bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three ytterbium(III) complexes with aromatic N‐donors: Synthesis, structure, photophysical properties and thermal stability
Authors: Zhernakov Maksim A. , Sedykh Alexander E. , Becker Jonathan , Maxeiner Moritz , Müller‐Buschbaum Klaus , Shtyrlin Valery G.
Published: July 2022

Three new ytterbium complexes of the general formula [YbL2Cl3] with expanded aromatic N‐donor based ligands based on 1,10‐phenanthroline (dipyrido‐[3,2‐f : 2′,3′‐h]‐quinoxaline (DPQ), 2‐methyldipyrido‐[3,2‐f : 2′,3′‐h]‐quinoxaline (MeDPQ) and 1,10‐phenanthroline (Phen)) were synthesized and characterized using different structural analysis, simultaneous thermal analysis, and photoluminescence, and UV‐Vis‐NIR spectroscopy. The compounds were obtained by the reaction of ytterbium(III) chloride hexahydrate and the corresponding aromatic N‐donor through substitution of water from the coordination sphere with the organic ligand. Photoluminescence studies revealed Yb3+‐based NIR emission of the corresponding compounds with following luminescence lifetimes [Yb(DPQ)2Cl3] (1) – 7.8(1) μs, [Yb(MeDPQ)2Cl3] (2) – 9.3(1) μs, [Yb(Phen)2Cl3] (3) – 8.7(1) μs. The resulting complexes are stable under atmospheric conditions, exhibit good thermal stability, and start to oxidize only at sufficiently high temperatures: (1) at 470 °C, (2) at 430 °C, and (3) at 395 °C.
A Mobile App to Help People Affected by Visual Snow
Authors: Perri Damiano , Simonetti Marco , Gervasi Osvaldo , Amato Natale
Published: July 2022

Visual Snow Syndrome is a neurological disease that causes flashing dots to appear throughout the visual field. Patients claim to see an endless stream of flashing dots throughout their visual area. Although patients frequently experience concurrent migraine, visual snow appears to be a distinct phenomenon from prolonged migraine aura. VSS has been linked to eye illness, thalamic dysfunctions, pure cortical phenomena, and disturbing connections between optical networks and nervous system networks. Any process may interact with or be causative of various symptoms and clinical aspects associated with VSS. The pathophysiology of Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) and its likely location are currently being debated. In this work, the goal we have set as a team is to create an Android software application capable of representing what people with Visual Snow Syndrome perceive. The aim is to help patients to describe (and even show) the symptomatology of their problem to their doctor. That may be a non-trivial problem since sharing with somebody the shapes, the colours, and the movement of artefacts due to VS-related pathology(s) is a highly complex and, in some cases, frustrating task since this pathology is still little known.
Strategies for the Digitalization of Cultural Heritage
Authors: Gervasi Osvaldo , Perri Damiano , Simonetti Marco , Tasso Sergio
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic caused despair, poverty and, above all, pain and death across the planet. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that it has also given a strong global impetus to the digital world, asserting its importance, sustainability and richness of perspectives. With our work we intend to establish a set of best practices aimed at defining methods and technologies that will enable those fascinated by digital technologies to contribute effectively to the digitisation of cultural heritage on a large scale. Various aspects that play a crucial role in the digitisation of artifacts will be discussed, with a focus on the issues involved in the manual realisation of works using Blender and Unity software. For demonstration purposes, two very popular use cases in the Umbria region of Italy are presented: “Piazza IV Novembre” in Perugia with the magnificent “Fontana Maggiore”, the “Palazzo dei Priori” and the Duomo on one side and the Republic square in Foligno on the other, with the Duomo, the Bishop’s house and the Diocesan Museum, the Town Hall and “Palazzo Trinci”. The first realization was carried out using photogrammetry techniques, the software Blender and Unity, while the second was carried out exclusively with Blender and Unity.

The theme is highly relevant in Europe, particularly Italy, where the topic is part of the post-COVID-19 National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
Asymptotic structure of the gravitational field in five spacetime dimensions: Hamiltonian analysis
Authors: Fuentealba Oscar , Henneaux Marc , Matulich Javier , Troessaert Cédric
Published: July 2022

Abstract

We develop the analysis of the asymptotic properties of gravity in higher spacetime dimensions D, with a particular emphasis on the case D = 5. Our approach deals with spatial infinity and is Hamiltonian throughout. It is shown that the asymptotic symmetry algebra BMS5, which is realized non linearly, contains a four-fold family of angle- dependent supertranslations. The structure of this non-linear algebra is investigated and a presentation in which the Poincaré subalgebra is linearly realized is constructed. Invariance of the energy is studied. Concluding comments on higher dimensions D ≥ 6 are also given.
Bootstrapping a stress-tensor form factor through eight loops
Authors: Dixon Lance J. , Gürdoğan Ömer , McLeod Andrew J. , Wilhelm Matthias
Published: July 2022

