bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depth and Spatial Variation of the Shear Wave Attenuation Parameters in the Shallow Crust and Lower Crust/Upper Mantle of Mt. Etna (Italy)
Authors: Giampiccolo Elisabetta , Tuvè Tiziana , Bianco Francesca , Del Pezzo Edoardo
Published: January 2024

Seismic wave attenuation is a key feature of seismic wave propagation that provides constraints on the composition and physical state of the medium within the Earth. We separated intrinsic and scattering attenuation coefficients for the shallow crust and lower crust/upper mantle in the Mt. Etna area. For this purpose, the Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis (MLTWA) was applied to two groups of earthquakes, well separated in depth. We also studied the spatial variation of the attenuation parameters by dividing the study area into four sectors around Etna. The results show an effective homogeneity of the propagation characteristics inside Etna and, in particular, some lateral variations and minor variations with depth. We observe that structural discontinuities and lithology control scattering losses at all frequencies,  with higher scattering in the shallow crust. The intrinsic absorption shows no sensitivity to the presence of these main geological structures and is quite uniform for different depths. Furthermore, compared to the northern sector of the volcano, the southern one shows stronger scattering attenuation at low frequencies. This pattern correlates well with the high seismic activity along most of Etna’s active tectonic structures and ascending magmatic fluids that characterize this sector of the volcano. Although we only discuss the differences in the "average" scattering and inelastic properties of the investigated volumes, the results of this study are very informative about the characteristics of each region. Moreover, they suggest that a future study is necessary, providing a more detailed picture of the spatial distribution of seismic attenuation in the study area, through a 3D inversion of the attenuation parameters estimated along the single source-receiver paths.
Novel yeast-based biosensor for environmental monitoring of tebuconazole
Authors: Mendes Filipa , Miranda Eduarda , Amaral Leslie , Carvalho Carla , Castro Bruno B. , Sousa Maria João , Chaves Susana R.
Published: January 2024

Due to increasing demand for high and stable crop production, human populations are highly dependent on pesticide use for growing and storing food. Environmental monitoring of these agrochemicals is therefore of utmost importance, because of their collateral effects on ecosystem and human health. Even though most current-use analytical methods achieve low detection limits, they require procedures that are too complex and costly for routine monitoring. As such, there has been an increased interest in biosensors as alternative or complementary tools to streamline detection and quantification of environmental contaminants. In this work, we developed a biosensor for environmental monitoring of tebuconazole (TEB), a common agrochemical fungicide. For that purpose, we engineered S. cerevisiae cells with a reporter gene downstream of specific promoters that are expressed after exposure to TEB and characterized the sensitivity and specificity of this model system. After optimization, we found that this easy-to-use biosensor consistently detects TEB at concentrations above 5 μg L−1 and does not respond to realistic environmental concentrations of other tested azoles, suggesting it is specific. We propose the use of this system as a complementary tool in environmental monitoring programs, namely, in high throughput scenarios requiring screening of numerous samples.

Key points

• A yeast-based biosensor was developed for environmental monitoring of tebuconazole.

•The biosensor offers a rapid and easy method for tebuconazole detection ≥ 5 μg L−1.

•The biosensor is specific to tebuconazole at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Glycoprotein 2 as a gut gate keeper for mucosal equilibrium between inflammation and immunity
Authors: Zhang Zhongwei , Tanaka Izumi , Nakahashi-Ouchida Rika , Ernst Peter B. , Kiyono Hiroshi , Kurashima Yosuke
Published: January 2024

Glycoprotein 2 (GP2) is a widely distributed protein in the digestive tract, contributing to mucosal barrier maintenance, immune homeostasis, and antigen-specific immune response, while also being linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. This review sheds light on the extensive distribution of GP2 within the gastrointestinal tract and its intricate interplay with the immune system. Furthermore, the significance of GP2 autoantibodies in diagnosing and categorizing IBD is underscored, alongside the promising therapeutic avenues for modulating GP2 to regulate immunity and maintain mucosal balance.
Anterolateral advancement pharyngoplasty versus barbed reposition pharyngoplasty in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Emara Tarek Abdelzaher , Elmonem Mohamed Sherif Ahmed Abd , Khaled Ashraf Mahmoud , Genedy Hisham Ahmed Hasan , Youssef Rabie Sayed
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To compare functional outcomes and complication rates of anterolateral advancement pharyngoplasty (ALA) versus barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea patients with palatal and lateral pharyngeal wall collapse.

Study design

Prospective study.

Setting

University hospitals.

Subjects and methods

Forty-six patients were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups randomly, group 1 (23 cases) underwent anterolateral advancement pharyngoplasty and group 2 (23 cases) underwent barbed relocation pharyngoplasty. According to the following criteria: both sex, age between 18 and 65 years, body mass index ≤ 32 kg/m2, Friedman stage II or III, type I Fujita, nocturnal polysomnography study diagnostic for OSA, retropalatal and lateral pharyngeal wall collapse, diagnosis with flexible nasoendoscopy during a Muller’s maneuver based on a 5-point scale and drug-induced sleep endoscopy. Patients who suffered from retroglossal airway collapse were rolled out.

