bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystallization Behavior and Structure of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 Melts Representing the Oxide Inclusions in Si‐Mn Deoxidized Steel
Authors: Xu Qi , Lei Xubo , Muvunyi Rodrigue Armel , Li Jianli
Published: October 2024

For further optimization of the inclusion plasticization control process of Si‐Mn deoxidized steel, the crystallization behavior and structure of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 system inclusions are investigated. The crystallization behavior of four typical low melting point CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 inclusions at 1000 to 1250 °C is studied by steel crucible isothermal heating experiment. The obtained results reveal that the glassy stability of the inclusions is high when the composition of low melting point inclusion is located in the eutectic region of tridymite, pseudowollastonite, and anorthite in the ternary phase diagram. However, when the composition of the inclusion is located in the eutectic region of melilite, pseudowollastonite, and anorthite, it is easy to undergo glass‐crystallization transformation and precipitate wollastonite and anorthite crystalline phases when isothermal heating at 1100 to 1200 °C. In addition, the crystallization mode of these inclusions is mainly surface crystallization, and the crystallization degree of inclusions increases with the increase of heat treatment temperature and time. The activation energy of crystallization and the content of nonbridging oxygen in the silicate structure NBO/T can be used to predict the crystallization ability of inclusions. The greater the activation energy of crystallization and the smaller the NBO/T value, the higher the glassy stability of the inclusions.
Data informed performance assessment and structural health monitoring for existing and historical concrete structures
Authors: Strauss A.
Published: October 2024

Our generation inherits this cultural heritage of historic material and historic reinforced concrete structures and thus bears a certain responsibility to preserve these historic buildings with the help of the new technologies of lifetime management, conservation concepts and the new digitalization as well as the emerging safety concepts of our time. The aim of this article is to analyze the new technologies of data‐based service life management in relation to the assessment of historic reinforced concrete structures and to test the applicability of these methods to these historic buildings.
Study on the influence parameters and anti‐abrasion performance of steam‐cured hydraulic concrete for prefabricated water conveyance channel
Authors: Ma Yuwei , Liu Jiamin , Li Gang , Li Junfeng , Yu Ziwei , Zheng Huaping
Published: October 2024

Excessive sediment concentration in water can cause damage to prefabricated concrete channels. This study evaluates the impact of sediment‐laden water flow on the mass loss of concrete after abrasion, incorporating scanning electron microscope‐energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM‐EDS) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses to assess the effects of four steam‐curing parameters—delay time, heating rate, constant temperature duration, and steam curing temperature—on the abrasion resistance of concrete used in enterprise prefabricated water conveyance channels. The results indicate that the abrasion resistance of concrete for prefabricated channels improves gradually with increases in delay time and constant temperature duration. When the delay time exceeds 3 h and the constant temperature time exceeds 4 h, the concrete's abrasion resistance can reach more than 5 h(g/cm2)−1. Rapid heating rates and excessively high steam curing temperatures adversely affect the concrete's abrasion resistance. However, when the heating rate is controlled within 20°C/h and the steam curing temperature does not exceed 70°C, the concrete's abrasion resistance can achieve more than 5 h(g/cm2)−1. In compliance with the standard DL/T5201‐2021 requirements, it is recommended that concrete with high demands for abrasion resistance should preferentially select steam‐curing parameters within these ranges.
Evaluating the high‐temperature resistance of self‐compacting mortar incorporating waste andesite powder as a mineral admixture
Authors: Karataş Mehmet , Bozcan Emre , Dener Murat
Published: October 2024

Significant amounts of waste material are generated at various stages of andesite stone processing, including mining, cutting, and polishing. Despite this, limited research has been conducted on the potential use of waste andesite powder (WAP) as a mineral admixture. The impact of WAP on the high‐temperature resistance of cement‐based composites remains largely unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the benefits of incorporating WAP as a partial substitute for Portland cement. Self‐compacting mortars (SCMs) with varying WAP replacement rates (5%–30%) were produced and subjected to temperatures of 300°C, 600°C, and 900°C. Additionally, ternary mixtures of WAP and silica fume were produced for comparative analysis. The results showed that SCMs containing up to 10% WAP exhibited higher 90‐day compressive strength compared to the control sample. Furthermore, WAP inclusion improved high‐temperature resistance, and the use of WAP at higher replacement rates was feasible when combined with mineral admixtures possessing high pozzolanic activity, such as silica fume.
A novel optimization‐based modal pushover analysis procedure for estimating the response of structures
Authors: Mirzaei Moein , Kheirollahi Mohammad
Published: October 2024

