bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Return of the Phrag-i: evaluating sexual reproduction mechanisms amenable to dieback recovery and potential invasiveness across Phragmites australis haplotypes
Authors: Hurley Olivia , Lynn Austin , DeVries Aaron , Reid Christopher , Elsey-Quirk Tracy
Published: July 2024

Phragmites australis is one of the most invasive wetland plants on the planet with both native and invasive haplotypes occurring in the United States. Three Phragmites haplotypes (Delta-, EU- and Gulf-types) co-occur in marshes of the Mississippi River Delta (MRD), where a recent dieback of Phragmites has prompted investigations about the potential for recolonization by seed. In other areas of the US, the invasive EU-type has been shown to spread by seed, yet little is known about reproduction modes of the Delta- and Gulf-types. We conducted a survey at 35 sites along the Mississippi River Delta region in southeast Louisiana to examine the potential for sexual reproduction across haplotypes as well as the potential for hybridization. Seed and pollen samples were collected from Phragmites populations to examine flowering phenology and determine pollen viability of the three lineages. We also conducted a seedbank assay in stands of three haplotypes to test the potential for recruitment by seed. Despite the observed potential for sexual reproduction in Delta- and EU- types, no Phragmites seedlings germinated from the seedbank. EU was the only haplotype to exhibit germination from seeds collected from seed heads. Both spatial separation and temporal isolation in flowering times indicate that hybridization between Phragmites haplotypes in the lower MRD is unlikely. High pollen production, increased pollen production following dieback, and viable seeds in the EU-type suggest that this invasive haplotype has a greater potential to invade new areas and adapt to stressors through sexual reproduction compared to than Delta-or Gulf haplotypes.
Motion artifacts in capacitive ECG monitoring systems: a review of existing models and reduction techniques
Authors: Khalili Matin , GholamHosseini Hamid , Lowe Andrew , Kuo Matthew M. Y.
Published: July 2024

Current research focuses on improving electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring systems to enable real-time and long-term usage, with a specific focus on facilitating remote monitoring of ECG data. This advancement is crucial for improving cardiovascular health by facilitating early detection and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). To efficiently meet these demands, user-friendly and comfortable ECG sensors that surpass wet electrodes are essential. This has led to increased interest in ECG capacitive electrodes, which facilitate signal detection without requiring gel preparation or direct conductive contact with the body. This feature makes them suitable for wearables or integrated measurement devices. However, ongoing research is essential as the signals they measure often lack sufficient clinical accuracy due to susceptibility to interferences, particularly Motion Artifacts (MAs). While our primary focus is on studying MAs, we also address other limitations crucial for designing a high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) circuit and effectively mitigating MAs. The literature on the origins and models of MAs in capacitive electrodes is insufficient, which we aim to address alongside discussing mitigation methods. We bring attention to digital signal processing approaches, especially those using reference signals like Electrode-Tissue Impedance (ETI), as highly promising. Finally, we discuss its challenges, proposed solutions, and offer insights into future research directions.

Graphical abstract
Diagnostic accuracy of vision-language models on Japanese diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and interventional radiology specialty board examinations
Authors: Oura Tatsushi , Tatekawa Hiroyuki , Horiuchi Daisuke , Matsushita Shu , Takita Hirotaka , Atsukawa Natsuko , Mitsuyama Yasuhito , Yoshida Atsushi , Murai Kazuki , Tanaka Rikako , Shimono Taro , Yamamoto Akira , Miki Yukio , Ueda Daiju
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The performance of vision-language models (VLMs) with image interpretation capabilities, such as GPT-4 omni (GPT-4o), GPT-4 vision (GPT-4V), and Claude-3, has not been compared and remains unexplored in specialized radiological fields, including nuclear medicine and interventional radiology. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of various VLMs, including GPT-4 + GPT-4V, GPT-4o, Claude-3 Sonnet, and Claude-3 Opus, using Japanese diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and interventional radiology (JDR, JNM, and JIR, respectively) board certification tests.

Materials and methods

In total, 383 questions from the JDR test (358 images), 300 from the JNM test (92 images), and 322 from the JIR test (96 images) from 2019 to 2023 were consecutively collected. The accuracy rates of the GPT-4 + GPT-4V, GPT-4o, Claude-3 Sonnet, and Claude-3 Opus were calculated for all questions or questions with images. The accuracy rates of the VLMs were compared using McNemar’s test.

Results

GPT-4o demonstrated the highest accuracy rates across all evaluations with the JDR (all questions, 49%; questions with images, 48%), JNM (all questions, 64%; questions with images, 59%), and JIR tests (all questions, 43%; questions with images, 34%), followed by Claude-3 Opus with the JDR (all questions, 40%; questions with images, 38%), JNM (all questions, 42%; questions with images, 43%), and JIR tests (all questions, 40%; questions with images, 30%). For all questions, McNemar’s test showed that GPT-4o significantly outperformed the other VLMs (all P < 0.007), except for Claude-3 Opus in the JIR test. For questions with images, GPT-4o outperformed the other VLMs in the JDR and JNM tests (all P < 0.001), except Claude-3 Opus in the JNM test.

