bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal changes in lifestyle behaviours and cardiovascular health during the transition to fatherhood: the Dad Bod observational cohort study protocol
Authors: Landry Matthew J , Pineda Jocelyn P , Lee Jaylen M , Hoyt Michael A , Edwards Karen L , Lindsay Karen L , Gardner Christopher D , Wong Nathan D
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Despite the importance of the transition to fatherhood as a critical life stage among young adult men, much remains unknown about the factors predictive of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) and how CVH is impacted as young men face new roles and responsibilities associated with fatherhood.

Methods and analysis

To address this gap, the Dad Bod Study is a prospective, longitudinal and observational study designed to examine how fatherhood affects young men’s CVH. A total of 125, first-time prospective fathers (men, 19–39 years) will be enrolled and followed over 1.5 years. Metrics of the American Heart Association’s ‘Life’s Essential 8’ as well as demographic, social and psychosocial factors will be collected at four time points (baseline (during the pregnant partner’s second trimester), 1-month post partum, 6 months post partum and 1 year post partum). The primary aims are to measure predictors of CVH among first-time fathers and describe longitudinal changes in CVH. A secondary aim is to identify the best practices for recruitment, retention and remote data collection in this population.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the University of California, Irvine Institutional Review Board (IRB #4907, approved 1 May 2024). Participants will provide written consent. Study data will be disseminated in manuscripts submitted to peer-reviewed journals as well as in abstracts submitted to conferences and in the resulting posters and presentations. After study completion, anonymised data and material will be made publicly available.
Nemvaleukin alfa, a modified interleukin-2 cytokine, as monotherapy and with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors (ARTISTRY-1)
Authors: Vaishampayan Ulka N , Muzaffar Jameel , Winer Ira , Rosen Seth D , Hoimes Christoper J , Chauhan Aman , Spreafico Anna , Lewis Karl D , Bruno Debora S , Dumas Olivier , McDermott David F , Strauss James F , Chu Quincy S , Gilbert Lucy , Chaudhry Arvind , Calvo Emiliano , Dalal Rita , Boni Valentina , Ernstoff Marc S , Velcheti Vamsidhar
Published: November 2024

Background

Nemvaleukin alfa (nemvaleukin, ALKS 4230) is a novel, engineered cytokine that selectively binds to the intermediate-affinity interleukin-2 receptor, preferentially activating CD8+T cells and natural killer cells, with minimal expansion of regulatory T cells, thereby mitigating the risk of toxicities associated with high-affinity interleukin-2 receptor activation. Clinical outcomes with nemvaleukin are unknown. ARTISTRY-1 investigated the safety, recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), and antitumor activity of nemvaleukin in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Methods

This was a three-part, open-label, phase 1/2 study: part A, dose-escalation monotherapy, part B, dose-expansion monotherapy, and part C, combination therapy with pembrolizumab. The study was conducted at 32 sites in 7 countries. Adult patients with advanced solid tumors were enrolled and received intravenous nemvaleukin once daily on days 1–5 (21-day cycle) at 0.1–10 µg/kg/day (part A), or at the RP2D (part B), or with pembrolizumab (part C). Primary endpoints were RP2D selection and dose-limiting toxicities (part A), and overall response rate (ORR) and safety (parts B and C).

Results

From July 2016 to March 2023, 243 patients were enrolled and treated (46, 74, and 166 in parts A, B, and C, respectively). The maximum tolerated dose was not reached. RP2D was determined as 6 µg/kg/day. ORR with nemvaleukin monotherapy was 10% (7/68; 95% CI 4 to 20), with seven partial responses (melanoma, n=4; renal cell carcinoma, n=3). Robust CD8+T and natural killer cell expansion, and minimal regulatory T cell expansion were observed following nemvaleukin treatment. ORR with nemvaleukin plus pembrolizumab was 13% (19/144; 95% CI 8 to 20), with 5 complete and 14 partial responses; 6 responses were in PD-(L)1 inhibitor-approved and five in PD-(L)1 inhibitor-unapproved tumor types. Three responses were in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The most common grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) in parts B and C, respectively, were neutropenia (49%, 21%) and anemia (10%, 11%); 4% of patients in each part discontinued due to TRAEs.

Conclusions

Nemvaleukin was well tolerated and demonstrated promising antitumor activity across heavily pretreated advanced solid tumors. Phase 2/3 studies of nemvaleukin are ongoing.

Trial registration number

NCT02799095.
Development of a novel ‘In-Water Mass Casualty Triage Tool’
Authors: Barton Colin A , Morgan P , Tipton MJ
Published: November 2024

The number of in-water mass casualty incidents has increased in recent years and provides significant challenges to rescuers. Existing triage systems require the rescue of immersed (in water) casualties before triage is undertaken. A tool that enables triage to be undertakenbeforerescue, and therefore the prioritisation of that rescue, should improve the efficiency, efficacy and survival rate associated with the management of such incidents.

In this paper, we describe the rationale and development of a proposed novel ‘in-water mass casualty triage tool (IWMCTT)’ to assist in the swift and effective triage of those in the water in mass casualty situationsbeforethey are rescued, based upon the likelihood of survivalafterimmersion. The tool is based on a review of the literature related to the hazards associated with immersion, most notably drowning.

