bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Terahertz Frequency-Domain Spectroscopy with a Method for Suppressing Water Vapor Absorption Peaks for Analysis of Pharmaceutical Hydrate Samples
Authors: Shimura Kei , Sasaki Tetsuo , Ono Touya , Mohara Mizuki , Aiko Kenji , Sakamoto Tomoaki
Published: August 2024

Measurements of terahertz absorption spectra of pharmaceutical hydrate samples are achieved under a normal humidity condition by combining terahertz frequency-domain spectroscopy with a newly proposed method for suppressing absorption peaks caused by water vapor. In this method, only simple mathematical operations such as subtraction, thresholding, interpolation, and smoothing are applied to extinction (or absorbance) data obtained by locating samples under a normal humidity condition. By considering the difference in spectral line width between narrow absorption peaks caused by water vapor and the relatively wide absorption peaks caused by active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in solid forms, the absorption peaks caused by water vapor can be effectively suppressed without affecting the absorption peaks of the APIs in the samples. In the present study, levofloxacin hydrates were used as samples to investigate the performance of the proposed method. Spectra were obtained under both dry and normal humidity conditions. The temperature of the samples was raised from 300 to 363 K to dehydrate them and brought back to 313 K to observe hydration under the normal humidity condition. Spectra obtained under the normal humidity condition were processed with the proposed method. The spectra of the hydrates obtained under the dry condition were slightly different from those obtained under the normal humidity condition and processed by our method. Dehydration during the measurements under the dry condition was suggested. Stable and reliable results are expected by measuring spectra under normal humidity conditions and applying the proposed method to suppress absorption peaks by water vapor.
multilandr: an R package for multi-scale landscape analysis
Authors: Huais Pablo Yair
Published: August 2024

Context

Typical landscape-scale studies comprise the delimitation of landscapes followed by the calculation of one or more landscape metrics. Performing an analysis at multiple spatial scales is often required, occasionally followed by the selection of a particular scale according to the response variable of interest. More complex research goals might require a thorough inspection of landscapes, plus a selection of landscapes that would fulfill certain conditions regarding their landscape metrics. These tasks can usually be programmatically challenging, especially if multiple spatial scales are being analyzed.

Objectives

The R package multilandr builds on several spatial-oriented R packages to provide a toolbox to develop and inspect multi-scale landscapes based on simple spatial inputs.

Methods and results

The package delivers functions to calculate metrics within a multi-scale framework. Also, it provides several utility functions to visualize correlations between metrics, filter landscapes that fulfill certain predefined conditions or select a wide-range gradient of landscapes for a given metric, among other useful tasks. This paper introduces the functionality of multilandr through a step-by-step instruction guide and case studies.

Conclusions

The R package multilandr provides a set of functions to facilitate typical methodological workflow of landscape-scale studies in the R environment, for both beginner and expert R users. It provides the functionality to perform a systematic filtering and selection of landscapes according to a given experimental design. The package is especially programmed to develop multi-scale designs but is also useful for the calculation of metrics of a set of landscapes from any GIS-related project.
Analysis of the nonlinear optical properties, vibrational spectra, DFT method and photovoltaic performance of cyanidin-3-rutinoside chloride
Authors: Sarıkaya Ebru Karakaş , Ekincioğlu Yavuz , Bahçeli Semiha , Dereli Ömer
Published: August 2024

This study aims to identify a cyanidin-3-rutinoside chloride that exhibits both photovoltaic performance and nonlinear optical properties, which may be utilized in the field of optoelectronics. Prior to investigating these properties, the stable structure must be determined. For this purpose, its conformational analysis is performed by the Molecular Force Field method with the spartan program. The exact nature of the stable configuration has been ascertained by empirical evidence. The energy of the stable configuration is -1654184.76 kcal/mol, and its dipole moment is 9.94 Debye. Cyanidin-3-rutinoside chloride has been investigated using experimental FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies. Meanwhile, the DFT method at the B3LYP/6-311 + + G(d, p) level was employed in order to study the simulated FT-IR and Raman spectra, the HOMO-LUMO analysis, the molecular electrostatic potentials (MEP), and the non-linear optical (NLO) characteristics of the title molecule. The HOMO and LUMO energies are − 6.45 and − 3.64 electron volts (eV), respectively, with a gap value of 2.81 eV. Additionally, the title compound’s open-circuit voltage, the transition density matrix light-harvesting efficiency, driving force, and binding energy were calculated with by taking photovoltaic cell properties into account. Furthermore, investigations of hole reorganization energy, electron reorganization energy, and total reorganization energy were carried out at the B3LYP/6-31G(d, p) level for the cyanidin-3-rutinoside chloride of interest. In addition, density of state calculations and NBO were made at the B3LYP/6-31G(d, p) level. We calculated the following values for LHE, $$\:{V}_{oc}$$, $$\:{{\Delta\:}\text{G}}_{\text{i}\text{n}\text{j}\text{e}\text{c}\text{t}}$$, $$\:{E}_{b}$$, $$\:{\lambda\:}_{h}$$, $$\:{\lambda\:}_{e}$$ and $$\:{\lambda\:}_{total}$$ : 0.06, 2.45 eV, 0.20 eV, 0.56 eV, 0.50 eV, 0.57 eV and 1.06 eV, respectively.
Experience and nature in pragmatism and enactive theory
Authors: F. Barrett Nathaniel
Published: August 2024

