bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The associations of emotion regulation, self-compassion, and perceived lifestyle discrepancy with breast cancer survivors’ healthy lifestyle maintenance
Authors: Ben-Artzi Tal Jean , Baziliansky Svetlana , Cohen Miri
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Unhealthy lifestyle increases the risk of comorbidities, reduced quality of life, and cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors. It is important to identify emotional and cognitive factors that may affect the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle over time. This study examined the associations of perceived lifestyle discrepancy, self-compassion, and emotional distress with the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle among breast cancer survivors and the mediating role of emotion regulation patterns (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) in these associations.

Methods

A total of 145 female breast cancer survivors aged 31–77 completed self-reports on healthy lifestyle maintenance, perceived lifestyle discrepancy, self-compassion, emotional distress, and emotion regulation patterns. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Results

Mean physical activity and healthy diet maintenance scores were moderate. The structural equation modeling analysis showed good fit indicators (χ2 = 4.21, df = 10, p = .94; χ2/df = 0.42; NFI = .98; TLI = 1.09; CFI = 1.00; RMSEA = .00, 95% CI (.00, .02)). Lower perceived lifestyle discrepancy was directly associated with higher physical activity (β = −.34, p < .01) and healthy diet (β =−.39, p < .01). Cognitive reappraisal was associated with higher physical activity (β = .19, p < .01), and expressive suppression was associated with lower physical activity (β = −.19, p < .01), and both mediated the association between self-compassion and physical activity.

Conclusions

The mediated associations reported in this study indicate that psychosocial factors, especially self-compassion, perceived lifestyle discrepancy, and emotional regulation patterns, are relevant to healthy lifestyle maintenance among breast cancer survivors, because solely providing healthy lifestyle recommendations does not motivate individuals to adhere to them.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Short-term structured psychosocial interventions designed to reduce perceived health discrepancy and strengthen self-compassion should be implemented and their effect on lifestyle should be further evaluated.
Inhibition of Metal-Polyphenol Complex in Tea Fortified with Encapsulated Iron
Authors: Baldelli Alberto , Arrieta Alejandro Leiva , Pratap-Singh Anubhav
Published: August 2024

Fortifying tea with iron faces the formation of a blue complex between iron and polyphenols. These technical challenges were circumvented by encapsulating iron sulphate with walls of whey proteins and Eudraguard via spray drying. Three types of capsules were generated based on the quantity of enclosed iron, 5.1, 7.7, or 10.0 mg; the quantity of iron is proportional to the complex formation. The encapsulation process enhanced iron absorption by 73% compared to free iron. The iron-polyphenol complex formation in gallic acid and black tea solution was studied. The complex formation in two buffers, 2-(N-Morpholino)ethane sulfonic acid (MES), and [piperazine-N, N′-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid)] (PIPES), in two pH, 5.5 and 6.6, and the situations of buffered and unbuffered gallic acid in 0.3 mM ferrous sulphate solution was analyzed. The most stable solutions were gained with gallic acid in MES at pH 5.5 and 6.6 and PIPES at 6.6.
The Impact of Public Participation Through Invited and Invented Spaces on Water Supply in Urban Informal Settlements
Authors: Ntwana Bukiwe , Naidoo Vinothan
Published: August 2024

Though public participation forms part of the foundation of the South African democracy, insufficient consideration has been paid to the processes of public participation at local government, particularly in the provision of water supply in informal settlement communities. Informal settlements and their leadership structures are continuously excluded and overlooked in decisions and plans around water supply for their designated communities by invited public participation platforms such as ward committees and ward councillors. As a result, this has negative implications on the settlements’ access to water supply. It is within this context that this article demonstrates how the exclusion of informal settlement communities and their leadership structures in water supply decision making processes at local government exacerbate and enforce water struggles in informal settlements. This paper uses a qualitative research approach. The data was collected using field observations, photographic images, in-depth household interviews, in-depth interviews with community leaders and key informants.
The bias beneath: analyzing drift in YouTube’s algorithmic recommendations
Authors: Cakmak Mert Can , Agarwal Nitin , Oni Remi
Published: August 2024

In today’s digital world, understanding how YouTube’s recommendation systems guide what we watch is crucial. This study dives into these systems, revealing how they influence the content we see over time. We found that YouTube’s algorithms tend to push content in certain directions, affecting the variety and type of videos recommended to viewers. To uncover these patterns, we used a mixed methods approach to analyze videos recommended by YouTube. We looked at the emotions conveyed in videos, the moral messages they might carry, and whether they contained harmful content. Our research also involved statistical analysis to detect biases in how these videos are recommended and network analysis to see how certain videos become more influential than others. Our findings show that YouTube’s algorithms can lead to a narrowing of the content landscape, limiting the diversity of what gets recommended. This has important implications for how information is spread and consumed online, suggesting a need for more transparency and fairness in how these algorithms work. In summary, this paper highlights the need for a more inclusive approach to how digital platforms recommend content. By better understanding the impact of YouTube’s algorithms, we can work towards creating a digital space that offers a wider range of perspectives and voices, affording fairness, and enriching everyone’s online experience.
Remagnetization of Pre‐Fan Sediments Offshore Sumatra: Alteration Associated With Seismogenic Diagenetic Strengthening
Authors: Yang Tao , Petronotis Katerina E. , Acton Gary D. , Zhao Xixi , Chemale Farid , Vasconcelos Paulo M.
Published: August 2024

