bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collective exploitation of large prey by group foraging shapes aggregation and fitness of cnidarian polyps
Authors: Gregorin Chiara , Fernández Tomás Vega , Spano Daniela , Gridelli Stefano , Domenichelli Federico , Furfaro Giulia , Musco Luigi , Puce Stefania
Published: September 2024

Group living is widespread and beneficial to metazoans. It improves protection and survival opportunities, reinforcing interspecific competitiveness. Benthic cnidarians often colonize large surfaces. Evidence of collective capture and exploitation of large prey by small, clumped polyps suggests that aggregation is functional to access food resources hardly achievable by isolated individuals. In turn, the chance to catch large prey may represents a driver of aggregation in polyps, whether beneficial to their fitness. Here, the effects of group foraging on aggregation, asexual reproduction, and growth rates of Aurelia coerulea von Lendenfeld 1884 polyps were experimentally tested by providing them with either small or large prey, or a mix of both to simulate the co-occurrence of preys at sea. As expected, some polyps were not able to reach the large prey. Hence, the population was a posteriori divided into group-foragers and solitary-feeders. In general, the large prey diet resulted in higher population fitness and when simultaneously supplied with the small prey represented an energetic booster resulting beneficial for all group-members. The decrease of interindividual distances was reported among group-foragers, that converged towards each other. Cnidarians are basal in metazoan evolution, and the comprehension of their collective foraging behavior, as well as the processes leading to the selective feature driving them to forage in group or not, may be essential to better understand the evolution and spread of social foraging in animals. Moreover, the access to large prey by sessile polyps of Aurelia coerulea could be pivotal in determining the increase in abundance of adult bloom-forming medusae.
Postoperative Outcomes of Fontan Operation in a Multicenter Italian Study. How Far Have We Gone? Early Outcomes After Fontan Operation
Authors: Cao Irene , Bergonzoni Emma , Vedovelli Luca , Guerra Giulia , Galletti Lorenzo , Butera Gianfranco , Trezzi Matteo , Panebianco Mario , Gargiulo Gaetano D. , Angeli Emanuela , Careddu Lucio , Zanoni Rossana , Pace Napoleone Carlo , De Orsola Luca , Guariento Alvise , Scattolin Fabio , Giamberti Alessandro , Lo Rito Mauro , Marianeschi Stefano M. , Agati Salvatore , Bellanti Ermanno , Vairo Ugo , Meliota Giovanni , Scalzo Gabriele , Scrascia Giuseppe , Nuri Halkawt , Michielon Guido , Biffanti Roberta , Gozzi Anna , Di Salvo Giovanni , Vida Vladimiro L. , Padalino Massimo A.
Published: September 2024

Despite the clinical results of the Fontan operation have certainly improved, it still presents with an inherent surgical risk of death and early morbidities. This is a retrospective clinical study of children undergoing Fontan operation in 9 congenital cardiac centers in Italy between 1990 and 2023. Clinical and surgical data were collected via a dedicated RedCap database. Primary outcome was cohort’s mortality, also considering different decades, while secondary outcomes were postoperative complications and reintervention. In the last 3 decades, there were 897 patients undergoing Fontan operation, M/F 512/384, median age: 4.5 years (IQR 3.3–6.4), median weight 16 kg (IQR 14–22). A first palliation was deemed necessary in 710 patients (80%), and most patients underwent a staged Fontan (93%); an extracardiac conduit was used in 790 patients (88%). Postoperative complications (mild to severe) occurred in 410 patients (46%), and early reinterventions were required in 66 patients (7.5%). Overall operative mortality was 1.7% (15 patients). Age at Fontan greater than 4 years was associated with an early need for transcatheter reintervention (adj p value = 0.037) and a higher incidence of postoperative complications (adj p value = 0.017). The Fontan operation has seen significant improvements in immediate outcomes, notably a remarkable reduction in overall mortality to just 1.35% in the last decade. While minor complications have remained steady, there has been a substantial decrease in major early complications, deaths, and the need for reinterventions. Notably, patients aged over 4 years seem to face a higher risk of postoperative morbidity, underscoring the critical role of age in preoperative assessment and management strategies for Fontan patients.
The legacy of a surgeon - in memoriam Dr. İsmail Demir
Authors: Demir Ihsan Ekin , Demir Elke , Erkan Mert , Ceyhan Güralp O. , Friess Helmut
Published: September 2024

In this perspective article, we highlighted some special aspects of being a surgeon that are typically not taught in medical training. Departing from a real and personal story, the present manuscript is intended to communicate how surgery imbues us doctors with an unparalleled degree of satisfaction, gratification, meaning and fulfilment, like no other field of medicine.
Goodness-of-fit testing in bivariate count time series based on a bivariate dispersion index
Authors: Wang Huiqiao , Weiß Christian H. , Zhang Mingming
Published: September 2024