Abstract

We bootstrap the three-point form factor of the chiral stress-tensor multiplet in planar $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at six, seven, and eight loops, using boundary data from the form factor operator product expansion. This may represent the highest perturbative order to which multi-variate quantities in a unitary four-dimensional quantum field theory have been computed. In computing this form factor, we observe and employ new restrictions on pairs and triples of adjacent letters in the symbol. We provide details about the function space required to describe the form factor through eight loops. Plotting the results on various lines provides striking numerical evidence for a finite radius of convergence of perturbation theory. By the principle of maximal transcendentality, our results are expected to give the highest weight part of the gg → Hg and H → ggg amplitudes in the heavy-top limit of QCD through eight loops. These results were also recently used to discover a new antipodal duality between this form factor and a six-point amplitude in the same theory.
Hyperbolic 5-manifolds that fiber over $$S^1$$
Authors: Italiano Giovanni , Martelli Bruno , Migliorini Matteo
Published: July 2022

We exhibit some finite-volume cusped hyperbolic 5-manifolds that fiber over the circle. These include the smallest hyperbolic 5-manifold known, discovered by Ratcliffe and Tschantz. As a consequence, we build a finite type subgroup of a hyperbolic group that is not hyperbolic.
Of Fears and Budgets: Strategies of Control in Vespa velutina Invasion and Lessons for Best Management Practices
Authors: Pazos Tamara , Álvarez-Figueiró Patricia , Cortés-Vázquez Jose A. , Jácome María Amalia , Servia María J.
Published: July 2022

Implementing management practices for the control of invasive species can be a complex task with multiple dimensions, where the identification of stakeholders and drivers of those practices is of paramount importance. The invasive hornetVespa velutinahas spread across Europe and Asia from its native range in SE Asia in recent years. A common control method is the removal and destruction of its nests on citizens’ request to call centers. In this paper we have explored the knowledge and main factors that influence the perceptions of the citizens on the species in an invaded municipality in NW Spain, as well as the management practices of the municipal emergency unit responsible for nest removal activities. Our analysis brings out multiple drivers of management practices that derive both from the citizens’ and practitioners’ knowledge, and highlights several points of conflict between both stakeholder groups connected to (1) the degree of service provided to the local population, (2) the risk of allergic reactions as a motive to urge removals, or (3) the quality of information provided by mass media. Our results support the crucial importance of environmental education programs that seek to increase the knowledge of the general public about the threats of invasive species. Such programs might be incorporated to implement and optimize management plans ofV. velutinaby enhancing communication between experts and local population.
Prevalence and novel risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency in elite athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Harju Tilda , Gray Blair , Mavroedi Alexandra , Farooq Abdulaziz , Reilly John Joseph
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

Vitamin D insufficiency may be common among elite athletes, but prevalence is unclear, and some potentially important risk factors are uncertain. The present study aimed to (a) estimate the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in elite athletes, and (b) examine differences in prevalence between the sexes, and between adults and adolescents, from recent studies which used a contemporary definition of insufficiency.

Methods

Four databases (Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, and Sports Medicine and Education Index) were searched for studies in elite athletes. Literature selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by two researchers. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L. Meta-analysis was conducted, using R software x64 4.0.2, to provide estimates of prevalence of insufficiency for adults and adolescents, and to examine between-sex differences in risk of insufficiency.

Results

From the initial 943 literature search hits, 51 studies were eligible with 5456 participants, 33 studies in adults (12/33 in winter and spring), 15 studies in adolescents (6/15 in winter and spring) and 3 studies with age of study participants not given. Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency from meta-analysis was 30% (95% CI 22–39%) in adults and prevalence was higher, though not significantly so, at 39% (95% CI 25–55%) in adolescents. Differences in the prevalence of insufficiency between the sexes for the eight studies which provided within-study comparisons was not significant (RR = 1.0; 95% CI 0.79–1.26). Evidence quality was moderate.

Conclusions

Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (≤ 50 nmol/L) in elite athletes is high, suggesting a need for greater attention to prevention and treatment. Prevalence estimates in the present study are conservative due to a relative lack of studies in winter. While there was no evidence of higher risk among women than men in the present study, there was less evidence on women.
The expression of the adenosine pathway markers CD39 and CD73 in salivary gland carcinomas harbors the potential for novel immune checkpoint inhibition
Authors: Bauer Arthur , Gebauer Niklas , Knief Juliana , Tharun Lars , Arnold Nele , Riecke Armin , Steinestel Konrad , Witte Hanno M.
Published: July 2022

Background

In salivary gland carcinomas (SGC), there is only a small fraction of entities that appears to profit from immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). Recent findings connected the activation of adenosine-signaling with a tolerogenic microenvironment. Therefore, the inhibition of adenosine pathway markers (CD39 and/or CD73) can augment ICI and/or display a novel immunotherapeutic strategy beyond ICI. Here, we assessed the immuno-histochemical expression of CD39 and CD73 across a wide spectrum of SGCs.

