bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The attenuation of macroseismic intensity in the volcanic island of Ischia (Gulf of Naples, Italy): comparison between deterministic and probabilistic models and application to seismic scenarios
Authors: Azzaro R. , D’Amico S. , Rotondi R. , Varini E.
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we tackle the problem of the intensity attenuation at Ischia, a critical parameter in a high seismic risk area such as this volcanic island. Starting from the new revised catalogue of local earthquakes, we select a dataset of 118 macroseismic observations related to the four main historical events and analyse the characteristics of the intensity attenuation according to both the deterministic and probabilistic approaches, under the assumption of a point seismic source and isotropic decay (circular spreading). In the deterministic analysis, we derive the attenuation law through an empirical model fitting the average values of ΔI (the difference between epicentral intensity I0 and intensities observed at a site IS) versus the epicentral distances by the least-square method. In the probabilistic approach, the distribution of IS conditioned on the epicentre-site distance is given through a binomial-beta model for each class of I0. In the Bayesian framework, the model parameter p is considered as a random variable to which we assign a Beta probability distribution on the basis of our prior belief derived from investigations on the attenuation in Italy. The mode of the binomial distribution is taken as the intensity expected at that site (Iexp). The entire calculation procedure has been implemented in a python plugin for QGIS® software that, given location and I0 (or magnitude) of the earthquake to be simulated, generates a probabilistic seismic scenario according to the deterministic or probabilistic models of attenuation. This tool may be applied in seismic risk analyses at a local scale or in the seismic surveillance to produce real-time intensity shake-maps for this volcanic area.
Impacts of storm disturbance and the role of the Feammox process in high nutrient riparian sediments
Authors: Sherman Arianna E. , Huang Shan , Jaffé Peter R.
Published: July 2023

The extensive agricultural feedlot operations in the Neuse River Watershed (NRW) in North Carolina result in high nutrient loading, particularly of ammonium (NH4+). In September 2018, Hurricane Florence devastated large portions of the NRW, creating a unique opportunity to study the impact of such hydrological events on the biogeochemistry of riverine and riparian sediments. The high NH4+ concentrations, naturally acidic conditions, and elevated levels of ferric iron [Fe(III)] in Neuse River sediments and soils provide an ideal environment for Acidimicrobium sp. A6 (referred to hereon as A6), a bacterium capable of conducting the Feammox process in which NH4+ is oxidized while iron is reduced. A6 was observed in all sediment samples obtained from the Neuse River, and it is therefore predicted that this process may be an important mechanism for NH4+ removal in this river system. Incubations of NRW samples indicate that the NH4+ oxidation potential via the Feammox process in the NRW is comparable with aerobic NH4+ oxidation by heterotrophic microorganisms. Given the high demand for Fe(III) by the Feammox process, it has been unclear how such a process may occur in sedimentary environments where ferric iron [Fe(III)] might be depleted. The results presented here show that a major hydrologic storm event can result in an increase in Fe(III) and in an increase in the abundance of Fe-reducing bacteria, including Acidimicrobium sp. A6. These findings indicate that major hydrologic storm events may, via the delivery of Fe(III), be capable of enhancing Feammox activity in riverine sediments that favor the Feammox process.
Second and Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning through Digital Reading: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhu Tong , Zhang Yanhui , Irwin Derek
Published: July 2023

Digital reading facilitates L2 development by allowing anytime-anywhere learning with various digital resources. Although there has been increasing research exploring the role of digital reading on L2 vocabulary learning, synthesized evidence regarding the overall facilitating power of digital reading is still lacking. This meta-analysis aggregates 21 important empirical studies published within the last 20 years and indexed in scholarly recognized databases, so as to provide a comprehensive panoramic assessment of how effectively digital reading has enhanced second and foreign language vocabulary acquisition with diversified learner backgrounds and learning environments. A total of 77 effect sizes were yielded across different studies, and random-effect modeling was employed for analyzing the study-level heterogeneity and sub-group variability. Results demonstrate that digital reading had an overall significant effect (dimmediate = 1.45, p < .01; ddeleayed = 2.98, p < .01) on L2 vocabulary learning of between-subject studies. For within-subject studies, digital reading was found to have an upper-medium (d = 1.39, p < .01) and medium (d = .86, p < .01) effect on immediate and delayed L2 vocabulary post-tests. Moderating factor analysis results show that L2 proficiency, vocabulary test formats, and digital resources could robustly explain the variance of effect sizes. The findings have strong pedagogical implications on the effective design for digital reading tasks, including the development of adaptive learning algorithms and personalized lexical glosses. Recommendations for future research in the field are provided by pinpointing where to improve in terms of experimental design and the focus of the learner group.
Students’ Interactions During Laboratory Group Activity in a Science Museum
Authors: Shaby Neta , Assaraf Orit Ben-Zvi , Koch Nicole Pillemer
Published: July 2023

