bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovation, Risk, Agility, and Learning, Viewed as Optimal Control and Estimation
Authors: Schindel William D. (Bill)
Published: August 2024

This paper summarizes how a well‐understood problem—optimal control and estimation in “noisy” environments—provides a framework to advance understanding of a well‐known but less well‐mastered problem—system innovation life cycles and management of decision risks and learning. The ISO15288 process framework and its exposition in the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook (2015) describe system development and other life cycle processes. Concerns about improving the performance of processes in dynamic, uncertain, and changing environments are partly addressed by “agile” systems engineering approaches. Both are typically described in the procedural language of business processes, so it is not always clear whether the different approaches are fundamentally at odds, or just different sides of the same coin. Describing the target system, its environment, and the life cycle management processes using models of dynamical systems allows us to apply earlier technical tools, such as the theory of optimal control in noisy environments, to emerging innovation methods.
Structure and ontogeny of stomata in some Oleaceae
Authors: Inamdar J. A. , Patel R. C. , Mohan J. S. S.
Published: August 2024

Structure and ontogeny of stomata in 9 genera and 53 species of Oleaceae are presented. Mature stomatal types are anomocytic, paracytic and with a single subsidiary cell. Anomocytic stomata have perigenous while the parucytic and stoma with a single subsidiary cell have mesogenous ontogeny. The Oleaceae including the genus Nyclanthes forum a natural group.
Chemosystematics of some Indian members of the family Meliaceae
Authors: Umadevi I. , Daniel M. , Sabnis S. D.
Published: August 2024

Fifteen members belonging to the family Meliaceae have been analysed for their flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, tannins and alkaloids. It is found that most of the plants contained flavonols and proanthocyanins. Flavones were present in Walsura and Glycoflavones in Chloroxylon. Leaves of Aglaia, Dysoxylum and Naregamia were devoid of any flavonoid. Chloroxylon is the only taxon containing coumarins. Gallic acid is confined to the tribes Trichilieae and Swietenieae. Chloroxylon is found to be different from all other members of Meliaceae in chemical composition and therefore its inclusion in Rutaceae, with which it shares a number of characters, is justified. Trichilieae is the most advanced tribe of the family.
Mild/moderate phenotypes in AADC deficiency: Focus on the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase protein
Authors: Bisello Giovanni , Franchini Rossella , Carmona Cristian Andres Carmona , Bertoldi Mariarita
Published: August 2024

AADC deficiency is a severe neurometabolic inherited rare disorder due to the absence or decrease of dopamine and serotonin levels, causing deep motor and neurodevelopmental impairments. The disease is often fatal in the first decade of life, and pharmacological treatments (dopamine agonists, pyridoxine, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors as the first‐line choices) can only alleviate the symptoms. Gene therapy surgery is now available for severe patients in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and follow‐up data witness encouraging improvements. In the past few years, mostly due to the increased awareness and knowledge of AADC deficiency, together with newborn screening programs and advancements in methods for genetic diagnosis, the number of mild/moderate phenotypes of AADC deficiency patients has increased to 12% of the total. A review of the genotypes (homozygous/compound heterozygous) of AADC deficiency mild/moderate patients is presented here. The pathogenicity classification of each genetic variant is discussed. Then, we focused on the type of AADC protein possessed by patients and on the predictable structural score of the homodimeric/heterodimeric species of each protein variant. Since the terminology used for genetic and protein variants is the same, we highlighted how it could be misleading. We analyzed the loss‐of‐function as a fold‐change decrease of activity of the recombinant purified AADC enzyme(s) theoretically synthesized by mild/moderate patients. A minimal residual kcat of 8% and/or kcat/Km of 1% seems necessary to avoid a severe disease manifestation. Overall, this cluster of mild/moderate patients needs consideration for a more appropriate and aimed therapeutic approach.
The global epidemiology of vitiligo: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the incidence and prevalence
Authors: Haulrig Morten Bahrt , Al‐Sofi Rownaq , Baskaran Subisan , Bergmann Mie Siewertsen , Løvendorf Marianne , Dyring‐Andersen Beatrice , Skov Lone , Loft Nikolai
Published: August 2024

