bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eyes and ‘I’
Authors: Young Karen
Published: October 2023

Eyes and ‘I’ is about, making visibile invisibilised elements of seeing and identity. From the perspective of a second-generation Chinese Canadian self-identifying womxn, this story hopes to unpack layers of making sense of identity as it relates to the experience of seeing and being seen. It explores the myriad of steady internal meanings that can be unseen in disparity with the ‘confident certainty’ of how others see us. What does it mean to see what we see? What is beyond that which meets the eye? What is behind the ‘I’ that we see? I (Karen) reflect/s on the intersecting elements of carrying multiple identities that point towards a middling standpoint that affords a privileged agile latitude of accessing opportunities and therefore perspectives. I reflect upon what it can mean to self-identify as a Han Chinese-passing Canadian, born attending to how beings call to attention dissonant narratives that reflect differently felt on the inside.
My PhD Life, and Connecting the Dots Between Here and There…
Authors: Kumar Alka
Published: October 2023

In this piece I sift through my PhD dissertation, written a few years ago, and I read again some of the autoethnographic vignettes that I had interwoven with the theory, the methods, and my research findings. My reflections take me back to a time of sitting in coffee shops, alone but never lonely, deep in reflections, enjoying the experience of writing ‘differently.’ I remember even now that those were rare and special moments, when I gave myself permission to go down mysterious rabbit holes and describe what I saw, using creative writing modes. My reflections take me back further too, to my life back in India, pre-migration to Canada; and in this personal essay, I tease out the connections between who I was back then and how those experiences have formed me into the individual I am today. This personal essay is also an autoethnography about my PhD journey, and how the creative writing I could do as part of it helped nurture my spirit in difficult times, showing me the way forward through finding strength, voice and resilience. It is also about John Paul Lederach who taught me to ask the big picture question: why do I do what I do?
The power of Lorentzian wormholes
Authors: Blommaert Andreas , Kruthoff Jorrit , Yao Shunyu
Published: October 2023

Abstract

As shown by Louko and Sorkin in 1995, topology change in Lorentzian signature involves spacetimes with singular points, which they called crotches. We modify their construction to obtain Lorentzian semiclassical wormholes in asymptotically AdS. These solutions are obtained by inserting crotches on known saddles, like the double-cone or multiple copies of the Lorentzian black hole. The crotches implement swap-identifications, and are classically located near an extremal surface. The resulting Lorentzian wormholes have an instanton action equal to their area, which is responsible for topological suppression in any number of dimensions.

We conjecture that including such Lorentzian wormhole spacetimes is equivalent to path integrating over all mostly Euclidean smooth spacetimes. We present evidence for this by reproducing semiclassical features of the genus expansion of the spectral form factor, and of a late-time two point function, by summing over the moduli space of Lorentzian wormholes. As a final piece of evidence, we discuss the Lorentzian version of West-Coast replica wormholes.
New physics in multi-electron muon decays
Authors: Hostert Matheus , Menzo Tony , Pospelov Maxim , Zupan Jure
Published: October 2023

Abstract

We study the exotic muon decays with five charged tracks in the final state. First, we investigate the Standard Model rate for μ+ → 3e+ 2e− 2ν ($$ \mathcal{B} $$
B
= 4.0 × 10−10) and find that the Mu3e experiment should have tens to hundreds of signal events per 1015μ+ decays, depending on the signal selection strategy. We then turn to a neutrinoless μ+ → 3e+ 2e− decay that may arise in new-physics models with lepton-flavor-violating effective operators involving a dark Higgs hd. Following its production in μ+ → e+hd decays, the dark Higgs can undergo a decay cascade to two e+e− pairs through two dark photons, hd→ γdγd→ 2(e+e−). We show that a μ+→ 3e+ 2e− search at the Mu3e experiment, with potential sensitivity to the branching ratio at the $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(10−12) level or below, can explore new regions of parameter space and new physics scales as high as Λ ∼ 1015 GeV.
MHV gluon scattering in the massive scalar background and celestial OPE
Authors: Banerjee Shamik , Mandal Raju , Manu Akavoor , Paul Partha
Published: October 2023

