bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term follow‐up of a diffuse cranial neurofibroma in a 4‐month‐old dog
Authors: Hidalgo Crespo Emma , Farré Mariné Alba , Pumarola i Batlle Martí , Luján Feliu‐Pascual Alejandro
Published: November 2023

Diffuse neurofibroma affects skin and subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck of children and young adults. Fourteen cases have been described in dogs, but none infiltrating a puppy's cranial cavity. A 4‐month‐old, female entire Pitbull was referred with a 2‐month history of left facial nerve paralysis, difficulty swallowing and left head tilt suggesting multifocal neurolocalisation. Computed tomography revealed an extra‐axial mass occupying the left nasal cavity, extending caudally along the skull base and following multiple cranial nerves (optic, oculomotor, trochlear, trigeminal, abducens, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus and hypoglossal) exiting the skull through their respective foramina and continuing across their peripheral pathways. A superficial facial nerve biopsy was obtained leading to a diagnosis of neurofibroma. Treatment with corticosteroids showed lack of response, so no long‐term treatment was prescribed. Twenty‐one months after diagnosis, the dog remains stable without treatment, suggesting a very slow growth with acceptable long‐term quality of life.
A study of the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on equine veterinary care in the UK
Authors: Allen Sarah E. , O'Neill Daniel G. , Cardwell Jacqueline M. , Verheyen Kristien L. P. , Brodbelt David C.
Published: November 2023

Background

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, equine health care in the UK may have been adversely affected due to mandated changes in the delivery of veterinary healthcare and the potential for reduced health‐seeking behaviour.

Methods

Electronic patient records (EPRs) were analysed to describe veterinary activity for all equids under the active care of 20 veterinary practices in the UK in the 12 months before and after the introduction of the first UK lockdown. Pre‐pandemic and pandemic levels of clinical activity were compared. Further comparisons of care, including immediate management and treatment, were made following a detailed review of EPRs from randomly selected subsets of equids under care in four time periods.

Results

All measures of activity and face‐to‐face interaction were lower in the early pandemic period than in the equivalent pre‐pandemic period. Compared to pre‐pandemic, the early pandemic was associated with a decrease in prophylactic care and non‐urgent diagnostic imaging and an increase in systemic non‐steroid anti‐inflammatory prescription. Convenience sampling of veterinary practices may have limited the generalisability of the findings. The quality of EPRs was variable.

Conclusions

While equine veterinary activity was significantly disrupted in the early pandemic period, there was a rapid return to pre‐pandemic levels of activity. Subsequent lockdowns appeared to have had little effect on veterinary care.
Monitoring soil elements for irrigation management using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors
Authors: Bouhachlaf Loubna , Benslimane Oumayma , El Hajjaji Souad
Published: November 2023

Smart farming focuses on three crucial areas: soil quality, weather conditions, and crop health. Because of the significant impact of weather and irrigation factors, many smart farming solutions are tightly integrated with smart environment and smart water (pollution, turbidity, nutrients) systems for a holistic approach. The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing soil monitoring, giving farmers and growers the means to optimize yields, minimize disease risks, and rationalize resource use. Thanks to IoT sensors, it is possible to measure various parameters such as soil temperature, NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) levels, and soil moisture. The information collected by these IoT sensors is then transmitted to a central point or stored in the cloud server for in‐depth analysis, visual representation, and trend identification. The application of the IoT in agriculture is widely referred to as smart farming. The IoT is an essential pillar of precision agriculture, enabling more targeted and efficient management of resources. Smart sensor systems provide more information about water and crop water requirements. This information can be used to mechanically manage the water supply system and help farmers optimize their irrigation system. The information acquired by the first sensors is transferred to the cloud server. This article proposes and evaluates the concept of remote sensing systems. Three sites were selected to test the IoT system. At each site, five sensors were employed, specifically designed for soil and irrigation water analysis. The sensors dedicated to soil pH, moisture, and NPK demonstrated commendable accuracy; equally, the irrigation water pH and turbidity sensors exhibited notably precise measurements. The results were noteworthy, with an R2 value surpassing 90% across all sensor measurements. These IoT sensors could facilitate effective crop monitoring without excessive expenditures and serve to safeguard groundwater from nutrient contamination.
Taxogenomic analysis of a novel yeast species isolated from soil, Pichia galeolata sp. nov.
Authors: Opulente Dana A. , Langdon Quinn K. , Jarzyna Martin , Buh Kelly V. , Haase Max A. B. , Groenewald Marizeth , Hittinger Chris Todd
Published: November 2023

