bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A phenomenological exploration of the occupational identity of late-diagnosed autistic women in the United Kingdom
Authors: Lynch Jessica , Murphy Angela , Cezar Da Cruz Daniel
Published: September 2024

Many autistic women without an intellectual disability receive their diagnoses later in life. Little is understood about how gender, autism, and a late diagnosis intersect to impact the occupational identity of these individuals. Purpose: the current study aimed to explore how autistic women who received a diagnosis in adulthood describe key areas that influence the development of occupational identity. Methods: eight participants recruited from social media were interviewed through semi-structured interviews, and a reflexive thematic analysis was conducted on the rich accounts of their lived experiences. Results: three major overlapping themes included experiencing disconnection from one’s own volition, striving for occupational balance, and acceptance as a protective factor within these women's lives. Subthemes were in relation to personal reconciliation around difference and the dynamic between the person, environment, and the dominant socio-cultural context. The political, social, and economic landscape perpetuating neoliberal, individualistic and ableist ideals within practice is criticised considering the lived experiences presented in the findings. Conclusion: the necessity for collective health promotion through improving the basic standard of living according to the social determinants of health is highlighted.
Hall thruster model improvement by multidisciplinary uncertainty quantification
Authors: Eckels Joshua D. , Marks Thomas A. , Allen Madison G. , Jorns Benjamin A. , Gorodetsky Alex A.
Published: September 2024

We study the analysis and refinement of a predictive engineering model for enabling rapid prediction of Hall thruster system performance across a range of operating and environmental conditions and epistemic and aleatoric uncertainties. In particular, we describe an approach by which experimentally-observed facility effects are assimilated into the model, with a specific focus on facility background pressure. We propose a multifidelity, multidisciplinary approach for Bayesian calibration of an integrated system comprised of a set of component models. Furthermore, we perform uncertainty quantification over the calibrated model to assess the effects of epistemic and aleatoric uncertainty. This approach is realized on a coupled system of cathode, thruster, and plume models that predicts global quantities of interest (QoIs) such as thrust, efficiency, and discharge current as a function of operating conditions such as discharge voltage, mass flow rate, and background chamber pressure. As part of the calibration and prediction, we propose a number of metrics for assessing predictive model quality. Based on these metrics, we found that our proposed framework produces a calibrated model that is more accurate, sometimes by an order of magnitude, than engineering models using nominal parameters found in the literature. We also found for many QoIs that the remaining uncertainty was not sufficient to account for discrepancy with experimental data, and that existing models for facility effects do not sufficiently capture experimental trends. Finally, we confirmed through a global sensitivity analysis the prior intuition that anomalous transport dominates model uncertainty, and we conclude by suggesting several paths for future model improvement. We envision that the proposed metrics and procedures can guide the refinement of future model development activities.
Attractions and barriers to rural practice: impact of an interprofessional rural immersion experience, in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: MacPhail Corin , Maurice Sean B.
Published: September 2024

Healthcare provider shortage is a widely recognized contributor to rural–urban population health disparities and inequities. Various strategies have been employed to increase healthcare provider recruitment and retention in rural areas, yet a maldistribution persists, with far fewer choosing to practice rurally. Providing opportunities for healthcare students to experience rural communities is important for building the rural health workforce. In this study, interprofessional healthcare students who participated in a week-long rural immersion experience were surveyed regarding attractions and barriers to rural practice. Thirty students participated in a week-long rural immersion experience, and of those, eleven elected to complete the survey. Students’ responses regarding their interests in and perceived barriers of living and working in rural communities were categorized into two main themes: lifestyle factors and career factors. Lifestyle factors were reported more frequently than career factors regarding attraction to rural practice, but they were reported with similar frequency regarding barriers. Participants reported that the immersion experience increased comfort with the idea of rural practice. Providing exposure to rural communities, and community engagement beyond clinical involvement, should both be considered when developing future rural health workforce recruitment focused initiatives.
Silver nanoparticles reinforced polyethersulfone composite for sustainable application
Authors: Owoyemi Helen Tola , Adewuyi Benjamin Omotayo , Oladele Isiaka Oluwole , Falana Samuel Olumide , Oyegunna Seun Ayodele , Ajileye Joshua Oluwatobi
Published: September 2024

Polyethersulfone composites reinforced with biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were fabricated via compression molding at 30 GPa and 250 °C, with nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 wt.%. Neem leaf extract served as the bioreducing agent in AgNP synthesis. Characterization using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of spherical AgNPs with an average size of approximately 21 nm and a face-centered cubic structure. Mechanical testing revealed significant property improvements with the addition of AgNPs compared to the control. The 2 wt.% AgNP composite demonstrated optimal properties, including a 120% increase in tensile strength, a 246% increase in flexural strength, a 43.18% increase in hardness, and a 127% increase in impact resistance. The 2.5 wt.% AgNP composite exhibited optimum hardness and a 247% increase in flexural modulus, while the 3.0 wt.% AgNP composite had the highest tensile modulus with a 105% increase. These enhanced mechanical properties make the 2 wt.% AgNP composite suitable for demanding sustainable engineering applications, such as automotive systems, with the potential to reduce vehicle weight, improve fuel efficiency, and lower emissions. Additionally, it holds promise in renewable energy systems for cleaner energy generation and in water purification systems for use in filters or membranes, highlighting the potential of bio-synthesized AgNPs in advanced materials development.
Genetic association of cholesterol metabolism with the risk of depression and schizophrenia
Authors: Chen Zheng , Sui Guanghong , Yang Caixia , Lv Zongshun , Wang Feng
Published: September 2024