Conclusion

The GPT-4o had the highest success rates for questions with images and all questions from the JDR, JNM, and JIR board certification tests.
Customer experience orientation: Conceptual model, propositions, and research directions
Authors: Arkadan Farah , Macdonald Emma K. , Wilson Hugh N.
Published: July 2024

Many firms are adopting customer experience management as a route to differentiation, but experience management in practice has only begun to be explored. Using a strategic orientation lens and a theories-in-use approach, a multiple-case study reveals the presence of a “customer experience orientation” (CXO) exhibiting six values and related behavioral norms. Three of these values—journey motivation, continual experience optimization, and experience empowerment—shape experience-based organizational learning through the collection, dissemination, and actioning of experience insight. Substantially extending prior work, a further three values—journey organization, experience mandating, and experience-purpose alignment—institutionalize this learning. Contextual moderators of the impact of CXO on customer experience appraisal and hence firm performance are proposed. Ambivalent effects on performance via increased or decreased costs are also identified, which may counteract or amplify the positive effects of CXO via enhanced experience appraisal. CXO emerges as a distinct, learning-based philosophy for organizational effectiveness, albeit one that draws on ideas from service, human resource management, agile design, and marketing.
Treatment of a STAT5b::RARα positive case of APL in a patient not eligible for intensive chemotherapy
Authors: Patterson Jason , Clarke Kathryn , Mokretar Katya , Maurya Manisha , Logan Amy , Cunningham Nicholas , Catherwood Mark , McMullin Mary Frances
Published: July 2024

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) with a STAT5b::RARα gene fusion is an extremely rare subtype of APL characterised by resistance to conventional therapies and extremely poor prognosis. This case highlights that whilst APL with variant RARα translocations are rare, they do pose significant challenges both diagnostically and in their clinical management. This case, in the first instance, demonstrates the importance of using a combination of molecular techniques including next generation sequencing (NGS) for diagnosis particularly in morphological and immunophenotypic typical APL which appears negative by confirmatory testing. Secondly, our patient represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first documented example of this rare disease that has been managed with, and shown sensitivity to low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) in combination with venetoclax (Ven). This case demonstrates that although treatment options are extremely limited for patients not eligible for intensive chemotherapy non-intensive options do show increasing promise.
Orexin and Sleep Disturbances in Alpha-Synucleinopathies: a Systematic Review
Authors: Raheel Kausar , See Qi Rui , Munday Veronica , Fakhroo Basma , Ivanenko Olga , Salvatelli Marcello Luigi , Mutti Carlotta , Goadsby Peter J. , Delogu Alessio , Naismith Sharon L. , Holland Phil , Parrino Liborio , Chaudhuri K. Ray , Rosenzweig Ivana
Published: July 2024

Purpose of Review

Sleep disturbances are amongst most frequent non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and they are similarly frequently reported in other alpha-syncleinopathies, such as Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). More recently, the orexin system has been implicated in control of arousal based on salient environmental set points, and its dysregulation in sleep issues in alpha-synucleinopathies suggested by the findings from the translational animal models. However, its role in the patients with alpha-synucleinopathies remains unclear. We thus set to systematically review, and to critically assess, contemporary evidence on the association of the orexinergic system and sleep disturbances in alpha-synucleinopathies. In this systematic review, studies investigating orexin and sleep in alpha-synucleinopathies (Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Behaviour Disorder (RBD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)) were identified using electronic database searches of PubMed, Web of Science and PsychINFO using MeSH terms, keywords, and title words such as “Alpha-synucleinopathies” AND “Orexin” AND “Sleep Disturbances”.

Recent findings

17 studies were included in this systemic review, of which 2 studies on RBD, 10 on PD, 4 on DLB, and 1 on MSA patients. Taken together, RBD and PD studies suggest a potential adaptive increase in orexin levels in early stages of the neurodegenerative process, with reduced levels more often reported for later, more advanced stages of illness. To date, no differences in orexin levels were demonstrated between MSA patients and healthy controls.

