bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenomenology Park: The Landscape of Husserlian Phenomenology
Authors: Drummond John J.
Published: April 2023

Perplexed was I when invited to contribute a paper addressing the “landscape of Husserlian phenomenology.” I had no idea of the intended import of the landscape-metaphor. The issue was further complicated by the fact that the paper was to be part of a collection titled “Horizons of Phenomenology.” “Horizons” I get; it’s a technical term for Husserl, who distinguishes between inner and outer horizons. So, were I to talk about horizons, I would talk about phenomenology’s inner horizons, that is, about the possibilities for further explication of the implications of various, already articulated phenomenological approaches and positions. And I would talk too about phenomenology’s outer horizons, that is, about new areas indicated for phenomenological reflection by already existing analyses, including and especially those areas that bring phenomenology into contact with other philosophical approaches and other disciplines. So, “horizons” I could have dealt with. But “landscape”?
Grenzprobleme of Phenomenology: Metaphysics
Authors: Crowell Steven
Published: April 2023

With the publication of theHusserlianaseries and Heidegger’sGesamtausgabeboth nearing completion, a strikingly different picture of their work than was available to earlier generations is emerging. It has become quite clear that phenomenological philosophy is not a fixed “system” but an ongoing philosophical practice that has much to contribute to debates in contemporary philosophy generally. It would be impossible here to canvass all the “horizons” of phenomenology that this situation has opened up, so in this chapter I will focus on one issue that Husserl considered to be aGrenzproblemof his phenomenology, namely, the relation between transcendental-phenomenological method (the “reduction”) and metaphysics. Section 1 presents an overview of my understanding of transcendental phenomenology as concerned specifically with clarifying issues of normatively structured meaning (Sinn). Section 2 argues that transcendental phenomenology is metaphysically neutral and considers an ambiguity in Husserl’sIdeasI that suggests the possibility that it is actually a metaphysical idealism – specifically, the claim that real things “depend” on consciousness for their existence. Section 3 takes up three accounts of this dependence-question and argues that only one of them takes full account of Husserl’s own views on metaphysics. Finally, in section 4, I argue that Husserl’s metaphysical “monadology” is based on dialectical arguments rather than on phenomenological evidence, and I suggest that it thus becomes the antinomical mirror-image of Theodore Sider’s metaphysical realism.
Mast Cells and Resistance to Immunotherapy in Cancer
Authors: Ribatti Domenico
Published: April 2023

Mast cells are involved in tumor growth and their mediators exert both pro- and anti-tumorigenic roles in different human cancers. The identification of defined immunosuppressive pathways that are present in the tumor microenvironment has pointed therapeutic strategies that may promote inflammation and/or innate immune activation in this context. Mast cells can contribute to the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment and may also enhance anti-tumor responses. This review article is focused on the analysis of the mechanisms of the role of mast cells in resistance to immunotherapy in cancer.
A finite time extinction profile and optimal decay for a fast diffusive doubly nonlinear equation
Authors: Misawa Masashi , Nakamura Kenta , Sarkar Md Abu Hanif
Published: April 2023

In this article, we consider a fast diffusive type doubly nonlinear parabolic equation and study the extinction behavior of a solution at a finite time. We show the complete extinction of a weak solution with a nonnegative initial datum, that is, a weak solution is positive before a finite time and vanishes after it, and derive the optimal decay estimates of extinction. Our key ingredient of the proof is a nonlinear intrinsic scaling and the expansion of positivity.
Advances in molecular targeted therapies to increase efficacy of (chemo)radiation therapy
Authors: Viktorsson Kristina , Rieckmann Thorsten , Fleischmann Maximilian , Diefenhardt Markus , Hehlgans Stephanie , Rödel Franz
Published: April 2023

Recent advances in understanding the tumor’s biology in line with a constantly growing number of innovative technologies have prompted characterization of patients’ individual malignancies and may display a prerequisite to treat cancer at its patient individual tumor vulnerability. In recent decades, radiation- induced signaling and tumor promoting local events for radiation sensitization were explored in detail, resulting the development of novel molecular targets. A multitude of pharmacological, genetic, and immunological principles, including small molecule- and antibody-based targeted strategies, have been developed that are suitable for combined concepts with radiation (RT) or chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Despite a plethora of promising experimental and preclinical findings, however, so far, only a very limited number of clinical trials have demonstrated a better outcome and/or patient benefit when RT or CRT are combined with targeted agents. The current review aims to summarize recent progress in molecular therapies targeting oncogenic drivers, DNA damage and cell cycle response, apoptosis signaling pathways, cell adhesion molecules, hypoxia, and the tumor microenvironment to impact therapy refractoriness and to boost radiation response. In addition, we will discuss recent advances in nanotechnology, e.g., RNA technologies and protein-degrading proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that may open new and innovative ways to benefit from molecular-targeted therapy approaches with improved efficacy.
Is consolidative thoracic radiotherapy of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer still beneficial in the era of immunotherapy? A retrospective analysis
Authors: Hoffmann Elgin , De-Colle Chiara , Potkrajcic Vlatko , Baumann David , Spengler Werner , Gani Cihan , Utz David
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) carries a dismal prognosis. The benefit of consolidative thoracic radiotherapy (TR) after first-line chemoimmunotherapy with PD-L1 inhibitors in this setting remains unclear. As TR can improve overall survival (OS) after conventional chemotherapy, we retrospectively analyzed OS of an inhouse cohort treated either with TR or with chemoimmunotherapy alone.

