bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Password-authenticated searchable encryption
Authors: Chen Liqun , Huang Kaibin , Manulis Mark , Sekar Venkkatesh
Published: November 2020

We introducePassword Authenticated Searchable Encryption (PASE), a novel searchable encryption scheme where a single human-memorizable password can be used to outsource (encrypted) data with associated keywords to a group of servers and later retrieve this data through the encrypted keyword search procedure. PASE ensures that only the legitimate user who knows the initially registered password can perform these operations. In particular, PASE guarantees that no single server can mount an offline attack on the user’s password or learn any information about the encrypted keywords. The concept behind PASE protocols extends previous concepts behind searchable encryption by removing the requirement on the client to store high-entropy keys, thus making the protocol device-agnostic on the user side. In this paper, we model the functionality of PASE along with two security requirements (indistinguishability against chosen keyword attacks and authentication) and propose an efficient direct construction in a two-server setting those security we prove in the standard model under the Decisional Diffie–Hellman assumption. Our constructions support outsourcing and retrieval procedures based on multiple keywords and allow users to change their passwords without any need for the re-encryption of the outsourced data. Our theoretical efficiency comparisons and experimental performance and scalability measurements show that the proposed scheme is practical and offers high performance in relation to computations and communications on the user side. The practicality of our PASE scheme is further demonstrated through its implementation within a JavaScript-based web application that can readily be executed on any (mobile) browser and remains practical for commodity user devices such as laptops and smartphones.
Biomechanical modelling of the facet joints: a review of methods and validation processes in finite element analysis
Authors: Mengoni Marlène
Published: November 2020

There is an increased interest in studying the biomechanics of the facet joints. For in silico studies, it is therefore important to understand the level of reliability of models for outputs of interest related to the facet joints. In this work, a systematic review of finite element models of multi-level spinal section with facet joints output of interest was performed. The review focused on the methodology used to model the facet joints and its associated validation. From the 110 papers analysed, 18 presented some validation of the facet joints outputs. Validation was done by comparing outputs to literature data, either computational or experimental values; with the major drawback that, when comparing to computational values, the baseline data was rarely validated. Analysis of the modelling methodology showed that there seems to be a compromise made between accuracy of the geometry and nonlinearity of the cartilage behaviour in compression. Most models either used a soft contact representation of the cartilage layer at the joint or included a cartilage layer which was linear elastic. Most concerning, soft contact models usually did not contain much information on the pressure-overclosure law. This review shows that to increase the reliability of in silico model of the spine for facet joints outputs, more needs to be done regarding the description of the methods used to model the facet joints, and the validation for specific outputs of interest needs to be more thorough, with recommendation to systematically share input and output data of validation studies.
From Essence to Metaphysical Modality?
Authors: Noonan Harold W.
Published: November 2020

How can we acquire knowledge of metaphysical modality? How can someone come to know that he could have been elsewhere right now, or an accountant rather than a philosophy teacher, but could not have been a turnip? Jago proposes an account of a route to knowledge of the way things could have been and must be. He argues that we can move to knowledge of metaphysical modality from knowledge about essence. Curtis rejects Jago’s explanation. It cannot, he argues, explain our knowledge of de re necessity. We agree. But there is more to be said. To give an account of our knowledge of metaphysical necessity is part of the task Jago set himself. But another part is to give an account of the knowledge of the (non-actual) possibilities accorded to particular objects. And prior to both what is needed, and something Jago attempts to supply, is an account of how ordinary knowers can come to have knowledge of an individual’s essential properties. We argue that Jago’s accounts of both these additional matters are also unsatisfactory. This is important because the thought that our knowledge of metaphysical modality has its source in our knowledge of essence is currently an attractive one and Jago has set out very clearly what must be done to justify the thought. The flaws in his proposal thus indicate the work needed if the attractive thought is to be accepted.
From global to local scale: where is the best for conservation purpose?
Authors: Sulis Elena , Bacchetta Gianluigi , Cogoni Donatella , Fenu Giuseppe
Published: November 2020

