bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enabling the circular nitrogen economy with organic and organo-mineral fertilisers
Authors: Schmidt Susanne , Krishnan Vithya , Gamage Harshi , Walsh Michael , Huelsen Tim , Wolf Juliane , Wadewitz Peter , Jensen Paul , Das Bianca , Robinson Nicole
Published: September 2024

The circular nutrient economy repurposes organic (formerly alive, containing organic carbon) and inorganic (mineral) recycled materials as fertilisers and soil ameliorants, and halving nitrogen (N) waste is a global goal. Our focus was unavoidable food waste and garden waste (FOGO food organics garden organics) as suitable feedstock for compost and use for cropping. We hypothesised that to realise benefits of compost, organic and organo-mineral fertilisers (OF/OMF) must be optimised for target crops and biophysical environments. We explored compost and organic recyclates (dried bacterial biomass PPB, chicken litter manure) as N sources for vegetable, fruit and grain crops in controlled experiments with single or combinations of contrasting N release and carbon-to-N ratios of 20, 13.5 (compost), 13.5 (poultry manure), 6.1 (PPB) and 0.5 (mineral N). With standardised N input (0.5–1 g N/pot and plant), compost as the sole N source resulted in less yield than all other N sources, while suitable mixtures of organic recyclates with/without added mineral N matched the yield of crops grown with mineral N. Adding 5% compost to sand growth substrate modulated crop growth and phenology, increased tillering and panicle production, or accelerated fruit ripening. This confirmed effects beyond nutrient supply, likely crop-growth modulating substances are present. Exploring effects of crop species, N source and water supply confirmed statistically significant interactions on yield, biomass and N use efficiency (NUE). This means a robust strategy for optimising OF/OMF is testing target crops with compost and recyclates to identify crop-specific responses. We recommend that applying such strategy allows manufacturers targeting N-efficient OF/OMF to service the expanding market for recyclate-based organo-mineral fertilisers and soil ameliorants for the circular N economy.
Hydration kinetics of C3A: effect of lithium, copper and sulfur-based mineralizers
Authors: Bartonickova Eva , Ptacek Petr , Novotny Radoslav , Palovcik Jakub , Masilko Jiri , Svec Jiri , Sedlacik Martin , Koplik Jan , Stanek Theodor , Hemzal Dusan
Published: September 2024

Calcium aluminate phases have a particular effect on the early heat release during setting initiation and have a substantial influence on the further workability of ordinary Portland cement. The nature of the calcium aluminate hydration products and its kinetics strongly depends on sulfate content and humidity. The effect of mineralisers on melt formation and viscosity is well described for calcium silicate systems, but information is still lacking for calcium aluminates. Therefore, the synergistic effect on the crystal structure and hydration mechanism of the tricalcium aluminate phase of the addition of mineralizers, i.e. Li2O, CuO, SO3 to the raw meal is here investigated. Co-doped calcium aluminate structures were formed during high-temperature treatment. Thermal analysis (TG–DTA and heating microscopy) was used to describe the ongoing high-temperature reaction. Resulting phase composition was dependent on the concentration of the mineralizer. While phase pure system was prepared with low mineralizer concentrations, with increasing mineralizer content the secondary phases were formed. Raman spectroscopy and XPS analysis were used to investigate the cation substitution and to help describe the cations bonding in co-doped calcium aluminate system. Prepared powders have been hydrated in a controlled manner at different temperatures (288, 298, 308 K). The resulting calorimetric data have been used to investigate the hydration kinetics and determine the rate constant of hydration reaction. First-order reaction (FOR) model was here applied for the activation energy and frequency factor calculations. The metastable and stable calcium aluminate hydrates were formed according to initial phase composition. In phase pure systems with low S content, the formation of stable and metastable hydrates was depended on the reaction temperature. Conversely, in systems with secondary phases and higher S content, the hydration mechanism resembled that which appears in calcium sulfoaluminates.
Non-Oxidative Coupling of Methane via Plasma-Catalysis Over M/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts (M = Ni, Fe, Rh, Pt and Pd): Impact of Active Metal and Noble Gas Co-Feeding
Authors: Kechagiopoulos Panagiotis N. , Rogers James , Maitre Pierre-André , McCue Alan J. , Bannerman Marcus N.
Published: September 2024

