bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building 3D Generative Models from Minimal Data
Authors: Sutherland Skylar , Egger Bernhard , Tenenbaum Joshua
Published: September 2023

We propose a method for constructing generative models of 3D objects from a single 3D mesh and improving them through unsupervised low-shot learning from 2D images. Our method produces a 3D morphable model that represents shape and albedo in terms of Gaussian processes. Whereas previous approaches have typically built 3D morphable models from multiple high-quality 3D scans through principal component analysis, we build 3D morphable models from a single scan or template. As we demonstrate in the face domain, these models can be used to infer 3D reconstructions from 2D data (inverse graphics) or 3D data (registration). Specifically, we show that our approach can be used to perform face recognition using only a single 3D template (one scan total, not one per person). We extend our model to a preliminary unsupervised learning framework that enables the learning of the distribution of 3D faces using one 3D template and a small number of 2D images. Our approach is motivated as a potential model for the origins of face perception in human infants, who appear to start with an innate face template and subsequently develop a flexible system for perceiving the 3D structure of any novel face from experience with only 2D images of a relatively small number of familiar faces.
The Crying Need for a Better Response Assessment in Rectal Cancer
Authors: Amintas Samuel , Giraud Nicolas , Fernandez Benjamin , Dupin Charles , Denost Quentin , Garant Aurelie , Frulio Nora , Smith Denis , Rullier Anne , Rullier Eric , Vuong Te , Dabernat Sandrine , Vendrely Véronique
Published: September 2023

Opinion statement

Since total neoadjuvant treatment achieves almost 30% pathologic complete response, organ preservation has been increasingly debated for good responders after neoadjuvant treatment for patients diagnosed with rectal cancer. Two organ preservation strategies are available: a watch and wait strategy and a local excision strategy including patients with a near clinical complete response. A major issue is the selection of patients according to the initial tumor staging or the response assessment. Despite modern imaging improvement, identifying complete response remains challenging. A better selection could be possible by radiomics analyses, exploiting numerous image features to feed data characterization algorithms. The subsequent step is to include baseline and/or pre-therapeutic MRI, PET-CT, and CT radiomics added to the patients’ clinicopathological data, inside machine learning (ML) prediction models, with predictive or prognostic purposes. These models could be further improved by the addition of new biomarkers such as circulating tumor biomarkers, molecular profiling, or pathological immune biomarkers.

Graphical Abstract
The Fidelity of Artificial Intelligence to Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Recommendations for Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Park Yong-Eun , Chae Hyundong
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Due to significant growth in the volume of information produced by cancer research, staying abreast of recent developments has become a challenging task. Artificial intelligence (AI) can learn, reason, and understand the enormous corpus of literature available to the scientific community. However, large-scale studies comparing the recommendations of AI and a multidisciplinary team board (MTB) in gastric cancer treatment have rarely been performed. Therefore, a retrospective real-world study was conducted to assess the level of concordance between AI and MTB treatment recommendations.

Methods

Treatment recommendations of Watson for Oncology (WFO) and an MTB were retrospectively analyzed 322 patients with gastric cancer from January 2015 to December 2018 and the degree of agreement between them was compared. The patients were divided into concordance and non-concordance groups and factors affecting the concordance rate were analyzed.

Results

The concordance rate between the AI and MTB was 86.96%. The concordance rates for each stage were 96.93% for stage I, 88.89% for stages II, 90.91% for stage III, and 45.83% for stage IV, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, age (p-value = 0.000), performance status (p-value = 0.003 for performance score 1; p-value = 0.007 for performance score 2; p-value = 0.000 for performance score 3), and stage IV (p-value = 0.017) had a significant effect on concordance between the MTB and WFO.

Conclusion

Factors affecting the concordance rate were age, performance status, and stage IV gastric cancer. To increase the validity of future medical AI systems for gastric cancer treatment, their supplementation with local guidelines and the ability to comprehensively understand individual patients is essential.
Metformin combined with rapamycin ameliorates podocyte injury in idiopathic membranous nephropathy through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Ma Meichen , Pan Yue , Zhang Yue , Yang Mei , Xi Ying , Lin Baoxu , Hao Wudi , Liu Jianhua , Wu Lina , Liu Yong , Qin Xiaosong
Published: September 2023

