bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling spatial dependencies of natural hazards in coastal regions: a nonstationary approach with barriers
Authors: Chaudhuri Somnath , Juan Pablo , Saurina Laura Serra , Varga Diego , Saez Marc
Published: August 2023

Natural hazards like floods, cyclones, earthquakes, or, tsunamis have deep impacts on the environment and society causing damage to both life and property. These events can cause widespread destruction and can lead to long-term socio-economic disruption often affecting the most vulnerable populations in society. Computational modeling provides an essential tool to estimate the damage by incorporating spatial uncertainties and examining global risk assessments. Classical stationary models in spatial statistics often assume isotropy and stationarity. It causes inappropriate smoothing over features having boundaries, holes, or physical barriers. Despite this, nonstationary models like barrier model have been little explored in the context of natural disasters in complex land structures. The principal objective of the current study is to evaluate the influence of barrier models compared to classical stationary models by analysing the incidence of natural disasters in complex spatial regions like islands and coastal areas. In the current study, we have used tsunami records from the island nation of Maldives. For seven atoll groups considered in our study, we have implemented three distinct categories of stochastic partial differential equation meshes, two for stationary models and one that corresponds to the barrier model concept. The results show that when assessing the spatial variance of tsunami incidence at the atoll scale, the barrier model outperforms the other two models while maintaining the same computational cost as the stationary models. In the broader picture, this research work contributes to the relatively new field of nonstationary barrier models and intends to establish a robust modeling framework to explore spatial phenomena, particularly natural hazards, in complex spatial regions having physical barriers.
Temperature–humidity index monitoring during two summer seasons in dairy cow sheds in Mugello (Tuscany)
Authors: Messeri Alessandro , Mancini Marco , Bozzi Riccardo , Parrini Silvia , Sirtori Francesco , Morabito Marco , Crisci Alfonso , Messeri Gianni , Ortolani Alberto , Gozzini Bernardo , Orlandini Simone , Fibbi Luca , Cristofori Simone , Grifoni Daniele
Published: August 2023

Many studies have reported that the impact of high temperatures affects physiology, welfare, health, and productivity of farm animals, and among these, the dairy cattle farming is one of the livestock sectors that suffers the greatest effects. The temperature–humidity index (THI) represents the state of the art in the evaluation of heat stress conditions in dairy cattle but often its measurement is not carried out in sheds. For this reason, the aim of this study was the monitoring of the THI in three dairy cattle farms in Mugello (Tuscany) to understand its influence on dairy cows. THI values were calculated using meteorological data from direct observation in sheds and outdoor environments. Data relating to the animal’s behavior were collected using radio collars. The Pearson test and Mann–Kendall test were used for statistical analysis. The results highlighted a significant (P< 0.001) upward trend in THImax during the last 30 years both in Low Mugello (+ 1.1 every 10 years) and in High Mugello (+ 0.9 every 10 years). In Low Mugello sheds, during the period 2020–2022, more than 70% of daytime hours during the summer period were characterized by heat risk conditions (THI > 72) for livestock. On average the animals showed a significant (P< 0.001) decrease in time spent to feeding and rumination, both during the day and the night, with a significant (P< 0.001) increase in inactivity. This study fits into the growing demand for knowledge of the micro-climatic conditions within farms in order to support resilience actions for protecting both animal welfare and farm productivity from the effects of climate change. This could also be carried out thanks to estimation models which, based on the meteorological conditions forecast, could implement the thermal stress indicator (THI) directly from the high-resolution meteorological model, allowing to get a prediction of the farm’s potential productivity loss based on the expected THI.
The impact of electronic and conventional cigarettes on periodontal health—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Thiem Daniel G. E. , Donkiewicz Phil , Rejaey Raha , Wiesmann-Imilowski Nadine , Deschner James , Al-Nawas Bilal , Kämmerer Peer W.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of electronic cigarettes on periodontal health compared to conventional cigarette smoke and a non-smoking population.

Materials and methods

MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov were screened for literature. Eligibility criteria included clinical studies published between 2006 and 2022 that compare e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes on periodontal health (bleeding on probing (BoP), plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL), marginal bone loss (MBL), tooth loss, molecular inflammation markers, salivary flow rate). Meta-regression analysis was used to examine the influence of moderator variables.

Results

Sixteen studies were found to be eligible for qualitative synthesis. Individual analyses showed that cigarette smokers had significantly higher PI, PD, AL, and MBL and increased concentrations of proinflammatory mediators than e-cigarette users and non-smokers. Meta-analysis revealed a 0.33-fold lower chance for BoP in e-cigarette users compared to smokers (p = 0.03), whereby meta-regression failed to detect any effects regarding the age of users and frequency of smoking. A 0.01-fold decreased chance for positive BoP in e-cigarette users compared with non-smokers was seen (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that that e-cigarette use might be considered a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking concerning periodontal health. Even so, harmful effects of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) usage on periodontal health were seen as well. However, a definitive decision on this research question remains elusive due to the absence of randomized controlled trials.

