bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal and spatial evolution of the 2021 eruption in the Tajogaite volcano (Cumbre Vieja rift zone, La Palma, Canary Islands) from geophysical and geodetic parameter analyses
Authors: Benito M. B. , Alvarado G. E. , Marchamalo M. , Rejas J. G. , Murphy P. , Franco R. , Castro D. , Garcia-Lanchares C. , Sanchez J.
Published: August 2023

The eruption of the Tajogaite volcano in 2021, in the Cumbre Vieja rift zone (La Palma, Canary Islands), is the most recent but also the most damaging and longest-lasting eruption on the island since historical records began. We analyzed geophysical parameters (seismicity, surface deformation, thermal anomalies, and volcanic activity) with the aim of reconstructing the temporal development of the magma plumbing system. The seismic sequence (> 9000 events, mbLg ≤ 5.0) can be grouped into nine distinct phases, which correspond to well-separated spatial clusters and distinct earthquake regimes. A strong premonitory thermal anomaly was calculated on July 2021 in the South of La Palma. The source of the magma was within the upper mantle (40–20 km depth). A second magma budget (< 15 km depth) indicated a short-term stagnation of alkaline magma within the lower crust, near the Moho. The outline of these earthquakes delineates the magma pathway. Just before and immediately after the eruption (phases 2 and 3), the high-frequency seismicity in the mantle disappeared completely, reappearing ten days after the eruption started. The pattern of deformation began before the eruption with a breakpoint around September 11, after which, deformation accelerated sharply, followed by stabilization in phase 3 and a decrease in the following phases. The level of deformation suggested that a shallow magma intrusion was established. Based on the historical eruptive pattern, it is possible to infer two possible hazard-forecast scenarios: (a) the volcano could enter a prolonged phase of tranquility for more than one century or, (b) a new eruption could occur between ca. 2045 and 2065, with a slightly shorter duration than this recent one. Therefore, if the more pessimistic scenario is assumed, appropriate territorial planning is required.
Monitoring and prediction of landslide-related deformation based on the GCN-LSTM algorithm and SAR imagery
Authors: Khalili Mohammad Amin , Guerriero Luigi , Pouralizadeh Mostafa , Calcaterra Domenico , Di Martire Diego
Published: August 2023

A key component of disaster management and infrastructure organization is predicting cumulative deformations caused by landslides. One of the critical points in predicting deformation is to consider the spatio-temporal relationships and interdependencies between the features, such as geological, geomorphological, and geospatial factors (predisposing factors). Using algorithms that create temporal and spatial connections is suggested in this study to address this important point. This study proposes a modified graph convolutional network (GCN) that incorporates a long and short-term memory (LSTM) network (GCN-LSTM) and applies it to the Moio della Civitella landslides (southern Italy) for predicting cumulative deformation. In our proposed deep learning algorithms (DLAs), two types of data are considered, the first is geological, geomorphological, and geospatial information, and the second is cumulative deformations obtained by permanent scatterer interferometry (PSI), with the first investigated as features and the second as labels and goals. This approach is divided into two processing strategies where: (a) Firstly, extracting the spatial interdependency between paired data points using the GCN regression model applied to velocity obtained by PSI and data depicting controlling predisposing factors; (b) secondly, the application of the GCN-LSTM model to predict cumulative landslide deformation (labels of DLAs) based on the correlation distance obtained through the first strategy and determination of spatio-temporal dependency. A comparative assessment of model performance illustrates that GCN-LSTM is superior and outperforms four different DLAs, including recurrent neural networks (RNNs), gated recurrent units (GRU), LSTM, and GCN-GRU. The absolute error between the real and predicted deformation is applied for validation, and in 92% of the data points, this error is lower than 4 mm.
Global stability of road vehicle motion with driver control
Authors: Mastinu Gianpiero , Della Rossa Fabio , Previati Giorgio , Gobbi Massimiliano , Fainello Marco
Published: August 2023

The paper contributes to unveil how drivers—either human or not—may lose control of road vehicles after a disturbance. First, a simple vehicle-and-driver model is considered: Its motion is characterized by the existence of limit cycles whose amplitude depend on vehicle forward velocity (both oversteering and understeering vehicles may exibit this property). Such limit cycles are originated by a Hopf bifurcation occurring at a relatively high vehicle forward velocity. A mathematical proof of the existence of Hopf bifurcations is given. The existence of Hopf bifurcations and saddle limit cycles is confirmed by experimental tests performed by a dynamic driving simulator with a complex vehicle model and human in the loop. By a Zubov method, a Lyapunov function is derived to compute the region of asymptotic stability for the simple vehicle-and-driver model. A necessary and sufficient condition is derived for global asymptotic stability. Such a condition refers to the variation of the kinetic energy which must vanish at the end of the disturbed motion. This occurrence has been detected at the driving simulator too. Just a single stable equilibrium has been found inside the domain of attraction in all of the examined cases.
Initial Study on Metal Dusting Behavior of Fe–Cr and Fe–Ni-Cr Alloys Under a Simulated Blast Furnace Operating Condition
Authors: Murakami Tatsuya , Nguyen Thuan Dinh , Xi Xuteng , Zhang Jianqiang
Published: August 2023