Vitiligo is described with a prevalence of 0.5%−1%. Recent studies suggest an increasing prevalence, but there is a scarcity of studies that have systematically evaluated the global incidence and prevalence. We examined the incidence and the global, regional, and country‐specific prevalence of vitiligo in the general population (PROSPERO: CRD42021261643). We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Each study was categorised in subgroups. The overall analysis comprised all studies, except for studies only examining children and adolescents. Pooled proportions were calculated with the DerSimonian‐Laird method for random‐effects models with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Of the 7,838 identified studies, 171 were eligible for analysis (participants n = 572,334,973). The overall incidence was 1.59 per 10,000 person‐years (95% CI: 0.70−2.83). The overall prevalence was 0.40% (95% CI: 0.37−0.44); no difference was observed between females (0.50%, 95% CI: 0.36−0.66) and males (0.49%, 95% CI: 0.35−0.65). West Asia showed the highest prevalence (0.77%, 95% CI: 0.44−1.10) and East Asia the lowest (0.12%, 95% CI: 0.10−0.14). The highest country‐specific prevalence was reported in Jordan (1.34%, 95% CI: 0.12−3.87) and the lowest in Sweden (0.19%, 95% CI: 0.08−0.34). Children and adolescents showed a lower prevalence (0.27%, 95% CI: 0.24−0.31) compared to adults (0.70%, 95% CI: 0.59−0.81). Questionnaire‐based studies showed a higher prevalence (0.73%, 95% CI: 0.52−0.98) compared to examination‐based studies (0.59%, 95% CI: 0.46−0.73) and register‐based studies (0.13%, 95% CI: 0.10−0.17). The prevalence in examination‐based studies increased from 0.40% (95% CI: 0.17−0.73) between 1943 and 1979 to 0.89% (95% CI: 0.68−1.13) between 2020 and 2023. Questionnaire‐based studies also showed an increasing prevalence, while in register‐based studies, the prevalence was continuously low. This study shows the global impact of vitiligo and how subgroup analyses influence the prevalence. The overall prevalence of vitiligo is lower than previously assumed; females and males are equally affected, and vitiligo is more common in adults.
A systematic review of isotretinoin and its contraindications in peanut, soybean and cashew nut allergies
Authors: Hussaini Naayema , Hussaini Nabihah , Bakir Jousef , Mirza Rabeea , Fatima Rubina
Published: August 2024

Should oral isotretinoin be considered contraindicated in patients with peanut, soybean, and cashew allergies? A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library up to July 2023 was conducted to identify randomised control trials (RCTs), cohort studies, case reports, and cross‐sectional studies investigating if isotretinoin should be contraindicated in patients with various allergies including peanut, soybean, and cashew allergies. Primary outcomes explored included relapse, adverse effects, and safety profiles of oral isotretinoin at varying doses. Secondary outcomes included efficacy as well as economic considerations. The quality of studies, including risk of bias, was assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations). A total of eight studies were included. The majority of studies suggested that isotretinoin should not be considered inadvisable. In cases with peanut allergies, minimal adverse effects were noted with various dosages of isotretinoin and prolonged treatment duration. In cases with soybean allergies, similar results and conclusions were obtained to the cases with peanut allergies, however the number of studies were not of similar value to those of peanut allergies. Comparison between studies was challenging due to differing methods of assessment, subjective interpretation of severity and duration of follow‐up. This review highlights the need for an adequately powered RCT, to decipher whether isotretinoin should not be given to patients with peanut, soybean or cashew allergies.
Impacts of administrative penalties towards digital technology companies on business credit supply
Authors: Chen Xiaohui , Cheng Xiang
Published: August 2024

Administrative penalties towards digital technology companies (APDTs) have emerged prominently in recent years as the Chinese government has started to impose these penalties on digital technology firms for their increasing frequency of legal violations. These penalties are expected to significantly influence the behavior of businesses in various governmental jurisdictions. To investigate the impact of APDTs on the level of business credit supply (BCS), this paper conducts an empirical analysis grounded in theoretical derivation. Using data from APDTs in Chinese cities and A‐share listed companies in China, the study examines the effect of APDTs on BCS and its underlying mechanisms. The findings indicate that APDTs incentivize enterprises to enhance their BCS. Additionally, as municipal governments intensify APDTs, local enterprises demonstrate an increased level of BCS. This is attributed to heightened industry competition resulting from APDTs, which amplifies the pressure on enterprises to extend credit and increases revenue incentives. Consequently, enterprises are driven to augment their BCS to facilitate credit sales and drive revenue growth. This study provides empirical evidence detailing the microeconomic consequences of APDTs, offering theoretical insights to advance the development of digital technology and optimize financial resource allocation, thereby alleviating enterprise financing constraints.
Impact of breathing signal‐guided dose modulation on step‐and‐shoot 4D CT image reconstruction
Authors: Wimmert Lukas , Schwarz Annette , Gauer Tobias , Hofmann Christian , Dickmann Jannis , Sentker Thilo , Werner Rene
Published: August 2024

Background

Breathing signal‐guided 4D CT sequence scanning such as the intelligent 4D CT (i4DCT) approach reduces imaging artifacts compared to conventional 4D CT. By design, i4DCT captures entire breathing cycles during beam‐on periods, leading to redundant projection data and increased radiation exposure to patients exhibiting prolonged exhalation phases. A recently proposed breathing‐guided dose modulation (DM) algorithm promises to lower the imaging dose by temporarily reducing the CT tube current, but the impact on image reconstruction and the resulting images have not been investigated.

Purpose

We evaluate the impact of breathing signal‐guided DM on 4D CT image reconstruction and corresponding images.

Methods

This study is designed as a comparative and retrospective analysis based on 104 4D CT datasets. Each dataset underwent retrospective reconstruction twice: (a) utilizing the acquired clinical projection data for reconstruction, which yields reference image data, and (b) excluding projections acquired during potential DM phases from image reconstruction, resulting in DM‐affected image data. Resulting images underwent automatic organ segmentation (lung/liver). (Dis)Similarity of reference and DM‐affected images were quantified by the Dice coefficient of the entire organ masks and the organ overlaps within the DM‐affected slices. Further, for lung cases, (a) and (b) were deformably registered and median magnitudes of the obtained displacement field were computed. Eventually, for 17 lung cases, gross tumor volumes (GTV) were recontoured on both (a) and (b). Target volume similarity was quantified by the Hausdorff distance.