Methods

A total of 41 patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy with PD-L1 inhibitors (atezolizumab or durvalumab) for ES-SCLC at our hospital since 2019 were analyzed. TR was administered in 10 fractions of 3 Gy. Patient characteristics, number of immunotherapy cycles received, brain irradiation, and presence of hepatic and cerebral metastasis at diagnosis were assessed. Primary endpoint was OS after first diagnosis.

Results

Consolidative TR was associated with a significantly longer OS than systemic therapy alone (1-year OS 78.6% and 2‑year OS 37.1% vs. 1‑year OS 39.7% and 2 years not reached, p = 0.019). With regard to radiotherapy indication, survival at 1 year was 88.9% (log-rank p = 0.016) for patients receiving consolidative TR. For patients receiving TR in case of progression, 1‑year survival was 66.7%. Hepatic and cerebral metastasis at first diagnosis had no significant effect on OS.

Conclusion

TR was significantly associated with longer OS. The survival benefit of TR was most pronounced for consolidative radiotherapy after initial chemoimmunotherapy compared to TR in case of progression. Although retrospective findings need to be interpreted with caution, in the absence of prospective data, our findings provide a basis for offering consolidative TR in the era of chemoimmunotherapy.
A two-step methodology for product platform design and assessment in high-variety manufacturing
Authors: Bortolini Marco , Calabrese Francesca , Galizia Francesco Gabriele , Regattieri Alberto
Published: April 2023

The delayed product differentiation (DPD) recently rose as a hybrid production strategy able to overcome the main limits of make to stock (MTS) and make to order (MTO), guaranteeing the management of high variety and keeping low storage cost and quick response time by using the so-called product platforms. These platforms are a set of sub-systems forming a common structure from which a set of derivative variants can be efficiently produced. Platforms are manufactured and stocked following an MTS strategy. Then, they are customized into different variants, following an MTO strategy. Current literature proposes methods for platform design mainly using optimization techniques, which usually have a high computational complexity for efficiently managing real-size industrial instances in the modern mass customization era. Hence, efficient algorithms need to be developed to manage the product platforms design for such instances. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a two-step methodology for product platforms design and assessment in high-variety manufacturing. The design step involves the use of a novel modified algorithm for solving the longest common subsequence (LCS) problem and of the k-medoids clustering for the identification of the platform structure and the assignment of the variants to the platforms. The platforms are then assessed against a set of industrial and market metrics, i.e. the MTS cost, the variety, the customer responsiveness, and the variants production cost. The evaluation of the platform set against such a combined set of drivers enhancing both company and market perspectives is missing in the literature. A real case study dealing with the manufacturing of a family of valves exemplifies the efficiency of the methodology in supporting companies in managing high-variety to best balance the proposed metrics.
Comparative Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses Provide New Insights into the Tolerance to Cyclic Dehydration in a Lichen Phycobiont
Authors: del Campo Eva M. , Gasulla Francisco , Hell Aline F. , González-Hourcade María , Casano Leonardo M.
Published: April 2023

Desiccation tolerance (DT) is relatively frequent in non-vascular plants and green algae. However, it is poorly understood how successive dehydration/rehydration (D/R) cycles shape their transcriptomes and proteomes. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of adjustments on both transcript and protein profiles in response to successive D/R cycles in Coccomyxa simplex (Csol), isolated from the lichen Solorina saccata. A total of 1833 transcripts and 2332 proteins were differentially abundant as a consequence of D/R; however, only 315 of these transcripts/proteins showed similar trends. Variations in both transcriptomes and proteomes along D/R cycles together with functional analyses revealed an extensive decrease in transcript and protein levels during dehydration, most of them involved in gene expression, metabolism, substance transport, signalling and folding catalysis, among other cellular functions. At the same time, a series of protective transcripts/proteins, such as those related to antioxidant defence, polyol metabolism and autophagy, was upregulated during dehydration. Overall, our results show a transient decrease in most cellular functions as a result of drying and a gradual reactivation of specific cell processes to accommodate the hydration status along successive D/R cycles. This study provides new insights into key mechanisms involved in the DT of Csol and probably other dehydration-tolerant microalgae. In addition, functionally characterising the high number of genes/proteins of unknown functions found in this study may lead to the discovery of new DT mechanisms.
Diverse skill of seasonal dynamical models in forecasting South Asian monsoon precipitation and the influence of ENSO and IOD
Authors: Stacey J. , Salmon K. , Janes T. , Colman A. , Colledge F. , Bett P. E. , Srinivasan G. , Pai D. S.
Published: April 2023

