bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study of integrable form factors in massless relativistic AdS2
Authors: Bielli Daniele , Gautam Vaibhav , Torrielli Alessandro
Published: June 2023

Abstract

In this paper we initiate the study of form factors for the massless scattering of integrableAdS2superstrings, where the difference-form of theS-matrix can be exploited to implement the relativistic form factor bootstrap. The non-standard nature of theS-matrix implies that traditional methods do not apply. We use the fact that the masslessAdS2S-matrix is a limit of a better-behavedS-matrix found by Fendley. We show that the previously conjectured masslessAdS2dressing factor coincides with the limit of the De Martino-Moriconi improved dressing factor for the FendleyS-matrix. We then solve the form factor constraints in the two-particle case. Along the way we find a method to construct integral representations of relativistic dressing factors satisfying specific assumptions, and use it to obtain analytic proofs of crossing and unitarity relations.
The boundary phase transitions of the 2+1D ℤN topological order via topological Wick rotation
Authors: Lu Yalei , Yang Holiverse
Published: June 2023

Abstract

In this work, we show that a critical point of a 1d self-dual boundary phase transition between two gapped boundaries of the ℤN topological order can be described by a mathematical structure called an enriched fusion category. The critical point of a boundary phase transition can be viewed as a gappable non-chiral gapless boundary of the ℤN topological order. A mathematical theory of the gapless boundaries of 2d topological orders developed by Kong and Zheng (arXiv:1905.04924 and arXiv:1912.01760) tells us that all macroscopic observables on the gapless boundary form an enriched unitary fusion category, which can be obtained by a holographic principle called the “topological Wick rotation.” Using this method, we obtain the enriched fusion category that describes a critical point of the phase transition between the e-condensed boundary and the m-condensed boundary of the ℤN topological order. To verify this idea, we also construct a lattice model to realize the critical point and recover the mathematical data of this enriched fusion category. The construction further shows that the categorical symmetry of the boundary is determined by the topological defects in the bulk, which indicates the holographic principle indirectly. This work shows, as a concrete example, that the mathematical theory of the gapless boundaries of 2+1D topological orders is a powerful tool to study general phase transitions.
On the Amplitude of Steady Water Waves with Favorable Constant Vorticity
Authors: Lokharu Evgeniy , Wahlén Erik , Weber Jörg
Published: June 2023

For two-dimensional steady pure-gravity water waves with a unidirectional flow of constant favorable vorticity, we prove an explicit bound on the amplitude of the wave, which decays to zero as the vorticity tends to infinity. Notably, our result holds true for arbitrary water waves, that is, we do not have to restrict ourselves to periodic or solitary or symmetric waves.
A state of the art on surface morphology of selective laser-melted metallic alloys
Authors: Kuntoğlu Mustafa , Salur Emin , Canli Eyüb , Aslan Abdullah , Gupta Munish Kumar , Waqar Saad , Krolczyk Grzegorz M. , Xu Jinyang
Published: June 2023

The possibility of producing complex metallic parts in various industries can be attributed to the selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing method. As a powder bed fusion technique, SLM fabricates the product layer by layer. The state-of-the-art research on SLM, the metallic alloys utilized in the process, and the surface morphology of fabricated parts are discussed in this paper. The present report contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the surface morphology of metallic alloys fabricated using the SLM additive manufacturing method. The article covers recent research on SLM, metallic alloys used in the process, and the surface morphology of fabricated parts. Insights into the challenges and opportunities of SLM for the fabrication of metallic parts with desired surface properties are provided. In the first part, parameters representing surface morphology are introduced and types of surface defects are viewed. Subsequently, influence of process variables during the production phase is discussed in-depth, overviewing several parameters such as laser, scanning, and geometric parameters. Surface morphology enhancement, namely in situ treatment, post-processing, and finishing-machining techniques, is viewed separately by classifying them into subtopics, in respect of their improvement effectiveness. Mechanical aspects of the microstructure and surface are evaluated in correlation with the surface morphology. The discussion of the findings considering the advantages and disadvantages of this technology is summarized finally. It is concluded that laser parameter effect’s significance depends on the work alloy. In the literature, process parameters are systematically studied, and better surface quality and favourable surface morphology of as build surfaces are possible. Moreover, it has been concluded that the surface morphology and quality of SLMed products can be improved with in situ techniques and post-treatments. Relieving residual stresses and decreasing porosity on the surface (various types of holes, pinholes, vacancies, etc.) during SLM operation are possible by base plate heating, powder preheating, and re-scanning. It is also noticed that the machinability studies of SLMed parts mainly focus on mechanical machining such as grinding and milling. Studies on the correlation between surface morphology of SLMed parts and mechanical properties are relatively scarce comparing to works on SLM production parameters. Finally, as an emerging technology for vast production of industrial items, it is concluded that surface morphology of SLMed products needs systematic correlation studies between process parameters and surface results.
Nitrofurantoin for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in female patients: the impact of dosing regimen, age, and renal function on drug exposure
Authors: van Driel A. A. , Muller A. E. , Wijma R. A. , Stobberingh E. E. , Verbon A. , Koch B. C. P.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study is to determine nitrofurantoin exposure in female patients with different age and renal function with complaints of an uncomplicated UTI. Also the nitrofurantoin exposure in relation to the dosage regimen will be studied.

