bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing weld line visibility prediction in injection molding using physics-informed neural networks
Authors: Pieressa Andrea , Baruffa Giacomo , Sorgato Marco , Lucchetta Giovanni
Published: July 2024

This study introduces a novel approach using Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINN) to predict weld line visibility in injection-molded components based on process parameters. Leveraging PINNs, the research aims to minimize experimental tests and numerical simulations, thus reducing computational efforts, to make the classification models for surface defects more easily implementable in an industrial environment. By correlating weld line visibility with the Frozen Layer Ratio (FLR) threshold, identified through limited experimental data and simulations, the study generates synthetic datasets for pre-training neural networks. This study demonstrates that a quality classification model pre-trained with PINN-generated datasets achieves comparable performance to a randomly initialized network in terms of Recall and Area Under the Curve (AUC) metrics, with a substantial reduction of 78% in the need for experimental points. Furthermore, it achieves similar accuracy levels with 74% fewer experimental points. The results demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of neural networks pre-trained with PINNs in predicting weld line visibility, offering a promising approach to minimizing experimental efforts and computational resources.
Logical Models of Mathematical Texts: The Case of Conventions for Division by Zero
Authors: Bergstra Jan A. , Tucker John V.
Published: July 2024

Arithmetical texts involving division are governed by conventions that avoid the risk of problems to do with division by zero (DbZ). A model for elementary arithmetic texts is given, and with the help of many examples and counter examples a partial description of what may be called traditional conventions on DbZ is explored. We introduce the informal notions of legal and illegal texts to analyse these conventions. First, we show that the legality of a text is algorithmically undecidable. As a consequence, we know that there is no simple sound and complete set of guidelines to determine unambiguously how DbZ is to be avoided. We argue that these observations call for further explorations of mathematical conventions. We propose a method using logics to progress the analysis of legality versus illegality: arithmetical texts in a model can be transformed into logical formulae over special total algebras that are able to approximate partiality but in a total world. The algebras we use are called common meadows. Our dive into informal mathematical practice using formal methods opens up questions about DbZ which we address in conclusion.
The Influence of Working from Home vs. Working at the Office on Job Performance in a Hybrid Work Arrangement: A Diary Study
Authors: Toscano Ferdinando , González-Romá Vicente , Zappalà Salvatore
Published: July 2024

Working from home (WFH) has become increasingly common, and its impact on job performance is particularly interesting to researchers. Prior research has established a positive correlation between remote work and job performance, but the underlying mechanisms still need to be fully understood. This diary study addresses this issue by applying the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory and developing a mediation model that identifies two processes responsible for the positive and negative relationships of WFH (compared to working at the office or WATO) with job performance. The study was conducted in a public organization, and 203 employees engaged in hybrid work arrangements answered an online survey for eight consecutive workdays. Results showed that working from home (WFH) had an indirect positive relationship with job performance through daily concentration and work engagement. Instead, no significant indirect relationship of WFH with daily job performance through daily social isolation and tension was observed. However, a disengagement “effect” was found, as the indirect relationship of WFH with daily job performance via daily social isolation and work engagement was negative and statistically significant. Theoretically, this study supports a motivational mechanism linking WFH to job performance, does not support the health-impairment process triggered by WFH, and emphasizes the importance of considering the complex interplay between job demands and motivational states. From a practical standpoint, the study suggests that organizations implementing hybrid work should enhance employee motivation, for instance, by providing tools to improve employee concentration and addressing potential feelings of social isolation when working from home.
Heart rate variability as a predictor of intraoperative autonomic nervous system homeostasis
Authors: Keim Ole C. , Bolwin Lennart , Feldmann, Robert E. , Thiel Manfred , Benrath Justus
Published: July 2024

The aim of the proof-of-concept study is to investigate the level of concordance between the heart rate variability (HRV), the EEG-based Narcotrend Index as a surrogate marker for the depth of hypnosis, and the minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of the inhalation anesthetic sevoflurane across the entire course of a surgical procedure. This non-blinded cross-sectional study recorded intraoperative HRV, Narcotrend Index, and MAC in 31 male patients during radical prostatectomy using the Da-Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system at Mannheim University Medical Center. The degree of concordance was calculated using repeated measures correlation with the R package (rmcorr) and presented using the rmcorr coefficient (rrm). The Narcotrend Index correlates significantly across all measures with the time-dependent parameter of HRV, the standard deviation of the means of RR intervals (SDNN) (rrm = 0.2; p < 0.001), the frequency-dependent parameters low frequency (LF) (rrm = 0.09; p = 0.04) and the low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio) (rrm = 0.11; p = 0.002). MAC correlated significantly negatively with the time-dependent parameter of heart rate variability, SDNN (rrm = -0.28; p < 0.001), the frequency-dependent parameter LF (rrm = -0.06; p < 0.001) and the LF/HF ratio (rrm = -0.18; p < 0.001) and the Narcotrend Index (rrm = -0.49; p < 0.001) across all measures. HRV mirrors the trend of the Narcotrend Index used to monitor depth of hypnosis and the inhibitory influence of the anesthetic sevoflurane on the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, HRV can provide essential information about the homeostasis of the autonomic nervous system during general anesthesia. DRKS00024696, March 9th, 2021.
Association Between Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Technology Use in Autistic Adults
Authors: Lee Daehyoung , Cothran Donetta J. , Kennedy John M. , Shih Patrick C. , Golzarri-Arroyo Lilian , Dickinson Stephanie , Frey Georgia C.
Published: July 2024