The IWMCTT employs a sequential approach to streamline the identification and prioritisation for rescue of immersed individuals; it considers factors such as hazards, visibility constraints, purposeful swimming, moving or floating, airway position, availability of flotation assistance and flotation device effectiveness. It categorises casualties from W1 (high) to W4 (low) priority for rescue.

The proposed IWMCTT offers a potential solution to some of the challenges faced during water-based mass casualty incidents; providing rescue assets (rigid-hulled, inflatable boats, ships and helicopters) with a rapid and effective approach to assess and prioritise individuals for rescue and medical attention, hopefully thereby reducing mortality and morbidity. The IWMCTT requires further evaluation and validation.
TMCO1 regulates energy metabolism and mitochondrial function of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through TOMM20, affecting the growth of subcutaneous graft tumors and infiltration of CAFs
Authors: Wang Genwang , Liu Di , Leng Junzhi , Jin Dong , Wang Qi , Wang Hao , Bu Yang , Wang Feng , Hui Yongfeng
Published: November 2024

This study mainly shows the role of endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane and coiled coil domains 1 (TMCO1) in the regulatory mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Invasion and migration capacity were detected by Transwell and wound healing after TMCO1 and TOMM20 overexpression and knockdown, and mitochondrial function was detected through reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and ATP production. A model of subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice was established to detect the effect of TMCO1 on tumor formation. The results showed that overexpression of TMCO1 significantly promoted HCC cell metastasis, promoted cell proliferation and ATP production, inhibited cell apoptosis, mPTP opening and ROS production, mediated the increase of MMP level and cytoskeletal remodeling. However, knocking down TMCO1 can have the opposite effect. More importantly, knocking down TOMM20 can block the regulation effect of TMCO1, and TOMM20 overexpression can alleviate the inhibitory effect of knocking down TMCO1 on the development of liver cancer cells. In animal models, knockdown of TMCO1 expression significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous implant tumors. This suggests that TMCO1 may be a potential and valuable therapeutic target for liver cancer.
Exploring the role of sample size on fracture growth mechanisms in intact rock: insights from 3D DEM-DFN analysis
Authors: Gao G. , Meguid M.A. , Zhang L.
Published: November 2024

The effect of sample size on the deformation characteristic and fracture growth mechanism of intact rock subjected to unconfined compressive stress state is examined in this study via discrete element method (DEM) coupled with discrete fracture network (DFN). Three-dimensional (3D) numerical models are first developed based on reported laboratory experiments and verified to realistically replicate the effect of sample size on the macro-mechanical response of the intact rock. This includes strength behavior, fracturing activities, and energy budgets. Micromechanical analyses are then performed to understand the role of sample size on the deformational behavior and damage progression in intact rock. Emphasis is placed on the distributions of coordination number, evolutions of crack density and the degree of crack anisotropy with regard to invariants of crack tensors. In addition, the 3D distribution of microstructure and contact networks are also presented. Results reveal that deformability and strength of intact rock are vastly reliant on the sample size. Increasing sample size facilitate the accumulation of induced microcracks due to the increased probability of interparticle bond failure. It is found that the increase in sample size can result in more tensile openings with strong dilatancy, as evidenced by local-scale porosity based on the implementation of Voronoi cells. Finally, the monotonical increase in seismic b-values with the increase in sample size suggests an acceleration in the number of small-magnitude acoustic emission (AE) events.
Synthetizing virtual construction images to strengthen real data volume and variety in real-world application scenarios
Authors: Kim Jinwoo , Kim Daeho , Lee SangHyun
Published: November 2024

Despite the potential of synthetic construction images, it remains unknown whether they can strengthen real-data volume and variety in real-world scenarios, wherein a given, real training dataset is small and biased, or large but biased. To address this, we synthetize artificial images in a computer environment to strengthen a real training dataset and test its supplementary effects in both scenarios. Specifically, we simulate a worker’s physical behaviors, capture 2D synthetic images, and annotate its bounding box using a 3D–2D projection algorithm. After combining these synthetic images with a real dataset, we train a vision-based worker detection model and evaluate its performance in each scenario. Results show that the model’s performance is improved by up to 59.1% and 12.8% in each scenario, respectively, comparing to only adopting real images. This indicates that synthetic images can enrich the restricted volume and variety of a given, real training dataset in field application scenarios.
Evaluation of Ferula assa-foetida L. accessions under different temperature regimes to overcome seed dormancy and different media mixtures to promote seedling growth
Authors: Kumar Ravi , Rana Amit , Katoch Ajeta , Singh Satbeer , Sharma Sahil , Singh Sanatsujat , Kumar Ashok
Published: November 2024