Autophagy activation protects against podocyte injury in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway is a vital autophagy regulatory pathway. Metformin promotes autophagy, whereas rapamycin is an autophagy agonist. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of metformin and rapamycin in IMN remain unclear. Thus, we examined the mechanisms of action of metformin and rapamycin in IMN by regulating the AMPK/mTOR autophagy signaling pathway. Female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were treated with cationic bovine serum albumin (C-BSA) to establish an IMN model and were randomly divided into IMN model, metformin, rapamycin, and metformin + rapamycin groups. A control group was also established. Metformin and rapamycin were used as treatments. Renal histological changes, urinary protein excretion, the protein expression levels of key AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway proteins, renal tissue cell apoptosis, and autophagy-associated proteins (Beclin 1 and LC3) were examined. In addition, a C5b-9 sublysis model using the MPC-5 mouse podocyte cell line was established to verify the effect of metformin combined with rapamycin on podocytes. Metformin combined with rapamycin improved urinary protein excretion in IMN rats. Metformin combined with rapamycin attenuated the inflammatory response, renal fibrosis, and podocyte foot process fusion. In addition, it improved autophagy in podocytes as demonstrated by the enhanced expression of Beclin-1, p-AMPK/AMPK, LC3-II/I, and autophagosomes in podocytes and decreased p-mTOR/mTOR expression. In conclusion, metformin combined with rapamycin decreased proteinuria, improved renal fibrosis and podocyte autophagy via AMPK/mTOR pathway in IMN rats.

Graphical Abstract

The metformin and rapamycin decreased proteinuria and inproved renal fibrosis in IMN model rats.
A meta-analysis of loneliness among left-behind children in China
Authors: Xiong Yan , Li Xiaolin , Li Han , Qu Caiwen , Liu Mengying , Lu Chunxia , Dong Weixin
Published: September 2023

Due to the long-term separation from their parents, the physical and mental health development of left-behind children is not optimal. Among many psychological problems, loneliness is the most significant. We searched all publicly published literature related to the loneliness of left-behind children from its establishment to September 30, 2022 in Chinese and English databases. Forest plots and funnel plots were drawn to examine the heterogeneity and publication bias of the included studies, and the loneliness status of left-behind children was analyzed by meta-analysis. A total of 23 studies with 6,678 left-behind children were included in the analysis. The meta results showed that the loneliness level of left-behind children was higher than that of non-left-behind children. Subgroup analysis showed that there was no significant difference in total effect size among different grades. However, different guardian types could affect the loneliness level of left-behind children, for example, single-parent monitoring was associated with lower loneliness than other relative monitoring.
How do Children Rate Their Health? An Investigation of Considered Health Dimensions, Health Factors, and Assessment Strategies
Authors: Kroh Jacqueline , Tuppat Julia , Gentile Raffaela , Reichelt Hanna
Published: September 2023

In large-scale surveys of both children and adults, self-rated health (SRH) based on questions such as “In general, how would you rate your health?” is a widely used measurement to assess individuals’ health status. However, while a large number of studies have investigated the health aspects people consider for their responses, and some studies show deeper insights into the assessment strategies in answering this question for adults, it is largely unknown how children assess their health based on those questions. Therefore, this study examines how children rate their health according to this question in a sample of 54 9- to 12-year-olds. By using techniques of cognitive interviewing and qualitative and quantitative content analysis, we investigate the health dimensions, health factors as well as different assessment strategies that children refer to in their self-assessment of general health. Our results indicate that children in this age group mostly refer to their physical health and daily functioning or consider health more non-specifically. They also show that children take into account a wide range of specific health aspects, with some minor differences between subgroups, especially by gender. Additionally, our study highlights that children use several assessment strategies. Finally, our results indicate that the majority of children assess their health only using one health dimension, but a substantial share of children reflect on several health factors and combine different assessment strategies. We conclude that children refer to comparable health dimensions and health factors, but use somewhat different assessment strategies compared with studies focusing on adults.
The Social Triad Model: Considering the Deployer in a Novel Approach to Trust in Human–Robot Interaction
Authors: Cameron David , Collins Emily C. , de Saille Stevienna , Eimontaite Iveta , Greenwood Alice , Law James
Published: September 2023

There is an increasing interest in considering, measuring, and implementing trust in human-robot interaction (HRI). New avenues in this field include identifying social means for robots to influence trust, and identifying social aspects of trust such as a perceptions of robots’ integrity, sincerity or even benevolence. However, questions remain regarding robots’ authenticity in obtaining trust through social means and their capacity to increase such experiences through social interaction with users. We propose that the dyadic model of HRI misses a key complexity: a robot’s trustworthiness may be contingent on the user’s relationship with, and opinion of, the individual or organisation deploying the robot (termed here, Deployer). We present a case study in three parts on researching HRI and a LEGO® Serious® Play focus group on care robotics to indicate how Users’ trust towards the Deployer can affect trust towards robots and robotic research. Our Social Triad model (User, Robot, Deployer) offers novel avenues for exploring trust in a social context.
Crisis? What crisis? Recycling of silver for Roman Republican coinage
Authors: Wood Jonathan R. , Ponting Matthew , Butcher Kevin
Published: September 2023