Methods

Eight general practitioners (GP) participated in the study and included 38 patients with symptoms of an uncomplicated UTI, treated either with a dose of 50 mg q6h or 100 mg q12h, upon the discretion of the GP. Nitrofurantoin exposure was quantified in the patient’s 24-h urine samples by UHPLC-UV and the area under the curve was calculated.

Results

The 38 patients provided a range of 2–17 urine samples. The urine nitrofurantoin exposure was 1028 mg h/L for the patients receiving 50 mg q6h and 1036 mg h/L for those treated with 100 mg q12h (p = 0.97) and was not affected by age and eGFR (p = 0.64 and p = 0.34, respectively).

Conclusion

The data obtained do not support the discouragement of nitrofurantoin use in the elderly and in patients with impaired renal function. Since only a small number of patients were included, a larger study with more patients is warranted to evaluate nitrofurantoin exposure and adverse effects.
Highly efficient ultraviolet photodetector based on molybdenum-doped nanostructured NiO/ITO thin film
Authors: Abdelhalium Hasnaa H. , Abdel-wahab Mohamed Sh. , Tamm M. T. , Tawfik Wael Z.
Published: June 2023

Nanostructured pure and molybdenum (Mo)-doped nickel oxide (NiO) thin films with various concentrations of Mo dopants were successfully sputtered on indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) substrates to apply in the ultraviolet (UV) photodetector sensors. The influence of Mo concentration on the thin films' structural, morphological, and optical properties was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray, and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The XRD studies confirm that all the prepared films are polycrystalline and possess a cubic phase structure. The FE-SEM images suggest that the distribution of the prepared samples on the substrate is homogeneous and free from any cracks. Spectrophotometry studies reveal the decrement of the optical band gap with the increase of Mo concentration in NiO thin films. All thin-film current–voltage curves measured under dark conditions and UV illumination of 390 nm showed Ohmic contacts. A noticeable improvement in the responsivity and external quantum efficiency (EQE) with the increased Mo concentration was detected. The metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) employed in NiO thin films showed maximum responsivity and EQE of 539 mA/W and 171.4% at 390 nm, respectively, for the sample with 1.73 at% Mo doping.
Effect of 1-year daily protein supplementation and physical exercise on muscle protein synthesis rate and muscle metabolome in healthy older Danes: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bülow Jacob , Khakimov Bekzod , Reitelseder Søren , Bechshøft Rasmus , Jensen Mikkel , van Hall Gerrit , Engelsen Søren Balling , Holm Lars
Published: June 2023

Background

The skeletal muscle mass decreases with age and the responsiveness of aging muscles’ protein synthesis rate (MPS) to protein intake seems to deteriorate.

Objective

This study investigated the impact of 12 months of protein supplementation with or without physical exercise training on the basal and postprandial MPS and the skeletal muscle metabolome of healthy older Danes (> 65 years, 29 females/37 males).

Methods

Subjects were randomized to follow one of five intervention groups: (1) carbohydrate, (2) collagen protein, (3) whey protein, (4) home-based light resistance training with whey protein, and (5) center-based heavy-load resistance training with whey protein. Before and after the intervention, a tracer infusion trial was conducted to measure basal and postprandial MPS in response to intake of a cocktail consisting of 20 g whey hydrolysate + 10 g glucose. In addition, the skeletal muscle metabolome was measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) at basal state and 4 h after the intake of the cocktail.

Results

One year of daily protein or carbohydrate supplementation did not alter the basal and protein-stimulated postprandial muscle protein synthesis rate or the muscle metabolome of healthy older Danes. Basal MPS (%/h) at baseline for all subjects were 0.0034 ± 0,011 (mean ± SD). In contrast to previous studies, no difference was observed in basal MPS between males and females (p = 0.75). With the developed untargeted GC–MS methodology, it was possible to detect and tentatively annotate > 70 metabolites from the human skeletal muscle samples.

Conclusion

One year of protein supplementation in comparison to an isocaloric-control supplement seems to affect neither the MPS at basal or postprandial state nor the skeletal muscle metabolome.

