bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Algorithmic aspects of temporal betweenness
Authors: Buß Sebastian , Molter Hendrik , Niedermeier Rolf , Rymar Maciej
Published: April 2024

The betweenness centrality of a graph vertex measures how often this vertex is visited on shortest paths between other vertices of the graph. In the analysis of many real-world graphs or networks, the betweenness centrality of a vertex is used as an indicator for its relative importance in the network. In particular, it is among the most popular tools in social network analysis. In recent years, a growing number of real-world networks have been modeled as temporal graphs instead of conventional (static) graphs. In a temporal graph, we have a fixed set of vertices and there is a finite discrete set of time steps, and every edge might be present only at some time steps. While shortest paths are straightforward to define in static graphs, temporal paths can be considered “optimal” with respect to many different criteria, including length, arrival time, and overall travel time (shortest, foremost, and fastest paths). This leads to different concepts of temporal betweenness centrality, posing new challenges on the algorithmic side. We provide a systematic study of temporal betweenness variants based on various concepts of optimal temporal paths.

Computing the betweenness centrality for vertices in a graph is closely related to counting the number of optimal paths between vertex pairs. While in static graphs computing the number of shortest paths is easily doable in polynomial time, we show that counting foremost and fastest paths is computationally intractable (#P-hard), and hence, the computation of the corresponding temporal betweenness values is intractable as well. For shortest paths and two selected special cases of foremost paths, we devise polynomial-time algorithms for temporal betweenness computation. Moreover, we also explore the distinction between strict (ascending time labels) and non-strict (non-descending time labels) time labels in temporal paths. In our experiments with established real-world temporal networks, we demonstrate the practical effectiveness of our algorithms, compare the various betweenness concepts, and derive recommendations on their practical use.
A note on quantum K-theory of root constructions
Authors: Tseng Hsian-Hua
Published: April 2024

We consider K-theoretic Gromov-Witten theory of root constructions. We calculate some genus
$0$
K-theoretic Gromov-Witten invariants of a root gerbe. We also obtain a K-theoretic relative/orbifold correspondence in genus
$0$
.
THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN JURISDICTION AND ADMISSIBILITY IN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION
Authors: Ren Raphael
Published: April 2024

The dichotomy between jurisdiction and admissibility developed in public international law has drawn much attention from arbitrators and judges in recent years. Inspired by Paulsson's ‘tribunal versus claim’ lodestar, attempts have been made to transpose the distinction from public international law to investment treaty arbitration, yielding a mixed reception from tribunals. Remarkably, a second leap of transposition has found firmer footing in commercial arbitration, culminating in the prevailing view of the common law courts in England, Singapore and Hong Kong that arbitral decisions on admissibility are non-reviewable. However, this double transposition from international law to commercial arbitration is misguided. First, admissibility is a concept peculiar to international law and not embodied in domestic arbitral statutes. Second, its importation into commercial arbitration risks undermining the fundamental notion of jurisdiction grounded upon the consent of parties. Third, the duality of ‘night and day’ postulated by Paulsson to distinguish between reviewable and non-reviewable arbitral rulings is best reserved to represent the basic dichotomy between jurisdiction and merits.
The “Open Sore of America”: Race and the American Congo Reform Movement, 1885–1908
Authors: CLAY DEAN
Published: April 2024

From the beginning of King Leopold II's endeavours to secure the Congo Free State (CFS) as his personal domain, through to the legitimization of his rule at the Berlin Conference in 1884–85, the United States has played an important role in the tragic history of the CFS. This article seeks to explore the complex relationship between humanitarianism and race in the story of the American connection with the CFS and subsequent Congo reform movement. It will unpack the role of key individuals involved and their relationship with American humanitarians in the reform movement, arguing that while pursuing reform in the CFS, American humanitarians established close relationships and collaborated with notable racists who shared their beliefs on race and colonialism. By examining these alliances, it becomes evident that their efforts for reform were entangled with individuals who contradicted the supposed humanitarian goals. This article will also examine the reception of this activism in the African American press, showing that the response to the reform campaign was ambivalent at best, with questions raised as to why key African American activists involved in the movement focussed their efforts abroad in the era of Jim Crow in the US.
Cystacanths of Bolbosoma vasculosum in the black scabbard fish Aphanopus carbo, oceanic horse mackerel Trachurus picturatus and common dolphin Delphinus delphis from Madeira, Portugal
Authors: Costa G. , Chubb J.C. , Veltkamp C.J.
Published: April 2024

