bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Visually Induced Motion Sickness: An eLORETA Study
Authors: Molefi Emmanuel , McLoughlin Ian , Palaniappan Ramaswamy
Published: November 2024

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a non-invasive form of electrical brain stimulation, has shown potent therapeutic potential for a wide spectrum of conditions. How taVNS influences the characterization of motion sickness – a long mysterious syndrome with a polysymptomatic onset – remains unclear. Here, to examine taVNS-induced effects on brain function in response to motion-induced nausea, 64-channel electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 42 healthy participants were analyzed; collected during nauseogenic visual stimulation concurrent with taVNS administration, in a crossover randomized sham-controlled study. Cortical neuronal generators were estimated from the obtained EEG using exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA). While both sham and taVNS increased insula activation during electrical stimulation, compared to baseline, taVNS additionally augmented middle frontal gyrus neuronal activity. Following taVNS, brain regions including the supramarginal, parahippocampal, and precentral gyri were activated. Contrasting sham, taVNS markedly increased activity in the middle occipital gyrus during stimulation. A repeated-measures ANOVA showed that taVNS reduced motion sickness symptoms. This reduction in symptoms correlated with taVNS-induced neural activation. Our findings provide new insights into taVNS-induced brain changes, during and after nauseogenic stimuli exposure, including accompanying behavioral response. Together, these findings suggest that taVNS has promise as an effective neurostimulation tool for motion sickness management.
Molecular characterization of cultivars of Capsicum annuum L. and Capsicum frutescens L. (Solanaceae) from Valle del Cauca, Colombia by SSR-HRM technique
Authors: Viáfara-Vega Ronald A. , Cifuentes Héctor G. , Cárdenas-Henao Heiber
Published: November 2024

The genus Capsicum includes plants known as chili, paprika or chili peppers, which are widely cultivated throughout the world. Its cultivation is of great importance because its fruits are widely used in gastronomy and industry. In Colombia, the species C. annuum, C. chinense and C. frutescens are cultivated. However, the Colombian production of chili peppers has not yet been recognized at the global level. Hence, in order to explore the genetic diversity and variation present in this genetic resource, it is important to molecularly characterize the material used in crops in Colombia. Thus, this study focused on the estimation of genetic diversity and variation of cultivated lines of C. annuum and C. frutescens species in Valle del Cauca using microsatellite markers and High-Resolution Melting (HRM) technology. No heterozygous individuals were found in the evaluated cultivars of either species. This is consistent with the mostly autogamous mode of reproduction of the genus and the selection process to which this genetic resource has been subjected. The allelic diversity of the cultivars was low, with most loci having a maximum of 3 alleles. However, for both species, the original cultivar maintained greater diversity than the derived cultivar. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) identified the comparison of individuals within lines as the level with the highest variation (55% and 75%). This was followed by the variation between the original line (before selection) and the derived lines (37.25 and 11.6%). Furthermore, three useful microsatellite systems were identified for the differentiation of individuals of three species (C. annuum, C. frutescens and C. chinense) by HRM. Finally, the TL-8 line of C. frutescens is postulated for agronomic evaluation in different environments due to its genetic homogeneity, while the original lines of both species still have genetic variation to continue a breeding program.
Exploring the genetic variability of sudanese wild sorghum (sorghum bicolor (L.) moench) germplasm for post-attachment striga hermonthica resistance mechanisms using single sequence repeat (SSR) primers
Authors: Ahmed Alaa , Elsafy Mohammed , Zhourghane Ali , Abdalla Aisha A. A. , Abreha Kibrom B. , Geleta Mulatu , Rahmatov Mahbubjon , Abdelhalim Tilal Sayed
Published: November 2024

Striga hermonthica, a parasitic weed, poses a significant threat to sorghum production in sub-Saharan Africa, potentially causing yield losses of up to 100%. Identifying sources of Striga resistance trait within the diverse wild sorghum accessions is imperative to developing resistant sorghum cultivars. This study analyzed the genetic variation of 255 Sudanese wild sorghum accessions using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with post-attachment Striga resistance mechanisms: nine SSR markers linked to mechanical barrier resistance and two to hypersensitive resistance. We found moderate polymorphism in the Striga resistance loci among the Sudanese wild sorghum accessions, with polymorphic information contents (PIC) ranging from 0.03 to 1.92 for hypersensitivity and 0.37 for mechanical barrier resistance mechanism markers. Overall, 18 alleles were detected within the loci for mechanical barrier markers and four for hypersensitive markers. A population structure and cluster analysis revealed that several accessions were closely linked to the resistant checks N13 (mechanical barrier) and Framida (hypersensitivity response). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed substantial polymorphism within the population (99% for mechanical barriers and 94% for hypersensitivity), thus indicating that these wild sorghum accessions harbor ready-to-use genes for improving Striga resistance in sorghum. Our findings highlight the merits of Sudanese wild sorghum germplasm for post-attachment Striga resistance mechanisms, indicating their possible use in sorghum breeding efforts to develop Striga resistant cultivars.
On Variational Fourier Particle Methods
Authors: Campos Pinto Martin , Ameres Jakob , Kormann Katharina , Sonnendrücker Eric
Published: November 2024