There is little understanding of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior as preventive health behaviors in autistic adults. Technology has been used as an educational and social intervention tool for autistic individuals, yet it is also associated with low PA and high sedentary time (ST) in the neurotypical population. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of self-reported PA and ST and their relationships with various technology uses in autistic adults. We employed a Qualtrics online survey that consisted of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire, and National Alliance for Mental Illness’s digital technology use survey. 229 responses (74.6% under 35 years of age; 64.1% males) satisfied the response validity criteria and were included in the analyses. The majority of participants (78%) met the recommended PA amount of ≥ 600 metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-minutes/week (median, 1,812 total MET-minutes/week), but they were also overly sedentary on both weekdays (median, 8 h/day) and weekends (median, 7 h/day). Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that variance of ST in weekday (45%) and weekend (43%) was largely explained by quality of life (β = -0.31; β = -0.33) and technology use time (β = 0.31; β = 0.26) (all p < .01). While technology can be an effective tool to support social and academic abilities in autistic adults, the use of technology devices needs to be monitored with care as it may put these individuals at risk for sedentary lifestyles and associated chronic diseases.
Synthetic Alfalfa Infusion Odour Attracts Gravid Culex quinquefasciatus Under Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Wondwosen Betelehem , Isberg Elin , Birgersson Göran , Hill Sharon R. , Ignell Rickard
Published: July 2024

Gravid culicine mosquitoes rely on olfactory cues for selecting breeding sites containing organic detritus. While this capacity of the mosquitoes is used for surveillance and control, the current methodology is unwieldy, unreliable and expensive in time and labour. This study evaluated the dose-dependent attraction and oviposition response of gravid Culex quinquefasciatus to alfalfa infusions. Through combined chemical and electrophysiological analyses, bioactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the headspace of alfalfa infusions, eliciting attraction, were identified. While phenolic and indolic compounds were the most abundant bioactive VOCs, additional VOCs, including a monoterpene, were required to elicit a significant behavioural response to the synthetic odour blend of alfalfa infusions. Comparative analysis with the commercially available mosquito oviposition pheromone (MOP) was also conducted demonstrating that this standardised synthetic alfalfa infusion odour blend offers a promising lure for targeted surveillance and control of Culex mosquitoes, which may contribute to disease prevention and public health protection.
Cyclized Polyacrylonitrile Supported Single Atom Metal Catalyst for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants
Authors: Roshdy Asmaa A. , Kim Woo Kyoung , Mady Amr Hussein
Published: July 2024

Although metal single atom catalysts (SAC) have been demonstrated to be effective in heterogeneous catalysis, establishing a scalable and cost-effective SAC support system remains an important challenge. Here, innovative ways to create materials that are entirely distinct from their parent characteristics for wastewater treatment and environmental challenges are proposed. Series of different molar ratio of Ag (0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04 wt%) were assigned to prepare Ag@CPAN composite and observe its impact application on photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) assisted by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) under visible light irradiation. The morphology and composition of the synthesized Ag@CPAN was characterized using a range of techniques. Several parameters were investigated that could influence degradation efficiency, including PMS concentration, solution pH, catalyst dosage, and initial 4-NP concentration. Under visible light irradiation, Ag@CPAN shows excellent photocatalytic performance of 4-NP, methylene blue, methyl red and RhB degradation. Ag@CPAN elucidates excellent catalytic performance while maintaining high stability up to 6 successive cycles and this backwards to synergistically effect between CPAN and Ag. Furthermore, provides an easy way to prepare a variety of SAC, and it is easily scalable with significant potential in catalytic applications.
Moving Beyond Clinical Imaginaries: Technogeographies of the Everyday Urban
Authors: Martin Daryl , Ivanova Dara , Simonsen Thorben Peter Høj
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we analyse the intersections between care and place in mundane spaces not explicitly designed for the provision of care, and where digital technologies are used to mediate ecologies of distress in the city. We locate our analysis alongside studies of how digital technologies impact the experience of care within non-clinical spaces, whilst noting that much research on the use of technologies for care remains haunted by clinical imaginaries. Bringing together ideas of multi-sited therapeutic assemblages, technogeographies of care, and how places-by-proxy can act as conduits for care, we explore an example of an online app being used in public space to manage experiences of anxiety in an everyday urban environment. We reflect on this illustrative example to trace the movement of care as it is mediated through digital technologies—out of the clinic, beyond the home, and into the ordinary spaces of the city. We conclude that the entanglements of digital technologies and ordinary urban places prompt us to entirely reconsider questions of the where of care.
The Emergence of Order in Many Element Systems
Authors: Einav Amit
Published: July 2024

