bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine learning regularization for the minimum volume formula of toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds
Authors: Choi Eugene , Seong Rak-Kyeong
Published: February 2024

We present a collection of explicit formulas for the minimum volume of Sasaki-Einstein 5-manifolds. The cone over these 5-manifolds is a toric Calabi-Yau 3-fold. These toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds are associated with an infinite class of 4d N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories, which are realized as world volume theories of D3-branes probing the toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds. Under the AdS/CFT correspondence, the minimum volume of the Sasaki-Einstein base is inversely proportional to the central charge of the corresponding 4d N=1 superconformal field theories. The presented formulas for the minimum volume are in terms of geometric invariants of the toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds. These explicit results are derived by implementing machine learning regularization techniques that advance beyond previous applications of machine learning for determining the minimum volume. Moreover, the use of machine learning regularization allows us to present interpretable and explainable formulas for the minimum volume. Our work confirms that, even for extensive sets of toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds, the proposed formulas approximate the minimum volume with remarkable accuracy.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Probing light dark matter with positron beams at NA64
Authors: Andreev Yu. M. , Antonov A. , Banerjee D. , Banto Oberhauser B. , Bernhard J. , Bisio P. , Bondí M. , Celentano A. , Charitonidis N. , Cooke D. , Crivelli P. , Depero E. , Dermenev A. V. , Donskov S. V. , Dusaev R. R. , Enik T. , Frolov V. N. , Gardikiotis A. , Gninenko S. N. , Hösgen M. , Kachanov V. A. , Kambar Y. , Karneyeu A. E. , Kekelidze G. , Ketzer B. , Kirpichnikov D. V. , Kirsanov M. M. , Kolosov V. N. , Gertsenberger S. V. , Girod S. , Kasianova E. A. , Kramarenko V. A. , Kravchuk L. V. , Krasnikov N. V. , Kuleshov S. V. , Lyubovitskij V. E. , Lysan V. , Marini A. , Marsicano L. , Matveev V. A. , Mena Fredes R. , Mena Yanssen R. , Molina Bueno L. , Mongillo M. , Peshekhonov D. V. , Polyakov V. A. , Radics B. , Salamatin K. , Samoylenko V. D. , Sieber H. , Shchukin D. , Soto O. , Tikhomirov V. O. , Tlisova I. , Toropin A. N. , Tuzi M. , Ulloa P. , Volkov P. V. , Volkov V. Yu. , Voronchikhin I. V. , Zamora-Saá J. , Zhevlakov A. S. ,   NA64 Collaboration
Published: February 2024

We present the results of a missing-energy search for light dark matter which has a new interaction with ordinary matter transmitted by a vector boson, called dark photon A′. For the first time, this search is performed with a positron beam by using the significantly enhanced production of A′ in the resonant annihilation of positrons with atomic electrons of the target nuclei, followed by the invisible decay of A′ into dark matter. No events were found in the signal region with (10.1±0.1)×109 positrons on target with 100 GeV energy. This allowed us to set new exclusion limits that, relative to the collected statistics, prove the power of this experimental technique. This measurement is a crucial first step toward a future exploration program with positron beams, whose estimated sensitivity is here presented.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Impact of hydraulic tortuosity on microporous and nanoporous media flow
Authors: Singh Shiwani
Published: February 2024

Using two-dimensional porous structures made up of homogeneously arranged solid obstacles, we examine the effects of rarefaction on the hydraulic tortuosity in the slip and early transition flow regimes via extended lattice Boltzmann method. We observed that modification in either the obstacle's arrangement or the porosity led to a power-law relation between the porosity-tortuosity. Along with this, we also found that in the slip-flow regime, the exponent of this relation contains the effect of finite Knudsen number (Kn). In addition, we observed that on properly scaling Kn with porosity and hydraulic tortuosity, a generalized correlation can be obtained for apparent permeability.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Imperfect Axion Precludes the Domain Wall Problem
Authors: Zhang Yue
Published: February 2024

The QCD axion needs not be an exact pseudoscalar for solving the strong CP problem. Its imperfectness can play a profound role cosmologically. We propose effective operators, where the Peccei-Quinn field linearly couples to standard model particles, provide a dynamical solution to the domain wall problem that prevails in postinflationary axion models with discrete symmetry. Such interactions generate a thermal potential that drives the axion field to a universal value throughout the Universe at high temperatures thus preventing the birth of domain walls when the QCD potential switches on. We discuss generic conditions for this mechanism to work and several concrete examples. Combining with existing electric dipole moment and fifth force constraints, a lower bound on the axion mass is obtained around 10−5  eV. Our findings make a strong case for complementary axion searches with both quality preserving and violating interactions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Micrometer-size spatial superpositions for the QGEM protocol via screening and trapping
Authors: Schut Martine , Geraci Andrew , Bose Sougato , Mazumdar Anupam
Published: February 2024