A novel budding yeast species was isolated from a soil sample collected in the United States of America. Phylogenetic analyses of multiple loci and phylogenomic analyses conclusively placed the species within the genus Pichia. Strain yHMH446 falls within a clade that includes Pichia norvegensis, Pichia pseudocactophila, Candida inconspicua, and Pichia cactophila. Whole genome sequence data were analyzed for the presence of genes known to be important for carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and the phenotypic data from the novel species were compared to all Pichia species with publicly available genomes. Across the genus, including the novel species candidate, we found that the inability to use many carbon and nitrogen sources correlated with the absence of metabolic genes. Based on these results, Pichia galeolata sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate yHMH446T (=NRRL Y‐64187 = CBS 16864). This study shows how integrated taxogenomic analysis can add mechanistic insight to species descriptions.
Transformational deformation models of continuous thin‐walled structural elements with support elements of finite sizes: Theoretical foundations, computational, and physical experiments
Authors: Paimushin Vitaly Nikolaevich , Firsov Vyacheslav Anatolievich , Shishkin Viktor Mikhailovich , Gazizullin Ruslan Kamilevich
Published: November 2023

A method of experimental study of forced bending vibrations of unfixed spans of continuous thin‐walled structural element fixed on rigid support elements of finite dimensions has been developed using instrumental means for registration of vibration acceleration amplitudes. The technique is realized on beams with different types of their fixing under the loading of one of the beam section with an external force that varies in time according to a harmonic law. Experimental dependences of amplitude values of vibration accelerations in specific points of certain spans of the beam on the frequency of external load have been obtained. These results indicate the passage of vibrations through the fixed sections due to the transformation of bending vibration modes of the loaded section into longitudinal transverse‐shift vibrations of the fixed sections during the transition across the boundary from the unfixed section to the fixed one (from the fixed to the unfixed section). For the theoretical study of the described phenomenon a transformational model of the flat beam deformation is constructed on the basis of the refined Timoshenko model with additional account of the deformability of the section with fixation to a rigid support element of finite length on one of its face surfaces. The corresponding equations of motion of the unfixed and fixed sections are derived. The corresponding kinematic and force conditions of their conjugation are formulated. On their basis, analytical solutions of two specific problems are found in the linear approximation. One‐dimensional finite elements for modeling the dynamic response of continuous beam of the considered class are also constructed. Numerical experiments have been carried out for a flat beam made of aluminum alloys D16AT, AMg‐6 and unidirectional fiber reinforced plastic. The presence of a significant transformation of the stress‐strain state parameters of the considered beams at the transition across the boundary from unfixed to fixed sections and a significant increase in the level of transverse tangential stresses on the fixed section of the beam in the vicinity of the interface of the unfixed section with the fixed one have been revealed.
ALP-LEFT Interference and the Muon (g − 2)
Authors: Galda Anne Mareike , Neubert Matthias
Published: November 2023

Abstract

The low-energy effective field theory (LEFT) provides the appropriate framework to describe particle interactions below the scale of electroweak symmetry breaking, μw ~ v. By matching the Standard Model onto the LEFT, non-zero Wilson coefficients of higher-dimensional operators are generated, suppressed by the corresponding power of 1/v. An axion or axion-like particle (ALP) with mass ma ≪ μw that interacts with the Standard Model via classically shift-invariant dimension-five operators would also contribute to the LEFT Wilson coefficients, since it can appear as a virtual particle in divergent Green’s functions and thus has an impact on the renormalization of the LEFT operators. We present the full set of one-loop ALP-induced source terms modifying the renormalization-group evolution equations of the LEFT Wilson coefficients up to dimension-six order. Our framework allows for model-independent ALP searches at low energies from current bounds on LEFT Wilson coefficients. As a concrete application, we present an improved prediction for ALP effects on the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon.
The Page curve from the entanglement membrane
Authors: Blake Mike , Thompson Anthony P.
Published: November 2023

Abstract

We study entanglement dynamics in toy models of black hole information built out of chaotic many-body quantum systems, by utilising a coarse-grained description of entanglement dynamics in such systems known as the ‘entanglement membrane’. We show that in these models the Page curve associated to the entropy of Hawking radiation arises from a transition in the entanglement membrane around the Page time, in an analogous manner to the change in quantum extremal surfaces that leads to the Page curve in semi-classical gravity. We also use the entanglement membrane prescription to study the Hayden-Preskill protocol, and demonstrate how information initially encoded in the black hole is rapidly transferred to the radiation around the Page time. Our results relate recent developments in black hole information to generic features of entanglement dynamics in chaotic many-body quantum systems.
Ambulatory management of low-risk febrile neutropenia in adult oncological patients. Systematic review
Authors: Forcano-Queralt Ester , Lemes-Quintana Cristina , Orozco-Beltrán Domingo
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Recent clinical practice guidelines have recommended ambulatory management of febrile neutropenia in patients with low risk of complications. Although some centers have begun developing management protocols for these patients, there appears to be a certain reluctance to implement them in clinical practice. Our aim is to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this strategy according to available evidence and to propose new lines of research.

Methods

Systematic review using a triple aim approach (efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and quality of life), drawing from literature in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. The review includes studies that assess ambulatory management for efficacy, cost-efficiency, and quality of life.

Results

The search yielded 27 articles that met our inclusion criteria.