Clinical relevance

Electronic cigarettes, marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, are becoming increasingly popular. Evidence on the use of electronic cigarettes as a cessation aid and its beneficial impact compared to cigarette smoke remains inconclusive, so the analysis conducted in this review addresses a recent question of high clinical relevance.
Noninvasive CSF shunt patency evaluation by superb microvascular imaging
Authors: Putzer D. , Brawanski K. , Verius M. , Oberherber H. , Thome C. , Gizewski E. R. , Gruber H.
Published: August 2023

Occlusion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt system is a potentially life-threatening complication in patients suffering from hydrocephalus. However, there is no imaging established as standard approach in this acute setting. In the present study, we evaluate the use of superb microvascular imaging for investigation of the patency of ventriculoperitoneal shunt systems. Simulation of low flow rates of cerebrospinal fluid through a small diameter CSF shunt system was performed in a dedicated phantom in order to proof the principle of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) being feasible for the measurement of slow CSF flow through the dedicated CSF shunt system. SMI is able to detect low flow rates in CSF shunt systems effectively and fast. Visualization of a Duplex ultrasound flow and Doppler wave pattern in the VP shunt system after the reservoir has been pressed confirms patency. SMI is an effective method for evaluating CSF shunt patency and diagnosing shunt obstruction. This bears the potential to facilitate evaluation of clinically symptomatic VP shunt patients in an acute setting. Further evaluation of ultrasound flow patterns is granted.
Examples of surfaces with canonical maps of degree 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18
Authors: Fallucca Federico
Published: August 2023

In this note, we present examples of complex algebraic surfaces with canonical maps of degree 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18. They are constructed as quotients of a product of two curves of genus 10 and 19 using certain non-free actions of the group $$S_3\times {\mathbb {Z}}_3^2$$

S
3

×

Z
3
2

. To our knowledge, there are no other examples in the literature of surfaces with canonical map of degree 13, 15 and 18.
Comparison of short-term fertility intentions of albanian women in Italy with non-migrants in Albania and italian women
Authors: García-Pereiro Thaís , Paterno Ana
Published: August 2023

The central aim of this paper is to get a deeper understanding of short-term fertility intentions of native, migrant and non-migrant partnered women by testing for adaptation, socialization and selection theories while applying an origin-destination perspective. To find support for these hypotheses, data was drawn from several sources (FSS and SCIF for Italy, DHS for Albania), harmonized and merged into a unique dataset combining information on partnered women according to their migrant/non-migrant status. Binary regression models on positive fertility intentions, Average Marginal Effects, Adjusted Predictions for Prototypical Cases and multivariate non-linear decompositions are estimated to account for differences and/or similarities across groups of women. Results found that positive fertility intentions of Albanian migrant women resemble those of Italian women and are significantly lower than those of non-migrants, supporting adaptation theory. Findings also reported selection into migration, given that the gap in likelihood of being intended to have a child would be reduced if migrants were like non-migrants in terms of their educational attainment.
Seasonal variation in the diurnal activity pattern of Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) in the forest
Authors: Schlindwein Xenia , Randler Christoph , Kalb Nadine , Dvorak Jan , Gottschalk Thomas K.
Published: August 2023

Camera traps are increasingly used to estimate the density of animals as well as their activity patterns. As camera traps allow monitoring of animals over long periods of time without disturbance, they are especially useful to observe changes in diurnal activity patterns over time. In ornithology, camera trapping is still in its infancy. To our knowledge, no study has yet investigated the activity pattern of a songbird over the full annual cycle. We used camera traps in the Rammert, a small mountainous forest area near Rottenburg in Southwest Germany to monitor the diurnal activity pattern of forest-dwelling Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula). As the activity level of animals is known to be affected by day light, we used double-anchoring transformation of day times to account for the variation in sunrise and sunset across the different seasons. By generating activity models, we investigated the pattern of blackbird activity during the four seasons of the year and compared the patterns of male and female birds, respectively. A significant difference between a unimodal activity pattern in spring and a bimodal pattern for the rest of the year was found which might be related to breeding and territorial behaviour in spring. Moreover, we observed that the activity pattern of males and females overlapped greatly but still showed some variation in the number and timing of density peaks.
Meandering of instantaneous large-scale structures in open-channel flow over longitudinal ridges
Authors: Luo Qianyu , Stoesser Thorsten , Cameron Stuart , Nikora Vladimir , Zampiron Andrea , Patella Wada
Published: August 2023

The results of large-eddy simulations of open-channel flows over spanwise heterogeneous surface ridges at two representative spanwise spacings are presented. Flows at moderate Froude and Reynolds numbers over smooth channel beds with streamwise-orientated rectangular ridges are considered. The ridge spacing has a profound effect on the flow: at small spacing relatively small secondary cells occur, whilst at large ridge spacing secondary cells occupy the entire flow depth. The instantaneous flow features secondary flow instabilities and the meandering of alternating low- and high-momentum regions. The quasi-periodical nature of the meandering of the instantaneous large-scale motion is visualised and quantified for both ridge spacings. Although time-averaged clockwise and counter-clockwise secondary current cells are symmetrical about the ridge-axis, they exhibit quasi-periodical increase and decrease in size as well as lateral and vertical movement in space over the meandering period.
Salinisation of arid temporary pools alters crustacean hatching success but not phenology dynamics
Authors: Mungenge Chipo P. , Wasserman Ryan J. , Cuthbert Ross N. , Dondofema Farai , Dalu Tatenda
Published: August 2023

