bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Childhood correlates and young adult outcomes of trajectories of emotional problems from childhood to adolescence
Authors: Tseliou F. , Riglin L. , Thapar A. K. , Heron J. , Dennison C. A. , Armitage J. M. , Thapar A. , Rice F. , Collishaw S.
Published: March 2024

Background

Emotional problems, especially anxiety, have become increasingly common in recent generations. Few population-based studies have examined trajectories of emotional problems from early childhood to late adolescence or investigated differences in psychiatric and functional outcomes.

Methods

Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, n = 8286, 50.4% male), we modeled latent class growth trajectories of emotional problems, using the parent-reported Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire emotional scale (SDQ-E) on seven occasions (4–17 years). Psychiatric outcomes in young adulthood (21–25 years) were major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and self-harm. Functional outcomes were exam attainment, educational/occupational status, and social relationship quality.

Results

We identified four classes of emotional problems: low (67.0%), decreasing (18.4%), increasing (8.9%), and persistent (5.7%) problems. Compared to those in the low class, individuals with decreasing emotional problems were not at elevated risk of any poor adult outcome. Individuals in the increasing and persistent classes had a greater risk of adult MDD (RR: 1.59 95% CI 1.13–2.26 and RR: 2.25 95% CI 1.49–3.41) and self-harm (RR: 2.37 95% CI 1.91–2.94 and RR: 1.87 95% CI 1.41–2.48), and of impairment in functional domains. Childhood sleep difficulties, irritability, conduct and neurodevelopmental problems, and family adversity were associated with a persistent course of emotional problems.

Conclusions

Childhood emotional problems were common, but those whose symptoms improved over time were not at increased risk for adverse adult outcomes. In contrast, individuals with persistent or adolescent-increasing emotional problems had a higher risk of mental ill-health and social impairment in young adulthood which was especially pronounced for those with persistent emotional problems.
Non-belief as self-deception?
Authors: Launonen Lari
Published: March 2024

The suppression thesis is the theological claim that theistic non-belief results from culpable mistreatment of one's knowledge of God or one's evidence for God. The thesis is a traditional one but unpopular today. This article examines whether it can gain new credibility from the philosophy of self-deception and from the cognitive science of religion. The thesis is analysed in terms of the intentionalist and the non-intentionalist model of self-deception. The first proposed model views non-belief as intentional suppression of one's implicit knowledge of God. It is less feasible psychologically but has a good theological fit with Paul's and Calvin's versions of the thesis. This model also helps the argument for the culpability of non-belief. The second model views suppression as a process of subconscious motivated reasoning driven by a desire to avoid an uncomfortable truth. It fits Pascal's view that one's desire for or against God determines whether one sees general revelation as providing sufficient evidence for God. There is some empirical and anecdotal evidence for both models, but obvious cases of non-resistant non-belief present a major problem for the suppression thesis. Also, it is hard to see what might motivate anyone to deceive oneself about God's existence.
Lives, Limbs, and Liver Spots: The Threshold Approach to Limited Aggregation
Authors: Liao S. Matthew , Lim James Edgar
Published: March 2024

Limited Aggregation is the view that when there are competing moral claims that demand our attention, we should sometimes satisfy the largest aggregate of claims, depending on the strength of the claims in question. In recent years, philosophers such as Patrick Tomlin and Alastair Norcross have argued that Limited Aggregation violates a number of rational choice principles such as Transitivity, Separability, and Contraction Consistency. Current versions of Limited Aggregation are what may be called Comparative Approaches because they involve assessing the relative strengths of various claims. In this paper, we offer a non-comparative version of Limited Aggregation, what we call the Threshold Approach. It states that there is a non-relative threshold that separates various claims. We demonstrate that the Threshold Approach does not violate rational choice principles such as Transitivity, Separability, and Contraction Consistency, and we show that potential concerns regarding such a view are surmountable.
Varying population size of the Cape Royds Adélie penguin colony, 1955–2020: a synthesis
Authors: Ainley David G. , Morandini Virginia , Barton Kerry , Lyver Phil O'B. , Elrod Megan , Larue Michelle A. , Pennycook Jean
Published: March 2024

Among the longest Antarctic biological time series is that of Adélie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae population size at Cape Royds, 1955 to the present. Demographic trends over the 66 years fall into five periods: 1) decrease then recovery due to control of tourism from McMurdo Station/Scott Base; 2) further increase responding to the removal of > 20 000 trophically competing Antarctic minke whales Balaenoptera bonaerensis from the colony's wintering area; 3) stabilization but not decrease upon the ban of whaling in 1982, and whale recovery, owing to increased winds facilitating McMurdo Sound Polynya presence (easier ocean access during nesting); 4) decrease in 2001–2005 when two mega-icebergs, B15A/C16, opposed the wind effect by increasing sea-ice cover, thus limiting ocean access; and 5) after iceberg departure, minimal recovery due to the increased velocity of the wind-generated Ross Gyre reducing penguin breeding probability. A multivariant model using 1998–2018 data confirmed the roles of gyre speed (negative) and open water (positive) in colony growth. Additional negative influence came from high nest predation by south polar skuas Stercorarius maccormicki, reducing chick production, as well as perhaps increased trophic competition from nearby Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddellii. Clearly, long time series increase our understanding of penguin population dynamics responding to a complexity of factors.
The Future of Periodization. Dissecting the Legacy of Culture History
Authors: Lucas Gavin , Vésteinsson Orri
Published: March 2024