Ferula assa-foetida L., a perennial crop of the Apiaceae family, has internal physical seed dormancy that inhibits its germination ability. Hence, to improve germination capacity and overcome seed dormancy, the present study was conducted using six accessions for assessing seed viability using 1% Tetrazolium test three times every 6 months and grown under three different temperature treatments (5, 15, and 25 °C) during 2018–19 and 2019–20. These accessions were also grown under six different potting mixtures to optimize the best media for its survivability under field conditions. Results from the tetrazolium test indicated an average seed viability of 73.03% and showed an ∼5% reduction during 2018–20. From germination tests, a chilling treatment of 5 °C was found most effective for breaking dormancy. Besides, the seedlings grown under different potting mixtures showed that media mixtures in the combination of soil, sand, farmyard manure, and cocopeat were most appropriate for better germination stand. However, further studies are required to explain the agro-practices to cultivate this endangered plant at field capacity. It was also observed that genotypes EC966538 and EC968470 were best performers for overall germination as well as seedling survival parameters and could be used as base populations in future selection and improvement breeding programs.
Assessing crop productivity, grain quality, and soil labile carbon and nitrogen in pea-based intercrops under low nitrogen input
Authors: Liu Kui , Choo-Foo Kennedy , Wen Guoqi , Schoenau Jeff , Knight J. Diane
Published: November 2024

Pea-based intercrops provide nitrogen (N) benefits and often improve land productivity through functional diversification. However, their impact on grain quality and soil health remains unclear. We conducted a 2-year (2021 and 2022) intercrop study at Swift Current and Melfort, Saskatchewan, assessing productivity, grain quality, and soil water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) and water-extractable dissolved N (WEDN). Nine treatments included pea–oat (PO) intercrops with three N rates (0, 1/4, and 1/2 of full recommended N rate for oat monocrop), pea–canola (PC) intercrops with three N rates (0, 1/4, and 1/2 of full recommended N rate for canola monocrop), and three monocrops (pea, oat, and canola). Pea monocrop received no N fertilizer, while oat and canola monocrops received the full recommended N rate. In intercrops, pea was seeded at 2/3 and the companion crop at 1/2 of their recommended rates. PO intercrops consistently produced higher energy-based yields than PC intercrops. Intercrops outperformed monocrops at Melfort but not at Swift Current. Intercropping reduced canola protein content by 6–9% and oat protein content by 6–8%, compared to monocrops. PO intercrops increased WEOC level by 5%–9% compared to monocrops. PC intercrops resulted in 10% higher WEDN than PO intercrops, attributed to a higher pea plant stand in PC. Nitrogen fertilizer rates in intercrops did not affect yields or soil labile C and N. The results showed that applying N fertilizers to pea-based intercrops did not improve productivity, but seeding rate ratio in intercrops should be finetuned based on crop competitiveness to improve overall performance.
Optimization of technology processes for enhanced CMOS-integrated 1T-1R RRAM device performance
Authors: Dorai Swamy Reddy Keerthi , Pérez Eduardo , Baroni Andrea , Mahadevaiah Mamathamba Kalishettyhalli , Marschmeyer Steffen , Fraschke Mirko , Lisker Marco , Wenger Christian , Mai Andreas
Published: November 2024

Implementing artificial synapses that emulate the synaptic behavior observed in the brain is one of the most critical requirements for neuromorphic computing. Resistive random-access memories (RRAM) have been proposed as a candidate for artificial synaptic devices. For this applicability, RRAM device performance depends on the technology used to fabricate the metal–insulator–metal (MIM) stack and the technology chosen for the selector device. To analyze these dependencies, the integrated RRAM devices in a 4k-bit array are studied on a 200 mm wafer scale in this work. The RRAM devices are integrated into two different CMOS transistor technologies of IHP, namely 250 nm and 130 nm and the devices are compared in terms of their pristine state current. The devices in 130 nm technology have shown lower number of high pristine state current devices per die in comparison to the 250 nm technology. For the 130 nm technology, the forming voltage is reduced due to the decrease of $$\hbox {HfO}_2$$

HfO
2

dielectric thickness from 8 nm to 5 nm. Additionally, 5% Al-doped 4 nm $$\hbox {HfO}_2$$

HfO
2

dielectric displayed a similar reduction in forming voltage and a lower variation in the values. Finally, the multi-level switching between the dielectric layers in 250 nm and 130 nm technologies are compared, where 130 nm showed a more significant number of conductance levels of seven compared to only four levels observed in 250 nm technology.

Graphical abstract
The Monument experiment: ordinary muon capture studies for $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ decay
Authors: Araujo G. R. , Bajpai D. , Baudis L. , Belov V. , Bossio E. , Cocolios T. E. , Ejiri H. , Fomina M. , Gusev K. , Hashim I. H. , Heines M. , Kazartsev S. , Knecht A. , Mondragón E. , Ng Z. W. , Ostrovskiy I. , Othman F. , Rumyantseva N. , Schönert S. , Schwarz M. , Shevchik E. , Shirchenko M. , Shitov Yu , Sushenok E. O. , Suhonen J. , Vogiatzi S. M. , Wiesinger C. , Zhitnikov I. , Zinatulina D.
Published: November 2024

The Monument experiment measures ordinary muon capture (OMC) on isotopes relevant for neutrinoless double-beta ($$0\nu \beta \beta $$

0
ν
β
β

) decay and nuclear astrophysics. OMC is a particularly attractive tool for improving the theoretical description of $$0\nu \beta \beta $$

0
ν
β
β

decay. It involves similar momentum transfers and allows testing the virtual transitions involved in $$0\nu \beta \beta $$

