bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Skill intensity in manufacturing exports: Do basic, technology-intensive or differentiated exports cause growth in Kuwait?
Authors: Kalaitzi Athanasia Stylianou
Published: August 2024

This study examines the causality between basic, technology-intensive, and differentiated manufacturing exports and economic growth in Kuwait using data from 1970 to 2021 and two augmented production function models: one with natural resource exports (Model 1) and the other without on both sides of the model (Model 2). The Johansen cointegration and the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) bound tests are conducted to examine the long-run relationship between the variables. In addition, the Granger causality test in a vector autoregressive framework (VAR) and the Toda–Yamamoto test are employed to explore the directions of the short- and long-run causality between variables, respectively. The empirical results of Model 1 indicate that neither of the decomposed manufacturing exports directly causes economic growth in the short or long run at any conventional significance level, whereas natural resource exports cause economic growth, basic and technology-intensive manufactured exports in the short-run at the 5% level. Model 2 estimations confirm the absence of direct causality between decomposed manufacturing exports and economic growth, whereas a long-run causality runs from output net of natural resource exports to basic manufactured exports at the 10% level. Both model estimations indicate that all the variables jointly cause economic growth and basic manufactured exports in the short and long run, directly or indirectly through imports, confirming the existence of a circular causation. These findings can serve as the basis for designing specific export–import policies to foster diversification and a sustainable economic growth in line with Kuwait’s Vision 2035.
Cutoff Ergodicity Bounds in Wasserstein Distance for a Viscous Energy Shell Model with Lévy Noise
Authors: Barrera G. , Högele M. A. , Pardo J. C. , Pavlyukevich I.
Published: August 2024

This article establishes explicit non-asymptotic ergodic bounds in the renormalized Wasserstein–Kantorovich–Rubinstein (WKR) distance for a viscous energy shell lattice model of turbulence with random energy injection. The system under consideration is driven either by a Brownian motion, a symmetric $$\alpha $$
α
-stable Lévy process, a stationary Gaussian or $$\alpha $$
α
-stable Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process, or by a general Lévy process with second moments. The obtained non-asymptotic bounds establish asymptotically abrupt thermalization. The analysis is based on the explicit representation of the solution of the system in terms of convolutions of Bessel functions.
Infinite-Volume Gibbs States of the Generalized Mean-Field Orthoplicial Model
Authors: Koskinen Kalle
Published: August 2024

The generalized mean-field orthoplicial model is a mean-field model on a space of continuous spins on $$\mathbb {R}^n$$

R

n

that are constrained to a scaled $$(n-1)$$

(
n
-
1
)

-dimensional $$\ell _1$$

ℓ
1

-sphere, equivalently a scaled $$(n-1)$$

(
n
-
1
)

-dimensional orthoplex, and interact through a general interaction function. The finite-volume Gibbs states of this model correspond to singular probability measures. In this paper, we use probabilistic methods to rigorously classify the infinite-volume Gibbs states of this model, and we show that they are convex combinations of product states. The predominant methods utilize the theory of large deviations, relative entropy, and equivalence of ensembles, and the key technical tools utilize exact integral representations of certain partition functions and locally uniform estimates of expectations of certain local observables.
Lime reactivity and overburning: the case of limestones belonging to Tuscan Nappe sequence (NW Tuscany, Italy)
Authors: Lezzerini Marco , Cinzi Luca , Pagnotta Stefano
Published: August 2024

This study examines limestone properties and calcination process to enhance product quality. Limestone burning produces lime (CaO, calcium oxide) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Lime is a substance highly reactive and turns into slaked lime (Ca(OH)2, calcium hydroxide) when exposed to water. Six limestone samples from Tuscan Nappe sedimentary sequence, outcropping in the Monti d’Oltre Serchio area (NW Tuscany, Italy), were selected and calcined at different temperatures (800, 900, 1000 and 1100 °C). The obtained lime was slaked, and chemical, mineralogical and petrographic analyses were conducted to study its reactivity during slaking process. Key factors influencing lime reactivity were identified: calcination temperature/time and limestone characteristics (chemical and mineralogical composition). The lime reactivity was measured through the rate of lime hydration reaction. Results showed that higher reactivity in lime, lower calcination temperature. The increase in temperature and time leads to an increase of CaO grain size and, consequently, to a decrease in reactivity. Temperature increase has a more significant effect on the increasing of grain size and reactivity than time. The optimal calcination temperature was found to be 900 °C, like that of ancient limekilns. The study emphasized the close link between lime reactivity and chemistry/mineralogy of limestone. Overall, the research provides insights for improving limestone calcination processes and obtaining superior products.
Diachronicity Matters! How Semantics Supports Discontinuism About Remembering and Imagining
Authors: Liefke Kristina , Werning Markus
Published: August 2024