Enactive theory seems to be reaching a critical juncture in its evolution, as it expands beyond cognitive science to include a project that Shaun Gallagher has called “new naturalism”: a “phenomenologized” reconstruction of nature, directed by a distinctive view of experience that is itself a product of “naturalized phenomenology.” This article aims to contribute to conversations about how to move forward with this project by highlighting important parallels between the trajectory of enactive theory and the early history of pragmatism. Pragmatism was first developed by Peirce, James, and Dewey out of a distinctive view of experience that strongly resembles that of enactive theory. Then, during the first third of the twentieth century, pragmatism evolved into a philosophy of nature and played a leading role in a reconstructive project much like the “new naturalism” proposed by Gallagher and others. Around midcentury, however, this project was largely abandoned as philosophers turned to problems of more limited scope. This history raises crucial questions for proponents of enactive “new naturalism”: Why did the pragmatist version of this project fail to achieve its aims? And how will it be different this time?
Higher reading spans mitigate context effects on lexical processing by low-proficiency L2 learners: a self-paced reading study
Authors: Kosaka Takumi
Published: August 2024

This study examines context effects on lexical processing by low-proficiency Japanese learners of English during sentence comprehension, and the role of individual differences in verbal working memory (WM). Thirty Japanese learners of English as a second language (L2) and 27 speakers of English as a first language (L1) were recruited for a self-paced reading task with high and low context sentences to assess lexical processing abilities, and a reading span task to measure WM capacities. Bayesian modeling indicated that, at the group level, L2 learners had slower lexical processing times for low context sentences compared to high context ones, especially in the spillover region, while L1 speakers showed no difference. At the individual level, higher WM capacities among L2 learners appeared to mitigate these context effects, supporting the interactive-compensatory model (Stanovich in Read Res Q, 10.2307/747348, 1980; Remedial Spec Educ 5(3):11–19, 10.1177/074193258400500306, 1984). The findings highlight context effects on L2 lexical processing and the crucial role of WM in managing these effects among L2 learners.
Community of Learning as a World-Building Environment
Authors: Manrique Ernesto Lleras , Pérez Ángel Alonso Gutiérrez
Published: August 2024

In this article, we present what we believe to be the fundamental problem of production systems in Colombia: the domination relationships inherited from colonial structures. We introduce the theoretical foundations of the Community of Learning approach, which we have been developing over the past decades as an option to overcome this issue. We argue that, in the contemporary Latin American context, these relationships are intertwined with the training of individuals for integration into the productive system and its close association with technological tools. This results in the establishment of a domineering sociotechnical system linked to coloniality which some authors associate with modernity. The theoretical foundation of the learning communities approach stems from a philosophical tradition that seeks to examine from a systemic point of view the relationships of domination that produce the alienation of the subject. Our proposal is to establish a pedagogical space for transcending relations of domination, where individuals can explore their identities through interactions with others. In this approach, we aim to foster spaces for collective world-building by affirming one’s own subjectivity within interactions with the environment. We view the technical dimension as inherently linked to these interactions. We term this approach the Community of Learning model, wherein we collectively shape the world through practices that are seen as meaningful actions transforming relationships into learning processes. This approach can be regarded as a means to transcend the domineering aspects of technological practices while concurrently engaging in learning and world-building endeavors. We present, as an example, the results obtained in several cases applying this approach and some proposals that can contribute to effective practices when implementing the Community of Learning approach.
Midpoint characterization factors to assess impacts of turbine water use from hydropower production
Authors: Dorber Martin , Scherer Laura , Verones Francesca
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Life cycle assessment (LCA) distinguishes three types of water use: (1) consumptive water use, (2) degradative water use, and (3) in-stream water use. When it comes to assessing the impact of turbine water use (TWU, major source of in-stream water use) in LCA, so far, no method exists to quantify the related environmental impacts. Here, we developed the first midpoint characterization factors (CFs) with global coverage for turbine water use of storage and pumped storage hydropower power plants.

Methods

The midpoint CF at the basin scale describes the hydropower regulation potential (HRP) [HDOR·y] per TWU [m3]. The HRP indicates the probability of how strongly the natural flow regime of a river is potentially affected by all upstream reservoir operation, calculated as the quotient between reservoir volume [m3] and the annual river discharge [m3/y]. The hydropower degree of regulation (HDOR) thereby equals the unitless m3/m3 fraction. The TWU depends on the electricity production [kWh] and the turbine efficiency [m3/kWh]. We tested the sensitivity of the input data on the calculated CFs for four parameters (discharge, turbine efficiency, multipurpose allocation, and plant type). Furthermore, we performed a case study to analyze if consumptive and TWU impacts of producing 1 kWh are correlated or not.