Demographic analysis of plant populations represents an essential conservation tool allowing to identify the population trends both at global and at the local level. In this study, the population dynamics of Helianthemum caput-felis (Cistaceae) was investigated at the local level by monitoring six populations distributed in Sardinia, Balearic Islands and Ibero-Levantine coast (Alicante). Demographic data for each population were analysed by performing Integral Projection Models (IPMs). Our results showed that, although the local trend of the main basic demographic functions was similar, vital rates and demographic dynamics varied among populations indicating high variability. In fact, asymptotic growth rate in Spanish populations widely varied both between years and populations (some populations growth, decline or strongly decline), while Sardinian populations showed greater equilibrium or a slight increase. Also, the typical pattern of a long-lived species was not supported by the results at the local scale. These results indicated that different populations of the same species can present extremely different population dynamics and support the belief that, for conservation needs, local studies are more informative than global ones: the conservation status of H. caput-felis could notably vary at a small spatial scale and, accordingly, the conservation efforts must be planned at the population level and supported by local analysis.
Dynamic real-time risk analytics of uncontrollable states in complex internet of things systems: cyber risk at the edge
Authors: Radanliev Petar , De Roure David , Van Kleek Max , Ani Uchenna , Burnap Pete , Anthi Eirini , Nurse Jason R. C. , Santos Omar , Montalvo Rafael Mantilla , Maddox La’Treall
Published: November 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) triggers new types of cyber risks. Therefore, the integration of new IoT devices and services requires a self-assessment of IoT cyber security posture. By security posture this article refers to the cybersecurity strength of an organisation to predict, prevent and respond to cyberthreats. At present, there is a gap in the state of the art, because there are no self-assessment methods for quantifying IoT cyber risk posture. To address this gap, an empirical analysis is performed of 12 cyber risk assessment approaches. The results and the main findings from the analysis is presented as the current and a target risk state for IoT systems, followed by conclusions and recommendations on a transformation roadmap, describing how IoT systems can achieve the target state with a new goal-oriented dependency model. By target state, we refer to the cyber security target that matches the generic security requirements of an organisation. The research paper studies and adapts four alternatives for IoT risk assessment and identifies the goal-oriented dependency modelling as a dominant approach among the risk assessment models studied. The new goal-oriented dependency model in this article enables the assessment of uncontrollable risk states in complex IoT systems and can be used for a quantitative self-assessment of IoT cyber risk posture.
Algebraic hull of maximal measurable cocycles of surface groups into Hermitian Lie groups
Authors: Savini A.
Published: November 2020

Following the work of Burger, Iozzi and Wienhard for representations, in this paper we introduce the notion of maximal measurable cocycles of a surface group. More precisely, let $$\mathbf {G}$$
G
be a semisimple algebraic $${\mathbb {R}}$$
R
-group such that $$G=\mathbf {G}({\mathbb {R}})^{\circ }$$

G
=
G

(
R
)

∘

is of Hermitian type. If $$\Gamma \le L$$

Γ
≤
L

is a torsion-free lattice of a finite connected covering of $$\mathrm{PU}(1,1)$$

PU
(
1
,
1
)

, given a standard Borel probability $$\Gamma $$
Γ
-space $$(\Omega ,\mu _\Omega )$$

(
Ω
,

μ
Ω

)

, we introduce the notion of Toledo invariant for a measurable cocycle $$\sigma :\Gamma \times \Omega \rightarrow G$$

σ
:
Γ
×
Ω
→
G

. The Toledo invariant remains unchanged along G-cohomology classes and its absolute value is bounded by the rank of G. This allows to define maximal measurable cocycles. We show that the algebraic hull $$\mathbf {H}$$
H
of a maximal cocycle $$\sigma $$
σ
is reductive and the centralizer of $$H=\mathbf {H}({\mathbb {R}})^{\circ }$$

H
=
H

(
R
)

∘

is compact. If additionally $$\sigma $$
σ
admits a boundary map, then H is of tube type and $$\sigma $$
σ
is cohomologous to a cocycle stabilizing a unique maximal tube type subdomain. This result is analogous to the one obtained for representations. In the particular case $$G=\mathrm{PU}(n,1)$$

G
=
PU
(
n
,
1
)

maximality is sufficient to prove that $$\sigma $$
σ
is cohomologous to a cocycle preserving a complex geodesic. We conclude with some remarks about boundary maps of maximal Zariski dense cocycles.
SUMO modification in apoptosis
Authors: Li Peiyao , Jing Huiru , Wang Yanzhe , Yuan Lei , Xiao Hui , Zheng Qian
Published: November 2020

Apoptosis and clearance of dead cells is highly evolutionarily conserved from nematode to humans, which is crucial to the growth and development of multicellular organism. Fail to remove apoptotic cells often lead to homeostasis imbalance, fatal autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMOs) modification is a post-translational modification of ubiquitin proteins mediated by the sentrin-specific proteases (SENPs) family. SUMO modification is widely involved in many cellular biological process, and abnormal SUMO modification is also closely related to many major human diseases. Recent researches have revealed that SUMO modification event occurs during apoptosis and clearance of apoptotic cells, and plays an important role in the regulation of apoptotic signaling pathways. This review summarizes some recent progress in the revelation of regulatory mechanisms of these pathways and provides some potential researching hotpots of the SUMO modification regulation to apoptosis.
T-tubule remodeling in human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Vitale Giulia , Coppini Raffaele , Tesi Chiara , Poggesi Corrado , Sacconi Leonardo , Ferrantini Cecilia
Published: November 2020