Much work in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience has argued for continuism about remembering and imagining (see, e.g., Addis J R Soc N Z 48(2–3):64–88, 2018). This view claims that episodic remembering is just a form of imagining, such that memory does not have a privileged status over other forms of episodic simulation (esp. imagination). Large parts of contemporary philosophy of memory support continuism. This even holds for work in semantics and the philosophy of language, which has pointed out substantial similarities in the distribution of the verbs remember and imagine. Our paper argues against the continuist claim, by focusing on a previously neglected source of evidence for discontinuism: the semantics of episodic memory and imagination reports. We argue that, in contrast to imagination reports, episodic memory reports are essentially diachronic, in the sense that their truth requires a foregoing reference-fixing experience. In this respect, they differ from reports of experiential imagination, which is paradigmatically synchronic. To defend our claim about this difference in diachronicity, we study the truth-conditions of episodic memory and imagination reports. We develop a semantics for episodic uses of remember and imagine that captures this difference.
Gait Speed Reserve in the general population-based ‘Good Aging in Skåne’ cohort study—distribution and associated factors
Authors: Lindholm Beata , Basna Rani , Ekström Henrik , Elmståhl Sölve , Siennicki-Lantz Arkadiusz
Published: August 2024

Gait Speed Reserve (GSR) expresses a difference between fast and comfortable gait speed and may have an impact on everyday functioning. It was also hypothesized as a useful proxy measure of physiological reserve. However, height-normalizing values of GSR and its associated factors have not been evaluated in a general population of older adults. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the distribution of height-normalized GSR (HN-GSR) in an elderly population-based cohort from urban and rural areas (n = 4342) aged 60–93 years and evaluate associated physiological and lifestyle factors. Using linear mixed models, we identified gender and nine modifiable factors as significantly associated with HN-GSR across four age groups. Better handgrip strength, cognition and standing balance, higher physical activity level, larger calf circumference, and less smoking had positive associations with HN-GSR, while female gender, more leg pain, higher weight and, alcohol consumption had opposite effects. The Marginal R2 imply that this model explained 26% of the variance in HN-GSR. Physical activity and handgrip strength varied across age groups in impact on HN-GSR. The differences were however comparatively minor. In this large cohort study of older adults, we proposed for the first time that factors associated with HN-GSR represented multi-domain features that are in line with previous findings reported for GSR. Measuring HN-GSR/GSR may help clinicians identify early physiological impairments or unhealthy lifestyle habits, especially among older women, and may also have safety implications in daily life. Further work is needed to find out if measuring HN-GSR/GSR may be useful in identifying adverse health outcomes and overall physiological reserve.
Sleep onset time as a mediator in the association between screen exposure and aging: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lin Senlin , Gao Meng , Zhang Juzhao , Wu Yuting , Yu Tao , Peng Yajun , Jia Yingnan , Zou Haidong , Lu Lina , Li Deshang , Ma Yingyan
Published: August 2024

Excessive screen exposure has become a significant health concern. This study investigates the impact of screen time on aging in middle-aged and elderly populations. Healthy working adults over 45 years old in Shanghai, China, underwent general and ocular examinations. Questionnaires collected demographics, medical history, and screen exposure details. Aging was assessed using the retinal age gap, defined as the difference between the retinal age predicted by deep learning algorithms based on fundus images and chronological age. Pathway analysis tested the mediation effect of sleep duration and onset time on the relationship between screen usage and retinal age gap. The retinal age gap increased with longer screen exposure, from 0.49 ± 3.51 years in the lowest tertile to 5.13 ± 4.96 years in the highest tertile (Jonckheere-Terpstra test, p < 0.001). Each additional hour of screen exposure accelerated the retinal age gap by 0.087 years (95% CI, 0.027, 0.148, p = 0.005) in the fully adjusted linear model. Sleep onset time mediated the impact of screen usage on the retinal age gap (indirect effect, β = 0.11; 95% CI 0.04–0.24). The impact of screen usage in a light-off environment on the retinal age gap was fully mediated by sleep onset time (indirect effect, β = 0.22; 95% CI 0.07–0.38), with the proportion being 100%. Our study identified a correlation between excessive screen time and a wider retinal age gap in middle-aged and elderly individuals, likely due to delayed sleep onset. To mitigate the adverse effects on the retina and aging, it is important to limit screen usage and avoid screens before bedtime.
Ultrasound-guided thread versus ultrasound-guided needle release of the A1 pulley: a cadaveric study
Authors: Jengojan Suren , Sorgo Philipp , Streicher Johannes , Snoj Žiga , Kasprian Gregor , Gruber Gerlinde , Bodner Gerd
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To assess and compare two ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive procedures to release the A1-pulley (needle release and thread release) regarding efficacy and safety in an anatomical specimen model.