Results and discussion

The calculated CFs for the 342 basins vary from 1.13E-13 HDOR·y/m3 to 3.28E10-7 HDOR·y/m3. The HDOR values range from 0.0015 to 16.66, and the TWU varies between 0.0030 km3 and 2824 km3. A HDOR ≥ 0.02 can be interpreted as affected basin, and only 23 out of 342 basins have a HDOR below this threshold. This confirms that TWU of hydropower production can have important environmental impacts. The sensitivity analyses revealed that discharge and turbine efficiency are the most sensitive parameters because they are influencing almost all basins. The results of the case study showed that a high consumptive water-use impact does not automatically lead to a high TWU impact and vice versa (R2 values of 0.0081 and 0.003).

Conclusion

Our study highlights that it is important to account for the environmental impacts of in-stream water use in LCA, as otherwise, the environmental impact can be underestimated, which could lead to wrong conclusions. However, the CFs are not meant to replace a local risk assessment of hydropower reservoir operation and should only be used for relative comparison between basins. The CF application in LCA will represent a step forward towards more sustainable hydropower development.
Deep learning approaches for the detection of scar presence from cine cardiac magnetic resonance adding derived parametric images
Authors: Righetti Francesca , Rubiu Giulia , Penso Marco , Moccia Sara , Carerj Maria L. , Pepi Mauro , Pontone Gianluca , Caiani Enrico G.
Published: August 2024

This work proposes a convolutional neural network (CNN) that utilizes different combinations of parametric images computed from cine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images, to classify each slice for possible myocardial scar tissue presence. The CNN performance comparison in respect to expert interpretation of CMR with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images, used as ground truth (GT), was conducted on 206 patients (158 scar, 48 control) from Centro Cardiologico Monzino (Milan, Italy) at both slice- and patient-levels. Left ventricle dynamic features were extracted in non-enhanced cine images using parametric images based on both Fourier and monogenic signal analyses. The CNN, fed with cine images and Fourier-based parametric images, achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.86 (accuracy 0.79, F1 0.81, sensitivity 0.9, specificity 0.65, and negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive values 0.83 and 0.77, respectively), for individual slice classification. Remarkably, it exhibited 1.0 prediction accuracy (F1 0.98, sensitivity 1.0, specificity 0.9, NPV 1.0, and PPV 0.97) in patient classification as a control or pathologic. The proposed approach represents a first step towards scar detection in contrast-free CMR images. Patient-level results suggest its preliminary potential as a screening tool to guide decisions regarding LGE-CMR prescription, particularly in cases where indication is uncertain.

Graphical abstract
Comparison between DaVinci® and Hugo™-RAS Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in bariatric surgery
Authors: Pennestrì Francesco , Marincola Giuseppe , Procopio Priscilla Francesca , Gallucci Pierpaolo , Salvi Giulia , Ciccoritti Luigi , Greco Francesco , Raffaelli Marco
Published: August 2024

The application of a robotic platform in the bariatric surgical field is intended to enhance the already established advantages of minimally invasive surgery in terms of both technical and clinical outcomes. These advantages are especially relevant for technically challenging multiquadrant operations such as Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB). Consequently, robotic-assisted surgery has emerged as a possible application for bariatric surgeries. The study attempts to assess feasibility and safety of the Hugo™-Robotic-Assisted Surgery System (Hugo™-RAS) platform compared to the DaVinci® Surgical System (DaVinci®-SS) with a focus on complication rates and operative times. We retrospectively reviewed bariatric procedures performed from January 2013 until December 2023. We included all robotic RYGBs performed using Hugo™-RAS and DaVinci®-SS platforms. The study utilized Propensity Score Matching (PSM) analysis to address bias in selection, matching patients based on age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities and past abdominal operations. One hundred thirty-five patients were identified: 90 DaVinci®-SS and 45 Hugo™-RAS procedures. After PSM, each group consisted of 45 patients. There was no discernible disparity observed in relation to early (≤ 30 days) postoperative complications rate (p = 1), mean operative time (for docking time, console time and total operative time: p = 0.176, p = 0.678, p = 0.229, respectively) and postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.052) between DaVinci®-RSS and Hugo™-RAS procedures. Our results suggest that application of both Hugo™-RAS and DaVinci®-SS robotic platforms to RYGB is related to comparable safety profiles. Although DaVinci®-SS remains the most widely adopted platform in clinical practice, this study underscores the potential role of the Hugo™-RAS to provide effective solutions in robotic bariatric procedures.
Assessment of MDM2 Gene Locus Amplification by Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization in Juvenile Ossifying Fibroma
Authors: Alotaiby Faraj , Alramadhan Saja A. , Fitzpatrick Sarah G. , Islam Mohammed N. , Cohen Donald M. , Bhattacharyya Indraneel
Published: August 2024

Juvenile ossifying fibroma (JOF) is an uncommon benign fibro-osseous lesion (BFOL) of the maxillofacial bones with a locally aggressive nature and a high recurrence rate. Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2) is an oncogene located at chromosome 12 (12q13-15) that inhibits the tumor suppressor gene TP53. The presence of MDM2 gene locus amplification is a useful molecular adjunct in the evaluation of some sarcomas, including low-grade intramedullary osteosarcoma (LGIOS). JOF and LGIOS have some overlapping clinical and histopathological features. The aim of this study is to evaluate a series of JOF for the presence of MDM2 gene locus amplification using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH).

