bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainability Data Map: Framework for Data-Based Product Carbon Footprinting of Technical Products
Authors: Schreiner Nick , Kürpick Christian , Kühn Arno , Dumitrescu Roman
Published: January 2025

Growing awareness and political regulations increase the pressure on companies to become more sustainable. Manufacturers of technical products in particular face the challenge of decarbonization, as machinery and plants, for instance, have an impact on the emissions of almost all industries. However, information on the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) is often not transparent for manufacturing companies. Digitalization has proven to be a key enabler, as up to 90% of manufacturers’ emissions occur along the value chain, making it impossible to calculate the PCF without data. However, identifying the necessary data and the corresponding IT system is a major challenge, especially for technical products. The Sustainability Data Map supports the identification and structuring of relevant data and its sources for product carbon footprinting across all product lifecycle phases. In addition, the Sustainability Data Map serves as a workshop-based medium to communicate and integrate all relevant stakeholders in the value chain. It is based on an existing data map that has been extended to include the criteria required for PCF determination. As a result, the Sustainability Data Map enables manufacturing companies to create more transparency about the data needed to assess the PCF of technical products.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a Circular Saw Blade for Wood Processing
Authors: Schreiner F. , Beller M. , Pohle J. , Thorenz B. , Döpper F.
Published: January 2025

Climate change and its negative consequences are an inevitable topic that strongly affects all industrial sectors as well as private individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to assess and monitor the environmental impact of products, services, and processes. This paper presents a practical application of an LCA for a circular saw blade used in wood processing. By considering all stages of the circular saw blade’s life cycle, including manufacturing, period of use, and end of life phase, a comprehensive assessment of its environmental impact is provided. The software SimaPro was utilized to conduct the LCA, which involved evaluating each individual element of the circular saw blade. As a result of this study, the environmental impact of the various components of a circular saw blade was quantified, enabling an assessment of its cumulative potential environmental impact. Consequently, recommendations for more sustainable manufacturing, use and disposal of circular saw blades in wood processing are derived from the findings, contributing to an overall improvement in their environmental impact.
Efficient and Sustainable Production of Electrical Machines—Achieving a Higher slot Fill Factor Through an Innovative Forming Process Chain
Authors: Dix M. , Bach M. , Kräusel V. , Wertheim R.
Published: January 2025

With the increasing electrification of mobility and the associated growing demand for electric machines, issues of efficient and resource-saving production and operation are becoming ever more central. Therefore, it is important to optimize the design of components, materials and the assembly of electric machines. An example, described in the paper, shows how to increase the slot fill factor of a stator. By optimising the wire content in the slots, electric machines can be made smaller or, at the same size, operate more powerfully resp. efficiently. Various applicable production methods have different drawbacks such as low productivity, high energy and resource consumption, and restrictions for geometric design. Here, forming technology offers remedy in the utilization of material with simple tools and its suitability for mass production. This paper shows the analysed process chain developed at Fraunhofer IWU for the forming-based production of coils with trapezoidal cross-sectional geometry. The investigation results provide a more sustainable structure and an efficient process chain.
Scenario-Based Life Cycle Assessment of an Automotive Wire Harness
Authors: Funk Felix , Nguyen Huong Giang , Franke Jörg
Published: January 2025

Wire harnesses are one of the the largest purchased part for many automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). They are highly complex assembly products, consisting of hundreds of wires, electrical connectors, electronic parts, and ancillary materials such as tape. Assembly still is a largely manual process, as the complexity of the wire handling and low level of standardization and digitization pose a challenge to automation efforts. Wire harnesses are expected to increase in complexity and size due to current developments in the automotive sector, namely electromobility, autonomous driving, and digitalization. As a result, the importance of these products to the overall environmental impact of vehicles is likely to increase, with copper playing a significant role. In this study, the environmental impacts of a rear door wire harness are quantified by performing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), considering the life cycle from cradle to gate and based on different supply chain scenarios. The impact of sourcing and transport is shown and potential for improvement is derived, especially with regard to reshoring and automation.
Aligning Strategic Priorities in Manufacturing and Sustainable Operational Practices in Firms: Exploration and Evidence in North-East Colombia
Authors: Reyes-Rodríguez Juan Felipe , del Cairo-Jiménez María Nikolle , Martínez-Zúñiga Liza María
Published: January 2025

Recently, issues such as global warming and ecosystem deterioration have demanded corporate actions towards a responsible orientation to operations. Particularly, manufacturing firms can exhibit such a responsible orientation through the implementation of sustainable operational practices (SOP). Such practices can also pave the way to consolidate the different strategic priorities in manufacturing (SPM) that drive business value. Based on a sample of 412 manufacturing firms in Bucaramanga, Colombia, the purpose of this study is to characterize different portfolios of SOP as well as profiles of firms based on their SPM. Results evidence three forms of SOP, related to: (i) product design and transformation, (ii) supply chain, and (iii) reverse logistics. Furthermore, sampled firms exhibit four main SPM: (i) natural environment and social responsibility, (ii) flexibility, (iii) innovation and efficiency, and (iv) quality and customer satisfaction. Results show that there are remarkable differences regarding SOP related to product design and transformation as well as supply chain across profiles of SPM. Notwithstanding, the extent of implementation of reverse logistics takes place regardless of their SPM. The study contributes to an increased understanding of how firms adopt a more responsible behavior. Furthermore, the study provides evidence concerning the articulation of such organizational response and the priorities to capture value in manufacturing.
Frontloading Approach for Energy Efficiency in Forming Technology
Authors: Kluy L. , Becker M. , Wächter A. , Groche P.
Published: January 2025