Results

DM resulted in a median imaging dose reduction of 15.4% (interquartile range [IQR]: 11.3%–19.9%) for the present patient cohort. Dice coefficients for lung () and liver () patients were consistently high for both the entire organs and the DM‐affected slices (IQR lung: [entire lung/DM‐affected slices only] to ; IQR liver: to ), demonstrating that DM did not cause organ distortions or alterations. Median displacements for DM‐affected to reference image registration varied; however, only two out of 73 cases exhibited a median displacement larger than one isotropic 1 voxel size. The impact on GTV definition for the end‐exhalation phase was also minor (median Hausdorff distance: 0.38 mm, IQR: 0.15–0.46 mm).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that breathing signal‐guided DM has a minimal impact on image reconstruction and image appearance while improving patient safety by reducing dose exposure.
Reconnecting children to nature: The efficacy of a wildlife intervention depends on local nature and socio‐economic context, but not on urbanisation
Authors: Jensen Johan Kjellberg , Alkan Olsson Johanna , von Post Maria , Isaksson Caroline
Published: August 2024

Children's interactions with nature are important mediators of health benefits and future relationships with nature and conservation. However, there are growing concerns that children are becoming disconnected from nature as societal changes make natural environments and their affordances less accessible. There is now a need to explore ways to reconnect children to nature.

We evaluated bird feeding as an environmental education intervention on species knowledge, attitudes towards birds and well‐being of children (aged 10–11 years) in 14 urban and rural schools across three city regions. We used surveys to investigate the role of urbanisation and socio‐economic factors in children's relationships with nature and possible modulating effects on the intervention response.

Local nature, close to the children's homes, was associated with better well‐being and modulated the effect of the intervention on species knowledge: children from areas with less local nature gained more from the project. Urbanisation per se had no direct impacts but did correlate with the types of affordances associated with nature by the children, suggesting differences in how urban and rural children utilise nature.

We found that socio‐economic factors impacted pre‐existing species knowledge and attitudes towards nature. Higher education was associated with better species knowledge. Higher income correlated with children participating in more outdoor activities, which subsequently correlated with more positive attitudes towards birds. Species knowledge also correlated with positive attitudes. We found large differences in the intervention impact between schools, likely explained by a pivotal role of teachers facilitating nature interactions in school‐based projects.

Our findings show that bird feeding has potential as an intervention to connect children with nature, but ecological and social contexts moderate its efficacy. Local greenspace and socio‐economics influenced children's relationships with nature in both urban and rural areas, indicating that local conditions rather than urbanisation levels govern connection to nature. Role models appeared crucial, suggesting that specialised environmental education organisations have significant potential to enhance nature connection through interventions, particularly in areas with low socio‐economic levels and sparse nature.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Facile fabrication of polyurethane/poly(methyl methacrylate) semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks for enhanced mechanical and thermal properties
Authors: Tiwari Pragya , Bhardwaj Shakshi , Singh Shiva , Maji Pradip K.
Published: August 2024

The primary objective of this research is to fabricate semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs) via in‐situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) within a polyurethane (PU) framework. To produce polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) from MMA in the PU matrix, solution polymerization was utilized in the following weight ratios: 30/70, 50/50, 70/30, and 90/10. The effective formation of semi‐IPNs of PU/PMMA was confirmed by several techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) proves that no new chemical bonds formed between the semi‐IPNs, and only physical interactions were present, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques tell about the amorphous nature of these semi‐IPNs. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were utilized to examine the morphology of PU/PMMA semi‐IPNs. In contrast to alternative semi‐IPNs, 70/30 and 90/10 PU/PMMA exhibit a uniform morphology devoid of phase separation. Furthermore, the significant thermal stability and transitions of these semi‐IPNs were assessed using a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Additionally, the mechanical analysis indicates that among the different percentages of PU/PMMA, 70/30 PU/PMMA exhibits the highest tensile strength of approximately 50.5 MPa. The observed enhancement in mechanical strength can be attributed to interpenetrating networks (IPNs) formed between the constituents. The synthesized PU/PMMA semi‐IPNs have potential in various fields, including medical devices, automotive components, sports, and other advanced applications.
A dielectric elastomer actuator with a large actuated strain enabled by CaCu3Ti4O12/MXene/silicone dielectric composite
Authors: Duan Lei , Yin Yanjun , Zhang Weisong , Zhao Peichen , Zhao Che , Wei Xuejiao
Published: August 2024

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have garnered widespread attention due to their unique blend of attributes, including high energy density, exceptional efficiency, inherent softness, silent operation, and muscle‐like performance, all of which are highly desirable for soft robotics applications. However, despite these benefits, the practical application of DEAs is hindered by their low dielectric constant and relatively small actuated deformation. In this work, we significantly enhanced the actuated strain of dielectric elastomer actuators by integrating a composite material consisting of CaCu3Ti4O12/MXene/silicone elastomers. We combined conductive MXene nanosheets (MX) synthesized via solution etching technique with dielectric CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) particles. The KH550 is utilized as a coupling agent for the modification of the mixed CCTO‐MX particles. The CCTO‐MXK/PDMS film, with a well‐dispersed 2.5 wt% filling fraction, exhibits a remarkable dielectric constant of 7.91 at 100 Hz, coupled with an outstanding actuated performance of 9.36% at 13.3 V μm−1. These results are instrumental in furthering the fabrication of DEAs with substantial actuated strain, paving the way for advancements in this field.

