bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formulation of zeolite-mesoporous silica composite catalysts for light olefin production from catalytic cracking
Authors: Alhassawi Hassan , Asuquo Edidiong , Zainal Shima , Zhang Yuxin , Alhelali Abdullah , Qie Zhipeng , Parlett Christopher M. A. , D’Agostino Carmine , Fan Xiaolei , Garforth Arthur A.
Published: August 2024

Framework materials such as zeolites and mesoporous silicas are commonly used for many applications, especially catalysis and separation. Here zeolite-mesoporous silica composite catalysts (employing zeolite Y, ZSM-5, KIT-6, SBA-15 and MCM-41 mesoporous silica) were prepared (with different weight percent of zeolite Y and ZSM-5) and assessed for catalytic cracking (using n-heptane, as the model compound at 550 °C) with the aim to improve the selectivity/yield of light olefins of ethylene and propylene from n-heptane. Physicochemical properties of the parent zeolites and the prepared composites were characterized comprehensively using several techniques including X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance and thermogravimetric analysis. Catalytic cracking results showed that the ZY/ZSM-5/KIT-6 composite (20:20:60 wt %) achieved a high n-heptane conversion of 85% with approximately 6% selectivity to ethylene/propylene. In contrast, the ZY/ZSM-5/SBA-15 composite achieved a higher conversion of 95% and an ethylene/propylene ratio of 8%, indicating a more efficient process in terms of both conversion and selectivity. Magnetic resonance relaxation analysis of the ZY/ZSM-5/KIT-6 (20:20:60) catalyst confirmed a micro-mesoporous environment that influences n-heptane diffusion and mass transfer. As zeolite Y and ZSM-5 have micropores, n-heptane can move and undergo hydrogen transfer reactions, whereas KIT-6 has mesopores that facilitate n-heptane’s accessibility to the active sites of zeolite Y and ZSM-5.
Detection and mitigation of soil salinization risk from saline/brackish water aquaculture in coastal areas: an application of remote sensing and managed aquifer recharge
Authors: Nguyen Diep Ngoc , Chiapponi Emilia , Nguyen Dong Minh , Antonellini Marco , Silvestri Sonia
Published: August 2024

This study focuses on detecting and mitigating soil salinization in four coastal areas of the Mekong Delta (Vietnam). Salinity patterns in the soils of the Mekong River Delta are not random but linked to land use practices and distance to the sea. We examine two quick yet reliable remote sensing-based techniques to detect the coastal aquaculture area and separate it from the inland freshwater farmland. These techniques can eventually be used to identify locations with an elevated risk of salinization in other coastal regions. Finally, we investigate a salinization mitigation solution based on creating a managed aquifer recharge system along the buffer zone that separates the coastal aquaculture area from the inland freshwater agriculture area. The implementation of an infiltration pond system is technically feasible in the Mekong Delta provided that hydrogeological characteristics, the fresh-saline interface position, and freshwater demands are considered. The transitional zone between freshwater agriculture and brackish water aquaculture in Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces is optimal for implementing an aquifer recharge/freshwater barrier scheme.
Co-designing teaching with digital technologies: a case study on mixed pre-service and in-service mathematics teacher design teams
Authors: Dilling Frederik , Witzke Ingo , Hörnberger Kevin , Trgalová Jana
Published: August 2024

The development of professional digital competencies is an important condition for a meaningful integration of digital technologies in mathematics education. A widely used and empirically studied approach for the professional development of in-service teachers are teacher design teams, in which lessons are collaboratively planned, implemented and reflected. However, this approach has not yet been considered for the collaboration of pre-service and in-service teachers. Therefore, this article examines in a holistic case study mixed teacher design teams composed of pre-service and in-service teachers. A total of 23 interviews were conducted with pre-service and in-service teachers and analyzed by inductive development of categories using the method of qualitative content analysis. The case study shows among other things, that the different prerequisites of the participants can lead to a relatively clear division of roles within the collaboration, which turns out to be suitable for the professionalization of both pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers.
Fairness als Qualitätskriterium im Maschinellen Lernen – Rekonstruktion des philosophischen Konzepts und Implikationen für die Nutzung außergesetzlicher Merkmale bei qualifizierten Mietspiegeln
Authors: Bothmann Ludwig , Peters Kristina
Published: August 2024