Clinical trial registry

Number: NCT02115698, clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02115698.
Without a pinch of salt: effect of low salinity on eggs and nauplii of the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)
Authors: Borchel Andreas , Heggland Erna Irene , Nilsen Frank
Published: June 2023

The salmon louse is an economically important parasite on Atlantic salmon and poses a major threat to aquaculture. Several treatment methods have lost their effect due to resistance development in the lice. A rather new method for combatting sea lice is freshwater treatment where the various life stages of lice are differently affected by this treatment. In this study, we analyzed the effect of freshwater on the egg strings. A 3-h treatment with freshwater had a detrimental effect on the egg strings. First, the water penetrated the string, widening it, then entering the eggs and enlarging them. Finally, the ordered structure of the egg strings collapsed, and no alive animals hatched. Shorter treatments had a lower effectivity, and treatments with brackish water also showed milder effects. The egg strings were found to have a protective effect against low salinities, as hatched nauplii died rapidly under conditions that embryos survived. We also found that embryos react to low salinity on a molecular level by changing gene expression of several genes, when incubated in brackish water. Additionally, the hatching of embryos treated with brackish water was delayed in comparison to seawater controls.
Opioid prescriptions at the point of surgery, bone metastasis, or death among patients with breast cancer in Japanese acute care hospitals: a claims-based, retrospective, longitudinal study
Authors: Yoshida Manami , Iwasaki Kosuke , Miyashita Mitsunori , Saeki Toshiaki , Morioka Yasuhide , Hiroi Shinzo , Shimizu Eiko
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Japanese women and often yields a better prognosis than other cancers. However, few studies have been conducted on pain control using opioids in Japan. In this study, we aimed to examine actual opioid use among breast cancer patients.

Methods

Breast cancer patients were defined as female patients with a first breast cancer diagnosis during the observational period in an acute care hospital database (April 2008 − February 2020). We examined the percentage of patients prescribed opioids, the opioid amount per patient, and the opioid dosage per day around surgery, bone metastasis diagnosis, or death.

Results

Overall, 217,722 breast cancer patients were identified. The percentage of patients prescribed opioids and the average amount of opioids per patient were highest in the month of surgery, 78% and 27 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), respectively. The average opioid dosage increased with time after surgery from 19 to 28 MMEs. Around bone metastasis, the percentage of patients prescribed opioids and the average opioid amount per patient peaked one month after the diagnosis, 31% and 371 MMEs, respectively. The average opioid dosage gradually increased from 22 to 35 MMEs in succeeding days after a bone metastasis diagnosis. The percentage of patients prescribed opioids and the average opioid amount per patient increased as the month of death approached.

Conclusion

We investigated opioid prescription trends around clinical events in breast cancer patients on a large scale in Japan. These results may be useful to control cancer pain among breast cancer patients.
Explicit Renormalization of Nuclear Chiral EFT and Nonperturbative Effects
Authors: Gasparyan A. M. , Epelbaum E.
Published: June 2023

Nucleon-nucleon interaction is studied within chiral effective field theory at next-to-leading order in the chiral expansion. The leading order interaction is resummed nonperturbatively, whereas the next-to-leading-order terms are taken into account in a perturbative manner. Explicit renormalizability of such a scheme is analyzed in several important cases. The possibility to absorb the power-counting breaking terms originating from the integration regions with large momenta is studied for both perturbative and nonperturbative regimes. A comparison of the schemes with a finite and an infinite cutoff is performed.
Zinc, carbon, and oxygen isotopic variations associated with the Marinoan deglaciation
Authors: Thiemens Maxwell M. , Shaheen Robina , Gerritzen Carina T. , Gyollai Ildiko , Chong Kenneth , Popp Friedrich , Koeberl Christian , Thiemens Mark H. , Moynier Frédéric
Published: June 2023

The "Snowball Earths" were cataclysmic events during the late Neoproterozoic's Cryogenian period (720-635 Ma) in which most, if not all, of Earth’s surface was covered in ice. Paleoenvironmental reconstructions of these events utilize isotopic systems, such as Δ17O and barium isotopes of barites. Other isotopic systems, such as zinc (Zn), can reflect seawater composition or environmental conditions (e.g., temperature changes) and biological productivity. We report here a multi-isotopic C, O, and Zn data set for carbonates deposited immediately after the Marinoan glaciation (635 Ma) from the Otavi Group in northern Namibia. In this study, we chemically separated calcite and non-calcitic carbonate phases, finding isotopically distinct carbon and oxygen isotopes. These could reflect changes in the source seawater composition and conditions during carbonate formation. Our key finding is largescale Zn isotopic variations over the oldest parts of the distal foreslope cap carbonate sections. The magnitude of variation is larger than any found throughout post-snowball cap carbonates to date, and in a far shorter sequence. This shows a heretofore undiscovered difficulty for Zn isotopic interpretations. The primary Zn sources are likely to be aeolian or alluvial, associated with the massive deglaciation related run-off from the thawing continent and a greater exposed surface for atmospheric aerosol entrainment. The samples with the lightest Zn isotopic compositions (δ66Zn < 0.3 ‰) potentially reflect hydrothermally sourced Zn dominating the carbonates’ Zn budget. This finding is likely unique to the oldest carbonates, when the meltwater lid was thinnest and surface waters most prone to upwelling of hydrothermally dominated Snowball Earth brine. On the other hand, local variations could be related to bioproductivity affecting the Zn isotopic composition of the seawater. Similarly, fluctuations in sea-level could bring the depositional site below and above a redoxcline, causing isotopic variations. These variations in Zn isotope ratios preclude the estimation of a global Zn isotopic signature, potentially indicating localized resumption of export production.
An AI-Based Image Quality Control Framework for Knee Radiographs
Authors: Sun Hongbiao , Wang Wenwen , He Fujin , Wang Duanrui , Liu Xiaoqing , Xu Shaochun , Zhao Baolian , Li Qingchu , Wang Xiang , Jiang Qinling , Zhang Rong , Liu Shiyuan , Xiao Yi
Published: June 2023