Materials and methods

With IRB approval, a search of the institutional files of the archives of the Oral Pathology and Surgical Pathology biopsy services at the University of Florida Health was performed. The cases were re-evaluated by an oral pathology resident, an oral and maxillofacial pathologist, and a bone and soft tissue pathologist. Cases with consensus in diagnosis were selected (n = 9) for MDM2 testing. Testing by FISH for MDM2 gene locus amplification was applied to all retrieved cases.

Results

The examined cases were all negative for MDM2 gene locus amplification via FISH testing.

Conclusion

In our small series, JOF did not demonstrate MDM2 gene locus abnormality, a characteristic of LGIOS. This finding suggests that JOF has a distinct underlying pathogenesis. If confirmed in a larger series, these findings may be useful in distinguishing these two entities in cases with overlapping features or when minimal biopsy material is available.
Participation of women in clinical studies of atrial fibrillation in the Northern Netherlands
Authors: Khalilian Ekrami Neda , Baron Dawid K. , Benjamin Emelia J. , Mulder Bart A. , Van Gelder Isabelle C. , Rienstra Michiel
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Concerns exist of women underrepresentation in atrial fibrillation (AF) studies, potentially limiting the generalisability of study findings to women with AF. We assessed the participation of women in AF clinical studies performed at a tertiary care centre in the Northern Netherlands.

Methods

Eight AF clinical studies with screening logs were available for analysis. To identify sex-specific differences, patient inclusion and exclusion and reasons for exclusion were assessed. Participation-to-prevalence ratios (PPRs) were calculated to evaluate the representation of women in the studies relative to the AF sex distribution of the general population in the Netherlands (2019 Global Burden of Disease study).

Results

We included 1739 screened patients with AF in the analysis, of whom 722 (41.5%) were women. Of the patients screened, 161 (9%) were enrolled. Median age of screened patients was 69 years (interquartile range (IQR): 61–77), and women were older than men (71 years; IQR: 63–79 vs 68 years; IQR: 60–75; p < 0.001). Women were not underscreened compared with men (PPR: 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08–1.10), disproportionally excluded (92% vs 90%; p = 0.10) or less willing to participate (17% vs 15%; p = 0.36). Women had an overall PPR of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.05–1.06) compared with the general AF population.

Conclusion

At our tertiary hospital in the Northern Netherlands, women appeared to be well-represented in AF studies. The current study advocates for the adoption of a more comprehensive measure of equity, such as the PPR, and screening log evaluation to improve the generalisability of study findings to the entire clinical AF population.
Explainable AI for Text Classification: Lessons from a Comprehensive Evaluation of Post Hoc Methods
Authors: Cesarini Mirko , Malandri Lorenzo , Pallucchini Filippo , Seveso Andrea , Xing Frank
Published: August 2024

This paper addresses the notable gap in evaluating eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) methods for text classification. While existing frameworks focus on assessing XAI in areas such as recommender systems and visual analytics, a comprehensive evaluation is missing. Our study surveys and categorises recent post hoc XAI methods according to their scope of explanation and output format. We then conduct a systematic evaluation, assessing the effectiveness of these methods across varying scopes and levels of output granularity using a combination of objective metrics and user studies. Key findings reveal that feature-based explanations exhibit higher fidelity than rule-based ones. While global explanations are perceived as more satisfying and trustworthy, they are less practical than local explanations. These insights enhance understanding of XAI in text classification and offer valuable guidance for developing effective XAI systems, enabling users to evaluate each explainer’s pros and cons and select the most suitable one for their needs.
Improving Process Mining Maturity – From Intentions to Actions
Authors: Brock Jonathan , Brennig Katharina , Löhr Bernd , Bartelheimer Christian , von Enzberg Sebastian , Dumitrescu Roman
Published: August 2024

Process mining is advancing as a powerful tool for revealing valuable insights about process dynamics. Nevertheless, the imperative to employ process mining to enhance process transparency is a prevailing concern for organizations. Despite the widespread desire to integrate process mining as a pivotal catalyst for fostering a more agile and flexible Business Process Management (BPM) environment, many organizations face challenges in achieving widespread implementation and adoption due to deficiencies in various dimensions of process mining readiness. The current Information Systems (IS) knowledge base lacks a comprehensive framework to aid organizations in augmenting their process mining readiness and bridging this intention-action gap. The paper presents a Process Mining Maturity Model (P3M), refined through multiple iterations, which outlines five factors and 23 elements that organizations must address to increase their process mining readiness. The maturity model advances the understanding of how to close the intention-action gap of process mining initiatives in multiple dimensions. Furthermore, insights from a comprehensive analysis of data gathered in eleven qualitative interviews are drawn, elucidating 30 possible actions that organizations can implement to establish a more responsive and dynamic BPM environment by means of process mining.
On the operational similarities of bladed rotor vibrations with casing contacts
Authors: Thiery Florian , Chandran Praneeth
Published: August 2024