Conclusion

In conclusion, based on current evidence, ambulatory management of febrile neutropenia is safe, more cost-effective than inpatient care, and capable of improving quality of life in oncological patients with this complication. Ambulatory care seems to be an effective alternative to hospitalization in these patients.
Approximate option pricing under a two-factor Heston–Kou stochastic volatility model
Authors: El-Khatib Youssef , Makumbe Zororo S. , Vives Josep
Published: November 2023

Under a two-factor stochastic volatility jump (2FSVJ) model we obtain an exact decomposition formula for a plain vanilla option price and a second-order approximation of this formula, using Itô calculus techniques. The 2FSVJ model is a generalization of several models described in the literature such as Heston (Rev Financ Stud 6(2):327–343, 1993); Bates (Rev Financ Stud 9(1):69–107, 1996); Kou (Manag Sci 48(8):1086–1101, 2002); Christoffersen et al. (Manag Sci 55(12):1914–1932, 2009) models. Thus, the aim of this study is to extend some approximate pricing formulas described in the literature, like formulas in Alòs (Finance Stoch 16(3):403–422, 2012); Merino et al. (Int J Theor Appl Finance 21(08):1850052, 2018); Gulisashvili et al. (J Comput Finance 24(1), 2020), to pricing under the more general 2FSVJ model. Moreover, we provide numerical illustrations of our pricing method and its accuracy and computational advantage under double exponential and log-normal jumps. Numerically, our pricing method performs very well compared to the Fourier integral method. The performance is ideal for out-of-the-money options as well as for short maturities.
CCTA-based CABG SYNTAX Score: a tool to evaluate completeness of coronary segment revascularization after bypass surgery
Authors: Kotoku Nozomi , Serruys Patrick W. , Kageyama Shigetaka , Garg Scot , Masuda Shinichiro , Ninomiya Kai , Grau Juan B. , Gupta Himanshu , Agarwal Vikram , Morel Marie-Angèle , Doenst Torsten , Schneider Ulrich , Tanaka Kaoru , LaMeir Mark , Mushtaq Saima , Gianluca Pontone , Pompilio Giulio , Teichgräber Ulf , Puskas John , Narula Jagat , de Mey Johan , Andreini Daniele , Onuma Yoshinobu
Published: November 2023

To describe the updated coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA)-based coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) anatomic SYNTAX Score (aSS) and assess its utility and reproducibility for assessing the completeness of revascularization after CABG. The CCTA-CABG aSS is a visual assessment using CCTA post-CABG which quantifies the failure in effectively grafting stenotic coronary segments, and therefore assesses the completeness of surgical revascularization. It is calculated by subtracting the aSS of successfully anastomosed coronary segments from the aSS of the native coronary tree. The inter-observer reproducibility of the CCTA-CABG aSS was evaluated in 45 consecutive patients with three-vessel disease with or without left main disease who underwent a CCTA 30 days (± 7 days) after CABG. The CCTA-CABG aSS was evaluated in 45 consecutive patients with 117 bypass grafts and 152 anastomoses. The median native coronary aSS was 35.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 27.0–41.0], whilst the median CCTA-CABG aSS was 13.0 (IQR 9.0–20.5). The inter-observer level of agreement for the native coronary aSS and the CCTA-CABG aSS were both substantial with respective Kappas of 0.67 and 0.61. The CCTA-CABG aSS was feasible in all patients who underwent CABG for complex coronary artery disease with substantial inter-observer reproducibility, and therefore can be used to quantify the completeness of revascularization after CABG.
Prediction of hospitalization and waiting time within 24 hours of emergency department patients with unstructured text data
Authors: Seo Hyeram , Ahn Imjin , Gwon Hansle , Kang Hee Jun , Kim Yunha , Cho Ha Na , Choi Heejung , Kim Minkyoung , Han Jiye , Kee Gaeun , Park Seohyun , Seo Dong-Woo , Jun Tae Joon , Kim Young-Hak
Published: November 2023

Overcrowding of emergency departments is a global concern, leading to numerous negative consequences. This study aimed to develop a useful and inexpensive tool derived from electronic medical records that supports clinical decision-making and can be easily utilized by emergency department physicians. We presented machine learning models that predicted the likelihood of hospitalizations within 24 hours and estimated waiting times. Moreover, we revealed the enhanced performance of these machine learning models compared to existing models by incorporating unstructured text data. Among several evaluated models, the extreme gradient boosting model that incorporated text data yielded the best performance. This model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve score of 0.922 and an area under the precision-recall curve score of 0.687. The mean absolute error revealed a difference of approximately 3 hours. Using this model, we classified the probability of patients not being admitted within 24 hours as Low, Medium, or High and identified important variables influencing this classification through explainable artificial intelligence. The model results are readily displayed on an electronic dashboard to support the decision-making of emergency department physicians and alleviate overcrowding, thereby resulting in socioeconomic benefits for medical facilities.
Entropology: an Information-Theoretic Approach to Understanding Archaeological Data
Authors: Gheorghiade Paula , Vasiliauskaite Vaiva , Diachenko Aleksandr , Price Henry , Evans Tim , Rivers Ray
Published: November 2023