Image quality control (QC) is crucial for the accurate diagnosis of knee diseases using radiographs. However, the manual QC process is subjective, labor intensive, and time-consuming. In this study, we aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model to automate the QC procedure typically performed by clinicians. We proposed an AI-based fully automatic QC model for knee radiographs using high-resolution net (HR-Net) to identify predefined key points in images. We then performed geometric calculations to transform the identified key points into three QC criteria, namely, anteroposterior (AP)/lateral (LAT) overlap ratios and LAT flexion angle. The proposed model was trained and validated using 2212 knee plain radiographs from 1208 patients and an additional 1572 knee radiographs from 753 patients collected from six external centers for further external validation. For the internal validation cohort, the proposed AI model and clinicians showed high intraclass consistency coefficients (ICCs) for AP/LAT fibular head overlap and LAT knee flexion angle of 0.952, 0.895, and 0.993, respectively. For the external validation cohort, the ICCs were also high, with values of 0.934, 0.856, and 0.991, respectively. There were no significant differences between the AI model and clinicians in any of the three QC criteria, and the AI model required significantly less measurement time than clinicians. The experimental results demonstrated that the AI model performed comparably to clinicians and required less time. Therefore, the proposed AI-based model has great potential as a convenient tool for clinical practice by automating the QC procedure for knee radiographs.
Compliance checking on first-order knowledge with conflicting and compensatory norms: a comparison among currently available technologies
Authors: Robaldo Livio , Batsakis Sotiris , Calegari Roberta , Calimeri Francesco , Fujita Megumi , Governatori Guido , Morelli Maria Concetta , Pacenza Francesco , Pisano Giuseppe , Satoh Ken , Tachmazidis Ilias , Zangari Jessica
Published: June 2023

This paper analyses and compares some of the automated reasoners that have been used in recent research for compliance checking. Although the list of the considered reasoners is not exhaustive, we believe that our analysis is representative enough to take stock of the current state of the art in the topic. We are interested here in formalizations at the first-order level. Past literature on normative reasoning mostly focuses on the propositional level. However, the propositional level is of little usefulness for concrete LegalTech applications, in which compliance checking must be enforced on (large) sets of individuals. Furthermore, we are interested in technologies that are freely available and that can be further investigated and compared by the scientific community. In other words, this paper does not consider technologies only employed in industry and/or whose source code is non-accessible. This paper formalizes a selected use case in the considered reasoners and compares the implementations, also in terms of simulations with respect to shared synthetic datasets. The comparison will highlight that lot of further research still needs to be done to integrate the benefits featured by the different reasoners into a single standardized first-order framework, suitable for LegalTech applications. All source codes are freely available at https://github.com/liviorobaldo/compliancecheckers, together with instructions to locally reproduce the simulations.
Portable and integrated microfluidic flow control system using off-the-shelf components towards organs-on-chip applications
Authors: Zhu Haoyu , Özkayar Gürhan , Lötters Joost , Tichem Marcel , Ghatkesar Murali Krishna
Published: June 2023

Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) devices require the precise control of various media. This is mostly done using several fluid control components, which are much larger than the typical OoC device and connected through fluidic tubing, i.e., the fluidic system is not integrated, which inhibits the system’s portability. Here, we explore the limits of fluidic system integration using off-the-shelf fluidic control components. A flow control configuration is proposed that uses a vacuum to generate a fluctuation-free flow and minimizes the number of components used in the system. 3D printing is used to fabricate a custom-designed platform box for mounting the chosen smallest footprint components. It provides flexibility in arranging the various components to create experiment-specific systems. A demonstrator system is realized for lung-on-a-chip experiments. The 3D-printed platform box is 290 mm long, 240 mm wide and 37 mm tall. After integrating all the components, it weighs 4.8 kg. The system comprises of a switch valve, flow and pressure controllers, and a vacuum pump to control the diverse media flows. The system generates liquid flow rates ranging from 1.5 $$\upmu$$
μ
Lmin$$^{-1}$$

-
1

to 68 $$\upmu$$
μ
Lmin$$^{-1}$$

-
1

in the cell chambers, and a cyclic vacuum of 280 mbar below atmospheric pressure with 0.5 Hz frequency in the side channels to induce mechanical strain on the cells-substrate. The components are modular for easy exchange. The battery operated platform box can be mounted on either upright or inverted microscopes and fits in a standard incubator. Overall, it is shown that a compact integrated and portable fluidic system for OoC experiments can be constructed using off-the-shelf components. For further down-scaling, the fluidic control components, like the pump, switch valves, and flow controllers, require significant miniaturization while having a wide flow rate range with high resolution.
The Relationship of Aversive and Appetitive Appearance-Related Comparisons with Depression, Well-Being, and Self-esteem: A Response Surface Analysis
Authors: Schlechter Pascal , Katenhusen Sarah , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Aversive appearance-related comparisons (i.e., threatening one’s own motives) show stronger associations with depression, psychological well-being, and self-esteem than appetitive comparisons (i.e., consonant with or challenging one’s motives). However, the relevance of their congruent (i.e., equal) and incongruent (i.e., unequal) presence remains unknown.