Increases in temperature and pressure caused by rapid burial of sediments seaward of the Sumatra subduction zone have been hypothesized to trigger dehydration reactions that diagenetically strengthen sediments and contribute to the formation of an over‐pressured pre‐décollement, which together facilitate the occurrence of large shallow earthquakes. We present paleomagnetic, rock magnetic, and electron microscopic analyses from drill cores collected offshore Sumatra at Site U1480 during IODP Expedition 362 that support this hypothesis. The older pre‐fan units (Late Cretaceous to early Paleocene) were deposited when Site U1480 was moving rapidly northward with the Indian plate from a paleolatitude of 50° to 30°S, which would equate to expected absolute paleomagnetic inclinations of 70°–43°. Most of the older pre‐fan sediments, however, have shallow observed inclinations (shallower than ±20°), indicating that the sediments were overprinted when Site U1480 was located near the paleoequator, as it has been since the early Oligocene. Electron microscopic observations reveal that the pre‐existing detrital magnetite grains have undergone pervasive dissolution and alteration by hydrothermal fluids. The diagenesis observed is consistent with mineral dehydration, possibly driven by rapid burial of pelagic sediments by the ∼1250 m thick Nicobar Fan sequence. In addition, the elevated burial temperature also facilitated the smectite to illite conversion reaction. We hypothesize that chemical reactions resulted in the formation of fine‐grained magnetite that records a chemical remanent magnetization overprint. This overprint is consistent with the alteration occurring after burial by the thick Nicobar Fan sequence sometime in the past few million years.
Offshore Plankton Blooms via Mesoscale and Sub‐Mesoscale Interactions With a Western Boundary Current
Authors: Chapman Christopher C. , Sloyan Bernadette M. , Schaeffer Amandine , Suthers Iain M. , Pitt Kylie A.
Published: August 2024

We investigate mesoscale circulations in an oligotrophic western boundary current, the East Australian Current, during a sustained offshore plankton bloom. Using a series of high resolution hydrographic sections taken a few days apart, supplemented with in situ samples of nutrients, satellite and long‐term mooring measurements, we describe a dynamic situation by which the East Australian Current's velocity core and associated front, interacts with a mesoscale eddy, migrating zonally by approximately 100 km over the course of 10 days. This interaction between the boundary current and mesoscale eddy field occurred concurrently with a sustained offshore plankton bloom. Sub‐mesoscale upwelling motions on the inshore flank of the boundary current core coincides with increased nutrient and plankton concentrations in the near surface. Calculations based on the quasi‐geostrophic omega equation and finite size lyapunov exponents suggest that these vertical motion arise from the interaction of the mesoscale with the East Australian Current. Frontolysis (the destruction of horizontal buoyancy gradients) leads to a thermally indirect ageostrophic secondary circulation that has the potential to supply nutrients to the near surface ocean. Using satellite data, we investigate the mesoscale conditions associated with all offshore phytoplankton blooms identified by an automated method, finding similar mesoscale patterns to those observed during the field campaign. We conclude that the interaction between the East Australian Current and mesoscale eddies is a recurrent catalyst for the complex sub‐mesoscale dynamics we observed, and is likely a fundamental processes in driving offshore biological productivity in the region.
Meteotsunamis Generated by Thunderstorms
Authors: Wijeratne E. M. S. , Pattiaratchi Charitha B.
Published: August 2024

South‐west Australia has been identified as a global hotspot for the occurrence of meteotsunamis. In this study, a numerical hydrodynamic model (Regional Ocean Modelling System) was configured to investigate the generation of meteotsunamis through propagating thunderstorms. A range of simulations were performed using realistic and synthetic atmospheric forcing to establish the sensitivity of meteotsunami wave heights and waveforms along different parts of the coast to variations in the propagation speed and bandwidths of propagating pressure jumps associated with the thunderstorms. When a pressure jump propagated from the north and north‐west quadrants with a speed (U) of 8–15 ms−1, both the Proudman and Greenspan resonances were possible mechanisms for the generation of meteotsunamis. However, the response changed for different bandwidths of the propagating pressure jump and resulted in different meteotsunami waveforms at the coast. When U > 15 ms−1, long waves were amplified initially through shoaling at the shelf slope, with Proudman resonance enhancing the wave heights at corresponding resonant depths on the shelf, and then propagated as free waves on the continental shelf. The waves were further amplified at the coast through refraction and shoaling effects and resulted in an elevation wave at the coast. Numerical simulations also indicated that edge waves can also be excited near the coast when the incoming free wave wavelengths were equal to or half the edge wave wavelength. The study provides observational and numerical evidence to suggest that the bandwidth of propagating air pressure jumps plays a major role in meteotsunami generation and their waveforms.
Microbes in Tree Bark Absorb Millions of Tons of Methane Each Year
Authors: Ware Skyler
Published: August 2024

