bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barrier Function to Skin Elasticity in Talking Head
Authors: Chaturvedi Iti , Pandelea Vlad , Cambria Erik , Welsch Roy , Datta Bithin
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we target the problem of generating facial expressions from a piece of audio. This is challenging since both audio and video have inherent characteristics that are distinct from the other. Some words may have identical lip movements, and speech impediments may prevent lip-reading in some individuals. Previous approaches to generating such a talking head suffered from stiff expressions. This is because they focused only on lip movements and the facial landmarks did not contain the information flow from the audio. Hence, in this work, we employ spatio-temporal independent component analysis to accurately sync the audio with the corresponding face video. Proper word formation also requires control over the face muscles that can be captured using a barrier function. We first validated the approach on the diffusion of salt water in coastal areas using a synthetic finite element simulation. Next, we applied it to 3D facial expressions in toddlers for which training data is difficult to capture. Prior knowledge in the form of rules is specified using Fuzzy logic, and multi-objective optimization is used to collectively learn a set of rules. We observed significantly higher F-measure on three real-world problems.
Young people’s experiences with flexible and inclusive education in Australia: a review of the literature
Authors: Bateson Martina , Casley Marilyn
Published: August 2024

In education discourse, student retention and Grade 12 or equivalent attainment are considered strong predictors for young people’s future workforce participation, economic prosperity and wellbeing. However, not all students are well supported in mainstream education, with an increasing number of youths becoming disenfranchised with the schooling system. Flexible and inclusive learning programs are developing as an alternative option for young people to access secondary education in Australia. To better understand young people’s experiences of engaging with these emerging alternatives to mainstream schooling, a review of current empirical literature was undertaken. Focusing on students’ perspectives on learning in flexible and inclusive education environments, 28 qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. These studies captured the voices of young people as they navigated and experienced learning in these non-conventional education programs. The findings documented in the sample studies emphasised the value of providing holistic learning experiences, which integrate relational and interest-based pedagogies with personalised socio-emotional support. Cultivating communities of learners, characterised by positive relationships and a sense of belonging amongst students was also highlighted as being valuable for student engagement and learning. This synthesis contributes to the literature about learning and teaching in flexible and inclusive schooling and highlights new possibilities for student engagement across all education environments.
Comparative Metatranscriptomics of Rhizosphere Microbiomes in Survived and Dead Cocoa Plants Under Drought Condition
Authors: Tamchek Norasekin , Lee Ping-Chin
Published: August 2024

Plant rhizosphere is an important ecological niche in which complex plant–microbe interactions occur. The rhizosphere microbial community has high genetic diversity, acting as an important regulator of plant productivity and growth, especially under stress conditions. This study reports the investigation of the rhizosphere community and their interactions under drought conditions in Theobroma cacao (cocoa), an important cash crop and commodity worldwide. We compared the active microbial community of the dead and survived cocoa plants under drought conditions using a metatranscriptomic approach. The metatranscriptome of four rhizosphere samples (two from drought plants and two from dead plants) was analysed. Based on mRNA annotation, the dominant taxa in the rhizosphere revealed Proteobacteria as the major phyla in all rhizosphere samples. The order of the top abundant phyla in rhizosphere of the surviving cocoa plant was Proteobacteria (42–49%), Firmicutes (0.4–2%), Actinobacteria (0.8–1.3%) and Acidobacteria (0.3–0.4%) whereas the rhizosphere of the dead plant revealed Proteobacteria (38–46%), Firmicutes (0.1–1.5%), Acidobacteria (0.7–0.9%) and Thaumarchaeota (0.3–0.5%). The microbial profiles of both rhizosphere samples were similar at the phylum level. Further analysis at the genus level revealed 1712 classified genera in the rhizosphere samples, at which all rhizosphere samples shared 739 genera. The most dominant genus identified was Pseudomonas, followed by Bacillus and Thiocapsa in rhizospheres of the surviving cocoa plants and Pseudomonas, followed by Aeromonas and Klebsiella in rhizospheres of the dead cocoa plants, respectively. Our results suggested changes in the microbial composition and structure in the rhizosphere of the cocoa plant, which might play important roles in the plant’s survival due to drought.
Rapid particle generation from an STL file and related issues in the application of material point methods to complex objects
Authors: Zhang Duan Z. , Perez Kyle A. , Barclay Paul L. , Waters Jiajia
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we focus on three issues related to applications of material point methods (MPMs) to objects with complex geometries. They are material point generation, compatibility of material points with a mesh, and sensitivity to mesh orientation. An efficient method of generating material points from a stereolithography (STL) file is introduced. This material point generation method is independent of the mesh used in MPM calculations. The compatibility between the material points and the mesh is then studied. We also show that the original MPM and the dual domain material point (DDMP) method are sensitive to mesh orientation. These issues are related to the calculation of the internal force and are concerns of the MPMs. They become more prominent when MPMs are applied to complex geometries. Our numerical results show that the recently developed local stress difference (LSD) algorithm (Perez et al. in J Comp Phys 498:112681, 2024) can be used to effectively address them.
Creep deformation characteristics and control technology in deep mine soft rock roadway
Authors: Yan Lianghuan , Chang Jucai , Shi Wenbao , Wang Tuo , Qiao Longquan , Guo Yijun , Wang Hongda
Published: August 2024

