bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bosonic near-CFT1 models from Fock-space fluxes
Authors: Jia Yiyang
Published: July 2024

Abstract

We construct a family of near-CFT1 models with a conserved U(1) charge, whose basic degrees of freedom are canonical bosons. The Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model — the first microscopic model that realizes the near-CFT1 dynamics — is based on random p-local interactions among fermions. However, a bosonic near-CFT1 model has remained elusive in the p-local approach because such constructions generally suffer from unwanted orderings at low temperatures. Our construction is based on a recent insight that near-CFT1 dynamics can quite generally arise if we place a large amount of random fluxes in a many-body Fock space and p-locality is not essential. All such models are essentially solved by chord diagrams regardless of the nature of the underlying degrees of freedom. We further argue that such bosonic models do not suffer from energetic instablities or unwanted low-temperature orderings. For comparison we also consider a second class of charge-conserving models which are based on qubits. The thermodynamic scalings of these models are very similar to those of the double-scaled complex SYK model but are free of certain singularities the latter suffers from. We also show the level statistics of both models are described by random matrix theory universality down to very low energies.
A criterion for sequential Cohen-Macaulayness
Authors: Caviglia Giulio , De Stefani Alessandro
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this note is to show that a finitely generated graded module M over $$S=k[x_1,\ldots ,x_n]$$

S
=
k
[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]

, k a field, is sequentially Cohen-Macaulay if and only if its arithmetic degree $${\text {adeg}}(M)$$

adeg
(
M
)

agrees with $${\text {adeg}}(F/{\text {gin}}_\textrm{revlex}(U))$$

adeg
(
F
/

gin
revlex

(
U
)

)

, where F is a graded free S-module and $$M \cong F/U$$

M
≅
F
/
U

. This answers positively a conjecture of Lu and Yu from 2016.
Individual Placement and Support in der psychiatrischen Versorgung: Evaluation klinischer Routinedaten mittels eines retrospektiven Chart-Reviews
Authors: Jäckel Dorothea , Leopold Karolina , Bechdolf Andreas
Published: July 2024

Hintergrund

Menschen mit schweren psychischen Erkrankungen sind häufig aus dem Arbeitsleben exkludiert und wünschen im Rahmen der psychiatrischen Behandlung Unterstützung bei der (Wieder)aufnahme einer Arbeit auf dem allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt. Individual Placement and Support (IPS) ist ein wirksames Verfahren, Arbeit auf dem allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt zu finden und zu halten. Ziel der Arbeit war die Ermittlung der Eingliederungsraten von IPS auf den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt im akuten und postakuten psychiatrischen Setting sowie die Identifikation von Patienten‑, Setting- und Programmmerkmalen, die mit der (Wieder)aufnahme von Arbeit assoziiert waren.

Methodik

Retrospektiver Chart-Review (RCR) klinischer Routinedaten zwischen 2016 und 2021. Rating der IPS-Programmtreue mithilfe der IPS-Fidelity-Scale.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt 375 Patienten nahmen mit mindestens vier Terminen am IPS teil. Die (Wieder)eingliederungsrate auf den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt betrug 51,7 %. Eine kürzere Zeitspanne zum letzten Arbeitstag, die Diagnosen F1, F2, F3 (vs. F4), ein Wechsel des Behandlungssettings und IPS in der psychiatrischen Institutsambulanz (PIA), IPS-Fidelity sowie die Anzahl der IPS-Coachings waren positiv mit der (Wieder)aufnahme von Arbeit korreliert.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die Umsetzung von IPS in der klinischen Versorgung ist möglich und führt zu hohen Eingliederungsraten auf dem allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt. Ein früher Beginn von IPS während der klinischen Behandlung kann die soziale Inklusion fördern.
Community, solidarity and care through data? An ethical analysis of the interpersonal dimension of self-tracking
Authors: Wieczorek Michał
Published: July 2024

This paper discusses the interpersonal dimension of self-tracking technologies from the standpoint of Dewey’s pragmatist ethics. Users of self-tracking routinely exchange data with others, interact through social features embedded in their tools, and form communities focused on the sharing and discussion of data. I employ Dewey’s notion of transaction to discuss how self-quantification impacts users’ perception of others and how it mediates interpersonal relations. In Dewey’s ethics engagement with others is a fundamental part of moral life and individual flourishing can only be achieved in social contexts and through the extension of care towards other people. The ethical ideals and epistemic concepts present in pragmatism allow me to argue that despite claims that self-tracking technologies lead to the formation of communities, pro-social instincts exist prior to the adoption of the devices and self-tracking actually inhibits the formation of mutually uplifting social bonds. In my discussion, I focus on the degree of epistemic distance that makes genuine engagement with others difficult, limits to transactional agency that prohibits users from deciding how they are perceived by others, and the reductive and instrumental nature of interactions embedded in the social features of self-tracking technologies. Moreover, I also analyse some political aspects of community-formation in the context of self-quantification and criticise the ownership structures of data and infrastructure that limit communities’ political agency.
Microstructural evolution and mechanical behavior of activated tungsten inert gas welded joint between P91 steel and Incoloy 800HT
Authors: Bhanu Vishwa , Manoj J. , Gupta Ankur , Fydrych Dariusz , Pandey Chandan
Published: July 2024

