bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute stress‐induced reductions in neural response to reward are related to acute stress‐related increases in cortisol
Authors: Burani Kreshnik , Brush C. J. , Eckel Lisa A. , Hajcak Greg
Published: September 2024

Stressors and blunted reward processing are implicated in depression. The current study simultaneously examined the impact of an acute stressor on cortisol and reward processing, measured using the reward positivity (RewP) in 66 participants. Participants completed a reward task during a stressor and a control condition, counterbalanced, and separated by 1 week, while saliva samples were collected before, immediately following, and 25 min after the reward task. Participants reported that the stressor condition was more stressful than the control condition. Cortisol levels did not differ before the reward task; however, cortisol levels were higher both immediately and 25 min after the task. The RewP was blunted during the stressor compared to the control condition, and participants with a larger stress‐induced increase in cortisol had greater reductions in their RewP. The current study provides evidence that stress‐induced changes in HPA‐axis functioning relate to reductions in neural correlates of reward processing.
Low retention of restocked laboratory‐reared long‐spined sea urchins Diadema antillarum due to Spanish hogfish Bodianus rufus predation
Authors: Wijers Tom , Klokman Oliver , Murk Albertinka J. , Sijbrandij Jilles , Hylkema Alwin
Published: September 2024

The die‐off of the long‐spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum in the 1980s highlighted its crucial role as a primary grazer in tropical western Atlantic coral reefs. However, natural recovery has been slow, exacerbated by a new die‐off in 2022. Interest in actively restoring D. antillarum populations has grown with the emergence of culture and rearing techniques. Restocking reefs with laboratory‐reared urchins shows potential for enhancing coral reef resilience by reducing algal cover and promoting coral settlement, but success rates vary. Predation and migration contribute to low retention rates, with distinguishing between them is challenging. In this study near Saba, Caribbean Netherlands, we released 200 laboratory‐reared D. antillarum on a reef and monitored for D. antillarum retention and potential D. antillarum predator presence and interaction for 35 days. Only 40% of the urchins were still present on the reef after day one. The Spanish hogfish Bodianus rufus was identified as the primary daytime predator, responsible for nine direct predation events. No nighttime predation was observed, but interaction with a batwing coral crab Carpilius corallinus was noted. These insights can help optimize future restocking attempts and emphasize  the importance of assessing predator presence beforehand. Reefs with high abundances of predators such as Spanish hogfish should be avoided for D antillarum restocking. In addition, before being released, lab‐reared animals should be given time to acclimate to conditions in the wild by being placed in protected in situ cages. Here, they could also grow to larger sizes that are less vulnerable to predation.
Frequency of association: a key indicator for assessing livestock grazing effects on dryland plant interactions, applicable in restoration
Authors: Tadey Mariana , Pelliza Yamila Ivon , Fernandez Anahí Rocío
Published: September 2024

In arid ecosystems, vegetation patches promote biological activity and ecosystem functioning through species interactions that mitigate adverse environmental impacts. However, overgrazing disrupts those interactions, contributing to desertification. We investigated livestock influence on spatial vegetation patterns through the modification of the frequency and type of associations (i.e. number of associated species within a vegetation patch) among types of successional species (i.e. early, intermediate, and late). We studied vegetation in nine rangelands with varying stocking rates (treatments) within the Monte Desert region. We postulated three hypotheses: (1) Grazing simplifies community structure, increasing the frequency of isolated individuals and reducing the association diversity among plant species; (2) competition between plants favors the associations among species with different ecological niche requirements, reducing competition, enhancing facilitation, and regulating the association frequency among species; (3) grazing modifies plant competition and patterns of association among species. We found that with increasing stocking rates, the frequency of isolated individuals increased while association diversity declined. Associations between species with dissimilar niche requirements (e.g. early–late) were more frequent than those with similar needs (e.g. early–early). Livestock grazing modified plant competition, leading to an increased frequency of associations among species with similar requirements. Therefore, the association frequency among types of species in these drylands clearly reflected the degradation process along a grazing gradient, aiding in understanding plant ecological interactions. The association frequency could be implemented as an indicator in diagnostic and monitoring stages of restoration processes.
The WOX9‐WUS modules are indispensable for the maintenance of stem cell homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Chen Xinlong , Wei Gang , Tian Weijiang , Ling Yinghua , Wang Nan , Zhang Ting , Sang Xianchun , Zhu Xiaoyan , He Guanghua , Li Yunfeng
Published: September 2024