The quantum gravity-induced entanglement of masses (QGEM) protocol for testing quantum gravity using entanglement witnessing utilizes the creation of spatial quantum superpositions of two neutral, massive matter-wave interferometers kept adjacent to each other, separated by a distance d. The mass and the spatial superposition should be such that the two quantum systems can entangle solely via the quantum nature of gravity. Despite being charge-neutral, many electromagnetic backgrounds can also entangle the systems such as the dipole-dipole and Casimir-Polder interactions. To minimize electromagnetic-induced interactions between the masses, it is pertinent to isolate the two superpositions by a conducting plate. However, the conducting plate will also exert forces on the masses and hence the trajectories of the two superpositions would be affected. To minimize this effect, we propose to trap the two interferometers such that the trapping potential dominates over the attraction between the conducting plate and the matter-wave interferometers. The superpositions can still be created via the Stern-Gerlach effect in the direction parallel to the plate, where the trapping potential is negligible. The combination of trapping and shielding provides a better parameter space for the parallel configuration of the experiment, where the requirement on the size of the spatial superposition, to witness the entanglement between the two masses purely due to their quantum nature of gravity, decreases by at least two orders of magnitude as compared to the original protocol paper.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
X-ray diffraction from dislocation half-loops in epitaxial films
Authors: Kaganer Vladimir M.
Published: February 2024

X-ray diffraction from dislocation half-loops consisting of a misfit segment with two threading arms extending from it to the surface is calculated by the Monte Carlo method. The diffraction profiles and reciprocal space maps are controlled by the ratio of the total lengths of the misfit and the threading segments of the half-loops. A continuous transformation from the diffraction characteristic of misfit dislocations to that of threading dislocations with increasing thickness of epitaxial film is studied. Diffraction from dislocations with edge- and screw-type threading arms is considered and the contributions of the two types of dislocations are compared.
Maps as instructional resources and scholarly performance of junior secondary school students in social studies
Authors: Atubi Favour Onamrewho
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purpose of the research was to, first, investigate if the use of maps as instructional resources will boost scholarly performance and, second, examine if gender can moderate the effect of map usage on scholarly performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test. A sample of 260 JSS II Students from 8 schools were selected through the purposive sampling technique. A Social Studies Scholarly Performance Test (SSSPT) with a reliability index of 0.79 was the instrument for data collection. The students were assigned into two groups: control and experimental. Both groups were pre-tested taught for a timeline of six weeks and thereafter post-tested.

Findings

The study reported a significant increase in the scholarly performance of students taught with maps; a significant difference occurred in the scholarly performance of both groups and gender did not moderate the effect of maps.

Research limitations/implications

The social studies teachers used for the study did not have previous knowledge or map skills; this could have affected the outcome. Secondly, the treatment took place for just six weeks, and the time allotted for social studies in the school timetable was used. This may not have given the students enough time to master map interpretation.

Practical implications

A major implication of the study is that results will show that maps can promote the scholarly performance of students in social studies. Secondly, the fact that gender did not moderate the effect of maps suggests that maps are gender-friendly.

Social implications

The results of the study, if implemented, would make social studies teachers to become inventive and resourceful in the use of maps as instructional resources for junior secondary students' scholarly performance in social studies without taking gender into consideration.

Originality/value

This study is a product of the researcher’s doctoral thesis; therefore, it is original and has value. The results are the product of a painstaking study carried out by the author for a period of three years on the effect of instructional resources on social studies students’ scholarly performance. Maps were one of the instructional resources studied for the award of a Ph.D. degree.
Vibration control enhancement in a full vehicle dynamic model by optimization of the controller’s gain parameters
Authors: Pereira Leonardo Valero , Paucar Casas Walter Jesus , Gomes Herbert Martins , Drehmer Luis Roberto Centeno , Cesconeto Emanuel Moutinho
Published: February 2024

Purpose

In this paper, improvements in reducing transmitted accelerations in a full vehicle are obtained by optimizing the gain parameters of an active control in a roughness road profile.

Design/methodology/approach

For a classically designed linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control, the vibration attenuation performance will depend on weighting matrices Q and R. A methodology is proposed in this work to determine the optimal elements of these matrices by using a genetic algorithm method to get enhanced controller performance. The active control is implemented in an eight degrees of freedom (8-DOF) vehicle suspension model, subjected to a standard ISO road profile. The control performance is compared against a controlled system with few Q and R parameters, an active system without optimized gain matrices, and an optimized passive system.

Findings

The control with 12 optimized parameters for Q and R provided the best vibration attenuation, reducing significantly the Root Mean Square (RMS) accelerations at the driver’s seat and car body.