The early stages of forming process development offer a high degree of design freedom and therefore cost advantages in implementing energy efficiency measures. However, this potential often remains unused in industrial applications due to the lack of a cost-efficient and simple approach.

This frontloading approach addresses the specifics of forming process development in existing production environments and bridges the gap between new development and retrofitting in SMEs. Four steps from analysis to modelling and measures to implementation provide an easy-to-follow guidance. Key challenges in data collection and uncertainty management are addressed.

Using two forming processes as examples (bulk and sheet metal forming), a reduction in total energy consumption is achieved while the productivity remains unchanged. Therefore, the proposed frontloading approach opens up new opportunities for energy efficiency in forming technology.
Eco-sustainable Improvement of Super Duplex Stainless Steel Turning Trough CryoMQL Technique
Authors: Pereira O. , Villarrazo N. , Rodríguez A. , de Lacalle L. N. López , Martínez-Krahmer D.
Published: January 2025

In machining processes, the environmental footprint reduction is a fact that is been addressed in recent years. In this line, the use of recycled CO2 as cryogenic cutting fluid in those processes is taking advantage in comparison with other lubricooling alternatives to replace oil emulsions in workshops. This technique is characterized by its high cooling capability and its cleaning efficiency. Besides, it is environmentally innocuous due to the CO2 is captured form a primary process to be used as cutting fluid. However, the CO2 has low lubricant properties what implies a challenge to be used in heat resistant alloys because combine both high hardness and low thermal conductivity. Therefore, in this work is explored the use of CO2 combined with biodegradable oil spray under CryoMQL technique for dealing with super duplex stainless steel during turning operations. In particular, the CryoMQL technology was optimized for achieving a successful process through tool life improvement. The results shown that the optimization carried out implies that the use of CryoMQL technique extend tool life a 45% in comparison with the use of conventional oil emulsions, obtaining in this way not only an environmental improvement but also a technical one in this kind of alloys.
Impact of Modified Clamping System on Rotary Swaging Workpiece Surface Quality and Sustainability
Authors: Moazzez Kasra , Langstädtler Lasse , Schenck Christian , Kuhfuss Bernd
Published: January 2025

Rotary swaging is a sustainable cold forming process that reduces the radius of axis-symmetrical workpieces. The clamping system is a critical part of this process that affects the behavior of the workpiece during the process. The dynamic characteristics of the clamping-workpiece system can affect the process dynamics, such as vibrations in the whole structure, dynamic forces and contact time between the tools and the workpiece, and angular displacement of the workpiece. This research aims to modify the dynamics of the process by changing the contact characteristics between the clamping system and the workpiece. Instead of using a quasi-rigid clamping head, an elastic rubber spacer was tested as a spring-damper element. The study evaluated the impact of this clamping-workpiece system modification on the sustainability of the rotary swaging process in different aspects and surface quality of the final product via roundness and cylindricity measurements. The results could lead to parts that require less post-processing and are closer to a ready-to-use state, depending on the desired application.
Comparison of an Additive with a Subtractive Method from the Perspective of Sustainability
Authors: De Bernardez Leopoldo , Sandre Cristian , Sanguinetti Juan
Published: January 2025

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is increasingly used for the manufacture of parts in different industrial sectors and, therefore, it becomes relevant to evaluate the mechanical performance that can be achieved with this process and the possible impacts on the environment compared to traditional processes. In this paper, two alternative production methods for fabricating a standard stainless steel tensile specimen are compared: Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and machining. Functional tests were carried out until the fracture of the pieces. The amount of material used was measured. In addition, the energy consumed to produce the pieces was estimated. Both production processes were compared concerning the measured tensile properties, material consumption, and additional data from the literature. The results obtained from generative design and topological optimization of a part are discussed, as well as the implications regarding the sustainability of the processes.
A two-loop four-point form factor at function level
Authors: Dixon Lance J. , Xin Shuo
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Recently, the maximally-helicity-violating four-point form factor for the chiral stress-energy tensor in planar

