bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Acid Strength and Mineral Composition on Spontaneous Imbibition with Reactive Fluids
Authors: Pratama Muhammad Andiva , Khan Hasan Javed
Published: December 2024

Capillary rise experiments are conducted in a set of calcareous and siliceous rocks with varying mineralogy and petrophysical properties to understand the coupled impact of reactivity and spontaneous imbibition. A capillary rise experiment is performed in each sample: first with deionized water, then with a dilute acidic solution, and finally again with deionized water, and the capillary rise profile for each is recorded. Pre- and post-acid petrophysical properties such as porosity, permeability, pore size distribution, and contact angle are measured for each sample. The mineral makeup of the rocks significantly influences how the acidic fluids penetrate the samples. The primary reactions are the dissolution of Ca- and Mg-rich minerals which alter the pore network. The higher acid strength results in higher capillary rise in calcareous rocks and results in an increase in the average pore size. The same pH acid results in lower capillary rise in the siliceous rocks, and a general decrease in the average pore size is observed. Changes in contact angle indicate increased water affinity in carbonate and reduced affinity in sandstone. The link between capillary interactions and fluid reactivity is often overlooked in fluid flow studies, and this research sheds light on the importance of reactivity during spontaneous imbibition, offering insights into dissolution and precipitation processes during capillary flow.
Exploring elite athletes’ entrepreneurial intentions: unraveling the impact of high-level sports career in skills development
Authors: Vidal-Vilaplana Alberto , González-Serrano María Huertas , Crespo-Hervàs Josep
Published: December 2024

The sporting career of elite athletes is a limited, inevitably terminal and often short career, with an early retirement process, so elite athletes should consider having a second professional career. In this sense, entrepreneurship is a popular choice for professional athletes and, moreover, they are considered to be well equipped, in terms of personality and skills, for this entrepreneurial career. The aim of this study is to analyse the influence of different entrepreneurial skills on the Entrepreneurial Intentions of elite athletes, also taking into account other factors such as whether they follow a Dual Career. In this way, the aim is to show how the entrepreneurial skills acquired and developed through high-level sport (resilience, proactivity and creativity) can influence the Entrepreneurial Intentions of these athletes, and help them to succeed in their professional career after retirement. The sample was composed by 200 elite athletes from Spain. Results showed that these athletes perceived a high degree of development of the skills. Besides, three solutions were obtained for high levels of Entrepreneurial Intentions that explained the 38% of these cases. The combinations of high levels of resilience with high levels of creativity were presented in all the solutions in combination with other variables, and proactivity, in a lesser extent, in two solutions. Finally, some theoretical and practical implications are proposed in order both to improve the research on the topic and highlight the importance of educational training of elite athletes to increase their possibilities to success in their future entrepreneurial career.
Digital technologies for life cycle assessment: a review and integrated combination framework
Authors: Popowicz Martin , Katzer Nicolas J. , Kettele Moritz , Schöggl Josef-Peter , Baumgartner Rupert J.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Companies need to enhance their understanding of the environmental impacts of their products and services. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has become a prevalent method for evaluating these impacts. Despite significant advancements in LCA methodology and data availability, several challenges persist. Digital technologies may offer solutions to these challenges in LCA. Therefore, it is crucial to explore how digital technologies can be integrated into LCAs.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the application of digital technologies, specifically blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence (AI), within LCAs. The review included 103 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers. Contributions of these technologies were categorized according to the four LCA phases outlined in ISO 14040/44 standards. The findings were synthesized into a framework that highlights the individual and combined potential of these technologies for enhancing LCAs.

Results and discussion

The review reveals that IoT is primarily used in the inventory analysis phase, while blockchain, AI, and big data are applied across the goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation phases. Based on these findings, a comprehensive theoretical concept was developed to outline all possible combinations of these four technologies with LCA for synergistic application.

Conclusions

This study proposes a framework for integrating four key digital technologies—blockchain, IoT, big data, and AI—into LCAs to support environmental sustainability assessment from a company perspective. This framework offers a current overview and a foundation for future research. For LCA practitioners, it serves as a strategic tool for identifying potential technologies and making informed decisions about which digital technologies to apply in their assessments.
Second hand or second generation? The performance of secondary buyouts
Authors: Kick Jonas , Schwetzler Bernhard
Published: December 2024