There are relatively few studies examining cooperative learning during laboratory activities in a science museum. This study aims to explore such activities to better understand the nature of cooperative learning, if any, in that setting. The participants in this study were 60 fourth-grade students who visited a science museum lab as part of a school field trip. The students, divided into 12 groups, were videotaped and audio-recorded during group work consisting of balancing a scale. Our inductive data analysis of the observations revealed that although each group’s interactions were distinctive, common themes emerged. Moreover, even though the group work required cooperative learning, students did not engage in such. Students mostly instructed each other on how to operate the scale, with no scientific explanations. As the students did not know how to work together in order to solve the task, frustration abounded. This research adds to the body of knowledge about lab activities in science museum and offer practical implication to design more effective activities in these settings. Careful pedagogy and thoughtful facilitation can contribute to the students’ learning outcomes; therefore, educators should consider the following: ensuring students have sufficient prior knowledge, having the museum educator play the role of a mediator, taking steps to reduce the level of student frustration, and planning additional activities that promote the learning outcomes of the activity.
Gender and the Social Cure in Undergraduate Physics Students: Physics Identity, Self-efficacy, Belonging, and Wellbeing
Authors: Bottomley Ewan , Wild Vivienne , Miles Paula J. , Mavor Kenneth I. , Kohnle Antje
Published: July 2023

The social cure is the concept that strong connections and social bonds are good for wellbeing and physical health. Having strong social support makes hardship easier to cope with. We hypothesize that we could apply the relationship to educational contexts, with a sense of belonging as part of the cohort or community helping students to cope with educational hurdles, resulting in greater wellbeing. We examined the case of women in physics. Previous research has suggested that women in physics classes report a lesser sense of belonging than men. We aimed to replicate this finding and examine how a sense of belonging relates to wellbeing. We surveyed 310 physics students (205 men, 105 women) from a small research-intensive university in the UK. The survey measured students’ physics identity, sense of belonging to the physics community, self-efficacy (belief in ability to complete physics-based tasks), and general wellbeing. We found that women and men reported similar levels of belonging and wellbeing, although women reported less physics identity and self-efficacy. Self-efficacy explained a significant fraction of the variance in wellbeing for both men and women. Additionally, belonging explained variance in wellbeing over and above self-efficacy and physics identity for men, but not for women. These results indicate that for men there is a stronger association between belonging and wellbeing, compared to women, but that it does not result in women having an overall lower sense of wellbeing.
A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Hawes David J , Allen Jennifer L
Published: July 2023

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including child maltreatment and other adversities in the home context and beyond (e.g., witnessing domestic violence; parental mental illness; parental separation; living in a disadvantaged neighborhood) are prevalent in the population and often covary together. Research based on the construct of ACEs has transformed the field of adult mental health, yet child and adolescent mental health has often been overlooked in this work. This special issue of Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology focuses on the developmental science of ACEs and child psychopathology. The research presented here draws on the extensive evidence base that now exists regarding the co-occurrence of common childhood adversities, while informing the integration of theory and research on ACEs with that of developmental psychopathology at large. This Introduction provides an overview of ACEs and child mental health from a developmental psychopathology perspective, with an emphasis on key concepts and recent progress spanning the prenatal period through to adolescence and intergenerational pathways. Models of ACEs that emphasize the multi-dimensional nature of adversity and the importance of developmental timing to risk and protective pathways, have played a driving role in this progress. Methodological innovations in this work are highlighted, along with implications for prevention and intervention.
HIV Protease Hinge Region Insertions at Codon 38 Affect Enzyme Kinetics, Conformational Stability and Dynamics
Authors: Sheik Ismail Zaahida , Worth Roland , Mosebi Salerwe , Sayed Yasien
Published: July 2023

HIV-1 protease is essential for the production of mature, infectious virions and is a major target in antiretroviral therapy. We successfully purified a HIV-1 subtype C variant, L38↑N↑L− 4, containing an insertion of asparagine and leucine at position 38 without the four background mutations - K20R, E35D, R57K, V82I using a modified purification protocol. Isothermal titration calorimetry indicated that 50% of the variant protease sample was in the active conformation compared to 62% of the wild type protease. The secondary structure composition of the variant protease was unaffected by the double insertion. The specific activity and kcat values of the variant protease were approximately 50% lower than the wild type protease values. The variant protease also exhibited a 1.6-fold increase in kcat/KM when compared to the wild type protease. Differential scanning calorimetry showed a 5 °C increase in Tm of the variant protease, indicating the variant was more stable than the wild type. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated the variant was more stable and compact than the wild type protease. A 3–4% increase in the flexibility of the hinge regions of the variant protease was observed. In addition, increased flexibility of the flaps, cantilever and fulcrum regions of the variant protease B chain was observed. The variant protease sampled only the closed flap conformation indicating a potential mechanism for drug resistance. The present study highlights the direct impact of a double amino acid insertion in hinge region on enzyme kinetics, conformational stability and dynamics of an HIV-1 subtype C variant protease.
Iteration Complexity of Fixed-Step Methods by Nesterov and Polyak for Convex Quadratic Functions
Authors: Hagedorn Melinda , Jarre Florian
Published: July 2023