Abstract

In this paper we study the tree-level OPE between two positive helicity outgoing gluons in the celestial CFT for the Yang-Mills theory chirally coupled to a massive scalar background. This theory breaks the translation as well as scale invariance. We compute the subleading terms in the OPE expansion and show that they are same as the subleading terms of the OPE expansions in the MHV sector. As a result the amplitudes of this theory also satisfy the set of differential equations obtained previously for MHV amplitudes in pure YM theory. This is not surprising because the symmetries coming from the leading and subleading soft gluon theorems do not change in the presence of a massive scalar background.
Artificial intelligence national strategy in a developing country
Authors: Demaidi Mona Nabil
Published: October 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) national strategies provide countries with a framework for the development and implementation of AI technologies. Sixty countries worldwide published their AI national strategies. The majority of these countries with more than 70% are developed countries. The approach of AI national strategies differentiates between developed and developing countries in several aspects including scientific research, education, talent development, and ethics. This paper examined AI readiness assessment in a developing country (Palestine) to help develop and identify the main pillars of the AI national strategy. AI readiness assessment was applied across education, entrepreneurship, government, and research and development sectors in Palestine (case of a developing country). In addition, it examined the legal framework and whether it is coping with trending technologies. The results revealed that Palestinians have low awareness of AI. Moreover, AI is barely used across several sectors and the legal framework is not coping with trending technologies. The results helped develop and identify the following five main pillars that Palestine’s AI national strategy should focus on: AI for Government, AI for Development, AI for Capacity Building in the private, public and technical and governmental sectors, AI and Legal Framework, and international Activities.
Changes in ankle and hip joints following medial opening‐wedge high tibial osteotomy affect knee joint line obliquity
Authors: Kim Sang‐Gyun , Jun June‐Bum , Bae Il Wook , Lee Dae‐Hee
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to measure the change in knee joint line obliquity (KJLO) and the changes in radiologic parameters of the ankle and hip joints after medial opening‐wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO), and to evaluate the correlation and causal relationship between these parameters.

Methods

This study evaluated 109 patients who underwent MOWHTO between April 2015 and December 2021. Radiologic parameters, including KJLO, medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), ankle joint line obliquity (AJLO), and hip abduction angle (HAA), were analysed before and 1 year after MOWHTO. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent variables that significantly affected the change in KJLO after MOWHTO. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the cutoff value for a change in KJLO that exceeded 5° postoperatively, and the predicting values of radiologic parameters.

Results

Multiple linear regression analysis showed that changes in MPTA, AJLO, and HAA (β = 0.440, P < 0.001; β = − 0.310, P < 0.001; β = 0.164, P = 0.035, respectively) were predictors of the change in KJLO after MOWHTO. ROC analysis showed that the threshold value for a change in KJLO which exceeded 5° postoperatively was 4.6° (66.7% sensitivity, 63.8% specificity, P = 0.025). Moreover, ROC curves for predicting a change in KJLO of > 4.6° showed that the AUC was significantly higher for the change in MPTA than that of the other two parameters (P = 0.011 for AJLO and P < 0.001 for HAA).

Conclusion

MOWHTO increases the KJLO by valgization of the proximal tibia and causes hip adduction and ankle valgization. The postoperative ankle valgization after MOWHTO could reduce the increase in KJLO, counteracting the effects of proximal tibial valgization and hip adduction. Therefore, the effects of the hip and ankle joints should be considered to achieve an optimal KJLO and satisfactory clinical outcomes after MOWHTO.

Level of study

Cohort study, IV.
Towards green extraction of bioactive natural compounds
Authors: Herrero Miguel
Published: October 2023

The increasing interest in natural bioactive compounds is pushing the development of new extraction processes that may allow their recovery from a variety of different natural matrices and biomasses. These processes are clearly sought to be more environmentally friendly than the conventional alternatives that have traditionally been used and are closely related to the 6 principles of green extraction of natural products. In this trend article, the most critical aspects regarding the current state of this topic are described, showing the different lines followed to make extraction processes greener, illustrated by relevant examples. These include the implementation of new extraction technologies, the research on new bio-based solvents, and the development of new sequential process and biorefinery approaches to produce a full valorization of the natural sources. Moreover, the future outlook in the field is presented, in which the main areas of evolution are identified and discussed.

Graphical abstract
The influence of bias correction of global climate models prior to dynamical downscaling on projections of changes in climate: a case study over the CORDEX-Australasia domain
Authors: Wamahiu Karuru , Kala Jatin , Evans Jason P.
Published: October 2023

We investigate the influence of bias correction of Global Climate Models (GCMs) prior to dynamical downscaling using regional climate models (RCMs), on the change in climate projected. We use 4 GCMs which are bias corrected against ERA-Interim re-analysis as a surrogate truth, and carry out bias corrected and non-bias corrected simulations over the CORDEX Australasia domain using the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Our results show that when considering the effect of bias correction on current and future climate separately, bias correction has a large influence on precipitation and temperature, especially for models which are known to have large biases. However, when considering the change in climate, i.e the $$\Delta$$
Δ
change (future minus current), we found that while differences between bias-corrected and non-corrected RCM simulations can be substantial (e.g. more than $$1\,^\circ$$