Highlights

The CCTO‐MXK/PDMS films, comprising modified CaCu3Ti4O12 and MXene particles along with the KH550 coupling agent, were successfully prepared.

The high dielectric constant and sensitivity of CCTO‐MXK/PDMS film were studied.

The mechanism of actuated strain enhancement of CCTO‐MXK/PDMS film was analyzed from macroscopic and microscopic levels.
Photo‐responsive systems based on anisotropic composites of poly(N‐vinyl formamide) and active fillers using directional freezing combined with gamma irradiation crosslinking
Authors: Osicka Josef , Ilcikova Marketa , Mrlík Miroslav , Popelka Anton , Matus Peter , Han Dong Suk , Kasak Peter
Published: August 2024

This study deals with the fabrication of smart anisotropic composite systems capable of reacting to light stimulus and reversibly providing significant change in the length. Surface‐modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and poly(pyrrole) (PPy) nanotubes were used as photoactive fillers. Anisotropic composites containing these fillers and poly(N‐vinyl formamide) (PNVF) matrix were fabricated using a directional freezing technique with freezable monomer, N‐vinyl formamide (NVF), as structure guiding medium and subsequent gamma irradiation polymerization and crosslinking technique. The dielectric properties showed that there is the presence of both relaxation processes α and β, which are significantly influenced by the presence of photoactive filler. The anisotropic distribution of fillers in samples was confirmed using microscopical, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties analysis. Finally, the photoactuation capabilities were investigated and showed enhanced photoactive response for the anisotropic system in the change in the length up to 54 μm after irradiation at 627 nm with a very low light intensity of 6 mW cm−2 in a fully reversible and repeatable manner. The simple, affordable, and industrially scalable fabrication technique opens an avenue for smart anisotropic photoactive composite systems.
Simultaneous Inference Using Multiple Marginal Models
Authors: Hothorn Ludwig A. , Ritz Christian , Schaarschmidt Frank , Jensen Signe M. , Ristl Robin
Published: August 2024

This tutorial describes single‐step low‐dimensional simultaneous inference with a focus on the availability of adjusted p values and compatible confidence intervals for more than just the usual mean value comparisons. The basic idea is, first, to use the influence of correlation on the quantile of the multivariate t‐distribution: the higher the less conservative. In addition, second, the estimability of the correlation matrix using the multiple marginal models approach (mmm) using multiple models in the class of linear up to generalized linear mixed models. The underlying maxT‐test using mmm is discussed by means of several real data scenarios using selected R packages. Surprisingly, different features are highlighted, among them: (i) analyzing different‐scaled, correlated, multiple endpoints, (ii) analyzing multiple correlated binary endpoints, (iii) modeling dose as qualitative factor and/or quantitative covariate, (iv) joint consideration of several tuning parameters within the poly‐k trend test, (v) joint testing of dose and time, (vi) considering several effect sizes, (vii) joint testing of subgroups and overall population in multiarm randomized clinical trials with correlated primary endpoints, (viii) multiple linear mixed effect models, (ix) generalized estimating equations, and (x) nonlinear regression models.
Preparation of Passion Fruit Peel Extract/Polydopamine/Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Film and Its Application in Banana Preservation
Authors: Zhu Meiyan , Yu Jiahui , Zhang Ling , Zhu Liang
Published: August 2024

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of blending passion fruit peel extract (PFPE) with polydopamine (PDA) solution and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) to prepare the properties of PFPE/PDA/HPMC composite films for their application in fruit and vegetable packaging. PFPE was extracted by ultrasonic‐assisted extraction method, which is simple, easy to operate and has high extraction efficiency, PFPE and dopamine were subjected to PFPE/PDA solution preparation, which in turn led to the preparation of HPMC, PFPE/PDA/HPMC films at different concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%), and 10% PDA/HPMC and PFPE/HPMC films were prepared with PDA and PFPE solutions, respectively. The interactions between the components in the films were analysed by infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffractometer, and the colour, mechanical properties, barrier properties and antioxidant activity of the films were determined. The results showed that the addition of PFPE/PDA solution had a positive effect on the performance of the films. The tensile strength of the composite films was 8.21 MPa, the elongation at break was 85.02% and the water vapour transmission was 2.62 × 10−14 g·mm/(cm2·h·Pa) when the content of PFPE/PDA was 20% compared to that of HPMC films; the DPPH radical scavenging rate and hydroxyl radical scavenging rate of the films increased with the increase of PFPE/PDA concentration, and the DPPH radical scavenging rate of the film with 20% additive was 28.71% and the hydroxyl radical scavenging rate was 34.77%, which were much higher than that of the HPMC film. The simulated bananas were stored at room temperature together with the films and stored at 25°C and tested every day, and it was found that the bananas without packaging film began to show browning on the third day, while the film with 20% additive still did not show obvious browning on the fifth day, so the addition of PFPE/PDA could effectively delay the browning of bananas and prolong their shelf life. In summary, this study improves the use value of passion fruit peel waste and provides new effective packaging for fresh bananas, while it can also provide a new way for the development of degradable films from plant extracts.
Stochastic modeling and optimization of turbogenerator performance using meta‐heuristic techniques
Authors: Sinwar Deepak , Kumar Naveen , Kumar Ashish , Saini Monika
Published: August 2024