Dated measurements of lead pollution in deep Greenland ice have become a useful proxy to monitor historical events because interruptions in lead-silver production result in fluctuations in lead emissions. However, the application of the lead emission record has not perhaps received the attention it deserves because of the difficulty in connecting macroscale events, such as wars and plagues, to their economic repercussions. For instance, although debasement of silver coinage with copper has been proposed as a reasonable response to interruptions in silver production, reductions in fineness of the silver denarius, the backbone of Roman coinage from the late third century BC, are not always coincident with decreases in lead deposited in Greenland. We propose that extensive recycling of silver that is evident in the numismatic record can better explain drops in lead emissions and, thereby, the responses to major historical events, such as warfare in the silver-producing areas of the Iberian Peninsula and southern France during the middle and late Roman Republic.
The potential immuno-stimulating effect of curcumin, piperine, and taurine combination in hepatocellular carcinoma; a pilot study
Authors: kotb Raghda R. , Afifi Ahmed M. , EL-Houseini Motawa E. , Ezz-Elarab Mohamed , Basalious Emad B. , Omran Mervat M. , Abdellateif Mona S.
Published: September 2023

Background

This is a phase II clinical trial to investigate the immunotherapeutic effect of Curcumin, Piperine, and Taurine (CPT) combination in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Twenty-six HCC patients aged (50–80 years) were recruited for administration of a daily dose of 5 g of curcumin, 50 mg of piperine, and 500 mg of taurine divided into three doses for successive 3 months. The three components (CPT) were prepared in one capsule. Patients were assessed after each month (cycle) for the plasma levels of CD4, CD8, CD25, Interleukins-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-12, Interferon-gamma (IFN- γ), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),FOXP3mRNA, andmiRNA 21.

Results

There was a significant increase in the plasma levels of CD4 and CD8, while a significant decrease in the CD25 level after the second and third cycles compared to the baseline level [P < 0.001 for both]. Also, there was a significant increase in the plasma levels of IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ [ P = 0.001, P = 0.006, and P = 0.029; respectively], while there was a significant decrease in IL-6, VEGF-α, LDH, and Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) after CPT administration compared to the baseline levels [P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.020, and P = 0.004; respectively].

The expression level ofmiRNA-21was significantly decreased after CPT administration compared to the baseline level [5.5±0.88, 4.1±0.78, 3±0.75, and 2.5±0.76; respectively, P<0.001]. Though there was a noticeable decrease in theFOXP3expression after each cycle, however, it didn’t reach a significant level [5.3±0.8, 4.2±0.76, 3.2±0.67, and 2.5±0.79; respectively, P=0.184].

Conclusion

CPT could exhibit a potential immune-stimulating effect in HCC patients. The current trial had been registered at the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (NHTMRI), with a registration number of NHTMRI-IRB 2-21 on 5th January 2021.
Spanish Older LGBT+ Adults: Satisfaction with Life and Generativity
Authors: Tavares João , Casado Tatiana , Sá-Couto Pedro , Guerra Sara , Sousa Liliana
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT+) adults have been mainly studied in relation to stigma and mental and physical disorders. Understanding their satisfaction with life, along with their generative expression, is crucial in building healthy aging. This study examined the satisfaction with life of Spanish older LGBT+ adults, considering the role of generativity.

Methods

Data were gathered online; 141 Spanish LGBT+ people completed the Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS), Generative Behaviour Checklist (GBC), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Data were analysed through descriptive, nonparametric tests, and correlational statistics. A multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between the SWLS and the other scales, including social and demographic variables as covariates.

Results

Satisfaction with life and generativity are positively associated to (i) disclosure in all areas of life, (ii) perceived support in the disclosure process, (iii) (daily) participation in social activities, and (iv) higher in women, (v) in those who have a partner, and (vi) who have children. The multivariable regression model explained 32.6% of the variance in SWLS. The SWLS increased with generativity confidence and behaviours of collaboration and care.

Conclusions

Satisfaction with life and generativity are promoted by disclosure in all areas of life, and perceived support in the disclosure process.

Policy Implications

Social policies and programs should (i) encourage LGBT+ individuals’ disclosure and support them in this process, probably by creating safe and supportive environments; (ii) promote LGBT+ older adults’ social participation, namely in terms of volunteering and mentoring.
Corticospinal tract: a new hope for the treatment of post-stroke spasticity
Authors: Huang Linxing , Yi Lizhen , Huang Huiyuan , Zhan Sheng , Chen Ruixue , Yue Zenghui
Published: September 2023

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) is the most common complication of stroke but represents only one of the many manifestations of upper motor neuron syndrome. As an upper motor neuron, the corticospinal tract (CST) is the only direct descending motor pathway that innervates the spinal motor neurons and is closely related to the recovery of limb function in patients with PSS. Therefore, promoting axonal remodeling in the CST may help identify new therapeutic strategies for PSS. In this review, we outline the pathological mechanisms of PSS, specifically their relationship with CST, and therapeutic strategies for axonal regeneration of the CST after stroke. We found it to be closely associated with astroglial scarring produced by astrocyte activation and its secretion of neurotrophic factors, mainly after the onset of cerebral ischemia. We hope that this review offers insight into the relationship between CST and PSS and provides a basis for further studies.
Towards an Understanding of the Challenges in Laser Beam Welding of Copper – Observation of the Laser-Matter Interaction Zone in Laser Beam Welding of Copper and Steel Using in Situ Synchrotron X-Ray Imaging
Authors: Kaufmann Florian , Schrauder Julian , Hummel Marc , Spurk Christoph , Olowinsky Alexander , Beckmann Felix , Moosmann Julian , Roth Stephan , Schmidt Michael
Published: September 2023

