bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information Extraction from Time Series in the EDM Drilling Process
Authors: Jażdżewski Tomasz , Regulski Krzysztof , Bułka Adam , Malara Pawel , Czeszkiewicz Adrian , Trajer Marcin
Published: August 2024

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) allows to obtain small holes with the high efficiency and high quality. Such features are most common in jet engine turbine airfoils. The main problem of the analysis is detection of a moment when the machine should stop the drilling process—the breakthrough detection. Machine learning applications requires that data and models to be prepared by specialists that can extract the most important information from an input data and choose most suitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm for particular case. This Article describes an experiment on how to extract valuable information from heterogeneous time series data with various sources (which is popular in an industry 4.0—Internet of Things) from the EDM drilling process. EDM process is conducted by a Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) drilling device that measures the position of the electrode, drilling speed, Additional sensor, monitors impulses current and voltage. The research is focused on classic AI algorithms (decision tree, random forest and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)) which provide fast training and possibility to check more hyperparameters in a time than neural networks algorithms. It is also described how feature extraction can high up AI algorithm predictions.
Material Parameters Identification of Thin Fiber-Based Materials Using the Method of Machine Learning Exploiting Numerically Generated Simulation Data
Authors: Sanjon Cedric Wilfried , Leng Yuchen , Hauptmann Marek , Majschak Jens-Peter , Groche Peter
Published: August 2024

The determination and validation of material parameters required for finite element simulation of the forming processes of fiber-based materials such as paperboard can be accomplished by strain-based loading of a specimen in combination with a simulation-based reverse engineering approach. Due to the complexity of the material itself, such as anisotropy, the development of such approaches can be very time-consuming and requires programming skills as well as expertise in FEM analysis and optimization. Machine learning methods offer a practical alternative to optimization, parameterization, and reverse engineering approaches, assuming that the data is fully known, generalized, and learned by the machine learning model. More specifically, a machine learning model can compute the material parameters required for a finite element simulation directly from the experimental measurements, if the hypothetical mapping function in this case is learned from the numerical study between material parameters and deformation behavior. In this paper, such data generated by numerical studies are used to train the machine learning model and, based on this, to determine elastic (e.g., Young’s modulus), plastic, and Hill’s parameters.
Determining the spin of light primordial black holes with Hawking radiation. Part II. High spin regime
Authors: Calzà Marco , Rosa João G.
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We propose a method to determine the mass and spin of primordial black holes based on measuring the energy and emission rate at the dipolar and quadrupolar peaks in the primary photon Hawking spectrum, applicable for dimensionless spin parameters $$ \overset{\sim }{a} $$

a
~

≳ 0.6. In particular, we show that the ratio between the energies of the two peaks is only a function of the black hole spin, while the ratio between their emission rates depends also on the line-of-sight inclination. The black hole mass and distance from the Earth may then be inferred from the absolute values of the peak energies and emission rates. This method is relevant for primordial black holes born with large spin parameters that are presently still in the early stages of their evaporation process. While Hawking radiation from such black holes is somewhat below the reach of planned gamma-ray telescopes, we expect the required sensitivity to be attained in the not too distant future.
GNS Construction for $$C^*$$-Valued Positive Sesquilinear Maps on a quasi *-algebra
Authors: Bellomonte Giorgia , Ivković Stefan , Trapani Camillo
Published: August 2024

The GNS construction for positive invariant sesquilinear forms on quasi *-algebra $$(\mathfrak A,{\mathfrak A}_{\scriptscriptstyle 0})$$

(
A
,

A

0

)

is generalized to a class of positive sesquilinear maps from $$\mathfrak A\times \mathfrak A$$

A
×
A

into a $$C^*$$

C
∗

-algebra $${\mathfrak {C}}$$
C
. The result is a *-representation taking values in a space of operators acting on a certain quasi-normed $${\mathfrak {C}}$$
C
-module.
On $$\nu $$-Quasiordinary Surface Singularities and Their Resolution
Authors: Aroca Fuensanta , Tornero José M.
Published: August 2024

Quasiordinary power series were introduced by Jung at the beginning of the 20th century, and were not paid much attention until the work of Lipman and, later on, Gao. They have been thoroughly studied since, as they form a very interesting family of singular varieties, whose properties (or at least many of them) can be encoded in a discrete set of integers, much as what happens with curves. Hironaka proposed a generalization of this concept, the so-called $$\nu $$
ν
-quasiordinary power series, which has not been examined in the literature in such detailed way. This paper explores the behavior of these series under the resolution process in the surface case.
Direct Products of Free Groups in Aut(FN)
Authors: Bridson Martin R. , Wade Richard D.
Published: August 2024

We give a complete description of the embeddings of direct products of nonabelian free groups into Aut(FN) and Out(FN) when the number of direct factors is maximal. To achieve this, we prove that the image of each such embedding has a canonical fixed point of a particular type in the boundary of Outer space.
Safety assessment of coronary arteries during left bundle branch area pacing
Authors: Kong Qiling , Chen Huolong , Hua Juan , Xiong Ziyi , Le Shuyun , Liu Jinwei , Wang Dandan , Chen Qi
Published: August 2024

Background

This study aimed to assess the safety of left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) by measuring the distance from the tip of the electrode to the nearby coronary artery with a nine-partition grid method.