Blast furnace ironmaking produces a reducing and carburizing atmosphere in the blast furnace which may lead to metal dusting. However, there is limited research on metal dusting under this particular atmosphere. This paper investigated metal dusting behaviors of ferritic Fe-(10, 20, 25)Cr and austenitic Fe-20Cr-(20, 33)Ni, Fe-25Cr-20Ni (wt.%) alloys at 550 and 650 °C in an Ar-33CO-7H2-7CO2-2H2O (vol.%) gas simulating a blast furnace operating condition. A relatively short reaction time, up to 100 h, was used to evaluate the initial stage of metal dusting of these alloys in the blast furnace gas condition. Severe metal dusting and coke deposition were observed at 550 °C, while no significant dusting but internal oxidation and carburization were observed at 650 °C. Higher Cr and Ni contents in the alloy lowered kinetics of metal dusting at 550 °C and of carburization at both temperatures. Austenitic alloys were more susceptible to metal dusting and coke deposition than ferritic alloys with the same Cr content at 550 °C. At 650 °C, however, ferritic alloys experienced higher extents of carburization and oxidation than austenitic alloys with the same Cr concentration. The effects of alloy composition and reaction temperature on metal dusting in this simulated blast furnace operating condition were discussed.
Will AI avoid exploitation? Artificial general intelligence and expected utility theory
Authors: Bales Adam
Published: August 2023

A simple argument suggests that we can fruitfully model advanced AI systems using expected utility theory. According to this argument, an agent will need to act as if maximising expected utility if they’re to avoid exploitation. Insofar as we should expect advanced AI to avoid exploitation, it follows that we should expected advanced AI to act as if maximising expected utility. I spell out this argument more carefully and demonstrate that it fails, but show that the manner of its failure is instructive: in exploring the argument, we gain insight into how to model advanced AI systems.
Do research performances of universities and disciplines in England converge or diverge? An assessment of the progress between research excellence frameworks in 2014 and 2021
Authors: Pinar Mehmet
Published: August 2023

Performance-based research funding systems (PBRFSs) have been used in selectively distributing research funding, increasing public money accountability and efficiency. Two recent such evaluations in England were called the Research Excellence Framework (REF), which took place in 2014 and 2021, and the research environment, outputs and impact of the research were evaluated. Even though various aspects of the REF were examined, there has been limited research on how the performance of the universities and disciplines changed between the two evaluation periods. This paper assesses whether there has been convergence or divergence in research quality across universities and subject areas between 2014 and 2021 and found that there was an absolute convergence between universities in all three research elements evaluated, and universities that performed relatively worse in REF in 2014 experienced higher growth in their performance between 2014 and 2021. There was also an absolute convergence in the research environment and impact across different subject areas, but there is no significant convergence in the quality of research outputs across disciplines. Our findings also highlight that there has been an absolute convergence in research quality within the universities (between different disciplines in a given university) and within disciplines (between universities in a given subject).
The ability of phase angle and body composition to predict risk of death in maintenance hemodialysis patients
Authors: Xu Yuanzhao , Ling Shuyi , Liu Zheyan , Luo Denggui , Qi Airong , Zeng Youjia
Published: August 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of phase angle and body composition to identify risk factors for mortality among patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) treatment.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we examined the causes of death in 43 MHD patients who were treated at our hemodialysis center between January 2016 and December 2021 and compared the patients to 71 patients who survived during the same period. Body composition was measured using direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance to obtain phase angle, fat-free mass (FFM), extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW), and waist circumference (WC). Laboratory data were also collected. Phase angle cut-off value-associated variables were identified using ROC analysis. The ability of body composition variables to identify risk factors for death in MHD patients was evaluated.

Results

We found that cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death among MHD patients. ROC curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value for phase angle as a predictor of death risk in MHD patients was 4.50°. Additionally, lower phase angle, increased age, longer dialysis vintage, lower KT/V, and hypoproteinemia were identified as significant risk factors for death in MHD patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our findings suggest that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among MHD patients and that lower phase angle, increased age, longer dialysis duration, and hypoproteinemia can be used to predict the risk of mortality in this patient population. The underlying mechanism by which lower phase angle can be used to predict the prognosis of MHD patients warrants further investigation.
An Expanded IrO2/Ti Durable Electrode for Electrochemical Degradation of Basic Red 46 Textile Dye in Both Single and Binary Mixture Solutions
Authors: Belal Raghda M. , Zayed Mohamed A. , Ghany Nabil A. Abdel
Published: August 2023

