bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laser‐Induced Solid‐Phase Strategy to Synthesize Single‐Atomic Lithiophilic Sites Enabled Dendrite‐Free Lithium Deposition on Graphene Matrix
Authors: Gao ShuaiYu , Li Lin , Wu Yingbin , Lu Chunlan
Published: October 2024

The introduction of metal Single‐atom (SA) to construct lithium‐philic active sites shows the ability to guide uniform lithium deposition and improve the stability of lithium hosts. Nevertheless, the development of facile and expedient methods for synthesizing SA remains a considerable challenge. Herein, The SA metal loaded on graphene (Bi@LrGO) is designed by laser‐induced solid‐phase strategy. The bismuth salts simultaneously decompose under the high local temperature and in the reductive atmosphere induced by laser to form SA metal. Simultaneously, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets absorb photon energy to be reduced/graphitized into graphene, which serves as anchoring sites for Bismuth Sing‐atom (Bi SA) immobilization. The SA metals, supported on the graphene not only provide sufficient lithiophilic sites but also significantly increase the adsorption energy (−2.11 eV) with lithium atoms, promote the uniform nucleation and deposition of lithium, and inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites. Additionally, the layered structure of the graphene film adapts to the volume change during the repeated lithium plating/stripping process. Therefore, the symmetrical battery‐based Li deposited on Bi@LrGO (Bi@LrGO@Li) achieves an ultra‐long stable cycle life of ≈2400 h at 1 mA cm−2. In particular, a full cell with LiFePO4 cathode provides a good capacity retention of 81.2% at 4 C after 600 cycles.
Overcoming Bacteriophage Contamination in Bioprocessing: Strategies and Applications
Authors: Zou Xuan , Mo Ziran , Wang Lianrong , Chen Shi , Lee Sang Yup
Published: October 2024

Bacteriophage contamination has a devastating impact on the viability of bacterial hosts and can significantly reduce the productivity of bioprocesses in biotechnological industries. The consequences range from widespread fermentation failure to substantial economic losses, highlighting the urgent need for effective countermeasures. Conventional prevention methods, which focus primarily on the physical removal of bacteriophages from equipment, bioprocess units, and the environment, have proven ineffective in preventing phage entry and contamination. The coevolutionary dynamics between phages and their bacterial hosts have spurred the development of a diverse repertoire of antiviral defense mechanisms within microbial communities. These naturally occurring defense strategies can be harnessed through genetic engineering to convert phage‐sensitive hosts into robust, phage‐resistant cell factories, providing a strategic approach to mitigate the threats posed by bacteriophages to industrial bacterial processes. In this review, an overview of the various defense strategies and immune systems that curb the propagation of bacteriophages and highlight their applications in fermentation bioprocesses to combat phage contamination is provided. Additionally, the tactics employed by phages to circumvent these defense strategies are also discussed, as preventing the emergence of phage escape mutants is a key component of effective contamination management.
Follicular conjunctivitis in a Border Collie dog caused by Thelazia callipaeda
Authors: Terziev Georgi , Nizamov Nikola , Kirkova Zvezdelina
Published: October 2024

A case of chronic bilateral follicular conjunctivitis in a 5‐year‐old male Border Collie, caused by Thelazia callipaeda infection, is described. Due to the acknowledged sensitivity of Collies to macrocyclic lactones, the treatment with these antiparasitic drugs was contraindicated. Mechanical removal of parasites and alternative treatment with local antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory drugs were performed. One month following the therapy, the control ophthalmological exam did not show any pathological changes in the patient's conjunctiva, the cornea and other eye tissues.
Long Combination Vehicles Reverse Strategies Based on Articulation Angle Gradient
Authors: Ge Zhaohui , Bruzelius Fredrik , Jacobson Bengt
Published: October 2024

To guide the development of driver assistant systems and fully automated solutions for reversing long combination vehicles (LCVs), the principles for reversing LCVs are investigated using the articulation angle gradient. The widely used Steady-state Circling Limitation (SSCL) in reversing LCVs has two main drawbacks: it restricts vehicles from operating with large articulation angles crucial for tight spaces and lacks a well-defined feasible range. Two new reverse principles are introduced that can provide better insight. The first principle extends SSCL to include more extreme articulation angles for single-articulated vehicles. It also addresses the necessity of considering articulation gradients when developing the continuous reverse limitation for multi-articulated vehicles. The second principle introduces limited distance reversing for vehicles that no longer meet the first principle’s requirements, providing additional vehicle ending poses useful for tasks like loading and coupling.
A Comparative Study of Discomfort Using Electrical and Friction Braking at Low Speed Driving
Authors: Deylaghian Samira , Jonasson Mats , Piiroinen Petri T.
Published: October 2024