In this article we describe a unifying framework for variational electromagnetic particle schemes of spectral type, and we propose a novel spectral Particle-In-Cell (PIC) scheme that preserves a discrete Hamiltonian structure. Our work is based on a new abstract variational derivation of particle schemes which builds on a de Rham complex where Low’s Lagrangian is discretized using a particle approximation of the distribution function. In this framework, which extends the recent Finite Element based Geometric Electromagnetic PIC (GEMPIC) method to a wide variety of field solvers, the discretization of the electromagnetic potentials and fields is represented by a de Rham sequence of compatible spaces, and the particle-field coupling procedure is described by approximation operators that commute with the differential operators involved in the sequence. For spectral Maxwell solvers these compatible spaces are spanned by a finite number of Fourier modes, and using $$L^2$$

L
2

projections as commuting operators leads to the gridless Particle-In-Fourier method which involves exact Fourier coefficients and continuous convolutions in the particle-field coupling. Our new variational PIC method, which we call Fourier-GEMPIC, is obtained by using a new sequence of commuting projections which combine discrete Fourier transforms (DFT), differentiation of particle shape functions and antiderivative filtering operators in Fourier space. As the resulting particle-field coupling essentially involves pointwise evaluations of shape functions and FFT (or DFT) algorithms on a sampling grid this method resembles usual spectral PIC methods, moreover a fully discrete scheme is derived using a directional Hamiltonian splitting procedure. The corresponding time steps are then given in closed form: they preserve the Gauss laws and the discrete Poisson bracket associated with the Hamiltonian structure. These explicit steps are found to share many similarities with a standard spectral PIC method that appears as a Gauss and momentum-preserving variant of the variational method. As arbitrary filters are allowed in our framework, we also discuss aliasing errors and study a natural back-filtering procedure to mitigate the damping caused by anti-aliasing smoothing particle shapes.
CANCER. Is this Forever? Examining the Relationship Between Event Centrality and Fear of Cancer Recurrence from a Cognitive-Behavioral Standpoint
Authors: Todea Diana , Luca Andreea , Podina Ioana R.
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this study was to test a moderated mediation model. We first looked into whether fear of a cancer recurrence mediated the effect of time since diagnosis on trauma centrality, a concept rendering the impact of cancer on one’s self-identity. Secondly, we looked into whether the indirect effect would depend on the stage of diagnosis. We expected a more pronounced indirect effect for early stages as opposed to late stages. We acquired data from 234 cancer survivors (78.02% female; Mage= 35.58), who received a cancer diagnosis, were undergoing cancer treatment or had finished their treatment. Together with demographics and basic medical information, participants completed the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory Short Form (FCRI-SF) and the Centrality of Event Scale – the Short - Form (CED-SF). In line with our expectations, the results confirmed an indirect effect of fear of cancer recurrence which was stronger for survivors in the early stage of diagnosis (i.e., I, II) as compared to those in the late stage (i.e., III, IV). Conclusions and Future Directions. The study emphasizes the significance of taking into account both the disease stage at diagnosis and the length of time since diagnosis when creating interventions to help cancer survivors address their fear of cancer recurrence. Theoretical ramifications and interpretive limitations are presented.
Synthesis and study on structural, magnetic, dielectric properties and impedance spectroscopy of nanosized Mn-doped γ-Fe2O3 for multifunctional applications
Authors: El-Shater R. E. , Assar S. T. , Keshta Basem E. , Gemeay Ali H. , El-Bahnasawy H. H. , Abdel-Khalek E. K. , Fakhry F.
Published: November 2024

Nano structured samples of γ-MnxFe2-xO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0, step 0.2) were prepared by a wet-chemical method. The formation of the pure-phase FCC spinel structure of the samples has been confirmed by x-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, where their crystallite size increases from 12 to 28 nm by adding Mn3+ ions. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images show spherical-shaped agglomerated nanoparticles with uniform size, confirming the nanostructure of the samples. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Mössbauer results confirm the existence of Fe3+ and Mn3+ ions and the disappearance of the Fe2+ and Mn2+ ions in the cubic structure of the γ-MnxFe2-xO3. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area of the samples ranges from 36 to 79 m2/g, where the sample of x = 0.2 has the largest value. The sigmoid-shaped hysteresis loops reflect the soft magnetic nature of the samples. As the Mn3+ ion addition increases, the Ms and Mr increase up to the sample of x = 0.4, then decrease again. The Hc, which has lower values, increases as the crystallite size increases, manifesting the single-domain nature of the particles and approaching the superparamagnetic limits. The composition dependence of σdc, σʹac, εʹ, εʺ, and tanδ is dependent on grain size, specific surface area, and cation distribution.