0
ν
β
β

decay against experimental data. During the 2021 campaign, Monument studied OMC on $$^{76}$$

76

Se and $$^{136}$$

136

Ba, the isotopes relevant for next-generation $$0\nu \beta \beta $$

0
ν
β
β

decay searches, like Legend and nEXO. The experimental setup has been designed to accurately extract the total and partial muon capture rates, which requires precise reconstruction of energies and time-dependent intensities of the OMC-related $$\gamma $$
γ
rays. The setup also includes a veto counter system to allow selecting a clean sample of OMC events. This work provides a detailed description of the Monument setup operated during the 2021 campaign, its two DAQ systems, calibration and analysis approaches, and summarises the achieved detector performance. Future improvements are also discussed.
Top quark decays in the flavor-dependent $$U(1)_X$$ model
Authors: Ge Zhao-feng , Yang Jin-lei
Published: November 2024

The branching ratios of the flavor changing top quark decays in the SM are too small to be detected experimentally. Therefore, any observable signal for these processes at the LHC would serve as compelling evidence for new physics. In the flavor-dependent $$U(1)_X$$

U

(
1
)

X

model, a newly introduced Higgs singlet interacts directly with the quark sector and mixes with the SM-like Higgs, influencing the $$t\rightarrow ch$$

t
→
c
h

and $$t\rightarrow uh$$

t
→
u
h

process. Additionally, the flavor dependence of the $$U(1)_X$$

U

(
1
)

X

charge affect the $$t\rightarrow cZ$$

t
→
c
Z

process. In this work, we investigate these process within the framework of the flavor-dependent $$U(1)_X$$

U

(
1
)

X

model. Numerical results indicates that with suitable choices of new physics parameters, the branching ratios of these processes in the flavor-dependent $$U(1)_X$$

U

(
1
)

X

model can be significantly enhanced. Specifically, the branching ratios of $$t\rightarrow ch$$

t
→
c
h

and $$t\rightarrow uh$$

t
→
u
h

can reach the order of $$10^{-4}$$

10

-
4

in some chosen parameter spaces, which is close to the current experimental upper limit. This suggests that these processes have significant opportunities to be observed experimentally, and the parameter space of the model will face constraints from the experimental upper bounds.
Exploring thermodynamics inconsistencies in unimodular gravity: a comparative study of two energy diffusion functions
Authors: Cruz Miguel , Cruz Norman , Lepe Samuel
Published: November 2024

In this work we study the thermodynamics formulation for unimodular gravity under the election of two different models for the energy diffusion function. Such function encodes the current for the non-conservation of the energy-momentum tensor and is usually termed as Q(t). In analogy to the cosmological scenario where the cosmic expansion is influenced by Q(t), the thermodynamics implications in this scheme are also determined by the choice of the function Q(t), as we discuss in the work. Specifically, we consider the barotropic and the continuous spontaneous localization models as energy diffusion functions, commonly used in the literature as viable candidates to face the well-known $$H_{0}$$

H
0

tension. The consistency conditions demanded for the entropy of the system in terms of the cosmological parameters of the model: positive production ($$dS/dt>0$$

d
S
/
d
t
>
0

) and convexity condition ($$d^{2}S/dt^{2} <0$$

d
2

S
/
d

t
2

<
0

), are investigated. We show that these conditions strongly constraint the viability of both models. Additionally, we comment about our results and compare with those obtained in recent works where the restriction of the parameters for these two diffusion models was implemented with the use of cosmological data.
Imprints of the Einasto density profile and complexity factor on traversable wormholes in f(R, T) theory
Authors: Naseer Tayyab , Sharif M. , Faiza Mona , Dayanandan Baiju
Published: November 2024

The focus of this work is centered on determining whether traversable wormholes admitting Einasto density profile exist within the framework of f(R, T) gravity. Using the Morris–Thorne spacetime, we express the wormhole configuration and formulate the anisotropic gravitational equations for a particular linear modified model. Afterwards, by considering two different (constant and variable) redshift functions, we derive the shape function for wormholes and examine its potential stability. The developed functions conform to the necessary conditions and form a connection between two spacetime regions that are asymptotically flat. We also examine the viability of resulting wormhole solutions by verifying their violation with the null energy conditions. We also investigate the active gravitational mass and the complexity factor for our solutions. The later quantity is found to be negative near the wormhole throat and becomes zero when moving away from this point. Further, various methods of stability analysis are utilized to assess the developed models. Our results suggest that the constructed wormhole geometries meet the necessary conditions, thereby existing within the considered modified gravity.
On Sequential Structures in Incompressible Multidimensional Networks
Authors: Abrahão Felipe S. , Wehmuth Klaus , Zenil Hector , Ziviani Artur
Published: November 2024