The highly organized transverse T-tubule membrane system represents the ultrastructural substrate for excitation–contraction coupling in ventricular myocytes. While the architecture and function of T-tubules have been well described in animal models, there is limited morpho-functional data on T-tubules in human myocardium. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary disease of the heart muscle, characterized by different clinical presentations at the various stages of its progression. Most HCM patients, indeed, show a compensated hypertrophic disease (“non-failing hypertrophic phase”), with preserved left ventricular function, and only a small subset of individuals evolves into heart failure (“end stage HCM”). In terms of T-tubule remodeling, the “end-stage” disease does not differ from other forms of heart failure. In this review we aim to recapitulate the main structural features of T-tubules during the “non-failing hypertrophic stage” of human HCM by revisiting data obtained from human myectomy samples. Moreover, by comparing pathological changes observed in myectomy samples with those introduced by acute (experimentally induced) detubulation, we discuss the role of T-tubular disruption as a part of the complex excitation–contraction coupling remodeling process that occurs during disease progression. Lastly, we highlight how T-tubule morpho-functional changes may be related to patient genotype and we discuss the possibility of a primitive remodeling of the T-tubule system in rare HCM forms associated with genes coding for proteins implicated in T-tubule structural integrity, formation and maintenance.
A new proof of a generalization of Gerzon’s bound
Authors: Hegedüs Gábor
Published: November 2020

In this paper we give a short, new proof of a natural generalization of Gerzon’s bound. This bound improves the Delsarte, Goethals and Seidel’s upper bound in a special case. Our proof is a simple application of the linear algebra bound method.
ESMvis: a tool for visualizing individual Experience Sampling Method (ESM) data
Authors: Bringmann Laura F. , van der Veen Date C. , Wichers Marieke , Riese Harriëtte , Stulp Gert
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The experience sampling method (ESM) is used for intensive longitudinal time-series data collection during normal daily life. ESM data give information on momentary affect, activities and (social) context of, for example, patients suffering from mental disorders, and allows for person-specific feedback reports. However, current personalized feedback reports only display a selection of measured variables, and typically involve only summary statistics, thus not reflecting the dynamic fluctuations in affect and its influencing factors. To address this shortcoming, we developed a tool for dynamically visualizing ESM data.

Methods

We introduce a new framework, ESMvis, for giving descriptive feedback, focusing on direct visualization of the dynamic nature of raw data. In this ESM feedback approach, raw ESM data are visualized using R software. We applied ESMvis to data collected for over 52 weeks on a patient diagnosed with an obsessive–compulsive disorder with comorbid depression.

Results

We provided personalized feedback, in which both the overall trajectory and specific time moments were captured in a movie format. Two relapses during the study period could be visually determined, and subsequently confirmed by the therapist. The therapist and patient evaluated ESMvis as an insightful add-on tool to care-as-usual.

Conclusion

ESMvis is a showcase on providing personalized feedback by dynamic visualization of ESM time-series data. Our tool is freely available and adjustable, making it widely applicable. In addition to potential applications in clinical practice, ESMvis can work as an exploratory tool that can lead to new hypotheses and inform more complex statistical techniques.
Hybrid collective intentionality
Authors: Brouwer Thomas , Ferrario Roberta , Porello Daniele
Published: November 2020

The theory of collective agency and intentionality is a flourishing field of research, and our understanding of these phenomena has arguably increased greatly in recent years. Extant theories, however, are still ill-equipped to explain certain aspects of collective intentionality. In this article we draw attention to two such underappreciated (and intertwined) aspects: the failure of the intentional states of collectives to supervene on the intentional states of their members, and the role of non-human factors in collective agency and intentionality (‘hybrid’ collective intentionality). We propose a theory of collective intentionality which builds on the ‘interpretationist’ tradition in metasemantics and the philosophy of mind as initiated by David Lewis and recently developed further by Robbie Williams. The collective-level analogue of interpretationism turns out to look different in some ways from the individual-level theory, but is well-suited to accommodating phenomena such as hybrid collective intentionality. Complemented with Kit Fine’s theory of variable embodiment, such a theory also provides a diachronic account of intentional collectives.
Programming Away Human Rights and Responsibilities? “The Moral Machine Experiment” and the Need for a More “Humane” AV Future
Authors: Kochupillai Mrinalini , Lütge Christoph , Poszler Franziska
Published: November 2020

Dilemma situations involving the choice of which human life to save in the case of unavoidable accidents are expected to arise only rarely in the context of autonomous vehicles (AVs). Nonetheless, the scientific community has devoted significant attention to finding appropriate and (socially) acceptable automated decisions in the event that AVs or drivers of AVs were indeed to face such situations. Awad and colleagues, in their now famous paper “The Moral Machine Experiment”, used a “multilingual online ‘serious game’ for collecting large-scale data on how citizens would want AVs to solve moral dilemmas in the context of unavoidable accidents.” Awad and colleagues undoubtedly collected an impressive and philosophically useful data set of armchair intuitions. However, we argue that applying their findings to the development of “global, socially acceptable principles for machine learning” would violate basic tenets of human rights law and fundamental principles of human dignity. To make its arguments, our paper cites principles of tort law, relevant case law, provisions from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and rules from the German Ethics Code for Autonomous and Connected Driving.
The Role of Autoantibodies in Arrhythmogenesis
Authors: Li Jin
Published: November 2020

Purpose of Review

The role of autoantibodies in arrhythmogenesis has been the subject of research in recent times. This review focuses on the rapidly expanding field of autoantibody-mediated cardiac arrhythmias.