This study examines the welded joint between P91 steel and Incoloy 800HT using the activated tungsten inert gas (A-TIG) welding process. The focus is on analyzing the microstructure and evaluating the mechanical properties of joints made with different compositions of activating flux. Owing to the reversal of the Marangoni effect in which the conventional direction of molten metal flow in the weld pool is reversed due to the application of oxide-based fluxes, a complete depth of penetration of 8 mm was successfully achieved. Conducting mechanical tests, such as microhardness, tensile, and Charpy impact toughness tests, elucidates the behavior of the welded specimens under different loading conditions. The findings highlight the effects of grain size, dislocations, and the evolution of fine-sized precipitates in the high-temperature matrix. This study highlights the importance of choosing suitable flux compositions to achieve consistent penetration and dilution in the base metals. Insights into different failure modes and the influence of temperature on the tensile strength were evaluated. Beneficial mechanical properties of the joints (meeting the criteria of ISO and ASTM standards) were found: ultimate tensile strength of 585 ± 5 MPa, elongation 38 ± 2%, impact toughness of 96 ± 5 J, and maximum microhardness of 345 ± 5 HV.
Optimizing hemostasis in HoLEP surgery: retrospective review of selective bipolar plasmakinetic technology guided by bladder irrigation fluid color
Authors: Hu Hengda , Chen Wenpu , Ma Weixiong , Yu Chengshuai , He Qirui , Tang Jinrong , Yu Guofeng
Published: July 2024

Object

To evaluate the effectiveness of selective bipolar plasmakinetic technology based on bladder irrigation fluid color on hemostasis in HoLEP surgwery

Methods

A total of 209 patients who underwent HoLEP surgery from October 2021 to July 2023 were included and divided into Hemostasis Management Group and control group. the color of the irrigation fluid was categorized into 5 levels and the bipolar plasmakinetic technology was applied when the color came to level 4 or up. The following was analyzed: postoperative use of balloon compression, blood loss, irrigation time, length of hospital stay, and the number of a second operation.

Results

Only 4 patients in Hemostasis Management Group required postoperative urinary catheter balloon compression, while there are 15 in the control group(p=0.03). The average irrigation time for patients in the HM Group with bipolar plasmakinetic hemostasis was 21.88±13.76 hours, compared to that in patients with catheter balloon compression(p=0.007).

Conclusion

Based on the bladder irrigation color chart, the selective application of bipolar plasmakinetic hemostasis led to a significant reduction in the number of patients requiring postoperative bladder catheter balloon compression. Secondly, the irrigation time of patients who underwent bipolar plasmakinetic hemostasis also decreased.
Amyloid-β peptide signature associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy in familial Alzheimer’s disease with APPdup and Down syndrome
Authors: Kasri Amal , Camporesi Elena , Gkanatsiou Eleni , Boluda Susana , Brinkmalm Gunnar , Stimmer Lev , Ge Junyue , Hanrieder Jörg , Villain Nicolas , Duyckaerts Charles , Vermeiren Yannick , Pape Sarah E. , Nicolas Gaël , Laquerrière Annie , De Deyn Peter Paul , Wallon David , Blennow Kaj , Strydom Andre , Zetterberg Henrik , Potier Marie-Claude
Published: July 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by extracellular amyloid plaques containing amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles, extracellular neuropil threads, and dystrophic neurites surrounding plaques composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein (pTau). Aβ can also deposit in blood vessel walls leading to cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). While amyloid plaques in AD brains are constant, CAA varies among cases. The study focuses on differences observed between rare and poorly studied patient groups with APP duplications (APPdup) and Down syndrome (DS) reported to have higher frequencies of elevated CAA levels in comparison to sporadic AD (sAD), most of APP mutations, and controls. We compared Aβ and tau pathologies in postmortem brain tissues across cases and Aβ peptides using mass spectrometry (MS). We further characterized the spatial distribution of Aβ peptides with MS-brain imaging. While intraparenchymal Aβ deposits were numerous in sAD, DS with AD (DS-AD) and AD with APP mutations, these were less abundant in APPdup. On the contrary, Aβ deposits in the blood vessels were abundant in APPdup and DS-AD while only APPdup cases displayed high Aβ deposits in capillaries. Investigation of Aβ peptide profiles showed a specific increase in Aβx-37, Aβx-38 and Aβx-40 but not Aβx-42 in APPdup cases and to a lower extent in DS-AD cases. Interestingly, N-truncated Aβ2-x peptides were particularly increased in APPdup compared to all other groups. This result was confirmed by MS-imaging of leptomeningeal and parenchymal vessels from an APPdup case, suggesting that CAA is associated with accumulation of shorter Aβ peptides truncated both at N- and C-termini in blood vessels. Altogether, this study identified striking differences in the localization and composition of Aβ deposits between AD cases, particularly APPdup and DS-AD, both carrying three genomic copies of the APP gene. Detection of specific Aβ peptides in CSF or plasma of these patients could improve the diagnosis of CAA and their inclusion in anti-amyloid immunotherapy treatments.
The highest work rate associated with a predominantly aerobic contribution coincides with the highest work rate at which VO2max can be attained
Authors: Peker Arda , As Hakan , Kaya Erkutay , Balci Gorkem Aybars , Ozkaya Ozgur
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To estimate the highest power output at which predominant energy contribution is derived from the aerobic system (aerobic limit power: ALP) and to compare ALP with the upper boundary of the severe intensity exercise domain.

