bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Farmers’ social networks and regional spillover effects in agricultural climate change mitigation
Authors: Kreft Cordelia , Angst Mario , Huber Robert , Finger Robert
Published: January 2023

Climate change poses a severe threat to global agricultural production and rural livelihoods, and since agriculture itself is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it can also play an important role in climate change mitigation. This article investigates how farmers’ social networks influence the adoption of on-farm mitigation strategies. More precisely, we use a network autocorrelation model to explore the relationship between a farmer’s own mitigation behavior and the mitigation behavior and knowledge of his fellow farmers. The analysis is based on a regional case study in Switzerland and uses data obtained from personal network interviews combined with survey and census data of 50 farmers. Half of them are members of a local collective action initiative for agricultural climate change mitigation, while the others do not participate in the initiative. We find that, on average, farmers with a larger network adopt more mitigation measures, and furthermore, mitigation adoption is linked with the level of knowledge within farmers’ networks. Indeed, the likelihood that non-members will adopt mitigation measures increases if they are closely associated with members of the collective action, suggesting a local spillover effect. It follows that strengthening knowledge exchange among farmers and supporting local farmers’ initiatives can potentially contribute to the diffusion of agricultural climate change mitigation practices.
Recovering, correcting, and reconstructing precipitation data affected by gaps and irregular readings: The Padua series from 1812 to 1864
Authors: della Valle Antonio , Camuffo Dario , Becherini Francesca , Zanini Valeria
Published: January 2023

The aim of this work is to reconstruct the 1812–1864 period of the Padua precipitation series at the daily level, using a local precipitation Log. Missing readings, cumulative amounts, and gaps often affect early precipitation series, as observers did not follow a precise protocol. Therefore, the daily amount and frequency reported in the register of observations are not homogeneous with other periods, neither comparable with other contemporary series, and need a correction. The correction methodology has been based on the daily weather notes written in the Log in parallel to the readings. Taking advantage of periods in which both weather observations and instrumental readings were regularly taken, the terms used to describe the precipitation type and intensity have been classified, analyzed statistically, calibrated, and transformed into numerical values. The weather notes enable the distribution of precipitation to be determined based on the cumulative amounts collected on consecutive rainy days into the likely precipitation that occurred on every single rainy day. In the case of missing readings, the presence of weather notes enables the missing amounts to be estimated using the relationships found previously. Finally, the recovery of additional contemporary documents made it possible to fill some gaps in this period. Using this approach, 52 years of the long Padua precipitation series have been corrected: precipitation collected for two or more rainy days has been distributed according to the actual rainy days; the rain amount fully recovered and most of the missing values reconstructed; the false extreme events corrected.
Whole genome re-sequencing uncovers significant population structure and low genetic diversity in the endangered clouded apollo (Parnasssius mnemosyne) in Sweden
Authors: Talla Venkat , Mrazek Veronika , Höglund Jacob , Backström Niclas
Published: January 2023

The clouded apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne) used to have a wide distribution in Fennoscandia. Recent population declines have, however, led to regional extinctions and in Sweden it is currently one of the most endangered butterflies, confined to three geographically separated metapopulations: Blekinge, Roslagen and Västernorrland. Especially the Blekinge population has declined dramatically and few imagines have been observed during recent census efforts (< 10 in some localities). The clouded apollo is subject to a species action plan which includes both habitat restorations and captive breeding to produce individuals for release and reintroductions. Here, we apply whole-genome resequencing of clouded apollo individuals collected in the three natural populations and the captive population in Sweden and apply population genomic approaches to get a better understanding of the genetic structure and levels of genetic diversity in the species. We find that the clouded apollo populations in the different geographic regions have similar, but comparatively low levels of genetic diversity and we find evidence for significant genetic differentiation between the northernmost population and the populations in southern Sweden. Additional analysis, including previously available mitochondrial data, unveil that a bi-directional re-colonization of Fennoscandia after the latest glacial maximum most likely is the explanation for the considerable differentiation between some Swedish populations. Finally, we find evidence for population sub-structure in one of the Swedish populations. The results provide insights into the genetic consequences of population size declines and fragmentation in general and provide important information for direct conservation actions for the clouded apollo in Sweden in particular.
Toxicity of POEA-containing glyphosate-based herbicides to amphibians is mainly due to the surfactant, not to the active ingredient
Authors: Mikó Zsanett , Hettyey Attila
Published: January 2023