This paper discusses the future role of periodization in the wake of recent critiques of culture-historical chronologies concurrent with the rise of high-definition radiocarbon dating. It is argued that periodization has two distinct facets, a narrative function and a dating function, which should be separated. Archaeology may eventually be able to abandon the latter, but not the former. However, the two aspects are closely intertwined and the goal of this paper is to disentangle them and, through a case study of archaeological periodization in Iceland, demonstrate the need to re-engage with culture-historical taxonomies by reverse engineering their construction. Only in this way will the utility or poverty of such culture-historical periods be exposed to proper scrutiny and the ground cleared for building new, narrative periodizations.
Recognizing two dialects in one written form: A Stroop study
Authors: Wu Junru , van Heuven Vincent J. , Schiller Niels O. , Chen Yiya
Published: March 2024

This study aims to examine the influence of dialectal experience on logographic visual word recognition. Two groups of Chinese monolectals and three groups of Chinese bi-dialectals performed Stroop color-naming in Standard Chinese (SC), and two of the bi-dialectal groups also in their regional dialects. The participant groups differed in dialectal experiences. The ink-character relation was manipulated in semantics, segments, and tones separately, as congruent, competing, or different, yielding ten Stroop conditions for comparison. All the groups showed Stroop interference for the conditions of segmental competition, as well as evidence for semantic activation by the characters. Bi-dialectal experience, even receptive, could benefit conflict resolution in the Stroop task. Chinese characters can automatically activate words in both dialects. Comparing naming in Standard Chinese and naming in the bi-dialectals’ regional dialects, still, a regional-dialect disadvantage suggests that the activation is biased with literacy and lexico-specific inter-dialectal relations.
Rethinking and Advancing a ‘Bottom-up’ Approach to Cultural Participation of Persons with Disabilities as Key to Realising Inclusive Equality
Authors: Leahy Ann , Ferri Delia
Published: March 2024

Debates about cultural participation of persons with disabilities within legal and socio-legal scholarship and within disability studies tend to remain disconnected. This article brings legal analysis and other academic disciplines into a critical dialogue. It sheds light on how the right to cultural participation is understood from the bottom up, building on a study carried out across Europe. Participants in this study perceived opportunities to participate in, and to contribute to, arts and culture in ways that are consistent with the human rights approach to disability as expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and as central to the concept of inclusive equality. Cultural participation was also understood as intrinsic to the humanity of all people, as vital to inclusion in mainstream life, as capable of communicating experiences or identities not otherwise represented, and as potentially transformative of art-forms and ultimately, of society.
Confirmation of a four-way herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) population in Iowa
Authors: Hamberg Ryan C. , Yadav Ramawatar , Hartzler Robert , Owen Micheal D. K.
Published: March 2024

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) was first reported in Iowa in 2013 and has continued to spread across the state over the last decade. Amaranthus palmeri is widely recognized as one of the more economically important weeds in production agriculture. The presence of A. palmeri in Iowa is concerning as the species has evolved resistance to ten herbicide sites of action, however, no formal characterization has been conducted on Iowa populations. Therefore, herbicide assays were conducted on an A. palmeri population collected in Harrison County, IA, in 2023 (Southwest Palmer Amaranth [SWPA]) and a known herbicide-susceptible population collected from Nebraska in 2001 (Palmer Amaranth Susceptible [PAS]). The two populations were treated with preemergence and postemergence herbicides commonly used in Iowa. The treatments included preemergence applications of atrazine, metribuzin, and mesotrione and postemergence applications of atrazine, imazethapyr, glyphosate, lactofen, mesotrione, glufosinate, 2,4-D, and dicamba at 1× and 4× the labeled rates. Survival frequency of SWPA was >90% when treated postemergence with 1× rates of imazethapyr, atrazine, glyphosate, and mesotrione compared with ≤6% for PAS. Both SWPA and PAS had 0% survival when treated with lactofen, glufosinate, 2,4-D, and dicamba at the 1× or 4× rates. Plant population density reduction for SWPA was 53% and 40% in response to 1× rates of preemergence-applied mesotrione and atrazine, respectively. Metribuzin applied preemergence reduced SWPA plant population density by >90% at both rates. Dose–response experiments revealed the 50% effective doses (ED50) of mesotrione, glyphosate, imazethapyr, and atrazine for SWPA were 9.5-,8.5-, 71-, and 40-fold greater than for PAS, respectively. The results confirm that SWPA is four-way multiple-herbicide resistant. Amaranthus palmeri infestations are likely to continue to spread within Iowa; therefore, diversified weed management programs that include early detection, rapid response, and effective multi-tactic management strategies will be required for control.
Assessing concussion knowledge among students with varying levels of sports involvement
Authors: Cheung Willy , Tangog Ekaterina , Wang Derek , Lupori Ellese , Iqbal Fatima , Ramirez Juan R. , McKay Lauren , Alsky Travis , Baron David
Published: March 2024