In order to deal with multidimensional structure representations of real-world networks, as well as with their worst-case irreducible information content analysis, the demand for new graph abstractions increases. This article investigates incompressible multidimensional networks defined by generalized graph representations. In particular, we mathematically study the lossless incompressibility of snapshot-dynamic networks and multiplex networks in comparison to the lossless incompressibility of more general forms of dynamic networks and multilayer networks, from which snapshot-dynamic networks or multiplex networks are particular cases. Our theoretical investigation first explores fundamental and basic conditions for connecting the sequential growth of information with sequential interdimensional structures such as time in dynamic networks, and secondly it presents open problems demanding future investigation. Although there may be a dissonance between sequential information dynamics and sequential topology in the general case, we demonstrate that incompressibility (or algorithmic randomness) dissolves it, preventing both the algorithmic dynamics and the interdimensional structure of multidimensional networks from displaying a snapshot-like behavior (as characterized by any arbitrary mathematical theory). Thus, beyond methods based on statistics or probability as traditionally seen in random graphs and complex networks models, representational incompressibility implies a necessary underlying constraint in the multidimensional network topology. We argue that the study of how isomorphic transformations and their respective algorithmic information distortions can characterize sequential interdimensional structures in (multidimensional) networks helps the analysis of network topological properties while being agnostic to the chosen theory, algorithm, computation model, and programming language.
Therapeutic Potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine Against Osteoarthritis: Targeting the Wnt Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Shaozhuo , Zhan Jiaguo , Li Mai , Wang Junyi , Chen Huiyou , Wang Yuxing , Fan Yuchen , Zhang Bingqi , Wang Xi , Zhang Xizhe , Wu Chongming
Published: November 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative articular disease that leads to physical disability and reduced quality of life. The key pathological events in OA are cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. Conventional therapies often lead to adverse effects that some patients are unwilling to endure. Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) have long been known for their efficacy in treating OA with minimal side effects. The wingless-type (Wnt) signaling pathway is believed to play a role in OA progression, but there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding on how TCM may treat OA via the Wnt signaling pathway. This study aims to fill this gap by reviewing relevant research on the association between the Wnt signaling pathway and cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation in OA. Meanwhile, we also summarized and categorized TCMs and their active components, such as alkaloids, polysaccharides, flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, etc., which have shown varying efficacy in treating OA through modulation of the Wnt/[Formula: see text]-catenin signaling pathway. This work underscores the pivotal role of the Wnt signaling pathway in OA pathogenesis and progression, suggesting that targeting this pathway holds promise as a prospective therapeutic strategy for OA management in the future. TCMs and their active components have the potential to alleviate OA by modulating the Wnt signaling cascade. Harnessing TCMs and their active components to regulate the Wnt signaling pathway presents an encouraging avenue for delivering substantial therapeutic benefits to individuals with OA.
Study of complexation and energy transfer phenomenons in core/shell quantum dots-tetraphenyl porphyrin systems in solution
Authors: Nayek Somnath , Nayak Subrata , Bhattacharya Sumanta , Bhattacharjee Sanyukta , Bhattacharya Shalmali
Published: November 2024

Free-base tetraphenyl porphyrin (H2TPP) undergoes spontaneous interaction with CdSe/ZnS (core/shell) quantum dots (C/S QD) having a diameter of 5 to 10 nm in solution. Fluorescence measurements show that C/S QD suffers a considerable extent of photoluminescence quenching at 612 nm due to the formation of the C/S QD-H2TPP complex. The formation of C/S QD-H2TPP self-assembly is quantified by evaluating such system’s association constant (K), i.e., KC/S QD-H2TPP ∼ 4.0 × 105 dm3/mol. The value of the bimolecular quenching constant (k) of the C/S QD-H2TPP system (kC/S QD-H2TPP) is estimated to be ∼ 5.47 × 1012 dm3/mol.sec, which signifies the role of static quenching in present work. Photophysical parameters obtained from this work may be suitably utilized for the future application of the C/S QD-H2TPP system in energy storage units.
Decoding wheat salt tolerance: Insights into key physiological traits
Authors: Sanaullah Muhammad , Bano Asghari , Khan Naeem
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to assess the relationship between species-specific salinity tolerance and physiological parameters in three genotypes of Triticum aestivum L.: Pak-81 (tolerant), Lu-26 (medium tolerant), and Pasban-90 (sensitive). The objectives were to investigate changes in water and osmotic potential, stomatal resistance, chlorophyll fluorescence (relative fluorescence decreased ratio [Rfd] values), accumulation of Na+ ions, and proline content of leaves under salinity stress. To assess the effects of NaCl, three experiments were conducted. The first experiment involved collecting plant and soil samples from saline fields with varying salinity levels. The second experiment induced salinity in potted plants grown under natural conditions by applying NaCl either at the vegetative phase (three-leaf stage) or at the ear formation phase. The third experiment evaluated the effect of applying NaCl at different concentrations to plants grown under controlled conditions in the growth chamber. Results revealed that increasing concentrations of NaCl had significant detrimental effects on stomatal conductance, fresh and dry weight of shoots, and Rfd in Pasban-90 and Lu-26, which also showed decreased accumulation of Na and Cl at high NaCl concentrations. The tolerant lines exhibited greater Na+ and Cl contents than the sensitive ones, higher osmotic potential, less decrease in water potential, less stomatal resistance, and higher Rfd. In conclusion, a relationship exists between genotype-specific salinity tolerances and the putative role of proline and Cl in osmotic adjustment due to higher uptake of sodium.
Tectonic evolution of the Alxa region, NW China: from a Precambrian continental ribbon to a Paleozoic–early Triassic accretionary orogen
Authors: Song Dongfang , Xiao Wenjiao , Mao Qigui , Ao Songjian
Published: November 2024