Secondary buyouts (SBOs) appear paradoxical because the surge in SBO activity is met with scepticism from the public and investors regarding their performance. In this paper, we undertake a comprehensive analysis of SBO performance through two distinct lenses: First, we address the prevailing notion of SBOs as “lemons”. These are perceived as opportunities that, following a successful primary buyout (PBO), seemingly leave little room for further value creation. To investigate this “negative correlation hypothesis”, we employ a unique back-to-back sample of 276 cases involving the same firm in both a PBO and an SBO. Analysing the correlation between the internal rate of returns (IRRs) of back-to-back PBO/SBOs, our results do not support the “negative correlation hypothesis”. Second, we directly compare the deal performance of the two related back-to-back buyout rounds. For our back-to-back sample, we find that PBOs display significantly higher IRRs than SBOs. However, after performing a matched comparison adjusting for size and holding period differences, which are two well-known pitfalls of IRR rank orders, our findings suggest that there is no systematic outperformance of SBOs against their PBO comparables. Finally, we analyse differences in operating performance between PBOs and SBOs. Our results do not indicate a significant difference, either based on the back-to-back sample or when comparing PBOs and SBOs against matched public peers. In the light of our findings, we advocate for a reevaluation of the current perception of SBOs. Rather than being dismissed as “second-hand” opportunities, they should be recognised as “second-generation” opportunities deserving closer consideration.
Investigation of the solar activity and QBO effects on the near-space environment
Authors: Li Bo , Cui Ruifei , Weng Libin
Published: December 2024

Based on the wavelet method, we investigate the solar activity and quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) signals in the near-space environment by using the modern-era retrospective analysis for research and applications, version-2 data and sounding of the atmosphere using broadband emission radiometry (SABER) onboard the thermosphere, ionosphere, mesosphere energetics, and dynamics satellite (TIMED/SABER). The results indicate that the annual variation mainly dominates from stratosphere to mesosphere at middle latitudes, which is more significant and stable in the southern hemisphere. Moreover, the temperature of top near space is affected by the solar activity, and it can vary over 5 K inner one solar cycle. The QBO signal is obviously seen in the stratospheric zonal wind and temperature, which is obviously existed only at a narrow latitude band between 10°S and 10°N, and its altitude range above the equator region is 20–40 km, while it turns to be 20–30 km over 10°S and 10°N, but seemly not existed in the mesosphere. Generally, our results would help to understand the influence of solar activity and QBO.
Comparing contested sustainabilities: how diverse human–nature relationships give rise to different approaches to sustainability
Authors: Nielsen Pernille , Christensen Andreas Aa. , Bolwig Simon
Published: December 2024

Despite increasing acknowledgement of the diversity and different approaches at play in research on sustainability transitions, systematic comparisons of these approaches are scarce. This is a problem for sustainability research, as the coexistence of multiple approaches to sustainability in the absence of an overarching comparative vocabulary may result in disparate and potentially incommensurable assumptions affecting the analysis, implementation, and impact of sustainability transitions. By means of a review and conceptual investigation, we develop a conceptual model for comparing multiple and diverse sustainability approaches. Investigating both the descriptive (stationary) and actionable elements of sustainability, we create a comparative space based on distinguishable parameters shared among sampled sustainability approaches as empirical literature-based units: (1) from instrumentalist to intrinsic valuations of nature; and (2) from holistic to particularistic system considerations. Using a vector-based method to represent a sustainability approach, we systematically compare various perceptions of sustainability problems and solutions, thereby allowing us to characterize different movements towards imagined sustainable futures.
Usefulness of a new anthropomorphic phantom simulating the chest and abdomen regions in PET tests
Authors: Sagara Hiroaki , Inoue Kazumasa , Mano Chikara , Kajiwara Hironori , Nagai Yuichi , Fujii Hirofumi , Inaki Anri
Published: December 2024

Objective

To investigate the clinical utility of a new anthropomorphic phantom that reproduces the chest and abdomen better than the conventional National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) body phantom, count rates and image quality of PET images obtained from patients were evaluated.

Methods

Anthropomorphic phantoms were used to include radioactivity in the lung, liver, kidney, and background regions. Two NEMA body phantoms were used for chest and abdominal assessments. The cross calibration factor (CCF) cylinder phantom was also used to reproduce the distribution of radioactivity outside the field of view, simulating the patient brain. Four types of phantoms were used in the PET imaging experiment, and for each phantom, the prompt coincidence count rates, random coincidence count rates, true + scatter coincidence count rates, and single photon count rates were measured. Then, these count rates were compared with count rates from actual clinical data. PET image quality assessment was done using the parameters, noise equivalent count patient (NECpatient), noise equivalent count density (NECdensity), and liver signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Results

Random coincidence count rates showed that the data obtained from each phantom were in good agreement with the clinical data. True + scatter coincidence count rates had better agreement with clinical data when measured for anthropomorphic phantoms than for the NEMA body phantoms. Furthermore, when the CCF Cylinder phantom simulating the brain was placed outside the imaging field of view, the results were closer to the clinical data. PET image quality was 1.4% higher for NECpatient obtained from anthropomorphic phantoms compared to the mean obtained from clinical data. NECdensity was 15.0% lower than the mean value obtained from clinical data. Liver SNR was 14.8% higher in PET images reconstructed using the 3D-ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) method. It was 10.0% lower in PET images reconstructed with the image reconstruction method Q.Clear (GE Healthcare) using the Bayesian penalized likelihood (BPL) method.