The South Asia Seasonal Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF) issues seasonal tercile precipitation forecasts to provide advance warning of anomalously dry or wet monsoon seasons in South Asia. To increase objectivity of the SASCOF seasonal outlook, the World Meteorological Organisation recommends using a multi-model ensemble combining the most skilful dynamical seasonal models for the region. We assess the skill of 12 dynamical models at forecasting seasonal precipitation totals for 1993–2016 for the southwest (June–July–August–September) and northeast (October–November–December) monsoon seasons at regional and national levels for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, using identical forecast periods, hindcast initialisation months and domain used at the SASCOF. All models demonstrate positive skill when regionally-averaged, especially for the southwest monsoon season, noting considerable spatial differences. Models exhibit highest skill where correlation between observed precipitation and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is highest, e.g., central/north India and Nepal during the southwest monsoon, and Afghanistan and north Pakistan during the northeast monsoon. Model skill is especially low in northwest India and northeast of South Asia during the southwest monsoon, e.g., Bangladesh (despite high precipitation totals) coinciding with a weak ENSO teleconnection. The Indian Ocean Dipole teleconnection is less pronounced in the southwest monsoon season, whereas the spatial pattern for the northeast monsoon closely resembles that of ENSO. Due to high variability in model skill, we recommend basing the SASCOF forecast on a multi-model ensemble of all models but discounting poorly performing models at the national level.
Clinical application of enhanced recovery after surgery concept in laparoscopic treatment of pediatric acute appendicitis
Authors: Zhang Shao-Min , Chen Jie , Li Hui , Guo Meng-Fu , Han Nuan , Sun Jin-Song , Zhang Chong-Fang , Su Lin
Published: April 2023

Background

This study assesses whether enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is beneficial in treating acute appendicitis in pediatrics by laparoscopic techniques.

Method

The children with acute appendicitis (n = 116) were divided into the ERAS group (n = 54) and the control group (n = 62). Then the preoperative data, intraoperative observation indexes, and postoperative data were analyzed.

Results

There was no significant difference in preoperative data and intraoperative observation indexes between the two groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) in the ERAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group 3 days after the operation. Moreover, no significant difference in the visual analog score (VAS) between the two groups 3 days after the operation, but the other postoperative observation indexes in the ERAS group were significantly better than those in the control group. Nausea and vomiting in the ERAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group, with no significant difference in other complications between the two groups.

Conclusion

ERAS could improve children’s comfort, reduce some postoperative complications, reduce hospitalization expenses, and speed up recovery from acute appendicitis treated by laparoscopy. Therefore, it has clinical application value.
One-dimensional array of nanoparticles using segmented polyurethane nanofibers as a template for enhanced catalytic efficiency
Authors: Meboso Taichi , Goto Satoshi , Takamura Eiichiro , Sakamoto Hiroaki
Published: April 2023

Metal nanoparticles are used to catalyze chemical reactions. Among them, noble metal nanoparticle catalysts need to be used in small quantities. Some reports reveal catalytic activity is further improved by controlling nanoparticle arrangement and distribution. Much research has been directed toward the formation of one-dimensional arrays by compositing metal nanoparticles with template materials. However, previously reported methods form arrays that lack linearity or suitable interparticle distances, which is ascribable to array crossover and particle aggregation, in addition their fabrication procedures are expensive and not suitable for large-scale practical use. Here we show that one-dimensional arrays of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) were formed by using electrospun polyurethane nanofibers as a template. PtNPs adsorbed on each polyurethane nanofiber form a one-dimensional array over longer distances. The catalytic H2O2 decomposition performance of the prepared one-dimensional PtNP arrays was 45.6% decomposition in 15 min, which revealed a decomposition rate more than twice that obtained using the same number of PtNPs randomly distributed on the template or dispersed in a liquid. Although this method is a very simple method for one-dimensional arrangement of metal nanoparticles, thereby improving catalytic efficiency per metal nanoparticle, which help to reduce the amount of metal nanoparticles used during catalysis and contributes the cost of catalysis products cost.
Multiple loci with cumulative effects on late maturity α-amylase (LMA) in wheat
Authors: Mares Daryl , Derkx Adinda , Mather Diane E. , Cheong Judy , Mrva Kolumbina
Published: April 2023

Main conclusion

The cumulative action of combinations of alleles at several loci on the wheat genome is associated with different levels of resistance to late maturity α-amylase in bread wheat.