The widespread acceleration of freshwater salinisation due to human activities, such as pollution, resource extraction and urbanisation coupled with climate change, poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. Limited work has been directed towards salinisation effects in temporary wetland systems. These systems are characterised by unique crustacean communities reliant on dormant egg production. We assessed salinisation effects on temporary wetland crustacean communities from semi–arid pans in the Khakhea–Bray Transboundary Aquifer region of South Africa using a laboratory–based approach. Sediment from pans containing crustacean resting eggs was exposed to water with varying salinities (0‒10 ppt), and emergent hatchlings were assessed over a 30–day hydroperiod. At salinities of 2.5 ppt and above, there were significant decreases in emergent taxa richness and abundance. Spinicaudata and Ostracoda were the most sensitive taxa to high salinities. Cladocera, Copepoda, Notostraca and Anostraca hatchlings had shallower decreases with salinity, but hatchability still fell rapidly. There was a limited effect on community hatching phenology dynamics from salinity, with all taxa showing reduced hatchability over time overall, with the exception of Cladocera which exhibited a clear unimodal response, peaking around 20 days post‒inundation. This suggests that the main impact of salinisation in these systems will be reductions in hatching success and hence reduced recruitment, leading to changes in predation pressures, food web structure and functioning of these ecosystems, with implications for associated ecosystem services.
Rhein methotrexate-decorated solid lipid nanoparticles altering adjuvant arthritis progression through endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis
Authors: El-Refaie Wessam M. , Ghazy Mostafa S. , Ateyya Fady A. , Sheta Eman , Shafek Mohanad Y. , Ibrahim Mahmoud S. , Ismail Mahmoud MA. , Gowayed Mennatallah A.
Published: August 2023

Methotrexate (MTX) and diacerein (DIA) are two of the most potent disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). DIA has reflected some GIT and hepatobiliary manifestations in numerous cases. It undergoes biotransformation in the liver into the active metabolite rhein (RH) which is characterized by its excellent anti-inflammatory activity and lower side effects. However, RH's hydrophobic nature and low bioavailability do not encourage its use in RA. The current study aims to use RH in combination with MTX in targeted solid lipid nanoparticles (RH-MTX-SLNs) for better effectiveness and shadowing light on its possible mechanistic pathways. RH-MTX-SLNs were prepared and assessed for their quality attributes. The effect of the formulation was assessed in-vivo in an adjuvant arthritis animal model investigating the role of the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced apoptosis. Results revealed that RH-MTX-SLNs were in the suitable nanosized range with high negative zeta potential indicating good stability. In-vivo, RH-MTX-SLNs significantly improved all measured inflammatory and arthritic markers, confirmed by electron microscopy and histology examination of the joints. Besides, the formulation was able to alter the ERS-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, RH-MTX-SLNs can represent a promising therapeutic approach for RA showing significant anti-arthritic activity.

Graphical abstract
Resetting the baseline: using machine learning to find lost meadows
Authors: Cummings Adam K. , Pope Karen L. , Mak Gilbert
Published: August 2023

Context

Mountain meadows occur in specific geomorphological conditions where low-gradient topography promotes fine sediment accumulation and high groundwater tables. Over 150 years of human-caused hydrological degradation of meadows along with fire suppression has resulted in decreased groundwater elevations and encroachment of upland vegetation, greatly diminishing the ecological value of meadows for water storage, baseflow, sediment capture, wildfire resistance, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage.

Objectives

We aimed to understand where and how frequently meadows historically occurred to reset the baseline condition and provide insight into their restoration potential. We trained machine learning algorithms to identify potential meadow areas with similar hydrogeomorphic conditions to extant meadows while ignoring their unique vegetative characteristics because we hypothesized that vegetation would change but geomorphology would remain.

Methods

We used a publicly available dataset of over 11,000 hand-digitized meadow polygons occurring within a 25,300 km2, 60-watershed region in the Sierra Nevada, California USA to train random forest models to detect meadow-like hydrogeomorphic conditions. Predictor variables represented topographical position, flow accumulation, snowpack, and topographical relief at differing spatial scales. We assessed model performance and produced maps delineating high probability meadow polygons.

Results

Our findings showed that there is nearly three times more potential meadow habitat than currently documented. The predicted area includes a mixture of existing but undocumented meadows, non-meadowlands that may have converted from meadows due to lost function and forest encroachment, and areas with meadow-like geomorphology that may never have been meadow. The polygons encompassing predicted meadows often expanded existing meadows habitats into adjacent areas with continuous topography, but with upland vegetation and incised channels.