Plasma-catalysis has attracted significant interest in recent years as an alternative for the direct upgrading of methane into higher-value products. Plasma-catalysis systems can enable the electrification of chemical processes; however, they are highly complex with many previous studies even reporting negative impacts on methane conversion. The present work focuses on the non-oxidative plasma-catalysis of pure methane in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) reactor at atmospheric pressure and with no external heating. A range of transition and noble metals (Ni, Fe, Rh, Pt, Pd) supported on γ-Al2O3 are studied, complemented by plasma-only and support-only experiments. All reactor packings are investigated either with pure methane or co-feeding of helium or argon to assess the role of noble gases in enhancing methane activation via energy transfer mechanisms. Electrical diagnostics and charge characteristics from Lissajous plots, and electron temperature and collision rates calculations via BOLSIG+ are used to support the findings with the aim of elucidating the impact of both active metal and noble gas on the reaction pathways and activity. The optimal combination of Pd catalyst and Ar co-feeding achieves a substantial improvement over non-catalytic pure methane results, with C2+ yield rising from 30% to almost 45% at a concurrent reduction of energy cost from 2.4 to 1.7 $$\:\text{M}\text{J}\:{\text{m}\text{o}\text{l}}_{\text{C}{\text{H}}_{4}}^{-1}$$ and from 9 to 4.7 $$\:\text{M}\text{J}\:\text{m}\text{o}{\text{l}}_{{\text{C}}_{2+}}^{-1}$$. Pd, along with Pt, further displayed the lowest coke deposition rates among all packings with overall stable product composition during testing.
Exploring the Relations Among Knowledge, Contact, and Transgender Prejudice
Authors: Cheso Diana , Zagefka Hanna , Bjornsdottir R. Thora
Published: September 2024

Over the last few years there has been an increase in anti-trans rhetoric and violence towards transgender individuals, the consequences of which continue to adversely affect transgender people’s lives. Given these societal ramifications, it is crucial to explore how transprejudice (prejudice against transgender people) might be ameliorated. Research within social psychology has repeatedly shown intergroup contact to reduce various forms of outgroup prejudice, but little extant research has tested this association for prejudice related to transgender identity. We conducted three cross-sectional studies which tested the relation between contact (quantity and quality) with transgender people, trans-related knowledge (i.e., participants’ self-reported level of knowledge about experiences of transgender people), and transprejudice (cognitive and affective). Across the three studies, we found that contact quantity and contact quality significantly mediated the negative relationship between knowledge and transprejudice (although contact quality was a more consistent mediator). Those with more trans-related knowledge had more frequent and better-quality contact with trans people, and in turn showed less prejudice towards transgender people. We found less consistent support for an alternative mediation model with prior knowledge mediating the contact to transprejudice link. These findings demonstrate the importance of the role of both knowledge about and contact with transgender people as a means of transprejudice reduction, with wide-reaching implications for creating environments that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Two-stage screening for obstructive sleep apnea in the primary practice setting
Authors: Pangerc Andrej , Petek Šter Marija , Dolenc Grošelj Leja
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness of a two-stage screening model for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in primary care that combines the STOP-BANG questionnaire (SBQ) with an automated home sleep apnea test (HSAT).

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2018 to August 2022 in four Slovenian primary care practices. It included 153 randomly selected patients aged 18 to 70 years who visited the practice for any reason. Participants completed the SBQ and underwent HSAT with type III polygraphy on the same night. The HSAT recordings were scored automatically and by an experienced, accredited somnologist.

Results

There was a strong correlation between manual and automated HSAT scorings for the detection of OSA (Pearson’s r = 0.93). Cohen’s kappa was 0.80 for OSA (respiratory event index (REI) ≥ 5) and 0.77 for OSA severity categorization. The two-stage model demonstrated sensitivity of 64%, a specificity of 97.4%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 96.0%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 73.8% and an accuracy of 81.1% for any OSA (REI ≥ 5). For moderate to severe OSA (REI ≥ 15), the model showed 72.7% sensitivity, 96.7% specificity, 85.7% PPV, 92.8% NPV and 91.5% accuracy.

Conclusions

The two-stage model for OSA screening combining the SBQ and automated HSAT was shown to be effective in primary care, especially for moderate and severe OSA. This method provides a practical and efficient approach for the early detection of OSA.
Extrapolation factors for calculating ecotoxicity effects in LCA
Authors: Aggarwal Rahul , Gustavsson Mikael , Peters Gregory , Molander Sverker
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study focuses on updating, improving, and expanding the extrapolation factors needed to convert various acute or chronic effect concentration indicators into consistent chronic EC10eq (effect concentration inducing a 10% response over background) for use in life cycle assessment (LCA). Our main objectives include (1) to present a detailed approach for the harmonization of ecotoxicity data, with a focus on deriving extrapolation factors, and (2) to estimate both generic and species group-specific extrapolation factors, facilitating the conversion of effect concentration indicator groups (EC10eq and EC50eq) into chronic EC10eq.

Methods

Experimental ecotoxicity data were sourced from CompTox Version 2.1.1, which integrates toxicity information from ToxValDB v9.1.1, and the information from REACH registration dossiers. We developed a framework for harmonizing ecotoxicity data, ensuring uniformity and high quality of aquatic ecotoxicity information from these sources. Through linear regression analysis, both generic and species group-specific extrapolation factors were then derived.

Results and discussion

Harmonization of ecotoxicity data yielded a streamlined dataset with 339,729 datapoints for 10,668 chemicals, reflecting a 54% reduction in raw datapoints. The geometric mean-based aggregation process produced 79,001 aggregated effect concentration datapoints at the species level, 41,303 at the species group level, and 23,215 at the effect concentration indicator level for these chemicals. This process facilitated the derivation of 3 generic and 24 species group-specific extrapolation factors, allowing for the conversion of effect concentration indicator groups (EC10eq and EC50eq) to a chronic EC10eq across two exposure classes (acute vs. chronic) and species groups, as defined in the US EPA ECOTOX knowledgebase, including algae, amphibians, fish, crustaceans, insects/spiders, invertebrates, molluscs, and worms.