The dynamic balance between the self‐renewal and differentiation of stem cells in plants is precisely regulated by a series of developmental regulated genes that exhibit spatiotemporal‐specific expression patterns. Several studies have demonstrated that the WOX family transcription factors play critical roles in maintaining the identity of stem cells in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we obtained amiR‐WOX9 transgenic plants, which displayed terminating prematurely of shoot apical meristem (SAM) development, along with alterations in inflorescence meristem and flower development. The phenotype of amiR‐WOX9 plants exhibited similarities to that of wus‐101 mutant, characterized by a stop‐and‐go growth pattern. It was also found that the expression of WUS in amiR‐WOX9 lines was decreased significantly, while in UBQ10::WOX9‐GFP transgenic plants, the WUS expression was increased significantly despite no substantial alteration in meristem size compared to Col. Therefore, these data substantiated the indispensable role of WOX9 in maintaining the proper expression of WUS. Further investigations unveiled the direct binding of WOX9 to the WUS promoter via the TAAT motif, thereby activating its expression. It was also found that WUS recognized identical the same TAAT motif cis‐elements in its own promoter, thereby repress self‐expression. Next, we successfully identified a physical interaction between WOX9 and WUS, and verified that it was harmful to the expression of WUS. Finally, our experimental findings demonstrate that WOX9 was responsible for the direct activating of WUS, which however was interfered by the ways of WUS binding its own promoter and the interaction of WUS and WOX9, thereby ensuring the appropriate expression pattern of WUS and then the stem cell stability. This study contributes to an enhanced comprehension of the regulatory network of the WOX9‐WUS module in maintaining the equilibrium of the SAM.
Effect of owner presence on healing of spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects after anterior stromal puncture
Authors: Rivera‐Viscal Natalia L. , Bentley Ellison , Opgenorth Taylor A. , Lasarev Michael R.
Published: September 2024

Objective

To examine the effect of client presence on healing rates of spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defect (SCCEDs) following debridement and anterior stromal puncture (ASP).

Animals Studied

Sixty‐eight client‐owned dogs.

Procedures

Dogs presenting prior to the COVID‐19 shutdown were assigned to the C group (client in the room, 31/68), while dogs presenting after were assigned to group NC (no client in the room, 37/68). Inclusion criteria were retention of fluorescein, non‐adherent epithelium, persistence for at least 1 week, and recheck within 1 month. Exclusion criteria were concurrent ocular disorders and endocrinopathies. Success was defined as negative fluorescein retention at first recheck. t‐Tests, rank‐sum tests, and chi‐squared or Fisher's exact tests were used to compare findings between groups. Logistic regression was used to determine whether odds of success at first recheck differed between groups or were modified by other characteristics.

Results

Dogs in the NC group were older (9.9 vs. 8.7 years, p = .014) and had more bandage contact lenses (BCLs) placed (65% vs. 29%, p = .003). There were no other significant differences between groups. BCL placement was associated with significantly greater odds of healing by first recheck (OR = 4.00, 95% CI: 0.63–11.2; p = .008). The NC group initially had 2.5 times greater odds of healing than the C group; after adjusting for BCL placement, the association between client location and healing weakened (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 0.63–5.13; p = .277).

Conclusions

Healing was marginally associated with not having the client in the room, likely due to increased BCL use. BCL application improves SCCED healing rates following debridement/ASP.
The Development of Integrated Marketing Communication Strategies for Organizing International Running Events
Authors: Siriwatthanatrakarn Chetthaphat , Kidrakarn Karun
Published: September 2024

This study employs a mixed-methods approach with the following objectives1) To study integrated marketing communication strategies for organizing international running events. 2) To examine the factors influencing the decision to participate in international running events. 3) To investigate the service marketing mix (7Ps) factors that affect the decision to participate in international running events. 4) To analyze the influence of social media on the participation in international running events. The findings reveal that successful marketing strategies for international running events require clear objectives and distinctive product positioning, incorporating creative elements with local identity, culture, traditions, cuisine, and tourist attractions into the event design. These elements should be reflected in race apparel, medals, trophies, and the overall atmosphere to enhance participants' experiences, which can then be shared on social media platforms. This approach fosters loyalty and encourages repeat participation and event promotion. Additionally, integrated marketing communication tools must be utilized to effectively engage potential participants and stimulate interest. Among the 7Ps of service marketing, the distribution channel emerged as the most influential factor affecting participation decisions. Structural equation modeling analysis further indicates that the marketing mix factors directly influence social media exposure, and both marketing mix factors and social media exposure directly impact the decision to participate in international running events. Indirectly, social media exposure mediates the relationship between the marketing mix and participation decisions.
Construction of Fear: A Shared Experience of Indonesian Independent Horror Moviemakers
Authors: Praratya Atalia , Sukmayadi Vidi , Widjajanto Kenmada
Published: September 2024

This study explores the creative process of Indonesian independent horror moviemakers, explicitly analyzing how they generate elements of fear in their short movies. Using a phenomenological method, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with five emerging Indonesian independent moviemakers whose short movies had received acclaim for excellence or achieved exceptionally high levels of audience engagement. The data analysis identified nine significant themes related to the moviemakers' motivation and creative process. These themes provide insights into the delicate balance between the aesthetics of mise-en-scene (cinematic components) and cultural influences that contribute to the construction of fear in their movies. The findings highlight the significance of understanding the subtleties of the short movie format and the socio-cultural factors involved in horror production. The discovered themes demonstrate a collective experience among the moviemakers, emphasizing typical approaches and difficulties in producing captivating and fear-provoking horror short movies.
Epidemiological burden of inborn errors of metabolism in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Kachroo Kavita , NithiyaVathani Johnson Annie , Moinudeen S.A.K. , Sharma Jitendra , Holly Cheryl
Published: September 2024