In recent years, studies have focused on the seismic behavior of various structural systems, including single‐ and double‐layered spatial structures. While nonlinear dynamic analyses are common for these studies, they are time‐consuming and complex. To address this, many pushover procedures have been developed, but their effectiveness in spatial structures remains underexplored. This study introduces an optimized lateral loading profile for evaluating the seismic response of walled bilayer spatial structures. By combining dominant inertial forces and optimizing their corresponding coefficients with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, an optimal loading profile is derived. The method's accuracy was tested on models with varying arch height‐to‐span ratios and a constant wall height‐to‐span ratio, as well as a 15‐story frame structure. The results obtained showed that the proposed method closely matches incremental dynamic analyses (IDAs) in predicting base shear, initial stiffness, and displacements, especially for higher arch height‐to‐span ratios. Additionally, the method accurately estimates drift profiles and nodal displacements on roofs and walls, and performs better than similar mode‐based methods for frame structures.
Quantitative Study of Thermal Response of Timber–Concrete Composite Structures Under Traveling Fire Using Energy Equivalence Method
Authors: Zhang Yongwang , Li Lianqian , Zhang Lei , Zhang Xiaofei , Ni Weibin , Wang Lu
Published: October 2024

The time equivalent method can be used to quantify the fire intensity of a traveling fire into the time of action of the standard fire, which in turn can be used to assess the extent of damage to a structure under a traveling fire. However, an effective time equivalence method for timber structures has not been developed yet. Therefore, this paper proposed an energy‐based time equivalent method, referred to as the “energy equivalence method (EEM)”, for evaluating the fire resistance of timber structures under traveling fire, and validates its effectiveness through a series of fire tests. The results demonstrate that the EEM effectively quantifies the fire intensity endured by glulam under traveling fire as the equivalent exposure time under the standard fire. Furthermore, the EEM was utilized to investigate the damage behavior of a single‐layer Timber‐Concrete Composite (TCC) frame under traveling fire. The results reveal variations in the fire intensity experienced by the structure at different locations under the same traveling fire scenario, with the most severe damage occurring at a position 40% relative to the ignition end. The fire scale determines the non‐uniformity of the fire intensity and the extent of structural damage, as smaller‐scale fires (fire sizes between 10% and 40%) not only result in significant variations in damage levels at different locations but also have a more adverse impact on the structure. In fire safety design, the selection of standard and traveling fire design methods should be based on the fire scale.
Supporting elementary preservice teachers' content knowledge for teaching about matter and its interactions
Authors: Van Orman Dustin S. J. , Melton Josie , Hanley Daniel , Castellano Katherine E. , Mikeska Jamie N. , Hanuscin Deborah , Borda Emily
Published: October 2024

Knowledge of science content and the ability to translate knowledge into effective teaching is known as teachers' content knowledge for teaching (CKT). Teachers with developed CKT are able to more effectively determine instructional and assessment activities that will deepen K‐12 students' scientific literacy. However, preservice teachers (PSTs) can have limited opportunities to develop CKT, and little is known about how to support PST CKT development in elementary science teacher preparation. In our work, we developed instructional materials (i.e., “CKT Packets”) intended to support teacher educators (TEs) in developing elementary PSTs' CKT for one content area—matter and its interactions. We facilitated a professional learning community for TEs to support their learning how to implement the materials in their courses. We report on results from a mixed‐methods study using a quasi‐experimental cohort control design with a pretest and posttest to understand differences in PSTs' CKT (N = 250) in eight TEs' science classrooms. Nesting PSTs within their TEs' courses, and controlling for PSTs' prior CKT, engagement time on the assessments, prior coursework, and TE time‐invariant effects, we found preliminary evidence that PSTs achieved greater CKT when TEs implemented more CKT Packets. Salient factors that we hypothesize influenced TEs' productive uses of CKT Packets included disruptions to courses/contexts, TEs' sources of motivation for implementing Packets, TEs' entry points for the alignment of curricular materials with existing topics and pedagogical course emphases, TEs' approaches for first‐time use of curricular materials, and TEs' experiences with the instructional routines of the Packets. We bound our interpretation of results within limitations (e.g., small sample size, quasi‐experimental design) and suggest avenues for new research. Throughout this article, we include implications for TEs, PSTs, educative curricula developers, and researchers working to improve science teaching and learning for students.
Diagnosis of Menopause in a Captive Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii)
Authors: MacLachlan Neil , Routh Andrew , Hunt Gordon , Barbon Alberto , Haworth Melissa , Miller John , Pocknell Ann , Price Eluned
Published: October 2024

Humans were long thought to be the only mammal to experience menopause, the permanent cessation of reproduction followed by a long post‐reproductive lifespan. More recently, evidence has been found for the existence of menopause in other long‐lived mammals, including chimpanzees and gorillas. However, orangutans, which have the longest interbirth interval of any primate, have rarely been studied in this period of their lives. In this paper, we describe clinical, ultrasound, endocrine, and histological evidence consistent with a natural menopause in a captive, previously fertile, Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), aged approximately 50. Consecutive serum samples showed low levels of estradiol and high levels of follicle‐stimulating hormone. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed an atrophic uterus with an antero‐posterior diameter of 2.36 cm, an endometrial thickness of 2 mm, and inactive ovaries. Following this female's death from a subdural hematoma, histological examination of the ovaries showed a dense stroma with corpora albicantia, in comparison to the numerous primordial follicles seen in the ovaries of a stillborn infant female orangutan. These multiple lines of evidence suggest that Sumatran orangutans can now be added to the list of mammals which undergo a true menopause, which may ensure that females' final offspring can be reared to independence.
Densitometry
Authors: Venkataraman R. , McElroy R. , Russo P. A. , Santi P. A.
Published: October 2024

