bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Locally Stationary Wavelet Analysis of Nonstationary Turbulent Fluxes
Authors: Arias-Arana D. , Fochesatto G. J. , Jimenez R. , Ojeda C.
Published: July 2024

We propose the multivariate locally stationary wavelet (mvLSW) process to analyze surface turbulent fluxes in nonstationary atmospheric conditions. Using theoretical spectral characteristics, we generated synthetic data representing stationary and nonstationary turbulence time series. This data enables us to explore the impact of mesoscale atmospheric flows on the stationary microscale turbulence field and detect the spectral gap in the time-varying cospectra. Applying this approach to experimental data collected in Fairbanks, Alaska and Bogota, Colombia, we demonstrated the ability to detect cospectral gaps and compute bandwidth-limited turbulent fluxes arising from stationary components of the atmospheric flow. These findings underscore the importance of considering scale-dependent atmospheric forcing when comparing model and experimental data.
Impacts and influencing pathways of urbanization on carbon–water-energy-food nexus across Chinese cities
Authors: Li Chenggang , Liu Yong , Xu Zhenci , Zhao Gang , Bao Youhui , Cai Chengcheng , Lu Yu , Mao Yufeng , Wang Alexander Boxuan , Wu Liang
Published: July 2024

Food, water, energy and carbon (F-W-E-C), as important factors of urban development, have synergistic effects and trade-off effects with each other. Scientifically assessing the impact of urbanization on the F-W-E-C nexus is beneficial to optimize the urban development layout and achieve the sustainable urban development. Nevertheless, extant studies have not evaluated the impact and influencing pathways of urbanization on the F-W-E-C nexus. In this study, the Coupling Coordination Degree Model is used to explore the F-W-E-C nexus of 252 prefecture-level cities in China. The panel data model and mediating effect model are utilized to study the impact of urbanization on the F-W-E-C nexus and the impact pathways. This study finds that the F-W-E-C nexus across Chinese cities is weak trade-off. The urbanization promotes the synergy of F-W-E-C. The positive impact is greater in the central cities than in the eastern and western cities, and is greater in medium-sized cities than in small cities, large cities and above. The technological progress is an important pathway of urbanization impacting the F-W-E-C nexus, and assists urbanization to generate a positive influence on the F-W-E-C nexus. This research has implications for promoting a systematic, orderly, and rational coordination development of F-W-E-C and for sustainable urbanization development in China and the world.
Learning how to develop a research question throughout the PhD process: training challenges, objectives, and scaffolds drawn from doctoral programs for students and their supervisors
Authors: Girard Nathalie , Cardona Aurélie , Fiorelli Cécile
Published: July 2024

With the higher education reform putting forward the professionalization of doctoral students, doctoral education has been strongly focused on generic transferable skills to ensure employability. However, doctoral training should not forget core skills of research and especially the ability to formulate research questions, which are the key to original research and difficult to develop at the same time. Learning how to develop a research question is traditionally seen as a one-to-one learning process and an informal daily transmission between a novice and a senior researcher. The objective of this paper is to offer a framework to design doctoral programs aimed at supporting the process of development of research questions for doctoral candidates guided by their supervisors. We base our proposal on two doctoral training programs designed with a pedagogical strategy based on dialogs with peers, whether they be students, supervisors, or trainers from a diversity of scientific backgrounds. The resulting framework combines three learning challenges faced by doctoral students and their supervisors when developing their research question, as well as training objectives corresponding to what they should learn and that are illustrated by the scaffolds we have used in our training programs. Finally, we discuss the conditions and originality of our pedagogical strategy based on the acquisition of argumentation skills, taking both the subjective dimensions of PhD work and the added value of interactions with a diversity and heterogeneity of peers into account.
Autoantibodies Neutralizing GM-CSF in HIV-Negative Colombian Patients Infected with Cryptococcus gattii and C. neoformans
Authors: Arango-Franco Carlos A. , Rojas Julian , Firacative Carolina , Migaud Mélanie , Agudelo Clara Inés , Franco José Luis , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Puel Anne , Lizarazo Jairo , Castañeda Elizabeth , Arias Andrés A.
Published: July 2024

Background

Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans or C. gattii. Neutralizing autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in otherwise healthy adults with cryptococcal meningitis have been described since 2013. We searched for neutralizing auto-Abs in sera collected from Colombian patients with non-HIV-associated cryptococcosis in a retrospective national cohort from 1997 to 2016.

Methods

We reviewed clinical and laboratory records and assessed the presence of neutralizing auto-Abs against GM-CSF in 30 HIV negative adults with cryptococcosis (13 caused by C. gattii and 17 caused by C. neoformans).

Results

We detected neutralizing auto-Abs against GM-CSF in the sera of 10 out of 13 (77%) patients infected with C. gattii and one out of 17 (6%) patients infected with C. neoformans.

