bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating satellite‐transmitter backpack‐harness effects on greater sage‐grouse survival and device retention in the Great Basin
Authors: Lundblad Carl G. , Anthony Christopher R. , Dungannon Tyler , Haab Kimberly A. , Schuyler Elizabeth M. , Sink Chelsea E. , Dugger Katie M. , Hagen Christian A.
Published: May 2024

Wildlife tracking studies have become ubiquitous in ecology and now provide previously unobtainable data regarding individual movement, vital rates, and population demographics. However, tracking devices can potentially reduce survival of study subjects, generating biases in the vital rates they seek to measure. Previous studies have found that greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices may experience reduced survival, relative to those tracked with traditional radio transmitters, and have documented skin abrasions and lacerations associated with typical backpack‐style GPS harnesses. We implemented an experimental study comparing survival and harness retention between 2 different backpack‐style GPS transmitter harnesses. We captured female sage‐grouse at 3 study sites in the northwest Great Basin of Oregon, Nevada, and California during 2019–2021. We fit each individual, following previously published recommendations, with either a standard backpack harness or a modified harness hypothesized to reduce skin abrasion and laceration. We used known‐fate models in Program MARK to model variation in survival and harness retention separately as a function of harness type, year, age, a linear effect of time, and the ratio of the device to individual body mass. Neither survival nor retention varied systematically by harness type, however retention decreased as a function of body mass ratio. We echo previous recommendations for standardized harness attachment protocols and studies designed to isolate and test potential mechanisms by which tracking devices and attachment methods might affect survival and well‐being of sage‐grouse and other tracked species.
Investigating Effort Estimation in a Large-Scale Agile ERP Transformation Program
Authors: Tobisch Franziska , Weigelt Karla , Philipp Pascal , Matthes Florian
Published: May 2024

Adaptability is vital in today’s rapidly changing business environment, especially within IT. Agile methodologies have emerged to meet this demand and have thereby gained widespread adoption. While successful in smaller, co-located teams and low-criticality projects, applying agile methods in broader contexts poses challenges. Nevertheless, many organizations have started implementing agile methodologies in various areas, including large-scale Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects. In contrast to traditional development, ERP projects involve deploying extensive integrated systems, are substantial in scale, and entail high risks and costs. Accurate predictions, like effort estimations, are crucial to meet customer satisfaction and deliver within plan and budget. However, estimating effort in an agile environment poses its own set of challenges. For instance, coordination efforts and dependencies among teams must be considered. While effort estimation is well-explored in classical software development and small-scale agile contexts, limited research exists in large-scale agile settings, particularly in projects rolling out and customizing standard ERP solutions. To address this gap, we conducted a case study on effort estimation in a large agile ERP transformation program, describing the estimation process, highlighting challenges, and proposing and evaluating mitigations.
Kaizen: Why is It so Difficult to Understand?
Authors: Shimada Go
Published: May 2024

Much existing research demonstrates the effectiveness of introducing kaizen to developing countries. The Japanese word “kaizen” is commonly translated into English as “continuous improvement” or simply “improvement.” However, its literal translation obscures important connotations that are difficult to translate. This chapter discusses the meaning of kaizen and why this seemingly simple term is challenging to comprehend not only for non-native speakers but also for Japanese readers. This chapter identified three reasons why kaizen is challenging to understand. First, there are two different origins of kaizen. One focuses on quality and productivity, and the other focuses on worker protection. In many cases, people often mix these two and make it difficult to understand. Second, the worker protection aspect of kaizen cannot be transferred directly to other countries as the management–labor relationship is different. Third, as the nature of kaizen is context specific, the entire logic is difficult to grasp. Improving the living standard of developing countries may require supplementing the implementation of the kaizen with additional assistance focused on safeguarding the well-being of workers.
Gauge SU(2)f flavour transfers
Authors: Darmé Luc , Deandrea Aldo , Mahmoudi Farvah
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We introduce the idea of flavour transfer from a non-abelian horizontal SU(2)f flavour gauge group embedded in the Standard Model flavour structure. The new flavour vector bosons, in the mass range from the tens of GeV to multi-TeV, do not induce large flavour-changing neutral currents and meson oscillations, which usually provide the dominant constraints on this type of structure. Instead, the main constraints arise from “flavour-transfer” operators that we will study in detail. Several explicit models are presented and their prospects are thoroughly explored, including their phenomenology in the lepton and quark sectors at colliders and lower energy experiments. We perform a complete numerical fit in one such scenario, showing that LHC-based lepton-flavour violating searches are competitive with intensity frontier observables.
Die Behandlung der proximalen Humerusfraktur im Kindes- und im Jugendalter
Authors: Rüther Hauke , Strohm Peter C. , Schmittenbecher Peter , Schneidmüller Dorien ,   Sektion Kindertraumatologie (SKT) in der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (DGU), Zwingmann Jörn
Published: May 2024

Hintergrund

Die proximale Humerusfraktur ist mit 0,45–2 % aller Frakturen eine relativ häufige Verletzung im Kindes- und im Jugendalter [2, 18]. Die Behandlung ist meistens konservativ, aber immer noch Gegenstand der wissenschaftlichen Diskussion [9, 12]. Neben der S1-LL gibt es unterschiedliche Empfehlungen zu Diagnostik und Behandlung dieser Fraktur in der Literatur.