In this study, we conduct an analysis of the longitudinal dynamics of a vehicle model in an incline, with a specific focus on its behavior, at low speeds, when starting and stopping. The model is minimal, yet an effective representation of a vehicle that includes the effects of springs and dampers as well as friction and electric braking models, which allows for easy analysis into their interplay at low speed. One important feature that this early study shows is how the acceleration and jerk is affected by static and dynamic friction coefficients in different driving situations. Our study further demonstrates the interplay between the electric and friction braking systems and the differences in oscillatory motion they generate. Such insights are vital if we want to improve vehicle control at low speeds and suggest ways to reduce problems like excessive acceleration and jerk. Additionally, our findings could also provide valuable insights when developing active friction braking systems.
A Study on Giant Magnetostrictive Actuator Used in Active Noise Control System for Ultra-compact Electric Vehicles (Analytical Consideration on Output Performance of the Actuator)
Authors: Kato Taro , Naganuma Ryusei , Bando Koki , Kobayashi Ikkei , Kuroda Jumpei , Uchino Daigo , Ogawa Kazuki , Ikeda Keigo , Endo Ayato , Liu Xiaojun , Kato Hideaki , Narita Takayoshi , Furui Mitsuaki
Published: October 2024

The interiors of ultra-compact electric vehicles (EVs) can be uncomfortable owing to the noise caused by the road and wind. To address this issue, we propose an active noise control (ANC) system that uses a giant magnetostrictive actuator. The proposed system allows estimating ride comfort by analyzing the biological information of passengers and controlling the interior acoustic environment. The proposed ANC system employs wall-surface vibrations generated by a giant magnetostrictive actuator. We analytically investigated the thrust characteristics of giant magnetostrictive materials deformed by a magnetic field through electromagnetic field analysis. The results showed that the effect of thrust on frequency changes depends on the characteristics of the giant magnetostrictive material.
Collision Prediction for a Mining Collision Avoidance System
Authors: van Aswegen J. C. , Hamersma H. A. , Els P. S.
Published: October 2024

Accidents caused by wheeled mining machines contribute to approximately 30% of injuries and fatalities in the global mining industry. Wheeled mining machines have limited driver assist features when compared to the passenger vehicle market and are typically limited to collision avoidance by braking. These products are often subject to false positive interventions leading to production losses, increased wear, and resistance to adopt the technology by end users. This study proposes a sampling-based method to expand the collision avoidance by braking approach to include steering. The sampling method is based on the vehicle’s kinematics and the application of a Gaussian distribution to the steering rate to determine the probability of a collision occurring. Initial results indicate that the inclusion of steering rate on the collision prediction model may increase the operator’s situational awareness, leading to fewer false positives.
Enhancing Electric Vehicle Remaining Range Prediction Through Machine Learning
Authors: Kim Byunggun , Kim Haeyoun
Published: October 2024

Many automakers are announcing electric vehicle (EV) models in response to environmental regulations. However, charging times still exceed those of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Moreover, the supply of electric vehicle charging stations has not kept pace with the rapid expansion of electric vehicle adoption. This incongruity raises ongoing concerns for drivers regarding Distance To Empty (DTE) or remaining range. However, accurate DTE prediction faces challenges due to various factors. Therefore, predicting effective remaining range is attracting researchers’ attention. However, most algorithms are based on long-term historical driving data, which presents limitations in a shared vehicle scenario with frequently changing drivers. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a novel algorithm employing machine learning to classify driving styles and predict remaining range. This approach can integrate expected future road information and current driving conditions, offering a solution to the uncertainties associated with traditional methods.
Indoor Test-Rig to Measure the Lateral Characteristics of Bicycle Tyres
Authors: Dell’Orto Gabriele , Mastinu Giampiero
Published: October 2024

Tyre characteristics can strongly affect bicycle dynamics, therefore the overall bicycle performances. However, it may be hard to measure lateral characteristics with low uncertainty. Proper test-rigs are needed to obtain reliable tyre parameters, to be used then for modelling. The paper presents VeTyT, acronym of “Velo Tyre Testing”, a new test-rig specifically developed for bicycle tyres at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Politecnico di Milano. It is the first test-rig for bicycle tyres in compliance with the standard ISO 9001-2015. We also present the results of an experimental campaign conducted on a road racing bicycle tyre. In particular, the impact of rim stiffness is relevant to tyre characteristics, leading to a 13% increase in cornering stiffness under the same test conditions.
Online Motion Planning for All-Wheel Drive Autonomous Race Cars
Authors: Huisman Mischa , Lefeber Erjen
Published: October 2024

The advent of autonomous racing events, such as Formula Student Driverless Cup, requires online motion planning algorithms that push the vehicle to its limits while ensuring vehicle stability and preventing road departure. A popular method to find the optimal control input to drive at the limits of the car is Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC). However, when NMPC is used, often a trade-off has to be made between performance, accuracy, and computational complexity. In this manuscript, the principle of cascading different vehicle models is used to construct the prediction horizon. Initially, a two-track model optimizes steering and motor input, utilizing torque vectoring benefits. The horizon is then extended with a single-track model, and a lower fidelity point mass model, effectively reducing computational complexity. Furthermore, by adopting a curvilinear reference frame, a transformation towards the spatial domain is obtained, which allows us to use time as an optimization variable. A simulation study is performed for varying prediction horizon lengths which show the advantages of the cascaded vehicle model, achieving an 86% reduction in computation time with comparable lap times.
Vertical Dynamics Control Using Active Tires and Preview
Authors: der Sande Tom van , Kronnie Nick te
Published: October 2024