Materials and methods

Twenty-one ultrasound-guided needle releases and 20 ultrasound-guided thread releases were performed on digits of Thiel-embalmed anatomical specimens. A scoring system was developed to assess ultrasound visibility, intervention outcome (incomplete, almost complete, or full transection of the A1 pulley), and injury to adjacent structures (neurovascular structures, tendons, A2 pulley). Statistical analysis was performed to compare the score of the two groups (group 1: needle release,group 2: thread release). A P-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Needle release was completely successful in 15 cases (71.5%), almost complete release was achieved in four cases (19%), and incomplete transection occurred in two cases (9.5%). Thread release was completely successful in 17 cases (85%), and almost complete transection was observed in the remaining three cases (15%). In both procedures no neurovascular structures were harmed. Slight injury of flexor tendons occurred in two cases (9.5%) in needle release and in five cases (25%) in thread release. There were no significant statistical differences between the groups regarding ultrasound visibility, intervention safety and outcome, (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided needle release and ultrasound-guided thread release have similar success of release, both being effective and safe techniques for the release of the A1 pulley.

Graphical Abstract
Fabrication of free standing nano-SiO2 incorporated solid polymer electrolytes based on poly(vinyl) chloride
Authors: Jayanthi S. , Parangusan Hemalatha , babu Anandha , Balakrishnan Sundaresan , Ponnamma Deepalekshmi
Published: August 2024

Free standing nanocomposite polymer electrolytes (NCPEs) based on the polymer host poly(vinyl) chloride (PVC) were successfully prepared using the solution casting technique. Lithium nitrate (LiNO3) and nano-sized silica (SiO2) (< 100 nm) were employed as the electrolyte and filler, respectively. Impedance studies revealed a maximum ionic conductivity value of 1.226 × 10−4 S/cm at room temperature for the PVC/LiNO3 with 5 wt.% nano-SiO2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis verified the sample’s amorphous nature. Dielectric permittivity and relaxation time values were consistent with impedance results. Additionally, parameters such as diffusion coefficient, mobile concentration, and mobility were evaluated for the prepared samples. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies confirmed a change in glass transition temperature (Tg) of PVC/LiNO3/SiO2 sample. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) images revealed a honeycomb morphology, indicating ease of Li+ ion transportation.
Experimental investigation of machine vibration rate and machine sound level in MQL turning of AISI 1525 steel employing mango oil as lubricant
Authors: Kazeem Rasaq Adebayo , Akinlabi Esther Titilayo
Published: August 2024

The detrimental effects of mineral oil on the environment and machine shops have led to a surge in the usage of vegetable oil as cutting fluid. The most popular vegetable oil lubricants are edible, and they have a lot of potential to rival human consumption eventually. The study examined using mango oil, an inedible vegetable oil, as a lubricant during AISI 1525 steel turning with tungsten inserts. The best machining parameters were ultimately found using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) after the experimental studies were analyzed using the Taguchi process. Surface and contour plots were employed to investigate how different cutting settings affected the rate of vibration and sound level of the machine. Mango kernel seed oil outperformed its mineral oil counterparts by 2.3% and 57.7%, respectively, in terms of machine vibration rate and machine sound level. Moreover, feed rate (0.10 mm/rev), depth of cut (0.75 mm), and spindle speed (350 rev/min) are the ideal cutting settings to reduce machine vibrations and sound intensity. Mango oil holds significant potential as a substitute for cutting fluid derived from petroleum. The significance of this research is to formulate lubricants for industrial use that are more ecologically friendly and sustainable.
Towards a Community-Based Framework for Flood Risk Management in Woodlands Park, Gweru
Authors: Musarandega Happwell , Chanza Nelson , Masocha Wonder
Published: August 2024

Urban flood risks in Zimbabwe emanate from the twin challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate change. Most urban settlements have become increasingly anchorages, which require increased adaptation through the sustainable management of urban storm water. Building on the Woodlands Park case in Gweru, this paper locates the problem of recurrent floods to the impasse between residents and council authorities on the one hand, and climatic risks reinforcing underlying rapid urbanisation challenges on the other hand. The purpose of the study was to gather the views of residents and their role in seeking solutions to the storm water management challenges. Utilising a mixed methodology, insights were drawn from field observations and purposive selection of 50 household representatives, triangulated with the views of officials from Gweru City Council (GCC). Data were obtained through in-depth interviews using semi-structured questions and analysed using thematic content analysis where participants’ views were grouped into themes according to their resemblance. By utilising Vensim PLE 7.3 Software, we applied systems thinking theory to reveal the interconnectedness of the factors leading to heightened storm water challenges. The findings showed that Woodlands Park lacks proper drainage installations that meet the standards of GCC. Some residents use personal resources to make storm drains on their yards but with differing structural dimensions. The local drainage system gets choked by silt and illegally dumped litter. Municipal authorities do not undertake routine annual drain reticulation operations, exposing houses to flooding. We argue that municipal authorities, land developers and the residents have not equitably collated their efforts to create bargained storm water management initiatives. The study proposes a community-based, low-cost flood resilience framework that engages residents with technical guidance from municipal staff.
Hub metastatic gene signature and risk score of breast cancer patients with small tumor sizes using WGCNA
Authors: Chang Yu-Tien , Hong Zhi-Jie , Tsai Hsueh-Han , Feng An-Chieh , Huang Tzu-Ya , Yu Jyh-Cherng , Hsu Kuo-Feng , Huang Chi-Cheng , Lin Wei-Zhi , Chu Chi-Ming , Liang Chia-Ming , Liao Guo-Shiou
Published: August 2024

Background

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women and accounts for approximately 15% of all cancer deaths among women globally. The underlying mechanism of BC patients with small tumor size and developing distant metastasis (DM) remains elusive in clinical practices.