A common choice for the marginal distribution of a bivariate count time series is the bivariate Poisson distribution. In practice, however, when the count data exhibit zero inflation, overdispersion or non-stationarity features, such that a marginal bivariate Poisson distribution is not suitable. To test the discrepancy between the actual count data and the bivariate Poisson distribution, we propose a new goodness-of-fit test based on a bivariate dispersion index. The asymptotic distribution of the test statistic under the null hypothesis of a first-order bivariate integer-valued autoregressive model with marginal bivariate Poisson distribution is derived, and the finite-sample performance of the goodness-of-fit test is analyzed by simulations. A real-data example illustrate the application and usefulness of the test in practice.
A model template for reachability-based containment checking of imprecise observations in timed automata
Authors: Lehmann Sascha , Schupp Sibylle
Published: September 2024

Verifying safety requirements by model checking becomes increasingly important for safety-critical applications. For the validity of such proof in practice, the model needs to capture the actual behavior of the real system, which could be tested by containment checks of real observation traces. Basic equivalence checks, however, are not applicable if the system is only partially or imprecisely observable, if the model abstracts from explicit states with symbolic semantics, or if the checks are not expressible in the logics supported by a model checker. In this article, we solve the problem of observation containment checking in timed automata via reachability checking on tester systems. We introduce the logic SRL (sequence reachability logic) to express observations as sequences of delayed reachability properties. Through SBLL (introduced by Aceto et al.) as intermediate logic, we synthesize a set of matcher model templates for partial and imprecise observations and further extend these templates for the case of limited state accessibility in a model. For the obtained matching traces, we define the back-transformation into the original model domain and formally prove the correctness of the transformation. We implemented the observation matching approach, and apply it to a set of 7 demo and 3 case study models with different levels of observability. The results show that all positive and negative observations are correctly classified, and that the most advanced matcher model instance still offers average run times between 0.1 and 1 s in all but 3 scenarios.
Assessment of health literacy in healthcare workers: a multicentric cross-sectional study
Authors: Colaprico Corrado , Manai Maria Vittoria , Monaci Alessandro , Vezza Francesca , Carluccio Giovanna , Chiappetta Marta , La Torre Giuseppe
Published: September 2024

Aim

Health literacy (HL) includes the cognitive and social skills that determine the motivation and ability of individuals to access, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. All healthcare workers (HCW) need to be involved in this process, and to be able to take part in it effectively, they have to possess solid skills. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge concerning HCW employed in some teaching hospitals in Rome.

Subject and methods

HCW were invited to voluntarily answer the questions, delivered by the researcher or administered through a Google form, of the HLS-EU Q16 questionnaire, validated and translated into Italian: the first part collected demographic information and the second part related to the state of knowledge about HL.

Results

All professional categories considered show HL defined as “problematic.” In addition, paradoxically, the level of HL increases with increasing age (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03–1.18) but decreases with increasing seniority (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.84–0.95).

Conclusion

There is a need to improve the knowledge of health professionals with regard to health literacy through training activities and educational initiatives: this will make it possible not only to guide patients more effectively in health pathways but also to make them more autonomous in their choices.
Interest in anime and manga: relationship with (mental) health, social disconnectedness, social joy and subjective well-being
Authors: Hajek André , König Hans-Helmut
Published: September 2024

Aim

Our aim was to examine the association between interest in anime and manga and their relationship with (mental) health (in terms of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, health-related quality of life, symptoms of hikikomori), social disconnectedness (in terms of preference for solitude, loneliness, objective social isolation, and perceived social isolation), subjective well-being (in terms of ikigai, life satisfaction, and happiness) and joy (frequency of laughter, and frequency of hugs).

Subjects and methods

Data were taken from a large sample of the general German adult population aged 18–74 years (n = 4,738 individuals, average age: 46.4 years). Established tools were used to quantify the outcomes. Multiple linear and ordered logistic regressions were used, as appropriate.

Results

Regressions showed that a higher interest in anime was associated with several adverse mental health and some social disconnectedness outcomes. Contrarily, a higher interest in anime was associated with favorable subjective well-being outcomes, and favorable joy outcomes. Similarly, regressions showed that a higher interest in manga was associated with several adverse (mental) health and some social disconnectedness outcomes. Contrary, it is associated with lower objective social isolation. Moreover, it is not significantly associated with subjective well-being outcomes, but significantly associated with the joy outcome frequency of hugs.