Current international legislation regarding agrochemicals requires thorough toxicological testing mainly of the active ingredients. In a 96-h acute toxicity test we exposed Rana dalmatina and Bufo bufo tadpoles to either one of three concentrations of glyphosate, three concentrations of the surfactant (POEA), three concentrations of the two components together, or to non-contaminated water (control), and subsequently assessed mortality and body mass. To investigate whether simultaneous exposure to another stress factor influences effects of the contaminants, we performed tests both in the presence or absence of predator chemical cues. We found that the surfactant had significant harmful effects on tadpoles; survival was lowered by the highest concentration of the surfactant in case of R. dalmatina, while in B. bufo tadpoles it reduced survival already at medium concentrations. Body mass was significantly influenced by medium and high surfactant concentrations in both species. The presence of glyphosate did not have a significant effect by itself, but it slightly increased mortality in tadpoles exposed to medium concentrations of the surfactant in both species. The presence of chemical cues did not have an effect on the examined variables. Our study confirms that the toxicity of glyphosate-based herbicides is mainly due to the examined surfactant. Nonetheless, we found that glyphosate can enhance the harmful effect of the surfactant. These results stress that during the authorization process of new pesticide formulations, not only the active ingredients would need to be examined but the excipients should also be taken into account in an obligatory and systematic manner.
Is the association of overweight and obesity with colorectal cancer underestimated? An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Authors: Mandic Marko , Li Hengjing , Safizadeh Fatemeh , Niedermaier Tobias , Hoffmeister Michael , Brenner Hermann
Published: January 2023

Although high body-mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), many CRC patients lose weight before diagnosis. BMI is often reported close to diagnosis, which may have led to underestimation or even reversal of direction of the BMI-CRC association. We aimed to assess if and to what extent potential bias from prediagnostic weight loss has been considered in available epidemiological evidence. We searched PubMed and Web of Science until May 2022 for systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the BMI-CRC association. Information on design aspects and results was extracted, including if and how the reviews handled prediagnostic weight loss as a potential source of bias. Additionally, we analyzed how individual cohort studies included in the latest systematic review handled the issue. Overall, 18 reviews were identified. None of them thoroughly considered or discussed prediagnostic weight loss as a potential source of bias. The majority (15/21) of cohorts included in the latest review did not exclude any initial years of follow-up from their main analysis. Although the majority of studies reported having conducted sensitivity analyses in which initial years of follow-up were excluded, results were reported very heterogeneously and mostly for additional exclusions of 1–2 years only. Where explicitly reported, effect estimates mostly increased with increasing length of exclusion. The impact of overweight and obesity on CRC risk may be larger than suggested by the existing epidemiological evidence.
Time-varying causality nexus of (non)renewable electricity utilization, real output, and carbon emission among selected African states
Authors: Espoir Delphin Kamanda , Sunge Regret , Alola Andrew Adewale
Published: January 2023

Adding to the debate on the drivers of carbon neutrality, the perspective of time-dependent effect of crucial factors such as the renewable and conventional energy utilization should offer relevant policy for the stakeholders in the energy sector. On the empirical front, several studies have investigated the causal interaction between renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption, economic growth, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by using the conventional empirical approaches. In contrast, this study utilized a time-varying causality (TC) technique (which offers time inference) to determine the causal relationship between CO2 emission and its potential drivers such as energy source types and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, and Tunisia over the period spanning 1980Q1 and 2017Q4. Importantly, there is statistically significant evidence of causality as examined by the TC approach. For instance, causality from CO2 emission to renewable energy source for the period 2004Q1–2006Q3 and from GDP to CO2 emission during 2013Q2–2015Q3 were observed for South Africa. Moreover, the causality from non-renewable energy source to CO2 emission and from GDP to CO2 emission compares very well with Nigeria, Libya, and Algeria. Overall, the results largely indicate causality relationships among our variables for all the six countries over different time sequences. These results differ from the Toda–Yamamoto test, which only reveals a causality relationship in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. The empirical findings obtained from the time-varying causality approach are essential for designing and implementing appropriate energy policies, especially attaining these countries' Paris agreement and the Sustainable Development Goal 13 since the goals are time periodically assessed.
Gradient boosting with extreme-value theory for wildfire prediction
Authors: Koh Jonathan
Published: January 2023

This paper details the approach of the teamKohrrelationin the 2021 Extreme Value Analysis data challenge, dealing with the prediction of wildfire counts and sizes over the contiguous US. Our approach uses ideas from extreme-value theory in a machine learning context with theoretically justified loss functions for gradient boosting. We devise a spatial cross-validation scheme and show that in our setting it provides a better proxy for test set performance than naive cross-validation. The predictions are benchmarked against boosting approaches with different loss functions, and perform competitively in terms of the score criterion, finally placing second in the competition ranking.
Effect of feed restriction and refeeding on body condition, digestive functionality and intestinal microbiota in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Messina Maria , Iacumin Lucilla , Pascon Giulia , Tulli Francesca , Tibaldi Emilio , Cardinaletti Gloriana
Published: January 2023