Objective:

This systematic review examines the evidence on the incidence and prevalence of inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Introduction:

IEMs are a set of conditions that can either be inherited or result from spontaneous mutations. Although each condition is rare in isolation, various specific disorders within the IEM group have an estimated global prevalence of 50.9 per 100,000 live births. A precise estimate of the prevalence and incidence of IEMs in LMICs can help determine the necessity for extensive newborn screening programs.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will cover studies conducted in LMICs, reporting on IEMs in infants and children under the age of 5 years. Studies that calculate birth prevalence and incidence of IEMs will be included. Studies that provide information on the causes, clinical characteristics, treatment, case fatality rates, mortality rates, and other outcomes will also be considered.

Methods:

The databases to be searched include PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus, and gray literature sources. No date or language restrictions will be applied. Our search will encompass analytical and descriptive observational studies, which will be critically appraised by 2 independent reviewers. Data will be extracted using JBI data extraction tools. If sufficient data are available, a meta-analysis will be performed. Alternatively, if data are limited, we will present our findings in narrative format using tables and figures.

Review registration:

PROSPERO CRD42023457421
Process stability of SiO2 atomic layer etching in C4F6/Ar chemistry
Authors: Ronco Antoine , Boulard F. , Pelissier B. , Posseme N.
Published: September 2024

Great interest is shown toward atomic layer etching (ALE) processes due to the better control of the etching process and higher selectivity that they can offer. In order to obtain these benefits, the ALE steps must be self-limited. In the case of SiO2 ALE, the passivation step often relies on the deposition of a fluorocarbon film on the surface of SiO2. This reaction is not self-limited, which can lead to a drift of the amount of material etched per cycle with the increasing number of cycles. The drift of these processes can be detected through thickness measurements, but this is often not available in situ in manufacturing tools. For this reason, this study focuses on finding a way to detect the drift of these processes using optical emission spectroscopy (OES) that is more likely available in situ in manufacturing tools. Results presented in this paper first characterize the drift of quasi-ALE of thermal SiO2 using spectroscopic ellipsometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. OES spectra are then studied to identify a marker of the drift of the process in agreement with previous measurements. The drift of the process is found to be dependent on the durations of the deposition and activation steps. The intensity of the line of emission at a wavelength of 251 nm, attributed to CF or CF2, is found to be a marker of the drift of the process.
From the Other Side: Supervisor Perspectives on Paid Versus Unpaid Sport Management Internships
Authors: Madsen Rachel M. , Grappendorf Heidi , Parker Heidi M. , Veraldo Cynthia
Published: September 2024

Internships help position college students to succeed in the sport industry but have historically been unpaid. In response to a call from Walker et al. for more research on the impacts of unpaid internships, this study interviewed internship supervisors regarding their perspectives on unpaid internships. Data analysis was framed by institutional theory, exploitation theory, and efficiency wage theory. Results showed that supervisors use several narratives to justify unpaid internships and organizations are often slow to change without a pressing reason. While the supervisors believed that higher pay would attract better candidates and produce higher quality work, they also believed that some organizations are not capable of paying their interns and sport organizations are popular enough to attract many applicants without paying.
Hitting Two Targets With One Arrow: Providing Hands-On Experience to Students via Strategic Partnerships With Athletic Departments
Authors: Hairston Patrick , Lee Cindy
Published: September 2024

This case study highlights the symbiotic relationship between sport management programs and athletic departments, emphasizing the benefits of leveraging on-campus athletics for practical student experiences. Given the prominence of intercollegiate athletics in the United States, universities have a unique opportunity to offer sport management students hands-on learning while on campus. Through the lens of a fundraising project, this study demonstrates effective strategies for building partnerships with athletic departments. It underlines how such projects provide real-world industry experience, focusing not only on technical skills but also on soft skills. The case study shows that both students and athletic departments can significantly benefit from this collaborative approach, enriching the educational experience and contributing to the professional development of future sport industry leaders.
Supramolecular scaffold–directed two-dimensional assembly of pentacene into a configuration to facilitate singlet fission
Authors: Fukumitsu Masato , Fukui Tomoya , Shoji Yoshiaki , Kajitani Takashi , Khan Ramsha , Tkachenko Nikolai V. , Sakai Hayato , Hasobe Taku , Fukushima Takanori
Published: September 2024