Methods

In total, 114 patients with SGCs consecutively diagnosed between 2001 and 2021 were assessed for clinicopathological baseline characteristics and underwent confirmatory histopathological review. Immunohistochemical expression levels of CD39 and CD73 were assessed by applying the tumor proportion score (TPS) and the immune proportional score (IPS) comparable to PD-L1 expression analysis in routine clinical practice. Additionally, findings were correlated with PD-L1 expression levels.

Results

The median age was 60.6 and 51.8% patients were female. The cohort covered a spectrum of eight distinct entities. Advanced-stage disease (UICC/AJCC III/IVA-IVC) at initial diagnosis was present in the majority of patients (64/114). Immunohistochemical staining revealed positivity for CD39 and CD73 in 48.2% and 21.1% on tumor cells (TPS ≥ 1%) as well as 46.4% and 42.9% within the immune cell infiltrate (IPS ≥ 1%), respectively. Further comparative analyses revealed immune-cold entities such adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC), immune-hot tumors such as adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified (AC (NOS)) and entities with intermediate immunologic features such as acinic cell carcinoma (ACC).

Conclusion

Current results indicate entity-specific adenosine signaling signatures. These findings suggest that the adenosine pathway plays a decisive role in tumor immunity among the major spectrum of SGCs. Targeting the adenosine pathway might pose a promising therapeutic option for selected entities.
Prediction of hydraulic blockage at culverts from a single image using deep learning
Authors: Iqbal Umair , Barthelemy Johan , Perez Pascal
Published: July 2022

Cross-drainage hydraulic structures such as culverts and bridges in urban landscapes are prone to get blocked by the transported debris (e.g., urban, vegetated), which often reduces their hydraulic capacity and triggers flash floods. Unavailability of relevant data from blockage-originated flooding events and complex nature of debris accumulation are highlighted factors hindering the research within the blockage management domain. Wollongong City Council (WCC) blockage conduit policy is the leading formal guidelines to incorporate blockage into design guidelines; however, are criticized by the hydraulic engineers for its dependence on the post-flood visual inspections (i.e., visual blockage) instead of peak floods hydraulic investigations (i.e., hydraulic blockage). Apparently, no quantifiable relationship is reported between the visual blockage and hydraulic blockage; therefore, many consider WCC blockage guidelines invalid. This paper exploits the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), motivated by its recent success, and attempts to relate visual blockage with hydraulic blockage by proposing a deep learning pipeline to predict hydraulic blockage from an image of the culvert. Two experiments are performed where the conventional pipeline and end-to-end learning approaches are implemented and compared in the context of predicting hydraulic blockage from a single image. In experiment one, the conventional deep learning pipeline approach (i.e., feature extraction using CNN and regression using ANN) is adopted. In contrast, in experiment two, end-to-end deep learning models (i.e., E2E_ MobileNet, E2E_ BlockageNet) are trained and compared with the conventional pipeline approach. Dataset (i.e., Hydraulics-Lab Blockage Dataset (HBD), Visual Hydraulics-Lab Dataset (VHD)) used in this research were collected from laboratory experiments performed using scaled physical models of culverts. E2E_ BlockageNet model was reported best in predicting hydraulic blockage with $$R^2$$

R
2

score of 0.91 and indicated that hydraulic blockage could be interrelated with the visual features at the culvert.
Efficient kNN query for moving objects on time-dependent road networks
Authors: Li Jiajia , Ni Cancan , He Dan , Li Lei , Xia Xiufeng , Zhou Xiaofang
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we study the Time-Dependent k Nearest Neighbor (TD-kNN) query on moving objects that aims to return k objects arriving at the query location with the least traveling cost departing at a given time t. Although the kNN query on moving objects has been widely studied in the scenario of the static road network, the TD-kNN query tends to be more complicated and challenging because under the time-dependent road network, the cost of each edge is measured by a cost function rather than a fixed distance value. To tackle such difficulty, we adopt the framework of GLAD and develop an advanced index structure to support efficient fastest travel cost query on time-dependent road network. In particular, we propose the Time-Dependent H2H (TD-H2H) index, which pre-computes the aggregated weight functions between each node to some specific nodes in the decomposition tree derived from the road network. Additionally, we establish a grid index on moving objects for candidate object retrieval and location update. To further accelerate the TD-kNN query, two pruning strategies are proposed in our solution. Apart from that, we extend our framework to tackle the time-dependent approachable kNN (TD-AkNN) query on moving objects targeting for the application of taxi-hailing service, where the moving object might have been occupied. Extensive experiments with different parameter settings on real-world road network show that our solutions for both TD-kNN and TD-AkNN queries are superior to the competitors in orders of magnitude.
Maximizing the Impact of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in Zambia by Targeting High-Risk Men: A Pre/Post Program Evaluation
Authors: Lukobo-Durrell M. , Aladesanmi L. , Suraratdecha C. , Laube C. , Grund J. , Mohan D. , Kabila M. , Kaira F. , Habel M. , Hines J. Z. , Mtonga H. , Chituwo O. , Conkling M. , Chipimo P. J. , Kachimba J. , Toledo C.
Published: July 2022