The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of fasting and refeeding on body condition, gut physiology and microbiota in reared O. mykiss. Ninety-six fish were randomly allotted among three groups subjected to different feeding plan: C (control, fed for 5 weeks); R (restricted ration over 3 weeks followed by 2 weeks feeding); F (fasted over 3 weeks followed by 2 weeks feeding) in a well’s fresh water flow-through rearing plan. Sampling occurred at 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 days during the refeeding period. At day 0 and throughout the feeding period until day 14, the weight of the fish was significantly affected by the feeding restriction. Feed deprivation reduced significantly the viscerosomatic and hepatosomatic indexes. Brush border membrane enzymes’ specific activity was modulated by feeding regimes until day 7, to level in all experimental groups at day 14. At the end of the restricted/fasted period, the microbiota of the C group was made up of 70% of Actinobacteria, 24% of Proteobacteria, 4.2% of Firmicutes and < 1% of Bacteroides, while the restricted and fasted group were characterized by a strong reduction of Actinobacteria, and a significant increase in Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. The feed deprivation determined a dysbiosis, allowing the development of different commensal or pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, the effects of 2 weeks of feed deprivation, excluding those related to body weight, are gradually mitigated by refeeding, which allows the restoration of digestive functions and a healthy intestinal microbiota.
Registration of ‘Krib’ new lentil variety in Tunisia
Authors: Ouji Ali , Amri Moez , Bouhadida Mariem , Omri Noura , Khamassi Khalil , Sfayhi Dorra , Kumar Shiv , Kharrat Mohamed
Published: January 2023

In Tunisia, lentil (Lens culinaris subsp. culinaris Medik.) is cultivated in arid and semi-arid areas. Terminal drought and heat stresses during the end of cycle causes significant yield losses. Selection of short cycle varieties could be the best option to escape the effect of pre cited abiotic factors. ‘krib’ was developed using both modified pedigree and bulk methods by INRAT in collaboration with ICARDA. It’s a selection from an advanced F9 line, FLIP2012 196L, which was derived from a cross of ILL590 (early-maturing genotype) with ILL8113 (drought tolerant). During the three consecutive cropping seasons (2014–2017), the increase in yield of ‘krib’ above that of the local checks was about 13 and 15% for ‘kef’ and ‘Boulifa’, respectively. ‘Krib’ is an early-flowering (on average ~ 93 d) and early-maturing (on average ~ 138 d) variety. It's therefore, the earliest variety among the previously released varieties. Its dehulled seed has a protein content of 26.8% which was above that of ‘Kef’ (23.9%). ‘Krib' showed good agronomic performance under drought conditions and large adaptation for the Tunisian environments. Tested as ILL11171, ‘Krib’ was approved for release and registered in the Tunisian Official Catalogue of Plant Varieties in 2019, based on the superior performance, by the DG/PCQPA, Tunisia. The availability of ‘Krib’ variety to farmers could increase lentil production and offers the producer aprofitable benefit in their cropping systems.
Impact of COVID-19 on distance learning practical design courses
Authors: Fewella Lina Nageb
Published: January 2023

This paper explores the impact of COVID-19 on higher education practical design courses in Egypt. Because of inadequate resources and preparedness, Egyptian colleges have struggled to adopt digital teaching methods during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines strategies that are the most feasible for teaching practical courses during or after a pandemic through distance learning (on online platforms). An action research project was set up to deliver two studio-based design courses, one on architectural drawing and the other on furniture design via distance learning (online mode). This approach used a suite of technologies and synchronous and asynchronous delivery mechanisms, such as Zoom and Google Classroom. Student perceptions about the impact of these changes were evaluated using questionnaires. A psychological effect of the conditions caused by the pandemic on students has been the loss of interest in academics. The research results partially support the use of online platforms to teach practical courses. However, more needs to be done to improve the delivery of online courses in Egypt. Further, holding competitions was found to boost students’ motivation levels. A future strategy for teaching practical courses in applied arts and engineering is proposed in this paper.
Improved 1-year outcomes after active cooling during left atrial radiofrequency ablation
Authors: Joseph Christopher , Nazari Jose , Zagrodzky Jason , Brumback Babette , Sherman Jacob , Zagrodzky William , Bailey Shane , Kulstad Erik , Metzl Mark
Published: January 2023

Background

Active esophageal cooling during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly being utilized to reduce esophageal injury and atrioesophageal fistula formation. Randomized controlled data also show trends towards increased freedom from AF when using active cooling. This study aimed to compare 1-year arrhythmia recurrence rates between patients treated with luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring versus active esophageal cooling during left atrial ablation.

Method

Data from two healthcare systems (including 3 hospitals and 4 electrophysiologists) were reviewed for patient rhythm status at 1-year follow-up after receiving PVI for the treatment of AF. Results were compared between patients receiving active esophageal cooling (ensoETM, Attune Medical, Chicago, IL) and those treated with traditional LET monitoring using Kaplan–Meier estimates.