The use of dimensionally stable anode (DSA) for degrading organic pollutants is of concern recently. The electrocatalytic technique can efficiently treat biodegradable organic matter like dye-containing effluent discharge. This study focuses on applying modified DSA meshed IrO2/Ti electrode for the electrochemical degradation of wastewater effluents of Basic Red 46 (BR46) textile dye using different supporting electrolytes; sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) or/and sodium chloride (NaCl). The parameters affecting the proposed electrochemical degradation process were evaluated to select the optimal operating conditions. The results revealed that using a mixture of supporting electrolyte Na2SO4 and NaCl enhanced the removal of dye color %, chemical oxygen demand (COD) %, and total organic carbon (TOC) % by 94.9%, 65.7%, and 76.0%, respectively. The UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques followed the degradation efficiency. FT-IR data were in good agreement with the COD, TOC, and UV-Vis measurements, confirming the high refractory performance of the BR46 dye. The redox process was performed on the surface of the modified electrode and explained via cyclic voltammetry (CV), and it showed a diffusion mass transport mechanism followed by product adsorption. The identification of the degradation products was assessed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The electrochemical degradation and mineralization of a binary mixture of Basic Yellow (BY28) and BR46 textile dyes were also studied. It gave similar degradation and mineralization behavior to the same extent as the single dye in solutions.
Acmella oleracea extracts as green pesticides against eight arthropods attacking stored products
Authors: Kavallieratos Nickolas G. , Spinozzi Eleonora , Filintas Constantin S. , Nika Erifili P. , Skourti Anna , Panariti Anna Maria E. , Ferrati Marta , Petrelli Riccardo , Ricciutelli Massimo , Angeloni Simone , Drenaggi Ettore , Sensini Alessia , Maggi Filippo , Canale Angelo , Benelli Giovanni
Published: August 2023

Developing sustainable control tools for managing noxious pests attacking stored foodstuffs is a timely research challenge. Acmella oleracea (L.) R. K. Jansen is a crop widely cultivated for its multiple usages on an industrial level. In this study, the extracts prepared with A. oleracea aerial parts were applied on wheat kernels for the management of eight important arthropod pests attacking stored products, i.e., Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Tenebrio molitor, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Trogoderma granarium, Tribolium castaneum, Tribolium confusum, Alphitobius diaperinus (adults/larvae), and Acarus siro (adults/nymphs). Extraction of A. oleracea was optimized on the base of the yield and content of spilanthol and other N-alkylamides which were analysed by HPLC–DAD-MS. Two concentrations of n-hexane or methanol extracts (500 ppm and 1000 ppm), obtained through Soxhlet extraction, were tested to acquire mortality data on the above-mentioned pests after 4, 8, and 16 h and 1 to 7 days of exposure. Both extracts achieved complete mortality (100.0%) of C. ferrugineus adults. In the case of A. diaperinus adults, mortalities were very low at any concentrations of both extracts. In general, the n-hexane extract was more efficient than methanol extract against almost all species and stages. Considering both extracts, the susceptibility order, from most to least susceptible species/stage, was C. ferrugineus adults > A. diaperinus larvae > C. ferrugineus larvae > T. granarium adults > T. molitor larvae > O. surinamensis adults > O. surinamensis larvae > T. confusum larvae > T. castaneum larvae > A. siro adults > T. molitor adults > A. siro nymphs > T. granarium larvae > T. castaneum adults > T. confusum adults > A. diaperinus adults. Our research provides useful knowledge on the efficacy of N-alkylamides-rich A. oleracea extracts as grain protectants, pointing out the importance of targeting the most susceptible species/ developmental stages.
Validation of biomarkers for neonicotinoid exposure in Folsomia candida under mutual exposure to diethyl maleate
Authors: Bakker Ruben , Xie Liyan , Vooijs Riet , Roelofs Dick , Hoedjes Katja M. , van Gestel Cornelis A. M.
Published: August 2023

Neonicotinoid insecticides are harmful to non-target soil invertebrates, which are crucial for sustainable agriculture. Gene expression biomarkers could provide economic and high-throughput metrics of neonicotinoid exposure and toxicity to non-target invertebrates. Thereby, biomarkers can help guide remediation efforts or policy enforcement. Gene expression of Glutathione S-Transferase 3 (GST3) has previously been proposed as a biomarker for the neonicotinoid imidacloprid in the soil ecotoxicological model species Folsomia candida (Collembola). However, it remains unclear how reliably gene expression of neonicotinoid biomarkers, such as GST3, can indicate the exposure to the broader neonicotinoid family under putative GST enzymatic inhibition. In this work, we exposed springtails to two neonicotinoids, thiacloprid and imidacloprid, alongside diethyl maleate (DEM), a known GST metabolic inhibitor that imposes oxidative stress. First, we determined the influence of DEM on neonicotinoid toxicity to springtail fecundity. Second, we surveyed the gene expression of four biomarkers, including GST3, under mutual exposure to neonicotinoids and DEM. We observed no effect of DEM on springtail fecundity. Moreover, the expression of GST3 was only influenced by DEM under mutual exposure with thiacloprid but not with imidacloprid. The results indicate that GST3 is not a robust indicator of neonicotinoid exposure and that probable GST enzymatic inhibition mediates the toxicity of imidacloprid and thiacloprid differentially. Future research should investigate biomarker reliability under shifting metabolic conditions such as provided by DEM exposure.
Analysis of Premature Failure of a PVC Water Pipe
Authors: Espejo Edgar
Published: August 2023