Methods

From January 2019 to October 2020, patients who underwent LBBAP and postoperative coronary angiography in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were included in the study. The patients’ fluoroscopic images of LBBAP and coronary angiography were collected and analyzed. Changes in the ST‑T segment in the electrocardiogram (ECG), serum troponin, and myocardial enzyme profiles were observed before and after the LBBAP procedure.

Results

A total of 50 patients were included in this study, of whom 46 patients underwent implantation with a pacemaker and 4 patients received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The pacing electrodes were confined to the posterior–middle (PM), median (M), Posterior inferior (PI), and middle inferior (MI) positions of the two-dimensional nine-square grid or in the junction area of the above positions, and were concentrated in the rectangle formed by the line of the center points of the four positions. The average vertical distances from the electrode tip to the left anterior descending branch artery (LAD), posterior descending branches (PD) and the left posterior ventricular branches (PL) were 19.69 ± 8.72 mm, 26.09 ± 8.02 mm, and 21.11 ± 7.86 mm, respectively; the minimum was 5.28 mm, 9.51 mm, and 8.69 mm, respectively. Coronary angiography in all patients showed no significant injury to the ventricular septal branch; however, we observed elevated serum troponin and changes in ST‑T segment in ECG.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that pacing electrodes in LBBAP can be safely implanted over a wide range. Coronary arteries are likely to be safe when the pacing electrodes are located within the rectangle formed by the line connecting the PM, M, PI, and MI zone centroids. The left bundle branch can be quickly captured and the safety of the coronary artery can be improved by locating the electrode in the posterior–mid zone. The potential risk of injury to the LAD from the electrode is greater compared with the PD.
Novel thermally regenerated flexible cellulose-based films
Authors: Moreira Rui , Rebelo Rafael C. , Coelho Jorge F. J. , Serra Arménio C.
Published: August 2024

In this work, cellulose powder obtained by acid hydrolysis of industrial Eucalyptus kraft pulp was dissolved in NaOH/Urea/H2O system (7/12/81 wt%) in a concentration of 6% (w/v). Cellulose films were prepared by spreading the dissolved cellulose over glass plates, followed by thermal regeneration – a novel approach reported here for the first time. To obtain final flexible films, plasticization was carried out by immersion in aqueous glycerol solutions of various concentrations (10 to 70 wt%) and hot-pressing (at 0.1 MPa and 105 ºC) was used to dry and compress the cellulose films. The resulting films were characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, contact angle measurements, transparency analysis, and gas permeabilities (oxygen and water vapor). Highly flexible films containing up to 50 wt% of glycerol were successfully obtained, exhibiting no glycerol release upon manual handling. Overall, the produced films demonstrated dense and compact structure, good transparency, flexibility and malleability, and very low oxygen permeability.
Long-Term Self-Management of Vaginal Cube Pessaries Can Improve Sexual Life in Patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Results from a Secondary Analysis
Authors: Nemeth Zoltan , Vida Peter , Markovic Predrag , Gubas Peter , Kovacs Kalman , Farkas Balint
Published: August 2024

Introduction and Hypothesis

Currently, little is known about how daily self-management of cube pessaries influences sexual function. We hypothesized that removing the cube pessary prior to sexual activity did not negatively influence the sexual function, and pessary self-care did not lead to a deterioration of sexual wellbeing.

Methods

We conducted a planned secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study in which 214 patients with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (stage 2+) were enrolled (2015). Each patient was size fitted with a cube pessary and completed a questionnaire online or by phone ≥ 5 years after her initial fitting. Changes in quality of life were measured using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I).

Results

Of the 143 women included in our analyses, 92 (64.3%) were sexually active during the study period. These patients (73.9%; 68 out of 92) described their sexual wellbeing as “better” or “much better” than their pretreatment status. Sexually active patients had a better quality of life as measured by the PGI-I than the sexually inactive patients. Of the sexually active patients, 91.3% (84 out of 92) described their condition as “better” or “much better” than their pretreatment status, whereas 84.3% (43 out of 51) of the sexually inactive patients reported the same improvement. Over 90% of sexually active patients reported that removal of the vaginal cube pessary before sexual activity is not disruptive.