Mit der verstärkten Nutzung von Modellen des Maschinellen Lernens (ML) innerhalb von Systemen der automatisierten Entscheidungsfindung wachsen die Anforderungen an die Qualität von ML-Modellen. Die reine Prognosegüte ist nicht länger das alleinige Qualitätskriterium; insbesondere wird vermehrt gefordert, dass Fairnessaspekte berücksichtigt werden. Dieser Beitrag verfolgt zwei Ziele. Zum einen werden die aktuelle Fairnessdiskussion im Bereich ML (fairML) zusammengefasst und die aktuellsten Entwicklungen, insbesondere in Bezug auf die philosophischen Grundlagen des Fairnessbegriffs innerhalb ML, beschrieben. Zum anderen wird die Frage behandelt, inwiefern sogenannte „außergesetzliche“ Merkmale bei der Erstellung qualifizierter Mietspiegel genutzt werden dürfen. Ein aktueller Vorschlag von Kauermann und Windmann (AStA Wirtschafts- und Sozialstatistisches Archiv, Band 17, 2023) zur Nutzung außergesetzlicher Merkmale in qualifizierten Mietspiegeln beinhaltet eine modellbasierte Imputationsmethode, welche wir den gesetzlichen Anforderungen gegenüberstellen. Schließlich zeigen wir auf, welche Alternativen aus dem Bereich fairML genutzt werden könnten und legen dar, welche unterschiedlichen philosophischen Grundannahmen hinter den verschiedenen Verfahren stehen.
The progress of tumor vaccines clinical trials in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Xiaomu , Niu Yunping , Bian Fang
Published: August 2024

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a significant global health challenge, with high mortality rates and limited treatment options. Tumor vaccines have emerged as a potential therapeutic approach, aiming to stimulate the immune system to specifically target tumor cells.

Methods

This study screened 283 clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov through July 31, 2023. After excluding data that did not meet the inclusion criteria, a total of 108 trials were assessed. Data on registered number, study title, study status, vaccine types, study results, conditions, interventions, outcome measures, sponsor, collaborators, drug target, phases, enrollment, start date, completion date and locations were extracted and analyzed.

Results

The number of vaccines clinical trials for NSCLC has continued to increase in recent years, the majority of which were conducted in the United States. Most of the clinical trials were at stages ranging from Phase I to Phase II. Peptide-based vaccines accounted for the largest proportion. Others include tumor cell vaccines, DNA/RNA vaccines, viral vector vaccines, and DC vaccines. Several promising tumor vaccine candidates have shown encouraging results in early-phase clinical trials. However, challenges such as heterogeneity of tumor antigens and immune escape mechanisms still need to be addressed.

Conclusion

Tumor vaccines represent a promising avenue in the treatment of NSCLC. Ongoing clinical trials are crucial for optimizing vaccine strategies and identifying the most effective combinations. Further research is needed to overcome existing limitations and translate these promising findings into clinical practice, offering new hope for NSCLC patients.
Validation of the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) in a young adult Black sample in the U.S.: Evaluating the psychometric properties and associations with BMI
Authors: Kuno Caroline Bena , Frankel Leslie , Ofosuhene Patrick , Keen II Larry
Published: August 2024

The Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) is an instrument developed in the UK and used to examine appetitive traits in adults. The AEBQ is divided into four Food Approach subscales, namely; Enjoyment of Food, Emotional Overeating, Food Responsiveness and Hunger, and four Food Avoidance subscales, namely; Emotional Undereating, Food Fussiness, Slowness in Eating, and Satiety Responsiveness. The instrument has been validated in a number of countries. However, there is limited evidence to show the validation of the AEBQ in predominantly Black populations. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to validate the AEBQ in a Black young adult sample in the U.S.A. Participants (n = 229) consisted of young adults with an average age (20.97 ± 4.31) attending a Central Virginia Historically Black University. Reliability Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted. Correlations, as well as multivariate multiple linear regression models were estimated. Food Avoidance subscales demonstrated more internal consistency than the Food Approach subscales. The CFA results indicated a 7-factor model in which the Hunger subscale was eliminated to fit the data better overall. The Food Approach subscales demonstrated more convergent validity than the Food Avoidance subscales. BMI significantly predicted both Emotion Overeating and Emotional Undereating, as well as Food Fussiness. Moreover, both sex and age significantly predicted Emotional Undereating, Food Responsiveness and Hunger. Further, sex significantly predicted Emotional Overeating and Satiety Responsiveness. Lastly, depression predicted Emotional Undereating. In conclusion, this study provided some evidence to support the use of the AEBQ as a reliable and valid measure of adult eating behavior.
Normalized Solutions to at Least Mass Critical Problems: Singular Polyharmonic Equations and Related Curl–Curl Problems
Authors: Bieganowski Bartosz , Mederski Jarosław , Schino Jacopo
Published: August 2024

We are interested in the existence of normalized solutions to the problem $$\begin{aligned} {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} (-\Delta )^m u+\frac{\mu }{|y|^{2m}}u + \lambda u = g(u), \quad x = (y,z) \in \mathbb {R}^K \times \mathbb {R}^{N-K}, \\ \int _{\mathbb {R}^N} |u|^2 \, dx = \rho > 0, \end{array}\right. } \end{aligned}$$

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in the so-called at least mass critical regime. We utilize recently introduced variational techniques involving the minimization on the $$L^2$$