A case study of the failure analysis of a PVC drinking water pipeline is presented. One week after installation in a construction zone of a building, a longitudinal cracking, and pressure drop occurred in an underground pipeline, and an investigation was carried out to determine the causes of the event. Based on the results of visual inspection, dimensional metrology, plastography, microhardness, fractography, FTIR analysis, and stress analysis, the failure mechanisms of the pipe were identified as creep and slow crack growth. The cause of the development of these failure mechanisms was the exposure of the pipe, to a mixture of paint thinner and polyurethane paint, which generated plasticization, with the corresponding deterioration of the mechanical properties. The source of the plasticizer could have been an accidental spill or an incorrect final disposition of this chemical residue during the construction process of the building.
Ozone pollution threatens bird populations to collapse: an imminent ecological threat?
Authors: Agathokleous Evgenios , Sicard Pierre , Feng Zhaozhong , Paoletti Elena
Published: August 2023

While bird populations are declining, the factors associated with this decline are unclear. Based on laboratory experiments, air pollution has long been recognized as a factor causing oxidative stress and adversely affecting bird health. Recently, studies employing an epidemiological approach have reported significant declines in avian populations in Central Europe and the United States due to air pollution, and ozone in particular. We advocate that urgent actions are needed to mitigate these effects, which threaten biodiversity and environmental health, and propose a series of measures which can enlighten the path toward mitigating air pollution effects on avian populations.
Impact of Pregnancy on Weight Loss After Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty
Authors: Carlino Giorgio , Benson Ariel A. , Bove Vincenzo , Pontecorvi Valerio , De Siena Martina , Matteo Maria Valeria , Farina Annarita , Polidori Giulia , Vinti Laila , Giannetti Giulia , Costamagna Guido , Spada Cristiano , Boškoski Ivo
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Obesity and pregnancy are strictly related: on the one hand, obesity—one of the most common comorbidities in women of reproductive age—contributes to infertility and obesity-related pregnancy complications, whereas pregnancy is a condition in which, physiologically, the pregnant woman undergoes weight gain. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) may be used for the treatment of obesity in women of childbearing age.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate weight trajectories, the evolution of obesity-related comorbidities, and lifestyle modification in women who became pregnant after ESG. A comparison was made between childbearing-age women who became pregnant after ESG and non-pregnant women.

Results

A total of 150 childbearing-age women underwent ESG at a large tertiary medical center. Of these, 11 patients (33.4 ± 6.2 years) became pregnant after the procedure, following a mean time interval of 5.5 ± 3.9 months. Three women (two affected by polycystic ovary syndrome) reported difficulty getting pregnant before undergoing ESG. The mean preconception BMI was 31.9±4.0 kg/m2 (−7.24 ± 4.0 kg/m2 after ESG). Total body weight loss (TBWL, %) was 18.08 ± 8.00, 11.00 ± 11.08, and 12.08 ± 8.49, at the beginning of pregnancy, at the delivery, and at the first follow-up (19.6 ± 7.8 months after ESG). TBWL of at least 5% was achieved before pregnancy in all patients (73% reached a TBWL ≥ 10%).

No significant differences in weight loss and QoL were found between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups up to 24 months after ESG.

Conclusions

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty allows for adequate weight loss before and after pregnancy in patients with obesity.

Graphical Abstract
Robotic docking time with the Hugo™ RAS system in gynecologic surgery: a procedure independent learning curve using the cumulative summation analysis (CUSUM)
Authors: Panico Giovanni , Mastrovito Sara , Campagna Giuseppe , Monterossi Giorgia , Costantini Barbara , Gioè Alessandro , Oliva Riccardo , Ferraro Chiara , Ercoli Alfredo , Fanfani Francesco , Scambia Giovanni
Published: August 2023

Robot-assisted surgery has been proven to offer improvements in term of surgical learning curve and feasibility of minimally invasive surgery, but has often been criticized for its longer operative times compared to conventional laparoscopy. Additional times can be split into time required for system set-up, robotic arms docking and calibration of robotic instruments; secondly, surgeon’s learning curve. One of the newest systems recently launched on the market is the Hugo™ RAS (MEDTRONIC Inc, United States). As some of the earliest adopters of the Hugo™ RAS system technology, we present our data on robotic docking learning curve for the first 192 gynecologic robotic cases performed at our institution. Our data indicates that robotic set-up and docking with the new Hugo™ RAS robotic surgical system can be performed time-effectively and that the specific robotic docking learning curve is comparable to preexisting data for other platforms. This preliminary insights into this recently released system may be worthwhile for other centers which may soon adopt this new technology and may need some relevant information on topics such as OR times. Further studies are necessary to assess the different features of the Hugo™ RAS considering other technical and surgical aspects, to fully become familiar with this novel technology.
On connections between skewed, weighted and distorted distributions: applications to model extreme value distributions
Authors: Navarro Jorge , Arevalillo Jorge M
Published: August 2023