Molecular assemblies featuring two-dimensionality have attracted increasing attention, whereas such structures are difficult to construct simply relying on spontaneous molecular assembly. Here, we present two-dimensional assemblies of acene chromophores achieved using a tripodal triptycene supramolecular scaffold, which have been shown to exhibit a strong ability to assemble molecular and polymer motifs two-dimensionally. We designed pentacene and anthracene derivatives sandwiched by two triptycene units. These compounds assemble into expected two-dimensional structures, with the pentacene chromophores having both sufficient overlap to cause singlet fission and space for conformational change to facilitate the dissociation of a triplet pair into free triplets, which is not the case for the anthracene analog. Detailed spectroscopic analysis revealed that the pentacene chromophore in the assembly undergoes singlet fission with a quantum yield of 88 ± 5%, giving rise to triplet pairs, from which free triplets are efficiently generated (Φ
T
= 130 ± 8.8%). This demonstrates the utility of the triptycene-based scaffold to design functional π-electronic molecular assemblies.
Evolutionary changes of noncoding elements associated with transition of sexual mode in
Caenorhabditis
nematodes
Authors: Tamagawa Katsunori , Dayi Mehmet , Sun Simo , Hata Rikako , Kikuchi Taisei , Haruta Nami , Sugimoto Asako , Makino Takashi
Published: September 2024

The transition of the sexual mode occurs widely in animal evolution. In
Caenorhabditis
nematodes, androdioecy, a sexual polymorphism composed of males and hermaphrodites having the ability to self-fertilize, has evolved independently multiple times. While the modification of noncoding regulatory elements likely contributed to the evolution of hermaphroditism, little is known about these changes. Here, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of conserved noncoding elements (CNEs) focusing on the evolution of hermaphroditism in
Caenorhabditis
nematodes. We found that, in androdioecious nematodes, mutations rapidly accumulated in CNEs’ neighboring genes associated with sexual traits. Expression analysis indicate that the identified CNEs are involved in spermatogenesis in hermaphrodites and associated with the transition of gene expression from dioecious to androdioecious nematodes. Last, genome editing of a CNE neighboring
laf-1
resulted in a change in its expression in the gonadal region undergoing spermatogenesis. Our bioinformatic and experimental analyses highlight the importance of CNEs in gene regulation associated with the development of hermaphrodites.
Expansion of tumor-reactive CD8
+
T cell clonotypes occurs in the spleen in response to immune checkpoint blockade
Authors: Morgan Duncan M. , Horton Brendan L. , Bhandarkar Vidit , Van Richard , Dinter Teresa , Zagorulya Maria , Love J. Christopher , Spranger Stefani
Published: September 2024

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) enhances T cell responses against cancer, leading to long-term survival in a fraction of patients. CD8
+
T cell differentiation in response to chronic antigen stimulation is highly complex, and it remains unclear precisely which T cell differentiation states at which anatomic sites are critical for the response to ICB. We identified an intermediate-exhausted population in the white pulp of the spleen that underwent substantial expansion in response to ICB and gave rise to tumor-infiltrating clonotypes. Increased systemic antigen redirected differentiation of this population toward a more circulatory exhausted KLR state, whereas a lack of cross-presented tumor antigen reduced its differentiation in the spleen. An analogous population of exhausted KLR CD8
+
T cells in human blood samples exhibited diminished tumor-trafficking ability. Collectively, our data demonstrate the critical role of antigen density within the spleen for the differentiation and expansion of T cell clonotypes in response to ICB.
A revisit of knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Yat Yee Shizuka , Wan Siu Fan Rebecca , Li Hang Wun Raymond , Lo Sue Seen-Tsing
Published: September 2024

Objectives

To revisit women’s knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding emergency contraception (EC) in Hong Kong. The research sought to provide insights for improving the accessibility and quality of EC services.

Study design

A cross-sectional study, where self-administered questionnaires were distributed at a major community sexual and reproductive health service in Hong Kong over a 3-month period between July 2023 and October 2023. Descriptive and regression analyses were used.

Results

Of 1127 respondents, the majority (n=1057, 93.8%) reported using contraception and 513 (45.6%) had used EC. The main contraceptive methods used were male condoms and oral contraceptive pills. The majority (n=1035, 91.8%) of respondents demonstrated awareness about EC and 938 (83.2%) participants correctly reported the timeframe for oral EC. Around two-thirds reported the internet as being their leading source of EC knowledge. Over 93% of respondents advocated for enhancing public awareness. Acceptance of non-traditional means of obtaining EC, such as over-the-counter provision (51.3%), pharmacy provision (49.8%) and telemedicine consultation (43.1%), were higher than face-to-face EC consultations (32.9%).

Conclusions

Family planning service users’ characteristics and KAP regarding EC have significantly changed over the last 20 years. Women now demonstrate greater awareness, knowledge and openness regarding EC, indicating improved readiness for more liberal delivery of EC nowadays. This study highlights the need for restructuring EC service provision in Hong Kong to address women’s changing preferences and contraceptive needs, and to minimise barriers to EC access. We recommend reclassifying emergency contraceptive pills as non-prescription drugs in Hong Kong to align with international practice.
A post-abortion contraception text-and-call service to support patients to access effective contraception after telemedicine abortion
Authors: Reynolds-Wright John Joseph , Cameron Sharon T
Published: September 2024

Background

Most abortions in Scotland are conducted at home before 12 weeks’ gestation using telemedicine. The volume of information given at a pre-abortion consultation may feel overwhelming and contraception may not be prioritised. Telemedicine limits immediate provision of some methods. Pathways to improve access to post-abortion contraception (PAC) are needed.