Graphical Abstract
Basic religious certainty and the new testament
Authors: O’Hara Neil
Published: November 2024

Are there basic religious certainties? That is, are there any beliefs which religious people legitimately hold without the need for rational justification? The question has been tackled, in different ways, by both Hinge Epistemologists and by Reformed Epistemologists. For the former, discussion has revolved around very general religious beliefs such as ‘God exists’ (e.g. Pritchard, 2000; Helm, 2001; Hoyt, 2007; Ariso, 2020). Reformed Epistemologists, like Alvin Plantinga, argue that Christian theism and particular Christian beliefs are ‘properly basic’ in that ‘I don’t believe them on the basis of any other propositions’ (Plantinga, 1981, p. 42). In this paper I want to do two things. First, I give an account of what basic religious certainty is from a Wittgensteinian, Hinge Epistemology point of view. On this account I will argue that the clearest examples of basic religious certainties are found in local, historical and more narrow expressions of religious belief, as opposed to the very general acontextual religious beliefs usually discussed. Secondly, I challenge the Reformed Epistemological notion that Christian doctrine can be ‘properly basic’, mainly by showing that the New Testament writers did not treat very general religious beliefs, such as ‘God exists’ or God is good’, as properly basic in either the Hinge or Reformed Epistemological ways. I will conclude by drawing out some implications for contemporary Christian epistemology.
Imaging approach to deposition and neurogenic arthropathies
Authors: Cuervo Arevalo Ricardo , Aluja-Jaramillo Felipe , Corredor Carlos , Ramirez Juan José
Published: November 2024

Deposition arthropathies are a heterogeneous group of diseases in which organic and inorganic substances accumulate in different regions of the body with significant complications and morbidity. Although they are clearly distinct entities, the clinical manifestations are similar, so that joint evaluation by imaging provides a more accurate diagnostic approach by identifying findings characteristic of certain pathologies and is considered the gold standard in certain conditions. However, neuropathic arthropathy, especially Charcot’s foot, is an essential differential diagnosis in the joint evaluation of these patients because, although clinically similar, it manifests differently on radiological evaluation, with different treatment and prognosis. It is essential to know the main findings of the different imaging modalities, as well as their surgical performance, to propose the ideal study and differentiate these conditions with certainty.
Assessment and repeatability of aerobic capacity using the Chester Step Test among current, former, and never smokers
Authors: Caci Grazia , Spicuzza Lucia , Emma Rosalia , Campagna Davide , Nadir Meera , Anastasi Erika , Pennisi Francesco , Hunter Stanley , Bhide Shivraj , Polosa Riccardo
Published: November 2024

Cigarette smoking contributes to reduced cardiorespiratory performance, which may improve upon cessation. Consequently, former smokers’ cardiorespiratory fitness should not be significantly different from that of never-smokers. This study aims to compare V̇O2max values among current, former, and never smokers and assess the repeatability of measurements using the Chester Step Test (CST). V̇O2max measurements were available from a total of 70 subjects (23 current, 23 former, and 24 never-smokers) and showed significant repeatability. Current smokers had the worst aerobic capacity, with a mean VO2max ± SD of 38.8 ± 4.5, which was significantly lower than the VO2max of 41.62 ± 3.8 in never-smokers (p < 0.0001) and 41.43 ± 4.6 in former smokers (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were observed between never-smokers and former smokers. V̇O2max estimates by CST were reproducible and showed that the aerobic capacity of individuals who smoke is substantially inferior compared to never and former smokers. Improvement in cardiorespiratory performance following smoking cessation may have important implications for smoking cessation, especially for those smokers who perceive enhanced physical performance as a tangible benefit.
Comparative Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Platforms in Generating Post-Operative Instructions for Rhinologic Surgery
Authors: Shaari Ariana L. , Bhalla Shreya , Xu Annie , Patel Aman , Filimonov Andrey , Hsueh Wayne , Eloy Jean Anderson
Published: November 2024

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini have progressed at a rapid pace. To allow for optimal medical outcomes and patient safety, it is crucial that patients have clearly written post-operative instructions. Patients are increasingly turning to AI platforms for medical information. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of ChatGPT versus Gemini to develop accurate and understandable post-operative instructions for patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Postoperative instructions on ESS, balloon sinuplasty, Caldwell Luc surgery, and septoplasty were generated using ChatGPT and Gemini. Measures of readability were calculated. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool was utilized to determine Understandability and Actionability. ChatGPT and Gemini were capable of generating understandable post-operative instructions but were poor for actionability and readability. While AI has a promising ability to generate accessible medical information, patients should be aware of its drawbacks especially when seeking postoperative instructions.
Identifying Relevant Covariates in RNA-seq Analysis by Pseudo-Variable Augmentation
Authors: Nguyen Yet , Nettleton Dan
Published: November 2024

RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology allows for the identification of differentially expressed genes, which are genes whose mean transcript abundance levels vary across conditions. In practice, RNA-seq datasets often include covariates that are of primary interest in addition to a set of covariates that are subject to selection. Some of these covariates may be relevant to gene expression levels, while others may be irrelevant. Ignoring relevant covariates or attempting to adjust for the effect of irrelevant covariates can compromise the identification of differentially expressed genes. To address this issue, we propose a variable selection method that uses pseudo-variables to control the expected proportion of selected covariates that are irrelevant. Our method accurately selects relevant covariates while keeping the false selection rate below a specified level. We demonstrate that our method outperforms existing methods for detecting differentially expressed genes when working with available covariates. Our method is implemented in function of the R package , which is available at www.github.com/ntyet/csrnaseq. The analysis and simulation are available at www.github.com/ntyet/csrnaseq/tree/main/analysis.
Critical construction waste minimization strategies for a circular economy in developing countries: A contractor’s perspective in China
Authors: Wu H. , Weng X. , Li Y. , Liu S. , Ma J. , Chen R. , Yu B. , Bao Z.
Published: November 2024

Developing countries are often burdened by substantial construction waste (CW) generated through urbanization and urban renewal activities, highlighting the urgent need for effective CW minimization strategies to facilitate their transition towards a circular economy. Although previous studies have examined similar topics at various stages of construction projects from different perspectives, a comprehensive study integrating all critical stages from a contractor’s perspective is still lacking. To fill this gap, this study aims to identify critical CW minimization strategies in developing countries, with a holistic concentration on the planning, design, and construction stages, using China as a case study. æThe research began by compiling a comprehensive list of CW minimization strategies tailored to developing countries, based on an extensive desktop survey and a focus group interview, resulting in 32 strategies. A subsequent questionnaire survey with leading CW management experts and rigorous statistical analyses have identified 9 strategies as critical for minimizing CW in developing countries. Finally, through exploratory factor analysis, seven fundamental principles for CW minimization have been established: “Planning for CW Minimization” for the planning stage; “Optimized Design of Building Structures,” “Optimization of Design Process,” and “Stakeholders’ Efforts in the Design Stage” for the design stage; and “Optimization of Construction Techniques,” “Stakeholders’ Efforts in the Construction Stage,” and “Efforts on CW Disposal” for the construction stage. This study offers valuable insights for stakeholders in developing countries, empowering them to effectively minimize CW through targeted strategies, facilitating the transition to a circular economy and supporting the realization of the "zero-waste city" goal.
Quasiconformal Mappings from Uniform Domains onto John Domains
Authors: Huang Manzi , Ponnusamy Saminathan , Rasila Antti , Wang Xiantao
Published: November 2024

We establish nine equivalent conditions for a bounded domain which is quasiconformally equivalent to a bounded uniform domain with a connected boundary to be a John domain. These conditions connect the John property of the domain with other geometric properties, and with the quasisymmetry of quasiconformal mappings onto it. Our result is a generalization of the main result of Heinonen (Rev. Math. Iber. 5: 97–123, 1989), where a similar question was studied in the special case of the unit ball.
Premature mortality and disparities in kidney healthcare for people with chronic kidney disease and severe mental health difficulties
Authors: Cogley Clodagh , Smith-Jones Mimi , Ralston Elizabeth R. , Bramham Jessica , Chilcot Joseph , D’Alton Paul , Carswell Claire , Sin Fai Lam Chun Chiang , Ratnam Ashutosh , Al-Agil Mohammad , Cairns Hugh , Etuk Kufreabasi Imo , Bramham Kate
Published: November 2024

Background

People with severe mental health difficulties, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychosis, have higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Little was known regarding clinical outcomes and utilisation of kidney care for people with CKD and severe mental health difficulties.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of individuals with CKD attending a tertiary renal unit in London, between 2006 and 2019. Individuals with severe mental health difficulty diagnoses were identified, and differences between those with and without severe mental health difficulties were analysed.

Results

Of the 5105 individuals with CKD, 112 (2.2%) had a recorded severe mental health difficulty diagnosis. The mean lifespan of those with severe mental health difficulties was 13.1 years shorter than those without severe mental health difficulties, t(1269) = 5.752, p < 0.001. People with severe mental health difficulties had more advanced CKD at their first nephrology appointment. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the rates of kidney failure, age at onset of kidney failure, or time elapsed between first appointment and death/kidney failure. The number of inpatient admissions was similar between groups, but those with severe mental health difficulties had higher rates of emergency and ICU admissions. Among individuals on renal replacement therapy (RRT), those with severe mental health difficulties were less likely to receive a kidney transplant and peritoneal dialysis. For patients receiving haemodialysis, those with severe mental health difficulties had a higher proportion of shortened sessions, greater mean weight loss during sessions, and a higher proportion of serum potassium and phosphate levels outside normal ranges.

Conclusions

Findings illustrate a number of disparities in kidney healthcare between people with and without severe mental health difficulties, underscoring the need for interventions which prevent premature mortality and improve kidney care for this population.

Graphic Abstract
A Pilot Study on the Collection of Adverse Event Data from the Patient Using an Electronic Platform in a Cancer Clinical Trial Unit
Authors: Grahvendy Minna , Brown Bena , Wishart Laurelie R.
Published: November 2024

Background and Objective

Accurate and robust adverse event (AE) data collection is crucial in cancer clinical trials to ensure participant safety. Frameworks have been developed to facilitate the collection of AE data and now the traditional workflows are facing renewal to include patient-reported data, improving completeness of AE data. We explored one of these workflows in a cancer clinical trial unit.