The purpose of the paper is to explore the connections between skew symmetric, weighted and distorted univariate distributions as well as how they appear related to the distributions of the extreme values in a sample of identically distributed random variables under both the independence and dependence scenarios. Some extensions of the concept of skewed distributions are proposed in order to cover the most general cases of extremes. Their natural connections to the likelihood ratio ordering and the role played by the P–P plots for handling these models are also highlighted. The results can also be applied to order statistics and coherent systems although these cases do not always lead to skewed distributions. The theoretical findings are illustrated by applied examples to model extremes as well as by several applications concerned with the analysis of artificial and real data.
Synergistic promotion of particulate matter reduction and production performance via adjusting electrochemical reactions in the zinc electrolysis industry
Authors: Ma Zizhen , Jiang Jingkun , Duan Lei , Deng Jianguo , Xu Fuyuan , Li Zehui , Jiang Linhua , Duan Ning
Published: August 2023

Heavy particulate matter (PM) pollution and high energy consumption are the bottlenecks of hydrometallurgy, especially in the electrolysis process. Therefore, an urgent need is to explore PM reduction methods with production performance co-benefits. This study presents three PM reduction methods based on controlling operating parameters, i.e., lowering electrolyte temperature, H2SO4 concentration, and current density of the cathode. The optimized conditions were also investigated using the response surface methodology to balance the PM reduction effect and Zn production. The results showed that lowering electrolyte temperature is the most efficient, with an 89.0% reduction in the PM generation flux (GFPM). Reducing H2SO4 concentration led to the minimum side effects on the current efficiency of Zn deposition (CEZn) or power consumption (PC). With the premise of non-deteriorating CEZn and PC, GFPM can be reduced by 86.3% at the optimal condition (electrolyte temperature = 295 K, H2SO4 = 110 g/L, current density = 373 A/m2). In addition, the reduction mechanism was elucidated by comprehensively analyzing bubble characteristics, electrochemical reactions, and surface tension. Results showed that lower electrolyte temperature inhibited the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and compressed gas volume. Lower H2SO4 concentration inhibited the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and reduced electrolyte surface tension. Lower current density inhibited both OER and HER by decreasing the reaction current. The inhibited gas evolutions reduced the microbubbles’ number and size, thereby reducing GFPM. These results may provide energy-efficient PM reduction methods and theoretical hints of exploring cleaner PM reduction approaches for industrial electrolysis.
Downstream Allosteric Modulation of NMDA Receptors by 3-Benzazepine Derivatives
Authors: Ritter Nadine , Disse Paul , Aymanns Isabel , Mücher Lena , Schreiber Julian A. , Brenker Christoph , Strünker Timo , Schepmann Dirk , Budde Thomas , Strutz-Seebohm Nathalie , Ametamey Simon M. , Wünsch Bernhard , Seebohm Guiscard
Published: August 2023

N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) composed of different splice variants display distinct pH sensitivities and are crucial for learning and memory, as well as for inflammatory or injury processes. Dysregulation of the NMDAR has been linked to diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. The development of selective receptor modulators, therefore, constitutes a promising approach for numerous therapeutical applications. Here, we identified (R)-OF-NB1 as a promising splice variant selective NMDAR antagonist. We investigated the interaction of (R)-OF-NB1 and NMDAR from a biochemical, bioinformatical, and electrophysiological perspective to characterize the downstream allosteric modulation of NMDAR by 3-benzazepine derivatives. The allosteric modulatory pathway starts at the ifenprodil binding pocket in the amino terminal domain and immobilizes the connecting α5-helix to the ligand binding domain, resulting in inhibition. In contrast, the exon 5 splice variant GluN1-1b elevates the NMDARs flexibility and promotes the open state of its ligand binding domain.
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Siponimod in a Mouse Model of Excitotoxicity-Induced Retinal Injury
Authors: Basavarajappa Devaraj , Gupta Vivek , Chitranshi Nitin , Viswanathan Deepa , Gupta Veer , Vander Wall Roshana , Palanivel Viswanthram , Mirzaei Mehdi , You Yuyi , Klistorner Alexander , Graham Stuart L.
Published: August 2023

