bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combining Flexible and Sustainable Design Principles for Evaluating Designs: Textile Recycling Application
Authors: Teixeira Franca Alves Paulo Henrique , Bahr Gracie , Clarke-Sather Abigail R. , Maurer-Jones Melissa A.
Published: November 2023

As rates of textile manufacturing and disposal escalate, the ramifications to health and the environment through water pollution, microplastic contaminant concentrations, and greenhouse gas emissions increase. Discarding over 15.4 million tons of textiles each year, the U.S. recycles less than 15%, sending the remainder to landfills and incinerators. Textile reuse is not sufficient to de-escalate the situation; recycling is necessary. Most textile recycling technologies from past decades are expensive, create low-quality outputs, or are not industry scalable. For viability, textile recycling system designs must evolve with the rapid pace of a dynamic textile and fashion industry. For any design to be sustainable, it must also be flexible to adapt to technological, user, societal, and environmental condition advances. To this end, flexible and sustainable design principles were compared: overlapping principles were combined and missing principles were added to create 12 overarching principles encompassing design for sustainability and flexibility (DfSFlex). The Fiber Shredder was designed and built with flexibility and sustainability as its goal and evaluated on how well it met DfSFlex principles. An evaluation of the Fiber Shredder’s performance found that increased speed and processing time increase the generation of the desired output—fibers and yarns—manifesting the principles of Design for Separation in design and Facilitate Resource Recovery in processing. The development of this technology, with the application of sustainable and flexible design, fiber-to-fiber recycling using mechanical systems appears promising for maintaining value while repurposing textiles.
Underwater Doppler-bearing maneuvering target motion analysis based on joint estimated adaptive unscented Kalman filter
Authors: Sun Dajun , Zhang Yiao , Teng Tingting , Gao Linsen
Published: November 2023

Noncooperative maneuvering target motion analysis is one of the challenging tasks in the field of underwater target localization and tracking for passive sonar. Underwater noncooperative targets often perform various maneuvers, and the targets are commonly modeled as a combination of constant-velocity models and coordinate-turn models with unknown turning rates. Traditional algorithms for Doppler-bearing target motion analysis are incapable of processing noncooperative maneuvering targets because the algorithms rely on a priori information of the turning rate and the center frequency. To address these shortcomings, this paper proposes the joint estimated adaptive unscented Kalman filter (JE-AUKF) algorithm. The JE-AUKF places the center frequency and turning rate into the state vector and constructs a time-varying state model that self-adapts to a maneuvering target. The JE-AUKF also introduces a time-varying fading factor into the process noise covariance matrix to improve the tracking performance. Simulations and sea trials are conducted to compare the performance of the JE-AUKF with the iterative unscented Kalman filter, the interacting multiple model-unscented Kalman filter, the interacting multiple model-iterative unscented Kalman filter, and the interacting multiple model-joint estimated unscented Kalman filter. The result shows that the JE-AUKF achieves better tracking performance for noncooperative maneuvering targets.
Performance-Determining Variables of a Simulated Sprint Cross-Country Skiing Competition
Authors: Talsnes Rune Kjøsen , Brattebø Jan-Magnus , Berdal Tore , Seeberg Trine , Skovereng Knut , Losnegard Thomas , Kocbach Jan , Sandbakk Øyvind
Published: November 2023

Purpose: To investigate performance-determining variables of an on-snow sprint cross-country skiing competition and the evolvement in their relationship with performance as the competition progresses from the individual time trial (TT) to the final. Methods: Sixteen national-level male junior skiers (mean [SD] age, 18.6 [0.8] y; peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak], 67.6 [5.5] mL·min−1·kg−1) performed a simulated sprint competition (1.3 km) in the skating style, comprising a TT followed by 3 finals (quarterfinals, semifinals, and final) completed by all skiers. In addition, submaximal and incremental roller-ski treadmill tests, on-snow maximal speed tests, and strength/power tests were performed. Results: VO2peak and peak treadmill speed during incremental testing and relative heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, blood lactate concentrations, and gross efficiency during submaximal testing were all significantly correlated with performance in the TT and subsequent finals (mean [range] r values: .67 [.53–.86], all P < .05). Relative VO2peak and submaximal relative heart rate and blood lactate concentration were more strongly correlated with performance in the semifinals and final compared with the TT (r values: .74 [.60–.83] vs 0.55 [.51–.60], all P < .05). Maximal speed in uphill and flat terrain was significantly correlated with performance in the TT and subsequent finals (r values: .63 [.38–.70], all P < .05), while strength/power tests did not correlate significantly with sprint performance. Conclusions: VO2peak and high-speed abilities were the most important determinants of sprint cross-country skiing performance, with an increased importance of VO2peak as the competition format progressed toward the final.
Effect of Yoga or Physical Exercise on Muscle Function in Rural Indian Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Kasture Sonal , Khadilkar Anuradha , Padidela Raja , Gondhalekar Ketan , Patil Radhika , Khadilkar Vaman
Published: November 2023