Conclusions

The harmonization of ecotoxicity data and the derived extrapolation factors permit the integration of diverse datapoints with varying effect concentration indicators and exposure durations into USEtox ecotoxicity characterization factors. This has the potential to enhance substance coverage for characterizing ecotoxicity effects across chemicals in LCA frameworks by permitting wider species coverage. More generally, this is part of global efforts to extend the potential for quantitative assessment of environmental impacts of chemicals in an LCA framework.
Effects of Planting Date and Field Type outweighed the Effect of Seed Origin on Ware Potato Yield
Authors: Ravensbergen Arie Pieter Paulus , Zou Chunmei , Struik Paul C. , Reidsma Pytrik , Kempenaar Corné , van Ittersum Martin K.
Published: September 2024

Potato yields in the Netherlands are highly variable. Although variability in yield has previously been attributed to several crop management factors, part of the variability remains unexplained. It is hypothesized that part of this unexplained yield variability is influenced by seed potato origin, encompassing where and under what conditions seed potatoes have been cultivated. In this study, we investigated the effect of seed potato origin on crop characteristics and tuber yield in interaction with and in comparison to planting date and field type in a two-year on-farm experiment on a large-scale potato farm. We evaluated three different seed potato origins of the variety Fontane, three different planting dates (early, intermediate, late), and two different field types (wet rainfed and dry irrigated). Origin significantly affected the number of stems per plant and the number of tubers per stem in both years. This resulted in a significant effect of origin on the number of tubers per plant in the first year. In that year, the origin with the lowest number of tubers per plant also produced the highest yield of tubers larger than 50 mm. Despite these (small) effects of seed potato origin on crop characteristics, origin did not significantly affect gross and marketable yield. Moreover, there was no interaction between origin and planting date and/or field type. However, planting date and field type had a significant effect on yield. Ware potato yield in the wet rainfed field was up to 17 t ha−1 higher than in the dry irrigated field, and late planting resulted in a yield reduction of up to 10 t ha−1. We conclude that for maximizing ware potato yield of the variety Fontane in the Netherlands, the effects of planting date and field type outweighed the effects of seed tuber origin.
Can an online battery match in-person cognitive testing in providing information about age-related cortical morphology?
Authors: Thienel R. , Borne L. , Faucher C. , Behler A. , Robinson G. A. , Fripp J. , Giorgio J. , Ceslis A. , McAloney K. , Adsett J. , Galligan D. , Martin N. G. , Breakspear M. , Lupton M. K.
Published: September 2024

Clinical identification of early neurodegenerative changes requires an accurate and accessible characterization of brain and cognition in healthy aging. We assessed whether a brief online cognitive assessment can provide insights into brain morphology comparable to a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. In 141 healthy mid-life and older adults, we compared Creyos, a relatively brief online cognitive battery, to a comprehensive in person cognitive assessment. We used a multivariate technique to study the ability of each test to inform brain morphology as indexed by cortical sulcal width extracted from structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI).

We found that the online test demonstrated comparable strength of association with cortical sulcal width compared to the comprehensive in-person assessment.

These findings suggest that in our at-risk sample online assessments are comparable to the in-person assay in their association with brain morphology. With their cost effectiveness, online cognitive testing could lead to more equitable early detection and intervention for neurodegenerative diseases.
Fuzzy assessment of process parameter interactions on warpage defect modeling in plastic injection molding
Authors: Otieno Steven O. , Mwema Fredrick M. , Mharakurwa Edwell T. , Jen Tien-Chien
Published: September 2024

Studying the interactions among major plastic injection molding process parameters is necessary to understand how they collectively influence major defects such as warpage hence enabling optimization of the process for improved product quality. Existing process parameter interaction studies have used statistical approximations, which have limitations such as reduced predictive power and limited accuracy. To overcome these limitations, this study presents an alternative method of analysis of the interactions among process parameters based on fuzzy logic intelligent algorithm. Through computer aided engineering, factorial design of experiment and fuzzy logic modelling, the study evaluated the effects of major injection molding process parameter interactions on warpage. The results obtained indicated a general increase in warpage with increase in parameters such as melt temperature, mold temperature, injection pressure and cool time whereas an increase in parameters such as ambient temperature and packing pressure decreased warpage. Parameter interactions were obtained both statistically and based on fuzzy logic model and their significance tested through ANOVA. Ambient temperature (30.6%) and melt temperatures (18.7%) had the greatest effect on warpage all with P-values of 0.000 whereas cooling time (0.1%) had the least effect with P-value of 0.250. The largest two way interaction affecting warpage involved melt temperature and cooling time with a contribution of 12.2% whereas the largest three way interaction involves ambient temperature, packing pressure and injection pressure with a contribution of 2.7%. Also, despite cooling time having the least mains effect, most interaction terms with greater effect on warpage involved cooling time and melt temperature. The results from this study provides an insight on targeted injection molding process parameter control for defect minimization.
Non-irradiated area of intraoperative radiotherapy with electron technique: outcomes and pattern of failure in early-stage breast cancer from a single-center, registry study
Authors: Jitwatcharakomol Tanun , Setakornnukul Jiraporn , Chuthatisith Suebwong , Ratanawichitrasin Adune , Petsuksiri Janjira , Sirima Naponwan , Thephamongkhol Kullathorn
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with electrons has revealed to have higher rates of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) than external beam radiotherapy in updated large-scale, randomized controlled trials in 2021. This study details the oncological outcomes of IORT with electron beams using our strict IORT policies. We have found new and important observations regarding the location of recurrence.

