs with prior experience of the task to learn about the consequences of its irrelevant box-stepping and relevant bucket-opening action to obtain a toy-ball, we tested whether and when dogs would copy their caregiver’s irrelevant-action demonstrations. Dogs with and without prior experience were compared to a third (control) group of dogs, who had neither prior experience nor caregiver demonstrations of the task. Results revealed that the timing of overimitation, rather than its frequency, was closely related to dogs' prior experience: dogs with prior experience attended to their reward first, then interacted with the irrelevant box later (“post-goal overimitation”), while dogs without prior experience first interacted with the irrelevant box (“pre-goal overimitation”). Our results suggest that, when action consequences are understood, dogs are overimitating for a secondary social goal that is clearly distinct from the task goal of obtaining a physical reward.
Global comparison of urban bike-sharing accessibility across 40 cities
Authors: Mahajan Sachit , Argota Sánchez-Vaquerizo Javier
Published: September 2024

The global expansion of bike-sharing networks offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation alternative that complements public transit and promotes active, healthy lifestyles. Despite significant research, most studies focus on individual locations, specific environmental or health impacts, or infrastructure elements like bike lanes. Instead, this paper elaborates a comprehensive global comparison of bike-sharing systems by introducing a novel database that aggregates data from 40 cities worldwide. Our study integrates this data with population data and urban metrics to classify these networks topologically and assess their effective coverage concerning the population served and their relation with existing public transit systems. We introduce the “Bike-Share Service Accessibility Index” (BSAI), a new metric to evaluate and compare the performance of bike-sharing networks. Our findings provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers, offering data-driven strategies to enhance sustainable urban mobility through better-integrated and more spatially equitable bike-sharing systems.
An ultrasensitive terminal protection-based real-time fluorescence approach for protein detection via an isothermal exponential amplification reaction
Authors: Zhang Yajing , Wang Mengqi , Xie Yanrui , Zhang Jiangyan , Cheng Yongqiang , Wang Yucong , Jia Hongxia
Published: September 2024

A novel real-time fluorescence strategy for protein detection has been developed based on terminal protection of small-molecule-linked DNA coupled with an isothermal exponential amplification reaction (IEXPAR).
Organocatalytic enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of trifluoro-ethylamine allenoate derivatives containing axial and central chiralities
Authors: Shi Siyu , Gu Mengyun , Chen Danna , Li Ruya , Shen Zhiqiang , Huang Jinqi , Yan Wenjin
Published: September 2024

An organocatalytic enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of trifluoro-ethylamine allenoate derivatives containing axial and central chiralities has been achieved.
Highlights from the Biocatalysis Faraday Discussion, May 2024, London, United Kingdom
Authors: Raczyńska Agata
Published: September 2024

A Faraday Discussions meeting was held on the topic of biocatalysis. This report covers the highlights of this meeting, including brief summaries of the papers discussed.
Effect of grain boundary doping/segregation on the mechanical behavior of Ta bicrystal
Authors: Pan Yang , Fu Tao , Hu Hao , Chen Xingjie , Li Chuanying , Weng Shayuan
Published: September 2024

The introduction of foreign atoms significantly alters the grain boundary (GB) behavior in materials, consequently affecting their mechanical properties.
Encapsulation of the vanadium substituted Keggin polyoxometalates [α-PVW11O40]4− and [α-PV2W10O40]5− in HKUST-1
Authors: Orozco José C. , Shuaib Damola T. , Swenson LaSalle , Chen Ying-Pin , Chen Yu-Sheng , Khan M. Ishaque
Published: September 2024

Solid state UV-vis reflectance spectra reveal the distinct electronic structure of POM@MOF materials obtained by synthetic encapsulation of mono- and di-vanadium substituted Keggin polyoxotungstates in HKUST-1.
Enhancing lithium storage performance with silicon-based anodes: a theoretical study on transition metal-integrated SiOx/M@C (M = Fe, Co, Ni) heterostructures
Authors: Huang Mianying , Chen Yueying , Zeng Wenhai , Liu Yiqing , Xu Zhiguang , Wu Yongbo , Lin Xiaoming , Xu Xuan
Published: September 2024

The migration energy barriers of lithium ions in SiOx/Fe@C were analyzed in four distinct directions, along with the corresponding lithium-ion diffusion sites.
Preparation of methyl ethyl ketone from biomass-derived levulinic acid using a metal-free photocatalytic system and life cycle assessment study
Authors: Shen Meng-Xiang , Deng Chen-Qiang , Yang Jie , Deng Jin
Published: September 2024