Abstract: Introduction/Purpose: Many medical and physical therapy students indicate that their source of concussion knowledge stems from previous involvement in sports; they also expressed that their education may not prepare them to manage patients with concussions. This study aims to examine how involvement in sports informs concussion knowledge, and to identify gaps in knowledge. Methods: A 17-question Qualtrics survey was distributed to allopathic and osteopathic medical and physical therapy students. Participants were asked to self-report their concussion history, rank their confidence regarding concussion knowledge, answer objective knowledge questions, and assess the degree to which concussion education was taught and its relevance to their field. ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results: Students with sports participation at the college and professional level demonstrated higher self-ranked concussion knowledge and higher performance on concussion knowledge questions. Our study also showed that deficits in concussion management exist. Conclusion: Students with college or professional sports involvement consistently performed better on survey questions due to their higher rates of personal experience, though the majority of students surveyed did not have this level of sports experience and its accompanying exposure to concussion. Effect sizes for significant results were relatively small, suggesting that practical applications may be limited. Therefore, involvement in sports should not be recognized as an adequate source of concussion education for future clinicians. Based on our results, it can be suggested that all medical and physical therapy students, regardless of sports involvement, will benefit from having a structured curriculum focused on concussion education.
The Origins of the Generic Mapping Tools: From Table Tennis to Geoscience
Authors: Wessel Paul
Published: March 2024

The Generic Mapping Tools (GMT) is one of the most used toolsets in the Earth, Ocean, and Planetary sciences, originating as far back as the 1980s. It is an early example of an open‐source software code modeled after contemporaneous UNIX tools, and it was one of the first to employ PostScript as its graphics language and netCDF for binary files to ensure portability across different computing platforms. Here I trace the origin and evolution of GMT to the present day. The additions of MATLAB, Python, and Julia wrappers around the GMT C Application Program Interface (API) are now introducing GMT to numerous new and younger users and the platform shows no sign of diminishing after almost 40 years; in fact, usage continues to expand. Pursuing GMT for fun (and funding) has positively affected other areas of my scientific interests, and my new research modules continue to be added to GMT. The future holds many promises but will require formation and leadership of communities to steer and maintain the essential science tools that have served us well for many decades.
Distinguishing Between Insolation‐Driven and Phase‐Locked 100‐Kyr Ice Age Scenarios Using Example Models
Authors: Koepnick Kirstin , Tziperman Eli
Published: March 2024

Glacial‐interglacial oscillations exhibit a periodicity of approximately 100 Kyr during the late Pleistocene. Insolation variations are understood to play a vital role in these ice ages, yet their exact effect is still unknown; the 100 Kyr ice ages may be explained in two different ways. They could be purely insolation‐driven, such that ice ages are a consequence of insolation variations and would not have existed without these variations. Or, ice ages may be self‐sustained oscillations, where they would have existed even without insolation variations. We develop several observable measures that are used to differentiate between the two scenarios and can help to determine which one is more likely based on the observed proxy record. We demonstrate these analyses using two representative models. First, we find that the self‐sustained model best fits the ice volume proxy record for the full 800‐Kyr time period. Next, the same model also shows a 100 Kyr peak consistent with observations, yet the insolation‐driven model exhibits a dominant 400 Kyr spectral peak inconsistent with observations. Our third measure indicates that midpoints in ice volume during terminations do not always occur during the same phase of insolation in both observations and the self‐sustained scenario, whereas they do in the insolation‐driven scenario. While some of these results suggest that the self‐sustained ice ages are more consistent with the observed record, they rely on simple representations of the two scenarios. To draw robust conclusions, a broader class of models should be tested using this method of producing observable differences.
Downstream Nutrient Concentrations Depend on Watershed Inputs More Than Reservoir Releases in a Highly Engineered Watershed
Authors: Montefiore L. R. , Kaplan D. , Phlips E. J. , Milbrandt E. C. , Arias M. E. , Morrison E. , Nelson N. G.
Published: March 2024