Rotor-to-stator rubbing in rotating machinery, resulting from tight clearances, introduces complex dynamics that can potentially lead to high vibrations and machine failure. Historically, the rubbing models were addressed using cylinder-to-cylinder contacts; however, recent attention has shifted towards examining blade-tip contact in turbines, which affects the systems dynamics and efficiency. This study investigates the impact of the variations in blade number on bladed rotor systems, emphasizing on the types of motion that occur as function of the operational speed in the sub-critical range. A simplified bladed rotor model has been developed, using a Jeffcott rotor with blades represented as damped elastic pendulums. The equations of motion are derived and numerical simulations are performed to explore the system’s behaviour with varying blade numbers (3, 5, 7, and 10) in order to analyse displacements, contact forces and bifurcation diagrams as function of the rotating speed. Results reveal distinct regions: periodic motion (I and III) and chaotic motion (II and IV) appear alternatively in the bifurcation diagram, with the chaotic regions occurring at specific fractions of the natural frequency and the number of blades. The study concludes that chaotic motions are associated with larger displacements and higher contact forces, and the vibrational behaviour becomes less hazardous as the number of blades increases. In addition, the appearance of periodic and chaotic motions occur in the same regions by scaling the rotating speed with the number of blades and natural frequency of the system. From an operational perspective, this dynamic investigation offers valuable insights into the severity of blade rubbing in industrial systems. It can guide the implementation of mitigation solutions to prevent worst-case failure scenarios and help to perform adjustments to either operational or design parameters.
Generalization of quantum calculus and corresponding Hermite–Hadamard inequalities
Authors: Akbar Saira Bano , Abbas Mujahid , Budak Hüseyin
Published: August 2024

The aim of this paper is first to introduce generalizations of quantum integrals and derivatives which are called $$(\phi \,-\,h)$$

(
ϕ

-

h
)

integrals and $$(\phi \,-\,h)$$

(
ϕ

-

h
)

derivatives, respectively. Then we investigate some implicit integral inequalities for $$(\phi \,-\,h)$$

(
ϕ

-

h
)

integrals. Different classes of convex functions are used to prove these inequalities for symmetric functions. Under certain assumptions, Hermite–Hadamard-type inequalities for q-integrals are deduced. The results presented herein are applicable to convex, m-convex, and $$\hbar $$
ħ
-convex functions defined on the non-negative part of the real line.
A Novel Approach for Forecasting and Scheduling Building Load through Real-Time Occupant Count Data
Authors: Rafiq Iqra , Mahmood Anzar , Ahmed Ubaid , Aziz Imran , Khan Ahsan Raza , Razzaq Sohail
Published: August 2024

The smart buildings’ load forecasting is necessary for efficient energy management, and it is easily possible because of the data availability based on widespread use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and automation systems. The information of buildings’ occupancy is directly associated with energy consumption. Therefore, we present a hybrid model consisting of a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XgBoost), Random Forest (RF) and Linear Regression (LR) for commercial and academic buildings’ load forecasting. The correlation between occupants’ count and total load of the building is calculated using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC). The comparative analysis of the proposed approach with LSTM, XgBoost, RF and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) is also performed. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Square Error (MSE) and Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) are used as performance indicators for evaluating performance. Findings indicate that the proposed hybrid approach outperforms other models. The RMSE and MAE of 2.99 and 2.18, respectively, are recorded by the proposed model for commercial building dataset while for academic building the RMSE and MAE are 4.48 and 2.85, respectively. Occupancy and load consumption have a positive correlation as evident from PCC analysis. Therefore, we have scheduled the forecasted load based on occupancy patterns for two different cases. Cost is reduced by 17.42% and 33.40% in case 1 and case 2, respectively. Moreover, the performance of the proposed hybrid approach is compared with different techniques presented in literature for buildings load forecasting.
Investigation of ground subsidence response to an unconventional longwall panel layout
Authors: Wang Pengfei , Zhu Zhuang , Guo Linfeng , Wang Huixian , Qu Yue , Zhang Yaoxiong , Wang Linwei , Wang Hua
Published: August 2024

Ground subsidence caused by extraction of longwall panels has always been a great concern all over the world. Conventional longwall mining system (CLMS) gives rise to wavy subsidence causing great damage to surface structures. A coal mine in Shanxi, China, utilizes a split-level longwall layout (SLL) for a sub-horizontal No. 8 coal seam to improve the cavability of mudstone interlayer and top coal. This layout, however, also produced unexpectedly favorable surface subsidence. Subsidence of No. 6 and No. 8 longwall panels was monitored while mining was conducted. Field instrumentation and numerical simulation were carried out. It is demonstrated that an asymmetric subsidence profile with stepped subsidence and cracks occurred on the tailgate side but relatively mild and smooth deformation on the other. Due to elimination of conventional parallelepiped gate pillar, No. 6 and No. 8 gobs were connected. Extraction of two SLL panels acted as one supercritical panel. The maximum possible subsidence was reached which lowers the likelihood of potential future secondary subsidence as underground gob fractures and voids have closed. Therefore, SLL is more favorable for post-mining land reuse as gobs are more consolidated underground.
Co-hydrothermal carbonization of waste biomass and phosphate rock: promoted carbon sequestration and enhanced phosphorus bioavailability
Authors: daer Dili , Luo Lei , Shang Yewen , Wang Jiaxiao , Wu Chengzhen , Liu Zhengang
Published: August 2024