The objective of this paper is to identify the most sensitive component of a turbogenerator and optimize its availability. To achieve this, we begin by conducting an initial reliability, availability, maintainability, and dependability (RAMD) analysis on each component. Subsequently, a novel stochastic model is developed to analyze the steady‐state availability of the turbogenerator, employing a Markov birth‐death process. In this model, failure and repair rates are assumed to follow an exponential distribution and are statistically independent. To optimize the proposed stochastic model, we employ four population‐based meta‐heuristic approaches: the grey wolf optimization (GWO), the dragonfly algorithm (DA), the grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), and the whale optimization algorithm (WOA). These algorithms are utilized to find the optimal solution by iteratively improving the availability of the turbogenerator. The performance of each algorithm is evaluated in terms of system availability and execution time, allowing us to identify the most efficient algorithm for this task. Based on the numerical results, it is evident that the WOA outperforms the GWO, GOA, and DA in terms of both system availability and execution time.
Spontaneous Disentanglement of Indistinguishable Particles
Authors: Buks Eyal
Published: August 2024

A master equation containing a nonlinear term that gives rise to disentanglement has been recently explored. Here, a modified version, which is applicable for indistinguishable particles, is proposed, and studied for both the Bose–Hubbard and the Fermi–Hubbard models. It is found for both Bosons and Fermions that disentanglement can give rise to quantum phase transitions.
Stationary Quantum Entanglement and Asymmetric Steering in Cavity Magnonic System with Floquet Field and Coherent Feedback
Authors: Guan Si‐Yu , Wang Hong‐Fu , Yi Xuexi
Published: August 2024

A scheme is proposed to prepare quantum entanglement and quantum steering between two indirectly coupled microwave cavity modes within a hybrid cavity magnonic system. The system consists of two microwave cavities individually coupled to a common YIG sphere driven by a two‐tone Floquet field, while the output field of the second microwave cavity is fed back into the input port of the first microwave cavity via a coherent feedback loop. Floquet driving can effectively generate two interactions between magnons and photons. Magnons with higher dissipation can serve as a cooling channel for the two cavity modes. Optimal quantum correlations between the cavity modes can be achieved when the competition between these two interactions reaches equilibrium. Subsequently, a comparative analysis is performed on the evolution of quantum correlation with and without coherent feedback, revealing that the presence of a coherent feedback loop in the system not only significantly enhances entanglement and steering but also induces inherent asymmetry in quantum steering regardless of the decay rates within subsystems. Moreover, under the influence of the coherent feedback loop, the enhanced quantum correlations exhibit increased robustness against rising environmental temperatures. This work significantly expands the validity of implementation and provides a promising avenue for the preparation of stable quantum correlations.
The developing flood rich period: Science evidence and policy evolution for England. Is it time for place‐based socio‐ecological solutions?
Authors: Newson Malcolm , Lewin John
Published: August 2024

Flood‐related policies for England are reviewed, updating needs in the light of recent flood‐rich decades and in recognition of future climate trends. This review updates one we published in 2021—a significant year for extreme floods in Europe that were part of a continuing trend; governments now require fast‐track adaptation and resilience policies. Currently, the event signals that increasing spatial and temporal variability of impacts are insufficiently incorporated in hazard/risk assessments. We advocate a transformative policy change towards place‐based strategies, based on the fast‐emerging evidence from three sciences: hydroclimatology, hydrology and hydromorphology. It is vital that policy actions recognise factors such as atmospheric rivers, surface water flooding, and the role of eroded and transported sediments in localised hazards and risks. Located vulnerabilities require local strategies. Attribution of extreme events to climate change, and the recognition and specification of genuinely vulnerable sites, need further refinement and extension into public decision making. Risk assessment needs reform, both from science but also for institutions and individuals, with accompanying reform of flood risk management expenditure. Data analysis of rainfall and river flows need more disciplined clarity; standard sets are needed together with their variable spatial/temporal application. We further recognise sediment hazards (and other entrained debris spread in flood flows) as new and important components for the located risk of present and emerging ‘hot spots’.
Multiple Electron Transfer in Semiconductive Ternary D‐D'‐A Metal‐Organic Framework for Enhanced X‐Ray Detection and Imaging
Authors: Wei Qingsong , Liu Jingyan , Wu Liang , Chen Fuhai , Ye Yuanji , Zhang Shuquan , Zhu Yanan , Chen Yong , You Minghua , Liao Qing , Lin Meijin , Chen Hongming
Published: August 2024

Semiconductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with donor–acceptor (D–A) characteristics have garnered attractive attention due to their capacity for separating and transferring photogenerated charges, making them promising candidates for high‐performance X‐ray detectors. However, the low charge transfer efficiency between the metal nodes and organic ligands limits the X‐ray‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency of these materials. Herein, an additional photoactive donor (D’) is introduced by incorporating a heavy atom‐containing polyoxometalate (POM) [α‐SiW12O40]4− into a binary {[Ni·bcbp·(H2O)2]·(H2O)4·Cl}n (Ni‐bcbp, bcbp: H2bcbp·2Cl = 1,1′‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)(4,4′‐bipyridinium) dichloride) MOF, resulting in a semiconductive ternary D‐D'‐A framework {[Ni2(bcbp)2·(H2O)4·(DMA)]·(SiW12O40)}n (SiW@Ni‐bcbp, DMA: dimethylacetamide). The obtained material features an unprecedented porous 8‐connected bcu‐net structure that accommodates nanoscale [α‐SiW12O40]4− counterions, displaying uncommon optoelectronic responses. In contrast to binary Ni‐bcbp, the SiW@Ni‐bcbp framework exhibits distinctive photochromism and robust X‐ray responsiveness, which can be attributed to the synergistic effects of the electron reservoir and multiple photoinduced electron transfer originating from the POMs. As a result, the X‐ray detector based on SiW@Ni‐bcbp demonstrates a sensitivity of 5741.6 µC Gyair−1 cm−2 with a low detection limit of 0.49 µGyair s−1. Moreover, the devices demonstrated the capability of producing clearness X‐ray images, providing a feasible and stable solution for constructing high‐performance direct X‐ray detectors.
Controlled Crystallization and Enhanced Performance of γ‐CsPbI3 Perovskite Through Methylammonium Iodide‐Assisted Coevaporation
Authors: Chen Wenhao , Zhou Shengxing , Cao Jiale , Yuan Ligang , Liu Weiqing
Published: August 2024

Cesium lead triiodide (CsPbI3) perovskites have garnered significant attention owing to their suitable bandgap for tandem silicon substrates and excellent chemical stability. However, γ‐CsPbI3 prepared via low‐temperature co‐evaporation is limited by a narrow black phase processing window and random crystal orientation, hindering its optoelectronic performance and industrial applications. This study introduced trace amounts of methylammonium iodide (MAI) into the co‐evaporation system, enhancing the crystallization process, promoting columnar grain growth, and stabilizing the γ‐phase perovskite, resulting in films with improved structural integrity and reduced defect density. The optimal Pb/Cs ratio for achieving the best photoelectric performance shifted from 1:1 to 1.1:1 in the presence of MAI. Additionally, the incorporation of MAI allowed for more efficient longitudinal carrier transport, as evidenced by the enhanced photoluminescence (PL) intensity. The bandgap of CsPbI3 remained approximately at 1.7 eV before the δ‐phase transition, ensuring suitability for photovoltaic applications. Ultimately, a photovoltaic device with 12% efficiency is achieved in the p‐i‐n structure without additional post‐annealing of the CsPbI3 perovskite films, demonstrating the practical benefits of MAI incorporation.
Life cycle models for university‐scale sounding rockets: A three‐dimensional review
Authors: Alsudairi Ahmad Nayef Salih , Rafie Azmin Shakrine Mohd , Algarni Abdullah Mohammad , Ali Syaril Azrad Bin Md , Gires Ezanee Bin , Abdullah Amini Amir Bin , Aljuhaiman Ibrahim Mohammad
Published: August 2024

Designing a sounding rocket is an interdisciplinary activity, involving many domains and many stages. The alignment between the disciplines and life cycle stages is not straightforward. Much effort is required in life cycle model management and tailoring processes. In this article, an objective was set to make a comparative study and analysis of life cycle concepts related to Malaysian university‐scale sounding rocket development, to assist in any future life cycle tailoring. Toward that goal, a comprehensive review and analysis of the related life cycle models was performed. The review covered three dimensions: engineering standards, aerospace vehicle design (AVD), and actual sounding rockets projects. Many reviewed models were re‐prescribed using model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) diagrams. This allowed greater insight and better assistance for any future tailoring. This expedition stresses the importance of the proposed three‐dimensional reviewing of life cycles. Unconventional life cycle models (e.g., Western vs. Eastern) have also been included. It is argued that mapping the standards onto actual projects improved insight. One of the important outcomes is the demonstration of the importance of the concept of the centrality of the values in the development process, which shall govern the stakeholders’ requirements.
Cytokine and acute‐phase proteins response following vaccination against infectious bronchitis in broilers
Authors: Anousheh Dana , Allymehr Manoochehr , Talebi Alireza , Asri‐Rezaei Siamak
Published: August 2024

Background

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is an important disease of poultry, and vaccination is the best method of preventing IB in the poultry industry worldwide.