Background: Synergistic effects of yoga or physical exercise (PE) along with protein supplementation on children’s muscle function in rural India have not been studied. Hence, we aimed to study the effect of yoga and PE along with protein supplementation on muscle function in healthy 6- to 11-year-old rural Indian children post 6 months of intervention. Methods: A randomized controlled trial on 232 children, recruited into 3 groups, each receiving 1 protein-rich ladoo (148 kcal, 7 g protein/40 g ladoo–an Indian sweet snack) daily and performing (1) yoga (n = 78) for 30 minutes 5 times per week, (2) PE (n = 76) for 30 minutes 5 times per week, or (3) control group (n = 78) no additional exercise. Maximum power, maximum voluntary force (Fmax), and grip strength (GS) were measured. Data were analyzed using paired t tests and a 2-way mixed analysis of variance with post hoc Bonferroni adjustment. Results: GS, maximum power, and Fmax within yoga group increased significantly (P < .05) from baseline to endline. GS and Fmax increased significantly within PE group postintervention (P < .001). In controls, GS increased (P < .05) at endline. No significant effect of the intervention was observed on the change in maximum power (P > .05) postintervention. The 2 exercise groups showed significant increase in Fmax compared with the control group (P < .05). Similarly, increase in GS was significantly higher in both the exercise groups compared with the control group (P < .05). No significant difference was observed in change in muscle function between the 2 exercise groups (P > .05). Conclusions: Structured physical activity along with protein supplementation resulted in improved muscle function in children. Yoga and PE showed a comparable impact on muscle force.
Indigenizing Sport Research: Analyzing Protective Factors of Exercising Sovereignty in North America
Authors: Ali-Joseph Alisse , Leonard Kelsey , Welch Natalie
Published: November 2023

Indigenous Peoples have an inherent responsibility and right to “exercising” sovereignty—the practice of sport and physical activity in performance of our cultural, political, and spiritual citizenship. By exercising this inherent right and responsibility, sport has the power for communities to reenvision their futures. Sport and physical activity are highly regarded and practiced in multiple contexts within Indigenous communities. Utilizing Indigenous ways of knowing, practices of resurgence, Indigenous activism, and Indigenous responses to political and cultural injustices, we apply the five protective factors of “exercising” sovereignty, including community, relationality, strength, abundance, and resilience to analyze Indigenous sport research in North America.
RES-Seq—a barcoded library of drug-resistant
Leishmania donovani
allowing rapid assessment of cross-resistance and relative fitness
Authors: Tulloch Lindsay B. , Carvalho Sandra , Lima Marta , Wall Richard J. , Tinti Michele , Pinto Erika G. , MacLean Lorna , Wyllie Susan
Published: November 2023

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease endemic across multiple regions of the world and is fatal if untreated. New therapeutic options with diverse mechanisms of actions (MoAs) are required to consolidate progress toward control of this disease and combat drug resistance. Here, we describe the development of a scalable resistance library screen (RES-Seq) as a tool to facilitate the identification and prioritization of anti-leishmanial compounds acting via novel MoA. We have amassed a large collection of
Leishmania donovani
cell lines resistant to frontline drugs and compounds in the VL pipeline, with resistance-conferring mutations fully characterized. New phenotypic hits screened against this highly curated panel of resistant lines can determine cross-resistance and potentially shared MoA. The ability to efficiently identify compounds acting via previously established MoA is vital to maintain diversity within drug development portfolios. To expedite screening, short identifier DNA barcodes were introduced into resistant clones enabling pooling and simultaneous screening of multiple cell lines. Illumina sequencing of barcodes enables the growth kinetics and relative fitness of multiple cell lines under compound selection to be tracked. Optimal conditions allowing discrimination of resistant and sensitive clones were established (3× and 10× EC
50
for 3 days) and applied to screening of a complex library with VL preclinical and clinical drug candidates. RES-Seq is set to play an important role in ensuring that anti-leishmanial compounds exploiting diverse mechanisms of action are developed, ultimately providing options for future drug combination strategies.

IMPORTANCE

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains the third largest parasitic killer worldwide, responsible for 20,000–30,000 deaths each year. Control and ultimate elimination of VL will require a range of therapeutic options with diverse mechanisms of action to combat drug resistance. One approach to ensure that compounds in development exploit diverse mechanisms of action is to screen them against highly curated cell lines resistant to drugs already in the VL pipeline. The identification of cross-resistant cell lines indicates that test compounds are likely acting via previously established mechanisms. Current cross-resistance screens are limited by the requirement to profile individual resistant cell lines one at a time. Here, we introduce unique DNA barcodes into multiple resistant cell lines to facilitate parallel profiling. Utilizing the power of Illumina sequencing, growth kinetics and relative fitness under compound selection can be monitored revolutionizing our ability to identify and prioritize compounds acting via novel mechanisms.
Endovascular treatment of chronic mesenteric ischaemia secondary to a superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm: a modified neurointerventional technique
Authors: Buchholz Joseph , Goins Stacy , Martin Jonathan
Published: November 2023