The increasing demand for contacting applications in electric components such as batteries, power electronics and electric drives is boosting the use of laser-based copper processing. Laser beam welding is a key for an efficient and high-quality electric vehicle production due to its local, non-contact energy input and high automation capability enabling reproducible weld quality. Nevertheless, a major challenge in process design is the combination of energy-efficiency and precise process guidance with regard to weld seam depth and defect prevention (i.e. spatter, melt ejections), partly caused by the high thermal conductivity of copper. High power lasers in the near infrared range and emerging visible laser beam sources with excellent beam quality can provide a suitable joining solution for this purpose. However, the underlying physical phenomena are currently only partly understood and a reflection on the challenges of laser beam welding of copper compared to well researched steel processing has not yet been carried out. In order to improve the understanding of the effect of the different material properties and the influence of process parameters on the vapor capillary and melt pool geometry in laser beam welding, in situ synchrotron investigations on Cu-ETP and S235 using 515 and 1030 nm laser sources were conducted. The material phase contrast analysis was successfully used to distinguish vapor capillary and melt pool phase boundaries during the welding process with high spatial and temporal resolution up to 5 kHz. A significantly different vapor capillary geometry and sensitivity to parameter variation were found between the steel and copper material. In addition, the visualization of characteristic melt flows revealed different melt pool dynamics and a pronounced eddy close to the melt pool surface for copper, which is assumed to be causal for the observation of pronounced spatter formation during copper welding in a certain process window.
Hospital admissions and mortality over 20 years in community-dwelling older people: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study
Authors: Rambukwella Roshan , Westbury Leo D. , Pearse Camille , Ward Kate A. , Cooper Cyrus , Dennison Elaine M.
Published: September 2023

Background

Demographic changes worldwide are leading to pressures on health services, with hospital admissions representing an important contributor. Here, we report admission types experienced by older people and examine baseline risk factors for subsequent admission/death, from the community-based Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

Methods

2997 participants (1418 women) completed a baseline questionnaire and clinic visit to characterize their health. Participants were followed up from baseline (1998–2004, aged 59–73 years) until December 2018 using UK Hospital Episode Statistics and mortality data, which report clinical outcomes using ICD-10 coding. Baseline characteristics in relation to the risk of admission/death during follow-up were examined using sex-stratified univariate logistic regression.

Results

During follow-up, 36% of men and 26% of women died and 93% of men and 92% of women had at least one hospital admission; 6% of men and 7% of women had no admissions and were alive at end of follow-up. The most common types of admission during follow-up were cardiovascular (ever experienced: men 71%, women 68%) and respiratory (men 40%, women 34%). In both sexes, baseline risk factors that were associated (p < 0.05) with admission/death during follow-up were older age, poorer SF-36 physical function, and poorer self-rated health. In men, manual social class and a history of smoking, and in women, higher BMI, not owning one’s home, and a minor trauma fracture since age 45, were also risk factors for admission/death.

Conclusions

Sociodemographic factors were related to increased risk of admission/death but a small proportion experienced no admissions during this period, suggesting that healthy ageing is achievable.
Prompting and Modeling of Coping Strategies during Childbirth
Authors: Greenwald Ashley
Published: September 2023

There is ample evidence to suggest that upright positions and mobility during labor improve birth outcome, including shorter duration of childbirth and reduced risk of cesarean section. The use of nonpharmacological interventions for pain management during childbirth are recommended by major health-care institutions and medical providers, however, the current methodologies for training coping strategies for use during labor have not shown to be effective on mobility or birth outcome. The purpose of this study was to apply an in-vivo teaching technology to the current childbirth model to prompt an imitative repertoire of empirically demonstrated labor coping strategies. Results of this study concluded that the introduction of a software using immediate prompting and video modeling increased the frequency and variability of labor behaviors during unmedicated labor for birthing persons and their partners.
Permute-MAML: exploring industrial surface defect detection algorithms for few-shot learning
Authors: Pang ShanChen , Zhao WenShang , Wang ShuDong , Zhang Lin , Wang Shuang
Published: September 2023

Computer vision has developed rapidly in recent years, invigorating the area of industrial surface defect detection while also providing it with modern perception capabilities. Few-shot learning has emerged as a result of sample size limitations, with MAML framework being the most widely used few-shot learning framework over the past few years that learns concepts from sampled classification tasks, which is considered to have the key advantage of aligning training and testing objectives. Industrial surface defects typically have fewer samples for training, so we propose MAML-based framework: Permute-MAML, which mainly consists of improved MAML framework and neural network model. In this paper, we concentrate on improving MAML framework with respect to its stability and explore a simple procedure: few-shot learning of its evaluation metrics over the whole classification model. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework significantly enhances the stability of MAML framework and achieves comparatively high accuracy in industrial surface defect detection.
Rheological mechanical properties and its constitutive relation of soft rock considering influence of clay mineral composition and content
Authors: Li Xuebin , Liu Xuesheng , Tan Yunliang , Chen Ai , Wang Honglei , Wang Xin , Yang Shenglong
Published: September 2023