Conclusions

We report eleven Colombian patients diagnosed with cryptococcosis who had auto-Abs that neutralize GM-CSF. Among these patients, ten were infected with C. gattii and only one with C. neoformans.
Scientific Inference with Interpretable Machine Learning: Analyzing Models to Learn About Real-World Phenomena
Authors: Freiesleben Timo , König Gunnar , Molnar Christoph , Tejero-Cantero Álvaro
Published: July 2024

To learn about real world phenomena, scientists have traditionally used models with clearly interpretable elements. However, modern machine learning (ML) models, while powerful predictors, lack this direct elementwise interpretability (e.g. neural network weights). Interpretable machine learning (IML) offers a solution by analyzing models holistically to derive interpretations. Yet, current IML research is focused on auditing ML models rather than leveraging them for scientific inference. Our work bridges this gap, presenting a framework for designing IML methods—termed ’property descriptors’—that illuminate not just the model, but also the phenomenon it represents. We demonstrate that property descriptors, grounded in statistical learning theory, can effectively reveal relevant properties of the joint probability distribution of the observational data. We identify existing IML methods suited for scientific inference and provide a guide for developing new descriptors with quantified epistemic uncertainty. Our framework empowers scientists to harness ML models for inference, and provides directions for future IML research to support scientific understanding.
Cushing’s disease and bone
Authors: Zdrojowy-Wełna Aleksandra , Stachowska Barbara , Bolanowski Marek
Published: July 2024

Bone impairment associated with Cushing’s disease (CD) is a complex disorder, mainly involving deterioration of bone quality and resulting in an increased fracture rate, often despite normal bone mineral density. Bone complications are common in patients with CD at the time of diagnosis but may persist even after successful treatment. There is currently no agreement on the optimal diagnostic methods, thresholds for anti-osteoporotic therapy and its timing in CD. In this review, we summarize the current data on the pathophysiology, diagnostic approach and management of bone complications in CD.
Can the Promise of Free Education Improve College Attainment? Lessons from the Milwaukee Area Technical College Promise
Authors: Anderson Drew M. , Monaghan David B. , Richardson Jed
Published: July 2024

This study found that the MATC Promise increased college attainment by encouraging Milwaukee high school students to access state and federal aid, and to consider matriculating to their local two-year college. The MATC Promise exemplifies the last-dollar model of college aid. If seniors at Milwaukee area public high schools complete academic milestones, apply for financial aid, qualify based on low family income, and matriculate to Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), then the Promise covers any remaining tuition charges. The message promoting free college was the program’s main element, since the funding support for eligible students came primarily from existing state and federal aid. We studied outcomes for the first four graduating classes after the Promise was launched, compared to the trend in Milwaukee for the previous six graduating classes. The rate of matriculation to MATC increased from 10 percent to 15 percent. There was no such increase in matriculation to other technical college districts around the state, suggesting that the increase was caused by the Promise. The increase in enrollment was larger among lower-income students and those in the urban Milwaukee Public Schools. Those students were more likely to apply for financial aid earlier, regardless of whether they ultimately qualified for the Promise, and their rate of matriculation to any college increased from 45 percent to 49 percent. There was no indication that attracting additional students to college led to lower graduation rates, though we were limited to examining credentials earned in two years or less.
Psychosocial factors that favor citizen participation in the generation of scientific knowledge
Authors: Sánchez Flor , Olmos Ricardo , Sandoval Leyla Angélica , Casani Fernando
Published: July 2024

Background

Citizen participation in the generation of scientific knowledge is one of the major challenges facing science and technology systems. This study takes a psychosocial approach to analyzing the process whereby citizens participate in science.

Method

A specific questionnaire was answered by 1002 residents of Spain belonging to different age groups, occupations, and education levels.

Results

Cluster analysis revealed two profiles: a minority group of people who are well informed, motivated, and interested, recognize the value and impact of science, and would be willing to donate money for and participate in science projects, and a group of people of the opposite profile who feel little if any interest in science. A logistic regression model designed to find the variables that contribute the most to participation showed that gender is a major predictor of participation and that knowing people who have participated in scientific projects is another important motivating factor.

Conclusions

Only a minority group of the population (young, university-educated women) participates prominently in scientific projects. Strategic initiatives are needed to increase the engagement of institutions and the public in citizen science.
Extra-abdominal trocar and instrument detection for enhanced surgical workflow understanding
Authors: Jurosch Franziska , Wagner Lars , Jell Alissa , Islertas Esra , Wilhelm Dirk , Berlet Maximilian
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Video-based intra-abdominal instrument tracking for laparoscopic surgeries is a common research area. However, the tracking can only be done with instruments that are actually visible in the laparoscopic image. By using extra-abdominal cameras to detect trocars and classify their occupancy state, additional information about the instrument location, whether an instrument is still in the abdomen or not, can be obtained. This can enhance laparoscopic workflow understanding and enrich already existing intra-abdominal solutions.