Research limitations/implications

The research has positive implications in a wide class of active control systems, especially those based on a LQR, which was verified by the multibody dynamic systems tested in the paper.

Practical implications

Better active control gains can be devised to improve performance in vibration attenuation.

Originality/value

The main contribution proposed in this work is the improvement of the Q and R parameters simultaneously, in a full 8-DOF vehicle model, which minimizes the driver’s seat acceleration and, at the same time, guarantees vehicle safety.
From “dull” to “cheerful”: the relevance of Adam Smith for today
Authors: Paganelli Maria Pia
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Is there a secret recipe for economic growth?

Design/methodology/approach

No, there is no recipe, but we can extrapolate some pieces of advice from Adam Smith.

Findings

An economy can leave behind its “dull” stagnant state and grow when its markets expand, when the productivity of its workers increases thanks to high compensations, which are seen as incentives to work harder and when lobbying and cronyism are kept at bay. Luck plays a role too, but these three ingredients are necessary, even if not sufficient, for an economy to grow and thus be “cheerful.”

Originality/value

These three aspects – expansion of market, liberal compensation of workers and lobbying – especially combined, have often been underestimated in Smith’s understanding of the possible sources of economic growth.
Exploring how retail and logistics service provider managers make sense of sustainability in last mile delivery
Authors: Heikkinen Helleke
Published: February 2024

Purpose

An increasing number of last mile deliveries (LMDs) pose many sustainability challenges that retailers and logistics service providers (LSPs) can address. Using cognitive frames (CFs) as a lens, this study explored how retail and LSP managers make sense of sustainable LMDs.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach used is a multiple embedded case study. The data were obtained from interviews with retailers and LSPs, supplemented with secondary data for triangulation.

Findings

The findings present the operational aspects of LMDs that managers associate with sustainability and indicate that retail and LSP managers frame sustainability primarily as emission reduction. Managers indicate an externalization of responsibility and a compartmentalization of the supply chain, in which social sustainability is not associated with the last mile. Most managers indicate hierarchical CFs regarding sustainability, in which sustainability is an important topic but is subordinate to economic interests.

Practical implications

Collaboration between retailers, LSPs and other stakeholders is viewed as challenging but could alleviate some of the sustainability shortcomings and aid in the paradoxical framing and inclusion of social issues.

Originality/value

A conceptualization of managerial CFs for sustainable LMDs, together with empirical frame indicators and three propositions, is presented, providing novel insights into how paradoxical CFs could make LMDs more sustainable. This approach illuminates the possibilities for how to untangle the operational manifestations of managerial framing and adds to the empirical exploration of CFs in supply chain management.
Visual attention and product interaction: a neuroscientific study on purchase across two product categories in a virtual store
Authors: Bigne Enrique , Simonetti Aline , Guixeres Jaime , Alcaniz Mariano
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This research analyses the searching, interacting and purchasing behavior of shoppers seeking semidurable and fast-moving consumer goods in an immersive virtual reality (VR) store, showing how physical examinations and visual inspections relate to purchases.

Design/methodology/approach

Around 60 participants completed two forced-purchase tasks using a head-mounted display with visual and motor-tracking systems. A second study using a pictorial display of the products complemented the VR study.

Findings

The findings indicate differences in shopping behavior for the two product categories, with semidurable goods requiring greater inspection and deliberation than fast-moving consumer goods. In addition, visual inspection of the shelf and products was greater than a physical examination through virtual handling for both product categories. The paper also presents relationships between visual inspections and product interactions during the searching stage of purchase decisions.

Originality/value

The research consists of two types of implicit measures in this study: eye-tracking and hand-product interactions. This study reveals the suitability of implicit measures for evaluating consumer behavior in VR stores.
TLN-LSTM: an automatic modulation recognition classifier based on a two-layer nested structure of LSTM network for extremely long signal sequences
Authors: Qian Feng , Tu Yongsheng , Hou Chenyu , Cao Bin
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Automatic modulation recognition (AMR) is a challenging problem in intelligent communication systems and has wide application prospects. At present, although many AMR methods based on deep learning have been proposed, the methods proposed by these works cannot be directly applied to the actual wireless communication scenario, because there are usually two kinds of dilemmas when recognizing the real modulated signal, namely, long sequence and noise. This paper aims to effectively process in-phase quadrature (IQ) sequences of very long signals interfered by noise.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a general model for a modulation classifier based on a two-layer nested structure of long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, called a two-layer nested structure (TLN)-LSTM, which exploits the time sensitivity of LSTM and the ability of the nested network structure to extract more features, and can achieve effective processing of ultra-long signal IQ sequences collected from real wireless communication scenarios that are interfered by noise.