In this paper, the effects of adding a tire actuator to a vehicle with active suspension and preview control are studied. For the controller, the LQR method is used. The dual actuator system with preview control is compared to other conventional systems to determine the performance gain. The results show a gain of 182.3% in comfort compared to the passive suspension. The dual actuator system with preview control outperforms systems with fewer actuators and is less affected by the trade-off between handling and comfort.
Optimal Path Generator Embedded Model Predictive Control for Automated Vehicles
Authors: Sago Takashi , Arai Yoshihide , Ueyama Yuki , Harada Masanori
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates real-time optimal control for an automated vehicle. The model predictive control that generates the optimal trajectories has found wide applications in recent years due to increased computational performance. Numerical simulations of the full-vehicle model investigate the applicability of a path generator embedded model predictive control for the vehicle in the general shape road. The path generator is constructed by deep learning using the multiple open-loop optimal control problem solutions as the training dataset. Results demonstrate that the sequentially calculating optimal control command has the potential for real-time optimal control in the presence of the obstacle.
Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles in SUMO Simulation Environment and Their Impact on the Traffic Flow
Authors: Spachtholz Eva , Glomsda Marvin , Kranefeld Ingmar , Kracht Frédéric Etienne , Schramm Dieter
Published: October 2024

Planning of charging stations is becoming increasingly prevalent. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to assess their impact on traffic flow and, subsequently, their optimal positioning. To identify these optimal positions, microscopic traffic flow simulations represent an efficacious tool. Different positions can be trialed until an optimal solution is identified. The open-source microscopic traffic flow simulation tool SUMO would be an optimal choice for this purpose, but does not yet offer the possibility of efficiently implementing charging stations in its traffic networks. As part of a current research project, a novel method for implementing charging stations at their real location within the SUMO environment is presented. Exemplary locations are selected in the German city of Essen.
Tuning Time Delays to Improve the Performance of a Steering Controller
Authors: Li Jialin , Takacs Denes , Lu Jianwei , Voros Illes , Stepan Gabor
Published: October 2024

Time delays and lags in control loops can cause instability and pose significant challenges to engineers. This study investigates a steering controller using the dynamic bicycle model, where the steering system dynamics are approximated by a steering lag. A higher-level controller calculates the desired steering angle based on the vehicle’s lateral position and yaw angle by considering various time delays related to these states. Stability charts are plotted for delay combinations, and the most stable gain setups for the feedback controller are determined. The results indicate that an appropriate increase in one of the time delays expands the stable domain of control gains for the vehicle system, and it enhances the performance of the vehicle controller.
Subjective-Objective Assessment of Different Torque Vectoring Control Strategies
Authors: Asperti Michele , Vignati Michele , Sabbioni Edoardo
Published: October 2024

With the increasing demand for enhanced vehicle performance and handling dynamics, torque vectoring has become a key technology in contemporary automotive engineering. Over the years, various control algorithms have been developed and their performance assessed using objective metrics that measure a vehicle's ability to follow a reference quantity for lateral dynamics. However, this evaluation approach is limited as it does not consider feedback from actual drivers. This paper addresses this critical gap by incorporating drivers’ subjective evaluations through Driver-in-the-Loop simulations. The study conducts a comprehensive analysis of both objective metrics and subjective driver assessments, investigating the impact of different torque vectoring control strategies on vehicle dynamics. By correlating quantitative metrics with human perception, this integrated approach enhances the understanding of the effectiveness of torque vectoring control strategies and their real-world implications for driver satisfaction.
Retaining Cornering Performance and Reducing Energy Consumption with Torque Vectoring and Suspensions Tuning
Authors: Asperti Michele , Vignati Michele , Sabbioni Edoardo
Published: October 2024