There is a dearth of studies on the role of orexin levels in alpha-synucleinopathies. Moreover, significant methodologic limitations in the current body of work, including use of non-standardised research protocols and lack of prospective, multi-centre studies, disallow for any finite conclusion in regards to underlying pathomechanisms. Nonetheless, a picture of a complex, multifaceted relationship between the dysregulation of the orexinergic pathway and sleep disturbances in alpha-synucleinopathies is emerging. Hence, future studies disentangling orexinergic pathomechanisms of alpha-syncleinopathies are urgently needed to obtain a more comprehensive account of the role of orexinergic pathway in alpha-synucleinopathies. Pharmacological manipulations of orexins may have multiple therapeutic applications in treatment strategies, disease diagnosis, and might be effective for treating both motor and non-motor symptoms.
Relationship of Cell Size Distribution and Biomechanics of Strawberry Fruit Under Varying Ca and N Supply
Authors: An Xue , Kopka Janine , Rode Michael , Zude-Sasse Manuela
Published: July 2024

Bruising due to compression of strawberry fruit is the major cause for fruit decay, resulting in food waste, which can be observed macroscopically as the result of texture failures. In the present study, laser light scattering density (LSD) analysis was applied to study the effect of cell size distribution percentages on fruit mechanics, considering three growth stages and added variance by foliar spray application of Ca, N, and Ca-N. The growth rate k considering cell size range 300–450 µm was enhanced in N compared to Ca treatment with 0.8 and 0.5, respectively. Comparison of cell sizes and mechanical fruit tissue properties reveals a strong effect of cell size on fruit mechanics. Based on cell size data, the particles in discrete element models (DEM) were established, applying a simple contact model of Hertz-Mindlin to test the effect of LSD data input, when simulating the compression peak force of strawberry tissue. Comparing measured compression data and DEM simulation, the mean square error was reduced, e.g., for Ca group of over-ripe fruit, from 9.6 to 6.5% when LSD percentages of cell size distribution were considered. Concluding, the newly available cell size distribution data provide valuable information on fruit growth and enable the simulation of fruit tissue compression under varying environmental growth conditions. The enhanced simulation accuracy of LSD-DEM approach makes the approach relevant for plant nutrition, developing robot harvesters, sorting devices, and shelf life assessment of fresh fruit.
Fungal Head and Neck Dermatitis: Current Understanding and Management
Authors: Chong Albert C. , Navarro-Triviño Francisco José , Su Malcolm , Park Chang Ook
Published: July 2024

Head and neck dermatitis (HND) is a form of atopic dermatitis (AD) that affects the seborrheic areas of the body and causes greater quality of life detriments than other types of AD. HND can be challenging to treat since first-line topical therapies may be ineffective or intolerable for long-term use on areas affected by HND while dupilumab may cause dupilumab-associated HND (DAHND). Current evidence implicates fungi, particularly Malassezia spp., in the pathogenesis of HND. Penetration of fungal antigens through the defective AD skin barrier activates the innate and adaptive immune systems to cause cutaneous inflammation via the T helper (Th)17 and/or Th2 axes. Malassezia sensitization may distinguish HND from other forms of AD. Multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have shown antifungals to benefit HND, yet the persistence of symptom relief with sustained use remains unclear. Oral antifungals appear more effective than topical antifungals but may be harmful with long-term use. DAHND may also be fungal-mediated given improvement with antifungals and evidence of an overactive immune response against Malassezia in these patients. Janus kinase inhibitors are effective for HND, including DAHND, but may cause significant side effects when administered systemically. OX40/OX40L inhibitors and tralokinumab may be promising options for HND on the horizon. Demographic and environmental factors influence the host mycobiome and should be considered in future precision-medicine approaches as microbiome composition and diversity are linked to severity of HND.
Methods to Induce Sprouting in Dormant Potato Tubers for Direct Tuber Testing of Potato Virus Y
Authors: Gelles N. A. , Olsen N. , Thornton M. K. , Karasev A. V.
Published: July 2024

The ability to initiate sprouting soon after harvest to enable direct tuber testing for potato virus Y (PVY) could aid in acquiring more rapid results compared to the traditional winter grow out tests currently used. Methods to break dormancy for PVY detection using laboratory direct tuber testing by ELISA in commercially produced Ranger Russet, Clearwater Russet, and Umatilla Russet seed lots were tested over two years and compared to leaf testing results obtained from the winter grow out and spring grow out. At harvest, three 400 tuber samples from each cultivar were obtained for the trial and included (1) untreated control (UTC), (2) application of cold aerosol smoke, or (3) application of Rindite. Tuber samples were held at 18.3 C and sprout development was monitored weekly. Treatments were direct tuber tested for PVY when one treatment of that cultivar achieved three sprouts elongating to six millimeters. A fourth 400 tuber sample was collected, treated with Rindite, and included in the Idaho winter grow out plots in Waialua, Hawaii and leaves were sampled and evaluated for PVY using ELISA. Laboratory tested seed was stored and planted in a spring grow out (Kimberly, Idaho) and leaf samples were analyzed for PVY by ELISA. Rindite treated tubers had greater sprout rating and number of sprouts elongating compared to UTC tubers and tubers receiving the smoke treatment at time of PVY testing. Smoke had a greater sprout rating but did not always significantly differ in the number of sprouts elongating compared to the untreated tubers. Overall, estimates of PVY prevalence from direct tuber testing showed limited significant differences to those obtained in the winter grow out for each cultivar, year, and PVY incidence. However, in year two, the incidence of PVY in the winter grow out (7% PVY) significantly differed from direct tuber testing (16% PVY) in Ranger Russet. In both years, the spring grow out PVY results for all cultivars were not significantly different than the direct tuber testing, except in year one the Ranger Russet direct tuber tested UTC showed 10% lower PVY detection compared to the spring grow out. This study identified a novel dormancy breaking treatment to promote earlier and accurate PVY detection by direct tuber testing using ELISA and provided data to support direct tuber testing for post-harvest evaluation of PVY in seed certification.
Developing a Genetic Algorithm for Selecting Infrastructure Modifications that Optimize Hydrodynamic Flushing in Old Tampa Bay
Authors: Meyers Steven D. , Beck Marcus W. , Sherwood Edward T. , Luther Mark E.
Published: July 2024