Resistance to late maturity α-amylase (LMA) in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) involves a complex interaction between the genotype and the environment. Unfortunately, the incidence and severity of LMA expression is difficult to predict and once the trait has been triggered an unacceptably low falling number, high grain α-amylase may be the inevitable consequence. Wheat varieties with different levels of resistance to LMA have been identified but whilst some genetic loci have been reported, the mechanisms involved in resistance and the interaction between resistance loci requires further research. This investigation was focused on mapping resistance loci in populations derived by inter-crossing resistant wheat varieties or crossing resistant lines with a very susceptible line and then mapping quantitative trait loci. In addition to the previously reported locus on chromosome 7B for which a candidate gene has been proposed, loci were mapped on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 6A and 7D. These loci have limited effects on their own but have a cumulative effect in combination with each other. Further research will be required to determine the nature of the causal genes at these loci, to develop diagnostic markers and determine how the genes fit into the pathway that leads to the induction of α-AMY1 transcription in the aleurone of developing wheat grains. Depending on the target environmental conditions, different combinations of alleles may be required to achieve a low risk of LMA expression.
A deeper look into the functions of right ventricle using three-dimensional echocardiography: the forgotten ventricle in children with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Rakha Shaimaa , Hammad Ayman , Elmarsafawy Hala , Korkor Mai S. , Eid Riham
Published: April 2023

Studies on the right ventricular dysfunction (RV) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are limited, particularly in the pediatric age group. The study aimed to identify subclinical RV alterations in childhood-onset SLE (c-SLE) using conventional and three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE). Forty SLE pediatric patients and 40 healthy controls were included. Disease activity and chronicity were evaluated by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score and SLE damage index (SDI). Participants underwent detailed RV echocardiographic examination with conventional and 3DE assessment using 3D auto RV software. Patients included 35/40 (87.5%) females with mean age of 15.6 ± 1.7 years. Using conventional pulmonary artery systolic pressure echocardiography-derived measurement, none of the c-SLE patients had pulmonary hypertension. By 3DE, RV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes (p = < 0.001, 0.02, respectively) were greater, whereas 3D-derived RV ejection fraction (p < 0.001), septal, and lateral longitudinal strain (both p < 0.001) were lower in SLE. SDI displayed a significant correlation with 3D auto RV ejection fraction (EF), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change, and RV longitudinal strain (RVLS)-free wall (p = 0.01, 0.003, 0.007, and < 0.001, respectively). Cumulative SLEDAI score also showed a significant correlation with RV EF, TAPSE, FAC, and RVLS-free wall (p = 0.03, 0.007, 0.002, and < 0.001, respectively). By multivariate regression analysis, SDI remained an independent predictor of RVLS-free wall (ß coefficient − 0.4, p = 0.03) and TAPSE (ß − 0.5, p = 0.02).

  Conclusion: Subtle right ventricular myocardial dysfunction could be detected in childhood-onset SLE patients, especially via 3D-derived auto RV echocardiographic parameters, despite the absence of evident pulmonary hypertension. These parameters correlate with the SLE disease activity and chronicity scores.

What is Known:

•Diseases of the cardiovascular system are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in SLE patients.

•RV labeled the forgotten ventricle in many diseases, was also forgotten in SLE patients and has been rarely addressed in adults, with scarce research in pediatrics.

What is New:

•Right ventricular functions are affected in children with SLE in comparison to healthy controls, especially three-dimensional echocardiography-derived parameters, which is an aspect that has not been investigated in previous research in the pediatric age group.

•Some of the detected myocardial dysfunctions of the right ventricle correlated with SLE disease activity and chronicity-related scores.
Evidenzbasierte naturheilkundliche Pflegeinterventionen in der Schmerztherapie
Authors: Stolz Regina , Kaschdailewitsch Elke , Kröger Birgit , Noack Bettina , Mahler Cornelia
Published: April 2023

Beruflich Pflegende sind in allen Versorgungssettings und bei allen Zielgruppen mit Patient:innen konfrontiert, die an akuten und/oder chronischen Schmerzen leiden. Obwohl in nationalen und internationalen Leitlinien zu chronischen Schmerzen die Bedeutung nichtmedikamentöser Maßnahmen (beispielsweise Wärme- und Kälteanwendungen) und edukativer Ansätze, wie der Vermittlung von Selbstmanagementstrategien im Umgang mit dem Schmerz, betont wird, ist die medikamentöse Therapie die am häufigsten angewendete Maßnahme bei chronischen Schmerzen. Ziel des vorliegenden Beitrags ist es, einen Einblick in das Potenzial naturheilkundlicher Pflegeinterventionen für die Versorgung von Schmerzpatient:innen zu geben, wobei der Fokus auf sogenannten Äußeren Anwendungen wie Wickeln und Auflagen liegt, die risikoarm und einfach anzuwenden sind, sodass sie zur Selbstanwendung geeignet sind. Die Anwendung nichtmedikamentöser Verfahren wie auch die Beratung und Schulung von Patient:innen in den Anwendungen bieten Pflegefachpersonen die Möglichkeit eines autonomen Handlungsfelds und machen den Pflegeberuf attraktiver, da ein eigenständiges und verantwortliches Handeln gefördert wird.
Synthesis of bio-based materials from agricultural residues for treatment of petrochemical wastewater
Authors: Nasir Mohammad , Kumar Praveen , Srivastava Vimal Chandra , Verma Shilpi , Kaur Ramanpreet , Mall Indra Deo , Štangar Urška Lavrenčič
Published: April 2023