Methods

We integrated the gene expression of BCs from ten RNAseq datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to create a genetic prediction model for distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in BC patients with small tumor sizes (≤ 2 cm) using weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) analysis and LASSO cox regression.

Results

ABHD11, DDX39A, G3BP2, GOLM1, IL1R1, MMP11, PIK3R1, SNRPB2, and VAV3 were hub metastatic genes identified by WGCNA and used to create a risk score using multivariable Cox regression. At the cut-point value of the median risk score, the high-risk score (≥ median risk score) group had a higher risk of DM than the low-risk score group in the training cohort [hazard ratio (HR) 4.51, p < 0.0001] and in the validation cohort (HR 5.48, p = 0.003). The nomogram prediction model of 3-, 5-, and 7-year DMFS shows good prediction results with C-indices of 0.72–0.76. The enriched pathways were immune regulation and cell–cell signaling. EGFR serves as the hub gene for the protein–protein interaction network of PIK3R1, IL1R1, MMP11, GOLM1, and VAV3.

Conclusion

Prognostic gene signature was predictive of DMFS for BCs with small tumor sizes. The protein–protein interaction network of PIK3R1, IL1R1, MMP11, GOLM1, and VAV3 connected by EGFR merits further experiments for elucidating the underlying mechanisms.

Graphical abstract
Insights on physiological, antioxidant and flowering response to salinity stress of two candidate ornamental species: the native coastal geophytes Pancratium maritimum L. and Eryngium maritimum L
Authors: Cerrato Marcello Dante , Mir-Rosselló Pere Miquel , Cortés-Fernández Iván , Ribas-Serra Arnau , Douthe Cyril , Cardona Carles , Sureda Antoni , Flexas Jaume , Gil Vives Lorenzo
Published: August 2024

Increasing seawater influence in coastal areas is an ongoing environmental issue. Gardening is a widespread activity mainly in touristic areas such as the Mediterranean coasts. However, the use of exotic species well adapted to salinity encompasses the risk of invasive species introduction. This study aimed to evaluate salinity tolerance of native geophytes, Pancratium maritimum L. and Eryngium maritimum L., to assess their use as ornamental species in salt affected coastal areas. Experiments were conducted using cultivated plants for flowering response and physiological and enzymatic antioxidant response. Six treatments were applied for two months, exposing plants to seawater (SW) dilutions (Tap-Water, 6.25%SW, 12.5%SW, 25%SW, 50%SW and 100%SW). Taxa decreased inflorescence production being this effect more architectonical in E. maritimum and affecting all inflorescence integrity in P. maritimum. Flowering time was strongly delayed and reduced in P. maritimum, while E. maritimum showed smaller effects among treatments. Physiological and biochemical response showed at moderate salinity levels (1/4SW) variation concomitant with late stress response and senescence in P. maritimum, with decreased water use efficiency, NPQ values, and enzymatic activity, and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In contrast, E. maritimum showed early stress response with steady gas exchange response, increasing NPQ values and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dimutase (SOD) activity, and decreasing MDA levels with salinity. Glutathione enzymes showed limited participation in both species. The results of this study suggest that neither species can be classified as halophytes, but they exhibit tolerance to low and moderate salinity levels, making them suitable for ornamental use.
Prevalence of the Huschke Foramen in Colombian Population: An Important Anatomic Alteration for the Planning of TMJ Arthroscopy
Authors: Gonzalez Luis Vicente , López Juan Pablo , Orjuela María Paula , Hernandez-Restrepo Michel , Balentien Mitchell Calvin
Published: August 2024

Background

Ignoring this anatomic structure would have implications for iatrogenic perforation with the trocar toward the FH during the initial blind drilling or due to the diffusion of the infusion liquid toward the middle ear.

Purpose

To analyze the prevalence of the FH in an institutional population with a high incidence of TMD to provide further guidelines in diagnosing this anomaly and the planification of TMJ arthroscopy.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective tomographic study was conducted at the ENT—Oral and Maxillofacial and Radiology Department of the Hospital Universitario la Samaritana in Bogotá, Colombia. Inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years of age who had complementary exams such as ear, face, paranasal sinus, and/or TMJ tomography. Exclusion criteria were history of direct trauma to the external auditory canal in the medical history, patients with craniofacial syndromes, congenital anomalies, and/or history of cranial, mandibular, or temporal fractures. Two radiologists were part of the evaluators of the CT images who conducted the measures in the axial tomographic section and established the presence of the tympanic defect.