New findings suggest that reforestation efforts could have a bigger—and more positive—climate impact than previously estimated.
Subduction Zone Geometry Modulates the Megathrust Earthquake Cycle: Magnitude, Recurrence, and Variability
Authors: Biemiller J. , Gabriel A.‐A. , May D. A. , Staisch L.
Published: August 2024

Megathrust geometric properties exhibit some of the strongest correlations with maximum earthquake magnitude in global surveys of large subduction zone earthquakes, but the mechanisms through which fault geometry influences subduction earthquake cycle dynamics remain unresolved. Here, we develop 39 models of sequences of earthquakes and aseismic slip (SEAS) on variably‐dipping planar and variably‐curved nonplanar megathrusts using the volumetric, high‐order accurate code tandem to account for fault curvature. We vary the dip, downdip curvature and width of the seismogenic zone to examine how slab geometry mechanically influences megathrust seismic cycles, including the size, variability, and interevent timing of earthquakes. Dip and curvature control characteristic slip styles primarily through their influence on seismogenic zone width: wider seismogenic zones allow shallowly‐dipping megathrusts to host larger earthquakes than steeply‐dipping ones. Under elevated pore pressure and less strongly velocity‐weakening friction, all modeled fault geometries host uniform periodic ruptures. In contrast, shallowly‐dipping and sharply‐curved megathrusts host multi‐period supercycles of slow‐to‐fast, small‐to‐large slip events under higher effective stresses and more strongly velocity‐weakening friction. We discuss how subduction zones' maximum earthquake magnitudes may be primarily controlled by the dip and dimensions of the seismogenic zone, while second‐order effects from structurally‐derived mechanical heterogeneity modulate the recurrence frequency and timing of these events. Our results suggest that enhanced co‐ and interseismic strength and stress variability along the megathrust, such as induced near areas of high or heterogeneous fault curvature, limits how frequently large ruptures occur and may explain curved faults' tendency to host more frequent, smaller earthquakes than flat faults.
Deep Learning Forecasts Caldera Collapse Events at Kı̄lauea Volcano
Authors: McBrearty Ian W. , Segall Paul
Published: August 2024

During the 3 month long eruption of Kı̄lauea volcano, Hawaii in 2018, the pre‐existing summit caldera collapsed in over 60 quasi‐periodic failure events. The last 40 of these events, which generated Mw > 5 very long period (VLP) earthquakes, had inter‐event times between 0.8 and 2.2 days. These failure events offer a unique data set for testing methods for predicting earthquake recurrence based on locally recorded GPS, tilt, and seismicity data. In this work, we train a deep learning graph neural network (GNN) to predict the time‐to‐failure of the caldera collapse events using only a fraction of the data recorded at the start of each cycle. We find that the GNN generalizes to unseen data and can predict the time‐to‐failure to within a few hours using only 0.5 days of data, substantially improving upon a null model based only on inter‐event statistics. Predictions improve with increasing input data length, and are most accurate when using high‐SNR tilt‐meter data. Applying the trained GNN to synthetic data with different magma‐chamber pressure decay times predicts failure at a nearly constant stress threshold, revealing that the GNN is sensing the underling physics of caldera collapse. These findings demonstrate the predictability of caldera collapse sequences under well monitored conditions, and highlight the potential of machine learning methods for forecasting real world catastrophic events with limited training data.
Waveguide-integrated metasurfaces for multi-channel crosstalk-free holography
Authors: Heo Hyeonsu , Rho Junsuk
Published: August 2024

Limited information capacity and inter-channel crosstalk in metaholograms hinder their practical use in display applications. Leveraging waveguide-based metasurfaces, the integration of spin and angle-of-incidence multiplexing facilitates the generation of broadband six-channel metaholograms free from crosstalk.
Enhancing vertically stacked skin display compactness via discrete layer preparation
Authors: Cai Yichen , Hou Xiangyu , Chen Wei
Published: August 2024

The discrete preparation of functional layers followed by lamination for all-organic active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes enables an ultrahigh aperture ratio and reliable conformability, promising significant potential for next-generation skin-like displays.
Does strontium coated titanium implants enhance the osseointegration in animal models under osteoporotic condition? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sayed Osama , Abdalla Mohamed Mahmoud , Elsayed Ayman , El-Mahallawy Yehia , Al-Mahalawy Haytham
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to address the effect of strontium modified titanium implants on the osseointegration in the presence of osteoporotic conditions through animal models.

Materials and methods

The databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO) were searched electronically, and manual searches were performed till December 2022 to identify preclinical studies on the osseointegration of strontium coated titanium implants in animals with induced osteoporotic conditions. The primary outcomes were the bone-implant contact percentage (BIC%), bone area (BA) from the histomorphometric analysis, and the osseointegration parameters from biomechanical tests; the secondary outcomes were the osseointegration parameters from the micro computed tomography.