Methods and materials

This is a single institution registry of early-stage breast cancer patients who underwent lumpectomy and electron beam IORT with appropriate cone size. All patients met our pre-excision requirements. The primary endpoint was 5-year IBTR rate, with secondary endpoints being 5-year locoregional failure rate, 5-year distant metastasis rate, 5-year overall survival and, importantly, the failure patterns.

Results

Between January 2011 and December 2022, 124 patients were recruited. The median follow-up was 6.7 years. The 5-year IBTR rate was 1.87% (95% CI 0.47–7.29%), which is much lower than the ELIOT trial and comparable with other accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) techniques. The 5-year locoregional failure rate was 3.68% (95% CI 1.40–9.52%), and the 5-year distant metastasis rate was 0.88% (95% CI 0.13–6.12%), while the 5-year overall survival rate was 97.52% (95% CI 92.44–99.19%). Six patients experienced IBTR. All recurrences were in surgical area, occurring superficial to the tumor bed and within 1 cm of the skin dermis. This failure pattern is very unique and might be explained by our hypothesis of the non-irradiated area beneath the skin.

Conclusions

IORT with electron beams with strict patient selection criteria and strict large cone size is still an acceptable treatment for select patients with early-stage breast cancer. However, our new findings support extreme caution in the non-irradiated area beneath the skin around the tumor cavity. Given the constraints of our sample size, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and warrant further investigation in larger, more comprehensive studies.
Oviposition behaviour and larval attraction of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to different maize plant varieties for pest management in Nigeria
Authors: Akinbuluma Mobolade D. , Bamifewe Olubisi O. , Alabi Olajumoke Y. , Timothy Modupe I. J. , Roessingh Peter , Groot Astrid T.
Published: September 2024

Phytophagous insects likely select suitable host plants for oviposition based on olfactory and tactile cues. However, details of how insects differentiate among different plant varieties are often unclear. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) is a highly destructive pest on maize, but little is known about the attraction and oviposition preference of S. frugiperda to different maize varieties, particularly in the context of sub-Saharan Africa, where the insect is a major threat to maize production. We determined the oviposition preference of S. frugiperda females on six different maize plant varieties three of which were hybrid varieties and three were open-pollinated varieties, in multiple-choice and no-choice assays. We also evaluated the attraction preference of S. frugiperda larvae on these maize varieties, using an olfactometer bioassay. We found that S. frugiperda females oviposited significantly less egg masses on the hybrid varieties DEKAIB and 30Y87 than on the other varieties tested and that females oviposited less on the hybrid maize varieties compared to the open-pollinated maize varieties overall. Additionally, we found that S. frugiperda larvae were more attracted to the open-pollinated variety LMFP than to clean air, which was not the case for any of the other maize varieties tested. Taken together, our results show that S. frugiperda responds differentially to the different maize varieties and that hybrid maize varieties seem less attractive. Further investigating the chemistry of hybrid maize varieties like DEKAIB might yield clues on how to breed maize varieties with increased resistance against S. frugiperda infestation.
Extracellular Vesicles Obtained from Hypoxic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Induce Neurological Recovery, Anti-inflammation, and Brain Remodeling After Distal Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats
Authors: Abuzan Mihaela , Surugiu Roxana , Wang Chen , Mohamud-Yusuf Ayan , Tertel Tobias , Catalin Bogdan , Doeppner Thorsten R. , Giebel Bernd , Hermann Dirk M. , Popa-Wagner Aurel
Published: September 2024