Methods

By using response surface analysis, we investigated differential associations of congruent high levels of aversive and appetitive comparisons with depression, well-being, and self-esteem relative to incongruent high levels of aversive (or appetitive) comparisons. Participants (N = 1112) responded to measures of depression, psychological well-being, self-esteem, and the Comparison Standards Scale for Appearance. The latter assesses aversive and appetitive social, temporal, counterfactual, criteria-based, and dimensional comparisons regarding their frequency, discrepancy to the standard, and affective impact.

Results

Results confirmed our preregistered hypotheses. First, higher levels of congruent frequency, discrepancy, or affective impact were associated with higher depression, and lower well-being and self-esteem. Second, a greater predominance of aversive over appetitive comparisons was associated with higher depression, and lower well-being and self-esteem. Third, a predominance of appetitive over aversive comparison was associated with lower depression, and higher well-being and self-esteem.

Conclusions

The distinct patterns of the (in-)congruence of aversive and appetitive comparisons have important research and clinical implications.
Evacuation of Vessels in Dockyards: A Model Validation Study
Authors: Cuesta Arturo , Balboa Adriana , González-Villa Javier , Alvear Daniel
Published: June 2023

Evacuation modelling is continuously open to new scenarios and applications. This study examines the possibility to simulate and predict the evacuation of workers aboard vessels in dockyards. First, we provide new data for a better understanding and quantification of workers’ evacuation performance. Second, we use an existing model (STEPS) and apply a validation protocol from the observed evacuation of 150 workers during an unannounced evacuation drill of a Ro-Pax ferry during the repair period in a dry dock. Despite the uncertainty of initial conditions to configure the scenario, the model accurately represents the observed evacuation (e.g. functional analysis ERD = 0.08; EPC = 1; SC = 0.89) suggesting that current agent-based evacuation models, with appropriate inputs and small adaptations, could be applied to these new challenging scenarios. Overall, this study provides evidence for this new application opportunity to model developers, model users and the research community and promotes the use of evacuation modelling for assessing fire safety in shipyards.
Teaching the Use of Gamification in Elementary School: A Case in Spanish Formal Education
Authors: Sáez-López José-Manuel , Grimaldo-Santamaría Rolando-Óscar , Quicios-García Mª-Pilar , Vázquez-Cano Esteban
Published: June 2023

Gamification is an educational methodology and tool that offers benefits through mechanics and dynamics. It brings motivating experiences and benefits to the instructional design approach. Several studies highlight that this methodology fosters contributions in commitment, fun, enthusiasm, motivation, satisfaction, and interaction in pedagogical contexts. The sample of 308 teachers was obtained after the mass delivery of the instrument to educational centers in Spain. The sample is nonprobabilistic, and the study participants voluntarily answered the survey. Of the participants, 69.8% were women and 30.2% were men; this proportion is representative of the population of teachers. A descriptive analysis is based on three dimensions: most used programs, devices used, and didactic functionality. These data are triangulated with an analysis through the HJ-Biplot method, which is presented as a multivariate graphical representation of the data from an Xnxp matrix. This analysis details findings on the determining role played by the teacher and the relationship between years of experience, age, devices used, and resources used, detected with descriptive and bivariate analyses. Among the conclusions are that the subjects positively value training in digital teaching competence in terms of gamification, although in real daily practice only 30% of teachers claim to use gamified tools. Gamification provides collaborative and innovative benefits in relation to its didactic functionality.
Exploring the Darkverse: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of the Negative Societal Impacts of the Metaverse
Authors: Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Kshetri Nir , Hughes Laurie , Rana Nripendra P. , Baabdullah Abdullah M. , Kar Arpan Kumar , Koohang Alex , Ribeiro-Navarrete Samuel , Belei Nina , Balakrishnan Janarthanan , Basu Sriparna , Behl Abhishek , Davies Gareth H. , Dutot Vincent , Dwivedi Rohita , Evans Leighton , Felix Reto , Foster-Fletcher Richard , Giannakis Mihalis , Gupta Ashish , Hinsch Chris , Jain Animesh , Jane Patel Nina , Jung Timothy , Juneja Satinder , Kamran Qeis , Mohamed AB Sanjar , Pandey Neeraj , Papagiannidis Savvas , Raman Ramakrishnan , Rauschnabel Philipp A. , Tak Preeti , Taylor Alexandra , tom Dieck M. Claudia , Viglia Giampaolo , Wang Yichuan , Yan Meiyi
Published: June 2023