In this study, we characterized the impact of regulatory water releases relative to watershed inputs on the quality of receiving waters to identify if and how managed releases could be scheduled to mitigate nutrient export and downstream water quality impairment. We specifically investigated freshwater flow partitioning to the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary (CRE) from a large managed lake, Lake Okeechobee, and the CRE's upstream watershed, the C‐43 basin, in southwest Florida (USA). A water balance was developed to identify dominant freshwater inflow sources (i.e., Lake Okeechobee vs. watershed inputs) over time. From the water balance, analyses of historical trends were performed to detect changes in freshwater inflow contributions to the CRE. Further, seasonal and annual concentration variations and long‐term concentration‐discharge (C‐Q) relationships were analyzed to better understand biogeochemical and hydrological processes in the system in relation to freshwater source. Since 1966, we found the duration and magnitude of flows from the C‐43 basin were higher than those from Lake Okeechobee releases. However, recent increases in the annual water volume and proportion of inflow coming from Lake Okeechobee to the CRE were observed. The C‐Q analysis revealed that nitrate and ammonium concentrations in the CRE were responsive to changes in discharge, while total phosphorus and orthophosphate concentrations were chemostatic. While modifications to the Lake Okeechobee operation schedule could potentially mitigate downstream inorganic nitrogen loading, this potential is limited by complex, seasonal C‐Q relationships and confounding effects from surrounding watersheds.
Winter/Spring Runoff Is Earlier, More Protracted, and Increasing in Volume in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin
Authors: Hrycik Allison R. , Isles Peter D. F. , Pierson Donald C. , Stockwell Jason D.
Published: March 2024

Winter/spring runoff has changed in streams worldwide due to climate change, particularly in temperate areas where winter/spring streamflow depends on snowmelt. Such changes potentially affect receiving waters through altered nutrient loading and mixing patterns. The Laurentian Great Lakes are an important freshwater resource and have experienced a myriad of impacts due to climate change. We analyzed 70 years of stream gauge data in the Great Lakes Basin to test for changes in timing, duration, and amount of winter/spring runoff during the period 1950–2019. We found strong evidence for earlier runoff in each of the Great Lakes except Lake Erie, protracted winter/spring runoff throughout the Great Lakes Basin, and a higher runoff depth during the winter‐spring period over time for all watersheds except Lake Superior. Lake Ontario had the greatest change in the date by which 50% of the Jan–May runoff had been discharged (6 days earlier from 1950 to 2019). For winter/spring runoff duration, the most extreme change was observed in Lake Erie (increase of 19 days), and for runoff depth, the greatest change was in the Lake Huron Basin (increase of 3.3 cm). Results were similar for natural and impacted streams. Our results demonstrate dramatic changes in runoff patterns over the last seven decades in the Great Lakes Basin concomitant with previously published changes in precipitation and snowpack. Shifts toward earlier, more protracted, and more voluminous runoff likely change nutrient loading and mixing patterns that influence primary producers, particularly in the nearshore areas of the Great Lakes.
Simultaneous photocatalytic degradation and SERS detection of tetracycline with self-sustainable and recyclable ternary PI/TiO2/Ag flexible microfibers
Authors: Han Donglai , Guo Boyang , Li Yanru , Feng Wei , Liu Keyan , Wu Tianna , Wan Yuchun , Wang Lili , Gao Ming , Liu Yang , Yang Lili , Wei Maobin , Yang Shuo
Published: March 2024

Facile and efficient photocatalysts using sunlight, as well as fast and sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, are urgently needed for practical degradation of tetracycline (TC). To meet these requirements, a new paradigm for PI/TiO2/Ag organic‒inorganic ternary flexible microfibers based on semiconducting titanium dioxide (TiO2), the noble metal silver (Ag) and the conjugated polymer polyimide (PI) was developed by engineering a simple method. Under sunlight, the photocatalytic characteristics of the PI/TiO2/Ag flexible microfibers containing varying amounts of Ag quantum dots (QDs) were evaluated with photocatalytic degradation of TC in aqueous solution. The results demonstrated that the amount of Ag affected the photocatalytic activity. Among the tested samples, PI/TiO2/Ag-0.07 (93.1%) exhibited a higher photocatalytic degradation rate than PI/TiO2 (25.7%), PI/TiO2/Ag-0.05 (77.7%), and PI/TiO2/Ag-0.09 (63.3%). This observation and evaluation conducted in the present work strongly indicated a charge transfer mechanism. Moreover, the PI/TiO2/Ag-0.07 flexible microfibers exhibited highly sensitive SERS detection, as demonstrated by the observation of the Raman peaks for TC even at an extremely low concentration of 10–10 moles per liter. The excellent photocatalytic performance and SERS detection capability of the PI/TiO2/Ag flexible microfibers arose from the Schottky barrier formed between Ag and TiO2 and also from the outstanding plasmonic resonance and visible light absorptivity of Ag, along with immobilization by the PI. The successful synthesis of PI/TiO2/Ag flexible microfibers holds significant promise for sensitive detection and efficient photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics.
Scanning ultrasound-mediated memory and functional improvements do not require amyloid-β reduction
Authors: Leinenga Gerhard , To Xuan Vinh , Bodea Liviu-Gabriel , Yousef Jumana , Richter-Stretton Gina , Palliyaguru Tishila , Chicoteau Antony , Dagley Laura , Nasrallah Fatima , Götz Jürgen
Published: March 2024