Glaucoma is a leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide and is characterized by neurodegeneration linked to progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, axonal damage, and neuroinflammation. Glutamate excitotoxicity mediated through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors plays a crucial role in glaucomatous RGC loss. Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs) are important mediators of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the brain and the retina. Siponimod is an immunomodulatory drug for multiple sclerosis and is a selective modulator of S1PR subtypes 1 and 5 and has been shown to have beneficial effects on the central nervous system (CNS) in degenerative conditions. Our previous study showed that mice administered orally with siponimod protected inner retinal structure and function against acute NMDA excitotoxicity. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind these protective effects, we investigated the inflammatory pathways affected by siponimod treatment in NMDA excitotoxicity model. NMDA excitotoxicity resulted in the activation of glial cells coupled with upregulation of the inflammatory NF-kB pathway and increased expression of TNFα, IL1-β, and IL-6. Siponimod treatment significantly reduced glial activation and suppressed the pro-inflammatory pathways. Furthermore, NMDA-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and upregulation of neurotoxic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were significantly diminished with siponimod treatment. Our data demonstrated that siponimod induces anti-inflammatory effects via suppression of glial activation and inflammatory singling pathways that could protect the retina against acute excitotoxicity conditions. These findings provide insights into the anti-inflammatory effects of siponimod in the CNS and suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for neuroinflammatory conditions.
The welch-gong stream cipher - evolutionary path
Authors: Zidarič N. , Mandal K. , Gong G. , Aagaard M.
Published: August 2023

This survey presents the rich history of the Welch-Gong (WG) Stream cipher family. It has been a long journey that lead the WG stream ciphers to become practical. The evolutionary path is a combination of mathematical endeavour and engineering striving to transfer pure mathematical functions to practical encryption algorithms for various applications. This path began as the pioneering work on WG transformation sequences with 2-level autocorrelation, leading to important breakthroughs in the early 2000’s, such as the submission of the first WG stream cipher to the eSTREAM competition in 2005 and the subsequent introduction of the WG stream cipher family WG(m, l), followed by extensive work on particular instances proposed for various (mostly lightweight) applications. A recent construction using a WG permutation is the authenticated encryption WAGE, submitted to the NIST LWC competition in 2019. The story of the WG stream cipher is by far not finished. The future opens numerous possibilities for WG stream ciphers and WAGE, with applications in both lightweight environments and in high-performance computing. We conclude the survey with new ideas and open problems.
Conformity and Group Performance
Authors: Abofol Taher , Erev Ido , Sulitzeanu-Kenan Raanan
Published: August 2023

This research provides evidence regarding the causal effect of group conformity on task performance in stable and variable environments. Drawing on studies in cultural evolution, social learning, and social psychology, we experimentally tested the hypotheses that conformity improves group performance in a stable environment (H1) and decreases performance (by hindering adaptability) in a temporally variable environment (H2). We compare the performance of individuals, low conformity groups, and high conformity groups in a four-arm randomized lab experiment (N = 240). High conformity was manipulated by rewarding agreement with the group’s majority and imposing a cost on disagreement. The monetary implications of conformity impaired performance in a variable environment but did not have a significant effect on performance in the stable environment. Intragroup individual-level analyses provide insights into the mechanisms that account for the group-level results by showing that lower conformity in groups facilitates efficient adaptability in the use of social information.
Do People Comment on Social Networks About Sexual Consent in TV Series? Rethinking Consent (or not) in Real Situations: Contributions from Debates in Social Media
Authors: Pulido Cristina , Cañaveras Paula , Redondo-Sama Gisela , Villarejo-Carballlido Beatriz
Published: August 2023

Scientific evidence has established that sexual consent can be expressed with more than only speech acts. Moreover, scientific analysis of other elements beyond speech acts reveals that coercion can be clearly indicated. Theories on communicative acts contribute to this debate, introducing three situations where these elements can occur: ones of physical, institutional, or interactive power. However, the public comments on these situations on social networks (Instagram, Twitter and Reddit) has not been analysed before. Within the framework of the Spanish competitive project Consent (PID2019-110466RB-I00), we conducted a novel study on the comments and reactions made around the communicative acts that prevent or facilitate the identification of sexual consent in specific episodes of television series aimed at young and adolescent audiences internationally. Social Media Analytics (SMA) with communicative content analysis with predefined codes was carried out on 1465 tweets about sexual consent on Twitter relating to 10 television series and movies watched internationally. The results show that when viewing these scenes, young people: (1) open debates (albeit few, as yet) around communicative acts beyond the verbal and nonverbal ones; (2) take a position against whoever coerces and (3) perceive that they will be able to avoid future situations of a lack of sexual consent by remembering the image discussed and the communicative acts that were in it. In doing so, the results can promote healthy discussions of sexual consent among youth through prevention programs and critical media literacy activities.
Welcoming and Generative Local Welfare as an Agent for Territorial Development: A Case Study from Southern Italy
Authors: Lomonaco Alice , Bergamaschi Maurizio , Musarò Pierluigi , Parmiggiani Paola
Published: August 2023