Results

Apnea–hypopnea index decreased from 27.50 ± 11.56 to 11.22 ± 7.63 (P ≤ .001) in group 1 and from 33.18 ± 10.94 to 12.38 ± 6.77 (P ≤ .001) in group 2. Retropalatal posterior airway space increased from 9.84 ± 1.29 mm to 21.48 ± 2.8 mm (P ≤ .001) in group 1 and increased from 10.26 ± 1.2 mm to 22.86 ± 2.62 mm (P ≤ .001) in group 2. Retropalatal space volume increased from 1.9 ± 0.68 cm3 to 2.75 ± 0.7 cm3 (P ≤ .001) in group 1 and increased from 1.96 ± 0.88 cm3 to 2.82 ± 0.83 cm3 (P ≤ .001) in group 2. Surgical success was 86.95% in group 1 compared to 82.6% in group 2.

Conclusions

Both techniques appear to be effective with a high surgical success rate in the treatment of OSA patients with retropalatal and lateral pharyngeal wall collapse.
Conceptual foundations of acetylcarnitine supplementation in neuropsychiatric long COVID syndrome: a narrative review
Authors: Helbing Dario Lucas , Dommaschk Eva-Maria , Danyeli Lena Vera , Liepinsh Edgars , Refisch Alexander , Sen Zümrüt Duygu , Zvejniece Liga , Rocktäschel Tonia , Stabenow Leonie Karoline , Schiöth Helgi B. , Walter Martin , Dambrova Maija , Besteher Bianca
Published: January 2024

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 can present as multi-organ pathology, with neuropsychiatric symptoms being the most common symptom complex, characterizing long COVID as a syndrome with a significant disease burden for affected individuals. Several typical symptoms of long COVID, such as fatigue, depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment, are also key features of other psychiatric disorders such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, clinically successful treatment strategies are still lacking and are often inspired by treatment options for diseases with similar clinical presentations, such as ME/CFS. Acetylcarnitine, the shortest metabolite of a class of fatty acid metabolites called acylcarnitines and one of the most abundant blood metabolites in humans can be used as a dietary/nutritional supplement with proven clinical efficacy in the treatment of MDD, ME/CFS and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Basic research in recent decades has established acylcarnitines in general, and acetylcarnitine in particular, as important regulators and indicators of mitochondrial function and other physiological processes such as neuroinflammation and energy production pathways. In this review, we will compare the clinical basis of neuropsychiatric long COVID with other fatigue-associated diseases. We will also review common molecular disease mechanisms associated with altered acetylcarnitine metabolism and the potential of acetylcarnitine to interfere with these as a therapeutic agent. Finally, we will review the current evidence for acetylcarnitine as a supplement in the treatment of fatigue-associated diseases and propose future research strategies to investigate the potential of acetylcarnitine as a treatment option for long COVID.
Twisted Ways to Find Plane Structures in Simple Drawings of Complete Graphs
Authors: Aichholzer Oswin , García Alfredo , Tejel Javier , Vogtenhuber Birgit , Weinberger Alexandra
Published: January 2024

Simple drawings are drawings of graphs in which the edges are Jordan arcs and each pair of edges share at most one point (a proper crossing or a common endpoint). A simple drawing is c-monotone if there is a point O such that each ray emanating from O crosses each edge of the drawing at most once. We introduce a special kind of c-monotone drawings that we call generalized twisted drawings. A c-monotone drawing is generalized twisted if there is a ray emanating from O that crosses all the edges of the drawing. Via this class of drawings, we show that every simple drawing of the complete graph with n vertices contains $$\Omega (n^{\frac{1}{2}})$$

Ω
(

n

1
2

)

pairwise disjoint edges and a plane cycle (and hence path) of length $$\Omega (\frac{\log n }{\log \log n})$$

Ω
(

log
n

log
log
n

)

. Both results improve over best previously published lower bounds. On the way we show several structural results and properties of generalized twisted and c-monotone drawings, some of which we believe to be of independent interest. For example, we show that a drawing D is c-monotone if there exists a point O such that no edge of D is crossed more than once by any ray that emanates from O and passes through a vertex of D.
Dynamic Connectivity in Disk Graphs
Authors: Baumann Alexander , Kaplan Haim , Klost Katharina , Knorr Kristin , Mulzer Wolfgang , Roditty Liam , Seiferth Paul
Published: January 2024

Let $$S \subseteq \mathbb {R}^2$$

S
⊆

R

2

be a set of nsites in the plane, so that every site $$s \in S$$

s
∈
S

has an associated radius$$r_s > 0$$

r
s

>
0

. Let $$\mathcal {D}(S)$$

D
(
S
)

be the disk intersection graph defined by S, i.e., the graph with vertex set S and an edge between two distinct sites $$s, t \in S$$

s
,
t
∈
S

if and only if the disks with centers s, t and radii $$r_s$$

r
s

, $$r_t$$

r
t

intersect. Our goal is to design data structures that maintain the connectivity structure of $$\mathcal {D}(S)$$