Objective:

Some observational studies have unexpectedly reported the association of cholesterol metabolism with mental and psychological disorders, but a firm conclusion has not been drawn. The aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of peripheral cholesterol traits and cholesterol-lowering therapy on depression and schizophrenia using a Mendelian randomisation approach.

Methods:

Instrumental variables meeting the correlation, independence and exclusivity assumptions were extracted from one genome-wide association study for predicting total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and nonHDL cholesterol. Instrumental variables for total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were also adopted to predict statin use (a type of cholesterol-lowering drug); these instrumental variables should not only satisfy the above assumptions but also be close to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR, the target gene of statins) on the chromosome. Three methods (including inverse variance weighted) were used to conduct causal inference of the above exposures with depression and schizophrenia. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess horizontal pleiotropy.

Results:

Higher levels of peripheral nonHDL cholesterol were nominally associated with a decreased risk of depression (P = 0.039), and higher levels of HMGCR-mediated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were nominally related to a decreased risk of depression (P = 0.013 and P = 0.028, respectively). Moreover, these cholesterol traits cannot affect the risk of schizophrenia. Sensitivity analysis did not reveal any horizontal pleiotropy.

Conclusion:

The study provided some interesting, but less sufficient, evidence that nonHDL cholesterol may have a protective effect on depression, and lowering cholesterol using statins might increase the risk of the disease.
A CONJECTURE OF ZHI-WEI SUN ON MATRICES CONCERNING MULTIPLICATIVE SUBGROUPS OF FINITE FIELDS
Authors: LI JIE , WU HAI-LIANG
Published: September 2024

Motivated by the recent work of Zhi-Wei Sun [‘Problems and results on determinants involving Legendre symbols’, Preprint, arXiv:2405.03626], we study some matrices concerning subgroups of finite fields. For example, let

$q\equiv 3\pmod 4$

be an odd prime power and let

$\phi $

be the unique quadratic multiplicative character of the finite field

$\mathbb {F}_q$

. If the set

$\{s_1,\ldots ,s_{(q-1)/2}\}=\{x^2:\ x\in \mathbb {F}_q\setminus \{0\}\}$

, then we prove that

$$ \begin{align*}\det[t+\phi(s_i+s_j)+\phi(s_i-s_j)]_{1\le i,j\le (q-1)/2}=\bigg(\frac{q-1}{2}t-1\bigg)q^{{(q-3)}/{4}}.\end{align*} $$

This confirms a conjecture of Zhi-Wei Sun.
Liturgical Prayer
Authors: Stibbs W. J.
Published: September 2024

It is almost a truism to say that a creature's primary duty is to glorify its creator, a duty fulfilled by the creature's being itself to perfection. The Lauds canticle, Benedicite, is an expression of this idea, the whole of creation singing a hymn of praise to God. But man occupies a special position in this choir, in that, of all its members, he alone is free in offering his praise. All carry out this work by living according to the nature God has given them-the animals, the trees and flowers, the very sticks and stones-but it is of their nature to be incapable of any. thing else. It is of man's nature to be free, and so his praise of God must be voluntary, if it is to be truly human. He has only two alternatives, either to glorify God by choosing to worship him, or to insult him by refusing. That is why man's service of God is meritorious, and his neglect blameworthy.
Basic Worship
Authors: Meath Gerard
Published: September 2024

Well directed and earnest study, … and the clash of diverse opinions and their discussion, provided love of truth and due submission to the Church be their arbiter, will open rich bright vistas whose light will help to progress in kindred sacred sciences. These words of Pope Pius XII, written in 1943, present an ideal for liturgical enthusiasts. Before all else it is among students of the liturgy that we expect to find a spirit of tolerance and charity, because the inspiration of their study is Calvary, itself the source of charity. Bitterness in dispute is particularly out of place here. Disagreement itself is, as the Pope has pointed out, a sign of health: but when discussion becomes scrimonious something has gone wrong. Intolerance is bred from inaccurate thinking and the most inaccurate thought springs from the confusion of essentials with accidentals. Short vestments may be undignified and lacking in symbolism, but that does not convict the wearer of heresy.
Prayer from God
Authors: Pepler Conrad
Published: September 2024