Results

Nineteen articles were included for the quantitative analysis on basis of the inclusion criteria. The results revealed that Sr-modified implants showed a significant 19.05% increase in BIC, and 15.01% increase in BA. The results of biomechanical tests indicated a significant effect in favor of Sr-coated implants. Furthermore, Results of the secondary outcomes supported the significant advantages of Sr-coated implants over the un-coated implants. The overall, systematic analysis of implants osteointegration parameters proved a significant increase in favor of Sr-coated titanium implants (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The present results provide evidence that strontium-coated titanium implants enhanced the osseointegration in animal models under osteoporotic condition as this surface modification techniques have improved the mechanical and biological properties of the titanium implants.
Natural Killer cells at the frontline in the fight against cancer
Authors: Coënon Loïs , Geindreau Mannon , Ghiringhelli François , Villalba Martin , Bruchard Mélanie
Published: August 2024

Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that play a pivotal role as first line defenders in the anti-tumor response. To prevent tumor development, NK cells are searching for abnormal cells within the body and appear to be key players in immunosurveillance. Upon recognition of abnormal cells, NK cells will become activated to destroy them. In order to fulfill their anti-tumoral function, they rely on the secretion of lytic granules, expression of death receptors and production of cytokines. Additionally, NK cells interact with other cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we will first focus on NK cells’ activation and cytotoxicity mechanisms as well as NK cells behavior during serial killing. Lastly, we will review NK cells’ crosstalk with the other immune cells present in the tumor microenvironment.
Quasi-one-dimensional hydrogen bonding in nanoconfined ice
Authors: Ravindra Pavan , Advincula Xavier R. , Schran Christoph , Michaelides Angelos , Kapil Venkat
Published: August 2024

The Bernal-Fowler ice rules stipulate that each water molecule in an ice crystal should form four hydrogen bonds. However, in extreme or constrained conditions, the arrangement of water molecules deviates from conventional ice rules, resulting in properties significantly different from bulk water. In this study, we employ machine learning-driven first-principles simulations to identify a new stabilization mechanism in nanoconfined ice phases. Instead of forming four hydrogen bonds, nanoconfined crystalline ice can form a quasi-one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded structure that exhibits only two hydrogen bonds per water molecule. These structures consist of strongly hydrogen-bonded linear chains of water molecules that zig-zag along one dimension, stabilized by van der Waals interactions that stack these chains along the other dimension. The unusual interplay of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions in nanoconfined ice results in atypical proton behavior such as potential ferroelectric behavior, low dielectric response, and long-range proton dynamics.
Emergent coherent modes in nonlinear magnonic waveguides detected at ultrahigh frequency resolution
Authors: An K. , Xu M. , Mucchietto A. , Kim C. , Moon K.-W. , Hwang C. , Grundler D.
Published: August 2024

Nonlinearity of dynamic systems plays a key role in neuromorphic computing, which is expected to reduce the ever-increasing power consumption of machine learning and artificial intelligence applications. For spin waves (magnons), nonlinearity combined with phase coherence is the basis of phenomena like Bose–Einstein condensation, frequency combs, and pattern recognition in neuromorphic computing. Yet, the broadband electrical detection of these phenomena with high-frequency resolution remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate the generation and detection of phase-coherent nonlinear magnons in an all-electrical GHz probe station based on coplanar waveguides connected to a vector network analyzer which we operate in a frequency-offset mode. Making use of an unprecedented frequency resolution, we resolve the nonlocal emergence of a fine structure of propagating nonlinear magnons, which sensitively depends on both power and a magnetic field. These magnons are shown to maintain coherency with the microwave source while propagating over macroscopic distances. We propose a multi-band four-magnon scattering scheme that is in agreement with the field-dependent characteristics of coherent nonlocal signals in the nonlinear excitation regime. Our findings are key to enable the seamless integration of nonlinear magnon processes into high-speed microwave electronics and to advance phase-encoded information processing in magnonic neuronal networks.
Selective hydrogenation of nitro compounds to amines by coupled redox reactions over a heterogeneous biocatalyst
Authors: Sokolova Daria , Lurshay Tara C. , Rowbotham Jack S. , Stonadge Georgia , Reeve Holly A. , Cleary Sarah E. , Sudmeier Tim , Vincent Kylie A.
Published: August 2024