Methodik

Im Rahmen des 10. Wissenschaftstreffens der SKT in der DGU wurden die vorhandenen Empfehlungen und die relevante bzw. aktuelle Literatur kritisch von einem Expertengremium diskutiert und ein Konsens formuliert. In diesen wurde ein Algorithmus zu Diagnostik, Therapie und Behandlung integriert.

Ergebnisse

Die Messung der Achsabweichung und Abkippung ist nicht „interobserver“ und „intraobserver reliable“ [3]. Die Altersgrenze, bis zu der eine vollständige Korrektur möglich ist, wurde auf 10 Jahre festgelegt, da sich ca. um dieses Alter das Korrekturpotenzial ändert. Zur Diagnostik wird die gut zentrierte Röntgenaufnahme in 2 Ebenen (true a.-p.- und Y‑Aufnahme ohne Thoraxanteile) als Standard festgelegt. Im Alter unter 10 Jahren kann jegliche Fehlstellung konservativ mittels Gilchrist-Verband für 2 bis 3 Wochen behandelt werden. Nur in Einzelfällen kann eine Operation z. B. bei starken Schmerzen oder notwendiger rascher Belastbarkeit indiziert sein. Über 10 Jahren sollte ein Ad-latus-Versatz über halbe Schaftbreite nicht toleriert werden. Aufgrund der Varianz der Messergebnisse kann eine Empfehlung zur operativen Versorgung in Abhängigkeit vom Ausmaß der Ad-axim-Dislokation nicht benannt werden. Orientierend gilt: Je größer die Dislokation und je näher das Kind am Fugenschluss ist, desto eher ist die operative Therapie indiziert. Die Entwicklung ist hier einzubeziehen. Den Goldstandard stellt die retrograde, radiale und unilaterale ESIN-Osteosynthese mittels 2 intramedullären Nägeln dar. Die Osteosynthese erfordert keine Ruhigstellung. Ein Verlaufsröntgen ist bei instabilen Frakturen ohne Osteosynthese nach einer Woche, sonst optional zur Dokumentation der Konsolidierung nach 4 (bis 6) Wochen, wenn z. B. die Sportfreigabe erteilt werden soll, sowie vor der Metallentfernung (12 Wochen) vorgesehen.

Schlussfolgerung

Empfehlungen zur Operationsindikation auf der Grundlage des Ausmaßes der Abkippung sind nicht reproduzierbar und erscheinen in Anbetracht der aktuellen Literatur schwierig [3, 9, 12]. Sinnvoller ist ein pragmatisches Vorgehen. Die Prognose der Fraktur erscheint unter Beachtung des erstellten Algorithmus so gut zu sein, dass in den meisten Fällen die Restitutio ad integrum erwartet werden kann.
Population pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and efficacy modeling of SB12 (proposed eculizumab biosimilar) and reference eculizumab
Authors: Lee Hyuna , Park Jihye , Jang Hyerin , Lee So Jin , Kim Jungryul
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To describe, compare similarity of pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD) and efficacy of SB12 and reference eculizumab (ECU) and find clinically significant covariate relationships.

Methods

The PK, PD (terminal complement activity) and efficacy (LDH) data of SB12 and ECU were obtained from 289 subjects from phase I and phase III studies. One- and two-compartment PK models with first-order elimination were evaluated for SB12 and ECU. For PD and efficacy, both direct and indirect models were tested. The impact of covariates on PK, PD and efficacy parameters was assessed. Relationship between PK/PD and PD/efficacy was characterized. This modeling was performed using NONMEM version 7.4 (Icon Development Solutions, Ellicott City, MD, USA).

Results

The two-compartment model adequately described the PK of SB12 and ECU, and the subject’s weight was chosen as a clinically significant covariate affecting drugs’ clearance and central volume of distribution. Treatment group was not a significant covariate affecting clearance. The direct response model using inhibitory sigmoid Emax and sigmoid Emax relationship well described the PK/PD relationship and PD/efficacy relationship of SB12 and ECU, respectively. Through this modeling, the relationships between PK, PD and efficacy were characterized. There were no differences in PK, PD and efficacy parameters between SB12 and ECU in pooled populations of healthy subjects and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) patients.

Conclusion

The population modeling showed PK, PD and efficacy similarities between SB12 and ECU in pooled population of healthy subjects and PNH patients, supporting the totality of evidence on biosimilarity for SB12.
ZLR: a fast online authenticated encryption scheme achieving full security
Authors: Choi Wonseok , Hwang Seongha , Lee Byeonghak , Lee Jooyoung
Published: May 2024