Methods

The study was a single-site study conducted at a tertiary hospital located in Australia. Patients consenting to a clinical trial were eligible for inclusion in this study. Participants used an electronic platform—My Health My Way (MHMW)—to report their symptomatic data weekly for 24 weeks. A symptom list was included within the platform, along with a free text field. Data reported via the platform was compared with data recorded in the patient’s medical chart. Time taken to compile data from each source was recorded, along with missing data points. Agreement between patient-reported data and data recorded in the medical notes was assessed using Kappa and Gwet’s AC1; time taken to compile data and missing data points were assessed using a Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results

Low agreement was found between patient- and clinician-reported data (− 0.482 and − 0.159 by Kappa and Gwet’s AC1 respectively). Only 127 (30%) of the total 428 AEs were reported by both MHMW and medical notes. Patients reported higher rates of symptoms from the symptom list, while clinicians reported higher rates of symptoms outside of the symptom list. Time taken to compile the data from MHMW was significantly less than that taken to review medical notes (2.19 min versus 5.73 min respectively; P <  0.001). There were significantly less missing data points from the MHMW data compared with the medical notes (1.4 versus 7.8; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study confirms previous reports that patient- and clinician-reported adverse event data show low agreement. This study also shows that clinical trial sites could significantly reduce the work performed by research staff in the collection of adverse event data by implementing an electronic, patient-reported platform.
Evaluation of the engineering properties and sustainability of solid masonry blocks produced with recycled concrete aggregates
Authors: Dafedar Md Mohsin M. , Rao K. Balakrishna , Pai B. H. Venkataram , Bekkeri Gopal Bharamappa
Published: November 2024

The rapid expansion of global infrastructure has led to significant natural resource shortages and increasing environmental concerns related to construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Recycling C&D waste presents a viable solution to alleviate resource depletion and promote sustainability. This study explores the use of recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) derived from C&D waste in producing solid masonry blocks (SMBs). RCAs were employed to replace both natural coarse and fine aggregates in these blocks. Physical and mechanical properties of SMBs were tested, including hardened density, compressive and flexural strengths, and water absorption. The findings showed that decreased strength and increased water absorption for cement-to-aggregate ratio (C: A) increased from 1:6 to 1:24; however, all produced SMBs satisfied the requirements specified by Indian and ASTM standards. The study concluded that using 100% RCAs in SMBs is structurally sound and environmentally beneficial, meeting international standards. Employing recycled aggregate concrete blocks lowers environmental impact and aids in sustainable development by facilitating the life-cycle closure of the building materials.
Spatial regression analysis of political gender gap in Japan
Authors: Kuromiya Kenichi
Published: November 2024

Internationally, it has been repeatedly pointed out that the proportion of female members in the Diet and the local assemblies is extremely low in Japan. This is called a political gender gap. We analyzed the relationships between socioeconomic indicators and this political gender gap, and underlying causes using several spatial regression models. Prefectures are geographically connected; so, they can influence each other. Therefore, we incorporated geographical relationships between prefectures into the model. We found that a high proportion of women in a particular prefectural assembly was associated with a low proportion of women in adjacent prefectural assemblies. Thus, competition and repulsion exist between the adjacent prefectural assemblies. Furthermore, several series of analyses using spatial regression models showed that the impact of the political gender gap in a particular prefecture spread to adjacent prefectures, but not further. We found that considering prefectural spatial autocorrelations was important while examining the political gender gap, and previous studies that did not consider spatial autocorrelation might have been biased. However, here we were able to better explain the background of real-world phenomena occurring in the real world by applying spatial regression models.
Enhancing Accessibility in Online Shopping: A Dataset and Summarization Method for Visually Impaired Individuals
Authors: Pal Ratnabali , Kar Samarjit , Sekh Arif Ahmed
Published: November 2024

A visually impaired individual (VI) encounters numerous challenges in their daily activities, particularly in tasks reliant on visual systems such as navigation, educational pursuits, and shopping. Online shopping poses a heightened difficulty due to its reliance on visual representations of products in digital formats. The impact of visual impairment on product selection based on reviews remains inadequately investigated. This study endeavors to address two primary objectives. Firstly, we propose the creation of a dataset comprising product review videos (referred to as PVS10) tailored for visually impaired individuals. Secondly, we present a foundational summarization methodology designed to facilitate access to pertinent and informative content within extensive video collections for visually impaired individuals. Our dataset, gathered from YouTube, encompasses 10 distinct products, each associated with the top 10 review videos, totaling 100 videos of varying lengths. Utilizing the search term "review videos of PRODUCT NAME", we assembled the dataset to facilitate automated summarization processes aimed at maximizing salient information, minimizing redundant content, and preserving the overarching sentiment conveyed in the reviews. This research focuses on the challenges faced by visually impaired people in online shopping, particularly when selecting products based on customer reviews. Our study demonstrates that people with visual impairments may actively explore product reviews and only acquire the information they require.
Activation of 5-HT7 receptors in the mouse dentate gyrus does not affect theta-burst-induced plasticity at the perforant path synapse
Authors: Siwiec Marcin , Bobula Bartosz , Kielbinski Michal , Multan Nikola , Hess Grzegorz , Tokarski Krzysztof
Published: November 2024

Background

The study examined the effects of 5-HT7 receptor activation on GABAergic transmission within the dentate gyrus and plasticity at the glutamatergic perforant path input.