Anyone who has reached the period of spiritual life known as the Night of the Senses will find that prayer has so changed its character as to be almost a new kind of human activity. Hitherto the time devoted to actual prayers will have been divided up between liturgical practices and private meditations. The Christian will have become accustomed, perhaps through the habits formed during many years, to set about these devotions in a methodical way, always bearing in mind the adage that if he wishes to prosper he must, while leaving all to God in his petitions, act as though all depended on himself. He will have learned a manner of assisting at Mass; he will have recited the same number of Paters and Aves, acts of contrition and charity, while he knelt beside his bed at morning and night; his rosary or ‘stations’ will be prominent in his regular horary; and finally his times of quiet at meditation will be organised by a method, interspersed with ‘acts’ and sometimes predominantly concerned with struggles against distractions and drowsiness.
The Areopagite in the Modern World
Authors: Rutledge Dom Denys
Published: September 2024

The renewed interest in prayer and mystical theology has so far given insufficient attention to the writings of one who, if not actually at the fountainhead of such speculation, at least hold a position very near the source. We mean the writer known to tradition as Denys the Areopagite. So solid and forthright a personage as Ullathorne was able to describe his writings as ‘theology in its purest form, divested of controversy and written as if by a spirit with a pen of light'; and to declare that the study of these writings had ‘formed a real epoch in the history of his mind'. This small collection of treatises has, in fact, exerted a regular, uniform influence on spiritual writers throughout the Middle Ages down to modern times, and this particularly in England.
The Union of Love
Authors: Elwes Columba Cary
Published: September 2024

Love of Christ, like all other love, tends toward union, onlymore powerfully since the spring of it is grace and is the perfection and summit of love. This is the mysterious fact, mysterious in its manner rather than in its accomplishment. In the Mahayana form of Buddhism all men are supposed to be called to a kind of union which merges their whole personality into the divine being, a kind of union which goes even beyond the hypostatic union in which the manhood of Christ was united to God in the divine Person of the Son. This Eastern conception has great attraction to some Western minds as an interpretation of Christ's personality and our uplifting. They say he acquired unity with God at the Baptism in Jordan, as though a man became God, and not God became man; that we too in our measure could be caught up into this unity. But this is heresy.
Overuse of familiar phrases by individuals with Williams syndrome masks differences in language processing
Authors: Sederias Ioana , Krakovitch Ariane , Stojanovik Vesna , Zimmerer Vitor C.
Published: September 2024

We investigated whether individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) produce language with a bias towards statistical properties of word combinations rather than grammatical rules, resulting in an overuse of holistically stored, familiar phrases. We analysed continuous speech samples from English children with WS (n = 12), typically developing (TD) controls matched on chronological age (n = 15) and TD controls matched on language age (n = 14). Alongside word count, utterance length, grammatical complexity, and morphosyntactic errors, we measured familiarity of expressions by computing collocation strength of each word combination. The WS group produced stronger collocations than both control groups. Moreover, the WS group produced fewer complex sentences, shorter utterances, and more frequent function words than chronological-age matched controls. Language in WS may appear more typical than it is because familiar, holistically processed expressions mask grammatical and other difficulties.
The ‘adverb-ly adjective’ construction in English: meanings, distribution and discourse functions
Authors: TABOADA MAITE , GODDARD CLIFF , TRNAVAC RADOSLAVA
Published: September 2024

We investigate a class of adjective phrases composed of a deadjectival adverb ending in -ly and an adjective head (e.g. staggeringly incompetent, absolutely terrific, fiscally responsible), a compact construction whereby two adjectives may jointly contribute to evaluative meaning. Using corpus methodologies on more than 1 million examples and relying on semantic analyses of about 1,000 instances, we propose that the construction can be divided into different semantic subtypes, including Degree (deeply disturbing), Focus (utterly ridiculous), Manner (delightfully performed), Reaction (strangely compelling), Topical (historically inaccurate) and Epistemic (intuitively obvious), among others. Using this typology, we investigate the relative distribution of each subtype across several registers of written English. We found a high frequency of the Reaction subtype in book, film and art reviews, and we suggest a discourse-functional explanation for this, linked to the perceived value of originality in expressive writing. This investigation reveals the power of semantically informed, corpus methodologies to shed light on the distribution of specific constructions.
Socio-demographic differences in the dietary inflammatory index from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2018: a comparison of multiple imputation versus complete case analysis
Authors: Meadows Rachel J , Paskett Electra D , Bower Julie K , Kaye Gail L , Lemeshow Stanley , Harris Randall E
Published: September 2024

Objective:

Studies using the dietary inflammatory index often perform complete case analyses (CCA) to handle missing data, which may reduce the sample size and increase the risk of bias. Furthermore, population-level socio-economic differences in the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII) have not been recently studied. Therefore, we aimed to describe socio-demographic differences in E-DII scores among American adults and compare the results using two statistical approaches for handling missing data, i.e. CCA and multiple imputation (MI).

Design:

Cross-sectional analysis. E-DII scores were computed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Linear regression was used to compare the E-DII scores by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education and income using both CCA and MI.

Setting:

USA.