A well-documented barrier to voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is financial loss due to the missed opportunity to work while undergoing and recovering from VMMC. We implemented a 2-phased outcome evaluation to explore how enhanced demand creation and financial compensation equivalent to 3 days of missed work influence uptake of VMMC among men at high risk of HIV exposure in Zambia. In Phase 1, we implemented human-centered design-informed interpersonal communication. In Phase 2, financial compensation of ZMW 200 (~ US$17) was added. The proportion of men undergoing circumcision was significantly higher in Phase 2 compared to Phase 1 (38% vs 3%). The cost of demand creation and compensation per client circumcised was $151.54 in Phase 1 and $34.93 in Phase 2. Financial compensation is a cost-effective strategy for increasing VMMC uptake among high-risk men in Zambia, and VMMC programs may consider similar interventions suited to their context.
A prognostic survival model for women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Baade Peter D , Fowler Helen , Kou Kou , Dunn Jeff , Chambers Suzanne K , Pyke Chris , Aitken Joanne F
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Prognostic models can help inform patients on the future course of their cancer and assist the decision making of clinicians and patients in respect to management and treatment of the cancer. In contrast to previous studies considering survival following treatment, this study aimed to develop a prognostic model to quantify breast cancer-specific survival at the time of diagnosis.

Methods

A large (n = 3323), population-based prospective cohort of women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in Queensland, Australia between 2010 and 2013, and followed up to December 2018. Data were collected through a validated semi-structured telephone interview and a self-administered questionnaire, along with data linkage to the Queensland Cancer Register and additional extraction from medical records. Flexible parametric survival models, with multiple imputation to deal with missing data, were used.

Results

Key factors identified as being predictive of poorer survival included more advanced stage at diagnosis, higher tumour grade, “triple negative” breast cancers, and being symptom-detected rather than screen detected. The Harrell’s C-statistic for the final predictive model was 0.84 (95% CI 0.82, 0.87), while the area under the ROC curve for 5-year mortality was 0.87. The final model explained about 36% of the variation in survival, with stage at diagnosis alone explaining 26% of the variation.

Conclusions

In addition to confirming the prognostic importance of stage, grade and clinical subtype, these results highlighted the independent survival benefit of breast cancers diagnosed through screening, although lead and length time bias should be considered. Understanding what additional factors contribute to the substantial unexplained variation in survival outcomes remains an important objective.
A Scoping Review of Quality in Early Childhood Publicly-Funded Programs
Authors: McLean Christine , McIsaac Jessie-Lee D. , Mooney Oriana , Morris Sarah B. , Turner Joan
Published: July 2022

Defining quality in early learning and child care (ELCC) settings is complex. With an increased emphasis on universal ELCC systems to support greater access for families, research is needed to provide clarity on the concepts that contribute to high-quality programs. In this scoping review, 41 literature sources met our criteria (of a possible 6335) to determine what is known about high-quality early childhood programming in publicly-funded, school-based settings using a systems framework. Using a thematic analysis and consistent with a systems lens, our results suggest an overarching influence from system-level policies that intersect with practice, people and place within early childhood education and care.
Resisting the Gamer’s Dilemma
Authors: Montefiore Thomas , Formosa Paul
Published: July 2022

Intuitively, many people seem to hold that engaging in acts of virtual murder in videogames is morally permissible, whereas engaging in acts of virtual child molestation is morally impermissible. The Gamer’s Dilemma (Luck in Ethics Inf Technol 11:31–36, 2009) challenges these intuitions by arguing that it is unclear whether there is a morally relevant difference between these two types of virtual actions. There are two main responses in the literature to this dilemma. First, attempts to resolve the dilemma by defending an account of the relevant moral differences between virtual murder and virtual child molestation. Second, attempts to dissolve the dilemma by undermining the intuitions that ground it. In this paper, we argue that a narrow version of the Gamer’s Dilemma seems to survive attempts to resolve or dissolve it away entirely, since neither approach seems to be able to solve the dilemma for all cases. We thus provide a contextually sensitive version of the dilemma that more accurately tracks onto the intuitions of gamers. However, we also argue that the intuitions that ground the narrow version of the Dilemma may not have a moral foundation, and we put forward alternative non-moral normative foundations that seem to better account for the remaining intuitive difference between the two types of virtual actions. We also respond to proposed solutions to the Gamer’s Dilemma in novel ways and set out areas for future empirical work in this area.
Haste makes waste: shorter time for nest-site assessment leads to higher nest predation in a cavity nester
Authors: Sonerud Geir A.
Published: July 2022