Results

A total of 513 patients were reviewed; 253 received LET monitoring using either single or multi-sensor temperature probes; and 260 received active cooling. The mean age was 66.8 (SD ± 10) years, and 36.8% were female. Arrhythmias were 60.1% paroxysmal AF, 34.3% persistent AF, and 5.6% long-standing persistent AF, with no significant difference between groups. At 1-year follow-up, KM estimates for freedom from AF were 58.2% for LET-monitored patients and 72.2% for actively cooled patients, for an absolute increase in freedom from AF of 14% with active esophageal cooling (p = .03). Adjustment for the confounders of patient age, gender, type of AF, and operator with an inverse probability of treatment weighted Cox proportional hazards model yielded a hazard ratio of 0.6 for the effect of cooling on AF recurrence (p = 0.045).

Conclusions

In this first study to date of the association between esophageal protection strategy and long-term efficacy of left atrial RF ablation, a clinically and statistically significant improvement in freedom from atrial arrhythmia at 1 year was found in patients treated with active esophageal cooling when compared to patients who received LET monitoring. More rigorous prospective studies or randomized studies are required to validate the findings of the current study.
Spectral Analysis of High Order Continuous FEM for Hyperbolic PDEs on Triangular Meshes: Influence of Approximation, Stabilization, and Time-Stepping
Authors: Michel Sixtine , Torlo Davide , Ricchiuto Mario , Abgrall Rémi
Published: January 2023

In this work we study various continuous finite element discretization for two dimensional hyperbolic partial differential equations, varying the polynomial space (Lagrangian on equispaced, Lagrangian on quadrature points (Cubature) and Bernstein), the stabilization techniques (streamline-upwind Petrov–Galerkin, continuous interior penalty, orthogonal subscale stabilization) and the time discretization (Runge–Kutta (RK), strong stability preserving RK and deferred correction). This is an extension of the one dimensional study by Michel et al. (J Sci Comput 89(2):31, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10915-021-01632-7), whose results do not hold in multi-dimensional frameworks. The study ranks these schemes based on efficiency (most of them are mass-matrix free), stability and dispersion error, providing the best CFL and stabilization coefficients. The challenges in two-dimensions are related to the Fourier analysis. Here, we perform it on two types of periodic triangular meshes varying the angle of the advection, and we combine all the results for a general stability analysis. Furthermore, we introduce additional high order viscosity to stabilize the discontinuities, in order to show how to use these methods for tests of practical interest. All the theoretical results are thoroughly validated numerically both on linear and non-linear problems, and error-CPU time curves are provided. Our final conclusions suggest that Cubature elements combined with SSPRK and OSS stabilization is the most promising combination.
Study of Thermodynamic Properties of l-Serine and l-Threonine in Aqueous Solutions of 1-(2-Carboxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium Chloride [HOOCEMIM][Cl]
Authors: Asadzadeh Behnaz , Majdan-Cegincara Roghayeh , Zafarani-Moattar Mohammed Taghi
Published: January 2023

The stability of amino acids in solutions containing electrolytes and the effect of ambient pH on their biological activity is an important research area. In this research work, the volumetric and transport properties of ionic liquid (IL) aqueous solution with special performance of 1-(2-carboxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([HOOCEMIM][Cl]) were studied. The selected IL acts as an electrolyte and allows the study of systems containing amino acids at acidic pH. In this work, the density, speed of sound and viscosity of binary and ternary solutions of IL in aqueous solution of amino acids in the structure of proteins, namely l-serine and l-threonine within IL molality range of (0.05, 0.07 and 0.09 mol·kg−1) were measured at 298.15 K. From these quantities, apparent molar volume, limiting apparent molar volume, apparent molar isentropic compression, limiting apparent molar isentropic compression, transfer standard volumes for amino acids from water to the aqueous IL solutions and viscosity B-coefficients were calculated using the equations of Redlich–Meyer and Jones–Dole. Close examination of literature indicates that there is no data for water activity for solution of l-serine + H2O at 308.15 and 318.15 K. In this way water activity, osmotic coefficient and vapor pressure were measured and using the interaction parameters of Wilson, NRTL, NRF-NRTL and UNIQUAC models, activity coefficient values of l-serine calculated.
Lying versus misleading, with language and pictures: the adverbial account
Authors: García-Carpintero Manuel
Published: January 2023

We intuitively make a distinction between lying and misleading. On the explanation of this phenomenon favored here—the adverbial account—the distinction tracks whether the content and its truth-committing force are literally conveyed. On an alternative commitment account, the difference between lying and misleading is predicated instead on the strength of assertoric commitment. One lies when one presents with full assertoric commitment what one believes to be false; one merely misleads when one presents it without full assertoric commitment, by merely hinting or otherwise implying it. Now, as predicted by the well-supported assumption that we can also assert with pictures, the lying/misleading distinction appears to intuitively show up there too. Here I’ll explain how the debate confronting the two accounts plays out both in general and in that case, aiming to provide support for the adverbial account.
Wright’s Strict Finitistic Logic in the Classical Metatheory: The Propositional Case
Authors: Yamada Takahiro
Published: January 2023