Cleaner synthesis of amines remains a key challenge in organic chemistry because of their prevalence in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and synthetic building blocks. Here, we report a different paradigm for chemoselective hydrogenation of nitro compounds to amines, under mild, aqueous conditions. The hydrogenase enzyme releases electrons from H2 to a carbon black support which facilitates nitro-group reduction. For 30 nitroarenes we demonstrate full conversion (isolated yields 78 – 96%), with products including pharmaceuticals benzocaine, procainamide and mesalazine, and 4-aminophenol – precursor to paracetamol (acetaminophen). We also showcase gram-scale synthesis of procainamide with 90% isolated yield. We demonstrate potential for extension to aliphatic substrates. The catalyst is highly selective for reduction of the nitro group over other unsaturated bonds, tolerant to a wide range of functional groups, and exhibits excellent stability in reactions lasting up to 72 hours and full reusability over 5 cycles with a total turnover number over 1 million, indicating scope for direct translation to fine chemical manufacturing.
GTalign: spatial index-driven protein structure alignment, superposition, and search
Authors: Margelevičius Mindaugas
Published: August 2024

With protein databases growing rapidly due to advances in structural and computational biology, the ability to accurately align and rapidly search protein structures has become essential for biological research. In response to the challenge posed by vast protein structure repositories, GTalign offers an innovative solution to protein structure alignment and search—an algorithm that achieves optimal superposition at high speeds. Through the design and implementation of spatial structure indexing, GTalign parallelizes all stages of superposition search across residues and protein structure pairs, yielding rapid identification of optimal superpositions. Rigorous evaluation across diverse datasets reveals GTalign as the most accurate among structure aligners while presenting orders of magnitude in speedup at state-of-the-art accuracy. GTalign’s high speed and accuracy make it useful for numerous applications, including functional inference, evolutionary analyses, protein design, and drug discovery, contributing to advancing understanding of protein structure and function.
AlphaFold predictions of fold-switched conformations are driven by structure memorization
Authors: Chakravarty Devlina , Schafer Joseph W. , Chen Ethan A. , Thole Joseph F. , Ronish Leslie A. , Lee Myeongsang , Porter Lauren L.
Published: August 2024

Recent work suggests that AlphaFold (AF)–a deep learning-based model that can accurately infer protein structure from sequence–may discern important features of folded protein energy landscapes, defined by the diversity and frequency of different conformations in the folded state. Here, we test the limits of its predictive power on fold-switching proteins, which assume two structures with regions of distinct secondary and/or tertiary structure. We find that (1) AF is a weak predictor of fold switching and (2) some of its successes result from memorization of training-set structures rather than learned protein energetics. Combining >280,000 models from several implementations of AF2 and AF3, a 35% success rate was achieved for fold switchers likely in AF’s training sets. AF2’s confidence metrics selected against models consistent with experimentally determined fold-switching structures and failed to discriminate between low and high energy conformations. Further, AF captured only one out of seven experimentally confirmed fold switchers outside of its training sets despite extensive sampling of an additional ~280,000 models. Several observations indicate that AF2 has memorized structural information during training, and AF3 misassigns coevolutionary restraints. These limitations constrain the scope of successful predictions, highlighting the need for physically based methods that readily predict multiple protein conformations.
CASCADE: Dataset of extant coccolithophore size, carbon content and global distribution
Authors: de Vries Joost , Poulton Alex J. , Young Jeremy R. , Monteiro Fanny M. , Sheward Rosie M. , Johnson Roberta , Hagino Kyoko , Ziveri Patrizia , Wolf Levi J.
Published: August 2024

Coccolithophores are marine calcifying phytoplankton important to the carbon cycle and a model organism for studying diversity. Here, we present (Coccolithophore Abundance, Size, Carbon And Distribution Estimates), a new global dataset for 139 extant coccolithophore taxonomic units. includes a trait database (size and cellular organic and inorganic carbon contents) and taxonomic-unit-specific global spatiotemporal distributions (Latitude/Longitude/Depth/Month/Year) of coccolithophore abundance and organic and inorganic carbon stocks. covers all ocean basins over the upper 275 meters, spans the years 1964-2019 and includes 33,119 gridded taxonomic-unit-specific abundance observations. Within , we characterise the underlying uncertainties due to measurement errors by propagating error estimates between the different studies. This error propagation pipeline is statistically robust and could be applied to other plankton groups. can contribute to (observational or modelling) studies that focus on coccolithophore distribution and diversity and the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on historical populations. Additionally, our new taxonomic-unit-specific cellular carbon content estimates provide essential conversions to quantify the role of coccolithophores on ecosystem functioning and global biogeochemistry.
Variations in CTAC batches from different suppliers highly affect the shape yield in seed-mediated synthesis of gold nanotriangles
Authors: Podlesnaia Ekaterina , Hoxha Amarildo , Achikkulathu Sreevalsan , Kandathikudiyil Antony Athulesh , Antony Jerestine Philomina , Spörl Kathrin , Csáki Andrea , Leiterer Matthias , Fritzsche Wolfgang
Published: August 2024