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 super Yang-Mills was computed to three loops at the level of the symbol associated with multiple polylogarithms. It exhibits antipodal self-duality, or invariance under the combined action of a kinematic map and reversing the ordering of letters in the symbol. Here we lift the two-loop form factor from symbol level to function level. We provide an iterated representation of the function’s derivatives (coproducts). In order to do so, we find a three-parameter limit of the five-parameter phase space where the symbol’s letters are all rational. We also use function-level information about dihedral symmetries and the soft, collinear, and factorization limits, as well as limits governed by the form-factor operator product expansion (FFOPE). We provide plots of the remainder function on several kinematic slices, and show that the result is compatible with the FFOPE data. We further verify that antipodal self-duality is valid at two loops beyond the level of the symbol.
Entanglement negativity and replica symmetry breaking in general holographic states
Authors: Dong Xi , Kudler-Flam Jonah , Rath Pratik
Published: January 2025

Abstract

The entanglement negativity

$$ \mathcal{E} $$

E

(A : B) is a useful measure of quantum entanglement in bipartite mixed states. In random tensor networks (RTNs), which are related to fixed-area states, it was found in ref. [1] that the dominant saddles computing the even Rényi negativity

$$ {\mathcal{E}}^{(2k)} $$

E

2
k

generically break the ℤ
2k
replica symmetry. This calls into question previous calculations of holographic negativity using 2D CFT techniques that assumed ℤ
2k
replica symmetry and proposed that the negativity was related to the entanglement wedge cross section. In this paper, we resolve this issue by showing that in general holographic states, the saddles computing

$$ {\mathcal{E}}^{(2k)} $$

E

2
k

indeed break the ℤ
2k
replica symmetry.

Our argument involves an identity relating

$$ {\mathcal{E}}^{(2k)} $$

E

2
k

to the k-th Rényi entropy on subregion AB
∗ in the doubled state

$$ {\left.|{\rho}_{AB}\right\rangle}_{A{A}^{\ast }{BB}^{\ast }} $$

ρ
AB

A

A
∗

BB
∗

, from which we see that the ℤ
2k
replica symmetry is broken down to ℤ

k
. For k < 1, which includes the case of

$$ \mathcal{E} $$

E

(A : B) at k = 1/2, we use a modified cosmic brane proposal to derive a new holographic prescription for

$$ {\mathcal{E}}^{(2k)} $$

E

2
k

and show that it is given by a new saddle with multiple cosmic branes anchored to subregions A and B in the original state. Using our prescription, we reproduce known results for the PSSY model and show that our saddle dominates over previously proposed CFT calculations near k = 1. Moreover, we argue that the ℤ
2k
symmetric configurations previously proposed are not gravitational saddles, unlike our proposal. Finally, we contrast holographic calculations with those arising from RTNs with non-maximally entangled links, demonstrating that the qualitative form of backreaction in such RTNs is different from that in gravity.
Model independent bounds on heavy sterile neutrinos from the angular distribution of B → D*ℓν decays
Authors: Bernlochner Florian U. , Fedele Marco , Kretz Tim , Nierste Ulrich , Prim Markus T.
Published: January 2025

Abstract

In this paper we study the bounds that can be inferred on New Physics couplings to heavy sterile neutrinos N from the recent measurements performed by the Belle collaboration of the angular analysis of

$$ B\to {D}^{\ast}\ell {\overline{\nu}}_{\ell } $$

B
→

D
∗

ℓ

ν
¯

ℓ

decays, with ℓ = e, μ. Indeed, a sterile neutrino N may lead to competing

$$ B\to {D}^{\ast}\ell \overline{N} $$

B
→

D
∗

ℓ

N
¯

decays and Belle might have measured an incoherent sum of these two independent channels. After reviewing the theoretical formalism required to describe this phenomenon in full generality, we first perform a bump hunt in the

$$ {M}_{\textrm{miss}}^2 $$

M
miss
2

Belle distribution to search for evidences of an additional massive neutrino. We found in such a way a small hint at

$$ {M}_{\textrm{miss}}^2 $$

M
miss
2

∼ (354 MeV)2. However, the Belle angular analysis is sensitive to N masses up to

$$ \mathcal{O} $$

O

(50 MeV), preventing us to further inspect this hint. Nevertheless, we study the potential impact of this additional channel in the allowed mass range on the measured angular distributions and extract model-independent bounds on the new-physics couplings which could mediate such an interaction. In particular, in the mass window here inspected, we obtain the most stringent bounds for vector and left-handed scalar operators to date.
Cosmology of light towers and swampland constraints
Authors: Casas Gonzalo F. , Ruiz Ignacio
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We study the dynamical evolution of FLRW cosmologies in the presence of a tower of scalar light states and a runaway exponential potential. Some of the attractor solutions have problematic behaviours from the EFT point of view, which we use to argue for restrictions on the possible exponential scalings of the potential and tower characteristic mass as we move towards asymptotic regions in moduli space. These serve as further evidence that the tower mass should not decay faster than the potential or the KK scale associated to the homogeneous decompactification of a single compact dimension. We provide support from different top-down compactifications and connect with previous arguments found in the literature.
On the classical limit of the (sub)n-leading soft graviton theorems in D = 4 without deflection
Authors: Akhtar Samim
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Tree-level gravitational amplitudes satisfy an infinite hierarchy of soft factorization theorems. The existence of these theorems has been recently linked with the existence of an infinite tower of asymptotic symmetries. In this paper, we analyze the relevance of the soft graviton theorems beyond sub-leading order in the context of classical gravitational scattering in four dimensions. More in detail, we show that the infinite impact parameter limit of the late-time gravitational field emitted during a classical scattering can be derived using these factorization theorems. The classical field obtained in this (infinite impact parameter) regime has an expansion in the frequency of the detector where the modes scale as ωn log ω with a vanishing memory.
Laser metal deposition as repair technology for Inconel 718
Authors: Cano-Salinas Lorena , Salem Mehdi , Moussaoui Kamel , Le Roux Sabine , Hor Anis , Zitoune Redouane
Published: January 2025