Rheological mechanical properties of the soft rock are affected significantly by its main physical characteristics-clay mineral. In this study, taking the mudstone on the roof and floor in four typical mining regions as the research object, firstly, the clay mineral characteristic was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction test. Subsequently, rheological mechanical properties of mudstone samples under different confining pressures are studied through triaxial compression and creep tests. The results show that the clay mineral content of mudstone in different regions is different, which leads to significant differences in its rheological properties, and these differences have a good correlation with the content of montmorillonite and illite-montmorillonite mixed layer. Taking the montmorillonite content as an example, compared with the sample with 3.56% under the lower stress level, the initial creep deformation of the sample with 11.19% increased by 3.25 times, the viscosity coefficient and long-term strength decreased by 80.59% and 53.94%, respectively. Furthermore, based on the test results, the damage variation is constructed considering the montmorillonite content and stress level, and the M–S creep damage constitutive model of soft rock is established. Finally, the test results can be fitted with determination coefficients ranging from 0.9020 to 0.9741, which proves that the constitutive relation can reflect the influence of the clay mineral content in the samples preferably. This study has an important reference for revealing the long-term stability control mechanism of soft rock roadway rich in clay minerals.
Measurement of SnO Activity Coefficient in CaO–SiO2–FetO–Al2O3 Slag Saturated with Fe
Authors: Shinoda Yasunari , Iwama Takayuki , Kato Mizuki , Watanabe Hiromitsu , Nakagawara Satoshi , Takasu Hiroki , Kato Yukitaka , Inoue Ryo , Ueda Shigeru
Published: September 2023

It is important to clarify the behavior of elements in the reaction between molten CaO–SiO2–FetO–Al2O3 slag and liquid metal during the remelting of Cu scrap. To estimate the desirable slag composition for retaining Sn in metal, the effects of the slag basicity and the concentrations of FetO and Al2O3 on the SnO activity coefficient were investigated. Molten CaO–SiO2–FetO slag (with optional Al2O3 addition) was reacted with liquid Pb–Sn alloy in a pure Fe crucible at 1573 K for 5 h while blowing the CO–CO2 mixture. From the activity coefficients of Sn, Pb, and Fe oxides in the slag, which were calculated using the PCO/PCO2 ratio during heating and the chemically analyzed compositions of slag and metal, their behaviors in slag/metal reaction were discussed. The order of reducibility was PbO > SnO >> FetO. Finally, it was suggested from the thermodynamic and industrial smelting perspectives that the slag condition favorable to SnO reduction is high basicity, around 50 mass% FetO, and low Al2O3 content.

Graphical Abstract
Development of a Motivation–Trust–Vulnerability (MTV) Framework for Cross-Border Online Shopping: A Cross-National Application to Chinese and German Consumers
Authors: Wagner Gerhard , Fota Anne , Schramm-Klein Hanna , Steinmann Sascha
Published: September 2023

Building on the motivation–ability (MA) theoretical framework, we develop a motivation–trust–vulnerability (MTV) framework to explain behavioral decision making in situations of uncertainty and vulnerability. We apply our new framework to cross-border online shopping, which is characterized by uncertain benefits, potential losses, and increased vulnerability of making cross-border online purchases at foreign online vendors. The MTV framework (1) explains the mechanism of cross-border online shopping by considering the effects and interactions of motivation, trust, and vulnerability (2), offers a new conceptualization of perceived vulnerability and (3) is applicable to culturally and economically distinct country markets. The findings from two major e-commerce markets (China and Germany; N = 808) support our framework and suggest that perceived vulnerability acts as an obstacle that prevents consumers from cross-border online shopping. However, in interaction with trust towards foreign online vendors perceived vulnerability positively affects the relationship between motivating factors and cross-border online purchase intentions. Our findings help explaining consumers’ cross-border online purchasing intentions and provide guidance for retail managers and policy makers on recognizing and coping with trust and vulnerability in international relations.
Internet of things driven multilinear regression technique for fertilizer recommendation for precision agriculture
Authors: Kollu Praveen Kumar , Bangare Manoj L. , Hari Prasad P. Venkata , Bangare Pushpa M. , Rane Kantilal Pitambar , Arias-Gonzáles José Luis , Lalar Sachin , Shabaz Mohammad
Published: September 2023