D
(
S
)

as sites are inserted and/or deleted in S. First, we consider unit disk graphs, i.e., we fix $$r_s = 1$$

r
s

=
1

, for all sites $$s \in S$$

s
∈
S

. For this case, we describe a data structure that has $$O(\log ^2 n)$$

O
(

log
2

n
)

amortized update time and $$O(\log n/\log \log n)$$

O
(
log
n
/
log
log
n
)

query time. Second, we look at disk graphs with bounded radius ratio$$\Psi $$
Ψ
, i.e., for all $$s \in S$$

s
∈
S

, we have $$1 \le r_s \le \Psi $$

1
≤

r
s

≤
Ψ

, for a parameter $$\Psi $$
Ψ
that is known in advance. Here, we not only investigate the fully dynamic case, but also the incremental and the decremental scenario, where only insertions or only deletions of sites are allowed. In the fully dynamic case, we achieve amortized expected update time $$O(\Psi \log ^{4} n)$$

O
(
Ψ

log
4

n
)

and query time $$O(\log n/\log \log n)$$

O
(
log
n
/
log
log
n
)

. This improves the currently best update time by a factor of $$\Psi $$
Ψ
. In the incremental case, we achieve logarithmic dependency on $$\Psi $$
Ψ
, with a data structure that has $$O(\alpha (n))$$

O
(
α
(
n
)
)

amortized query time and $$O(\log \Psi \log ^{4} n)$$

O
(
log
Ψ

log
4

n
)

amortized expected update time, where $$\alpha (n)$$

α
(
n
)

denotes the inverse Ackermann function. For the decremental setting, we first develop an efficient decremental disk revealing data structure: given two sets R and B of disks in the plane, we can delete disks from B, and upon each deletion, we receive a list of all disks in R that no longer intersect the union of B. Using this data structure, we get decremental data structures with a query time of $$O(\log n/\log \log n)$$

O
(
log
n
/
log
log
n
)

that supports deletions in $$O(n\log \Psi \log ^{4} n)$$

O
(
n
log
Ψ

log
4

n
)

overall expected time for disk graphs with bounded radius ratio $$\Psi $$
Ψ
and $$O(n\log ^{5} n)$$

O
(
n

log
5

n
)

overall expected time for disk graphs with arbitrary radii, assuming that the deletion sequence is oblivious of the internal random choices of the data structures.
Patterns and influencing factors of exercise attendance of breast cancer patients during neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Goldschmidt Siri , Schmidt Martina E. , Rosenberger Friederike , Wiskemann Joachim , Steindorf Karen
Published: January 2024

Background

Performing 2–3 exercise sessions/week may relieve therapy-related side effects of breast cancer patients (BRCA) and improve their quality of life. However, attendance to the exercise sessions is often impaired. Thus, we investigated patterns and possible influencing factors of attendance to an aerobic (AT) or resistance training (RT) intervention in BRCA during neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

BRCA (N = 122) were randomly allocated to supervised AT or RT twice weekly during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (18 ± 4 weeks). Attendance was calculated individually and group-wise per training week as the percentage of the performed sessions out of the prescribed sessions. Possible influencing factors were investigated using multiple regression analyses.

Results

Mean individual attendance was 44.1% ± 29.3% with no significant differences between the groups. Group-wise attendance was highest in the first 6 weeks of training with ≥ 60% for AT and ≥ 50% for RT, but decreased over the course of the intervention accompanying chemotherapy. Significantly higher attendance was associated with not having vs. having nausea (ß =  − 14.57; p = 0.007) and not having vs. having pain (ß =  − 12.07; p = 0.12), whereas fatigue did not show any association (ß =  − 0.006; p = 0.96). Having been randomized into a preferred intervention group (48.8%) showed no association with attendance. Yet, patients’ rating of the exercise intervention as “good”/ “very good” (58.7%) was significantly associated with higher attendance (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

For both exercise interventions, group-wise attendance/training week decreased during chemotherapy despite good intervention ratings. While some patients never started, others trained almost constantly twice weekly. The study revealed that patients who are nauseous or experience pain may need more support to attend more exercise sessions.

Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02999074 from May 6, 2016.
Fenfluramine in clinical practice: new therapy option for Dravet and Lennox–Gastaut syndromes
Authors: Muhle Hiltrud , Kurlemann Gerhard , Lehmann Irene , Hamer Hajo , Mayer Thomas , Potschka Heidrun , Schubert-Bast Susanne , Strzelczyk Adam , Pringsheim Milka
Published: January 2024

Fenfluramine is an antiseizure medication for the treatment of Dravet and Lennox–Gastaut syndromes. This review summarizes the literature on the efficacy and tolerability of fenfluramine and presents recommendations for practical therapeutic management. With regular monitoring, this medication is generally well tolerated and to date has shown no cardiac side effects such as valve insufficiency or pulmonary hypertension in the clinical development program. However, children may experience a loss of appetite and should be closely monitored for weight loss, and sedation was observed in several overweight patients due to rapid dosage titration; therefore, a slower dosage increase than recommended might be needed for children and adults. Drug interactions should be considered before and during therapy, and dosage reductions are necessary when the medication is used in combination with stiripentol. Furthermore, bromide levels could increase with this medication. Contact with the patient or their relatives is important to determine the general state of health, potential movement disturbances, and seizure frequency so as to allow for timely dosage adjustments during the titration phase.
Effect of a Second Promoter on the Performance of a Potassium Doped Silica-Supported Cobalt Catalyst During CO2 Hydrogenation to Hydrocarbons
Authors: Iloy Rama Achtar , Jalama Kalala , Khangale Phathutshedzo R.
Published: January 2024