Impermeable infrastructure such as traffic causeways can reduce the natural hydrodynamic flushing of an estuary, resulting in reduced water quality and increased incidence of harmful algal blooms (HABs). A series of cuts through the three causeways spanning Old Tampa Bay, FL, (OTB) are being considered to help restore the natural circulation of the region, but the number of possible location combinations is computationally challenging to fully assess. A prototype genetic algorithm (GA) was developed to identify the optimal configuration of these cuts through one of the bridge sections that maximizes flushing as represented in a numerical ocean circulation model of OTB. Flushing was measured by integrating the trajectories of over 21,000 passive Lagrangian “particles” using the model velocity fields. The rate of loss of particles initialized near Feather Sound (a region subject to frequent HABs) was used to quantify the “fitness” over which the configurations were optimized. The highest-scoring solution produced a 42% increase in net flushing compared to a no-change baseline. Six independently initialized applications of the GA were conducted. All converged to the same solution within no more than 7 generations. The small population size of the prototype allowed testing of the complete solution space, and verification the found solution was optimal. Elitism (preservation of the highest-ranking solution) was required for convergence. The GA also identified configurations that had similar, but slightly slower, flushing rates. These results will help area managers prioritize or rank combinations of causeway modifications to improve overall water quality conditions in Tampa Bay.
Food security effects of forest sector participation in rural Liberia
Authors: Amadu Festus O. , Miller Daniel C.
Published: July 2024

Forests can help rural households cope with food insecurity challenges in the face of climate change while also sequestering carbon and advancing other sustainability objectives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As such, participation in the forestry sector can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on hunger and food security (SDG 2) in forest rich, but economically poor areas of LMICs. However, analysis of the effects of forest sector participation on food security in such contexts remain limited. Here we estimate the effects of participation in forest-based activities like collection and processing of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) on household food security in Liberia, the most forested country in West Africa. We applied endogenous switching poisson regression to data from 1408 households living in the proximity of forests included in Liberia’s 2019 national household forest survey to estimate the effect of forest sector participation on food security (in terms of reduction in the number of months households reportedly had insufficient food). Results show that forest-sector participation reduced the number of months households had insufficient food by 84% (about 2.7 months). Heterogeneity analyses show that NTFPs affected food security by 80% (about 2.5 months) compared to timber and wood products, which had a 66% effect size (about 2.1 months) on average. Our results provide new, national-scale evidence on the role of forests in enhancing food security in Liberia and suggest the importance of forest sector participation for food security and achieving SDG 2 more generally.
Spatial Mapping for Multi-Hazard Land Management in Sparsely Vegetated Watersheds Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Bammou Youssef , Benzougagh Brahim , Igmoullan Brahim , Kader Shuraik , Ouallali Abdessalam , Spalevic Velibor , Sestras Paul , Kuriqi Alban
Published: July 2024

This study breaks new ground by developing a multi-hazard vulnerability map for the Tensift watershed and the Haouz plain in the Moroccan High Atlas area. The unique juxtaposition of flat and mountainous terrain in this area increases sensitivity to natural hazards, making it an ideal location for this research. Previous extreme events in this region have underscored the urgent need for proactive mitigation strategies, especially as these hazards increasingly intersect with human activities, including agriculture and infrastructure development. In this study six advanced machine learning (ML) models were used to comprehensively assess the combined probability of three significant natural hazards: flooding, gully erosion, and landslides. These models rely on causal factors derived from reputable sources, including geology, topography, meteorology, human activities, and hydrology. The research's rigorous validation process, which includes metrics such as specificity, precision, sensitivity, and accuracy, underlines the robust performance of all six models. The validation process involved comparing the model's predictions with actual hazard occurrences over a specific period. According to the outcomes in terms of the area under curve (AUC), the XGBoost model emerged as the most predictive, with remarkable AUC values of 93.41% for landslides, 91.07% for gully erosion and 93.78% for flooding. Based on the overall findings of this study, a multi-hazard risk map was created using the relationship between flood risk, gully erosion, and landslides in a geographic information system (GIS) architecture. The innovative approach presented in this work, which combined ML algorithms with geographical data, demonstrates the power of these tools in sustainable land management and the protection of communities and their assets in the Moroccan High Atlas and regions with similar topographical, geological, and meteorological conditions that are vulnerable to the aforementioned risks.
Angiogenesis related genes based prognostic model of glioma patients developed by multi-omics approach
Authors: Liu Zhimin , Fan Hongjun , Liu XuKai , liu Chao
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Glioma, particularly glioblastoma (GBM), is a highly malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis despite current therapeutic approaches. The tumor microenvironment (TME), plays a crucial role in glioma progression by promoting invasion and drug resistance. Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a tightly regulated process involving endothelial cell activation, proliferation, and migration. In cancer, angiogenesis becomes dysregulated, leading to excessive blood vessel formation.