Conclusion

A higher interest in manga and anime was associated both with negative and positive outcomes. Particularly a higher interest in anime was associated with more favorable subjective well-being scores, laughing and hugging. In this respect, this topic needs to be approached in a very nuanced way.
The use of individual and collective selection, optimisation and compensation (SOC) strategies and their association with work ability among senior workers
Authors: Meng Annette , Sundstrup E. , Andersen Lars Louis
Published: September 2024

Background Selection, optimisation, and compensation (SOC) can be important strategies for maintaining work ability as we age. This study aimed to explore differences in self-reported individual and collective use of SOC strategies across job functions, as well as their association with self-rated work ability. Methods: In the third wave of the SeniorWorkingLife study, 10,798 workers aged 50 + , across the job function categories “Office work”, “work with people”, and “work in the field of production”, replied to questions about collective and individual SOC strategies and work ability. Using multiple regression, we modelled associations between SOC and work ability. Results: Associations between SOC and work ability were generally weaker among participants working in the field of production. Both individual and collective use of selection had much weaker associations with work ability in the job functions “office work” and “working with people”. In the job function “working in the field of production”, only collective compensation was positively associated with work ability while individual selection was significantly but negatively associated with work ability. Conclusions: The use of SOC may be particularly beneficial for older employees working with people. Optimisation and compensation may be the most important SOC strategies for maintaining the work ability of older employees working with people and doing office work. For older employees working in the field of production, collective optimisation may support the maintenance of work ability while reduced work ability may be associated with the use of individual selection as a “coping strategy”.
A survey of deep causal models and their industrial applications
Authors: Li Zongyu , Guo Xiaobo , Qiang Siwei
Published: September 2024

The notion of causality assumes a paramount position within the realm of human cognition. Over the past few decades, there has been significant advancement in the domain of causal effect estimation across various disciplines, including but not limited to computer science, medicine, economics, and industrial applications. Given the continous advancements in deep learning methodologies, there has been a notable surge in its utilization for the estimation of causal effects using counterfactual data. Typically, deep causal models map the characteristics of covariates to a representation space and then design various objective functions to estimate counterfactual data unbiasedly. Different from the existing surveys on causal models in machine learning, this review mainly focuses on the overview of the deep causal models based on neural networks, and its core contributions are as follows: (1) we cast insight on a comprehensive overview of deep causal models from both timeline of development and method classification perspectives; (2) we outline some typical applications of causal effect estimation to industry; (3) we also endeavor to present a detailed categorization and analysis on relevant datasets, source codes and experiments.
Metabolic rate does not scale with body size or activity in some tick species
Authors: Earls Kayla N. , Oyen Kennan J.
Published: September 2024

Respiration in ticks is highly efficient and exceptionally low. Ticks can survive years between bloodmeals by having low activity and respiration to conserve energetic resources. Our objective was to compare metabolic (VCO2) and activity rates across 6 tick species. We predicted that VCO2 would be different among species and scale linearly with activity and body mass. Activity and CO2 production were measured for 32 h in 6 tick species: Dermacentor andersoni, D. variabilis, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. microplus, and R. sanguineus. Individual ticks were measured for 30 min three times to ensure breathing occurred. Absolute and mass-specific VCO2, total activity, body mass, and ventilation patterns were compared among species. As expected, ticks did not always breathe during the 30-minute measurements, especially R. sanguineus. Ventilation patterns differed among species with R. microplus having primarily cyclic patterns and R. appendiculatus having discontinuous gas exchange. VCO2 did not scale with body mass in most species. Haemaphysalis longicornis and R. sanguineus had the lowest VCO2; however, H. longicornis was the second most active species. Life history, including questing behavior and range expansion, could be contributing to differences between species. For instance, H. longicornis had exceptionally low metabolic rates despite above average activity levels, suggesting an energetic advantage which may underlie recently documented range expansions in North America. Our results demonstrate how ticks utilize energetic resources to maximize longevity. Future research describing questing behavior and distribution modeling may help explain differences in metabolic rates and activity and impacts on life history traits.
Natural killer cells in neuroblastoma: immunological insights and therapeutic perspectives
Authors: Rados Magdalena , Landegger Anna , Schmutzler Lukas , Rabidou Kimberlie , Taschner-Mandl Sabine , Fetahu Irfete S.
Published: September 2024

Natural killer (NK) cells have multifaceted roles within the complex tumor milieu. They are pivotal components of innate immunity and shape the dynamic landscape of tumor-immune cell interactions, and thus can be leveraged for use in therapeutic interventions. NK-based immunotherapies have had remarkable success in hematological malignancies, but these therapies are met with many challenges in solid tumors, including neuroblastoma (NB), a childhood tumor arising from the sympathetic nervous system. With a focus on NB, this review outlines the mechanisms employed by NK cells to recognize and eliminate malignant cells, delving into the dynamic relationship between ligand-receptor interactions, cytokines, and other molecules that facilitate the cross talk between NK and NB cells. We discuss the immunomodulatory functions of NK cells and the mechanisms that contribute to loss of this immunosurveillance in NB, with a focus on how this dynamic has been utilized in recent immunotherapy advancements for NB.
Navigating Transnational Separation and Reunification: Resilience in Low-Income Chinese Immigrant Mothers
Authors: Ma Pei-Wen Winnie , Hsu Pei-Chen , Grenier Nuutari , Becher Chana B. , Smith-Cordice Avianne O. , Desai Uttara , Zehner Melissa
Published: September 2024

