bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building Climate-Resilient Food Systems: The Case of IFAD in Brazil’s Semiarid
Authors: Teixeira Alexandra , Jardim Camila Amorim
Published: March 2024

Climate change, food systems, and food and nutrition security (FNS) are strongly interlinked. Food systems (FSs) contribute to global greenhouse emissions, while climate change impacts livelihoods, food choices, and all determinants of malnutrition, jeopardizing international efforts to reduce hunger and promote nutrition. Climate extremes are key drivers behind the recent worsening of global hunger, which is also exacerbated by other crises, such as the lingering effects of the pandemic, the economic slowdown, and the impacts of the conflict in Ukraine on the global rise of food prices. Building resilient FSs is vital to increasing access to affordable, healthy diets for everyone in this uncertain and challenging context. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) fosters regional and local solutions, innovations, and best practices to strengthen FSs resilience and adaptive capacity to improve rural people’s livelihoods. This chapter analyzes how climate change is worsening food security and malnutrition in LAC and essential regional pathways for building sustainable climate-resilient FSs, presenting the case study of IFAD’s Pro-Semiarid Project in Bahia, Brazil (PSA). It also highlights challenges and project-specific solutions implemented to strengthen FSs resilience, which can be scaled up and disseminated along LAC and between regions with relevant impacts on FNS.
EU and Brazil in the International Circuits of Disavowal of the Climate Crisis
Authors: Sandrin Paula
Published: March 2024

This chapter analyzes EU-Brazil relations and joint initiatives to tackle the climate crisis, particularly the optimism surrounding green hydrogen as a possible new source of “sustainable connectivity” between them, through the prism of the psychoanalytical concept of disavowal. The chapter makes a distinction between climate denial, when climate change is deliberately denied, and climate disavowal, when climate change is acknowledged, but ineffective responses to mitigate it keep being repeated, in spite of contrary evidence and recurring failures. It argues that mainstream responses to climate change, centered on the conference of the parties (COP), which include net-zero pledges, carbon markets, and natural or artificial carbon sinks, constitute an international circuit of disavowal, in which the EU and Brazil are also caught up. This chapter presents some of the “solutions” being advanced to tackle climate change, presents the ample and readily available evidence that they do not work fast enough or on a scale needed to keep global warming below 1.5 °C, and investigates some of the reasons why they keep being offered despite all the evidence. It proposes that while climate denialism is obviously very dangerous, climate disavowal, which is in operation in the international climate regime, and in EU-Brazil relations and initiatives, including cooperation on green hydrogen, is much more insidious and constitutes a relation of cruel optimism, i.e., “when something you desire is actually an obstacle to your flourishing” (Berlant, 2011, p. 1). It may not work to mitigate the climate crisis, but it works in other spheres: it allows capitalist accumulation to continue unabated; it presents new market niches, new investment opportunities, and new activities in which one can feel useful, productive, creative, and virtuous. There are many benefits, material, symbolic, and psychic, being distributed by this international circuit of disavowal, which explains its durability and expansion despite, or because of, all the evidence that shows that we are heading for catastrophe.
Mord und Totschlag – klinisch-rechtsmedizinische Untersuchungen von Tatverdächtigen in einem 20‑Jahres-Zeitraum
Authors: Kolbe V. , Zack F. , Büttner A.
Published: March 2024

Hintergrund

Forensisch-medizinische Untersuchungen von Lebenden gehören seit jeher zu den Aufgaben in der rechtsmedizinischen Praxis. Während Studien über Gewaltopfer bereits umfassend veröffentlicht wurden, sind systematische Untersuchungen zu tatverdächtigen Personen, insbesondere zu Verdächtigen in Fällen von Tötungsdelikten, bislang nur vereinzelt publiziert worden.

Fragestellung

Es sollte untersucht werden, in wie vielen Fällen Tatverdächtige eines vorsätzlichen Tötungsdeliktes rechtsmedizinisch untersucht worden sind, und ob sich an den Personen charakteristische Befunde feststellen lassen, die eine Rekonstruktion des Tatgeschehens unterstützen können.

Material und Methoden

Zwischen 2002 und 2022 wurden durch Mitarbeiter des Instituts für Rechtsmedizin der Universitätsmedizin Rostock 67 Personen rechtsmedizinisch untersucht, die zum Untersuchungszeitpunkt tatverdächtig waren, ein Tötungsdelikt begangen zu haben. Die im Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Universitätsmedizin Rostock zur Verfügung stehenden Informationen zu den Untersuchungen als auch den Delikten selbst wurden anhand zahlreicher Kriterien analysiert. Besonderes Augenmerk wurde dabei auf die Korrelation der verschiedenen Gewaltformen mit bestimmten Verletzungsmustern gelegt.