Findings

Experimental results show that our proposed model has higher recognition accuracy for five types of modulation signals, including amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, gaussian minimum shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying and differential quadrature phase shift keying, collected from real wireless communication scenarios. The overall classification accuracy of the proposed model for these signals can reach 73.11%, compared with 40.84% for the baseline model. Moreover, this model can also achieve high classification performance for analog signals with the same modulation method in the public data set HKDD_AMC36.

Originality/value

At present, although many AMR methods based on deep learning have been proposed, these works are based on the model’s classification results of various modulated signals in the AMR public data set to evaluate the signal recognition performance of the proposed method rather than collecting real modulated signals for identification in actual wireless communication scenarios. The methods proposed in these works cannot be directly applied to actual wireless communication scenarios. Therefore, this paper proposes a new AMR method, dedicated to the effective processing of the collected ultra-long signal IQ sequences that are interfered by noise.
Does multiple borrowing and COVID-19 pandemic matter in a microfinance contract?
Authors: Iqbal Zahid , Rao Zia-ur-Rehman , Ahmad Hassan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To improve the loan repayment performance (LRP) of microfinance banks (MFBs) in Pakistan, this study aims to look at the direct impact of multiple borrowing (MB) on LRP and client-business performance (CBP), as well as the direct impact of CBP on LRP. The moderating function of pandemic factors in the relationship between MB and CBP, as well as the mediating effect of CBP in the association between MB and LRP, was also investigated in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was used to obtain data from 531 lower-level workers of microfinance institutions (MFIs) for the study. The respondents were chosen using stratified sampling, which divided the target population into four influential groups: lending officers in agriculture, lending officers in businesses, lending officers in gold loans and lending officers in salary loans. In this study, a two-stage structural equation modeling approach was used, including a measurement model (outer model) and a structural model (inner model). The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were investigated using the measurement model (outer model), whereas PLS-SEM bootstrapping was performed to test the hypothesis and find the relationship among different underpinning constructs by using the structural model (inner model).

Findings

The outcomes of this study demonstrate that MB has a direct impact on CBP, and that CBP has a direct impact on LRP. MB, on the contrary, had no direct and significant impact on LRP in this study. The idea that CBP mediates the relationship between MB and LRP, as well as the moderating effect of pandemic factors on the relationship between MB and CBP, is supported by this research.

Originality/value

Until now, the influence of MB on LRP via the mediating role of CBP and the moderating role of a pandemic factor in the setting of Pakistani MFBs has received little attention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this research also aids MFBs in better understanding MB and its impact on LRP. Furthermore, based on the findings of this study, Pakistani MFIs can enhance their LRP by implementing new lending regulations, particularly with reference to MB and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reforming resistant KIPOs to achieve justice: can the judiciary system hybridise?
Authors: Monfardini Patrizio , Macchia Silvia , Eltrudis Davide
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Knowledge-intensive public organizations (KIPOs henceforth) rely heavily on knowledge as the primary resource to provide public services. This study deals with a specific kind of KIPO in the judiciary system: the courts. The paper aims to explore the court’s managerial and organisational change resulting from the national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) reform in response to Covid-19, focussing on how this neglected KIPO responds to change, either by showing acts of resistance or undergoing a hybridisation process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a qualitative research design, developing an explorative case study to investigate the process of a court’s managerial and organisational change caused by NRRP reform and to shed light on how this neglected KIPO reacts to change, showing resistance acts and developing the hybridisation process. Thirty-one interviews in six months have been conducted with the three main actors in Courts: judges, clerks and trial clerks.

Findings

The paper shows that in this understudied KIPO, judges fiercely resist the managerial logic that decades of reforms have been trying to impose. The recent introduction of an office for speeding up trials (Ufficio Per il Processo (UPP)) was initially opposed. Then, the resistance strategy changed, and judges started to benefit from UPP delegating repetitive and low-value tasks while retaining their core activities. Clerks approached the reform with a more positive attitude, seeing in UPP the mechanism to bridge the distance between them and the judges.

Originality/value

Considering their relevance to society, courts must be more addressed in KIPOs' studies. This paper allows the reader to enter such KIPO and understand its peculiar features. Secondly, the article helps to understand micropractices of resistance that may hinder the effectiveness of managerial reforms.
Assessment of management styles among top nursing leaders in Slovenian primary health centers: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Peršolja Melita , Žvanut Boštjan , Rot Špela , Markič Mirko
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to endeavor to discern the predominant leadership styles used by nursing managers within the framework of Slovenian primary health centers. Using a quantitative research approach, the study was conducted through the administration of a structured questionnaire.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation encompassed 67 nursing managers, representing the entire spectrum of primary health centers in Slovenia. A stratified representative subset comprising 53 top nursing managers actively participated in this study.