1

∘

C for temperatures) these differences are generally smaller than the models’ inter-annual variability. Overall, averaged across all variables, bias corrected boundary conditions produce an overall reduction in the range, standard deviation and mean absolute deviation of the change in climate projected by the 4 models tested, over 61.5%, 62% and 58% of land area, with a larger reduction for precipitation as compared to temperature indices. In addition, we show that changes in the $$\Delta$$
Δ
change for DJF tasmax are broadly linked to precipitation changes and consequently soil moisture and surface sensible heat flux and changes in the $$\Delta$$
Δ
changefor JJA tasmin are linked to downward longwave heat flux. This study shows that bias correction of GCMs against re-analysis prior to dynamical downscaling can increase our confidence in projected future changes produced by downscaled ensembles.
Perceptive vs reflective: spectator interpretation of multimodal artworks
Authors: Bramah Oliver , Adams Sue , Morreale Fabio
Published: October 2023

This article presents an empirical investigation into spectator interpretation of multimodal artworks. Specifically, this article explores perception of the artwork in two different sensorial modalities — sight and sound — and the effect of their interaction. We selected four abstract paintings and created four acousmatic musical pieces that were composed to reflect the content of the artwork. We then ran a between-subjects experimental study in three conditions: visual only, music only, and a combination of both. A total of 48 participants completed an online survey in which they were asked to report their interpretations of the shown artworks. Following a thematic analysis on the collected data, we clustered participants’ interpretation into two main categories:reflectiveandperceptive. The combination increased spectators’ attention to the artworks, affected the temporality of the artworks, and created richer understandings of the multimodal works. The study provides knowledge for the inclusion of multimodal experiences in the presentation of art expanding the possibilities for inter-sensory dialogue in the arts.
In the hands of users with intellectual disabilities: co-designing tangible user interfaces for mental wellbeing
Authors: Woodward Kieran , Kanjo Eiman , Brown David J. , McGinnity T. M. , Harold Gordon
Published: October 2023

Involving and engaging people with intellectual disabilities on issues relating to their mental wellbeing is essential if relevant tools and solutions are to be developed. This research explores how inclusive and participatory co-design techniques and principles can be used to engage people with intellectual disabilities in designing innovations in mental wellbeing tangible technologies. In particular, individuals with intellectual disabilities participated in a co-design process via a series of workshops and focus groups to design tangible interfaces for mental wellbeing as their wellbeing challenges are often diagnostically overshadowed. The workshops helped participants explore new technologies, including sensors and feedback mechanisms that can help monitor and potentially improve mental wellbeing. The adopted co-design approach resulted in a range of effective and suitable interfaces being developed for varying ages.
How do family doctors respond to reduced waiting times for cancer diagnosis in secondary care?
Authors: Hayes Helen , Meacock Rachel , Stokes Jonathan , Sutton Matt
Published: October 2023

Reducing waiting times is a priority in public health systems. Efforts of healthcare providers to shorten waiting times could be negated if they simultaneously induce substantial increases in demand. However, separating out the effects of changes in supply and demand on waiting times requires an exogenous change in one element. We examine the impact of a pilot programme in some English hospitals to shorten waiting times for urgent diagnosis of suspected cancer on family doctors’ referrals. We examine referrals from 6,666 family doctor partnerships to 145 hospitals between 1st April 2012 and 31st March 2019. Five hospitals piloted shorter waiting times initiatives in 2017. Using continuous difference-in-differences regression, we exploit the pilot as a ‘supply shifter’ to estimate the effect of waiting times on referral volumes for two suspected cancer types: bowel and lung. The proportion of referred patients breaching two-week waiting times targets for suspected bowel cancer fell by 3.9 percentage points in pilot hospitals in response to the policy, from a baseline of 4.8%. Family doctors exposed to the pilot increased their referrals (demand) by 10.8%. However, the pilot was not successful for lung cancer, with some evidence that waiting times increased, and a corresponding reduction in referrals of −10.5%. Family doctor referrals for suspected cancer are responsive at the margin to waiting times. Healthcare providers may struggle to achieve long-term reductions in waiting times if supply-side improvements are offset by increases in demand.
Decarbonising bioenergy through biomass utilisation in chemical looping combustion and gasification: a review
Authors: Güleç Fatih , Okolie Jude A.
Published: October 2023