Conclusions

Using readily available data and accessible statistical techniques, we demonstrated the accuracy of a tool to detect about three times more historical meadows than currently recognized within a complex, mountainous landscape. This “found” area greatly increased the potential area that could be subject to meadow restoration with benefits for biodiversity, wildfire management, carbon sequestration, and water storage.
Turán inequalities for infinite product generating functions
Authors: Heim Bernhard , Neuhauser Markus
Published: August 2023

In the 1970s, Nicolas proved that the partition function p(n) is log-concave for $$ n > 25$$

n
>
25

. In Heim et al. (Ann Comb 27(1):87–108, 2023), a precise conjecture on the log-concavity for the plane partition function $${{\textrm{pp}}}(n)$$

pp
(
n
)

for $$n >11$$

n
>
11

was stated. This was recently proven by Ono, Pujahari, and Rolen. In this paper, we provide a general picture. We associate to double sequences $$\{g_d(n)\}_{d,n}$$

{

g
d

(
n
)

}

d
,
n

with $$g_d(1)=1$$

g
d

(
1
)

=
1

and $$\begin{aligned} 0 \le g_{d}\left( n\right) -n^{d}\le g_{1}\left( n\right) \left( n-1\right) ^{d-1}, \end{aligned}$$

0
≤

g
d

n

-

n
d

≤

g
1

n

n
-
1

d
-
1

,

polynomials $$\{P_n^{g_d}(x)\}_{d,n}$$

{

P
n

g
d

(
x
)

}

d
,
n

given by $$\begin{aligned} \sum _{n=0}^{\infty } P_n^{g_d}(x) \, q^n := {{\textrm{exp}}}\left( x \sum _{n=1}^{\infty } g_d(n) \frac{q^n}{n} \right) =\prod _{n=1}^{\infty } \left( 1 - q^n \right) ^{-x f_d(n)}. \end{aligned}$$

∑

n
=
0

∞

P
n

g
d

(
x
)

q
n

:
=
exp

x

∑

n
=
1

∞

g
d

(
n
)

q
n

n

=

∏

n
=
1

∞

1
-

q
n

-
x

f
d

(
n
)

.

We recover $$ p(n)= P_n^{\sigma _1}(1)$$

p

(
n
)

=

P
n

σ
1

(
1
)

and $${{\textrm{pp}}}\left( n\right) = P_n^{\sigma _2}(1)$$

pp

n

=

P
n

σ
2

(
1
)

, where $$\sigma _d (n):= \sum _{\ell \mid n} \ell ^d$$

σ
d

(
n
)

:
=

∑

ℓ
∣
n

ℓ
d

and $$f_d(n)= n^{d-1}$$

f
d

(
n
)

=

n

d
-
1

. Let $$n \ge 6$$

n
≥
6

. Then the sequence $$\{P_n^{\sigma _d}(1)\}_d$$

{

P
n

σ
d

(
1
)

}

d

is log-concave for almost all d if and only if n is divisible by 3. Let $${{\textrm{id}}}(n)=n$$

id
(
n
)
=
n

. Then $$P_n^{{{\textrm{id}}}}(x) = \frac{x}{n} L_{n-1}^{(1)}(-x)$$

P
n
id

(
x
)

=

x
n

L

n
-
1

(
1
)

(
-
x
)

, where $$L_{n}^{\left( \alpha \right) }\left( x\right) $$

L

n

α

x

denotes the $$\alpha $$
α
-associated Laguerre polynomial. In this paper, we investigate Turán inequalities $$\begin{aligned} \Delta _{n}^{g_d}(x) := \left( P_n^{g_d}(x) \right) ^2 - P_{n-1}^{g_d}(x) \, P_{n+1}^{g_d}(x) \ge 0. \end{aligned}$$

Δ

n

g
d

(
x
)

:
=

P
n

g
d

(
x
)

2

-

P

n
-
1

g
d

(
x
)

P

n
+
1

g
d

(
x
)

≥
0
.

Let $$n \ge 6$$

n
≥
6

and $$0 \le x < 2 - \frac{12}{n+4}$$

0
≤
x
<
2
-

12

n
+
4

. Then n is divisible by 3 if and only if $$\Delta _{n}^{g_d}(x) \ge 0$$

Δ

n

g
d

(
x
)

≥
0

for almost all d. Let $$n \ge 6$$

n
≥
6

and $$n \not \equiv 2 \pmod {3}$$

n
≢
2

(
mod

3
)

. Then the condition on x can be reduced to $$x \ge 0$$

x
≥
0

. We determine explicit bounds. As an analogue to Nicolas’ result, we have for $$g_1= {{\textrm{id}}}$$

g
1

=
id

that $$\Delta _{n}^{{{\textrm{id}}}}(x) \ge 0$$

Δ

n

id

(
x
)

≥
0

for all $$x \ge 0 $$

x
≥
0

and all n.
The role of fields of study for the effects of higher education institutions on regional firm location
Authors: Schlegel Tobias , Backes-Gellner Uschi
Published: August 2023