In this study, the promoting effects of ruthenium, palladium, and copper on the performance of a 15%Co-1%K/SiO2 catalyst were evaluated during CO2 hydrogenation in a fixed-bed reactor. Reactions were carried out at atmospheric pressure and 270 °C with H2/CO2 ratio of 3. All catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). Ruthenium, palladium and copper facilitated the reduction of cobalt oxides and increased cobalt dispersion. In terms of catalyst’s performance, ruthenium addition led to increased CO2 conversion and methane selectivity with a detrimental effect on C5+ hydrocarbons. Palladium also presented a similar pattern at lower loading but a drop in CO2 conversion and increased reverse water–gas shift activity were observed at 3 wt % Pd loading. Promoting with copper resulted in decreased activity, methane selectivity and C5+ hydrocarbons productivity with a much higher CO selectivity.

Graphical Abstract
AC-IQuAD: Automatically Constructed Indonesian Question Answering Dataset by Leveraging Wikidata
Authors: Doxolodeo Kerenza , Krisnadhi Adila Alfa
Published: January 2024

Constructing a question-answering dataset can be prohibitively expensive, making it difficult for researchers to make one for an under-resourced language, such as Indonesian. We create a novel Indonesian Question Answering dataset that is produced automatically end-to-end. The process uses Context Free Grammar, the Wikipedia Indonesian Corpus, and the concept of the proxy model. The dataset consists of 134 thousand simple questions and 60 thousand complex questions. It achieved competitive grammatical and model accuracy compared to the translated dataset but suffers from some issues due to resource constraints.
The Impact of Various Heating Rates on Real-Time Degree of Hybrid Fire Simulation
Authors: Faghihi Faranak , Knobloch Markus
Published: January 2024

Global fire performance of structures in fire is proven to be more advantageous in many cases of engineering practice than the prescriptive fire resistance based on isolated structural member testing. Hybrid fire simulation (HFS) is a novel well-suited method trending in recent years for analysis of global performance of structures in fire. In the principles of this method, the part of a structure which has unknown behavior or is uncertain to be numerically modeled (subjected to fire) would be physically tested, while the rest of the structure is numerically simulated. HFS method enables capturing the beneficial interaction mechanisms evolving between fire-exposed structural members and the adjacent cooler substructure. Due to the continuous temperature increase in a fire test and the existing thermal inertia as well as the rate- and temperature-dependent material behavior of structures exposed to fire, a real-time performance in hybrid fire simulation counts as a necessity. This challenge is more critical for hybrid fire simulations with higher applied heating rates relevant to structural fire engineering. Within scope of this paper, (a) a robust and rigorous approach for real-time HFS is presented; (b) a series of proof-of-concept studies of different hybrid fire simulations with various applied heating rates are carried out for a thermomechanical benchmark problem; (c) the important results of four representative hybrid fire simulations with relevant heating rates to structural fire engineering are discussed; (d) the importance of an appropriate calculation method for stiffness update of the fire-exposed structural member over HFS procedure is highlighted, and e) the precision and accuracy of the applied HFS approach with respect to interface error and real-time degree are evidenced.
On bifurcations, resonances and dynamical behaviour in nonlinear iteroparous Leslie matrix models
Authors: Wikan Arild , Kristensen Ørjan
Published: January 2024

Leslie matrix models with nonzero nonlinear fecundity elements are under consideration. It is proved that by use of the general Deriso–Schnute recruitment function the supercritical nature of bifurcations in 2- and 3-age class models and a thorough analysis of 1:2 and 1:3 resonance phenomena are also provided. A discussion of impact of coexisting attractors and structures of trapping regions is included as well. Results regarding stabilizing and destabilizing effects as well as dynamical outcomes found in general n-age class models are also presented. Suggestions with respect to where our models may apply are provided too.
Aircraft noise modifies acoustic signals and social interactions of a microendemic frog from Mexico City
Authors: Serrano José Manuel , Ochoa-Ochoa Leticia M.
Published: January 2024

Research on urban noises affecting acoustic communication of animals is a growing area of study and conservation concern. However, the consequences of aircraft noise on anuran acoustic communication have been explored on a restricted basis to date. In this study, we investigated the impact of aircraft overflights on the individual and chorus performance of acoustic signalling in the Pedregal frog (Eleutherodactylus grandis), a microendemic and threatened species from Mexico City. During the summer of 2021, we recorded acoustic signals from male individuals and conducted acoustic monitoring to analyse how chorus social interactions change due to aircraft overflights. For this purpose, we evaluated acoustic properties of the call, including call duration, dominant frequency, call amplitude, and call repetition rate. Additionally, we measured the amplitude of environmental noises and signals by means of two types of complementary methodological approaches. Our results show changes in the individual performance of acoustic signals with longer call duration, lower dominant frequency, and higher call amplitude due to aircraft overflights, while individual call repetition rate did not vary. Furthermore, a decrease in the number of calls within the chorus was observed during aircraft overflight. Overall, these results show that aircraft noise causes plastic changes in the acoustic signals of the Pedregal frog and that social interactions between conspecifics decrease, thus adding a new disturbance to this species that already suffers from other anthropogenic noises, and habitat fragmentation.
A mapping of two spheres: how SEW stimulates the strategic analysis and forecast of a family firm
Authors: Ade Adrian
Published: January 2024

