bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression used to select important features when predicting wheat yield from various genotype groups
Authors: Anwar Muhuddin Rajin , Emebiri Livinus , Ip Ryan H. L. , Luckett David J. , Chauhan Yashvir S. , Zeleke Ketema T.
Published: November 2024

Bread wheat and durum wheat genotypes were grown in field experiments at two locations in New South Wales, Australia across several years and using two sowing times (‘early’ v. ‘late’). Genotypes were grouped based on genetic similarity. Grain yield, grain size, soil characteristics and daily weather data were collected. The weather data were used to calculate water and heat stress indices for four key growth periods around flowering. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to predict grain yield and to identify the most influential features (a combination of index and growth period). A novel approach involving the crop water supply–demand ratio effectively summarized water relations during growth. LASSO predicted grain yield quite well (adjusted R2 from 0.57 to 0.98), especially in a set of durum genotypes. However, the addition of other important variables such as lodging score, disease incidence, weed incidence and insect damage could have improved modelling results. Growth period 2 (30 days pre-flowering up to flowering) was the most sensitive for yield loss from heat stress and water stress for most features. Although one group of bread wheat genotypes was more sensitive to water stress (drought) in period 3 (20 days pre-flowering to 10 days post-flowering). Evapotranspiration was a significant positive feature but only in the vegetative phase (pre-flowering, period 1). This study confirms the usefulness of LASSO modelling as a technique to make predictions that could be used to identify genotypes that are suitable candidates for further investigation by breeders for their stress-tolerance ability.
Creation as divine absence: A metaphysical reframing of the problem of evil
Authors: Fritts Megan
Published: November 2024

The philosophical ‘problem of evil’ goes back at least as far as Epicurus and has remained a powerful argument against the existence of God in contemporary philosophy. The argument is rooted in apparent contradictions between God’s divine attributes and various conditions of human existence. But these contradictions arise only given certain assumptions of what we should expect both God and the world to be like given God’s existence. In this article, I argue that we can utilise the work of the twentieth-century French philosopher Simone Weil to craft a coherent metaphysical picture of God, creation, and suffering that rejects these common assumptions. Further, I contend that this picture very plausibly follows from commonly accepted tenets of traditional monotheism. Given this, I argue that this Weil-inspired framework provides serious reasons for reframing the problem of evil and its corresponding theodicies by presenting a radically different view of how God must relate to creation. Yet, this picture does not necessarily vindicate the theist. I argue that this picture may leave us with a new question about creation in the face of evil. Namely, is it possible to understand God’s initial creative act as Weil describes it – as an act of love?
A data density-based measure of dexterity for continuum robots and its comparative study
Authors: Bamoriya Shailesh , Hota Roshan Kumar , Kumar Cheruvu Siva
Published: November 2024

Continuum robot-based surgical systems are becoming an effective tool for minimally invasive surgery. A flexible, dexterous, and compact robot structure is suitable for carrying out complex surgical operations. In this paper, we propose performance metrics for dexterity based on data density. Data density at a point in the workspace is higher if the number of reachable points is higher, with a unique configuration lying in a small square box around a point. The computation of these metrics is performed with forward kinematics using the Monte Carlo method and, hence, is computationally efficient. The data density at a particular point is a measure of dexterity at that point. In contrast, the dexterity distribution property index is a measure of how well dexterity is distributed across the workspace according to desired criteria. We compare the dexterity distribution property index across the workspace with the dexterity index based on the dexterous solid angle and manipulability-based approach. A comparative study reveals that the proposed method is simple and straightforward because it uses only the position of the reachable point as the input parameter. The method can quantify and compare the performance of different geometric designs of hyper-redundant and multisegment continuum robots based on dexterity.
Diversity of understory herbaceous plants during succession in rubber plantations in National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest, China
Authors: Du Chunyan , Li Donghai , Yang Xiaobo , Wang Weifeng , Zhu Zicheng , Liu Rentong , He Shaocui , Su Xin , Shang Naiyan , Yang Chuan , Fu Qingmao , Qi Dongling
Published: November 2024

Revealing the impact of forest succession processes on changes in plant diversity is crucial for understanding the mechanisms that maintain plant diversity across various succession stages. While previous research has predominantly focused on the influence of environmental factors or management strategies on plant diversity within rubber plantation understories, there is a scarcity of studies examining the effects of forest succession processes on plant diversity. This study focuses on the plant diversity of the understory herbaceous layer within the rubber forest of the Yinggeling area, located in National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest. It employs a spatial analysis approach, rather than a temporal one, to examine the characteristics of the understory herbaceous community. The findings revealed that (1) The understory of Yinggeling rubber plantations harbors 175 plant species from 149 genera and 75 families, with Gramineae and Rubiaceae representing 46.45% of total species. And the dominant families are Rubiaceae, Gramineae, and Moraceae, with Ficus and Pteris being the dominant genera. (2) The dominant species vary with succession duration, with Tetrastigma pachyphyllum dominating in 0-year succession, Paspalum conjugatum in 3-year succession, and Microstegium fasciculatum in 7-year succession. (3) Diversity indices such as the Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson index, and Pielou index peak at 7 years of natural succession, while the species richness is highest at 3 years. (4) The similarity coefficient between understory herbaceous plant communities in rubber plantations undergoing 0 and 3 years of natural succession is highest 0.56, indicating a significant similarity, while similarity is lowest between 0 and 7 years of succession. This research shows that natural restoration helps increase species diversity in the understory herb layer of rubber forests. Succession leads to changes in the dominant families, genera, and species of the herbaceous layer. This change can be attributed to the intraspecific competition and ecological competition that occur during the succession process, leading to changes in biological and resource allocation.
Do children treat adjectives and nouns differently as modifiers in prenominal position?
Authors: Moroschan Gail , Nicoladis Elena , Anjomshoae Farzaneh
Published: November 2024