Online authenticated encryption has been considered of practical relevance in light-weight environments due to low latency and constant memory usage. In this paper, we propose a new tweakable block cipher-based online authenticated encryption scheme, dubbed , and its domain separation variant, dubbed . and follow the Encrypt-Mix-Encrypt paradigm. However, in contrast to existing schemes using the same paradigm such as and , and enjoy n-bit security by using larger internal states with an efficient -like hashing algorithm. In this way, 2n-bit blocks are processed with only a single primitive call for hashing and two primitive calls for encryption and decryption, when they are based on an n-bit tweakable block cipher using n-bit (resp. 2n-bit) tweaks for  (resp. ). Furthermore, they support pipelined computation as well as online nonce-misuse resistance. To the best of our knowledge, and are the first pipelineable tweakable block cipher-based online authenticated encryption schemes of rate-2/3 that provide n-bit security with online nonce-misuse resistance.
Gum Arabic-incorporated thymol/salicylic acid composite coatings control grey mould and brown rot in ‘Angeleno’ plums
Authors: Jenneker N. , Silué Y. , Julia Meitz-Hopkins J. C. , Lennox C. L. , Opara U. L. , Fawole O.A.
Published: May 2024

This study explores the antifungal efficacy of salicylic acid and thymol against Botrytis cinerea and Monilinia laxa, the main pathogens affecting stone fruit in South Africa. Antifungal properties of thymol and salicylic acid and their influence on the shelf life of “Angeleno” plums were investigated. Gum Arabic composite coatings infused with salicylic acid and thymol were further investigated, with fludioxonil as a positive control. In vitro, results showed complete inhibition (100%) of M. laxa and B. cinerea by thymol at 0.25 mM and 1 mM, respectively. Salicylic acid did not achieve complete pathogen inhibition The highest inhibition percentage, 38%, was recorded at 2 mM. In vivo assessments showed that while fludioxonil was highly effective, Gum Arabic coatings containing 2 mM and 4 mM salicylic acid closely matched its performance in decay prevention, reducing decay rates to 8%. Furthermore, Gum Arabic coatings significantly reduced shrivel incidence and maintained firmness of the plums over a 15 d shelf-life period. This study highlights thymol as a potent antimicrobial agent, especially against grey mould and brown rot in plums, while incorporating salicylic acid into GA coatings effectively reduces disease incidence without compromising fruit quality. These findings suggest a promising alternative to conventional fungicides in managing grey mould and brown rot in plums.
Free scalar field theory on a Sobolev space over a bounded interval
Authors: Barbero G. J. Fernando
Published: May 2024

This paper discusses several functional analytic issues relevant for field theories in the context of the Hamiltonian formulation for a free, massless, scalar field defined on a closed interval of the real line. The fields that we use belong to a Sobolev space with a scalar product. As we show this choice is useful because it leads to an explicit representation of the points in the fibers of the phase space (the cotangent bundle of the configuration space). The dynamical role of the boundary of the spatial manifold where the fields are defined is analyzed.
Epigenetic Insights Into Necrotizing Enterocolitis: Unraveling Methylation-Regulated Biomarkers
Authors: Tian Bowen , Xu Xiaogang , Li Lin , Tian Yan , Liu Yanqing , Mu Yide , Lu Jieting , Song Kai , lv Junjian , He Qiuming , Zhong Wei , Xia Huimin , Lan Chaoting
Published: May 2024

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a multifactorial gastrointestinal disease with high morbidity and mortality among premature infants. This study aimed to identify novel methylation-regulated biomarkers in NEC intestinal tissue through multiomics analysis. We analyzed DNA methylation and transcriptome datasets from ileum and colon tissues of patients with NEC. We identify methylation-related differential genes (MrDEGs) based on the rule that the degree of methylation in the promoter region is inversely proportional to RNA transcription. These MrDEGs included ADAP1, GUCA2A, BCL2L14, FUT3, MISP, USH1C, ITGA3, UNC93A and IL22RA1. Single-cell data revealed that MrDEGs were mainly located in the intestinal epithelial part of intestinal tissue. These MrDEGs were verified through Target gene bisulfite sequencing and RT-qPCR. We successfully identified and verified the ADAP1, GUCA2A, IL22RA1 and MISP, primarily expressed in intestinal epithelial villus cells through single-cell data. Through single-gene gene set enrichment analysis, we found that these genes participate mainly in the pathological process of T-cell differentiation and the suppression of intestinal inflammation in NEC. This study enhances our understanding of the pathogenesis of NEC and may promote the development of new precision medicine methods for NEC prediction and diagnosis.
Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Social Communication Questionnaire in Rural Kenya
Authors: Kipkemoi Patricia , Savage Jeanne E. , Gona Joseph , Rimba Kenneth , Kombe Martha , Mwangi Paul , Kipkoech Collins , Posthuma Danielle , Newton Charles R. J. C. , Abubakar Amina
Published: May 2024