A fundamental problem for any animal is how to weigh the benefits of making a rapid decision against the costs of making a poor decision, because time for detecting and evaluating all options is often restricted. For nest-site selection in birds, an important cost of a speedy decision would be nest predation, which is a major factor lowering reproductive success. I tested whether shorter time available for assessment of nest sites would lead to a decision with higher probability of nest predation. Where boreal owls (Aegolius funereus) had nested successfully in a box in the previous season, I manipulated nest box availability by offering a dyad of nest boxes. One box (kept or exchanged) was in the original nest tree and one box (new or taken from the original tree) was in a new tree for the season, each box containing either “post-nesting residue” from the successful nesting or new wood shavings. Hence, the owls could assess the risk of nest predation at a familiar site relative to that at a new site. The timing of nest box installation and relocation was such that time for assessment varied among localities, from the whole non-breeding season to just a few days prior to laying in spring. Owls that had had longer time in which to make their assessment and selection were less likely to have their nest predated by pine martens (Martes martes). Boreal owls are non-migratory and probably gained information on the relative safety of the two options by a Bayesian-like updating process in the days, weeks or months before the decision had to be made. A migratory cavity-nester exposed to the same landscape of nest predation would be more time-constrained and forced to rely on the win-stay loose-shift tactic, which underperforms relative to Bayesian-like updating.
Compositionality in Primate Gestural Communication and Multicomponent Signal Displays
Authors: Amici Federica , Oña Linda , Liebal Katja
Published: July 2022

Compositionality is the ability to combine meaningful elements into new combinations with novel meanings, and it has long been considered one of the main hallmarks of human communication. However, very few studies have addressed the compositional aspects of communication in species other than humans, although a comparative approach is essential to understand the evolutionary origins of human compositionality. We review previous research on compositionality in the gestural communication systems of nonhuman primates, with a special focus on the multicomponent aspects of compositionality. We start by discussing the importance of a comparative approach to study the evolution of human language and then compare the current state of the art on compositionality in the vocal, facial, and gestural communication systems of primates and other species. We further discuss alternative approaches to study compositionality in primates, which may help overcome some of the current methodological limitations in this research area. In particular, we 1) highlight the importance of interdisciplinary tools that facilitate the statistical identification of multicomponent and multimodal combinations of signals, 2) discuss different approaches to infer the meaning of signal combinations, with a special focus on the use of contextual cues and meta-communication, and 3) discuss temporal and intentional aspects of compositionality in primates. Finally, we outline possible lines of research for future studies in this area (e.g., more consistent use of terms across research areas, use of different methodological tools and larger datasets, inclusion of developmental approaches), which might shed light into the evolutionary origins of one of the most crucial properties of human communication.
Powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of Ni-based superalloys: a review of the main microstructural constituents and characterization techniques
Authors: Haines Michael P. , Rielli Vitor V. , Primig Sophie , Haghdadi Nima
Published: July 2022

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has unlocked unique opportunities for making complex Ni-based superalloy parts with reduced material waste, development costs, and production lead times. Considering the available AM methods, powder bed fusion (PBF) processes, using either laser or electron beams as high energy sources, have the potential to print complex geometries with a high level of microstructural control. PBF is highly suited for the development of next generation components for the defense, aerospace, and automotive industries. A better understanding of the as-built microstructure evolution during PBF of Ni-based superalloys is important to both industry and academia because of its impacts on mechanical, corrosion, and other technological properties, and, because it determines post-processing heat treatment requirements. The primary focus of this review is to outline the individual phase formations and morphologies in Ni-based superalloys, and their correlation to PBF printing parameters. Given the hierarchal nature of the microstructures formed during PBF, detailed descriptions of the evolution of each microstructural constituent are required to enable microstructure control. Ni-based superalloys microstructures commonly include γ, γ′, γ′′, $$\delta$$
δ
, TCP, carbides, nitrides, oxides, and borides, dependent on their composition. A thorough characterization of these phases remains challenging due to the multi-scale microstructural hierarchy alongside with experimental challenges related to imaging secondary phases that are often nanoscale and (semi)-coherent. Hence, a detailed discussion of advanced characterization techniques is the second focus of this review, to enable a more complete understanding of the microstructural evolution in Ni-based superalloys printed using PBF. This is with an expressed goal of directing the research community toward the tools necessary for a thorough investigation of the processing-microstructure-property relationships in PBF Ni-based superalloy parts to enable microstructural engineering.
Finite Element Methods for Large-Strain Poroelasticity/Chemotaxis Models Simulating the Formation of Myocardial Oedema
Authors: Barnafi N. A. , Gómez-Vargas B. , Lourenço W. J. , Reis R. F. , Rocha B. M. , Lobosco M. , Ruiz-Baier R. , dos Santos R. Weber
Published: July 2022