Methods

Fifteen male individuals participated in this study. The upper boundary was estimated using i) linear relationship between time to achieve $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
˙

O2max and time to task failure (PUPPERBOUND), ii) hyperbolic relationships between time to achieve $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
˙

O2max vs. power output, and time to task failure vs. power output (PUPPERBOUND´), and iii) precalculated $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
˙

O2max demand (IHIGH). ALP was estimated by aerobic, lactic, and phospholytic energy contributions using $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
˙

O2 response, blood [lactate] response, and fast component of recovery $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
˙

O2 kinetics, respectively.

Results

ALP was determined as the highest power output providing predominant aerobic contribution; however, anaerobic pathways became the predominant energy source when ALP was exceeded by 5% (ALP + 5%) (from 46 to 52%; p = 0.003; ES:0.69). The $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
˙

O2 during exercise at ALP was not statistically different from $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
˙

O2max (p > 0.05), but $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
˙

O2max could not be attained at ALP + 5% (p < 0.01; ES:0.63). ALP was similar to PUPPERBOUND and PUPPERBOUND´ (383 vs. 379 and 384 W; p > 0.05). There was a close agreement between ALP and PUPPERBOUND (r: 0.99; Bias: − 3 W; SEE: 6 W; TE: 8 W; LoA: − 17 to 10 W) and PUPPERBOUND´ (r: 0.98; Bias: 1 W; SEE: 8 W; TE: 8 W; LoA: − 15 to 17 W). ALP, PUPPERBOUND, and PUPPERBOUND´ were greater than IHIGH (339 ± 53 W; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

ALP may provide a new perspective to intensity domain framework.
Early and delayed periprosthetic joint infection in robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty: a multicenter study
Authors: Burgio Carmelo , Bosco Francesco , Rovere Giuseppe , Giustra Fortunato , Lo Bue Giorgia , Petillo Antonio , Lucenti Ludovico , Palumbo Gaetano , Camarda Lawrence
Published: July 2024

Background

Robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) has significantly improved knee surgery outcomes in the last few years. However, its association with the periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) rate remains debatable. This study investigates the incidence of early and delayed PJI in a multicentric cohort of patients who underwent RA-TKA, aiming to elucidate the risk associated with this procedure.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed data from a consecutive series of patients who underwent RA-TKA using the NAVIO Surgical System (Smith & Nephew, Memphis, USA) between 2020 and 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed individuals over 18 years of age with a minimum follow-up period of three months. The primary outcome was the incidence of early and delayed PJI, defined according to the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS) diagnostic criteria. Secondary outcomes included the evaluation of postoperative complications.

Results

The study included patients who underwent RA-TKA with the NAVIO system, achieving an average follow-up of 9.1 ± 3.9 months. None of the patients met the EBJIS criteria for a likely or confirmed infection, indicating an absence of both early and delayed PJI cases. Two patients required subsequent surgical interventions due to patellar maltracking and prosthetic loosening, respectively. Additionally, three patients underwent passive manipulation under anesthesia (MUA).

Conclusion

The findings indicate no evidence of early or delayed PJI in patients undergoing RA-TKA within the study period. The low complication rate further supports the reliability and safety of this surgical technique in short-term follow-up.

Level of evidence

IV.
Differentiated metabolomic profiling reveals plasma amino acid signatures for primary glomerular disease
Authors: Wang Jiao , Zhou Chunyu , Lu Liqian , Wang Shoujun , Zhang Qing , Liu Zhangsuo
Published: July 2024

Primary glomerular disease (PGD) is an idiopathic cause of renal glomerular lesions that is characterized by proteinuria or hematuria and is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The identification of circulating biomarkers for the diagnosis of PGD requires a thorough understanding of the metabolic defects involved. In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was performed to characterize the amino acid (AA) profiles of patients with pathologically diagnosed PGD, including minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy, and immunoglobulin A nephropathy. The plasma concentrations of asparagine and ornithine were low, and that of aspartic acid was high, in patients with all the pathologic types of PGD, compared to healthy controls. Two distinct diagnostic models were generated using the differential plasma AA profiles using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses, with areas under the curves of 1.000 and accuracies up to 100.0% in patients with MCD and FSGS. In conclusion, the progression of PGD is associated with alterations in AA profiles, The present findings provide a theoretical basis for the use of AAs as a non-invasive, real-time, rapid, and simple biomarker for the diagnosis of various pathologic types of PGD.
Kufor-Rakeb syndrome-associated psychosis: a novel loss-of-function ATP13A2 variant and response to antipsychotic therapy
Authors: Colijn Mark Ainsley , Vrijsen Stephanie , Au Ping Yee Billie , Abou El Asrar Rania , Houdou Marine , Van den Haute Chris , Sarna Justyna , Montgomery Greg , Vangheluwe Peter
Published: July 2024