Crispin Wright in his 1982 paper argues for strict finitism, a constructive standpoint that is more restrictive than intuitionism. In its appendix, he proposes models of strict finitistic arithmetic. They are tree-like structures, formed in his strict finitistic metatheory, of equations between numerals on which concrete arithmetical sentences are evaluated. As a first step towards classical formalisation of strict finitism, we propose their counterparts in the classical metatheory with one additional assumption, and then extract the propositional part of ‘strict finitistic logic’ from it and investigate. We will provide a sound and complete pair of a Kripke-style semantics and a sequent calculus, and compare with other logics. The logic lacks the law of excluded middle and Modus Ponens and is weaker than classical logic, but stronger than any proper intermediate logics in terms of theoremhood. In fact, all the other well-known classical theorems are found to be theorems. Finally, we will make an observation that models of this semantics can be seen as nodes of an intuitionistic model.
Relaxed fixed point iterations for matrix equations arising in Markov chain modeling
Authors: Gemignani Luca , Meini Beatrice
Published: January 2023

We present some accelerated variants of fixed point iterations for computing the minimal non-negative solution of the unilateral matrix equation associated with an M/G/1-type Markov chain. These variants derive from certain staircase regular splittings of the block Hessenberg M-matrix associated with the Markov chain. By exploiting the staircase profile, we introduce a two-step fixed point iteration. The iteration can be further accelerated by computing a weighted average between the approximations obtained at two consecutive steps. The convergence of the basic two-step fixed point iteration and of its relaxed modification is proved. Our theoretical analysis, along with several numerical experiments, shows that the proposed variants generally outperform the classical iterations.
Efficacy and safety of ciprofol versus propofol for the induction of anesthesia in adult patients: a multicenter phase 2a clinical trial
Authors: Zhu Qianmei , Luo Zhen , Wang Xia , Wang Dongxin , Li Jun , Wei Xinchuan , Tang Jun , Yao Shanglong , Ouyang Wen , Zhang Wensheng , Zuo Yunxia , Wang Xiao , Liu Jin
Published: January 2023

Background

Ciprofol is a novel 2, 6-disubstituted phenolic derivative anesthetic that binds to the gamma-aminobutyric acid-A receptor.

Aim

To determine the equally potent dose of ciprofol compared with propofol as an induction agent for general anesthesia in patients undergoing selective surgery, and to assess its safety.

Method

A total of 109 patients undergoing selective non-emergency, non-cardiothoracic or non-neurosurgical surgery requiring tracheal intubation for general anesthesia were enrolled. Ten patients per group were assigned to ciprofol-0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mg/kg, and propofol-2.0 or 2.5 mg/kg groups, respectively to receive an intravenous bolus dose. An additional 20 patients were enrolled in the ciprofol-0.3, 0.5 or propofol-2.0 mg/kg groups. The primary outcome was the success rate of induction defined as a Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) ≤ 1 after the initial bolus dose. The secondary outcomes included the time to reach MOAA/S ≤ 1, the time to loss of the eyelash reflex, the incidences and severity of adverse events (AEs).

Results

The success rates were 100% for all 5 groups. The mean time to MOAA/S ≤ 1 and the time to loss of the eyelash reflex were not different among the 5 groups, regardless of whether a top-up dose was needed. There were no significant differences in the incidences and severity of AEs in the dose ranges investigated of ciprofol vs. propofol.

Conclusion

The efficacy and safety of a single bolus dose of ciprofol-0.5 mg/kg for the general anesthesia induction in selective surgery patients was comparable to that of propofol-2.0 mg/kg.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03698617, retrospectively registered.
A Sartrean analysis of pandemic shaming
Authors: Dolezal Luna , Rose Arthur
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we analyse the particular phenomena of COVID-19 pandemic shaming. We examine Sartre’s account of the undifferentiated other in the experience of ‘the look’, and his insistence on shame as a foundational relational affect, in order to give a robust theoretical frame to understand how pandemic shaming circulated both online and offline, in targeted and diffuse manners. We focus on two features of pandemic shaming. First, we draw attention to the structural necessity of an audience in acts of pandemic shaming, where the shamer acts on behalf of a community of others, the audience, to perform and enforce a set of standards, values or norms. We turn to the we-experience and collective emotions literature and discuss how the shamer believes themselves to be ‘speaking’ on behalf of a community who share their outrage along with their values. Second, we discuss how the presumption of a collective emotion was frequently mistaken in acts of pandemic shaming, where shaming frequently led to shame backlashes, where the audience revealed themselves not to share the emotion and values of the shamer, consequently shaming the shamer. We argue that Jean-Paul Sartre’s voyeur example is usefully illustrative of the tripartite structure of (1) shamed, (2) shamer and (3) shamer of the shamer that occurs in iterative processes of pandemic shaming, which are accompanied by shaming backlashes. We conclude by reflecting on the socio-historical context for Sartre’s accounts of shame and ‘the look’, namely the German occupation of Paris and Sartre’s experience of the French Resistance movement, and how these yield a particular socio-historical framing that makes evident how the extraordinary pseudo-wartime conditions of COVID-19 rendered atmospheres of distrust and suspicion prevalent.
Anchoring Political Preferences: The Psychological Foundations of Status Quo Bias and the Boundaries of Elite Manipulation
Authors: Arceneaux Kevin , Nicholson Stephen P.
Published: January 2023