From an economic and sustainability point of view, repair is considered a promising alternative for high value-added aeronautical materials. In this study, laser metal deposition (LMD) was used for simulating the repair of damaged Inconel 718 (IN718) parts. Grooves were machined in IN718 substrates using abrasive water jet (AWJ) and filled with powdered IN718 alloy. Based on these results, a set of optimal LMD process parameters were selected for depositing material layers on milled substrates with various of roughness and texture levels induced by AWJ machining to evaluate the effect of surface preparation on repair quality. The substrate-deposit repair interfaces were characterized using microscopic analysis and multi-scale hardness tests. The results showed the influence of scan speed on the height of the weld bead, while increasing laser power and scan speed were both found to increase weld bead height. Dilution increased with a decrease in scan speed. Additionally, repair quality was found to be independent of the different surface conditions. Overall, the repairs exhibited excellent weldability, and were free of cracks and lack-of-fusion defects. Furthermore, microhardness measurements yielded higher values of hardness in the deposit area than in the substrate for all repairs.
Grouping of chemicals for safety assessment: the importance of toxicokinetic properties of salicylate esters
Authors: Najjar Abdulkarim , Grégoire Sébastien , Nicol Beate , Natsch Andreas , Golbamaki Nazanin , Boisleve Fanny , Irizar Amaia , Wall Brian , Swinscoe Angus , Masini-Etévé Valérie , Joshi Kaushal , Api Anne Marie , Griem Peter , Reis Allison , Hewitt Nicola J. , Cardamone Estefania
Published: January 2025

Grouping of chemicals has been proposed as a strategy to speed up the screening and identification of potential substances of concern among the broad chemical universe under REACH. Such grouping is usually based on shared structural features and should only be used for the prioritization objectives. However, additional considerations (as well as structural similarity) are needed, e.g., mode of action, metabolic pathways, chemical reaction products and physicochemical properties, when regulatory management measures are considered (such as restriction, harmonized classification and labeling). Guidance documents from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recommend considering toxicokinetic information to enhance the robustness of the grouping; however, examples of this approach are lacking. Therefore, this paper shares findings on chemical grouping based on ADME data generated for multiple esters of salicylic acid. These differ with respect to chain length and branching of the alcohol moiety of salicylic acid ester, resulting in a wide range of lipophilicity (LogP 0.21–10.88). Since LogP impacts skin absorption, as well as hydrolysis by carboxylesterases, the bioavailability and thus internal exposure to topically applied salicylate esters can vary considerably. Therefore, we collected skin absorption and metabolism data for 41 salicylates using in vitro testing and in silico models and combined the information to group them according to their potential systemic exposure to the major metabolite, salicylic acid. The results show that, despite a similar general chemical structure, their toxicokinetics vary considerably, indicating the need for better understanding of ADME properties to assess the internal exposure for sound risk assessment.
Harnessing the power of microbial fuel cells as pioneering green technology: advancing sustainable energy and wastewater treatment through innovative nanotechnology
Authors: Ali Hadeer E. , Hemdan Bahaa A. , El-Naggar Mehrez E. , El-Liethy Mohamed Azab , Jadhav Dipak A. , El-Hendawy Hoda H. , Ali M. , El-Taweel Gamila E.
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this review is to gain attention about intro the advanced and green technology that has dual action for both clean wastewater and produce energy. Water scarcity and the continuous energy crisis have arisen as major worldwide concerns, requiring the creation of ecologically friendly and sustainable energy alternatives. The rapid exhaustion of fossil resources needs the development of alternative energy sources that reduce carbon emissions while maintaining ecological balance. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide a viable option by producing power from the oxidation of organic and biodegradable chemicals using microorganisms as natural catalysts. This technology has sparked widespread attention due to its combined potential to cleanse wastewater and recover energy. The review presents a complete examination of current advances in MFCs technology, with a focus on the crucial role of anode materials in improving their performance. Moreover, different anode materials and their nanoscale modifications are being studied to boost MFC efficiency. This current review also focused on the effects of surface modifications and different anode compositions on power generation and system stability. It also investigates the electrochemical principles behind these enhancements, providing insights into the economic potential of MFCs. MFCs provide a long-term solution to energy and environmental issues by addressing both wastewater treatment and energy production.
‘Understanding Domestic Violence and Abuse: Victim, Suspect and Crime Predictors of Police Outcomes’
Authors: Barbin Arianna , Crivatu Ioana , Davies Kari , Horvath Miranda A.H. , Spence Ruth
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) cases remain under-reported and under-prosecuted in the criminal justice system (CJS), with researchers frequently having limited access to raw police data. Here, a range of factors relating to DVA offences occurring between 2018 and 2020 in one large English police force were described and measured. As part of the research, it was investigated if victim, suspect and crime characteristics predicted outcome decisions, specifically charge rate, case attrition, and evidential difficulties despite victims’ support in pursuing the allegations. The number of offences meeting the DVA legal definition, and those falling outside that definition, were also explored.