Biallelic (autosomal recessive) pathogenic variants in ATP13A2 cause a form of juvenile-onset parkinsonism, termed Kufor-Rakeb syndrome. In addition to motor symptoms, a variety of other neurological and psychiatric symptoms may occur in affected individuals, including supranuclear gaze palsy and cognitive decline. Although psychotic symptoms are often reported, response to antipsychotic therapy is not well described in previous case reports/series. As such, we describe treatment response in an individual with Kufor-Rakeb syndrome-associated psychosis. His disease was caused by a homozygous novel loss-of-function ATP13A2 variant (NM_022089.4, c.1970_1975del) that was characterized in this study. Our patient exhibited a good response to quetiapine monotherapy, which he has so far tolerated well. We also reviewed the literature and summarized all previous descriptions of antipsychotic treatment response. Although its use has infrequently been described in Kufor-Rakeb syndrome, quetiapine is commonly used in other degenerative parkinsonian disorders, given its lower propensity to cause extrapyramidal symptoms. As such, quetiapine should be considered in the treatment of Kufor-Rakeb syndrome-associated psychosis when antipsychotic therapy is deemed necessary.
The Emotion Authenticity Recognition (EAR) test: normative data of an innovative test using dynamic emotional stimuli to evaluate the ability to recognize the authenticity of emotions expressed by faces
Authors: Scarpazza Cristina , Gramegna Chiara , Costa Cristiano , Pezzetta Rachele , Saetti Maria Cristina , Preti Alice Naomi , Difonzo Teresa , Zago Stefano , Bolognini Nadia
Published: July 2024

Despite research has massively focused on how emotions conveyed by faces are perceived, the perception of emotions’ authenticity is a topic that has been surprisingly overlooked. Here, we present the Emotion Authenticity Recognition (EAR) test, a test specifically developed using dynamic stimuli depicting authentic and posed emotions to evaluate the ability of individuals to correctly identify an emotion (emotion recognition index, ER Index) and classify its authenticity (authenticity recognition index (EA Index). The EAR test has been validated on 522 healthy participants and normative values are provided. Correlations with demographic characteristics, empathy and general cognitive status have been obtained revealing that both indices are negatively correlated with age, and positively with education, cognitive status and different facets of empathy. The EAR test offers a new ecological test to assess the ability to detect emotion authenticity that allow to explore the eventual social cognitive deficit even in patients otherwise cognitively intact.
Reduced fitness in losers of leg-biting male combat compared to uncontested males in Zophobas atratus
Authors: Matsuura Teruhisa , Miyatake Takahisa
Published: July 2024

Sexual dimorphism and male combat are observed in many species. Often, the outcome of male combat affects the outcome of subsequent combats, mating success, number of sperm, and fitness of the male’s offspring. Also, the quantity and quality of sperm may be regulated by winning or losing, depending on species ecology and mating system. However, very few studies have experimentally examined the influence of fight outcomes on male offspring fitness. We studied male combat in the giant mealworm (Zophobas atratus) in which males bite each other’s hind legs. We hypothesized that subsequent fitness could differ between winners and losers in the escalated male combat of this species. We measured several fitness traits including the number of eggs laid by mated females, and the number of hatches sired by uncontested males, winners, and losers in escalated and non-escalated combat, and compared the fitness of each winner and loser to that of an uncontested male. We also measured mating duration. The numbers of eggs and the percentages of hatched eggs of losers in the escalated combat were significantly reduced compared to that of the uncontested males. This reduction may be due to injuries from escalated leg- biting fights and a result of the sperm amount of the uncontested males being greater than that of the loser males.
Exploring necrosis-associated mitochondrial gene signatures: revealing their role in prognosis and immunotherapy of renal clear cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhipeng , Zheng Fuchun , Wei Shiliang , Li Sheng , Xiong Situ , Zhang Lei , Wan Liangwei , Xu Songhui , Deng Jun , Liu Xiaoqiang
Published: July 2024

Mitochondrial dysfunction and necrotic apoptosis, pivotal in therapeutic strategies for multiple diseases, lack comprehensive understanding in the context of renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC). This study explores their potential as valuable tools for ccRCC prediction, prevention, and personalized medical care. Transcriptomic and clinical datasets were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) repository. Mitochondrial and necrosis-associated gene sets were sourced from MitoCarta3.0 and the KEGG Pathway databases, respectively. Six necrosis-related mitochondrial genes (nc-MTGs) with prognostic significance were analyzed and screened, and a prognostic model was constructed. The accuracy of the model was verified using external data (E-MTAB-1980). TISCH was used to explore nc-MTGs at the cellular level. Finally, the expression level of BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID) in ccRCC cell line was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the effect of BID down-regulation on tumor cell migration was verified by transwell assays and wound-healing experiments. We established and validated a prognostic model for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) utilizing six necrosis-related mitochondrial genes (nc-MTGs), affirming its efficacy in evaluating tumor progression. RT-PCR results showed that BID expression was up-regulated in ccRCC tissues compared with controls and exhibited oncogenic effects. In vitro cell function experiments showed that BID may be an important factor affecting the migration of ccRCC. Our study is the first to elucidate the biological functions and prognostic significance of mitochondrial molecules related to necroptosis, providing a new way to evaluate mitochondrial therapeutics in patients with ccRCC.
The influence of heavy metals on cytotoxicity in Tilapia zillii
Authors: Abass Nermeen Y.
Published: July 2024