With the automotive industry's shift towards sustainability and energy efficiency, optimizing vehicle handling dynamics has become secondary. Additionally, there is a growing trend towards comfort-oriented design over handling performance. However, advancements such as integrating multiple independently controlled electric motors enable torque vectoring, offering a promising solution for reconciling these conflicting objectives. This paper proposes a novel approach to jointly improve vehicle handling and energy efficiency. Advanced simulation techniques are used to explore various suspension configurations to balance cornering performance and energy consumption. A torque vectoring controller is then designed in combination with meticulously tuned suspensions. This innovative approach, which considers active control design alongside suspension setup, achieves superior performance. Desired vehicle cornering capabilities are attained while ensuring significant efficiency in straight-line driving, which constitutes most road driving.
Design and Implementation of a Slip Control for Electric Formula Student Vehicle Using Sliding Mode Control
Authors: Alföldi Ádám , Fényes Dániel , Gáspár Péter
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a slip control design method for a four wheel driven electric race car with low hardware requirements. In addition, to achieve robustness against the changing frictional conditions, a discrete-time Luenberger tractive force observer is designed. The tuning is carried out using the high-precision vehicle dynamics simulation software CarMaker. The performance of the controller is demonstrated in real-world tests. An extensive comparison is given to show the advantage of the proposed method over a previously designed PID controller.
Towards field theory of multiple D0-branes. Hamiltonian mechanics and quantization of simplest 3D prototype of multiple D0-brane system
Authors: Bandos Igor , Sarraga Unai D. M.
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Recently we have constructed a completely supersymmetric nonlinear action possessing the properties expected from multiple D0-brane system. Its quantization should result in an interesting supersymmetric field theory in the (super)space with additional matrix coordinates which can provide an important insights in the study of String Theory. As a first stage toward this aim, in this paper we construct the Hamiltonian mechanics and perform covariant quantization of the simplest three dimensional counterpart of the ten dimensional multiple D0-brane model. We obtain a supersymmetric system of equations in a (super)spacetime enlarged by bosonic and fermionic matrix coordinates which appears as a result of such quantization and discuss some of its properties.
Lattice study on finite density QC2D towards zero temperature
Authors: Iida Kei , Itou Etsuko , Murakami Kotaro , Suenaga Daiki
Published: October 2024

Abstract

We investigate the phase structure and the equation of state (EoS) for dense two-color QCD (QC2D) at low temperature (T = 40 MeV, 324 lattice) for the purpose of extending our previous works [1, 2] at T = 80 MeV (164 lattice). Indeed, a rich phase structure below the pseudo-critical temperature Tc as a function of quark chemical potential μ has been revealed, but finite volume effects in a high-density regime sometimes cause a wrong understanding. Therefore, it is important to investigate the temperature dependence down to zero temperature with large-volume simulations. By performing 324 simulations, we obtain essentially similar results to the previous ones, but we are now allowed to get a fine understanding of the phase structure via the temperature dependence. Most importantly, we find that the hadronic-matter phase, which is composed of thermally excited hadrons, shrinks with decreasing temperature and that the diquark condensate scales as ⟨qq⟩ ∝ μ2 in the BCS phase, a property missing at T = 80 MeV. From careful analyses, furthermore, we confirm a tentative conclusion that the topological susceptibility is independent of μ. We also show the temperature dependence of the pressure, internal energy, and sound velocity as a function of μ. The pressure increases around the hadronic-superfluid phase transition more rapidly at the lower temperature, while the temperature dependence of the sound velocity is invisible. Breaking of the conformal bound is also confirmed thanks to the smaller statistical error.
Enhancing stock price prediction using GANs and transformer-based attention mechanisms
Authors: Li Siyi , Xu Sijie
Published: October 2024

Stock price prediction plays an important role in financial decision-making, enabling investors and analysts to make informed choices regarding trading and investment strategies. Traditional statistical methods have been utilized for the prediction of stock price, but it is often difficult for them to capture complex patterns, adapt to changing market conditions, handle large datasets, and automatically extract relevant features. Recent advancements in machine learning and deep learning offer promising solutions to address these challenges. In this paper, we propose a new approach to enhance the stock price prediction by leveraging generative adversarial networks (GANs) and transformer-based attention mechanisms. GANs are utilized to generate synthetic stock price data, and incorporating market sentiment and volatility. Attention mechanisms will selectively concentrate on the important features and patterns in the data, which may do good to the identification of key market indicators which will impact stock prices. By integrating market social media news which can tell about the sentiment and volatility, our model aims to improve the accuracy and robustness of stock price forecasts. We also address the limitations of GANs and attention mechanisms separately used in stock price prediction, such as unrealistic data generation and overfitting, by employing regularization techniques and incorporating additional data sources. Experimental evaluations using real-world stock market data will be conducted to compare the performance of our proposed models with conventional approaches. The findings of this research have implications for investors, financial analysts, and other stakeholders who are engaged in the stock market ecosystem, providing valuable insights for the investment strategies.
Choice of alcohol over a natural reward: an experimental study in light and heavy social drinkers
Authors: Karlsson Hanna , Mcntyre Sarah , Gustavson Sarah , Andersson David , Szczot Ilona , Heilig Markus , Perini Irene
Published: October 2024

Rationale & Objectives

A core symptom of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a progressively increased choice of alcohol over alternative rewards despite negative consequences. Here, we investigated choice between personalized alcohol vs. natural rewards in a laboratory setting, and compared this behavior between non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers and light social drinkers.

Methods

30 light social drinkers (15 men drinking < 15 drinks/week and 15 women drinking < 10 drinks/week) and 30 heavy, non-treatment-seeking drinkers (drinking more than these levels; 15 women). In the Concurrent Choice Alcohol Food (CCAF) task, participants chose between individually tailored images of alcohol and snack rewards and collected points towards the respective reward. To assess cost sensitivity, points associated to the images varied so that they favored alcohol or snack, or were equal, creating three relative point levels.