In order to control the strong ageing creep and large deformation of deep soft rock roadway effectively, with the 61–71 track on the uphill of the mining area in Suzhou, Anhui as the research background, the triaxial creep test of mudstone was conducted using the TYJ-1500 M rock mechanics testing system. The creep deformation and failure characteristics of mudstone were analyzed. Additionally, the creep deformation characteristics of deep soft rock roadways were obtained through FLAC3D numerical simulation experiment, and the control techniques for deep soft rock roadway was proposed. The results showed that the axial strain and lateral strain of the specimen were mainly instantaneous strain and creep strain under triaxial stress conditions, and the both confining pressure and the axial pressure have a significant impact on the deformation and creep failure strength of the specimen. Under the condition of high ground stress and complex geological structure, the high stress concentration of roadway roof and floor and two bottom angles is the main cause of creep failure of soft rock roadway, and the large degree of surrounding rock fragmentation and unreasonable support mode reduce the bearing capacity of surrounding rock and aggravate the creep failure of roadway. The 'anchor net cable shotcrete + floor and two corners in floor bolt-grouting + deep and shallow hole grouting + secondary reinforcement support' combined support method was proposed and industrially tested, with average deformation of the roof, floor, and two sidewalls being 111.9 and 62.5 mm, respectively, representing 13.2 and 10.3% of the deformation under the original support scheme.
QUBO Models for the FIFO Stack-Up Problem and Experimental Evaluation on a Quantum Annealer
Authors: Gebler Colin , Rethmann Jochen , Ueberholz Peer
Published: August 2024

Quantum annealing has been applied to combinatorial optimization problems in recent years. In this paper we study the possibility to use quantum annealing for solving the combinatorial FIFO Stack-Up problem, where bins have to be stacked-up from a conveyor belt onto pallets. The problem is NP-hard and can be solved using linear programming approaches. We developed two QUBO (quadratic unconstrained binary optimization) objective functions based on a bin stack-up solution and a pallet stack-up solution for this problem suitable for a quantum annealer. The number of variables was minimized to increase the performance and their dependence on the number of bins and pallets was discussed. The performances of both methods were studied for various small problem sizes on a D-Wave quantum annealer. We found that only tiny instances could be solved and looked at the terms of the QUBO-formulations, which cause the quantum annealer to fail for larger problem sizes. Furthermore we compare the results to the performance of a classic computer using the same QUBO-formulations.
Forecasting Daily Fire Radiative Energy Using Data Driven Methods and Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Thapa Laura H. , Saide Pablo E. , Bortnik Jacob , Berman Melinda T. , da Silva Arlindo , Peterson David A. , Li Fangjun , Kondragunta Shobha , Ahmadov Ravan , James Eric , Romero‐Alvarez Johana , Ye Xinxin , Soja Amber , Wiggins Elizabeth , Gargulinski Emily
Published: August 2024

Increasing impacts of wildfires on Western US air quality highlights the need for forecasts of smoke emissions based on dynamic modeled wildfires. This work utilizes knowledge of weather, fuels, topography, and firefighting, combined with machine learning and other statistical methods, to generate 1‐ and 2‐day forecasts of fire radiative energy (FRE). The models are trained on data covering 2019 and 2021 and evaluated on data for 2020. For the 1‐day (2‐day) forecasts, the random forest model shows the most skill, explaining 48% (25%) of the variance in observed daily FRE when trained on all available predictors compared to the 2% (<0%) of variance explained by persistence for the extreme fire year of 2020. The random forest model also shows improved skill in forecasting day‐to‐day increases and decreases in FRE, with 28% (39%) of observed increase (decrease) days predicted, and increase (decrease) days are identified with 62% (60%) accuracy. Error in the random forest increases with FRE, and the random forest tends toward persistence under severe fire weather. Sensitivity analysis shows that near‐surface weather and the latest observed FRE contribute the most to the skill of the model. When the random forest model was trained on subsets of the training data produced by agencies (e.g., the Canadian or US Forest Services), comparable if not better performance was achieved (1‐day R2 = 0.39–0.48, 2‐day R2 = 0.13–0.34). FRE is used to compute emissions, so these results demonstrate potential for improved fire emissions forecasts for air quality models.
5,000-Year-Old Copper Pollution Found near the Pyramids
Authors: Howell Evan
Published: August 2024

New geoarchaeological research shows that metalworking in ancient Egypt led to significant contamination in a nearby port.
Fluid‐Driven Shear Instabilities in the Subducted Oceanic Mantle at Intermediate Depths: Insights From Western Alps Meta‐Ophiolites
Authors: Muñoz‐Montecinos J. , Angiboust S. , Minnaert C. , Ceccato A. , Morales L. , Gasc J. , Behr W.
Published: August 2024