Usage-based theories of children’s syntactic acquisition (e.g., Tomasello, 2000a) predict that children’s abstract lexical categories emerge from their experience with particular words in constructions in their input. Because modifiers in English are almost always prenominal, children might initially treat adjectives similarly to nouns when used in a prenominal position. In this study, we taught English-speaking preschoolers (between 2 and 6 years) novel nouns (object labels) and adjectives (words referring to attributes) in both prenominal and postnominal positions. The children corrected both postnominal adjectives and nouns to prenominal position, but corrected modifying nouns more often than adjectives. These results suggest that children differentiate between nouns and adjectives even when they occur in the same position and serve the same function (i.e., modification). Children were increasingly likely to correct postnominal adjectives (not nouns) with increasing age. We argue that children attend to word order more when it makes a difference in meaning.
On the Equivalence between Logic Programming and SETAF
Authors: ALCÂNTARA JOÃO , CORDEIRO RENAN , SÁ SAMY
Published: November 2024

A framework with sets of attacking arguments (
$\textit{SETAF}$
) is an extension of the well-known Dung’s Abstract Argumentation Frameworks (
$\mathit{AAF}$
s) that allows joint attacks on arguments. In this paper, we provide a translation from Normal Logic Programs (
$\textit{NLP}$
s) to
$\textit{SETAF}$
s and vice versa, from
$\textit{SETAF}$
s to
$\textit{NLP}$
s. We show that there is pairwise equivalence between their semantics, including the equivalence between
$L$
-stable and semi-stable semantics. Furthermore, for a class of
$\textit{NLP}$
s called Redundancy-Free Atomic Logic Programs (
$\textit{RFALP}$
s), there is also a structural equivalence as these back-and-forth translations are each other’s inverse. Then, we show that
$\textit{RFALP}$
s are as expressive as
$\textit{NLP}$
s by transforming any
$\textit{NLP}$
into an equivalent
$\textit{RFALP}$
through a series of program transformations already known in the literature. We also show that these program transformations are confluent, meaning that every
$\textit{NLP}$
will be transformed into a unique
$\textit{RFALP}$
. The results presented in this paper enhance our understanding that
$\textit{NLP}$
s and
$\textit{SETAF}$
s are essentially the same formalism.
Ambient Noise‐Derived SmS Splitting: A New Approach to Constraining Crustal Radial Anisotropy
Authors: Xie Jinyun , Yang Yingjie , Luo Yinhe , Xie Yanan , Li Zhengyang
Published: November 2024

Recent studies have shown that crustal body wave phases, such as PmP or SmS, can be effectively retrieved from ambient noise cross‐correlations. However, few studies have used these phases to constrain crustal structures. In this study, we successfully retrieve SmS signals from ambient noise data and observe SmS splitting caused by crustal radial anisotropy. Furthermore, through simulations of synthetic tests and application to field data, we demonstrate that these SmS signals can be used to constrain crustal radial anisotropy structures through joint inversion with surface waves. Our findings suggest that SmS signals obtained from noise data can significantly enhance the understanding of fine crustal radial anisotropic structures.
Eocene Shark Teeth From Peninsular Antarctica: Windows to Habitat Use and Paleoceanography
Authors: Larocca Conte Gabriele , Aleksinski Adam , Liao Ashley , Kriwet Jürgen , Mörs Thomas , Trayler Robin B. , Ivany Linda C. , Huber Matthew , Kim Sora L.
Published: November 2024

Eocene climate cooling, driven by the falling pCO2 and tectonic changes in the Southern Ocean, impacted marine ecosystems. Sharks in high‐latitude oceans, sensitive to these changes, offer insights into both environmental shifts and biological responses, yet few paleoecological studies exist. The Middle‐to‐Late Eocene units on Seymour Island, Antarctica, provide a rich, diverse fossil record, including sharks. We analyzed the oxygen isotope composition of phosphate from shark tooth bioapatite (δ18Op) and compared our results to co‐occurring bivalves and predictions from an isotope‐enabled global climate model to investigate habitat use and environmental conditions. Bulk δ18Op values (mean 22.0 ± 1.3‰) show no significant changes through the Eocene. Furthermore, the variation in bulk δ18Op values often exceeds that in simulated seasonal and regional values. Pelagic and benthic sharks exhibit similar δ18Op values across units but are offset relative to bivalve and modeled values. Some taxa suggest movements into warmer or more brackish waters (e.g., Striatolamia, Carcharias) or deeper, colder waters (e.g., Pristiophorus). Taxa like Raja and Squalus display no shift, tracking local conditions in Seymour Island. The lack of difference in δ18Op values between pelagic and benthic sharks in the Late Eocene could suggest a poorly stratified water column, inconsistent with a fully opened Drake Passage. Our findings demonstrate that shark tooth bioapatite tracks the preferred habitat conditions for individual taxa rather than recording environmental conditions where they are found. A lack of secular variation in δ18Op values says more about species ecology than the absence of regional or global environmental changes.
Assessing Groundwater Storage Change in the Great Artesian Basin Using GRACE and Groundwater Budgets
Authors: Castellazzi P. , Ransley T. , McPherson A. , Slatter E. , Frost A. , Shokri A. , Wallace L. , Crosbie R. , Janardhanan S. , Kilgour P. , Raiber M. , Vizy J. , Rollet N.
Published: November 2024