Methods

We enrolled bulk data of TCGA-LGG/GBM, CGGA-693, and CGGA-325 cohorts, scRNA data of GSE162631, GSE84465, and GSE138794 cohorts. Identification of malignant cells was conducted by “copycat” R package. The “AUCell” R package scored the activity of target gene set of each single cell. Consensus clustering was applied using the “ConsensusClusterPlus” R package, while tumor-infiltrating immune cells were determined using “IOBR” R package. To construct a prognostic model, we used LASSO and multiCOX algorithms based on the expression levels of the 15 hub genes, the efficacy of which was verified by KM and ROC analysis.

Results

We identified 4 different malignant cell subclusters in glioma and disclosed their distinct gene expression patterns and interactions within TME. We identified differentially expressed immune-related genes (DE-ARGs) in glioma and found 15 genes that were specifically expressed in the malignant glioma cell populations. Glioma cells with higher expression of these DE-ARGs were associated with gliogenesis, glial cell development, and vasculature development. We found that tumor-infiltrating monocytes were the main interacting cell type within glioma TME. Using the expression patterns of the 15 screened DE-ARGs, we categorized glioma samples into 2 molecular clusters with distinct immune features, suggesting a possible relationship between angiogenesis and immune activation and recruitment. We constructed a prognostic model based on the expression levels of the 15 DE-ARGs and evaluated its predictive ability for glioma patient outcomes, which displayed exceedingly high efficacy.

Conclusion

We characterized different malignant cell subclusters in glioma and investigate their gene expression patterns and interactions within TME. We constructed a prognostic model based on the expression levels of the 15 DE-ARGs and evaluated its predictive ability for glioma patient outcomes, which displayed exceedingly high efficacy.
Patient-Provider Communication and Colorectal Cancer Screening Completion Using Multi-target Stool DNA Testing
Authors: Zhu Xuan , Squiers Linda , Madson Gabriel , Helmueller Leah , Southwell Brian G. , Alam Shama , Finney Rutten Lila J.
Published: July 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening continues to be underutilized in the USA despite the availability of multiple effective, guideline-recommended screening options. Provider recommendation has been consistently shown to improve screening completion. Understanding how patient-provider communication influences CRC screening can inform interventions to improve screening completion. We developed a behavioral theory-informed survey to identify patient-provider communication factors associated with multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) screening completion. The survey was administered by RTI International between 03/2022 and 06/2022 to a sample of US adults ages 45–75 who received a valid order for mt-sDNA screening with a shipping date between 5/2021 and 9/2021. Respondents completed an electronic or paper survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify patient-provider communication factors associated with mt-sDNA test completion. A total of 2973 participants completed the survey (response rate, 21.7%) and 81.6% of them (n = 2427) reported having had a conversation with provider about mt-sDNA testing before the test was ordered. Having a conversation with the provider about the test, including discussions about costs, the need for follow-up testing and test instructions were associated with higher odds of test completion and being “very likely” to use the test in the future. Lack of discussion about advantages and disadvantages of available CRC screening options and lack of patient involvement in CRC screening decision-making were associated with reduced odds of test completion and likelihood of future use. Healthcare providers play a key role in patient adherence to CRC screening and must be appropriately prepared and resourced to educate and to engage patients in shared decision-making about CRC screening.
Fundamental group of complex hypocycloids
Authors: Catalán-Ramírez Erich U.
Published: July 2024

The Zariski–van Kampen theorem allows us to provide a presentation of the fundamental group for the complement of algebraic plane curves. However, certain computations require arduous work, as exemplified in the case of hypocycloids. In this paper we present the following result: Theorem 1.The fundamental group of any complex hypocycloid withNcusps is the Artin group of theN-gon. The main idea of the proof is take advantage of the symmetries inherent in the hypocycloid, allowing us to partition the domain to determine the generators of the fundamental group.
The photothermal properties of hydrogel nanocomposite embedded with ZnO/CuO based on PVA/GA/activated carbon for solar-driven interfacial evaporation
Authors: Fargharazi M. , Bagheri-Mohagheghi M. M.
Published: July 2024