This note considers the momentum method by Polyak and the accelerated gradient method by Nesterov, both without line search but with fixed step length applied to strongly convex quadratic functions assuming that exact gradients are used and appropriate upper and lower bounds for the extreme eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix are known. Simple 2-d-examples show that the Euclidean distance of the iterates to the optimal solution is non-monotone. In this context, an explicit bound is derived on the number of iterations needed to guarantee a reduction of the Euclidean distance to the optimal solution by a factor $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
. For both methods, the bound is optimal up to a constant factor, it complements earlier asymptotically optimal results for the momentum method, and it establishes another link of the momentum method and Nesterov’s accelerated gradient method.
Precise makespan optimization via hybrid genetic algorithm for scientific workflow scheduling problem
Authors: Barredo Pablo , Puente Jorge
Published: July 2023

Task scheduling in scientific workflows represents an NP-hard problem due to the number of interdependent tasks, data transfers, and the possible execution infrastructure assignments in cloud computing. For this reason, metaheuristics are one of the most widely applied optimisation techniques. Makespan is one of the main objectives in this problem. However, this metric needs to be complemented with a quality measure with respect to the actual execution time in order to avoid incurring more costs than expected by using an over-optimistic approximation. This research applies a new enhanced disk-network-computing evaluation model, that takes into account the communication among the storage devices involved, which plays an important role in actual schedules. The model is implemented in a genetic algorithm and the well-known heuristic HEFT. We propose different hybridisation metaheuristics in conjunction with a new accuracy metric to measure the difference between the makespan approximations and the real one. The new evaluation model is able to improve accuracy with respect to the standard model, and the proposed hybrid methods significantly improve makespan in the case of heterogeneous infrastructures.
The Legal Artifice of Liberty: On Beccaria’s Philosophy
Authors: Ippolito Dario
Published: July 2023

Beccaria’s penal philosophy hinges on the doctrinal paradigm of liberty through law. Inconceivable in the absence of laws and unattainable in the presence of arbitrary powers, liberty is profiled as the legal situation of the person who may act, within the sphere of what is not forbidden and not bound, without suffering illicit interference from private individuals or organs of the state. Thus, the form of law becomes an essential matter in the construction of the political space suitable for free living. In the analysis proposed in this article, the notion of “political liberty”–which Beccaria takes from Montesquieu–is declined in relation to the legal order, criminal law and the social contract.
Parallel Evolution of Skull Form in Three Rodent Genera Inhabiting Steep Elevational Gradients of Ethiopian Highlands
Authors: Mizerovská Daniela , Špoutil František , Claude Julien , Lavrenchenko Leonid A. , Procházka Jan , Bryja Josef , Mikula Ondřej
Published: July 2023

Several rodent genera radiated in Ethiopian highlands during Pleistocene, giving rise to species specialized to different elevation zones. The zonation is accompanied by vegetation change from savannahs or forests in lower elevations, through the mid-elevation belt of ericaceous shrublands to Afroalpine moorlands on the mountain tops. Such evolution on elevation gradient is expected to promote phenotypic adaptations and several genera are known to include highly distinctive high-elevation specialists. In this study, we systematically examined shape and size differentiation of skull and mandible in three genera, Lophuromys, Arvicanthis and Stenocephalemys, each including from six to eight species inhabiting different elevation zones on both sides of the Great Rift Valley. Employing computed tomography, three-dimensional virtual models, landmark-based geometric morphometrics and a powerful toolkit of partial least squares analysis, we demonstrated the elevation-related differentiation is a prominent feature of skull and mandible shape variation in all three genera. We identified the parts of skull and mandible which change most between the successive zones. These include, notably, orbits and insertion areas of masticatory muscles, which suggests adaptive shifts in visual perception and diet. We also showed that while the same parts are modified in all three genera, they are modified in different ways and to a different degree. The evidence for size differentiation was mixed despite the universal trend of larger size in higher elevations. Our study confirms the high-elevation specialists represent the most distinctive forms, which is especially true for the species from Bale and Arsi Mountains, East of the Great Rift Valley.
Short learning curve in transition from laparoscopic to robotic-assisted rectal cancer surgery: a prospective study from a Finnish Tertiary Referral Centre
Authors: Kolehmainen Charlotta S. J. , Ukkonen Mika T. , Tomminen Timo , Helavirta Ilona M. , Laukkarinen Johanna M. , Hyöty Marja , Kotaluoto Sannamari
Published: July 2023

The narrow pelvis causes special challenges in surgery, and robotic-assisted surgery has been proven beneficial in these circumstances. While robotic surgery has some specific advantages in rectal cancer surgery, there is still limited evidence of the learning curve of the technique involved. The aim here was to study the transition from laparoscopic to robotic-assisted surgery among experienced laparoscopic surgeons. The data for this study were collected from a prospectively compiled register that includes patients operated on by the Da Vinci Xi robot in Tampere University Hospital. Each consecutive rectal cancer patient was included. The information on the surgical and oncological outcomes was analysed. The learning curve was assessed using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. CUSUM already demonstrated an overall positively sloped curve at the beginning of the study, with neither the conversion rate nor morbidity reaching unacceptable thresholds. Conversions (4%) and postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo III–IV 15%, no intraoperative complications) were rare. One patient died within one month and the death was not procedure-associated. While surgical and oncological outcomes were similar among all surgeons, the console times showed a decreasing trend and were shorter among those with more experience in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. Robotic-assisted rectal cancer surgery can be safely adapted by experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeons.
Extramammary Paget Disease: a Therapeutic Challenge, for a Rare Entity
Authors: Pérez Jesús Chamorro , Salgado Alfonso Cortes , Pérez-Mies Belén , Rullán Jose Antonio Domínguez , Ajuria-Illarramendi Odile , Alia Eva María Guerra , Serrano Domingo Juan José
Published: July 2023