Participants:

This study included 34 547 non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults aged ≥ 20 years from the 2005–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Results:

The MI and CCA subpopulations comprised 34 547 and 23 955 participants, respectively. Overall, 57 % of the American adults reported 24-hour dietary intakes associated with inflammation. Both methods showed similar patterns wherein 24-hour dietary intakes associated with high inflammation were commonly reported among males, younger adults, non-Hispanic Black adults and those with lower education or income. Differences in point estimates between CCA and MI were mostly modest at ≤ 20 %.

Conclusions:

The two approaches for handling missing data produced comparable point estimates and 95 % CI. Differences in the E-DII scores by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education and income suggest that socio-economic disparities in health may be partially explained by the inflammatory potential of diet.
Absent Presence – Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Phubbing in Couples and Enhance Individual Well-Being
Authors: Radtke Theda , Diering Merle , Alfermann Lynn , Luszczynska Aleksandra , Kuźmińska Julia , Nuñez Tania R.
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Background: The disruptive use of smartphones in the presence of one’s partner (partner phubbing) represents a behavior associated with negative consequences for romantic relationships. Yet, intervention approaches to reduce phubbing in romantic relationships remain scarce. Aim: This study addresses this gap by examining the effectiveness of an individual planning intervention to reduce phubbing in romantic relationships while considering its impact on depression symptoms and life satisfaction as well as the mediating role of intimacy and interaction quality. Method: A randomized controlled planning intervention with three measurement points was conducted involving 208 individuals aged 18 to 65 living together with their partners. The control condition participants received information about phubbing whereas those in the intervention condition were instructed to formulate individual action and coping plans to reduce their phubbing behavior. Results: The path model indicated the effectiveness of the planning intervention in reducing own phubbing. However, no effect of the intervention on depression symptoms or life satisfaction was found. Findings provided no indication of intimacy and interaction quality as mediating mechanisms even though phubbing was negatively related to intimacy. Limitations: As only one partner in a romantic relationship took part in the study, the dyadic component of disruptive smartphone use in couples was not considered in this intervention. Conclusion: These results indicate that interventions aimed at reducing phubbing behavior can help change one’s own behavior. Nevertheless, a dyadic approach, taking the partner and actor perspectives into account may further help to elucidate potential dyadic mechanisms of the intervention.
Neogene–Quaternary Channel Evolution and Provenance Shift of the Middle Yellow River
Authors: Xiong Jianguo , Zhang Peizhen , Deng Chenglong , Picotti Vincenzo , Liang Hao , Ren Zhikun , Wang Weitao , Kang Huan , Liu Qingri , Zhao Xudong , Zhang Xiuli , Zhang Yihui , Li Youli , Zhang Huiping , Zhao Xitao
Published: September 2024

The formation age of the middle Yellow River and the existence of a northward‐flowing river have been fiercely debated. The age distribution of detrital zircon varied spatiotemporally and produced contradictory provenance interpretations. The Jinshaan Gorge, the main part of the middle Yellow River and key to studying fluvial evolution and clarifying disputes, developed its topography during the late Cenozoic. In this study, we systematically review the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the North China Craton, perform detrital zircon U–Pb dating in the Neogene−Quaternary sediments and investigate the topography along the Jinshaan Gorge, and the sedimentology and chronological framework of these sediments. We propose that the Gorge of the middle Yellow River could have developed since the Neogene, controlled by the tectono‐geomorphologic evolution of the North China Craton in a dominantly extensional environment. No evidence supports a northward‐flowing river during the Early Pleistocene or even earlier in the Jinshaan Gorge. We attribute the provenance variations of the Cenozoic sediments to detrital mixing of diverse geological units, local and distant, and especially highlight the systematic provenance shift between the Neogene and Quaternary sediments caused by bedrock downcutting and recycling aeolian sediments. The increased 1.5−0.33 Ga component of the lower Yellow River during the Early Pleistocene was likely caused by enhanced loess accumulation and should not be individually used as a proxy for the Yellow River formation. We emphasize the significance of a comprehensive study of river evolution.
Lithospheric Structure Above the Northern Appalachian Anomaly: Initial Results From the NEST Array
Authors: Espinal Kimberly , Long Maureen D. , Karabinos Paul , Bourke James R.
Published: September 2024

Seismic tomography observations show a low‐velocity feature in the upper mantle beneath eastern North America known as the Northern Appalachian Anomaly (NAA). Proposed models for the formation of the NAA include a remnant high‐temperature feature resulting from the passage of the Great Meteor Hotspot, edge‐driven convection, and ongoing asthenospheric upwelling. We investigate the structure of the lithosphere above the central portion of the NAA using data from the New England Seismic Transects (NEST) experiment. Ps receiver functions reveal two consistent interfaces beneath the dense northern line of NEST: the Moho (the base of the crust) and a deeper negative velocity gradient (NVG) feature located at depths between 60 and 110 km. We consider several potential explanations for this NVG feature; based on comparisons with previous results, we propose that it likely corresponds to the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary. Our results indicate that the lithosphere beneath New England is nonuniform and has likely been thinned.
Are Parameterized Entrainment Rates as Scale‐Dependent as Those Estimated From Cloud Resolving Model Simulations?
Authors: Zhao Yaxin , Wang Xiaocong , Liu Yimin , Wu Guoxiong
Published: September 2024