In Italy, shrinking regions cover more than 60% of the national territory. Although these areas are in demographic and economic decline (Accordo di Partenariato, 2014), many resilient initiatives have been developed over the years (Moss, 1996; Meloni, 2015). Among these experiences, several are aimed at welcoming the migrant population (Corrado, 2013), becoming privileged spaces for more equitable and inclusive modes of territorial regeneration (Van der Ploeg et al., 2003; Oostindie et al., 2010). Drawing upon these premises, the paper intends to reflect on the presence of non-EU migrants in shrinking Italian areas and on their role in local sustainable development. The contribution presents some of the first results of the Horizon 2020 project “WELCOMING SPACES”, with a specific focus on the municipality of Camini, one of the most shrinking areas in Southern Italy, to highlight how migration can lead to local development and rural regeneration processes. Camini is a good case study, as the reception centre managed by the social cooperative ‘JungiMundu’ hosts 118 migrants out of a total population of 810. Thanks to the presence of this number of people, several public services (i.e., post office, school, etc.) have been (re)activated. In the first part of this article, we introduce the case study, while in the second part, we reflect on how the reception of migrants contributes to the implementation of collective and public services for the whole community. The increase in population, both in terms of newcomers and Italian returnees, has also allowed for the regeneration of the village, economically and socially, creating connections between different cultures and traditions that had almost disappeared.
Expressed emotion and wellbeing in South Asian heritage families living in the UK
Authors: Shaikh Madiha , Fatima Zahra , Sharif Hira Salman , O’Driscoll Ciarán
Published: August 2023

The primary aim of this paper was to understand expressed emotion (EE) and its relationship to wellbeing in South Asians (SAs) living in the UK. A total of 529 participants of South Asian heritage were recruited from the UK and completed an online survey consisting of the family questionnaire, the level of expressed emotion scale (LEE), warmth measure, the hospital anxiety and depression scale. Components of EE and wellbeing were investigated using network analysis. Overall, the participants were classified as low EE for criticism, but high for emotional overinvolvement. They scored relatively high on the warmth scale. LEE scores were in the middle range. The network analysis revealed unique associations between EE subscales and symptoms of depression and anxiety, and highlighted positive aspects of EE. The network analysis also highlighted differences in EE between parents and partner. The findings provide an overview of the interactions and influence of EE variables within this population. Future research should focus on the differences between SA ethnicities and religions; differentiating between intrusive and non-intrusive involvement may help further explain part of the variance between variables; exploring first and second-generation immigrants would help discover the impact of acculturation and intergenerational trauma on EE.
A Conceptual Framework to Safeguard the Neuroright to Personal Autonomy
Authors: Muñoz José M. , Bernácer Javier , Güell Francisco
Published: August 2023

In this article, we propose a philosophical exploration on the main problems involved in two neurorights that concern autonomous action, namely free will and cognitive liberty, and sketch a possible solution to these problems by resourcing to a holistic interpretation of human actions. First, we expose the main conceptual and practical issues arising from the neuroright to “free will,” which are far from minor: the term itself is denied by some trends participating in the neurorights debate, the related concept of ultimate control is also disputed, the understanding of free will depends on cultural context, and the exercise of being free to act in several domains may be covered by other regulations. Second, we analyze the historical origin of cognitive liberty, its current status, and its relation with free will. Third, we criticize the concept of decision in mainstream action theory and propose to conceive action as a unified process constituted by three explanatory, non-sequential dimensions: intention, decision, and action realization. Fourth, we discuss two possible cases involving neurotechnologies and suggest ways to interpret them according to a unified framework in which free will and cognitive liberty fall under a single neuroright to personal autonomy. Finally, we outline a recommendation to introduce freedom of thought and personal autonomy as complementary neurorights to protect both the internal and external dimensions of thought and action.
Application of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in identification of cold-pressed vegetal oils
Authors: Szukay Beata , Gałęcki Krystian , Kowalska-Baron Agnieszka , Przybyt Małgorzata , Saletnik Łukasz , Budzyński Jacek , Fisz Jacek J.
Published: August 2023

Monitoring the quality of food products is very important, due to the fact that substances potentially harmful to consumers may be formed during production and storage. In addition, vegetal oils are subject to falsification, which is based mainly on mixing and adding other, usually cheaper equivalents or providing false data on the composition and origin. In this way, the path from a very healthy product to a product that has a negative impact on the human body is very short. In this study fluorescence spectra and fluorescence decay kinetics of selected cold-pressed oils were characterized and the origin of the observed fluorescence bands was discussed. The obtained fluorescence characteristics were found to be the unique fingerprints of the individual oils and showed evident differences which arise from specific qualitative and quantitative compositions of the oils. The most apparent differences in the shape of fluorescence bands were observed in the emission spectrum at excitation wavelength 350 nm and in the excitation spectrum recorded at emission wavelength 500 nm. The obtained results show the utility of the applied steady-state and time –resolved fluorescence measurements in the identification of the tested vegetal oils.
Enhancing conversational agents for successful operation: A multi-perspective evaluation approach for continuous improvement
Authors: Lewandowski Tom , Kučević Emir , Leible Stephan , Poser Mathis , Böhmann Tilo
Published: August 2023