This chapter describes various densitometry techniques that involve measurement of photon absorption at a single energy and at multiple energies and measurement of differential photon attenuation across absorption edges. Covered in the chapter include single-line, multiple-energy, absorption-edge, and hybrid K-edge densitometry. Applications using these techniques are discussed, and measurement procedures with typical performance results are described.
Principles of Neutron Coincidence Counting
Authors: Swinhoe M. T. , Ensslin N. , Hutchinson J. D. , Iliev M. , Koehler K.
Published: October 2024

This chapter describes the principles involved with using neutron coincidences that obtain more information about a measured sample than through singles counting alone. The chapter describes the origin of neutron correlations and how they manifest themselves in the neutron pulse train from a detector. The Rossi-α distribution is presented. The chapter then describes measurement and analysis methods used to extract and analyze correlated counting rates, such as the Feynman variance to mean method and the shift register coincidence circuit. These methods can be used to estimate fission rate and neutron multiplication. Dead time corrections, multiple pulsing and the uncertainties resulting from counting statistics are presented. Several passive methods for the determination of 240Pueffective mass are presented in detail: ‘passive calibration curve’, ‘known alpha’ and ‘known multiplication’. This is followed by a description of active coincidence methods, in which an external neutron source is used to induce fission in the item of interest. This section includes a discussion of the selection of the external source, the use of fast and thermal interrogation modes and a presentation of measurement uncertainties. One example is given of an active technique to measure uranium linear density and burnable poison simultaneously.
Instrumentation for Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy
Authors: Vo D. T. , Parker J. L.
Published: October 2024

This chapter provides a relatively brief introduction to the wide variety of instruments used in the gamma-ray spectroscopy of nuclear materials. Analog and digital multichannel analyzers (MCAs) used for gamma-ray spectroscopy systems is discussed. The process of selecting an appropriate detector for different NDA applications is presented. The many components of an analog amplifier and digital pulse processing are discussed.
Moving mirrors, OTOCs and scrambling
Authors: Biswas Parthajit , Ezhuthachan Bobby , Kundu Arnab , Roy Baishali
Published: October 2024

Abstract

We explore the physics of scrambling in the moving mirror models, in which a two-dimensional CFT is subjected to a time-dependent boundary condition. It is well-known that by choosing an appropriate mirror profile, one can model quantum aspects of black holes in two dimensions, ranging from Hawking radiation in an eternal black hole (for an “escaping mirror”) to the recent realization of Page curve in evaporating black holes (for a “kink mirror”). We explore a class of OTOCs in the presence of such a boundary and explicitly demonstrate the following primary aspects: First, we show that the dynamical CFT data directly affect an OTOC and maximally chaotic scrambling occurs for the escaping mirror for a large-c CFT with identity block dominance. We further show that the exponential growth of OTOC associated with the physics of scrambling yields a power-law growth in the model for evaporating black holes which demonstrates unitary dynamics in terms of a Page curve. We also demonstrate that, by tuning a parameter, one can naturally interpolate between an exponential growth associated with scrambling and a power-law growth in unitary dynamics. Our work explicitly exhibits the role of higher-point functions in CFT dynamics as well as the distinction between scrambling and Page curve. We also discuss several future possibilities based on this class of models.
Free subsets in internally approachable models
Authors: Welch P. D.
Published: October 2024

We consider a question of Pereira as to whether the characteristic function of an internally approachable model can lead to free subsets for functions of the model. Pereira isolated the pertinent Approachable Free Subsets Property (AFSP) in his work on the $${\text {pcf}}$$
pcf
-conjecture. A recent related property is the Approachable Bounded Subset Property (ABSP) of Ben-Neria and Adolf, and we here directly show it requires modest large cardinals to establish:

TheoremIf ABSP holds for an ascending sequence $$ \langle \aleph _{n_{m}} \rangle _{m}$$

⟨

ℵ

n
m

⟩

m

$$( n_{m} \in \omega )$$

(

n
m

∈
ω
)

then there is an inner model with measurables $$\kappa < \aleph _{\omega }$$

κ
<

ℵ
ω

of arbitrarily large Mitchell order below $$\aleph _{\omega }$$

ℵ
ω

, that is: $$\sup \left\{ \alpha \mid {\exists }\kappa < \aleph _{\omega } o ( \kappa ) \ge \alpha \right\} = \aleph _{\omega }$$

sup

α
∣
∃
κ
<

ℵ
ω

o

(
κ
)