Findings

The prevailing leadership style among nursing managers predominantly manifests as the “integrated” style, characterized by a balanced emphasis on both interpersonal relationships and task-oriented elements. These nursing leaders exhibited a proclivity for fostering collaborative teamwork, with their leadership approach notably shaped by traits such as positive thinking, self-assuredness, comprehensive leadership knowledge and an intrinsic motivation to guide and inspire individuals. Notably, leadership knowledge emerged as the most influential factor in determining the selected leadership style. The study’s findings recognize specific areas in which leadership competencies among nurse managers may require further enhancement and development.

Originality/value

The study’s findings are based on a specific subset of nursing leaders in a particular region, which can add to the originality, especially as there is limited prior research in this specific context. The study’s exploration of leadership styles is original in the sense that it provides insights into the leadership behaviors and traits of nursing managers in the given context. The emphasis on factors such as positive thinking and leadership knowledge as influential elements adds originality to the study.
‘Even a piece of paper has two sides’: multi‐scalar cosmologies of Japanese New Year cards
Authors: Daniels Inge
Published: February 2024

Annually on 1 January, Japan's efficient postal system circulates 2.5 billion New Year cards to arrive simultaneously in every home in the country. Based on ethnographic fieldwork around Osaka, this article investigates the continued popularity of this exchange of paper forms in an age of smartphones and fast internet connections. Extending recent anthropological scholarship about digital data, I argue that these seemingly trivial cards have transformative potential. They are active, potent participants in the cultivation, accumulation, and ongoing care of multiple networks of social, economic, and spiritual relationships. Through an analysis of the material and aesthetic qualities of the cards, I highlight how their front‐back design embodies co‐existing, but contrasting, dimensions of Japanese relations along a qualification‐quantification and personalization‐standardization axis. The cards also produce depth and scale by linking intimate, domestic concerns with larger political and economic interests, while weaving together multiple temporal dimensions. Ultimately, they exemplify how the manipulation of surfaces can have profound cosmological consequences. These cards possess a spiritual and social potency that generates an all‐encompassing, intimate closeness that yearly rejuvenates society by reconstituting individuals as part of the whole.
The symbiont Wolbachia alleviates pesticide susceptibility in the two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae through enhanced host detoxification pathways
Authors: Ye Qing‐Tong , Gong Xue , Liu Huan‐Huan , Wu Bing‐Xuan , Peng Chang‐Wu , Hong Xiao‐Yue , Bing Xiao‐Li
Published: February 2024

The two‐spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) is one of the most well‐known pesticide‐resistant agricultural pests, with resistance often attributed to changes such as target‐site mutations and detoxification activation. Recent studies show that pesticide resistance can also be influenced by symbionts, but their involvement in this process in spider mites remains uncertain. Here, we found that infection with Wolbachia, a well‐known bacterial reproductive manipulator, significantly increased mite survival after exposure to the insecticides abamectin, cyflumetofen, and pyridaben. Wolbachia‐infected (WI) mites showed higher expression of detoxification genes such as P450, glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), ABC transporters, and carboxyl/cholinesterases. RNA interference experiments confirmed the role of the two above‐mentioned detoxification genes, TuCYP392D2 and TuGSTd05, in pesticide resistance. Increased GST activities were also observed in abamectin‐treated WI mites. In addition, when wild populations were treated with abamectin, WI mites generally showed better survival than uninfected mites. However, genetically homogeneous mites with different Wolbachia strains showed similar survival. Finally, abamectin treatment increased Wolbachia abundance without altering the mite's bacterial community. This finding highlights the role of Wolbachia in orchestrating pesticide resistance by modulating host detoxification. By unraveling the intricate interplay between symbionts and pesticide resistance, our study lays the groundwork for pioneering strategies to combat agricultural pests.
Physicochemical properties, anti‐nutritional and bioactive constituents, in vitro digestibility, and techno‐functional properties of bioprocessed whole wheat flour
Authors: Chinma Chiemela Enyinnaya , Ezeocha Vanessa Chinelo , Adebo Oluwafemi Ayodeji , Adebo Janet Adeyinka , Sonibare Abdulrahman Opeyemi , Abbah Jessica Nevan , Danbaba Nahemiah , Makinde Folasade Maria , Wilkin Jon , Bamidele Oluwaseun Peter
Published: February 2024