A man in his late 60s presented with intermittent abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and approximately 40 pounds of weight loss over the course of a year, most concerning for chronic mesenteric ischaemia. Given a prior negative workup, a CT angiogram was performed and revealed a wide neck mid-superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm (PSA). As PSAs are susceptible to thrombus formation and distal emboli, this incidental finding was considered a possible explanation for his intermittent symptoms and thus required treatment. Anatomical constraints precluded traditional coiling or covered stent placement, so the interventional radiology team used a neurointerventional technique and performed a successful balloon-assisted coil embolisation of the PSA with subsequent resolution of the patient’s symptoms. More than 3 years postprocedure, the patient remains asymptomatic with no complications.
How prevalent is COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in low-income and middle-income countries and what are the key drivers of hesitancy? Results from 53 countries
Authors: Dayton Eberwein Julia , Edochie Ifeanyi Nzegwu , Newhouse David , Cojocaru Alexandru , Bopahbe Gildas Deudibe , Kakietek Jakub Jan , Kim Yeon Soo , Montes Jose
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study aims to estimate the levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in 53 low-income and middle-income countries, differences across population groups in hesitancy, and self-reported reasons for being hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods

This paper presents new evidence on levels and trends of vaccine hesitancy in low-income and middle-income countries based on harmonised high-frequency phone surveys from more than 120 000 respondents in 53 low-income and middle-income countries collected between October 2020 and August 2021. These countries represent a combined 53% of the population of low-income and middle-income countries excluding India and China.

Results

On average across countries, one in five adults reported being hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine, with the most cited reasons for hesitancy being concerns about the safety of the vaccine, followed by concerns about its efficacy. Between late 2020 and the first half of 2021, there tended to be little change in hesitancy rates in 11 of the 14 countries with available data, while hesitancy increased in Iraq, Malawi and Uzbekistan. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was higher among female, younger adults and less educated respondents, after controlling for selected observable characteristics.

Conclusions

Country estimates of vaccine hesitancy from the high-frequency phone surveys are correlated with but lower than those from earlier studies, which often relied on less representative survey samples. The results suggest that vaccine hesitancy in low-income and middle-income countries, while less prevalent than previously thought, will be an important and enduring obstacle to recovery from the pandemic.
Efficacy of different respiratory supports to prevent hypoxia during flexible bronchoscopy in patients of COPD: a triple-arm, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Sharma Vinod Kumar , Singh Pawan Kumar , Govindagoudar Manjunath B , Thulasi Athul , Chaudhry Dhruva , Shriram Chaudhari Pramod , Lalwani Lokesh Kumar , Ahuja Aman
Published: November 2023

Background

Patients with chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease (COPD) undergo bronchoscopy for various reasons, and are at relatively higher risk of complications. This study evaluated the efficacy of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and high-flow-oxygen-therapy (HFOT) compared with conventional-oxygen-therapy (COT) in patients with COPD undergoing bronchoscopy, to prevent hypoxia.

Methods

It was a triple-arm, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Ninety patients with COPD were randomly assigned into three intervention arms in 1:1:1 ratio. The incidence of hypoxia, lowest recorded oxygen saturation measured by plethysmography (SpO2), ECG, patient vitals and comfort levels were assessed.

Results

Mean age of the study population was 61.71±7.5 years. Out of 90 cases enrolled, 51, 34 and 5 were moderate, severe and very-severe COPD, respectively, as per GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) classification. Rest of the baseline characteristics were similar. SpO2during flexible bronchoscopy (FB) was lowest in COT group (COT: 87.03±5.7% vs HFOT: 95.57±5.0% vs NIV: 97.40±1.6%, p<0.001). Secondary objectives were similar except respiratory-rate (breaths-per-minute) which was highest in COT group (COT: 20.23±3.1 vs HFOT: 18.57±4.1 vs NIV: 16.80±1.9, p<0.001). Whereas post FB partial of oxygen in arterial blood was highest in NIV group (NIV: 84.27±21.6 mm Hg vs HFOT: 69.03±13.6 mm Hg vs COT: 69.30±11.9 mm Hg, p<0.001). Post FB partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood was similar in the three arms. Operator’s ease-of-performing-procedure was least in the NIV group as assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (p<0.01). A higher number of NIV group participants reported nasal pain as compared with the other two arms (p<0.01).

Conclusion

NIV and HFOT are superior to COT in preventing hypoxia during bronchoscopy, but NIV is associated with poor patient-tolerance and inferior operator’s ease of doing procedure.

Trial registration number

CTRI/2021/03/032190.
Novel, nurse-led early postdischarge clinic is associated with fewer readmissions and lower mortality following hospitalisation with decompensated cirrhosis
Authors: Giles Benjamin , Fancey Kirsty , Gamble Karen , Riaz Zeshan , Dowman Joanna K , Fowell Andrew J , Aspinall Richard J
Published: November 2023

Objective

Patients hospitalised with decompensated cirrhosis have high rates of early unplanned readmission. Many readmissions are avoidable with secondary preventative strategies, but patients are often readmitted prior to outpatient review. To address this, we established a novel, nurse-led early postdischarge (EPD) clinic delivering goal-directed care for cirrhosis complications and evaluated the impact.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study comparing outcomes in 78 patients seen in the EPD clinic with 91 phenotypically matched controls receiving standard, consultant hepatologist care. Follow-up for 12 months from index admission with endpoints including survival, time to readmission, number of readmissions and healthcare burden.