Entrainment rates at varying horizontal grid spacing were diagnosed and analyzed based on Large Eddy Model (LES) and Cloud Resolving Model (CRM) simulations of shallow and deep convection. Results show the estimated entrainment rates increase with increasing resolution, and the growth rate is roughly power‐law related to resolution. However, all commonly used parameterizations except for the buoyancy sorting scheme fail to reproduce the monotonic increase of entrainment with resolution, but rather a slight decrease instead. For these schemes, it is suggested the power‐law fitting formula derived from LES/CRM simulations can be used as a scaling function for high‐resolution entrainment correction. Preliminary tests show that the application of entrainment scaling largely reduces the parcel buoyancy and thus the convective available potential energy, favoring the reduction of parameterized convection at high resolution.
Ionospheric Radio Beacon Signal Analysis and Parameter Estimation Using Automatic Differentiation
Authors: Aricoche Jhassmin A. , Hysell David L.
Published: September 2024

Continuous wave signals from a network of high frequency (HF) beacons in Peru and other instruments are used to reconstruct the regional ionospheric electron number density in the volume surrounding the network. The continuous wave (CW) HF signals employ binary phase codes with pseudorandom noise (PRN) encoding, and the observables include propagation time or pseudorange, Doppler shift or beat carrier phase, and amplitude. A forward model based on geometric optics in an inhomogeneous, anisotropic, lossy plasma is used to relate plasma number density to the observables. Plasma number density is parametrized in terms of a modified Chapman profile in the vertical and biquintic B‐splines in the horizontal. Sensitivity analysis is required both to model the ray amplitudes and to solve the two‐point boundary problem for each ray. Sensitivity analysis is performed here using reverse‐mode automatic differentiation. In particular, we use an LLVM compiler (Clang), the corresponding OpenMP library, and the Enzyme Automatic Differentiation Framework plugin to compute the sensitivity (gradients) of ray endpoints with respect to their initial bearings. The resulting algorithm exhibits no performance penalty compared to variational sensitivity analysis and is far simpler to implement.
Artificial intelligence-enabled multipurpose smart detection in active-matrix electrowetting-on-dielectric digital microfluidics
Authors: Jia Zhiqiang , Chang Chunyu , Hu Siyi , Li Jiahao , Ge Mingfeng , Dong Wenfei , Ma Hanbin
Published: September 2024

An active-matrix electrowetting-on-dielectric (AM-EWOD) system integrates hundreds of thousands of active electrodes for sample droplet manipulation, which can enable simultaneous, automatic, and parallel on-chip biochemical reactions. A smart detection system is essential for ensuring a fully automatic workflow and online programming for the subsequent experimental steps. In this work, we demonstrated an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled multipurpose smart detection method in an AM-EWOD system for different tasks. We employed the U-Net model to quantitatively evaluate the uniformity of the applied droplet-splitting methods. We used the YOLOv8 model to monitor the droplet-splitting process online. A 97.76% splitting success rate was observed with 18 different AM-EWOD chips. A 99.982% model precision rate and a 99.980% model recall rate were manually verified. We employed an improved YOLOv8 model to detect single-cell samples in nanolitre droplets. Compared with manual verification, the model achieved 99.260% and 99.193% precision and recall rates, respectively. In addition, single-cell droplet sorting and routing experiments were demonstrated. With an AI-based smart detection system, AM-EWOD has shown great potential for use as a ubiquitous platform for implementing true lab-on-a-chip applications.
Ultra-sensitive nitrate-ion detection via transconductance-enhanced graphene ion-sensitive field-effect transistors
Authors: Xu Yingming , Zhou Peng , Simon Terrence , Cui Tianhong
Published: September 2024