≥
α

=

ℵ
ω

. A result of Adolf and Ben Neria then shows that this conclusion is in fact the exact consistency strength of ABSP for such an ascending sequence. Their result went via the consistency of the non-existence of continuous tree-like scales; the result of this paper is direct and avoids the use of PCF scales.
Symmetry Preservation in Hamiltonian Systems: Simulation and Learning
Authors: Vaquero Miguel , Cortés Jorge , de Diego David Martín
Published: October 2024

This work presents a general geometric framework for simulating and learning the dynamics of Hamiltonian systems that are invariant under a Lie group of transformations. This means that a group of symmetries is known to act on the system respecting its dynamics and, as a consequence, Noether’s theorem, conserved quantities are observed. We propose to simulate and learn the mappings of interest through the construction of G-invariant Lagrangian submanifolds, which are pivotal objects in symplectic geometry. A notable property of our constructions is that the simulated/learned dynamics also preserves the same conserved quantities as the original system, resulting in a more faithful surrogate of the original dynamics than non-symmetry aware methods, and in a more accurate predictor of non-observed trajectories. Furthermore, our setting is able to simulate/learn not only Hamiltonian flows, but any Lie group-equivariant symplectic transformation. Our designs leverage pivotal techniques and concepts in symplectic geometry and geometric mechanics: reduction theory, Noether’s theorem, Lagrangian submanifolds, momentum mappings, and coisotropic reduction among others. We also present methods to learn Poisson transformations while preserving the underlying geometry and how to endow non-geometric integrators with geometric properties. Thus, this work presents a novel attempt to harness the power of symplectic and Poisson geometry toward simulating and learning problems.
Differences of in vitro immune responses between patent and pre-patent Litomosoides sigmodontis–infected mice are independent of the filarial antigenic stimulus used
Authors: Arndts Kathrin , Wiszniewsky Anna , Neumann Anna-Lena , Wiszniewsky Katharina , Katawa Gnatoulma , Hoerauf Achim , Layland-Heni Laura E. , Ritter Manuel , Hübner Marc P.
Published: October 2024

Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are neglected tropical diseases and cause significant public health problems in endemic countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the human parasites are not viable in immune-competent mice, animal models have been developed, among them Litomosoides sigmodontis which permits a complete life cycle in BALB/c mice, including the development of patent infections with circulating microfilariae (Mf, the worm’s offspring). To investigate the immunomodulatory properties of helminths in vitro, antigenic extracts can be prepared from different life cycle stages of the L. sigmodontis model, including adult worms, but the methods to prepare these antigens differ between research groups. This study analyzed whether different centrifugation methods during the preparation of an antigenic extract, the gender of used worms, or the different fractions (soluble or pellet) altered filarial-specific CD4+ T cell responses. These cells were isolated from pre-patent or patent/chronic infected mice, hence those without and those with Mf, respectively. Ex vivo immune responses were compared at these two different time points of the infection as well as the parasitic parameters. Worm burden and cell infiltration were elevated in the thoracic cavity (TC) and draining mediastinal lymph nodes at the pre-patent stage. Within the TC, eosinophils were significantly up-regulated at the earlier time point of infection which was further reflected by the eosinophil-related eotaxin-1 levels. Regarding the production of cytokines by re-stimulated CD4+ T cells in the presence of different antigen preparations, cytokine levels were comparable for all used extracts. Our data show that immune responses differ between pre-patent and patent filarial infection, but not in response to the different antigenic extracts themselves.
When does metacognition evolve in the opt-out paradigm?
Authors: Watson Robin
Published: October 2024

Metacognition (awareness of one’s own knowledge) is taken for granted in humans, but its evolution in non-human animals is not well understood. While there is experimental evidence of seemingly metacognitive judgements across species, studies rarely focus on why metacognition may have evolved. To address this, I present an evolutionary model of the opt-out paradigm, a common experiment used to assess animal’s metacognition. Individuals are repeatedly presented with a task or problem and must decide between opting-out and receiving a fixed payoff or opting-in and receiving a larger reward if they successfully solve the task. Two evolving traits – bias and metacognition – jointly determine whether individuals opt-in. The task’s reward, the mean probability of success and the variability in success across trials, and the cost of metacognition were varied. Results identify two scenarios where metacognition evolves: (1) environments where success variability is high; and (2) environments where mean success is low, but rewards are high. Overall, the results support predictions implicating uncertainty in the evolution of metacognition but suggest metacognition may also evolve in conditions where metacognition can be used to identify cases where an otherwise inaccessible high payoff is easy to acquire.
Climate-related loss and damage in contexts of agrarian change: differentiated sense of loss from extreme weather events in northeast Cambodia
Authors: Dorkenoo Kelly , Nong Monin , Persson Joel , Chea Navin , Scown Murray
Published: October 2024