Food instability has been linked to infertility, health issues, accelerated aging, incorrect insulin regulation, and more. Innovative approaches increased food availability and quality. Agriculture environment monitoring systems need IoT and machine learning. IoT sensors provide all necessary data for agriculture production forecast, fertilizer management, smart irrigation, crop monitoring, crop disease diagnosis, and pest control. Precision agriculture may boost crop yields by prescribing the right water-fertilizer-paste ratio. This article presents IOT based fertilizer recommendation system for Smart agriculture. This framework uses IoT devices and sensors to acquire agriculture-related data, and then machine learning is applied to suggest fertilizer in the correct quantity and at the appropriate time. The data acquisition phase collects input data, including soil temperature, moisture, humidity, regions' weather data, and crop details. Features are selected using the Sequential Forward Floating Selection algorithm. Multilinear Regression performs data classification. The performance of SFSS-MLR is compared to Random Forest, C4.5, Naïve Bayes algorithm. SFSS MLR is better in accuracy, precision, recall and F1. The accuracy of SFSS MLR is 99.3 percent.
Assessing the performance of MoTe2 based solar cell with Cu2O hole transport layer through device simulation
Authors: Rahman Naimur , Haque Md. Dulal , Rahman Md. Ferdous , Islam Md. Mominul , Juthi Most. Airin Nahar , Roy Anita Rani , Akter Most. Alema , Islam Md. Foridul
Published: September 2023

In this study, the SCAPS-1D tool has been used to numerically examine the performance of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDC) based Molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) solar cells containing CdS electron transport layer (ETL) and Cu2O hole transport layer (HTL). Based on the photovoltaic cell parameters, including absorber layer thickness, temperature, defect density, the effects of series and shunt resistance, and electron affinity, the structure of both MoTe2 based solar cells with and without the usage of the HTL has been analyzed. With 1.1 μm thickness of MoTe2 and doping density of 5 × 1015 cm−3, Al/FTO/CdS/MoTe2/Cu2O/Ni heterojunction’s solar cell proposed structure has been optimized. The final power conversion efficiency (PCE) = 32.38%, open-circuit voltage (Voc) = 1.07 V, short-circuit current (Jsc) = 35.12 mA/cm2, and fill factor (FF) = 86.32% has been determined from the optimized structure. The determined results indicate a suitable path for the realization of low cost and high efficiency MoTe2-based solar cell.
The effect of data science on urban sustainability through the optimization of demand-responsive transportation
Authors: Alahmadi Raed Nayif A. , Alzahrani Abdulaziz
Published: September 2023

The study investigated the viability of implementing a demand-responsive transportation (DRT) system within the premises of Al-Baha University to facilitate the punctual arrival of students to their classes and ensure their convenient departure from the campus. This study aims to demonstrate and elucidate how data mining enhances the efficiency of DRT systems. The case study investigates the potential improvements in DRT operations through the utilization of data mining techniques. The research employs descriptive and prescriptive techniques for mining trip planning data. The database maintained by the Deanship of Admission and Registration et al.-Baha University in Al-Baha City, Saudi Arabia, has identified 50 designated locations for student pick-up. The research establishes a comprehensive database that classifies pick-up points as spatial vectors, incorporating longitude, latitude, and counts of students. Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling techniques are employed to minimize travel times and enhance operational efficiency by consolidating pick-up points. A completely adaptable DRT system prioritizes user satisfaction over operational efficiency, facilitating superior flexible services with fewer buses. The University Transport Department can implement Fixed Route systems in regions with significant population density and substantial demand. Conversely, in areas with a lower population, where Fixed Route systems may be less efficient, the department can opt for DRT systems. Additionally, the findings demonstrate the potential cost-saving benefits of implementing a hybrid system that integrates the university and off-campus student housing. The results indicate that providing fully flexible DRT services to students’ harms efficiency and user experience. A comparative analysis between the Fixed route system and the DRT system reveals that the latter has the potential to offer enhanced service to students, utilizing an equivalent number of vehicles while reducing the number of rides required, all while maintaining a higher degree of flexibility in service provision. According to the recommendation of this study, it is advisable to implement a hybrid fixed route and DRT system. However, to assess the feasibility of such a system in a university setting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive viability analysis to identify any potential challenges or concerns.
Health and work: regional health reporting on employees in Germany
Authors: Richter Matthias , Kliner Karin , Rennert Dirk
Published: September 2023

The vast majority of people work a large part of their live, therefore work inevitably has a major impact on health as well. In Germany, great efforts are made to improve health and well-being in the occupational context. To support this, the evaluation of health data especially from employees is one the main scopes in health reporting of the Federal Association of Company Health Insurance Funds (BKK Dachverband). These results are made available to the interested public via various publication channels, including interactive online diagrams. Data from the areas of incapacity to work, outpatient and inpatient care as well as drug prescriptions are applied. Due to the in large parts identically structured representations, comparisons across health care system sectors are also possible. The aim of this article is to describe the provided regional health care data of employees with focus on the interactive data provision, to show by example particularities in single sources and across sources. From this the impact of work as well as workplace health promotion on the health of employees and, in a broader sense, the quality of health care in Germany can be derived.
Self-similar, spatially localized structures in turbulent pipe flow from a data-driven wavelet decomposition
Authors: Guo Alex , Floryan Daniel , Graham Michael D.
Published: September 2023