This study investigated the impact of bioprocessing techniques (germination, solid‐state fermentation, the combination of germination, and solid‐state fermentation) on the physicochemical properties, anti‐nutritional and bioactive constituents, in vitro digestibility, and techno‐functional properties of whole wheat grains were investigated. Bioprocessed whole wheat flour (WWF) samples and the raw flour (control) were prepared using standard procedures. Proximate, anti‐nutritional, mineral and amino acid (AA) compositions, protein digestibility, antioxidant activities, starch characteristics, and techno‐functional properties were studied using standard methods. The bioprocessing methods increased (p ≤ 0.05) the protein (13.37–16.84 g/100 g), total dietary fiber, mineral constituents, resistant starch (7.19–9.87 g/100 g), slowly digestible starch, phenolic content, antioxidant activities (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity), most AAs, and protein digestibility. Also observed were decreases (p ≤ 0.05) in rapidly digestible starch, phytic acid, tannin, and trypsin inhibitor activity. The adopted bioprocessing techniques modified the thermal, functional, color, and pasting properties of the WWF and resulted in molecular interactions in some functional groups, as revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, compared to the raw flour. The combination of germination and fermentation improved the physicochemical (titratable acidity = 4.93%), protein (16.84/100 g) and starch digestibility (resistant starch = 9.87%), antioxidant (FRAP = 78.90 mg/GAE/100 g), and mineral contents (calcium = 195.28 mg/100 g), modified the pasting (peak viscosity = 90.34 RVU), thermal (peak temperature = 64.82°C), and color properties of WWF with reduced anti‐nutritional factors. The combination of these processing techniques could serve as a natural and low‐cost technique for the modification of whole wheat functionality and subsequently as an improved functional ingredient during food product development.
Methylation‐based markers for the estimation of age in African cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus
Authors: Le Clercq Louis‐Stéphane , Kotzé Antoinette , Grobler J. Paul , Dalton Desiré L.
Published: February 2024

Age is a key demographic in conservation where age classes show differences in important population metrics such as morbidity and mortality. Several traits, including reproductive potential, also show senescence with ageing. Thus, the ability to estimate age of individuals in a population is critical in understanding the current structure as well as their future fitness. Many methods exist to determine age in wildlife, with most using morphological features that show inherent variability with age. These methods require significant expertise and become less accurate in adult age classes, often the most critical groups to model. Molecular methods have been applied to measuring key population attributes, and more recently epigenetic attributes such as methylation have been explored as biomarkers for age. There are, however, several factors such as permits, sample sovereignty, and costs that may preclude the use of extant methods in a conservation context. This study explored the utility of measuring age‐related changes in methylation in candidate genes using mass array technology. Novel methods are described for using gene orthologues to identify and assay regions for differential methylation. To illustrate the potential application, African cheetah was used as a case study. Correlation analyses identified six methylation sites with an age relationship, used to develop a model with sufficient predictive power for most conservation contexts. This model was more accurate than previous attempts using PCR and performed similarly to candidate gene studies in other mammal species. Mass array presents an accurate and cost‐effective method for age estimation in wildlife of conservation concern.
mapmixture: An R package and web app for spatial visualisation of admixture and population structure
Authors: Jenkins Tom L.
Published: February 2024

The mapmixture R package and interactive web app are tools to aid visualisation of admixture and population structure in geographic space. The purpose of mapmixture is to enable and encourage molecular ecologists, and in particular population geneticists and phylogeneticists, to plot their admixture, ancestry or assignment results on a map when location information is available. mapmixture accepts data in the format typically generated by admixture analyses and visualises proportions to each genetic cluster per site as pie charts on a projected (optional) map. Combining this site‐based map presentation approach with the routine individual‐based presentation of admixture (structure) barplots will enhance interpretation of genetic‐geographic patterns. Additionally, in the context of science communication, this enables clearer transfer of spatial genetic information to readers or listeners, and especially to audiences that do not have a background in genetics but who are able to use the genetic information as evidence in conservation management. The latest version of mapmixture is available on GitHub (https://github.com/tom‐jenkins/mapmixture), which details installation instructions and examples of how to use the package and interactive web app.
Land competition and welfare effects from Mexico's proposal to ban genetically engineered corn
Authors: Beckman Jayson , Nava Noé J. , Williams Angelica S. , Zahniser Steven
Published: February 2024

Since joining the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico has increased its meat production and exports and become more dependent on imported feedstuffs such as genetically engineered (GE) corn. Mexico recently banned the use of GE corn in corn‐based foods and called for a gradual substitution away from the use of GE corn for other uses (e.g., feed). This paper considers how a complete ban on GE corn might affect Mexican households using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to simulate the impact over the medium run (5 years). Results indicate that Mexico decreases corn imports by 76.9% and increases corn production by 65.6%—an increase that would require 3.3 million hectares more land for corn. The policy leads to a 24.8% increase in Mexico's corn price and up to a 6% increase in the prices of other agricultural products. But Mexico might have difficulty shifting land to corn; as such, we consider an alternative scenario that restricts land movements. We find that impacts are further exacerbated in this scenario—for example, corn prices triple. Our final contribution is to pair these results with a compensating variation calculation based on the almost ideal demand system. We find that Mexican households would need to spend, on average, between 6.7 and 13.9% more on food, depending on the scenario, to compensate for the resulting price escalations. Ultimately, our results show that a move toward greater food sovereignty in Mexico is ultimately borne by consumers via higher food prices.
FandangObon: Amplification, counter‐publics, and fugitive spaces of belonging in Los Angeles
Authors: Lipsitz George
Published: February 2024