Public policy is often about numbers that affect people’s lives in fundamental ways. Given the central importance of numbers, we examine anchoring, a heuristic in which people are influenced by an initial number in expressing a preference. Across a series of experiments and three unique surveys, we find evidence of anchoring effects, but not uniformly so. In contrast to experiments in psychology and behavioral economics, we find no evidence that irrelevant or arbitrary anchors shape policy preferences. Yet, when provided politically relevant anchors that clearly correspond to the policy proposal, we find evidence of strong effects, even in the face of party cues or in the absence of a status quo policy point. Taken together, our results demonstrate that there is a psychological explanation for why the status quo occupies a powerful position in policy debates as well as why agenda setting is so influential.
Trajectories of Mental Health Problems in Childhood and Adult Voting Behaviour: Evidence from the 1970s British Cohort Study
Authors: Girard Lisa-Christine , Okolikj Martin
Published: January 2023

The link between childhood mental health difficulties such as conduct problems and adult political abstention has been overlooked despite early mental health difficulties potentially resulting in political self-marginalisation. Using the1970s British Cohort Study, we estimate developmental trajectories of conduct problems (i.e., from 5 to 16 years). Logistic regression, linear probability models, and propensity score matching were then conducted to test the association between trajectory group membership and voter turnout at 30, 42, and 46 years of age. Three distinct trajectories of conduct problems were identified: a normative (n = 11,871; reference group), moderate-chronic (n = 3433), and elevated-chronic (n = 250) group. Results revealed an association between conduct problems and decreased turnout. In particular the elevated-chronic group had a decreased odds of voting of 52.2%, 52.0%, and 45.7%, as compared to the normative group at 30, 42, and 46 years respectively. The moderate-chronic group had a decreased odds of voting of 24.7% as compared to the normative group at age 30 only. Matched results and linear probability models substantiated findings, suggesting (1) the importance of considering childhood factors when examining antecedents of lifelong voting behaviour, and (2) the political self-marginalisation of people with chronic childhood conduct problems more than 3 decades later.
Analyzing the land and labour productivity of farms producing renewable energy: the Italian case study
Authors: Basso Antonella , Zolin Maria Bruna
Published: January 2023

The paper computes and analyses some relevant indicators of economic performance of Italian farms producing/not producing renewable energy, and compares the economic results of the two set of farms. The source of data is the European Farm Accountant Data Network; the farms belonging to this network are analysed in relation to their structural differences, type of farming, geographical areas, economic size, as well as the type of renewable energy produced. After an in-depth statistical investigation, the main economic ratios are computed and analysed using also multivariate regression models, with a special focus on the production of solar and biogas energy. In terms of land and labour productivity and fixed factor remuneration, the results show that farms producing renewable energy perform better than the other farms. This positive effect is particularly accentuated in large companies that produce biogas, followed by farms that produce solar energy. There are still many obstacles that limit the production of renewable energy in agriculture; among these, still insufficient research and information on best practices in agriculture and, in Italy, the complexity and dispersion of the institutional legislative framework and of the public support systems. However, the need to increase the production of renewable energy has become a priority for many European countries both in the short- and in the medium term, especially in light of recent events related to the war in Ukraine.
Math self-efficacy or anxiety? The role of emotional and motivational contribution in math performance
Authors: Živković Marija , Pellizzoni Sandra , Doz Eleonora , Cuder Alessandro , Mammarella Irene , Passolunghi Maria Chiara
Published: January 2023

Various studies have highlighted the important influence of math ability in a numerate society. In this study, we investigated the influence of emotional (math anxiety and math enjoyment) and cognitive-motivational (math self-efficacy) factors on math performance. Participants were 145 fifth-grade students (84 boys and 61 girls). The results showed that math performance was negatively correlated with math anxiety and positively correlated with math enjoyment and math self-efficacy. Moreover, math anxiety was negatively associated with enjoyment in math and math self-efficacy, whereas math enjoyment was positively correlated with math self-efficacy. Hierarchical regression analysis showed a significant influence of math anxiety and math self-efficacy on math performance in fifth-grade students. Results are discussed in terms of a new perspective in emotional and motivational factors to train in school contexts.
Implementation of a motion estimation algorithm for Intel FPGAs using OpenCL
Authors: de Castro Manuel , Osorio Roberto R. , Vilariño David L. , Gonzalez-Escribano Arturo , Llanos Diego R.
Published: January 2023