The Alxa tectonic belt is a key region for our understanding of the architecture and accretionary history of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt during the late Paleozoic–Triassic assembly of Pangaea. However, its origin and tectonic evolution have been debated for decades. Here, we use integrated geological, geochronological and isotopic data to uncover the complex history of the Alxa region from the Neoarchean to Triassic. The Precambrian proto-Alxa belt was a continental ribbon consisting of Archean–Paleoproterozoic amphibolite to granulite facies rocks and Meso- to Neoproterozoic gneiss–schist complexes, which underwent multiple tectonic cycles associated with the assembly of Nuna, Rodinia and Gondwana. From the Ordovician, subduction of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean generated calc-alkaline magmatic rocks with enriched Nd–Hf isotopic compositions in Andean-type continental arcs. Rollback of the subducting Palaeo-Asian Ocean in the Devonian induced regional extension, followed by opening of the Quagan Qulu back-arc basin in the late Carboniferous–early Permian, as evidenced by mantle-derived magmatism, shelf-type carbonate rocks and rifting-related volcanic–sedimentary sequences. The Permian archipelago scenario with multiple subduction zones was terminated by the Mid- to Late Triassic when the amalgamated intra-oceanic arcs collided with the Alxa continental arc. The accretion of the Alxa region illustrates the importance of continental ribbons in the construction of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and sheds light on our understanding of the architecture of accretionary orogens.
Probably proximal pebbles? An outcrop-constrained quantitative analysis of clast transport distances in the lower Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group, UK
Authors: Burgess Peter M. , Dobromylskyj Emma , Lovell–Kennedy James
Published: November 2024

The lower Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group fluvial strata in England record the northward flow of the Budleighensis river system through fault-bounded synrift graben from the Wessex Basin to the Irish Sea Basin. The pebbles in the Sherwood Sandstone Group are typically argued to originate mostly from the Armorican Massif, northern France. Northwards transport should mean that the pebbles decrease in concentration northwards. However, it can also be argued that the pebble-rich strata found in several basins across central and northern England suggest that a number of different sediment source areas contributed pebbles along the river system. To further test and constrain this multiple source hypothesis, pebble concentration data were used to constrain a simple source-to-sink exponential decay model predicting pebble concentration v. distance from source. The model was inverted on the number and location of clast input sources to calculate the best-fit matches. The results indicate that three distinct pebble sources best-fit these data, with major tributaries originating in the Welsh Massif and the London–Brabant Massif, supporting a multiple sediment source interpretation for the early Triassic river system. Multiple sediment input points increase the prediction uncertainty for Triassic strata. Unanticipated heterogeneity has implications for practical subsurface prediction related, for example, to proposed carbon and nuclear waste storage sites.
Experimental study of the effect of the inclination angle on mechanical characteristics and failure modes of layered sandstone
Authors: Zhao Yongchuan , Lv Bang , Xu Zhihao , Wu Xing Zheng
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the effect of the inclination angle on the strength, deformation and failure characteristics of layered sandstone specimens with inclination angles prepared for uniaxial compression tests. The deformation distribution was analysed using digital image processing. The results reveal that the stress–strain curves of layered sandstone can be classified into distinct stages: initial compression; elastic deformation; inelastic and crack expansion; and post-peak failure. Compressive strength is significantly influenced by the inclination angle, displaying a right-biased ‘U’ shape across various angles, with the lowest strength observed at 75°. A similar left-biased ‘U’ trend is noted for elastic modulus and longitudinal wave velocity as the inclination varies. Digital image processing highlights significant differences in surface deformation with varying angles, primarily influenced by the bedding structure. Deformation concentrates in the bedding zones, identifying potential crack initiation and expansion. The failure mode is notably affected by the bedding structure, progressing from splitting tensile failure to single incline plane shear failure through the bedding structure and matrix, shear failure along the bedding structure, and X-conjugated shear and tensile failure as the inclination angle increases. This paper discusses the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of layered sandstone based on these parameters and failure modes.
Graveyard Symphony; A Study Investigating the Effectiveness of a Prototype Music Game
Authors: Brett Jack , Gatzidis Christos , Davis Tom
Published: November 2024

Learning to play a musical instrument, particularly the keyboard, can be challenging for adults who are beginners or have previously given up due to a lack of foundational skills and engaging practice methods. To address this issue, we have developed prototype games aimed at honing specific musical skills. Through several pilot studies, it became evident that assessing the effectiveness of video game experiences in skill acquisition compared to traditional practice methods was essential. Therefore, we hypothesised that video games could encourage sustained practice and reduce dropout rates among beginners. Consequently, our focus shifted to creating games centred on sheet music reading, specifically matching musical staff positions to keyboard keys.