Conclusion

The new anthropomorphic phantom was more consistent with the count rates obtained from clinical data than the conventional NEMA body phantoms were and it was able to better simulate the distribution of radioactivity concentrations in the patients by reproducing the distribution of radioactivity concentrations outside the field of view.
A New Approach to the Interpretation of Geotourism Texts
Authors: Li Qiang Jason , Dai David Wei , Ng Young
Published: December 2024

The importance given to geotourism reflects public awareness of the urgency of environmental conservation that includes geomorphological, ecological, and cultural knowledge. The recent growth of geotourism has increased the demand for high-quality geotourism interpretation to ensure accurate data communication. Nonetheless, the lack of systematic theoretical guidance has meant interpreters frequently resort to haphazard and ineffective interpretation strategies. Therefore, to enhance interpretation, (Geoheritage 14:1-24, 2022b, Geoheritage 14:1-20, 2022c and J Sustain Tourism 2024) established the Semantic, Style and Cultural (SSC) equivalence Model and the taxonomy of geotourism interpretation strategies (hereafter, Taxonomy) based on a corpus-based method and the theoretical framework of Hu’s (Perspectives 11:283-291, 2003) Eco-Translatology. Since this research is so recent it remains untested in the field. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these models using new geotourism data concerning Abiotic, Biotic and Cultural elements from three Chinese UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps)—Fangshan, Xiangxi, and Mount Kunlun, the corpus-based method and Eco-Translatology. 

Quantitative and qualitative analysis findings support the validity of both the SSC Model and the Taxonomy. Firstly, we found that most of the geotourism interpretation strategies employed to interpret geodata were derived from the Taxonomy in alignment with principles of Eco-Translatology to attain the SSC equivalence. Secondly, with the new data, we were able to find usage patterns that were previously missing in Li et al.’s (Geoheritage 14:1-24, 2022b; J Sustain Tourism 2024) Taxonomy. Thirdly, we identified a completely new strategy used in interpreting geological processes. Finally, this paper further illustrated how potentially ineffective geotourism interpretations can be optimised by effective interpretation strategies from Li et al.’s Taxonomy (Geoheritage 14:1-24, 2022b; J Sustain Tourism 2024 to achieve SSC equivalence.
Effects of Mindfulness Training on Teachers’ Expectations and Experiences Regarding Their Mental Health and Mindfulness/Prosocial Competencies
Authors: Janssen Math , Heerkens Yvonne , Van der Heijden Beatrice , Korzilius Hubert , Peters Pascale , Engels Josephine
Published: December 2024

Objectives

In this qualitative study, we explored Dutch secondary vocational schoolteachers’ prior expectations of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. We report on their short- and long-term experiences regarding mental health outcomes and personal or mindfulness/prosocial competencies.

Method

Between September 2016 and June 2020, we interviewed 32 teachers participating in a cluster randomised controlled trial prior to partaking in a MBSR training (T0); 27, immediately after the training (T1); and 16, 9 months after finishing the training (T3). No interviews were held on T2, 3 months after finishing the training. Qualitative data was analysed using directed content analysis.

Results

Analysis of the data at T0 resulted in five themes regarding the participants’ prior expectations related to the MBSR training. Data analysis at T1 and T3 resulted in 10 themes regarding their experiences, four of which were the same as at T0: one mental health outcome (i.e. stress and unpleasant feelings) and three personal competencies (i.e. being in the present, taking distance, and recognising and changing dysfunctional patterns). The fifth "other" theme at T0 was knowledge of mindfulness and of mindfulness skills. Six additional themes emerged related to a new mental health outcome (i.e. inner calmness and pleasant feelings) and five personal competencies (i.e. being aware, concentration, acceptance and non-judgment, communicating, and showing compassion towards yourself and others).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that MBSR can reduce teachers’ stress, increase inner calmness, and foster mindfulness and prosocial competencies.

Preregistration

The trial was registered with the Dutch Trial Register (www.trialregister.nl): NL5581 (July 2016).
A relational turn in climate change adaptation: Evidence from urban nature-based solutions
Authors: Goodwin Sean , Olazabal Marta , Castro Antonio J. , Pascual Unai
Published: December 2024

The emergence of nature-based solutions (NbS) in science, policy, and practice signals a paradigmatic shift in urban climate change adaptation, yet empirical investigations into its impact on adaptation definitions and progress tracking remain scarce. Addressing this gap, we conducted thematic analysis on semi-structured interviews (n = 15) with practitioners responsible for implementing and evaluating urban NbS in different countries. We provide a nuanced understanding of urban adaptation goals within urban NbS according to the insights from these practitioners, extending beyond hazard mitigation and towards cultivating and strengthening relationships between humans and nature. Tracking adaptation progress towards such relational adaptation goals requires acknowledging knowledge pluralism and the diversity of human–nature relations. We propose an alternative definition of adaptation supported by our data that aims to foster a more holistic approach to urban climate adaptation that accounts for the potential benefits of urban NbS across interconnected climate, biodiversity, and social goals.
Rail Flaw B-Scan Image Analysis Using a Hierarchical Classification Model
Authors: Hu Guoxi , Li Jie , Jing Guoqing , Aela Peyman
Published: December 2024