Results

Choice preference for alcohol was strongly correlated with Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) scores, supporting the external validity of the choice procedure. Compared to light drinkers, heavy drinkers showed increased choice preference for alcohol, as indicated by a between-group difference in points of subjective equality, a metric that quantifies the relative point level at which alcohol and snacks were equally likely to be chosen. In both groups, choice preference strongly depended on the relative point level of alcohol compared to snacks, suggesting that responding for alcohol in heavy drinkers was sensitive to costs.

Conclusions

Our results replicate previous findings of a relationship between self-reported alcohol use and choice preference for alcohol. We also found that choice behavior was strongly dependent on relative cost of alcohol in both groups, although price sensitivity was lower in heavy compared to light drinkers. An increased choice preference for alcohol in heavy drinkers suggests that they attribute a higher relative reinforcing value to alcohol compared to natural rewards.
A snapshot of the Physcomitrella N-terminome reveals N-terminal methylation of organellar proteins
Authors: Hoernstein Sebastian N. W. , Schlosser Andreas , Fiedler Kathrin , van Gessel Nico , Igloi Gabor L. , Lang Daniel , Reski Ralf
Published: October 2024

Key message

Analysis of the N-terminome of Physcomitrella reveals N-terminal monomethylation of nuclear-encoded, mitochondria-localized proteins.

Post- or co-translational N-terminal modifications of proteins influence their half-life as well as mediating protein sorting to organelles via cleavable N-terminal sequences that are recognized by the respective translocation machinery. Here, we provide an overview on the current modification state of the N-termini of over 4500 proteins from the model moss Physcomitrella (Physcomitrium patens) using a compilation of 24 N-terminomics datasets. Our data reveal distinct proteoforms and modification states and confirm predicted targeting peptide cleavage sites of 1,144 proteins localized to plastids and the thylakoid lumen, to mitochondria, and to the secretory pathway. In addition, we uncover extended N-terminal methylation of mitochondrial proteins. Moreover, we identified PpNTM1 (P. patens alpha N-terminal protein methyltransferase 1) as a candidate for protein methylation in plastids, mitochondria, and the cytosol. These data can now be used to optimize computational targeting predictors, for customized protein fusions and their targeted localization in biotechnology, and offer novel insights into potential dual targeting of proteins.

Graphical abstract
A radiographic artificial intelligence tool to identify candidates suitable for partial knee arthroplasty
Authors: York Thomas J. , Szyszka Bartosz , Brivio Angela , Musbahi Omar , Barrett David , Cobb Justin P. , Jones Gareth G.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Knee osteoarthritis is a prevalent condition frequently necessitating knee replacement surgery, with demand projected to rise substantially. Partial knee arthroplasty (PKA) offers advantages over total knee arthroplasty (TKA), yet its utilisation remains low despite guidance recommending consideration alongside TKA in shared decision making. Radiographic decision aids exist but are underutilised due to clinician time constraints.

Materials and methods

This research develops a novel radiographic artificial intelligence (AI) tool using a dataset of knee radiographs and a panel of expert orthopaedic surgeons’ assessments. Six AI models were trained to identify PKA candidacy.

Results

1241 labelled four-view radiograph series were included. Models achieved statistically significant accuracies above random assignment, with EfficientNet-ES demonstrating the highest performance (AUC 95%, F1 score 83% and accuracy 80%).

Conclusions

The AI decision tool shows promise in identifying PKA candidates, potentially addressing underutilisation of this procedure. Its integration into clinical practice could enhance shared decision making and improve patient outcomes. Further validation and implementation studies are warranted to assess real-world utility and impact.
Resistance- and endurance-trained young men display comparable carotid artery strain parameters that are superior to untrained men
Authors: Hornby-Foster Ian , Richards Cory T. , Drane Aimee L. , Lodge Freya M. , Stembridge Michael , Lord Rachel N. , Davey Hannah , Yousef Zaheer , Pugh Christopher J. A.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Central arterial stiffness, a predictor of cardiovascular risk, attenuates with endurance-exercise in ageing populations. However, in young individuals, this effect is inconsistent and emerging evidence suggests resistance-exercise may increase arterial stiffness. Two-dimensional (2D)-Strain imaging of the common carotid artery (CCA) is more sensitive at detecting endurance-training induced alterations in CCA stiffness than conventional methods, but has not been used to examine CCA stiffness in young resistance-trained individuals. Therefore, we compared CCA 2D-Strain parameters at rest, during acute exercise and recovery between resistance-trained, endurance-trained, and untrained young men.

Methods

Short-axis CCA ultrasound images were obtained from 12 endurance-trained [27yrs (95%CI; 24–29)], 14 resistance-trained [24yrs (23–26)] and 12 untrained [23yrs (22–24] men at rest, during isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise and recovery. 2D-Strain analysis quantified CCA peak circumferential strain (PCS) and systolic (S-SR) and diastolic (D-SR) strain rates. Conventional stiffness indices included aortic pulse-wave velocity, CCA β-stiffness (β
1) and Petersons elastic modulus (E
p).