Using the renewable energy, especially solar energy, is an environmental-friendly approach for seawater desalination. Solar evaporation is a promising freshwater harvesting strategy rich in energy, including solar and water energy. Herein, we propose a solar evaporation hybrid hydrogel including polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) as a polymer network, semiconductor oxide nanoparticles (ZnO, CuO) and activated carbon as a photothermal material. Structural properties of hybrid hydrogel were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, surface morphology by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), chemical bonding by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and optical absorption and absorption coefficient (α) of components by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The result showed in visible region, PVA:ZnO:AC hydrogel nanocomposite has a strong absorption (55%) compare of the PVA:CuO:AC hydrogel nanocomposite (35%). In addition, by distillation measurements, the evaporator system demonstrated for PVA:CuO:AC and PVA:ZnO:AC Hydrogel an evaporation rate of 2.29 kg m−2 h−1 and 5.19 kg m−2 h−1 with the evaporation efficiency of 30.66% and 70.80%, respectively, under 0.1 sun irradiation. For PVA:CuO:AC hydrogel, the hardness of Caspian seawater decreased from 6648 to 115 ppm and ion conductance from 8641 (μS) to 244 (μS) and for the PVA:ZnO:AC Hydrogel decreased to 97 ppm and ion conductance to 206 (μS). Experiments showed that with changing type of the ZnO or CuO semiconductor oxide nanoparticles can effectively on regulate the optical properties of the evaporator. Eventually, this work begins a new point of synthesizing cost-effective photothermal absorbers based on metal oxides material and activated carbon nanocomposite.
Space invaders: dominant and emergent regulatory actors in the case of World Aquatics and the International Swimming League
Authors: Greenhow Annette , Adair Daryl , Kihl Lisa A. , Gowthorp Lisa
Published: July 2024

This article examines the regulatory space occupied by principal actors in elite sport, with a particular interest in how dominant actors in sports governance respond to the emergence of third-party competitions or ‘breakaway’ leagues. Applying a regulatory lens, the article identifies actors who, by virtue of their role and position, have long assumed or claimed legitimacy and authority in the running of a sport. In pursing that line of inquiry, the article focuses on the role of dominant actors assuming the constitutional right of prior approval in sanctioning and authorising qualifying events, along with penalties for athletes who participate in breakaway leagues. These controls in elite level swimming present a salient case where the sport has long been ruled by a singular actor, World Aquatics (WA), formerly known as Fédération Internationale De Natation. In recent years, WA’s dominant position has been interrupted by the rise of an emergent actor, the International Swimming League (ISL), which presented opportunities for either regulatory accommodation or disruption. In pursuing that scenario, the article draws on Hancher and Moran’s regulatory space metaphor (1989), which theorises the attributes of dominant actors occupying regulatory spaces. Concurrently, the article draws upon Arts’ Three Faces of Power concept (2003) to interpret the values, behaviours, and characteristics of various types of regulatory actors. By exploring the key characteristics of regulatory actors in the WA-ISL relational context, this article contributes to our understanding of organisational legitimacy and the regulatory power of dominant and emergent actors in global sport’s regulatory space.
Canonical metrics in complex geometry
Authors: Fino Anna
Published: July 2024

A Hermitian metric on a complex manifold is said to be pluriclosed or SKT if the torsion of the associated Bismut connection is closed, and it is called balanced if its fundamental form is co-closed. In the paper we give an overview of recent results on pluriclosed and balanced metrics, provide new constructions of compact non-Kähler manifolds and also present a few open problems.
Profits, Innovation, Investment. Exploring the Virtuous Circle
Authors: Simone Giuseppe , Evangelista Rinaldo , Pianta Mario
Published: July 2024

The article explores the dynamic relationships between profits, product innovation and capital investments. A virtuous circle model is proposed where product innovation and investment are the key drivers of profits, which in turn support technological change and capital accumulation. In our model industries are characterised by two different trajectories for innovation and investments—either ‘embodied’ in machinery and equipment, aiming at cost competitiveness, or knowledge-related and aiming at technological competitiveness. The model is empirically tested on 40 manufacturing and service industries in six major European countries. The empirical analysis confirms that product innovations and capital investments are distinct drivers of profit growth. A virtuous circle between profit, innovation and investment is mainly found in the industries characterised by strategies of technological competitiveness.
Investigation on the adjusting compression ratio and injection timing for a DI diesel engine fueled with policy-recommended B20 fuel
Authors: Dash Santosh Kumar , Dash Dharmeswar , Das Pritam Kumar , Barik Debabrata , Dash Kshirod Kumar , Chandran Sreejesh S. R. , Dennison Milon Selvam
Published: July 2024