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which arises from the system of Maxwell equations and is of great importance in nonlinear optics.
Over the river and into the hills: locals and non-locals at Inzersdorf, a late Bronze Age cemetery in the Traisen Valley (Austria)
Authors: Fritzl Michaela , Waltenberger Lukas , James Hannah F. , Snoeck Christophe , Rebay-Salisbury Katharina
Published: August 2024

The Late Bronze Age is characterized by the increasing homogenization of material culture and the prevalence of urn burials. The cemetery of Inzersdorf, located in the Lower Traisen Valley, Austria, is used to investigate whether changes in burial practices during the Late Bronze Age were locally driven or influenced by external factors. This study interprets strontium isotope data from 215 calcined human bone samples in the context of a local baseline established from 163 modern plant samples (55 locations) within a 10 km radius of Inzersdorf. Complementary Correspondence Analysis and 14C dates were used to identify chronological changes. The high-density sampling carried out in the Traisen Valley for bioavailable strontium (BASr) enabled the differentiation of people who mainly sourced their food from the valley or the hills. A diachronic shift in land use was identified, with the main food resource obtained from the hills for the earlier and the valley providing most of the foods for the later phase of the cemetery, which is more distinct in men than in women. Five individuals with isotopic values that differed from the main population were identified, one of which has an 87Sr/86Sr of 0.7061 falling below the BASr baseline created with the modern plant data. While the latter may indicate metal-related travel, the other four individuals may be interpreted as inhabitants of single farmsteads. Additionally, an individual with a significant shift in isotopic values between the petrous bone and long bone was identified, indicating changing local food sources over the individual’s life.
Analysis and systematization of the training structure of professional breakers
Authors: Lindner Sophie Manuela , Nonnenmann Jens , Schott Nadja , Steinberg Claudia
Published: August 2024

Including breaking in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games entails numerous structural changes, such as developing a scientifically based training system for national squad athletes. So far, breaking has been chiefly practiced without access to trained coaches with a sports science background, and no research has addressed its training structure. This study aims to identify breakers’ existing training strategies by analyzing their training through video observation and interviews. Demographic data were collected via online questionnaires from 12 professional breakers (29.8 ± 3.5 years) worldwide. On average, participants had 15.1 ± 3.6 years of breaking experience, dedicating 24 ± 10.2 hours per week to training. All participants stated that they organized their breaking training independently, without supervision from a national coach. Training strategies were identified and grouped into three training phases: warm-up, breaking training, and cool-down. Warm-up routines were incorporated by all participants, with emphasis placed on knee and shoulder joints. However, only 7 participants performed a cool-down. Specific warm-up routines involved toprock, footwork, and freeze positions. Breakers often trained individually or in small groups, engaging in full-out dance rounds and simulated battles. Incorporating new steps required trial and error, with breakers utilizing various learning techniques including movement dissection and speed reduction. Overall, the obtained data revealed a diverse and multifaceted category structure regarding the training strategies of professional breakers. This study shows that the training structure is often decided by the dancers themselves, who tend to be autodidacts. Subsequently, recommendations were made from a sports science perspective for effective breaking training.
Attempted Self-Harm with Elemental Thallium Purchased Online: Case Report with Analytical Confirmation
Authors: Spadaro Anthony , Lee Andrew Sae Young , Pineda Hilda , Ruck Bruce , Calello Diane P. , Greller Howard A. , Nelson Lewis S. , Parris Mehruba A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Thallium is a highly toxic metal, with most publications demonstrating poisoning from thallium salts. We report on a patient with elevated serum and urine thallium concentrations from an intentional ingestion of elemental thallium purchased from the internet for self-harm.

Case Report

The regional poison center was contacted about an 18-year-old man who ingested a fragment from a 100-gram bar reported to be elemental thallium. Serial serum and urine thallium concentrations were obtained. Prussian blue was started on hospital day (HD) 2. A metal fragment was seen on abdominal x-ray and removed via colonoscopy on HD3. The ingested fragment was analyzed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and found to be 87.0% elemental thallium. The initial serum thallium concentration obtained on HD1 was 423.5 mcg/L (reference range < 5.1 mcg/L), which subsequently decreased to 4.5 mcg/L, 29 days after the ingestion. An initial random urine thallium concentration obtained on HD 3 was 1850.5 mcg/g creatinine (reference range < 0.4 mcg/g creatinine). The patient remained hospitalized for 23 days and, when seen in follow-up, had not developed any signs or symptoms of thallium toxicity.