Methods

Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to predict the relationship between demographic information and criminal history on three coded crime outcome categories (namely, ‘charge’, ‘victim does not proceed’, and ‘law does not pursue’).

Results

The dataset included 198,617 crimes, and for 94.1% of them, the suspect was not charged. Relationship type, age, crime type, and the number of victim allegations predicted all three outcomes. For instance, being partners of the victim significantly decreased the chances of a charge compared to suspects who were not partners.

Conclusions

The findings are in line with evidence from the literature which highlights all-time low charge rates for DVA and high levels of victim attrition. We argue that the influence of victim/suspect characteristics and DVA-related dynamics should be considered by police personnel and members of the CJS when assessing crime reports.
Can visits to certain businesses help predict evacuation decisions in real time?
Authors: Anyidoho Prosper K. , Davidson Rachel A. , Nozick Linda K. , Trivedi Jennifer , DeYoung Sarah E. , Wachtendorf Tricia
Published: January 2025

This study aims to help understand and predict evacuation behavior by examining the relationship between evacuation decisions and visits to certain businesses using smartphone location and point of interest (POI) data collected across three hurricanes—Dorian (2019), Ida (2021), and Ian (2022)—for residents in voluntary and mandatory evacuation zones. Results from these data suggest residents visit POIs as part of preparatory activities before a hurricane impacts land. Statistical tests suggest that POI visits can be used as precursor signals for predicting evacuations in real time. Specifically, people are more likely to evacuate if they visit a gas station and are more likely to stay if they visit a grocery store, hardware store, pet store, or a pharmacy prior to landfall. Additionally, they are even less likely to leave if they visit multiple places of interest. These results provide a foundation for using smartphone location data in real time to improve predictions of behavior as a hurricane approaches.
Politicised or Political: On Agonism and School as ‘Free Time’
Authors: Tysklind Emma N. , Tryggvason Ásgeir
Published: January 2025

At the centre of this paper is the distinction between a politicised school, and school as a political space. We take note of Papastephanou’s (2005) warning not to make education the passive receiver of political thought. Based on Masschelein and Simons (2013), we criticise the tendency to conceptualise democratic education, particularly agonistic democratic education, as the implementation of political theory in a school context. We draw on their idea of school as free time, to argue that democratic education should envision the classroom as political in itself, that is, as a place for negotiation and renewal, where the ends are not predetermined. When school becomes a place to implement political theory, when it is politicised, then it is stripped of its own political potency. In scholastic terms, it is tamed. In this paper, a fusion of Mouffean agonism with Masschelein and Simons’ conception of school, works to form an understanding of agonistic democratic education as a time and place for the formation of community and for the negotiation of identity, under protection from the non-accountability (Arendt 1961) that characterises scholastic practice.
The Monist strategy: Naïve realism and the master argument from hallucination
Authors: Mazzullo Giorgio
Published: January 2025

The Master Argument from Hallucination is one of the most discussed challenges to Naïve Realism. Naïve Realists have thoroughly scrutinised a number of strategies for resisting it. However, they have generally dismissed out of hand what I call the Monist Strategy, according to which the hallucinations invoked by the argument also consist of a relation of perceptual awareness with the mind-independent environment. In this paper, I consider whether this often-implicit dismissal is justified. I suggest that the core of resistance plausibly lies in an assumption regarding the causal requirements for the obtaining of the relation of perceptual awareness invoked by Naïve Realists. Drawing on the existing literature (Raleigh in J Conscious Stud 21:81–110, 2014; Ali in Philos Stud 175(3):601–627, 2018), I consider and elaborate ways in which the Monist Strategy might be developed consistently with this assumption. I suggest that there are indeed reasons to question the viability of this project. However, I argue that it is not entirely clear why Naïve Realists are forced to buy into this assumption. If they were willing to reject it, I contend, a compelling version of the Monist Strategy could be developed. According to such a view, at least some hallucinations are episodes of perceptual awareness of regions of space.
Microbial fuel cells to monitor natural attenuation around groundwater plumes
Authors: Kirmizakis Panagiotis , Cunningham Mark , Kumaresan Deepak , Doherty Rory
Published: January 2025