Ergebnisse

Die Tatverdächtigen waren in 91 % der Fälle männlich und vorwiegend im jüngeren Erwachsenenalter. Führend bei der Tatbegehung war die Anwendung von scharfer Gewalt, gefolgt von der kombinierten Anwendung scharfer und stumpfer Gewalt. Von den 48 Personen, die verdächtig waren, eine andere Person u. a. mittels scharfer Gewalt getötet zu haben, wiesen 20 Personen (41 %) Verletzungen auf, die auf das Hantieren mit einem scharfen Werkzeug zurückzuführen waren. Von den 30 Personen, die verdächtig waren, eine andere Person u. a. mittels stumpfer Gewalteinwirkung getötet zu haben, wiesen 23 Befunde (78 %) auf, die im Rahmen einer körperlichen Auseinandersetzung mit der getöteten Person entstanden sein können, wobei die festgestellten Verletzungen wesentlich uncharakteristischer waren. In weiteren 9 Fällen (13 %) konnten Verletzungen festgestellt werden, die als eine körperliche Gegenwehr durch das Opfer interpretiert wurden.

Schlussfolgerung

Die rechtsmedizinische Untersuchung von Beschuldigten, denen ein vorsätzliches Tötungsdelikt vorgeworfen wird, kann erheblich zur Rekonstruktion des Tatgeschehens und zur Aufklärung der Tat beitragen. Insofern sollte den Ermittlungsbehörden eine solche Untersuchung für alle infrage kommenden Fälle mit Nachdruck angeboten werden.
Well-posedness of non-autonomous transport equation on metric graphs
Authors: Budde Christian , Kramar Fijavž Marjeta
Published: March 2024

We consider transport processes on metric graphs with time-dependent velocities and show that, under continuity assumption of the velocity coefficients, the corresponding non-autonomous abstract Cauchy problem is well-posed by means of evolution families and evolution semigroups.
Quantifying the difference between phylogenetic diversity and diversity indices
Authors: Bordewich Magnus , Semple Charles
Published: March 2024

Phylogenetic diversity is a popular measure for quantifying the biodiversity of a collection Y of species, while phylogenetic diversity indices provide a way to apportion phylogenetic diversity to individual species. Typically, for some specific diversity index, the phylogenetic diversity of Y is not equal to the sum of the diversity indices of the species in Y. In this paper, we investigate the extent of this difference for two commonly-used indices: Fair Proportion and Equal Splits. In particular, we determine the maximum value of this difference under various instances including when the associated rooted phylogenetic tree is allowed to vary across all rooted phylogenetic trees with the same leaf set and whose edge lengths are constrained by either their total sum or their maximum value.
Velocity measurements in particle-laden high-enthalpy flow using non-intrusive techniques
Authors: Salvi Ciro , Gülhan Ali
Published: March 2024

This research aims at analysing the particle-laden flow of the hypersonic high-enthalpy wind tunnel L2K, situated in Köln at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). In the L2K wind tunnel, Martian atmosphere can be created, and the facility can simulate heat load conditions encountered during atmospheric entry of Martian missions. In the tests, a simplified Martian atmosphere (97% CO2 and 3% N2) was used. The high-enthalpy flow was loaded with micrometric particles of magnesium oxide. The particles’ mean velocity was measured with a 2D–2C particle image velocimetry (PIV) system, in the region right downstream the nozzle expansion of the wind tunnel. The work proves the possibility of creating a high-enthalpy particle-laden flow for thermal protection systems (TPS) testing with simulated Martian atmosphere. Average particle velocities of around 2000 m/s are measured and compared with the numerical simulation of the wind tunnel’s particle-free flow, and with the flow velocity measured with tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS). The study also highlights some unexpected results and features of the high-enthalpy particle-laden flow and proposes some theories for the causes of such effects, which include agglomeration due to melting, and gravitational effect.
Clinical value of a comprehensive clinical- and echocardiography-based risk score on predicting cardiovascular outcomes in ischemic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Liu Dan , Hu Kai , Wagner Camilla , Lengenfelder Björn Daniel , Ertl Georg , Frantz Stefan , Nordbeck Peter
Published: March 2024

Aims

The present study aimed to develop a comprehensive clinical- and echocardiography-based risk score for predicting cardiovascular (CV) adverse outcomes in patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 1341 hospitalized patients with IHF and LVEF < 50% at our hospital from 2009 to 2017. Cox regression models and nomogram were utilized to develop a comprehensive prediction model (C&E risk score) for CV mortality and CV-related events (hospitalization or death).

Results

Over a median 26-month follow-up, CV mortality and CV events rates were 17.4% and 40.9%, respectively. The C&E risk score, incorporating both clinical and echocardiographic factors, demonstrated superior predictive performance for CV outcomes compared to models using only clinical or echocardiographic factors. Internal validation confirmed the stable predictive ability of the C&E risk score, with an AUC of 0.740 (95% CI 0.709–0.775, P < 0.001) for CV mortality and an AUC of 0.678 (95% CI 0.642–0.696, P < 0.001) for CV events. Patients were categorized into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk based on the C&E risk score, with progressively increasing CV mortality (5.3% vs. 14.6% vs. 31.9%, P < 0.001) and CV events (28.8% vs. 38.2% vs. 55.0%, P < 0.001). External validation also confirmed the risk score’s prognostic efficacy within additional IHF patient datasets.

Conclusion

This study establishes and validates the novel C&E risk score as a reliable tool for predicting CV outcomes in IHF patients with reduced LVEF. The risk score holds potential for enhancing risk stratification and guiding clinical decision-making for high-risk patients.