Large, confined aquifer systems play a vital role in sustaining human settlements and industries in many regions. Understanding the sustainability of these water resources requires the evaluation of groundwater storage change. Direct in‐situ observation of groundwater storage is limited by the distribution and availability of groundwater level and aquifer storativity data. Here, we use and compare two auxiliary methods, applied at basin and sub‐basin scales, to assess groundwater storage changes in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), one of the World's largest confined aquifer systems. The first, the groundwater budget, derives storage change as the residual of fluxes in and out of the GAB, assuming they are all accounted for and accurately estimated. The second uses time‐variable gravity data from GRACE satellites to estimate temporal changes in groundwater mass, assuming that all other components of the terrestrial water mass change detected by GRACE are correctly subtracted. Despite the depletion observed during the 20th century, groundwater storage is mostly stable during 2002–2022. An increase in storage is detected in the Surat sub‐basin, a major recharge area. This increase is attributed to an over‐representation of large recharge events during the study period and/or storage recovery following rehabilitation of free‐flowing bores. The approach consisting in disaggregating GRACE data assumes that water storage changes in confined aquifers is dominated by changes in the GAB, and as such, it may overestimate the increase in the GAB by incorrectly attributing the increase occurring in overlying aquifers to the GAB. In contrast, the recharge estimates used in the groundwater budgets do not account for flood recharge and might underestimate storage increase in the GAB.
Estimation of Terrestrial Water Storage Changes in Brazil From the Joint Inversion of GRACE‐Based Geopotential Difference and GNSS Vertical Displacement Data
Authors: Zhong Bo , Li Xianpao , Chen Jianli , Li Jiancheng , Xu Hongyi
Published: November 2024

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite gravimetry and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) surface displacement measurements offer complementary advantages for monitoring terrestrial water storage (TWS) changes. We propose a new joint inversion model based on the combination of GRACE‐based geopotential difference (GPD) observations using the mascon method and GNSS vertical displacements through the Green's function method to obtain reliable TWS changes in Brazil. The performance of the jointly inverted TWS changes is assessed through closed‐loop simulations and comparisons with hydrometeorological data (precipitation‐P, evapotranspiration‐ET, and runoff‐R) using water budget closure (P‐ET‐R) and river water level observations from satellite altimetry. The simulation results indicate that the joint inversion results exhibit higher accuracy and reliability than GRACE GPD‐based mascon (GPD‐mascon) and GNSS solutions, and the standard deviations (STDs) of joint results decrease by ∼6.98 and ∼37.5 mm compared to those from GPD‐mascon and GNSS solutions. The joint inversion of real GRACE and GNSS data demonstrates notably lower uncertainty than that of GPD‐mascon solutions and exhibits significant improvement than GNSS‐only solutions. The STDs and correlation coefficients between monthly R time series derived from three inversion methods (joint inversion, GPD‐mascon and GNSS solutions, combined with P and ET through water budget closure) and in situ observations are 19.607 mm and 0.912, 20.879 mm and 0.904, and 31.370 mm and 0.778, respectively. The joint estimates also yield better correlation with river water level observations compared to GPD‐mascon and GNSS solutions. Furthermore, at the weekly time scale, the joint inversion results show better consistency with P‐ET‐R data than those from GPD‐mascon and GNSS solutions.
Mechanistic Simulation of Salt‐Affected Soil‐Plant‐Atmosphere Continuum Dynamics in Seasonally Frozen Regions
Authors: Xun Yihao , Xu Xu , Kurylyk Barret , Li Xinhu , Mu Danning , Huang Guanhua
Published: November 2024

The salt‐affected Soil‐Plant‐Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC) is a dynamic, interactive system that is particularly complex in seasonally frozen regions where salt transport, precipitation‐dissolution, and soil freeze‐thaw processes play crucial, interrelated roles. Understanding these coupled processes and representing them with mathematical models is critical for effective management of SPAC systems. This study presents a new mechanistic approach and an improved model that integrates a chemical equilibrium module within a mechanistic‐based transport computational module (modified SHAW model). The chemical equilibrium module determines salt precipitation‐dissolution using thermodynamic theory and explains the effects of efflorescence and subflorescence on system dynamics. The model enables simultaneous solutions for heat, water, and salt transport with chemical equilibrium throughout non‐freezing and freezing seasons, as well as plant growth dynamics. Assessment of the model using laboratory experiments and field studies showed good performance, with coefficient of determination values exceeding 0.65 for simulated and measured evaporation rate, leaf area index, soil water content, salt content, and temperature. Furthermore, a comparison between simulation results considering and neglecting the impact of salt precipitation‐dissolution highlights potential inaccuracies in soil heat‐water‐salt dynamics and plant water use resulting from the omission of this process in mechanistic models.
Multi-omics reveal immune microenvironment alterations in multiple myeloma and its precursor stages
Authors: Cheng Yan , Sun Fumou , Alapat Daisy V. , Wanchai Visanu , Mery David , Siegel Eric R. , Xu Hongwei , Johnson Sarah , Guo Wancheng , Bailey Clyde , Ashby Cody , Bauer Michael Anton , Hadidi Samer Al , Schinke Carolina , Thanendrarajan Sharmilan , Zangari Maurizio , van Rhee Frits , Tricot Guido , Shaughnessy John D. , Zhan Fenghuang
Published: November 2024