4-Carboxybenzaldehyde (4-CBA), a major component of purified terephthalic acid wastewater, is toxic to living organisms and required to be removed before the discharge of treated wastewater in a natural water body. In this work, the adsorptive removal of 4-CBA was studied using bagasse fly ash (BFA), a waste product from the sugar industry. The adsorption capacity of BFA was compared with the commercially available adsorbent, granular activated carbon (GAC). A 4-factorial, 5-stage central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize 4-CBA removal and adsorption uptake by BFA using response surface methodology (RSM). The variables considered for the study were pH, adsorbent dose (m), initial concentration (Co) and time (t). At the optimum treatment conditions of pH = 4,m = 9 g/L,Co = 100 mg/L andt = 7.5 h, the removal efficiency and adsorption uptake of 4-CBA on BFA were found to be 79% and 9.9 mg/g, respectively. BET surface area of BFA was determined to be 284 m2/g. A kinetic study was performed using a first- and second pseudo-order model. The adsorption equilibrium data were fitted for various adsorption models. A positive value$$\Delta H^{0}$$ΔH0indicates that the adsorption process is endothermic. This study indicated that BFA is a cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of 4-CBA with high adsorption capacity and fast kinetics.

Graphical Abstract
Recent flex power changes
Authors: Esenbuğa Özge Gizem , Hauschild André , Steigenberger Peter
Published: April 2023

The redistribution of the transmit power among different GPS signal components is called flex power, and it is implemented on modernized GPS satellites starting with Block IIR-M. The purpose of the flex power is to increase signal protection against jamming. It has been mostly active since the beginning of 2017 in different flex power modes and is visible in the carrier-to-noise density ratio (C/N0) observations as stepwise changes. Especially after the beginning of 2020, the flex power modes changed frequently. We summarize these changes and study their impact on differential code biases (DCBs) which is 0.3 ns on average for L1 and L2 intra-frequency DCBs. The flex power is analyzed daily using C/N0 measurements of the globally distributed GNSS observations network from January 1, 2020 until February 28, 2022. The flex power activation times are written into a dedicated block of the SINEX metadata format.
Your place or mine? Exploring birdwatching tourists’ behaviour disturbing birds in a nature reserve
Authors: Aas Øystein , Jørgensen Frida Marie Omma , Stensland Stian , Reiertsen Tone , Dybsand Hilde Nikoline Hambro
Published: April 2023

To manage for more sustainable wildlife viewing tourism, a better understanding of tourists’ behaviour that might disturb and negatively affect wildlife such as birds is needed. We conducted a qualitative case study of visitors to Hornøya, a protected bird cliff in Northern Norway. Behaviours with the potential to disturb seabirds at the site were explored using the theory of planned behaviour as a guiding framework. In-depth interviews and observations were used to explore why some visitors perform illegal or unwanted, potentially harmful behaviours, and to understand attitudes, social norms, and perceived behaviour control as influencing factors. The tourists visited Hornøya to experience seabirds in their natural surroundings, without causing harm. They were emotionally affected by the bird encounters, which may lead to thoughts and reflections about environmental challenges and nature protection. Visitors generally did not intend to disturb birds during these encounters. However, many visitors interpreted the birds’ behaviour as meaning that they were not easily disturbed. Poorly developed social norms among visitors, in combination with limited presence of surveillance/guide personnel, and strong behavioural control among some visitors (willingness and ability to engage in illegal behaviour) led to occasional breaching of formal rules as well as incidents of inappropriate, potentially disturbing behaviour towards birds. Experienced wildlife photographers tended to show willingness and ability to engage in illegal behaviour more often than the two other segments.
Understanding CNN fragility when learning with imbalanced data
Authors: Dablain Damien , Jacobson Kristen N. , Bellinger Colin , Roberts Mark , Chawla Nitesh V.
Published: April 2023