Current potentiometric sensing methods are limited to detecting nitrate at parts-per-billion (sub-micromolar) concentrations, and there are no existing potentiometric chemical sensors with ultralow detection limits below the parts-per-trillion (picomolar) level. To address these challenges, we integrate interdigital graphene ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) with a nitrate ion-sensitive membrane (ISM). The work aims to maximize nitrate ion transport through the nitrate ISM, while achieving high device transconductance by evaluating graphene layer thickness, optimizing channel width-to-length ratio (RWL), and enlarging total sensing area. The captured nitrate ions by the nitrate ISM induce surface potential changes that are transduced into electrical signals by graphene, manifested as the Dirac point shifts. The device exhibits Nernst response behavior under ultralow concentrations, achieving a sensitivity of 28 mV/decade and establishing a record low limit of detection of 0.041 ppt (4.8 × 10−13 M). Additionally, the sensor showed a wide linear detection range from 0.1 ppt (1.2 × 10−12 M) to 100 ppm (1.2 × 10−3 M). Furthermore, successful detection of nitrate in tap and snow water was demonstrated with high accuracy, indicating promising applications to drinking water safety and environmental water quality control.
Integrative taxonomy clarifies the evolution of a cryptic primate clade
Authors: van Elst Tobias , Sgarlata Gabriele M. , Schüßler Dominik , Tiley George P. , Poelstra Jelmer W. , Scheumann Marina , Blanco Marina B. , Aleixo-Pais Isa G. , Rina Evasoa Mamy , Ganzhorn Jörg U. , Goodman Steven M. , Hasiniaina Alida F. , Hending Daniel , Hohenlohe Paul A. , Ibouroi Mohamed T. , Iribar Amaia , Jan Fabien , Kappeler Peter M. , Le Pors Barbara , Manzi Sophie , Olivieri Gillian , Rakotonanahary Ando N. , Rakotondranary S. Jacques , Rakotondravony Romule , Ralison José M. , Ranaivoarisoa J. Freddy , Randrianambinina Blanchard , Rasoloarison Rodin M. , Rasoloharijaona Solofonirina , Rasolondraibe Emmanuel , Teixeira Helena , Zaonarivelo John R. , Louis Edward E. , Yoder Anne D. , Chikhi Lounès , Radespiel Ute , Salmona Jordi
Published: September 2024

Global biodiversity is under accelerating threats, and species are succumbing to extinction before being described. Madagascar’s biota represents an extreme example of this scenario, with the added complication that much of its endemic biodiversity is cryptic. Here we illustrate best practices for clarifying cryptic diversification processes by presenting an integrative framework that leverages multiple lines of evidence and taxon-informed cut-offs for species delimitation, while placing special emphasis on identifying patterns of isolation by distance. We systematically apply this framework to an entire taxonomically controversial primate clade, the mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus, family Cheirogaleidae). We demonstrate that species diversity has been overestimated primarily due to the interpretation of geographic variation as speciation, potentially biasing inference of the underlying processes of evolutionary diversification. Following a revised classification, we find that crypsis within the genus is best explained by a model of morphological stasis imposed by stabilizing selection and a neutral process of niche diversification. Finally, by clarifying species limits and defining evolutionarily significant units, we provide new conservation priorities, bridging fundamental and applied objectives in a generalizable framework.
Two Years of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Data from the Georgia Coastal Plain, USA
Authors: Coffin Alisa W. , Cosh Michael H. , Pisarello Kathryn
Published: September 2024

The sustainable management of Earth’s complex ecosystems requires an abundance of field data to support long term stewardship. Remotely sensed satellite data provide crucial supplements to field measurements and are essential for deriving key operational products for monitoring Earth systems. However, to accurately calibrate and validate the models used to develop monitoring datasets, coincident field measurements are required. In 2018 and 2019, data related to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crops were collected from five fields in two farms located in Georgia, USA. Collections were timed to coincide with satellite overpasses to support the development of remote sensing-based crop and soil data products. Data collected include soil moisture, plant water content, above ground biomass, crop height, plant phenology, and field management practices (row direction, row spacing, and plant density). The datasets include 512 records collected in 2018 and 303 records collected in 2019. The data are archived in the National Agricultural Library Ag Data Commons repository and are available for use by researchers seeking crop and soil validation data.
A high-resolution dataset for future compound hot-dry events under climate change
Authors: Wen Yizhuo , Guo Junhong , Wang Feng , Hao Zhenda , Fei Yifan , Yang Aili , Fan Yurui , Chan Faith Ka Shun
Published: September 2024

Global climate change is leading to an increase in compound hot-dry events, significantly impacting human habitats. Analysing the causes and effects of these events requires precise data, yet most meteorological data focus on variables rather than extremes, which hinders relevant research. A daily compound hot-dry events (CHDEs) dataset was developed from 1980 to 2100 under various socioeconomic scenarios, using the latest NASA Earth Exchange Global Daily Downscaled Projections (NEX-GDDP-CMIP6) dataset to address this. The dataset has a spatial resolution of 0.25 degrees (approximately 30 kilometres), including three indicators, namely D (the yearly sum of hot-dry extreme days), prI (the intensity of daily precipitation), and tasI (the intensity of daily temperature). To validate the accuracy of the dataset, we compared observational data from China (National Meteorological Information Center, NMIC), Europe (ERA5), and North America (ERA5). Results show close alignment with estimated values from the observational daily dataset, both temporally and spatially. The predictive interval (PI) pass rates for the CHDEs dataset exhibit notably high values. For a 90% PI, D has a pass rate exceeding 85%, whilst prI and tasI respectively show a pass rate above 70% and 95%. These results underscore its suitability for conducting global and regional studies about compound hot-dry events.
Preliminary study on hand dimensions as potential predictors of female populations native to forest and savanna zones in Ghana
Authors: Bimpong Samuel , Abaidoo Chrissie Stansie , Tetteh Joshua , Kofi Sarkodie Francis , Adjei-Antwi Collins , Nketsiah James , Kusi Appiah Atta , Diby Thomas K.
Published: September 2024