Discussion

Elemental thallium ingestion is a rare toxicologic exposure, with limited published clinical and analytical experience to guide management. This case report describes a patient with ingestion of elemental thallium who developed elevated serum and urine thallium concentrations and was treated with Prussian blue. Despite having elevated serum and urine thallium concentrations consistent with previous fatal exposures, more evidence is needed to understand the differences between elemental thallium and thallium salts.
Carbon dioxide removal through ecosystem restoration: Public perceptions and political participation
Authors: Kuhn Annegret , Merk Christine , Wunsch Andrea
Published: August 2024

We compare public perceptions of restoring different ecosystems to increase CO2 uptake in Germany, through focus groups and a general population survey. Among focus group participants forests were highly popular, peatlands evoked negative associations, and seagrass was largely unknown. Nevertheless, the restoration of all ecosystems was viewed positively. We contrast these reactions to those of survey respondents who had not received additional information on restoration. They voiced narrower, less diverse opinions centering around afforestation. Further, focus group participants preferred expert-led restoration decisions, citing low trust in politicians’ technical competence. Contrary to common policy recommendations, also beyond the German context, participants did not emphasize the need of citizen participation and were not strongly concerned about land use conflicts or compensation of affected user groups. The results imply that the public underestimates the political complexity of negotiation processes in ecosystem governance, which are becoming increasingly relevant in the international policy landscape.
Tropical Cyclones in Nicaragua: Historical Impact and Contemporary Exposure to Disaster Risk
Authors: Velásquez-Espinoza Gema , Alcántara-Ayala Irasema
Published: August 2024

In tropical regions such as Nicaragua, the population’s vulnerability to hazards has escalated in recent decades. This increase in vulnerability has led to a surge in disasters, particularly those triggered by intense hurricanes. The implications at the national level are still poorly understood. The aim of this article has, therefore, been two-fold. First, to present a historical review of the direct effects of tropical cyclones on society in Nicaragua from 1852 to 2020. Second, to analyze the statistical probabilities of future hurricane-spawned high winds over Nicaragua. Data on cyclones hitting Nicaragua’s coasts were collected, including direct effects, wind speed, pressure, category, direction, and time of landfall. A database was created to classify intensity based on wind speed and frequency. Between 1852 and 2020, Nicaragua experienced 58 tropical cyclones with varying degrees of intensity between September and November. The trajectories of six past hurricanes were considered here regarding the areas that might have been under potential threat. Three zones of influence were delimited along each trajectory according to three wind intensities and the trajectory of these hurricanes. The consequent exposure of each Nicaraguan department and autonomous region was established. The findings are essential to delimitating priority areas for attention regarding the likely impact of tropical cyclones, mainly category 4 and 5 hurricanes. Public officials and the general public can use these data to identify the pressing need for enhanced strategies to mitigate disaster risk and avoid potential disasters.
Business Cycle and Early Warning Indicators for the Economy of Hong Kong– Challenges of Forecasting Work amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ng Sharon Pun-wai , Kwok Eddie Ming-lok , Cheng Brian Chi-yan , Yuen Alfred Yiu-po
Published: August 2024

This paper discusses the use of the OECD’s framework to identify early warning indicators for building a Composite Leading Indicator (CLI) and the use of the Vector Autoregressive Model (VAR) for constructing a short-term forecasting model of economic growth of Hong Kong. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper further evaluates the performance of the CLI and forecasting model which were built based on pre-COVID-19 parameters and identify further adjustments to enhance the model performance.
Urban Spatial Dynamics and Geo-informatics Prediction of Karachi from 1990–2050 Using Remote Sensing and CA-ANN Simulation
Authors: Din Shaker Ul , Yamamoto Kayoko
Published: August 2024

Rapid urbanization significantly impacts land use and land cover (LULC), leading to various socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Effective monitoring and detection of spatial discrepancies are crucial for urban planners and authorities to manage these changes. This study aims to analyze the spatial dynamics of LULC changes and predict future land use patterns. The specific objectives are to classify historical land use from 1990 to 2020, simulate future land use from 2020 to 2050, and interpret the spatial and temporal results. The study utilized remotely sensed images with the semi-automatic classification plugin (SCP) approach for land use classification from 1990 to 2020. Future land use patterns were simulated using the Modules of Land Use Change Evaluation (MOLUSCE)-based Cellular Automata-Artificial Neural Network (CA-ANN) model. The results were then interpreted to comprehend the dynamics of urban expansion. The conclusions direct a significant increase in built-up and grasslands, with a consistent decline in other land use types. From 1990 to 2020, approximately 423.75 km² and 856.97 km² of land were converted into built-up areas and grasslands, respectively. This was accompanied by a decline in rocky bare and bare soil areas, while the proportions of water bodies and mangroves remained steady. Predictions for 2020 to 2050 suggest an additional increase of 561.93 km² in built-up areas, with a progressive decline in other land use classes. The study emphasizes the critical need for spatial planning policies to address challenges arising from rapid urbanization. By analyzing historical land use changes and predicting future patterns this research offers a comprehensive view of urban growth dynamics. The novel application of these techniques provides valuable insights for urban planners to develop informed strategies for managing expansion and mitigating associated socioeconomic and environmental impacts.
Assessing the Increasing Frequency of Heat Waves in Cuba and Contributing Mechanisms
Authors: Pérez-Alarcón Albenis , Sorí Rogert , Stojanovic Milica , Vázquez Marta , Trigo Ricardo M. , Nieto Raquel , Gimeno Luis
Published: August 2024