The rapidly developing miniaturization in numerous fields require low-demanding but robust methods of nanomaterial production. Colloidal synthesis provides great flexibility in product material, size, and shape. Gold nanoparticle synthesis has been thoroughly studied, however, recent reports on mechanistic insights of crystal formation have been hindered by the numerous procedures and parameter optimization works. With every new study, scientists fill another blank space on the map of understanding anisotropic growth and find out the critical parameters. In the current work, we highlight the choice importance for surfactant supplier in achieving the gold nanotriangle formation. We systematically study the variation in the shape yield when utilizing five batches of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) from varied suppliers. Using analytical techniques, we search for deviations causing such variation, e.g. different impurity content. We found only a marginal effect of iodine contamination on the studied system, excluding this factor as decisive in contrast to what was proposed earlier in the literature, and leaving the high dependency of the yield to originate from yet unknown reagent characteristics. A deeper understanding of these factors would provide highly effective protocols lowering the reagent consumption and increasing the accessibility of nanomaterials manufactured in a sustainable manner.
Predicting social experience from dyadic interaction dynamics: the BallGame, a novel paradigm to study social engagement
Authors: Lübbert Annika , Sengelmann Malte , Heimann Katrin , Schneider Till R. , Engel Andreas K. , Göschl Florian
Published: August 2024

Theories of embodied cognition suggest that a shared environment and ongoing sensorimotor interaction are central for interpersonal learning and engagement. To investigate the embodied, distributed and hence dynamically unfolding nature of social cognitive capacities, we present a novel laboratory-based coordination task: the BallGame. Our paradigm requires continuous sensing and acting between two players who jointly steer a virtual ball around obstacles towards as many targets as possible. By analysing highly resolved measures of movement coordination and gaming behaviour, game-concurrent experience ratings, semi-structured interviews, and personality questionnaires, we reveal contributions from different levels of observation on social experience. In particular, successful coordination (number of targets collected) and intermittent periods of high versus low movement coordination (variability of relation) emerged as prominent predictors of social experience. Importantly, having the same (but incomplete) view on the game environment strengthened interpersonal coordination, whereas complementary views enhanced engagement and tended to generate more complex interactive behaviour. Overall, we find evidence for a critical balance between similarity and synchrony on the one hand, and variability and difference on the other, for successful engagement in social interactions. Finally, following participant reports, we highlight how interpersonal experience emerges from specific histories of coordination that are closely related to the interaction context in both space and time.
Independent replications reveal anterior and posterior cingulate cortex activation underlying state anxiety-attenuated face encoding
Authors: Buehler Sarah K. , Lowther Millie , Lukow Paulina B. , Kirk Peter A. , Pike Alexandra C. , Yamamori Yumeya , Chavanne Alice V. , Gormley Siobhan , Goble Talya , Tuominen Ella W. , Aylward Jessica , McCloud Tayla , Rodriguez-Sanchez Julia , Robinson Oliver J.
Published: August 2024

Anxiety involves the anticipation of aversive outcomes and can impair neurocognitive processes, such as the ability to recall faces encoded during the anxious state. It is important to precisely delineate and determine the replicability of these effects using causal state anxiety inductions in the general population. This study therefore aimed to replicate prior research on the distinct impacts of threat-of-shock-induced anxiety on the encoding and recognition stage of emotional face processing, in a large asymptomatic sample (n = 92). We successfully replicated previous results demonstrating impaired recognition of faces encoded under threat-of-shock. This was supported by a mega-analysis across three independent studies using the same paradigm (n = 211). Underlying this, a whole-brain fMRI analysis revealed enhanced activation in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), alongside previously seen activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) when combined in a mega-analysis with the fMRI findings we aimed to replicate. We further found replications of hippocampus activation when the retrieval and encoding states were congruent. Our results support the notion that state anxiety disrupts face recognition, potentially due to attentional demands of anxious arousal competing with affective stimuli processing during encoding and suggest that regions of the cingulate cortex play pivotal roles in this.
Synaptic memristors based on BaTiO3 thin films irradiated by swift heavy ions for neuromorphic computing
Authors: Xu Minghui , Liu Tao , Li Hailian , Liu Yong , Shan Pengshun , Wang Ruowei , Kong Weijin , Zhang Minghao , Fan Shuangqing , Su Jie
Published: August 2024

We report the artificial synaptic plasticity of BTO-based memristors and its application to artificial neural network computation by using swift heavy-ion irradiation as a tool for tuning the defects in the BTO layer.
RIHINNet: A robust image hiding method against JPEG compression based on invertible neural network
Authors: Jin Xin , Pan Chengyi , Cheng Zien , Dong Yunyun , Jiang Qian
Published: August 2024

Image hiding is a task that embeds secret images in digital images without being detected. The performance of image hiding has been greatly improved by using the invertible neural network. However, current image hiding methods are less robust in the face of Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) compression. The secret image cannot be extracted from the stego image after JPEG compression of the stego image. Some methods show good robustness for some certain JPEG compression quality factors but poor robustness for other common JPEG compression quality factors. An image‐hiding network (RIHINNet) that is robust to all common JPEG compression quality factors is proposed. First of all, the loss function is redesigned; thus, the secret image is hidden as much as possible in the area that is less likely to be changed after JPEG compression. Second, the classifier is designed, which can help the model to select the extractor according to the range of JPEG compression degree. Finally, the interval robustness of the secret image extraction is improved through the design of a denoising module. Experimental results show that this RIHINNet outperforms other state‐of‐the‐art image‐hiding methods in the face of JPEG compressed noise with random compression quality factors, with more than 10 dB peak signal‐to‐noise ratio improvement in secret image recovery on ImageNet, COCO and DIV2K datasets.
RDMS: Reverse distillation with multiple students of different scales for anomaly detection
Authors: Chen Ziheng , Lyu Chenzhi , Zhang Lei , Li ShaoKang , Xia Bin
Published: August 2024