Conclusions

The overwhelming majority of the patients with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse using daily self-management of cube pessaries reported that removal of the vaginal cube pessary before sexual activity is not disruptive, and its use was accompanied by improved sexual wellbeing.
Anti-virulence potential of iclaprim, a novel folic acid synthesis inhibitor, against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Hao Lingyun , Zhou Jingwen , yang Han , He Chunyan , Shu Wen , Song Haoyue , Liu Qingzhong
Published: August 2024

Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus pose a significant global public problem. Therefore, new antibiotics and therapeutic strategies are needed to combat this pathogen. This investigation delves into the effects of iclaprim, a newly discovered inhibitor of folic acid synthesis, on S. aureus virulence. The phenotypic and genotypic effects of iclaprim were thoroughly examined in relation to virulence factors, biofilm formation, and dispersal, as well as partial virulence-encoding genes associated with exoproteins, adherence, and regulation in S. aureus MW2, N315, and ATCC 25923. Then, the in vivo effectiveness of iclaprim on S. aureus pathogenicity was explored by a Galleria mellonella larvae infection model. The use of iclaprim at sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) resulted in a reduction of α-hemolysin (Hla) production and a differential effect on the activity of coagulase in S. aureus strains. The results of biofilm formation and eradication assay showed that iclaprim was highly effective in depolymerizing the mature biofilm of S. aureus strains at concentrations of 1 MIC or greater, however, inhibited the biofilm-forming ability of only strains N315 and ATCC 25923 at sub-MICs. Interestingly, treatment of strains with sub-MICs of iclaprim resulted in significant stimulation or suppression of most virulence-encoding genes expression. Iclaprim did not affect the production of δ-hemolysin or staphylococcal protein A (SpA), nor did it impact the total activity of proteases, nucleases, and lipases. In vivo testing showed that sub-MICs of iclaprim significantly improves infected larvae survival. The present study offered valuable insights towards a better understating of the influence of iclaprim on different strains of S. aureus. The findings suggest that iclaprim may have potential as an anti-virulence and antibiofilm agent, thus potentially mitigating the pathogenicity of S. aureus and improving clinical outcomes associated with infections caused by this pathogen.

Key points

• Iclaprim effectively inhibits α-hemolysin production and biofilm formation in a strain-dependent manner and was an excellent depolymerizing agent of mature biofilm

• Iclaprim affected the mRNA expression of virulence-encoding genes associated with exoproteins, adherence, and regulation

• In vivo study in G. mellonella larvae challenged with S. aureus exhibited that iclaprim improves larvae survival
Characterization of the lattice preferred orientation of hcp iron transformed from the single-crystal bcc phase in situ at high pressures up to 80 GPa
Authors: Park Yohan , Wakamatsu Tatsuya , Azuma Shintaro , Nishihara Yu , Ohta Kenji
Published: August 2024

Studying the anisotropic physical properties of hexagonal closed-packed (hcp) iron is essential for understanding the properties of the Earth’s inner core related to the preferred orientation of the inner core materials suggested by seismic observations. Investigating the anisotropic physical properties of hcp iron requires (1) the synthesis of hcp iron samples that exhibit several distinctive types of strong lattice preferred orientation (LPO) and (2) the quantitative LPO analysis of the samples. Here, we report the distinctive LPO of hcp iron produced from single-crystal body-centered cubic (bcc) iron compressed along three different crystallographic orientations ([100], [110], and [111]) in a diamond anvil cell based on synchrotron multiangle X-ray diffraction measurements up to 80 GPa and 300 K. The orientation relationships between hcp iron and bcc iron are consistent with the Burgers orientation relationship with variant selection. We show that the present method is a way to synthesize hcp iron with strong and characteristic LPO, which is beneficial for experimentally evaluating the anisotropic physical properties of hcp iron.
Automatic variable extraction from 3D coxal bone models for sex estimation using the DSP2 method
Authors: Kuchař Michal , Pilmann Kotěrová Anežka , Morávek Alexander , Santos Frédéric , Harnádková Katarína , Henyš Petr , Cunha Eugénia , Brůžek Jaroslav
Published: August 2024

Thanks to technical progress and the availability of virtual data, sex estimation methods as part of a biological profile are undergoing an inevitable evolution. Further reductions in subjectivity, but potentially also in measurement errors, can be brought by approaches that automate the extraction of variables. Such automatization also significantly accelerates and facilitates the specialist’s work. The aim of this study is (1) to apply a previously proposed algorithm (Kuchař et al. 2021) to automatically extract 10 variables used for the DSP2 sex estimation method, and (2) to test the robustness of the new automatic approach in a current heterogeneous population. For the first aim, we used a sample of 240 3D scans of pelvic bones from the same individuals, which were measured manually for the DSP database. For the second aim a sample of 108 pelvic bones from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database was used. The results showed high agreement between automatic and manual measurements with rTEM below 5% for all dimensions except two. The accuracy of final sex estimates based on all 10 variables was excellent (error rate 0.3%). However, we observed a higher number of undetermined individuals in the Portuguese sample (25% of males) and the New Mexican sample (36.5% of females). In conclusion, the procedure for automatic dimension extraction was successfully applied both to a different type of data and to a heterogeneous population.
Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of ticks and tick-borne pathogens from cattle in selected villages of Greater Letaba Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Monakale Katleho Sechaba , Smith Rae Marvin , Gaorekwe Realeboga Masego , Ledwaba Maphuti Betty , Malatji Dikeledi Petunia
Published: August 2024