The hand is a versatile structure that performs numerous tasks, ranging from exertion of great force such as grip, pinch and torque to execution of precise fine motor skills. The aim of current study was to undertake a preliminary study on hand dimensions as potential predictors of female populations native to the forest and savanna zones of Ghana. A total of one hundred (100) female students aged between 17 and 24 years were recruited into this study, comprising of 53 native to the forest zone and 47 native to savanna zone of Ghana between 12th June to 27th July, 2023 at the Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Statistically significant positive correlation was observed between left hand length and right hand length (R = 0.923, p = 0.000). From the binary regression model, it could be speculated that left-hand breadth could predict female populations native to the savanna zone (LHB: β = − 2.37, Expβ = 0.09, p = 0.014). However, right-hand breadth and length and left hand length did not show any potential of prediction (RHB: β = 0.900, Expβ = 2.460, p = 0.410; RHL: β = 0.168, Expβ = 1.683, p = 0.803; LHL: β = − 0.300, Expβ = 0.741, p = 0.656). The study therefore may speculate that left handbreadth could have the potential to differentiate female populations native to savanna zone from females native to forest zone in Ghana.
A patient report scale research to access the symptom burden in patients with IgA nephropathy
Authors: Yang Nan , Tang Jiyu , Li Xiaodi , Li Dingcheng , Zhu Bin , He Qiang , Zeng Yuqun , Jin Juan
Published: September 2024

Patients diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) commonly experience a substantial burden of symptoms encompassing both physical and psychological aspects. Presently, there's a dearth of standardized assessment tools to effectively gauge the extent of symptom burden in IgAN patients. Therefore, this study aims to devise an IgAN Symptom Assessment Tool that enables a comprehensive evaluation of patient symptom burden and their self-perceived severity. Employing a prospective observational design, this study conducted a survey among patients diagnosed with IgAN at a hospital in China. The research team formulated an IgAN Symptom Burden Assessment Scale and administered a questionnaire to gauge patient symptom burden. Severity assessment was conducted on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a more pronounced burden of symptoms. The finalized scale comprised 14 distinct symptom items, and the questionnaire survey garnered responses from 200 patients, achieving a 100% response rate. Statistical analysis unveiled that nearly all patients regarded these symptoms as prevalent and significantly impactful on their daily lives, resulting in a considerable burden. Notably, mild oliguria, moderate nasal congestion, bitter taste , throat discomfort, alongside severe manifestations such as muscle weakness, fatigue, and foamy urine, were frequently reported by patients. The findings underscore that a substantial proportion of IgAN patients grapple with a significant burden of symptoms, emphasizing the imperative for healthcare providers to prioritize symptom management and implement proactive measures to alleviate these challenges. This study presents an innovative tool tailored for evaluating symptom burden specifically in IgAN patients. Subsequent research should center on validating this tool within larger patient cohorts to optimize the efficacy of symptom management in this demographic.
A novel approach for APT attack detection based on an advanced computing
Authors: Xuan Cho Do , Nguyen Tung Thanh
Published: September 2024

To enhance the effectiveness of the Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) detection process, this research proposes a new approach to build and analyze the behavior profiles of APT attacks in network traffic. To achieve this goal, this study carries out two main objectives, including (i) building the behavior profile of APT IP in network traffic using a new intelligent computation method; (ii) analyzing and evaluating the behavior profile of APT IP based on a deep graph network. Specifically, to build the behavior profile of APT IP, this article describes using a combination of two different data mining methods: Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi) and Attention (A). Based on the obtained behavior profile, the Dynamic Graph Convolutional Neural Network (DGCNN) is proposed to extract the characteristics of APT IP and classify them. With the flexible combination of different components in the model, the important information and behavior of APT attacks are demonstrated, not only enhancing the accuracy of detecting attack campaigns but also reducing false predictions. The experimental results in the paper show that the method proposed in this study has brought better results than other approaches on all measurements. In particular, the accuracy of APT attack prediction results (Precision) reached from 84 to 91%, higher than other studies of over 7%. These experimental results have proven that the proposed BiADG model for detecting APT attacks in this study is proper and reasonable. In addition, those experimental results have not only proven the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method in detecting APT attacks but have also opened up a new approach for other cyber-attack detections such as distributed denial of service, botnets, malware, phishing, etc.
Risk of postpartum hemorrhage with increasing first stage labor duration
Authors: Ladfors Linnea V. , Liu Xingrong , Sandström Anna , Lundborg Louise , Butwick Alexander J. , Muraca Giulia M. , Snowden Jonathan M. , Ahlberg Mia , Stephansson Olof
Published: September 2024