This study presents the first climatological analysis of heat waves in Cuba from 1951 to 2023. Here we define a heat wave as a period of at least three consecutive days in which the daily maximum and minimum temperatures exceed their respective calendar-day 99th percentile. Our analysis detected a total number of 393 heat waves (∼ 5.4 events per year over the three regions (western, central and eastern) during the study period, distributed ∼ 3.1 per year during the dry season (from November to April) and ∼ 2.3 per year during the rainy season (from May to October). The highest frequency was recorded in the western region of Cuba, albeit the eastern region is the hottest one. The analysis of the life cycle of the heat waves revealed that they are relatively short-lived, with a mean duration of ∼ 4.9 and ∼ 5.3 days in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Furthermore, we found a statistically significant (p < 0.05) upward trend in the frequency, intensity, spatial extent and annual number of days under such hot extremes. The Lagrangian heat analysis revealed a predominantly local origin of the sensible heating, followed by heat advected from upwind sources throughout the easterly winds. An assessment of the main physical mechanisms associated with these heat waves revealed that, in general, these hot extremes were exacerbated by the soil moisture deficit, high-pressure conditions and associated clear skies and increased solar radiation. Based on the Heat Wave Magnitude Index, we also presented the top 10 Cuban heat waves, which mainly occurred in the last decade, confirming the upward trend in the intensity of these extreme events. Overall, this study provides insights into the heat waves in Cuba and contributes to the development of physically plausible storylines to help decision-makers in implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies in the context of global warming.
Non-Compact Inaudibility of Weak Symmetry and Commutativity via Generalized Heisenberg Groups
Authors: Arias-Marco Teresa , Fernández-Barroso José-Manuel
Published: August 2024

Two Riemannian manifolds are said to be isospectral if there exists a unitary operator which intertwines their Laplace-Beltrami operator. In this paper, we prove in the non-compact setting the inaudibility of the weak symmetry property and the commutative property using an isospectral pair of 23 dimensional generalized Heisenberg groups.
On Relationships
Authors: Hänel Hilkje C. , Jenkins Katharine
Published: August 2024

This paper explores and and questions the distinction between friendship and romantic love, as these two types of relationship are usually understood. We argue that the search for an essential and necessary distinction between them is misguided, since the distinction is most plausibly viewed as being based solely on a cluster of contingent social norms. Furthermore, we seek to show that there are good reasons for not drawing this distinction, such that we should try to change our social norms in this regard. The friendship-romantic relationship binary, we argue, is unhelpful for the flourishing of both friendships and romantic relationships, and unnecessarily limits access to certain goods, notably affectionate touch. Furthermore, this binary raises specifically feminist concerns: that it prioritizes cross-gender relationships over relationships between women, that it imposes limits on intimacy between men, and that it is implicated in problems concerning sexual consent. Our romantic relationships, our friendships, and our gender politics would therefore benefit from dissolving this socially-created distinction. Finally, in service of responding to a potential objection, we offer a preliminary sketch of a positive proposal for how our relationships might be structured in the absence of a friendship/romantic relationship binary, according to which relationships are structured around shared projects. On this proposal, the projects we engage in with other people can function to give definition to our relationships to them, but it is up to us which projects we want to engage in and with whom. Most importantly, this should be negotiated on an individual basis rather than being governed by social norms restricting us to either romantic relationships or friendships.
Learning under singularity: an information criterion improving WBIC and sBIC
Authors: Liu Lirui , Suzuki Joe
Published: August 2024

We introduce a novel information criterion, termed learning under singularity (LS), designed to enhance the functionality of the widely applicable Bayes information criterion (WBIC) and the singular Bayesian information criterion (sBIC). LS is effective without regularity constraints and demonstrates stability. Watanabe defined a statistical model or a learning machine as regular if the mapping from a parameter to a probability distribution is one-to-one and its Fisher information matrix is positive definite. In contrast, models not meeting these conditions are termed singular. Over the past decade, several information criteria for singular cases have been proposed, including WBIC and sBIC. WBIC is applicable in non-regular scenarios but faces challenges with large sample sizes and redundant estimation of known learning coefficients. Conversely, sBIC is limited in its broader application due to its dependence on maximum likelihood estimates. LS addresses these limitations by enhancing the utility of both WBIC and sBIC. It incorporates the empirical loss from the widely applicable information criterion (WAIC) to represent the goodness of fit to the statistical model, along with a penalty term similar to that of sBIC. This approach offers a flexible and robust method for model selection, free from regularity constraints.
Situating spatial determinism in urban design and planning for sustainable walkability: a simulation of street morphology and pedestrian behaviour
Authors: Silva Cristian , Xue Song
Published: August 2024