The literature on knowledge spillovers provides evidence that higher education institutions (HEIs) positively affect regional firm location (i.e., start-ups or firms located in a region). However, less is known about how HEIs in different fields of study impact regional firm location in different industries. To investigate this question, we exploit the establishment of universities of applied sciences (UASs)—bachelor’s degree-granting three-year HEIs in Switzerland. We find that the effects of UASs are heterogeneous across fields of study and industries. UASs specializing in “chemistry and the life sciences” and “business, management, and services” are the only UASs that positively affect regional firm location across several industries. Positive effects emerge in service industries characterized by radical service, incremental product, or process innovations. Thus, UASs are not a one-size-fits-all solution for increasing regional firm location. Instead, only UASs specializing in particular fields of study positively influence firm location in certain industries.
Estimation of the desert dust balance and its relationship with environmental factors in the southern Baja California Peninsula
Authors: Morales-Acuña Enrique De Jesús , Aguíñiga-García Sergio , Cervantes-Duarte Rafael , Linero-Cueto Jean
Published: August 2023

The emission, transport, and deposition of desert dust are influenced by environmental factors evaluated mainly as a function of precipitation, air temperature, and wind. The present study estimates the desert dust balance and its relationship with environmental factors for the period 1981–2020 in the Baja California Sur region, Mexico. Monthly data on wind, air temperature, precipitation, dust emission and deposition from in situ measurements, reanalysis, satellite estimates and a numerical parameterization scheme are used. First, the in-situ time series were reconstructed with a non-linear principal component analysis based on an autoassociative neural network. We then evaluated the performance of the satellite estimates and the reanalysis data using the matching technique, after which we quantified the dust emission in three source zones. To estimate the state of the climate, we obtained the annual cycle of monthly climatologies, and yearly averages. The effect of climate on the dust budget is estimated by means of non-parametric associations between the variables of interest. Finally, we estimate climate trends using Pettitt, Modified Man-Kendall and Theil-Sen tests. The results show that the data sets used represent the mean and variability of in situ measurements. There are three seasons with transitional periods for precipitation and air temperature. The wind shows a longitudinal west–east gradient. Its maximum intensity is from April to September. Northern zone was dominated by highest emissions. Dry deposition mechanism was the most representative. Emissions and dry deposition are controlled by wind intensity and precipitation, while precipitation controls wet deposition. The Pettitt test showed that abrupt changes in the time series coincide with periods where positive sunspot anomalies converge with negative PDO and SOI anomalies. Finally, trend analyses identified a temporal broadening of the dry season, warmer winters, and summers with increases of ~ 0.02 °C, predominantly increasing trends in dust emissions and wind intensity, and a progressive decrease in dust deposition mechanisms.
The Role of Submarine Groundwater Discharge to the Input of Macronutrients Within a Macrotidal Subpolar Estuary
Authors: Haag Josianne , Dulai Henrietta , Burt William
Published: August 2023

The major sources of macronutrients (nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, and silicic acid) in Jakolof Bay, Alaska are submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), rivers, and offshore water. We estimated SGD using natural geochemical tracers (radon and radium), a salt mass balance, and a two-component salinity mixing equation based on the change in groundwater salinity on falling lower low tide. Previous studies have hypothesized that the major macronutrient input into Jakolof Bay is offshore water. This study challenges that assumption by determining the relative contribution of macronutrients from SGD relative to offshore water and rivers. Here, SGD is tidally driven and, as the Northern Gulf of Alaska experiences some of the largest tidal ranges in the world, the SGD fluxes from this region are high relative to the global average regardless of local sediment type. The fluxes ranged from 596 ± 85 cm day−1 at low tide to 97 ± 83 cm day−1 at high tide and are predominantly composed of recirculated seawater (89%) rather than freshwater (11%). The major macronutrients in seawater had different input mechanisms into the semi-enclosed bay. SGD and offshore waters contend as the primary sources of nitrate, which is shown to be the limiting nutrient in this coastal area, while SGD dominates the input of silicic acid. Conversely, the aquifer is found to be a sink for phosphate, indicating that the nutrient is primarily sourced from offshore water.
Possible high COVID-19 airborne infection risk in deep and poorly ventilated 2D street canyons
Authors: Lavor Vitor , Coceal Omduth , Grimmond Sue , Hang Jian , Luo Zhiwen
Published: August 2023

Despite the widespread assumption that outdoor environments provide sufficient ventilation and dilution capacity to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection, there is little understanding of airborne infection risk in outdoor urban areas with poor ventilation. To address this gap, we propose a modified Wells-Riley model based on the purging flow rate (QPFR), by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The model quantifies the outdoor risk in 2D street canyons with different approaching wind speeds, urban heating patterns and aspect ratios (building height to street width). We show that urban morphology plays a critical role in controlling airborne infectious disease transmission in outdoor environments, especially under calm winds; with deep street canyons (aspect ratio > 3) having a similar infection risk as typical indoor environments. While ground and leeward wall heating could reduce the risk, windward heating (e.g., windward wall ~10 K warmer than the ambient air) can increase the infection risk by up to 75%. Our research highlights the importance of considering outdoor infection risk and the critical role of urban morphology in mitigating airborne infection risk. By identifying and addressing these risks, we can inform measures that may enhance public health and safety, particularly in densely populated urban environments.
A newly designed BIPV system with enhanced passive cooling and ventilation
Authors: Ahmadi Moghaddam Hadi , Tkachenko Svetlana , Yeoh Guan Heng , Timchenko Victoria
Published: August 2023