Our work is dedicated to the introduction and investigation of a new asymptotic correlation relation in the field of mean field models and limits. This new notion, order (as opposed to chaos), revolves around a tendency for self organisation in a given system and is expected to be observed in biological and societal models. Beyond the definition of this new notion, our work will show its applicability, and propagation, in the so-called choose the Leader model.
Radiation resistance and saturated adsorption capacity of a superabsorbent polymer and anion-supporting hydrogel for the safe storage of treated water
Authors: Higaki Shogo , Gotoh Takehiko , Kubo M. Kenya , Oishi Toru
Published: July 2024

Treated tritium-containing water is stored in tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant until ocean discharge is completed; however, the risk of leakage and contamination remains. We propose the combination of a superabsorbent polymer and an anion-supporting hydrogel for the safe and long-term storage of this water. The external radiation resistance of these materials in the presence of water was investigated, and their water absorption and Cs+ and I retention capacities following irradiation to a cumulative absorbed dose of up to 40 Gy were determined. The superabsorbent polymer demonstrated good water retention and Cs+ adsorption capability. The saturated I adsorption capacity of the hydrogel was 575 ± 28 mg/g, and maintained up to an absorbed dose of 100 Gy. The proposed method can be implemented until the planned completion of water processing even if the storage location has a dose rate of 100 µGy/h.
Evaluation of the stabilizing effect and ageing time indicator properties of poly(flavonoids) in a cyclic olefin copolymer
Authors: Latos-Brozio Malgorzata , Milczarek Katarzyna , Masek Anna
Published: July 2024

Few studies are concerned with the stabilization of polymers using natural polymeric polyphenols. There are no literature reports on the use of poly(flavonoids) produced by bio-chemical polymerization as stabilizers. The aim of the research was to analyse the stabilizing potential (anti-ageing UV) of poly(catechin) and poly(naringenin) in polymer compositions based on the thermoplastic elastomer of ethylene-norbornene copolymer (TOPAS Elastomer E-140). Poly(flavonoids) were obtained in a polymerization reaction with a cross-linking compound and then introduced into cyclic olefin copolymer TOPAS. For comparison, materials with monomeric catechin and naringenin were also prepared. The scope of research included the thermal analysis of the polymer compositions (Oxidation induction time OIT, Thermogravimetry TG), determination of carbonyl indices and ageing coefficients K (based on changes in mechanical properties) after UV ageing (400 h). In addition, the colour change after ageing of the samples was investigated. Samples containing polymeric forms of catechin and naringenin were more susceptible to degradation than samples with monomeric flavonoids. Inferior stabilizing properties of poly(flavonoids) were associated with steric hindrances and limited availability of hydroxyl groups to provide the antioxidant activity of the polymeric compounds. The work extends the literature data by providing an analysis of the stabilizing effect of synthetic poly(flavonoids) in polymer compositions.
Advances in development of biomarkers for brain damage and ischemia
Authors: Karimova Diana , Rostami Elham , Chubarev Vladimir N. , Tarasov Vadim V. , Schiöth Helgi B. , Rask-Andersen Mathias
Published: July 2024

Acquired brain injury is an urgent situation that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are required for accurate diagnosis. However, these methods are costly and require substantial infrastructure and specialized staff. Circulatory biomarkers of acute brain injury may help in the management of patients with acute cerebrovascular events and prevent poor outcome and mortality. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the development of potential biomarkers of brain damage to increase diagnostic possibilities. For this purpose, we searched the PubMed database of studies on the diagnostic potential of brain injury biomarkers. We also accessed information from Clinicaltrials.gov to identify any clinical trials of biomarker measurements for the diagnosis of brain damage. In total, we present 41 proteins, enzymes and hormones that have been considered as biomarkers for brain injury, of which 20 have been studied in clinical trials. Several microRNAs have also emerged as potential clinical biomarkers for early diagnosis. Combining multiple biomarkers in a panel, along with other parameters, is yielding promising outcomes.
A systematic review of factors, data sources, and prediction techniques for earlier prediction of traffic collision using AI and machine Learning
Authors: Niture Nandkumar , Abdellatif Iheb
Published: July 2024