Biomass valorisation for bioenergy is crucial for establishing a sustainable low-carbon circular bioeconomy and addressing societal and environmental challenges. As global demand for renewable energy grows, effective waste management using biomass becomes increasingly vital. However, successful implementation requires addressing specific local, scientific, and conceptual challenges, including technological intricacies, resource availability, scalability, and environmental impacts. Advancements in chemical looping gasification and chemical looping combustion are reviewed here as essential components of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage technologies. Chemical looping technologies have substantially contributed to decarbonising various industries, supported by precise trends. The review highlights the potential of chemical looping combustion and gasification in biomass utilisation for generating bioenergy and mitigating carbon emissions. Moreover, the advantages of chemical looping processes enhance their feasibility and applicability across different contexts including (1) significant increase in biomass conversion efficiency through chemical looping gasification, leading to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, (2) progress in chemical looping combustion, enhancing carbon capture and storage capabilities and contributing to a closed carbon cycle, (3) detailed insights into integrating chemical looping technologies into industrial sectors.
Chromatographic purification of small extracellular vesicles using an affinity column for phospholipid membranes
Authors: Masaki Kanako , Ahmed Abo Bakr F. , Ishida Takenori , Mikami Yuuki , Funabashi Hisakage , Hirota Ryuichi , Ikeda Takeshi , Kuroda Akio
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate whether chromatography using an ExoPUA column, an affinity column for phospholipid membranes, could potentially serve as an efficient, rapid, scalable, and reproducible method for purifying small extracellular vesicles (sEVs).

Results

We used the ExoPUA column connected to a fast-performance liquid chromatography system. One-step chromatographic purification of sEVs from culture supernatant using the ExoPUA protocol resulted in an 82 ± 16-fold increase in purity with a yield of 38 ± 5% of sEVs. The purified sEVs contained CD9, CD63, TSG101, and miRNA (miR-21), but not the endoplasmic reticulum protein Calnexin. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the purified sEVs were intact. The purification performance of the ExoPUA protocol showed superior results in terms of yield compared to that of the differential ultracentrifugation method, the most commonly used method for purifying sEVs in laboratories, and purity compared to that of the DEAE chromatography protocol.

Conclusion

The sEVs were effectively purified in the bind-elute mode and the ExoPUA column can be refreshed and sterilized with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), having high potential for multiple sEV purification in a scalable and industrial manner.
Attribution assessment of hydrological trends and extremes to climate change for Northern high latitude catchments in Norway
Authors: Yang Xue , Huang Shaochun
Published: October 2023

The northern high latitudes have experienced the strongest warming in the world and substantial changes in streamflow and hydrological extremes. However, there have been limited attribution studies of changes in streamflow and hydrological extremes in this region. This study provides the first trend detection and attribution assessment on 33 hydrological variables for 50 Norwegian catchments in the period 1961–2019, using observed and simulated runoff data from four hydrological models driven by factual (observed) and counterfactual forcing data. Significant increasing trends are detected in observed annual, spring and winter runoff in most catchments and significant trends towards earlier spring floods are found in 40% of catchments. The four hydrological models show similarly good performance in terms of daily discharge in both calibration and validation periods, and they can reproduce 62% of the observed significant trends considering both trend direction and significance. The counterfactual forcing data were generated by the ATTRICI model, which removed all warming trends and most significant trends in precipitation in the factual time series. Ninety-four percent of the simulated significant trends driven by the factual forcing data are insignificant under counterfactual conditions, with trend slopes approaching zero. Thus, based on the model performance in trend reproduction and the difference of significant trends under factual and counterfactual conditions, we conclude that about 58% of the observed significant trends in Norwegian catchments can be attributed mainly to climate change. The comparisons of the historical extreme events under factual and counterfactual conditions show that more than 65% of floods and droughts in the 2010s could have been magnified by climate change.
Cybersecurity for autonomous vehicles against malware attacks in smart-cities
Authors: Aurangzeb Sana , Aleem Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Taimoor , Anwar Haris , Siddique Muhammad Shaoor
Published: October 2023

Smart Autonomous Vehicles (AVSs) are networks of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) in which they wirelessly communicate with other CPSs sub-systems (e.g., smart -vehicles and smart-devices) to efficiently and securely plan safe travel. Due to unreliable wireless communication among them, such vehicles are an easy target of malware attacks that may compromise vehicles’ autonomy, increase inter-vehicle communication latency, and drain vehicles’ power. Such compromises may result in traffic congestion, threaten the safety of passengers, and can result in financial loss. Therefore, real-time detection of such attacks is key to the safe smart transportation and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITSs). Current approaches either employ static analysis or dynamic analysis techniques to detect such attacks. However, these approaches may not detect malware in real-time because of zero-day attacks and huge computational resources. Therefore, we introduce a hybrid approach that combines the strength of both analyses to efficiently detect malware for the privacy of smart-cities.
Breeding for black rot resistance in grapevine: advanced approaches for germplasm screening
Authors: Bettinelli Paola , Nicolini Daniela , Giovannini Oscar , Stefanini Marco , Hausmann Ludger , Vezzulli Silvia
Published: October 2023