Nowadays, the application of renewable energies such as solar energy in the building sector has increased notably considering the adverse impacts of climate change on human life; hence many studies have focused on the application of photovoltaic panels in buildings. In the current study, a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been developed to evaluate the performance of a newly designed building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system. Given the negative influence of overheating on the lifespan and performance of PV panels, their passive air cooling has been studied. Further, the potential of rooftop-mounted solar panels in passive ventilation of buildings by generating natural convective currents has been explored. The developed CFD model takes into consideration the effects of radiation, conduction, and buoyancy-driven natural convective currents generated by solar PV panels which are heated due to the exposure to solar radiation heat flux. The results suggest that applying a high surface emissivity for the part of the roof beneath the PV panels intensifies the natural convective currents which in turn provides better cooling for PV panels with higher cooling effects at higher solar heat fluxes. Up to a 34% increase in the convective mass flow rate and a 3 K decrease in the mean temperature of the panels were attained by modifying the emissivity of roof surface. Such a 3 K decrease in the operating temperature of the PV panels can enhance their efficiency and lifespan by about 1.56% and 21 %, respectively. Based on the operating conditions and system characteristics, the BIPV system yielded an air change rate (ACH) in the range of 3–13 which was considered to be highly prevalent in providing the required passive ventilation for a wide range of applications. It was also observed that the flow dynamics inside the building were affected by both the amount of solar heat load incident on the solar panels and the emissivity of the roof surface behind the panels.
Het bevorderen van het implementatieproces van Krachtvoer, een lesprogramma over gezonde voeding voor het vmbo
Authors: Driessen-Willems Marion , Kremers Stef , Bartelink Nina , Bessems Kathelijne , Kintzen Conny , van Assema Patricia
Published: August 2023

Samenvatting

Het actief bevorderen van het implementatieproces van gezondheidsbevorderende interventies, waardoor deze in de praktijk voldoende en op de juiste wijze worden gebruikt, vereist een planmatige aanpak. Vele soorten implementatiestrategieën kunnen hiervoor worden ingezet, geselecteerd op basis van geïdentificeerde determinanten van het implementatieproces in de specifieke implementatiecontext. In het implementatieproces kunnen hierbij meerdere fasen worden onderscheiden, namelijk adoptie, daadwerkelijk gebruik, borging, opschaling en de-implementatie van de interventie. Dit artikel beschrijft welke implementatiestrategieën er zijn en worden ingezet om het implementatieproces van het lesprogramma Krachtvoer te bevorderen, een interventie over gezonde voeding voor leerlingen in de onderbouw van het vmbo. Tevens worden de bezoekersgegevens van de website Krachtvoer.nu gedurende de schooljaren 2019–2020, 2020–2021 en 2021–2022 gepresenteerd. Een reflectie op de aanpak benadrukt het belang van de kartrekkersrol van het domeinoverstijgende projectteam, de cocreatie met de gebruikers en de intersectorale samenwerking met het landelijke partnernetwerk. Een landelijk (financierings)beleid in Nederland ter ondersteuning van de borging van bewezen effectieve en goed implementeerbare gezondheidsbevorderende interventies wordt node gemist.
Causal relationships between obesity and pancreatobiliary diseases: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Huang Dan , Liu Yu , Gong Wenjun , Zou Jian
Published: August 2023

Previous observational studies have investigated the relationship between obesity and the biliary tract and pancreas. The causality, however, is still to be confirmed. This study was designed to explore the causality between obesity which included body mass index(BMI), circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and pancreatobiliary diseases with a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization(MR) analysis. single-nucleotide polymorphisms used in our study were derived from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The inverse variance weighted was the dominated method to evaluate the causality. The heterogeneity was validated by Cochran's Q test. The pleiotropy was validated by MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO. The stability and reliability of the results were illustrated by the ‘leave-one-out’sensitivity analysis. The MR results explored positive causal effects of BMI (OR: 1.021; 95% CI: from 1.016 to 1.027;P = 4.25 × 10−15) and WC (OR: 1.021; 95% CI: from 1.015 to 1.028;P = 1.65 × 10−10) on pancreatobiliary diseases. However, no causality existed between HC, WHR and pancreatobiliary diseases. This study reminded that general obesity and abdominal obesity required weight loss to prevent pancreatic biliary disease.
Selecting a significance level in sequential testing procedures for community detection
Authors: Ghosh Riddhi Pratim , Barnett Ian
Published: August 2023

While there have been numerous sequential algorithms developed to estimate community structure in networks, there is little available guidance and study of what significance level or stopping parameter to use in these sequential testing procedures. Most algorithms rely on prespecifiying the number of communities or use an arbitrary stopping rule. We provide a principled approach to selecting a nominal significance level for sequential community detection procedures by controlling the tolerance ratio, defined as the ratio of underfitting and overfitting probability of estimating the number of clusters in fitting a network. We introduce an algorithm for specifying this significance level from a user-specified tolerance ratio, and demonstrate its utility with a sequential modularity maximization approach in a stochastic block model framework. We evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm through extensive simulations and demonstrate its utility in controlling the tolerance ratio in single-cell RNA sequencing clustering by cell type and by clustering a congressional voting network.
Electrocatalytic upcycling of nitrogenous wastes into green ammonia: advances and perspectives on materials innovation
Authors: Liu Yuanting , Liu Kui , Wang Pengfei , Jin Zhaoyu , Li Panpan
Published: August 2023