Objectives

This study was designed to evaluate cytokine and acute‐phase protein (APP) responses and their correlations with antibody titres following vaccination regimes against IB in the broiler.

Materials and Methods

Broilers were vaccinated with H120 and 1/96 vaccine strains, and MIX (H120 + 1/96) vaccine strains on Days 0 and 14. Heterophils/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, APPs including chicken serum amyloid A (SAA), chicken pentraxin 3 (chPTX3), chicken interleukin 1β (IL‐1β), chicken interleukin 6 (IL‐6) levels and antibody titres were measured.

Results

An increase in the H/L ratio, SAA, chPTX3, IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels in vaccinated groups was observed 1 day after the first (highest rates) and second (lower levels) vaccination up to 3 days in three different patterns and then started to decrease. The results showed an immediate, short‐lived response and moderate increases in all criteria. Changing patterns of APPs were different but in similar pattern after the first and second immunization in vaccinated groups. A positive correlation between all criteria values on Days 1 and 15 with antibody titres on Day 28 may indicate agonistic cross‐regulation.

Conclusion

Different types of IB vaccines could induce different patterns of APPs responses, which can be used to evaluate immune response outcomes in vaccine design, development and administration. The IL‐6 with the highest increase can be a sensitive parameter and chPTX3 with the high increase could be an important criterion.
Habitat variables influencing bird assemblage patterns across maize and legume fields before and after harvest in West Africa
Authors: Amissah Carlos , Iwajomo Soladoye B. , Deikumah Justus P.
Published: August 2024

Though agriculture has been linked to the decline in bird populations due to the associated changes in vegetation structure and composition, its potential to sustain birds has been explored over time. A sustainable agricultural landscape should be one that has the capacity to support bird species all year. To this end, we investigated the factors influencing pre‐ and post‐harvest farm conditions on bird abundance, richness, and feeding guilds in three different crop fields in Jos‐East and North, central Nigeria. We used line transects to survey birds and vegetation variables from 30 fields each of legumes, maize, and mixed (maize and soya bean) during the pre‐ and post‐harvest periods in central Nigeria. We modeled the effects of field conditions and vegetation parameters on bird species richness and encounter rates at overall and feeding‐guild levels. Our results showed that bird species richness was significantly higher pre‐harvest than post‐harvest. Bird encounter rate and feeding guild encounter rate were not affected by pre‐ and post‐harvest conditions. Bird species richness, encounter rate, and guild encounter rate were significantly higher in legume and mixed crop fields than in maize fields. In addition, in‐field tree density had a significant positive influence on bird and guild encounter rates, and species richness. Bird encounter rate and richness were significantly higher when the nearest non‐crop vegetation was either a gallery forest or rocky outcrop. A similar trend was observed for both insectivore and granivore encounter rates. Bird encounter rate declined with increasing distance from water sources and non‐crop vegetation. This study shows that pre‐ and post‐harvest conditions of crop fields can moderate the number and richness of birds on farmlands while the retention of trees on farmlands contributes to higher bird assemblages.
Low-energy theorem revisited and OPE in massless QCD
Authors: Bochicchio Marco , Pallante Elisabetta
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We revisit a low-energy theorem (LET) of NSVZ type in SU(N) QCD with Nf massless quarks derived in [1] by implementing it in dimensional regularization. The LET relates n-point correlators in the l.h.s. to n + 1-point correlators with the extra insertion of TrF2 at zero momentum in the r.h.s. We demonstrate that, for 2-point correlators of an operator O in the l.h.s., the LET implies that, in general, the integrated 3-point correlator in the r.h.s. needs in perturbation theory an infinite additive renormalization in addition to the multiplicative one. We relate the above counterterm to a corresponding divergent contact term in a certain coefficient of the OPE of TrF2 with O in the momentum representation, thus extending to any operator O an independent argument that first appeared for O = TrF2 in [2]. Finally, we demonstrate that in the asymptotically free phase of QCD the aforementioned counterterm in the LET is actually finite nonperturbatively after resummation to all perturbative orders. We also briefly recall the implications of the LET in the gauge-invariant framework of dimensional regularization for the perturbative and nonperturbative renormalization in large-N QCD. The implications of the LET inside and above the conformal window of SU(N) QCD with Nf massless quarks will appear in a forthcoming paper.
Exploring the conformal transition from above and below
Authors: Pomarol Alex , Salas Lindber
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We consider conformal transitions arising from the merging of IR and UV fixed points, expected to occur in QCD with a large enough number of flavors. We study the smoothness of physical quantities across this transition, being mostly determined by the logarithmic breaking of conformal invariance. We investigate this explicitly using holography where approaching the conformal transition either from outside or inside the conformal window (perturbed by a mass term) is characterized by the same dynamics. The mass of spin-1 mesons and Fπ are shown to be continuous across the transition, as well as the dilaton mass. This implies that the lightness of the dilaton cannot be a consequence of the spontaneous breaking of scale invariance when leaving the conformal window. Our analysis suggests that the light scalar observed in QCD lattice simulations is a $$ q\overline{q} $$
q