Results

A sample size of 139 medical records of patients, where females represent n: 101 (72.6%) and males represent n: 38 (27.4%). The average age was 43 years ± 18 years. Among the studied population, a total of five FH were detected, corresponding to a prevalence of 3.6% (95% CI 1.5–8.1%). The average size of the defect was 3.52 mm ± 1.1 mm. All the patients had TMJ-related symptoms, but none of them reported otalgia.

Conclusion

The initial evaluation of each patient must be addressed to assess the integrity of the tympanic bone. In this study, the defects size was smaller than others previously reported. However, diffusion through the tympanic defect could spread the lavage substance into the middle ear during TMJ arthroscopic surgery.
Optimized workflow of EV enrichment from human plasma samples for downstream mass spectrometry analysis
Authors: Erwied Patrick , Gu Yi , Simon Lena , Schneider Martin , Helm Dominic , Michel Maurice Stefan , Nuhn Philipp , Nitschke Katja , Worst Thomas Stefan
Published: August 2024

To improve the prognosis of bladder and prostate cancer, highly specific and sensitive biomarkers are needed for early detection, prognosis prediction, and therapeutic stratification. Extracellular vesicles (EV) from plasma could fill this gap due to their potential to serve as cancer biomarkers. However, the enrichment of EV is a major challenge, because the highly abundant plasma proteins are interfering with analytical downstream applications like mass spectrometry (MS). Therefore, the purity requirements of the EV samples must be carefully considered when selecting or developing a suitable EV enrichment method. The aim of this study was to compare a self-designed EV enrichment method based on density cushion centrifugation (DCC) combined with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and concentration (method 1) with the exoRNeasy midi kit from Qiagen (method 2) and with unprocessed plasma. Furthermore, the single steps of method 1 were evaluated for their effectiveness to enrich EV from plasma. The results showed that the EV samples enriched with method 1 contained the highest levels of EV and exosome markers with simultaneously low levels of highly abundant plasma proteins. In summary, the combination of DCC, SEC and concentration proved to be a promising approach to discover EV-based biomarkers from plasma of cancer patients.
RNF213 Mutation Associated with the Progression from Middle Cerebral Artery Steno-Occlusive Disease to Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Sasagasako Tomoki , Mineharu Yohei , Funaki Takeshi , Fushimi Yasutaka , Chihara Hideo , Park Silsu , Nakajima Kota , Matsui Yasuzumi , Okawa Masakazu , Kikuchi Takayuki , Arakawa Yoshiki
Published: August 2024

Middle cerebral artery steno-occlusive disease (MCAD) has been recognized as a different clinical entity from moyamoya disease (MMD). Although MCAD can progress to MMD, the extent to which patients actually progress and the risk factors for this progression have not been fully elucidated. We retrospectively reviewed patients with MCAD who underwent RNF213 genotyping. Demographic features, RNF213 p.R4810K mutation, medical history, and longitudinal changes in angiography were analyzed. Sixty patients with 81 affected hemispheres were enrolled. During the follow-up period, 17 patients developed MMD, and the RNF213 p.R4810K mutation was the only factor significantly associated with progression to MMD (odds ratio, 16.1; 95% CI, 2.13–731; P = 0.001). The log-rank test demonstrated that patients with the mutation had a higher risk of progression to MMD (P = 0.007), stenosis progression (P = 0.010), and symptomatic cerebral infarction or hemorrhage (P = 0.026). In Cox regression analysis the p.R4810K mutation remained a significant factor after adjusting for age group (childhood or adult onset) at diagnosis (hazard ratio, 8.42; 95% CI, 1.10–64.4). Hemisphere-based analysis also showed that the mutation was associated with a higher risk of progression to the MMD hemisphere (P = 0.002), stenosis progression (P = 0.005), and cerebral infarction or hemorrhage (P = 0.012). The RNF213 p.R4810K mutation was identified as a risk factor for progression from MCAD to MMD. Genotyping for this mutation may contribute to risk stratification in MCAD.
Leveraging large language models through natural language processing to provide interpretable machine learning predictions of mental deterioration in real time
Authors: de Arriba-Pérez Francisco , García-Méndez Silvia
Published: August 2024

Based on official estimates, 50 million people worldwide are affected by dementia, and this number increases by 10 million new patients every year. Without a cure, clinical prognostication and early intervention represent the most effective ways to delay its progression. To this end, artificial intelligence and computational linguistics can be exploited for natural language analysis, personalized assessment, monitoring, and treatment. However, traditional approaches need more semantic knowledge management and explicability capabilities. Moreover, using large language models (llms) for cognitive decline diagnosis is still scarce, even though these models represent the most advanced way for clinical–patient communication using intelligent systems. Consequently, we leverage an llm using the latest natural language processing (nlp) techniques in a chatbot solution to provide interpretable machine learning prediction of cognitive decline in real-time. Linguistic-conceptual features are exploited for appropriate natural language analysis. Through explainability, we aim to fight potential biases of the models and improve their potential to help clinical workers in their diagnosis decisions. More in detail, the proposed pipeline is composed of (i) data extraction employing nlp-based prompt engineering; (ii) stream-based data processing including feature engineering, analysis, and selection; (iii) real-time classification; and (iv) the explainability dashboard to provide visual and natural language descriptions of the prediction outcome. Classification results exceed 80% in all evaluation metrics, with a recall value for the mental deterioration class about 85%. To sum up, we contribute with an affordable, flexible, non-invasive, personalized diagnostic system to this work.
Responses of runoff to changes in climate and human activities in the Liuhe River Basin, China
Authors: Li Mingqian , Wang He , Du Wei , Gu Hongbiao , Zhou Fanchao , Chi Baoming
Published: August 2024