Recent Findings

Since the discovery of cardiac autoantibodies more than three decades ago, a great deal of effort has been devoted to understanding their contribution to arrhythmias. Different cardiac receptors and ion channels were identified as targets for autoantibodies, the binding of which either initiates a signaling cascade or serves as a biomarker of underlying remodeling process. Consequently, the wide spectrum of heart rhythm disturbances may emerge, ranging from atrial to ventricular arrhythmias as well as conduction diseases, irrespective of concomitant structural heart disease or manifest autoimmune disorder.

The time has come to acknowledge autoimmune cardiac arrhythmias as a distinct disease entity. Establishing the autoantibody profile of patients will help to develop novel treatment approaches for patients.
Kaskadennutzung von Lignocellulose: LX-Verfahren trifft auf B. coagulans
Authors: Schroedter Linda , Streffer Friedrich , Streffer Katrin , Unger Peter , Venus Joachim
Published: November 2020

Investigating alternatives for petrobased substrates, lignocellulose is an interesting yet complex feedstock that offers various possibilities for the design of new and sustainable chemical routes. The novel energy-saving LX-pretreatment was combined with thermophilic Bacillus coagulans. By this, corn straw was used in an innovative cascade obtaining biogas, lignin as well as polymerisable L-(+)-lactic acid of over 99 percents optical purity.
Transhydrogenation of pentane with 1,5- and 2,4-hexadiene over CrOx/Al2O3
Authors: Garba Mustapha D. , Jackson S. David
Published: November 2020

Transhydrogenation of pentane (P) and 1,5-hexadiene (1,5HD) and pentane and 2,4-hexadiene (2,4HD) was studied over a CrOx/alumina catalyst at 523–773 K. Thermodynamic stability differences between the conjugated (2,4-hexadiene) and non-conjugated (1,5-hexadiene) isomers indicated that transhydrogenation was favoured between pentane and 1,5-hexadiene but not pentane and 2,4-hexadiene (+ ve ∆G). At 773 K a significantly enhanced alkene yield was observed for the P/1,5HD system, clearly showing the effect of transhydrogenation. The yield of alkenes was ~ 50% and included alkylated and isomerized alkenes. Alkylation and isomerization were significant reactions under reaction conditions. Pentane was shown to affect the chemistry of 1,5HD and vice versa with the conversion of pentane significantly enhanced at all reaction temperatures, indicating a molecular interaction between the reactants even when transhydrogenation was not obvious. In contrast, no effect on the conversion of pentane was observed when the co-feed was 2,4HD. An unexpected effect of pentane on 2,4HD conversion was observed, with all reactions of cis-2,4-hexadiene (including alkylation and isomerization) being completely inhibited at low reaction temperatures (573 K and 523 K) by the presence of pentane, suggesting that pentane competes for the same sites as cis-2,4-hexadiene. Transhydrogenation activity between pentane and 1,5-hexadiene was less obvious at the lower reaction temperature, which appeared to be a kinetic effect. Direct hydrogenation of 1,5-hexadiene revealed that 1,5HD sampled the same hydrogen population for hydrogenation and transhydrogenation. Comparisons of transhydrogenation of 1-hexyne, 1,5-hexadiene, and 2,4-hexadiene with pentane have revealed significant differences in the adsorption and reaction chemistry of the three isomers.
On some properties of near-rings
Authors: Al-Shaalan Khalid H.
Published: November 2020

We establish sufficient conditions for 3-prime near-rings to be commutative rings. In particular, for a 3-prime near-ring R with a derivation d, we investigate conditions such as $$d([U,V])\subseteq Z(R)$$

d
(
[
U
,
V
]
)
⊆
Z
(
R
)

, $$d(U)\subseteq Z(R)$$

d
(
U
)
⊆
Z
(
R
)

, $$x_{o}d(R)\subseteq Z(R)$$

x
o

d

(
R
)

⊆
Z

(
R
)

, and $$Ux_{o}\subseteq Z(R)$$

U

x
o

⊆
Z

(
R
)

. As a by-product, we generalize and extend known results related to rings and near-rings. Furthermore, we discuss the converse of a well-known result in rings and near-rings, namely: if $$x\in Z(R)$$

x
∈
Z
(
R
)

, then $$d(x)\in Z(R)$$

d
(
x
)
∈
Z
(
R
)

. In addition, we provide useful examples illustrating our results.
Discrete octonion Fourier transform and the analysis of discrete 3-D data
Authors: Błaszczyk Łukasz
Published: November 2020

The purpose of this article is to further develop the theory of octonion Fourier transformations (OFT), but from a different perspective than before. It follows the earlier work by Błaszczyk and Snopek, where they proved a few essential properties of the OFT of real-valued functions of three continuous variables. The research described in this article applies to discrete transformations, i.e. discrete-space octonion Fourier transform (DSOFT) and discrete octonion Fourier transform (DOFT). The described results combine the theory of Fourier transform with the analysis of solutions for difference equations, using for this purpose previous research on algebra of quadruple-complex numbers. This hypercomplex generalization of the discrete Fourier transformation provides an excellent tool for the analysis of 3-D discrete linear time-invariant (LTI) systems and 3-D discrete data.
Improving ductal carcinoma in situ classification by convolutional neural network with exponential linear unit and rank-based weighted pooling
Authors: Zhang Yu-Dong , Satapathy Suresh Chandra , Wu Di , Guttery David S. , Górriz Juan Manuel , Wang Shui-Hua
Published: November 2020