As railway traffic volumes and train speeds increase, rail maintenance is becoming more crucial to prevent catastrophic failures. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based solution for automatic rail flaw detection using ultrasound sensors to overcome the limitations of traditional inspection methods. Ultrasound sensors are well-suited for identifying structural abnormalities in rails. However, conventional inspection techniques like rail-walking are time-consuming and rely on human expertise, risking detection errors. To address this, a hierarchical classification model was proposed integrating ultrasound B-scan images and machine learning. It involved a two-stage approach—model A for fuzzy classification followed by Model EfficientNet-B7 was identified as the most effective architecture for both models through network comparisons. Experimental results demonstrated the model's ability to accurately detect rail flaws, achieving 88.56% accuracy. It could analyze a single ultrasound image sheet within 0.45 s. An AI-based solution using ultrasound sensors and hierarchical classification shows promise for automated, rapid, and reliable rail flaw detection to support safer railway infrastructure inspection and maintenance activities.
No One Home? New Evidence for MIS 3 Occupations in the Western Cape (South Africa) from Mertenhof Rock Shelter
Authors: Will Manuel , Jacobs Zenobia , Mackay Alex
Published: December 2024

Southern Africa features an intensively studied Stone Age sequence, though one with geographical and temporal gaps. The archaeology of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 remains understudied, particularly between ~ 50 and 25 ka. This period encompasses important ecological, demographic and cultural changes, most notably the transition from Middle Stone Age (MSA) to Later Stone Age (LSA) technologies. In western South Africa, previous research postulated a demographic hiatus during the second half of MIS 3, potentially due to hyperarid climatic conditions. Here, we provide evidence of occupation during this period at Mertenhof Rock Shelter (MRS) in the form of new chronometric and technological data. OSL estimates suggest two pulses of low-intensity occupations at ~ 50 ka and 41–37 ka, allowing for a diachronic assessment of technological changes. These sporadic MSA occupations complement the more widespread occurrence of open-air settlements along the Doring River during ~ 50–35 ka. At MRS, knappers procured local rock types and produced small flakes and some laminar elements via platform, bipolar and Levallois reduction. The retouched elements feature splintered pieces and denticulates but mostly lack points. Differences to contemporaneous sites in eastern southern Africa underscore ongoing technological regionalisation and demographic partitioning during MIS 3. The temporal changes in the sequence show some antecedents of Early LSA technological systems, which appear in the region around 25 ka, but not in a unidirectional manner. Lithic and chronometric evidence from MRS supports scenarios of a long MSA persistence within MIS 3 in southern Africa and a late emergence of the LSA sometime after 35 ka.
Individual differences in escalation of commitment: a multi-level adaptive learning perspective
Authors: Wong Kin Fai Ellick , Kwong Jessica Y. Y. , Yik Michelle
Published: December 2024

Previous studies have found stable individual differences in decision-making under escalation situations. Conventionally, the differences have been attributed to dispositional factors. In this paper, we offer multi-level adaptive learning as an alternative, positing that stable individual differences can develop (a) from an equal starting point at which there are no individual differences among all simulated learners, and (b) without the presumption of influences from dispositional factors. The results of three computer simulation studies showed that after sufficient learning trials, simulated individuals developed the key characteristics of stable individual differences in escalation of commitment: (a) a stable escalation tendency, (b) stable individual differences in escalation tendency, (c) decreases in stability of individual differences as more learning occurs, and (d) decreases in test–retest correlation as the test–retest interval increases. The findings suggest that adaptive learning can explain the emergence and development of individual differences in escalation of commitment without the assumption of dispositional factors.
Incidental mood affects decision under uncertainty: findings from an experiment with Nigerian farmers
Authors: Begho Toritseju , Daubry Tare Philip
Published: December 2024

Small farmers in low-and-middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by uncertainties under which they have to make decisions. However, decision-making may not be purely rational as it could be influenced by affective or emotional states. Compared to integral mood, there are few studies investigating whether incidental mood influences farmers’ monetary decisions under uncertainty. This paper applies the Cumulative prospect theory (CPT) model to determine farmers’ attitudes under uncertainty and examines the association with farmers mood, measured by direct elicitation during an experimental session. Participants (farmers) were mostly uncertainty averse in the gain domain. In contrast, farmers were uncertainty-seeking for losses. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to examine the differences between groups in sad, neutral and happy mood states, followed by posthoc tests to determine which groups differed from each other. The results revealed statistically significant differences in uncertainty aversion, loss aversion, and the parameters representing how probabilities are perceived and weighted, i.e., sad, neutral and happy in the gain domain. However, there was an absence of a relationship between incidental mood and several CPT parameters in the loss domain. The paper highlights how understanding the association between mood and attitudes can be harnessed for a better quality of decision-making in various contexts. This finding has important implications for agricultural contexts where farmers often face uncertain outcomes and must make choices that involve potential gains and losses. Since the transfer of incidental moods to decision making is usually done unconsciously, it is crucial to eliminate or reduce the impact of negative moods on decision-making, especially where the outcome is likely to be suboptimal.
E-books and ‘Real Books’
Authors: Dietz Laura
Published: December 2024