Since the 1950s, numerous soil and water conservation measures have been implemented to control severe soil erosion in the Liuhe River Basin (LRB), China. While these measures have protected the upstream soil and water ecological environment, they have led to a sharp reduction in the downstream flow and the deterioration of the river ecological environment. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the impact of soil and water conservation measures on hydrological processes to assess long-term runoff changes. Using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) models and sensitivity analyses based on the Budyko hypothesis, this study quantitatively evaluated the effects of climate change, direct water withdrawal, and soil and water conservation measures on runoff in the LRB during different periods, including different responses to runoff discharge, hydrological regime, and flood processes. The runoff series were divided into a baseline period (1956–1969) and two altered periods, i.e., period 1 (1970–1999) and period 2 (2000–2020). Human activities were the main cause of the decrease in runoff during the altered periods, contributing 86.03% (−29.61 mm), while the contribution of climate change was only 13.70% (−4.70 mm). The impact of climate change manifests as a decrease in flood volume caused by a reduction in precipitation during the flood season. Analysis of two flood cases indicated a 66.00%–84.00% reduction in basin runoff capacity due to soil and water conservation measures in the upstream area. Soil and water conservation measures reduced the peak flow and total flood volume in the upstream runoff area by 77.98% and 55.16%, respectively, even with nearly double the precipitation. The runoff coefficient in the reservoir area without soil and water conservation measures was 4.0 times that in the conservation area. These results contribute to the re-evaluation of soil and water conservation hydrological effects and provide important guidance for water resource planning and water conservation policy formulation in the LRB.
Mathematical modelling and optimizing design of heliostat field
Authors: Cheng Zijie , Zheng Ang
Published: August 2024

The heliostat field is a form of solar thermal power plant, The heliostat field is a crucial component of solar thermal power plants and establishing a heliostat field is of great significance for reducing carbon emissions. and is of great significance in reducing carbon emissions This paper focuses on the mathematical modeling and optimization design problem of the heliostat field. For three different design scenarios, firstly, based on the data provided by the China Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling 2023, a geometric optical efficiency model is proposed to determine the annual average optical efficiency and output thermal power under specific heliostat field design parameters. Secondly, aiming at the optimal design parameters of the solar furnace field under the condition of rated annual average output thermal power is 60 $$\text{MW}$$
MW
, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) combing with efficiency model is utilized to determine the optimal design parameters of the heliostat field. Finally, this paper uses Quasi-Monte Carlo ray tracing (QMCRT) model to perform simulations, exploring how to obtain the optimal design parameters of the heliostat field with the goals of maximizing the output thermal power and ensuring high efficiency. Furthermore, the influence of normal disturbances on the annual average annual average thermal output power is investigated.
Africa and the Possibility of Philosophy: Paulin Hountondji’s Intellectual Legacy
Authors: Flikschuh Katrin
Published: August 2024

In this brief memoriam, I argue that Hountondji’s methodological concern over the possibility of African philosophy led him to query the very idea of philosophy as the search for universal knowledge. Hountondji’s lasting legacy thus consists, among other things, in challenging the image of Western philosophy as the repository of universal knowledge. To the contrary, philosophy will come into its own only through the critical construction of culturally and politically unrestricted discourse from different philosophical traditions.
Emergence of lobed wakes during the sedimentation of spheres in viscoelastic fluids
Authors: Varchanis Stylianos , Younes Eliane , Haward Simon J. , Shen Amy Q.
Published: August 2024

The motion of rigid particles in complex fluids is ubiquitous in natural and industrial processes. The most popular toy model for understanding the physics of such systems is the settling of a solid sphere in a viscoelastic fluid. There is general agreement that an elastic wake develops downstream of the sphere, causing the breakage of fore-and-aft symmetry, while the flow remains axisymmetric, independent of fluid viscoelasticity and flow conditions. Using a continuum mechanics model, we reveal that axisymmetry holds only for weak viscoelastic flows. Beyond a critical value of the settling velocity, steady, non-axisymmetric disturbances develop peripherally of the rear pole of the sphere, giving rise to a four-lobed fingering instability. The transition from axisymmetric to non-axisymmetric flow fields is characterized by a regular bifurcation and depends solely on the interplay between shear and extensional properties of the viscoelastic fluid under different flow regimes. At higher settling velocities, each lobe tip is split into two new lobes, resembling fractal fingering in interfacial flows. For the first time, we capture an elastic fingering instability under steady-state conditions, and provide the missing information for understanding and predicting such instabilities in the response of viscoelastic fluids and soft media.
Mixing as a correlated aggregation process
Authors: Heyman J. , Villermaux E. , Davy P. , Le Borgne T.
Published: August 2024