Methods

A data set of four laparoscopic surgeries recorded with two time-synchronized extra-abdominal 2D cameras was generated. The preprocessed and annotated data were used to train a deep learning-based network architecture consisting of a trocar detection, a centroid tracker and a temporal model to provide the occupancy state of all trocars during the surgery.

Results

The trocar detection model achieves an F1 score of $$95.06\pm 0.88\%$$

95.06
±
0.88
%

. The prediction of the occupancy state yields an F1 score of $$89.29\pm 5.29\%$$

89.29
±
5.29
%

, providing a first step towards enhanced surgical workflow understanding.

Conclusion

The current method shows promising results for the extra-abdominal tracking of trocars and their occupancy state. Future advancements include the enlargement of the data set and incorporation of intra-abdominal imaging to facilitate accurate assignment of instruments to trocars.
Grape Seed Extract as an Environment-Friendly Green Inhibitor for Corrosion of Mild Steel in 1 M Sulfamic Acid
Authors: Kaushik Niharika P. , Rao Padmalatha , Kedimar Namitha , Rao Suma A.
Published: July 2024

A corrosion inhibition study of mild steel in 1 M sulfamic acid was conducted using grape seed extract (GSE) as a possible green inhibitor. Electrochemical techniques were adopted to measure the corrosion rate in both the absence and presence of the GSE. Conditions were standardized to obtain optimum inhibition efficiency by varying the concentration of inhibitor and temperature. The kinetic parameters were calculated using the Arrhenius equation. Surface analysis was conducted by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques. A suitable mechanism was proposed for the corrosion inhibition process. Grape seed extract showed a maximum efficiency of 65%, with a concentration of 0.24 g/L at 303 K from potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) studies. With the increase in temperature, the efficiency decreased, resulting in the GSE inhibitor’s physical adsorption. Surface morphology studies supported the adsorption of GSE on mild steel. GSE acted as an efficient green inhibitor with environmental benefits.
Industrial Deportment of Minor and Trace Elements in Direct Nickel Matte Smelting
Authors: Astikainen Oskar , Klemettinen Lassi , Tammela Joonas , Taskinen Pekka , Michallik Radoslaw M. , O’Brien Hugh , Lindberg Daniel
Published: July 2024

A sampling campaign was carried out at an industrial nickel flash smelter with the aim of evaluating the trace element distributions along the smelting line from raw materials to high-grade nickel matte and discard slag. The industrial technology was direct-to-nickel matte smelting without conventional Peirce–Smith converters, thus having two different nickel mattes as smelting products and feeds in the refinery: the sulfidic low-iron nickel matte from smelting furnace and the low-sulfur electric furnace matte from slag cleaning. Major and trace element concentrations were obtained from the solidified samples by electron probe microanalysis and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Due to the industrial sampling environment, i.e., the slow cooling rate of the samples, not all the trace element concentrations were able to be measured at the lowest detection limits of the techniques used in some of the phases formed after cooling. However, the obtained results and element distribution coefficients were in good agreement with equilibrium values published in the literature.
Social Assistive Robotics: An Ethical and Political Inquiry Through the Lens of Freedom
Authors: Pareto Júlia , Coeckelbergh Mark
Published: July 2024

The development of social assistive robots for supporting healthcare provision faces a lack of an ethical approach that adequately addresses the normatively relevant challenges regarding its deployment. Current ethical reflection is primarily informed by an individual-centered perspective focused on robots’ implications for their end-users and thereby limited to the dyadic human–robot interaction sphere. Considering that this is tightly correlated to the restricted understanding of core ethical concepts upon which reflection stands, this paper delves into the concept of freedom from a philosophical perspective to unfold its full normative breadth for a critical assessment of technological development. By bringing to the fore the political-structural dimension of freedom and, in turn, elaborating the political dimension of technology, the undertaken philosophical approach discloses freedom as a transversal ethical concept for a normative reflection on technology. Thereby, it broadens the scope of ethical attention beyond the sphere of human–robot interaction and turns attention to the so far overlooked structural dimension of human–robot relations. Drawing on conceptions of freedom as non-domination, among others, the paper approaches social assistive robotics and reexamines the terrain of relevant issues for its development. Since freedom is one major issue upon which current concerns revolve, the undertaken analysis substantially enriches the ongoing ethical discussion on social assistive robotics’ implications for human freedom. In this way, this work contributes to going beyond the current individual-centered ethical perspective by laying conceptual grounds for a comprehensive ethical approach to social assistive robotics’ development.
The regulatory mechanism of m6A modification in gastric cancer
Authors: Wu Si , Li Chunming , Zhou Hanghao , Yang Ying , Liang Na , Fu Yue , Luo Qingqing , Zhan YaLi
Published: July 2024