The present study examines the experience of low-income Chinese immigrant mothers managing the reunification process with their young children after a prolonged transnational separation—either due to reverse migration separation (children born in the US but sent to live in China, then returned to the US later) or serial migration (the mother came to the US first, and the children followed years later). Grounded in a feminist family therapy and resilience framework, this qualitative study aims to understand the mothers’ experience through a strength-based perspective and a cultural lens. A phenomenological approach was used in this study to obtain qualitative data from interviews with nine Chinese immigrant mothers. Data were analyzed using the deductive approach of thematic analysis. Results highlighted mothers’ resilience in providing for the families’ needs, utilizing familial and community support, and their strategies to overcome adversities and parenting challenges. The participants demonstrate motivation to improve their children’s well-being by utilizing a range of public, school, and community resources and support from other Chinese parents. Areas where these mothers still needed support were also identified. Lastly, implications for clinical service with Chinese immigrant families are discussed.
Designs in finite classical polar spaces
Authors: Kiermaier Michael , Schmidt Kai-Uwe , Wassermann Alfred
Published: September 2024

Combinatorial designs have been studied for nearly 200 years. 50 years ago, Cameron, Delsarte, and Ray-Chaudhury started investigating their q-analogs, also known as subspace designs or designs over finite fields. Designs can be defined analogously in finite classical polar spaces, too. The definition includes the m-regular systems from projective geometry as the special case where the blocks are generators of the polar space. The first nontrivial such designs for $$t > 1$$

t
>
1

were found by De Bruyn and Vanhove in 2012, and some more designs appeared recently in the PhD thesis of Lansdown. In this article, we investigate the theory of classical and subspace designs for applicability to designs in polar spaces, explicitly allowing arbitrary block dimensions. In this way, we obtain divisibility conditions on the parameters, derived and residual designs, intersection numbers and an analog of Fisher’s inequality. We classify the parameters of symmetric designs. Furthermore, we conduct a computer search to construct designs of strength $$t=2$$

t
=
2

, resulting in designs for more than 140 previously unknown parameter sets in various classical polar spaces over $$\mathbb {F}_2$$

F
2

and $$\mathbb {F}_3$$

F
3

.
Different mulch films, consistent results: soil fauna responses to microplastic
Authors: Weltmeyer Antonia , Roß-Nickoll Martina
Published: September 2024

Agricultural activities contribute to plastic pollution, with unintentional introduction and intentional use of plastic mulch films leading to the accumulation of microplastic particles in soils. The lack of removal techniques and scarce information on the effects on soil organisms, especially for biodegradable mulch films, necessitate an assessment of potential effects. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of mulch film microplastic on soil fauna by investigating reproduction output and subcellular responses before and after recovery from exposure. Two common soil organisms, Folsomia candida and Eisenia fetida, were exposed to petroleum-based polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable polylactic acid/polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PLA/PBAT) microplastic for 28 days, according to OECD guidelines 232 and 222, respectively. Juvenile numbers revealed no polymer- or concentration-dependent effects on E. fetida and F. candida reproduction after exposure to up to 5 and 10 g/kgdw soil, respectively. To provide a more sensitive and early indication of sublethal effects, subcellular responses in E. fetida were analyzed. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased with rising microplastic concentration; however, catalase (CAT), acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) did not differ from control levels. Further, the more environmentally relevant PE polymer was chosen for in-depth assessment of subcellular response after 28-day microplastic exposure and subsequent 28 days in uncontaminated soil with E. fetida. No significant differences in biomarker activity and stress levels were observed. We conclude that mulch film–derived microplastic did not adversely affect earthworm and collembolan species in this scenario, except for a slight induction in the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase.
Requirements for water data ecosystems: results from a business ecosystem case study
Authors: Palviainen Marko , Soininen Juha-Pekka , Arnold Mona
Published: September 2024

This paper studies the factors that affect the emergence of water data ecosystems using a case study as a research method. The study is based on interviews conducted with partners in a comprehensive business ecosystem focused on the development of smart water network management. Eleven representatives from six private companies, the waterworks of a city, and three organizations that provide water supply management services for municipalities were interviewed. The paper presents analysis of the interview results focusing on the interviewees’ thoughts on the state of water data systems in Finland and on the factors that affect the emergence of water data ecosystems in Finland.