Results

Resting conventional stiffness indices were not different between groups (P > 0.05). Resting PCS and S-SR were comparable between resistance- [11.6% (10.6–12.5) and 1.46 s−1 (1.37–1.55), respectively] and endurance-trained [11.4% (10.7–12.2) and 1.5 s−1 (1.38–1.62)] men and superior to untrained men [9.5% (9.19–9.9); P < 0.004 and 1.24 s−1 (1.17 – 1.31); P < 0.018)]. Both trained groups displayed comparable reductions in PCS and S-SR during IHG, which returned to resting values during recovery (P < 0.001), whereas these parameters remained unchanged in untrained men. D-SR decreased during IHG in all groups (P < 0.001), but to a lesser extent in endurance-trained men (P < 0.023), whereas β
1 and E
p increased to a similar magnitude in all groups and returned to resting values during recovery (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Resistance- and endurance-trained men display comparable CCA 2D-Strain parameters that are superior to untrained men, which contends previous reports that resistance-training increases CCA stiffness.
Idiosyncratic gesture use in a mother-infant dyad in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the wild
Authors: van Boekholt Bas , Clark Isabelle , Lahiff Nicole J. , Lee Kevin C. , Slocombe Katie E. , Wilke Claudia , Pika Simone
Published: October 2024

One promising method to tackle the question, “In which modality did language evolve?” is by studying the ontogenetic trajectory of signals in human’s closest living relatives, including chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Concerning gestures, current debates centre on four different hypotheses: “phylogenetic ritualization”, “social transmission through imitation”, “ontogenetic ritualization”, and “social negotiation”. These differ in their predictions regarding idiosyncratic gestures, making such occurrences a crucial area of investigation. Here, we describe a novel and potential idiosyncratic behaviour — ‘hand-on-eye’ — which was initially observed in one mother-infant dyad in a community of chimpanzees living in the wild. We systematically investigated the form, sequential organisation, intentionality, usage, function, and distribution of the behaviour over a five-year period. The results showed that ‘hand-on-eye’ was nearly exclusively deployed in a single mother-infant dyad, was accompanied by hallmarks of intentionality, and served to initiate or resume joint dorsal travel. Although the behaviour was observed once in each of three other mother-infant dyads, these lacked the same frequency and hallmarks of intentionality. ‘Hand-on-eye’ thus qualifies as an idiosyncratic gesture. The proposed developmental pathway gives support to both the “ontogenetic ritualization” and “social negotiation” hypotheses. It also stresses the crucial need for longitudinal approaches to tackle developmental processes that are triggered by unique circumstances and unfold over relatively long time windows.
German Parents and Educators of Two to Four-Year-Old Children as Informants for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
Authors: Dubiel Simone , Cohen Franziska , Anders Yvonne
Published: October 2024

Screeners are used in early intervention and early childhood education and care programs to identify children’s potential need for further evaluation and diagnostics. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief behavioral screening instrument that can be completed by both parents and educators to assess the social and emotional traits of children. However, multiple informants’ reports vary. In this study, the extent to which parents’ (n = 241) and educators’ (n = 157) differ and agree in their assessments of children aged 3.5 years on average, was examined. T-tests were used to examine differences between informants and correlations within a multitrait-multimethod matrix (MTMM) in their agreement. Results showed moderate to high levels of rater agreement ranging from r = .35 and r = .53 on the five subscales of the SDQ. We found that hyperactivity, peer relationship problems, and prosocial behavior vary due to meaningful reasons, e.g., the home vs. pre-school setting, and the informant’s relationship towards the child. Hyperactivity seems to be relatively consistent across settings. Methodological variations might explain differences in emotional symptoms and conduct problems. Considering ratings from multiple informants outlines a more comprehensive view of children’s behavior and should be preferred over single-informant research designs.
Transitive path decompositions of Cartesian products of complete graphs
Authors: De Vas Gunasekara Ajani , Devillers Alice
Published: October 2024

An H-decomposition of a graph $$\Gamma $$
Γ
is a partition of its edge set into subgraphs isomorphic to H. A transitive decomposition is a special kind of H-decomposition that is highly symmetrical in the sense that the subgraphs (copies of H) are preserved and transitively permuted by a group of automorphisms of $$\Gamma $$
Γ
. This paper concerns transitive H-decompositions of the graph $$K_n \Box K_n$$

K
n

□

K
n

where H is a path. When n is an odd prime, we present a construction for a transitive path decomposition where the paths in the decomposition are considerably large compared to the number of vertices. Our main result supports well-known Gallai’s conjecture and an extended version of Ringel’s conjecture.
Binary cyclic-gap constant weight codes with low-complexity encoding and decoding
Authors: Sasidharan Birenjith , Viterbo Emanuele , Dau Son Hoang
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we focus on the design of binary constant weight codes that admit low-complexity encoding and decoding algorithms, and that have size $$M=2^k$$

M
=

2
k

so that codewords can conveniently be labeled with binary vectors of length k. For every integer $$\ell \ge 3$$