Serpentinites are major carriers of volatiles in deep subduction zones, releasing most fluids in the 500–650°C range. Despite fundamental implications for mass transfer and intermediate‐depth seismicity, the mechanical role of these fluids is unclear. To characterize the mechanical role of fluids at (ultra)high‐pressure conditions, we perform a petro‐structural analysis on olivine‐rich veins from the Western Alps meta‐ophiolite. Some veins formed through dilational and mixed dilational‐shear fracturing without significant shear‐related deformation. However, field and microstructural observations indicate transient shearing and dilational fracturing at high pore fluid pressures. These include: (a) foliated sheared veins; (b) newly formed olivine and Ti‐clinohumite within mineral lineations coating sheared veins and shear bands; (c) Olivine and Ti‐clinohumite mineral fibers sealing porphyroclasts; (d) mutual crosscutting relationships among dilational and shear features. Dilational veins prevail in low‐strain areas, while sheared veins and shear bands dominate within high‐strain zones toward the ultramafic sliver boundaries. These strain variations underscore the role of local stress regimes during serpentinite dehydration. Consequently, areas experiencing stronger shear stresses around large‐scale blocks or mechanical weakening during fluid circulation are prone to draining overpressurized fluids. These interface‐parallel and fracture‐controlled pathways thus facilitate fluid escape from the dehydrating downgoing slab. Transient events of dilational fracturing and brittle‐ductile shearing, along with strain localization in highly comminuted olivine‐bearing sheared veins, may have resulted from strain rate bursts potentially related to (sub)seismic deformation. These observations are in line with geophysical data indicating high pore fluid pressures within the intermediate‐depth seismicity region.
Reconciling Rapid Glacial Erosion and Steady Basin Accumulation Rates in the Late Cenozoic Through the Effect of Glacial Sediment on Fluvial Erosion
Authors: Schanz Sarah A. , Yanites Brian J.
Published: August 2024

The onset of glaciation in the late Cenozoic caused rapid bedrock erosion above the snowline; however, whether the influx of eroded sediment is recorded in continental weathering and basin accumulation rates is an ongoing debate. We propose that the transport of glacially eroded bedrock through the fluvial system damps the signal of rapid headwater erosion and results in steady basin‐integrated sediment flux. Using a numerical model with integrated glacial and fluvial erosion, we find that headwater bedrock erosion rates increase rapidly at the onset of glaciation and continue to fluctuate with climatic oscillation. However, bedrock erosion rates decrease in the downstream fluvial system because larger grain sizes from glaciers result in an increase in sediment cover effect. When erosion and sediment flux rates are averaged, long‐term sediment flux is similar to nonglacial flux values, while localized bedrock erosion rates in the glaciated landscape are elevated 2–4 times compared to nonglacial values. Our simulated values are consistent with field measurements of headwater bedrock erosion, and the pattern of sediment flux and fluvial erosion matches paraglacial theory and terrace aggradation records. Thus, we emphasize that the bedload produced from glacial erosion provides a missing link to reconcile late Cenozoic erosion records.
AGATNet: An Adaptive Graph Attention Network for Bias Correction of CMAQ‐Forecasted PM2.5 Concentrations Over South Korea
Authors: Dimri Rijul , Choi Yunsoo , Salman Ahmed Khan , Park Jincheol , Singh Deveshwar
Published: August 2024

Accurate forecasting of surface PM2.5 concentrations is essential for enhancing air quality insights and enabling informed decision‐making in a timely manner. Traditional numerical models often exhibit biases originating from uncertainties in input parameters and oversimplified parameterization. This study introduces AGATNet, a graph‐based neural network aimed at correcting such biases by adaptively learning the spatial connections between air quality monitoring stations and associated temporal dependency of input features, leveraging masked self‐attentional layers and causal dilated 1D convolution. Trained with PM2.5‐contributing input features provided for the past 24 hr and future 72 hr during the years from 2016 to 2019, AGATNet effectively corrected CMAQ's 72‐hr advance forecasts of surface PM2.5 concentrations in South Korea for 2021. Across 183 monitoring stations, the application of AGATNet resulted in a substantial improvement in forecast accuracy, with index of agreement increased from 0.67 to 0.96 on +1 hr and root mean square error decreased by 51.56% on average throughout 2021, outperforming other machine learning models such as PM2.5‐GNN, multi‐layer perceptron, and long short‐term memory network. Notably, AGATNet demonstrated the most reliable hit rates for both the highly‐polluted episodes as well as relatively pristine conditions across South Korea, the distributions and occurrences of which were spatially and temporally more closely aligned to the observed values. AGATNet's success across diverse terrains and pollution scenarios in South Korea underscores its robust adaptability as well as the utility of graph neural networks in capturing spatial and temporal variabilities in input features more effectively.
Prevalence and correlates of irritability among U.S. adults
Authors: Perlis Roy H. , Uslu Ata , Schulman Jonathan , Himelfarb Aliayah , Gunning Faith M. , Solomonov Nili , Santillana Mauricio , Baum Matthew A. , Druckman James N. , Ognyanova Katherine , Lazer David
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of irritability among U.S. adults, and the extent to which it co-occurs with major depressive and anxious symptoms. A non-probability internet survey of individuals 18 and older in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia was conducted between November 2, 2023, and January 8, 2024. Regression models with survey weighting were used to examine associations between the Brief Irritability Test (BITe5) and sociodemographic and clinical features. The survey cohort included 42,739 individuals, mean age 46.0 (SD 17.0) years; 25,001 (58.5%) identified as women, 17,281 (40.4%) as men, and 457 (1.1%) as nonbinary. A total of 1218(2.8%) identified as Asian American, 5971 (14.0%) as Black, 5348 (12.5%) as Hispanic, 1775 (4.2%) as another race, and 28,427 (66.5%) as white. Mean irritability score was 13.6 (SD 5.6) on a scale from 5 to 30. In linear regression models, irritability was greater among respondents who were female, younger, had lower levels of education, and lower household income. Greater irritability was associated with likelihood of thoughts of suicide in logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic features (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.22–1.24). Among 1979 individuals without thoughts of suicide on the initial survey assessed for such thoughts on a subsequent survey, greater irritability was also associated with greater likelihood of thoughts of suicide being present (adjusted OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.12–1.23). The prevalence of irritability and its association with thoughts of suicide suggests the need to better understand its implications among adults outside of acute mood episodes.
Emotion perception through the nose: how olfactory emotional cues modulate the perception of neutral facial expressions in affective disorders
Authors: Dal Bò Elisa , Cecchetto Cinzia , Callara Alejandro Luis , Greco Alberto , Mura Francesca , Vanello Nicola , Di Francesco Fabio , Scilingo Enzo Pasquale , Gentili Claudio
Published: August 2024