q
¯

meson that becomes light since the $$ q\overline{q} $$
q

q
¯

-operator dimension reaches its minimal value.
Bootstrapping the Abelian lattice gauge theories
Authors: Li Zhijin , Zhou Shutong
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We study the ℤ2 and U(1) Abelian lattice gauge theories using a bootstrap method, in which the loop equations and positivity conditions are employed for Wilson loops with lengths L ⩽ Lmax to derive two-sided bounds on the Wilson loop averages. We address a fundamental question that whether the constraints from loop equations and positivity are strong enough to solve lattice gauge theories. We answer this question by bootstrapping the 2D U(1) lattice gauge theory. We show that with sufficiently large Lmax = 60, the two-sided bounds provide estimates for the plaquette averages with precision near 10−8 or even higher, suggesting the bootstrap constraints are sufficient to numerically pin down this theory. We compute the bootstrap bounds on the plaquette averages in the 3D ℤ2 and U(1) lattice gauge theories with Lmax = 16. In the regions with weak or strong coupling, the two-sided bootstrap bounds converge quickly and coincide with the perturbative results to high precision. The bootstrap bounds are well consistent with the Monte Carlo results in the nonperturbative region. We observe interesting connections between the bounds generated by the bootstrap computations and the Griffiths’ inequalities. We present results towards bootstrapping the string tension and glueball mass in Abelian lattice gauge theories.
Risk sharing under heterogeneous beliefs without convexity
Authors: Liebrich Felix-Benedikt
Published: August 2024

We consider the problem of finding (Pareto-)optimal allocations of risk among finitely many agents. The associated individual risk measures are law-invariant, but with respect to agent-dependent and potentially heterogeneous reference probability measures. Moreover, we assume that the individual risk assessments are consistent with the respective second-order stochastic dominance relations, but remain agnostic about their convexity. A simple sufficient condition for the existence of Pareto optima is provided. The proof combines local comonotonic improvement with a Dieudonné-type argument, which also establishes a link of the optimal allocation problem to the realm of “collapse to the mean” results.
Confidence-Aware Severity Assessment of Lung Disease from Chest X-Rays Using Deep Neural Network on a Multi-Reader Dataset
Authors: Zandehshahvar Mohammadreza , van Assen Marly , Kim Eun , Kiarashi Yashar , Keerthipati Vikranth , Tessarin Giovanni , Muscogiuri Emanuele , Stillman Arthur E. , Filev Peter , Davarpanah Amir H. , Berkowitz Eugene A. , Tigges Stefan , Lee Scott J. , Vey Brianna L. , De Cecco Carlo , Adibi Ali
Published: August 2024

In this study, we present a method based on Monte Carlo Dropout (MCD) as Bayesian neural network (BNN) approximation for confidence-aware severity classification of lung diseases in COVID-19 patients using chest X-rays (CXRs). Trained and tested on 1208 CXRs from Hospital 1 in the USA, the model categorizes severity into four levels (i.e., normal, mild, moderate, and severe) based on lung consolidation and opacity. Severity labels, determined by the median consensus of five radiologists, serve as the reference standard. The model’s performance is internally validated against evaluations from an additional radiologist and two residents that were excluded from the median. The performance of the model is further evaluated on additional internal and external datasets comprising 2200 CXRs from the same hospital and 1300 CXRs from Hospital 2 in South Korea. The model achieves an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.94 ± 0.01 across all classes in the primary dataset, surpassing human readers in each severity class and achieves a higher Kendall correlation coefficient (KCC) of 0.80 ± 0.03. The performance of the model is consistent across varied datasets, highlighting its generalization. A key aspect of the model is its predictive uncertainty (PU), which is inversely related to the level of agreement among radiologists, particularly in mild and moderate cases. The study concludes that the model outperforms human readers in severity assessment and maintains consistent accuracy across diverse datasets. Its ability to provide confidence measures in predictions is pivotal for potential clinical use, underscoring the BNN’s role in enhancing diagnostic precision in lung disease analysis through CXR.
Digital Duplicates and the Scarcity Problem: Might AI Make Us Less Scarce and Therefore Less Valuable?
Authors: Danaher John , Nyholm Sven
Published: August 2024

Recent developments in AI and robotics enable people to create personalised digital duplicates – these are artificial, at least partial, recreations or simulations of real people. The advent of such duplicates enables people to overcome their individual scarcity. But this comes at a cost. There is a common view among ethicists and value theorists suggesting that individual scarcity contributes to or heightens the value of a life or parts of a life. In this paper, we address this topic. We make five main points. First, that there is a plausible prima facie case for the scarcity threat: AI may undermine the value of an individual human life by making us less scarce. Second, notwithstanding this prima facie threat, the role of scarcity in individual value is disputable and always exists in tension with the contrasting view that scarcity is a tragedy that limits our value. Third, there are two distinct forms of scarcity – instrumental and intrinsic – and they contribute to value in different ways. Fourth, digital duplication technology may undermine instrumental scarcity, to at least some extent, but the axiological consequences of this are highly variable. Fifth, digital duplication technology does not affect intrinsic scarcity, and may actually heighten it.