Ticks are blood ectoparasites that feed on domestic, wild animals and humans. They spread a variety of infections such as protozoa, viruses, and bacteria. Moreover, cattle reared by smallholder farmers are susceptible to ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Therefore, accurate identification of ticks and detection of tick-borne pathogens is crucial. The main aim of this study was to identify and characterize ticks and tick-borne pathogens from selected villages in Greater Letaba Municipality, Limpopo Province, using morphological and molecular techniques. A total of 233 ticks were collected from cattle and identified morphologically using appropriate morphological keys. The following tick species were identified: Amblyomma hebraeum, Hyalomma rufipes, Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Rhipicephalus spp. was the most common species accounting to 73.8% of the identified ticks. The genomic DNA was extracted from the whole tick for tick identification and from midguts of the ticks for the detection of tick-borne pathogens, followed by amplification and sequencing. A total of 27 samples were positive for tick-borne pathogens: 23 samples tested positive for Theileria and four samples tested positive for Ehrlichia. Anaplasma and Rickettsial OmpB could not be detected from any of the samples. There was no obvious grouping of ticks and tick-borne pathogens on the bases of their locality. The findings of this study confirm previous reports that indicated that cattle reared by smallholder farmers harbor various ticks and tick-borne pathogens of veterinary, public health, and economic importance. Regular monitoring of tick infestations in villages around the study areas is recommended to avoid disease outbreaks.
The local representation of incrementally scattering passive nonlinear systems
Authors: Singh Shantanu , Weiss George
Published: August 2024

We investigate the local (in time) description of incrementally scattering passive nonlinear systems. We show that these systems can be defined by a differential inclusion and a function that gives the current output in term of the current state and the current input. Our approach uses the theory of maximal monotone operators and Lax–Phillips-type nonlinear semigroups.
Numerical Development of a Thermal Pre-processing Step for the Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Barros de Souza Emerson Edilson , Spijker Christoph
Published: August 2024

In the present study, a numerical model is being developed to simulate a step in the battery recycling chain, namely the thermal pre-treatment process. This process involves exposing battery cells to a high-temperature environment to induce a thermal runaway, with the aim of maximising the recovery of valuable metals in the subsequent downstream recycling steps. The proposed numerical model utilises the CFD-DEM framework. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to calculate the gas phase variables. The battery is considered a solid phase, using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) to model its behaviour under high temperature. In this context, an experiment was designed to reproduce conditions similar to a battery thermal deactivation process. Once elaborated, the results from the experiments are compared to the numerical model, seeking further simulations using more realistic furnace designs.
Predicting future medical needs and mortality risk in geriatric long-term care patients
Authors: Dorner Thomas E. , Smeikal Michael , Unseld Matthias , Gisinger Christoph
Published: August 2024

Background

Choosing the right intensity of medical care is a huge challenge particularly in long-term geriatric care. The Nascher score was developed to assess future medical care needs. The aim of this study was to determine whether the Nascher score and a revised version can predict future medical needs.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 396 residents in long-term care hospitals, who were admitted over a period of two years and followed up to two and a half yeare, were analysed. Outcome parameters were: (1) number of medication changes, (2) number of ward doctor documentations and (3) number of acute illnesses treated with antibiotics, and mortality risk. Based on the first results, an alternative scoring of the Nascher score with 12 instead of 26 items was developed, called the revised Nascher score.

Results

The Nascher score significantly correlated with the number of medication changes, the number of ward doctor documentations, and the number of acute ilnesses treated with antibiotics with Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.30, 0.26, and 0.15, respectively. The revised Nascher score showed a higher correlation with correlation coefficients of 0.36, 0.26, and 0.21, respectively. Residents with a Nascher score in the highest quartile had a significantly higher mortality risk than residents in the lowest quartile (hazard ratio, HR 2.97, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.80–4.34). The corresponding values for the revised Nascher score were HR 3.03, 95% CI 2.03–4.54 in the highest and HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.24–2.60 in the middle quartiles.

Conclusion

The Nascher score and even more so the revised Nascher score are well suited to predicting the various parameters of future medical needs and mortality risk.
Non-pharmacological interventions targeting mobility among people with advanced cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Petrasso Carmine , Bayly Joanne , Arculeo Simona , Bowers Megan , Costi Stefania , Nottelmann Lise , Turola Elena , Vanzulli Elisa , Maddocks Matthew
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To synthesise evidence evaluating non-pharmacological interventions targeting mobility among people with advanced cancer, considering the type, efficacy and contextual factors that may influence outcome.

Methods

Systematic review of studies of non-pharmacological interventions in adults (≥ 18 years) with advanced (stage III-IV) cancer, and assessing mobility using clinical or patient-reported outcome measures. Searches were conducted across three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL) up to June 2024. Methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools and contextual factors were evaluated through the Context and Implementation of Complex Interventions framework. A narrative synthesis was conducted due to clinical heterogeneity of included studies.