Humans can decode emotional states from the body odors of the conspecifics and this type of emotional communication is particularly relevant in conditions in which social interactions are impaired, as in depression and social anxiety. The present study aimed to explore how body odors collected in happiness and fearful conditions modulate the subjective ratings, the psychophysiological response and the neural processing of neutral faces in individuals with depressive symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and healthy controls (N = 22 per group). To this aim, electrocardiogram (ECG) and HD-EEG were recorded continuously. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was extracted from the ECG as a measure of vagal tone, event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related spectral perturbations (ERPSs) were extracted from the EEG. The results revealed that the HRV increased during the fear and happiness body odors conditions compared to clean air, but no group differences emerged. For ERPs data, repeated measure ANOVA did not show any significant effects. However, the ERPSs analyses revealed a late increase in delta power and a reduced beta power both at an early and a late stage of stimulus processing in response to the neutral faces presented with the emotional body odors, regardless of the presence of depressive or social anxiety symptoms. The current research offers new insights, demonstrating that emotional chemosignals serve as potent environmental cues. This represents a substantial advancement in comprehending the impact of emotional chemosignals in both individuals with and without affective disorders.
IMPRESS: Improved methylation profiling using restriction enzymes and smMIP sequencing, combined with a new biomarker panel, creating a multi-cancer detection assay
Authors: Vandenhoeck Janah , Neefs Isabelle , Vanpoucke Thomas , Ibrahim Joe , Suls Arvid , Peeters Dieter , Schepers Anne , Hoischen Alexander , Fransen Erik , Peeters Marc , Van Camp Guy , Op de Beeck Ken
Published: August 2024

Background

Despite the worldwide progress in cancer diagnostics, more sensitive diagnostic biomarkers are needed. The methylome has been extensively investigated in the last decades, but a low-cost, bisulfite-free detection method for multiplex analysis is still lacking.

Methods

We developed a methylation detection technique called IMPRESS, which combines methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes and single-molecule Molecular Inversion Probes. We used this technique for the development of a multi-cancer detection assay for eight of the most lethal cancer types worldwide. We selected 1791 CpG sites that can distinguish tumor from normal tissue based on DNA methylation. These sites were analysed with IMPRESS in 35 blood, 111 tumor and 114 normal samples. Finally, a classifier model was built.

Results

We present the successful development of IMPRESS and validated it with ddPCR. The final classifier model discriminating tumor from normal samples was built with 358 CpG target sites and reached a sensitivity of 0.95 and a specificity of 0.91. Moreover, we provide data that highlight IMPRESS’s potential for liquid biopsies.

Conclusions

We successfully created an innovative DNA methylation detection technique. By combining this method with a new multi-cancer biomarker panel, we developed a sensitive and specific multi-cancer assay, with potential use in liquid biopsies.
Gelsolin alleviates rheumatoid arthritis by negatively regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Authors: Lee Jiyeon , Sasaki Fumiyuki , Koike Eri , Cho Minjeong , Lee Yeongun , Dho So Hee , Lee Jina , Lee Eunji , Toyohara Eri , Sunakawa Mika , Ishibashi Mariko , Hung Huynh Hiep , Nishioka Saki , Komine Ritsuko , Okura Chiaki , Shimizu Masumi , Ikawa Masahito , Yoshimura Akihiko , Morita Rimpei , Kim Lark Kyun
Published: August 2024