ℓ
≥
3

, we construct a $$(n=2^\ell , M=2^{k_{\ell }}, d=2)$$

(
n
=

2
ℓ

,
M
=

2

k
ℓ

,
d
=
2
)

constant weight code $${{{\mathcal {C}}}}[\ell ]$$

C
[
ℓ
]

of weight $$\ell $$
ℓ
by encoding information in the gaps between successive 1’s of a vector, and call them as cyclic-gap constant weight codes. The code is associated with a finite integer sequence of length $$\ell $$
ℓ
satisfying a constraint defined as anchor-decodability that is pivotal to ensure low complexity for encoding and decoding. The time complexity of the encoding algorithm is linear in the input size k, and that of the decoding algorithm is poly-logarithmic in the input size n, discounting the linear time spent on parsing the input. Both the algorithms do not require expensive computation of binomial coefficients, unlike the case in many existing schemes. Among codes generated by all anchor-decodable sequences, we show that $${{{\mathcal {C}}}}[\ell ]$$

C
[
ℓ
]

has the maximum size with $$k_{\ell } \ge \ell ^2-\ell \log _2\ell + \log _2\ell - 0.279\ell - 0.721$$

k
ℓ

≥

ℓ
2

-
ℓ

log
2

ℓ
+

log
2

ℓ
-
0.279
ℓ
-
0.721

. As k is upper bounded by $$\ell ^2-\ell \log _2\ell +O(\ell )$$

ℓ
2

-
ℓ

log
2

ℓ
+
O

(
ℓ
)

information-theoretically, the code $${{{\mathcal {C}}}}[\ell ]$$

C
[
ℓ
]

is optimal in its size with respect to two higher order terms of $$\ell $$
ℓ
. In particular, $$k_\ell $$

k
ℓ

meets the upper bound for $$\ell =3$$

ℓ
=
3

and one-bit away for $$\ell =4$$

ℓ
=
4

. On the other hand, we show that $${{{\mathcal {C}}}}[\ell ]$$

C
[
ℓ
]

is not unique in attaining $$k_{\ell }$$

k
ℓ

by constructing an alternate code $$\mathcal{{\hat{C}}}[\ell ]$$

C
^

[
ℓ
]

again parameterized by an integer $$\ell \ge 3$$

ℓ
≥
3

with a different low-complexity decoder, yet having the same size $$2^{k_{\ell }}$$

2

k
ℓ

when $$3 \le \ell \le 7$$

3
≤
ℓ
≤
7

. Finally, we also derive new codes by modifying $${{{\mathcal {C}}}}[\ell ]$$

C
[
ℓ
]

that offer a wider range on blocklength and weight while retaining low complexity for encoding and decoding. For certain selected values of parameters, these modified codes too have an optimal k.
Navigating the sea level rise: Exploring the interplay of climate change, sea level rise, and coastal communities in india
Authors: Das Ansuman , Swain Pranaya Kumar
Published: October 2024

This research article investigates the intricate interplay between climate change, global sea level rise (SLR), and the impacts of sea level rise on the coastal regions of India. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this paper provides an overview of the global consequences of SLR on coastal communities, exploring economic, social, and environmental impacts on agriculture, communities, and coastal areas. The study examines the displacement of communities and its impact on food security, infrastructure, tourism, and ecological loss based on a comprehensive literature review. This paper emphasizes the sustainable preservation of coastal ecosystems and the development of climate-resilient infrastructure. This research aims to offer a detailed understanding of the evolving landscape of coastal livelihoods, providing valuable insights for adaptive strategies, policy formulation, and sustainable development. Ultimately, this article contributes to the scientific discourse by shedding light on the complex dynamics between climate change, SLR, and coastal communities, guiding efforts toward a resilient and sustainable future. The insights are drawn from secondary data resources, including books, scholarly journals, and reports from organizations such as the IPCC and NOAA. Based on a thorough review of the relevant literature, it critically examines the existing and potential consequences of sea level rise induced by climate change.
Prediction and Inference: From Models and Data to Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Gammaitoni Luca , Vulpiani Angelo
Published: October 2024

In this paper we present a discussion of the basic aspects of the well-known problem of prediction and inference in physics, with specific attention to the role of models, the use of data and the application of recent developments in artificial intelligence. By focussing in the time evolution of dynamic system, it is shown that main difficulties in predictions arise due to the presence of few factors as: the occurrence of chaotic dynamics, the existence of many variables with very different characteristic time-scales and the lack of an accurate understanding of the underlying physical phenomena. It is shown that a crucial role is assigned to the preliminary identification of the proper variables, their selection and the identification of an appropriate level of description (coarse-graining procedure). Moreover, it is discussed the relevance, even in modern practical issues, of old well-known fundamental results, like the Poincaré recurrence theorem, the Kac’s lemma and the Richard’s paradox.
Long-term agricultural reclamation on the chemical properties of Technosols at lignite postmining site – efficiency of winter wheat and winter rape
Authors: Otremba Krzysztof , Kozłowski Michał , Tatuśko-Krygier Natalia , Korytowski Mariusz , Pająk Marek , Pietrzykowski Marcin , Diatta Jean , Nili Mohammed Seghir , Zięba Anna
Published: October 2024

Aims

Opencast lignite mining causes significant disturbances to the natural environment. It isn’t only the plant cover that is destroyed, also the soil cover is damaged. Soils are replaced by dumps with material composition that properties differ significantly from natural soils. Reclamation of these areas is necessary.