The uneven burden of climate-related losses and damages and its implications for equity and social justice are receiving growing attention in science and policy. Smallholder farmers, indigenous groups, and ethnic minorities are often identified as particularly vulnerable and likely to experience a greater burden of climate-related loss and damage. However, limited attention has been paid to experiences of climate-related loss and damage in contexts of agrarian change and related struggles, especially around land. In this paper, we analyse experiences of climate-related loss amongst smallholder farmers in Ratanakiri province, northeast Cambodia. We derive an analytical framework from political economy of vulnerability and sociology of loss to explain farmers’ sense of loss from climate change and foreground intangible dimensions of climate-related loss. We use a mixed-methods approach with a hierarchical regression analysis of a household survey (n = 295), individual interviews, and focus group discussions across eleven villages. We find that a higher number of livelihood activities, greater values related to land, types of negative impacts experienced, and stronger perception of changes in extreme weather events are associated with a greater sense of loss. Meanwhile, a higher ability to repay loans and secure land tenure is associated with a lower sense of loss. Our results demonstrate how experiential, relational, and normative dimensions of climate-related loss are co-produced through processes of agrarian change such as financialization and histories of land struggles (i.e. through debt failure and fear of loss of access to land). This study contributes a deeper understanding of people’s lived experiences of loss arising from climate change impacts in agrarian contexts and their implications for climate justice.
Proper actions of Grigorchuk groups on a CAT(0) cube complex
Authors: Schneeberger Grégoire
Published: October 2024

In this paper we will present a construction of a CAT(0) cube complex (an infinite cube), on which the uncountable family of Grigorchuk groups $$G_\omega $$

G
ω

act without bounded orbit. Moreover, if the sequence $$\omega $$
ω
does not contain repetition, we prove that the action is proper and faithful. As a consequence of this result, this cube complex is a model for the classifying space of proper actions for all the groups $$G_\omega $$

G
ω

with $$\omega $$
ω
without repetition. This construction works in a general way for any group acting on a set and which admits a commensurated subset. These examples of non-elliptic actions of infinite finitely generated torsion groups on a non-positively curved cube complex contrast to several established fixed-point theorems concerning actions of torsion groups.
Mixed Methods Research Centering on Minoritized Students in Higher Education: A Literature Review
Authors: Hutson Bryant L. , He Ye
Published: October 2024

The increasing diversity among higher education students urges researchers to expand research methodologies beyond traditional quantitative approaches. A growing number of higher education researchers have employed mixed methods research (MMR) approaches in studies centering on minoritized student populations. In this review, we identified and analyzed 72 empirical MMR studies published between 2007 and 2023, describing the characteristics of the research design and focusing on the MMR design strategies employed by the authors. The review details specific MMR strategies, including methods for engaging participants, integrating quantitative and qualitative data, and advancing the research agenda that centers minoritized students. Based on the review, we discuss methodological considerations and offer recommendations for higher education professionals to advance more thoughtfully conscious, student-centered modes of knowledge production focusing on minoritized populations.
Vaccine Beliefs Among Uninsured People Receiving Care at Free Clinics
Authors: C. Liu Caroline , A. Siliezar Julio , Alzayat Omar , A. Robinson Carly , Do Timothy , I.J. Carter Adrianna , N. Pons Christine , Patel Om , S. Wilkes Michael
Published: October 2024

Background

Misinformation and vaccination hesitancy contribute to disparities in vaccination rates, particularly in under-resourced communities. This study aims to investigate perceptions and factors influencing vaccination decisions at free clinics serving diverse, under-resourced communities.

Methods

Surveys were conducted across eight free clinics in the Greater Sacramento area, targeting uninsured or underinsured individuals. Information on demographics, sources of vaccine information, access to vaccines, vaccine perceptions, and vaccination decisions as pertaining to influenza and COVID-19 were collected on Qualtrics software. Chi-square and t-tests were used to analyze associations between demographics and vaccination rates.

Results

Among 109 participants (24–82 years old), vaccination rates were found to be higher than the county average, with notable demographic variations. Contrary to initial hypotheses, men had higher vaccination rates than women, and recent immigrants exhibited higher vaccination rates than more long-term U.S. residents. A higher number of participants regarded the COVID-19 vaccine as effective than as safe, while the reverse was true for the influenza vaccine. Healthcare providers were the most trusted and influential sources for vaccine information, followed by government agencies, and then family and friends. Answers to hypothetical vaccine scenarios elicited assessments on risks and benefits.

Conclusion

The study provides insight into the dynamics of vaccine hesitancy and factors that play into the decision-making process in under-resourced communities, underscoring the role of trust in healthcare providers. These findings are vital for tailoring community outreach strategies to create trust, address barriers, and enhance vaccine uptake within free community clinics.
Measuring Happiness and Life Satisfaction amongst Swedish Citizens: an Inquiry into Semantic Equivalence in Comparative Survey Research
Authors: Axelsson Sofia , Dahlberg Stefan
Published: October 2024

