bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between the irrigation-agitation techniques and Periapical Healing of large periapical lesions: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Doğan Mehmet Umutcan , Arıcıoğlu Banu , Köse Taha Emre , Çıkman Ahter Şanal , Öksüzer Merve Çoban
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of manual dynamic activation (MDA), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and laser-activated irrigation (shock wave-enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming (SWEEPS)) on the periapical healing of large periapical lesions following nonsurgical root canal treatment.

Materials and methods

A total of fifty-six systemically healthy patients with a mandibular single-rooted tooth with periapical lesions of endodontic origin and a periapical index score of 3 or higher were included in the study. Before the treatment procedures, lesion volumes were determined volumetrically using cone–beam computed tomography (CBCT). Patients were randomized into treatment (MDA, PUI, SWEEPS) and control groups (n = 14). Root canal treatment and irrigation procedures were performed by a calibrated postgraduate operator and completed at one visit. For routine follow-up, clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed by a blinded evaluator using periapical (PA) radiographs according to Molven’s criteria at 3, 6, and 9 months. At 12 months, lesion volumes were quantified volumetrically using CBCT (ITK-SNAP). The data were statistically analyzed with the Wilcoxon test. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Results

In all groups, the mean lesion volume after treatment was significantly smaller than the mean volume before treatment (p = 0.001). Among the 56 teeth, 11 teeth were ‘totally healed’, and 39 teeth were ‘reduced’ on PA radiographs. No ‘enlargement’ was detected in any group. On CBCT, the lesion volume decreased in the following order: LAI-SWEEPS (86.9%) > PUI (85.4%) > MDA (80.4%) > control (74.5%), with no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Despite the limitations of the present study, although a greater percentage of healing was observed in the LAI-SWEEPS and PUI groups, irrigation procedures had no statistically significant effect on the healing of periapical lesions with a single root canal at the 12-month follow-up. On the other hand, the outcome may change in multirooted teeth with curved and complex root canal systems.

Clinical relevance

In the short term and in single-canal teeth, advanced irrigation agitation methods such as laser and ultrasonic did not make a difference in healing other than manual irrigation agitation.
Life cycle assessment and circular practices in the woodworking sector: a systematic review
Authors: Van den Auwelant Ewald , Nimmegeers Philippe , Van Passel Steven
Published: June 2024

To shift toward a bio-based and circular economy, wood is seen as a key component. To assess the environmental impact of wood utilization, life cycle assessment (LCA) is used. However, current LCAs lack comparability. To be comparable, LCAs must be reproducible, transparent, and follow the same approach. Hence, the goal of the study is to identify the level of harmonization among state-of-the-art LCA applications within the woodworking sector via a comprehensive systematic literature review. The results show that LCA has been applied to various products and processes in the woodworking sector and highlight the predominance of the construction sector. Examining the different LCA phases, different approaches and policies are identified. Recommendations are presented on how LCAs for the woodworking sector can be streamlined. This involves general recommendations for LCA practitioners and policymakers to have at least a cradle-to-grave approach, a standardization of the background and the technical backbone of the foreground system, a harmonized impact assessment method, and performing a sensitivity analysis for the interpretation of the results. For woodworking specifically, temporal, and spatial considerations, accounting for timing of emissions and land use (change), should be included as well as proper End-of-Life considerations via a cascading approach. The increased adoption of wood as a clean technology offers a promising environmental performance; particularly, if forests are sustainably managed, wood modifications are non-fossil and non-toxic, and circular strategies are incorporated. To fully realize its potential, it is essential to standardize LCA methodologies which can set an example to support regulatory policies.