The interview results indicate a clear need for water data ecosystems but also obstacles preventing their emergence. Inadequate understanding on the part of customer, a lack of water data, regulations, and underdeveloped agreements were seen to hinder the development of water data solutions. In addition to ecosystem development, the emergence of water data ecosystems requires investment and the development of water data solutions, solution concepts, and demonstrations to show the value of the ecosystem. The results show that ecosystems need a clear rationale and vision, effective management of water data sharing, and mechanisms to ensure the scalability of water data ecosystems.
Web tension AI modeling and reconstruction for digital twin of roll-to-roll system
Authors: Gafurov Anton Nailevich , Kim Jaeyoung , Kim Inyoung , Lee Taik-Min
Published: September 2024

Digital twins (DT) are gaining attention as an emerging technology in Smart manufacturing systems. These DTs comprise various units that enable simulation, monitoring, and prediction of the manufacturing process. This study introduces a predictive model for web tension and a tension reconstruction algorithm for the DT of the roll-to-roll (R2R) system. The observed web tension signals from tension sensors decomposed into a mean component, a sinusoidal wave, and a random noise. Utilizing deep neural networks, the predictive model integrated various sub-models to forecast statistical (mean, standard deviation) and frequency domain (main frequency, signal-to-noise ratio) features of the web tension signal. Through fivefold cross-validation, 23 model architectures were optimized, with selected architectures ranging from 16-32-32-1 to 16-32-64-32-1 nodes per layer. Overall, R2 scores on the test set ranged from approximately 52 to 100%. The proposed reconstruction algorithm generated tension signals from the model’s predictions that closely resemble the original tension signals, indicating credible reconstructions. The proposed predictive model and reconstruction algorithm were integrated into the DT of the R2R system, offering a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing the R2R process.
On the size- and shape-dependence of integral and partial molar Gibbs energies, entropies, enthalpies and inner energies of solid and liquid nano-particles
Authors: Kaptay George
Published: September 2024

In this paper the size- and shape dependences of 8 different integral and partial molar thermodynamic quantities are derived for solid and liquid nano-phases, starting from the fundamental equation of Gibbs: i) The integral molar Gibbs energies of nano-phases and the partial molar Gibbs energies of components in those nano-phases, ii) The integral molar enthalpies of nano-phases and the partial molar enthalpies of components in those nano-phases, iii) The integral molar entropies of nano-phases and the partial molar entropies of components in those nano-phases, and iv). The integral molar inner energies of nano-phases and the partial molar inner energies of components in those nano-phases. All these 8 functions are found proportional to the specific surface area of the phase, defined as the ratio of its surface area to its volume. The equations for specific surface areas of phases of different shapes are different, but all of them are inversely proportional to the characteristic size of the phase, such as the diameter of a nano-sphere, the side-length of a nano-cube or the thickness of a thin film. Therefore, the deviations of all properties discussed here from their macroscopic values are inversely proportional to their characteristic sizes. The 8 equations derived in this paper follow strict derivations from the fundamental equation of Gibbs. Only the temperature dependent surface energy of solids and surface tension of liquids will be considered as model equations to simplify the final resulting equations. The theoretical equations are validated for the molar Gibbs energy against the experimental values of liquidus temperatures of pure lead. The theoretical equations for the molar enthalpy are validated i). Against the experimental values of dissolution enthalpy differences between nano- and macro cobalt particles in the same liquid alloy and ii). Against the size dependent melting enthalpy of nano-indium particles. In this way, also the theoretical equations for the molar entropy and molar inner energy are validated as they are closely related to the validated equations for the molar Gibbs energy and molar enthalpy.
The Unhappy Beliefs of Happiness: Investigating the Mechanisms Underlying the Links Between Negative Hedonic Beliefs and Diminished Well-Being
Authors: Kwon Yuri , Choi Jongan , Choi Incheol
Published: September 2024

In spite of extensive research that links the absence of pain with happiness, it remains puzzling why possessing beliefs equating the absence of pain with happiness (negative hedonic beliefs) undermine experienced happiness and what underlying mechanisms can explain this paradox. We conducted five studies to address these questions. The participants who had more negative hedonic beliefs exhibited decreased well-being, including subjective well-being and psychological well-being, alongside heightened depression and physical symptoms (Study 1a), an effect that persisted after controlling for behavioral inhibition/activation systems (Study 1b). Hypersensitivity to negative experiences, which reflects a reduced inclination to engage in negative experiences, even when positives exist, mediated the links between negative hedonic beliefs and poor well-being both cross-sectionally (Study 2) and longitudinally (Study 3). Moreover, the propensity to avoid negative experiences was observed in behavioral intention, primarily due to heightened anticipated negative affect when an event was manipulated to include negative aspects (Study 4). Together, the effort to eliminate negative experiences, as adhered to by individuals with negative hedonic beliefs, tends to prevent them from recognizing the potential benefits of unpleasant experiences, inadvertently depriving themselves of opportunities for the enhancement of their well-being.
Equivariant Divergence Formula for Hyperbolic Chaotic Flows
Authors: Ni Angxiu , Tong Yao
Published: September 2024