Children can be reliably diagnosed with autism as early as 3 years of age, and early interventions are initiated. There is often a significant gap between the age of onset of symptoms (2–3 years) and diagnosis (8–10 years) in Africa. We conducted a study to validate the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) as a screening instrument in a rural setting in Kenya. The study was conducted along the Kenyan Coast. Study participants included 172 children with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) diagnosis (84 of which were autism) and 112 controls. Internal consistency was evaluated through the use of Cronbach’s alpha, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with maximum likelihood procedure to assess the conceptual model for the SCQ. Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of cut-off scores using ROC analysis and item difficulties and discrimination quality using an IRT framework were also assessed. Factor analysis revealed an adequate fitting model for the three-factor DSM-IV-TR (root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.050; Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.974; Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.973) and two-factor DSM-5 factor structure (RMSEA = 0.050; CFI = 0.972; TLI = 0.974). The reliability coefficient alphas for the whole group for all items (Cronbach’s α = 0.90) and all three domains (Cronbach’s α = 0.68–0.84) were acceptable to excellent. The recommended cut-off score of 15 yielded 72% sensitivity and 100% specificity in the ASD group compared to the typically developing group. We provide early evidence of the adequate factor structure and good internal consistency of the SCQ. We also note that the recommended cut-off yielded sufficient predictive validity.
User-centric design of a 3D search interface for protein-ligand complexes
Authors: Diedrich Konrad , Ehrt Christiane , Graef Joel , Poppinga Martin , Ritter Norbert , Rarey Matthias
Published: May 2024

In this work, we present the frontend of GeoMine and showcase its application, focusing on the new features of its latest version. GeoMine is a search engine for ligand-bound and predicted empty binding sites in the Protein Data Bank. In addition to its basic text-based search functionalities, GeoMine offers a geometric query type for searching binding sites with a specific relative spatial arrangement of chemical features such as heavy atoms and intermolecular interactions. In contrast to a text search that requires simple and easy-to-formulate user input, a 3D input is more complex, and its specification can be challenging for users. GeoMine’s new version aims to address this issue from the graphical user interface perspective by introducing an additional visualization concept and a new query template type. In its latest version, GeoMine extends its query-building capabilities primarily through input formulation in 2D. The 2D editor is fully synchronized with GeoMine’s 3D editor and provides the same functionality. It enables template-free query generation and template-based query selection directly in 2D pose diagrams. In addition, the query generation with the 3D editor now supports predicted empty binding sites for AlphaFold structures as query templates. GeoMine is freely accessible on the ProteinsPlus web server (https://proteins.plus).
The Pursuit of Subjective Well-Being Through Financial Well-Being, Relationship Quality, and Spiritual Well-Being: A Configuration Approach with Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA)
Authors: Jalal Ahamed A. F. M.
Published: May 2024

Individuals’ subjective well-being is influenced by their financial well-being, family relationship quality, spiritual well-being, gender, and age. However, our knowledge of potential associations between these factors is limited, especially in non-western developing countries. Further, human thinking’s complexity, interconnectedness, and asymmetry fit nicely with subjective well-being conceptualizations. Therefore, this research is one of the very first studies from a typical Asian country that conceptualizes subjective well-being asymmetrically. The primary objective of this study was to determine which combinations of these factors resulted in higher or lower subjective well-being. We used a self-administered questionnaire to survey 250 married working people in Bangladesh’s capital city. The factor combinations are identified with a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Despite not finding any necessary condition for high or low subjective well-being, the analysis identifies two equifinal combinations of high subjective well-being and four combinations of low subjective well-being. In Asian cultures, where family bonds and spiritual well-being are feared to be declining, the combination of identified configurations re-emphasizes the importance of family relationship quality and spiritual well-being. Using a configurational approach, the findings contribute to the literature on subjective well-being and family relationships by explaining how different combinations of factors determine an individual's well-being. Additionally, this has important implications for policymakers and society as a whole.
Dielectric thermally conductive boron nitride/silica@MWCNTs/polyvinylidene fluoride composites via a combined electrospinning and hot press method
Authors: Wu Zijian , Gao Shunying , Wang Xuefei , Ibrahim Mohamed M. , Mersal Gaber A. M. , Ren Juanna , El-Bahy Zeinhom M. , Guo Ning , Gao Junguo , Weng Ling , Guo Zhanhu
Published: May 2024

With the development of microelectronics towards integration, miniaturization and high power, the accumulation of heat in this small space has become a serious problem. Therefore, polymer matrix composites with high thermal conductivity and electrical insulation need to be developed urgently. Here, an ordered oriented boron nitride/silicon dioxide (silica) coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (BN/SiO2@MWCNTs) thermally conductive network was constructed in a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix by electrostatic spinning technique, and subsequently the PVDF composites were prepared by hot-pressing. The synergistic effect of two-dimensional BN and one-dimensional MWCNTs in PVDF was investigated. It was found that the out-of-plane thermal conductivity of BN30/SiO2@MWCNTs composites reached 0.4693 Wm−1 K−1, which was 209% higher than that of pure PVDF and 10% higher than that of BN/PVDF composites. The in-plane thermal conductivity of BN30/SiO2@MWCNts) composites reached 1.5642 Wm−1 K−1, which was 1055% higher than pure PVDF and 40% higher than BN/PVDF composites. This is attributed to the synergistic effect of BN on SiO2@MWCNTs. Meanwhile, the volume resistivity and breakdown strength of the BN/SiO2@MWCNTs/PVDF composites reached 3.6 × 1013 Ω m and 47.68 kV/mm, respectively. The results indicate that the BN30/SiO2@MWCNTs/PVDF composites have excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulating properties, which are promising for microelectronics applications.
Deep learning the efficient frontier of convex vector optimization problems
Authors: Feinstein Zachary , Rudloff Birgit
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we design a neural network architecture to approximate the weakly efficient frontier of convex vector optimization problems (CVOP) satisfying Slater’s condition. The proposed machine learning methodology provides both an inner and outer approximation of the weakly efficient frontier, as well as an upper bound to the error at each approximated efficient point. In numerical case studies we demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is effectively able to approximate the true weakly efficient frontier of CVOPs. This remains true even for large problems (i.e., many objectives, variables, and constraints) and thus overcoming the curse of dimensionality.
Economic cost-benefit analysis of person-centred medicines reviews by general practice pharmacists
Authors: O’Mahony Cian , Dalton Kieran , O’Hagan Leon , Murphy Kevin D. , Kinahan Clare , Coyle Emma , Sahm Laura J. , Byrne Stephen , Kirke Ciara
Published: May 2024