To the best of our knowledge, N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) exerts a significant role in the occurrence and development of various tumors. Gastric cancer (GC), originating from the mucosal epithelium in the digestive tract, is the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death around the world. Therefore, it is urgent to explore the specific mechanism of tumorigenesis of GC. As we all know, m6A modification as the most common RNA modification, is involved in the modification of mRNA and ncRNA at the post-transcriptional level, which played a regulatory role in various biological processes. As identified by numerous studies, the m6A modification are able to influence the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of GC. What’s more, m6A modification are associated with EMT, drug resistance, and aerobic glycolysis in GC. m6A related-ncRNAs may be a valuable biomarker used by the prediction of GC diagnosis in the future. This review summarizes the role of m6A modification in the mechanism of gastric cancer, with the aim of identifying biological progress.
An analysis of the role of GAB2 in pan-cancer from a multidimensional perspective
Authors: Yin Yi , Li Yong , Zhang Yaoyang , Jia Qiucheng , Tang Huiming , Chen Jiming , Ji Rui
Published: July 2024

Background

To explore the role of GAB2 in pan-cancer based on bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

Based on TCGA and GTEx databases, we used TIMER2.0 online analysis tool and R language to analyze the expression of GAB2 in pan-cancer. We used Kaplan–Meier Plotter to analyze the relationship between GAB2 and OS and RFS in pan-cancer. We utilized the CPTAC database to examine the expression of phosphorylated GAB2 in pan-cancer. We investigated the effects of mutation features on the occurrence and development of human cancers by cBioPortal and COSMIC. Using the database, we conducted an analysis of molecular compounds that have the potential to interact with GAB2 through molecular docking. Moreover, we use the TIMER to explore the relationship between GAB2 and immune cell infiltration, and draw relevant heatmaps by R language.

Results

GAB2 was abnormally expressed in various tumors and was associated with prognosis. There were differences in the expression of GAB2 phosphorylation in tumor tissues and corresponding normal tissues among different types of tumors. GAB2 interacts with Docetaxel and was associated with immune cell infiltration in various tumors.

Conclusion

GAB2 participates in regulating immune infiltration and affects the prognosis of patients. GAB2 may serve as a potential tumor marker.
CD147 TagSNP is associated with the vulnerability to lung cancer in the Chinese population: a case–control study
Authors: Xie Yuning , Huang Chu , Zhou Xianlei , Wu Hongjiao , Li Ang , Zhang Xuemei
Published: July 2024

Background

Lung cancer, with its high morbidity and mortality, presents a major significant public health challenge. CD147, linked to cancer progression and metastasis, is a promising therapeutic target, including for lung cancer. The genetic variation may influence the expression of the gene and consequently the risk of lung cancer. This study aims to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CD147 to understand their association with the risk of developing lung cancer in the Han Chinese population.

Methods

A hospital-based case–control investigation was conducted, enrolling 700 lung cancer patients and 700 cancer-free controls. TagSNPs were selected using Haploview v4.2, and genotype data from the 1000 Genomes Project database were utilized. The selected SNPs (rs28992491, rs67945626, and rs79361899) within the CD147 gene were evaluated using the improved multiple ligation detection reaction method. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, logistic regression models, and interaction analyses.

Results

Baseline characteristics of the study population showed no significant differences in gender distribution between cases and controls, but there was a notable difference in smoking rates. No significant associations were found between the three TagSNPs and lung cancer susceptibility in the codominant model. However, stratification analyses revealed interesting findings. Among females, the rs79361899 AA/AG genotype was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. In individuals aged ≥ 65 years old, the rs28992491 GG and rs79361899 AA genotypes were linked to a higher susceptibility. Furthermore, an interaction analysis demonstrated significant genotype × gender interactions in the rs79361899 recessive model, indicating an increased lung cancer risk in female carriers of the heterozygous or homozygous polymorphic genotype.

Conclusions

CD147 polymorphisms play an important role in lung cancer development, particularly in specific subgroup of age and gender. These findings highlight the significance of incorporating genetic variations and their interactions with demographic factors in comprehending the intricate etiology of lung cancer.
From individual to inclusive: exploring the spectrum of service delivery models in occupational therapist—teacher collaborations
Authors: Jeremy Jill , Spandagou Ilektra , Hinitt Joanne
Published: July 2024

Collaborative practice between teachers and occupational therapists is promoted as best-practice to support the inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream classrooms. However, interprofessional practice across the disciplines of education and health is complicated, and success is mediated by personal, professional, and system factors. This qualitative ethnographic study used shadowing, contextual conversations, and interviews to explore collaboration between teachers (n = 11) and occupational therapists (n = 10) in mainstream primary schools (n = 10) in three Australian states to better understand how context impacts practice. Findings reveal that collaborative practice is influenced both by the model of occupational therapy service delivery employed as well as professional differences between teachers and therapists. A move from itinerant to embedded models of service delivery may support collaboration and help bridge differences between professionals through improved communication and mutual professional development.
Physician’s perspectives on skin prick testing and allergy diagnostics in Germany
Authors: Klimek Ludger , Wehrmann Wolfgang , Brehler Randolf , Becker Sven , Cuevas Mandy , Gröger Moritz , Hagemann Jan , Casper Ingrid , Sulk Mathias , Gorris Senne , Seys Sven F.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Novel technologies standardising the testing process of immediate hypersensitivities have been developed and validated in recent years. Meanwhile, challenges with regard to availability of testing agents and shortage of trained personnel have increased. Novel technologies could fight these challenges, but their distribution is at present not known. The current survey, conducted by the German Society for Allergology (AeDA), aimed to assess current practices of allergy diagnostics in Germany.