We report a metal-free photocatalytic method for producing MEK from LA using acridine photosensitizers and thiophenols, achieving high yield and selectivity. This process has mild conditions and reduces carbon emissions compared to other methods.
Correction: An eco-friendly one-pot extraction process for curcumin and its bioenhancer, piperine, from edible plants in exosome-like nanovesicles
Authors: Kumar Meghana N. , Kalarikkal Sreeram Peringattu , Bethi Cathrine M. S. , Singh Sukriti Narendra , Narayanan Janakiraman , Sundaram Gopinath M.
Published: September 2024

Correction for ‘An eco-friendly one-pot extraction process for curcumin and its bioenhancer, piperine, from edible plants in exosome-like nanovesicles’ by Meghana N. Kumar et al., Green Chem., 2023, 25, 6472–6488, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3GC01287E.
Structure, surface/interface chemistry and optical properties of W-incorporated β-Ga2O3 films made by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Sanchez Francelia , Das Debabrata , Episcopo Nathan , Manciu Felicia S. , Tan Susheng , Shutthanandan Vaithiyalingam , Ramana C. V.
Published: September 2024

The effect of oxygen partial pressure on the structure, morphology, chemical bonding, and optical properties of Ga–W–O films made by pulsed laser deposition is evaluated. Conditions were optimized to realize materials for deep UV-photodetectors.
Hydrothermal synthesis of metal nanoparticles@hydrogels and statistical evaluation of reaction conditions’ effects on nanoparticle morphologies
Authors: Gazil Olivier , Alonso Cerrón-Infantes D. , Virgilio Nick , Unterlass Miriam M.
Published: September 2024

We report a hydrothermal one-pot approach using polysaccharides and salt precursors to synthesize and selectively localize metal nanoparticles in hydrogels, leveraging multivariate regression fits to further evaluate synthesis parameter effects.
Correction: Re-pairing DNA: binding of a ruthenium phi complex to a double mismatch
Authors: Prieto Otoya Tayler D. , McQuaid Kane T. , Paterson Neil G. , Cardin David J. , Kellett Andrew , Cardin Christine J.
Published: September 2024

Correction for ‘Re-pairing DNA: binding of a ruthenium phi complex to a double mismatch’ by Tayler D. Prieto Otoya et al., Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 9096–9103, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SC01448K.
Introducing the Framework for RigOr aNd Transparency In REseaRch on Swallowing (FRONTIERS): An Editorial
Authors: Miles Anna , Regan Julie
Published: September 2024

This is an editorial introducing the Framework for RigOr aNd Transparency In REseaRch on Swallowing (FRONTIERS) forum.
Stability of networked evolutionary games with payoff perturbation
Authors: Wang Ziyun , Zhao Xiaoyu , Fu Shihua
Published: September 2024

In networked evolutionary games (NEGs), some elements in the payoff matrix of players may change due to environmental factors. In this article, the stability of NEGs with payoff perturbation is studied using the semi‐tensor product (STP) of matrices, and some new results are given. First, the perturbation of a column of the payoff matrix is considered, and a necessary and sufficient condition to ensure that the transition matrix of the profiles evolution dynamics to remain unchanged is provided. Second, the case that multiple columns of the game profile transition matrix are perturbed is investigated, and a necessary and sufficient condition for the stability of the NEGs is proposed. Finally, the validity of the results is illustrated by an example.
The properties and kinematics of HCN emission across the closest starburst galaxy NGC 253 observed with ALMA
Authors: Bešlić I. , Barnes A. T. , Bigiel F. , Jiménez-Donaire M. J. , Usero A. , Henshaw J. D. , Faesi C. , Leroy A. K. , Rosolowsky E. , den Brok J. S. , Chevance M. , Eibensteiner C. , Grasha K. , Klessen R. S. , Kruijssen J. M. D. , Liu D. , Meidt S. , Neumann J. , Neumann L. , Pan H. , Puschnig J. , Querejeta M. , Schinnerer E. , Williams T. G.
Published: September 2024

Context. Investigating molecular gas tracers, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), to probe higher densities than CO emission across nearby galaxies remains challenging. This is due to the large observing times required to detect HCN at a high sensitivity and spatial resolution. Although approximate kiloparsec scales of HCN maps are available for tens of galaxies, higher-resolution maps still need to be available.