Cystacanths of the acanthocephalan, Bolbosoma vasculosum Rudolphi 1819, were found to be encapsulated in the connective tissues of the viscera of the black scabbard fish, Aphanopus carbo and oceanic horse mackerel, Trachurus picturatusfrom Madeira, Atlantic Ocean. Juvenile worms were obtained from the intestine of a stranded common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, also from Madeira. Cystacanths were 11–15 mm long, with a proboscis of 18–19 longitudinal rows, eight hooks per row, and two sets of trunk spines. Overall, the morphology and dimensions of the proboscis, neck and trunk corresponded to previous descriptions. Scanning electron microscopy of the proboscis structures and trunk spines is provided for the first time. The prevalence of B. vasculosum in A. carbo increased with fish length. There were no statistical differences in the prevalence and intensity of infection between seasons. The intensity of infection was similar for male and female fishes, but there were significant differences in relation to length, longer fishes having heavier infections. Aphanopus carbo from Madeira represents a new host record and a new geographic location for B. vasculosum.
Rodents as reservoir hosts in the transmission of Schistosoma mansoni in Richard-Toll, Senegal, West Africa
Authors: Duplantier J.M. , Sène M.
Published: April 2024

More than 2000 animals belonging to six different rodent species and one insectivore species were examined for infection with schistosomes in the region of Richard-Toll, Senegal. Two murid rodents, Arvicanthisniloticus and Mastomyshuberti, were found infected with Schistosomamansoni. Prevalences were about 5% for both rodent species with a mean worm burden of about 20 worms per host. The sex-ratios of S.mansoni worms were always biased towards males. Prevalences and worm burdens, although similar in both male and female rodents, increased significantly with age. The highest prevalences and worm burdens were found near habitations and decreased significantly with the distance from the town of Richard-Toll. Eggs were also observed in the liver and faeces of the two naturally infected rodent species. The results suggest that rodents participate in the transmission of intestinal schistosomiasis in Richard-Toll but the human population is the main source of infection. The genetic resemblance between human and murine isolates of S. mansoni suggests that further epidemiological studies are needed in this region of Senegal.
The use of zeolites as slow release anthelmintic carriers
Authors: Dyer A. , Morgan S. , Wells P. , Williams C.
Published: April 2024

This work examines the ability of commerical zeolite Y to act as a slow release agent for a number of anthelmintic drugs. Administration to rats, dosed with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, of pyrantel and/or fenbendazole and pigs, dosed with Ascaris and Oesophagostomum, of dichlorvos (DDVP) loaded onto zeolite Y was more sucessful in killing adult worms than administration of the pure drug alone. The zeolite Y was used as supplied for initial studies and then later dealuminated for further studies. The drug loadings were monitored by thermal analysis and the loaded zeolites were used in several field trials. The results indicate that zeolite Y is a suitable vehicle for the slow release of some anthelmintics. The slow release of drug from the zeolite matrix improved its efficacy.
Changes in hepatic lipids of mice infected with cysticerci of Taenia crassiceps
Authors: Corbin I. , Novak M. , Blackburn B.J.
Published: April 2024

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to investigate the effect of infection with Taenia crassiceps cysticerci on the lipid profile of mouse liver. Chloroform/methanol extracts of livers from infected mice showed lower concentrations of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, total glycerophospholipid, triacylglycerol, total fatty acid (FA) and all measured FA components than those from controls. Furthermore, the ratios obtained on dividing concentrations of the FA components by that of total FA demonstrate that the concentration decreases caused by infection are less for polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) than for other FAs. Extracts of T. crassiceps displayed a similar lipid profile to that of host liver but contained a lower lipid content and a shorter average FA chain length.
Helminth communities of pademelons, Thylogale stigmatica and T. thetis from eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea
Authors: Griffith J.E. , Beveridge I. , Chilton N.B. , Johnson P.M.
Published: April 2024

Gastrointestinal helminths were collected from pademelons of the genus Thylogale (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Examined were 12 Thylogale stigmatica stigmatica and 13 T. s. wilcoxi, the latter subdivided into eight specimens from the northern limit of their distribution and five from southern areas, all from eastern Queensland, Australia, one T. s. oriomo from Papua New Guinea and ten T. thetis from southeastern Queensland and northern New South Wales, Australia. Six species of cestodes and 40 species of nematodes were found. The helminth community of T. s. stigmatica was similar to that found in northern specimens of T. s. wilcoxi, while differences from the helminth community present in southern T. s. wilcoxi could be accounted for by parasites acquired from sympatric T. thetis. Thylogale thetis harboured a community of helminths distinct from but related to that in T. stigmatica. The evidence suggests that all subspecies of T. stigmatica examined share a common helminth community, but that in areas of sympatry, T. stigmatica and T. thetis share some of their parasites.
Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar
Authors: Abu-Madi M.A. , Lewis J.W. , Mikhail M. , El-Nagger M.E. , Behnke J.M.
Published: April 2024