The present study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic effects and bioaccumulation of heavy metals iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) in different parts (muscle, gills, and liver) of Tilapia zillii occurring in polluted drainage canal and fish farm, which is located in Abiece region in front of village number 10, Alexandria governorate, Egypt. Results of water analysis revealed the concentration of Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Cr exceeded the limits defined by the American Public Health Association (APHA) in the polluted drainage canal. In addition, the concentration of Ni elevated to the standard limits of APHA and Cu was not detected in the fish farm. Different types of chromosomal aberrations were recorded (e.g., stickiness, fragmented chromosomes, centromeric gaps, chromatid break, chromatid deletion, and tetraploid). Micronucleus frequency was found to be 5.58 in the polluted drainage canal group and 0.32 in the fish farm group. Other nuclear abnormalities such as blebbed nucleus, segmented nucleus, enucleated erythrocyte, kidney-shaped nucleus, heart-shaped nucleus, polymorphic irregular nuclei, binucleated cell, nuclear fragmented erythrocyte, long nucleus, putative fragmented notched nucleus, lobed nuclei, fused erythrocytes, necrotic erythrocyte, and vacuolated nucleus were recorded. The total of erythrocytes nuclear morphological abnormalities was 70.33% in the polluted drainage canal and 1.78% in the fish farm.
A Qualitative Content Analysis of Perceived Individual and Relational Consequences of Sexual Compliance and Their Contributors
Authors: Gunst Annika , Alanko Katarina , Nickull Sabina , Dewitte Marieke , Källström Marianne , Antfolk Jan , Jern Patrick
Published: July 2024

Sexual compliance (i.e., consensually engaging in sex despite a lack of desire for it) is common in committed intimate relationships, but the consequences of compliance for the well-being of the individual and the relationship are poorly understood. We investigated the perceived consequences of sexual compliance and perceptions of factors contributing to negative/positive consequences by applying qualitative content analysis to free-text retrospective survey responses from 107 (mostly) Finnish adults. We identified five themes of personal consequences (emotions and mood, sexual experience, sexual desire, pressure and violations, and physical pain), four of relational consequences (relationship satisfaction, partner’s response, relationship interaction, and value alignment), and nine of possible factors contributing to negative/positive consequences (communication, self-esteem, motives for sex, relationship factors, agency and self-knowledge, mental health and stress, psychological flexibility, societal norms, and past negative experiences). Perceived consequences varied widely across individuals, both in terms of whether any positive or negative consequences were experienced and whether compliance was perceived as improving or worsening specific domains of well-being. We discuss the themes identified in relation to previous theories of sexuality and intimate relationships and offer hypotheses that can be tested in future quantitative studies.
How different is different? Systematically identifying distribution shifts and their impacts in NER datasets
Authors: Li Xue , Groth Paul
Published: July 2024

When processing natural language, we are frequently confronted with the problem of distribution shift. For example, using a model trained on a news corpus to subsequently process legal text exhibits reduced performance. While this problem is well-known, to this point, there has not been a systematic study of detecting shifts and investigating the impact shifts have on model performance for NLP tasks. Therefore, in this paper, we detect and measure two types of distribution shift, across three different representations, for 12 benchmark Named Entity Recognition datasets. We show that both input shift and label shift can lead to dramatic performance degradation. For example, fine-tuning on a wide spectrum dataset (OntoNotes) and testing on an email dataset (CEREC) that shares labels leads to a 63-points drop in F1 performance. Overall, our results indicate that the measurement of distribution shift can provide guidance to the amount of data needed for fine-tuning and whether or not a model can be used “off-the-shelf” without subsequent fine-tuning. Finally, our results show that shift measurement can play an important role in NLP model pipeline definition.
Population genetic structure of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) at the northern edge of the Pannonian Basin
Authors: Mikulíček Peter , Papežík Petr , Danko Stanislav , Dankovics Róbert , Gruľa Daniel , Halpern Bálint , Havaš Peter , Heltai Botond , Horváth Enikő , Kušík Tomáš , Puchala Peter , Schindler Maria , Vongrej Viliam , Uhrin Marcel
Published: July 2024