Ammonia serves as an irreplaceable raw material for nitrogen fertilizers, which is essential for global food production. In addition, it has been recently endowed with a new function as a carrier of renewable energy, demonstrating significant research prospects. However, the highly developed ammonia industry results in abundant nitrogenous wastes in nature, thus causing severe nitrogen pollution and disrupting the global nitrogen cycle. The environmentally friendly electrocatalytic technologies for upcycling nitrogenous wastes to green ammonia represent a highly valuable transformation strategy. In this review, we present three effective pathways for the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogenous wastes to green ammonia, including nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR), nitrite reduction reaction (NO2RR), and nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR). Furthermore, achievements and challenges associated with electrocatalysts for green ammonia synthesis are discussed in terms of noble metal-based electrocatalysts, non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts, and metal-free electrocatalysts. Moreover, this review provides a systematic perspective on reaction mechanisms, catalyst design, and future developments, offering new insights and prospects for the value-upgrading cycle of nitrogenous substances. By exploring the potential of green ammonia synthesis, we aim to contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly ammonia production.
Association between built environment on transport and recreational walking in Japan: the case of Kitakyushu
Authors: Zeng Qian , Bao Xin , Dewancker Bart Julien
Published: August 2023

Walking is a popular form of transportation with a wide range of health, economic, environmental and social benefits. Previous studies have shown that walking is easily influenced by the surrounding built environment. In order to explore the relationship between objective built environment and perceived built environment factors in Japan and transport walking and recreational walking, this study selected Kitakyushu as a sample through questionnaire survey and geographic information data, and evaluated walking activity level through IPAQ and perceive the built environment through ANEWS, and then measured the objective measurement characteristics of the built environment through GIS. Multivariate linear regression model and multivariate logistic model were also used to evaluate the relationship between different built environment factors and pedestrian walking behavior in Japan. The results show that: (1) Age and residential period promoted transport walking. (2) Land mix use, dense bus stops, accessible commercial facilities, and a safe environment can all promote transport walking. (3) High building density and intersection density, more transit stops, more accessible commercial facilities and public service facilities can also promote recreational walking. (4) Having excellent walking facilities increased the time spent on leisure walks.
Mighty Microeconomics
Authors: Kandori Michihiro
Published: August 2023

Economics helps us to understand that certain slick mechanisms are operating beyond what we see in our daily economic lives. To fully understand and appreciate these mechanisms, we need to master the core mathematical theories, some of which are highly advanced and typically covered in a graduate course. This textbook presents those theories without compromising rigor, but, at the same time, the author offers a number of innovative pedagogical twists that make the difficult materials completely accessible to undergraduate students, and even to general readers. Written in a chatty, colloquial style, the author explains basic messages and core insights that are usually hidden between the lines. The usefulness of these theories is shown through a number of real-life examples, and, in the end, the readers can see that the mathematical models provide deep insights into social justice and philosophy. This book helps readers to think like an economist.
Martyre, témoignage et lignées sociales en pays
tamoul
Authors: Trento Margherita
Published: August 2023

Cet article s’intéresse au martyre du missionnaire jésuite saint João
de Brito (1647-1693) et aux débuts de son culte en pays tamoul, entre ancrage
dans des dynamiques locales et vastes horizons impériaux. Comment un jésuite
portugais, agent du catholicisme mondial moderne, est-il devenu une figure si
localement ancrée ? Et comment le dernier jour de sa vie est-il devenu le début
d’une dévotion tamoule qui dure maintenant depuis trois siècles ? Un ensemble
varié de sources permet d’aborder ces questions : les rapports, écrits en
plusieurs langues, des premières enquêtes menées dans le cadre de la
canonisation de Brito, où ses catéchistes figuraient parmi les principaux
témoins ; un traité missionnaire en tamoul ; et une vie de Brito en tamoul
écrite par l’un de ses catéchistes et conservée sous la forme d’un manuscrit sur
ôles. Deux éléments se dégagent de cette exploration. Au début du
xviiie siècle, être témoin d’un martyre était ainsi un moyen
d’acquérir un certain degré de sainteté, et donc une autorité spirituelle et
sociale transmissible au sein des lignées familiales. En outre, en assistant à
la vie et à la mort de Brito, les chrétiens laïcs tamouls ont trouvé un moyen
d’inscrire leur propre vie dans l’histoire du catholicisme à l’échelle locale et
mondiale.
Prospects for statistical tests of strong-field quantum electrodynamics with high-intensity lasers
Authors: Olofsson C. , Gonoskov A.
Published: August 2023