On any given day, millions of people will read e-books. Yet many of us will do so while holding them apart from 'real books'. The fact that a book can be worthy – of our time, money, respect, even love – without being 'real' is a fascinating paradox of twenty-first century reading. Drawing on original data from a longitudinal study, Laura Dietz investigates how movement between conceptions of e-books as ersatz, digital proxy, and incomplete books serves readers in unexpected ways. The cultural value of e-books remains an area of intense debate in publishing studies. Exploring the legitimacy of e-books in terms of their 'realness' and 'bookness', Dietz enriches our understanding of what e-books are, while also opening up new ways of thinking about how we imagine, how we use, and what we want from books of every kind. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Curating the Enlightenment
Authors: Keller Vera
Published: December 2024

How did the research universities of the Enlightenment come into being? And what debt do they owe to scholars of the previous era? Focusing on the career of German polymath Johann Daniel Major (1634–93), Curating the Enlightenment uncovers how late seventeenth-century scholars crafted the research university as a haven for critical inquiry in defiance of political and economic pressures. Abandoning the surety of established intellectual practice, this 'experimental century' saw Major and his peers reshaping fragments of knowledge into new perspectives. Across new disciplines, from experimental philosophy to archaeology and museology, they reexamined what knowledge was, who it was for, and how it was to be stored, managed, accessed, judged, and transformed. Although later typecast as Baroque obstacles to be overcome by the Enlightenment, these academics arranged knowledge in dynamic infrastructures that encouraged its further advancement in later generations, including our own. This study examines these seventeenth-century practices as part of a continuous intellectual tradition and reconceptualizes our understanding of the Enlightenment.
Moisture Sources and Atmospheric Circulation Patterns for Extreme Rainfall Event Over North China Plain From 29 July to 2 August 2023
Authors: Guo Hui , Hu Wanting , Yang Chen , Wan Fang
Published: December 2024

Two years following the extreme rainfall event in Henan Province in July 2021, North China was struck by another significant rainfall episode in late July and early August 2023 (the “23.7” event). This recent event, surpassed only by the August 1963 deluge in Henan province, precipitated extensive disasters across the Beijing‐Tianjin‐Hebei region (BTH) over the North China Plain. Understanding the mechanisms underlying such extreme precipitation events, including moisture sources and atmospheric circulation patterns, in the context of synoptic‐scale systems is crucial for accurate predictions and effective disaster mitigation in the future. To achieve this, this study utilized a vertically integrated water vapor transport method and a Water Accounting model to investigate the moisture sources and pathways of the “23.7” event. A systematic analysis of circulation patterns was also conducted based on the ERA5 reanalysis. The results showed that the western North Pacific and Indian Ocean contributed 38.1% and 18.6%, respectively, to the extreme rainfall over the BTH region. Additionally, terrestrial moisture sources contributed 16.59%, playing a significant role in the event. The stable and moisture‐laden air was transported to the BTH due to the influence of binary tropical cyclones “Doksuri” and “Khanun,” as well as the western Pacific subtropical high‐pressure system. Convergence and updraft dynamics trigger convective processes modulated by vortices and topography. The findings of this study help to build a deeper understanding of the formation processes and mechanisms behind such heavy rainfall, which provides insights for model predictions of similar high‐impact low‐frequency extreme rainfall events.
Extreme Responses of the Ionospheric Radial Currents to the Main Phase of the Super Geomagnetic Storm on 10 May 2024
Authors: Xia Hao , Wang Hui , Zhang Kedeng
Published: December 2024