Methods

We piloted a PAC ‘text-and-call’ service for patients having telemedicine abortion in Edinburgh. Those agreeing to contact were sent a text message 4–6 weeks later. The message offered a follow-up telephone call with a nurse to discuss contraception. An online decision aid was used to support method selection where needed. Rapid access to the chosen method was arranged.

Results

During the period February–April 2022, 672 patients accessed abortion care, of whom 427 (64%) agreed to post-abortion text message contact. Most (354/427, 83%) did not respond or declined further contact, and 73/427 (17%) requested a follow-up call.

Two participants did not respond to the follow-up call. Most (63/73, 86%) knew what method they wanted prior to the call. Just over half of these patients (34/73, 54%) changed to a higher-effectiveness method than they were currently using and the remainder obtained further supplies of their existing method. Eight participants had not selected a method prior to the call and received structured counselling; five chose long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) but only one subsequently initiated this.

Conclusions

This PAC service was taken up by a small proportion of patients but supported a sizeable minority to connect to further contraceptive supplies, half of whom accessed more effective methods.
Use of emergency departments by children and young people following telephone triage: a large database study
Authors: Kumar Akshay , Husk Kerryn , Simpson Rebecca , Johnson Graham D , Burton Christopher
Published: September 2024

Background

Although one objective of NHS 111 is to ease the strain on urgent and emergency care services, studies suggest the telephone triage service may be contributing to increased demand. Moreover, while parents and caregivers generally find NHS 111 satisfactory, concerns exist about its integration with the healthcare system and the appropriateness of advice. This study aimed to analyse the advice provided in NHS 111 calls, the duration between the call and ED attendance, and the outcomes of such attendances made by children and young people (C&YP).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was carried out of C&YP (≤17) attending an ED in the Yorkshire and Humber region of the UK following contact with NHS 111 between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017. This linked-data study examined NHS 111 calls and ED outcomes. Lognormal mixture distributions were fit to compare the time taken to attend ED following calls. Logistic mixed effects regression models were used to identify predictors of low-acuity NHS 111-related ED attendances.

Results

Our study of 348 401 NHS 111 calls found they were primarily concerning children aged 0–4 years. Overall, 13.1% of calls were followed by an ED attendance, with a median arrival time of 51 minutes. Of the 34 664 calls advising ED attendance 41% complied, arriving with a median of 38 minutes—27% of which defined as low-acuity. Although most calls advising primary care were not followed by an ED attendance (93%), those seen in an ED generally attended later (median 102 minutes) with 23% defined as low-acuity. Younger age (<1) was a statistically significant predictor of low-acuity ED attendance following all call dispositions apart from home care.

Conclusion

More tailored options for unscheduled healthcare may be needed for younger children. Both early low-acuity attendance and late high-acuity attendance following contact with NHS 111 could act as useful entry points for clinical audits of the telephone triage service.
Imaging endolymphatic space of the inner ear in vestibular migraine
Authors: Kirsch Valerie , Boegle Rainer , Gerb Johannes , Kierig Emilie , Ertl-Wagner Birgit B , Becker-Bense Sandra , Brandt Thomas , Dieterich Marianne
Published: September 2024

Background

Vestibular migraine (VM), the most frequent episodic vertigo, is difficult to distinguish from Ménière’s disease (MD) because reliable biomarkers are missing. The classical proof of MD was an endolymphatic hydrops (EH). However, a few intravenous gadolinium-enhanced MRI studies of the inner ear (iMRI) also revealed an EH in VM. The major questions were the frequency and distribution characteristics of EH in VM for diagnostic use.

Methods

In a prospective case-control study of 200 participants, 75 patients with VM (49 females; mean age 46 years) and 75 with MD (36 females; mean age 55 years), according to the Bárány and International Headache Society, and 50 age-matched participants with normal vestibulocochlear testing (HP), were enrolled. Analyses ofiMRI of the endolymphatic space included volumetric quantification, stepwise regression, correlation with neurotological parameters and support vector machine classification.

Results

EH was maximal in MD (80%), less in VM (32%) and minimal in HP (22%). EH was milder in VM (mean grade 0.3) compared with MD (mean grade 1.3). The intralabyrinthine distribution was preferably found in the vestibulum in VM, but mainly in the cochlea in MD. There was no interaural lateralisation of EH in VM but in the affected ear in MD. The grade of EH in the vestibulum was correlated in both conditions with the frequency and duration of the attacks.