Mixing describes the process by which solutes evolve from an initial heterogeneous state to uniformity under the stirring action of a fluid flow. Fluid stretching forms thin scalar lamellae that coalesce due to molecular diffusion. Owing to the linearity of the advection–diffusion equation, coalescence can be envisioned as an aggregation process. Here, we demonstrate that in smooth two-dimensional chaotic flows, mixing obeys a correlated aggregation process, where the spatial distribution of the number of lamellae in aggregates is highly correlated with their elongation, and is set by the fractal properties of the advected material lines. We show that the presence of correlations makes mixing less efficient than a completely random aggregation process because lamellae with similar elongations and scalar levels tend to remain isolated from each other. We show that correlated aggregation is uniquely determined by a single exponent that quantifies the effective number of random aggregation events. These findings expand aggregation theories to a larger class of systems, which have relevance to various fundamental and applied mixing problems.
Understanding the effect of Prandtl number on momentum and scalar mixing rates in neutral and stably stratified flows using gradient field dynamics
Authors: Bragg Andrew D. , de Bruyn Kops Stephen M.
Published: August 2024

Recently, direct numerical simulations (DNS) of stably stratified turbulence have shown that as the Prandtl number (

$Pr$

) is increased from 1 to 7, the mean turbulent potential energy dissipation rate (TPE-DR) drops dramatically, while the mean turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate (TKE-DR) increases significantly. Through an analysis of the equations governing the fluctuating velocity and density gradients we provide a mechanistic explanation for this surprising behaviour and test the predictions using DNS. We show that the mean density gradient gives rise to a mechanism that opposes the production of fluctuating density gradients, and this is connected to the emergence of ramp cliffs. The same term appears in the velocity gradient equation but with the opposite sign, and is the contribution from buoyancy. This term is ultimately the reason why the TPE-DR reduces while the TKE-DR increases with increasing

$Pr$

. Our analysis also predicts that the effects of buoyancy on the smallest scales of the flow become stronger as

$Pr$

is increased, and this is confirmed by our DNS data. A consequence of this is that the standard buoyancy Reynolds number does not correctly estimate the impact of buoyancy at the smallest scales when

$Pr$

deviates from 1, and we derive a suitable alternative parameter. Finally, an analysis of the filtered gradient equations reveals that the mean density gradient term changes sign at sufficiently large scales, such that buoyancy acts as a source for velocity gradients at small scales, but as a sink at large scales.
Direct numerical simulation of 45° oblique flow past surface-mounted square cylinder
Authors: Duong Dung Viet , Nguyen Luc Van , Nguyen Duc Van , Dinh Truong Cong , Zuhal Lavi Rizki , Ngo Long Ich
Published: August 2024

Comprehensive coherent structures around a surface-mounted low aspect ratio square cylinder in uniform flow with an oblique angle of

$45^{\circ }$

were investigated for cylinder-width-based Reynolds numbers of 3000 and 10 000 by direct numerical simulation based on a topology-confined mesh refinement framework. High-resolution simulations and the critical-point concept were scrutinized to reveal for the first time the reasonable and compatible topologies of flow separation and complete near-wall structures, due to their extensive impact on various engineering applications. Large-scale horseshoe vortices are observed at two notable foci in the viscous sublayer. Within this layer, a wall-parallel jet is formed by downflow intruding into the bottom surface at the half-saddle point, then deflecting in the upstream direction and finally penetrating the bottom surface until the half-saddle point. A pair of conical vortices on the cylinder's top surface switch themselves on two sides of the square cylinder, where the switching frequency is identical with that of the sway of the side shear layer. The undulation of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability is identified in the instantaneous development of a conical vortex and side shear layer, where the scaling of the ratio of the Kelvin–Helmholtz and von Kármán frequencies follows the power-law relation obtained by Lander et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 849, 2018, pp. 1096–1119). Large-scale arch-shaped vortex is often detected in the intermediate wake region of a square cylinder, involving two interconnected portions, such as the leg portion separated from leeward surfaces and head portion rolled up from the top surface. The leg portion of the arch-shaped vortex was rooted by two foci near the bottom-surface plane.
The Political Determinants of Public Support for Obstruction of Supreme Court Nominees
Authors: Stone Andrew R.
Published: August 2024