Streets and roads have been constantly identified as key spaces to improve walkability and—by extension—the entire urban environment. Such improvements lie on planning and design theories that are often supported by qualitative evidence and as such, tend to remain highly speculative on how street design influences walkability in more deterministic ways. Drawbacks in further exploring this street-walkability correlation are partly defined by an explicit rejection to ‘spatial determinism’ in urban morphology and social sciences, but also because combining differing epistemological approaches for understanding social processes linked to the physical aspects of the space is complex. In this paper, it is proposed that qualitative (social-based) theories of the space and quantitative (positivist) understandings of people’s behaviour can complement each other to elaborate upon ‘spatial determinism’ with focus on streetscapes and pedestrian behaviour. By using Agent-Based Modelling (ABMs), morphological components of streets linked to population characteristics are analysed to understand walkability from the perspective of spatial determinism. The findings suggest that the street settings directly affect pedestrian behaviour, and that changes in the built environment result in changes on walkability patterns. Ultimately, the modelling exercise shed light on street design and walkability, but also on wider debates on how urban design and social processes correlate in more deterministic and, therefore, predictable ways.
Health information systems data for decision-making: case study in three cities on current practices and opportunities
Authors: Rajkumar Sarah , Secula Florence , Cobos Daniel , Socha Anna , Boch Johannes , des Rosiers Sarah , Reiker Theresa , Barboza Joseph , Seck Karim , Silveira Mariana , Nguyen Thuy , Steinmann Peter
Published: August 2024

A functional and reliable Health Information System (HIS) is vital for data-based decision-making in public health. Here we describe the assessment of data processes and general HIS principles by adapting a global approach to three cities. The assessments supported the data strategy of the CARDIO4cities initiative in each city aiming to improve urban population health by increasing the use of cardiovascular disease (CVD) data to inform decision-making. We aimed to explore data collection processes and entities, data availability and quality as well as data ownership and sharing regarding a set of identified key performance indicators (KPIs). KPIs were based on a global theory of change (ToC) and a global evaluation and indicator framework and were tailored to each location. By first assessing existing sources and processes regarding data, recommendations for changes and improvements are sure to build on current circumstances. To map the data, existing data collection, analysis and storage processes were investigated. A flow chart was created to visualize the data pathways and challenges for each system and findings were compared across cities to document differences and similarities. Data quality and interoperability of various separate systems were the most prominent challenges for all HISs. The observed dvata quality issues originated from incorrect, missing and incomplete data and were connected to the misunderstanding of indicators, incomplete data input forms or the lack of a systematic data routine in the workflow. Harmonization of the HISs to ensure interoperability can facilitate data collection and analysis of health data and can provide a solid basis for health management decision-making. Based on the presented HIS cases, we recommend to examine, map and verify current processes when conducting a HIS assessment, to visualize findings and to gauge the interest of government entities to ensure political support.
Classification for the digital and cognitive AI hazards: urgent call to establish automated safe standard for protecting young human minds
Authors: Shalaby Ahmed
Published: August 2024

This study presents a novel classification framework for digital and cognitive AI hazards (Shalaby’s Classification for Digital Hazards), aiming to comprehensively categorize risks across pathophysiological impacts, technical sources, content-related risks, algorithmic influences, modification factors, and mitigation measures. It utilizes rigorous literature review methodologies to synthesize existing research and proposes practical implementations, including an AI-driven scoring system for personalized risk assessment and mitigation strategies. The framework addresses the critical imperative to effectively manage evolving digital risks amid rapid technological advancements, while acknowledging challenges such as data availability limitations and ethical considerations.
Towards sustainable nocturnal environment management: a social-ecological-technical system analysis in Wallonia (Belgium)
Authors: Bebronne Elodie , Heng Samedi , Limbourg Sabine
Published: August 2024

This study examines the management of the nocturnal environment in Belgium’s Walloon region from a social-ecological-technical system perspective, aiming to enhance sustainability in nightscapes. To identify critical challenges and action priorities, we employ Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal analysis. Our research offers insights into the macro-environmental factors that organisations should prioritise when envisioning sustainable lighting and dark sky protection. Based on the outcomes of the Walloon case study and the recent literature, we determine the priorities that lead to shaping action plans and the research challenges to ensure a smooth transition towards more sustainable nightscapes. Key challenges emerge: a lack of awareness of light pollution, both for the authorities and citizens; a longstanding relationship between safety and lighting, with fears echoed in political discourse; and the lack of consideration of light pollution in legal, political and environmental agendas. To address these challenges, enhanced policies could be tailored to local contexts and improved to mitigate light pollution. Findings support a multidimensional strategy integrating public action with awareness campaigns, encouraging sustainable practices in management of nocturnal environments.
High‐Resolution Variability of the Ocean Carbon Sink
Authors: Gregor Luke , Shutler Jamie , Gruber Nicolas
Published: August 2024