This paper detects valuable research findings at the intersection of socioemotional wealth and strategic decision-making processes. While socioemotional wealth is a key construct in research on family firms, strategic management represents a foundational approach to strategic management processes. The systematic literature review identifies from an extensive sample, a final set of 169 journal articles using a multistep methodology. We perform an in-depth content analysis that highlights the overlap between socioemotional wealth and strategic management. One field of strategic management, namely Analysis & Forecast, offers particular potential for further research. Hence, we create construct clarity by developing five aggregated categories. These categories act as dimensions of an integrative framework with strategic analysis activities. The literature review leads to the conclusion that in previous research, each socioemotional wealth dimension influences every analysis activity but one at a time.
Cost accounting practices in SMEs: liability of age and other factors that hinder or burst its implementation in turbulent years
Authors: Roffia Paolo , Benavides María Mar , Carrilero Augustin
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to investigate the level of cost accounting (CA) implementation in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). CA is a management accounting tool whose application in small companies has always been difficult. Nevertheless, academicians and practitioners recommend CA implementation in SMEs, especially because of the deep market instability, competitive pressure, and margin erosion that have occurred following the COVID-19 pandemic and 2022 European war scenario. Company size influences CA implementation; however, it is not the only influencing factor and perhaps not even the most important. To investigate the barriers to the adoption of CA and which conditions or actions can remove these barriers, leveraging from the contingency theory, a questionnaire was sent out in July 2022 to limited liability SMEs operating in the manufacturing, construction, and distribution macro-sectors in Verona and Vicenza provinces (Italy). Respondents answered a set of questions regarding CA implementation in their SMEs as of July 2022. Using a multivariate regression model to analyze data from the 120 questionnaires received, we found that lack of resources, limited training and skills, firm age, and the presence of the founder in the firm had a negative influence on CA implementation in SMEs. The low level of CA implementation was also associated with its supposed inefficiency, uselessness, and unsuitability for business. The effect of company size on CA implementation was not statistically significant. Despite this study’s limitations regarding the sample and period considered, we believe that it contributes to both academic debates and practice by illustrating the limiting factors and ways in which CA implementation can be fostered in SMEs in turbulent years.
Can security be sustainable? Three perspectives on security and social sustainability: paradox, co-production, and deconstruction
Authors: Malmio Irja
Published: January 2024

Security and sustainability are prioritized goals in the “Western liberal” world. Maintaining democratic resources while simultaneously strengthening society’s ability to deal with security issues firmly resonates with ideals associated with social sustainability. However, merging normative theories like security and social sustainability produces conceptual difficulties that are hard to resolve. Based on key literature in this field and policy documents from the UN, this article uses conceptual analysis to investigate what boundaries and openings three distinct perspectives of the connection between social sustainability and security might produce. The perspectives chosen as illustrative tools are paradox, co-production, and deconstruction. The paradox perspective pronounces inherently divergent qualities of sustainability and security, which implies a trade-off situation. In contrast, the co-production perspective views social sustainability as a critical component in security issues, while security, in turn, is a prerequisite for sustainability. A third perspective, deconstruction, highlights underlying processes that produce and prioritize specific meanings. The perspectives of paradox, co-production, and deconstruction identify how competing values operate in conceptual configurations, highlighting the limitations and possibilities of security measures to accommodate values of social sustainability. Applying distinct approaches as illustrations for disparate ideological standpoints can deepen the knowledge of how multiple and occasionally competing outcomes are formed while considering the normative foundations enfolding inquiries of security responses to societal challenges.
Low-hit-zone frequency hopping sequence sets under aperiodic Hamming correlation
Authors: Liu Xing
Published: January 2024

The study of aperiodic Hamming correlation (APC) of frequency hopping sequences (FHSs) is a hard problem that has not been paid enough attention in the literature. For low-hit-zone (LHZ) FHSs, the study of APC becomes more difficult. We call them LHZ FHSs under APC (LHZ-APC FHSs). LHZ-APC FHSs are studied for the first time in this paper. First, we establish a bound on the family sizes of LHZ-APC FHS sets. Then we present a method for constructions of LHZ-APC FHS sets based on conventional FHS sets under periodic Hamming correlation (conventional PC FHS sets). By choosing different conventional PC FHS sets, we obtain three classes of LHZ-APC FHS sets whose family sizes are optimal or near optimal according to this new bound. Further, we modify the construction method and get more new LHZ-APC FHS sets with optimal family sizes.
Characteristics and prognosis of patients with COVID-19 and hematological diseases in Japan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Minakata Daisuke , Uchida Tomoyuki , Nakano Aya , Takase Ken , Tsukada Nodoka , Kosugi Hiroshi , Kawata Eri , Nakane Takahiko , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Endo Tomoyuki , Nishiwaki Satoshi , Fujiwara Hideaki , Saito Akiko M. , Saito Toshiki I. , Akashi Koichi , Matsumura Itaru , Mitani Kinuko
Published: January 2024