The festive celebration known as FandangObon is made possible by workshops and satellite performances that artivistas (art activists) stage throughout the year in a variety of community venues. The event transforms the annual Japanese American Buddhist Obon ceremony honoring ancestors into an antiracist polycultural performance. Through improvisation and invention, colorfully adorned participants blend the dances, songs, and costumes of the Japanese bon odori circle with Mexican son jarocho fandango practices and West African ballet and egungun drum and dance circles. Each of the groups represented in FandangObon brings to the mix its own form of circle dancing, collective singing, and instrument playing, yet bon odori, fandango, and egungun do not fuse together seamlessly in these gatherings. Instead they coalesce as a conversation among equals in which each tradition remains faithful to itself in the process of making changes through engagement with others The concepts of amplification, counterpublics, and fugitive spaces of belonging serve in this article as central interpretive frames of a cultural critique of the historical and cultural conditions for the celebration's emergence, articulation, and implementation (Marcus and Fischer 1986).
Nutritional management of high‐output ileostomies in paediatric patients is vital and more evidence‐based guidelines are needed
Authors: Awouters Marijke , Vanuytsel Tim , Huysentruyt Koen , De Bruyne Pauline , Van Hoeve Karen , Hoffman Ilse
Published: February 2024

Aim

Paediatric patients with high‐output ileostomies (HOI) face an elevated risk of complications. This study aimed to comprehensively review the existing literature and offer nutritional management recommendations for paediatric patients with an HOI.

Methods

PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant English or French language papers up to 31 June 2022. The emphasis was placed on studies involving paediatric ileostomy patients, but insights were obtained from adult literature and other intestinal failure pathologies when these were lacking.

Results

We identified 16 papers that addressed nutritional issues in paediatric ileostomy patients. Currently, no evidence supports a safe paediatric HOI threshold exceeding 20 mL/kg/day on two consecutive days. Paediatric HOI patients were at risk of dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, micronutrient deficiencies and growth failure. The primary dietary choice for neonates is bolus feeding with breastmilk. In older children, an enteral fluid restriction should be installed favouring isotonic or slightly hypotonic glucose‐electrolyte solutions. A diet that is high in calories, complex carbohydrates and proteins, low in insoluble fibre and simple carbohydrates, and moderate in fat is recommended.

Conclusion

Adequate nutritional management is crucial to prevent complications in children with an HOI. Further research is needed to establish more evidence‐based guidelines.
Faecal microbiota transplantation in children: A systematic review
Authors: Lauwers Ella , Sabino João , Hoffman Ilse , van Hoeve Karen
Published: February 2024

Aim

Novel technologies offer insights into the potential role of the intestinal microbiota in human health and disease. Dysbiosis has been associated with several diseases, and it is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of different gastrointestinal diseases. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is emerging as a method to modulate the gastrointestinal microbial ecosystem. While recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection is the recognised FMT indication, exploration of other therapeutic uses is ongoing.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review, extracting 583 articles from Embase and PubMed (index date to October 2022).

Results

The search yielded 58 studies for full review, with 50 included in the systematic review. Articles were categorised by FMT indication, study design, efficacy, adverse events, donor selection and administration route. FMT appears safe and effective for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, although severe adverse events are reported in children. However, there are currently insufficient data to support the use of FMT for other potential therapeutic indications (such as irritable or inflammatory bowel disease or obesity), beside the potential to decolonise multi‐drug resistant organisms.

Conclusion

This underscores the need for randomised, controlled, prospective cohort studies in children to assess FMT effectiveness in diverse conditions and counteract publication bias.
Japanese consumer's visual marketing preferences and willingness to pay for rice produced by biodiversity‐friendly farming
Authors: Tokuoka Yoshinori , Katayama Naoki , Okubo Satoru
Published: February 2024