Aims. We aim to study the properties of molecular gas, the contrast in intensity between two tracers that probe different density regimes (the HCN(1–0)/CO(2–1) ratio), and their kinematics across NGC 253, one of the closest starburst galaxies. With its advanced capabilities, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) can map these features at a high resolution across a large field of view and uncover the nature of such dense gas in extragalactic systems.

Methods. We present new ALMA Atacama Compact Array and Total Power (ACA+TP) observations of the HCN emission across NGC 253. The observations cover the inner 8.6′ of the galaxy disk at a spatial resolution of 300 pc. Our study examines the distribution and kinematics of the HCN-traced gas and its relationship with the bulk molecular gas traced by CO(2–1). We analyze the integrated intensity and mean velocity of HCN and CO along each line of sight. We also used the SCOUSE software to perform spectral decomposition, which considers each velocity component separately.

Results. We find that the denser molecular gas traced by HCN piles up in a ring-like structure at a radius of 2 kpc. The HCN emission is enhanced by two orders of magnitude in the central 2 kpc regions, beyond which its intensity decreases with increasing galactocentric distance. The number of components in the HCN spectra shows a robust environmental dependence, with multiple velocity features across the center and bar. The HCN spectra exhibit multiple velocity features across the center and bar, which shows a robust environmental dependence. We have identified an increase in the HCN/CO ratio in these regions, corresponding to a velocity component likely associated with a molecular outflow. We have also discovered that the ratio between the total infrared luminosity and dense gas mass, which is an indicator of the star formation efficiency of dense gas, is anticorrelated with the molecular gas surface density up to approximately 200 M⊙ pc−2. However, beyond this point, the ratio starts to increase.

Conclusions. We argue that using information about spectroscopic features of molecular emission is an important aspect of understanding molecular properties in galaxies.
Cosmic-ray induced sputtering of interstellar formaldehyde ices
Authors: Faure M. , Bacmann A. , Faure A. , Quirico E. , Boduch P. , Domaracka A. , Rothard H.
Published: September 2024

Context. In the cold and dense regions of the interstellar medium (ISM), for example in prestellar cores, gas-phase chemical abundances undergo a steep decrease due to the freeze-out of molecules onto the dust grain surfaces. While the depletion of many species would bring molecular abundances to undetected levels within short timescales, non-thermal desorption mechanisms such as UV photodesorption or cosmic-ray sputtering allows the return of a fraction of the ice mantle species back to the gas phase and prevents a complete freeze-out in the densest regions. In the last decade much effort has been devoted to understanding the microphysics of desorption and quantifying molecular desorption yields.

Aims. H2CO is a ubiquitous molecule in the ISM and in the gas phase of prestellar cores, and is likely present in ice mantles, but its main desorption mechanism is unknown. In this paper our aim is to quantify the desorption efficiency of H2CO upon cosmic-ray impact in order to determine whether cosmic-ray induced sputtering could account for the H2CO abundance observed in prestellar cores.

Methods. Using a heavy-ion beam as a cosmic-ray analogue at the Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds (GANIL) accelerator, we irradiated pure H2CO ice films at 10 K under high vacuum conditions and monitored the ice film evolution with infrared spectroscopy and the composition of the sputtered species in the gas phase using mass spectrometry. We derived both the effective and intact sputtering yield of pure H2CO ices. In addition, using IRAM millimetre observations, we also determined the H2CO gas-phase abundance in the prestellar core L1689B.

Results. We find that H2CO easily polymerises under heavy-ion irradiation in the ice, and is also radiolysed into CO and CO2. In the gas phase, the dominant sputtered species is CO and intact H2CO is only a minor species. We determine an intact sputtering yield for pure H2CO ices of 2.5 × 103 molecules ion−1 for an electronic stopping power of Se ∼ 2830 eV (1015 molecules cm−2)−1. The corresponding cosmic-ray sputtering rate is ΓCRD = 1.5 × 1018ζ molecules cm−2 s−1, where ζ is the rate of cosmic-ray ionisation of molecular hydrogen in the ISM. In the frame of a simple steady-state chemical model of freeze-out and non-thermal desorption, we find that this experimental cosmic-ray sputtering rate is too low (by an order of magnitude) to account for the observed H2CO gas-phase abundance we derived in the prestellar core L1689B. We find however that this abundance can be reproduced if we assume that H2CO diluted in CO or CO2 ices co-desorbs at the same sputtering rate as pure CO or pure CO2 ices.
Fruit Fly Algorithm Optimised Degree of Freedom Controller for the Dynamical Stability of the Renewable Energy Penetrated Multi Area Power System
Authors: Kalyan Ch. Naga Sai , Gopi Pasala , Joshi Priyanka , Himabindu T. , Bajaj Mohit
Published: September 2024