The main objective of this paper is to develop quantitative measures for describing the diversity, homogeneity, and similarity of archaeological data. It presents new approaches to characterize the relationship between archaeological assemblages by utilizing entropy and its related attributes, primarily diversity, and by drawing inspiration from ecology. Our starting premise is that diachronic changes in our data provide a distorted reflection of social processes and that spatial differences in data indicate cultural distancing. To investigate this premise, we adopt a parsimonious approach for comparing assemblage profiles employing and comparing a range of (Hill) diversities, which enable us to exploit different aspects of the data. The modelling is tested on two seemingly large datasets: a Late Bronze Age Cretan dataset with circa 13,700 entries (compiled by PG); and a 4th millennium Western Tripolye dataset with circa 25,000 entries (compiled by AD). The contrast between the strongly geographically and culturally heterogeneous Bronze Age Crete and the strongly homogeneous Western Tripolye culture in the Southern Bug and Dnieper interfluve show the successes and limitations of our approach. Despite the seemingly large size of our datasets, these data highlight limitations that confine their utility to non-semantic analysis. This requires us to consider different ways of treating and aggregating assemblages, either as censuses or samples, contingent upon the degree of representativeness of the data. While our premise, that changes in data reflect societal changes, is supported, it is not definitively confirmed. Consequently, this paper also exemplifies the limitations of large archaeological datasets for such analyses.
Causal Pluralism in Medicine and its Implications for Clinical Practice
Authors: Maziarz Mariusz
Published: November 2023

The existing philosophical views on what is the meaning of causality adequate to medicine are vastly divided. We approach this question and offer two arguments in favor of pluralism regarding concepts of causality. First, we analyze the three main types of research designs (randomized-controlled trials, observational epidemiology and laboratory research). We argue, using examples, that they allow for making causal conclusions that are best understood differently in each case (in agreement with a version of manipulationist, probabilistic and mechanistic definitions, respectively). Second, we analyze clinical practice and argue that these manipulationist, probabilistic and mechanistic causal claims can be used as evidence for different therapeutic decisions. We differentiate among ‘predicting’ that does not change the relata of causal claims, (mechanistic) ‘interferences’, and ‘interventions’ in the strict sense that act on causes to change effects. The central conclusion is that causal claims agreeing with diverse concepts of causality can deliver evidence for different types of therapeutic decisions.
A review on structural characteristics and thermoelectric properties of mid-temperature range Chalcogenide-based thermoelectric materials
Authors: Shankar Manasa R. , Prabhu A. N.
Published: November 2023

Several affordable and pollution-free technologies have drawn a lot of attention because of the pressure of our energy needs and environmental problems; among these, thermoelectric technology has made enormous advances. It has been known that thermoelectric materials are efficient in transforming waste heat energy into electricity. The efficiency of thermoelectric materials is typically assessed using the ZT value, ZT = S2T/ρκ. Several methods have been highlighted in the literature for improving thermoelectric figure of merit. This review stands out for its particular emphasis on cutting-edge techniques that are leading to a new era of thermoelectric innovation, including doping, co-doping, alloying, nanostructuring, and nanocompositing. Our focus is on mid-temperature range thermoelectric materials, which operate between 500 and 900 K and have enormous potential for high-efficiency thermoelectricity and waste heat recovery due to their inherent thermal and electrical properties. This review provides a foundational understanding of thermoelectric concepts as well as obstacles to improving the figure of merit and the various classes of mid-temperature range thermoelectric materials, including their structure and thermoelectric characteristics are discussed in brief. Additionally, it also discusses different methods described in the various literature regarding enhancing performance as well as recent advancements made in this area and this article emphasizes the relevance and importance of these developments in the context of urgent global energy challenges and highlights the crucial role that mid-temperature range thermoelectric materials will play in determining the future landscape of sustainable energy sources. To satisfy the practical demand, scientific research in the field of thermoelectricity still needs to be intensified, for this mid-temperature range, Chalcogenide-based thermoelectric materials play a very important role in the future.

Graphical abstract
Work Adjustments by Types of Occupations Amongst People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Survey Study
Authors: Machado Alejandra , Murley Chantelle , Dervish Jessica , Teni Fitsum Sebsibe , Friberg Emilie
Published: November 2023

Purpose

To explore the occurrence of work adjustments for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) across types of occupations (managerial, office, and manual workers).

Methods

All working-aged (20–50 years) residents in Sweden diagnosed with MS were invited to participate in a web-based survey in 2021. Responses were linked to individual-level nationwide registers. Descriptive analyses were conducted to compare sociodemographic and clinical variables across occupations as well as other responses. The odds ratio of having any adjustment at work was determined using multinomial logistic regression.