Tumor immune microenvironmental alterations occur early in multiple myeloma (MM) development. In this study, we aim to systematically characterize the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and the tumor-immune interactions from precursor stages, i.e., monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering MM (SMM), to newly diagnosed MM, comparing these to healthy donors. Using CIBERSORT, mass cytometry (CyTOF), and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq), we examined innate and adaptive immune changes across these stages. We found a decrease in granulocytes in the TME predicts MM outcomes. HLA-DR is reduced in CD16+ monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, while myeloid dendritic cells show decreased expression of stress and immune-response genes. NK cells and CD8+ T cells shift from a GZMK+ to a GZMB+ cytotoxic phenotype in the TME, with increased inhibitory markers TIM3 and TIGIT. In paired samples, the proportion and gene expression pattern in patient-specific GZMB+CD8+ T cells remain largely unchanged despite MM progression. Our findings provide a comprehensive immune landscape of MM and its precursors, offering insights into therapeutic strategies. Enhancing neutrophil and NK cell cytotoxicity, tumor antigen presentation, and CD8+ T cell versatility in precursor stages may prevent MM progression.
Cardiotoxicity following thoracic radiotherapy for lung cancer
Authors: Walls Gerard M. , Bergom Carmen , Mitchell Joshua D. , Rentschler Stacey L. , Hugo Geoffrey D. , Samson Pamela P. , Robinson Clifford G.
Published: November 2024

Radiotherapy is the standard of care treatment for unresectable NSCLC, combined with concurrent chemotherapy and adjuvant immunotherapy. Despite technological advances in radiotherapy planning and delivery, the risk of damage to surrounding thoracic tissues remains high. Cardiac problems, including arrhythmia, heart failure and ischaemic events, occur in 20% of patients with lung cancer who undergo radiotherapy. As survival rates improve incrementally for this cohort, minimising the cardiovascular morbidity of RT is increasingly important. Problematically, the reporting of cardiac endpoints has been poor in thoracic radiotherapy clinical trials, and retrospective studies have been limited by the lack of standardisation of nomenclature and endpoints. How baseline cardiovascular profile and cardiac substructure radiation dose distribution impact the risk of cardiotoxicity is incompletely understood. As Thoracic Oncology departments seek to expand the indications for radiotherapy, and as the patient cohort becomes older and more comorbid, there is a pressing need for cardiotoxicity to be comprehensively characterised with sophisticated oncology, physics and cardio-oncology evaluations. This review synthesises the evidence base for cardiotoxicity in conventional radiotherapy, focusing on lung cancer, including current data, unmet clinical needs, and future scientific directions.
Scaling whole-chip QAOA for higher-order ising spin glass models on heavy-hex graphs
Authors: Pelofske Elijah , Bärtschi Andreas , Cincio Lukasz , Golden John , Eidenbenz Stephan
Published: November 2024

We show that the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) for higher-order, random coefficient, heavy-hex compatible spin glass Ising models has strong parameter concentration across problem sizes from 16 up to 127 qubits for p = 1 up to p = 5, which allows for computationally efficient parameter transfer of QAOA angles. Matrix product state (MPS) simulation is used to compute noise-free QAOA performance. Hardware-compatible short-depth QAOA circuits are executed on ensembles of 100 higher-order Ising models on noisy IBM quantum superconducting processors with 16, 27, and 127 qubits using QAOA angles learned from a single 16-qubit instance using the JuliQAOA tool. We show that the best quantum processors find lower energy solutions up to p = 2 or p = 3, and find mean energies that are about a factor of two off from the noise-free distribution. We show that p = 1 QAOA energy landscapes remain very similar as the problem size increases using NISQ hardware gridsearches with up to a 414 qubit processor.
A cellular basis for mapping behavioural structure
Authors: El-Gaby Mohamady , Harris Adam Loyd , Whittington James C. R. , Dorrell William , Bhomick Arya , Walton Mark E. , Akam Thomas , Behrens Timothy E. J.
Published: November 2024