Methods

Members of AeDA were invited to complete an online questionnaire to obtain information on their perspectives on allergy testing and diagnostics.

Results

A total of 150 allergologists from different disciplines treating patients with allergy completed the questionnaire. This survey revealed that twice as many skin prick tests (SPT; 21.2 tests/week) compared to serum specific immunoglobulin E tests (IgE; 10.4 tests/week) are being performed. Nasal allergen provocation tests are being performed in 56.0% of hospitals and physicians’ offices. An individual standard allergen panel for SPT is applied in 78.0% of testing cases. Methods used to perform a read out of SPT are variable with measurement of the longest wheal diameter being used most frequently (68.0%), followed by a qualitative evaluation (46.6%) or the longest wheal diameter including pseudopods (34.4%). In all, 66% of allergologists indicated that a device that automating the SPT process would be valuable for clinical practice.

Conclusion

Skin prick tests and serum IgE tests are still the cornerstones in the diagnostic work-up of immediate-type allergies. Variability in the execution of skin prick tests exists between different hospitals and physicians’ offices in Germany. Inconsistent availability of testing reagents was considered most problematic for maintaining allergy diagnostics in Germany. A majority of allergologists are open to evaluating tools that may contribute to standardize skin prick tests.
A Case Study of Sending Graph Neural Networks Back to the Test Bench for Applications in High-Energy Particle Physics
Authors: Pfeffer Emanuel , Waßmer Michael , Cung Yee-Ying , Wolf Roger , Husemann Ulrich
Published: July 2024

In high-energy particle collisions, the primary collision products usually decay further resulting in tree-like, hierarchical structures with a priori unknown multiplicity. At the stable-particle level all decay products of a collision form permutation invariant sets of final state objects. The analogy to mathematical graphs gives rise to the idea that graph neural networks (GNNs), which naturally resemble these properties, should be best-suited to address many tasks related to high-energy particle physics. In this paper we describe a benchmark test of a typical GNN against neural networks of the well-established deep fully connected feed-forward architecture. We aim at performing this comparison maximally unbiased in terms of nodes, hidden layers, or trainable parameters of the neural networks under study. As physics case we use the classification of the final state $$\text{X}$$
X
produced in association with top quark–antiquark pairs in proton–proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, where $$\text{X}$$
X
stands for a bottom quark–antiquark pair produced either non-resonantly or through the decay of an intermediately produced $$\text{Z}$$
Z
or Higgs boson.
Improving Children’s Services Engagement of Fathers in Child Protection: Logic Model for an Organisational Development and Staff Training Intervention
Authors: Scourfield Jonathan , Davies Jeremy , Jones Kathy , Maxwell Nina
Published: July 2024

There is a long-standing and ongoing problem of practice with at-risk families in child welfare work focusing primarily on mothers and failing to properly engage fathers. The article describes a child welfare innovation from the UK designed to tackle this issue—the ISAFE (Improving Safeguarding through Audited Father-Engagement) intervention, developed by The Fatherhood Institute and The Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) at Cardiff University and based on two previous separate interventions which had positive initial evaluations. ISAFE combines in-service social work practitioner training with other elements of organisational development to improve the engagement of fathers. Activities targeting organisational culture are case file audits, identification and training of team champions, and a webinar for service leaders. The practitioner training involves both awareness raising about the importance of engaging men and skills development via an introduction to motivational interviewing. ISAFE’s theory of change is summarised in the form of a logic model. Limitations of the intervention and its evaluation are discussed.
Role of Silicon in Counteracting Cadmium Stress in Pea Plants (Pisum sativum L.): Insights Into Cadmium Binding Mechanisms and Pectin Methylesterase Activity
Authors: Gołębiowski Adrian , Szultka-Młyńska Małgorzata , Pomastowski Paweł , Rafińska Katarzyna , Orzoł Aleksandra , Cichorek Mateusz , Olszewski Jacek , Buszewski Bogusław , Głowacka Katarzyna
Published: July 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of silicon (Si) in counteracting a cadmium (Cd) stress to pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) and to identify the mechanism by which Cd is bound within pea roots. Methods: These goals were achieved through (i) a histochemical study of Cd localization in pea roots, (ii) spectrophotometric determination of pectin content and the activity of pectin methylesterase (PME), (iii) speciation of Cd extracted from pea roots conducted through size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS). Results: Cd was found mainly in the root stele of the Cd-stressed plants. The pectin content and PME activity were lower in the Cd-stressed plants, but Si supplementation reversed these effects. Selectivity was noticed in Cd extraction efficiency with water being the least effective and enzymatic-assisted extraction proving to be the most effective. Speciation analysis revealed significant heterogeneity in molar mass, ranging from approximately 295 to 95 kDa. Galacturonic acid was identified the dominant species responsible for Cd binding. The choice of solvent for extraction markedly influenced the Cd binding profile, indicating shifts in the distribution of species’ molar mass and their relative concentrations in extracts. Conclusions: Si alleviates Cd toxicity in pea plants, and one of the mechanisms through which it operates involves increasing pectin levels and PME activity. Pectin plays an active role in Cd detoxification in the root cell walls, forming electrostatic bonds with Cd cations through its carboxyl groups.
Implementation Determinants of Problem-Solving Therapy Delivered by Near-Peer Lay Counselors for Youth Living with HIV in Botswana: Lay Counsellor Perspectives
Authors: Ahmed Charisse V. , Van Pelt Amelia E. , Buttenheim Alison M. , Poku Ohemaa , Rice Bridgette M. , Lowenthal Elizabeth D. , Brooks Merrian J.
Published: July 2024