Methods

Immunofluorescence imaging was performed using transverse hippocampal slices from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the Htr7 promoter. This was followed by whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiological recordings assessing the effects of pharmacologically activating 5-HT7 receptors on spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents recorded from dentate granule cells and hilar mossy cells—two glutamatergic neuron types present in the dentate gyrus. Extracellular recordings of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials were then performed to assess whether 5-HT7 receptor activation influenced theta-burst stimulation-evoked plasticity of the perforant path synaptic input.

Results

It was found that parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons in the dentate gyrus expressed GFP, which suggests they express 5-HT7 receptors. However, activation of 5-HT7 receptors had no effect on GABAergic transmission targeting mossy cells or granule cells. There was also no effect of 5-HT7 receptor activation on perforant path plasticity either with intact or blocked GABAA receptor signaling.

Conclusion

The presence of 5-HT7 receptors in a subset of parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons in the mouse dentate gyrus could mean that they are involved in the inhibitory control of dentate gyrus activity. However, this potential effect was not evident in slice recordings of inhibitory transmission targeting principal cells and did not affect perforant path plasticity. Further experiments are needed to fully elucidate the functional role of these receptors in the dentate gyrus.
A meso–micro atmospheric perturbation model for wind farm blockage
Authors: Devesse Koen , Lanzilao Luca , Meyers Johan
Published: November 2024

As wind farms continue to grow in size, mesoscale effects such as blockage and gravity waves become increasingly important. Allaerts & Meyers (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 862, 2019, pp. 990–1028) proposed an atmospheric perturbation model (APM) that can simulate the interaction of wind farms and the atmospheric boundary layer while keeping computational costs low. The model resolves the mesoscale flow, and couples to a wake model to estimate the turbine inflow velocities at the microscale. This study presents a new way of coupling the mesoscale APM to a wake model, based on matching the velocity between the models throughout the farm. This method performs well, but requires good estimates of the turbine-level velocity fields by the wake model. Additionally, we investigate the mesoscale effects of a large wind farm, and find that aside from the turbine forces and increased turbulence levels, the dispersive stresses due to subgrid flow heterogeneity also play an important role at the entrance of the farm, and contribute to the global blockage effect. By using the wake model coupling, we can explicitly incorporate these stresses in the model. The resulting APM is validated using 27 prior large-eddy simulations of a large wind farm under different atmospheric conditions. The APM and large-eddy simulation results are compared on both mesoscale and turbine scale, and on turbine power output. The APM captures the overall effects that gravity waves have on wind farm power production, and significantly outperforms standard wake models.
A Co‐Produced Workflow for Addressing Inequities in Cooling Center Access
Authors: Watkins Lance , Brown Heidi E. , Keith Ladd , Austhof Erika , Lin Hsini , Chambers Samuel N. , Tabor Joseph , Gettel Aaron , Guardaro Melissa
Published: November 2024

Increasing extreme heat poses challenges to metropolitan areas, such as those areas already experiencing extreme heat in Arizona. Using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Framework, state and local health departments have looked to expand cooling center networks as one option to build heat resilience. We present a method to pick new locations for cooling centers based on demand and current coverage. Using two locations in Arizona, we highlight differences in workflows and how the resulting information can be incorporated into separate but parallel efforts to reduce heat impacts. We used the Network Analyst Location‐Allocation tool in ArcGIS Pro to maximize coverage of cooling centers in each area, so that additional cooling centers are selected to reflect local needs. The input data and parameters of the workflow were co‐produced with input from two county health departments and a cooling center working group to better address the unique challenges related to cooling center access. To facilitate the application of this approach to other regions seeking to address heat health inequities, we provide a detailed protocol and a discussion of alternative selections.
Global Land Subsidence: Impact of Climate Extremes and Human Activities
Authors: Huning Laurie S. , Love Charlotte A. , Anjileli Hassan , Vahedifard Farshid , Zhao Yunxia , Chaffe Pedro L. B. , Cooper Kevin , Alborzi Aneseh , Pleitez Edward , Martinez Alexandre , Ashraf Samaneh , Mallakpour Iman , Moftakhari Hamed , AghaKouchak Amir
Published: November 2024