The prevalence of road traffic collisions is a pressing issue both worldwide and within the United States. The consequences of these incidents are severe, resulting in loss of life, reduced productivity, and other socio-economic implications that demand immediate attention. To effectively address this problem, conducting an extensive literature review is crucial to identify the various causes of traffic collisions and the complex interdependencies between them. Addressing this challenge necessitates a targeted exploration of its multifaceted causes and their interrelations through an extensive literature review, incorporating the latest advancements in machine learning and deep learning techniques. However, the lack of a consensus on datasets and prediction techniques hinders the development of accurate, location-specific traffic collision predictions. By meticulously analyzing traffic collision factors and data sources and leveraging state-of-the-art ML and DL approaches, this paper endeavors to forge a pathway toward developing precise, location-adapted predictions for traffic collisions, thereby contributing significantly to the discourse on long-term preventative strategies.
Genome-wide association study on meningioma risk in Japan: a multicenter prospective study
Authors: Yamada Shuhei , Umehara Toru , Sonehara Kyuto , Kijima Noriyuki , Kawabata Shuhei , Takano Koji , Kidani Tomoki , Hirayama Ryuichi , Arita Hideyuki , Okita Yoshiko , Kinoshita Manabu , Kagawa Naoki , Fujinaka Toshiyuki , Fujita Toshiaki , Wakayama Akatsuki ,   Biobank Japan Project, Matsuda Koichi , Okada Yukinori , Kishima Haruhiko
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Although meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors, their genetic etiologies have not been fully elucidated. To date, only two genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have focused on European ancestries, despite ethnic differences in the incidence of meningiomas. The aim of this study was to conduct the first GWAS of Japanese patients with meningiomas to identify the SNPs associated with meningioma susceptibility.

Methods

In this multicenter prospective case-control study, we studied 401 Japanese patients with meningioma admitted in five institutions in Japan, and 50,876 control participants of Japanese ancestry enrolled in Biobank Japan.

Results

The quality control process yielded 536,319 variants and imputation resulted in 8,224,735 variants on the autosomes and 224,820 variants on the X chromosomes. This GWAS eventually revealed no genetic variants with genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10 − 8) and observed no significant association in the previously reported risk variants rs11012732 and rs2686876 due to low minor allele frequency in the Japanese population.

Conclusion

This is the first GWAS of meningiomas in East Asian populations and is expected to contribute to the development of GWAS research for meningiomas.
Measurement of odor intensity in the ground of natural slopes with a history of landslide disasters
Authors: Tsuchida Takashi , Nakayabu Kyosuke , Yuri Hiroki , Hata Toshiro
Published: July 2024

The smell of soil is one of the premonitory phenomena of debris flows. To clarify the relationship between landslide disasters and odors, we observed odor intensity in a ground with a history of debris flow disasters and investigated the relationship between odors and geotechnical characteristics of the soil. The odor intensity in the ground was measured at depths of 0–2.5 m on the slope of Mt. Gagara, Hiroshima University, which has a history of collapse owing to heavy rain. The method involves inserting an aluminum pipe and a Teflon tube into a hole with a diameter of 10 mm formed using a lightweight dynamic cone penetration test (LWDCPT) device and measuring the odor intensity of the sucked interstitial air using an odor measuring instrument. More than 100 odor intensities were measured at many points, which were considered recognizable without individual differences. To investigate the odor distribution in the ground, we measured the odor intensity at 19 locations within an area of 2 m × 2 m. The average odor intensity was 340 and the coefficient of variation was 0.60. This result shows that the odor distribution in the ground varied significantly. The odor in the ground was measured at depths of 30 and 50 cm on natural Masado slopes at eight locations in Hiroshima Prefecture. We observed that odor was not always present in all grounds. A weak but positive correlation was observed between the logarithm of the LWDCPT penetration resistance and odor intensity, and the relationship between odor intensity and ground constant was investigated at these eight locations. Although the odor intensity in the ground varied significantly depending on the location, a correlation between the pH and ignition loss was observed, which appeared to be linked to the activity of bacteria in the ground.
Economic impacts of an urban gully are driven by land degradation
Authors: Kuhn Caiubi Emanuel Souza , Reis Fábio Augusto Gomes Vieira , Furegatti Simone Andrea , Zarfl Christiane , Peixoto Anna Sílvia Palcheco
Published: July 2024

This study carries out the first evaluation of the impacts of ravines and gullies in urban areas in Brazil considering environmental damage, such as costs related to land restoration and erosion control, infrastructure destruction, economic losses and income losses related to property and urban land taxes. In this study, the city of Bauru, Brazil, has been selected as study site, where three areas were chosen due to the large impact that ravines and gullies have caused over the past two decades. Our analysis indicates that the total damage exceeds US$ 173 million and is mainly related to land degradation. The cost of replacing the eroded soil in these three areas is estimated at approximately US$ 13.3 million. Furthermore, according to our analysis, urban areas affected by ravines and gullies represent problems similar to brownfields. The assessment of the impacts and challenges associated with urban ravines and gullies can help promote accountability by those responsible for their initiation and may contribute to decreasing the development of new eroded areas.
Effective Descent Morphisms of Filtered Preorders
Authors: Clementino Maria Manuel , Janelidze George
Published: July 2024