Parasitic infections were studied for the first time in an urban population of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Doha. Only one species of helminth was found, the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta, and one ectoparasite, the flea Xenopsylla astia, from a sample size of 136 rats (52 males and 84 females). The prevalence of H. diminuta was 17.6%, increasing with host age but not in relation to host sex nor season of capture. Host age was a key factor in influencing abundance of infection, although there was a significant three-way interaction with season and host sex arising through heavy infections in juvenile male rats in the summer. The prevalence of X. astia was 45.6%, although both prevalence and abundance of infestations were season and host age dependent. In the winter prevalence and abundance were similar in both host age and sex groups, but in the summer both parameters of infestation were markedly higher among juveniles compared with adults. We found evidence for some association between these two species: H. diminuta was more prevalent among rats with fleas than among those without, although this association was season-, and independently sex- and age-dependent. There were no quantitative interactions and reasons for this are discussed in relation to the foraging and breeding behaviour of the brown rat in Qatar.
Act XI of 1857: The life and afterlife of an emergency statute in colonial and post-colonial India
Authors: Downs Troy
Published: April 2024

This article seeks to assess the legal legacy of one of British India’s most significant emergency acts: Act XI of 1857, also known as the State Offences Act. Although introduced during the Indian Uprising of 1857, it will be argued that the extra-judicial provisions contained in this act exerted a strong influence on the legal character of post-1857 ‘special’ or exceptional colonial criminal legislation, an influence that continued to be reflected in the punitive emergency laws set in place in post-colonial India. The long-term historical significance of Act XI will be illustrated by examining some of the more notable pieces of punitive or repressive legislation enacted in colonial and post-colonial India, namely the Murderous Outrages Act of 1867, the 1915 Defence of India (Criminal Law Amendment) Act, the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, the Defence of India Act, 1962, and, more recently, the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act of 1985.
Investigating the Uniform Information Density hypothesis with complex nominal compounds
Authors: Gamboa John C. B. , Fernandez Leigh B. , Allen Shanley E. M.
Published: April 2024

The Uniform Information Density (UID) hypothesis proposes that speakers communicate by transmitting information close to a constant rate. When choosing between two syntactic variants, it claims that speakers prefer the variant distributing information most evenly, avoiding signal peaks and troughs. If speakers prefer transmitting information uniformly, then comprehenders should also prefer a uniform signal, experiencing difficulty whenever confronted with informational peaks. However, the literature investigating this hypothesis has focused mostly on production, with only a few studies considering comprehension. In this study, we investigate comprehension in two eye-tracking experiments. Participants read sentences of two different lengths, reflecting different degrees of density, containing either a dense structure (a nominal compound, NC) or a structure that spreads the information through more words (a noun followed by a prepositional phrase, PP). Favoring the UID hypothesis, participants gazed longer at text segments following the critical structure when it was an NC than when it was a PP. They also regressed more in sentences containing longer structures. However, the pattern of results was not as clear as expected, potentially reflecting participants’ experience with the denser structure or task differences between production and comprehension. These aspects should be taken into account in future research investigating the UID hypothesis for comprehension.
Reflecting on the use of response times to index linguistic knowledge in SLA
Authors: Hui Bronson , Jia Ruirui
Published: April 2024

Response times (RTs) have become ubiquitous in second language acquisition (SLA) research, providing empirical evidence for the theorization of the language learning process. Recently, there have been discussions of some fundamental psychometric properties of RT data, including, but not limited to, their reliability and validity. In this light, we take a step back to reflect on the use of RT data to tap into linguistic knowledge in SLA. First, we offer a brief overview of how RT data are most commonly used as vocabulary and grammar measures. We then point out three key limitations of such uses, namely that (a) RT data can lack substantive importance without considerations of accuracy, (b) RT differences may or may not be a satisfactory psychometric individual difference measure, and (c) some tasks designed to elicit RT data may not be sufficiently fine-grained to target specific language processes. Our overarching goal is to enhance the awareness among SLA researchers of these issues when interpreting RT results and stimulate research endeavors that delve into the unique properties of RT data when used in our field.
Serological follow-up after syphilis diagnosis in Israel
Authors: Grauenfels Cohen Galia , Cohen Matan J. , Dveyrin Ze’ev , Mor Zohar , Rorman Efrat , Kaliner Ehud
Published: April 2024

The global incidence of syphilis is increasing. Continuity of care challenges the control of sexually transmitted diseases. In this study, we assessed the follow-up and serological decline differences between community- and hospital-diagnosed patients in Israel. A historical cohort study was conducted using the Israel National Syphilis Center (NSC) repository. Patients with a positive non-specific Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test between 2011 and 2020 were included. Rates of serological follow-up and serological titre decreases were compared between hospital- and community-diagnosed patients. The study included 4,445 patients, 2,596 (58.4%) were diagnosed in community clinics and 1,849 (41.6%) in hospitals. Of community-diagnosed patients, 1,957 (75.4%) performed follow-up testing, compared with 834 (51.2%) hospital-diagnosed patients (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the odds ratio of serology follow-up among community-diagnosed patients was 2.8 (95 per cent confidence interval (95% CI): 2.2–3.5) that of hospital-diagnosed patients. There were 1,397 (71.4%) community-diagnosed patients with serological titre decrease, compared with 626 (74.9%) hospital-diagnosed patients (p = 0.03). On multivariate analysis, this difference diminished. Serological follow-up testing is suboptimal and was performed more often among patients initially diagnosed in the community compared to hospitals. Continuity of care should be improved to promote successful patient care and prevent disease spread.
When Two Become One: Singular Duos and the Neuroethical Frontiers of Brain-to-Brain Interfaces
Authors: Zohny Hazem , Savulescu Julian
Published: April 2024