This research presents a straightforward and economically efficient design for a microbial fuel cell (MFC) that can be conveniently integrated into a borehole to monitor natural attenuation in groundwater. The design employs conventional, transparent, and reusable PVC bailers with graphite tape and granular activated carbon to create high surface area electrodes. These electrodes are connected across redox environments in nested boreholes through a wire and variable resistor setup. The amended electrodes were installed in pre-existing boreholes surrounding a groundwater plume near a former gasworks facility. Among all the MFC locations tested, the MFC at the plume fringe exhibited the highest electrical response and displayed significant variations in the differential abundance of key bacterial and archaeal taxa between the anode and cathode electrodes. The other MFC configurations in the plume center and uncontaminated groundwater showed little to no electrical response, suggesting minimal microbial activity. This straightforward approach enables informed decision-making regarding effectively monitoring, enhancing, or designing degradation strategies for groundwater plumes. It offers a valuable tool for understanding and managing contaminant degradation in such environments.
Breast cancer classification based on breast tissue structures using the Jigsaw puzzle task in self-supervised learning
Authors: Sugawara Keisuke , Takaya Eichi , Inamori Ryusei , Konaka Yuma , Sato Jumpei , Shiratori Yuta , Hario Fumihito , Kobayashi Tomoya , Ueda Takuya , Okamoto Yoshikazu
Published: January 2025

Self-supervised learning (SSL) has gained attention in the medical field as a deep learning approach utilizing unlabeled data. The Jigsaw puzzle task in SSL enables models to learn both features of images and the positional relationships within images. In breast cancer diagnosis, radiologists evaluate not only lesion-specific features but also the surrounding breast structures. However, deep learning models that adopt a diagnostic approach similar to human radiologists are still limited. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Jigsaw puzzle task in characterizing breast tissue structures for breast cancer classification on mammographic images. Using the Chinese Mammography Database (CMMD), we compared four pre-training pipelines: (1) IN-Jig, pre-trained with both the ImageNet classification task and the Jigsaw puzzle task, (2) Scratch-Jig, pre-trained only with the Jigsaw puzzle task, (3) IN, pre-trained only with the ImageNet classification task, and (4) Scratch, that is trained from random initialization without any pre-training tasks. All pipelines were fine-tuned using binary classification to distinguish between the presence or absence of breast cancer. Performance was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. Additionally, detailed analysis was conducted for performance across different radiological findings, breast density, and regions of interest were visualized using gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM). The AUC for the four models were 0.925, 0.921, 0.918, 0.909, respectively. Our results suggest the Jigsaw puzzle task is an effective pre-training method for breast cancer classification, with the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy with limited data.
Accelerometry-assessed sleep clusters and obesity in adolescents and young adults: a longitudinal analysis in GINIplus/LISA birth cohorts
Authors: Wang Mingming , Flexeder Claudia , Harris Carla P. , Kress Sara , Schikowski Tamara , Peters Annette , Standl Marie
Published: January 2025

Background

Some studies have revealed various sleep patterns in adolescents and adults using multidimensional objective sleep parameters. However, it remains unknown whether these patterns are consistent from adolescence to young adulthood and how they relate to long-term obesity.

Methods

Seven-day accelerometry was conducted in German Infant Study on the influence of Nutrition Intervention PLUS environmental and genetic influences on allergy development (GINIplus) and Influence of Lifestyle factors on the development of the Immune System and Allergies in East and West Germany (LISA) birth cohorts during the 15-year and 20-year follow-ups, respectively. Five sleep clusters were identified by k-means cluster analysis using 12 sleep characteristics at each follow-up. Adjusted linear and logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations were examined. Further, the interaction effects with time of follow-ups and polygenic risk scores (PRS) for body mass index (BMI) were tested.

Results

Five sleep clusters were classified consistently in both adolescence (n = 1347, aged 14.3–16.4 years) and young adulthood (n = 1262, aged 19.5–22.4 years). Adolescents in the “good sleep”, “delayed sleep phase”, and “fragmented sleep” clusters displayed greater stability transitioning into young adulthood, while those in the “sleep irregularity and variability”, and “prolonged sleep latency” clusters showed lower stability (n = 636). Compared to the “good sleep” cluster, the “prolonged sleep latency” cluster exhibited associations with higher BMI [β = 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (0.06, 1.05)] and increased odds of overweight/obesity [Odds ratio = 1.55, 95% CI = (1.02, 2.34)]. No significant PRS-sleep cluster interaction was found for BMI or overweight/obesity. Among males only, the “delayed sleep phase”, “sleep irregularity and variability” and “fragmented sleep” clusters showed stronger associations with overweight/obesity as age increased.

Conclusion

Adolescents and young adults shared five consistent sleep patterns, with the “prolonged sleep latency” pattern linked to higher BMI and overweight/obesity.