Results

From all 4412 respondents (52% response rate), 3313 employees were included. The majority were women (72%) and had low (24.2%) or mild disease severity (44.7%). Nevertheless, different work adjustments across occupations were observed. Compared to the other occupations, office workers reported more invisible symptoms, more work adjustments and considered adapted schedules as the most important adjustment. On the contrary, more managers reported having no limiting symptoms and consequently, disclosed their diagnosis less often. They also reported having fewer work adjustments and more opportunities to modify their work than office and manual workers. Manual workers had a higher likelihood to report needing more support at work than office workers and managers. Further, a higher likelihood of having work adjustments was associated with progressive MS, higher MS severity, and invisible symptoms.

Conclusion

A more severe clinical profile of MS was associated with having work adjustments. The physical demands and responsibilities of an occupation play an important role when requesting and getting work adjustments amongst employees with MS.
A Robust $$\alpha $$-Stable Central Limit Theorem Under Sublinear Expectation without Integrability Condition
Authors: Jiang Lianzi , Liang Gechun
Published: November 2023

This article fills a gap in the literature by relaxing the integrability condition for the robust $$\alpha $$
α
-stable central limit theorem under sublinear expectation. Specifically, for $$\alpha \in (0,1]$$

α
∈
(
0
,
1
]

, we prove that the normalized sums of i.i.d. non-integrable random variables $$\big \{n^{-\frac{1}{\alpha }}\sum _{i=1}^{n}Z_{i}\big \}_{n=1}^{\infty }$$

{

n

-

1
α

∑

i
=
1

n

Z
i

}

n
=
1

∞

converge in law to $${\tilde{\zeta }}_{1}$$

ζ
~

1

, where $$({\tilde{\zeta }}_{t})_{t\in [0,1]}$$

(

ζ
~

t

)

t
∈
[
0
,
1
]

is a multidimensional nonlinear symmetric $$\alpha $$
α
-stable process with jump uncertainty set $${\mathcal {L}}$$
L
. The limiting $$\alpha $$
α
-stable process is further characterized by a fully nonlinear partial integro-differential equation (PIDE):
$$\begin{aligned} \left\{ \begin{array}{l} \displaystyle \partial _{t}u(t,x)-\sup \limits _{F_{\mu }\in {\mathcal {L}}}\left\{ \int _{{\mathbb {R}}^{d}}\delta _{\lambda }^{\alpha }u(t,x)F_{\mu }(d\lambda )\right\} =0,\\ \displaystyle u(0,x)=\phi (x),\quad \forall (t,x)\in [0,1]\times {\mathbb {R}}^{d}, \end{array} \right. \end{aligned}$$

∂
t

u

(
t
,
x
)

-

sup

F
μ

∈
L

∫

R

d

δ

λ

α

u

(
t
,
x
)

F
μ

(
d
λ
)

=
0
,

u

(
0
,
x
)

=
ϕ

(
x
)

,

∀

(
t
,
x
)

∈

[
0
,
1
]

×

R

d

,

where $$\begin{aligned} \delta _{\lambda }^{\alpha }u(t,x):=\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} u(t,x+\lambda )-u(t,x)-\langle D_{x}u(t,x),\lambda \mathbbm {1}_{\{|\lambda |\le 1\}}\rangle , &{}\quad \alpha =1,\\ u(t,x+\lambda )-u(t,x), &{}\quad \alpha \in (0,1). \end{array} \right. \end{aligned}$$

δ

λ

α

u

(
t
,
x
)

:
=

u

(
t
,
x
+
λ
)

-
u

(
t
,
x
)

-
⟨

D
x

u

(
t
,
x
)

,
λ

1

{
|
λ
|
≤
1
}

⟩
,

α
=
1
,

u
(
t
,
x
+
λ
)
-
u
(
t
,
x
)
,

α
∈
(
0
,
1
)
.

The approach used in this study involves the utilization of several tools, including a weak convergence approach to obtain the limiting process, a Lévy–Khintchine representation of the nonlinear $$\alpha $$
α
-stable process and a truncation technique to estimate the corresponding $$\alpha $$
α
-stable Lévy measures. In addition, the article presents a probabilistic method for proving the existence of a solution to the above fully nonlinear PIDE.
Automatic assignment of microgenres to movies using a word embedding-based approach
Authors: González-Santos Carlos , Vega-Rodríguez Miguel A. , López-Muñoz Joaquín M. , Martínez-Sarriegui Iñaki , Pérez Carlos J.
Published: November 2023

Streaming services are increasingly leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for improved content cataloging, user experiences in content discovery, and personalization. A significant challenge in this domain is the automated assignment of microgenres to movies. This study introduces and evaluates approaches based on clustering, topic modeling, and word embedding to address this task. The evaluation employs a preprocessed dataset containing movie-related data—title tags, synopses, genres, and reviews—alongside a predefined microgenre list. Comparisons of three activation functions (binary step, ramp, and sigmoid) gauge their effectiveness in augmenting microgenre tags. Results demonstrate the superiority of the word embedding approach over clustering and topic modeling in terms of mean accuracy. Even more, the word embedding approach stands as the sole fully automated solution. Analysis indicates that incorporating review-based tags introduces noise and undermines accuracy. Besides, the word embedding approach yields optimal outcomes using the sigmoid function, effectively doubling assigned tags while maintaining matching quality. This sheds light on the potential of word embedding methods within the movie domain.
A peridynamics approach to flexible multibody dynamics for fracture analysis of mechanical systems
Authors: Vieira Francisco , Pagaimo João , Magalhães Hugo , Ambrósio Jorge , Araújo Aurélio
Published: November 2023