Measurements of the surface ocean fugacity of carbon dioxide (fCO2) provide an important constraint on the global ocean carbon sink, yet the gap‐filling products developed so far to cope with the sparse observations are relatively coarse (1° × 1° by 1 month). Here, we overcome this limitation by using a novel combination of machine learning‐based methods and target transformations to estimate surface ocean fCO2 and the associated sea‐air CO2 fluxes (FCO2) globally at a resolution of 8‐day by 0.25° × 0.25° (8D) over the period 1982 through 2022. Globally, the method reconstructs fCO2 with accuracy similar to that of low‐resolution methods (∼19 μatm), but improves it in the coastal ocean. Although global ocean CO2 uptake differs little, the 8D product captures 15% more variance in FCO2. Most of this increase comes from the better‐represented subseasonal scale variability, which is largely driven by the better‐resolved variability of the winds, but also contributed to by the better‐resolved fCO2. The high‐resolution fCO2 is also capable of capturing the signal of short‐lived regional events such as hurricanes. For example, the 8D product reveals that fCO2 was at least 25 μatm lower in the wake of Hurricane Maria (2017), the result of a complex interplay between the decrease in temperature, the entrainment of carbon‐rich waters, and an increase in primary production. By providing new insights into the role of higher frequency variations of the ocean carbon sink and the underlying processes, the 8D product fills an important gap.
Seismic Reflection Profiling Reveals New Accretionary Structure in the Solonker Zone of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt
Authors: Tan Xiao‐Miao , Zhou Jian‐Bo , Li Hui‐Lin , Wang Hai‐Yan , Hou He‐Sheng , Li Wen‐Hui , Rao Ying , Gao Rui
Published: August 2024

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) was formed by the aggregation and collage of numerous Paleozoic subduction‐accretion assemblages and Precambrian microcontinental blocks. However, the tectonic nature of the southeastern CAOB remains controversial, which complicates the reconstruction of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean. To address this issue, a deep seismic reflection survey was initiated across the southeastern CAOB and reveals broad gentle sub‐horizontal reflectors in the middle‐lower crust and a relatively transparent zone in the upper crust. Combining with the Precambrian geological outcrops and other geophysical features, we support a microcontinental block, the Xilinhot Block, existed in the Paleo‐Asian domain. Thus, the Paleo‐Asian Ocean was separated into two branches that underwent north‐dipping and double‐dipping oceanic plate subduction, respectively, to form the Hegenshan‐Heihe and Solonker sutures. Multiple relics beneath Hegenshan‐Heihe Suture indicate that multiple sets of unidirectional oceanic subduction‐accretion and magmatism were important mechanisms of continental growth.
Insights Into a Correlation Between Magnetotactic Bacteria and Polymetallic Nodule Distribution in the Eastern Central Pacific Ocean
Authors: Liu Yan , Liu Shuangchi , Piedrahita Victor A. , Liu Peiyu , He Shi , Pan Hongmiao , Dong Yi , Roberts Andrew P. , Feng Lianjun , Tang Zihua , Xiao Tian , Pan Yongxin , Li Jinhua
Published: August 2024

The Clarion–Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) in the eastern central Pacific Ocean is the world's largest area for potential deep‐sea polymetallic nodule mining and is attracting increased scientific and commercial interest. Recent studies indicate that biogenic magnetite, generated intracellularly by magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), can carry a biogeochemical remanent magnetization in polymetallic nodules, although whether biogenic or physical‐chemical processes are responsible for nodule formation remain poorly constrained. Here, we report a combination of magnetic, electron microscope and geochemical analyses on seafloor surface sediments from the eastern CCFZ to understand the spatial distribution of biogenic magnetite and possible relationships between MTB and polymetallic nodules. Experimental results indicate that sedimentary magnetic minerals from the northern and southern regions are dominated by detrital (eolian loess and volcanic material) and biogenic magnetic minerals (magnetosomes), respectively. Sediments from the intermediate region contain both detrital and biogenic magnetic minerals. Quantitative first‐order reversal curve‐principal component analysis indicates that biogenic magnetite has the highest concentration in the intermediate CCFZ region, coincident with the highest polymetallic nodule density. Combined with previous research, we speculate that MTB growth on the CCFZ seafloor is driven mainly by local redox conditions. Manganese nodule surfaces are rich in organic biofilms, which results in a relatively thick oxic‐anoxic transition zone in high‐abundance manganese nodule regions, which generates an optimal microenvironment for both MTB growth and magnetite biomineralization. This study provides new clues for understanding the ecological distribution of MTB and the biogeochemical remanent magnetization recorded by biogenic magnetite in deep‐sea sediments.
Comment on “Prediction of the SYM‐H Index Using a Bayesian Deep Learning Method With Uncertainty Quantification” by Abduallah et al. (2024)
Authors: Collado‐Villaverde Armando , Muñoz Pablo , Cid Consuelo
Published: August 2024