Globally, land subsidence (LS) often adversely impacts infrastructure, humans, and the environment. As climate change intensifies the terrestrial hydrologic cycle and severity of climate extremes, the interplay among extremes (e.g., floods, droughts, wildfires, etc.), LS, and their effects must be better understood since LS can alter the impacts of extreme events, and extreme events can drive LS. Furthermore, several processes causing subsidence (e.g., ice‐rich permafrost degradation, oxidation of organic matter) have been shown to also release greenhouse gases, accelerating climate change. Our review aims to synthesize these complex relationships, including human activities contributing to LS, and to identify the causes and rates of subsidence across diverse landscapes. We primarily focus on the era of synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which has significantly contributed to advancements in our understanding of ground deformations around the world. Ultimately, we identify gaps and opportunities to aid LS monitoring, mitigation, and adaptation strategies and guide interdisciplinary efforts to further our process‐based understanding of subsidence and associated climate feedbacks. We highlight the need to incorporate the interplay of extreme events, LS, and human activities into models, risk and vulnerability assessments, and management practices to develop improved mitigation and adaptation strategies as the global climate warms. Without consideration of such interplay and/or feedback loops, we may underestimate the enhancement of climate change and acceleration of LS across many regions, leaving communities unprepared for their ramifications. Proactive and interdisciplinary efforts should be leveraged to develop strategies and policies that mitigate or reverse anthropogenic LS and climate change impacts.
Land Processes Can Substantially Impact the Mean Climate State
Authors: Zarakas Claire M. , Kennedy Daniel , Dagon Katherine , Lawrence David M. , Liu Amy , Bonan Gordon , Koven Charles , Lombardozzi Danica , Swann Abigail L. S.
Published: November 2024

Terrestrial processes influence the atmosphere by controlling land‐to‐atmosphere fluxes of energy, water, and carbon. Prior research has demonstrated that parameter uncertainty drives uncertainty in land surface fluxes. However, the influence of land process uncertainty on the climate system remains underexplored. Here, we quantify how assumptions about land processes impact climate using a perturbed parameter ensemble for 18 land parameters in the Community Earth System Model version 2 under preindustrial conditions. We find that an observationally‐informed range of land parameters generate biogeophysical feedbacks that significantly influence the mean climate state, largely by modifying evapotranspiration. Global mean land surface temperature ranges by 2.2°C across our ensemble (σ = 0.5°C) and precipitation changes were significant and spatially variable. Our analysis demonstrates that the impacts of land parameter uncertainty on surface fluxes propagate to the entire Earth system, and provides insights into where and how land process uncertainty influences climate.
Strain Partitioning, Interseismic Coupling, and Shallow Creep Along the Ganzi‐Yushu Fault From Sentinel‐1 InSAR Data
Authors: Cai Jianfeng , Wen Yangmao , He Kefeng , Wang Xiaohang , Xu Caijun
Published: November 2024

The Ganzi‐Yushu fault (GYF) is one of the most seismically active fault systems in eastern Tibet, having experienced five M > 7.0 earthquakes over the past 300 years. Here, we use Sentinel‐1 InSAR data spanning from 2014 to 2023 to derive the interseismic velocity fields along the GYF. We calculate the strain rate fields for the entire fault system, which reveal localized strain accumulation along the GYF as well as along two secondary faults within the Bayan Har block. The inversion results obtained from the elastic block model indicate left‐lateral strike slip rates of 4.0–6.5 mm/yr along the GYF and five locked segments distributed along strike. Furthermore, we identify two shallow creeping segments on the InSAR velocity maps. Based on the locations of the creeping sections and their temporal decay characteristics, we infer that the shallow creep along the GYF is afterslip of the 2010 Yushu earthquake.
Nightside Electron Precipitation Patterns as Observed by ELFIN and CIRBE CubeSats
Authors: Zhang Kun , Artemyev Anton V. , Li Xinlin , Zhang Xiao‐Jia , Angelopoulos Vassilis , Mei Yang , Xiang Zheng , Grimmich Niklas
Published: November 2024

The rapidly expanding fleet of low‐altitude CubeSats equipped with energetic particle detectors brings new opportunities for monitoring the dynamics of the radiation belt and near‐Earth plasma sheet. Despite their small sizes, CubeSats can carry state‐of‐the‐art instruments that provide electron flux measurements with finer energy resolution and broader energy coverage, compared to conventional missions such as POES satellites. The recently launched CIRBE CubeSat measures 250–6,000 keV electrons with extremely high energy resolution, however, CIRBE typically only measures locally‐trapped electrons and cannot directly measure the precipitating electrons. This work aims to develop a technique for identifying indications of nightside precipitation using the locally‐trapped electron measurements by the CIRBE CubeSat. This study focuses on two main types of drivers for nightside precipitation: electron scattering by the curvature of magnetic field lines in the magnetotail current sheet and electron scattering by resonance with electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves. Using energy and pitch‐angle resolved electron fluxes from the low‐altitude ELFIN CubeSat, we reveal the features that distinguish between these two precipitation mechanisms based solely on locally‐trapped flux measurements. Then we present measurements from four CIRBE orbits and demonstrate the applicability of the proposed technique to the investigation of nightside precipitation using CIRBE observations, enabling separation between precipitation induced by curvature scattering and EMIC waves in nearby regions. Our study underscores the feasibility of employing high‐energy‐resolution CIRBE measurements for detecting nightside precipitation of relativistic electrons. Additionally, we briefly discuss outstanding scientific questions about these precipitation patterns that could be addressed with CIRBE measurements.
Dʺ Structures Beneath the East China Sea Resolved by P‐Wave Slowness Anomalies
Authors: Li Jiewen , Tian Dongdong , Sun Daoyuan , Tong Ping
Published: November 2024