Co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) of phosphorus rock (PR) and corn straw (CS) was investigated to prepare hydrochar-based materials as soil conditioners, focusing on the morphological transformation and solid–liquid migration of carbon and phosphorus. Various analytical methods, including elemental analysis, chemical quantification, FT-IR, XRD, 3D-EEM, TG, and XANES, were used to understand the synergistic interactions of PR and CS during co-HTC and determine the properties of the resultant products. The results indicated the acidic solution and humic acid-like substances produced by HTC of CS reduced the crystallinity of the PR and served as the activating agent for PR, allowing the PR to be easily dissolved and reconstituted, producing calcium carbonate and apatite-like materials, and the formation of C–O–PO3, C–PO3, C=O, and O=C–O chemical bonds. At 220 °C, adding 5% PR significantly promoted a 10.3% rise in the yield of CS hydrochar, a 4.3% rise in carbon recovery of CS, and a 4.8% rise in carbon sequestration potential of CS. The formation of Ca–P was notably promoted and the content of AP in co-HTC hydrochar was up to 89.9%, with 39% Hydro-P and 33% CaHPO4. In the case of artificial humic acid (HAa), its content was also remarkably increased by 5.9% in the hydrochar by co-HTC. In addition, the hydrochar produced by co-HTC of CS and PR was composed of carbon with an increased aromatic degree, rich organic matter, and biologically effective mineral nutrient elements and exhibited high stability. The present study provided a promising approach for value-added utilization of waste biomass and low-grade PR towards soil application.

Graphical Abstract
Anatomy of the uncertainty of satellite vicarious calibration using radiosondes: concepts and preliminary results for microwave radiometric observations
Authors: Cimini Domenico , Barlakas Vasileios , Carminati Fabien , De Angelis Francesco , Di Paola Francesco , Fassò Alessandro , Gallucci Donatello , Gentile Sabrina , Hewison Tim , Larosa Salvatore , Madonna Fabio , Mattioli Vinia , Montopoli Mario , Romano Filomena , Rosoldi Marco , Viggiano Mariassunta , Von Engeln Axel , Ricciardelli Elisabetta
Published: August 2024

Calibration of satellite observations is crucial for ensuring the quality of retrieved products essential for meteorological and climate applications. Calibration is obtained and monitored through a cascade of stages, including postlaunch vicarious calibration/validation activities through comparison with independent reference measurements. Here, the vicarious calibration method using radiative transfer simulations based on reference radiosondes is considered in the framework of the calibration/validation activities for the Microwave Imager (MWI) and the Ice Cloud Imager (ICI) to be launched with the Second Generation of the EUMETSAT Polar System. This paper presents an overview of the uncertainty characterizing the vicarious calibration of MWI and ICI using radiosondes as performed within the EUMETSAT-funded VICIRS study. The uncertainty characterization is pursued following a metrological approach, providing a preliminary estimation of all the identified sources. The same approach is used to develop a rigorous method for estimating the number of comparison pairs (i.e., observations vs. simulations) needed to reach a certain level of accuracy in bias determination.
The effects of Marrubium alysson and Torilis arvensis natural and nano extracts on priming of wheat seeds in response to drought
Authors: El-Berawey Dalia Youssef , Eldebawy Eman Mohammad Mustafa
Published: August 2024

Agriculture and climate change are inextricably linked in various aspects. Droughts have become more frequent as a result of climate change, having a significant impact on crop productivity. As a result, the current study investigated the effect of seed priming with natural plant extract and biosynthesized nano plant extract as an environmentally friendly tool for mitigating the drought effect on wheat as an economic crop. The study investigates the biosynthesis of Ag-nano particles from extracts of Marrubium alysson and Torilis arvensis. The UV–Vis spectrophotometer was used to characterize the biosynthesized AgNPs. Wheat grains were primed with Marrubium alysson and Torilis arvensis, along with their nanoextracts, and grown in different water regimes (100%, 60% and 40% field capacity), as well as hydropriming. Leaves were collected to determine the photosynthetic pigments, phenolics, flavonoids, CAT, GPX, H2O2, MDA, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins. In comparison with hydropriming seeds, the study discovered that natural and nano extracts significantly increased the CAT and GPX, as well as soluble proteins. Phenolics, flavonoids, soluble sugars, H2O2, and MDA content all decreased significantly, but pigment content remained unchanged. The study believed that priming wheat with natural and nano extracts, improved drought tolerance through the use of their metabolites, which included soluble sugars, phenolics, and flavonoids, accumulating in other metabolites like lignin, starch, and flavolignan to increase plant tolerance and reduce oxidative damage. Furthermore, nano extracts of Torilis arvensis and Marrubium alysson may be more effective than plant extracts since they separate from each other in PCA analysis.
Leveraging Real-World Data in Safety Signal Assessment
Authors: Patadia Vaishali , Manlik Katrin , Gipson Geoffrey , Willis Jenna C. , Namuyinga Ruth , McDermott Rachel , Shaw Anita , Miller Mary K. , Asubonteng Julius , Golchin Negar , von Klot Stephanie
Published: August 2024

Purpose

TransCelerate BioPharma surveyed its member biopharmaceutical companies to understand current practices and identify opportunities to complement safety signal assessment with rapid real-world data (RWD) analysis.