Exploiting high-energy electron beams colliding into high-intensity laser pulses brings an opportunity to reach high values of the dimensionless rest-frame acceleration$\chi$and thereby invoke processes described by strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SFQED). Measuring deviations from the results of Furry-picture perturbation theory in SFQED at high$\chi$can be valuable for testing existing predictions, as well as for guiding further theoretical developments. Nevertheless, such experimental measurements are challenging due to the probabilistic nature of the interaction processes, dominating signals of low-$\chi$interactions and limited capabilities to control and measure the alignment and synchronization in such collision experiments. Here we elaborate a methodology of using approximate Bayesian computations for drawing statistical inferences based on the results of many repeated experiments despite partially unknown collision parameters that vary between experiments. As a proof-of-principle, we consider the problem of inferring the effective mass change due to coupling with the strong-field environment.
Association of household food insecurity with developmental delay in preschool children: 2018 Ecuadorian Nutrition and Health National Survey
Authors: Weigel M. Margaret , Armijos Rodrigo X.
Published: August 2023

We investigated the association of household food insecurity (HFI) with developmental delays in 36–59-month-old preschool children (n 7005) using cross-sectional data from the 2018 Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey. HFI was assessed with the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and developmental delays with the Early Childhood Development Index. Log-binomial regression models estimated the association of HFI with global (overall) developmental delay (GDD) and delays in four individual developmental domains, adjusting for covariates. Nearly half of the children lived in households with marginal (24⋅5 %) or moderate-severe HFI (21⋅7 %). Eighteen percent were identified with GDD. Delays in the individual domains of literacy-numeracy, social-emotional, physical and cognitive development were identified for 64, 21⋅5, 3⋅3 and 3⋅1 %, respectively. GDD was more likely among preschool children from households with marginal (aPR = 1⋅29; 95 % C.I. = 1⋅10, 1⋅49) and moderate-severe HFI (aPR = 1⋅30; 95 % C.I. = 1⋅11, 1⋅51). Social-emotional development delays were also more likely among those from households with marginal (aPR = 1⋅36; 95 % C.I. = 1⋅19, 1⋅56) and moderate-severe HFI (aPR = 1⋅33; 95 % C.I. = 1⋅15, 1⋅54) different from the other three domains. Several other potentially modifiable risk (violent discipline, maternal depressive symptoms) and protective factors (adequate child stimulation, higher maternal education, handwashing with soap/detergent) were also independently associated with GDD and/or literacy-numeracy and cognitive delays. Our findings suggest that HFI is an independent risk factor for GDD and social-emotional developmental delays in Ecuadorian preschoolers. They underscore the importance of strengthening and expanding poverty reduction, food security and early childhood development policies and interventions to improve the opportunities for children to achieve their full developmental potential.
Comparison of a digital iodine-specific dietary screener with 24-hour recall and urinary iodine concentration
Authors: Rosendahl-Riise Hanne , Aksnes Siri , Sabir Zoya , Ulleberg Ellen K. , Myklebust-Hansen Thea , Aakre Inger
Published: August 2023

Mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency remains a problem worldwide, including in Norway. Of particular, concern is fertile, pregnant and lactating women. The Norwegian Dairy Council developed a digital iodine-specific dietary screener (I-screener) for the assessment of iodine intake levels but has yet to be validated. The aim was thus to investigate the relative validity of the I-screener by comparing estimates of iodine intake from the I-screener against a single 24-hour recall (24HR) and urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in fertile women. Healthy females were recruited in Bergen in August–December 2021. Six spot-urine samples from six consecutive days were collected into a pooled sample to assess UIC. Each participant completed a single administration of the I-screener and the 24HR. The estimated daily iodine intake from the I-screener was compared with the estimations from the 24HR and UIC. Seventy-two women aged 19–39 completed the study. The median UIC was 76 μg/l. Compared with the 24HR, the I-screener placed 83 % of the participants in the same/adjacent tertial, with a slight agreement between the methods (Cohen's kappa = 0⋅187). The present study shows an acceptable correlation between the I-screener and the 24HR (r = 0⋅318), but not between the I-screener and UIC (r = 0⋅122). Despite its varying iodine estimate abilities, the I-screener may be used as an initial screening tool to rank fertile women on an individual level into deficient inadequate, and sufficient iodine intake. However, due to the relatively high risk of misclassification, further assessment of iodine status should follow.
Workhouse or asylum? Accommodating pauper lunatics in nineteenth-century England
Authors: Ritch Alistair
Published: August 2023

The late eighteenth and early nineteenth century witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of pauper lunatics being admitted to institutions and many mentally-ill paupers found their way into workhouses. The range of options existing for the admission of paupers, who at the time were described as lunatics or insane, included private madhouses, charitable asylums, public asylums as well as workhouses. Legislation relating to transfer from a workhouse to a one of these other institutions was ambiguous and depended on the concept of dangerousness and whether a workhouse inmate was manageable, rather than the nature of their illness. Because demand exceeded the space available because of overcrowding, workhouses and public asylums continually needed to increase provision by means of converting existing facilities or erecting new buildings. Nevertheless, the transfer of patients between asylums was commonplace and extensive. This article will explore the interface between two urban workhouses in the West Midlands of England and their local asylums from the late eighteenth until the end of the nineteenth century. It will demonstrate that, although local circumstances at any one time may have contributed to decisions on transfer, the overriding difficulty in the correct placement of pauper lunatics throughout the time period was institutional overcrowding, mainly driven by the increasing numbers of pauper lunatics.