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved impressive results on imbalanced image data, but they still have difficulty generalizing to minority classes and their decisions are difficult to interpret. These problems are related because the method by which CNNs generalize to minority classes, which requires improvement, is wrapped in a black-box. To demystify CNN decisions on imbalanced data, we focus on their latent features. Although CNNs embed the pattern knowledge learned from a training set in model parameters, the effect of this knowledge is contained in feature and classification embeddings (FE and CE). These embeddings can be extracted from a trained model and their global, class properties (e.g., frequency, magnitude and identity) can be analyzed. We find that important information regarding the ability of a neural network to generalize to minority classes resides in the class top-K CE and FE. We show that a CNN learns a limited number of class top-K CE per category, and that their magnitudes vary based on whether the same class is balanced or imbalanced. We hypothesize that latent class diversity is as important as the number of class examples, which has important implications for re-sampling and cost-sensitive methods. These methods generally focus on rebalancing model weights, class numbers and margins; instead of diversifying class latent features. We also demonstrate that a CNN has difficulty generalizing to test data if the magnitude of its top-K latent features do not match the training set. We use three popular image datasets and two cost-sensitive algorithms commonly employed in imbalanced learning for our experiments.
Intelligent control of cardiac rhythms using artificial neural networks
Authors: Lima Gabriel S. , Savi Marcelo A. , Bessa Wallace M.
Published: April 2023

Cardiac rhythms are related to heart electrical activity, being an essential aspect of the cardiovascular physiology. Usually, these rhythms are represented by electrocardiograms (ECGs) that are useful to detect cardiac pathologies. This paper investigates the control of cardiac rhythms in order to induce normal rhythms from pathological responses. The strategy is based on the electrocardiograms and considers different pathologies. An intelligent controller is proposed considering the ECG as the observable variable. In order to allow the assessment of the control performance, synthetic ECGs are produced from a reduced-order mathematical model that presents close agreement with experimental measurements. The adopted model comprises a network of oscillators formed by sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node and His-Purkinje complex. Three nonlinear oscillators are employed to represent each one of these nodes that are connected by delayed couplings. The controller considers the control variable at the His-Purkinje complex. To evaluate the ability of the control law to deal with both intra- and interpatient variability, the heart model is assumed to be not available to the controller designer, being used only in the simulator to assess the control performance. The incorporation of artificial neural networks into a Lyapunov-based control scheme, however, allows the presented intelligent approach to compensate for unknown cardiac dynamics. Results show that abnormal rhythms can be avoided by applying the proposed control scheme, turning the electrocardiogram closer to the expected normal behavior and preventing critical cardiac responses.
Government R&D spending as a driving force of technology convergence: a case study of the Advanced Sequencing Technology Program
Authors: Zhu Chen , Motohashi Kazuyuki
Published: April 2023

This study investigates the impact of government R&D spending on promoting technology convergence. We test the hypotheses that a government funding program positively affects technology convergence, and that the effects vary depending on the participant (i.e., academic and industrial inventors). We used the Advanced Sequencing Technology Program (ASTP) as an example to investigate this issue. We develop a novel dataset by linking the ASTP grantee information with the PATSTAT patent database. On this basis, we develop inventor-level characteristics for propensity score matching, selecting a control group of inventors from among those enrolled in the ASTP. Then, we employ difference-in-difference models to assess the program’s impact on the matched sample. The results support the program’s role as a driving force of technology convergence. The findings also indicate that the program has a greater influence on industry inventors than on academic counterparts. Furthermore, we conceptualize the program’s “leverage effect” and demonstrate that it can attract more external industrial inventors than academic inventors. The work advances our understanding of the role of a government-funded program in encouraging convergence and has implications for developing convergence-related R&D programs in the future.
Structure and Reactivity of the Ionic Liquid [C1C1Im][Tf2N] on Cu(111)
Authors: Adhikari Rajan , Massicot Stephen , Fromm Lukas , Talwar Timo , Gezmis Afra , Meusel Manuel , Bayer Andreas , Jaekel Simon , Maier Florian , Görling Andreas , Steinrück Hans-Peter
Published: April 2023

We studied the adsorption and reaction behavior of the ionic liquid (IL) 1,3-dimethylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([C1C1Im][Tf2N]) on Cu(111) using non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) in ultrahigh vacuum as a function of temperature, supported by density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our nc-AFM results for sub-monolayer IL films show that at 200 K, the IL self-assembles into highly ordered islands, with cations and anions arranged next to each other in a checkerboard–type phase. After extended annealing at 300 K, the structure transforms first to a hexagonal phase and then to a porous honeycomb phase. Simultaneously, many small, disordered islands are formed. Complementary ARXPS reveals no IL desorption until 300 K. However, a significant fraction of the IL is converted to a new species as deduced from new, strongly shifted peaks that develop in the XP spectra at around 275 K and grow with annealing time at 300 K. We correlate the remaining unshifted peaks to the ordered phases observed in nc-AFM and the shifted peaks to decomposition products, which appear as disordered islands in nc-AFM and STM. Upon further heating to 360 K, about 50% of the anions or their decomposition products desorb from the surface, while cation-related fragments mostly remain on the surface. From DFT, we obtain additional information on the structure of the ordered phases and the interaction of the IL with the substrate.
Identification of breed-specific genomic variants in Colombian Creole pig breeds by whole-genome sequencing
Authors: Suárez-Mesa Rafael , Ros-Freixedes Roger , Laghouaouta Houda , Pena Ramona N. , Hernández-Ortiz Byron , Rondón-Barragán Iang , Estany Joan
Published: April 2023