On 10 May 2024, a super geomagnetic storm occurred with a minimum Dst index of −412 nT. This study investigates the behavior of the ionospheric radial current (IRC) during the main phase of this storm using data from Swarm A and simulations from the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM). At dawn, the IRC exhibits distinct temporal variations: a strong outward flow of 14 nA/m2 between 18:00 and 20:00 UT and an inward flow of −15 nA/m2 by 24:00 UT. At dusk, the IRC starts with an inward value of −6 nA/m2 and rapidly reverses to an outward flow peaking at 15 nA/m2 between 22:00 and 24:00 UT. The dawn‐dusk asymmetry of the IRC is primarily influenced by the merging electric field (Em). Increasing Em penetrates to low latitudes, establishing an eastward (dusk) or westward (dawn) electric field and enhancing the outward (dusk) or inward (dawn) IRC through meridional Hall currents. Model results indicate that the strong polarity changes in dawn IRC are linked to local disturbed zonal winds (). Which are eastward at dawn and westward at other magnetic local times (MLT). The eastward/westward generate outward/inward F‐layer dynamo currents, driving the disturbed vertical electric field () in opposite direction. The significant outward reversal of dusk ∆IRC could be attribute to the rapid enhancement of disturbed Pedersen conductivity (). Due to nonzero geomagnetic declination, eastward/westward corresponds to an increase/decrease in .
Evaluation of Sub‐Hourly MRMS Quantitative Precipitation Estimates in Mountainous Terrain Using Machine Learning
Authors: White Phoebe , Nelson Peter A.
Published: December 2024

The Multi‐Radar Multi‐Sensor (MRMS) product incorporates radar, quantitative precipitation forecasts, and gage data at a high spatiotemporal resolution for the United States and southern Canada. MRMS is subject to various sources of measurement error, especially in complex terrain. The goal of this study is to provide a framework for understanding the uncertainty of MRMS in mountainous areas with limited observations. We evaluate 8‐hr time series samples of MRMS 15‐min intensity through a comparison to 204 gages located in the mountains of Colorado. This analysis shows that the MRMS surface precipitation rate product tends to overestimate rainfall with a median normalized root mean squared error (RMSE) of 42% of the maximum MRMS 15‐min intensity. For each time series sample, various features related to the physical characteristics influencing MRMS performance are calculated from the topography, surrounding storms, and rainfall observed at the gage location. A gradient‐boosting regressor is trained on these features and is optimized with quantile loss, using the RMSE as a target, to model nonlinear patterns in the features that relate to a range of error. This model was used to predict a range of error throughout the mountains of Colorado during warm months, spanning 6 years, resulting in a spatiotemporally varying error model of MRMS for sub‐hourly precipitation rates. Mapping of this data set by aggregating normalized RMSE over time reveals that areas further from radar sites in higher elevation terrain show consistently greater error. However, the model predicts larger performance variability in these regions compared to alternative error assessments.
Genome-wide methylome-based molecular pathologies associated with depression and suicide
Authors: Dwivedi Yogesh , Roy Bhaskar , Korla Praveen Kumar
Published: December 2024

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating disorder. Suicide attempts are 5-times higher in MDD patients than in the general population. Interestingly, not all MDD patients develop suicidal thoughts or complete suicide. Thus, it is important to study the risk factors that can distinguish suicidality among MDD patients. The present study examined if DNA methylation changes can distinguish suicidal behavior among depressed subjects. Genome-wide DNA methylation was examined in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of depressed suicide (MDD+S; n = 15), depressed non-suicide (MDD−S; n = 17), and nonpsychiatric control (C; n = 16) subjects using 850 K Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip. The significantly differentially methylated genes were used to determine the functional enrichment of genes for ontological clustering and pathway analysis. Based on the number of CpG content and their relative distribution from specific landmark regions of genes, 32,958 methylation sites were identified across 12,574 genes in C vs. MDD+/−S subjects, 30,852 methylation sites across 12,019 genes in C vs. MDD−S, 41,648 methylation sites across 13,941 genes in C vs. MDD+S, and 49,848 methylation sites across 15,015 genes in MDD−S vs. MDD+S groups. A comparison of methylation sites showed 33,129 unique methylation sites and 5451 genes in the MDD−S group compared to the MDD+S group. Functional analysis suggested oxytocin, GABA, VGFA, TNFA, and mTOR pathways associated with suicide in the MDD group. Altogether, our data show a distinct pattern of DNA methylation, the genomic distribution of differentially methylated sites, gene enrichment, and pathways in MDD suicide compared to non-suicide MDD subjects.
Research and application discussion on new technology for detecting cadmium ions based on a near-red light carbon dot fluorescence quenching method
Authors: Tian Runfeng , Zhan Shifang , He Guanlong , Wang Zixuan , Zhang Zheng , Wang Xiaoyan
Published: December 2024

The picture is a schematic diagram of the fluorescence quenching method for the detection of cadmium ions by near-red light carbon dots, showing the method of operation for the preparation of the carbon dots as well as the results of the assay.
A fluorescent probe based on pyrazoline with significant Stokes shifts for the detection of Cu2+ ions and its applications
Authors: Shang Yajing , Wu Xinghu , Luo Haoting
Published: December 2024

The probe exhibits a large Stokes shift (122 nm), low detection limit (0.862 μM) and short response time (20 seconds) towards Cu2+, and is sensitive to pH.
An interpretable multi-scale convolutional attention residual neural network for glioma grading with Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Li Qingbo , Shao Xupeng , Zhou Yan , Wang Yinyan , Yan Zeya , Bao Hongbo , Zhou Lipu
Published: December 2024