Unsupervised anomaly detection, often approached as a one‐class classification problem, is a critical task in computer vision. Knowledge distillation has emerged as a promising technique for enhancing anomaly detection accuracy, especially with the advent of reverse distillation networks that employ encoder–decoder architectures. This study introduces a novel reverse knowledge distillation framework known as RDMS, which incorporates a pretrained teacher encoding module, a multi‐level feature fusion connection module, and a student decoding module consisting of three independent decoders. RDMS is designed to distill distinct features from the teacher encoder, mitigating overfitting issues associated with similar or identical teacher–student structures. The model achieves an average of 99.3 image‐level AUROC and 98.34 pixel‐level AUROC on the MVTec‐AD dataset and demonstrates state‐of‐the‐art performance on the more challenging BTAD dataset. The RDMS model's high accuracy in anomaly detection and localization underscores the potential of multi‐student reverse distillation to advance unsupervised anomaly detection capabilities. The source code is available at https://github.com/zihengchen777/RDMS
Adaptive and dynamic smart traffic light system for efficient management of regular and emergency vehicles at city intersection
Authors: Zerroug Rafik , Aliouat Zibouda , Aliouat Makhlouf , Alti Adel
Published: August 2024

Smart Traffic Light Systems play an important role in urban traffic management. They often rely on cameras and sensors to collect traffic data. However, these methods are limited in terms of vehicle occupancy and queuing. Effective traffic management remains a challenge in urban areas owing to traffic congestion and emergencies. A new system called ADSTLS (Adaptive and Dynamic Smart Traffic Light System) is proposed, which handles traffic management at an intersection and effectively solves the cumbersome problem of traffic congestion while ensuring priority for emergency vehicles. ADSTLS provides fault tolerance to its components and works reliably in most failure situations. Therefore, traffic data is collected from cameras, and useful traffic information is extracted using computer vision and image processing. The proposed system also uses the Weight Chicken Swarm Optimisation algorithm for decision‐making to reduce congestion and average vehicle waiting time significantly. ADSTLS was applied to a real case study of EL‐Hidhab Setif city intersection. The approach's effectiveness was confirmed by thorough experiments, resulting in a noteworthy decrease in the average vehicle waiting time (31 s) and queue occupation rate (33.82%) across all simulated traffic scenarios. Furthermore, compared to other car types, emergency vehicles usually had much shorter wait times.
How did consumers retail purchasing expectations and behaviour switch due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Dabija Dan-Cristian , Câmpian Veronica , Philipp Bernd , Grant David B.
Published: August 2024

The implemented research investigates the switch in consumer expectations and purchasing. The COVID-19 pandemic may have been the cause for a switch in consumer expectations and behaviour with respect to in-store versus online grocery purchases. If consumers preferred to shop almost exclusively in physical stores before pandemic-imposed restrictions, many consumers may have changed their preferences, expectations and consumer purchasing behaviour due to sanitary restrictions, social distancing, pandemic-induced fear, certainty when shopping and reduced peer interactions. The implemented research investigates the switch in consumer expectations and purchasing behaviour after the pandemic in terms of how customers decide to buy groceries in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the extant literature, a conceptual model is proposed, and a quantitative survey of Romanian consumers analysed using Smart PLS structural equation modelling. The findings indicate that switching behaviour exerted a significant influence on consumer purchasing behaviour after the pandemic but did not determine it. From a theoretical standpoint, this study expands the understanding and application of the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). From a managerial standpoint, this study offers managers a clearer picture of consumer purchasing behaviour, and the extent of altered consumer purchasing behaviour as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic-related research issues as addressed by the authors do not have a long-standing tradition within our management discipline, and the same observation is true regarding the phased levels of our investigation, i.e., before, during and after (the COVID-19 crisis) as performed in our study. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first attempt to use a switch concept related to COVID-19 and consumer purchasing behaviour in retail. When elaborating our research model, the main challenges included the necessity to blend traditional retail and SCM literature streams. Indeed, logistics academia traditionally focuses on B2B settings, whereas our research reflects a consumer-centric approach.
What Is an Award?
Authors: Titi Catharine
Published: August 2024