Dissecting genetic variation of local breeds is important for the success of conservation. In this research, we investigated the genomic variation of Colombian Creole (CR) pigs, with a focus on the breed-specific variants in the exonic region of 34 genes with reported effects on adaptive and economic traits. Seven individuals of each of the three CR breeds (CM, Casco de Mula; SP, San Pedreño; and ZU, Zungo) were whole-genome sequenced along with 7 Iberian (IB) pigs and 7 pigs of each of the four most used cosmopolitan (CP) breeds (Duroc, Landrace × Large White, and Pietrain). Molecular variability in CR (6,451,218 variants; from 3,919,242, in SP, to 4,648,069, in CM) was comparable to that in CP, but higher than in IB. For the investigated genes, SP pigs displayed less exonic variants (178) than ZU (254), CM (263), IB (200), and the individual CP genetic types (201 to 335). Sequence variation in these genes confirmed the resemblance of CR to IB and indicates that CR pigs, particularly ZU and CM, are not exempt from selective introgression of other breeds. A total of 50 exonic variants were identified as being potentially specific to CR, including a high-impact deletion in the intron between exons 15 and 16 of the leptin receptor gene, which was only found in CM and ZU. The identification of breed-specific variants in genes related to adaptive and economical traits can bolster the understanding of the role of gene-environment interactions on local adaptation and points the way for effective breeding and conservation of CR pigs.
Transition of the procurement process to Paris-compatible buildings: consideration of environmental life cycle costing in tendering and awarding
Authors: Scherz Marco , Kreiner Helmuth , Alaux Nicolas , Passer Alexander
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the construction industry account for an enormous share of total global CO2 emissions. The numerous construction activities therefore continue to reduce the remaining carbon budget. One lever for the reduction of these GHG emissions lies in the procurement process of buildings. For this reason, a process model was developed that takes embodied and operational emissions into account in the tendering and awarding phase of buildings.

Methods

To validate the developed theoretical framework, environmental life cycle costing (eLCC) was conducted on a single-family house case study, taking into account external cost caused by GHG emissions. Various shadow prices were defined for the calculation of external cost to identify changes in award decisions. We further investigated a results-based climate finance (RBCF) instrument, i.e., the GHG emission bonus/malus, to demonstrate an approach for calculating Paris-compatible cost (PCC) scenarios.

Results

We show that an award decision based on life cycle costing (LCC) leads to a 12% reduction in GHG emissions. A further reduction in GHG emissions can be achieved by awarding contracts based on eLCC. However, the required shadow prices within the eLCC awards to influence the award decision are quite high. With the development of the LCA-based bonus/malus system, PCC scenarios can be determined at sufficient shadow prices, and further GHG emission reductions can be achieved.

Conclusions

Since the implementation of LCA and LCC in the tendering and awarding process is currently not mandatory, in this context, the next step towards Paris-compatible buildings must first be taken by the awarding authorities as well as the policy-makers. However, the application of the LCA-based bonus/malus system and thus the awarding of contracts according to PCC scenarios show the enormous GHG emissions reduction potential and thus represent an innovative and sustainable framework for an adapted procurement process.
The Role of Aging, Time Perspective, and Gambling-Related Cognitions in Affective Decision-Making
Authors: Cosenza Marina , Ciccarelli Maria , Matarazzo Olimpia , Griffiths Mark D. , Nigro Giovanna
Published: April 2023

Several studies have examined age differences in affective decision-making utilizing the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). However, findings are mixed, with some studies reporting impairments due to aging and others showing no age-related differences. The few studies that have explored personality correlates of IGT performance suggest that underlying personality characteristics may impact performance on the IGT beyond aging. Therefore, the present study investigated the interplay between chronological age, temporal perspective, and gambling-related cognitions in affective decision-making while controlling for gambling severity. Through snowball sampling, 302 adults aged 18–75 years were recruited. They administered the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), Consideration of Future Consequences scale (CFC-14), Gambling-Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS), and IGT. Regression analysis showed that future orientation and gambling-related cognitions (namely gambling expectancies, illusion of control, and predictive control) predicted IGT performance. Gender, age, education, and gambling severity were not included in the final model. Path analysis showed that gambling expectancies positively impacted the performance, whereas illusion of control and predictive control were detrimental to decision-making. Being oriented toward the future mitigated the negative effects of the two cognitive biases on IGT performance. The present study shows that aging does not affect negatively IGT performance. The quality of performance appears to depend upon individual characteristics, such as future orientation and gambling-related cognitions, irrespective of gambling severity. These findings suggest that individual characteristics should be considered in the clinical evaluation of IGT performance.
Changes in renal function over time in outpatients with eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2: implication for timing of renal function testing before contrast-enhanced CT imaging
Authors: Kuwatsuru Yoshiki , Hirano Takahiro , Wakabayashi Ryozo , Ishisaki Juliana Yumi , Sokooshi Hideaki , Kuwatsuru Ryohei
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the associations between comorbidities and kidney function decline at 6-month and 1-year follow-up in outpatients with initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Materials and methods