Graphical abstract
Vapor-phase crystallization from a hydrous silicate melt: an experimental simulation of diktytaxitic texture
Authors: Sakurai Ryosuke , Nakamura Michihiko , Okumura Satoshi , Mujin Mayumi , Nakatani Takayuki
Published: March 2024

Groundmass textures of volcanic rocks provide valuable insights into the processes of magma ascent, crystallization, and eruption. The diktytaxitic texture, characterized by a lath-shaped arrangement of feldspar microlites forming glass-free and angular pores, is commonly observed in silicic dome-forming rocks and Vulcanian ashfall deposits. This texture has the potential to control the explosivity of volcanic eruptions because its micropore network allows pervasive degassing during the final stages of magma ascent and eruption. However, the exact conditions and kinetics of the formation of diktytaxitic textures, which are often accompanied by vapor-phase cristobalite, remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the diktytaxitic texture and vapor-phase minerals, cristobalite and alkali feldspar, can be produced from bulk-andesitic magma with rhyolitic glass under water-saturated, near-solidus conditions (± ~10 MPa and ± ~20 °C within the solidus; 10–20 MPa and 850 °C for our starting pumices). Such crystallization proceeds through the partial evaporation of the supercooled melt, followed by the deposition of cristobalite and alkali feldspar as a result of the system selecting the fastest crystallization pathway with the lowest activation energy. The previously proposed mechanisms of halogen-induced corrosion or melt segregation by gas-driven filter pressing are not particularly necessary, although they may occur concurrently. Diktytaxitic groundmass formation is completed within 4–8 days, irrespective of the presence or composition of the halogen. These findings constrain the outgassing of lava domes and shallow magma intrusions and provide new insights into the final stages of hydrous magma crystallization on Earth.
Acute ingestion of Ibuprofen does not influence the release of IL-6 or improve self-paced exercise in the heat despite altering cortical activity
Authors: Vargas Nicole T. , Robertson Caroline V. , Marino Frank E.
Published: March 2024

The present study tested the hypothesis that ingesting 800 mg Ibuprofen prior to self-paced cycling at a fixed rating of perceived exertion (RPE) improves performance by attenuating the release of Interleukin (IL)-6 and its signalling molecules, whilst simultaneously modulating cortical activity and cerebral oxygenation to the brain. Eight healthy, recreationally active males ingested 800 mg Ibuprofen or a placebo ~ 1 h prior to performing fixed RPE cycling for 60 min in 35 °C and 60% relative humidity at an intensity of hard to very hard (RPE = 16) with intermittent maximal (RPE = 20) sprints every 10 min. Power output (PO), core and mean skin temperatures (Tc, Tsk), respectively, and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously. Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings at the frontal (Fz), motor (Cz) and Parietal (Pz) areas (90 s) were collected every 5 min. IL-6, soluble glycoprotein receptor (sgp130) and IL-6 receptor (R) were collected at pre-, 30 min and immediately post-exercise. Mean PO, HR, Tc and Tsk, and RPE were not different between trials (P ≥ 0.33). At end-exercise, the change in IL-6, sgp130 and sIL-6R was not different between trials (P ≥ 0.12). The increase in α and β activity did not differ in any cortices between trials (P ≥ 0.07); however, there was a significant reduction in α/β activity in the Ibuprofen compared to placebo trials at all sites (P ≤ 0.05). Ingesting a maximal, over-the-counter dose of Ibuprofen prior to exercise in the heat does not attenuate the release of IL-6, nor improve performance, but may influence cortical activity evidenced by a greater reduction in α/β activity.
Topological features of functional brain networks and subclinical impulsivity: an investigation in younger and older adults
Authors: Fornaro Silvia , Menardi Arianna , Vallesi Antonino
Published: March 2024

Impulsive traits (i.e., the tendency to act without forethought regardless of negative outcomes) are frequently found in healthy populations. When exposed to risk factors, individuals may develop debilitating disorders of impulse control (addiction, substance abuse, gambling) characterized by behavioral and cognitive deficits, eventually leading to huge socioeconomic costs. With the far-reaching aim of preventing the onset of impulsive disorders, it is relevant to investigate the topological organization of functional brain networks associated with impulsivity in sub-clinical populations. Taking advantage of the open-source LEMON dataset, we investigated the topological features of resting-state functional brain networks associated with impulsivity in younger (n = 146, age: 20–35) and older (n = 61, age: 59–77) individuals, using a graph-theoretical approach. Specifically, we computed indices of segregation and integration at the level of specific circuits and nodes known to be involved in impulsivity (frontal, limbic, and striatal networks). In younger individuals, results revealed that impulsivity was associated with a more widespread, less clustered and less efficient functional organization, at all levels of analyses and in all selected networks. Conversely, impulsivity in older individuals was associated with reduced integration and increased segregation of striatal regions. Speculatively, such alterations of functional brain networks might underlie behavioral and cognitive abnormalities associated with impulsivity, a working hypothesis worth being tested in future research. Lastly, differences between younger and older individuals might reflect the implementation of age-specific adaptive strategies, possibly accounting for observed differences in behavioral manifestations. Potential interpretations, limitations and implications are discussed.
Treatment of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas of rectum and anus with chemoradiotherapy: a single-centre evaluation
Authors: Fløe Louise Elkjær , Aggerholm-Pedersen Ninna , Tabaksblat Elizaveta Mitkina
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (PDNEC) of the rectum and anus is a rare disease exhibiting aggressive biological behaviour, even if diagnosed early. Currently, there are no agreed standard treatment approaches and management of locally advanced (LA) and metastatic PDNEC usually follows treatments used in pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas because of the similarities with small cell lung cancer. The role of surgery in PDNEC is still debated and the benefit of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is unknown. This report summarises the experiences of CRT application in anorectal PDNEC in a single Danish institution.