This article presents a study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a specific prototype game in enhancing musical notation reading skills. Additionally, we assessed the game’s engagement, educational value and usability in comparison to a conventional practice tool. The results indicated that the game was equally or potentially more effective than the practice tool in improving the targeted skill. Furthermore, participants perceived the practice game as having greater educational value, although it did not surpass the practice tool in terms of engagement. Further discussion is provided to elucidate the reasons behind this finding.
Making Meaningful Places: Augmented Reality for Digital Placemaking in Clearwater, Florida
Authors: Harrison Laura K. , Kaplan Howard , Matthews Jennifer T. , Santiago Eric
Published: November 2024

Enhancing public art installations with augmented reality (AR) merges the physical and digital worlds and creates a strong sense of place attachment in urban settings. AR is an established tool for digital placemaking, which is a participatory form of embodied space-based social practice. While there is disagreement over whether digital placemaking is best achieved through organic engagement with locative media, deliberate urban planning initiatives, or a combination of both, it is increasingly clear that well-designed AR can impact how citizens perceive and engage with their physical surroundings and can invigorate urban spaces. In this article, we explore the design and development of ARTours Clearwater, an AR app that was developed as part of a city-led public art initiative aimed at increasing foot traffic and enlivening a downtown district through the creation of vivid, memorable, “imageable” spaces. The app development workflow encompassed terrestrial lidar scanning of the murals, the identification of tracking images in Vuforia, the development and scaling of digital animations in Unity, and onsite testing to evaluate environmental conditions. The project came to fruition at a public launch, which promoted novel forms of people-place interactions by bringing together multiple stakeholder groups in a synchronous event that enlivened the city’s downtown.
Footprint Logic for Object-Oriented Components (extended paper)
Authors: de Boer Frank , de Gouw Stijn , Hiep Hans-Dieter , Bian Jinting
Published: November 2024

We introduce a new way of reasoning about invariance in terms of
footprints
in a program logic for object-oriented components. A footprint of an object-oriented component is formalized as a monadic predicate that describes which objects on the heap can be affected by the execution of the component. Assuming encapsulation, this amounts to specifying which objects of the component can be called. Adaptation of local specifications into global specifications amounts to showing invariance of assertions, which is ensured by means of a form of
bounded quantification
which excludes references to a given footprint. The new approach is compared to two existing approaches to reason about invariance: separation logic and dynamic frames.
Motivations, Challenges, Best Practices, and Benefits for Bots and Conversational Agents in Software Engineering: A Multivocal Literature Review
Authors: Lambiase Stefano , Catolino Gemma , Palomba Fabio , Ferrucci Filomena
Published: November 2024

Bots
are software systems designed to support users by automating specific processes, tasks, or activities. When these systems implement a conversational component to interact with users, they are also known as
conversational agents
or
chatbots
. Bots—particularly in their conversation-oriented version and AI-powered—have seen increased adoption over time for software development and engineering purposes. Despite their exciting potential, which has been further enhanced by the advent of Generative AI and Large Language Models, bots still face challenges in terms of development and integration into the development cycle, as practitioners report that bots can add difficulties rather than provide improvements. In this work, we aim to provide a taxonomy for characterizing bots, as well as a series of challenges for their adoption in software engineering, accompanied by potential mitigation strategies. To achieve our objectives, we conducted a
multivocal literature review
, examining both research and practitioner literature. Through such an approach, we hope to contribute to both researchers and practitioners by providing (i) a series of future research directions to pursue, (ii) a list of strategies to adopt for improving the use of bots for software engineering purposes, and (iii) fostering technology and knowledge transfer from the research field to practice—one of the primary goals of multivocal literature reviews.
PromptCNER: A Segmentation-based Method for Few-shot Chinese NER with Prompt-tuning
Authors: Mai Cheng-Cheng , Chen Yu , Gong Ziyu , Wang Hanxiang , Qiu Mengchuan , Yuan Chunfeng , Huang Yihua
Published: November 2024

Recognizing Chinese entities in low-resource settings is a challenging but promising task, which extracts structured pre-defined entities and corresponding types from unstructured text. Compared with the prosperous Named Entity Recognition (NER) methods for Indo-European languages, such as English, the research on Chinese NER is still in its infancy. The main obstacles to the development of Chinese NER methods include the ambiguity of Chinese entity boundary recognition and limited data resources. To address these issues, in this paper, a word-segmentation-based model is present for few-shot Chinese NER. First, we enumerate all possible candidate entity spans on the character level for accurate entity boundary identification with the proposed word segmentation and combination strategy. Then, one kind of question-answer-based prompt template loaded with the candidate entity spans is proposed to cast entity extraction into the masked token prediction task, for dealing with the low-data problem by taking full advantage of the generality and transferability of the pre-trained language model. The extensive experimental results show that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art baselines in low-data settings and also achieves comparable performance in full-data settings.
Robust Planning for Hydrogen‐Based Multienergy System Considering P2HH and Seasonal Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Wang Shufan , Yang Dong , Zhang Linglu , Chenmei Lingzhi
Published: November 2024