In this paper we propose a novel coupled poroelasticity-diffusion model for the formation of extracellular oedema and infectious myocarditis valid in large deformations, manifested as an interaction between interstitial flow and the immune-driven dynamics between leukocytes and pathogens. The governing partial differential equations are formulated in terms of skeleton displacement, fluid pressure, Lagrangian porosity, and the concentrations of pathogens and leukocytes. A five-field finite element scheme is proposed for the numerical approximation of the problem, and we provide the stability analysis for a simplified system emanating from linearisation. We also discuss the construction of an adequate, Schur complement based, nested preconditioner. The produced computational tests exemplify the properties of the new model and of the finite element schemes.
Use of sedimentary algal pigment analyses to infer past lake-water total phosphorus concentrations
Authors: Belle Simon , Delcamp Elise , Nilsson L. Jenny , Freiberg Rene , Appleby G. Peter , Piliposian T. Gayane , Tõnno Ilmar
Published: July 2022

We tested the feasibility of using sedimentary algal pigment analyses by spectral deconvolution to infer past lake-water total phosphorus concentrations. We established equations that link lake-water nutrient concentrations and sediment pigment concentrations, using a combination of calibration in both space and time, with a training set of 31 Swedish lakes. The calibration dataset yielded a significant positive relationship between total carotenoid concentrations and lake-water total phosphorus concentrations. We also compared sediment-pigment-based nutrient inferences with time series of water column monitoring data to evaluate whether temporal changes in total phosphorus concentrations are well captured by analysis of sedimentary pigments. We found that changes in pigment preservation through time can alter the relationship between concentrations of lake-water nutrients and sedimentary pigments, thus limiting the reliability of historical ecological conditions inferred from pigments in the sediment. Our data suggested that ratios of Chlorophyll derivatives to total carotenoids (CD/TC ratio) and Chlorophyll a to Chlorophyll derivatives (CPI) can be used as proxies for pigment preservation. Using our approach, inferred temporal changes in water-column total phosphorus concentrations in lakes are promising, but require further development, specifically with respect to the influence of pigment degradation in both the water column and sediments, as well as the factors that control such degradation.
The Behavior of the Three-Dimensional Askin–Teller Model at the Mixed Phase Region by a New Monte Carlo Approach
Authors: Wojtkowiak Zbigniew , Musiał Grzegorz
Published: July 2022

The new approach of performing Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, which eliminates large oscillations of the values of the thermodynamic quantities computed for a mixed phase region, is demonstrated. The results are presented on the example of the mixed phase region in the 3D Askin–Teller (AT) model, where within a certain range of parameters with equal probabilities there appear two different, but equivalent, ways of ordering two of the three order parameters showing independent behavior. This new approach allowed us to exploit magnetization and internal energy curves, Binder cumulant, Challa- and the Lee-Kosterlitz-like cumulants as well as the internal energy distribution histogram. According to the most effective strategy, in the critical region, we use our recently proposed cluster MC algorithm and the Metropolis algorithm beyond it wherever it is applicable. The existence of two tricritical points and the bifurcation point in this area of the phase diagram is confirmed, and their locations are determined. It is explained that although the system as a whole does not show the presence of latent heat at the boundary of the mixed phase region and the antiferromagnetic phase, it does occur for various order parameters. Specifically, the increase in the energy of the degrees of freedom of one kind is accompanied by an equal decrease in the energy of the degrees of freedom of the other kind.
Key Informants’ Perspectives on Childhood Obesity in Vietnam: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Nguyen Tuyen , Trat Tiffany , Tieu Ngoc Thanh , Vu Linda , Sokal-Gutierrez Karen
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Vietnam’s post-war globalization, economic development, and urbanization have contributed to a nutrition transition from traditional diets to highly-processed diets, and increased prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. Our study aims to explore the attitudes and behaviors driving this epidemic.

Methods

This qualitative study focused on the perspectives and practices of Vietnamese parents, schoolteachers and doctors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 12 regarding the historical, social, and cultural influences contributing to childhood overweight and obesity. Audio-recorded interviews were translated and transcribed, then analyzed using modified ground theory to identify themes and representative quotes.

Results

Five themes were identified: (1) Change in diet between generations, (2) Preference for rounder children, (3) Unhealthy feeding practices, (4) Reduced physical activity, and (5) Increasing awareness of childhood obesity. A conceptual map detailed the shift from war-time to post-war economic environment and psycho-social context for raising children to be large, safe and academically-successful.