Background

Medicines reviews by general practice pharmacists improve patient outcomes, but little is known about the associated economic outcomes, particularly in patients at higher risk of medicines-related harm.

Aim

To conduct an economic cost-benefit analysis of pharmacists providing person-centred medicines reviews to patients with hyperpolypharmacy (prescribed ≥ 10 regular medicines) and/or at high risk of medicines-related harm across multiple general practice settings.

Method

Service delivery costs were calculated based on the pharmacist’s salary, recorded timings, and a general practitioner fee. Direct cost savings were calculated from the cost change of patients’ medicines post review, projected over 1 year. Indirect savings were calculated using two models, a population-based model for avoidance of hospital admissions due to adverse drug reactions and an intervention-based model applying a probability of adverse drug reaction avoidance. Sensitivity analyses were performed using varying workday scenarios.

Results

Based on 1471 patients (88.4% with hyperpolypharmacy), the cost of service delivery was €153 per review. Using the population-based model, net cost savings ranging from €198 to €288 per patient review and from €73,317 to €177,696 per annum per pharmacist were calculated. Using the intervention-based model, net cost savings of €651–€741 per review, with corresponding annual savings of €240,870–€457,197 per annum per pharmacist, were calculated. Savings ratios ranged from 181 to 584% across all models and inputs.

Conclusion

Person-centred medicines reviews by general practice pharmacists for patients at high risk of medicines-related harm result in substantial cost savings. Wider investment in general practice pharmacists will be beneficial to minimise both patient harm and healthcare system expenditure.
Patterns and correlates in the distribution, design and management of garden ponds along an urban–rural gradient
Authors: Hamer Andrew J. , Barta Barbara , Márton Zsuzsanna , Vad Csaba F. , Szabó Beáta , Tornero Irene , Horváth Zsófia
Published: May 2024

Urbanisation results in the loss and alteration of natural wetlands and ponds. However, garden ponds in cities and towns can potentially act as rich reservoirs of aquatic biodiversity and stepping stones for dispersal. Homeowners with a range of different motivations, including biodiversity values, install garden ponds. Here, our main aim was to study whether the design and management choices of garden pond owners depended on the location of ponds (capital city vs. countryside), when ponds were installed (pond age), or whether fish were introduced. We surveyed 834 garden pond owners across Hungary using a citizen science questionnaire, asking questions on pond size, location, construction date and materials, vegetation structure, introduction of fish and management practices. From 753 validated responses, we found that the introduction of fish into ponds and high urbanisation were strongly associated with local features and management practices, especially large ponds with a water circulation feature, irrespective of pond age. A typical garden pond in Hungary is ~ 20 m2, < 10 years old, made of rubber lining, contains fish, aquatic vegetation and circulating water, and is actively managed. There was a spatial separation of ponds based on local features between ponds in the capital city (Budapest) and elsewhere. These findings suggest that garden pond owners in the city were more likely to make different choices in pond design and management compared to owners in regional areas. Our results also suggest that pond owners may primarily select management practices to improve habitat quality for ornamental fish. Our findings have important implications for maintaining aquatic biodiversity in urban areas, where garden ponds may be the only aquatic habitat available.
Fire resistance evaluation through synthetic fire tests and generative adversarial networks
Authors: Çiftçioğlu Aybike Özyüksel , Naser M. Z.
Published: May 2024

This paper introduces a machine learning approach to address the challenge of limited data resulting from costly and time-consuming fire experiments by enlarging small fire test data sets and predicting the fire resistance of reinforced concrete columns. Our approach begins by creating deep learning models, namely generative adversarial networks and variational autoencoders, to learn the spatial distribution of real fire tests. We then use these models to generate synthetic tabular samples that closely resemble realistic fire resistance values for reinforced concrete columns. The generated data are employed to train state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, including Extreme Gradient Boost, Light Gradient Boosting Machine, Categorical Boosting Algorithm, Support Vector Regression, Random Forest, Decision Tree, Multiple Linear Regression, Polynomial Regression, Support Vector Machine, Kernel Support Vector Machine, Naive Bayes, and K-Nearest Neighbors, which can predict the fire resistance of the columns through regression and classification. Machine learning analyses achieved highly accurate predictions of fire resistance values, outperforming traditional models that relied solely on limited experimental data. Our study highlights the potential for using machine learning and deep learning analyses to revolutionize the field of structural engineering by improving the accuracy and efficiency of fire resistance evaluations while reducing the reliance on costly and time-consuming experiments.
Pre-adaptation of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) strains to very high gravity can improve fermentation parameters and reduce osmotic stress
Authors: Sica P. , Tonoli F. , Silverio M. S. , Douradinho R. , Mota L. A. , Prado L. , Leite G. M. G. L. , Carvalho R. S. , Pinto A. U. , Baptista A. S.
Published: May 2024