An evidence-based psychological intervention, known as Friendship Bench, for depression and anxiety was adapted among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in Gaborone, Botswana, and renamed Safe Haven. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively describe the barriers and facilitators that influence the implementation of Safe Haven from the perspective of peer counselors delivering the intervention in Gaborone, Botswana. We conducted a secondary analysis using qualitative data from a pilot study to evaluate Safe Haven. Eight peer counselors participated in semi-structured interviews to describe their experiences with implementing Safe Haven during the pilot. We analyzed the interview data thematically using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to guide theme development. We identified six barriers and two facilitators of Safe Haven implementation. The barriers were 1) client reticence and confidentiality concerns, 2) parent disapproval, 3) client accessibility, 4) counselor psychological wellbeing, 5) scheduling conflicts 6) limited financial resources for counselors. The facilitators were 1) peer delivery of counseling was deemed more acceptable among adolescents than counseling delivered by older adults, and 2) the counselors placed high value on the intervention. We found that parental disapproval and shared trauma among counselors and clients are key barriers that may negatively impact implementation outcomes such as sustainability and penetration. To improve accessibility of the intervention, peer counselors recommended implementation in school settings and to educate parents on mental health. Overall, the barriers and facilitators identified in our study can guide larger scale implementation of Safe Haven among ALHIV in resource-poor settings.
Reading Between the Lines: Machine Learning Ensemble and Deep Learning for Implied Threat Detection in Textual Data
Authors: Raza Muhammad Owais , Meghji Areej Fatemah , Mahoto Naeem Ahmed , Al Reshan Mana Saleh , Abosaq Hamad Ali , Sulaiman Adel , Shaikh Asadullah
Published: July 2024

With the increase in the generation and spread of textual content on social media, natural language processing (NLP) has become an important area of research for detecting underlying threats, racial abuse, violence, and implied warnings in the content. The subtlety and ambiguity of language make the development of effective models for detecting threats in text a challenging task. This task is further complicated when the threat is not explicitly conveyed. This study focuses on the task of implied threat detection using an explicitly designed machine-generated dataset with both linguistic and lexical features. We evaluated the performance of different machine learning algorithms on these features including Support Vector Machines, Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes, Decision Tree, and K-nearest neighbors. The ensembling approaches of Adaboost, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting were also explored. Deep learning modeling was performed using Long Short-Term Memory, Deep Neural Networks (DNN), and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM). Based on the evaluation, it was observed that classical and ensemble models overfit while working with linguistic features. The performance of these models improved when working with lexical features. The model based on logistic regression exhibited superior performance with anF1score of 77.13%. While experimenting with deep learning models, DNN achieved anF1score of 91.49% while the BiLSTM achieved anF1score of 91.61% while working with lexical features. The current study provides a baseline for future research in the domain of implied threat detection.
Sediment distribution and transport pattern in the nearshore region, southeast coast of India
Authors: Pradhan Umakanta , Naik Subrat , Mishra Pravakar , Panda Uma Sankar , Murthy M. V. Ramana
Published: July 2024