Results

Median time to readmission was 51 days in controls and 98 days in the intervention group (p<0.01). The intervention cohort had significantly fewer readmissions at 30 days (12% vs 30%, p<0.01) and 90 days (27% vs 49%, p<0.01) but not significantly at 12 months (58% vs 68%, p=0.16) with an overall reduction in bed day usage of 29%. Mortality for the control group was 4% at 30 days with no deaths in the intervention group. There were significantly fewer deaths in the intervention group at 90 days (5% vs 15%, p<0.05) and 12 months (22% vs 41%, p<0.01).

Conclusions

Following an index hospitalisation with decompensated cirrhosis, goal-directed postdischarge care can be effectively delivered by specialist nurses, prior to outpatient review by hepatologists. This model was associated with significantly fewer readmissions, lower bed day usage and a reduced mortality. Our data suggest such models of care deserve wider implementation and further evaluation.
Evaluating the impact on physical inactivity of Together an Active Future, a partnership approach to physical activity promotion. A difference-in-differences study
Authors: Owen Gwilym , Fahy Katie , Barr Benjamin
Published: November 2023

Background

Low physical activity is one of the leading causes of ill health in the UK and an important determinant of health inequalities. Little is known about the effectiveness of community-wide interventions to increase physical activity and whether effects differ by demographic groups, including area deprivation and ethnicity.

Setting

6 relatively disadvantaged local authority areas in Lancashire, UK, between 2016 and 2021.

Methods

We conducted a doubly robust difference-in-differences study using a large nationally representative repeated cross-sectional survey to investigate the impact of Together an Active Future (TAAF), an intervention aiming to reduce physical inactivity through a programme of creative engagement, partnership building, training and communication. The primary outcome was physical inactivity (the percentage of the population engaging in less than 30 min physical activity of at least moderate intensity per week).

Results

While inactivity increased during the pandemic, it increased to a lesser extent in the intervention population. TAAF was associated with 2.63 percentage point lower level of physical inactivity (95% CI 0.80 to 4.45) in the intervention group relative to the control group. Subgroup analysis found no evidence of differences in effect between groups defined by deprivation, ethnicity, disability, gender or age.

Conclusions

The study suggests that a programme of creative engagement, partnership building, training and communication can help reduce physical inactivity, potentially mitigating some of the effect of pandemic restrictions. Further monitoring is required to understand the impact of this intervention outside of the pandemic context.
Standalone middle meningeal artery embolization versus middle meningeal artery embolization with concurrent surgical evacuation for chronic subdural hematomas: a multicenter propensity score matched analysis of clinical and radiographic outcomes
Authors: Chen Huanwen , Salem Mohamed M , Colasurdo Marco , Sioutas Georgios S , Khalife Jane , Kuybu Okkes , Carroll Kate T , Hoang Alex Nguyen , Baig Ammad A , Salih Mira , Khorasanizadeh Mirhojjat , Baker Cordell , Mendez Ruiz Aldo , Cortez Gustavo M , Abecassis Zack , Ruiz Rodríguez Juan Francisco , Davies Jason M , Narayanan Sandra , Cawley C Michael , Riina Howard , Moore Justin , Spiotta Alejandro M , Khalessi Alexander , Howard Brian M , Hanel Ricardo A , Tanweer Omar , Tonetti Daniel , Siddiqui Adnan H , Lang Michael , Levy Elad I , Jovin Tudor G , Grandhi Ramesh , Srinivasan Visish M , Levitt Michael R , Ogilvy Christopher S , Jankowitz Brian , Thomas Ajith J , Gross Bradley A , Burkhardt Jan Karl , Kan Peter
Published: November 2023

Background

Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) has emerged as a promising therapy for chronic subdural hematomas (cSDHs). The efficacy of standalone MMAE compared with MMAE with concurrent surgery is largely unknown.

Methods

cSDH patients who underwent successful MMAE from 14 high volume centers with at least 30 days of follow-up were included. Clinical and radiographic variables were recorded and used to perform propensity score matching (PSM) of patients treated with standalone MMAE or MMAE with concurrent surgery. Multivariable logistic regression models were used for additional covariate adjustments. The primary outcome was recurrence requiring surgical rescue, and the secondary outcome was radiographic failure defined as <50% reduction of cSDH thickness.