In this investigation, Jatropha methyl ester (JME) [JME 20% (volume) + diesel 80% (volume)] was used to adjust the engine’s compression ratio (CR 16, 17, 17.5, and 18) and fuel injection (IT) in the range of 21–25 deg. crank angle (CA) in steps of 2 deg. before top dead center (BTDC), to identify emission profiles of the engine, where the standard CR and IT were 17.5 and 23 deg. CA BTDC. The results reveal that the CO and UHC were obtained to be as low as 0.03% vol at 75% load, CR18, and IT25, and 5 ppm at full load, CR18, and IT25 respectively. The NOx emission rallied from as low as 47 ppm at no load to as high as 1179 ppm at full load, IT of 25, and CR of 18. Whereas the NOx for diesel was 1108 ppm at full load with standard engine operation. The smoke was about 22.1% with CR18 and IT25 for JME20. However, at standard CR and IT for JME20, the smoke was 34.6%. Elevated CR of 18 and advanced IT of 25 are superior to other conditions, hence it is recommended for JME20-powered engines.
Strain characteristics of reinforced soft clay around tunnel under metro loads
Authors: Lin Zhongcai , Yan Chunling , Sang Biaowei , Tang Yiqun
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the Strain characteristics of reinforced soft clay surrounding a tunnel subjected to cyclic loading, employing the Global Digital Systems cyclic triaxial test on the saturated reinforced clay near Shanghai Metro Line 4’s Hailun Road station. Initially, the study examines the impacts of frequency, dynamic stress amplitude (DSA), and loading cycles on cumulative plastic strain. Following this, the orthogonal design method was employed to organize tests, and an evaluation method for assessing soil strain was developed through mathematical statistical analysis. The results indicate at the constant vibration frequency, cumulative plastic strain increases with an increase in DSA and decreases with as load frequency increases. DSA is the primary factor influencing the axial deformation of subway tunnels, whereas the interaction between load frequency and vibration frequency is negligible. The findings suggest that measures to prevent and control subway tunnel settlement should concentrate on DSA during the early stages of subway operation.
Social Media Profiling for Political Affiliation Detection
Authors: Khan Ihsan Ullah , Khan Muhammad U. S.
Published: July 2024

The notion of discerning political affiliations from users’ social media behavior instills a sense of unease in many. Democracy necessitates that individuals’ political affiliations remain private, and social media challenges this foundational principle of democracy. This study uses BERT, a pre-trained language model to analyze X’s (formally Twitter) users and their political affiliations to understand that how much it is easy now to find the political affiliation of people. We collect posts in both English and Urdu languages from different political leaders and their followers, which are used to fine-tune the BERT model. The model classifies the users’ profiles into Pro, Neutral, or Anti-government classes. To assess the performance of the proposed method, experiments are conducted to evaluate its accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness. The findings of this study confirm the hypothesis that it is easy to detect the political affiliation of individuals using social media with high accuracy (69% for English and 94% for Urdu language) and it can undermine democracy.
The implications of biomass and carbon sequestration of exclosure for climate change mitigation in arid areas, Sekota district, northern Ethiopia
Authors: Eshetie Mubarek , Gobezie Tsegaye , Muhie Seid , Abebe Getu
Published: July 2024

Climate dynamics management plays a crucial role in safeguarding the environment from a global to local scale. Land degradation poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of millions of people living in drylands. Arid regions are particularly vulnerable when it comes to finding suitable habitats for ecological processes. Various global initiatives have been developed to restore degraded drylands. In addition, exclosures have important implications in arid areas for regulating environmental services. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on the biomass improvement and climate change mitigation effects of exclosures. A study was carried out in the Sekota district of northern Ethiopia to evaluate the impact of exclosures on biomass production and carbon stock. Three sites—Gateno, Jinqaba, and Mildam—were chosen for the pilot study. Data was collected from 27 quadrats, with different sizes used for sampling saplings, seedlings, litter, and soil. Soil samples were taken at depths of 0–20 cm and 0–40 cm. The data was analyzed using Excel and R Studio, and a linear mixed-effect model was used to determine the differences between land uses. The results indicated significant variations in above-ground biomass carbon, soil organic carbon, and total carbon stock between the two land uses. Furthermore, the observational perspective of exclosures in the Sekota district reveals a sustainable and suitable environment for interested parties. Exclosures prove to be effective in the restoration of degraded lands, as well as in enhancing biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration.
Impact of credit use on crop productivity and gross income of smallholder farmers: a propensity score matching approach
Authors: Lelisho Aregash Esayas , Lelisho Mesfin Esayas
Published: July 2024

Background

Agriculture is Ethiopia’s principal economic activity, employing the vast majority of the population, however, smallholder farmers in the country face long-standing challenges, including low levels of production, low income, and less credit use. This study aimed to analyze the impact of access to credit on crop productivity and income among small-scale farmers in the study area.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study from January 1st to 30th, 2022. Primary data were collected from purposely selected seven (7) kebele of the district based on potential users of agricultural credit. Then the impact was investigated by applying the propensity score matching technique. A Probit regression model was used to determine factors associated with credit use. The significance of the variables was decided at a 5% level of significance.