We characterize effective descent morphisms of what we call filtered preorders, and apply these results to slightly improve a known result, due to the first author and F. Lucatelli Nunes, on the effective descent morphisms in lax comma categories of preorders. A filtered preorder, over a fixed preorder X, is defined as a preorder A equipped with a profunctor $$X\rightarrow A$$

X
→
A

and, equivalently, as a set A equipped with a family $$(A_x)_{x\in X}$$

(

A
x

)

x
∈
X

of upclosed subsets of A with $$x'\leqslant x\Rightarrow A_x\subseteq A_{x'}$$

x
′

⩽
x
⇒

A
x

⊆

A

x
′

.
Group prioritarianism: why AI should not replace humanity
Authors: Hong Frank
Published: July 2024

If a future AI system can enjoy far more well-being than a human per resource, what would be the best way to allocate resources between these future AI and our future descendants? It is obvious that on total utilitarianism, one should give everything to the AI. However, it turns out that every Welfarist axiology on the market also gives this same recommendation, at least if we assume consequentialism. Without resorting to non-consequentialist normative theories that suggest that we ought not always create the world with the most value, or non-welfarist theories that tell us that the best world may not be the world with the most welfare, I propose a new theory that justifies giving some resources to humanity in the face of overwhelming AI well-being. I call this new theory, “Group Prioritarianism".
Enhancing broiler chicken health and performance: the impact of phytobiotics on growth, gut microbiota, antioxidants, and immunity
Authors: Urban Jakub , Kareem Karwan Yaseen , Matuszewski Arkadiusz , Bień Damian , Ciborowska Patrycja , Lutostański Kamil , Michalczuk Monika
Published: July 2024

The total ban on antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock nutrition, introduced in EU (European Union) countries on 1 January 2006, presented animal nutritionists with a considerable challenge in finding alternatives. First, the additives had to protect animals’ digestive tracts from pathogenic bacteria, and second, they should be inert in relation to the animals’ bodies. After many experiments, phytobiotics seem like they may be an effective alternative. This article aims to review key scientific articles relating to the use of phytobiotics of various origins in the feeding of chickens for fattening. The review of the available literature brings together the most important research findings on the effects of phytobiotic supplementation on growth performance, gut microbiota, antioxidant status and immune system of broiler chickens. Phytobiotics are natural plant substances produced to protect plants against pathogenic microorganisms. Phytobiotics are classified as a group of biologically active compounds with a broad chemical diversity and may include terpenes, triterpenes and flavonoids. Based on the collected information, it can be concluded that the use of phytobiotics in appropriate quantities and proportions in feed for broiler chickens influences the proper functioning of the digestive tract by, among other things, stimulating beneficial microbiota and secretion of digestive enzymes. In addition, the introduction of such feed additives has an impact on the alleviation of inflammation, supports the functioning of the immune system and has a positive influence on production results.
The Future Process of Japan’s Population Aging: A Cluster Analysis Using Small Area Population Projection Data
Authors: Inoue Takashi , Inoue Nozomu
Published: July 2024

Japan’s population aging is the most advanced in the world today. No nationwide study has been conducted using small area population projection data on Japan’s aging population. This is because such projection data was unavailable for Japan before the 2016 launch of the website ‘The Web System of Small Area Population Projections for the Whole Japan’ (SAPP for Japan). SAPP for Japan opened the small-area and long-term projected population of Japan for the first time on the World Wide Web. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively analyze the future aging process using data from the SAPP for Japan and, based on this analysis, to attempt to present the standard aging process that developed countries will experience after the demographic transition, taking advantage of the fact that Japan has the most aged population in the world. Subsequently, a non-hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using two statistics on aging: the elderly population proportion and the elderly population change index, and the small areas were classified into seven clusters. Furthermore, this study examined the demographic and geographical features of the clusters, introduced a new concept of the stage in the population aging process, and analyzed the relationship between the features and the stages. To conclude, the following findings were obtained regarding the future process of Japan’s population aging. In each area of Japan, first, the total population begins to decline, second, the elderly population begins to decrease, and finally, its proportion begins to decrease. These stage shifts generally proceed earlier in areas with a higher elderly population proportion and are attributed to the reduced size of younger cohorts owing to long-term fertility decline. This process would be the norm in many developed countries after the demographic transition.
Till We Have Red Faces: Drinking to Signal Trustworthiness in Contemporary China
Authors: Lin Wanlin , Kang Siqin , Zhu Jiangnan , Ding Li
Published: July 2024