Motion Estimation is one of the main tasks behind any video encoder. It is a computationally costly task; therefore, it is usually delegated to specific or reconfigurable hardware, such as FPGAs. Over the years, multiple FPGA implementations have been developed, mainly using hardware description languages such as Verilog or VHDL. Since programming using hardware description languages is a complex task, it is desirable to use higher-level languages to develop FPGA applications.The aim of this work is to evaluate OpenCL, in terms of expressiveness, as a tool for developing this kind of FPGA applications. To do so, we present and evaluate a parallel implementation of the Block Matching Motion Estimation process using OpenCL for Intel FPGAs, usable and tested on an Intel Stratix 10 FPGA. The implementation efficiently processes Full HD frames completely inside the FPGA. In this work, we show the resource utilization when synthesizing the code on an Intel Stratix 10 FPGA, as well as a performance comparison with multiple CPU implementations with varying levels of optimization and vectorization capabilities. We also compare the proposed OpenCL implementation, in terms of resource utilization and performance, with estimations obtained from an equivalent VHDL implementation.
In defence of PKF
Authors: Rumfitt Ian
Published: January 2023

I advance arguments in favour of PKF as an articulation of a central sense of the predicate ‘true’, and show how it illuminates the relationship between that sense and the ‘external’ notion of truth found in such claims as ‘An utterance of the Liar Sentence does not say anything, and so is not true’.
Ludwik Fleck’s reasonable relativism about science
Authors: Binney Nicholas
Published: January 2023

An ongoing project in the philosophy of science and medicine is the effort to articulate a form of relativism about science that can find a path between strongly realist and pernicious relativist poles. Recent scholarship on relativism has described the characteristics a philosophy must have in order to be considered a thoroughgoing relativism. These include non-absolutism, multiplicity, dependence, incompatibility, equal validity and non-neutrality. Critics of relativism maintain that these requirements cannot be met without collapsing into a pernicious form of relativism and that attempts to do so have failed. Against this view, I argue that the early twentieth century philosophy of Ludwik Fleck satisfies these requirements. Paying attention to the scientific details of Fleck’s account of active and passive elements of knowledge, and the resistance generated by them, reveals a thoroughgoing and yet reasonable relativism about science.
Synthetic proofs
Authors: Panahy Salman
Published: January 2023

This is a contribution to the idea that some proofs in first-order logic are synthetic. Syntheticity is understood here in its classical geometrical sense. Starting from Jaakko Hintikka’s original idea and Allen Hazen’s insights, this paper develops a method to define the ‘graphical form’ of formulae in monadic and dyadic fraction of first-order logic. Then a synthetic inferential step in Natural Deduction is defined. A proof is defined as synthetic if it includes at least one synthetic inferential step. Finally, it will be shown that the proposed definition is not sensitive to different ways of driving the same conclusion from the same assumptions.
Textile monopole sensors for breast cancer detection
Authors: Elsheakh Dalia M. , Alsherif Soha A. , Eldamak Angie R.
Published: January 2023

This paper presents two flexible monopole antennas implemented on cotton substrate as sensors designed for radar-based microwave imaging and particularly breast imaging systems. The flexible antennas are basic building block of a radar-based microwave imaging system that could be integrated in clothes. Thus, these low-cost textile sensors could be used by women for self-monitoring and early breast cancer detection at an affordable price. The ultra-wideband fully textile sensors are designed as rectangular and circular monopole antennas. Both sensors have an impedance bandwidth $$\le $$
≤
 − 10 dB from 2.2 to 8 GHz with an overall footprint of 50 × 50 mm2. Simulations for antenna in proximity to breast model with and without tumor as well as bending capacity are performed. The simulations are complemented with fabrication of a breast phantom and a tumor sample with parameters that mimic these of the human breast’s healthy and malignant tissue. Measurements are compared to simulation results as well as the performance of antenna before and after subjected to washing. Finally, the specific absorption rate is also calculated and measured to ensure safety for on-body deployment. The proposed work demonstrates the potential to develop wearable microwave imaging system using fully textile antennas.
Detecting atrial fibrillation in the polysomnography-derived electrocardiogram: a software validation study
Authors: van Kempen Julia , Glatz Christian , Wolfes Julian , Frommeyer Gerrit , Boentert Matthias
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The present study validated a software-based electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis tool for detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) and risk for AF using polysomnography (PSG)-derived ECG recordings.

Methods

The Stroke Risk Analysis® (SRA®) software was applied to 3-channel ECG tracings from diagnostic PSG performed in enrolled subjects including a subgroup of subjects with previously documented AF. No subjects used positive airway pressure therapy. All ECG recordings were visually analyzed by a blinded cardiologist.