Crop improvement by means of traditional or molecular breeding is a key strategy to accomplish the European Green Deal target of reducing pesticides by 50% by 2030. Regarding viticulture, this is exacerbated by the massive use of chemicals to control pathogen infections. Black rot is an emergent disease caused by the ascomycete Phyllosticta ampelicida, and its destructiveness is alarming vine growers. Implementing and improving effective phenotyping strategies are fundamental preliminary steps to breed disease resistant varieties and this work suggests good practices adopted for this purpose. Primarily, the pedigree of black rot resistance donors was reconstructed based on the collection of phenotypic historical data, highlighting unexplored sources of black rot resistance. Strains used for artificial infections were isolated, genetically characterized and mixed to avoid race-specific resistance selection. A new inoculation protocol based on the use of leaf mature lesions was developed. Ex vivo inoculation on detached leaves was effective for the evaluation of conidia germination and hyphal growth, but not for disease progression. Finally, the pedigree was used for the identification of 23 genotypes to be tested. Two breeding selections (NY39 and NY24) resulted symptomless in all assessments and a third one (F25P52) also showed very high resistance, although with a greater variability. Other two genotypes (F12P19 and ‘Charvir’) fell within the medium resistance category, making them good candidates in a regime of well-timed preventive treatments. In conclusion, this work was effective to a comprehensive parental line characterization and preparatory towards grapevine breeding programs for black rot resistance.
“Sharp of taste”: the concept of acidity in the Greek system of natural explanation
Authors: Gerontas Apostolos K.
Published: October 2023

Acidic substances were known for thousands of years, and their macroscopic-sensory characteristics were reflected by words in most ancient languages. In the Western canon, the history of the concept of acidity goes back to Ancient Greece. In Greek, the word associated with acidity from its early literary references was ὀξύς (“sharp”), and still in contemporary Greek the words “sour” and “acidic” have the same root. This paper makes a short presentation of the appearance of the abstract concept in the works of Plato and Aristotle and relates it, on one side to the already existing theological-philosophical tradition, starting with Hesiod´s Theogony and on the other, to the then available to the Greeks organoleptic experiences of sourness-vinegar and sour milk.
An Efficient Implementation of the Gauss–Newton Method Via Generalized Krylov Subspaces
Authors: Buccini A. , de Alba P. Díaz , Pes F. , Reichel L.
Published: October 2023

The solution of nonlinear inverse problems is a challenging task in numerical analysis. In most cases, this kind of problems is solved by iterative procedures that, at each iteration, linearize the problem in a neighborhood of the currently available approximation of the solution. The linearized problem is then solved by a direct or iterative method. Among this class of solution methods, the Gauss–Newton method is one of the most popular ones. We propose an efficient implementation of this method for large-scale problems. Our implementation is based on projecting the nonlinear problem into a sequence of nested subspaces, referred to as Generalized Krylov Subspaces, whose dimension increases with the number of iterations, except for when restarts are carried out. When the computation of the Jacobian matrix is expensive, we combine our iterative method with secant (Broyden) updates to further reduce the computational cost. We show convergence of the proposed solution methods and provide a few numerical examples that illustrate their performance.
Purification and Biochemical Characterization of the DNA Binding Domain of the Nitrogenase Transcriptional Activator NifA from Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus
Authors: Standke Heidi G. , Kim Lois , Owens Cedric P.
Published: October 2023

NifA is a σ54 activator that turns on bacterial nitrogen fixation under reducing conditions and when fixed cellular nitrogen levels are low. The redox sensing mechanism in NifA is poorly understood. In α- and β-proteobacteria, redox sensing involves two pairs of Cys residues within and immediately following the protein’s central AAA+ domain. In this work, we examine if an additional Cys pair that is part of a C(X)5 C motif and located immediately upstream of the DNA binding domain of NifA from the α-proteobacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd) is involved in redox sensing. We hypothesize that the Cys residues’ redox state may directly influence the DNA binding domain’s DNA binding affinity and/or alter the protein’s oligomeric sate. Two DNA binding domain constructs were generated, a longer construct (2C-DBD), consisting of the DNA binding domain with the upstream Cys pair, and a shorter construct (NC-DBD) that lacks the Cys pair. The Kd of NC-DBD for its cognate DNA sequence (nifH-UAS) is equal to 20.0 µM. The Kd of 2C-DBD for nifH-UAS when the Cys pair is oxidized is 34.5 µM. Reduction of the disulfide bond does not change the DNA binding affinity. Additional experiments indicate that the redox state of the Cys residues does not influence the secondary structure or oligomerization state of the NifA DNA binding domain. Together, these results demonstrate that the Cys pair upstream of the DNA binding domain of Gd-NifA does not regulate DNA binding or domain dimerization in a redox dependent manner.
Do boards effectively link firm objectives to CEO bonus performance measures?
Authors: Lenihan Orla , Brennan Niamh M.
Published: October 2023