A consistent empirical finding is that Scandinavian countries by international standards score steadily high in terms of subjectively reported levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Intrigued by previous findings in Denmark (Lolle and Goul Anderson in Metode Og Forskningsdesign 1:95–119, 2013, in Journal of Happiness Studies 6:1–14)), this paper confirms that this is partly due to language effects. In this paper, Sweden serves as a case study that, similar to the Danish study, seeks to determine whether it is possible to establish semantic equivalence between translated survey items. By using randomized experiments on a representative sample of Swedish citizens with fluent skills in English, we test the effects of different designs in question wordings and response scale labels implemented by international surveys. The results reveal significant differences in answers on happiness. While the mean differences are very small, the distribution of answers is substantial enough to confirm a strong semantic threshold between the English term happy the Swedish term lycklig. Hence, it requires something more to be “very happy” in Swedish than in English. Notably, language appears to have a lesser impact on the distribution of responses across language groups when using a numbered response scale with endpoint labels, indicating that a particular question design either mitigates or intensifies translational effects. Happiness, it is concluded, is not easily translated and survey practitioners should bear this caveat in mind when operationalizing the concept across countries and cultures.
On the Definition of Velocity in Discrete-Time, Stochastic Langevin Simulations
Authors: Grønbech-Jensen Niels
Published: October 2024

We systematically develop beneficial and practical velocity measures for accurate and efficient statistical simulations of the Langevin equation with direct applications to computational statistical mechanics and molecular dynamics sampling. Recognizing that the existing velocity measures for the most statistically accurate discrete-time Verlet-type algorithms are inconsistent with the simulated configurational coordinate, we seek to create and analyze new velocity companions that both improve existing methods as well as offer practical options for implementation in existing computer codes. The work is based on the set of GJ methods that, of all methods, for any time step within the stability criteria correctly reproduces the most basic statistical features of a Langevin system; namely correct Boltzmann distribution for harmonic potentials and correct transport in the form of drift and diffusion for linear potentials. Several new and improved velocities exhibiting correct drift are identified, and we expand on an earlier conclusion that, generally, only half-step velocities can exhibit correct, time-step independent Maxwell–Boltzmann distributions. Specific practical and efficient algorithms are given in familiar forms, and these are used to numerically validate the analytically derived expectations. One especially simple algorithm is highlighted, and the ability of one of the new on-site velocities to produce statistically correct averages for a particular damping value is specified.
Pluralism and the unity of science: physics and political epistemology in Cassirer’s phenomenology of knowledge
Authors: Seuthe Alex , Freyberg Sascha
Published: October 2024

In this article, we analyse how Ernst Cassirer’s approach of a phenomenology of knowledge deals with the general question of disunity in science and society. By elaborating on the concept of functional unity, which presupposes difference, Cassirer’s work helps to revise foundational concepts of modern science and society, such as pluralism and truth. Relating Cassirer’s approach to the current interest in political epistemology, we show the implications of Cassirer’s theory of knowledge and analyses of modern science, particularly physics. In these analyses, Cassirer carves out the relational logic of scientific knowledge and its consequences on epistemological and ethico-political levels. While this logic of relations relativises absolute claims on either level, it entails its distinct normative criteria as elements of the scientific ideal. Cassirer’s project defends this ideal and thus can simultaneously defend plurality in science (including the humanities) in terms of methods, perspectives and aims, and preserve the unity of science as a normative ideal and symbolic form in constant interaction with other forms. Thus, Cassirer’s pluralism must be distinguished from mere historicist or relativist conceptions.
Structural and electrical characterization of nickel sulfide nanoparticles
Authors: Roushdy N. , Elnouby Mohamed S. , Farag A. A. M. , Ramadan Mervet , El-Shazly O. , El-Wahidy E. F.
Published: October 2024

Nickel sulfide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a meticulous process involving a well-mixed powder of Ni(CH3COO)2∙2H2O and Thiourea. The X-ray diffraction analysis provided insights into the structural nature of NiS, revealing its polycrystalline characteristics with a hexagonal system. This information is fundamental, as it forms the basis for understanding the material’s behavior and functionality in various applications. Determining the average values of mean crystallite size, microstrain, and dislocation Nickel sulfide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a careful process involving a well-mixed powder of Ni(II)2∙2H2O and Thiourea. The X-ray diffraction analysis provided insights into the structural nature of NiS, revealing its polycrystalline characteristics with a hexagonal system. This information is crucial as it forms the basis for understanding the material’s behavior and functionality in various applications. Determining the average values of mean crystallite size, microstrain, and dislocation density for the (100) plane (32.62 nm, 0.000296, and 0.000939 nm-2, respectively) contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the material’s structural features. The photoluminescence spectrum of NiS in the visible region revealed split peaks at 405.8 and 428.25 nm, shedding light on the radiative recombination process between electrons and holes. The confirmation of thermal stability through a thermogravimetry diagram is essential for applications in elevated temperature environments, ensuring the material’s reliability under varying conditions. Analyzing the stoichiometry of NiS using energy dispersive spectroscopy attached to transmission electron microscopy provides insights into the material’s composition. Cyclic voltammetry results indicating a diffusion coefficient greater than that of NiS added to carbon hold significance for electrochemical applications. The unique characteristic peaks observed in cyclic voltammetry for fuel cell applications suggest the potential use of NiS in energy conversion technologies, broadening its scope of application. The confirmation of NiS’s ability to elucidate the physical and electronic properties of electrochemical systems through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy underlines its importance as a versatile material in various research and practical domains.
Sorption thermodynamic and kinetic study of Cu(II) onto modified plant stem bark
Authors: da Costa Santos Yannice Tatiane , Salvestrini Stefano , Vieira Clara Beatryz Gomes , Menezes Jorge Marcell Coelho , Ribeiro Antonio Junior Alves , Nunes João Victor Serra , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo , Sena Júnior Diniz Maciel , de Paula Filho Francisco José , Teixeira Raimundo Nonato Pereira
Published: October 2024