Results

Of subjects enrolled in the study, 93 had previously documented AF and 178 of 186 had an ECG that could be analyzed by either method. In subjects with known history of AF, automated analysis using SRA® classified 47 out of 87 ECG as either manifest AF or showing increased risk for paroxysmal AF (PAF) by SRA® (sensitivity 0.54, specificity 0.86). On visual analysis, 36/87 ECG showed manifest AF and 51/87 showed sinus rhythm. Among the latter subgroup, an increased risk for PAF was ascribed by SRA® in 11 cases (sensitivity 0.22, specificity 0.78) and by expert visual analysis in 5 cases (sensitivity 0.1, specificity 0.90). Among 36/178 ECG with manifest AF on visual analysis, 33 were correctly identified by the SRA® software (sensitivity and specificity 0.92).

Conclusion

Sleep studies provide a valuable source of ECG recordings that can be easily subjected to software-based analysis in order to identify manifest AF and automatically assess the risk of PAF. For optimal evaluability of data, multiple channel ECG tracings are desirable. For assessment of PAF risk, the SRA® analysis probably excels visual analysis, but sensitivity of both methods is low, reflecting that repeated ECG recording remains essential.
How evaluating memorability can lead to Unintended Consequences
Authors: Murphy Dillon H. , Halamish Vered , Rhodes Matthew G. , Castel Alan D.
Published: January 2023

Predicting what we will remember and forget is crucial for daily functioning. We were interested in whether evaluating something as likely to be remembered or forgotten leads to enhanced memory for both forms of information relative to information that was not judged for memorability. We presented participants with lists of words to remember for a later test and on each list, participants were asked to identify some words that they were confident that they would remember and some words that they believed that they were most likely to forget on the test. Relative to words not given a prediction, memory was enhanced for words participants selected as likely to be remembered but also for words participants indicated were most likely to be forgotten. We also examined whether requiring participants to engage in self-cued directed forgetting by selecting a subset of words to be remembered or forgotten produced a memory advantage for these words. Results again demonstrated enhanced memory for selected words regardless of whether they were designated as to-be-remembered or to-be-forgotten. Thus, we demonstrate a reactivity type of effect such that when participants are asked to select certain items, this process can enhance memory regardless of the reason for selecting the item, potentially arising as a result of these words becoming more distinct and/or receiving additional processing. As such, the present results are consistent with the richness of encoding and metacognition modifying attention to cues accounts of reactivity.
Evaluation of rooting characteristics of Ephedra cuttings by anatomy and promising strain selection based on rooting characteristics and alkaloid content
Authors: Kudo Yoshitomi , Ando Hirokazu , Kaneda Ai , Ito Honoka , Umemoto Kazuki , Ni Si-ran , Mikage Masayuki , Sasaki Yohei
Published: January 2023

The differences in rooting characteristics of cuttings prepared from E. sinica strains were investigated and found that cuttings prepared from strains with high rooting characteristics showed approximately 90% of the cuttings were rooted, whereas cuttings prepared from low rooting characteristics did not root. To understand the reason for this substantial difference, the anatomy of nodes was examined and found that adventitious roots were generated from the cortex and parenchyma in pith. Calculations of the correlation coefficients between the rooting rate and the value of anatomy indicated that the rooting rate was positively correlated with the parenchyma in pith in the node. On the basis of the positive correlation, it is possible to estimate the rooting characteristics of new strains without having to prepare cuttings. Next, we conducted a screening for E. sinica strains on the basis of total alkaloids content [ephedrine (E) + pseudoephedrine (PE)] and selected strains having no less than 0.7% total alkaloids content as defined by the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th edition. Strains having characteristic E or PE content were uncovered: E-rich strains had 100% E content and PE-rich strains had 99% PE content. We were able to select E. sinica strains on the basis of two factors: high rooting rate of cuttings and high or characteristic alkaloid content. These strains are valuable for breeding.
A new generative approach for optical coherence tomography data scarcity: unpaired mutual conversion between scanning presets
Authors: Gende Mateo , de Moura Joaquim , Novo Jorge , Penedo Manuel G. , Ortega Marcos
Published: January 2023

In optical coherence tomography (OCT), there is a trade-off between the scanning time and image quality, leading to a scarcity of high quality data. OCT platforms provide different scanning presets, producing visually distinct images, limiting their compatibility. In this work, a fully automatic methodology for the unpaired visual conversion of the two most prevalent scanning presets is proposed. Using contrastive unpaired translation generative adversarial architectures, low quality images acquired with the faster Macular Cube preset can be converted to the visual style of high visibility Seven Lines scans and vice-versa. This modifies the visual appearance of the OCT images generated by each preset while preserving natural tissue structure. The quality of original and synthetic generated images was compared using brisque. The synthetic generated images achieved very similar scores to original images of their target preset. The generative models were validated in automatic and expert separability tests. These models demonstrated they were able to replicate the genuine look of the original images. This methodology has the potential to create multi-preset datasets with which to train robust computer-aided diagnosis systems by exposing them to the visual features of different presets they may encounter in real clinical scenarios without having to obtain additional data.