Advances in brain–brain interface technologies raise the possibility that two or more individuals could directly link their minds, sharing thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. This paper explores conceptual and ethical issues posed by such mind-merging technologies in the context of clinical neuroethics. Using hypothetical examples along a spectrum from loosely connected pairs to fully merged minds, the authors sketch out a range of factors relevant to identifying the degree of a merger. They then consider potential new harms like loss of identity, psychological domination, loss of mental privacy, and challenges for notions of autonomy and patient benefit when applied to merged minds. While radical technologies may seem to necessitate new ethical paradigms, the authors suggest the individual-focus underpinning clinical ethics can largely accommodate varying degrees of mind mergers so long as individual patient interests remain identifiable. However, advanced decisionmaking and directives may have limitations in addressing the dilemmas posed. Overall, mind-merging possibilities amplify existing challenges around loss of identity, relating to others, autonomy, privacy, and the delineation of patient interests. This paper lays the groundwork for developing resources to address the novel issues raised, while suggesting the technologies reveal continuity with current healthcare ethics tensions.
Bilingualism and ageing independently impact on language processing: evidence from comprehension and production
Authors: Fernandes Eunice G. , Segaert Katrien , Rahman Foyzul , Wetterlin Allison , Wheeldon Linda
Published: April 2024

To examine the combined effects of ageing and bilingualism in language processing, we tested young and older mono- and bilingual speakers in L1 comprehension and production. In Experiment 1, bilinguals were slower to detect words than monolinguals in sentences with a low-constraint context, but not when a high-constraint context was provided. Older adults tended to outperform younger adults in high-constraint sentences. In Experiment 2, older speakers were slower than younger speakers to produce small-scope prepositional phrases (e.g., ‘the coneabovethe grape), suggesting more extensive planning. Bilingual disadvantages were observed in larger-scope complex phrases (e.g., ‘the coneandthe pink grape’). Individual differences in language proficiency did not modulate the effects. The results support bilingual disadvantages in syntactic processing and age-preserved syntax, alongside semantic processing unaffected by either bilingualism or age. We found no interactions between age and bilingualism, suggesting that these two factors independently impact language processing.
The Cross-Regional Impact of Taiwan’s Same-Sex Marriage Legalisation: The Queer Economy of Welfare Mix
Authors: Lo Iris Po Yee , Yu Sam Wai Kam , Ho Grace , Ng Issac , Lee Sze Man
Published: April 2024

This article builds a bridge between research on the queer economy and that on the mixed economy of welfare by developing the ‘queer economy of welfare mix’ framework. While the two fields are related, there is a lack of discussion about the queer dimensions of the mixed economy of welfare or the mixed strategies employed by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals to explore the benefits and limitations of the queer economy. The purpose of our framework is to show how local and transnational goods provided by the mixed economy of welfare can enable LGBTQ+ individuals to organise their welfare through the mixed strategies – citizen strategy, consumer strategy, and consumer-citizen strategy. By examining Taiwan’s legalised same-sex marriage and its impact on Hong Kong and Mainland China, we demonstrate the empirical significance of the framework, which serves as an analytical tool for examining the government’s role in promoting LGBTQ+ individuals’ welfare and the challenges involved.
Silent Elements of Policy Change: Inflation and Uprating Mechanisms in the Low Countries
Authors: Cantillon Bea , Lemmens Anna , Neelen Wouter , van den Broeck Rebecca
Published: April 2024

Policy responses to the inflation crisis in Belgium and the Netherlands show great similarities but also significant differences. In both countries responses were quick and substantial. Measures covered prices more than household incomes while universal, not earmarked measures exceeded selective interventions. However, there were also major differences between the two countries. Because Belgium, unlike the Netherlands, could fall back on the mechanism of automatic indexation of wages and social benefits; it relied more on existing universal policy instruments while in the Netherlands more targeted ad hoc measures were taken which also allowed for innovation in policy making. These different policy paths have their origins in the 1980s when policy models began to diverge and different legacies emerged.
Patient altruism at the end of life: A scoping review
Authors: Sterie Anca-Cristina , Borasio Gian Domenico , Deml Michael J. , Gamondi Claudia , Jox Ralf J. , Larkin Philip , Trombert Alexia , Rubli Truchard Eve , Bernard Mathieu
Published: April 2024

Objectives

The concept of altruism is evidenced in various disciplines but remains understudied in end-of-life (EOL) contexts. Patients at the EOL are often seen as passive recipients of care, whereas the altruism of professionals and families receives more research and clinical attention. Our aim was to summarize the state of the scientific literature concerning the concept of patient altruism in EOL contexts.