This chapter gives an overview of what an investment award is and what it is not. In the context of arbitration under the auspices of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the chapter considers the different function of ‘awards’ and pre-award ‘decisions’. By the same token, it draws the distinction between awards rendered in ICSID and in non-ICSID arbitration. Next, the chapter enquires into the drafting of investment awards, focusing on their minimum content, notably form and substantive requirements, and their structure, thus providing a basic checklist and a roadmap for award drafting. That part of the chapter pays close attention to a particular question, that of the power of tribunals to award interest as part of their mandate. Finally, the chapter discusses the effects of an award, and in particular its binding character and res iudicata effect, and the recognition and enforcement obligations it carries.
The Award on Jurisdiction and Merits
Authors: Sacerdoti Giorgio , de Stefano Carlo
Published: August 2024

This chapter illustrates the basic features of awards and decisions on jurisdiction and awards on the merits in international investment disputes, highlighting the fundamental distinction between ICSID and non-ICSID proceedings. Recent cases reveal an unprecedented practice concerning the bifurcation of proceedings and clarify the scope and extent of the reconsideration of awards and decisions in ICSID arbitration. Consolidated practice has established that ICSID decisions on jurisdiction do not constitute res judicata and do not benefit from the effect of finality that is peculiarly applicable to (final) awards pursuant to Article 53 of the Washington Convention. This contribution confirms a persisting dichotomy between ICSID and non-ICSID proceedings and the ensuing awards and argues that the applicable procedural regime depends on states as parties to international investment treaties and, even more, claimant investors when initiating arbitration proceedings.
The Relevance of the Facts in Complex Investor-State Arbitration Proceedings
Authors: Baltag Crina
Published: August 2024

With limited literature addressing the relevance of facts, as opposed to legal questions, this chapter addresses the current investment arbitration case law, including at the stage of the annulment of arbitral awards. One of the findings of the research emphasizes that ascertaining the facts of the case is even more important where a number of cases arise out of the same or similar conduct of the host state of the investment, such as in the cases against Argentina and, more recently, Spain. At the annulment stage of the arbitral awards, the facts of the case can become relevant in the context of Article 52(1)(e) of the ICSID Convention, if the award has failed to state the reasons on which it is based.
Recognition and Enforcement of Non-ICSID Convention Awards
Authors: Cordero-Moss Giuditta
Published: August 2024

A large part of investment disputes is decided under procedural rules that are originally designed for commercial arbitration. Awards rendered in these disputes will be enforced under the New York Convention like any commercial awards. This chapter gives an overview of selected issues that may arise in connection with enforcement and may be relevant to investment arbitration: the law applicable by the enforcement court on the legal capacity of the parties, on the validity of the arbitration agreement, and on public policy; the scope and intensity of court control, particularly concerning jurisdiction, public policy and arbitrability; the relevance of incidental questions to the tribunal’s jurisdiction, particularly regarding issues of corruption; the relevance of incidental questions to arbitrability, particularly regarding intra-EU disputes.
The Future of Religious Freedom
Authors: Breskaya Olga , Giordan Giuseppe , Richardson James T
Published: August 2024

This chapter questions the prospects of religious freedom, arguing that the differences between and within societies may be fruitfully considered in terms of the future of religious freedom and possibilities of free expression of one’s religious and nonreligious views. Religious freedom tests the core principles of liberal democracy, the autonomy of public institutions and sustainable development goals. The chapter delves into mechanisms of social implementation of the principles of religious freedoms with an example taken from a public school setting by considering the recent ruling of the Coppoli case in Italy. While establishing a norm of no mandatory posting of the religious symbol of the crucifix in public school classrooms, this case shows how incorporation of normative principles goes hand in hand with the promotion of cultural awareness and spiritual sensibilities, emphasizing the importance of one’s identity and inclusion within institutional settings.
Christianity as a Re-educational Program
Authors: Hardy Jeffrey S
Published: August 2024

This chapter looks at the waning years of the Soviet Gulag under Mikhail Gorbachev. As part of his reforms to revitalize the USSR, Gorbachev released most political and religious prisoners. Then, in a stark rejection of decades of penal policy, Gulag authorities began to promote Christianity as a tool to “re-educate” the common criminals inhabiting the late Soviet penal system. Priests, pastors, youth groups, and even foreign missionaries visited with inmates, distributed Bibles, sang hymns, heard confessions, administered communion, and even performed Christian weddings. Thus, even before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, a dramatic shift in the operating philosophy of the Gulag had begun to take shape, with Christianity replacing Marxism-Leninism as the moral philosophy undergirding policies of re-education.
The Significance Impulse
Authors: Glasgow Joshua
Published: August 2024

Why should we strive to be important? Does it make our lives go better if we are especially significant? This book argues that the common impulse to seek exceptionally high levels of significance is misguided. One reason why is that we cannot reach cosmic significance. We do not have the size, duration, or power that would allow us to be that important. Even the value that we do contribute to the universe, our loving and rationality and pain and pleasure, are in short supply. So our significance has built-in limitations. What is more, being exceptionally significant would not be to our personal benefit: it does not advance our well-being, our meaning in life, or any other of our interests. In fact, we have ample reason to embrace our modest levels of mattering: if we do not matter very much, then we are liberated to go about our lives without worry, to the same extent. We should thus feel good about our unexceptional lives. This book is a celebration of being ordinary.