Despite increased political attention to instances of legislative obstruction in recent years, little is known about the public’s attitudes toward these procedural techniques. I evaluate these attitudes in the context of the last two decades of nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court with three complementary analyses. In the first, nationally representative survey evidence reveals an overriding political dimension to Americans’ attitudes over the use of tactics to delay the confirmation process. The president’s copartisans express considerably higher levels of opposition to delayed consideration of a nominee than individuals politically opposed to the president. In the second and third, evidence from observational surveys and a survey experiment shows that these attitudes vary depending on the type of the obstruction under consideration, with Americans less supportive of the use of forms of obstruction that entirely preclude procedural consideration of a nominee, such as refusing to hold hearings, than more established methods that do not, like the filibuster or document requests. These findings reveal that the American public has internalized the political stakes of judicial nominations and suggest that obstruction may have electoral consequences in an era of extreme polarization.
DAS to discharge: using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) to infer glacier runoff
Authors: Manos John-Morgan , Gräff Dominik , Martin Eileen Rose , Paitz Patrick , Walter Fabian , Fichtner Andreas , Lipovsky Bradley Paul
Published: August 2024

Observations of glacier melt and runoff are of fundamental interest in the study of glaciers and their interactions with their environment. Considerable recent interest has developed around distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), a sensing technique which utilizes Rayleigh backscatter in fiber optic cables to measure the seismo-acoustic wavefield in high spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we present data from a month-long, 9 km DAS deployment extending through the ablation and accumulation zones on Rhonegletscher, Switzerland, during the 2020 melt season. While testing several types of machine learning (ML) models, we establish a regression problem, using the DAS data as the dependent variable, to infer the glacier discharge observed at a proglacial stream gauge. We also compare two predictive models that only depend on meteorological station data. We find that the seismo-acoustic wavefield recorded by DAS can be utilized to infer proglacial discharge. Models using DAS data outperform the two models trained on meteorological data with mean absolute errors of 0.64, 2.25 and 2.72 m3 s−1, respectively. This study demonstrates the ability of in situ glacier DAS to be used for quantifying proglacial discharge and points the way to a new approach to measuring glacier runoff.
Limit theorems of occupation times of normalized binary contact path processes on lattices
Authors: Xue Xiaofeng
Published: August 2024

The binary contact path process (BCPP) introduced in Griffeath (1983) describes the spread of an epidemic on a graph and is an auxiliary model in the study of improving upper bounds of the critical value of the contact process. In this paper, we are concerned with limit theorems of the occupation time of a normalized version of the BCPP (NBCPP) on a lattice. We first show that the law of large numbers of the occupation time process is driven by the identity function when the dimension of the lattice is at least 3 and the infection rate of the model is sufficiently large conditioned on the initial state of the NBCPP being distributed with a particular invariant distribution. Then we show that the centered occupation time process of the NBCPP converges in finite-dimensional distributions to a Brownian motion when the dimension of the lattice and the infection rate of the model are sufficiently large and the initial state of the NBCPP is distributed with the aforementioned invariant distribution.
SCHRÖDINGER PROPAGATOR ON WIENER AMALGAM SPACES IN THE FULL RANGE
Authors: ZHAO GUOPING , GUO WEICHAO
Published: August 2024

Using the technique of Gabor analysis, we characterize the boundedness of
$e^{i\Delta }: W^{p_1,q_1}_m\rightarrow W^{p_2,q_2}$
with modulation and translation operators, where and m is a v-moderate weight. The sharp exponents for the boundedness are also characterized in the case of power weight.
Selective near-infrared laser programming for shape-memory polymer–carbon nanotube composite material 4D printing
Authors: Li Honggeng , Chen Zhe , Yu Shouyi , Jian Bingcong , Yin Hanlin , Ge Qi
Published: August 2024

Light stimulation can realise the remote control of the deformation of the specific position of 4D printing structure. Shape-memory polymer–carbon nanotube (CNT) composite materials, with outstanding near-infrared photothermal conversion rate and shape-memory ability, is one type of the most popular light responsive smart materials. However, current studies focused on the photothermal effect and shape-memory applications of light-responsive shape-memory polymer composite (SMPC) sheet structures, and there is no research on the photothermal effect in the depth direction of light-responsive SMPC three-dimensional structures. Here, we prepared a UV curable, mechanically robust, and highly deformable shape-memory polymer (IBBA) as the matrix of light responsive SMPC. CNTs were added as photothermal conversion materials. We explore the photothermal effect of near-infrared laser on the surface and depth of IBBA–CNT composites cube. Shape-memory experiments show that different folded shapes can be obtained by selective near-infrared laser programming. Selective near-infrared laser programming three-dimensional movable type plate shows a programming application in depth direction of three-dimensional light-responsive intelligent structure. This research extends the application of near-infrared laser in 4D printing to the depth direction of intelligent structures, which will bring more complex and interesting 4D printing structures in the future.
QUOTATIONS OF LUCAN AND THE INDIRECT TRADITION: TEXTUAL NOTES ON THE BELLVM CIVILE
Authors: Barrière Florian
Published: August 2024

This article deals with the contribution of the indirect tradition to establishing the text of Lucan's Bellum ciuile. First, the methodological basis for the use of quotations is outlined, and then five passages from the Bellum ciuile are discussed. The variant readings which appear in the indirect tradition constitute important points that have been wrongly neglected by most editors of Lucan's poem.