Despite numerous biomarkers being proposed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a gap remains in our understanding of their mechanisms of action. In this study, we discovered a novel role for gelsolin (GSN), an actin-binding protein whose levels are notably reduced in the plasma of RA patients. We elucidated that GSN is a key regulator of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages, providing a plausible explanation for the decreased secretion of GSN in RA patients. We found that GSN interacts with NLRP3 in LPS-primed macrophages, hence modulating the formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex. Reducing GSN expression significantly enhanced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. GSN impeded NLRP3 translocation to the mitochondria; it contributed to the maintenance of intracellular calcium equilibrium and mitochondrial stability. This maintenance is crucial for controlling the inflammatory response associated with RA. Furthermore, the exacerbation of arthritic symptoms in GSN-deficient mice indicates the potential of GSN as both a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target. Moreover, not limited to RA models, GSN has demonstrated a protective function in diverse disease models associated with the NLRP3 inflammasome. Myeloid cell-specific GSN-knockout mice exhibited aggravated inflammatory responses in models of MSU-induced peritonitis, folic acid-induced acute tubular necrosis, and LPS-induced sepsis. These findings suggest novel therapeutic approaches that modulate GSN activity, offering promise for more effective management of RA and a broader spectrum of inflammatory conditions.
BaTwa populations from Zambia retain ancestry of past hunter-gatherer groups
Authors: Breton Gwenna , Barham Lawrence , Mudenda George , Soodyall Himla , Schlebusch Carina M. , Jakobsson Mattias
Published: August 2024

Sub-equatorial Africa is today inhabited predominantly by Bantu-speaking groups of Western African descent who brought agriculture to the Luangwa valley in eastern Zambia ~2000 years ago. Before their arrival the area was inhabited by hunter-gatherers, who in many cases were subsequently replaced, displaced or assimilated. In Zambia, we know little about the genetic affinities of these hunter-gatherers. We examine ancestry of two isolated communities in Zambia, known as BaTwa and possible descendants of recent hunter-gatherers. We genotype over two million genome-wide SNPs from two BaTwa populations (total of 80 individuals) and from three comparative farming populations to: (i) determine if the BaTwa carry genetic links to past hunter-gatherer-groups, and (ii) characterise the genetic affinities of past Zambian hunter-gatherer-groups. The BaTwa populations do harbour a hunter-gatherer-like genetic ancestry and Western African ancestry. The hunter-gatherer component is a unique local signature, intermediate between current-day Khoe-San ancestry from southern Africa and central African rainforest hunter-gatherer ancestry.
Polyphenol-stabilized coacervates for enzyme-triggered drug delivery
Authors: Yim Wonjun , Jin Zhicheng , Chang Yu-Ci , Brambila Carlos , Creyer Matthew N. , Ling Chuxuan , He Tengyu , Li Yi , Retout Maurice , Penny William F. , Zhou Jiajing , Jokerst Jesse V.
Published: August 2024

Stability issues in membrane-free coacervates have been addressed with coating strategies, but these approaches often compromise the permeability of the coacervate. Here we report a facile approach to maintain both stability and permeability using tannic acid and then demonstrate the value of this approach in enzyme-triggered drug release. First, we develop size-tunable coacervates via self-assembly of heparin glycosaminoglycan with tyrosine and arginine-based peptides. A thrombin-recognition site within the peptide building block results in heparin release upon thrombin proteolysis. Notably, polyphenols are integrated within the nano-coacervates to improve stability in biofluids. Phenolic crosslinking at the liquid-liquid interface enables nano-coacervates to maintain exceptional structural integrity across various environments. We discover a pivotal polyphenol threshold for preserving enzymatic activity alongside enhanced stability. The disassembly rate of the nano-coacervates increases as a function of thrombin activity, thus preventing a coagulation cascade. This polyphenol-based approach not only improves stability but also opens the way for applications in biomedicine, protease sensing, and bio-responsive drug delivery.
Alignment of behaviour and tDCS stimulation site induces maximum response: evidence from online tDCS and ERP
Authors: Bhattacharjee Sagarika , Kashyap Rajan , Udupa Kaviraja , Bashir Shahid , Venkatsubramanian Ganesan , Oishi Kenichi , Desmond John E. , Rapp Brenda , Chen S. H. Annabel
Published: August 2024