Methods

In May 2023, we searched 11 databases for scientific literature on patient altruism in EOL contexts in consultation with a health information specialist. The scoping review is reported using the PRISMA checklist for scoping reviews. We used a data charting form to deductively extract data from the selected articles and then mapped data into 4 themes related to our research questions: how authors describe and employ the concept of patient altruism; expressions of patient altruism; consequences of patients’ altruistic acts; and possible interventions fostering patient altruism.

Results

Excluding duplicates, 2893 articles were retrieved; 33 were included in the final review. Altruism was generally considered as an act or intention oriented toward the benefit of a specific (known) or non-specific (generic) recipient. Patients expressed altruism through care and support, decisions to withhold treatment or actively hasten death, and engagement in advance care planning. Consequences of altruism were categorized in patient-centered (contribution to meaning in life and quality of life), non-patient-centered (leaving a positive impact and saving money), and negative consequences (generating feelings of guilt, exposing individuals with low self-esteem). Interventions to encourage altruism comprised specific interventions, providing opportunities to plan for future care, and recognizing and respecting the patients’ altruistic motivations.

Significance of results

We identified heterogeneous and limited research conceptualization of patient altruism and its operationalization in palliative care settings. A deeper conceptual, empirical, and theoretical exploration of patient altruism in EOL is necessary.
THE TEMPORAL CONTINUUM
Authors: ARDESHIR MOHAMMAD , RAMEZANIAN RASOUL
Published: April 2024

The continuum has been one of the most controversial topics in mathematics since the time of the Greeks. Some mathematicians, such as Euclid and Cantor, held the position that a line is composed of points, while others, like Aristotle, Weyl, and Brouwer, argued that a line is not composed of points but rather a matrix of a continued insertion of points. In spite of this disagreement on the structure of the continuum, they did distinguish the temporal line from the spatial line. In this paper, we argue that there is indeed a difference between the intuition of the spatial continuum and the intuition of the temporal continuum. The main primary aspect of the temporal continuum, in contrast with the spatial continuum, is the notion of orientation.

The continuum has usually been mathematically modeled by Cauchy sequences and the Dedekind cuts. While in the first model, each point can be approximated by rational numbers, in the second one, that is not possible constructively. We argue that points on the temporal continuum cannot be approximated by rationals as a temporal point is a flow that sinks to the past. In our model, the continuum is a collection of constructive Dedekind cuts, and we define two topologies for temporal continuum: 1. oriented topology and 2. the ordinary topology. We prove that every total function from the oriented topological space to the ordinary one is continuous.
The Swiss Patrician Families between Decline and Persistence: Power Positions and Kinship Ties (1890–1957)
Authors: Benz Pierre , Araujo Pedro , Legentilhomme Geoffroy , Mach André , Piguet Steven , Strebel Michael A. , Widmer Emilie
Published: April 2024

Scholarship demonstrated the major role of inheritance and kinship for elite’s power reproduction, particularly among noble families. In the absence of monarchic and court structures, ruling classes that enjoyed privileges and engaged in social closure could become the functional equivalent of a nobility. In this paper, we examine the evolution of the power of Swiss patrician families in the three major Swiss cities (Basel, Geneva, and Zurich) since the end of the nineteenth century and assess whether urban oligarchies endure in the twentieth century and what role kinship ties play in the reproduction of power structures. Building on a systematic database of 5,199 urban elites who hold power positions in the main economic, political, academic, and cultural institutions, we describe the evolution of Swiss patrician families between 1890 and 1957. Using social network, kinship, and sequence analysis, we provide a comprehensive investigation of the Swiss patrician elite’s evolution at both the individual and the family level. Our analyses show a general decline of patrician families’ presence in urban positions of power, however with significant variations according to both the cities and the spheres of activity. Furthermore, we identify distinct trajectories of families who have either lost their access to power positions, managed to access again or have remained in urban power positions according to different survival strategies. Beyond the Swiss case, we contribute to the literature on power and kinship through an interdisciplinary approach combining historical and sociological perspectives.
Assessment of Pre‐ and Post‐Fire Fuel Availability for Wildfire Management Based on L‐Band Polarimetric SAR
Authors: An Karen , Jones Cathleen E. , Lou Yunling
Published: April 2024