Methods

All patients with PDNEC treated with concomitant CRT between May 2019 and January 2021 at a University hospital in Denmark were evaluated. Demographics, treatment and survival outcomes were collected and analysed.

Results

Six patients were identified. Five patients received radiotherapy with 50.4 Gy/28 fractions, and four were eligible for curative resection after the CRT. Distant metastasis was observed in four patients at diagnosis. Two patients with synchronous liver metastases were treated with RFA, and one received a liver resection. The treatment was well tolerated with limited side effects. The median follow-up time was 17 months (range 10–36 months), and the median duration of response was 11.2 months (range 8.1 to 24.2 months). One patient achieved a complete response.

Conclusion

A multimodal treatment approach with CRT in advanced stages of PDNEC in a highly selected patient group is well tolerated and with a high chance of achieving local control and, combined with surgery, even complete response in a single case.
Increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis compared to controls and associations with markers of inflammation
Authors: Law Lucy , Lindqvist Per , Liv Per , Hellman Urban , Lejon Kristina , Geijer Mats , Söderberg Stefan , Forsblad-d’Elia Helena
Published: March 2024

Objective

There is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA). In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to, overall and stratified by sex, (i) compare ultrasound derived carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), between patients and controls, and (ii) investigate associations between cIMT, clinical disease activity and inflammation-related laboratory markers in patients with r-axSpA.

Method

In total, 155 patients diagnosed with r-axSpA using the modified New York criteria and 400 controls were included. Bilateral carotid ultrasound, laboratory testing, and questionaries were acquired. Disease-specific assessments were carried out for patients. Linear regression analysis was used to assess associations.

Results

Linear regression analyses showed that patients with r-axSpA had increased mean cIMT compared to controls (mean ± SD, 0.8 ± 0.1 mm vs 0.7± 0.1 mm, respectively, unstandardized β (95% CI) -0.076 (-0.10, -0.052), P < 0.001) adjusted for smoking status and age. Linear regression analyses for patients with r-axSpA showed that only males presented significant associations between cIMT and inflammation-related laboratory markers, white blood cell (WBC) count (mean ± SD, 6.8 ± 1.6 109/L) and monocytes (0.6 ± 0.2 109/L); WBC count (unstandardized β (95% CI) 0.019 (0.0065, 0.031), P = 0.003, R2 = 0.57) and monocytes (0.13 (0.0047, 0.26), P = 0.041, R2 = 0.55), adjusted for age, smoking status, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, ASDAS-CRP, and treatment with DMARDs and glucocorticoids. No significant association was found between cIMT and clinical disease activity assessed by ASDAS-CRP.

Conclusion

Patients with r-axSpA had significantly increased cIMT compared to controls. In male patients, higher WBC and monocyte count were associated with an increase in cIMT suggesting the role of inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis.

Key Points•Carotid intima-media thickness was increased in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis compared to controls.•White blood cell and monocyte counts were associated with carotid intima-media thickness in male patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
Is cyber hygiene a remedy to IPTV infringement? A study of online streaming behaviours and cyber security practices
Authors: Shah Rajiv , Cemiloglu Deniz , Yucel Cagatay , Ali Raian , Katos Vasilis
Published: March 2024

Spurred by the rapid modernisation of the sector and the advent of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), audiovisual (AV) piracy is at epidemic levels, with interventions having limited effect. To date, the dominant themes in interventions have been around personal deterrence (i.e. the threat of legal action) and have not considered other factors that may influence an individual’s decision to consume infringing content. In this paper, we consider psychological factors, including perceptions around risk-taking, security behaviours, problematic internet use and personality traits, to gain a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing engagement with IPTV and the potential implications for cyber security. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 283 participants living in the UK (age range 18–74, male 104), and an integrated structural equation model was constructed. Our findings showed a positive relationship between security behaviours and the perceived risk of viewing IPTV and a negative relationship between the dark personality triad and the perceived risk of viewing IPTV. They suggest that security behaviours fully mediate the relationship between problematic internet use and IPTV risk-taking, indicating a potential new path for anti-piracy interventions with greater efficacy.
Tilt-evoked, breathing-driven blood pressure oscillations: Independence from baroreflex-sympathoneural function
Authors: Grabov Edward , Sullivan Patti , Wang Siqi , Goldstein David S.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Orthostasis increases the variability of continuously recorded blood pressure (BP). Low-frequency (LF) BP oscillations (Mayer waves) in this setting are related to the vascular-sympathetic baroreflex. Mechanisms of increased high-frequency (HF) BP oscillations at the periodicity of respiration during orthostasis have received less research attention. A previously reported patient with post-neurosurgical orthostatic hypotension (OH) and vascular-sympathetic baroreflex failure had large tilt-evoked, breathing-driven BP oscillations, suggesting that such oscillations can occur independently of vascular-sympathetic baroreflex modulation. In the present study we assessed effects of orthostasis on BP variability in the frequency domain in patient cohorts with or without OH.