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) obtained from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown considerable promise as restorative stroke treatment. In a head-to-head comparison in mice exposed to transient proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), sEVs obtained from MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions particularly potently enhanced long-term brain tissue survival, microvascular integrity, and angiogenesis. These observations suggest that hypoxic preconditioning might represent the strategy of choice for harvesting MSC-sEVs for clinical stroke trials. To test the efficacy of hypoxic MSCs in a second stroke model in an additional species, we now exposed 6–8-month-old Sprague–Dawley rats to permanent distal MCAO and intravenously administered vehicle, platelet sEVs, or sEVs obtained from hypoxic MSCs (1% O2; 2 × 106 or 2 × 107 cell equivalents/kg) at 24 h, 3, 7, and 14 days post-MCAO. Over 28 days, motor-coordination recovery was evaluated by rotating pole and cylinder tests. Ischemic injury, brain inflammatory responses, and peri-infarct angiogenesis were assessed by infarct volumetry and immunohistochemistry. sEVs obtained from hypoxic MSCs did not influence infarct volume in this permanent MCAO model, but promoted motor-coordination recovery over 28 days at both sEV doses. Ischemic injury was associated with brain ED1+ macrophage infiltrates and Iba1+ microglia accumulation in the peri-infarct cortex of vehicle-treated rats. Hypoxic MSC-sEVs reduced brain macrophage infiltrates and microglia accumulation in the peri-infarct cortex. In vehicle-treated rats, CD31+/BrdU+ proliferating endothelial cells were found in the peri-infarct cortex. Hypoxic MSC-sEVs increased the number of CD31+/BrdU+ proliferating endothelial cells. Our results provide evidence that hypoxic MSC-derived sEVs potently enhance neurological recovery, reduce neuroinflammation. and increase angiogenesis in rat permanent distal MCAO.
Understanding group capabilities for small-scale tuna fishery certification in Indonesia
Authors: Wiranthi Puspi Eko , Toonen Hilde M. , Oosterveer Peter
Published: September 2024

Fair Trade USA Capture Fisheries Standard (CFS) requires small-scale fishers to be organized in groups before getting certified against its voluntary sustainability standard. This raises questions about what groups (can) do to enable individual fishers to participate in and benefit from certification. This study uses a capabilities framework to understand this dynamic. We use a case study of handline tuna fishery in Maluku, Indonesia. Three clusters of groups are included: the groups in Buru Island that have been certified by Fair Trade USA Capture Fisheries Standard and Marine Stewardship Council, the groups in Seram Island that have been certified by Fair Trade USA, and the groups in Buru and Seram Islands that have been excluded from Fair Trade USA certification. The results show how group capabilities play an essential role in group and individual fisher certification. We conclude that there is a need to support group certification as a mechanism to govern sustainability in small-scale fisheries. To achieve group certification policy interventions beyond the certification stakeholders are needed to provide conditions supportive for group capabilities.
Emotional Overshadowing: Pleasant and Unpleasant Cues Overshadow Neutral Cues in Human Associative Learning
Authors: Zhu Jianming , Radulescu Angela , Bennett Daniel
Published: September 2024

When learning about stimuli comprised of multiple cues, humans and other animals tend to form stronger cue-outcome associations for more salient cues than for less salient cues. This phenomenon, termed overshadowing, has typically been demonstrated between cues that vary in salience because of differences in physical intensity. In this study, we investigated whether differences in the emotional valence of cues in a compound stimulus similarly led to differences in the strength of cue-outcome learning. Using a probabilistic categorisation task in which stimuli were compounds consisting of pairs of emotional or non-emotional cue images, we found consistent evidence for emotional overshadowing across both an initial exploratory study (N = 50) and a confirmatory preregistered replication study (N = 200). Specifically, both pleasant and unpleasant cue images tended to overshadow neutral cue images, but pleasant and unpleasant cue images did not overshadow one another. Moreover, across stimuli, the magnitude of differences in learning between cues was proportional to differences in their absolute emotional valence, suggesting that attentional capture by both positively and negatively valenced emotions drives overshadowing. These findings have implications for understanding associative learning in natural environments, where stimuli are frequently imbued with emotional valence prior to learning.
Impact of decoupling capacitor aging and temperature for the long-term reliability of power delivery networks
Authors: Di Nella Maurizio , de Paulis Francesco , Olivieri Carlo , Orlandi Antonio
Published: September 2024

Nowadays, almost all electronic systems on printed circuit boards (PCB) adopt a vital element known as the power delivery network (PDN). However, the performance of the PDN is susceptible to variables such as the temperature and aging of its key constituents: the decoupling capacitors (decaps). Consequently, the long-term reliability of the PDN demands meticulous consideration to foresee how its performance can deviate from the initial design specifications. A realistic high-current server system is considered. It involves hundreds of decaps to achieve the required target impedance as optimally selected and laid out by the Power Integrity (PI) designer. The degradation of decap performance is analyzed by collecting experimental data from tens of decaps for each type used in the design while applying an accelerated aging process at different temperatures. The impact of aging in terms of the capacitance, parasitic inductance, and resistance of the decaps is considered to illustrate an innovative methodological design approach based on statistical analysis. Such a design approach can prevent the detrimental impact of a larger noise level due to the gradual performance degradation of the PDN over the intended life cycle of the system.
Unveiling economic resilience: exploring the impact of financial vulnerabilities on economic volatility through the economic vulnerability index
Authors: Oyadeyi Olajide O. , Ibukun Cleopatra O. , Arogundade Sodiq , Oyadeyi Oluwadamilola A. , Biyase Mduduzi
Published: September 2024