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a pre-cancerous lesion in the ducts of the breast, and early diagnosis is crucial for optimal therapeutic intervention. Thermography imaging is a non-invasive imaging tool that can be utilized for detection of DCIS and although it has high accuracy (~ 88%), it is sensitivity can still be improved. Hence, we aimed to develop an automated artificial intelligence-based system for improved detection of DCIS in thermographs. This study proposed a novel artificial intelligence based system based on convolutional neural network (CNN) termed CNN-BDER on a multisource dataset containing 240 DCIS images and 240 healthy breast images. Based on CNN, batch normalization, dropout, exponential linear unit and rank-based weighted pooling were integrated, along with L-way data augmentation. Ten runs of tenfold cross validation were chosen to report the unbiased performances. Our proposed method achieved a sensitivity of 94.08 ± 1.22%, a specificity of 93.58 ± 1.49 and an accuracy of 93.83 ± 0.96. The proposed method gives superior performance than eight state-of-the-art approaches and manual diagnosis. The trained model could serve as a visual question answering system and improve diagnostic accuracy.
CaCO3-Assisted Preparation of pH-Responsive Immune-Modulating Nanoparticles for Augmented Chemo-Immunotherapy
Authors: Zhu Yujie , Yang Zhijuan , Dong Ziliang , Gong Yimou , Hao Yu , Tian Longlong , Yang Xianzhu , Liu Zhuang , Feng Liangzhu
Published: November 2020

Due to the negative roles of tumor microenvironment (TME) in compromising therapeutic responses of various cancer therapies, it is expected that modulation of TME may be able to enhance the therapeutic responses during cancer treatment. Herein, we develop a concise strategy to prepare pH-responsive nanoparticles via the CaCO3-assisted double emulsion method, thereby enabling effective co-encapsulation of both doxorubicin (DOX), an immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducer, and alkylated NLG919 (aNLG919), an inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). The obtained DOX/aNLG919-loaded CaCO3 nanoparticles (DNCaNPs) are able to cause effective ICD of cancer cells and at the same time restrict the production of immunosuppressive kynurenine by inhibiting IDO1. Upon intravenous injection, such DNCaNPs show efficient tumor accumulation, improved tumor penetration of therapeutics and neutralization of acidic TME. As a result, those DNCaNPs can elicit effective anti-tumor immune responses featured in increased density of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ cytotoxic T cells as well as depletion of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs), thus effectively suppressing the growth of subcutaneous CT26 and orthotopic 4T1 tumors on the Balb/c mice through combined chemotherapy & immunotherapy. This study presents a compendious strategy for construction of pH-responsive nanoparticles, endowing significantly enhanced chemo-immunotherapy of cancer by overcoming the immunosuppressive TME.
The statistical power of individual-level risk preference estimation
Authors: Monroe Brian Albert
Published: November 2020

Accurately estimating risk preferences is of critical importance when evaluating data from many economic experiments or strategic interactions. I use a simulation model to conduct power analyses over two lottery batteries designed to classify individual subjects as being best explained by one of a number of alternative specifications of risk preference models. I propose a case in which there are only two possible alternatives for classification and find that the statistical methods used to classify subjects result in type I and type II errors at rates far beyond traditionally acceptable levels. These results suggest that subjects in experiments must make significantly more choices, or that traditional lottery pair batteries need to be substantially redesigned to make accurate inferences about the risk preference models that characterize a subject’s choices.
I-support soft arm for assistance tasks: a new manufacturing approach based on 3D printing and characterization
Authors: Arleo Luca , Stano Gianni , Percoco Gianluca , Cianchetti Matteo
Published: November 2020

Soft robotics is an emerging scientific field well known for being widespread employed in several applications where dexterity and safe interaction are of major importance. In particular, a very challenging scenario in which it is involved concerns bio-medical field. In the last few years, several soft robotic devices have been developed to assist elderly people in daily tasks. In this paper, the authors present a new manufacturing approach for the fabrication of I-SUPPORT, a soft arm used to help needful people during shower activities. The proposed I-SUPPORT version, based on pneumatic and cable-driven actuation, is manufactured using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), the most common and inexpensive Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology. The advantages offered by FFF technology compared to traditional manufacturing methods regard: (i) the possibility to increase the automation degree of the process by reducing manual tasks, (ii) the decrease of assembly operations and (iii) an improvement in terms of supply chain. Moreover, the constitutive I-SUPPORT elements have been printed separately to save time, reduce materials and optimize the waste in case of failure. Afterwards, the proposed soft robotic arm has been tested to evaluate the performances and of the chambers, module and the whole I-SUPPORT manipulator.
Towards speech quality assessment using a crowdsourcing approach: evaluation of standardized methods
Authors: Naderi Babak , Zequeira Jiménez Rafael , Hirth Matthias , Möller Sebastian , Metzger Florian , Hoßfeld Tobias
Published: November 2020