With increasing rates of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in high-income countries, an important clinical concern is the impact of labor duration on the risk of PPH. This study examined the relationship between increasing active first stage labor duration and PPH and explored the role of second stage labor duration and cesarean delivery (CD) in this association. Including 77,690 nulliparous women with spontaneous labor onset, first stage labor duration was defined as the time from 5 cm to 10 cm, second stage duration from 10 cm dilation to birth and PPH as estimated blood loss > 1000 ml. Using modified Poisson regression for risk ratios (RR) and confidence intervals (CI), we found a 1.5-fold (RR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.41‒1.66) increased PPH risk when first stage of labor exceeded 12.1 h compared to the reference (< 7.7 h). Mediation analysis showed that 18.5% (95% CI, 9.7‒29.6) of the increased PPH risk with a prolonged first stage (≥ 7.7 h) was due to a prolonged second stage (> 3 h) or CD. These results suggest that including first stage duration in intrapartum assessments could improve PPH risk identification in first-time mothers with a singleton fetus in vertex presentation at full term with spontaneous labor onset.
Evaluation of repeatability and agreement of two optical biometers for intraocular lens power calculation
Authors: Alberquilla Irene Martinez , Svensson Saga , Ruiz-Alcocer Javier , Madrid-Costa David , Dominguez-Vicent Alberto , Venkataraman Abinaya Priya
Published: September 2024

The repeatability of two biometers (Lenstar-LS900 and Eyestar-900) to measure ocular parameters and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation, and their agreement were evaluated. 134 eyes of 134 participants were measured thrice with each biometer. Axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT) and keratometry (K) were evaluated. The IOL power was calculated using different formulas. The repeatability limit (RLimit), the mean differences (MD) and the limits of agreement (LoA) were calculated. The RLimits for all parameters were higher with Lenstar compared to Eyestar. RLimits were lower than 0.50 D except for Barrett Universal II (0.54 D) and Haigis (0.51 D) formulas with the Lenstar. Mean differences were lower than 0.01 mm for AL, ACD and LT, and lower than 0.03 D for K. MD ranged from 0 to 0.02 D for all formulas except for Barrett and Hill. When dividing the sample into subgroups (short, normal and long eyes), the MDs were similar for the IOL power and were lower than 0.03 D, except for the Barrett and Hill formulas. Both biometers provide repeatable biometry and IOL power calculations. The LoA interval for the IOL power calculation was between 0.75 and 1.50D, which was similar among the subgroups.
Temporal dynamics of uncertainty and prediction error in musical improvisation across different periods
Authors: Daikoku Tatsuya
Published: September 2024

Human improvisational acts contain an innate individuality, derived from one’s experiences based on epochal and cultural backgrounds. Musical improvisation, much like spontaneous speech, reveals intricate facets of the improviser’s state of mind and emotional character. However, the specific musical components that reveal such individuality remain largely unexplored. Within the framework of human statistical learning and predictive processing, this study examined the temporal dynamics of uncertainty and surprise (prediction error) in a piece of musical improvisation. This cognitive process reconciles the raw auditory cues, such as melody and rhythm, with the musical predictive models shaped by its prior experiences. This study employed the Hierarchical Bayesian Statistical Learning (HBSL) model to analyze a corpus of 456 Jazz improvisations, spanning 1925 to 2009, from 78 distinct Jazz musicians. The results indicated distinctive temporal patterns of surprise and uncertainty, especially in pitch and pitch-rhythm sequences, revealing era-specific features from the early 20th to the 21st centuries. Conversely, rhythm sequences exhibited a consistent degree of uncertainty across eras. Further, the acoustic properties remain unchanged across different periods. These findings highlight the importance of how temporal dynamics of surprise and uncertainty in improvisational music change over periods, profoundly influencing the distinctive methodologies artists adopt for improvisation in each era. Further, it is suggested that the development of improvisational music can be attributed to the adaptive statistical learning mechanisms. This study explores the period-specific characteristics in the temporal dynamics of improvisational music, emphasizing how artists adapt their methods to resonate with the cultural and emotional contexts of their times. Such shifts in improvisational ways offer a window into understanding how artists intuitively respond and adapt their craft to resonate with the cultural zeitgeist and the emotional landscapes of their respective times.
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
Authors: Millington Jo
Published: September 2024

Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is a discipline within forensic science that deals with the examination and identification of bloodstains and the interpretation and evaluation of those bloodstains to attempt to establish the activities that may have caused them. Human observation forms a significant component of BPA and, as a consequence, it is widely considered to be subjective. However, the discipline is underpinned by sound scientific principles and a body of research that dates back to at least the late 19th century. Through an understanding of pattern recognition, how the physiological characteristics of blood influence stain formation, how blood interacts with surfaces and the factors that impact on the mechanisms by which blood can be distributed in various scenarios, allow analysts an understanding of how blood might be expected to transfer in various situations. As with many forensic disciplines it is rare to be able to offer a definitive BPA opinion; however, by understanding the strengths and limitations (and communicating these properly) a robust conclusion is achievable. This chapter introduces the history and key developments in the discipline of BPA including the frameworks available to identify and classify bloodstain patterns, and mathematical principles that underpin blood dynamics. An overview of the main spatter patterns as well as altered blood and transfer patterns, provides a foundation in BPA classification, and the chapter concludes with a brief look at the scientific approach to BPA, including an appreciation of the approaches to the evaluation of bloodstaining and management of bias.