While earlier studies have explored the relationship between economic vulnerability and economic resilience, they have repeatedly overlooked the significance of financial vulnerabilities within the economic vulnerability index, and the effects of financial and economic vulnerabilities on economic volatility. An attempt is made in this study to close this research gap by conducting a detailed analysis of the relationship between financial vulnerabilities, economic vulnerability and economic volatility, stressing the significance of tweaking prevailing vulnerability indices to fully encapsulate its multidimensional nature in developing countries. Employing panel data for 142 countries over the 2002 to 2022 period and a robust econometric approach like the Driscoll and Kraay fixed effect method, the study reveals that financial vulnerabilities yield significant coefficients to influence economic volatility, thereby accentuating their significance in the Economic Vulnerability Index. Sub-group analyses reinforce the need for incorporating financial variables in vulnerability investigations. Moreover, the causality tests reveal that all the variables and indices meant to capture the economic and financial vulnerabilities Granger causes economic volatility across the sample. In essence, this study fills a critical gap in existing research by demonstrating, that financial vulnerabilities significantly influence economic volatility, underscoring the imperative of integrating financial variables into vulnerability assessments for policymakers and scholars focusing on sustainable development. This study contributes to a broader understanding of economic vulnerability by highlighting the crucial role of financial vulnerabilities in driving economic volatility, suggesting a fundamental reconsideration of existing vulnerability assessment frameworks for policymakers and researchers focused on sustainable development frameworks. By uncovering the causal relationship between financial vulnerabilities and economic volatility across a diverse set of countries, the findings underscore the imperative of integrating financial factors into vulnerability investigations to enhance resilience and stability in developing economies.
Physicochemical and sensory quality of high antioxidant fruit leather of red dragon fruit and watermelon rind enriched with seaweed
Authors: Ayustaningwarno Fitriyono , Ayu Azzahra Mutiara , Afifah Diana Nur , Anjani Gemala , Nuryanto Nuryanto , Wijayanti Hartanti Sandi , Fitranti Deny Yudi , Tsaniya Lukluk Rona , Afiani Selvi , Razaq Arsyila , Zhu Fan
Published: September 2024

Fruit, as a source of antioxidants and phenolic compounds, is perishable. It also has an underutilized component. Fruit leather has a long shelf life in the form of thin sheets with a distinctive texture. This study aimed to investigate the effect of seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) addition on the physicochemical and sensory quality of fruit leather made from the combination of red dragon fruit and watermelon rind. The physicochemical quality was characterized by measuring the critical quality parameters of fruit leathers, including proximate analysis, water activity, total phenol, antioxidant activity, texture, and organoleptic analysis. The statistical analysis of phenolic compound activity, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, moisture content, carbohydrates, and water activity (aw) was conducted using a one-way ANOVA test, while the analysis of ash content, protein, fat, tensile strength, elongation, and organoleptic properties was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Increasing seaweed concentration significantly increased moisture, ash, protein, vitamin C, total phenol, water activity, and elongation but decreased fat content. Furthermore, the increase in seaweed concentration reduced liking toward taste and color significantly but increased texture liking. The best product was the F2 product with 10% seaweed. F2 has the following attributes: 11.07% of moisture content, 2.34% of ash, 1.53% of protein, 0.19% of fat, 84.86% of carbohydrate, 8.17 mg/100 g of vitamin C, 0.41 of water activity, 0.54 N/m2 of tensile strength, 22.22% of elongation, 107.39 ppm of IC50, 1.66 mg/GAE g of total phenolics.
Minimal and proximal examples of
$\bar {d}$
-stable and
$\bar {d}$
-approachable shift spaces
Authors: CAN MELIH EMIN , KONIECZNY JAKUB , KUPSA MICHAL , KWIETNIAK DOMINIK
Published: September 2024

We study shift spaces over a finite alphabet that can be approximated by mixing shifts of finite type in the sense of (pseudo)metrics connected to Ornstein’s
$\bar {d}$
metric (
$\bar {d}$
-approachable shift spaces). The class of
$\bar {d}$
-approachable shifts can be considered as a topological analog of measure-theoretical Bernoulli systems. The notion of
$\bar {d}$
-approachability, together with a closely connected notion of
$\bar {d}$
-shadowing, was introduced by Konieczny, Kupsa, and Kwietniak [Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys.43(3) (2023), 943–970]. These notions were developed with the aim of significantly generalizing specification properties. Indeed, many popular variants of the specification property, including the classic one and the almost/weak specification property, ensure
$\bar {d}$
-approachability and
$\bar {d}$
-shadowing. Here, we study further properties and connections between
$\bar {d}$
-shadowing and
$\bar {d}$
-approachability. We prove that
$\bar {d}$
-shadowing implies
$\bar {d}$
-stability (a notion recently introduced by Tim Austin). We show that for surjective shift spaces with the
$\bar {d}$
-shadowing property the Hausdorff pseudodistance
${\bar d}^{\mathrm {H}}$
between shift spaces induced by
$\bar {d}$
is the same as the Hausdorff distance between their simplices of invariant measures with respect to the Hausdorff distance induced by Ornstein’s metric
$\bar {d}$
between measures. We prove that without
$\bar {d}$
-shadowing this need not to be true (it is known that the former distance always bounds the latter). We provide examples illustrating these results, including minimal examples and proximal examples of shift spaces with the
$\bar {d}$
-shadowing property. The existence of such shift spaces was announced in the earlier paper mentioned above. It shows that
$\bar {d}$
-shadowing indeed generalizes the specification property.
Equilibrium measures for two-sided shift spaces via dimension theory
Authors: CLIMENHAGA VAUGHN , DAY JASON
Published: September 2024