Methods

A voluntary 30-question questionnaire regarding the use of RWD in safety signal assessment was disseminated to subject matter experts at all TransCelerate member companies in July 2022. Responses were blinded, aggregated, summarized, and presented.

Results

Eighteen of 20 member companies provided responses to the questionnaire. Sixteen (89%) companies reported actively leveraging RWD in their signal assessment processes. Of 18 respondent companies, 8 (44%) routinely use rapid approaches to RWD analysis, 7 (39%) utilize rapid RWD analysis non-routinely or in a pilot setting, 2 (11%) are considering using rapid RWD analysis, and 1 (6%) has no plans to use rapid RWD analysis for their signal assessment. Most companies reported that RWD adds context to and improves quality of signal assessments. To conduct RWD analysis for signal assessment, 16 of 17 (94%) respondent companies utilize or plan to utilize internally available data, 8 (47%) utilize both internal and external data, and 3 (18%) utilize data networks. Respondents identified key challenges to rapidly performing RWD analyses, including data access/availability, time for analysis execution, and uncertainties regarding acceptance of minimal or non-protocolized approaches by health authorities.

Conclusion

Biopharmaceutical companies reported that they see value in the use of rapid RWD analyses for complementing signal assessments. Future work is recommended to offer a framework and process for use of rapid use of RWD analyses in signal assessment.
Langfristige Therapieerfolge bei einer Patientin mit spezifischen Rückenschmerzen
Authors: Taxer Bernhard , Perner Michaela , Wölkhart Michael
Published: August 2024

Dieser Fallbericht unterstreicht die Bedeutung eines ganzheitlichen, multimodalen Therapieansatzes bei chronischen Rückenschmerzen auf Grund eines lumbalen Diskusprolaps. Die Kombination aus manueller Therapie, gezieltem Training, umfassender Edukation und psychologischer Unterstützung führte zu einer signifikanten Verbesserung der Lebensqualität der Patientin. Eine sorgfältige Berücksichtigung psychosozialer Faktoren und eine enge interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit sind essenziell für den langfristigen Erfolg der Therapie.
Analysis of surgical oncology-educator perspectives for the development of a contemporary curriculum for the outpatient learning environment
Authors: Arora Tania K. , Stokes Madison , Fussell Celena , Devarakonda Aditya , Falcone John L.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to perform a targeted needs assessment of surgical oncology stakeholders engaged in surgical education of students and trainees. The aim was to determine the appropriate elements of a formal curriculum to be administered to students and residents rotating in the outpatient surgical oncology setting.

Methods

A 10-min survey was sent to surgical oncologists around the country that are a part of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO). Data obtained from this survey were analyzed to distinctly identify limitations to education in Surgical Oncology and will allow us to determine which educational goals to prioritize in a curriculum.

Results

189 responses to the needs assessment were received (7% response rate). Most surgeons were in academic practice (77%) and felt that trainees were not fully prepared for an outpatient clinic (57%) and did endorse the need for a curriculum (74%). Barriers identified to teaching and learning included time, abbreviated contact with learners and the volume of patients. Higher yield topics to be included in a future curriculum were identified. More than half of respondents felt that a curriculum could improve feedback, NBME Surgery Subject Exam scores, resident ABSITE scores and patient comfort.

Conclusions

This study represents a novel effort in assessing the unique needs of surgical oncologists within the outpatient learning environment. Building upon the insights gleaned from our survey, the next phase will entail conducting focus groups with respondents to delve deeper into the intricacies of designing an outpatient surgical oncology clinical curriculum tailored for medical students and junior residents. By fostering collaborative discussions among stakeholders, we aim to refine curriculum components in an iterative process and address identified gaps in educational resources and ultimately improve the quality of patient care in the outpatient setting.
Impact and mechanism analysis of industrial robot imports on export performance of Chinese firms
Authors: Li Wenxia , Jin Xiaomei , Jin Zhuiqiao
Published: August 2024

Digital import trade is of great practical significance for enhancing the export performance of enterprises and preventing external shocks. This paper empirically examines the impact and mechanism of industrial robot imports on Chinese firms’ export performance based on Chinese microenterprise data from 2004 to 2014. The study shows that the application of imported robots can significantly improve firms’ export performance, and this conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis shows that imported robots have a more significant role in boosting the export performance of state-owned enterprises and enterprises in capital- and technology-intensive industries; at the same time, they have a significant effect on the export performance of enterprises in different modes of trade; and they have a significant role in boosting the export performance of enterprises in eastern China compared with those in central and western regions. Mechanism analysis shows that the enhancement of export performance of enterprises by imported robots is mainly realized by promoting enterprise productivity and human capital efficiency. The policy implication of this paper is that in the era of digital trade, Chinese enterprises should fully utilize the import of digital products to enhance their productivity and promote the high-quality development of foreign trade.
Application of combined GA3 and NAA treatments to improve yield and quality of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)
Authors: Abdullah Md. , Anik Sultan Mahmud , Nishi Nusrat Jahan , Jahan Ishrat , Khatun Mst. Ananya , Akther Farjana , Rahman Md. Hassanur
Published: August 2024