Results

722 MMAE procedures in 588 cSDH patients were identified. After PSM, 230 MMAE procedures remained (115 in each group). Median age was 73 years, 22.6% of patients were receiving anticoagulation medication, and 47.9% had no preoperative functional disability. Median midline shift was 4 mm and cSDH thickness was 16 mm, representing modestly sized cSDHs. Standalone MMAE and MMAE with surgery resulted in similar rates of surgical rescue (7.8% vs 13.0%, respectively, P=0.28; adjusted OR (aOR 0.73 (95% CI 0.20 to 2.40), P=0.60) and radiographic failure (15.5% vs 13.7%, respectively, P=0.84; aOR 1.08 (95% CI 0.37 to 2.19), P=0.88) with a median follow-up duration of 105 days. These results were similar across subgroup analyses and follow-up durations.

Conclusions

Standalone MMAE led to similar and durable clinical and radiographic outcomes as MMAE combined with surgery in select patients with moderately sized cSDHs and mild clinical disease.
Too good for this world: moral bioenhancement and the ethics of making moral misfits
Authors: Ward Katherine
Published: November 2023

Persson and Savulescu argue that moral bioenhancement is not only morally permissible; in some cases, it is morally obligatory. In this article, I introduce a new reason to worry about moral enhancement. I adapt the disability concept ofmisfitto show how moral enhancement could cause extrememoral disempowermentto those enhanced, which would result in moral injury. I argue that any safety framework that guides the development of moral bioenhancement must be sensitive to the problem of moral misfitting. I present the best case for moral bioenhancement before turning to my own worry concerning the development of moral bioenhancement and its practical implications. Finally, I consider a series of objections and responses.
Combining two user-friendly machine learning tools increases species detection from acoustic recordings
Authors: Pérez-Granados Cristian , Feldman Mariano J. , Mazerolle Marc J.
Published: November 2023

Passive acoustic monitoring usually generates large datasets that require machine learning algorithms to scan sound files, although the complexity of developing machine learning algorithms can be a barrier. We assessed the ability and speed of two user-friendly machine learning tools, Kaleidoscope Pro and BirdNET, for detecting the American toad ( Anaxyrus americanus (Holbrook, 1836)) in sound recordings. We developed a two-step approach, combining both tools to maximize species detection while minimizing the time needed for output verification. When considered separately, Kaleidoscope Pro successfully detected the American toad in 85.9% of recordings in the validation dataset, while BirdNET detected the species in 58.4% of recordings. Combining the two tools in the two-step approach increased the detection rate to 93.3%. We applied the two-step approach to a large acoustic dataset ( n = 6194 recordings). We started by scanning the dataset using Kaleidoscope Pro (species detected in 417 recordings), then we used BirdNET on the remaining recordings without confirmed presence. The two-step approach reduced the scanning time, the time needed for output verification, and added 37 additional species detections in 45 min. Our findings highlight that combining machine learning tools can improve species detectability while minimizing time and effort.
Relativistic model of anisotropic star with Bose–Einstein density depiction
Authors: Sarkar Susmita , Sarkar Nayan , Rudra Prabir , Rahaman Farook , Ghorui Tuhina
Published: November 2023

In this article, we present a new model for anisotropic compact stars confined to physical dark matter (DM) based on the Bose–Einstein DM density profile and a bag model type equation of state (EoS). The obtained solutions are physically well-behaved and represent the physical and stable matter configuration by satisfying the energy conditions, causality conditions, and essential conditions on the stability factor and adiabatic index. The solutions supporting the matter sphere are in an equilibrium state by satisfying the generalized TOV equation. We also find the surface redshift, compactness parameter at the surface, maximum mass, and interestingly, all these values are under the desired range that makes our solution more physically viable. Here, the radially symmetric profiles of energy density, radial and transverse pressures are demonstrated.
Von Neumann algebra description of inflationary cosmology
Authors: Seo Min-Seok
Published: November 2023

We study the von Neumann algebra description of the inflationary quasi-de Sitter (dS) space. Unlike perfect dS space, quasi-dS space allows the nonzero energy flux across the horizon, which can be identified with the expectation value of the static time translation generator. Moreover, as a dS isometry associated with the static time translation is spontaneously broken, the fluctuation in time is accumulated, which induces the fluctuation in the energy flux. When the inflationary period is given by $$(\epsilon _H H)^{-1}$$

(

ϵ
H

H
)

-
1

where $$\epsilon _H$$

ϵ
H

is the slow-roll parameter measuring the increasing rate of the Hubble radius, both the energy flux and its fluctuation diverge in the $$G \rightarrow 0$$

G
→
0

limit. Taking the fluctuation in the energy flux and that in the observer’s energy into account, we argue that the inflationary quasi-dS space is described by Type II$$_\infty $$

∞

algebra. As the entropy is not bounded from above, this is different from Type II$$_1$$

1

description of perfect dS space in which the entropy is maximized by the maximal entanglement. We also show that our result is consistent with the observation that the von Neumann entropy for the density matrix reflecting the fluctuations above is interpreted as the generalized entropy.
Arthropleura
trackway (
Diplichnites cuithensis
) from the Carboniferous, Serpukhovian, Limestone Coal Formation, Clackmannan Group, Linn Park, Glasgow
Authors: Buckman James O. , Cuthbert Simon J. , Polson Paul G.
Published: November 2023