Purpose of Review

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare entity which is more frequently localized at the vulva, though it only accounts for 1–2% of vulvar neoplasms. It is a primary cutaneous adenocarcinoma whose cell of origin is still a matter of controversy: it can either arise from apocrine/eccrine glands or from stem cells. The diagnosis demands a biopsy and entails a histopathological analysis by which cells show similar characteristics as breast Paget disease.

Recent Findings

Treatment approach can entail surgery, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, systemic chemotherapy, and topical chemotherapy. For metastatic disease, many different chemotherapy regimens have been explored and even targeted therapy can play an important role in this disease. Since almost 30–40% of patients overexpress HER-2, trastuzumab and anti-HER-2 therapies can be employed in this setting.

Due to its low incidence, there is almost no specific evidence on therapeutic interventions for this disease. Thus, there is a neat unmet need for molecular characterization of EMPD and diagnostic tools that allow clinicians to guide treatment both in the early and in the advanced disease settings. In this review, we aim to summarize available evidence about diagnosis and treatment of EMPD, both localized and metastatic, and to provide a comprehensive analysis that may help clinicians for therapeutic decisions.
SonAir: the design of a sonification of radar data for air traffic control
Authors: Elmquist Elias , Bock Alexander , Lundberg Jonas , Ynnerman Anders , Rönnberg Niklas
Published: July 2023

Along with the increase of digitalization and automation, a new kind of working environment is emerging in the field of air traffic control. Instead of situating the control tower at the airport, it is now possible to remotely control the airport at any given location, i.e. in a remote tower center (RTC). However, by controlling the airport remotely, the situational awareness and sense of presence might be compromised. By using directional sound, a higher situational awareness could potentially be achieved while also offloading the visual perception which is heavily used in air traffic control. Suitable use cases for sonification in air traffic control were found through workshops with air traffic controllers. A sonification design named SonAir was developed based on the outcome of the workshops, and was integrated with an RTC simulator for evaluating to what degree SonAir could support air traffic controllers in their work. The results suggest that certain aspects of SonAir could be useful for air traffic controllers. A continuous sonification where the spatial positioning of aircraft were conveyed was experienced to be partially useful, but the intrusiveness of SonAir should be further considered to fit the air traffic controllers’ needs. An earcon that conveyed when an aircraft enters the airspace and from which direction was considered useful to support situational awareness.
A shape design optimization methodology based on the method of characteristics for rocket nozzles
Authors: Fernandes Tiago , Souza Alain , Afonso Frederico
Published: July 2023

Even though shape optimization is a powerful tool for designing aerospace vehicles, it can be time-consuming when high-fidelity models are employed. Thus, lower-fidelity simulations covering a wider design space can be a solution for shape optimization in the early design phases. With this in mind, the present work aims to develop a low-fidelity and fast method to conduct nozzle shape optimization. This method consists in using the free-form deformation (FFD) parameterization technique to control the nozzle shape by means of an optimization algorithm to maximize the coefficient of thrust determined by a two-dimensional method of characteristics (MoC). To verify the reliability of the proposed method, a similar optimization process is carried out, recurring to high-fidelity simulations, namely using an Euler solver, in the open-source framework $$\text {SU}^2$$

SU
2

. This latter optimization process is established as a surrogate-based optimization (SBO) not only to mitigate the $$\text {SU}^2$$

SU
2

framework limitations in performing shape optimization on nozzles, but also as a way to reduce the computational power. A good agreement between the results from both methods is achieved, displaying solely a small offset concerning the optimal contour width and the coefficient of thrust. Hence, this proves the usefulness of the developed shape optimization strategy based on the MoC for the preliminary design of nozzles.
Sustainable Reuse of Expresso Coffee By-products as a Natural Fertilizer to Improve Growth and Photosynthesis in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Plants
Authors: Vitale Ermenegilda , Motta Chiara Maria , Avallone Bice , Amoresano Angela , Fontanarosa Carolina , Battaglia Gennaro , Spinelli Michele , Fogliano Chiara , Paradiso Roberta , Arena Carmen
Published: July 2023

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), deriving from the high global coffee consumption, can have an appreciable environmental impact. One of the eco-friendly reuses of SCGs is their application as a natural fertilizer. This study adopted a soilless cultivation approach to growing Cucumis sativus seedlings using, as rooting media, different coffee solutions obtained by infusing fresh coffee powder or SCGs from mocha and pods for 7 or 30 days. Seedlings’ germination, eco-physiological and biochemical traits were evaluated and the potential toxicological risks or beneficial effects of SCGs on plants were assessed. Results indicate that, although germination was unaffected, fresh coffee medium inhibited seedling development and that 7 days mocha solution stopped seedling growth and induced leaf structural alterations. Conversely, 30 days mocha and pod suspensions promoted seedling biomass, and increased leaf area, leaf polyphenol concentration, and photochemical efficiency. In conclusion, findings indicate that fresh powder can induce toxic effects while SCGs can improve cucumber from a physiological point of view by acting as a natural fertilizer. This study opens future investigations that will help manage coffee waste released into the environment by sustainable practices.