The present paper aimed to assess the sediment distribution pattern, mode of transport, and its interaction with hydrodynamic and topographic conditions at different depths and regions along the east coast of India. About 900 surficial sediment samples were collected and analysed on a monthly basis for the Chennai coastal region at 32 stations from 2013 to 2015. The study region is classified into four types, such as beach, inlet, 5 m, and 10 m depth. Sediment textural and grain size trend analyses were conducted to achieve the objectives. Sediment characteristics for the region were recorded as sandy, equally dominated by unimodal and bimodal at the beach, while unimodal at shallow depths (5 and 15 m). The sediments were medium sand to coarse sand at the beach, mostly fine followed by medium at 5 and 15 m depths. The sediment sorting is dominated by moderately well-sorted sediments; the skewness of beach sediments was negative, while nearshore sediments were found positive; average kurtosis values of sediments were noticed to be mesokurtic. The CM plot depicts that the sediments were mostly derived by tractive current, and the modes of transport are “bottom suspension and rolling” and “graded suspension no rolling” at beach locations and shallow water depths, respectively. The GSTA analysis reveals the annual average sediment transport pattern is northerly. The numerical hydrodynamic study confirms the GSTA and CM plot analysis. The study reveals a stable sedimentary environment south of the Chennai port and instability in the northern part. The study includes large spatiotemporal nearshore sediment data with hydrodynamic conditions, immensely helpful to coastal stakeholders and researchers.
Comparative analysis of meteorological parameters and their relationship with NO2, PM10, PM2.5 and O3 concentrations at selected urban air quality monitoring stations in Krakow, Paris, and Milan
Authors: Rowland Olawale Emmanuel
Published: July 2024

Meteorological parameters play a major role in air pollutant concentrations as they create conditions that either hinder or facilitate the reaction and dispersion of pollutants in our environments. This is particularly evident in Europe, where frequent alternation of meteorological parameters has the potential to significantly impact pollutant concentrations. This study applied the R openair package to comparatively analyse the relationship between key meteorological parameters and NO2, O3, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations measured at selected air quality monitoring stations in Krakow, Milan, and Paris in the year 2021. The study made use of meteorological data acquired from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Power data repository, and air pollutants data measured at air quality monitoring stations in each of the three cities. The air pollutants data were retrieved from European Environmental Agency’s Airbase. Concentration and correlation analyses were conducted using the relevant functions of the R openair package. Findings in the study revealed a positive relationship between temperature and O3, wind speed and O3; and a negative relationship between temperature and NO2/PM2.5/PM10. The study further revealed a negative relationship between wind speed and NO2/PM2.5/PM10, as well as a negative relationship between precipitation and NO2/PM2.5/PM10. NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations were higher in winter periods, weekdays, nights, and evenings, but lower in summer periods, weekends, and midday. Whereas O3 concentration was higher in summer periods, weekends, midday, and lower in winter periods, weekdays, nights, and evenings. NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 concentrations were higher during the periods without precipitation than periods with precipitation. In addition, temperature inversions were found to be linked with higher concentrations of NO2, PM2.5, and PM10, but lower concentrations of O3 in Krakow, Paris and Milan. Accordingly, the study recommends effective monitoring, increased awareness, the use of pollutant removing devices, and further research to enhance adaptation and advance knowledge.
Comprehensive geospatial mapping and monitoring of an eastern coalfield in India
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Choudhary Arti , Kumar Ram Pravesh , Kumar Pushpendra , Kumar Gautam
Published: July 2024

Geospatial mapping and monitoring are crucial for designing slopes in opencast mining, as failure can result in significant economic and life loss. To overcome these issues, the present investigation evaluated the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) generated using high resolution Cartosat-1 satellite imagery. Simultaneously, mapping of shaded relief map, aspect map and slope maps was done for the monitoring of Shatabdi opencast coal mine of Jharia region, an eastern coalfield region of India. Shaded relief map was categorized in to low, moderate and high categories and maximum area was covered by moderate to high shades. The constructed aspect map encompasses the range between 0 and 360 degrees of direction, with categorization and representation through distinct colors. The slope map was classified into various categories based on degrees of slope, including very gentle, gentle, moderate, moderately steep, steep, and very steep slopes. The maps were ground validated using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) collected data points by field visit in the region. For opencast mines to operate safely and profitably, slope stability in different stages of mining must be mapped and monitored. The study synthesizes data from diverse sources, highlighting the role of geospatial technology in addressing multiple research gaps within the mining industries prior to leveraging Cartosat-1 satellite data. Slope mapping and monitoring of coalfield regions are crucial to reducing construction costs, mitigation of natural hazard risks like flooding and landslides, and effective conservation of natural resources such as soils, vegetation, and water systems. The present study benefits policymakers, environmental planners and government in formulating policies to ensure safety, reliability, and enhance the economic growth of workers and the country.
The psychology of intergroup relations was grounded in intragroup processes
Authors: Montoya R. Matthew , Pinter Brad
Published: July 2024

Although Glowacki proposed that peace developed from the relatively recent advent of intergroup norms and tolerance for out-group members, we submit that (a) positive intergroup relations developed from a psychology grounded in the regulation of intragroup relations, (b) the “default” intergroup orientation is uncertainty, and (c) positive intergroup relations likely existed early in our evolutionary history.
Author's response: The challenge of peace
Authors: Glowacki Luke
Published: July 2024