Interpersonal networks facilitate business cooperation and socioeconomic exchange. But how can outsiders demonstrate their trustworthiness to join existing networks? Focusing on the puzzling yet common phenomenon of heavy drinking at China’s business banquets, we argue that this costly practice can be a rational strategy intentionally used by entrants to signal trustworthiness to potential business partners. Because drinking alcohol can lower one’s inhibitions and reveal one’s true self, entrants intentionally drink heavily to show that they have nothing to hide and signal their sincere commitment to cooperation. This signaling effect is enhanced if the entrants have low alcohol tolerance, as their physical reactions to alcohol (e.g., red face) make their drunkenness easier to verify. Our theory of heavy social drinking is substantiated by both ethnographic fieldwork and a discrete-choice experiment on Chinese entrepreneurs. This research illuminates how trust can be built absent sufficient support from formal institutions.
Crypto-influencers
Authors: Merkley Kenneth J. , Pacelli Joseph , Piorkowski Mark , Williams Brian
Published: July 2024

This study examines the investment value of information provided by crypto-influencers, that is, social media influencers covering crypto assets on Twitter. We examine the returns associated with approximately 36,000 tweets issued by 180 of the most prominent crypto social media influencers covering over 1,600 crypto assets for the two years spanning through December 2022. Our primary results indicate that crypto-influencers’ tweets are initially associated with positive returns. However, these tweets are followed by significant negative longer-horizon returns, suggesting they generate minimal long-term investment value. These effects are most pronounced for tweets issued by crypto-influencers proclaiming to be crypto experts, for smaller cap crypto asset securities and for self-described experts with many Twitter followers. In an additional analysis, we use machine-learning methods to classify tweets and find that this pattern of results strengthens when the tweets have a more positive sentiment or relate to buy recommendations.
How to measure interdisciplinary research? A systemic design for the model of measurement
Authors: Cantone Giulio Giacomo
Published: July 2024

Interdisciplinarity is a polysemous concept with multiple, reasoned and intuitive, interpretations across scholars and policy-makers. Historically, quantifying the interdisciplinarity of research has been challenging due to the variety of methods used to identify metadata, taxonomies, and mathematical formulas. This has resulted in considerable uncertainty about the ability of quantitative models to provide clear insights for policy-making. This study proposes a systemic design, grounded in an advanced literature review, to demonstrate that the quantification of the interdisciplinarity of research can be treated as a process of decision-making in mathematical modelling, where alternatives choices are evaluated based on how closely their mathematical properties align with the theoretical objectives of the research design. The study addresses modeling choices regarding the stylisation of metadata into units of observation, and the operational definition of the conceptual dimensions of interdisciplinarity, presenting both established and novel methods and formulas. The final section discusses advanced topics in modelling the measurement, including a dedicated discussion on the difference in analysing the status of papers versus collective bodies of research; and distinguishing between reflective, formative, and inferential causal models of interdisciplinary research.
The impact of social media use on the relationship between social isolation and connectedness during COVID-19 in Hong Kong
Authors: Rochelle Tina L. , Chan L. M.
Published: July 2024

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the importance of social connectedness, whilst the popularity of social media continues to rise. The present study examined the relationship between engagement on social networking sites (SNSs), social connectedness and social isolation in a sample of Hong Kong Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 232 participants (65% female) aged 18–65 years were recruited to a cross-sectional online study. SNS engagement was predictive of social connectedness in the present sample. Findings revealed that SNS engagement was associated with lower levels of social isolation. Younger participants reported greater engagement with SNSs, and lower levels of social isolation compared to older participants. However, older respondents reported greater levels of social connectedness. No gender differences were observed in social connectedness, but men reported significantly higher levels of social isolation compared to women. With the COVID-19 pandemic only just at an end, social restrictions have recently been lifted in Hong Kong, resulting in the significance of online communication becoming ever more important as a means of maintaining social connectedness.
Training design for social inclusion: The impact of sociodemographic factors on immigrant learners in Dutch adult education programs
Authors: Bolzonella Francesco , de Greef Maurice , Segers Mien
Published: July 2024

This study explores the impact of adult basic education programs aimed at enhancing social inclusion for immigrant learners in the Netherlands. Basic literacy skills are vital for performing everyday tasks and building human capital, which in turn facilitates employment and skill acquisition. Low adult literacy is often associated with social exclusion and poverty, which can have detrimental effects on mental health and further reinforce marginalization. We analyzed two adult education programs (N = 171) conducted in 2019, within the context of lifelong learning policies designed to support adults with low literacy skills. Our findings confirm the positive effects of these educational programs on social inclusion outcomes. Through logistic regression and moderation analyses, we examined how participants’ sociodemographic backgrounds influenced their social inclusion outcomes following the program. Key pre-training conditions, such as prior education and employment status, influenced how participants engaged with a positively perceived learning environment. Assertiveness emerged as a significant outcome, affecting changes across various aspects of social inclusion. These results suggest that acquiring new skills empowers participants to reshape their self-perceived literacy identity. This study adds to the body of literature on adult education by emphasizing the importance of training design and sociodemographic factors in fostering social inclusion for immigrant learners.
Individual values and inductive risk: remotivating the Bayesian alternative
Authors: Hatchwell Rivkah
Published: July 2024