This study aims to extract and characterize structures in fully developed pipe flow at a friction Reynolds number of

$\textit {Re}_\tau = 12\,400$

. To do so, we employ data-driven wavelet decomposition (DDWD) (Floryan & Graham, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 118, 2021, e2021299118), a method that combines features of proper orthogonal decomposition and wavelet analysis in order to extract energetic and spatially localized structures from data. We apply DDWD to streamwise velocity signals measured separately via a thermal anemometer at 40 wall-normal positions. The resulting localized velocity structures, which we interpret as being reflective of underlying eddies, are self-similar across streamwise extents of 40 wall units to one pipe radius, and across wall-normal positions from

$y^+=350$

to

$y/R=1$

. Notably, the structures are similar in shape to Meyer wavelets. Projections of the data onto the DDWD wavelet subspaces are found to be self-similar as well, but in Fourier space; the bounds of self-similarity are the same as before, except streamwise self-similarity starts at a larger length scale of

$450$

wall units. The evidence of self-similarity provided in this study lends further support to Townsend's attached eddy hypothesis, although we note that the self-similar structures are detected beyond the log layer and extend to large length scales.
The influence of bandwidth on the energetics of intermediate to deep water laboratory breaking waves
Authors: Cao Rui , Padilla E.M. , Callaghan A.H.
Published: September 2023

An experimental investigation of two-dimensional dispersively focused laboratory breaking waves is presented. We describe the bandwidth effect on breaking wave energetics, including spectral energy evolution, characteristic group velocity, energy dissipation and its rate, and breaking strength parameter,

$b$

. To evaluate the role of bandwidth, three definitions of wave group steepness are adopted where

$S_s$

and

$S_n$

are bandwidth-dependent and

$S_p$

remains constant when bandwidth is changed. Our data show two regimes of spectral energy evolution in breaking wave groups, with both regimes bandwidth-dependent: energy dissipation and gain occur at

$f > 0.95f_p$

(

$f_p$

is the peak frequency) and

$f < 0.95f_p$

, respectively. The characteristic group velocity, which is used in energy dissipation calculations, increases by up to 7 % after wave breaking, being larger for higher bandwidth breaking waves. An unambiguous bandwidth dependence is found between

$S_p$

and both the fractional and absolute wave energy dissipation. Wave groups of larger bandwidth break at a lower value of

$S_p$

and consequently lose relatively more energy. The energy dissipation rate depends on the breaking duration which itself is bandwidth dependent. Consequently, no clear bandwidth effect is observed in energy dissipation rate when compared with either

$S_p$

or

$S_s$

. However, there is a systematic bandwidth dependence in the variation of

$b$

when parameterised in terms of

$S_p$

, with their relationship becoming increasingly nonlinear as bandwidth increases. When parameterised with

$S_s$

,

$b$

shows a markedly reduced bandwidth dependence. Finally, the numerical breaking onset and relationship between

$b$

and

$S_s$

in the numerical study of Derakhti & Kirby (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 790, 2016, pp. 553–581) is validated experimentally.
Suspensions of viscoelastic capsules: effect of membrane viscosity on transient dynamics
Authors: Guglietta Fabio , Pelusi Francesca , Sega Marcello , Aouane Othmane , Harting Jens
Published: September 2023

Membrane viscosity is known to play a central role in the transient dynamics of isolated viscoelastic capsules by decreasing their deformation, inducing shape oscillations and reducing the loading time, that is, the time required to reach the steady-state deformation. However, for dense suspensions of capsules, our understanding of the influence of the membrane viscosity is minimal. In this work, we perform a systematic numerical investigation based on coupled immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann (IB-LB) simulations of viscoelastic spherical capsule suspensions in the non-inertial regime. We show the effect of the membrane viscosity on the transient dynamics as a function of volume fraction and capillary number. Our results indicate that the influence of membrane viscosity on both deformation and loading time strongly depends on the volume fraction in a non-trivial manner: dense suspensions with large surface viscosity are more resistant to deformation but attain loading times that are characteristic of capsules with no surface viscosity, thus opening the possibility to obtain richer combinations of mechanical features.
Naples, China and the Cosmos: The Theology of an Eighteenth-Century Chinese Priest
Authors: HARRISON HENRIETTA
Published: September 2023

This paper examines the correspondence of Li Zibiao (1760–1826), a Chinese Catholic priest trained in Naples who worked as a missionary in North China. Whereas existing studies of Chinese theology mainly focus on contextualisation, Li responded to persecution by thinking in global terms and de-emphasising differences between Europe and China. Using developments in casuistry and the moral theology associated with Alphonso de Liguori he was able to avoid the strictures of the Chinese Rites Controversy. His story enriches the history of indigenous clergy in China and suggests some of the roots of China's resilient rural Catholicism.
Broadcasting the ‘(anti)colonial sublime’: Radio SEAC, Congress Radio, and the Second World War in South Asia
Authors: Huacuja Alonso Isabel
Published: September 2023