Many communities coexist with wildfires that lead to loss of lives, property, and ecosystem services. Remote sensing tools can aid disaster response and post‐event assessment, offering fire agencies opportunities for additional surveillance with radar, an all‐weather instrument that can image day or night. The Station (2009) and Bobcat (2020) Fires are the two largest fires in Los Angeles County history, each burning over 100,000 acres. These areas are imaged with NASA's Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar L‐band instrument. We test whether polarimetric radar can detect fire scars, burn severity, and different fuel types through its sensitivity to different scattering mechanisms. Polarimetric SAR products are moved into geographic information system‐friendly formats, and in lieu of available field measurements are analyzed alongside agency data showing fire perimeters, burn progression outlines, and soil burn severity. We find that the HV polarization returns and the primary scattering mechanism, quantified through the Cloude‐Pottier decomposition, are the most sensitive parameters. Higher HV values pre‐fire correspond well to areas of moderate and high soil burn severity, and the pattern of fire progression follows higher HV to some extent. Using an HV difference threshold of 1.5 dB, the Bobcat burn scar is identified at 0.70 accuracy when compared with the published fire perimeter. Alpha 1 Angle can also demonstrate sensitivity to soil burn severity pre‐ and post‐fire, showing vegetation types with increased surface scattering post‐fire, which can be used to map burn scars and track recovery by vegetation type.
An Experimental Study on EUV‐To‐Magnetogram Image Translation Using Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Dannehl Markus , Delouille Véronique , Barra Vincent
Published: April 2024

Deep generative models have recently become popular in heliophysics for their capacity to fill in gaps in solar observational data sets, thereby helping mitigating the data scarcity issue faced in space weather forecasting. A particular type of deep generative models, called conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (cGAN), has been used since a few years in the context of image‐to‐image (I2I) translation on solar observations. These algorithms have however hyperparameters whose values might influence the quality of the synthetic image. In this work, we use magnetograms produced by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and EUV images from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) for the problem of generating Artificial Intelligence (AI) synthetic magnetograms from multiple SDO/AIA channels using cGAN, and more precisely the Pix2PixCC algorithm. We perform a systematic study of the most important hyperparameters to investigate which hyperparameter might generate magnetograms of highest quality with respect to the Structural Similarity Index. We propose a structured way to perform training with various hyperparameter values, and provide diagnostic and visualization tools of the generated versus targeted image. Our results shows that when using a larger number of filters in the convolution blocks of the cGAN, the fine details in the generated magnetogram are better reconstructed. Adding several input channels besides the 304 Å channel does not improve the quality of generated magnetogram, but the hyperparameters controlling the relative importance of the different loss functions in the optimization process have an influence on the quality of the results.
Rossby Wave Amplified by Tropical Cyclones Over the Bay of Bengal and Its Downstream Impact on Precipitation in South China
Authors: Fan Xiaoting , Li Ying , Wei Na , Xie Yiyun , An Pengchao
Published: April 2024

Tropical cyclones (TCs) over the Bay of Bengal (BOB) can interact with the South Branch Trough (SBT) as they move northward and potentially amplify Rossby waves. This study evaluates the features of Rossby waves and their downstream impact on rainfall in South China. Results indicate that TC‐SBT interactions primarily occur in May and October‐November (Oct‐Nov), with probabilities of 59% and 53% respectively. Notably, the Rossby wave train associated with BOB TCs is more pronounced during Oct‐Nov due to the stronger subtropical westerly jet, in contrast to May. The downstream atmospheric response results in positive (negative) rainfall anomalies over South China in May (Oct‐Nov), particularly on the day following the maximum interaction day. Previous researches concerning TC‐extratropical flow interaction mainly focus on other basins where TCs move to higher latitudes, this study provides fresh insights into Rossby waves related to TC‐SBT interactions over the southern Tibetan Plateau.
Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on the Decadal Variability of the Upper Subtropical‐Tropical Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Roch M. , Brandt P. , Schmidtko S. , Tuchen F. P.
Published: April 2024

In the northeastern tropical Atlantic, a region of high potential vorticity (PV) determines the size of the exchange window for the interior thermocline flow of the subtropical cell via its variations in strength and extent. Variability of this PV barrier has the potential to impact the ventilation of the tropical Atlantic on decadal timescales. Here, the impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the PV barrier related to isopycnals within the thermocline of the subtropical‐tropical Atlantic Ocean is assessed from Argo observations for the time period of 2006–2022. Relative to the negative NAO phase (2009–2010), during the positive NAO phase (2014–2019), the North Atlantic subtropical high and the northeast trades are intensified. Satellite‐derived wind stress curl shows increased upwelling/downwelling on the equatorward/poleward side of the trade wind zone, respectively. In the subtropical‐tropical Atlantic, a symmetric pattern of isopycnal heave is observed: rising isopycnals within 20°N and 20°S and sinking poleward of that. With rising isopycnals, the PV barrier in the northeastern tropical Atlantic becomes stronger. Analyses of geostrophic velocities and the Sverdrup streamfunction show that during the positive NAO phase there are increased equatorward velocities at thermocline level along the western boundary and reduced velocities through the interior as a result of intensified northeast trades and therefore a strengthened PV barrier. Intensified trades lead to enhanced subduction of thermocline waters and, independent of that, to a strengthened Equatorial Undercurrent transport as observed at the mooring site at 0°, 23°W, likely via the pulling effect of the subtropical cells.
Automated Input Variable Selection for Analog Methods Using Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Horton P. , Martius O. , Grimm S. L.
Published: April 2024