To flexibly adapt to new situations, our brains must understand the regularities in the world, as well as those in our own patterns of behaviour. A wealth of findings is beginning to reveal the algorithms that we use to map the outside world1–6. However, the biological algorithms that map the complex structured behaviours that we compose to reach our goals remain unknown. Here we reveal a neuronal implementation of an algorithm for mapping abstract behavioural structure and transferring it to new scenarios. We trained mice on many tasks that shared a common structure (organizing a sequence of goals) but differed in the specific goal locations. The mice discovered the underlying task structure, enabling zero-shot inferences on the first trial of new tasks. The activity of most neurons in the medial frontal cortex tiled progress to goal, akin to how place cells map physical space. These ‘goal-progress cells’ generalized, stretching and compressing their tiling to accommodate different goal distances. By contrast, progress along the overall sequence of goals was not encoded explicitly. Instead, a subset of goal-progress cells was further tuned such that individual neurons fired with a fixed task lag from a particular behavioural step. Together, these cells acted as task-structured memory buffers, implementing an algorithm that instantaneously encoded the entire sequence of future behavioural steps, and whose dynamics automatically computed the appropriate action at each step. These dynamics mirrored the abstract task structure both on-task and during offline sleep. Our findings suggest that schemata of complex behavioural structures can be generated by sculpting progress-to-goal tuning into task-structured buffers of individual behavioural steps.
Central pattern generator control of a vertebrate ultradian sleep rhythm
Authors: Fenk Lorenz A. , Riquelme Juan Luis , Laurent Gilles
Published: November 2024

The mechanisms underlying the mammalian ultradian sleep rhythm—the alternation of rapid-eye-movement (REM) and slow-wave (SW) states—are not well understood but probably depend, at least in part, on circuits in the brainstem1–6. Here, we use perturbation experiments to probe this ultradian rhythm in sleeping lizards (Pogona vitticeps)7–9 and test the hypothesis that it originates in a central pattern generator10,11—circuits that are typically susceptible to phase-dependent reset and entrainment by external stimuli12. Using light pulses, we find that Pogona’s ultradian rhythm8 can be reset in a phase-dependent manner, with a critical transition from phase delay to phase advance in the middle of SW. The ultradian rhythm frequency can be decreased or increased, within limits, by entrainment with light pulses. During entrainment, Pogona REM (REMP) can be shortened but not lengthened, whereas SW can be dilated more flexibly. In awake animals, a few alternating light/dark epochs matching natural REMP and SW durations entrain a sleep-like brain rhythm, suggesting the transient activation of an ultradian rhythm generator. In sleeping animals, a light pulse delivered to a single eye causes an immediate ultradian rhythm reset, but only of the contralateral hemisphere; both sides resynchronize spontaneously, indicating that sleep is controlled by paired rhythm-generating circuits linked by functional excitation. Our results indicate that central pattern generators of a type usually known to control motor rhythms may also organize the ultradian sleep rhythm in a vertebrate.
Evaluation of uranium migration during the maturation of hydrocarbon source rocks
Authors: Wang Junxian , Li Ziying , He Feng , Bai Fengtian , Qiu Linfei , Guo Jian , Zhang Chuang
Published: November 2024

The source of uranium is an important research topic related to the exploration of sandstone-type uranium deposits, and potential uranium sources in deep basins are often overlooked. Black organic-rich shale is a common uranium-bearing rock in deep sedimentary basins. However, relatively few studies have investigated the migration of uranium during hydrocarbon generation in and release from uranium-rich shale. In this study, the uranium-rich shale in the Chang 7 member of the Yanchang Formation of the Upper Triassic in the Ordos Basin was selected to investigate the migration of uranium and other trace elements during the thermal maturation of uranium-rich shale via a semiopen pyrolysis simulation system. The gas and liquid products as well as the solid residue were thoroughly analysed by means of multiple instruments. The results showed that uranium significantly migrated before hydrocarbon generation (Ro < 0.61%), with a leaching rate between 12.1% and 18.8%. The leaching rate of uranium during the hydrocarbon generation stage (0.63% < Ro < 1.35%) was relatively low, ranging from 0 to 7.2%. Cu, Pb, Zn, Mo, and other trace elements also migrated considerably during the early stage of thermal evolution, with leaching rates ranging from 2.9 ~ 11.6%. The yield of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LOAs) was the highest in the early stage of thermal maturity, and the LOA yield exhibited a good correlation with the leaching rates of Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Mo, etc. The generation of LOAs from source rocks was conducive to the leaching and migration of trace elements. Moreover, according to a statistical analysis of published geochemical data, the total organic carbon (TOC) content, uranium content, and U/TOC ratio in shale decreased significantly with increasing burial depth, indicating that uranium migrated significantly upon kerogen hydrocarbon generation during thermal evolution. Therefore, uranium-rich shale is an important deep uranium source in sedimentary basins.
Synchronous photocatalytic benzimidazole formation and olefin reduction by magnetic separable visible-light-driven Pd-g-C3N4-Vanillin@γ-Fe2O3-TiO2 Nanocomposite
Authors: Jafarpour Maasoumeh , Rezaeifard Abdolreza , Pourmorteza Narges , Kudeyani Maryam Ghanbari
Published: November 2024