This article considers the Second World War’s effects on radio infrastructures and listening cultures in India through a detailed analysis of two radio stations: Radio SEAC and Congress Radio. Radio SEAC was a military radio station based in Ceylon targeting British soldiers stationed in Asia. It housed what was then one of the most wide-reaching transmitters. Congress Radio was a makeshift station in Bombay run by young and largely unknown anticolonial activists. While operating on vastly different scales and with rival goals, these stations’ political ambitions were surprisingly similar. Radio SEAC sought to restore confidence in the empire by invoking an old device of imperialism: what Brian Larkin calls the ‘colonial sublime’, the use of ‘technology to represent an overwhelming sense of grandeur’. Radio SEAC’s colonial sublime, however, was not aimed at colonized populations, but at disillusioned British soldiers, whose faith in the empire the station wished to revive. Congress Radio, in contrast, sought to summon what I call the ‘anticolonial sublime’ by deploying the aura of imperial technology against British rulers. Yet, whereas the colonial sublime required technologies to work smoothly, the anticolonial sublime did not. Congress radio broadcasters celebrated their station’s faulty reception, nurturing an aesthetic of rebelliousness. Analysing these two radio projects together, the article traces how the war shaped technological infrastructures while challenging conventional understandings about how radio connects with audiences. British administrators, like anticolonial activists, sought to bring about change less through programming content than through the aura of technological prowess they hoped their stations would generate.
On the effects of task focus and processing level on the perception–production link in second-language speech learning
Authors: Llompart Miquel
Published: September 2023

This study presents a reanalysis of existing data to investigate whether a relationship between perception and production abilities regarding a challenging second-language (L2) phonological contrast is observable (a) when both modalities must rely on accessing stored lexical representations and (b) when there is an asymmetry in task focus between perception and production. In the original studies, German learners of English were tested on their mastery of the English /ɛ/-/æ/ contrast in an auditory lexical decision task with phonological substitutions, a word-reading task, and a segmentally focused imitation task. Results showed that accurate nonword rejection in the lexical decision task was predicted by the Euclidean distance between the two vowels in word reading but not in imitation. These results extend previous findings to lexical perception and production, highlight the influence of task focus on the degree of coupling between the two modalities, and may have important implications for pronunciation training methods.
Availability of calorie information on online menus from chain restaurants in the USA: current prevalence and legal landscape
Authors: Greenthal Eva , Sorscher Sarah , Pomeranz Jennifer L , Cash Sean B
Published: September 2023

Objective:

Federal law requires calorie information on chain restaurant menus. We sought to assess the prevalence of calorie disclosures on online menus and determine if the menus are controlled by restaurants subject to US labelling requirements.

Design:

Cross-sectional

Setting:

Restaurant websites and mobile apps for restaurant located in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston

Participants:

US chain restaurants (top seventy-five by number of outlets) and third-party platforms (TPP): Grubhub, Uber Eats, DoorDash

Results:

There was at least one calorie disclosure (for at least one food or beverage, in at least one location) on sixty-eight of seventy-two (94 %) menus on restaurant websites or apps, thirty-two of fifty-five (58 %) menus on DoorDash, six of forty-nine (12 %) menus on Grubhub and thirty of fifty-nine (51 %) menus on Uber Eats. There was consistent calorie labelling (all foods and beverages, all locations) on forty-three of seventy-two (60 %) menus on restaurant websites or apps, fifteen of fifty-five (27 %) menus on DoorDash, three of forty-nine (6 %) menus on Grubhub and eleven of fifty-nine (19 %) menus on Uber Eats. Only four restaurant chains consistently labelled calories for all items, in all locations, on all platforms where their menus were found. All three TPP provided restaurants the ability to enter and modify menu items, making the menus subject to US labelling requirements. Only Uber Eats provided guidance to restaurants on entering calorie information.

Conclusions:

As consumers increasingly rely on TPP for restaurant ordering, menus on these platforms should include calories in order to promote transparency and nutrition.
How Emotions Induce Charitable Giving
Authors: Shepelenko Anna , Kosonogov Vladimir , Shestakova Anna
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Emotions play a pervasive role in determining advertising effectiveness. However, it is still a controversial question as to whether pleasant or unpleasant advertisements are more effective in attracting donations. We recorded self-reported valence and arousal, as well as physiological activity (skin conductance, heart rate, and facial electromyography), while 54 participants watched affective pictures of dogs and made decisions with regard to possible donations. More unpleasant pictures provoked larger donations. Corrugator EMG was the most closely related to donations. A change in heart rate and zygomaticus EMG also correlated with charitable giving, but to a lesser extent. Hence, corrugator EMG could be useful in studies of emotional influence on prosocial behavior. With regard to stimulus characteristics, homeless and sick dogs provoked a greater affective response and larger donations.