Methods

This study presents the effect of forty-three years of agricultural reclamation involving alternating winter wheat and winter rapeseed in three fertilization treatments: 0- (without fertilization), I-NPK and II-NPK on the chemical properties of Technosols.

Results

The investigation demonstrated that the Ap-horizon emerged in the case of I-NPK and II-NPK treatments. There was an improvement in chemical properties for the Ap-horizon as compared to 1978: soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) increased. The CaCO3 decreased, and SOC/TN ratio declined, while pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) remained unchanged. For the Technosols’ surface horizon of the 0-NPK, there were also temporal increases in TN and SOC with a decrease in the SOC/TN ratio, whereas P, K, pH, CEC and CaCO3 values did not change significantly.

Conclusion

In the 43-year-old post-mining Technosols, under the effect of fertilization and cultivated plants, the Ap horizon has formed, while in the non-fertilized soil the AC and CA horizons. Soil that were fertilized had significantly higher SOC, TN, P and K values in the surface horizon than minesoils without fertilization. In the subsurface horizons, the properties of minesoils were similar regardless of fertilization.
Defining Native American
Authors: Schiappa Edward
Published: October 2024

This paper explores the question of who is defined as a Native American within the jurisdictions of the United States. Determining individual status can be seen as a two-step process: Is a given individual recognized by a specific tribe as a member? Then, is that specific tribe acknowledged by a relevant governmental unit? Though both seem simple questions, this paper illustrates that the question “Is Person X a Native American?” sometimes can be quite fraught, and manifests what I have described previously as definitional gaps and definitional ruptures. Ultimately, as is typical of regulatory definitions, the choice of definitional criteria to apply is a question of values, interests, and politics. I begin with a description of the varied definitional frameworks at work in determinations of whether a given group of people constitute a recognized tribe, then note how tribes themselves are institutions empowered to define who does or does not count as members through practices of enrollment and disenrollment. I then describe three case studies of definitional phenomena—one as a case of a definitional gap (college professors described as “Pretendians”), the second as a case of definitional rupture (determining Native American eligibility for free tuition within the University of California system), and a third as an illustration of regulatory versus self-definition (U.S. Census practices).
Implementation and Utility of the Da Vinci SP (Single Port) in Pediatric Urology
Authors: Arney Lucas A. , Bissette Randall G. , Smith Jordan M. , Bayne Christopher E.
Published: October 2024

Purpose of Review

Detail the evolution, utility, and future directions of the da Vinci SP® in pediatric urology, focusing on perioperative outcomes and intraoperative details.

Recent Findings

The SP has been safely and successfully utilized in various pediatric urological procedures, from pyeloplasty to nephroureterectomy to appendicovesicostomy. Reports indicate mixed operative times but similar hospital stays and postoperative outcomes compared to multiport (MP) robotic surgery. The learning curve for transitioning from MP to SP systems in pediatric patients appears manageable, though the smaller abdominal circumference in children poses a notable challenge. This review assumes that SP systems will primarily be acquired for adult services, not considering initial and ongoing costs to hospital systems.

The SP serves as a complementary option, rather than a replacement, for MP robotic surgery in pediatric urology, offering potential advantages in specific scenarios. Cosmetic outcomes with the SP appear at least as favorable as MP surgery, but further research is needed. Future research should focus on patient-centered outcomes to optimize SP robotic surgery use in pediatric patients.
Towards fault-tolerance of IMA with safe dynamic reconfiguration
Authors: Schubert Tim , Friedrich Sven , Zaeske Wanja , Durak Umut
Published: October 2024

Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) is essential to modern avionics. It increases the possibilities for reuse of software and hardware resources by system integrators, through the use of standardized communication interfaces and operating system services. Meanwhile, the safety requirements of DO-297 dictate that the system architecture must prevent common cause failures and that a single failure cannot disable any critical function. As a result, critical functions have to be allocated redundantly to additional resources at integration-time. In the spirit of IMA, it may be desirable to pool together these resources so that they can be allocated to any critical function at run-time. For this, a way to redefine the communication between individual allocations of functions is necessary. In this paper, we demonstrate and evaluate a prototypical implementation of a message router that allows us to dynamically reconfigure the communication between the allocated functions, using only standardized communication interfaces and operating system services of ARINC 653. We discuss the safety implications of such an approach and how it may be possible to mitigate them, evaluate the feasibility of our approach using a combination of end-to-end delay measurements and on-target tracing, and verify our assumptions about the individual factors contributing to the end-to-end delay using a discrete event simulation. We find that the approach is feasible, but the usefulness for critical functions is limited by the communications overhead from routing the messages, insufficient real-time guarantees of standardized operating system services, and missing global time synchronization.