In Bangladesh, okra is an important popular summer vegetable. However, traditional farming practices often lead to suboptimal yields. Thus, the study was designed to determine the ideal GA3 and NAA doses for accelerating okra growth, yield, and quality characteristics. A three-replication, randomized complete block design was adopted. Foliar sprays with three concentrations of GA3 (0 ppm, 150 ppm, and 250 ppm) and NAA (0 ppm, 150 ppm, and 250 ppm) were applied in 2022 and 2023. In comparison to the control, the combined application of GA3 @ 150 ppm and NAA @ 150 ppm improved plant height, leaf number, leaf area, branch number, internode length, bud number, pod number, pod length, pod diameter, and 1000 seed weight average over the two years. Furthermore, GA3 @ 150 ppm with NAA 150 ppm increased yield by 35.08% and 27.01% in 2022 and 2023 respectively, above the control. Combining NAA @ 150 ppm with GA3 resulted in higher levels of vitamin C, TSS, magnesium, and zinc by 19.31%, 81.2%, 22.73% and 21.43% in 2022 and 22.83%, 50.57%, 18.07%, 33.33% in 2023 respectively, compared to the control. In contrast, GA3 and NAA decreased potassium and calcium in both year when compared to the control. Overall, the results of this experiment indicated that using GA3 @ 150 ppm with NAA @ 150 ppm could enhance okra growth, yield, and quality. These findings provide insightful information for improving okra cultivation techniques and improving Bangladesh’s productivity in agriculture and food security.
Grain amaranth: A versatile untapped climate-smart crop for enhancing food and nutritional security
Authors: Mukuwapasi Betty , Mavengahama Sydney , Gerrano Abe Shegro
Published: August 2024

Globally, food and nutritional state are marked by an acute prevalence of undernourishment, leading to malnutrition, starvation, and poverty. This state has remained vital for the past years, making attaining zero hunger for the anticipated period (2030) in Africa less possible. To alleviate this challenge, more sustainable food production systems, policy frameworks, mindset changes, and diversification of the food production systems must include some highly nutritious underutilized orphan crops. Acknowledging the potential of untapped, versatile, and climate resilience, Amaranthus significantly promotes sustainable and nutrient-rich food systems. Amaranth grain is a pseudocereal with 4 g of protein and 19 g of carbohydrates per 100 g of cooked amaranth. It is a nutrient powerhouse constituting valuable nutraceuticals, protein, and carbohydrates. Grain amaranth yield ranges from 1500 to 7200 kg/ha. Yield variableness of grain amaranth, lays openings for scientists and researchers to study crop improvement and access a rich pool of genetic materials. These attributes make Amaranthus (amaranth) the most suitable crop candidate in these climate change scenarios. The Amaranthus spp. are popularly known as weedy species and largely undomesticated crops with good adaptability to various geographical locations. Despite its good adaptability, it is less known, under-exploited, and less popular as human food, and its production is very scanty, especially in southern Africa. Efforts are needed to promote its adoption and commercialization. The authors searched pieces of literature in books, journals, and conference papers to establish the potential usage of Amaranthus, its nutritional composition, and its production practices.
Distributed state estimation with compressed and synchronized auxiliary particle filters using graph theory
Authors: Maghsudlu Iman , Danaee M. R. , Arezumand Hamid
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we propose a novel compressed distributed auxiliary particle filter that uses graph theory (CDAPF-GT) to reduce the communication cost and improve the estimation accuracy of a nonlinear state space model. Our method compresses the global loglikelihood function into a set of parameters that are updated by an average consensus algorithm over a network of nodes. Unlike the existing methods, our method synchronizes the particle sets among all the nodes and uses the latest measurements to construct a better proposal distribution. Our method is suitable for applications that require fast and reliable distributed state estimation. We show through various simulation scenarios that our method outperforms the common counterpart method in terms of estimation accuracy with the same level of communication.
Confronting Core Issues: A Critical Assessment of Attitude Polarization Using Tailored Experiments
Authors: VELEZ YAMIL RICARDO , LIU PATRICK
Published: August 2024

A long-standing debate in political psychology considers whether individuals update their beliefs and attitudes in the direction of evidence or grow more confident in their convictions when confronted with counter-attitudinal arguments. Though recent studies have shown that instances of the latter tendency, which scholars have termed attitude polarization and “belief backfire,” are rarely observed in settings involving hot-button issues or viral misinformation, we know surprisingly little about how participants respond to information targeting deeply held attitudes, a key condition for triggering attitude polarization. We develop a tailored experimental design that measures participants’ core issue positions and exposes them to personalized counter-attitudinal information using the large language model GPT-3. We find credible evidence of attitude polarization, but only when arguments are contentious and vitriolic. For lower valence counter-attitudinal arguments, attitude polarization is not detected. We conclude by discussing implications for the study of political cognition and the measurement of attitudes.