Populations of plants and animals at the edge of a species’ range may exhibit lower genetic diversity due to a combination of historical (e.g., postglacial dispersal) and contemporary (e.g., low effective population size, strong genetic drift or bottlenecks) processes. In this study, we analysed the genetic structure of populations of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the northern part of the Pannonian Basin (Slovakia, Hungary, Austria), which represents the edge of the species’ range. Using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite markers, we aimed to assign individuals and populations into phylogeographic lineages and to determine genetic variation and population structure. Our study revealed that most individuals from natural populations belong to mtDNA lineage II (widely distributed haplotype IIa, and likely endemic haplotypes IIl and IIo), which is typical for the whole Pannonian region. However, non-native haplotypes were detected in one Slovak population (haplotype Ib) and in the Austrian Donau Auen National Park (haplotype IVa). Microsatellite markers revealed high variability comparable to that in other parts of the range, suggesting that marginal populations may not necessarily have reduced genetic diversity. A genetically mixed population was found in the Donau Auen National Park, consisting of turtles belonging to mtDNA lineage II (taxonomically assessed as subspecies E. orbicularis orbicularis) and lineage IV (taxonomically assessed as E. orbicularis hellenica), which is native to the circum-Adriatic region. The admixture suggests intense hybridization and introgression between the two lineages (subspecies).
Genetic diversity in the traditional cultivars and wild ancestor of near-threatened Japanese iris (Iris ensata Thunb.)
Authors: Mimura Makiko , Takeuchi Marina , Kobayashi Takayuki , Hirota Shun K. , Suyama Yoshihisa , Yamaguchi Hirofumi , Tabuchi Toshihito
Published: July 2024

Wild relatives of cultivars are crucial sources of genetic variation for further enhancement, yet they face potential threats due to contemporary environmental changes. Iris ensata var. spontanea, a wild progenitor of the Japanese iris cultivars (I. ensata var. ensata), is extensively cultivated in Japanese gardens, is distributed across mesic meadows and wetlands in Japan and East Asia. This species is currently threatened owing to habitat loss linked to land use alterations. We assessed genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in 32 wild accessions and the 14 principal Edo Group of Japanese iris cultivars, originally bred during the Edo period (1600–1868). In the phylogenetic tree, the cultivars formed a cluster with reduced inbreeding coefficients, suggesting a singular origin and interbreeding between the genetically distinct accessions. Conversely, wild accessions exhibited greater overall genetic diversity and higher inbreeding coefficients than cultivars, indicating frequent inbreeding within divergent natural populations. Our findings highlight the distinct genetic reservoirs of both wild accessions and Edo cultivars, although the former may face inbreeding challenges. Urgent conservation action is needed to ensure the genetic diversity of wild populations as natural resources.
ARTEMIS: a Context-Aware Recommendation System with Crowding Forecaster for the Touristic Domain
Authors: Migliorini Sara , Vecchia Anna Dalla , Belussi Alberto , Quintarelli Elisa
Published: July 2024

Recommendation systems are becoming an invaluable assistant not only for users, who may be disoriented in the presence of a huge number of different alternatives, but also for service providers or sellers, who would like to be able to guide the choice of customers toward particular items with specific characteristics. This influence capability can be particularly useful in the tourism domain, where the need to manage the industry in a more sustainable way and the ability to predict and control the level of crowding of PoIs (Points of Interest) have become more pressing in recent years. In this paper, we study the role of contextual information in determining both PoI occupations and user preferences, and we explore how machine learning and deep learning techniques can help produce good recommendations for users by enriching historical information with its contextual counterpart. As a result, we propose the architecture of ARTEMIS, a context-Aware Recommender sysTEM wIth crowding forecaSting, able to learn and forecast user preferences and occupation levels based on historical contextual features. Throughout the paper, we refer to a real-world application scenario regarding the tourist visits performed in Verona, a municipality in Northern Italy, between 2014 and 2019.
The interplay of temperature, light, and substrate type in driving growth and reproduction of an important tropical crustose coralline alga
Authors: Fong Jenny , Jackson Timothy L. , Flores Florita , Antunes Elsa , Abdul Wahab Muhammad Azmi , Negri Andrew P. , Diaz-Pulido Guillermo
Published: July 2024

Crustose coralline algae (CCA) from the genus Titanoderma are reported to induce high levels of coral larval settlement across a wide diversity of species. Consequently, Titanoderma is a promising taxon to cultivate in aquaculture facilities for application in coral reef restoration projects. However, knowledge on the optimum conditions to promote growth and reproduction in Titanoderma is limited. To investigate this, we cultured adult fragments of Titanoderma sp. at two temperatures (27.5 or 30 °C) and two light levels (mean maximum midday irradiance of 10 or 40 µmol photons m−2 s−1) on three different tile materials (CaCO3, concrete, or PVC). We found that the combination of 27.5 °C and 40 µmol photons m−2 s−1 were best for adult fragment growth. Greater number of conceptacles were formed under higher light intensities, while temperature did not have an influence. Sporeling settlement and subsequent growth into juveniles were only evident at 40 µmol photons m−2 s−1, with substantially higher recruitment on substrates made of concrete. These results provide important insights for developing optimal conditions to cultivate Titanoderma sp. in aquaculture facilities to support reef restoration projects using sexually produced corals.
Exploring Basalt: A Methodological Framework for Analysing Wear Traces on Basalt Tools
Authors: Asryan Lena , Rots Veerle
Published: July 2024

Basalt is a widely used raw material for tool manufacture at prehistoric sites, but a unified methodology for assessing how hominfins used basalt in prehistory is lacking. A comprehensive experimental investigation of basalt tools is, thus, necessary to establish a reliable methodological framework that can be used to explore the functional properties of archaeological basalt assemblages.