Methods

Power spectral analysis of systolic BP variability was conducted on recordings from 73 research participants, 42 with neurogenic OH [13 pure autonomic failure, 14 Parkinson’s disease (PD) with OH, 12 parkinsonian multiple system atrophy, and 3 status post-brainstem neurosurgery] and 31 without OH (control group of 16 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with PD lacking OH), before, during, and after 5′ of head-up tilt at 90 degrees from horizontal. The data were log transformed for statistical testing.

Results

Across all subjects, head-up tilting increased HF power of systolic BP variability (p = 0.001), without a difference between the neurogenic OH and control groups. LF power during orthostasis was higher in the control than in the OH groups (p = 0.009).

Conclusions

The results of this observational cohort study confirm those based on our case report and lead us to propose that even in the setting of vascular-sympathetic baroreflex failure orthostasis increases HF power of BP variability.
Anxiety and Teacher-Student Relationships in Secondary School: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Salter Darby , Neelakandan Aswathi , Wuthrich Viviana M.
Published: March 2024

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental disorders experienced by adolescents. As students spend a significant amount of time within a school environment, it is not surprising that factors in the school environment have been linked to student mental health. Positive teacher-student relationships (TSRs) in children have been found to improve student mental health outcomes, with supportive TSRs associated with reduced student anxiety, and in turn, student anxiety has also been associated with reduced poorer TSR quality. The findings in adolescents are less clear. This review aimed to systematically evaluate the impact of TSRs on anxiety in secondary school students, and vice-versa using PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted in five databases and studies screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria, and rated for study quality by two independent researchers. Twenty-six studies across 12 countries were included. Most studies reported higher quality TSRs (e.g., those that are perceived as more supportive, caring, and warm) was associated with decreased anxiety. Conversely, TSRs that were characterised by dependence, motivational support, conflict, or harassment, were associated with increased anxiety. Most studies used a cross-sectional design and as such conclusions regarding causality as well as the direction of the effects cannot be made. However, early evidence from a limited number of longitudinal studies indicated that positive TSRs reduced anxiety over time. Future research is warranted to investigate whether anxiety affects TSRs, as well as exploring specific strategies and approaches teachers can use to establish positive relationships with their students.
SOLD: Sinhala offensive language dataset
Authors: Ranasinghe Tharindu , Anuradha Isuri , Premasiri Damith , Silva Kanishka , Hettiarachchi Hansi , Uyangodage Lasitha , Zampieri Marcos
Published: March 2024

The widespread of offensive content online, such as hate speech and cyber-bullying, is a global phenomenon. This has sparked interest in the artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) communities, motivating the development of various systems trained to detect potentially harmful content automatically. These systems require annotated datasets to train the machine learning (ML) models. However, with a few notable exceptions, most datasets on this topic have dealt with English and a few other high-resource languages. As a result, the research in offensive language identification has been limited to these languages. This paper addresses this gap by tackling offensive language identification in Sinhala, a low-resource Indo-Aryan language spoken by over 17 million people in Sri Lanka. We introduce the Sinhala Offensive Language Dataset (SOLD) and present multiple experiments on this dataset. SOLD is a manually annotated dataset containing 10,000 posts from Twitter annotated as offensive and not offensive at both sentence-level and token-level, improving the explainability of the ML models. SOLD is the first large publicly available offensive language dataset compiled for Sinhala. We also introduce SemiSOLD, a larger dataset containing more than 145,000 Sinhala tweets, annotated following a semi-supervised approach.
Mercury in the feathers of Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) from Western Carpathian, Slovakia
Authors: Sabadková Terézia , Janiga Marián , Korňan Ján , Pitoňáková Tatiana
Published: March 2024

In this study, mercury (Hg) concentrations were detected in feathers of golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), a bird that typically inhabits alpine and forest areas. The mercury rates in feathers were compared in two groups of eagles: first, estimated home range (breeding, hunting, etc.) was located only in forest and lowland meadow habitats; second, the home range also included alpine habitats—rocks and meadows. Consequently, mercury concentration based on the feather typology were observed and the mercury levels in feathers were also compared among different Slovak Western Carpathian districts. It was found that there was no significant difference between groups classified by elevation level, which we attribute to the fact that eagle hunting territories are broad, so that alpine-dwelling and forest-dwelling eagles do not only reflect the pollution of the environments they typically inhabit. Non-significant differences were found also within different feather types, which means that the type of feather is not crucial for tracking mercury in eagle feathers. As the measurement of feather appears to be a simple and non-invasive method, the detection of non-significant differences in diverse types of golden eagle feathers provides useful knowledge for the future environment monitoring. The average mercury concentration measured in eagle samples was lower than the mercury concentration causing health complications among birds of prey. Our assumption that due to past mining activity in the Spiš region, the highest concentration in this region would be observed was confirmed.
Effects of Abiotic Stress Associated with Climate Change on Potato Yield and Tuber Quality Under a Multi-environment Trial in New Zealand
Authors: Siano Allan Banasihan , Roskruge Nick , Kerckhoffs Huub , Sofkova-Bobcheva Svetla
Published: March 2024