In this study, four types of “Juá” stem barks (Ziziphus joazeiro) were investigated for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The tested samples included natural coarse barks, and barks washed with water, ethanol–water, and NaOH solutions. The solvent-modified materials simulated the waste of the industrial extraction of saponins from bark. The valorization of these processing residues as sorbents was evaluated. The NaOH-washed sorbent exhibited the highest sorption capacity for Cu(II) (maximum sorption capacity $$\approx$$
≈
32 mg g−1). Ion exchange process between copper and exchangeable surface cations and electrostatic attraction of copper with carboxylate and phenolate groups were identified as the primary sorption mechanisms. Desorption tests revealed that a large portion of the metal sorbed (80%) was easily released from the sorbent thus suggesting, in line with the proposed mechanisms, the existence of weak sorbate-sorbent interactions. The sorptive process was found to be exothermic (∆H° =  − 48.1 ± 13.5 kJ.mol−1) and thermodynamically favorable at lower temperatures.

Graphical Abstract
Addressing Inpatient Hyponatremia Through Targeted Automatic E-consults: A Pilot Randomized Trial
Authors: Judson Timothy J. , Lo Lowell , Demko John E. , Mourad Michelle , Liu Kathleen D. , Wachter Robert M. , Lopez Isaac , Tummalapalli Sri Lekha
Published: October 2024

Background

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients. Treatment of hyponatremia is associated with improved outcomes, but more than one in three cases of new onset hyponatremia is not corrected by the time of hospital discharge. Nephrologist input may improve the diagnosis and treatment of hyponatremia, but specialist resources are limited. Targeted automatic electronic consultations (TACos) may be one approach to provide expert nephrologist guidance to the workup and management of hyponatremia using a scalable model.

Objective

Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a TACo intervention for hospitalized patients with hyponatremia.

Design

Single-site, parallel-group cluster randomized trial.

Participants

Adult inpatients with hyponatremia on the hospital medicine service.

Interventions

A nephrologist conducted TACos on intervention patients, making diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations daily (if warranted) until discharge or resolution of hyponatremia.

Main Measures

Measures of feasibility included the number of eligible participants, percentage receiving TACos, number of TACos per participant, and percentage of formal nephrology consults. Acceptability was assessed by a post-intervention survey. Clinical outcomes, including the percentage of hyponatremia cases that resolved by discharge, were also assessed.

Key Results

We identified 62 patients who met inclusion criteria: 38 in the intervention group and 24 in the control group. A nephrologist determined that 26 of 38 intervention patients (68%) would likely benefit from diagnostic and management recommendations; 67 TACos were performed (mean 2.6 per patient). Fourteen of 18 primary team physicians (78%) reported that the e-consults changed their management, and 15 of 18 (83%) wanted TACOs to continue. Resolution of hyponatremia, length of stay, 30-day readmissions, and costs were similar in the intervention and control groups.

Conclusions

Inpatient TACos for hyponatremia were feasible and acceptable to primary teams, and frequently led to changes in diagnosis and management. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of the TACo model on clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Incidental Physical Activity and Physical Fitness Associate with Sustained Attention and Impulse Control in Older Adults
Authors: Gongora-Meza Luis F. , Sanchez-Lopez Javier
Published: October 2024

Age-related changes have been observed in sustained attention and impulse control. Deficits in these functions are related to pathological aging. However, research suggests that an active lifestyle may exert a protective effect on cognition in aging. While the association between physical activity and cognitive functioning in older adults has been previously described, few studies have explored the relationship between incidental physical activity and fitness with sustained attention and impulse control in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between incidental physical activity and various components of fitness and sustained attention and impulsivity in older adults. Fifty-four older adults were recruited (41 females and 13 males) with a mean age of 76.76 years (SD = 8.94). Physical activity levels were assessed using the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS), physical function in healthy older adults was evaluated with the Senior Fitness Test, and sustained attention and impulsivity were measured using a computerized continuous performance task. Significant correlations were found between higher energy expenditure during housework and yardwork activities, and fewer commission errors and shorter reaction times during sustained attention task, and higher sensitivity during impulse control task (rho between 0.35 and 0.40, p < .01, β = 0.80). Additionally, higher scores between agility and balance were associated with better accuracy during the sustained attention task, and faster speed processing correlated to better performance impulse control task (rho between 0.33 and 0.36, p < .05, β = 0.80). Our study highlights the importance of incidental physical activity and various components of fitness on sustained attention and impulse control in aging.
Of rats and children: plague, malaria, and the early history of disease reservoirs (1898–1930)
Authors: Silva Matheus Alves Duarte da , Goodman Jordan
Published: October 2024