Conclusion

Three features of theiMRI evaluation were most supportive for the diagnosis of VM at group and individual levels: (1) the bilateral manifestation, (2) the low-grade EH and (3) the intraaural distribution.
Wet military uniforms pose low risk of hypothermia while static in mild cold air
Authors: Seeley Afton D. , Bodurtha Phillip O. , Greenfield Andrew M. , Pitsas Dina M. , Shaw MariaLena A. , Caldwell Aaron R. , Alba Billie K. , Castellani John W. , O'Brien Catherine
Published: September 2024

Wet clothing is less insulative than dry clothing and consequently increases heat loss in cold air. Tactical necessity can render removal of wet clothing impossible and/or require Warfighters to remain static to avoid detection, limiting heat production and posing a threat of hypothermia (core temperature <35 °C). This study aimed to characterize body temperatures and evaluate hypothermia risk while statically exposed to 5 °C air wearing three wet military uniforms. Further, low-speed loaded walking was evaluated as a strategy to raise end-static temperatures. Twelve adults (11 M, 1 F) randomly completed three wet-cold trials wearing either the Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU), Army Combat Uniform (ACU), or ACU with silk-weight base layer (ACU+). Each trial involved 180 min of cold air (5.3 ± 0.3 °C, 0.8 m·s−1) exposure after a clothed 2 min head-out immersion (34.0 ± 0.2 °C). Volunteers were static for 60 min followed by 120 min of walking with a rucksack. Rectal temperature ( Tre) area under the curve did not differ among the three wet uniforms when static ( p = 0.431) with Tre increasing, rather than decreasing, across the 60 min (IHWCU: +0.26 ± 0.19 °C, ACU: +0.37 ± 0.21 °C, ACU+: +0.36 ± 0.20 °C). Hypothermia risk with 60 min static wet-cold exposure therefore appears minimal, regardless of the military uniform worn, in an otherwise low stress cohort. End-static finger temperatures (IHWCU: 9.48 ± 2.30 °C, ACU: 9.99 ± 1.82 °C, ACU+: 9.27 ± 1.66 °C, p > 0.999) were reduced by ∼20–23 °C posing a considerable dexterity concern. Heat production of ∼210 W·m2 appeared sufficient to begin to reverse negative cumulative heat storage and initiate slight elevations of rectal and peripheral temperatures, although finger temperatures increased <2 °C after 120 min. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05409937.
Integrating gray system analysis and empirical method for slope stability assessment in road engineering
Authors: Han Feng , Zheng Hao , Li Shizhong , Lv Zifu , Qi Xiangyang , Xie Shilei
Published: September 2024

The study aims to improve the prediction of slope stability in road engineering by combining sophisticated analytical methods, including ABAQUS software-based finite element modeling and gray relational analysis. The aim is to devise a systematic and impartial strategy that reduces the subjective biases linked with conventional empirical techniques, enhancing the precision of safety factor computations for soil slopes across diverse geological and environmental scenarios. This strategy tackles the drawbacks of traditional approaches, which frequently rely on empirical procedures and produce inconsistent findings in various contexts. The methodology entails utilizing ABAQUS software to create a numerical slope model and then calculating safety factors under different operating situations using the finite element strength reduction method. The improved gray relational analysis captures the complexity related to slope stability and offers a more thorough knowledge of variable interdependencies. The study uses ABAQUS to model slope stability problems and, despite its complexity, calculates exact safety factors using the finite element strength reduction approach to assess slope performance under various scenarios. The paper illustrates how the suggested approach may be used practically in engineering projects and how it can enhance the procedures involved in making decisions about slope stability evaluations.
DOES EXTERNAL FINTECH COLLABORATION IMPROVE THE PROFITABILITY OF COMMERCIAL BANKS? — MICRO-EVIDENCE FROM CHINA’S LISTED COMMERCIAL BANKS
Authors: JIANG CHUYU , ZHANG YIXIANG , ZHU JIANMING
Published: September 2024

In the context of financial digitization, fintech collaboration with external enterprises is progressively emerging as a pivotal way for commercial banks to accumulate specialized talent, overcome technological challenges, and enhance profitability. Meanwhile, banks also face numerous formidable challenges such as implementation difficulties and low conversion efficiency. This paper explores the impact of fintech collaborations on the profitability of commercial banks in China. The results show that the fintech strategic collaboration between commercial banks and enterprises significantly enhances the profitability of commercial banks, which is achieved by innovation capacity and business familiarity. The effect is more prominent for commercial banks in the period of banking slump, with larger size, and those without fintech subsidiaries. Additionally, there exists a nonlinear relationship in the impact, and broader collaboration may yield a diminished positive effect. The findings of this paper will provide reference for the debate on the effect of fintech on bank profitability.
Light axion-like particle and rare Higgs decays
Authors: Zhang Xin-Meng , Yue Chong-Xing , Sun Xiao-Chen , Wang Yue-Qi
Published: September 2024