The Dʺ layer, defined as 200–400 km in the lowermost mantle, is a thermal and chemical boundary layer between the solid silicate mantle and the liquid outer core. Deciphering the detailed structures of the Dʺ region is essential for unlocking the thermal and chemical states in the deep Earth. Here, we precisely measure the slowness and back‐azimuth of the direct P‐waves by beamforming based on the F‐trace stack at the KZ Array in Kazakhstan, to investigate the detailed Dʺ structures beneath the East China Sea. The P‐wave slowness for rays turning beneath the East China Sea exhibits a significant anomaly as a function of the P‐wave turning depth. Strong correlations between slowness and back‐azimuth anomalies for rays from different directions suggest a tilted Moho, with a tilting direction of ∼103° and a dip angle of ∼15°, beneath the KZ Array, further supported by radial receiver functions. After correcting for the slowness anomalies caused by the tilted Moho and heterogeneities outside the Dʺ layer, we construct a series of Vp Dʺ models to fit the remaining slowness anomalies for rays sampling the East China Sea. We obtain the best Dʺ model with a height of 360 km, a maximum δVp of +1.4%, a Dʺ discontinuity thickness of 120 km, and an 80‐km low‐velocity layer at the base of the mantle by minimizing residuals between the predicted and observed slowness anomalies. Combining the sharpness of the Dʺ discontinuity imaged here with mineralogical analysis suggests a Fe‐enriched region in a cold subduction environment beneath the East China Sea.
Multivariate Evaluation of Flash Drought Across the United States
Authors: Otkin Jason A. , Zhong Yafang , Ford Trent W. , Anderson Martha C. , Hain Christopher , Hoell Andrew , Svoboda Mark , Wang Hailan
Published: November 2024

This study uses the flash drought intensity index (FDII) to develop a multivariate flash drought climatology for the contiguous U.S. using data from 2001 to 2021. The FDII method uses the rate of intensification (FD‐INT) and subsequent drought severity (DRO‐SEV) to determine when a flash drought occurred and the strength of the event. Overall, the results showed that flash drought occurrence and severity varied with season and region and were sensitive to the drought indicator used to compute the FDII. Precipitation‐based indicators identified more flash droughts across the western U.S. whereas soil moisture (SM) and evapotranspiration indicators identified more flash droughts across the central and eastern U.S. When assessed over the entire U.S., the most flash droughts were found when using an evaporative demand indicator. Though FD‐INT was larger than DRO‐SEV across the U.S. for most indicators, regional patterns were also evident in their relative importance. For example, a distinct east‐west gradient was present in the SM and evapotranspiration FD‐INT, with relatively large values in the central and eastern U.S. A combined data set synthesizing information from multiple indicators showed that the strongest flash droughts from a multivariate perspective were located in the central and southeastern U.S. A seasonal analysis revealed a distinct seasonal cycle in flash drought onset across the western and central U.S. Together, the results illustrate the need to use a multivariate framework to identify and characterize the occurrence and severity of flash droughts.
Causal and common risk pathways linking childhood maltreatment to later intimate partner violence victimization
Authors: Pezzoli Patrizia , Pingault Jean-Baptiste , Eley Thalia C. , McCrory Eamon , Viding Essi
Published: November 2024

Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization are major psychiatric risk factors. Maltreatment substantially increases the likelihood of subsequent IPV victimization, but what drives this association is poorly understood. We analyzed retrospective self-reports of maltreatment and IPV victimization in 12,794 participants (58% women, 42% men) from the Twins Early Development Study at ages 21 and 26 using quantitative genetic methods. We estimated the etiological influences common to maltreatment and IPV, and the effect of maltreatment on IPV beyond such common influences. Participants who reported childhood maltreatment ( ~ 7% of the sample) were 3 times more likely than their peers to also report IPV victimization at age 21, 4 times more likely at 26. The association between maltreatment and IPV was mostly due to environmental influences shared by co-twins (42–43%) and genetic influences (30–33%), as well as nonshared environmental influences (25–27%). The association between maltreatment and IPV was similar for women and men, but its etiology partly differed by sex. Maltreatment had a moderate effect on IPV in phenotypic models (β = 0.25–0.30), decreasing to a small-to-moderate range in causally informative models accounting for their common etiology (β = 0.15–0.21). Risk factors common to maltreatment and IPV victimization are largely familial in origin, environmental and genetic. Even considering common risk factors, experiencing maltreatment may be causally related to subsequent IPV victimization. Interventions promoting safe intimate relationships among young adults exposed to maltreatment are warranted and should address family-level environmental risk and individual-level risk shaped by genetics.