Subjective speech quality assessment has traditionally been carried out in laboratory environments under controlled conditions. With the advent of crowdsourcing platforms tasks, which need human intelligence, can be resolved by crowd workers over the Internet. Crowdsourcing also offers a new paradigm for speech quality assessment, promising higher ecological validity of the quality judgments at the expense of potentially lower reliability. This paper compares laboratory-based and crowdsourcing-based speech quality assessments in terms of comparability of results and efficiency. For this purpose, three pairs of listening-only tests have been carried out using three different crowdsourcing platforms and following the ITU-T Recommendation P.808. In each test, listeners judge the overall quality of the speech sample following the Absolute Category Rating procedure. We compare the results of the crowdsourcing approach with the results of standard laboratory tests performed according to the ITU-T Recommendation P.800. Results show that in most cases, both paradigms lead to comparable results. Notable differences are discussed with respect to their sources, and conclusions are drawn that establish practical guidelines for crowdsourcing-based speech quality assessment.
Numerical evidences of almost convergence of wave speeds for the Burridge–Knopoff model
Authors: Mascia C. , Moschetta P.
Published: November 2020

This paper deals with the numerical approximation of a stick–slip system, known in the literature asBurridge–Knopoff model, proposed as a simplified description of the mechanisms generating earthquakes. Modelling of friction is crucial and we consider here the so-called velocity-weakening form. The aim of the article is twofold. Firstly, we establish the effectiveness of the classicalPredictor–Corrector strategy. To our knowledge, such approach has never been applied to the model under investigation. In the first part, we determine the reliability of the proposed strategy by comparing the results with a collection of significant computational tests, starting from the simplest configuration to the more complicated (and more realistic) ones, with the numerical outputs obtained by different algorithms. Particular emphasis is laid on the Gutenberg–Richter statistical law, a classical empirical benchmark for seismic events. The second part is inspired by the result by Muratov (Phys Rev 59:3847–3857, 1999) providing evidence for the existence of traveling solutions for a corresponding continuum version of the Burridge–Knopoff model. In this direction, we aim to find some appropriate estimate for the crucial object describing the wave, namely itspropagation speed. To this aim, motivated by LeVeque and Yee (J Comput Phys 86:187–210, 1990) (a paper dealing with the different topic of conservation laws), we apply a space-averaged quantity (which depends on time) for determining asymptotically an explicit numerical estimate for the velocity, which we decide to nameLeVeque–Yee formulaafter the authors’ name of the original paper. As expected, for the Burridge–Knopoff, due to its inherent discontinuity of the process, it is not possible to attach to a single seismic event any specific propagation speed. More regularity is expected by performing some temporal averaging in the spirit of theCesàro mean. In this direction, we observe the numerical evidence of thealmost convergenceof the wave speeds for the Burridge–Knopoff model of earthquakes.
The interrelation between data and AI ethics in the context of impact assessments
Authors: Kazim Emre , Koshiyama Adriano
Published: November 2020

In the growing literature on artificial intelligence (AI) impact assessments, the literature on data protection impact assessments is heavily referenced. Given the relative maturity of the data protection debate and that it has translated into legal codification, it is indeed a natural place to start for AI. In this article, we anticipate directions in what we believe will become a dominant and impactful forthcoming debate, namely, how to conceptualise the relationship between data protection and AI impact. We begin by discussing the value canvas i.e. the ethical principles that underpin data and AI ethics, and discuss how these are instantiated in the context of value trade-offs when the ethics are applied. Following this, we map three kinds of relationships that can be envisioned between data and AI ethics, and then close with a discussion of asymmetry in value trade-offs when privacy and fairness are concerned.
Imagined Geographies in the Indo-Tibetan Borderlands
Authors: Gohain Swargajyoti
Published: November 2020

This book is an ethnography of culture and politics in Monyul, a Tibetan Buddhist cultural region in west Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. For nearly three centuries, Monyul was part of the Tibetan state, and the Monpas, as the communities inhabiting this region are collectively known, participated in trans-Himalayan trade and pilgrimage. Following the colonial demarcation of the Indo-Tibetan boundary in 1914, the fall of the Tibetan state in 1951, and the India-China boundary war in 1962, Monyul was gradually integrated into India and the Monpas became one of the Scheduled Tribes of India. In 2003, the Monpas began a demand for autonomy, under the leadership of Tsona Gontse Rinpoche. This book examines the narratives and politics of the autonomy movement regarding language, place-names, and trans-border kinship, against the backdrop of the India-China border dispute. It explores how the Monpas negotiate multiple identities to imagine new forms of community that transcend regional and national borders.
The Political Strategy of Appealing to Religious Nationalism: Examining Motivations to Join Religious Organizations by Japanese LDP Politicians
Authors: Gentry Hope Dewell
Published: November 2020