Rare and exotic decay modes of the Higgs boson are one kind of interesting decay processes, which can be used as a tool to further test the SM and search for new physics phenomena. In this paper, considering the constraints on the [Formula: see text] coupling from the relevant LHC data, we calculate the contributions of the light axion-like particle (ALP) with mass less than 200[Formula: see text]MeV to the rare Higgs decays [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Our numerical results show that the light ALP can indeed generate significantly contributions to these decay processes. The value of the branching ratio [Formula: see text] induced only by ALP is larger than the SM prediction at least one order of magnitude. We expect that our results might be helpful to test the indirect signals of light ALP in near future collider experiments, particularly in future lepton collider experiments.
Maxwell–Dirac system in cosmology
Authors: Saha Bijan
Published: September 2024

Within the scope of a Bianchi type-I (BI) cosmological model, we study the interacting system of spinor and electromagnetic fields and its role in the evolution of the Universe. In some earlier studies, it was found that in the case of a pure spinor field, the presence of nontrivial nondiagonal components of energy–momentum tensor (EMT) leads to some severe restrictions both on the space–time geometry and/or spinor field itself, whereas in the case of electromagnetic field with induced nonlinearity, such components impose severe restrictions on metric functions and the components of the vector potential. It is shown that in the case of interacting spinor and electromagnetic fields, the restrictions are not as severe as in the other cases and in this case, a nonlinear and massive spinor field with different components of vector potential can survive in a general Bianchi type-I space–time.
Rib Fracture Detection Model Based on Faster-RCNN-SE-FA Algorithm
Authors: He Xiuchao , Qiu Zhoujian , Zeng Yingqing , Shen Zhaoqiang , Pan Yuning , Zhou Chunliang
Published: September 2024

To address the problem of missed diagnosis in rib fracture detection from CT scans, this study introduces an enhanced model, called Faster-RCNN-SE-FA, which is built upon the traditional Faster-RCNN architecture. The proposed model integrates a novel filter anchor method and thoroughly considers the specific imaging characteristics of ribs in CT images. The preprocessing of the image is followed by applying the Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) module, which enhances the discrimination of features in the channel dimension while preserving the location Sensitivity (Sen) important for target detection tasks. Consequently, this modification leads to a significant improvement in model performance. Empirical experiments, conducted on CT sequences of 130 rib feature cases provided by the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, demonstrate that the Faster-RCNN-SE-FA model achieves better Sen and accuracy compared to traditional methods, including the baseline Faster-RCNN.
SGM-YOLO: YOLO-Based Defect Detection Model for Wood Lumber
Authors: Liu Liping , Zhang Qiyu , Peng Wenqi , Wang Ruiqi , Yin Jingtao
Published: September 2024

Wood lumber is widely used in the construction and furniture manufacturing industries. In order to solve the problems of poor recognition, low efficiency and few detection types of manual and traditional processing methods, this paper proposes a model SGM-YOLO for the detection of surface defects in wood lumber. The SGM-YOLO model references a new backbone feature network, SL-backbone, to enhance the model’s ability to detect defects of different sizes. And, a new GVE-neck layer structure will be proposed in this paper, which reduces the parameters as well as the accuracy. In addition, the Normalized Weighted Distance Loss (NWD) small target detection algorithm is combined with the MPDIOU boundary loss function to replace the original loss function to further enhance the small target detection capability. Experiments show that SGM-YOLO achieves an average recognition accuracy of 77.4% for wood lumber defects, compared with the original model YOLOv8, the mAP is improved by 3.8% and the FPS is improved by 4.4, while the number and size of parameters are reduced, which provides better detection of several defects that are difficult to be identified. The methods presented in this paper were also applied to the YOLOv5 model, yielding positive results, to confirm its generalizability. The results demonstrate the high application value of the SGM-YOLO model in the wood lumber processing and manufacturing industry’s final product inspection.
DeepWhaleNet: Climate Change-Aware FFT-Based Deep Neural Network for Passive Acoustic Monitoring
Authors: Rasmussen Nicholas , Rizk Rodrigue , Matoo Omera , Santosh KC
Published: September 2024

Climate change poses severe risks to the survival of many whale populations, whose habitats and migration patterns are affected by environmental changes. To detect these whales effectively, especially in deep-sea environments, we need to use AI-based techniques to handle the acoustic diversity and variability of different species. However, current methods for whale detection are based on pre- and post-processing steps that reduce their efficiency and generalizability. To address this issue, we present DeepWhaleNet, a novel deep-learning model that automates whale detection in Underwater Passive Acoustic Monitoring datasets. DeepWhaleNet simplifies the detection process by extracting relevant features from raw log-power spectrograms and helps protect these threatened species by supporting conservation efforts. Our model uses a larger short-time Fourier transform as input and a custom ResNet-18 architecture for classification, which enables it to separate whale sounds from noise and capture their temporal and spectral characteristics. We evaluate the performance of DeepWhaleNet and show that it surpasses state-of-the-art methods, achieving an 8.3% improvement in the F-1 score and 21% higher average precision of binary relevance than the baseline method. Moreover, our model demonstrates its versatility and suitability for species-specific retrieval problems through an ablation study on multi-label retrieval problems and a 99.1% recall for Blue Whales.
Priority-Based Multi-Objective Routing in Underwater Sensor Networks Using Adaptive Honey Badger Algorithm
Authors: Rex A. Arul , Rose R. Jemila
Published: September 2024