A visible light-responsive magnetically separable photocatalyst Pd-g-C3N4-Vanillin@γ-Fe2O3-TiO2 is fabricated using vanillin as a natural junction under ultrasonic agitation. Structural, morphological, optical, thermal, and magnetic assessments of the as-prepared catalyst are carried out. The photocatalyst successfully drives the simultaneous benzimidazole formation, and olefin hydrogenation with high atom economy under blue LED light and mild conditions. The photocatalytic activity of Pd-g-C3N4-Vanillin@γ-Fe2O3-TiO2 is significantly affected by the γ-Fe2O3:TiO2 weight ratio. PL spectra revealed the effective separation of carriers in the fabricated catalyst promoting its photocatalytic activity. The action spectra using the apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) exhibited the maximum AQEs at 520 and 750 nm in which the highest performance for styrene hydrogenation is observed. The title magnetically separable heterogeneous photocatalyst provides high yields of products under perfectly safe visible light, produces low/zero waste, and avoids using an external high-pressure hydrogen gas source, harmful solvents, undesirable additives, and reducing agents rendering green conditions for chemical reactions.
Quantification of cavitating flows with neutron imaging
Authors: Karathanassis I. K. , Heidari-Koochi M. , Koukouvinis F. , Weiss L. , Trtik P. , Spivey D. , Wensing M. , Gavaises M.
Published: November 2024

The current experimental investigation demonstrates the capability of neutron imaging to quantify cavitation, in terms of vapour content, within an orifice of an abruptly constricting geometry. The morphology of different cavitation regimes setting in was properly visualised owing to the high spatial resolution of 16 μm achieved, given the extensive field of view of 12.9 × 12.9 mm2 offered by the imaging set-up. At a second step, the method was proven capable of highlighting subtle differences between fluids of different rheological properties. More specifically, a reference liquid was comparatively assessed against a counterpart additised with a Quaternary Ammonium Salt (QAS) agent, thus obtaining a viscoelastic behaviour. In accordance with previous studies, it was verified, yet in a quantifiable manner, that the presence of viscoelastic additives affects the overall cavitation topology by promoting the formation of more localised vortical cavities rather than cloud-like structures occupying a larger portion of the orifice core. To the authors’ best knowledge, the present work is the first to demonstrate that neutron imaging is suitable for quantifying in-nozzle cavitating flow at the micrometre level, consequently elucidating the distinct forms of vaporous structures that arise. The potential of incorporating neutron irradiation for the quantification of two-phase flows in metallic microfluidics devices has been established.
Exploring the limits of hierarchical world models in reinforcement learning
Authors: Schiewer Robin , Subramoney Anand , Wiskott Laurenz
Published: November 2024

Hierarchical model-based reinforcement learning (HMBRL) aims to combine the sample efficiency of model-based reinforcement learning with the abstraction capability of hierarchical reinforcement learning. While HMBRL has great potential, the structural and conceptual complexities of current approaches make it challenging to extract general principles, hindering understanding and adaptation to new use cases, and thereby impeding the overall progress of the field. In this work we describe a novel HMBRL framework and evaluate it thoroughly. We construct hierarchical world models that simulate the environment at various levels of temporal abstraction. These models are used to train a stack of agents that communicate top-down by proposing goals to their subordinate agents. A significant focus of this study is the exploration of a static and environment agnostic temporal abstraction, which allows concurrent training of models and agents throughout the hierarchy. Unlike most goal-conditioned H(MB)RL approaches, it also leads to comparatively low dimensional abstract actions. Although our HMBRL approach did not outperform traditional methods in terms of final episode returns, it successfully facilitated decision-making across two levels of abstraction. A central challenge in enhancing our method’s performance, as uncovered through comprehensive experimentation, is model exploitation on the abstract level of our world model stack. We provide an in depth examination of this issue, discussing its implications and suggesting directions for future research to overcome this challenge. By sharing these findings, we aim to contribute to the broader discourse on refining HMBRL methodologies.
Specific human gene expression in response to infection is an effective marker for diagnosis of latent and active tuberculosis
Authors: Nakiboneka Ritah , Walbaum Natasha , Musisi Emmanuel , Nevels Michael , Nyirenda Tonney , Nliwasa Marriott , Msefula Chisomo L. , Sloan Derek , Sabiiti Wilber
Published: November 2024

RNA sequencing and microarray analysis revealed transcriptional markers expressed in whole blood can differentiate active pulmonary TB (ATB) from other respiratory diseases (ORDs), and latent TB infection (LTBI) from healthy controls (HC). Here we describe a streamlined reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay that could be applied at near point-of-care for diagnosing and distinguishing ATB from ORDs and LTBI from HC. A literature review was undertaken to identify the most plausible host-gene markers (HGM) of TB infection. Primers, and dual labelled hydrolysis probes were designed and analytically evaluated for accuracy in an in-vitro model of infection using a lung fibroblast cell-line. Best performing genes were multiplexed into panels of 2–4 targets and taken forward for clinical evaluation. Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus were used as reference tests for ATB and LTBI respectively. A total of 16 HGM were selected and incorporated into five multiplex RT-qPCR panels. PCR assay efficiency of all evaluated targets was ≥ 90% with a median analytical sensitivity of 292 copies/µl [IQR: 215.0-358.3 copies/µl], and a median limit of quantification of 61.7 copies/µl [IQR: 29.4-176.3 copies/µl]. Clinically, ATB was characterised by higher gene expression than ORDs, while LTBI was associated with lower gene expression than HC, Kruskal-Wallis p < 0.0001. Crucially, BATF2, CD64, GBP5, C1QB, GBP6, DUSP3, and GAS6 exhibited high differentiative ability for ATB from ORDs, LTBI or HC while KLF2, PTPRC, NEMF, ASUN, and ZNF296 independently discriminated LTBI from HC. Our results show that different HGM maybe required for ATB and LTBI differentiation from ORDs or HC respectively and demonstrate the feasibility of host gene-based RT-qPCR to diagnose ATB and LTBI at near point-of-care.
Multi-task Bayesian model combining FDG-PET/CT imaging and clinical data for interpretable high-grade prostate cancer prognosis
Authors: Larose Maxence , Archambault Louis , Touma Nawar , Brodeur Raphaël , Desroches Félix , Raymond Nicolas , Bédard-Tremblay Daphnée , LeBlanc Danahé , Rasekh Fatemeh , Hovington Hélène , Neveu Bertrand , Vallières Martin , Pouliot Frédéric
Published: November 2024