We prove the equivariant divergence formula for axiom A flow attractors. It is a pointwisely-defined and recursive formula for perturbation of SRB measures along center-unstable manifolds. It depends on only the zeroth and first order derivatives of the map, the observable, and the perturbation. Hence, the linear response acquires an ‘ergodic theorem’, which means that it can be sampled by recursively computing a few vectors on one orbit.
On metafeatures’ ability of implicit concept identification
Authors: Komorniczak Joanna , Ksieniewicz Paweł
Published: September 2024

Concept drift in data stream processing remains an intriguing challenge and states a popular research topic. Methods that actively process data streams usually employ drift detectors, whose performance is often based on monitoring the variability of different stream properties. This publication provides an overview and analysis of metafeatures variability describing data streams with concept drifts. Five experiments conducted on synthetic, semi-synthetic, and real-world data streams examine the ability of over 160 metafeatures from 9 categories to recognize concepts in non-stationary data streams. The work reveals the distinctions in the considered sources of streams and specifies 17 metafeatures with a high ability of concept identification.
Pricing and Hedging Contingent Claims by Entropy Segmentation and Fenchel Duality
Authors: Vilar-Zanón José L. , Rogo Barbara
Published: September 2024

We present a new approach to the problem of characterizing and choosing equivalent martingale pricing measures for a contingent claim, in a finite-state incomplete market. This is the entropy segmentation method achieved by means of convex programming, thanks to which we divide the claim no-arbitrage prices interval into two halves, the buyer’s and the seller’s prices at successive entropy levels. Classical buyer’s and seller’s prices arise when the entropy level approaches 0. Next, we apply Fenchel duality to these primal programs to characterize the hedging positions, unifying in the same expression the cases of super (resp. sub) replication (arising when the entropy approaches 0) and partial replication (when entropy tends to its maximal value). We finally apply linear programming to our hedging problem to find in a price slice of the dual feasible set an optimal partial replicating portfolio with minimal CVaR. We apply our methodology to a cliquet style guarantee, using Heston’s dynamic with parameters calibrated on EUROSTOXX50 index quoted prices of European calls. This way prices and hedging positions take into account the volatility risk.
Intermittent fasting alerts neurotransmitters and oxidant/antioxidant status in the brain of rats
Authors: Abdel-Rahman Mona , Hussein Aida A. , Ahmed-Farid Omar A. , Sawi Abdullah A. , Abdel Moneim Ahmed Esmat
Published: September 2024

Several recent studies have attempted to understand how fasting has benefits for body health, especially the nervous system. To evaluate the impact of intermittent fasting on body weight, brain neurotransmitters, brain oxidative stress, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in several areas of the brain, this study was conducted in rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 (15 rats) served as the control and group 2 (15 rats) underwent intermittent fasting (IF; 24 h) for 1, 7, or 15 days. The findings demonstrated that intermittent fasting significantly reduced body weight. In this sense, brain monoamines and amino acids, namely dopamine, glutamate, aspartate, and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and nitric oxide), decreased significantly after 1 day of IF. However, norepinephrine, serotonin, gamma-amino butyric acid, and glycine increased significantly. Additionally, glutathione levels were markedly elevated in IF. Surprisingly, the neuromodulatory effect of intermittent fasting fluctuates depending on the IF period. To support this fluctuation, BDNF levels increased after 1 day in the hippocampus and decreased after 15 days of intermittent fasting in all areas of the brain tested. In conclusion, our results show that intermittent fasting has beneficial influences on the brain; however, prolonged intermittent fasting can also induce some unfavorable physiological outcomes that prevent optimal neurological function.
Mapping the Ethics of Generative AI: A Comprehensive Scoping Review
Authors: Hagendorff Thilo
Published: September 2024

The advent of generative artificial intelligence and the widespread adoption of it in society engendered intensive debates about its ethical implications and risks. These risks often differ from those associated with traditional discriminative machine learning. To synthesize the recent discourse and map its normative concepts, we conducted a scoping review on the ethics of generative artificial intelligence, including especially large language models and text-to-image models. Our analysis provides a taxonomy of 378 normative issues in 19 topic areas and ranks them according to their prevalence in the literature. The study offers a comprehensive overview for scholars, practitioners, or policymakers, condensing the ethical debates surrounding fairness, safety, harmful content, hallucinations, privacy, interaction risks, security, alignment, societal impacts, and others. We discuss the results, evaluate imbalances in the literature, and explore unsubstantiated risk scenarios.
Locating Anglo-Italian Communities in Bevis and the Naples Manuscript
Authors: Fraaije Karel
Published: September 2024