Contemporary organizations increasingly adopt conversational agents (CAs) as intelligent and natural language-based solutions for providing services and information. CAs offer new forms of personalization, speed, (cost-)effectiveness, and automation. However, despite their hype in research and practice, many organizations still fail to seize CAs’ potential because they lack knowledge of how to evaluate and improve the quality of CAs to sustain them in organizational operations. We aim to fill this knowledge gap by conducting a design science research project in which we aggregate insights from the literature and practice to derive an applicable set of quality criteria for CAs. Our article contributes to CA research and guides practitioners by providing a blueprint to structure the evaluation of CAs and to discover areas for systematic improvement.
Which Crisis Support Fiscal Measures Worked During the Covid-19 Shock in Europe?
Authors: Pappa Evi , Ramos Andrey , Vella Eugenia
Published: August 2023

We build a comprehensive database that categorizes COVID-19 fiscal measures announcements in 12 European Union countries into 7 distinct spending categories. Through our empirical analysis, we investigate the impact of these support packages on the economy. Overall, the fiscal measures played a crucial role in promoting output recovery without significant inflationary pressures. However, we observed substantial variations across different spending categories. Assistance provided to small and medium enterprises and specific sectors proved to be highly effective in stimulating the output while maintaining inflation. Direct pandemic spending and measures aimed at sustaining employment levels generated substantial output and employment multipliers and enhanced business sentiment without leading to inflationary costs. Conversely, universal help had inflationary effects and transfers to households primarily aroused consumer and business sentiment without producing significant economic impacts.
Estimator of Agreement with Covariate Adjustment
Authors: McKenzie Katelyn A. , Mahnken Jonathan D.
Published: August 2023

The parameter $$\kappa $$
κ
is a general agreement structure used across many fields, such as medicine, machine learning and the pharmaceutical industry. A popular estimator for $$\kappa $$
κ
is Cohen’s $$\kappa $$
κ
; however, this estimator does not account for multiple influential factors. The primary goal of this paper is to propose an estimator of agreement for a binary response using a logistic regression framework. We use logistic regression to estimate the probability of a positive evaluation while adjusting for factors. These predicted probabilities are then used to calculate expected agreement. It is shown that ignoring needed adjustment measures, as in Cohen’s $$\kappa $$
κ
, leads to an inflated estimate of $$\kappa $$
κ
and a situation similar to Simpson’s paradox. Simulation studies verified mathematical relationships and confirmed estimates are inflated when necessary covariates are left unadjusted. Our method was applied to an Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging study. The proposed approach allows for inclusion of both categorical and continuous covariates, includes Cohen’s $$\kappa $$
κ
as a special case, offers an alternative interpretation, and is easily implemented in standard statistical software.
Effects of organic matter in drinking water and wastewater on micropollutant adsorption to activated carbon
Authors: Piai L. , Mei S. , van Gijn K. , Langenhoff A.
Published: August 2023

Improving the removal of micropollutants from wastewater effluent is crucial to protect surface water quality. This can be achieved by applying adsorption to granular activated carbon. However, activated carbon filters used for wastewater treatment have a shorter lifetime than filters used for drinking water production. It was assessed whether this is related exclusively to the higher organic matter concentration in wastewater effluent, compared to drinking water, or also to organic matter characteristics. Influent of activated carbon filters from a drinking water plant and wastewater effluent were used as organic matter sources, and their effect on micropollutant affinity for activated carbon and adsorption rate was compared at the same dissolved organic carbon concentrations. Organic matter characterization (excitation–emission matrices and parallel factor—PARAFAC—analysis) and fractionation methods, based on size and hydrophobicity, were combined to assess the relevance of specific components that affect micropollutant removal. The results show that both organic matter concentration and composition determine their effect on micropollutant affinity for activated carbon and adsorption rate. The affinity of micropollutants for activated carbon is more reduced in the presence of organic matter from wastewater effluent. Adsorption rate is lower in the presence of organic matter originating from drinking water plants at levels around 10 mg/L, compared to wastewater effluent. One PARAFAC component is more abundant in drinking water organic matter and is likely responsible for this effect. This knowledge supports the development of strategies to overcome bottlenecks on the application of activated carbon filters in water treatment.
Parameter-robust preconditioners for Biot’s model
Authors: Rodrigo Carmen , Gaspar Francisco J. , Adler James , Hu Xiaozhe , Ohm Peter , Zikatanov Ludmil
Published: August 2023

This work presents an overview of the most relevant results obtained by the authors regarding the numerical solution of the Biot’s consolidation problem by preconditioning techniques. The emphasis here is on the design of parameter-robust preconditioners for the efficient solution of the algebraic system of equations resulting after proper discretization of such poroelastic problems. The classical two- and three-field formulations of the problem are considered, and block preconditioners are presented for some of the discretization schemes that have been proposed by the authors for these formulations. These discretizations have been proved to be well-posed with respect to the physical and discretization parameters, what provides a framework to develop preconditioners that are robust with respect to such parameters as well. In particular, we construct both norm-equivalent (block diagonal) and field-of-value-equivalent (block triangular) preconditioners, which are proved to be parameter-robust. The theoretical results on this parameter-robustness are demonstrated by considering typical benchmark problems in the literature for Biot’s model.