When the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) again took control after the 2012 general election, Japan's ruling party politicians increasingly associated themselves with Shinto Seiji Renmei, a political organization that is affiliated with Shinto, the country's native religion. What are the motivations for joining such a group, considering Japan has institutional regulations regarding the separation of politics and religion, in addition to there being no sign of rising religiosity among the Japanese population? I explain this puzzle by focusing on politicians' electoral incentives in a changing environment of Japan's party politics. As the opposition became fragmented after 2012, the ruling party's candidates found it electorally advantageous to appeal to the core supporters rather than the centrist floating voters. An empirical analysis of an original dataset supports my argument. The findings suggest the changes in Japan's political landscape might affect the future strategies of LDP politicians, particularly regarding the coalition with Komeito. Overall, this study proposes that there is a need to pay closer attention to politicians' strategic use of religion in politics.
Geomagnetic Paleointensity Around 30 Ma Estimated From Afro‐Arabian Large Igneous Province
Authors: Yoshimura Yutaka , Yamazaki Toshitsugu , Yamamoto Yuhji , Ahn Hyeon‐Seon , Kidane Tesfaye , Otofuji Yo‐ichiro
Published: November 2020

We conducted a geomagnetic paleointensity study of lava flows at ∼30 Ma distributed in the Lima‐Limo section of the Afro‐Arabian Large Igneous Province. The Tsunakawa‐Shaw method, which has built‐in low‐temperature demagnetization and double heating procedures, was applied to 120 specimens from 45 lava flows, successfully obtaining paleointensities from 75 specimens within 34 lava flows. We measured hysteresis loops and thermomagnetic curves to examine the influence of magnetic properties on the paleointensities but found no relationship between the paleointensities and the ratios of the hysteresis parameters. We calculated 27 flow‐level paleointensity means after excluding specimens that possibly contain titanomaghemite based on thermomagnetic curves. We observed cyclic changes of paleointensity in the lowest reversed magnetozone, which may reflect paleosecular variations. To estimate a representative virtual axial dipole moment (V(A)DM) at ∼30 Ma, we applied a flow‐level selection criterion depending on the specimen numbers. Eleven flow‐level means passed the criterion, which gave an averaged VADM of 4.2 ± 2.1 × 1022 Am2. This is similar to five averaged VADMs reported previously in the Late Cretaceous and the Cenozoic using the Tsunakawa‐Shaw method. We combined our data with available data between 25 and 35 Ma. We concluded that the mode of 4.4 × 1022 Am2 from 32 flow‐level means is representative of this period. This is close to two previously reported long‐term representative VADMs since the Jurassic.
Coastal Upwelling Events, Salinity Stratification, and Barrier Layer Observed Along the Southwestern Coast of Sumatra
Authors: Horii Takanori , Ueki Iwao , Ando Kentaro
Published: November 2020

Coastal upwelling along the southwestern coast of Sumatra is a seasonal upwelling that occurs in areas of high sea surface temperature and abundant precipitation at the southeastern edge of the Indian Ocean warm pool. Based on observations from two Argo floats that drifted and stayed around Sumatra, we investigated ocean temperature and salinity variations during several coastal upwelling events observed in 2013–2017. The Argo floats observed the vertical structure of temperature and salinity every 10 days within 100 km from the southwestern coast of Sumatra. The observation data show intraseasonal‐scale subsurface temperature cooling events with significant upward displacements of the thermocline and high‐salinity water, led by anomalous local southesterly winds and equatorial easterly winds. During the coastal upwelling events, salinity stratification and a thick barrier layer related to local precipitation were also observed. Surface mixed layer temperature cooling were relatively small in contrast to the significant subsurface anomalies. It was found that during the coastal upwelling events, subsurface cold‐water upwelling signals did not necessarily reach the mixed layer when salinity stratification and a thick barrier layer were present. The implications of these observational results for understanding the local atmosphere ocean interaction, and hence the occurrence of the Indian Ocean Dipole, are discussed.
Influence of Stratification and Yucatan Current Transport on the Loop Current Eddy Shedding Process
Authors: Moreles Efraín , Zavala‐Hidalgo Jorge , Martínez‐López Benjamín , Ruiz‐Angulo Angel
Published: November 2020

The effects of stratification and Yucatan Current (YC) transport on the dynamics of the Loop Current (LC) and Loop Current Eddies (LCEs) are studied using a primitive equation, 2½ nonhomogeneous layered model, which reproduces the main dynamical features of the upper ocean circulation in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The analysis considers the observed variations in stratification and YC transport, and their expected changes due to climate change. The study is based on a set of long‐term simulations considering the combination of seven stratification configurations with seven transport configurations resulting in 49 cases. The LCE shedding period and diameter (LCE metrics) and kinetic energy, eddy kinetic energy, available potential energy, eddy available potential energy, and the energy Burger number (energy metrics) are analyzed. The stratification and transport contribute to the current and future LC and LCE variability, with their dynamics being more sensitive to transport variations than to stratification variations. The LCE detachment is associated with the increase in the mass of the LC and its available potential energy budget, which is a primary determinant for the LC and LCE dynamics and a condition for eddy shedding. For the expected changes due to climate change, the LCE response is contrary: larger stratification causes increments in the LCE metrics and energy metrics, except the energy Burger number that decreases; conversely, smaller transport causes the opposite response. A combined occurrence of increased stratification and reduced transport, as expected with climate change, causes decrements in the LCE metrics and energy in the GoM.
Assessing the Impact of Nontraditional Ocean Observations for Prediction of the East Australian Current
Authors: Siripatana Adil , Kerry Colette , Roughan Moninya , Souza João Marcos A. C. , Keating Shane
Published: November 2020