Outpatients aged 18 and older with confirmed diagnosis, who had eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 measured between April 2017 and March 2019, were included in this retrospective observational study. Of them, 30,595 included outpatients had 6-month eGFR test and 27,698 included outpatients had 1-year eGFR test. The outpatients were further divided into two groups based on initial eGFR: between 30 and 59 and ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Impaired renal function was defined as eGFR declined to below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. The comorbidities with P values less than 0.1 identified in univariable logistic regression models were entered into the multivariable analysis with backward selection, thereby identifying comorbidities that increased the risk of eGFR decline at 6-month and 1-year follow-up.

Results

Outpatients with initial eGFR between 30 and 59 mL/min/1.73 m2 were 175.94 times more likely to have eGFR decline at 6 months, and were 94.10 times more likely to have eGFR decline at 1 year, compared with their corresponding initial eGFR ≥ 60 counterparts. Multivariable logistic regression analyses disclosed that chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and heart failure were independent risk factors for eGFR decline in outpatients with initial eGFR between 30 and 59 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Conclusions

Outpatients with initial eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 might not need routine eGFR test prior to contrast-enhanced CT scan for 1 year. In addition, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and heart failure increased the risk of declined renal function, particularly, in outpatients with initial eGFR between 30 and 59 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Pair Fraction Distribution of the One-Sublattice Modified Quasichemical Model—Application to the Cu-Fe-S Liquid Solution
Authors: Waldner Peter
Published: April 2023

Within the formalism of the one-sublattice modified quasichemical model an equation for the computation of pair fraction distributions is derived considering distinct model modifications reported in the literature. For generalization an equation system is presented to determine pair fraction distributions of multicomponent solutions.
Consistency of the derived equation with the analogous relationship of former versions of the modified quasichemical model is demonstrated. The derived equation is applied to the Cu-Fe-S liquid solution and its binary subsystems. Pair fraction distributions calculated exemplarily at 1200 °C (1473 K) are used to interpret recently reported predictions of the high-temperature Cu-Fe-S system.
Life satisfaction in UK emerging adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Li Christy Lok Yan , Gutman Leslie Morrison
Published: April 2023

Current research indicates that young adults are at a higher risk of deteriorating wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to older adults. Drawing upon the Understanding Society COVID-19 survey, this study examined the trajectory of life satisfaction in UK emerging adults from May 2020 to September 2021 with social, health, financial, and demographic factors as covariates. The analytic sample included 880 participants (612 females, 268 males) between the ages of 18–29. Growth curve modelling was used to estimate the trajectory of life satisfaction and examine whether the covariates account for variation in the mean level and/or slopes. The trajectory of life satisfaction declined slightly between May 2020 and January 2021 and then increased to September 2021, aligning with the tightening and easing of UK COVID-19 policies. Greater perceived current financial difficulties, pre-existing mental health and physical health conditions, and higher self-reported loneliness were associated with lower life satisfaction. Being female and living with a romantic partner, more face-to-face social interactions, and higher household income were associated with more life satisfaction. Gender interacted with pre-existing mental health conditions. Women with no pre-existing mental health conditions reported the highest level of life satisfaction, while women with pre-existing mental health conditions reported the lowest level, compared to men who reported a similar level of life satisfaction regardless of their mental health. The findings from the present study contribute toward the current understanding of changes in life satisfaction throughout the pandemic among emerging adults. Implications for intervention are discussed.
How the environment evokes actions that lead to different goals: the role of object multi-functionality in pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer
Authors: Qin Kaiyang , Marien Hans , Custers Ruud , Aarts Henk
Published: April 2023

Research shows that stimuli in the environment can trigger behavior via the activation of goal representations. This process can be tested in the Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) paradigm, where stimuli can only affect behavior through the activation of the representation of its desired outcome (i.e., the PIT effect). Previous research has demonstrated that the PIT effect is stronger when the goal is more desirable. While this research only looked at actions that have single outcomes (e.g., obtaining a snack to satisfy appetite), in the present paper, we reason that actions that are instrumental in obtaining outcomes that are desirable in multiple ways (e.g., obtaining a snack to satisfy one’s appetite, giving it to a friend, trading it for money) should produce stronger PIT effects. In two experiments, participants learned to perform left and right key presses to earn a snack, either framed as having a single function or multiple functions. Participants also learned to associate the two differently framed snacks with two cues. In a PIT test, they were required to press the keys as fast as possible upon exposure to the cues (i.e., the PIT effect). We found that cues associated with the multi-functional snack facilitated the actions that earned those snacks before, while cues associated with the single-functional snack did not facilitate such actions. We discuss these findings in the context of research on free choice and personal autonomy and how people appreciate the multi-functional nature of their goal-directed behavior in the environment.