The 30 commentators are largely sympathetic to the account I develop for the origins of peace in humans, though many suggest that peace has deeper roots and that humans share characteristics of peace with other species. Multiple commentators propose how to extend my framework or focus on the cognitive and psychological prerequisites for peace. In my reply, I discuss these considerations and further my account of why I think peace as defined here was unlikely prior to behavioral modernity which emerged approximately 100,000 years ago. In general, there seems to be a consensus that moving the debate beyond “war versus peace” in human evolution and instead focusing on the conditions that enable war or peace is a fruitful direction for the field to take.
Adapting the BFI-2 Around the World – Coordinated Translation and Validation in Five Languages and Cultural Contexts
Authors: Rammstedt Beatrice , Roemer Lena , Lechner Clemens M. , Soto Christopher J.
Published: July 2024

Abstract: In the course of the PIAAC international pilot studies conducted in 2016 and 2017, the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2; Soto & John, 2017 ) was translated into and validated in five languages (French, German, Polish, Spanish, and Japanese). Translation was coordinated and conducted centrally following the same state-of-the-art procedures. The performance and comparability of the resulting BFI-2 versions were investigated in parallel in a comprehensive international online study based on quota samples in each country. In this paper, we present the different language versions of the BFI-2 and our investigation of their psychometric properties (reliability, structural, and criterion-related validity) as well as their measurement invariance. Overall, the results reveal high comparability of the psychometric properties across all six versions of the BFI-2 and pairwise between the five adaptations and the English-language original.
The (Linguistic) Profile of the Impostor Phenomenon
Authors: Brandt Pia Magdalena , Fabio Ibrahim  , Herzberg Philipp Yorck
Published: July 2024

Abstract: This study examines the impostor phenomenon (IP) in the context of job applications. To this end, 70 candidates were surveyed. Furthermore, their job applications were assessed and analyzed, employing the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC; an often-used program for dictionary-based, automatic quantitative text analysis). With a higher IP expression, a differentiated picture emerges with regard to the application profile: The linguistic profile tends toward a more cautious, more specific and also justifying language. However, for many of the assumed LIWC variables, no correlations were found. It is thought that this might be attributed to the high level of standardization of application documents. Furthermore, this research showed that, at least to some extent, candidates with a higher IP level put more effort into their application and at the same time considered their chances of success to be lower. Conclusions regarding the use of language as a marker of IP expression and implications for the “imposter applicant” are discussed.
Crustal Electrical Anisotropic Structure of the Altyn Tagh Fault in the Subei Area, NW China: Implications for Fault Zone Architecture
Authors: Dong Zeyi , Xiao Qibin , Sun Zelin , Han Bing , Wang Lifeng , Tang Ji , Wang Jijun
Published: July 2024

The fault zone architecture may provide reliable information about the deformations in both on‐fault and off‐fault media. The outer damage zones of faults may extend for kilometers and exhibit structural anisotropy, which potentially causes electrical anisotropy in rocks. Thus, electrically anisotropic structures may indicate the dimensions and extent of fault damage zones. We investigated the electrical anisotropic structure of the sinistral Altyn Tagh fault (ATF), NW China, using magnetotelluric data collected in and around the Subei Basin. Our three‐dimensional resistivity model reveals widespread anisotropic anomalies at depths <∼5 km. The directions of the minimum horizontal resistivity values of the anomalies inside the Qilian Shan southeast of the ATF are dominantly subparallel to the fault traces at the surface. At deeper levels (∼15–19 km and ∼33–43 km), the anisotropic anomalies are mainly concentrated near the northern strand of the ATF (NATF) and the North Yemahe fault (NYMF) in the northeastern Subei area. The mid‐lower crust (∼33–43 km) inside the Qilian Shan is characterized by isotropy or weak anisotropy with low resistivities (∼10 Ωm), which deviate significantly from the values along the NATF. Our results indicate the presence of a ∼30 km wide off‐fault damage zone along the NATF and NYMF in the shallow crust that thins downward to the lower crust. We propose that the distribution of anisotropic anomalies is influenced primarily by neighboring faults. An independent deformation model could be appropriate for evaluating the relationships between the ATF and thrust faults within the Qilian Shan.
Inner Radiation Belt Simulations During the Successive Geomagnetic Storm Event of February 2022
Authors: Girgis Kirolosse M. , Hada Tohru , Yoshikawa Akimasa , Matsukiyo Shuichi , Chian Abraham C.‐L. , Echer Ezequiel
Published: July 2024

Starting from 29 January 2022, a series of solar eruptions triggered a moderate geomagnetic storm on 3 February 2022, followed subsequently by another. Despite the typically minimal impact of unintense storms on space technology, 38 out of the 49 Starlink satellites underwent orbital decay, re‐entering Earth's atmosphere. These satellite losses were attributed to enhanced atmospheric drag conditions. This study employs numerical simulations, utilizing our test particle simulation code, to investigate the dynamics of the inner radiation belt during the two magnetic storms. Our analysis reveals an increase in proton density and fluxes during the transition from the recovery phase of the first storm to the initial phase of the second, primarily driven by intense solar wind dynamic pressure. Additionally, we assess Single Event Upset (SEU) rates, which exhibit a 50% increase in comparison to initial quiet conditions.