The classical theory of continuum mechanics is formulated using partial differential equations (PDEs) that fail to describe structural discontinuities, such as cracks. This limitation motivated the development of peridynamics, reformulating the classical PDEs into integral-differential equations. In this theory, each material point interacts with its neighbours inside a characteristic length-scale through bond-interaction forces. However, while peridynamics can simulate complex multi-physics phenomena, its integration in the study of mechanical systems is still limited. This work presents a methodology that incorporates a peridynamics formulation into a planar multibody dynamics (MBD) formulation to allow the integration of flexible structures described by peridynamics into mechanical systems. A flexible body is described by a collection of point masses, in analogy with the meshless collocation scheme commonly used for peridynamics discretisations. Each point mass interacts with other point masses through nonlinear forces governed by a bond-based peridynamics (BBPD) formulation. The virtual bodies methodology enables the definition of kinematic joints connecting the flexible body with the neighbouring bodies. The implementation of the methodology proposed is illustrated using various mechanisms with different levels of complexity. Notched plates subjected to different loading conditions are compared with the results presented in the literature of the peridynamics field. The deformations of a flexible slider-crank mechanism compare well with the results obtained using a classical flexible MBD formulation. Additionally, three scenarios involving a rotating pendulum illustrate how the methodology proposed allows simulating impact scenarios. The results demonstrate how this methodology is capable to successfully simulate highly nonlinear phenomena, including crack propagation, in a multibody framework.
Governance mechanisms, school principals and the challenge of personalized education in contexts
Authors: Mincu Monica
Published: November 2023

Schools around the world are diverse and there are a variety of progressivist initiatives in place that aim to promote quality and equitable pedagogy and overcome formalist paradigms. Country contexts present different challenges based on factors such as the type of governance, teachers’ autonomy, and pedagogical cultures. Most critical, however, is the unequal distribution of leadership opportunities. Beyond conflicting or contrived possibilities in school leadership arrangements and cultures, it should be recognized that certain contexts lack effective leadership as an organizational quality. Nevertheless, school principals are able to create coherent environments, offering space for debate and clarification of what equity and equality mean in terms of curriculum delivery, as well as supporting school-level structural facilitations and adaptations. This is a conceptual paper, at the crossroads of different research strands. It focuses on governance mechanisms and leadership tasks and skills in pedagogical and organizational school cultures. It argues that well-articulated school organization is needed, not only in terms of autonomy, but also with the possibility to collaborate, develop professionally, and engage locally in order to achieve equitable student-oriented teaching. The aim is to investigate the feasibility of supporting personalized and adaptive teaching strategies at the school level, in a variety of country contexts.
Carbon balance shift in mountain peatlands along a gradient of grazing disturbance in the tropical Andes (Colombia)
Authors: Martínez-Amigo Violeta , Benavides Juan C.
Published: November 2023

High-elevation cushion peatlands are typical ecosystems of the Andes above 4000 m of altitude, with an important role in hydrology and global carbon sequestration. In Tropical Andean context, grazing livestock is one of the main threats to cushion peatlands, altering the vegetation and the storage carbon function. The aim of this research is to understand how grazing influences cushion peatland functioning by identifying ecological thresholds for carbon balance process. The study was carried out in four Andean peatlands in the northern part of Colombian Andes during 2019–2020. We established 30 plots of 1 m2 where water table level, vegetation cover, and grazing disturbance were monitored. We also measured CO2 fluxes using an infrared gas analyzer connected to a closed static chamber, which registered net ecosystem exchange and respiration data. Considerable variation in the conservation status of Distichia muscoides cushions was found within the sampled peatlands, reflecting an heterogeneous signal of grazing disturbance that is evident at the plot-specific scale. Decreasing water table level was related with changes in dominant vegetation, from compact cushion species to grasses proliferation, exacerbating disturbance effects and carbon emissions. Mixed-effects logistic regression models showed a carbon balance shift, from CO2 sink to net emitter, in plots with high disturbance intensity and low D. muscoides cover. This study provides information for a better understanding of mountain peatlands functioning in the Tropical Andes and underlines the key role of D. muscoides cushions and the water table in carbon balance shift.
First report on natural infection by Dirofilaria repens in a cat in Spain: case report and literature review of feline subcutaneous dirofilariosis in Europe
Authors: Villanueva-Saz Sergio , Martínez María Victoria , Alsina Sandra , Fernández Antonio , Gómez Álex , Verde Maite , Ruiz Héctor , Lacasta Delia , Alnassan Alaa Aldin , Trotta Michele , Yzuel Andrés , Marteles Diana
Published: November 2023