Conclusions for Practice

We found that globalization, urbanization and economic development—in the context of historical, social and cultural attitudes—may contribute to increasing child obesity in Vietnam. Obesity prevention through public health and educational institutions should involve policies and programs for healthy eating and exercise, tailored to address parental figures’ concerns.
Vec4Cred: a model for health misinformation detection in web pages
Authors: Upadhyay Rishabh , Pasi Gabriella , Viviani Marco
Published: July 2022

Research aimed at finding solutions to the problem of the diffusion of distinct forms of non-genuine information online across multiple domains has attracted growing interest in recent years, from opinion spam to fake news detection. Currently, partly due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak and the subsequent proliferation of unfounded claims and highly biased content, attention has focused on developing solutions that can automatically assess the genuineness of health information. Most of these approaches, applied both to Web pages and social media content, rely primarily on the use of handcrafted features in conjunction with Machine Learning. In this article, instead, we propose a health misinformation detection model that exploits as features the embedded representations of some structural and content characteristics of Web pages, which are obtained using an embedding model pre-trained on medical data. Such features are employed within a deep learning classification model, which categorizes genuine health information versus health misinformation. The purpose of this article is therefore to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model, namely Vec4Cred, with respect to the problem considered. This model represents an evolution of a previous one, with respect to which new features and architectural choices have been considered and illustrated in this work.
Improving precision of objective image/video quality meters
Authors: Behzadpour Majid , Ghanbari Mohammad
Published: July 2022

Although subjective test is the most accurate image/video quality assessment tool, it is extremely time demanding. In the past two decades, a variety of objective quality measuring tools, such as SSIM, IW-SSIM, SPSIM, FSIM, etc., have been devised, that well correlate with the subjective tests results. However, the main problem with these methods is that they do not discriminate the measured quality well enough, especially at high quality range. In this article we show how the accuracy/precision of these Image Quality Assessment (IQA) meters can be increased by mapping them into a Logistic Function (LF). The precisions are tested over a variety of image/video databases. Our experimental tests indicate while the used high-quality images can be discriminated by 23% resolution on the MOS subjective scores, discrimination resolution by the widely used IQAs are only 2%, but their mapped IQAs to Logistic Function at this quality range can be improved to 9 − 17%, depending on the characteristics of the LF function. Moreover, their precision at low to mid quality range can also be improved. At this quality range, while the discrimination resolution of MOS of the tested images is 23.2%, those of raw IQAs is nearly 8.9%, but discrimination of their adapted logistic functions can be very close to that of MOS. Moreover, with the used image databases the Pearson Linear Correlation Coefficient (PLCC) of MOS with the logistic function can be improved by 2 − 20% as well.
Zn diffusion depth effect on photoresponse uniformity in InP/InGaAs avalanche photodiodes
Authors: Walker A. W. , Moisa S. , Springthorpe A. J. , Pitts O. J.
Published: July 2022

Numerical simulation of the electric field distribution and photocurrent response of a planar InP/InGaAs avalanche photodiode is presented for small variations of the multiplication width. The Zn dopant diffusion front is obtained by numerically simulating the diffusion process. The simulation results indicate that while a local peak value of the electric field is observed near the device edge, it is not associated with a significant increase in the photocurrent response. Experimental photocurrent mapping of an avalanche photodiode shows a response at the edge that is enhanced by ~ 60% compared to the centre response. Scanning electron microscope images of Zn diffused structures show that the depth is enhanced by 0.03 m at the edge, compared to the centre. Simulations of devices with varied multiplication width show that the magnitude of the increase in photocurrent expected for the observed depth enhancement is consistent with the observed photocurrent enhancement along the edge the active device.
A review on pointing, acquisition, and tracking approaches in UAV-based fso communication systems
Authors: Abdelfatah Reham , Alshaer Nancy , Ismail Tawfik
Published: July 2022

The challenge of tracking unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is arising out of increasing their market and spread usage in many applications. Miscuing UAVs can lead to potential threats as they are considered an essential part of national security. One of the major issues in communication with UAVs is the enormous amount of data generated by UAVs that requires a high data rate link, making the free space optics (FSO) communication, with very high bandwidth, an appropriate choice. Consequently, current developments in UAVs have provided new horizons for establishing UAV-based FSO links. However, FSO is a narrow line of sight (LoS) technology that is highly affected by the misalignment between the transmitter and receiver. So, tracking mechanisms are of vital importance when considering UAV-based FSO communication systems. This paper addresses coarse to fine pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) approaches and the recently developed tracking approaches to establish a reliable link for communication. Also, the various approaches are discussed and compared for precise alignment between the ground station and its associated UAV, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Current challenges and future research directions are addressed and integrated by combining different ideas.
Classifying comparability problems in a way that matters
Authors: Andersson Henrik , Herlitz Anders
Published: July 2022

How should one understand comparisons in which neither of two alternatives is at least as good as the other? Much recent literature on comparability problems focuses on what the appropriate explanation of the phenomenon is. Is it due to vagueness or the possibility of non-conventional comparative relations such as parity? This paper argues that the discussions on how to best explain comparability problems has reached an impasse at which it is hard to make any progress. To advance the discussion we suggest a new classification of comparability problems that focuses on the problems they cause for practical reasoning.
Geospatial Technique Integrated with MCDM Models for Selecting Potential Sites for Harvesting Rainwater in the Semi-arid Region
Authors: Alkaradaghi Karwan , Hamamin Dara , Karim Hawber , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Ali Salahalddin S. , Laue Jan , Ali Tara
Published: July 2022