Analog methods (AMs) have long been used for precipitation prediction and climate studies. However, they rely on manual selections of parameters, such as predictor variables and analogy criteria. Previous work showed the potential of genetic algorithms (GAs) to optimize most of the AM parameters. This research goes one step further and investigates the potential of GAs for automating the selection of the input variables and the analogy criteria (distance metric between two data fields) in AMs. Our study focuses on the prediction of daily precipitation in central Europe, specifically Switzerland, as a representative case. Comparative analysis against established methods demonstrates the superiority of GA‐optimized AMs in terms of predictive accuracy. The selected input variables exhibit strong associations with key meteorological processes that influence the generation of precipitation. Further, we identify a new analogy criterion inspired by the Teweles‐Wobus criterion, which consistently performs better than other Euclidean distances and could be used in classic AMs. In contrast to conventional stepwise selection approaches, GA‐optimized AMs display a preference for a flatter structure characterized by a single level of analogy and an increased number of variables. Overall, our study demonstrates the successful application of GAs in automating input variable selection for AMs, with potential implications for application in diverse locations and data exploration to predict alternative predictands. In a broader context, GAs could be used to perform input variable selection in other data‐driven methods, opening perspectives for a broad range of applications.
Anomalous Pressure Diffusion and Deformation in Two‐ and Three‐Dimensional Heterogeneous Fractured Media
Authors: Andrés Sandro , Dentz Marco , Cueto‐Felgueroso Luis
Published: April 2024

In fractured and stress‐sensitive reservoirs and aquifers, hydromechanical coupling is important, in connection with their heat and solute transport properties, and because the fluid production or extraction leads to land subsidence and potentially to induced seismicity. Classical dual‐porosity poroelasticity (DPP) models cannot upscale pressure diffusion and deformation in fractured porous media, which are characterized by anomalous behaviors that manifest in strong tailing in the temporal evolution of flow rate and subsidence. We study these behaviors using detailed numerical simulations of fluid production in naturally fractured formations characterized by multi‐Gaussian distributions of the matrix permeability. We find that the tailing behaviors depend on the permeability contrast between fracture and matrix, on the permeability distribution in the matrix, and on the correlation length. We use a non–equilibrium, multi‐porosity model to quantify the coupled behaviors of anomalous pressure diffusion, fluid flow and deformation. The model is parameterized by medium and fluid properties, which set the characteristic pressure diffusion time scales. It allows to identify the emerging scaling regimes and scaling behaviors of flow rate and subsidence. We propose a model implementation that captures the full anomalous evolution of flow rates and displacements observed in the detailed numerical simulations in terms of the permeability distribution and matrix length scales. The presented results shed new light on the controls of medium heterogeneity and geometry on pressure diffusion, fluid production and subsidence in highly heterogeneous fractured media.
The influence of body composition on the response to dynamic stimulation of the endocrine pituitary-testis axis
Authors: Abildgaard Julie , Bang Anne Kirstine , Nordkap Loa , Priskorn Lærke , Jørgensen Niels
Published: April 2024

Background

Testosterone treatment is generally not recommended in men with obesity induced low serum testosterone. However, distinguishing this condition from overt testosterone deficiency in men with obesity where treatment should be initiated is a diagnostic challenge and tools to differentiate these conditions are scarce but could be of important clinical relevance.

Objectives

To investigate the association between body composition and dynamic responses of the pituitary-testis axis in men.

Methods

Single-center cross-sectional study including 112 healthy men. Participants went through a full biochemical assessment of the pituitary-testis axis, and dynamic stimulatory tests of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion (gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-test) and testosterone secretion (choriogonadotropin (hCG)-test). A subset (N = 78) further had a DXA-scan performed.

Results

A higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with lower basal serum LH (BU = −0.44, 95% CI: −0.88–−0.01, p = 0.04). The GnRH-stimulated LH increase was not significantly associated with BMI (BU = −0.10, 95% CI: −0.72–0.51, p = 0.74). Furthermore, a high BMI was associated with low basal testosterone (BU −0.02, 95% CI: −0.03–−0.02, p < 0.001), and free testosterone (BU −15.0, 95% CI: −19.9–−10.0, p < 0.001) and men with overweight and obesity had significantly lower testosterone (9%, p = 0.003 and 24%, p < 0.001) and free testosterone (25%, p = 0.006 and 50%, p < 0.001) concentrations compared to men with normal weight. The HCG-stimulated testosterone increase was significantly less dependent on BMI compared to the influence of BMI on basal testosterone concentrations (p = 0.04 for the interaction).