Given a two-sided shift space on a finite alphabet and a continuous potential function, we give conditions under which an equilibrium measure can be described using a construction analogous to Hausdorff measure that goes back to the work of Bowen. This construction was previously applied to smooth uniformly and partially hyperbolic systems by the first author, Pesin, and Zelerowicz. Our results here apply to all subshifts of finite type and Hölder continuous potentials, but extend beyond this setting, and we also apply them to shift spaces with synchronizing words.
A Matter of Hono[u]r: Editing and Performing Beethoven’s Late Quartets in 1840s London
Authors: MARSTON NICHOLAS
Published: September 2024

The importance to reception history of the first complete cycle of Beethoven’s string quartets, given in London in 1845 by the Beethoven Quartett Society, is securely established. Less well recognized is the significance of the complete edition of the quartets prepared by the cellist Scipion Rousselot and published in London in 1846. This article offers the first close examination of Rousselot’s edition and posits that while its claims for unparalleled correctness were unsustainable, its inclusion, uniquely in the case of the late quartets, of two uncommon features – rehearsal letters and instrumental cues – constitutes a trace of the rehearsal practices of the four players responsible for these historically outstanding performances.
Discussing the concept of substance-induced psychosis (SIP)
Authors: Bramness Jørgen G. , Hjorthøj Carsten , Niemelä Solja , Taipale Heidi , Rognli Eline Borger
Published: September 2024

Substance-induced psychosis (SIP) is characterized by both substance use and a psychotic state, and it is assumed that the first causes the latter. In ICD-10 the diagnosis is categorized as and grouped together with substance use disorders, and to a large extent also treated as such in the health care system. Though criticism of the diagnostic construct of SIP dates back several decades, numerous large and high-quality studies have been published during the past 5–10 years that substantiate and amplify this critique. The way we understand SIP and even how we name it is of major importance for treatment and it has judicial consequences. It has been demonstrated that substance use alone is not sufficient to cause psychosis, and that other risk factors besides substance use are at play. These are risk factors that are also known to be associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Furthermore, register-based studies from several different countries find that a large proportion, around one in four, of those who are initially diagnosed with an SIP over time are subsequently diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. This scoping review discusses the construct validity of SIP considering recent evidence. We challenge the immanent causal assumption in SIP, and advocate that the condition shares many features with the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In conclusion, we argue that SIP just as well could be considered a first-episode psychotic disorder in patients with substance use.
Analyzing the theoretical trajectory of “staleness” and its relevance to modern sports psychiatry
Authors: Colangelo Jill , Smith Alexander , Buadze Anna , Liebrenz Michael
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Introduction: Despite recent advancements in sports medicine and sports psychiatry, a lack of clarity remains in understanding the pathogenesis and etiology of Overtraining Syndrome (OTS). Early research on endurance athletes in high volume/intensity cycles of training described a condition of “staleness”, which could be detected using psychometric assessments on mood. Associated with both physical and psychological symptoms, “staleness” was found to be dose responsive and tended to abate with a reduction in training. Subsequent study of OTS has not revealed reliable or reproducible measurements for ascertaining or treating the condition. Methods: We reviewed historical literature discussing “staleness”, summarizing its theoretical trajectory in academic domains, and comparing this with more recent work that emphasizes the physiological parameters of OTS. We also consider the sociocultural context surrounding these terminological shifts. Results: Though the term “staleness” has fallen out of favor, past work into this topic may have relevance in attempts to define, diagnose, and treat OTS. Further, sports psychiatry may be in a unique position to revisit the literature and emphasize the utility of psychometric assessment in screening, as well as underlining the importance of maintaining mental health among high performing athletes. Conclusion: Research and psychometric assessments designed to discuss “staleness” still remain relevant, particularly in sports psychiatry, and may deserve to be revisited as well as expanded.
Using Shortened Spin‐Ups to Speed Up Ocean Biogeochemical Model Optimization
Authors: Oliver S. , Khatiwala S. , Cartis C. , Ward Ben , Kriest Iris
Published: September 2024

The performance of global ocean biogeochemical models can be quantified as the misfit between modeled tracer distributions and observations, which is sought to be minimized during parameter optimization. These models are computationally expensive due to the long spin‐up time required to reach equilibrium, and therefore optimization is often laborious. To reduce the required computational time, we investigate whether optimization of a biogeochemical model with shorter spin‐ups provides the same optimized parameters as one with a full‐length, equilibrated spin‐up over several millennia. We use the global ocean biogeochemical model MOPS with a range of lengths of model spin‐up and calibrate the model against synthetic observations derived from previous model runs using a derivative‐free optimization algorithm (DFO‐LS). When initiating the biogeochemical model with tracer distributions that differ from the synthetic observations used for calibration, a minimum spin‐up length of 2,000 years was required for successful optimization due to certain parameters which influence the transport of matter from the surface to the deeper ocean, where timescales are longer. However, preliminary results indicate that successful optimization may occur with an even shorter spin‐up by a judicious choice of initial condition, here the synthetic observations used for calibration, suggesting a fruitful avenue for future research.
Intensification and Changing Spatial Extent of Heavy Rainfall in Urban Areas
Authors: Torelló‐Sentelles Herminia , Marra Francesco , Koukoula Marika , Villarini Gabriele , Peleg Nadav
Published: September 2024