Graphical abstract
Impact of Buffer Time on Driving Behavior in Level-3 Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Arslanyilmaz Abdu , Jones Todd , Labrie Nicholas A. , Doner Durmus V.
Published: January 2025

This study examines how buffer time impacts the behaviors of 20 young drivers in terms of takeover duration and quality, visual attention and cognitive effort, and emotional states preceding, during, and subsequent to take over requests (TORs) upon system failure in level 3 autonomous vehicles occurring just before intersections. Two groups of buffer times of 8 and 4 s were compared to investigate the impacts of buffer times on driving behavior, eye gaze patterns, and EEG data related to emotional states. Three separate MANOVA tests were conducted to analyze how buffer time impacted these constructs. The individual MANOVA was used for each construct, which included various dependent variables, and included two independent variables (8 s and 4 s groups, referred to as 8SG and 4SG respectively) and multiple dependent variables. The results showed that buffer times do not affect drivers’ emotional states and the duration and quality of takeovers. On the other hand, this approach has a statistically significant effect on drivers’ attention given to traffic signals. Drivers’ emotional states (excitement, engagement, stress, relaxation, interest, and focus) are not influenced by buffer time upon system failure. Additionally, when drivers are provided with earlier warnings, they pay further attention to the traffic signal. Finally, drivers take control of their vehicles faster with an earlier buffer time than with a later one.
A comprehensive assessment of ceramic wastes in ultra-high-performance concrete
Authors: Korat Amr , Amin Mohamed , Tahwia Ahmed M.
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the utilization of ceramic waste from the ceramic manufacturing sector as a partial replacement for cement and fine aggregate in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Ceramic waste, ground into microparticles (555 m2/kg), replaced 10–50% of cement in 22 UHPC mixtures. One group used sand, and the other used ground ceramic waste as fine aggregate. Tests evaluated mechanical properties, consistency, durability, and microstructure. Results showed that SCWP and WCWP could replace up to 20% of cement, enhancing performance while maintaining desired mechanical and durability characteristics. The results showed that slump flow diameter decreased by increasing replacement ratios by SCWP and WCWP up to 50% of cement mass to 685 mm and 670 mm compared with the control mix, which had 770 mm for the first group and 634 mm and 615 mm in comparison to 713 mm for the control mix for the second group. Compressive strengths were increased to 171.3 MPa and 176.7 MPa, compared to 155 MPa for the control mix at 56 days in the first group. In the second group, compressive strengths reached 160.31 MPa and 165.33 MPa, compared to 143.15 MPa for the control mix at 56 days. All other mechanical properties, including compressive strength, are enhanced with cement replacement percentages of up to 20%. The study reveals that at 20% substitution of SCWP and WCWP, hardened UHPC properties such as tensile and flexural strength and modulus of elasticity significantly improved, reaching 21.31 MPa, 27.85 MPa, and 54.12 GPa for the first group and 19.97 MPa, 25.95 MPa, and 50.36 GPa for the second. Water permeability also decreased. The gradual increase in OPC replacement reduced compressive strength loss. The secondary C–S–H gel, formed from reactions with SCWP and WCWP, filled micropores and enhanced UHPC’s microstructure and matrix density.
Exploring China’s cyber sovereignty concept and artificial intelligence governance model: a machine learning approach
Authors: Hung Ho Ting
Published: January 2025

The current global cyber governance model is dominated by Western liberal norms and multi-stakeholder values. Dissatisfied with the status quo, some developing countries like China embrace another governance concept called cyber sovereignty, which advocates more state control. Meanwhile, AI development further enlarges cyberspace’s national security threats, but an international governance framework is absent in the AI realm and China is eager to take the lead in building one. This gives rise to the question: what explains China’s approach to cyber and AI governance? Current studies on cyber sovereignty and China’s AI governance model are mostly qualitative and/or have a small sampling frame, while the meaning of cyber sovereignty is debatable. Therefore, this article applies topic modelling to official/semi-official texts about cyber and AI governance to understand the cyber sovereignty concept and how it shapes China’s approach to AI governance. This article finds that cyber sovereignty is an extension of China’s state-centric view of international order. Not being a passive recipient of norms, China hopes to shape alternative cyber norms to defend national security. Now, since the global community has not reached a consensus over global AI governance, China is exploiting this gap to promote its own set of cyber visions.
Instability of stationary solutions for double power nonlinear Schrödinger equations in one dimension
Authors: Fukaya Noriyoshi , Hayashi Masayuki
Published: January 2025

We consider a double power nonlinear Schrödinger equation possessing the algebraically decaying stationary solution $$\phi _0$$

ϕ
0

as well as exponentially decaying standing waves $$e^{i\omega t}\phi _\omega (x)$$

e

i
ω
t

ϕ
ω

(
x
)

with $$\omega >0$$

ω
>
0

. According to the general theory, stability properties of standing waves are determined by the derivative of $$\omega \mapsto M(\omega )\mathrel {\mathop :}=\frac{1}{2}\Vert \phi _\omega \Vert _{L^2}^2$$

ω
↦
M

(
ω
)

:
=

1
2

‖

ϕ
ω

‖

L
2

2

; namely $$e^{i\omega t}\phi _\omega $$

e

i
ω
t

ϕ
ω

with $$\omega >0$$

ω
>
0

is stable if $$M'(\omega )>0$$

M
′

(
ω
)

>
0

and unstable if $$M'(\omega )<0$$

M
′

(
ω
)