A prevalent view in treating age-dependent disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is that the underlying amyloid plaque pathology must be targeted for cognitive improvements. In contrast, we report here that repeated scanning ultrasound (SUS) treatment at 1 MHz frequency can ameliorate memory deficits in the APP23 mouse model of AD without reducing amyloid-β (Aβ) burden. Different from previous studies that had shown Aβ clearance as a consequence of blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening, here, the BBB was not opened as no microbubbles were used. Quantitative SWATH proteomics and functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that ultrasound induced long-lasting functional changes that correlate with the improvement in memory. Intriguingly, the treatment was more effective at a higher frequency (1 MHz) than at a frequency within the range currently explored in clinical trials in AD patients (286 kHz). Together, our data suggest frequency-dependent bio-effects of ultrasound and a dissociation of cognitive improvement and Aβ clearance, with important implications for the design of trials for AD therapies.
Dnmt3a1 regulates hippocampus-dependent memory via the downstream target Nrp1
Authors: Kupke Janina , Klimmt Julien , Mudlaff Franziska , Schwab Maximilian , Lutsik Pavlo , Plass Christoph , Sticht Carsten , Oliveira Ana M. M.
Published: March 2024

Epigenetic factors are well-established players in memory formation. Specifically, DNA methylation is necessary for the formation of long-term memory in multiple brain regions including the hippocampus. Despite the demonstrated role of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) in memory formation, it is unclear whether individual Dnmts have unique or redundant functions in long-term memory formation. Furthermore, the downstream processes controlled by Dnmts during memory consolidation have not been investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that Dnmt3a1, the predominant Dnmt in the adult brain, is required for long-term spatial object recognition and contextual fear memory. Using RNA sequencing, we identified an activity-regulated Dnmt3a1-dependent genomic program in which several genes were associated with functional and structural plasticity. Furthermore, we found that some of the identified genes are selectively dependent on Dnmt3a1, but not its isoform Dnmt3a2. Specifically, we identified Neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) as a downstream target of Dnmt3a1 and further demonstrated the involvement of Nrp1 in hippocampus-dependent memory formation. Importantly, we found that Dnmt3a1 regulates hippocampus-dependent memory via Nrp1. In contrast, Nrp1 overexpression did not rescue memory impairments triggered by reduced Dnmt3a2 levels. Taken together, our study uncovered a Dnmt3a-isoform-specific mechanism in memory formation, identified a novel regulator of memory, and further highlighted the complex and highly regulated functions of distinct epigenetic regulators in brain function.
Heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma: from mechanisms to clinical implications
Authors: Safri Fatema , Nguyen Romario , Zerehpooshnesfchi Shadi , George Jacob , Qiao Liang
Published: March 2024

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of primary liver cancer. Current treatment options have limited efficacy against this malignancy, primarily owing to difficulties in early detection and the inherent resistance to existing drugs. Tumor heterogeneity is a pivotal factor contributing significantly to treatment resistance and recurrent manifestations of HCC. Intratumoral heterogeneity is an important aspect of the spectrum of complex tumor heterogeneity and contributes to late diagnosis and treatment failure. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the molecular mechanisms of how tumor heterogeneity develops. This review aims to summarize the possible molecular dimensions of tumor heterogeneity with an emphasis on intratumoral heterogeneity, evaluate its profound impact on the diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for HCC, and explore the suitability of appropriate pre-clinical models that can be used to best study tumor heterogeneity; thus, opening new avenues for cancer treatment.
One-step creation of CMS lines using a BoCENH3-based haploid induction system in Brassica crop
Authors: Han Fengqing , Zhang Xiaoli , Liu Yuxiang , Liu Yumei , Zhao Hong , Li Zhansheng
Published: March 2024

Heterosis utilization in a large proportion of crops depends on the use of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) tools, requiring the development of homozygous fertile lines and CMS lines1. Although doubled haploid (DH) technology has been developed for several crops to rapidly generate fertile lines2,3, CMS lines are generally created by multiple rounds of backcrossing, which is time consuming and expensive4. Here we describe a method for generating both homozygous fertile and CMS lines through in vivo paternal haploid induction (HI). We generated in-frame deletion and restored frameshift mutants of BoCENH3 in Brassica oleracea using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The mutants induced paternal haploids by outcrossing. We subsequently generated HI lines with CMS cytoplasm, which enabled the generation of homozygous CMS lines in one step. The BoCENH3-based HI system provides a new DH technology to accelerate breeding in Brassica and other crops.
States of epistemic curiosity interfere with memory for incidental scholastic facts
Authors: Keller Nicole E. , Salvi Carola , Leiker Emily K. , Gruber Matthias J. , Dunsmoor Joseph E.
Published: March 2024