tDCS modulates the activity of the neuronal networks to induce the desired behavioural changes. Two factors determine its effectiveness- (1) whether the network being stimulated is relevant to the task, and (2) if there is a scope for improvement in behavioral performance. To explore this, both dorsal (sub-lexical) and ventral (lexical) reading networks were stimulated (20 min, 2 mA) in 25 healthy young volunteers. Participants performed two reading tasks with different levels of lexical involvement: word fragment completion tasks (WCT) and word association tasks (WAT), while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded simultaneously. The study used a within-subject design over three sessions, comparing various electrode montages targeting the dorsal pathway's left inferior parietal lobule or the ventral reading pathway's left middle temporal lobule, as well as sham stimulation. The impact of tDCS sessions (dorsal, ventral, & sham) and task type (WCT & WAT) on priming effects (primed vs. unprimed) of behavioral performance (accuracy and reaction times), and ERP parameters (N400 amplitudes and latencies) were statistically analyzed.It was found that tDCS modulated the performance of WAT only (a task with a lower priming effect). The failure to modulate WCT (larger priming effect) indicated that tDCS was effective for conditions with room for improvement compared to a task where performance has reached the ceiling. Ventral stimulation enhanced accuracy in the WAT condition and shortened the N400 latency of the priming effect. In contrast, dorsal stimulation delayed the priming effect reaction time in the WAT condition and enhanced the N400 amplitude. To conclude, enhancement in performance due to tDCS occurs when the network (ventral) being stimulated aligns with the cognitive demands of the task and there is a scope for improvement.
Drought prediction using artificial intelligence models based on climate data and soil moisture
Authors: Oyounalsoud Mhamd Saifaldeen , Yilmaz Abdullah Gokhan , Abdallah Mohamed , Abdeljaber Abdulrahman
Published: August 2024

Drought is deemed a major natural disaster that can lead to severe economic and social implications. Drought indices are utilized worldwide for drought management and monitoring. However, as a result of the inherent complexity of drought phenomena and hydroclimatic condition differences, no universal drought index is available for effectively monitoring drought across the world. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a new meteorological drought index to describe and forecast drought based on various artificial intelligence (AI) models: decision tree (DT), generalized linear model (GLM), support vector machine, artificial neural network, deep learning, and random forest. A comparative assessment was conducted between the developed AI-based indices and nine conventional drought indices based on their correlations with multiple drought indicators. Historical records of five drought indicators, namely runoff, along with deep, lower, root, and upper soil moisture, were utilized to evaluate the models’ performance. Different combinations of climatic datasets from Alice Springs, Australia, were utilized to develop and train the AI models. The results demonstrated that the rainfall anomaly drought index was the best conventional drought index, scoring the highest correlation (0.718) with the upper soil moisture. The highest correlation between the new and conventional indices was found between the DT-based index and the rainfall anomaly index at a value of 0.97, whereas the lowest correlation was 0.57 between the GLM and the Palmer drought severity index. The GLM-based index achieved the best performance according to its high correlations with conventional drought indicators, e.g., a correlation coefficient of 0.78 with the upper soil moisture. Overall, the developed AI-based drought indices outperformed the conventional indices, hence contributing effectively to more accurate drought forecasting and monitoring. The findings emphasized that AI can be a promising and reliable prediction approach for achieving better drought assessment and mitigation.
A unified evaluation descriptor for π-bridges applied to metalloporphyrin derivatives
Authors: Han Meng-Tian , Wu Liu , Wang Jian-Ping , Sui Ming-Yue , Sun Guang-Yan
Published: August 2024

The adjusting ability of π-bridges for Mg porphyrin donors as a unified evaluation descriptor is the essence and has a negative with its nature and positive correlation with some device performance.
Can post-plasma CH4 injection improve plasma-based dry reforming of methane? A modeling study
Authors: Albrechts Matthias , Tsonev Ivan , Bogaerts Annemie
Published: August 2024

Comparison of classical dry reforming of methane (DRM) with DRM based on CO2 plasma with post-plasma CH4 injection.
A Co-containing polyoxogermanotungstate for alkaline electrocatalytic water oxidation
Authors: Li Da-Huan , Jia Lei , Liu Yi-Xin , Sun Cai , Li Xin-Xiong , Cai Ping-Wei , Sun Yan-Qiong , Zheng Shou-Tian
Published: August 2024

A structurally well-defined 9-Co(ii)-containing trimetric cyclic polyoxogermanotungstate, K9Na3H7[Co9(H2O)6(OH)3(SeO3)2(B-α-GeW9O34)3]·39H2O (Co9-POT), exhibits electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media.
Student success and experience in a flipped, senior physical chemistry course spanning before and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Gomez Trisha M. , Luciano Charmaine , Nguyen Tam , Villafañe Sachel M. , Groves Michael N.
Published: August 2024

A flipped classroom is typically one where some of the instruction occurs asynchronously prior to the scheduled synchronous meeting between students and the instructor. Since 2000, they have gained substantial popularity especially in STEM fields where they have been shown to have increased exam scores and reduce the number of students who fail. In the university setting, many of these studies have been performed in lower division courses. Very few studies have been conducted in senior physical chemistry courses resulting in very little data being collected on this instructional technique at this level. The purpose of this study is to assess student outcomes when flipped classroom techniques are implemented in a senior physical chemistry course. In our flipped classroom, students were expected to watch lecture videos and complete preparation exercises created by the authors prior to coming to class. Then in class, a just in time teaching model was employed prior to students working in groups to complete activities created by the authors. Seven quizzes were performed individually and in groups while three midterms and a cumulative final exam were performed individually. Grade, student opinion questionnaires and survey data collected over seven semesters from Fall 2017 to Spring 2022 will be presented. Our findings indicate that there was only one semester out of seven where the average GPA of the students was significantly higher than the control class which was taught in a traditional lecture style. According to student surveys, the students focused on the importance of the preparation questions and dismissed the importance of completing activity/homework problems given that preparation activities were assigned credit while homework was not. Given that the in-class activities/homework questions resembled the material in assessments like quizzes, midterms and final exams, while preparation questions were scaffolded formative problems meant to introduce students to the concepts to be studied during the synchronous lecture, an important link between course concepts and material on summative assessments was not made. Future changes to address this issue will be discussed as well as how COVID-19 affected students during the pandemic as well as flipped classroom instruction.
Recent advances in elemental doping and simulation techniques: improving structural, photophysical and electronic properties of titanium dioxide
Authors: Taneja Yash , Dube Dheeraj , Singh Ranbir
Published: August 2024