Since renewable energy is rapidly growing in the active distribution networks, the integrated energy system coupled with energy storage is a promising way to address the intermittent issues of renewable sources. This paper proposes an optimal planning model for the hydrogen‐based integrated energy system (HIES) considering power to heat and hydrogen (P2HH) and seasonal hydrogen storage (SHS) to take full advantage of multienergy complementarity. To tackle the unstable factors introduced by renewable sources and varying loads, we apply robust optimization and stochastic programming theory to improve the robustness of the planning results. Meanwhile, we also consider the N‐1 contingency constraints to make the technology selection, capacity allocation, and economic operation more reliable. The complex constraints resulting from producing two independent binary variables are converted into mixed integer linear constraints, which can be solved effectively using the nested column‐and‐constraint generation algorithm. Numerical simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of the P2HH and SHS in reducing the total cost of the HIES planning.
Shape Design and Support Scheme of Roadways in Stratified Rock Masses: Based on Numerical Experiments and Field Case Studies
Authors: Li Dexian , Zhang Pengqiang , Sun Yuanjun , Tan Baohui , Zeng Telin , Hu Yingpeng , Li Mingrun , Ren Fengyu
Published: November 2024

The deformation and failure characteristics of roadways in stratified rock masses are heavily influenced by the dip angle of the rock layers. Therefore, it is crucial to select an appropriate cross‐sectional shape and support scheme to ensure roadway stability. This study utilizes a discrete element numerical simulation method to systematically investigate the failure modes of roadways in stratified rock masses under varying dip angles. The theory of pressure balance arches is integrated to establish optimal principles for determining the cross‐sectional shape, and corresponding support schemes are proposed for roadways in stratified rock masses. The results indicate that as the dip angle of the rock layers changes, different failure modes occur, ranging from symmetric arch‐shaped collapse to asymmetric wedge‐shaped collapse and overall sliding failure. Based on the self‐stabilizing properties of roadways under pressure balance arches, a straight‐sidewalls and arch‐roof cross‐section is recommended for roadways with arch‐shaped or overall sliding failures in their roofs, and a pentagonal cross‐section is recommended for roadways with wedge‐shaped collapses. The support parameters determined by well‐established empirical criteria are generally applicable to roadways with arch‐shaped or wedge‐shaped roof failures. However, caution should be exercised when applying these parameters to roadways with overall sliding instabilities, as they may result in insufficient design robustness. Finally, a field case study of a copper mine in Zambia is presented to demonstrate the process of recommending appropriate roadway cross‐sectional shape and support scheme.
Effects of Commercial Probiotics on the Growth, Hematology, Immunity, and Resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila Challenge in Climbing Perch, Anabas testudineus
Authors: Shahriar Fardin , Ibnasina A. H. E. Azaz , Uddin Nasib , Munny Fatema Jannat , Hussain Md Ashraf , Jang Won Je , Lee Jong Min , Lee Eun-Woo , Hasan Md Tawheed , Kawsar Md. Abu
Published: November 2024

This study investigated the effects of commercial probiotics on the growth, feed utilization, hematology, innate immunity, and disease resistance of climbing perch (Anabas testudineus). One gram of each locally available branded commercial probiotic, Pro‐1, Pro‐2, Pro‐3, and Pro‐4, was incorporated into commercial fish feed to prepare treatment diets T1 to T4, respectively, and feed without any probiotics was used as control (C). After 8 weeks of feeding, all groups demonstrated significantly improved percent weight gain (WG) and specific growth ratio (SGR; except T3) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) relative to C. Moreover, these growth and feed utilization parameters were positively modulated in T2 compared to C and the other three treatments. Serum biochemical parameters, such as liver stress enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), were lower (p < 0.05) in the probiotic‐supplemented group, but variations in triglyceride (TG, mg dl−1) levels were detected. Important hematological parameters, including white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes (Lymphs), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell (RBC) distribution width (RDW)‐standard deviation (SD), and platelets (PLT), also improved after probiotic administration. Innate immune parameters, such as respiratory burst (RB) in T3 and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in T2 to T4, also increased. The pathogenetic bacterial challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila (1 × 108 colony‐forming units (CFUs)/mL) revealed the enhanced survival rates in T2 and T3 compared to other groups. Therefore, locally available commercial probiotic administration through fish diet inoculation enhanced the growth, boosted immunity and hematology, and increased infectious disease protection against A. hydrophila infection in A. testudineus to and ensured the sustainable aquaculture rearing of this species.
Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis: A Neglected Risk Factor for Male and Female Fertility
Authors: Beni Faeze Ahmadi , Saffarfar Hossein , Elhami Anis , Kazemi Mohammad
Published: November 2024

Infertility is a condition where a male or female is unable to achieve pregnancy through at least 1 year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. There are several known causes and risk factors associated with infertility. The gut microbiota is a complex community of trillions of microorganisms living in the gut. Due to modern lifestyle changes, such as dietary habits, physical inactivity, and increasing antibiotic use, the diversity and composition of these microbes may change in a detrimental manner. Dysbiosis or an imbalance of the gut microbiota compared to a normal composition can lead to various abnormalities, such as obesity, Alzheimer’s, metabolic disorders, and infertility. This review will cover the factors influencing gut microbiota composition, the mechanisms by which gut microbiota contributes to infertility in men and women, the effects of gut microbiota on problems that may arise during pregnancy, and therapeutic methods for diseases caused by dysbiosis of the gut microbiota.