Conclusions

Dynamic sex hormone responses following pituitary-testis axis stimulation were less dependent on BMI, compared to the influence of BMI on basal hormone concentrations and could potentially assist clinical decision making in patients with obesity suspected of testosterone deficiency.
Rebound activation of 5-HT neurons following SSRI discontinuation
Authors: Collins Helen M. , Gullino L. Sophie , Ozdemir Dersu , Lazarenco Caroline , Sudarikova Yulia , Daly Elizabeth , Pilar Cuéllar Fuencisla , Pinacho Raquel , Bannerman David M. , Sharp Trevor
Published: April 2024

Cessation of therapy with a selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is often associated with an early onset and disabling discontinuation syndrome, the mechanism of which is surprisingly little investigated. Here we determined the effect on 5-HT neurochemistry of discontinuation from the SSRI paroxetine. Paroxetine was administered repeatedly to mice (once daily, 12 days versus saline controls) and then either continued or discontinued for up to 5 days. Whereas brain tissue levels of 5-HT and/or its metabolite 5-HIAA tended to decrease during continuous paroxetine, levels increased above controls after discontinuation, notably in hippocampus. In microdialysis experiments continuous paroxetine elevated hippocampal extracellular 5-HT and this effect fell to saline control levels on discontinuation. However, depolarisation (high potassium)-evoked 5-HT release was reduced by continuous paroxetine but increased above controls post-discontinuation. Extracellular hippocampal 5-HIAA also decreased during continuous paroxetine and increased above controls post-discontinuation. Next, immunohistochemistry experiments found that paroxetine discontinuation increased c-Fos expression in midbrain 5-HT (TPH2 positive) neurons, adding further evidence for a hyperexcitable 5-HT system. The latter effect was recapitulated by 5-HT1A receptor antagonist administration although gene expression analysis could not confirm altered expression of 5-HT1A autoreceptors following paroxetine discontinuation. Finally, in behavioural experiments paroxetine discontinuation increased anxiety-like behaviour, which partially correlated in time with the measures of increased 5-HT function. In summary, this study reports evidence that, across a range of experiments, SSRI discontinuation triggers a rebound activation of 5-HT neurons. This effect is reminiscent of neural changes associated with various psychotropic drug withdrawal states, suggesting a common unifying mechanism.
ANXA9 facilitates S100A4 and promotes breast cancer progression through modulating STAT3 pathway
Authors: Zhou Xiqian , Zhao Junyong , Yan Tao , Ye Danrong , Wang Yuying , Zhou Bai’an , Liu Diya , Wang Xuehui , Zheng Wenfang , Zheng Bowen , Qian Fengyuan , Li Yating , Li Dengfeng , Fang Lin
Published: April 2024

Breast cancer has the highest global incidence and mortality rates among all cancer types. Abnormal expression of the Annexin family has been observed in different malignant tumors, including upregulated ANXA9 in breast cancer. We found highly expressed ANXA9 in metastatic breast cancer tissues, which is correlated with breast cancer progression. In vitro, the functional experiments indicated ANXA9 influenced breast cancer proliferation, motility, invasion, and apoptosis; in vivo, downregulation of ANXA9 suppressed breast cancer xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis. Mechanically, on one side, we found that ANXA9 could mediate S100A4 and therefore regulate AKT/mTOR/STAT3 pathway to participate p53/Bcl-2 apoptosis; on the other side, we found ANXA9 transferred S100A4 from cells into the tumor microenvironment and mediated the excretion of cytokines IL-6, IL-8, CCL2, and CCL5 to participate angiogenesis via self- phosphorylation at site Ser2 and site Thr69. Our findings demonstrate significant involvement of ANXA9 in promoting breast cancer progression, thereby suggesting that therapeutic intervention via targeting ANXA9 may be effective in treating metastatic breast cancer.
The Janus face of endogenous neuronal tPA: promoting self-protection and worsening the death of neighboring neurons
Authors: Prunotto Paul , Marie Pauline , Lebouvier Laurent , Hommet Yannick , Vivien Denis , Ali Carine
Published: April 2024

Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (r-tPA/Actilyse) stands as the prevailing pharmacological solution for treating ischemic stroke patients, of whom because their endogenous circulating tPA alone is not sufficient to rescue reperfusion and to promote favorable outcome. Beyond the tPA contributed by circulating endothelial cells and hepatocytes, neurons also express tPA, sparking debates regarding its impact on neuronal fate ranging from pro-survival to neurotoxic properties. In order to investigate the role of neuronal tPA during brain injuries, we developed models leading to its conditional deletion in neurons, employing AAV9-pPlat-GFP and AAV9-pPlat-Cre-GFP along with tPA floxed mice. These models were subjected to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity or thromboembolic ischemic stroke in mice. Initially, we established that our AAV9 constructs selectively transduce neurons, bypassing other brain cell types. Subsequently, we demonstrated that tPA-expressing neurons exhibit greater resistance against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity compared to tPA negative neurons. The targeted removal of tPA in neurons heightened the susceptibility of these neurons to cell death and prevented a paracrine neurotoxic effect on tPA non-expressing neurons. Under ischemic conditions, the self-neuroprotective influence of tPA encompassed both excitatory (GFP+/Tbr1+) and inhibitory (GFP+/GABA+) neurons. Our data indicate that endogenous neuronal tPA is a protective or deleterious factor against neuronal death in an excitotoxic/ischemic context, depending on whether it acts as an autocrine or a paracrine mediator.