Doped TiO2 is vital in photocatalysis and optoelectronics. The unique properties of each dopant drive interest in computational study how doping enhances its structural, optical, and electrical properties of TiO2 at the molecular level.
A hierarchical reinforcement learning approach for energy‐aware service function chain dynamic deployment in IoT
Authors: Wang Shuyi , Cao Haotong , Yang Longxiang
Published: August 2024

Traffic volume is increasing dramatically due to the quick development of technologies like online gaming, on‐demand video streaming, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The telecommunications industry's large‐scale expansion is increasing its energy usage and carbon footprint. Given the desire to minimize energy consumption and carbon emissions, one of the most essential concerns of future communication networks is ensuring rigorous performance restrictions of IoT services while improving energy efficiency. In this regard, a convolutional neural network‐based hierarchical reinforcement learning approach is provided to lower total energy consumption and carbon emissions in the dynamic service function chaining situations. This method can more effectively lower energy consumption and carbon emissions when compared to other hierarchical algorithms based on conventional deep neural networks and non‐hierarchical algorithms. The suggested method is tested in three typical complicated networks with different network parameters to show its suitability in different network scenarios.
Altered Mental Status in the Solid-Organ Transplant Recipient
Authors: Weiss Nicolas , Pflugrad Henning , Kandiah Prem
Published: August 2024

Patients undergoing solid-organ transplantation (SOT) face a tumultuous journey. Prior to transplant, their medical course is characterized by organ dysfunction, diminished quality of life, and reliance on organ support, all of which are endured in hopes of reaching the haven of organ transplantation. Peritransplant altered mental status may indicate neurologic insults acquired during transplant and may have long-lasting consequences. Even years after transplant, these patients are at heightened risk for neurologic dysfunction from a myriad of metabolic, toxic, and infectious causes. This review provides a comprehensive examination of causes, diagnostic approaches, neuroimaging findings, and management strategies for altered mental status in SOT recipients. Given their complexity and the numerous etiologies for neurologic dysfunction, liver transplant patients are a chief focus in this review; however, we also review lesser-known contributors to neurological injury across various transplant types. From hepatic encephalopathy to cerebral edema, seizures, and infections, this review highlights the importance of recognizing and managing pre- and posttransplant neurological complications to optimize patient outcomes.
Burden and Standard of Proof on Jurisdiction
Authors: Schreuer Christoph
Published: August 2024

Tribunals have applied various rules regarding the burden of proof. The most important of these are the rule that the burden of proof is with the claimant and the rule that the burden of proof lies with the party asserting a fact. It is questionable whether these traditional mechanisms are well suited for the determination of a tribunal’s jurisdiction. A tribunal must determine its jurisdiction ex officio or proprio motu. The evidence and arguments submitted by the parties do not necessarily determine the tribunal’s decision on its jurisdiction. Moreover, many jurisdictional requirements are objective and not subject to the disposition of the parties. In recent years, the International Court of Justice and some investment tribunals have adopted a method whereby the court or tribunal looks at the overall evidence for and against jurisdiction and decides on the preponderance of facts and legal arguments. An important aspect of jurisdiction is the parties’ consent to arbitration. A few tribunals have adopted presumptions for or against the existence of consent. Most tribunals reject these presumptions thereby implicitly rejecting a higher or lower standard of proof.
The Interpretation of Exceptions
Authors: Kriebaum Ursula , Wagner Kilian
Published: August 2024

States have increasingly included varying forms of exception clauses in investment agreements. The interpretation and application of exception clauses has been controversial in arbitral practice and the literature. Some aspects of security exception clauses seem to be clarified in arbitral case law. However, the invocation of general exception clauses in recent cases raises several legal questions. Treaty interpretation becomes ever more difficult where a treaty includes several distinct provisions to secure the right to regulate. After analysing the different forms of exceptions in treaties and the case law of arbitral tribunals, the chapter addresses some of the most pertinent issues that have arisen in recent cases.
The Reasoned Award
Authors: Simma Bruno , Ortgies Jan
Published: August 2024