This study investigated improvements in sugarcane ethanol production by adapting yeast strains for very high gravity fermentation. Two yeast strains (C22 and Y904) were adapted in eight fermentation cycles with increasing initial sugar content from 56.2 to 296.1 g L−1(Experiment 1). After the last cycle, the “adapted” yeasts were recycled in a wort containing 296.1 g L−1initial sugar and compared with their respective strains that were not subjected to the adaptation process (Experiment 2). Fermentative parameters were analyzed and the osmotic stress on yeast cell morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In Experiment 1, along the fermentation cycles, strain Y904 showed a decrease in cell viability after sugar concentration of 223 g L−1. SEM images showed that Y904 cells were wrinkled after this cycle. In the case of strain C22, no differences in cell viability were observed along the cycles. However, for both strains, the residual sugars were relatively high and the ethanol content was below the maximum potential. In Experiment 2, for strain Y904, no differences were observed between adapted and non-adapted yeasts in terms of ethanol content, cell viability, and morphology. In the case of strain C22, cell viability and final ethanol content were significantly higher in the adapted yeast, which had cells less damaged by the osmotic stress. In conclusion, the study supports the importance of yeast strain selection and adaptation for efficient VHG fermentation, by demonstrating the superior performance of yeast strain C22 in response to increasing initial sugar content.
Optimizing Measurement Potential in Mental Health Clinical Practice: The Canadian Personal Recovery Outcome Measure (C-PROM) study
Authors: Barbic Skye P. , Ow Nikki , Kidd Sean A. , Backman Catherine L. , Mathias Steve , Honer William G. , McKenzie Kwame
Published: May 2024

There is an increasing commitment to “Personal Recovery” as the desired outcome for mental health rehabilitation, yet there is little agreement about how to measure it. The purpose of this study was to develop a method of measuring recovery in community-dwelling people with mental health concerns. We describe a four-phase process, informed by guidelines for (patient-reported outcome measure) PROM development described by the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Medical Outcomes Trust, the Food and Drug Administration, and the International Society for Quality of Life Research, on how to quantify recovery in mental health care. The approach includes an iterative mixed methods process, guided by Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT), to develop the Canadian Personal Recovery Outcome Measure (C-PROM) for adults receiving mental health services. In Phases 1 and 2, 40 new items were generated by people with schizophrenia. In Phase 3, psychometric analysis and cognitive interviewing suggested that the item set be reduced to 30 items. Phase 4 (n = 575) showed good overall fit of the C-PROM items to the Rasch model (χ2 = 163, df = 130, p = .05), no item misfit, high reliability (rp = 0.92), an ordered response scale structure, high correlation between logit and scale scores (0.92) and no item bias for gender, age, or diagnosis. This study provided evidence for the C-PROM as a measure of personal recovery for people with mental health concerns. The measurement model underpinning this set of items has potential to support clinical relevance of scale scores, advancing an evidence-based approach to mental health rehabilitation practice and outcomes.
Needs Assessment of Health Promotion, Through Co-Production Approach, Among Mental Health Service Users
Authors: Tsoukas Konstantinos , Kolaitis Gerasimos , Lagiou Areti , Sakellari Evanthia
Published: May 2024

People with severe mental disorders have impaired health, and low self-care skills, while presenting a higher risk of developing infections, other chronic diseases, and higher mortality compared to the general population. The majority of health promotion interventions targeting them are methodologically designed based on the subjective assessments of health professionals. This qualitative study aims to assess the health promotion needs among people with severe mental disorders, as well as to explore their perceptions regarding the concept of co-production. Two focus groups were conducted with 18 adults, diagnosed with severe mental disorders receiving services from community mental health settings in Attica, Greece. The data was analyzed using content analysis. Regarding health promotion needs, five themes emerged: psycho-education, rights, settings and services, community education, and physical health. Concerning the co-production concept, five themes emerged: equality, collaboration, inclusion, peer support, and feedback. The findings of this study could be used to design a health promotion program for people with severe mental disorders based on the principles of co-production.
Can We Reliably Identify the CES Preference Parameter from Firm Revenue and Cost Data? Evidence from Monte Carlo Experiments
Authors: Sun Sizhong , Anwar Sajid
Published: May 2024