This study examines whether S&P 500 boards govern their firms effectively by linking short-term operational objectives to appropriate CEO bonus performance measures. Our cross-sectional regression analysis reveals that firms with higher growth opportunities place more reliance on sales and growth performance measures in CEO bonus plans. We also find that cash-strapped firms emphasize the use of cash-based CEO performance measures. However, boards of high-cost firms do not tie a greater portion of CEO bonus to measures informative of cost-cutting efforts. This observation is contrary to effective-governance expectations and implies that boards should regularly scrutinize CEO bonus measures to ensure alignment with value-creating firm objectives. Additionally, we report an increase over time in the mean weight of social-and-environmental measures in CEO bonus plans. Boards evaluate CEO performance on sustainability issues by including quantifiable short-term performance targets in CEO bonus plans. However, there is currently a dearth of evidence on the optimality of sustainability linked executive pay in the academic literature. Our evidence on the rising weight of social-and-environmental measures in CEO bonus plans should motivate further research on this topic.
A reduced-order lie group-based race car model for systematic trajectory optimization on 3D tracks
Authors: Bartali Lorenzo , Gabiccini Marco , Grabovic Eugeniu , Domenighini Marcello , Guiggiani Massimo
Published: October 2023

This paper derives the dynamic equations of a reduced-order race-car model using Lie-group methods. While these methods are familiar to computational dynamicists and roboticists, their adoption in the vehicle dynamics community is limited. We address this gap by demonstrating how this framework integrates smoothly with the Articulated-Body Algorithm (ABA) and provides a fresh and systematic formulation of vehicle dynamics. For the first time, we model the car body as the end effector of a serial robot with a floating base connected to the track via virtual revolute and prismatic joints. Our formulation also accounts for the effects of 3D track geometry, providing a natural embedding of the car into the 3D track. We rigorously reconcile the ABA steps with key aspects of vehicle dynamics, including road-tire interactions, aerodynamic forces, and load transfers. The resulting model, simple yet accurate, is a powerful tool to efficiently solve Minimum-Lap-Time Planning problems. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we show numerical results obtained on the Nürburgring circuit. Our optimization problem is formulated via a direct collocation method and solved using the CasADi optimization suite. To validate the results, we test our reduced-order model against a full-fledged multi-body model recently developed by the same authors. The comparison confirms the validity of our reduced-order model, proving both the accuracy of the solution and the computational efficiency achieved.
Virtual reality evaluation of the spatial learning strategies in gamers
Authors: Lobato-Camacho Francisco José , López Juan Carlos , Vargas Juan Pedro
Published: October 2023

Psychological memory tests have traditionally relied on paper-based methods. However, the emergence of virtual reality tools, including adaptations of animal lab tests, has opened up new possibilities for evaluating and enhancing attention and memory processes. The impact of virtual environments on spatial memory remains a topic of ongoing debate. To contribute to this discussion, we conducted a comprehensive study with two primary objectives. Firstly, we aimed to develop a virtual reality tool that could effectively assess search strategies in gamers within virtual environments. To achieve this, we designed a virtual water maze inspired by those used in animal research. Secondly, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving participants to analyze how spatial memory strategies evolve in a virtual environment with increasing gaming experience. The results revealed that participants with more gaming experience exhibited faster and more precise learning in the virtual water maze, along with improved search strategies. Additionally, our study allowed for the evaluation of our software and enabled us to track changes in the efficacy of learning strategies. Overall, this study emphasizes the potential of virtual environments for both evaluation and cognitive stimulation purposes.
Will Virtual Hearings Remain in Post-pandemic International Arbitration?
Authors: Chen Lei
Published: October 2023

The pandemic has catalysed to hasten the wider use of virtual hearings in international arbitration. However, the promotion of virtual hearings in international commercial dispute resolution was more complex than commonly thought due to the highlighted concerns of cybersecurity and breach of confidentiality in arbitration. The worries against the wide use of virtual hearings cannot stand because technological innovations can largely improve and solve this. However, virtual arbitration hearings may not be common post-COVID times. Technology shapes how people behave, interact, grow, and develop in their relationships with others and wider communities. Yet greater immersion in the digital world undoubtedly creates new challenges and can adversely affect human-to-human interactions. There is very little scientific study on the psychological impacts of virtual hearings on arbitrators,
witnesses and counsels. It is too early to assess its effectiveness from the user's perspective until the much-needed scientific data is released. Virtual hearings are unlikely to replace in-person ones necessary for more complex and high-value disputes requiring greater interaction and personal connection. Strategically, international arbitration is a private initiative-orientated, flexible, and market-driven dispute resolution mechanism. The parties are best positioned to choose the hearing format after balancing off.
Improving Linear Interpolation of Missing Hydrological Data by Applying Integrated Autoregressive Models
Authors: Niedzielski Tomasz , Halicki Michał
Published: October 2023