The Metaverse has the potential to form the next pervasive computing archetype that can transform many aspects of work and life at a societal level. Despite the many forecasted benefits from the metaverse, its negative outcomes have remained relatively unexplored with the majority of views grounded on logical thoughts derived from prior data points linked with similar technologies, somewhat lacking academic and expert perspective. This study responds to the dark side perspectives through informed and multifaceted narratives provided by invited leading academics and experts from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. The metaverse dark side perspectives covered include: technological and consumer vulnerability, privacy, and diminished reality, human–computer interface, identity theft, invasive advertising, misinformation, propaganda, phishing, financial crimes, terrorist activities, abuse, pornography, social inclusion, mental health, sexual harassment and metaverse-triggered unintended consequences. The paper concludes with a synthesis of common themes, formulating propositions, and presenting implications for practice and policy.
Triggering conditions, runout, and downstream impacts of debris flows following the 2021 Flag Fire, Arizona, USA
Authors: Gorr Alexander N. , McGuire Luke A. , Beers Rebecca , Hoch Olivia J.
Published: June 2023

Debris flows pose a serious threat to communities in mountainous areas, particularly in the years following wildfire. These events have been widely studied in regions where post-wildfire debris flows have been historically frequent, such as southern California. However, the threat of post-wildfire debris flows is increasing in many regions where detailed data on debris-flow physical properties, volume, and runout potential are sparse, such as the Southwest United States (Arizona and New Mexico). As the Southwest becomes more vulnerable to these hazards, there is an increasing need to better characterize the properties of post-wildfire debris flows in this region and to identify similarities and differences with nearby areas, particularly southern California, where there is a greater abundance of data. In this paper, we study the characteristics and downstream impacts of two post-wildfire debris flows that initiated following the 2021 Flag Fire in northern Arizona, United States. We gathered data regarding soil hydraulic properties, rainfall characteristics, watershed response, and debris-flow initiation, runout, volume, grain size, and downstream impacts during the first two monsoon seasons following the containment of the Flag Fire. We also applied established debris-flow runout and volume models that were developed in southern California to our study watershed and compared the output with observations. In the first monsoon season following the fire, there were two post-wildfire debris flows, one of which resulted in damage to downstream infrastructure, and one major flood event. We found that, while more intense rainfall is required to generate debris flows at our study site compared to southern California, burned watersheds in northern Arizona are still susceptible to debris flows during storms with low recurrence intervals in the first year following fire. During the second monsoon season, there were no major runoff events, despite more intense storms. This indicates that the temporal window for heightened debris-flow susceptibility at our study area was less than one year, due to the recovery of soil hydraulic properties and vegetation regrowth. We also found that the debris-flow properties at our study site, such as volume, mobility, and grain size distribution, may differ from those in other regions in the western United States, including southern California, potentially due to regional differences in rainfall characteristics and sediment supply. Differences in rainfall characteristics and sediment supply may have also influenced the performance of the debris-flow runout and volume models, which overpredicted the observed runout distance by 400 m and predicted a volume more than 17 times greater than what was observed.
Noise resistance of next-generation reservoir computing: a comparative study with high-order correlation computation
Authors: Liu Shengyu , Xiao Jinghua , Yan Zixiang , Gao Jian
Published: June 2023

Reservoir computing (RC) methods have received more and more attention and applications in chaotic time series prediction with their simple structure and training method. Recently, the next-generation reservoir computing (NG-RC) method has been proposed by Gauthier et al. (Nat Commun 12:5564, 2021) with less training cost and better time series predictions. Nevertheless, in practice, available data on dynamic systems are contaminated with noise. Though NG-RC is shown highly efficient in learning and predicting, its noise resistance captivity is not clear yet, limiting its use in practical problems. In this paper, we study the noise resistance of the NG-RC method, taking the well-known denoising method, the high-order correlation computation (HOCC) method, as a reference. Both methods have similar procedures in respect of function bases and regression processes. With the simple ridge regression method, the NG-RC method has a strong noise resistance for white noise, even better than the HOCC method. Besides, the NG-RC method also shows a good prediction ability for small colored noise, while it does not provide correct reconstruct dynamics. In this paper, other than reconstruction parameters, four numerical indicators are used to check the noise resistance comprehensively, such as the training error, prediction error, prediction time, and auto-correlation prediction error, for both the short-time series and long climate predictions. Our results provide a systematic estimation of NG-RC’s noise resistance capacity, which is helpful for its applications in practical problems.
The weight of reasons
Authors: Fogal Daniel , Risberg Olle
Published: June 2023