In empirical studies involving the estimation of structural parameters, a commonly used strategy to identify the CES preference parameter is to assume that firms have a constant marginal cost (MC). This assumption allows one to utilize the link between the total variable cost and total revenue implied by profit maximization to recover the CES preference parameter. This paper explores the robustness of the constant MC assumption in Monte Carlo experiments, where the control group consists of simulated constant MC firms and the treatment group involves different degrees of violation of the assumption. The results of our experiments show that the constant MC assumption indeed has a high identification power. Nevertheless, researchers need to ensure that their samples contain a sufficient proportion of constant MC firms, which, in our experiments, must be around 20 percent. We also find that, irrespective of the actual proportion of constant MC firms in the sample, the constant MC assumption correctly identifies the CES preference parameter if the elasticity of substitution within the industry is 2.5 or lower.
Emergent Pragmatic Conventions in Spoken ELF Corpus Data: Micro-Diachronic Analysis of Inclusive vs. Exclusive Multilingual Practices
Authors: Pitzl-Hagin Marie-Luise
Published: May 2024

This article examines multilingual practices as an example of emergent pragmatic conventions in three Transient International Groups (TIGs) using spoken English as a lingua franca (ELF) from the Vienna-Oxford International Corpus of English (VOICE). The analysis combines principles of corpus linguistics and conversation analysis by adopting a new approach for the micro-diachronic analysis of spoken interaction. Quantitative and qualitative evidence and micro-diachronic visualizations of VOICE transcripts show how the three groups examined interactively develop group-specific multilingual practices. The analysis reveals that the three groups have different preferences in this respect. While two groups develop inclusive multilingual practices in the course of their interaction, one group shows a tendency to use multilingual practices exclusively, primarily in side sequences. In addition to multilingual use, the presence or absence of metalinguistic discussions about language (and languages) plays a role for creation of shared transcultural territory and the formation of group identity. These processes are indicative of how unacquainted multilingual speakers negotiate and develop pragmatic conventions more generally.
Effect of time and voltage on the morphology of TiO2 films produced by anodization
Authors: Yılmaz Ozan , Ebeoglugil Faruk , Dikici Tuncay , Dalmis Ramazan
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the influence of various anodic oxidation parameters on the photocatalytic activities of the nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) films. TiO2 films were prepared by anodic oxidation of titanium substrate using 1 M Na2SO4 / 5 wt. % NH4F electrolyte, and then annealed at 500 °C. Anatase appears in all calcined samples. The anodic oxidation process was performed in two steps at different voltages (5–80 V) and times (15–480 min) to reveal the relationship between the surface morphologies, wettability and photocatalytic properties. The results showed that the voltage and anodization time can play important role in the surface morphology of nanostructured TiO2 films and thus in various properties. While 40 V showed the most efficient photocatalytic degradation among voltage values, 60 min was the most efficient time for photocatalytic degradation efficiency and lowest contact angle. In addition, a pore area fraction of 39.54%, equal diameter of 96.81 nm, and circularity of 66.7% were obtained from image analysis of the 60-min anodized sample. While increasing the voltage and time benefited up to a point in terms of photocatalytic efficiency, changes in morphology had a negative effect after a point. At low voltage and time values, small pore diameters result in low photocatalytic properties. This titania can be readily utilize to meet application expectations in areas such as gas sensors, photocatalysis and photovoltaic cells.
Optimization of mature coconut water with calamansi, stevia, and turmeric using mixture design
Authors: Aba Richard Paolo M. , Luna Myrna Benita Z.
Published: May 2024

In the Philippines, the Zero Food Waste Act of 2022 has been proposed with the aim of implementing a system that promotes food waste reduction through redistribution, recycling, and valorization. One of the wastes produced from the coconut industry is the mature coconut water, as the primary focus is on the production of copra, coconut oil, and coconut milk. Further, mature coconut water has poor sensory properties (color/turbidity, aroma, and taste), leading to approximately 2.4 billion liters being discarded annually. One of the proposed solutions is to utilize the D-optimal mixture design, which enables the generation of the best combination of mature coconut water (83.5–91.3 g/100 g), calamansi (8.00–15.00 g/100 g), stevia (0.50–1.50 g/100 g), and turmeric powder (0.20 g). The 'desirability' function was employed to achieve multiresponse optimization, considering parameters such as pH < 4.5; sweetness, sourness, and overall acceptability all equivalent to 6 (like slightly). Significant (p < 0.05) responses indicated that the influence of the raw materials varied, ranging from linear to cubic prediction models, with R2 values ranging from 70.19 to 98.30%. The optimization results revealed that the model successfully predicted the properties of the optimal formulation composed of 90.08 g/100 g mature coconut water, 8.83 g/100 g calamansi, 0.90 g/100 g stevia, and 0.20 g/100 g turmeric powder. The results of this research may help industries valorize mature coconut water instead of discarding it as waste. The developed beverage may be further improved to increase its acceptability and generalizability by increasing the range of the values used and verify results through pilot-scale production.
Vegetarianism and Veganism in Literature from the Ancients to the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Savvas Theophilus
Published: May 2024

Vegetarianism and Veganism in Literature from the Ancients to the Twenty-First Century re-assesses both canonical and less well-known literary texts to illuminate how vegetarianism and veganism can be understood as literary phenomena, as well as dietary and cultural practices. It offers a broad historical span ranging from ancient thinkers and writers, such as Pythagoras and Ovid, to contemporary novelists, including Ruth L. Ozeki and Jonathan Franzen. The expansive historical scope is complemented by a cross-cultural focus which emphasises that the philosophy behind these diets has developed through a dialogic relationship between east and west. The book demonstrates, also, the way in which carnivorism has functioned as an ideology, one which has underpinned actions harmful to both human and non-human animals.
An Introduction to General Relativity and Cosmology
Authors: Plebanski Jerzy , Krasinski Andrzej
Published: May 2024