The arthropleurid trackway
Diplichnites cuithensis
has previously been described from Scotland from the Upper Carboniferous Serpukhovian Limestone Coal Formation on the Isle of Arran and the Lower Carboniferous Visean Pittenweem and Anstruther Formations on the East Fife coast. Here we describe a new west coast single trackway from the Serpukhovian Limestone Coal Formation of Glasgow's Linn Park. The trackway occurs associated with simple horizontal burrows assignable to
Planolites?
, vertical openings of
Arenicolites
, examples of
Taenidium barretti
(formerly
Beaconites barretti
), and irregular large-scale bioturbation or possibly rootlet casts. The trace fossils and sedimentary structures (including trough cross-bedding and flaser bedding) indicate a fluvial sandbar or plain environment, possibly of estuarine origin, locally colonized by plants.
Diplichnites cuithensis
(and other
Diplichnites
species) commonly occur associated with the burrow
Taenidium barretti
. The latter is known to have been widespread globally throughout the Carboniferous, and is a common component of fluviatile sequences within the Lower Carboniferous succession of NW Ireland. This suggests that previously undocumented older Scottish Carboniferous examples of both
Diplichnites
ichnospecies and
Taenidium barretti
may also be present, assuming that suitable environments persisted and are currently adequately exposed.
Rise and demise of the Urgonian platform in Switzerland
Authors: Godet Alexis , Adatte Thierry , Arnaud-Vanneau Annie , Bonvallet Lucie , De Kaenel Eric , Mojon Pierre-Olivier
Published: November 2023

Defined in the Provence region of France, the rudist-bearing Urgonian Limestone is typical of northern Tethyan shallow-marine carbonate series, and is dated based on benthic fauna and flora, calcareous nannofossils and ammonites. This contribution reports on recent findings that refine the stratigraphy of the Urgonian Limestone in the western Swiss Jura and the Helvetic Alps of Switzerland. In the former location, the high-resolution facies and isotope analysis of samples permits the identification of major periods of subaerial exposure, while a diverse assemblage of calcareous nannofossils indicates a Barremian age for the Urgonian deposits. In the latter location, biostratigraphical data indicate a Late Barremian–Early Aptian age for Urgonian deposits, while the repartition of facies along a proximal-to-distal transect highlights the Late Barremian progradation of the platform. The detailed understanding of the stratigraphy of Urgonian deposits in these regions inscribes them into a broader context that acknowledges palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions. A warmer and more humid climate prone to continental weathering and transport of nutrients to an epicontinental sea characterized the Early Barremian; this was detrimental to the health of carbonate-producing benthic ecosystems. In the Late Barremian, a reduced nutrient supply allowed Urgonian communities to thrive.
How Are Multilingual Systems Constructed: Characterizing Language Use and Selection in Open-Source Multilingual Software
Authors: Li Wen , Marino Austin , Yang Haoran , Meng Na , Li Li , Cai Haipeng
Published: November 2023

For many years now, modern software is known to be developed in multiple languages (hence termed as
multilingual
or
multi-language
software). Yet, to date, we still only have very limited knowledge about how multilingual software systems are constructed. For instance, it is not yet really clear how different languages are used, selected together, and why they have been so in multilingual software development. Given the fact that using multiple languages in a single software project has become a norm, understanding language use and selection (i.e.,
language profile
) as a basic element of the
multilingual construction
in contemporary software engineering is an essential first step.

In this article, we set out to fill this gap with a large-scale characterization study on language use and selection in open-source multilingual software. We start with presenting
an updated overview
of language use in 7,113 GitHub projects spanning the 5 past years by characterizing overall statistics of language profiles, followed by
a deeper look
into the functionality relevance/justification of language selection in these projects through association rule mining. We proceed with an evolutionary characterization of 1,000 GitHub projects for each of the 10 past years to provide
a longitudinal view
of how language use and selection have changed over the years, as well as how the association between functionality and language selection has been evolving.

Among many other findings, our study revealed a growing trend of using three to five languages in one multilingual software project and the noticeable stableness of top language selections. We found a non-trivial association between language selection and certain functionality domains, which was less stable than that with individual languages over time. In a historical context, we also have observed major shifts in these characteristics of multilingual systems both in contrast to earlier peer studies and along the evolutionary timeline. Our findings offer essential knowledge on the multilingual construction in modern software development. Based on our results, we also provide insights and actionable suggestions for both researchers and developers of multilingual systems.
A Survey of Learning-based Automated Program Repair
Authors: Zhang Quanjun , Fang Chunrong , Ma Yuxiang , Sun Weisong , Chen Zhenyu
Published: November 2023

Automated program repair (APR) aims to fix software bugs automatically and plays a crucial role in software development and maintenance. With the recent advances in deep learning (DL), an increasing number of APR techniques have been proposed to leverage neural networks to learn bug-fixing patterns from massive open-source code repositories. Such learning-based techniques usually treat APR as a neural machine translation (NMT) task, where buggy code snippets (i.e., source language) are translated into fixed code snippets (i.e., target language) automatically. Benefiting from the powerful capability of DL to learn hidden relationships from previous bug-fixing datasets, learning-based APR techniques have achieved remarkable performance.