Accurate forecasting of ocean currents in dynamic regions remains a critical challenge due to the sparsity of observations in global ocean observing networks and the limited resolution of present‐day regional ocean models. Lately, traditional observing platforms have been complemented by newly available data streams capable of sampling at higher spatial and/or temporal resolutions in dynamically significant regions in near‐real time. However, the relative merits and trade‐offs of incorporating these “nontraditional” observations into ocean state estimates have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we perform a detailed statistical and dynamical comparison of two high‐resolution reanalysis products assimilating different combinations of traditional and nontraditional observations in the East Australian Current (EAC) system, a vigorous western boundary current. We show that sea‐surface height and temperature are well‐constrained by satellite measurements; however, below the surface, a reanalysis incorporating fully available observations better represents the ocean state. The core of the EAC jet is effectively constrained by subsurface observations from deep water moorings upstream of jet separation, while radar‐derived nearshore surface velocities in the separation zone are found to resolve the submesoscale cyclonic band inshore of the EAC. Cost function sensitivity analysis of both products reveals excessive model adjustment at depth causing the reanalyzes to overestimate alongshore transport relative to a 22‐year freely evolving simulation. Overall, the assimilation of nontraditional observations delivers marked improvement in representing dynamical features of the EAC. However, this improvement is not as pronounced in the model forecast due to the introduction of nonphysical dynamics or forcing, suggesting that other improvements such as increased model resolution are required.
Observed Transport Variability of the Atlantic Subtropical Cells and Their Connection to Tropical Sea Surface Temperature Variability
Authors: Tuchen Franz Philip , Lübbecke Joke F. , Brandt Peter , Fu Yao
Published: November 2020

The shallow meridional overturning cells of the Atlantic Ocean, the subtropical cells (STCs), consist of poleward Ekman transport at the surface, subduction in the subtropics, equatorward flow at thermocline level and upwelling along the equator and at the eastern boundary. In this study, we provide the first observational estimate of transport variability associated with the horizontal branches of the Atlantic STCs in both hemispheres based on Argo float data and supplemented by reanalysis products. Thermocline layer transport convergence and surface layer transport divergence between 10°N and 10°S are dominated by seasonal variability. Meridional thermocline layer transport anomalies at the western boundary and in the interior basin are anti‐correlated and partially compensate each other at all resolved time scales. It is suggested that the seesaw‐like relation is forced by the large‐scale off‐equatorial wind stress changes through low‐baroclinic‐mode Rossby wave adjustment. We further show that anomalies of the thermocline layer interior transport convergence modulate sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the upwelling regions along the equator and at the eastern boundary at time scales longer than 5 years. Phases of weaker (stronger) interior transport are associated with phases of higher (lower) equatorial SST. At these time scales, STC transport variability is forced by off‐equatorial wind stress changes, especially by those in the southern hemisphere. At shorter time scales, equatorial SST anomalies are, instead, mainly forced by local changes of zonal wind stress.
Warm Middle Miocene Indian Ocean Bottom Water Temperatures: Comparison of Clumped Isotope and Mg/Ca‐Based Estimates
Authors: Modestou S. E. , Leutert T. J. , Fernandez A. , Lear C. H. , Meckler A. N.
Published: November 2020

The middle Miocene is an important analogue for potential future warm climates. However, few independent deep ocean temperature records exist, though these are important for climate model validation and estimates of changes in ice volume. Existing records, all based on the foraminiferal Mg/Ca proxy, suggest that bottom water temperatures were 5–8°C warmer than present. In order to improve confidence in these bottom water temperature reconstructions, we generated a new record using carbonate clumped isotopes (Δ47) and compared our results with Mg/Ca‐based estimates for the Indian Ocean at ODP Site 761. Our results indicate temperatures of 11.0 ± 1.7°C during the middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO, 14.7–17 Ma) and 8.1 ± 1.9°C after the middle Miocene Climate Transition (MCT, 13.0–14.7 Ma), values 6 to 9°C warmer than present. Our record also indicates cooling across the MCT of 2.9 ± 2.5°C (uncertainties 95% confidence level). The Mg/Ca record derived from the same samples indicates temperatures well within uncertainty of Δ47. As the two proxies are affected by different non‐thermal biases, the good agreement provides confidence in these reconstructed temperatures. Our Δ47 temperature record implies a ~0.6‰ seawater δ18O change over the MCT, in good agreement with previously published values from other sites. Our data furthermore confirm overall high seawater δ18O values across the middle Miocene, at face value suggesting ice volumes exceeding present‐day despite the warm bottom water temperatures. This finding suggests previously underappreciated additional influences on seawater δ18O and/or a decoupling of ice volume and ocean temperature.