Severe droughts and mismanagement of water resources during the last decades have propelled authorities in the Kurdistan Region to be concerned about better management of precipitation which is considered the primary source of recharging surface and groundwater in the area of interest. The drought cycles in the last decades have stimulated water stakeholders to drill more wells and store uncontrolled runoff in suitable structures during rainy times to fulfill the increased water demands. The optimum sites for rainwater harvesting sites in the Qaradaqh basin, which is considered a water-scarce area, were determined using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), sum average weighted method (SAWM), and fuzzy-based index (FBI) techniques. The essential thematic layers within the natural and artificial factors were rated, weighted, and integrated via GIS and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches. As a consequence of the model results, three farm ponds and four small dams were proposed as future prospective sites for implementing rainwater harvesting structures. The current work shows that the unsuitable ratio over the study area in all methods AHP, SAWM, and FBI occupied 12.6%, 12.7%, and 14.2% respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) and receiver operating characteristics were used to validate the model outcomes. The AUC values range from 0.5 to 1, meaning that all MCDM results are good or are correctly selected. Based on the prediction rate curve for the suitability index map, the prediction accuracy was 72%, 57%, and 59% for AHP, SAWM, and fuzzy overlay, respectively. The final map shows that the potential sites for rainwater harvesting or suitable sites are clustered mainly in the northern and around the basin’s boundary, while unsuitable areas cover northeastern and some scatter zones in the middle due to restrictions of geology, distance to stream with the villages, and slope criteria. The total harvested runoff was 377,260 m3 from all the suggested structures. The proposed sites may provide a scientific and reasonable basis for utilizing this natural resource and minimize the impacts of future drought cycles.
Interpretable machine learning approach to analyze the effects of landscape and meteorological factors on mosquito occurrences in Seoul, South Korea
Authors: Lee Dae-Seong , Lee Da-Yeong , Park Young-Seuk
Published: July 2022

Mosquitoes are the underlying cause of various public health and economic problems. In this study, patterns of mosquito occurrence were analyzed based on landscape and meteorological factors in the metropolitan city of Seoul. We evaluated the influence of environmental factors on mosquito occurrence through the interpretation of prediction models with a machine learning algorithm. Through hierarchical cluster analysis, the study areas were classified into waterside and non-waterside areas, according to the landscape patterns. The mosquito occurrence was higher in the waterside area, and mosquito abundance was negatively affected by rainfall at the waterside. The mosquito occurrence was predicted in each cluster area based on the landscape and cumulative meteorological variables using a random forest algorithm. Both models exhibited good performance (both accuracy and AUROC > 0.8) in predicting the level of mosquito occurrence. The embedded relationship between the mosquito occurrence and the environmental factors in the models was explained using the Shapley additive explanation method. According to the variable importance and the partial dependence plots for each model, the waterside area was more influenced by the meteorological and land cover variables than the non-waterside area. Therefore, mosquito control strategies should consider the effects of landscape and meteorological conditions, including the temperature, rainfall, and the landscape heterogeneity. The present findings can contribute to the development of mosquito forecasting systems in metropolitan cities for the promotion of public health.
Image processing tools in the study of environmental contamination by microplastics: reliability and perspectives
Authors: Valente Tommaso , Ventura Daniele , Matiddi Marco , Sbrana Alice , Silvestri Cecilia , Piermarini Raffaella , Jacomini Carlo , Costantini Maria Letizia
Published: July 2022

Microplastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental concerns for contemporary times and the future. In the last years, the number of publications about microplastic contamination has increased rapidly and the list is daily updated. However, the lack of standard analytical approaches might generate data inconsistencies, reducing the comparability among different studies. The present study investigates the potential of two image processing tools (namely the shapeR package for R and ImageJ 1.52v) in providing an accurate characterization of the shape of microplastics using a restricted set of shape descriptors. To ascertain that the selected tools can measure small shape differences, we perform an experiment to verify the detection of pre-post variations in the shape of different microplastic types (i.e., nylon [NY], polyethylene [PE], polyethylene terephthalate [PET], polypropylene [PP], polystyrene [PS], and polyvinylchloride [PVC]) treated with mildly corrosive chemicals (i.e., 10% KOH at 60 °C, 30% H2O2at 50 °C, and 15% H2O2 + 5% HNO3at 40 °C; incubation time ≈ 12 h). Analysis of surface area variations returns results about the vulnerability of plastic polymers to digestive solutions that are aligned with most of the acquired knowledge. The largest decrease in surface area occurs for KOH-treated PET particles, while NY results in the most susceptible polymer to the 30% H2O2treatment, followed by PVC and PS. PE and PP are the most resistant polymers to all the used treatments. The adopted methods to characterize microplastics seem reliable tools for detecting small differences in the shape and size of these particles. Then, the analytic perspectives that can be developed using such widely accessible and low-cost equipment are discussed.