Graphical Abstract
SNP+ to predict dropout rates in SNP arrays
Authors: Sastre N. , Mercadé A. , Casellas J.
Published: July 2023

Genotyping individuals using forensic or non-invasive samples such as hair or fecal samples increases the risk of allelic amplification failure (dropout) due to the low quality and quantity of DNA. One way to decrease genotyping errors is to increase the number of replicates per sample. Here, we have developed the software SNP+ to estimate the dropout probability and the subsequent required number of replicates to obtain the reliable genotype with probability 95%. Moreover, the software predicts the minor allele frequency and compares two competing models assuming equal or allele-specific dropout probabilities by Bayes factor. The software handles data from one SNP to high density arrays (e.g., 100,000 SNPs).
Particle correlation and intermittency in simulated cosmic ray showers
Authors: Wibig Tadeusz
Published: July 2023

We study the correlations between charged particles in small cosmic ray air showers and determine the size and nature of their density fluctuations. We have used the CORSIKA simulation program to investigate this question. The result obtained shows the “intermittent” behaviour of the individual realisations of the density distributions. This is interesting in itself, and the specific values of the scaled factorial moments allow us to estimate the possible effects of these large non-Poissonian fluctuations. These may be relevant in the analysis of data from small shower arrays and other atypical measurement situations where cosmic ray particles provide an unwanted background.
„Motion Capture Vacuuming – MoCapVac“: Studienbeschreibung und Zusammenfassung erster Bewegungsanalyseergebnisse
Authors: Holzgreve F. , Maurer-Grubinger C. , Fraeulin L. , Wanke E. M. , Groneberg D. A. , Ohlendorf D.
Published: July 2023

Hintergrund

Staubsaugen ist eine häufig durchgeführte Tätigkeit, und zwar nicht nur bei professionellen Reinigungskräften, sondern auch in privaten Haushalten. Der vorliegende Artikel beschreibt das Protokoll des Motion-Capture-Vacuuming-Projekts (MoCapVac) und fasst die ersten Ergebnisse zusammen.

Methodik

Für die Umsetzung des Projekts sollten subjektiv gesunde Erwachsene vermessen werden, die nicht hauptberuflich als Reinigungskraft tätig sind. Ihre Körperhaltung wurde mittels eines Inertial motion capture-Messsystems beim habituellen Staubsaugen aufgezeichnet. Es wurde eine kinematische Analyse der relevanten Gelenke bei 8 Staubsaugermodellen auf 2 Bodenbelägen (PVC- und Teppichboden) beim ein- und beidarmigen Saugen untersucht. Sowohl deskriptive Ergebnisse als auch ein „statistical parametric mapping“ (SPM) wurde bisher aus Daten von 31 (21 w/10 m) gesunden Proband*innen erzielt. Mittels auf „support vector machine“ (SVM) basierter Analyse soll zudem zukünftig untersucht werden, ob sich Bewegungsprofile klassifizieren lassen und somit eine eindeutige Zuordnung zu bestimmten Mustern möglich ist. Außerdem soll eine ergonomische Beurteilung mittels des „rapid upper limb assessment“ (RULA) durchgeführt werden.

Ergebnisse

Erste Ergebnisse zeigten, dass über alle Proband*innen und Bedingungen hinweg eine homogene Sauggeschwindigkeit je zurückgelegter Strecke vorliegt. Dabei war die Streuung der Gelenkwinkel in der oberen Extremität deutlich höher als in Rumpf und Hüfte. Das SPM zeigte in allen untersuchten Gelenken signifikante Unterschiede zwischen dem habituellen Staubsaugen auf PVC- und Teppichboden.

Diskussion

Aus den ersten Ergebnissen wurde deutlich, dass habituelles Staubsaugen eine dynamische Tätigkeit mit einer großen Variabilität in der oberen Extremität gegenüber dem Rumpf und der Hüfte ist. In zukünftigen Analysen sollen konstitutionsabhängige sowie situations- und anforderungsbedingte Parameter identifiziert werden, die die Beanspruchung beim Staubsaugen optimieren können. Ferner sollen zukünftig mittels ergonomischer Gefährdungsbeurteilung insbesondere Bewegungen, Positionen oder Gelenke der oberen Extremität identifiziert werden, die Muskel-Skelett-Erkrankungen begünstigen oder davon betroffen sind.
A two-stage maintenance and multi-strategy selection for multi-objective particle swarm optimization
Authors: Liu Jun , Liu Yanmin , Han Huayao , Zhang Xianzi , Shu Xiaoli , Chen Fei
Published: July 2023