<
0

. However, the stability/instability of stationary solutions is outside the general theory from the viewpoint of spectral properties of linearized operators. In this paper we prove the instability of the stationary solution $$\phi _0$$

ϕ
0

in one dimension under the condition $$\lim _{\omega \downarrow 0}M'(\omega )\in [-\infty , 0)$$

lim

ω
↓
0

M
′

(
ω
)

∈

[
-
∞
,
0
)

. The key in the proof is the construction of the one-sided derivative of $$\omega \mapsto \phi _\omega $$

ω
↦

ϕ
ω

at $$\omega =0$$

ω
=
0

, which is effectively used to construct the unstable direction.
Necessities in the old jungle?: On Han’s analysis of the necessity of origin
Authors: Kim Dongwoo
Published: January 2025

I shall discuss Han’s analysis of the necessity of origin theses. His analysis comes in two parts. The negative part argues that well-known Kripkean arguments leave an inferential gap, thus falling short of establishing the necessity of origin theses. The positive part contends that the gap can only be bridged by Aristotelian metaphysics of essence and causation. I shall critically examine both the negative and positive parts of Han’s analysis.
Gamification and player type: Relationships of the HEXAD model with the learning experience
Authors: Sipone Silvia , Abella Victor , Rojo Marta , Moura José Luis
Published: January 2025

Gamification is a widely utilised educational tool designed to promote specific behaviours. An effective gamification design must consider users’ experiences and perceptions to enhance engagement and participation. This research is part of a broader study that develops gamified activities to teach primary school pupils about sustainable mobility.

The study investigates the relationship between player profiles, as defined by the Hexad scale, and the use of the ClassCraft platform for learning sustainable mobility concepts. The Hexad scale serves as an instrument to analyse the various motivations exhibited by each student when interacting with the gamified application. Specifically, we examine the connection between player profiles, learning levels, the components of the ClassCraft platform, and the impact of gender on this relationship.

An experiment was conducted with 75 fifth-grade primary school students (aged 10–12) who used the ClassCraft platform. Several linear regression models correlated various variables with the player profiles included in the Hexad scale.

The results indicate a relationship between player profiles and the variables considered: final score on the platform, number of activities completed, number of connections made, player level achieved, student satisfaction level, and learning levels. Additionally, the high percentage of socialiser profiles found among the students is perfectly in line with some of the intrinsic characteristics of the ClassCraft platform.

Furthermore, the analysis revealed minimal differences between male and female players across most profiles.
Lightning in the Age of Benjamin Franklin
Authors: Buisman Jan Wim
Published: January 2025

Thunder and lightning have been seen from time immemorial as God's instruments of punishment. Until the invention of the lightning rod by Benjamin Franklin in 1752. In Lightning in the Age of Benjamin Franklin: Facts and Fictions in Science, Religion, and Art, Jan Wim Buisman shows how the Enlightenment and Romanticism have changed our scientific, religious and artistic image of natural violence forever. In the eighteenth century, thunderstorms are experienced less and less as a threat and more and more as something extraordinary. The image of God and the image of nature changed radically. The religion of enlightened people, for example, was more determined by joy than by fear. And nature was almost experienced as a girlfriend. That had significant consequences because those who no longer had to be afraid of the thunderstorm could play with it without hesitation. That's what poets, painters and musicians did to their heart's content. Never before the beauty of the storm was depicted as much in the western culture as during the transition from the Enlightenment to Romanticism.
A handheld UV-C light-emitting diode decreases environmental contamination near the operative field
Authors: Turner Rachael A. , Johnson Roseann M. , Yazdani-Farsad Yasmin , Owens Jessell , Dennis Douglas A. , Jennings Jason M.
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) may result from pathogen-to-patient transmission within the environment. High-touch surfaces (HTS) areas near the operative field from previous studies had been identified as the least likely to be thoroughly cleaned between operative cases and were utilized for this study. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a handheld ultraviolet-c (UV-C) light-emitting diode (LED) disinfection device on the decontamination of HTS in the operating room.

Methods:

This prospective study was conducted between 03/02/2021 and 04/20/2021. Tryptic soy agar contact plates were used to determine the bacterial load of the selected surfaces before the initiation of the case, after the case was complete, before manual cleaning, and after disinfection of the LED device. The plates were then incubated for 48 hours at 36º +/–1° C. Colony forming units (CFU) were recorded 48 hours after incubation. Mean, median, and range of CFU were recorded.

Results:

Average CFU per surface before and after the surgical case were 14.1 (range 0–200) and 13.5 (range 0–200) respectively, these were not significantly different (P = 0.9397). Manual cleaning reduced average CFU by 74% to 3.35 (range 0–200) per surface (P = 0.0162). Disinfection with the handheld LED unit further reduced the average CFU by 92% to 0.28 (range 0–4) per surface (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

A handheld UV-C LED disinfection device may decrease environmental contamination near the operative field in HTS areas. Further research is warranted with this technology to determine if this correlates with a decrease in PJI.