We propose a fully automatic multi-task Bayesian model, named Bayesian Sequential Network (BSN), for predicting high-grade (Gleason $$\ge$$
≥
 8) prostate cancer (PCa) prognosis using pre-prostatectomy FDG-PET/CT images and clinical data. BSN performs one classification task and five survival tasks: predicting lymph node invasion (LNI), biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCR-FS), metastasis-free survival, definitive androgen deprivation therapy-free survival, castration-resistant PCa-free survival, and PCa-specific survival (PCSS). Experiments are conducted using a dataset of 295 patients. BSN outperforms widely used nomograms on all tasks except PCSS, leveraging multi-task learning and imaging data. BSN also provides automated prostate segmentation, uncertainty quantification, personalized feature-based explanations, and introduces dynamic predictions, a novel approach that relies on short-term outcomes to refine long-term prognosis. Overall, BSN shows great promise in its ability to exploit imaging and clinicopathological data to predict poor outcome patients that need treatment intensification with loco-regional or systemic adjuvant therapy for high-risk PCa.
Increasing intensity directly increases the perceived warmth of primary colors
Authors: Hammond Billy R. , Gardner Colin R. , Wooten Billy R. , Renzi-Hammond Lisa
Published: November 2024

There is a long history of linking the perceptions of temperature and color (the “Hue-heat hypothesis”): red (R) and yellow (Y) are often considered warm, whereas blue (B) and green (G) are cool. Past studies, however, have largely used relatively broad-band light at a fixed intensity to test these relations. We tested whether increasing the intensity of highly saturated primary colors would lead to a concomitant change in the perceived temperature of those colors. 20 young healthy participants (M = 24.80±3.53 years; 45% female; 5% Hispanic; 45% non-White) with normal color vision were tested. An optical system with a Xenon-arc light source, chromatic filters (peak l = 465, 530, 572, 652 nm), and a circular neutral density wedge to vary intensity were used (5 intensity levels). Temperature perception was assessed using an ordinal scale from – 5 (coolest) to + 5 (warmest). The order of the colors used and the intensity levels were varied randomly. Considering the average across intensity levels, B (-1.87) and G (+ 1.09) were considered the coolest, whereas Y (+ 2.1) and R (+ 3.75) were considered the warmest colors. All colors, however, warmed with increasing intensity. A linear regression fit to the averaged data across luminance explained the majority of the variance: B (r2 = 0.78), Y (r2 = 0.93), G (r2 = 0.98), and R (r2 = 0.92). Consistent with past data, our results show that color is significantly linked with temperature perception. Increasing the luminance of colors, however, strongly shifts the perception toward increased warmth.
A seasonal investigation of indoor air quality in relation to architectural features in government office buildings in Enugu, Nigeria
Authors: Basil Amaka-Anolue Martha , Okwuosa Chiamaka Christiana , Uzuegbuanam Francis Onyechi , Ugwu Lawrence E.
Published: November 2024

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is crucial to environmental health significantly impacting on the well-being and productivity of building occupants. Several studies have explored various aspects of IAQ in non-tropical regions but there is limited information on how seasonal variations affect IAQ in hot-humid climates like Enugu, Nigeria. This study investigated seasonal changes in key indoor air parameters including CO, CO2, HCHO, TVOC, temperature, RH, PM2.5, and AQI across rainy and dry seasons in 58 government offices in Enugu, and evaluated how these fluctuations relate to architectural features of the offices. Using a mixed-methods approach, data collection involved qualitative assessments of building design attributes alongside quantitative IAQ measurements taken with the BOSEAN T-Z01Pro detector. Seasonal variations were analyzed using paired T-tests, ANOVA, and regression models. The results revealed a marked increase in pollutant concentrations during the dry season (p < 0.001–0.005), resulting in a poorer air quality index compared to the rainy season. Architectural features accounted for 68.5% of the variability in AQI (R2 = 0.685, p = 0.000), with casement windows being significantly associated with better air quality (Exp B = -4.217, p = 0.013) These shows that the dry season poses a greater risk to IAQ which is worsened in offices where projecting windows were used, potentially impacting health and productivity. The study emphasizes the need to address seasonal IAQ differences when designing office buildings in tropical regions. Design architects can help reduce seasonal air quality challenges and support healthier, more productive indoor environments by incorporating ventilation strategies, such as the use of casement windows. Further research should include long-term monitoring across various settings and additional IAQ parameters for better understanding of IAQ dynamics.
Nonlinear transient analysis of water lubricated bearing in the turbulent regime
Authors: Mallya Ravindra , Pai Raghuvir , Shenoy Baloor Satish
Published: November 2024