Dirofilaria repens is an endemic mosquito-borne pathogen widely spread throughout Europe and other non-Europen regions. Infection by D. repens has been reported in dogs, although little is known about the occurrence and epidemiological features of this nematode in cats. During the surgical procedure within the framework of a trap, neuter and release sterilization program, two female filarial nematodes with spontaneous movement were removed from the internal part of the spermatic cord from asymptomatic stray cat in Spain (Grao de Castellón, Castellon de la Plana, province of Spain). Moreover, the presence of microfilariae was detected by using three different methods, including direct blood smear technique, the microhematocrit tube test, and Knott´s modified test. PCR performed from the nematodes extracted from the spermatic cord and from microfilariae in EDTA-blood sample tested both positive for D. repens. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates the presence of D. repens in cats in Spain. In this sense, a review of the current scientific status of feline subcutaneous dirofilariosis in Europe was also performed. Future investigations should analyze the epidemiological role of cats in D. repens infection including the prevalence of infection. Veterinarians working in endemic areas should be aware of this infection in cats and their susceptibility.
Exploring Factors Affecting Elementary School Teachers’ Adoption of 3D Printers In Teaching
Authors: Branko Anđić , Šorgo Andrej , Helm Christoph , Weinhandl Robert , Lang Vida
Published: November 2023

Owing to its advantages such as producing durable models and easy accessibility, 3D modeling and printing (3DMP) has become increasingly popular in educational practice and research. However, the results of many studies have shown that the adoption rate of 3DMP among teachers is still low, especially in elementary schools. Therefore, research is needed to expand current knowledge about what influences teachers' decisions to start and continue using 3DMP in elementary schools. To investigate factors that affect elementary school teachers' decisions to use 3D printing in teaching, this study uses a mixed methods research approach combining binary logistic regression with a qualitative thematic analysis approach. Both approaches assembled predictive constructs from a range of theories on (1) technology acceptance and (2) intentions to continue or abandon 3DMP use. Using a sample of 225 elementary teachers from Montenegro, this study empirically concluded that intentions to discontinue 3DMP was slightly more strongly correlated with the predictors (i.e., performance expectancy, effort expectancy, perceived pedagogical impact, personal innovativeness, management support, user interface quality, technology compatibility, social influence, student expectations) than was intentions to continue using 3DMP. Performance expectancy was a significant determinant of teachers’ continued use of a 3DMP approach. The remaining seven factors (constructs) were found to be insignificant predictors. Perceived pedagogical impact and technology compatibility were significantly associated with teachers' decisions to discontinue using 3DMP. Our results also suggest that the time required to use 3DMP during instruction, the impact of 3DMP on the implementation of curriculum activities, and the availability of 3D printers are all relevant factors that influence teachers’' decision to use or abandon 3DMP.
Secondary Shelf Life of Foods: State of the Art and Future Perspective
Authors: Alessandro Del Nobile Matteo , Conte Amalia
Published: November 2023

This review aims to approach the secondary shelf life (SSL) issue by providing an overview of the studies currently available on the subject and suggesting a theoretical framework to model the dependence of the SSL on the residual shelf life (RSL), a new concept introduced in this study. As it will be discussed later, to date, there are no systemic approaches and no guidelines to predict the dependence of the SSL on the RSL, even though the SSL is closely related to RSL. The few articles on the topic available in the literature are limited to assess the SSL of food, and its dependence on packaging systems or storage conditions after the package opening. The new approach based on the RSL can give a valid tool to industrial and scientific operators in the food sector for a more appropriate prediction of SSL. The enhanced awareness about a correct SSL prediction might lead to lower food waste generation.
A Fungus for Our Time: Candida auris Emerges into the Anthropocene
Authors: Stephenson Juliet C. , Garza Dominic R. , Bouklas Tejas
Published: November 2023

Purpose of Review

Candida auris is a multi-drug-resistant pathogen with many phenotypic variations that contribute to its pathogenicity. This review aims to characterize its phenotypic heterogeneity while highlighting the variants that should be prioritized in future research to advance therapies against C. auris.

Recent Findings

As the Earth warms, fungi like Candida experience selective pressure to tolerate these higher temperatures and become the few fungal species capable of successfully colonizing the host. The most recent of these is C. auris, which has become an acute concern due to its rapid emergence, high mortality rate, and resistance to all known classes of antifungals.