The application of linear interpolation for handling missing hydrological data is unequivocal. On one hand, such an approach offers good reconstruction in the vicinity of last observation before a no-data gap and first measurement after the gap. On the other hand, it omits irregular variability of hydrological data. Such an irregularity can be described by time series models, such as for instance the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. Herein, we propose a method which combines linear interpolation with autoregressive integrated model (ARI, i.e. ARIMA without a moving average part), named LinAR (available at GitHub), as a tool for inputing hydrological data. Linear interpolation is combined with the ARI model through linear scaling the ARI-based prediction issued for the no-data gap. Such an approach contributes to the current state of art in gap-filling methods since it removes artificial jumps between last stochastic prediction and first known observation after the gap, also introducing some irregular variability in the first part of the no-data gap. The LinAR method is applied and evaluated on hourly water level data collected between 2016 and 2021 (52,608 hourly steps) from 28 gauges strategically located within the Odra/Oder River basin in southwestern and western Poland. The data was sourced from Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (Poland). Evaluating the performance with over 100 million assessments in the validation experiment, the study demonstrates that the LinAR approach outperforms the purely linear method, especially for short no-data gaps (up to 12 hourly steps) and for rivers of considerable size. Based on rigorous statistical analysis of root mean square error (RMSE) – expressed (1) absolutely, (2) as percentages and (3) using RMSE error bars – the percentage improvement, understood as percentage difference between RMSE of linear and LinAR interpolations, was found to reach up to 10%.
Microstructure and Mechanical Property Stability of Wire Arc Directed Energy Deposition Austenitic Stainless Steels During Thermal Aging at 650°C
Authors: Gonzalez Juan , Tate Stephen , Klemm-Toole Jonah
Published: October 2023

Austenitic stainless steels are used in power generation components subjected to elevated temperatures over long service lives. Replacing these components can involve lengthy lead times and deteriorate the robustness of the energy infrastructure. Wire arc directed energy deposition (WA-DED) has the potential to enable rapid manufacturing of replacement parts, but the long-term stability of microstructures and mechanical properties produced by WA-DED is not well understood. In this work, we explore the influence of aging at 650°C for 1000 h on the formation of embrittling phases, such as sigma (σ), in the commercially available austenitic stainless steel wire feedstocks 316L, 316LSi, 316H and 16-8-2. All WA-DED samples formed secondary phases at grain boundaries (likely σ, possibly other phases as well), but these phases caused negligible changes in tensile properties in 316L, 316LSi and 316H. Samples of 16-8-2 formed significant amounts of ferrite and/or martensite after aging, which increased tensile strength but reduced ductility when tested at room temperature. This work demonstrates the need to design feedstock compositions that are stable with respect to ferrite and/or martensite formation, in addition to phases typically associated with embrittlement, to ensure microstructure and mechanical property stability for high-temperature applications with long service lives.
Computational Modeling of a 2D Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Cell
Authors: Martinez Lopez Joseba , Aramendia Iñigo , Fernandez-Gamiz Unai , Sanchez-Diez Eduardo , Beloki Aitor , Kurt Erol , Lopez-Guede Jose Manuel
Published: October 2023

These days, the implementation of sustainable power generation has led to a difference in propensity in the energy creation and capacity frameworks, compelling them to conquer the hardships that it addresses. Considering the entirety among the suggested technologies, vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) stand out as a wonderful choice regarding cyclability and versatility. The point of this study is to break down electrochemical performance of a vanadium redox flow battery cell in two dimensions. To accomplish this, a two-dimensional model comprising an ion exchange membrane, electrode and flow channel was created. A set of electrode compression and flow rates was tested to envision the impact on the velocity field, species concentration and potential and current distributions. As a result of compression, velocity profiles and reaction rates are both increased, by 12.7% and 9.2%, respectively, when applying 50% compression. Higher reaction rates and more stable concentration gradients were induced by higher electrolyte rates. Additionally, overpotential was reduced by 1.5% with the lowest flow rate.
Clinical long-term outcome of hepatitis D compared to hepatitis B monoinfection
Authors: Wranke Anika , Heidrich Benjamin , Deterding Katja , Hupa-Breier Katharina Luise , Kirschner Janina , Bremer Birgit , Cornberg Markus , Wedemeyer Heiner
Published: October 2023

Background and aims

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection causes the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis. However, it is still unclear to what extent the underlying cirrhosis may contribute to disease progression. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcome of HDV infection with HBV monoinfection in a single-center cohort of both non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic patients.

Method

We retrospectively studied 175 patients with chronic hepatitis D (CHD) who were followed for at least 6 months (median of 6.3 (0.6–23.6) years). In addition, we selected 175 patients with HBV monoinfection (CHB) who were matched for gender, age, region of origin, HBeAg status, and bilirubin. Liver-related clinical end points were defined as hepatic decompensation (ascites, encephalopathy, variceal bleeding), liver transplantation, HCC, or liver-related death.