In the 2018/19 growing season, a multi-environment trial in Opiki, Hastings, and Ohakune located in three different regions of the North Island of New Zealand was conducted to evaluate responses of selected potato cultivars to abiotic stress associated with climate change. Heat and drought stresses were evident with supra-optimal temperatures (> 25 °C) in Opiki and Hastings and sub-optimal rainfall (< 500 mm) in Opiki, which influenced the different morpho-physiological characteristics of the potato crop, ultimately affecting yield and tuber quality. These abiotic stresses also increased the incidence of malformation, growth cracks, and second growth in tubers reducing the total and marketable tuber yields by 43% and 45%, respectively. In addition, the genotype × environment analysis showed that Ohakune had the most favourable environmental conditions for potato production since all cultivars in this site had superior marketable tuber yields. ‘Taurus’ was the most stable and adaptable cultivar across trial sites (wide adaptation), whilst ‘Hermes’ and ‘Snowden’ were more adapted under Opiki and Hastings conditions (specific adaptation), respectively. As established in this study, heat and drought stresses have significant effects on the morpho-physiology, yield, and tuber quality of commercial potato cultivars in New Zealand.
Detection of the amitraz pesticide in bee wax by hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Zohar Elad , Cohen Haim , Goldshlager Naftali , Barel Shimon , Anker Yaakov
Published: March 2024

This study addressed pesticide contamination in beeswax, explicitly focusing on detecting Amitraz using innovative spectroscopy quantification. Beeswax’s susceptibility to pesticides poses risks to colony health, prompting the need for efficient detection methods. Current offline techniques, notably gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), are accurate but financially burdensome. Honeybees’ significance as global pollinators underscores the need to protect colonies from pesticides. Colony collapse disorder, triggered by pesticide exposure, is a widespread threat. This study proposes a cost-effective spectroscopy method for online hive monitoring, addressing gaps in existing identification methods. A systematic laboratory approach assessed the pesticide detection limit, targeting Amitraz in beeswax through online point spectroscopy and leveraging the short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral range enhanced sensitivity to pesticide-induced color changes. The model, combining methods, proved reliable for estimating amitraz contamination, significantly exceeding one ppm, using Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) sensors. Statistical analysis included. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the AIW/BIW ratio in identifying amitraz concentrations above 1 ppm, particularly in the SWIR spectral range. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between the AIW/BIW ratio and Amitraz concentrations, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9976. The proposed model, integrating methods, emerges as a dependable means for estimating amitraz contamination in beeswax, especially at concentrations exceeding 1 ppm, as validated through ASD sensors. Comparative analysis highlights the financial constraints associated with GC-MS and the impracticality of FTIR for online hive monitoring.
Effect of elastomeric filler content on the acoustic and mechanical response of natural fiber-based hybrid composites
Authors: Pai Anand , Shah Kavish Maulik , Namezeno P. , Bala Amith , Gowrishankar M. C. , Hegde Sriharsha
Published: March 2024

The environmental threat of discarded tires needs to be addressed through alternative applications with the enormous increase in the global vehicle population. When tire rubber particles are combined with environmentally friendly, and biodegradable natural fibers in polymer composites, such materials have a lot of potential for use in a variety of applications of insulating structures. The current work explores the effect of adding waste tire rubber particles (TRP) to natural fiber-based hybrid composites, on mechanical and acoustic properties and investigate the possibility of a potential insulating structural material. Tire rubber particles were employed as fillers and chopped banana fibers as reinforcing fibers (particle size less than 400 $$\upmu$$
μ
m) with epoxy resin as the matrix in this work. Five compositions were formulated in which the TRP content was varied from 0 to 36 wt.%, compensating for the fiber wt.%. The different compositions prepared by compression molding technique were subjected to compressive, impact, and acoustic characterization. In the natural fiber composites, the compressive strength was observed to dip with increase in TRP content while impact strength was found to rise till 15 wt.% TRP content. Beyond 15 wt.% TRP fillers, the impact strength and brittleness declined. The optimal acoustic response in terms of the sound transmission loss was observed for the composition with 15 wt.% TRP fillers. Polymer composites with natural fiber reinforcing and elastomeric fillers create excellent interior lining materials for buildings, automobiles, and aircrafts, because of their superior mechanical properties and acoustic proofing.
The interaction between Mediterranean diet and intestinal microbiome: relevance for preventive strategies against frailty in older individuals
Authors: Ticinesi Andrea , Nouvenne Antonio , Cerundolo Nicoletta , Parise Alberto , Mena Pedro , Meschi Tiziana
Published: March 2024