Several studies have contributed rapidly to our general understanding of C. auris, but not enough has been experimentally verified on its morphological variation and its ability to maintain a successful commensal lifestyle on the human skin. Because of its distinct phenotypic variations compared to other fungal species, especially under the selective pressures of its host, C. auris presents a unique opportunity to identify unique targets and strategies to contribute to the antifungal pipeline and control emergent pathogens.
Amnesties, Transitional Justice and the Rule of Law
Authors: Lenta Patrick
Published: November 2023

The aim of this paper is to assess an objection to amnesties conferred in transitional justice contexts: that they violate the rule of law. The paper begins by setting out the objection and presenting three possible replies to it. Each is argued to be unsatisfactory. The central contention of the paper, namely that the success of the objection depends on amnesties’ terms and the reasons for which they are introduced, as well as on what conception of the rule of law is operative, is then presented. The argument that amnesties violate the rule of law on account of public international law, or national constitutions containing bills of rights, prohibiting their use without exception is then rebutted. Few amnesties violate the rule of law for this reason. Finally, the paper addresses a further rule of law-based objection to amnesties that is related to, yet distinct from, the objection that amnesties violate the rule of law. According to this second rule of law-based objection, amnesties prevent, or at least hinder, the restoration of the rule of law in post-conflict societies. This objection is countered by demonstrating that amnesties do not always promote the rule of law less effectively than trials and punishment and may even, in some cases, be essential for the restoration of the rule of law.
Artificial Intelligence and Archaeological Illustration
Authors: Magnani Matthew , Clindaniel Jon
Published: November 2023

The reconstruction and representation of ancient artifacts and scenes through illustration is a cornerstone in the communication of archaeological findings. Sketches of the past have transformed over time, incorporating broader technological changes, from photography to the digital tools that have become prevalent through the twenty-first century. Most recently, developments in generative artificial intelligence (AI) promise to reshape the way we represent the past to professional and public audiences. This article shows how to use an accessible and inexpensive artificial intelligence platform to generate complex archaeological illustrations. As a case study, we create multiple scenes representing competing hypotheses about Neanderthal behavior. Using the images to visually communicate alternative hypotheses, we demonstrate how archaeological illustration using artificial intelligence promises to democratize the production of visual representations of the past.
The International Law Commission's Seventy-Fourth (2023) Session: General Principles of Law and Other Topics
Authors: Jalloh Charles Chernor
Published: November 2023

The International Law Commission (ILC or Commission) held its seventy-fourth session at its seat in Switzerland from April 24 to June 2 and from July 3 to August 4, 2023, and met fully in person for the first time since the COVID-19 global health pandemic. The Commission, which has had a gender imbalance in its composition, was chaired for the first time by two successive female chairs: Nilüfer Oral (Türkiye) for the first half session; followed by Patrícia Galvão Teles (Portugal) for the second half session.
Burgi in the Loess Plain of the Lower Rhine Region in Late Antiquity
Authors: Dodd James
Published: November 2023

Defensive infrastructure in the hinterland of the late Roman province of Germania Secunda hinged upon the widespread use of burgi. These defended settlements played a role in transforming villa estates, depopulated zones, and the expansion of the military footprint. They are common in the late third- and fourth-century landscape, spread throughout the loess belt of Belgium, Dutch Limburg, and the Rhineland, yet little has been done to quantify them. This article is dedicated to the chronology, morphology, and functional aspects of burgi, primarily in the loess plain of the Lower Rhine region. The author assembles data from a wide variety of burgi, to characterize them and reach meaningful conclusions about what they represent within the landscape, in the hope that it will act as a pilot project for future work in the field.
Inertial migration of a neutrally buoyant spheroid in plane Poiseuille flow
Authors: Anand Prateek , Subramanian Ganesh
Published: November 2023

We study the cross-stream inertial migration of a torque-free neutrally buoyant spheroid, of an arbitrary aspect ratio$\kappa$, in wall-bounded plane Poiseuille flow for small particle Reynolds numbers ($Re_p\ll 1$) and confinement ratios ($\lambda \ll 1$), with the channel Reynolds number,$Re_c = Re_p/\lambda ^2$, assumed to be arbitrary; here$\lambda =L/H$, where$L$is the semi-major axis of the spheroid and$H$denotes the separation between the channel walls. In the Stokes limit ($Re_p =0)$, and for$\lambda \ll 1$, a spheroid rotates along any of an infinite number of Jeffery orbits parameterized by an orbit constant$C$, while translating with a time-dependent speed along a given ambient streamline. Weak inertial effects stabilize either the spinning ($C=0$) or tumbling orbit ($C=\infty$), or both, depending on$\kappa$. The asymptotic separation of the Jeffery rotation and orbital drift time scales, from that associated with cross-stream migration, implies that migration occurs due to a Jeffery-averaged lift velocity. Although the magnitude of this averaged lift velocity depends on$\kappa$and$C$, the shape of the lift profiles are identical to those for a sphere, regardless of$Re_c$. In particular, the equilibrium positions for a spheroid remain identical to the classical Segre–Silberberg ones for a sphere, starting off at a distance of about$0.6(H/2)$from the channel centreline for small$Re_c$, and migrating wallward with increasing$Re_c$. For spheroids with$\kappa \sim O(1)$, the Jeffery-averaged analysis is valid for$Re_p\ll 1$; for extreme aspect ratio spheroids, the regime of validity becomes more restrictive being given by$Re_p \kappa /\ln \kappa \ll 1$and$Re_p/\kappa \ll 1$for$\kappa \rightarrow \infty$(slender fibres) and$\kappa \rightarrow 0$(flat disks), respectively.