The argument from inductive risk has become widely accepted as good reason to reject the value-free ideal. The literature that follows is then focused on where inductive risk judgements are required and whose values ought to determine them. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to offer motivation for aiming at the value-free ideal, and therefore avoiding inductive risk. To do so I show that there is a tension between principles in science ethics and value encroachment because of inductive risk. Secondly, I offer a renewed defence of Jeffrey’s response to the argument from inductive risk. By appealing to theories in epistemology about rational belief modelling, I argue that the Bayesian belief model offers a suitable alternative to current belief modelling in science, despite criticism that is either explicit in the literature or fairly expected to arise.
Epidemiology and diagnostic accuracy of Clostridium perfringens toxins in the intestinal contents of camels, sheep, and cattle: a cross-sectional study in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt
Authors: Wahdan Ali , Elhaig Mahmoud M.
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to establish an accurate epidemiological surveillance tool for the detection of differentC. perfringenstypes from 76 diseased and 34 healthy animals in Dakhalia Governorate, Egypt. A total of 110 intestinal content samples were randomly collected from camels, sheep, and cattle.C. perfringenswas isolated and biochemically identified by the VITEK2 system. Toxinotyping and genotyping ofC. perfringensisolates were specified by a multiscreen ELISA and real-time qPCR (rt-qPCR). The occurrence ofC. perfringenswas highest among camels (20% in healthy and 25% in diseased) and was lowest in cattle (23.1% and 14.7%). Thecpatoxin was detected in all isolates by rt-qPCR and in 7 isolates by ELISA,exttoxin was detected in 7 isolates by rt-qPCR and in 6 isolates by ELISA, and cpbtoxin was detected in 2 isolates by both rt-qPCR and ELISA. Four types ofC. perfringenswere identified by rt-qPCR, type A (65.2%), B (4.3%), C (4.3%), and D (26.1%), and three types by ELISA, type D (17.4%), A (8.7%) and C (4.3%). Our study indicated the prevalence of infection in Dakahlia byC. perfringenstype A and D, particularly camels, and recommends adopting an appropriate vaccination strategy among the studied animals.
The use of artificial intelligence in musculoskeletal ultrasound: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Getzmann Jonas M. , Zantonelli Giulia , Messina Carmelo , Albano Domenico , Serpi Francesca , Gitto Salvatore , Sconfienza Luca Maria
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To systematically review the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound (US) with an emphasis on AI algorithm categories and validation strategies.

Material and Methods

An electronic literature search was conducted for articles published up to January 2024. Inclusion criteria were the use of AI in MSK US, involvement of humans, English language, and ethics committee approval.

Results

Out of 269 identified papers, 16 studies published between 2020 and 2023 were included. The research was aimed at predicting diagnosis and/or segmentation in a total of 11 (69%) out of 16 studies. A total of 11 (69%) studies used deep learning (DL)-based algorithms, three (19%) studies employed conventional machine learning (ML)-based algorithms, and two (12%) studies employed both conventional ML- and DL-based algorithms. Six (38%) studies used cross-validation techniques with K-fold cross-validation being the most frequently employed (n = 4, 25%). Clinical validation with separate internal test datasets was reported in nine (56%) papers. No external clinical validation was reported.

Conclusion

AI is a topic of increasing interest in MSK US research. In future studies, attention should be paid to the use of validation strategies, particularly regarding independent clinical validation performed on external datasets.
Detection of pulmonary nodules in chest radiographs: novel cost function for effective network training with purely synthesized datasets
Authors: Hanaoka Shouhei , Nomura Yukihiro , Yoshikawa Takeharu , Nakao Takahiro , Takenaga Tomomi , Matsuzaki Hirotaka , Yamamichi Nobutake , Abe Osamu
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Many large radiographic datasets of lung nodules are available, but the small and hard-to-detect nodules are rarely validated by computed tomography. Such difficult nodules are crucial for training nodule detection methods. This lack of difficult nodules for training can be addressed by artificial nodule synthesis algorithms, which can create artificially embedded nodules. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel cost function for training networks to detect such lesions. Embedding artificial lesions in healthy medical images is effective when positive cases are insufficient for network training. Although this approach provides both positive (lesion-embedded) images and the corresponding negative (lesion-free) images, no known methods effectively use these pairs for training. This paper presents a novel cost function for segmentation-based detection networks when positive–negative pairs are available.

Methods

Based on the classic U-Net, new terms were added to the original Dice loss for reducing false positives and the contrastive learning of diseased regions in the image pairs. The experimental network was trained and evaluated, respectively, on 131,072 fully synthesized pairs of images simulating lung cancer and real chest X-ray images from the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology dataset.