Curiosity can be a powerful motivator to learn and retain new information. Evidence shows that high states of curiosity elicited by a specific source (i.e., a trivia question) can promote memory for incidental stimuli (non-target) presented close in time. The spreading effect of curiosity states on memory for other information has potential for educational applications. Specifically, it could provide techniques to improve learning for information that did not spark a sense of curiosity on its own. Here, we investigated how high states of curiosity induced through trivia questions affect memory performance for unrelated scholastic facts (e.g., scientific, English, or historical facts) presented in close temporal proximity to the trivia question. Across three task versions, participants viewed trivia questions closely followed in time by a scholastic fact unrelated to the trivia question, either just prior to or immediately following the answer to the trivia question. Participants then completed a surprise multiple-choice memory test (akin to a pop quiz) for the scholastic material. In all three task versions, memory performance was poorer for scholastic facts presented after trivia questions that had elicited high versus low levels of curiosity. These results contradict previous findings showing curiosity-enhanced memory for incidentally presented visual stimuli and suggest that target information that generates a high-curiosity state interferes with encoding complex and unrelated scholastic facts presented close in time.
Electrocortical correlates of attention differentiate individual capacity in associative learning
Authors: Raynal Elsa , Schipper Kate , Brandner Catherine , Ruggeri Paolo , Barral Jérôme
Published: March 2024

Associative learning abilities vary considerably among individuals, with attentional processes suggested to play a role in these variations. However, the relationship between attentional processes and individual differences in associative learning remains unclear, and whether these variations reflect in event-related potentials (ERPs) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between attentional processes and associative learning by recording electrocortical activity of 38 young adults (18–32 years) during an associative learning task. Learning performance was assessed using the signal detection index d’. EEG topographic analyses and source localizations were applied to examine the neural correlates of attention and associative learning. Results revealed that better learning scores are associated with (1) topographic differences during early (126–148 ms) processing of the stimulus, coinciding with a P1 ERP component, which corresponded to a participation of the precuneus (BA 7), (2) topographic differences at 573–638 ms, overlapping with an increase of global field power at 530–600 ms, coinciding with a P3b ERP component and localized within the superior frontal gyrus (BA11) and (3) an increase of global field power at 322–507 ms, underlay by a stronger participation of the middle occipital gyrus (BA 19). These insights into the neural mechanisms underlying individual differences in associative learning suggest that better learners engage attentional processes more efficiently than weaker learners, making more resources available and displaying increased functional activity in areas involved in early attentional processes (BA7) and decision-making processes (BA11) during an associative learning task. This highlights the crucial role of attentional mechanisms in individual learning variability.
Cage escape governs photoredox reaction rates and quantum yields
Authors: Wang Cui , Li Han , Bürgin Tobias H. , Wenger Oliver S.
Published: March 2024

Photoredox catalysis relies on light-induced electron transfer leading to a radical pair comprising an oxidized donor and a reduced acceptor in a solvent cage. For productive onward reaction to occur, the oxidized donor and the reduced acceptor must escape from that solvent cage before they undergo spontaneous reverse electron transfer. Here we show the decisive role that cage escape plays in three benchmark photocatalytic reactions, namely, an aerobic hydroxylation, a reductive debromination and an aza-Henry reaction. Using ruthenium(II)- and chromium(III)-based photocatalysts, which provide inherently different cage escape quantum yields, we determined quantitative correlations between the rates of photoredox product formation and the cage escape quantum yields. These findings can be largely rationalized within the framework of Marcus theory for electron transfer.
Natural language instructions induce compositional generalization in networks of neurons
Authors: Riveland Reidar , Pouget Alexandre
Published: March 2024

A fundamental human cognitive feat is to interpret linguistic instructions in order to perform novel tasks without explicit task experience. Yet, the neural computations that might be used to accomplish this remain poorly understood. We use advances in natural language processing to create a neural model of generalization based on linguistic instructions. Models are trained on a set of common psychophysical tasks, and receive instructions embedded by a pretrained language model. Our best models can perform a previously unseen task with an average performance of 83% correct based solely on linguistic instructions (that is, zero-shot learning). We found that language scaffolds sensorimotor representations such that activity for interrelated tasks shares a common geometry with the semantic representations of instructions, allowing language to cue the proper composition of practiced skills in unseen settings. We show how this model generates a linguistic description of a novel task it has identified using only motor feedback, which can subsequently guide a partner model to perform the task. Our models offer several experimentally testable predictions outlining how linguistic information must be represented to facilitate flexible and general cognition in the human brain.
Dynamical behavior of water wave phenomena for the 3D fractional WBBM equations using rational sine-Gordon expansion method
Authors: Mamun Abdulla-Al- , Lu Chunhui , Ananna Samsun Nahar , Uddin Md Mohi
Published: March 2024

To examine the dynamical behavior of travelling wave solutions of the water wave phenomenon for the family of 3D fractional Wazwaz-Benjamin-Bona-Mahony (WBBM) equations, this work employs the rational Sine-Gordon expansion (RSGE) approach based on the conformable fractional derivative. The method generalizes the well-known sine-Gordon expansion using the sine-Gordon equation as an auxiliary equation. In contrast to the conventional sine-Gordon expansion method, it takes a more general approach, a rational function rather than a polynomial one of the solutions of the auxiliary equation. The method described above is used to generate various solutions of the WBBM equations for hyperbolic functions, including soliton, singular soliton, multiple-soliton, kink, cusp, lump-kink, kink double-soliton, etc. The RSGE method contributes to our understanding of nonlinear phenomena, provides exact solutions to nonlinear equations, aids in studying solitons, advances mathematical techniques, and finds applications in various scientific and engineering disciplines. The answers are graphically shown in three-dimensional (3D) surface plots and contour plots using the MATLAB program. The resolutions of the equation, which have appropriate parameters, exhibit the absolute wave configurations in all screens. Furthermore, it can be inferred that the physical characteristics of the discovered solutions and their features may aid in our understanding of the propagation of shallow water waves in nonlinear dynamics.
Vibration reduction of human body biodynamic response in sitting posture under vibration environment by seat backrest support
Authors: Ding Wei , Wang Leizhi , Chen Zhaobo , Ao Hongrui , Yan Hui
Published: March 2024