Results

38 studies encompassing 2,464 participants were included. The most frequent mobility outcome measure was the 6-min walk test (26/38 studies). Exercise was the most common intervention, (33 studies: 27 aerobic and resistance, 5 aerobic, 1 resistance versus aerobic training) and improvements in mobility were found in 21/33 outcomes. Electrotherapy interventions led to significant improvements in mobility in 3/5 studies. Geographical factors (e.g. distance, transport, parking requirements) potentially limited participation in 18/38 studies. A lack of ethnic diversity among populations was evident and language proficiency was an inclusion criterion in 12 studies.

Conclusion

Exercise and neuromuscular electrical stimulation appear to improve mobility outcomes in advanced cancer. The evaluation of other non-pharmacological interventions targeting mobility should consider access and inclusivity, and be adaptable to the needs of this population.
Convergence of critical points for a phase-field approximation of 1D cohesive fracture energies
Authors: Bonacini Marco , Iurlano Flaviana
Published: August 2024

Variational models for cohesive fracture are based on the idea that the fracture energy is released gradually as the crack opening grows. Recently, [21] proposed a variational approximation via $$\Gamma $$
Γ
-convergence of a class of cohesive fracture energies by phase-field energies of Ambrosio-Tortorelli type, which may be also used as regularization for numerical simulations. In this paper we address the question of the asymptotic behaviour of critical points of the phase-field energies in the one-dimensional setting: we show that they converge to a selected class of critical points of the limit functional. Conversely, each critical point in this class can be approximated by a family of critical points of the phase-field functionals.
Geometry of complete minimal surfaces at infinity and the Willmore index of their inversions
Authors: Hirsch Jonas , Kusner Rob , Mäder-Baumdicker Elena
Published: August 2024

We study complete minimal surfaces in$$\mathbb {R}^n$$Rnwith finite total curvature and embedded planar ends. After conformal compactification via inversion, these yield examples of surfaces stationary for the Willmore bending energy$$\mathcal {W}: =\frac{1}{4} \int |\vec H|^2$$W:=14∫|H→|2. In codimension one, we prove that the$$\mathcal {W}$$W-Morse index for any inverted minimal sphere or real projective plane withmsuch ends is exactly$$m-3=\frac{\mathcal {W}}{4\pi }-3$$m-3=W4π-3. We also consider several geometric properties—for example, the property that allmasymptotic planes meet at a single point—of these minimal surfaces and explore their relation to the$$\mathcal {W}$$W-Morse index of their inverted surfaces.
Radiative Corrections and the Renormalization Group for the Two-Nucleon Interaction in Effective Field Theory
Authors: Richardson Thomas R. , Reis Immo C.
Published: August 2024

We use a combination of effective field theory and the renormalization group to determine the impact of radiative corrections on the nucleon–nucleon potential and the binding energy of the deuteron. In order to do so, we present a modified version of pionless effective field theory inspired by earlier work in nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics. The renormalization group improvement of the deuteron binding energy leads to a shift on the order of a few percent and is consistent with the experimental value. This work serves as a starting point for a dedicated study of radiative corrections in few-body systems relevant for precision tests of the Standard Model in an effective field theory framework.
Formal analysis of an AUTOSAR-based basic software module
Authors: Bodei Chiara , De Vincenzi Marco , Matteucci Ilaria
Published: August 2024

The widespread use of advanced driver assistance systems in modern vehicles, together with their integration with the Internet and other road nodes, has made vehicle more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. To address these risks, the automotive industry is increasingly focusing on the development of security solutions: formal methods and software verification techniques, which have been successfully applied to a number of safety-critical systems, could be a promising approach in the automotive area. In this work, we concentrate on in-vehicle communications, provided by many Electronic Control Units (ECUs) that work together thanks to serial protocols such as Controller Area Network (CAN). However, increasing connectivity exposes the internal network to a variety of cyber-risks. Our aim is to formally verify the AUTOSAR-based Basic Software module called CINNAMON, designed to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and authentication at the same time for traffic exchanged over CAN protocol. More precisely, it adds confidentiality guarantees to the Secure Onboard Communication (SecOC) module. We formally analyze CINNAMON with the verification tool Tamarin. Our analysis shows that CINNAMON could be an effective security solution, as it can ensure the desired properties, in particular, confidentiality in a send-receive scenario between two ECUs. Finally, we describe a potential application scenario.
Impacts of Compost Amendment Type and Application Frequency on a Fire-Impacted Grassland Ecosystem
Authors: Anthony Tyler L. , Stover Holly J. , James Jeremy J. , Silver Whendee L.
Published: August 2024