A market‐based approach for biodiversity conservation can promote sustainable food production, but little is known about how consumers perceive rice and organisms conserved through biodiversity‐friendly farming (BFF). To address this gap, we conducted a web survey of 600 Japanese respondents to investigate their visual preferences for 20 photographs of organisms and landscapes found in paddy field areas and their willingness to pay (WTP) for BFF rice. Our results showed that paddy field landscapes were most preferred, followed by plants and birds, while insects and an endangered frog were the least preferred. Lowland flat and mountainous terraced paddy landscapes were most often selected as package photographs for BFF rice. Most respondents were willing to pay a premium of 0%–30% for BFF rice. Interest in biodiversity conservation was a common respondent characteristic, and it had a relatively strong influence on image preferences and WTP. Presence of children in certain age groups, sex, age, and experience with living near farmlands or conservation activities also affected the image preference or WTP answers, but to a lesser extent. These findings reveal consumer perceptions of BFF and the importance of effective eco‐labeling strategies for communicating conservation activities and improving promotion of sales to consumers.
Development and evaluation of a novel single nucleotide polymorphism panel for North American bison
Authors: Stroupe Sam , Derr James N.
Published: February 2024

Genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping platforms have become increasingly popular in characterizing livestock and wildlife populations, replacing traditional methods such as microsatellite fragment analysis. Herein, we report the development and evaluation of a novel bison SNP panel for population management and conservation. Initially, 2474 autosomal SNPs were selected from existing bison whole‐genome sequences and variable sites among bison on the GGSP bovine 50K Chip, based on minor allele frequency, data completeness, and chromosome location. Additionally, 20 mitochondrial SNPs were chosen to identify known mitochondrial haplotypes in bison according to previous research. The SNPs were further evaluated using genotyping‐by‐sequencing with 190 bison, representing the historical lineages that survived the major population crash of the late 1800s. Variants with high potential for genotyping error were filtered out, and the remaining SNPs were placed on a custom Illumina™ array. The final panel consisting of 798 autosomal and 13 mitochondrial SNPs was used to establish baseline genetic parameters, compare populations, and assign mitochondrial haplotypes in 995 bison across ten populations. These SNPs were also found to be highly informative for individual animal identification and parentage assignment. This SNP panel provides a powerful new method to establish a baseline for estimating genetic health of bison populations and a new tool for bison managers to make informed management decisions based on genetic information specific to their populations.
Creditor protection and credit ratings in the US RMBS market
Authors: van Breemen Vivian M. , Fabozzi Frank J. , Nawas Mike , Vink Dennis
Published: February 2024

More than a dozen years after the Dodd‐Frank Act was introduced, we investigate whether credit ratings for the US residential mortgage‐backed securities (RMBS) market differ given the different levels of creditor protection across the US states. Our paper provides three results. First, for the period 2017–2020, we provide evidence that there is inconsistency between credit rating agencies (CRAs): only for Dominion Bond Rating Service Morningstar (DBRS) and Moody's, we observe that the credit ratings for securitization tranches differ given different creditor protection levels across states. Second, in states with higher creditor protection, the relatively new CRAs, DBRS and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), are more likely to provide more optimistic ratings than CRAs historically present in the rating market (Moody's, S&P, and Fitch). Third, issuers appear to issue larger deals in US states that are more creditor friendly.
Even cooler insights: On the power of forests to (water the Earth and) cool the planet
Authors: Ellison David , Pokorný Jan , Wild Martin
Published: February 2024

Scientific innovation is overturning conventional paradigms of forest, water, and energy cycle interactions. This has implications for our understanding of the principal causal pathways by which tree, forest, and vegetation cover (TFVC) influence local and global warming/cooling. Many identify surface albedo and carbon sequestration as the principal causal pathways by which TFVC affects global warming/cooling. Moving toward the outer latitudes, in particular, where snow cover is more important, surface albedo effects are perceived to overpower carbon sequestration. By raising surface albedo, deforestation is thus predicted to lead to surface cooling, while increasing forest cover is assumed to result in warming. Observational data, however, generally support the opposite conclusion, suggesting surface albedo is poorly understood. Most accept that surface temperatures are influenced by the interplay of surface albedo, incoming shortwave (SW) radiation, and the partitioning of the remaining, post‐albedo, SW radiation into latent and sensible heat. However, the extent to which the avoidance of sensible heat formation is first and foremost mediated by the presence (absence) of water and TFVC is not well understood. TFVC both mediates the availability of water on the land surface and drives the potential for latent heat production (evapotranspiration, ET). While latent heat is more directly linked to local than global cooling/warming, it is driven by photosynthesis and carbon sequestration and powers additional cloud formation and top‐of‐cloud reflectivity, both of which drive global cooling. TFVC loss reduces water storage, precipitation recycling, and downwind rainfall potential, thus driving the reduction of both ET (latent heat) and cloud formation. By reducing latent heat, cloud formation, and precipitation, deforestation thus powers warming (sensible heat formation), which further diminishes TFVC growth (carbon sequestration). Large‐scale tree and forest restoration could, therefore, contribute significantly to both global and surface temperature cooling through the principal causal pathways of carbon sequestration and cloud formation.