Experts Plebański and Krasiński provide a thorough introduction to the tools of general relativity and relativistic cosmology. Assuming familiarity with advanced calculus, classical mechanics, electrodynamics and special relativity, the text begins with a short course on differential geometry, taking a unique top-down approach. Starting with general manifolds on which only tensors are defined, the covariant derivative and affine connection are introduced before moving on to geodesics and curvature. Only then is the metric tensor and the (pseudo)-Riemannian geometry introduced, specialising the general results to this case. The main text describes relativity as a physical theory, with applications to astrophysics and cosmology. It takes the reader beyond traditional courses on relativity through in-depth descriptions of inhomogeneous cosmological models and the Kerr metric. Emphasis is given to complete and clear derivations of the results, enabling readers to access research articles published in relativity journals.
Migration at the End of Empire
Authors: Viscomi Joseph John
Published: May 2024

How has migration shaped Mediterranean history? And what role did conflicting temporalities and the politics of departure play in the age of decolonisation? Using a microhistorical approach, Migration at the End of Empire explores the experiences of over 55,000 Italian subjects in Egypt during the late-nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Before 1937, Ottoman-era legal regimes fostered the coupling of nationalism and imperialism among Italians in Egypt, particularly as the fascist government sought to revive the myth of Mare Nostrum. With decolonisation, however, Italians began abandoning Egypt en masse. By 1960, over 40,000 had deserted Egypt; some as 'emigrants,' others as 'repatriates,'and still others as 'national refugees.' The departed community became an emblem around which political actors in post-colonial Italy and Egypt forged new ties. Anticipated, actual, and remembered departures of Italians from Egypt are at the heart of this book's ambition to rethink European and Mediterranean periodisation.
Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of bonobo emotional expressivity across observer groups and zoo housing environments
Authors: Laméris Daan W , Salas Marina , Eens Marcel , Gillespie Lisa , Staes Nicky , Torfs Jonas RR , Verspeek Jonas , Vervaecke Hilde , Ward Samantha J , Stevens Jeroen MG
Published: May 2024

Human evaluation of animal emotional expressivity can inform animal welfare. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) has been applied to domesticated and some non-domesticated animals, but its use in primates is limited despite their emotional expressivity. We aimed to develop and apply a QBA for bonobos (Pan paniscus) through two consecutive studies. We applied Free Choice Profiling (FCP) and the Fixed List methodology, respectively, in Study 1 and 2, and invited students and bonobo experts to rate video clips of zoo-living bonobos of different sexes and age classes, and before and after moving to a new enclosure. In Study 1, students described dimension 1 as ranging from ‘quiet/calm’ to ‘angry/active’ and dimension 2 from ‘sad/anxious’ to ‘happy/loving’. Experts described dimension 1 ranging from ‘quiet/relaxed’ to ‘nervous/alert’ and dimension 2 from ‘nervous/bored’ to ‘playful/happy’. Using a fixed list of descriptors, informed by findings from Study 1, students in Study 2 described dimension 1 as ranging from ‘quiet/calm’ to ‘agitated/frustrated’, and dimension 2 from ‘sad/stressed’ to ‘happy/positively engaged’. Experts described dimension 1 as ranging from ‘quiet/calm’ to ‘active/excited’, and dimension 2 from ‘sad/bored’ to ‘happy/positively engaged’. Students scored adults as more ‘calm/quiet’ and experts scored subadults as more ‘happy/positively engaged’. Additionally, experts in Study 2 rated bonobos as more ‘active/excited’ in their new enclosure. Reliability was moderate to good for the dimensions. Additionally, animal-directed empathy of observers influenced QBA scores. This is the first time, FCP has been successfully used as a method to study primate emotional expressivity. Our findings show the promise of employing QBA in primate studies and in industry, with validation of additional metrics to enable its use for welfare-monitoring purposes.
Democracy and the Notwithstanding Clause
Authors: Pal Michael
Published: May 2024

This article focuses on the relationship between democracy and the notwithstanding clause in s.33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A number of scholars argue that s.33 is inherently ‘democratic’, as it is an assertion of legislative supremacy. The most influential such theory is Jeremy Waldron’s. This article offers a democracy-based critique of Waldron’s democracy-based account of the notwithstanding clause. The argument that the notwithstanding clause is necessarily ‘democratic’ ignores the constitution of the legislature through elections and the risk of self-dealing by the legislative branch, adopts an idealistic view of legislatures at odds with the reality of executive dominance and party discipline, and over-relies on the assumption that the electorate will ensure retrospective accountability for misuse of s.33. Contrary to Waldron and those who have adopted his arguments in Canada in the context of the Charter, the article argues we can be democrats and have faith in the capacities of legislators and voters while still maintaining skepticism about the uses to which the notwithstanding clause may be put. In short, s.33 is not inherently democratic. The political morality of each use of the notwithstanding clause—including whether it helps or harms democracy—must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.