Age-related changes in intestinal microbiome composition and function are increasingly recognized as pivotal in the pathophysiology of aging and are associated with the aging phenotype. Diet is a major determinant of gut-microbiota composition throughout the entire lifespan, and several of the benefits of a healthy diet in aging could be mediated by the microbiome. Mediterranean diet (MD) is a traditional dietary pattern regarded as the healthy diet paradigm, and a large number of studies have demonstrated its benefits in promoting healthy aging. MD has also a positive modulatory effect on intestinal microbiome, favoring bacterial taxa involved in the synthesis of several bioactive compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), that counteract inflammation, anabolic resistance, and tissue degeneration. Intervention studies conducted in older populations have suggested that the individual response of older subjects to MD, in terms of reduction of frailty scores and amelioration of cognitive function, is significantly mediated by the gut-microbiota composition and functionality. In this context, the pathophysiology of intestinal microbiome in aging should be considered when designing MD-based interventions tailored to the needs of geriatric patients.
Innovation in Telesupervision: Application, Evaluation, and Policy Implications
Authors: McCord Carly , Jackson Kaylee , Dias Katelin , Sopchak Kelly
Published: March 2024

The use of technology in health service delivery (e.g., telehealth) and subsequently in training and education in preparation for health service careers (e.g., telesupervision) provides both challenges and opportunities. Embracing the opportunities afforded by telehealth and telesupervision will help equip the next generation of health professionals for the realities of the healthcare system of the future as well as promote greater equity for trainees and patients. To ensure maximum gain and minimal negative impact, training programs, researchers, and policymakers must work together. The field can move forward through application of innovative use cases, thoughtful design and implementation of evaluation, and the development of constructive policies. This column aims to inform these different stakeholders by providing applied examples of telesupervision in a telehealth training clinic, discussing the evaluation of telesupervision programs and competencies, and discussing policy implications for telesupervision.
A preliminary study of multidimensional semantic evaluation of outdoor thermal comfort in Chinese
Authors: Xi Tianyu , Wang Ming , Cao Enjia , Li Jin , Wang Yong , Lu Leping , Zhang Xingyu
Published: March 2024

Traditional method to evaluate outdoor thermal comfort which used indicators (UTCI, PET, SET, etc.) has its limitations. Firstly, emotional factors are not included in the assessment, and secondly, the results lead to less accessibility, and it is difficult for non-experts to understand.

Due to the above reasons, some scholars have investigated how to evaluate outdoor thermal comfort by ‘English vocabulary’, and there is still a gap in exploring the multidimensional semantic assessment of outdoor thermal comfort by using ‘Chinese vocabulary’. This paper established a ‘Chinese vocabulary’ thesaurus for outdoor thermal comfort evaluation through online and on-site questionnaire survey including 63 words, and an outdoor experiment was carried out to validate the effectiveness of the thesaurus. The results showed a significant correlation between the 2-phases results, revealing the effectiveness of the multidimensional semantic Chinese thesaurus. PET value has a wide range when Thermal Comfort Vote (TCV) are the same, and the words people used to describe the thermal environment in 5 dimensions are very different. The results showed that it is necessary to evaluate the thermal environment by the way of multidimensional semantic, which could make up the short comings of the traditional way (thermal comfort indicators).

The field validation experiment of this study was only carried out for 3 days in spring in Shenyang city, thus the result was highly influenced by the experiment conditions and has its limitations. This study could be a fundamental exploration of thermal comfort evaluation by semantic way in Chinese words.
Bohr chaoticity of principal algebraic actions and Riesz product measures
Authors: FAN AI HUA , SCHMIDT KLAUS , VERBITSKIY EVGENY
Published: March 2024

For a continuous
$\mathbb {N}^d$
or
$\mathbb {Z}^d$
action on a compact space, we introduce the notion of Bohr chaoticity, which is an invariant of topological conjugacy and which is proved stronger than having positive entropy. We prove that all principal algebraic
$\mathbb {Z}$
actions of positive entropy are Bohr chaotic. The same is proved for principal algebraic actions of
$\mathbb {Z}^d$
with positive entropy under the condition of existence of summable homoclinic points.
Holding the Taliban Accountable for Gender Persecution: The Search for New Accountability Paradigms under International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law and Women, Peace, and Security
Authors: de Silva de Alwis Rangita
Published: March 2024

In this paper, I will examine the legal standards of gender persecution and the evolving descriptor gender apartheid as a way to describe the status of women in Afghanistan. The paper also examines other complementary forms of legal accountability procedures to vindicate Afghan women’s rights and hold perpetrators accountable under crimes against humanity. Although the current locus of the paper is focused on Afghan women, it has larger implications for all other crimes of gender persecution.
The Tropidoleptus carinatus controversy: Did this brachiopod occur in the Devonian of the Paraná Basin, Brazil?
Authors: Videira-Santos Roberto , Scheffler Sandro Marcelo
Published: March 2024