Abduallah et al. (2024b, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023sw003824) proposed a novel approach using a deep neural network model, which includes a graph neural network and a bidirectional LSTM layer, named SYMHnet, to forecast the SYM‐H index one and 2 hr in advance. Additionally, the network also provides an uncertainty quantification of the predictions. While the approach is innovative, there are some areas where the model's design and implementation may not align with best practices in uncertainty quantification and predictive modeling. We focus on discrepancies in the input and output of the model, which can limit the applicability in real‐world forecasting scenarios. This comment aims to clarify these issues, offering detailed insights into how such discrepancies could compromise the model's interpretability and reliability, thereby contributing to the advancement of predictive modeling in space weather research.
Breaking anisotropy limitations in thin-film lithium niobate arrayed waveguide gratings
Authors: Wang Cheng
Published: August 2024

A universal design strategy for dispersive elements in anisotropic platforms is proposed, enabling high-performance arrayed waveguide gratings in thin-film lithium niobate that are essential for future optical communications.
Effects of online marketplace-sourced over-the-counter tooth whitening products on the colour, microhardness, and surface topography of enamel: an in vitro study
Authors: Agarwal Radhika , Vasani Nikki , Mense Urmila Sachin , Prasad Niharika , Shetty Aditya , Natarajan Srikant , Dutta Arindam , Thomas Manuel S.
Published: August 2024

Objectives

This study compared the whitening effect, microhardness, and enamel surface alterations of over-the-counter (OTC) tooth bleaching products with those of a dentist-prescribed at-home bleaching agent.

Materials and methods

The products available on a popular online marketplace were comprehensively searched and then rated using a specific formula. The effects of the lowest-rated OTC agent (LRA) and the highest-rated OTC agent (HRA) were compared with those of a dentist-prescribed bleaching agent (DPA) on the enamel of extracted human teeth. The bleaching efficacy, post-bleaching microhardness changes, and morphological alterations were assessed by spectrophotometric analysis, Vickers hardness testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA and post hoc tests, maintaining a significance level of P < 0.05.

Results

The search of the online marketplace revealed 15 products. The LRA (Teeth Whitening Serum Gel, GEN, China) and the HRA (Bright White-Lovely Smile Premium Teeth Whitening strips, Ray of Smile, USA) were identified on the basis of their ranking. DPA resulted in significantly better tooth whitening than did LRA. The enamel microhardness was lower in the LRA treatment group (14.2%) than in the control and HRA treatment groups (8.84% and 7.26%, respectively). LRA also caused severe topographical alterations to the enamel.

Conclusion

Compared with the poorly rated product, the dentist-prescribed tooth bleaching product resulted in greater colour improvement, less microhardness reduction, and surface changes. The highest-rated product was comparable with the dentist-prescribed agent in this study.
SignalingProfiler 2.0 a network-based approach to bridge multi-omics data to phenotypic hallmarks
Authors: Venafra Veronica , Sacco Francesca , Perfetto Livia
Published: August 2024

Unraveling how cellular signaling is remodeled upon perturbation is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms and identifying potential drug targets. In this pursuit, computational tools generating mechanistic hypotheses from multi-omics data have invaluable potential. Here, we present a newly implemented version (2.0) of SignalingProfiler, a multi-step pipeline to draw mechanistic hypotheses on the signaling events impacting cellular phenotypes. SignalingProfiler 2.0 derives context-specific signaling networks by integrating proteogenomic data with the prior knowledge-causal network. This is a freely accessible and flexible tool that incorporates statistical, footprint-based, and graph algorithms to accelerate the integration and interpretation of multi-omics data. Through a benchmarking process on three proof-of-concept studies, we demonstrate the tool’s ability to generate hierarchical mechanistic networks recapitulating novel and known perturbed signaling and phenotypic outcomes, in both human and mice contexts. In summary, SignalingProfiler 2.0 addresses the emergent need to derive biologically relevant information from complex multi-omics data by extracting interpretable networks.
Photo responsive single layer MoS2 nanochannel membranes for photocatalytic degradation of contaminants in water
Authors: Nawaz Hafiza Hifza , Umar Muhammad , Nawaz Iqra , Ihsan Rao Muhammad , Razzaq Humaira , Gong Hugh , Liu Xuqing
Published: August 2024

The major polluting aspects of our global fashion industries are the textile wastewater that turns black all our freshwater reservoirs. Nano-filtration through membrane technology is one of the biggest solutions of industrial wastewater treatment but the fouling of membrane is the major limitation of previous work. In this research, novel PVDF/MoS2-TNT (PMT) nanocomposite membranes were fabricated through a modified In-situ polymerisation phase inversion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis also confirmed the β-phase of PVDF within the developed PVDF/MoS2-TNT membrane. XPS analysis provides evidence about the presence of a specific chemical states of titanium nanotube and molybdenum disulphide which is involved in the photocatalytic degradation of pollutant molecules. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows that our membranes are porous in nature. PVDF/MoS2-TNT membranes exhibit excellent filtration efficiency (∼97%) for textile wastewater. The results and outcomes of the research demonstrate that PMT membranes have enormous potential in the commercial application of textile wastewater treatment.