Results

In our study, a total sample of 347 smallholder farmers were randomly selected, out of which 42.9% were credit-users while 59.1% were non-users. Regarding sources of credit use, Vision Fund was the most commonly used source of credit with 67.8% of users, followed by the Omo Microfinance institution with 22.1%. Sex of the farmer, age of the farmer, existence collateral, farm size, attitude towards risk, extension service, membership in credit institutions, road access, and number of total livestock units in tropical livestock units (TLU) had significant effects on credit use at a 5% level of significance. Moreover, the estimates showed that utilizing credit resulted in a rise in crop productivity in current market value and total yearly income by 19,302.44 and 18,009.63 respectively.

Conclusion

Our study suggested that credit use had a considerable impact on crop productivity and total annual income. As a result, the study recommended that the government’s rural finance policy agenda should prioritize opening different branches near farmers, improving credit usability, and providing more training programs to smallholder farmers to improve their skills and help reduce the problems that impede their use of agricultural credit.
Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) Distribution in Drainage Canal Sediments of a Low‐Lying Coastal Area
Authors: Giambastiani B. M. S. , Greggio N. , Carloni G. , Molducci M. , Antonellini M.
Published: July 2024

This study examines the accumulation, distribution, and mobility of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in the sediments of a low‐lying coastal drainage network (Ravenna, Italy). The aim is to understand the geochemical processes occurring between drainage water and canal bed sediments and assess factors affecting and driving PTE distribution and enrichment in these environments. A geochemical database resulting from the analysis of 203 drainage sediment samples was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and compared to undisturbed near‐surface sediment samples from the same depth and depositional environment. The results reveal PTEs exceeding national regulation limits. Distance from the sea, electrical conductivity of drainage water, and fertilizer use were identified as the main driving factors. The primary mechanisms for PTE precipitation (As, Co, Mo) and subsequent enrichment in the sediments is attributed to the absorption on Fe‐ and Mn‐oxyhydroxides (HFO and HMO), particularly in high salinity areas near the coast. While Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, and V also have affinity for HFO and HMO, their adsorption efficiency decreases due to the competition with salt‐derived cations during ongoing salinization processes. Anthropogenic sources, including agriculture, hunting activities, traffic dust, and railways, contribute to the local abundance of other elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Sn). This paper's significant progress lies in assessing the concurrent interactions of chemical and physical processes that drive PTE distribution and accumulation in reclaimed low‐lying coastal plains. The findings are significant for assessing PTE accumulation risks and sediment toxicity in coastal areas affected by water salinization, drainage, and subsidence, providing valuable information to water management institutions globally.
A Machine Learning Framework to Evaluate Vegetation Modeling in Earth System Models
Authors: Swaminathan Ranjini , Quaife Tristan , Allan Richard
Published: July 2024

Vegetation gross primary productivity (GPP) is the single largest carbon flux of the terrestrial biosphere which, in turn, is responsible for sequestering 25%–30% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. The ability to model GPP is therefore critical for calculating carbon budgets as well as understanding climate feedbacks. Earth system models (ESMs) have the capability to simulate GPP but vary greatly in their individual estimates, resulting in large uncertainties. We describe a machine learning (ML) approach to investigate two key factors responsible for differences in simulated GPP quantities from ESMs: the relative importance of different atmospheric drivers and differences in the representation of land surface processes. We describe the different steps in the development of our interpretable ML framework including the choice of algorithms, parameter tuning, training and evaluation. Our results show that ESMs largely agree on the physical climate drivers responsible for GPP as seen in the literature, for instance drought variables in the Mediterranean region or radiation and temperature in the Arctic region. However differences do exist since models don't necessarily agree on which individual variable is most relevant for GPP. We also explore a distance measure to attribute GPP differences to climate influences versus process differences and provide examples for where our methods work (South Asia, Mediterranean) and where they are inconclusive (Eastern North America).
A Numerical Consideration on the Correlation Between Magnitude of Earthquakes and Current Intensity Causing ULF Electromagnetic Wave Emission
Authors: Kimura Ryota , Ando Yoshiaki , Kukiyama Leo , Masuzawa Tomoya , Hattori Katsumi , Hayakawa Masashi
Published: July 2024

Numerous studies have reported anomalous ultralow frequency (ULF) electromagnetic fields preceding earthquakes. In this paper, we estimate the current intensity responsible for generating the earthquake‐related ULF fields under the assumption that the origin is a current flowing at the hypocenter and that it has the same frequency dependence for all cases. To estimate current intensity, we perform ULF electromagnetic field simulations with an absorbing boundary condition developed in this study, taking into account the conductivity distribution of the Earth's crust. We analyze 11 earthquakes, including those that occurred in Loma Prieta, Spitak, Guam, Biak, Kagoshima, Iwateken Nairiku Hokubu, Izu swarm, Jammu and Kashmir, Alum Rock, Wenchuan, and L’Aquila. Our results show that, for nine out of the 11 events, there is a positive correlation between current intensity and earthquake magnitude, suggesting that the measured ULF fields originate from seismic activity and supporting our assumptions.