The aim of this study is to contribute to the development of a methodological framework for the analysis of use-wear on basalt tools. Basalt, characterised by its distinct mechanical and structural properties and unique response to mechanical stress, requires specialised treatment and investigation.

To address this, our basalt varieties were characterised using SEM–EDS analysis. Sequential experiments were conducted, using the experimental basalt tools in different activities, including butchery, hide, bone and woodworking to determine use-wear formation patterns. Subsequentially, various analytical tools, including optical and scanning electron microscopes, were used to analyse macro- and micro-wear traces on basalt.

Our results provide useful information on methodological aspects of use-wear formation on basalt. The inclusion of detailed cleaning and experimental protocols enhanced the robustness of our methodology. Furthermore, the combined utilisation of various microscopes enabled to compile a comprehensive and complementary information on such a complex raw material such as basalt and to characterise thoroughly the diagnostic features of the micro-wear traces (e.g. edge damage, rounding, polish).
Synthesis of Bi2S3-sensitized TiO2 photoanodes for enhanced photovoltaic performance in solar cell application
Authors: Supekar Abhijit T. , Bhujbal Pankaj K. , Mujawar Almas M. , Jadkar Sandesh R. , Shaikh Shoyebmohamad F. , Rathod Sopan M. , Kowshik Suhas , Naik Nithesh
Published: July 2024

The synthesis of Bi2S3 nanoparticles for sensitizing TiO2 photoanodes were synthesized through a cost-effective and straightforward approach using modified chemical bath deposition (M-CBD) or successive ionic atomic layer adsorption reactions (SILAR) at room temperature. Initially, a TiO2 seed layer was synthesized at room temperature via the chemical bath deposition method, followed by deposition of a mesoporous TiO2 layer using the doctor blade method. This study investigated the influence of the number of SILAR cycles and the choice of counter electrodes on the performance of Bi2S3/TiO2-based photoelectrodes. Characterization of the prepared Bi2S3/TiO2 photoanode involved various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, enabling the analysis of its structural, optical, and morphological properties. The Bi2S3/TiO2-based cell exhibits a maximum conversion efficiency of 0.8%, demonstrating the potential of this combination for photovoltaic applications. This study contributes to the field of solar cell technology by presenting a novel approach for sensitizing TiO2 photoanodes with Bi2S3 nanoparticles, offering insights into the optimization of fabrication parameters and performance enhancement strategies for future device design and development.
The Paradox of Job Retention Schemes: A Latent Growth Curve Modeling Approach to Immediate and Prolonged Effects of Short-Time Work on Job Insecurity and Employee Well-Being
Authors: Klug Katharina , Bernhard-Oettel Claudia , Sverke Magnus
Published: July 2024

Many countries rely on short-time work to prevent mass layoffs in economic crises. Despite serving to protect jobs, short-time work may trigger job insecurity perceptions, which may impair employee well-being. Moreover, past experiences of unemployment may increase susceptibility to job insecurity in response to short-time work. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, Appraisal Theory and temporal stressor-strain models, this study investigates effects of short-time work on the development of job satisfaction, life satisfaction and affective well-being via perceived job insecurity across 6 years, considering previous unemployment as a moderator. We used propensity score matching to account for selectivity into short-time work and calculated latent growth curve models with N = 1211 employees in Germany (619 affected by short-time work, 592 controls). Short-time work predicted higher levels and an immediate increase in job insecurity, followed by a decrease over time. Both levels and changes in job insecurity were associated with levels and changes in well-being. Indirect effects of short-time work on well-being via job insecurity persisted 2 years after short-time work. We found no difference between previously unemployed respondents and others in their reactions to short-time work. The findings support COR theory and a prolonged stress-reaction model, showing lingering effects on well-being via job insecurity even after short-time work ends. The study supports short-time work as an antecedent of job insecurity and reveals temporal dynamics between job insecurity, its antecedents and outcomes over time. When implementing short-time work, employers should aim to mitigate concerns about job security to protect employee well-being.
The effects of ordered multistate morphological characters on phylogenetic analyses of eutherian mammals
Authors: Brady Peggy L. , Castrellon Arteaga Alejandro , López-Torres Sergi , Springer Mark S.
Published: July 2024