In multi-objective particle swarm optimization, it is very important to select the personal best and the global best. These leaders are expected to effectively guide the population toward the true Pareto front. In this paper, we propose a two-stage maintenance and multi-strategy selection for multi-objective particle swarm optimization (TMMOPSO), which adaptively selects the global best and updates the personal best by means of hyper-cone domain and aggregation, respectively. This strategy enhances the global exploration and local exploitation abilities of the population. In addition, the excellent particles are perturbed and a two-stage maintenance strategy is used for the external archive. This strategy not only improves the quality of the solutions in the population but also accelerates the convergence speed of the population. In this paper, the proposed algorithm is compared with several multi-objective optimization algorithms on 29 benchmark problems. The experimental results show that TMMOPSO is effective and outperforms the comparison algorithms on most of the 29 benchmark problems.
Vegetation response to a natural gas pipeline rupture fire in Canada’s montane cordillera
Authors: Scasta John Derek , Leverkus Sonja , Tisseur Dan , Leverkus Gillian
Published: July 2023

Pipelines are critical for energy distribution, but incidents causing rupture fires are hazardous. While wildland fires are a natural disturbance, rupture fires are a potential risk and novel disturbance given the greater heat yield constants for fossil fuels, fuel volume, and flaming concentration and duration. We quantified vegetation response to a 2018 rupture fire case study in the montane cordillera of Canada. Plant species, functional groups, ground cover, and live vegetation height were sampled in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 [0, 1, 2, and 3 years since fire (YSF)] in permanent plots stratified by burn severity and compared to the unburned reference plots sampled in 2019. Woody plant species and forb cover in burned plots recovered to levels similar to unburned plots. Litter and bare soil changes relative to YSF suggest trajectories to return to levels similar to unburned plots within 3 to 5 years post-rupture. Plant species richness, evenness, and diversity had also recovered to levels statistically similar to unburned comparisons by the final year of sampling in this study. Plots closest to the rupture epicenter that experienced ‘extreme’ burn had greater botanical dissimilarity from other burn severities or unburned comparisons. Vegetation structure showed significant (p < 0.0001) recovery with additional growth expected as the overstory re-establishes. The multiple metrics of ecological recovery on 3–5 year trajectories are comparable to published responses to wildland fire in the literature for this ecosystem’s response to fire. The recovery of conifers and soil microbiota should be assessed in the next decade.
Green approach synthesis of carbon quantum dots from agave bagasse and their use to boost seed germination and plant growth
Authors: Guerrero-Gonzalez R. , Vázquez-Dávila F. , Saucedo-Flores E. , Ruelas R. , Ceballos-Sánchez O. , Pelayo J. E.
Published: July 2023

This work releases research progress carried out on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) obtained from agave bagasse with the aim of applying their UV-blue luminescence properties, as a novel way to improve plant growth and protecting them from the solar UV harmful effects. This results in an increasing exposure to blue irradiation, which is avidly absorbed by chlorophyll, thus strengthening plant photosynthesis. The developed green route process is based on the pyrolysis of agave bagasse fibers, a cheap carbon precursor from the tequila’s industries waste. After drying and grinding the fibers, three samples of powdered agave were burned in the open air at 500 °C for 0.5 h, 1.0 h and 2.0 h seeking to synthesize CQDs samples of different sizes. The optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL) response of all samples were similar, that is, a strong UV absorption and a PL peak on the blue region. Furthermore, their highest PL quantum yield of 15.74% was obtained for the 2 h pyrolysis time sample that was applied on acrylic sheets in a greenhouse experiment. The groups of plants with this cover had faster germination rates and better plant growth rates than two control groups without CQDs.
ADCS Design for a Sounding Rocket with Thrust Vectoring
Authors: dos Santos Pedro , Oliveira Paulo
Published: July 2023

This paper addresses the development of an attitude determination and control system (ADCS) for a sounding rocket using thrust vector control (TVC). To design the ADCS, a non-linear 6 degrees-of-freedom (DoF) model for the rocket dynamics and kinematics is deduced and implemented in simulation environment. An optimal attitude controller is designed using the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) with an additional integral action (LQI), and relying on the derived linear, time-varying, state-space representation of the rocket. The controller is tested in the simulation environment, demonstrating satisfactory attitude tracking performance, and robustness to model uncertainties. A navigation system is designed, based on measurements available on-board, to provide accurate real-time estimates on the rocket’s state and on the aerodynamic forces and moments acting on the vehicle. These aerodynamic estimates are used by an adaptive version of the controller that computes the gains in real time after correcting the state-space model. Finally, the ADCS is the result of the integration of the attitude control and navigation systems, with the complete system being implemented and tested in simulation, and demonstrating satisfactory performance.
Nonlinear semigroups for nonlocal conservation laws
Authors: Kovács Mihály , Vághy Mihály A.
Published: July 2023