Four-degree-of-freedom (4-DOF) human–chair coupling models are constructed to characterize the different contact modes between the head, chest back, waist back and backrest. The seat-to-head transfer ratio (STHT) is used as an evaluation metric for vibration reduction effectiveness. The simulated vibration reduction ratio of the model is close to the experimental results, which proves the validity of the model. The peak STHT is obviously reduced (P < 0.05, T-test) with seat-backrest support. The experiments show that supporting the head ($${a}_{1}$$

a
1

, P < 0.05, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks) has the best vibration reduction effect (21%), supporting the chest back ($${a}_{2}$$

a
2

, P < 0.05) has a reduced effect (11%), and supporting the waist back ($${a}_{3}$$

a
3

, P < 0.05) has the weakest effect (4%). When the upper torso is in full contact with the backrest, the peak STHT curve and resonance frequency are positively correlated with the contact stiffness of the seat surface and negatively correlated with the contact damping. In order to reduce the seat-to-head transfer ratio, the lowest STHT peak and lowest total energy judgments were proposed as the selection methods for the selection of the contact stiffness and damping of the backrest in two environments (periodic and non-periodic excitation), respectively.
Influence of drying temperature on coconut-fibers
Authors: Martinelli Flavia R. Bianchi , Pariz Marcos Gomes , de Andrade Rodolfo , Ferreira Saulo Rocha , Marques Francisco A. , Monteiro Sergio N. , de Azevedo Afonso R. G.
Published: March 2024

The use of natural fibers in cementitious composites has been gaining prominence in engineering. The natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) used in these composites have advantages such as reduced density, reduced fragmentation and concrete cracking, thus improving flexural performance and durability. Coconut-fiber is one of those natural fibers and its use presents technical, ecological, social and economic benefits, as it is improperly disposed of, representing a large waste of natural resources, in addition to causing environmental pollution.. Thus, composites reinforced with natural fibers are promising materials for the construction industry, as in addition to meeting the sustainability of buildings, there will also be a reduction in urban solid waste generated and gains for structures with the use of environmentally friendly materials that meet to active efforts and with greater durability. This work aims to evaluate the tensile behavior of green coconut-fibers subjected to different drying temperatures through chemical, thermal (TG/DSC), morphological, visual and mechanical analysis. Drying temperatures of 70 °C, 100 °C and 130 °C were analyzed and the results indicated that the drying temperature at 70 °C was satisfactory, providing fiber-reinforced composites with good tensile strength, combined with good ductility.
Hexane extract of Persea schiedeana Ness as green corrosion inhibitor for the brass immersed in 0.5 M HCl
Authors: BustosRivera-Bahena Genoveva , Ramírez-Arteaga A. M. , Saldarriaga-Noreña Hugo A. , Larios-Gálvez A. K. , González-Rodríguez José G. , Romero-Aguilar M. , Sesenes Roy López
Published: March 2024

The hexane extract of Persea schiedeana Ness (PSN) was analyzed as corrosion inhibitor for the brass surface immersed in 0.5 M HCl. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and a gas chromatographic (GC) and mass spectrometric (MS) were used to identify the PSN extract’s functional groups and compound constituents. The functional groups identified were $${\text{C}}{\text{H}}_{3}$$

CH
3

and $${\text{C}}{\text{H}}_{2}$$

CH
2

functional alkyl groups, $$\text{C=O}$$
C=O
stretching vibration of aldehydes, ketones, and carbonyl groups. The GC/MS determined the presence of fatty acids in the PSN extract, where palmitic acid, oleic acid, and ethyl oleate were the major constituents. Electrochemical characterizations were conducted to observe the effect of PSN as corrosion inhibitor on the brass surface. The Rp and Rn calculated from EIS and ENA give the same behavior. Based on the OCP behavior, it was determined that the PSN works as a mix inhibitor, affecting both anodic and cathodic reactions. The corrosion current density (Icorr) suggests that the extract of PSN reduces the corrosion rate of the brass with efficiencies above 90% for all concentrations. The efficiency obtained for each PSN concentration was attributed to forming a corrosion scale of $${\text{CuO}}$$
CuO
and $${\text{C}}{\text{u}}_{2}{\text{O}}$$