In this article, we provide a systematic survey to summarize the current state-of-the-art research in the learning-based APR community. We illustrate the general workflow of learning-based APR techniques and detail the crucial components, including fault localization, patch generation, patch ranking, patch validation, and patch correctness phases. We then discuss the widely adopted datasets and evaluation metrics and outline existing empirical studies. We discuss several critical aspects of learning-based APR techniques, such as repair domains, industrial deployment, and the open science issue. We highlight several practical guidelines on applying DL techniques for future APR studies, such as exploring explainable patch generation and utilizing code features. Overall, our article can help researchers gain a comprehensive understanding about the achievements of the existing learning-based APR techniques and promote the practical application of these techniques. Our artifacts are publicly available at the repository:
https://github.com/iSEngLab/AwesomeLearningAPR
.
Unleashing the Potential of Digitalization in the Agri-Food Chain for Integrated Food Systems
Authors: Krupitzer Christian , Stein Anthony
Published: November 2023

Digitalization transforms many industries, especially manufacturing, with new concepts such as Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things. However, information technology also has the potential to integrate and connect the various steps in the supply chain. For the food industry, the situation is ambivalent: It has a high level of automatization, but the potential of digitalization is so far not used today. In this review, we discuss current trends in information technology that have the potential to transform the food industry into an integrated food system. We show how this digital transformation can integrate various activities within the agri-food chain and support the idea of integrated food systems. Based on a future-use case, we derive the potential of digitalization to tackle future challenges in the food industry and present a research agenda.
The Effects of Psychedelics on Neuronal Physiology
Authors: Hatzipantelis Cassandra J. , Olson David E.
Published: November 2023

Psychedelics are quite unique among drugs that impact the central nervous system, as a single administration of a psychedelic can both rapidly alter subjective experience in profound ways and produce sustained effects on circuits relevant to mood, fear, reward, and cognitive flexibility. These remarkable properties are a direct result of psychedelics interacting with several key neuroreceptors distributed across the brain. Stimulation of these receptors activates a variety of signaling cascades that ultimately culminate in changes in neuronal structure and function. Here, we describe the effects of psychedelics on neuronal physiology, highlighting their acute effects on serotonergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission as well as their long-lasting effects on structural and functional neuroplasticity in the cortex. We propose that the neurobiological changes leading to the acute and sustained effects of psychedelics might be distinct, which could provide opportunities for engineering compounds with optimized safety and efficacy profiles.
Geometric Methods for Cosmological Data on the Sphere
Authors: Carrón Duque Javier , Marinucci Domenico
Published: November 2023

This review is devoted to recent developments in the statistical analysis of spherical data, strongly motivated by applications in cosmology. We start from a brief discussion of cosmological questions and motivations, arguing that most cosmological observables are spherical random fields. Then, we introduce some mathematical background on spherical random fields, including spectral representations and the construction of needlet and wavelet frames. We then focus on some specific issues, including tools and algorithms for map reconstruction (i.e., separating the different physical components that contribute to the observed field), geometric tools for testing the assumptions of Gaussianity and isotropy, and multiple testing methods to detect contamination in the field due to point sources. Although these tools are introduced in the cosmological context, they can be applied to other situations dealing with spherical data. Finally, we discuss more recent and challenging issues, such as the analysis of polarization data, which can be viewed as realizations of random fields taking values in spin fiber bundles.
Itga8-Cre-mediated deletion of YAP and TAZ impairs bladder contractility with minimal inflammation and chondrogenic differentiation
Authors: Liu Li , Arévalo-Martínez Marycarmen , Rippe Catarina , Johansson Martin E. , Holmberg Johan , Albinsson Sebastian , Swärd Karl
Published: November 2023

This study addresses the hypothesis that YAP and TAZ have an overarching role in the transcriptional hierarchy in the smooth muscle of the urinary bladder by controlling myocardin expression. Using smooth muscle-specific and inducible deletion of YAP and TAZ in adult mice, we find that YAP and TAZ control myocardin expression, contractile differentiation, smooth muscle-specific splicing, and bladder contractility. These effects are largely independent of inflammation and chondrogenic differentiation.
A New Multinetwork Mean Distillation Loss Function for Open‐World Domain Incremental Object Detection
Authors: Yang Jing , Yuan Kun , Chen Suhao , Li Qinglang , Li Shaobo , Zhang Xiuhua , Li Bin
Published: November 2023