The stability and maintenance of the renewable energy penetrated multi-area power system (REPMAPS) are so complex. To ensure the optimal functioning of the complex interconnected power system (IPS), an automatic controller is necessary for the proper load frequency control (LFC) actions. For this, a three-degree-of-freedom proportional-integral-derivative (3DOFPID) controller is suggested in this work for simultaneous frequency regulation. However, the parameters of the 3DOFPID controller are to be ascertained using soft computing algorithms to obtain better performance. The fruit fly algorithm (FFA) is implemented in this paper for the fine-tuning of the 3DOFPID controller, and the efficacy of the FFA is demonstrated with other algorithms in the literature. Besides, the analysis of REPMAPS is deliberated with communication time delays (CTDs) as the practical constraint, and their effect on the system’s dynamic performance is showcased. Further, the REPMAPS is operated with the territory strategy of capacitive energy storage (CES) and the static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) to improve the system performance. The simulation study confirmed the enhancement in REPMAPS performance with the CES-SSSC strategy.
Efficiency Analysis Of Modified Sepic Converter For Renewable Energy Applications
Authors: Rao D. S. N. M. , Jasmin M. , Pandey Megha , Almusawi Muntather , Ramadan Ghazi Mohamad , Senthil Kumar R.
Published: September 2024

A boosting module and a traditional SEPIC (single ended primary inductance converter) are combined to create the suggested circuit. As a result, the converter gains from the SEPIC converter’s many benefits. Also, the converter that is being presented is appropriate for renewable energy sources due to its high voltage gain and continuous input current. In comparison to a traditional SEPIC with a single-controlled switch, it offers a higher voltage gain. The voltage gains of the converter that has been suggested is closely related to that of the converter that was recently developed. This converter was constructed on the foundation of the conventional converter, as well as the conventional DC-to-DC converter. One of the most important characteristics of a projected converter is that it is equipped with a single controlled device and has the capability to increase voltage gain without the utilisation of a coupled inductor structure or transformer. The non-idealities of the semiconductor devices and passive components have been taken into consideration in the analysis of voltage gain in continuous current mode (CCM). The conventional SEPIC converter can be modified by incorporating capacitors and diodes. The experimental results indicate that this converter can amplify the output voltage by approximately 10 times and has an efficiency of around 97%.
ANN-SEPIC Converter Based Bidirectional Battery Charger for a Wide Range of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Nagaraju Daggla , Abdul Pasha S. K.
Published: September 2024

This paper introduces a novel bidirectional battery charger based on a modified SEPIC converter, designed for compatibility with various electric vehicles (EVs) including electric cars and electric two-wheelers (e2W). This charger offers versatility and adaptability to different EV models, ensuring efficient charging for a wide range of vehicles.. Specifically, the charger is tailored to charge e2Ws equipped with 72 V batteries and electric cars with 240 V batteries. Notably, the charger ensures compliance with the IEC standard while offering bidirectional operation. Simulation analyses confirm the charger’s effectiveness in grid-to-vehicle (G2V) scenarios under ideal and varying grid potential conditions. Additionally, successful testing of vehicle2home (V2H) operation validates the charger’s efficacy in bidirectional operations.
Enhancing Electric Vehicle Range Through Hybridization of Battery, Supercapacitor, and Fuel Cell Systems: Integration and Optimization Using Perturb And Observe Method For Hydrogen Utilization Control
Authors: Makuvara Tranos Munashe , Gupta Shailendra
Published: September 2024

This research explores hybridizing fuel cell, battery, and ultra-capacitor systems to optimize EV performance and hydrogen use. By integrating these technologies, it aims to leverage their strengths: fuel cells’ energy density, ultra-capacitors’ power density, and batteries’ versatile management. Key focus includes improving fuel cell efficiency using the perturb and observe method to optimize operation across loads. A simulation framework evaluates performance gains in diverse driving conditions, showing synergies that enhance efficiency, extend range, and reduce hydrogen consumption. This approach advances hybrid EV tech for sustainable electric mobility, promoting resource efficiency and environmental sustainability