This paper addresses the question of how the ‘weight’ or ‘strength’ of normative reasons is best understood. We argue that, given our preferred analysis of reasons as sources of normative support, this question has a straightforward answer: the weight of a normative reason is simply a matter of how much support it provides. We also critically discuss several competing views of reasons and their weight. These include views which take reasons to be normatively fundamental, views which analyze reasons as evidence concerning what one ought to do, views which analyze reasons in terms of good reasoning, and views which analyze reasons as explanations of ought-facts, fittingness-facts, or goodness-facts.
The meta-grounding theory of powerful qualities
Authors: Coates Ashley
Published: June 2023

A recent, seemingly appealing version of the powerful qualities view defines properties’ qualitativity via an essentialist claim and their powerfulness via a grounding claim. Roughly, this approach holds that properties are qualities because they have qualitative essences, while they are powerful because their instances or essences ground causal-modal facts. I argue that this theory should be replaced with one that defines the powerfulness of qualities in terms of both a grounding claim and a ‘meta-grounding’ claim. Specifically, I formulate and defend a view on which qualities are powerful just if instances of those qualitiesat least partiallyground dispositionsin virtue of the essences of those qualities.
The economic effects of unmanned aerial vehicles in pesticide application: evidence from Chinese grain farmers
Authors: Quan Xiuhao , Guo Qiaoling , Ma Ji , Doluschitz Reiner
Published: June 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a recent innovation in precision agriculture technology. They are being used in a wide range of agricultural practices, whereby pesticide application is one of the most common uses of UAVs in China’s agriculture. However, the economic effects of UAVs in pesticide application have not been sufficiently investigated. To address the gap, this paper used propensity score matching to evaluate the economic effects of UAV adoption on outcome variables including revenue, pesticide costs, time spent on pesticide application, and pesticide application frequency based on a dataset covering over 2000 grain farmers across 11 provinces of China. Furthermore, generalized propensity score matching was used to evaluate the heterogeneity of outcome variables arising from differing UAV adoption intensities. The empirical results show that adoption of UAV increased revenue by approximately 434–488 dollars per hectare and reduced the time spent on pesticide application in the range of 14.4–15.8 h per hectare. Depending on the area with use of UAVs for pesticide spraying, UAV adoption has heterogeneous impacts on grain farmers’ revenue and the time spent on pesticide application. In terms of marginal revenue and marginal time spent on pesticide application, the optimal area with use of UAVs for pesticide spraying is estimated to be 20 hectares of arable land.
Measuring PROMIS pain interference in German patients with chronic conditions: calibration, validation, and cross-cultural use of item parameters
Authors: Obbarius Alexander , Klapproth Christoph Paul , Liegl Gregor , Christmann Paula M. , Schneider Udo , Fischer Felix , Rose Matthias
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To calibrate the item parameters of the German PROMIS® Pain interference (PROMIS PI) items using an item-response theory (IRT) model and investigate psychometric properties of the item bank.

Methods

Forty items of the PROMIS PI item bank were collected in a convenience sample of 660 patients, which were recruited during inpatient rheumatological treatment or outpatient psychosomatic medicine visits in Germany. Unidimensionality, monotonicity, and local independence were tested as required for IRT analyses. Unidimensionality was examined using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Unidimensional and bifactor graded-response IRT models were fitted to the data. Bifactor indices were used to investigate whether multidimensionality would lead to biased scores. To evaluate convergent and discriminant validity, the item bank was correlated with legacy pain instruments. Potential differential item functioning (DIF) was examined for gender, age, and subsample. To investigate whether U.S. item parameters may be used to derive T-scores in German patients, T-scores based on previously published U.S. and newly estimated German item parameters were compared with each other after adjusting for sample specific differences.

Results

All items were sufficiently unidimensional, locally independent, and monotonic. Whereas the fit of the unidimensional IRT model was not acceptable, a bifactor IRT model demonstrated acceptable fit. Explained common variance and Omega hierarchical suggested that using the unidimensional model would not lead to biased scores. One item demonstrated DIF between subsamples. High correlations with legacy pain instruments supported construct validity of the item bank. T-scores based on U.S. and German item parameters were similar suggesting that U.S. parameters could be used in German samples.

Conclusion

The German PROMIS PI item bank proved to be a clinically valid and precise instrument for assessing pain interference in patients with chronic conditions.
Windfall gains and house money: The effects of endowment history and prior outcomes on risky decision–making
Authors: Jelschen Hauke , Schmidt Ulrich
Published: June 2023

In a seminal contribution, Thaler and Johnson (1990) detected the existence of a house money effect which is defined as an increase in risk tolerance after previous gains resulting from a risky activity. Subsequent studies used the term house money effect also in case of windfall gains, i.e., easily acquired money like show-up fees or initial endowments in experiments which does not result from a risky investment. The present study is to the best of our knowledge the first that disentangles the house money effect and windfall gains. We find a clear and systematic pattern that windfall gains increase risk tolerance. In contrast, the house money effect is far less ubiquitous and seems to require skewed lotteries and/or a large number of rounds played. We, therefore, conclude that a careful distinction between windfall gains and the house money effect is warranted in future research.
Becoming global billionaires from mainland China: 2004–2018
Authors: Xiao Kezhou
Published: June 2023

This paper documents the increase in the number of global billionaires from mainland China between 2004 and 2018. One of the key findings is that under conditions of an open economy, grassroots billionaire entrepreneurs (e.g., Jack Ma) could mitigate political economy as well as financial frictions via capital injections from foreign venture capitalists. By building a unique database, I report that (i) the politically unconnected billionaire entrepreneurs financed by foreign venture capitalists are more likely to go public their companies outside mainland China (mainly in Hong Kong and the USA), use offshore financing vehicles, and enter the innovation sector and (ii) the politically connected global billionaire entrepreneurs, however, are closely associated with a record of state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring.