Influence of turbulence on the stability characteristics of a water lubricated journal bearing is analyzed. Locus of the journal centre is plotted using the non – linear transient analysis method for different flow regimes of the bearing subjected to three different types of loading. The bearing groove angles of 18o and 36o is considered for the analysis. Turbulent coefficients are incorporated in the modified form of Reynolds equation which is solved using the 4th order Runge-Kutta method. The path traversed by journal centre is generated for different loading conditions and the stability of the bearing is examined. For periodic and fluctuating rotating loads, the journal centre traversed shorter path and reached stable position when the flow regime changed from laminar to turbulent.
Intraband transitions at a CsPbBr3/GaAs heterointerface in a two-step photon upconversion solar cell
Authors: Mahamu Hambalee , Asahi Shigeo , Kita Takashi
Published: November 2024

Two-step photon upconversion solar cells (TPU-SCs) based on III–V semiconductors can achieve enhanced sub-bandgap photon absorption because of intraband transitions at the heterointerface. From a technological aspect, the question arose whether similar intraband transitions can be realized by using perovskite/III–V semiconductor heterointerfaces. In this article, we demonstrate a TPU-SC based on a CsPbBr3/GaAs heterointerface. Such a solar cell can ideally achieve an energy conversion efficiency of 48.5% under 1-sun illumination. This is 2.1% higher than the theoretical efficiency of an Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs-based TPU-SC. Experimental results of the CsPbBr3/GaAs-based TPU-SC show that both the short-circuit current JSC and the open-circuit voltage VOC increase with additional illumination of sub-bandgap photons. We analyze the excitation power dependence of JSC for different excitation conditions to discuss the mechanisms behind the enhancement. In addition, the observed voltage-boost clarifies that the JSC enhancement is caused by an adiabatic optical process at the CsPbBr3/GaAs heterointerface, where sub-bandgap photons efficiently pump the electrons accumulated at the heterointerface to the conduction band of CsPbBr3. Besides the exceptional optoelectronic properties of CsPbBr3 and GaAs, the availability of a CsPbBr3/GaAs heterointerface for two-step photon upconversion paves the way for the development of high-efficiency perovskite/III–V semiconductor-based single-junction solar cells.
Linear and nonlinear ultrasound parameters attributed to anisotropy in granite
Authors: Baek Seungo , Kim Kwang Yeom , Kim Gun , Yun Tae Sup
Published: November 2024

The anisotropic nature of granite, a key factor affecting its mechanical properties, is inherently governed by its mineral alignment and the presence of orthogonal cleavage planes: rift, grain, and hardway. This study examines how these cleavage planes influence anisotropy, particularly in the context of microcracking formation and acoustic properties. A new measurement procedure for the acoustic nonlinearity parameter ($$\:\beta\:$$) is developed to address the well-known limitations of conventional linear ultrasound methods, including wave velocity and attenuation coefficient, in detecting microstructural changes induced by existing cleavage planes. Unlike other parameters, $$\:\beta\:$$ exhibits remarkable changes depending on the plane type, highlighting its high sensitivity to the mineral distribution in each cleavage plane and to the microcracks. A correlation between the linear and nonlinear parameters provides further evidence of the superiority of $$\:\beta\:$$ in detecting inherent microscale defects that develop in each plane and affect the anisotropic characteristics of granite. The findings of this study confirm that nonlinear ultrasound is capable of elucidating the mechanisms underlying the origin of anisotropy in granite due to microcracks, with broader implications for understanding unidentified chemical and mechanical phenomena in geological materials.
Establishment of liquid biopsy procedure for the analysis of circulating cell free DNA, exosomes, RNA and proteins in colorectal cancer and adenoma patients
Authors: Čeri Andrea , Somborac-Bačura Anita , Fabijanec Marija , Hulina-Tomašković Andrea , Matusina Marko , Detel Dijana , Verbanac Donatella , Barišić Karmela
Published: November 2024

Liquid biopsy has an underexplored diagnostic potential in colorectal cancer (CRC). Sufficient quantity and quality of its elements (circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA), exosomes and exosomal RNA) are essential for accurate results. The present study aims to establish the optimal protocol for handling liquid biopsy samples. Samples were obtained by collecting peripheral blood from colorectal adenoma patients in CellSave tubes. Plasma was separated within six hours using differential centrifugation and aliquots stored at – 20/– 80 °C until further processing. Three methods for isolation of ccfDNA, and two combinations of kits for isolation of exosomes and exosomal RNA were tested. The quality and quantity of ccfDNA isolates were evaluated. Exosomes were characterised by determining size, concentration, and total and specific protein content. Expression of chosen microRNAs, miR-19a-3p and miR-92-3p, which have been implicated in CRC progression, were determined. The vacuum-column-based kit showed the highest quantities of isolated ccfDNA (P-value < 0.001). Kits for exosome isolation significantly differed in size (P-value = 0.016), concentration (P-value = 0.016) and protein content (P-value = 0.016). There was no significant difference in expressions of miR-19a-3p (P-value = 0.219) and miR-92a-3p (P-value = 0.094) between the two isolation kits. The new, adapted protocol described, enables simultaneous analysis of multiple elements when investigating potential biomarkers of CRC.