Results

The proposed method outperformed RetinaNet and a single-shot multibox detector. The sensitivities were 0.688 and 0.507 when the number of false positives per image was 0.2, respectively, with and without fine-tuning under the leave-one-case-out setting.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study in which a method for detecting pulmonary nodules in chest X-ray images was evaluated on a real clinical dataset after being trained on fully synthesized images. The synthesized dataset is available at https://zenodo.org/records/10648433.
Diversity of Kordyana species (Brachybasidaceae) on Commelinaceae in Australia
Authors: Zeil-Rolfe Isabel , Gooden Ben , Hunter Gavin C. , Linde Celeste C. , Shivas Roger G.
Published: July 2024

The identity and diversity of Kordyana species on three native species of Commelinaceae in Australia were studied following surveys in 2020–2022 for Kordyana brasiliensis, which had been deliberately released as a biocontrol agent for the environmental weed Tradescantia fluminensis. Three new species of Kordyana are described from Australia based on DNA sequence analysis of the ITS and LSU rDNA regions, morphology, host associations, and geographic distributions. Two new species, Kordyana spectabilis on Aneilema acuminatum and Kordyana luteoalba on Pollia crispata, occur in shaded rainforest habitats in eastern Australia. The third new species, Kordyana occidentalis on Commelina ensifolia, occurs in forests and woodlands of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Morphological descriptions are provided for these three new species of Kordyana as well as for the conidial stage of K. brasiliensis.
Understanding the Stress-Induced Movement of $$\gamma /\epsilon $$ Interfaces and Coalescence of $$\epsilon $$ Martensite Variants Through Fractal Analysis
Authors: Das Arpan
Published: July 2024

The influence of stress/strain on the movement/rearrangement of $$\gamma /\epsilon $$

γ
/
ϵ

interfaces and the coalescence of $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
plates under a fixed location of a high Mn steel have been investigated through fractal measurement of $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
plates. Image texture analysis has also been implemented to recognize the stored energy and configurational stability of such plates under $$\gamma $$
γ
matrix as a function of tensile deformation. Fractality of $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
variants are correlated with their geometrical configurations at different directions with systematic increment of tensile strain.
Correlation Between Elastic Properties and Phase Transformation of Zr50Pd50−xRux High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloys Designed by DFT
Authors: Shen Yu-Nien , Nkomo D. , Matsunaga S. , Phasha M. J. , Yamabe-Mitarai Y.
Published: July 2024

The effect of Ru addition on the martensitic transformation and mechanical properties of Zr50Pd50−xRux SMAs shape memory alloys has been studied. Strain–temperature experiments, differential scanning calorimeter, and scanning electron microscope analyses were performed to validate the theoretical predictions by DFT calculation regarding the influence of the C′ parameter on martensitic stability. Despite the absence of an observed shape memory effect under the tested conditions, the findings suggest that ZrPdRu alloys hold promise for high-temperature applications.
Tracing the Scientific Legacy: Bibliometric Analysis of LATAM Research in Bariatric Surgery for 33 Years
Authors: Domínguez Alvarado Gonzalo Andrés , López Gómez Luis Ernesto , Serrano Baez Gustavo Adolfo , Serrano Gómez Sergio Eduardo , Vásquez Pineda Andrés , Bustos Lopez Tatiana , Arévalo González María Alejandra , Palomino Peña Carlos Felipe , Chavarría Granda Luis David , Álvarez Leon Daniela , Barrera Arguello Diego Mauricio
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has experienced considerable growth, addressing the challenges of obesity and its complications. The lack of a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in Latin America motivates this study, highlighting the need to understand the evolution of research in this area and its impact on clinical decision-making and health policies.

Methodology

A cross-sectional bibliometric study was carried out using the Scopus database. A structured search strategy was designed to identify articles related to bariatric surgery with authors affiliated with Latin American countries. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, followed by a descriptive and bibliometric analysis of the scientific production found.

Results

A total of 3553 documents published between 1991 and 2024 were included. There was an annual growth of 11%, with an average age of documents of 7.5 years. A concentration was observed in some countries, notably Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. Although scientific output increased, the average number of citations per article showed a downward trend since 2003.

Discussion

Despite the growth in scientific production, the quality and relevance of research is questioned, especially given the decrease in the impact received. It highlights the lack of meaningful regional collaboration, which could limit the sharing of knowledge and resources. Questions are raised about gaps in research capacity and the economic and development implications are discussed.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable information to strengthen future research in bariatric surgery in Latin America. It highlights the importance of promoting regional and international collaboration and improving research training in countries with less participation. Clinical intervention strategies can benefit from better understanding research trends and adopting evidence-based practices in a more informed manner.

Graphical Abstract