The Japanese Society of Hematology performed an observational cross-sectional study to clarify the morbidity, prognosis, and prognostic factors in patients with COVID-19 with hematological diseases (HDs) in Japan. The study included patients with HDs who enrolled in our epidemiological survey and had a COVID-19 diagnosis and a verified outcome of up to 2 months. The primary endpoints were characteristics and short-term prognosis of COVID-19 in patients with HDs. A total of 367 patients from 68 institutes were enrolled over 1 year, and the collected data were analyzed. The median follow-up among survivors was 73 days (range, 1–639 days). The 60-day overall survival (OS) rate was 86.6%. In the multivariate analysis, albumin ≤ 3.3 g/dL and a need for oxygen were independently associated with inferior 60-day OS rates (hazard ratio [HR] 4.026, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.954–8.294 and HR 14.55, 95% CI 3.378–62.64, respectively), whereas 60-day survival was significantly greater in patients with benign rather than malignant disease (HR 0.095, 95% CI 0.012–0.750). Together, these data suggest that intensive treatment may be necessary for patients with COVID-19 with malignant HDs who have low albumin levels and require oxygen at the time of diagnosis.
Influence of Guidance on Occupational Image and Traineeship’s Satisfaction of Vocational Students
Authors: Dubeau Annie , Chochard Yves
Published: January 2024

Initial vocational training (VT) in high school consists of short-term programs leading to employment in a skilled trade. To better align training with employment opportunities and to encourage students to stay in the programs until they graduate, most programs include traineeship. Since traineeships involve acquiring skills directly on the job, they require greater involvement of supervisors to guide the trainees. Given the importance of on-the-job guidance in achieving traineeship objectives, this study examines the potential influence of three dimensions of guidance provided by traineeship supervisors –planning, support, and training– on students’ job perception (i.e., occupational image) and traineeship satisfaction. Overall, the results provide mixed results, partially supporting the mediation hypothesis suggested by the results of previous studies. Indeed, the results reveal that the quality of the training offered by the supervisor affects subsequent students’ satisfaction with traineeship experience. Training has an indirect effect on satisfaction via the occupational image held by students. However, the expected indirect links between the other two dimensions of supervisor guidance –degree of planning and support perceived by the student– and the students’ image of their chosen occupation could not be confirmed. The results support the importance of providing quality on-the-job training to students during their studies.
SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 display limited neuronal infection and lack the ability to transmit within synaptically connected axons in stem cell–derived human neurons
Authors: Luczo Jasmina M. , Edwards Sarah J. , Ardipradja Katie , Suen Willy W. , Au Gough G. , Marsh Glenn A. , Godde Nathan , Rootes Christina L. , Bingham John , Sundaramoorthy Vinod
Published: January 2024

Sarbecoviruses such as SARS and SARS-CoV-2 have been responsible for two major outbreaks in humans, the latter resulting in a global pandemic. While sarbecoviruses primarily cause an acute respiratory infection, they have been shown to infect the nervous system. However, mechanisms of sarbecovirus neuroinvasion and neuropathogenesis remain unclear. In this study, we examined the infectivity and trans-synaptic transmission potential of the sarbecoviruses SARS and SARS-CoV-2 in human stem cell–derived neural model systems. We demonstrated limited ability of sarbecoviruses to infect and replicate in human stem cell–derived neurons. Furthermore, we demonstrated an inability of sarbecoviruses to transmit between synaptically connected human stem cell–derived neurons. Finally, we determined an absence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in olfactory neurons in experimentally infected ferrets. Collectively, this study indicates that sarbecoviruses exhibit low potential to infect human stem cell–derived neurons, lack an ability to infect ferret olfactory neurons, and lack an inbuilt molecular mechanism to utilise retrograde axonal trafficking and trans-synaptic transmission to spread within the human nervous system.
Influence of pillar wide and room’s height on the acoustic emission phenomena during crack evolution
Authors: Rezaei Amir , Sarfarazi Vahab , Babanouri Nima , Omidi manesh Mohammad , Bahrami Reza , Wang Xiao
Published: January 2024