Results

Clinical complications developed earlier (4.6 vs. 6.2 years) and more frequently (35.4% vs. 12.6%, p < 0.01) in CHD patients. In a multivariate Cox regression, HDV infection was independently associated with the development of end points (p < 0.01; HR: 3.0; 95% CI 1.4–6.4). However, in cirrhotic patients there were no significant differences between HBV and HDV in the development of end points. Besides, CHB patients with cirrhosis developed more frequently HCC (35.5%) than CHD patients with cirrhosis (18.5%).

Conclusion

Our results confirmed that HDV leads to a faster progression to cirrhosis compared to HBV. However, once cirrhosis is present, not HDV but the underlying cirrhosis is the dominate intrinsic risk factor for the development of liver-related end points and for the progression to HCC.
For freedom or income? Depression among independent self-employed individuals and the mediating mechanisms: empirical evidence from China
Authors: Chen Yongjie , Zhang Zixian , Yang Tianyi , Zhao Jinxu , Liu Tianlan , He Li
Published: October 2023

Independent self-employment (ISE) has a crucial impact on new job creation as well as sustainable and inclusive growth. However, the findings on depression status among self-employed individuals are mixed owing to the lack of targeted classifications or the use of different classification criteria. This study investigated the association between depression and ISE, and conducted a categorical comparison of ISE. Using logit models, the study employed data from the 2018 China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) (N = 10,758) to explore differences in depression status between individuals with ISE and those with non-ISE individuals and employees. Further, intellectual and physical ISE were distinguished. This study tested the mediating roles of job freedom and income. ISE individuals were significantly less likely to experience depression than non-ISE individuals and employees. The odds ratio (OR) of ISE with depression was 0.828 times that of non-ISE individuals and employees. The OR of intellectual ISE with depression was 0.717 times that of non-ISE individuals and employees. The regression results of depression in relation to physical ISE were not significant. A mechanism analysis showed that income (rather than work freedom) reduced the risk of depression among intellectually ISE individuals. Significantly different risk levels of depression were found between ISE individuals, and non-ISE individuals and employees in China, particularly between intellectually ISE individuals, and non-ISE individuals and employees. Moreover, the mediating role of income was identified, contradicting prior knowledge that a high degree of work freedom is what leads to high happiness and job satisfaction in self-employment.
Workplace learning, power, and practice: modes of participation for civilian criminal investigators
Authors: Lindberg Ola , Rantatalo Oscar , Haake Ulrika
Published: October 2023

This article aims to contribute to the theorization of power in workplace learning. We examined the ways in which civilian investigators participate in criminal investigation practice, and how these modes related to the social ordering in the police organization. Civilians, mostly women and well educated, are being hired in large numbers to help with the shortage of staff within the Swedish police organization. We analysed 71 interviews with both civilians and police officers, covering views on the nature of investigative work, the introduction of civilians, and their competence. The interviews were analysed in an abductive process using a practice theory outlook on power and participation. The results show four different modes of participation for civilians that have vastly different consequences for their integration into the police. These modes are dependent on how civilian competence is viewed, whether civilians are viewed as different or similar, and whether they are considered competent at investigating crimes. We conclude that the struggle to define competent practice is at the core of understanding the relationship between learning and power.
Marine and Not Terrestrial Resources Support Nearshore Food Webs Across a Gradient of Glacial Watersheds in the Northern Gulf of Alaska
Authors: Schloemer James , Munk Lee Ann , Iken Katrin
Published: October 2023

Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, yet they are at risk in high-latitude regions due to climate-driven effects on the connected terrestrial and marine realms. Northern Hemisphere warming exceeds the global average and accelerates the melting of glaciers. As a result, the magnitude of freshwater discharge into estuaries may increase during the peak in glacial meltwater, ultimately affecting the riverine flux of organic matter (OM) from the land to coastal environments and food webs within. We investigated the extent to which terrestrial OM subsidizes nearshore food webs in northern Gulf of Alaska watersheds and if differences in the relative proportion of terrestrial versus marine OM supporting these food webs are explained by watershed glacial cover and/or by seasonal glacial discharge regimes. A stable isotope mixing model was employed to determine the contribution of marine (phytoplankton, macroalgae) and terrestrial (vascular plant) sources to the diets of grazing/detritivore and filter/suspension-feeding coastal invertebrates at the outflows of watersheds of varying glacial influence and across three distinct discharge periods. Additionally, a distance-based redundancy analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of watershed-characteristic (e.g., slope, vegetation cover) sourcing and transport of terrestrial OM on consumer diets. The diets of both feeding groups were predominantly marine (> 90%) and varied little among estuarine study sites at watersheds of different glacial cover or glacial discharge periods. Our findings suggest that terrestrial OM is not readily used by nearshore food webs in this productive study system, presumably due to the high quantity and quality of available marine OM.