A Multi-Scale Convolutional Attention Residual Neural Network (M-SCA ResNet) based on Raman spectroscopy was proposed for glioma grading, with the extraction of key Raman shifts that contribute to the classification process.
Synergistic antimicrobial effects of waste cotton cloth extracted cellulose with phytofabricated TiO2 for potential application in agriculture
Authors: Sharma Chhavi , Rana Archana , Kesharwani Amit Kumar , Singh Dinesh , Srivastava Ritu , Sharma Shailesh Narain
Published: December 2024

Ecofriendly nanocomposites, based on cellulose from waste/used cotton and TiO2 nanoparticles from using Azadirachta indica leaf extract, were prepared as a nanomedicine to test synergistic effects against chosen crop pathogens.
Sustainable fertiliser mesh, ‘4D’-precision engineered by flow chemistry: minimising agrochemical pollution
Authors: Le Tu Nguyen Quang , Lim Chang Nong , Fisk Ian , Tran Nam Nghiep , Hessel Volker , Robertson Karen
Published: December 2024

Flow synthesis of a chitosan-coated fertilliser 'necklace' arrangement (3D), woven into a mesh-like structure (4D). This hierarchical localised fertiliser is evaluated for efficiency and leaching behaviour of P, Ca and K nutrients.
Scaling theory for the kinetics of mechanochemical reactions with convective flow
Authors: Yamamoto Tetsuya , Kubota Koji , Harabuchi Yu , Ito Hajime
Published: December 2024

Mechanical stress can drive convective flows in the product-rich phase, produced by mechanochemical reaction. This accelerates the reaction by increasing the concentration gradient.
The relationship between chemistry achievement emotions and chemistry achievement: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Liu Yurong , Sun Haoran , Jia Zhichao , Sun Wujun
Published: December 2024

Chemistry, an introductory course of STEM courses and a critical subject in China's curriculum standards, plays a pivotal role in students' lifelong learning and development. This study explored the relationship between chemistry achievement emotions and chemistry achievement, examining the roles of chemistry self-efficacy and gender within that. The present research used the chemistry achievement emotions scale and the chemistry self-efficacy scale to assess the corresponding characteristics of 512 chemistry elective students from three senior high schools. The results showed that: (1) positive and negative emotions had significant direct effects on chemistry achievement. (2) Positive (negative) emotions positively (negatively) influenced chemistry achievement through the mediation of chemistry self-efficacy. (3) In the moderated mediation model with positive emotions as the independent variable, gender influenced the first half of the mediation pathway; however, the moderating effect of gender was not significant in the moderated mediation model with negative emotions as the independent variable. This study investigated the mechanisms by which chemistry achievement emotions affect achievement, explored the roles of self-efficacy and gender, and provided a more comprehensive insight into how emotional and psychological factors influence academic performance. This research holds important implications for designing specific interventions to improve students' emotional well-being and performance in chemistry.
StraightTrack: Towards mixed reality navigation system for percutaneous K‐wire insertion
Authors: Zhang Han , Killeen Benjamin D. , Ku Yu‐Chun , Seenivasan Lalithkumar , Zhao Yuxuan , Liu Mingxu , Yang Yue , Gu Suxi , Martin‐Gomez Alejandro , Taylor  , Osgood Greg , Unberath Mathias
Published: December 2024

In percutaneous pelvic trauma surgery, accurate placement of Kirschner wires (K‐wires) is crucial to ensure effective fracture fixation and avoid complications due to breaching the cortical bone along an unsuitable trajectory. Surgical navigation via mixed reality (MR) can help achieve precise wire placement in a low‐profile form factor. Current approaches in this domain are as yet unsuitable for real‐world deployment because they fall short of guaranteeing accurate visual feedback due to uncontrolled bending of the wire. To ensure accurate feedback, StraightTrack, an MR navigation system designed for percutaneous wire placement in complex anatomy, is introduced. StraightTrack features a marker body equipped with a rigid access cannula that mitigates wire bending due to interactions with soft tissue and a covered bony surface. Integrated with an optical see‐through head‐mounted display capable of tracking the cannula body, StraightTrack offers real‐time 3D visualization and guidance without external trackers, which are prone to losing line‐of‐sight. In phantom experiments with two experienced orthopedic surgeons, StraightTrack improves wire placement accuracy, achieving the ideal trajectory within   mm and , compared to over 12.08  mm and 4.07 for comparable methods. As MR navigation systems continue to mature, StraightTrack realizes their potential for internal fracture fixation and other percutaneous orthopedic procedures.
FBG‐driven simulation for virtual augmentation of fluoroscopic images during endovascular interventions
Authors: Scarponi Valentina , Verde Juan , Haouchine Nazim , Duprez Michel , Nageotte Florent , Cotin Stéphane
Published: December 2024