Due to the increasing number of applications for various purposes, including commercial, scientific, environmental, and military ones, Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) have recently attracted substantial attention from academia and enterprises in research and development. Monitoring pollutants, tactical surveillance, tsunami alerts, and offshore drilling are some important applications. Due to acoustic transmission disruptions brought on by extreme noise, extraordinarily lengthy propagation delays, a high bit error rate, a constrained bandwidth, and interference, efficient sensor communication in UWSNs is a difficult challenge. Therefore, designing efficient communication among sensors and sinks is one of the fundamental research themes in UWSNs. This paper proposes an energy-efficient optimal cluster head (CH)-based routing in UWSNs. The proposed methodology consists of three stages namely, cluster formation, CH selection, and priority-based routing. In this study, initially, the clusters are formed using a k-means clustering algorithm. Then, the CHs are selected using the Adaptive Honey Badger optimization (AHBO) algorithm, which is used to reduce energy consumption and delay. AHBO is a combination of a honey badger, Levy flight, and genetic algorithm operators. After the CH selection process, data packets are transferred toward the base station through autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The efficiency of the proposed approach is analyzed based on different metrics and performance compared with the different methods.
SPATIALLY RESOLVED OXIDATION AND ENHANCED PHOTOOXIDATION IN NANOCRYSTALLINE SILICON
Authors: RAMÍREZ-PORRAS ARTURO , GODÍNEZ ALEXANDER
Published: September 2024

Spatially resolved oxidation of nanocrystalline silicon surfaces has been studied using Fourier Fourier-transformed infrared microscopy. At the same time, photoluminescence (PL) quenching has been recorded. Both characteristics are related to the increase of silicon oxide species on the sample surfaces. Illumination of surfaces by blue light increases oxidation rates and speeds PL quenching in the form of a stretched exponential function. A possible explanation of this behavior considering quantum dots and quantum wires present in the material is proposed.
SYNTHESIS OF HYDROPHOBIC COATINGS ON STAINLESS-STEEL MESH AND ITS PERFORMANCE
Authors: LI WENLONG , XING XIAOYAN , SHAO ZHONGCAI , LI XUETIAN
Published: September 2024

Hydrophobic coatings were fabricated on 400-mesh 304 stainless steel by combining hydrothermal treatment and chemical modification. The hydrophobicity of the surfactant coatings was evaluated. The fabricated coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements and X-ray diffraction. The results revealed that a hydrophobic coating with a water contact angle of [Formula: see text] could be successfully synthesized under specific conditions: a concentration of 0.005[Formula: see text]mol⋅L[Formula: see text] C[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text]SO4Na and subsequent modification with a 1[Formula: see text]mol⋅L[Formula: see text] ethanol stearate solution for 24[Formula: see text]h. This outcome highlights the potential of this methodology for producing highly efficient hydrophobic coatings for stainless steel mesh substrates.
The gluing property
Authors: Hayut Yair , Poveda Alejandro
Published: September 2024

We introduce a new compactness principle which we call the gluing property. For a measurable cardinal [Formula: see text] and a cardinal [Formula: see text], we say that [Formula: see text] has the [Formula: see text]-gluing property if every sequence of [Formula: see text]-many [Formula: see text]-complete ultrafilters on [Formula: see text] can be glued into an extender. We show that every [Formula: see text]-compact cardinal has the [Formula: see text]-gluing property, yet non-necessarily the [Formula: see text]-gluing property. Finally, we compute the exact consistency strength for [Formula: see text] to have the [Formula: see text]-gluing property — this being [Formula: see text].
Free Vibration of Axially Functionally Graded Porous Beams with Varying Cross-Section
Authors: Al Rjoub Yousef S. , Obeidat Hussein E.
Published: September 2024

This study aims to determine the natural frequencies of axially functionally graded porous material (FGPM) beams with non-uniform cross-sections under a variety of boundary conditions. Two types of pore distribution were used: even and uneven. Initially, an analytical method was used to determine the natural frequencies of FGPM beams with different cross-sections. The Fredholm integral approach was used to obtain the characteristic equations. Furthermore, the collected results are confirmed and compared to the existing literature. The artificial neural network (ANN) technique is then used to predict the fluctuations in the natural frequency of a clamped–simply supported axially FGPM beam with a non-uniform cross-section. The prediction of natural frequencies by ANN is based on a large dataset of over 1[Formula: see text]100 data points acquired from the analytical solution obtained in this study and data available in the literature. This research conducts a parametric analysis to evaluate the influence of numerous aspects, including as beam characteristics, material properties, geometric details, gradient parameters, and porosity distribution, on functionally graded (FG) beam vibration behavior. Finally, both ANN and computational analysis demonstrate that porosity distributions and non-uniform cross-sectional area have a substantial effect on the natural frequencies of axially FG beams.