Composting organic matter can lower the global warming potential of food and agricultural waste and provide a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Compost applications generally increase net primary production (NPP) and soil water-holding capacity and may stimulate soil carbon (C) sequestration. Questions remain regarding the effects of compost nitrogen (N) concentrations and application rates on soil C and greenhouse gas dynamics. In this study, we explored the effects of compost with different initial N quality (food waste versus green waste compost) on soil greenhouse gas fluxes, aboveground biomass, and soil C and N pools in a fire-impacted annual grassland ecosystem. Composts were applied annually once, twice, or three times prior to the onset of the winter rainy season. A low-intensity fire event after the first growing season also allowed us to explore how compost-amended grasslands respond to burning events, which are expected to increase with climate change. After four growing seasons, all compost treatments significantly increased soil C pools from 9.5 ± 0.9 to 30.2 ± 0.7 Mg C ha−1 (0–40 cm) and 19.5 ± 0.9 to 40.1 ± 0.7 Mg C ha−1 (0–40 cm) relative to burned and unburned controls, respectively. Gains exceeded the compost-C applied, representing newly fixed C. The higher N food waste compost treatments yielded more cumulative soil C (5.2–10.9 Mg C ha−1) and aboveground biomass (0.19–0.66 Mg C ha−1) than the lower N green waste compost treatments, suggesting greater N inputs further increased soil stocks. The three-time green waste application increased soil C and N stocks relative to a single application of either compost. There was minimal impact on net ecosystem greenhouse gas emissions. Aboveground biomass accumulation was higher in all compost treatments relative to controls, likely due to increased water-holding capacity and N availability. Results show that higher N compost resulted in larger C gains with little offset from greenhouse gas emissions and that compost amendments may help mediate effects of low-intensity fire by increasing fertility and water-holding capacity.
Optical configurations for applying antireflective nanotexture on spherical lenses by ultrashort laser structuring
Authors: Csőke Lóránt Tibor , Skoulas Evangelos , Kollár Zsolt
Published: August 2024

This paper focuses on minimizing the optical reflection on spherical fused silica lenses using femtosecond (fs) laser nanostructuring. A unique type of nanopillar formation has been observed on $$\textrm{SiO}_2$$

SiO
2

surfaces possessing antireflective properties when irradiated with a specific number of overlapping pulses, polarization, and fluence levels. Maintaining precise control over these sensitive technological parameters such as defocus and incident angle during the processing of geometrically complex shapes presents a significant challenge. This study proposes a theoretical optical arrangement to address this limitation by the design of a custom scanner system optimized for curved surfaces. The paper details the optimization process of such a bent image space (inverse-hypercentric) optical system using Zemax OpticStudio. Although the practical realization of the arrangement has not been performed, simulations are conducted to prove the functionality of the concept. Furthermore, we propose a practical method for segmented structuring of spherical surfaces based on consecutive repositioning and irradiation using an industrial robotic arm. By constructing the optical model, the necessary resolution of the segmentation has been calculated for a typical F-Theta scanner system and experimental verification has been performed.
Crop health assessment through hierarchical fuzzy rule-based status maps
Authors: Cavaliere Danilo , Senatore Sabrina , Loia Vincenzo
Published: August 2024

Precision agriculture is evolving toward a contemporary approach that involves multiple sensing techniques to monitor and enhance crop quality while minimizing losses and waste of no longer considered inexhaustible resources, such as soil and water supplies. To understand crop status, it is necessary to integrate data from heterogeneous sensors and employ advanced sensing devices that can assess crop and water status. This study presents a smart monitoring approach in agriculture, involving sensors that can be both stationary (such as soil moisture sensors) and mobile (such as sensor-equipped unmanned aerial vehicles). These sensors collect information from visual maps of crop production and water conditions, to comprehensively understand the crop area and spot any potential vegetation problems. A modular fuzzy control scheme has been designed to interpret spectral indices and vegetative parameters and, by applying fuzzy rules, return status maps about vegetation status. The rules are applied incrementally per a hierarchical design to correlate lower-level data (e.g., temperature, vegetation indices) with higher-level data (e.g., vapor pressure deficit) to robustly determine the vegetation status and the main parameters that have led to it. A case study was conducted, involving the collection of satellite images from artichoke crops in Salerno, Italy, to demonstrate the potential of incremental design and information integration in crop health monitoring. Subsequently, tests were conducted on vineyard regions of interest in Teano, Italy, to assess the efficacy of the framework in the assessment of plant status and water stress. Indeed, comparing the outcomes of our maps with those of cutting-edge machine learning (ML) semantic segmentation has indeed revealed a promising level of accuracy. Specifically, classification performance was compared to the output of conventional ML methods, demonstrating that our approach is consistent and achieves an accuracy of over 90% throughout various seasons of the year.
Neurophysiological Correlates of Near-Wins in Gambling: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Dores Artemisa Rocha , Peixoto Miguel , Fernandes Carina , Geraldo Andreia , Griffiths Mark D. , Barbosa Fernando
Published: August 2024