This article’s jumping-off point is the highly incisive but often-ignored claim by the French doctor, Louis-Jacques Tanon, in 1922 that rats acted as plague reservoirs in Paris; in other words, that they harboured the plague bacillus but were refractory to it. This claim partially reframed the fight against this disease in the French capital in the 1920s, which became more centred on surveilling the plague reservoir rather than on destroying rats. Drawing upon Tanon’s hypothesis, this article explores the emergence, evolution, and several iterations of the idea of disease reservoirs in the early twentieth century. On the one hand, it describes the crafting of a range of ideas with which Tanon was directly or indirectly dialoguing, namely, that rats could present a stage called chronic plague, which was especially developed in India; and that human populations, especially children, acted as sources or reservoirs of malaria in Sierra Leone and Algeria. On the other hand, this article shows how Tanon created original reasoning by combining and reformulating some of these ideas and applying them to Paris. Thus, this article contributes to the early history of reasoning in terms of disease reservoirs, as well as presenting a more dynamic history of microbiology by showing how concepts crafted in the “Rest” found their place in Europe.
Die Kohlenmonoxidbelastung für Berufspendelnde in der aktiven Mobilität mit dem Fahrrad
Authors: Fischer M. , Oremek G. M. , Ohlendorf D. , Holzgreve F. , Groneberg D. A.
Published: October 2024

Das Fahrrad bringt als aktives Verkehrsmittel für den Arbeitsweg infolge einer gesteigerten körperlichen Aktivität zahlreiche gesundheitliche Vorteile für Berufspendelnde mit sich. Der gesundheitliche Nutzen kann aufgrund einer erhöhten Exposition gegenüber verkehrsbedingten Luftschadstoffen, wie Kohlenmonoxid, insbesondere in urbanen Gebieten beeinträchtigt sein. In Relation zur passiven Mobilität, mittels Auto, Bus oder Bahn, erfahren zu Fuß Gehende und besonders Radfahrende eine vermehrte Aufnahme von Kohlenmonoxid, welches durch eine intensivierte Atmung in Zusammenhang mit der Nähe zum motorisierten Verkehr bedingt ist. Das Ziel dieser Übersicht ist es, die relevanteste Literatur mit Daten zur Kohlenmonoxidexposition von Radfahrenden in städtischen Gebieten zusammenzufassen. Unter Berücksichtigung verschiedener Mobilitätsformen und -wege können Erkenntnisse über die relative Schadstoffexposition und die damit verbundenen Gesundheitsrisiken gewonnen werden. Die gesundheitlichen und ökologischen Vorteile der Fortbewegung zu Fuß oder mit dem Fahrrad sowie die Erkenntnisse aus der Luftschadstoff-Forschung können politische Entscheidungen bei der Verkehrsplanung unterstützen, um die Infrastruktur für einen sicheren und gesunden Radverkehr zu schaffen.
Predicting normalized difference vegetation index using a deep attention network with bidirectional GRU: a hybrid parametric optimization approach
Authors: Khodadadi Nima , Towfek S. K. , Zaki Ahmed Mohamed , Alharbi Amal H. , Khodadadi Ehsan , Khafaga Doaa Sami , Abualigah Laith , Ibrahim Abdelhameed , Abdelhamid Abdelaziz A. , Eid Marwa M.
Published: October 2024

Scalable and accurate normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) prediction is necessary to track the status of vegetation and the environment and to support proper ecological management. Herein, we present an innovative deep-learning approach to improve NDVI prediction performances by considering enhanced temporal modeling and hybrid optimization processes. The analysis is based on a core model that integrates a Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BiGRU) with the profound attention feature since the primary research incorporates the capability of complex temporal in addition to NDVI-time series value. The model performs better through a dual algorithm combining the waterwheel plant algorithm (WWPA) and statistical fractal search (SFS) named WWPASFS-BiGRU. The proposed approach is evaluated using real-world NDVI datasets, demonstrating its capability to outperform traditional models and state-of-the-art deep learning methods. Key performance metrics highlight the model’s accuracy, with a root mean square error (RMSE) as low as 0.00011, reflecting its superior predictive ability. Comparative experiments showcase the robustness of our model across different environmental conditions and geographical settings, affirming its applicability in diverse ecological forecasting scenarios. Additionally, extensive statistical validation, including ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests, confirms the model’s consistency and reliability. The effectiveness of the WWPASFS-BiGRU model is illustrated through applications in predicting NDVI trends across regions in Saudi Arabia, providing critical insights for ecosystem management and sustainable development planning.