Plain English Summary

The increase in the number of billionaire entrepreneurs (e.g., Jack Ma) from mainland China between 2004 and 2018 is a new phenomenon, which necessitates a reassessment of the crony capitalism arguments, the types of entrepreneurs, and the sources of innovation. This paper has important implications for future research on entrepreneurship in a global economy and the design of relevant policies.
Changes in Subjective Well-Being in India
Authors: Kulkarni Vani S. , Kulkarni Veena S. , Gaiha Raghav , Imai Katsushi S.
Published: June 2023

Despite the growing literature on subjective well-being (SWB), few studies have focused on developing countries. Applying robust OLS and ordered probit models to the India Human Development Survey panel data in 2005 and 2012, we empirically assess SWBchangesin 2005–2012, based on a self-reported measure of changes in economic well-being, as a function of household and state covariates in 2005. This is in sharp contrast with earlier studies’ focus on thelevelsof SWB. Another point of departure of our study is to compare the covariates of SWB changes with those of objective well-being (OWB) changes, proxied by the relative growth in real per capita household consumption expenditure between 2005 and 2012, to identify specific micro-level correlates of SWB changes. Households with an older and educated head in a larger household, located in urban areas or affluent states in 2005 tend to experience improvement in both SWB and OWB between 2005 and 2012. In contrast, households with a female household head, with more male members in the labour market, with regular access to mass media, without members suffering from non-communicable diseases or disabilities are more likely to be better off subjectively without experiencing the corresponding improvement in OWB. The policy challenges raise serious concerns.
Model templates: transdisciplinary application and entanglement
Authors: Knuuttila Tarja , Loettgers Andrea
Published: June 2023

The omnipresence of the same basic equations, function forms, algorithms, and quantitative methods is one of the most spectacular characteristics of contemporary modeling practice. Recently, the emergence of the discussion of templates and template transfer has addressed this striking cross-disciplinary reach of certain mathematical forms and computational algorithms. In this paper, we develop a notion of a model template, consisting of its mathematical structure, ontology, prototypical properties and behaviors, focal conceptualizations, and the paradigmatic questions it addresses. We apply this notion to three widely disseminated and powerful model templates: the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model of spin glasses, scale-free networks, and the Kuramoto model of synchronization. We argue that what appears to be an interdisciplinary model transfer between different domains turns out, from a broader perspective, to be the application of transdisciplinary model templates across a multitude of domains. We also point out a further feature of template-based modeling that so far has not been discussed: template entanglement. Such entanglement enhances and makes manifest the conceptual side of model templates.
Understanding of the norm of political discourse
Authors: Gordon Emma C.
Published: June 2023

It is argued that understanding is the norm of political discourse, and it is shown why political assertions can be epistemically problematic within a liberal democracy even when asserted knowledgeably.
Naturalized metaphysics or displacing metaphysicians to save metaphysics
Authors: Jaksland Rasmus
Published: June 2023

Naturalized metaphysics aims to establish justified metaphysical claims, where metaphysics is meant to carry its usual significance, while avoiding the traditional methods of metaphysics—a priori reasoning, conceptual analysis, intuitions, and common sense—which naturalized metaphysics argues are not epistemically probative. After offering an explication of what it means to do metaphysics, this paper argues that naturalized metaphysics, at the outset, is hospitable to doing metaphysics. The underdetermination of metaphysics by science, however, changes the picture. Naturalized metaphysics has to break this underdetermination, but the criticism of the traditional methods of metaphysics leaves no resources with which to do so. Naturalized metaphysics must therefore be more restrictive than originally intended to ensure that some metaphysical features avoid underdetermination. In this restrictive naturalized metaphysics, however, metaphysicians are only left the task of surveying the opinions of scientists which, it is argued, does not qualify as doing metaphysics. Thus, to fulfill its promise to save metaphysics, naturalized metaphysics displaces the metaphysician. Furthermore, the attempt to re-employ them via the principle of naturalistic closure is argued to fail. Metaphysicians should therefore not be happier with naturalized metaphysics than they are with the more explicitly eliminative trends in contemporary metametaphysics, such as neo-Carnapian deflationism, despite the promise of naturalized metaphysics, likely to Carnap’s dismay, to deliver justified claims about ultimate reality.