Identification of specific patterns of brain activity related to problem gambling may provide a deeper understanding of its underlying mechanisms, highlighting the importance of neurophysiological studies to better understand development and persistence of gambling behavior. The patterns of cognitive functioning have been investigated through electroencephalography (EEG) studies based on the near-win/near-miss (NW) effect. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the neurophysiological basis of NWs and their modulation by gambling problems through a systematic review of event-related potentials (ERP) studies elicited by feedback events. The review followed the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA). A total of 15 studies were included, 12 comprising non-problem gamblers (NPGs) and three comparing problem gamblers (PGs) with matched controls. For the P300 component, the win outcome elicited a larger amplitude than the other outcomes (NW and loss), followed by the NW outcome, which elicited a larger amplitude than loss in some studies. For feedback-related negativity (FRN), the loss outcome evoked a more negative amplitude in several studies, despite eliciting a similar amplitude to NW outcomes in others. For PGs, the NW outcome evoked a higher amplitude of P300 than loss, while NPGs showed a similar amplitude to both outcomes. The present review gathered information from different sources and provides a consistent view of the different studies. However, studies lack systematic and robust methodologies, leading to inconsistent results and making it difficult to reach any definitive conclusions.
Beyond disaster: investigating the varied responses of regional entrepreneurship to natural disasters
Authors: Demirdag Ismail , Nirwansyah Anang Widhi
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the intricate relationship between natural disasters and regional entrepreneurship in Türkiye, a developing nation highly vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, and other hazards. The study extends Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) analysis (1990–2020, 81 NUTS-III regions), beyond existing literature focused on physical damage. Our findings reveal a counterintuitive effect: while the number of disasters and total property damage correlate positively with regional entrepreneurship, human life loss has a negative impact. This suggests a complex interplay between destruction and entrepreneurial spirit. Further analyses using Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) and MANOVA-ANOVA for robustness check explores regional characteristics that contribute to entrepreneurial resilience against natural disasters. By comparing regions categorized by entrepreneurial performance and disaster exposure, the study identifies key differentiators. Regions with supportive business environments demonstrate greater resilience, highlighting the crucial role of fostering a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in mitigating disaster effects. This research fills a critical gap by examining the understudied relationship between natural disasters and regional entrepreneurship, going beyond individual firm-level studies. By analysing interregional disparities and resilience factors, this paper provides valuable insights for both regional development and entrepreneurship & resilience literature. It emphasizes the importance of human capital alongside disaster preparedness and institutional quality in building regional resilience.
Chlorine-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking of Single Crystal Superalloys at 550 °C
Authors: Martinez F. Duarte , Dawson Karl , Tatlock Gordon , Leggett J. , Gibson G. , Mason-Flucke J. C. , Nicholls J. R. , Syed A. , Morar N. , Gray S.
Published: August 2024

This study has investigated the effect of NaCl and different gaseous environments on the stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of CMSX-4 at 550 °C. The presence of SOx leads to the rapid dissociation of NaCl into Na2SO4 and the release Cl2 and HCl, which then trigger an active oxidation mechanism and stress corrosion cracking. The incubation time for crack initiation at 690 MPa and in the presence of a sulphur containing environment is 10 min. A working hypothesis is that stress corrosion cracking occurs due to the hydrogen released at the oxide/alloy interface when metal chlorides are formed; however, this hypothesis needs to be further explored.
In vitro shoot regeneration system from leaves wrapped by bud scales of a multipurpose tree (Neolamarckia cadamba)
Authors: Li Buye , Que Qingmin , Li Chunmei , Zhou Wei , Chen Xiaoyang , Zhang Lifeng , Du Kunpeng , Xu Qixian , Chen Wenping , Zhong Ming , Zeng Zhensen , Huang Xiaoling , Ouyang Kunxi
Published: August 2024

Neolamarckia cadamba (N. cadamba) is an evergreen tree species known for its rapid growth, remarkable wood properties, and significant value in medicine, feeding, and landscape. In order to clone a N. cadamba individual with excellent genotype, a plant regeneration protocol was successfully established with leaves wrapped by bud scales as explants. The optimal sterilization method for the leaves was 0.1% Mercury Chloride (HgCl2) treatment for 1 min before culturing on Murashige and Skoog’s medium (MS) supplemented with 3.0 mg/L Thidiazuron (TDZ), 0.1 mg/L 2–4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2-4D), 0.05 mg/L α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 1 mL/L Plant Preservative Mixture (PPM) to induce calluses. The medium containing 1 mL/L PPM could effectively inhibit explant contamination without an unfavorable impact on the final induction rate of callus from the leaves. Three types of calluses were induced from the leaves cultured on the above medium. Among them, only the Type II callus, which was green and nodular, had few particle masses, could differentiate into adventitious shoots on the MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L 6–Benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 0.05 mg/L NAA, with the induction rate of 78.89% and adventitious shoot number per callus of 11.67. The adventitious shoots were proliferated on the MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.05 mg/L Indole-3- butyric acid (IBA) with the proliferation coefficient of 3.37. And the micro-shoots developed roots in the MS medium supplemented with 0.05 mg/L NAA and 0.05 mg/L IBA. The regeneration protocol can be used in the propagation and large scale production of seedlings with the same genotype as an excellent individual of N. cadamba in the field.
An urban rivers renaissance? Stream restoration and green–blue infrastructure in Latin America – Insights from urban planning in Colombia
Authors: Pradilla Gonzalo , Hack Jochen
Published: August 2024