This article contextualises the Anglo-Italian aspects of Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale, MS XIII.B.29. This fifteenth-century paper miscellany contains Bevis of Hampton, Chaucer’s Clerk’s Tale, St Alexius, Libeaus Desconus, as well as a recipe collection, a section of Lydgate’s “Doublenesse”, and a fragment of Sir Isumbras. The book is among a very select number of codices containing Middle English texts that are presently preserved in an Italian institution. Previous research has demonstrated XIII.B.29 must have travelled to the Italian peninsula at a relatively early date, but the exact reason behind its compilation and the method by which it arrived in Italy remain uncertain. This article reviews the manuscript’s design, provenance, and contents, arguing the book is not just an English manuscript in Italy, but also to some degree an English manuscript about Italy and Italian experiences. Specifically, the article contends that an episode in the manuscript’s Bevis, which describes a street fight near Lombard Street in London, benefits from a reading that acknowledges late medieval developments in finance and long-distance Anglo-Italian commerce, as well as the emergence of Italian communities in Southampton and the capital.
The anticancer properties of harmine and its derivatives
Authors: Timbilla Abdul Aziz , Vrabec Rudolf , Havelek Radim , Rezacova Martina , Chlebek Jakub , Blunden Gerald , Cahlikova Lucie
Published: September 2024

This review aims to provide information about the anticancer potential of harmine, a β-carboline alkaloid that was initially isolated in 1847 from the seeds and roots of Peganum harmala L. Various studies have revealed that it possesses a wide range of therapeutic qualities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, and, most notably, anticancer effects. This review discusses the anticancer capabilities of harmine and its derivatives against malignancies such as breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer. Harmine uses mechanisms such as apoptosis and angiogenesis inhibition to fight cancer cells. It also influences the cell cycle by inhibiting specific cyclin-dependent kinases and slowing tumor cell proliferation. Synergistic effects have also been observed when harmine is used in combination with other anticancer medications. Harmine has the potential to be a potent anticancer medication that can help in the fight against cancer.

Graphical abstract
Mosaic of biological soil crusts and vascular plants contributes to the spatial heterogeneity of key soil properties at different successional stages of restored inland sand dunes
Authors: Chowaniec Karolina , Zubek Szymon , Zalewska-Gałosz Joanna , Stanek Małgorzata , Skubała Kaja
Published: September 2024

Background and aims

Inland sand dunes constitute Natura 2000 habitat that has become a priority to ensure biodiversity protection and habitat heterogeneity at the landscape scale; however, without proper management, spontaneous succession leads to overgrowing of trees and thus to habitat degradation. Understanding succession processes, relationships between biotic and abiotic components, and their changes over time after restoration, is the key to proper planning of future restoration activities. The aim was to determine the changes of biological soil crust (BSC), vascular plants and physicochemical parameters of BSC, below-crust, rhizosphere, and bare substrate types at different stages of succession in inland dunes of the Błędowska Desert (Poland). We also analyzed the interplay between these factors to further understand the mechanism of BSC development and recognize driving factors causing changes in the soil environment.

Results

Our results showed that BSCs contributed to increased organic C, total N, nutrients in soil, and acidification with the succession. The content of inorganic N forms was significantly higher in bare soil compared to below-crust soil. Rhizosphere soil was enriched in organic matter and nutrients, which improves soil conditions within plant patches. Moreover, below-crust soil pH, total N content and water holding capacity drive the patterns of BSC morphological groups and species composition of lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants.

Conclusion

Our study shows that spatial structure of the inland dune ecosystem is a mosaic of BSCs and plants that contribute to the spatial heterogeneity of key soil properties. We concluded that it is necessary to consider the matter of BSC in restoration treatments.
Quality of life of women with a screen-detected versus clinically detected breast cancer in the Netherlands: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Irzaldy Abyan , Otten Johannes D. M. , Kregting Lindy M. , van der Molen Dieuwke R. Mink , Verkooijen Helena M. , van Ravesteyn Nicolien T. , Heijnsdijk Eveline A. M. , Doeksen Annemiek , van der Pol Carmen C. , Evers Daniel J. , Ernst Miranda F. , Korfage Ida J. , de Koning Harry J. , Broeders Mireille J. M.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Breast cancer (BC) screening enables early detection of BC, which may lead to improved quality of life (QoL). We aim to compare QoL between women with a screen-detected and clinically detected BC in the Netherlands.