The present study probes the effects of pillar wide and room’s height on the failure mechanism of model using experimental test and numerical simulation. For this purpose, firstly gypsum specimens with dimension of 15*15*5 cm containing two neighboring rooms and one pillar were prepared. Pillar widths were 3 cm, 6 cm and 9 cm. In each pillar width, the roof height was 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, and 6 cm. Totally 9 physical specimens were tested. Concurrent with experimental tests, 18 numerical models were simulated. The results show that the pillar wide and roof height affect the failure pattern and compressive strength of models. Two different failure patterns were observed in the model. In the first stage, two tensile fractures were developed from room edge and propagated parallel to loading axis till coalescence with model boundary. In the second stage, mixed tensile-shear cracks were developed through the rock pillar. It is shown that with the augment of stress–strain curve until the peak, the AE hits of numerical specimens presents three stages. In the first stage, AE hits is almost zero; this step is in the elastic stage, and there isn’t any crack in the sample. In the second stage, AE hits is in a slowly increasing stage, which is due to the micro cracks in the model continuous expansion. In the third stage, the AE hits increase rapidly, because the rock almost enters its bearing limit and the crack propagation speed is very fast. Generally, the maximum value of AE is near the peak value. When the roof height is the same, different pillar wide led to a significant change in the maximum AE hits. The experimental test and numerical simulation show the similar outcomes.
Correcting a nonparametric two-sample graph hypothesis test for graphs with different numbers of vertices with applications to connectomics
Authors: Alyakin Anton A. , Agterberg Joshua , Helm Hayden S. , Priebe Carey E.
Published: January 2024

Random graphs are statistical models that have many applications, ranging from neuroscience to social network analysis. Of particular interest in some applications is the problem of testing two random graphs for equality of generating distributions. Tang et al. (Bernoulli 23:1599–1630, 2017) propose a test for this setting. This test consists of embedding the graph into a low-dimensional space via the adjacency spectral embedding (ASE) and subsequently using a kernel two-sample test based on the maximum mean discrepancy. However, if the two graphs being compared have an unequal number of vertices, the test of Tang et al. (Bernoulli 23:1599–1630, 2017) may not be valid. We demonstrate the intuition behind this invalidity and propose a correction that makes any subsequent kernel- or distance-based test valid. Our method relies on sampling based on the asymptotic distribution for the ASE. We call these altered embeddings the corrected adjacency spectral embeddings (CASE). We also show that CASE remedies the exchangeability problem of the original test and demonstrate the validity and consistency of the test that uses CASE via a simulation study. Lastly, we apply our proposed test to the problem of determining equivalence of generating distributions in human connectomes extracted from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging at different scales.
Impact of the El Niño on Fire Dynamics on the African Continent
Authors: de Oliveira-Júnior José Francisco , Mendes David , Szabo Szilard , Singh Sudhir Kumar , Jamjareegulgarn Punyawi , Cardoso Kelvy Rosalvo Alencar , Bertalan Laszlo , da Silva Marcos Vinicius , da Rosa Ferraz Jardim Alexandre Maniçoba , da Silva Jhon Lennon Bezerra , Lyra Gustavo Bastos , Abreu Marcel Carvalho , Filho Washington Luiz Félix Correia , de Sousa Amaury , de Barros Santiago Dimas , da Silva Santos Iwldson Guilherme , Maksudovna Vafaeva Khristina
Published: January 2024

Several studies investigated the occurrence of fires in Africa with numerical modeling or applied statistics; however, only a few studies focused on the influence of El Niño on the fire risk using a coupled model. The study aimed to assess the influence of El Niño on wildfire dynamics in Africa using the SPEEDY-HYCOM model. El Niño events in the Eastern Tropical Pacific were classified via sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly based on a predefined climatology between 1961 and 2020 for the entire time series of SST, obtaining linear anomalies. The time series of the SST anomalies was created for the region between 5° N and 5° S and 110° W and 170° W. The events were defined in three consecutive 3-month periods as weak, moderate, and strong El Niño conditions. The Meteorological Fire Danger Index (MFDI) was applied to detect fire hazards. The MFDI simulated by the SPEEDY-HYCOM model for three El Niño categories across different lagged months revealed relevant distinctions among the categories. In the case of ‘Weak’, the maximum variability of fire risk observed at time lags (0, -3, -6, and -9 months) was primarily in Congo, Gabon, and Madagascar. The ‘Moderate’ pattern had similar characteristics to ‘Weak’ except for the lag-6 months and its occurrence in the equatorial zone of Africa. ‘Strong’ showed a remarkable impact in East Africa, resulting in high fire risk, regardless of time lags. Precipitation and evaporation simulations (SPEEDY-HYCOM) indicated that El Niño categories in Africa need particular attention in the central, southern, and southeastern regions emphasizing the significance of lag-0 and lag-6 (evaporation) as well as lag-0, lag-6, and lag-9 (precipitation). The SPEEDY-HYCOM coupled model in conjunction with the MFDI was efficient in assessing climate variabilities in Africa during El Niño events. This model allows the analysis and prediction of wildfire risks based on El Niño events, providing crucial information for wildfire management and prevention. Its simulations uncover significant variations in risks among different El Niño categories and lagged months, contributing to the understanding and mitigation of this environmental challenge.
Mapudungun frustrative -fu-: a modal analysis
Authors: Fuentes Pablo
Published: January 2024

In Mapudungun, the suffix -fu- typically indicates the unsuccessful realization of either an event or its expected consequences. As is the case for frustrative morphemes in several unrelated languages, when applied to a stative VP, the interpretation tends to be linked to non-continuation. Interestingly, in addition to these core readings, -fu- also occurs in conditionals conveying counterfactuality, and in a large subclass of deontic and bouletic constructions, such as the ones that express weak necessity and unattainable desires. Following recent developments in the study of both frustratives and conditionals, this article shows how a modal analysis of -fu- can integrate these different readings into a unified account.
Investigating environmental effects on phonology using diachronic models
Authors: Hartmann Frederik , Roberts Seán G. , Valdes Paul , Grollemund Rebecca
Published: January 2024