Cu
2

O

, which reacted with the carboxyl group to form copper carboxylates on the metal surface.
Metabolic health tracking using Ultrahuman M1 continuous glucose monitoring platform in non- and pre-diabetic Indians: a multi-armed observational study
Authors: Chaudhry Monik , Kumar Mohit , Singhal Vatsal , Srinivasan Bhuvan
Published: March 2024

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device adoption in non- and pre-diabetics for preventive healthcare has uncovered a paucity of benchmarking data on glycemic control and insulin resistance for the high-risk Indian/South Asian demographic. Furthermore, the correlational efficacy between digital applications-derived health scores and glycemic indices lacks clear supportive evidence. In this study, we acquired glycemic variability (GV) using the Ultrahuman (UH) M1 CGM, and activity metrics via the Fitbit wearable for Indians/South Asians with normal glucose control (non-diabetics) and those with pre-diabetes (N = 53 non-diabetics, 52 pre-diabetics) for 14 days. We examined whether CGM metrics could differentiate between the two groups, assessed the relationship of the UH metabolic score (MetSc) with clinical biomarkers of dysglycemia (OGTT, HbA1c) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); and tested which GV metrics maximally correlated with inflammation (Hs-CRP), stress (cortisol), sleep, step count and heart rate. We found significant inter-group differences for mean glucose levels, restricted time in range (70–110 mg/dL), and GV-by-SD, all of which improved across days. Inflammation was strongly linked with specific GV metrics in pre-diabetics, while sleep and activity correlated modestly in non-diabetics. Finally, MetSc displayed strong inverse relationships with insulin resistance and dysglycemia markers. These findings present initial guidance GV data of non- and pre-diabetic Indians and indicate that digitally-derived metabolic scores can positively influence glucose management.
Preliminary report on embolization with quick-soluble gelatin sponge particles for angiographically negative acute gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Alali Meshari , Cao Chuanwu , Shin Ji Hoon , Jeon Gayoung , Zeng Chu Hui , Park Jung-Hoon , Aljerdah Shakir , Aljohani Sultan
Published: March 2024

Prophylactic embolization is usually performed using gelatin sponge particles, which are absorbed within several weeks, for managing angiographically negative gastrointestinal bleeding. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with quick-soluble gelatin sponge particles (QS-GSP) that dissolve in less than 4 h for treating angiographically negative gastrointestinal bleeding. We included ten patients (M:F = 7:3; mean age, 64.3 years) who underwent prophylactic TAE with QS-GSP for angiographically negative acute gastrointestinal bleeding between 2021 and 2023. The technical success rate of TAE, clinical outcomes focusing on rebleeding, and procedure-related complications were evaluated. The embolized arteries were the gastroduodenal (n = 3), jejunal (n = 4), and ileal (n = 3) arteries. QS-GSP (150–350 µm or 350–560 µm) were used alone (n = 8) or in combination with a coil (n = 1). A 100% technical success rate was accomplished. In 1 patient (10%), rebleeding occurred 2 days after prophylactic TAE of the gastroduodenal artery, and this was managed by repeat TAE. There were no procedure-related complications. The use of QS-GSP for prophylactic TAE appears to be safe and effective for controlling bleeding among patients with angiographically negative gastrointestinal bleeding. There were no cases of related ischemic complications of the embolized bowels likely attributable to recanalization of the affected arteries following biodegradation of QS-GSP.
Stability enhancement of perovskite solar cells using multifunctional inorganic materials with UV protective, self cleaning, and high wear resistance properties
Authors: Azad Seyyedeh Sedigheh , Keshavarzi Reza , Mirkhani Valiollah , Moghadam Majid , Tangestaninejad Shahram , Mohammadpoor-Baltork Iraj
Published: March 2024

Organometal halide perovskite solar cells have reached a high power conversion efficiency of up to 25.8% but suffered from poor long-term stability against environmental factors such as ultraviolet irradiation and humidity of the environment. Herein, two different multifunctional transparent coatings containing AZO and ZnO porous UV light absorbers were employed on the front of the PSCs. This strategy is designed to improve the long-term stability of PSCs against UV irradiation. Moreover, the provided coatings exhibit two additional roles, including self-cleaning and high wear resistance. In this regard, AZO coating showed higher wear resistance compared to the ZnO coating. The photocatalytic self-cleaning properties of these prepared coatings make them stable against environmental pollutants. Furthermore, appropriate mechanical properties such as high hardness and low coefficient of friction that leads to high resistance against wear are other features of these coatings. The devices with AZO/Glass/FTO/meso-TiO2/Perovskite/spiro/Au and ZnO/Glass/FTO/meso-TiO2/Perovskite/spiro/Au configurations maintained 40% and 30% of their initial performance for 100 h during 11 days (9 h per day) against the UV light with the high intensity of 50 mW cm-2 which is due to higher absorption of AZO compared with ZnO in the ultraviolet region. Since AZO has a higher light transmission in the visible region in comparison to ZnO, perovskite cells with AZO protective layers have higher efficiency than perovskite cells with ZnO layers. It is worth noting that the mentioned features make these coatings usable for cover glass in all types of solar cells.