Methods

We used data from the ‘Utrecht cohort for Multiple BREast cancer intervention studies and Long-term evaluation’ (UMBRELLA) between October 2013 and March 2022. Patients were categorized as screen-detected or clinically detected. We analysed three questionnaires, namely EORTC QLQ C-30, BR23, and HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) completed by BC patients shortly after diagnosis (T1) and one-year after treatment (T2). Independent t-tests were performed to compare QoL average differences between the two groups. Bonferroni-corrected p-value significance threshold of 0.00057 was used. The magnitude of differences was calculated using Cohen’s d. The clinical relevance of QLQ-C30 differences was assessed based on interpretation guideline of EORTC-QLQ-C30 results.

Results

After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, there were 691 women with screen-detected BC and 480 with clinically detected BC. Generally, screen-detected BC patients reported a better QoL. At T1, their average QLQ-C30 summary score was higher (86.1) than clinically detected BC patients (83.0) (p < 0.0001). Cohen’s d for all items ranged between 0.00 and 0.39. A few QLQ-C30 score differences were clinically relevant, indicating better outcomes in emotional functioning, general health, constipation, and fatigue for women with screen-detected BC.

Conclusions

In the Netherlands, women with screen-detected BC reported statistically significant and better QoL than women with clinically detected BC. However, clinical relevance of the differences is limited.
Educating future leaders to engage the challenges of a changing world: A blended-learning approach to character and leadership education at the University of Hong Kong
Authors: Brooks Edward , Tse Samson , Wright Jessie Yue , Burdett Emily
Published: September 2024

How can a new generation of students be equipped to take up positions of responsibility in a dynamic global environment, serving as leaders and citizens who will further the good of societies around the world? As the institutions responsible for educating the next generation of citizens and leaders at a formative time in their intellectual and personal development, universities have an important role to play in shaping those who will shape society. While many universities emphasize their desire to raise up future leaders for our challenging times, programmes that actively seek to help students develop qualities of character required for responsible leadership are rare. This article discusses the importance of character in leadership education and draws on a case study programme at the University of Hong Kong, which made use of a creative combination of in-person and online learning to help students grow in their intellectual understanding of leadership as well as in the self-knowledge and virtues of character required to enact responsible leadership in their own lives. The article describes the pedagogical methodology that was employed and presents the results of an exploratory, quasi-experimental longitudinal study of the programme’s impact, which was designed to establish proof of concept. The analysis of qualitative data supports the potential of such programmes to make a positive contribution to students’ intellectual understanding of leadership as well as their leadership identity and ethical formation1.
Friction Coefficient Evolution of Si3N4 Binary Coating with a Stoichiometric Ratio of 57/43
Authors: Ortiz C. H. , Fuertes J. M. , Bejarano M. , Barrera V. , Caicedo J. C.
Published: September 2024

Friction coefficient depends on various factors or surface characteristics during tribological testing, and this friction coefficient can be modified by altering the properties of one of the two contacting surfaces. It is crucial to monitor the friction coefficient continuously, not only at the conclusion of the test. This research examined the evolution of friction coefficient of silicon nitride (Si3N4) coating and H13 steel over different sliding distances (250, 500, 750, 1000 m). The study assessed surface wear and oxidation through three-dimensional profilometry and SEM/EDX. The findings indicated a reduction in friction coefficient by 22%, a decrease in wear rate by 88%, and a reduction in wear volume by 87% when comparing the silicon nitride coated steel to the uncoated steel. Furthermore, the changes in friction coefficient provided insights into the timing of the complete fracture of the hard coating.

Graphical abstract
Ski slopes as an unrecognized source of human impact on vegetation
Authors: Klačanová Simona , Jarolímek Ivan , Sabo Peter , Shapkin Vasilii , Májeková Jana
Published: September 2024

Various anthropogenic activities, e.g. construction, soil disturbance, and introducing artificial plant mixtures on newly-created ski slopes after forest clearing are significant interventions in ecosystems. These drastic acts influence the species composition of vegetation cover in the landscape. Although synanthropic species are typically infrequent in mountainous areas, they tend to flourish in disturbed environments; ski slopes are no exception to this pattern. Here we assessed the composition of vascular plants in three distinct ski slope habitats across 30 Slovak ski resorts: the ski lift entrance areas, the ski lift exit areas, and the central areas of the ski slopes. To gain insights into the dynamics of the spreading of synanthropic species on ski slopes, we used selected species traits, synanthropization indices for both flora and vegetation, and considered specific disturbance criteria. The outcomes of our study confirmed that the highest richness of synanthropic species was observed in plots located at the ski lift entrance areas, while the lowest in the central areas of the ski slopes. This difference could be attributed to the proximity of anthropogenically-disturbed zones, which act as propagule sources for synanthropic species into these mountainous habitats. At the same time, elevation also plays an important role in limiting spread of synanthropic plants on ski slopes. The study of synanthropic plant species distribution on ski slopes provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between human activities and the environment.