Multistate morphological characters are routinely used in phylogenetic analyses. Individual multistate characters may be treated as linearly ordered, partially ordered, or unordered. Each option implies a hypothesis of character evolution, and significant debate surrounds the appropriateness of ordering multistate characters. Several previous analyses support ordering multistate morphological characters when the character states form a morphocline. Here, we explore the effects of ordering a subset of characters in the largest morphological character matrix that is available for placental mammals. All multistate characters were assessed and were ordered only if the character states were meristic or hypothesized to form a morphocline. We then performed parsimony analyses, with and without molecular scaffolds, to examine the effects of ordering on placental mammal phylogeny. We also performed pseudoextinction analyses, which treated designated extant taxa as extinct by eliminating them from the molecular scaffold and scoring soft-tissue characters as missing, to determine if ordered or unordered characters would more accurately reconstruct the relationships of pseudoextinct placental orders. Character ordering affected the placement of a variety of taxa in non-scaffolded analyses, but the effects were less evident in scaffolded analyses. Nevertheless, one of the islands of most parsimonious trees with the ordered data set and a scaffold for extant taxa supported the inclusion of Leptictida, including the Late Cretaceous Gypsonictops, inside of crown Placentalia. Our analyses rarely supported the monophyly of Tamirtheria, the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene stem-based clade that is hypothesized to be the sister to Placentalia. Pseudoextinction analyses using ordered and unordered characters both reconstructed 12 of 19 pseudoextinct orders in positions that are incongruent with a well-supported molecular scaffold. These results suggest that the use of ordered multistate characters does not increase the proportion of well-supported molecular clades that are reconstructed with the largest available phenomic data set for placental mammals.
On the Solution Existence for Collocation Discretizations of Time-Fractional Subdiffusion Equations
Authors: Franz Sebastian , Kopteva Natalia
Published: July 2024

Time-fractional parabolic equations with a Caputo time derivative of order $$\alpha \in (0,1)$$

α
∈
(
0
,
1
)

are discretized in time using continuous collocation methods. For such discretizations, we give sufficient conditions for existence and uniqueness of their solutions. Two approaches are explored: the Lax–Milgram Theorem and the eigenfunction expansion. The resulting sufficient conditions, which involve certain $$m\times m$$

m
×
m

matrices (where m is the order of the collocation scheme), are verified both analytically, for all $$m\ge 1$$

m
≥
1

and all sets of collocation points, and computationally, for all $$ m\le 20$$

m
≤
20

. The semilinear case is also addressed.
Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cell Conditioned Medium Enhances Spinal Cord Injury Recovery via PI3K/AKT-Mediated Neuronal Apoptosis Suppression
Authors: Ma Ziqian , Liu Tao , Liu Liang , Pei Yilun , Wang Tianyi , Wang Zhijie , Guan Yun , Zhang Xinwei , Zhang Yan , Chen Xueming
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to assess the impact of conditioned medium from epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSCs-CM) on functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI), while also exploring the involvement of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in regulating neuronal apoptosis. EPI-NCSCs were isolated from 10-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured for 48 h to obtain EPI-NCSC-CM. SHSY-5Y cells were subjected with H2O2 treatment to induce apoptosis. Cell viability and survival rates were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay and calcein-AM/PI staining. SCI contusion model was established in adult Sprague-Dawley rats to assess functional recovery, utilizing the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scoring system, inclined test, and footprint observation. Neurological restoration after SCI was analyzed through electrophysiological recordings. Histological analysis included hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Nissl staining to evaluate tissue organization. Apoptosis and oxidative stress levels were assessed using TUNEL staining and ROS detection methods. Additionally, western blotting was performed to examine the expression of apoptotic markers and proteins related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. EPI-NCSC-CM significantly facilitated functional and histological recovery in SCI rats by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis through modulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Administration of EPI-NCSCs-CM alleviated H2O2-induced neurotoxicity in SHSY-5Y cells in vitro. The use of LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, underscored the crucial role of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in regulating neuronal apoptosis. This study contributes to the ongoing exploration of molecular pathways involved in spinal cord injury (SCI) repair, focusing on the therapeutic potential of EPI-NCSC-CM. The research findings indicate that EPI-NCSC-CM exerts a neuroprotective effect by suppressing neuronal apoptosis through activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in SCI rats. These results highlight the promising role of EPI-NCSC-CM as a potential treatment strategy for SCI, emphasizing the significance of the PI3K/AKT pathway in mediating its beneficial effects.

Graphical Abstract
Keep me posted, but don’t stress me out: how the positive effect of social networking services on civil servants’ information use and political capacities can be attenuated by social media stress
Authors: Wanckel Camilla
Published: July 2024

Public policy and administration debates typically assume that ICT tools, including social networking services (SNS), increase the amount of information that is communicated and thus harnessed for policymaking processes. At the same time, behavioral approaches point to the potentially detrimental effects of social media stress resulting from an overexposure to SNS. Because systematic research on the individual-level effects of SNS in policy formulation is rare, this paper explores the effect of SNS on the use of policy-relevant information and, thus, on individual political capacities. A moderated mediation analysis was performed based on survey data from central ministerial bureaucracies in Germany, Italy, and Norway, considering not only the amount of information utilized in legislative drafting but also the variability and concentration of the information sources. The results indicate that SNS positively relate to policy officials’ information use, which, in turn, increases their self-reported political capacities. However, the positive relationship between SNS and both the amount and the variability of information use was found to be diminished when levels of social media stress are high rather than low. The conclusions discuss the implications for civil servants and policymaking.