While urban river restoration has become mainstream in the Global North, it remains scarce in Latin America, where most literature focuses on water quality, stream habitats, and watershed assessment, but planning and implementation lag behind. Colombia is undergoing a paradigm shift after pioneering the integration of green and blue infrastructure (GBI) into urban planning in the early 2000s (namely Estructura Ecológica Principal). A surge in river renaturalization initiatives is underway, with large and intermediate cities planning and executing projects. We systematically assessed the integration of rivers and GBI into local policies (Planes de Ordenamiento Territorial) and found widespread and strong recognition of streams, wetlands, and ecosystem services in urban planning, higher than previously reported. Most cities emphasize river multifunctionality, ecological connectivity, public space, and recreation, as well as disaster risk reduction, advancing toward sustainable urban water and drainage systems. However, significant gaps persist regarding climate change resilience, participation, and social justice. In a region marked by high inequality, pre-existing spatial exclusion could be amplified by urban renewal, greening, and tourism due to unfair resettlement conditions and gentrification. Such trade-offs can undermine the ecological and social benefits of restoration. We highlight the crucial role of civil society and grassroots activism in protecting and defending urban commons and conclude by recommending a critical examination of GBI and river restoration efforts in Latin America. Colombia’s case can serve as both a reference and a cautionary tale for other cities in the region to achieve outcomes that promote equity and justice amid pressing social and environmental challenges.
Understanding driving forces of food waste separation intention to enhance regional and local solid waste planning: application of PLS-SEM and multi-group analysis
Authors: Le Dinh Cuong , Fujiwara Takeshi , Pham Phu Song Toan , Habuer
Published: August 2024

This study extended the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and applied it to analyse influencing factors of food waste separation intention (FSI) among households in central Vietnam. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyse the data. The heterogeneity of factors contributing to FSI in cities of three levels was examined using multi-group analysis (MGA). The results indicate that attitudes, subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC), awareness of benefit (AB), information publicity (IP), facility availability (FA), and trust significantly affected FSI of households. MGA results indicated the heterogeneity of impacts of PBC and attitude on FSI of households among three municipal levels. The results will serve as basic data for waste officers, solid-waste management project leaders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other related stakeholders to lay the foundation of food waste management planning in terms of regional scale and local scale. This study will also aid the creation of a circular economy by providing a scientific base for enhancing food waste separation at source in central Vietnam.
Why Reasons Are Explanations
Authors: Finlay Stephen
Published: August 2024

In his book Normative Reasons (Logins A in Normative reasons: between reasoning and explanation. Cambridge University Press, 2022), Artürs Logins accepts that a normative reason to do A is always an answer to a ‘Why A?’ question, but rejects the unifying explanationist theory which identifies reasons always as explanations. On his Erotetic Theory, ‘Why A?’ questions sometimes seek an explanation (in No-Challenge contexts) but sometimes seek rather an argument (in Challenge contexts). This article defends a unifying, end-relational explanationist theory by interpreting ‘Why A?’ as being elliptical for different questions, with different explananda. I also respond inter alia to Logins’ claim that end-relational explanationism is extensionally inadequate because it fails to account for normative reasons for attitudes. Finally, I consider the objection that explanationism fails to account for normative reasons’ characteristic functional role of settling deliberation, introducing a “chicken or egg” dilemma over the order of discovery of reasons and options, resolved by suggesting that in open-ended deliberation reasons guide us to options without being represented under the guise of “reasons”.
Variational Supertrees for Bayesian Phylogenetics
Authors: Karcher Michael D. , Zhang Cheng , Matsen Frederic A.
Published: August 2024

Bayesian phylogenetic inference is powerful but computationally intensive. Researchers may find themselves with two phylogenetic posteriors on overlapping data sets and may wish to approximate a combined result without having to re-run potentially expensive Markov chains on the combined data set. This raises the question: given overlapping subsets of a set of taxa (e.g. species or virus samples), and given posterior distributions on phylogenetic tree topologies for each of these taxon sets, how can we optimize a probability distribution on phylogenetic tree topologies for the entire taxon set? In this paper we develop a variational approach to this problem and demonstrate its effectiveness. Specifically, we develop an algorithm to find a suitable support of the variational tree topology distribution on the entire taxon set, as well as a gradient-descent algorithm to minimize the divergence from the restrictions of the variational distribution to each of the given per-subset probability distributions, in an effort to approximate the posterior distribution on the entire taxon set.