The development of object detection networks has reached a high point, and there have been significant improvements in accuracy and detection speed. Object detection is widely used in intelligent robots, self‐driving cars, and other edge‐intelligent terminals. Unfortunately, when a detector is allowed to learn new objects in an unfamiliar environment, it can catastrophically forget the objects it has already learned. In particular, reliable and stable knowledge cannot be extracted from old models. Based on this, a new multinetwork mean distillation loss function for open‐world domain incremental object detection is presented. To better extract reliable and stable knowledge from old models, we enhanced the distillation output of the detector with a ResNet50 backbone and an output RoI head. The distillation output of the intermediate RPN is softened by adaptive distillation. To obtain more stable results, the ResNet50 backbone and RPN on the channel are zero‐averaged. Various incremental steps and stability experiments are performed on two benchmark datasets, PASCAL VOC and MS COCO. The experimental results show the excellent performance of our method in different experimental scenarios, and it is superior to the most advanced methods. For example, in the setting of the batch task, incremental object detection on the PASCAL VOC and MS COCO datasets is improved by 3.4% and 2.1%, respectively.
Credit-Risk Prediction Model Using Hybrid Deep—Machine-Learning Based Algorithms
Authors: Melese Tamiru , Berhane Tesfahun , Mohammed Abdu , Walelgn Assaye
Published: November 2023

Credit-risk prediction is one of the challenging tasks in the banking industry. In this study, a hybrid convolutional neural network—support vector machine/random forest/decision tree (CNN—SVM/RF/DT) model has been proposed for efficient credit-risk prediction. We proposed four classifiers to develop the model. A fully connected layer with soft-max trained using an end-to-end process makes up the first classifier and by deleting the final fully connected with soft-max layer, the other three classifiers—a SVM, RF, and DT classifier stacked after the flattening layer. Different parameter values were considered and fine-tuned throughout testing to select appropriate parameters. In accordance with the experimental findings, a fully connected CNN and a hybrid CNN with SVM, DT, and RF, respectively, achieved a prediction performance of 86.70%, 98.60%, 96.90%, and 95.50%. According to the results, our suggested hybrid method exceeds the fully connected CNN in its ability to predict credit risk.
Artificial Intelligence in the Military: An Overview of the Capabilities, Applications, and Challenges
Authors: Rashid Adib Bin , Kausik Ashfakul Karim , Al Hassan Sunny Ahamed , Bappy Mehedy Hassan
Published: November 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a reality in today’s world with the rise of the 4th industrial revolution, especially in the armed forces. Military AI systems can process more data more effectively than traditional systems. Due to its intrinsic computing and decision‐making capabilities, AI also increases combat systems’ self‐control, self‐regulation, and self‐actuation. Artificial intelligence is used in almost every military application, and increased research and development support from military research agencies to develop new and advanced AI technologies is expected to drive the widespread demand for AI‐driven systems in the military. This essay will discuss several AI applications in the military, as well as their capabilities, opportunities, and potential harm and devastation when there is instability. The article looks at current and future potential for developing artificial intelligence algorithms, particularly in military applications. Most of the discussion focused on the seven patterns of AI, the usage and implementation of AI algorithms in the military, object detection, military logistics, and robots, the global instability induced by AI use, and nuclear risk. The article also looks at the current and future potential for developing artificial intelligence algorithms, particularly in military applications.
Relationship among Dietary Intake of Vitamin E, Lipid Peroxidation Markers, and C-Reactive Protein in Flu-Like Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19
Authors: Primo Maísa Guimarães Silva , Silva Liriane Andressa Alves da , Carvalho Vanessa Brito Lira de , Azevedo Margarete Almeida Freitas de , Monteiro Nayara Vieira do Nascimento , Mendes Vitória Ribeiro , Silva Jaynara Keylla Moreira da , Oliveira Amanda Suellenn da Silva Santos , Brito Ana Karolinne da Silva , Sales Ana Lina de Carvalho Cunha , Mallet Jacenir Reis dos Santos , Parente José Miguel Luz , Matos Neto Emídio Marques de , Ferreira Paulo Michel Pinheiro , Arcanjo Daniel Dias Rufino , Martins Maria do Carmo de Carvalho e
Published: November 2023

Objective. This research aimed to assess the intake of vitamin E and its relationship with lipid peroxidation markers and C-reactive protein levels in patients with flu symptoms and COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods. A cross-sectional study with 121 patients of both sexes assisted at two basic health units in the city of Teresina, Piauí, with COVID-19 diagnosis confirmed through real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, was performed between the 3rd and 7th days of flu symptoms. The global nutritional status and the measurement of waist circumference were assessed according to the World Health Organization recommendations. The dietary energy intake, macronutrients, and vitamin E consumption were assessed through the 24 hr food recall method. The malondialdehyde plasmatic concentration (MDA) was measured through the method of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) was assessed through the oxidation speed of the o-dianisidine substrate in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured by a high-sensitivity immunoturbidimetry method. Results. The most common symptoms reported by the participants were sore throat, fever, and cough. Regarding the global nutritional status evaluation, the majority of the sample had overweight. The dietary intake of vitamin E was 100% inadequate and presented a mild correlation (r = 0.197) with MDA, a redox status marker. No correlation was observed among MPO, CRP, and the dietary intake of vitamin E. Conclusion. The dietary intake of vitamin E was related to MDA as the marker of redox status.