Urban areas have been shown to impact rainfall by altering both its intensity and spatial structure at sub‐hourly and sub‐kilometer scales. However, there is currently no clear understanding of the precise pattern of change and the mechanisms that drive these changes. Since the hydrological response in urban areas is highly sensitive to such rainfall properties, understanding these changes is critical to improving our ability to assess urban flood risk. We use 7 years of high‐resolution weather radar data (4‐ or 5‐min and 1 km) to analyze changes in patterns of rainfall intensity, spatial structure, and storm evolution across eight urban areas within Europe and the United States. The use of the same methodology across the different cities enables a consistent comparison among them. We track convective rainfall events using a storm tracking algorithm and assess changes in rainfall properties in the upwind, center, and downwind regions of each city. We also investigate changes in the frequency of storm initiations, terminations, splitting, and merging. Our results show that urban areas act to intensify rainfall—mostly over them, but sometimes on their peripheries. Overall, larger cities tend to show the largest rainfall enhancements. Our findings highlight that rainfall spatial structure is altered over the urban core; usually resulting in more spatially concentrated rainfall. We also observe increased storm initiations over most cities and increased storm splitting over one. Given that demographic projections show that future urban population will increase, our results point toward an increased future flood risk in growing cities.
The Influence of Large‐Scale Spatial Warming on Jet Stream Extreme Waviness on an Aquaplanet
Authors: Batelaan T. J. , Weijenborg C. , Steeneveld G. J. , van Heerwaarden C. C. , Sinclair V. A.
Published: September 2024

The effect of modified equator‐to‐pole temperature gradients on the jet stream by low‐level polar warming and upper‐level tropical warming is not fully understood. We perform aquaplanet simulations to quantify the impact of different sea surface temperature distributions on jet stream strength, large wave amplitudes and extreme waviness. The responses to warming in the waviness metrics Sinuosity Index and Local Wave Activity are sensitive to the latitude range over which they are calculated. Therefore, we use a latitude range that accurately represents the position of the jet. The uniform warming scenario strengthens the jet and reduces large wave amplitudes. Reductions in meridional temperature gradients lead to weakened mid‐latitudinal jet strength and show significant decreases in large wave amplitudes and jet stream waviness. These findings contradict the mechanism that weakened jet streams increase wave amplitudes and extreme jet stream waviness. We conclude that weakened jet streams do not necessarily become wavier.
The Origin of the Lehmann Discontinuity Beneath the Ancient Craton: Insight From the High Pressure‐Temperature Elasticity Measurements of Topaz
Authors: Yu Yingxin , Li Luo , Zhang Xinyue , Mao Zhu , Sun Ningyu , Li Jing , Li Xinyang , Li Wancai
Published: September 2024

In this study, we concentrate on the seismic signature of subducted sediments and suggest the formation of the L‐discontinuity beneath the ancient craton related to migrated sediment dehydration. We first determined the single‐crystal elasticity of topaz, the product of sediment dehydration, at high pressures and temperatures by Brillouin scattering. Using the derived elastic parameters, we establish the velocity and density profiles of subducted sediments in the upper mantle. According to our modeling results, 8.5–17.5 vol.% sediments intruding into the upper mantle will induce a 2%–4% low‐VS anomaly at 210–260 km. Meanwhile, continuous heating will lead to the dehydration of phengite in sediments. The dehydration of this amount sediments can generate a 3%–6% ISS with negative Clapeyron slopes, satisfying the observed L‐discontinuity in northern Finland and northern America without the anisotropy changes but accompanied by low‐velocity anomalies. Our study thus provides new insights into the origin of the L‐discontinuity.
Rapid Downwelling of Tracer Particles Across the Boundary Layer and Into the Pycnocline at Submesoscale Ocean Fronts
Authors: Pham Hieu T. , Verma Vicky , Sarkar Sutanu , Shcherbina Andrey Y. , D’Asaro Eric A.
Published: September 2024

A neutrally buoyant float deployed in an atmospherically driven turbulent ocean boundary layer on the dense side of a submesoscale front was repeatedly carried across the boundary layer by the turbulence and then trapped beneath the slumping front. Lagrangian particles in a large‐eddy simulation of a similar baroclinically unstable front forced by surface cooling move along convergent surface filaments toward filament junctions. They are also caught by convective plumes that downwell them at speeds similar to those of the float. Subsequently, some are trapped in the pycnocline by frontal slumping due to ageostrophic secondary frontal circulations. In both observations and simulations, boundary layer turbulence and frontal circulations work together to trap and subduct particles from the mixed layer. The small‐scale boundary layer motions move them vertically within the boundary layer and larger, submesoscale frontal circulations move them laterally out of the boundary layer and under the slumping fronts.