Tropidoleptus is a brachiopod genus with a very peculiar morphology that existed throughout the Devonian as a cosmopolitan taxon. Although there have been reports of the presence of this genus in the Paraná Basin since the nineteenth century, its actual occurrence has been the subject of much debate. The objective of this paper was to clarify this situation. For this purpose, dozens of specimens from Monjolo dos Padres and Juscimeira outcrops (São Domingos Formation, possibly Givetian) in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso were analyzed. The samples studied here exhibit the typical characteristics of Tropidoleptus, confirming that this genus also occurred in the Paraná Basin. It is possible that Tropidoleptus entered the Paraná Basin during the Eifelian/Givetian from the Amazonas and/or Parnaíba basins (Brazil), during a period of warm-water transgression. When Tropidoleptus is found in situ, it can serve as an indicator of a shallower water environment (shoreface to shallower portions of transitional offshore). In the Paraná Basin, its presence can indicate rocks no older than the Eifelian–Givetian transition.
Application of biomolecular techniques on tsetse fly puparia for species identification at larvipostion sites
Authors: Gimonneau Geoffrey , Hounyèmè Robert Eustache , Quartey Myra , Barry Issiaka , Ravel Sophie , Boulangé Alain
Published: March 2024

Puparia are commonly found in tsetse fly larviposition sites during studies on larval ecology. This chitinous shell is representative of past or ongoing exploitation of these sites by tsetse flies. The morphological characteristics of the puparium are not sufficiently distinctive to allow identification of the species. This study explores the applicability of biomolecular techniques on empty puparia for tsetse fly species identification. Five techniques were compared for DNA extraction from tsetse fly puparia, 1/Chelex® 100 Resin, 2/CTAB, 3/Livak's protocol, 4/DEB + proteinase K and 5/QIAamp® DNA Mini kit, using two homogenisation methods (manual and automated). Using a combination of two primer pairs, Chelex, CTAB, and DEB + K proved the most efficient on fresh puparia with 90, 85, and 70% samples identified, respectively. Shifting from fresh to one- to nine-month-old puparia, the Chelex method gave the best result allowing species identification on puparia up to seven months old. The subsequent testing of the Chelex extraction protocol identified 152 (60%) of 252 field-collected puparia samples at species level. The results show that reliable genetic identification of tsetse flies species can be performed from empty puparia, what can prove of great interest for future ecological studies on larviposition sites. The Chelex technique was the most efficient for DNA extraction, though the age-limit of the samples stood at seven months, beyond which DNA degradation probably compromises the genetic analysis.
TOLKIEN'S UNIQUE RECEPTION OF PYTHAGOREAN ‘DISSONANCE’ IN THE AINULINDALË OF THE SILMARILLION
Authors: Moore Kenneth
Published: March 2024

This article is about J. R. R. Tolkien's adaptation of Pythagorean musical elements in the ‘Song of the Ainur’ of the Silmarillion. It details Tolkien's use of Pythagorean dissonance, along with what that amounts to in terms of musical theory, and explores the epistemological origins of the concept and how it found its way into this work of fiction. On the latter point, Platonism, Neoplatonism, and early Christian theology are considered. This includes the likes of Prudentius, pseudo-Dionysius, Augustine, and Aquinas, among others. The article observes that Tolkien has deliberately chosen a somewhat esoteric element of Pythagorean musical theory, albeit highly relevant to his own historical context, in order to explore concepts of morality along with the traditional, Christian conundrum of predestination vs. free will.
KISSING BAGOAS
Authors: O'Sullivan Lara
Published: March 2024

An anecdote, ascribed to Dicaearchus by Athenaeus (13.603.a–b) and found also in Plutarch (Alexander 67.7–8), details Alexander's kissing of the eunuch Bagoas during theatrical contests in Carmania in 325 bce. This article examines the enthusiastic response that this encounter is said to have elicited from Alexander's soldiers. It is suggested that this impromptu kiss was read as a display of homoerotic behaviour that was fundamentally Greek, and even as a gesture of Greek domination over Persians, and that, as such, it was welcomed by the army as a momentary departure from the increasingly Persianized behaviour of the king himself and of his court. Further, consideration is given to the possibility that the choral contest in which Bagoas is reported to have competed prior to the kiss may have been an innovative form of pyrrhic dance, in which for the first time the dancers depicted Dionysus’ conquest of India.
THE SPARTAN CRUCIBLE
Authors: Pellerin Daniel
Published: March 2024

As against the abiding popular image of the ever-dauntless Spartans, serious commentators have long recognized what a central part fear played in Lacedaemonian life: fear of the helots, fear of the laws, fear of defeat and dishonour and disgrace, without hope of respite this side of the grave. Yet the full implications of such a life, forever suspended most precariously ‘between shame and glory’ as Jean-Pierre Vernant put it, have not been drawn out, especially with respect to its supposed beneficiaries, the Spartiates, who were sacrificed to its merciless logic no less than those they were keeping under such brutal subjugation. This essay proposes to close the gap by fitting together the dispersed pieces and presenting a more comprehensive picture of the silent anxieties and hidden miseries of the vaunted masters of Sparta who purchased their dominion at so frightful a price, not only to others, but also to themselves.