We investigate a class of nonlocal conservation laws in several space dimensions, where the continuum average of weighted nonlocal interactions are considered over a finite horizon. We establish well-posedness for a broad class of flux functions and initial data via semigroup theory in Banach spaces and, in particular, via the celebrated Crandall–Liggett Theorem. We also show that the unique mild solution satisfies a Kružkov-type nonlocal entropy inequality. Similarly to the local case, we demonstrate an efficient way of proving various desirable qualitative properties of the unique solution.
Integrating Micro-Depot Freight Transport in Existing Public Transport Services
Authors: Hörsting Lena , Cleophas Catherine
Published: July 2023

As conventional last-mile transport contributes to traffic congestion and pollution, urban areas need new approaches to transporting freight. One promising idea is integrating freight deliveries with existing public transport infrastructures like light rail. However, this concept creates the challenge of offering a high service quality for passengers and freight. In this work, we consider a setting where freight originates from and is transhipped at several public transit stops that serve as micro-depots with a limited storage capacity. Furthermore, the system relies on shared vehicles, where a dedicated share of the capacity can be used to fasten freight containers or as a standing area for passengers. For this setting, we propose an optimisation model that integrates the tactical scheduling of transport services and the allocation of freight containers to those services. To solve realistically sized instances, we propose an adaptive large neighbourhood search heuristic. We use this heuristic to evaluate the system’s sensitivity to the capacity of micro-depots and vehicles.
Beyond the stereotype of an intrapreneur: an exploratory study of different intrapreneurs and various corporate conditions
Authors: Engzell Jeanette
Published: July 2023

The corporate entrepreneurship literature has identified the importance of intrapreneurs for maintaining growth, revitalization, and performance of corporations, but little is known about intrapreneurs and how they perceive their corporate working conditions. The working conditions in the corporation have an effect on employees’ behavior. This paper empirically investigates corporate conditions from the individual’s perspective as well as the types of intrapreneurs that exist. The findings from a cluster analysis of intrapreneurs suggests that there are three types of intrapreneurs: resilient intrapreneurs, neglected intrapreneurs, and privileged intrapreneurs. Overall, the findings show that intrapreneurial behavior and corporate conditions are related and that organizations purposefully can design their corporate environment to support different intrapreneurs.
Integration of a Groundwater Model to the Noah Land Surface Model for Aquifer‐Soil Interaction
Authors: Samuel Jerry B. , Chakraborty Arindam
Published: July 2023

Soil water‐groundwater interactions are important in determining the moisture profile in a soil column. However, the Noah Land Surface Model (Noah LSM), the land surface component of several general circulation models, does not consider groundwater effects. The present study investigates the impact of integrating a groundwater model into the Noah LSM. By performing experiments forced by observations at the surface, insights into the characteristics of soil moisture evolution with and without the aquifer are investigated. In the absence of surface precipitation, soil moisture is shown to exhibit an exponential decay rate without the aquifer (termed as Noah‐Cntl). This is because evapotranspiration dominates other processes governing the soil moisture evolution. Based on scale analysis, we derived an analytical equation that could well represent the aforementioned exponential variation in soil moisture. Presence of the aquifer (termed as Noah‐GW) makes the capillary processes important as well. The result is a slower decay of soil moisture as compared to Noah‐Cntl without surface precipitation. Soil moisture evolution in both the models is a function of vegetation and soil types. As a result, the aforementioned decay timescale displays significant heterogeneity over the Indian region, with Central India exhibiting relatively faster decay rates. We also performed 24‐year long experiments with observed interannually varying forcing that indicates an enhancement in the annual mean soil moisture at all levels due to groundwater effects. This enhancement is particularly prominent during the post‐monsoon season, reaffirming the results of the drain‐out experiments mentioned above.
Anthropogenic Attribution of the Increasing Seasonal Amplitude in Surface Ocean pCO2
Authors: Joos Fortunat , Hameau Angélique , Frölicher Thomas L. , Stephenson David B.
Published: July 2023

A positive trend in time has been noted in the seasonal amplitude of surface ocean pCO2 over much of the oceans, which is expected to have detrimental impacts on marine ecosystems. To determine whether or not this has an anthropogenic cause, this study investigates historical climate simulations from the Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project with and without anthropogenic forcing. The simulations with anthropogenic forcing show clear evidence of positive trends, whereas the simulations with constant preindustrial atmospheric CO2 and natural external forcing give only negligible trends. A statistical analysis of five zonal latitudinal bands reveals that the trends detected over 1990–2014 in an ensemble of six observational products are attributable to anthropogenic forcing in mid‐latitudes (40°N–10°N, 10°S–40°S), while no trends are detected and modeled in the tropics and the Southern Ocean. Most models fail to represent the sign of the observed climatological mean seasonal cycle difference in high latitudes.
Regulating Fine‐Scale Resolved Convection in High‐Resolution Models for Better Hurricane Track Prediction
Authors: Gao Kun , Harris Lucas , Bender Morris , Chen Jan‐Huey , Zhou Linjiong , Knutson Thomas
Published: July 2023