This chapter deals with the reasoned award in international investment arbitration, the duty to provide a reasoned award, the scope of that duty, the advantages and disadvantages of reasoned awards, and possible solutions to problems arising from (an overinterpretation of) the duty to give reasons. The chapter argues that tribunals and lawyers alike should dare more to pick winning arguments in their reasoning and should focus on the specific facts and law of the case before them. The chapter concludes that an award in investment arbitration always has to be a reasoned award but that a reasoned award only develops its full strength and right of existence when it keeps the purpose and the addressees of a decision at its centre, is drafted with a healthy dose of restraint, succinctness, and common sense, and does not lose sight of the importance of judicial economy.
To Err Is Human, to Dissent Divine
Authors: Brower Charles N , Mazlom Ahmed
Published: August 2024

With the publication of the dissenting opinions in Impregilo v Argentina (I) and Total v Argentina, respectively, Albert Jan van den Berg’s thesis that 100 per cent of separate opinions issued in investment arbitrations by party-appointed arbitrators have been rendered by the arbitrator appointed by the ‘losing’ party proves unfounded. More than a decade has passed since this claim of Van den Berg was made, yet the foundational principles behind dissents in investment treaty arbitration remain solid—chiefly, that dissenting jurisprudence does progress the field and forms part of an arbitral tribunal’s ‘checks and balances’. An implied realism in the arbitral academy also sheds light on why arbitrators might feel obliged to dissent, and paradoxically, why certain arbitrators refrain from dissenting; all of which further undermines empirical studies as dissents are so varied in extent and substance that they cannot be lumped together as Van den Berg has done. Despite reforms across multiple fora, the fact that dissents have not faced demands for reform within the investor-state dispute settlement system, confirms their purpose and permanency.
Recognition and Enforcement of ICSID Convention Awards
Authors: Bungenberg Marc , Alvarado-Garzón Andrés E , Böhme Bianca
Published: August 2024

ICSID’s system for the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards has for long been regarded as a unique example of an extraordinarily high standard under public international law that is applicable in over 160 jurisdictions. Today, this unique system is facing a number of challenges. The biggest of these challenges is the increasing opposition to enforcement of ICSID awards before domestic courts. Another challenge relates to the terminological debate over the meaning of ‘recognition’, ‘enforcement’, and ‘execution’ to determine the exact scope of Article 54 of the ICSID Convention. Finally, the creation of permanent court structures under EU investment agreements and the possible establishment of a Multilateral Investment Court (MIC) could lead to further risks of non-enforcement. The present contribution discusses these challenges with a view of preserving the integrity and effectiveness of the enforcement of ICSID awards.
The Investment Award in a Historical Perspective
Authors: Vadi Valentina
Published: August 2024

International investment awards are crucial for the resolution of a specific dispute as well as the ongoing advancement of international (investment) law. In fact, investment awards are a ‘subsidiary means for the determination of the rules of law’ as provided in Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. Investment awards are a timely and topical issue to investigate due to their continuing historical and legal significance. This chapter examines investment awards throughout history. This research can lead to a better understanding of international investment law’s past, present, and future trajectories, as well as its contribution to the development of international law more broadly.
Empirical Dimensions of Investment Awards
Authors: Polanco Rodrigo
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides an empirical evaluation of awards in investor-state arbitration, including both internal and external elements. Internally, it looks at the number of awards, the time taken by the tribunal to draft them, the number of arbitrators, applicable arbitral rules and treaties, language, length, and outcome of final awards (including dissenting opinions), the amount of damages awarded in successful cases, and the distribution of costs. The analysis also looks at external elements of the award, such as their publication, the age, gender, and nationality of arbitrators, the types of claimants and respondents, their geographical distribution and development status, and the economic sector of the investor.
Sociology of Religious Freedom in the Legal Systems of Europe and the United States
Authors: Breskaya Olga , Giordan Giuseppe , Richardson James T
Published: August 2024

This chapter examines jurisprudential patterns of religious freedom developed by the US Supreme Court and two major European court systems. The analyses examine various historical and structural factors that have contributed to developing this important right within the United States and the Council of Europe (CoE), as well as the European Union. These court systems have dealt with controversies concerning how religious freedom is defined as well as increasing cultural and religious diversity in the regions and societies covered by these major court systems. Important decisions of the US Supreme Court related to religious freedom are examined. Then the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights concerning religion is examined, with attention to effects of the rapid expansion in the 1990s of the CoE. The newer jurisprudential pattern developing within the Court of Justice of the European Union also is briefly discussed.
Social Perceptions of Religious Freedom
Authors: Breskaya Olga , Giordan Giuseppe , Richardson James T
Published: August 2024

This chapter introduces a model of empirical study of social perceptions of religious freedom (SPRF). It explains how this analysis discloses the hierarchies in citizens’ knowledge and experiences of religious freedom, taking into account individual and group identities. This chapter offers empirical answers concerning citizens’ understanding of the multiple dimensions of this phenomenon, including the social, political, and religious contexts and conditions affecting them. Along with hypotheses about the correlates of religious freedom, it specifies fourteen predictors of this concept. Finally, it presents a comparative study on the SPRF in contrasting political and human rights contexts. The results of this comparison allow the conclusion that religious pluralism, passive secularism, and democracy are robust predictors of the dimensions of SPRF in two national contexts (Italy and Russia). The chapter then links these results with discussions on structural conditions of religious freedom presented in previous chapters.