Previous work has proposed various mechanisms by which the environment may affect the emergence of linguistic features. For example, dry air may cause careful control of pitch to be more effortful, and so affect the emergence of linguistic distinctions that rely on pitch such as lexical tone or vowel inventories. Criticisms of these proposals point out that there are both historical and geographic confounds that need to be controlled for. We take a causal inference approach to this problem to design the most detailed test of the theory to date. We analyse languages from the Bantu language family, using a prior geographic–phylogenetic tree of relationships to establish where and when languages were spoken. This is combined with estimates of humidity for those times and places, taken from historical climate models. We then estimate the strength of causal relationships in a causal path model, controlling for various influences of inheritance and borrowing. We find no evidence to support the previous claims that humidity affects the emergence of lexical tone. This study shows how using causal inference approaches lets us test complex causal claims about the cultural evolution of language.
The impact of minimally invasive surgical approaches on surgical-site infections
Authors: Sweitzer Stephanie F. , Sickbert-Bennett Emily E. , Seidelman Jessica , Anderson Deverick J. , Lim Moe R. , Weber David J.
Published: January 2024

We performed a literature review to describe the risk of surgical-site infection (SSI) in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) compared to standard open surgery. Most studies reported decreased SSI rates among patients undergoing MIS compared to open procedures. However, many were observational studies and may have been affected by selection bias. MIS is associated with reduced risk of surgical-site infection compared to standard open surgery and should be considered when feasible.
Effect of inhaled air temperature on mucus dynamics in the proximal airways
Authors: Patne Ramkarn
Published: January 2024

The aim of the present study is to understand the role of steam/cold-air inhalation on the mucus layer dynamics in the proximal airways. We model these flows as a viscoelastic liquid (lining the inner side of a tube) sheared by a turbulent airflow and subjected to a radial heat flow. The linear stability analysis of the resulting flow is carried out using numerical and thin-film approaches. The air–mucus interface tension, coupled with the azimuthal curvature, leads to the previously predicted axisymmetric capillary mode responsible for airway closure in distal airways. The viscoelasticity of the mucus leads to axisymmetric and new non-axisymmetric elastic modes, with the former possessing a higher growth rate. The axisymmetric elastic and capillary modes merge to give rise to a new ‘elasto-capillary mode’ possessing a growth rate nearly equal to the combined growth rate of the elastic and capillary modes. The analysis predicts a strong stabilising effect of the thermocapillarity induced by steam inhalation on the elasto-capillary mode. Thus steam decreases airway resistance, which could explain the observed therapeutic effect of steam inhalation. The opposite is the case when the inhaled air is colder than the body temperature, in agreement with the observations. The theoretical predictions are corroborated by the physical mechanism explaining the suppression/amplification of the elasto-capillary mode due to thermocapillarity.
ON COMPACTNESS OF WEAK SQUARE AT SINGULARS OF UNCOUNTABLE COFINALITY
Authors: LEVINE MAXWELL
Published: January 2024

Cummings, Foreman, and Magidor proved that Jensen’s square principle is non-compact at

$\aleph _\omega $

, meaning that it is consistent that

$\square _{\aleph _n}$

holds for all

$n<\omega $

while

$\square _{\aleph _\omega }$

fails. We investigate the natural question of whether this phenomenon generalizes to singulars of uncountable cofinality. Surprisingly, we show that under some mild

${{\mathsf {PCF}}}$

-theoretic hypotheses, the weak square principle

$\square _\kappa ^*$

is in fact compact at singulars of uncountable cofinality.
Bioarchaeological Evidence of Violence between the Middle and Late Formative (500–400 BC) in the Peruvian North-Central Coast
Authors: Pezo-Lanfranco Luis , Romero María Inés Barreto , Filippini José , Crispín Aldemar , Machacuay Marco , Novoa Pedro , Shady Ruth
Published: January 2024

In this study, we address interpersonal violence during the transition between the Middle and the Late Formative periods in the Central Andes, a critical period of political disintegration, hypothesized population pressure, and reorganization of the belief systems that is poorly known from a bioarchaeological viewpoint. Our objective is to understand the nature of the violence and associated factors in this context based on a detailed description of skeletal trauma in 67 well-preserved individuals (20 adolescents and adults and 47 subadults) recovered from Quebrada Chupacigarro cemetery (500–400 BC); this site is located in the middle valley of Supe on the Peruvian north-central coast. To detect patterns and potential causes, we registered the prevalence of traumatic injury according to age, sex, anatomic location, mechanisms (blunt, sharp, mixed, etc.), timing (antemortem or perimortem), and manner (inflicted or accidental). The results show a high prevalence of fractures in the whole population, but especially in adolescents and adults. Eighty percent of the adolescents and adults perished due to the intentional trauma and show patterns that suggest repetitive episodes of interpersonal violence. Perimortem injuries in the skull, face, and thorax are compatible with lethal interpersonal violence. The findings support a probable scenario of intercommunity violence in the middle valley of Supe around 500–400 BC.