High‐resolution atmospheric models are powerful tools for hurricane track and intensity predictions. Although using high resolution contributes to better representation of hurricane structure and intensity, its value in the prediction of steering flow and storm tracks is uncertain. Here we present experiments suggesting that biases in the predicted North Atlantic hurricane tracks in a high‐resolution (approximately 3 km grid‐spacing) model originates from the model's explicit simulation of deep convection. Differing behavior of explicit convection leads to changes in the synoptic‐scale pattern and thereby to the steering flow. Our results suggest that optimizing small‐scale convection activity, for example, through the model's horizontal advection scheme, can lead to significantly improved hurricane track prediction (∼10% reduction of mean track error) at lead times beyond 72 hr. This work calls attention to the behavior of explicit convection in high‐resolution models, and its often overlooked role in affecting larger‐scale circulations and hurricane track prediction.
Chemical Activity of Low Altitude (50 km) Sprite Streamers
Authors: Malagón‐Romero Alejandro , Pérez‐Invernón Francisco J. , Gordillo‐Vázquez Francisco J.
Published: July 2023

A three‐stage simulation is used to explore the chemical influence of low altitude (50 km) sprite streamers on the atmosphere, including the chemical trail after the streamer has faded away. In the first stage (streamer phase) a 2D electrodynamical streamer model quantifies the generation of NOx and N2O, and the removal of ozone (O3) by a downward propagating streamer during Δtstreamer = 80 μs. This streamer propagation leads to a distinctive region in the streamer channel, the glow, where the electric field is enhanced. In the second stage (glow phase), the computed densities of the first stage are used as initial conditions for a 0D model to study the chemical evolution of the streamer channel, where we assume a remanent field of 100 Td for the glow and 0 Td elsewhere. This stage lasts Δtglow = 85 μs, the typical glow lifetime at 50 km. Finally, in the third stage (post‐streamer phase), we use the same 0D model, switch off the field in the glow region and let the whole streamer wake evolve roughly 100 s (100 s − Δtglow). Results show a key species such as O3 is mainly depleted during the streamer phase while NOx and N2O are predominantly produced during the same phase. We also compute the local increase of NO2 by sprite streamers at ∼50 km and find out that it could account for the measurable NO2 anomaly over thunderstorms reported from satellite‐based measurements.
Impact of Clean Air Policy on Criteria Air Pollutants and Health Risks Across China During 2013–2021
Authors: Li Rui , Gao Yining , Xu Jianhua , Cui Lulu , Wang Gehui
Published: July 2023

The impact of clean air policy enacted in China since 2013 on air quality and human health remained poorly understood. For the first time, we developed a full‐coverage air quality data set including six criteria air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and 8‐hr O3) using a three‐stage model. Then, the LightGBM model was applied to further quantify the respective contributions of emission and meteorology to air quality. The results suggested that the deweathered concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO in China decreased by 46.2%, 43.1%, 24.7%, 55.5%, and 37.2%, respectively. However, the 8‐hr O3 concentration in China increased by 19.4%. The variation trends of deweathered PM2.5 and NO2 were much weaker than the absolute concentrations of these species, indicating more strict emission control measures should be imposed in the future. Based on the comparison of the effectiveness during 2013–2017 and 2018–2021, we found that nearly all of the regions suffered from immense difficulty in reducing PM2.5 emissions in recent years. However, the CO emission control has become more efficient since 2018. The increasing rate of deweathered 8‐hr O3 concentration was more dramatic during 2018–2021 compared with 2013–2017, which was in contrast to the absolute 8‐hr O3 concentration. It suggested that the rapid increase of ambient O3 level might be masked by favorable meteorological conditions since 2018. Although the large reduction of PM2.5 and NO2 saved more health benefits (625,362 cases), the increase of O3 exposure aggravated the health costs (20,419 cases) across China. Therefore, collaborative control of PM2.5, NO2, and O3 pollution are still imperative in the future work.
On the Emplacement of the Impact Melt at the Dhala Impact Structure, India
Authors: Joshi Gaurav , Phukon Pradyut , Agarwal Amar , Ojha Arun Kumar
Published: July 2023

We investigate the magnetic fabrics and magnetic mineralogy of the impact melt rock at the Dhala impact structure to understand its emplacement mechanism. Pseudo‐single domains of Ti‐poor magnetite and Ti‐hematite are the prime magnetic carriers in the impact melt rock. The magnetic foliations show a range of dip amounts. The overall trend of the magnetic foliation of the impact melt rock draws a resemblance with the flood basalts or lava flows. A well‐developed magnetic lineation (K1) indicates the strong alignment of Ti‐poor magnetite grains. Therefore, the magnetic carriers may have crystallized and aligned themselves along the flow direction before the emplacement. It may be possible that after the crystallization of the magnetic carriers, the impact melt moved in a semi‐molten state similar to lava flows with temperatures below c. 1,500°C, which is the melting point of Ti‐magnetite and was emplaced as crater‐fill deposits. Among the three principal magnetic susceptibility axes, K1 aligns best with the mesoscopic flow indicators. K1 of individual specimens' trends between NW and SW, while the mean K1 at all the sites trends westward. Thus, at the studied sites, the impact melt flow was dominantly eastward. In the sites located to the NW and W, the eastward flow could be due to gravity‐driven crater inward flow toward the center. At site IM2, which is located to E, the eastward flow of the impact melt is possibly due to crater outward excavation flow.