Endovascular interventions are procedures designed to diagnose and treat vascular diseases, using catheters to navigate inside arteries and veins. Thanks to their minimal invasiveness, they offer many benefits, such as reduced pain and hospital stays, but also present many challenges for clinicians, as they require specialized training and heavy use of X‐rays. This is particularly relevant when accessing (i.e. cannulating) small arteries with steep angles, such as most aortic branches. To address this difficulty, a novel solution that enhances fluoroscopic 2D images in real‐time by displaying virtual configurations of the catheter and guidewire is proposed. In contrast to existing works, proposing either simulators or simple augmented reality frameworks, this approach involves a predictive simulation showing the resulting shape of the catheter after guidewire withdrawal without requiring the clinician to perform this task. This system demonstrated accurate prediction with a mean 3D error of 2.4  1.3 mm and a mean error of 1.1  0.7 mm on the fluoroscopic image plane between the real catheter shape after guidewire withdrawal and the predicted shape. A user study reported an average intervention time reduction of 56 when adopting this system, resulting in a lower X‐ray exposure.
From seagull to hummingbird: New diagnostic methods for resolving galaxy activity
Authors: Daoutis C. , Zezas A. , Kyritsis E. , Kouroumpatzakis K. , Bonfini P.
Published: December 2024

Context. One of the principal challenges in astrophysics involves the classification of galaxies based on their activity. Currently, the characterization of galactic activity usually requires multiple diagnostics to fully cover the diverse spectrum of galaxy activity types. Additionally, the presence of multiple sources of excitation with similar observational signatures hinders the exploration of the activity of a galaxy.

Aims. In this study our objective is to develop an activity diagnostic tool that addresses the degeneracy inherent in the existing emission line diagnostics by identifying the underlying excitation mechanisms of the principal components of a mixed-activity galaxy (star formation, active nucleus, or old stellar populations) and identifying the dominant ones.

Methods. We utilized the random forest machine-learning algorithm, trained on three primary activity classes: star-forming, active galactic nucleus (AGN), and passive; these classes represent the three key gas excitation mechanisms. This diagnostic relies on four discriminating features: the equivalent widths of three spectral lines, [O III] λ5007, [N II] λ6584, and Hα, along with the D4000 continuum break index.

Results. We find that this classifier achieves almost perfect performance scores in the principal activity classes. In particular, the achieved overall accuracy is ∼99%, while the recall scores are ∼100% for star-forming, ∼98% for AGN, and ∼99% for passive. The nearly perfect scores achieved enable the decomposition of mixed-activity classes into the three primary gas excitation mechanisms with high confidence, thereby resolving the degeneracy inherent in current activity classification methods. Furthermore, we find that our classifier scheme can be simplified to a two-dimensional diagnostic diagram of D4000 index versus the log10(EW([O III])2) line without significant loss of its diagnostic power.

Conclusions. We introduce a diagnostic capable of classifying galaxies based on their primary gas excitation mechanisms. Simultaneously, it can deconstruct the activity of mixed-activity galaxies into these principal components. This diagnostic encompasses the entire range of galaxy activity. Additionally, the D4000 index serves as a valuable indicator for resolving the degeneracy among various activity components by estimating the age of the stellar populations within a galaxy.
The role of the hot porous layer in the gas flow in the inner coma
Authors: Mokhtari O. , Skorov Yu. V. , Rezac L. , Marschall R. , Belousov D. , Pinzón-Rodríguez O. , Küppers M. , Thomas N.
Published: December 2024

Aims. The objective of this work is to study the influence of a highly non-isothermal porous dust layer on the formation of a comet’s inner coma. We studied the water gas activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko to find a link between the gas properties around the comet and the properties of the dust surface crust. The effects on the radiative transfer spectral lines were studied and compared with MIRO remote sensing observations.

Methods. For cases of spherical and complex nucleus shapes, we validated surface boundary conditions for gas flow obtained from the two-layer consistent thermophysical model. This model accurately estimates the properties of the sublimation products as the gas diffuses through the layer. The gas expansion was then modeled using a 3D parallel implementation of a direct simulation Monte Carlo algorithm. A multi-beam linear interpolation was used to extract the gas density, velocity, and temperature profiles along a given line of sight. Finally, the radiative transfer equation was used to calculate the brightness temperature of the water vapor.

Results. The presence of a porous layer results in an increase in gas temperature and a decrease in gas density at the surface. The gas has a greater acceleration due to the higher initial temperature and increased conversion of translational energy to kinetic energy. This reduces the difference in density between the different models, with the densest gas being the coolest, and increases the terminal expansion velocity of the hotter gas. While the gas density differences are small at large distances, the observable water absorption lines are significantly affected.

Conclusions. The presence of a porous layer has a large effect on the properties of the gas in the coma, which can be seen by comparing the spectral lines. This demonstrates the potential interest of the approach in improving surface activity models and placing physical constraints on the dust layer.