Graphical abstract
GLONASS-K2 signal analysis
Authors: Thoelert S. , Steigenberger P. , Montenbruck O.
Published: June 2024

K2 is a new generation of GLONASS satellites that provides code division multiple access (CDMA) signals in the L1, L2 and L3 frequency bands in addition to legacy L1 and L2 signals based on frequency division multiple access (FDMA) modulation. The first GLONASS-K2 satellite was launched in August 2023 and started signal transmission in early September 2023. Based on measurements with a 30-m high-gain antenna, spectral characteristics of the various signal components are described and relative power levels are identified. A 3 dB (L1) to 4 dB (L2) higher total power is determined for the CDMA signal compared to the legacy FDMA signal and an equal power of the open service and secured CDMA signal components is found. The ranging code of the L2 channel for service information, which has not been publicly disclosed so far, is identified as a Gold code sequence consistent with the data channel of the L1 open service CDMA signal. The high-gain antenna measurements are complemented by tracking data from terrestrial receivers that enable a first assessment of user performance. An up to 50% improvement in terms of noise and multipath performance is demonstrated for the new L1 and L2 CDMA signals in comparison with their legacy counterpart, but no obvious differences between the different binary phase-shift keying and binary offset carrier modulations of the data and pilot components of these signals could be identified for the test stations. Triple-frequency carrier phase observations from L1, L2, and L3 CDMA signals exhibit good consistency at the noise and multipath level, except for small variations that can be attributed to slightly different antenna phase patterns on the individual frequencies. Overall, the new CDMA signals are expected to notably improve and facilitate precise point positioning applications once fully deployed across the GLONASS constellation.
Using high-resolution UAV imagery and artificial intelligence to detect and map landslide cracks automatically
Authors: Sandric Ionut , Chitu Zenaida , Ilinca Viorel , Irimia Radu
Published: June 2024

Mapping landslide cracks is essential in understanding landslide dynamics and evolution across space and time. Each landslide crack’s depth, direction, and width are related to the stress and strain imposed on the landslide body. Moreover, their spatial distribution can indicate areas where the landslide can extend, mainly if located in the upper part of the main landslide scarp. Even though the cracks leave a distinct pattern on the landslide body when fresh or when there is a high contrast between the bare soil and surrounding vegetation, these patterns gradually diminish over time, making their detection difficult. The problem of landslide cracks mapping in various environmental conditions and having different ages was tackled in the current study using very high spatial resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial imagery and derived products in conjunction with deep learning models. U-Net and DeepLab CNN models were applied using masked and non-masked training samples with different tile sizes. As the tile size decreases, the performance metrics, such as precision, recall, and F1-score, generally decrease. Overall, the lowest accuracy was approximately 0.79 for non-mask samples and tile size of 64 pixels, and reached over 0.93 for masked samples and tile size of 512 pixels.
Effects of intercropping on the herbage production of a binary grass-legume mixture (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Lolium multiflorum Lam.) under artificial shade in Mediterranean rainfed conditions
Authors: Tramacere Lorenzo Gabriele , Antichi Daniele , Mele Marcello , Ragaglini Giorgio , Mantino Alberto
Published: June 2024

Growing perennial legumes in the understory layer in agroforestry systems is a strategy to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems, i.e., by increasing land productivity, fostering carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling and reducing reliance on inorganic nitrogen fertilizers for tree crops. In many parts of Central Italy, sulla, a biennial autochthonous legume, is widely adopted in forage cropping systems for its productivity and nutritive value and it is often intercropped with ryegrass for a better utilization as grazed temporary grassland. To evaluate the agronomic performance of these perennial species grown under different levels of light reduction, an artificial shade plot trial was established in the coastal plain of Pisa, Central Italy, with the aim to simulate the effect of tree presence with different levels of shade intensification in rainfed conditions. The experiment layout complies with a 2-way completely randomized design with four replicates. The two factors tested were the forage species (namely sulla, ryegrass and their intercropping) and the level of shade (no shade, moderate shade − 30% light reduction-, and intense shade − 50% light reduction-). Shading significantly reduced the above ground biomass (AGB) production, especially for the intense shading (on average about − 20% with respect to the full sun). The mixture resulted as the most productive crop, yielding on average about + 30 and + 40% AGB in comparison to sulla and ryegrass pure stands, respectively. The findings about the effect of the shading on AGB production showed that mixture was a suitable sward, especially under moderate shading conditions. Further studies are needed with the purpose to investigate the productive performance of these swards in real agroforestry conditions.
Association Between Early Sexual Debut and New HIV Infections Among Adolescents and Young Adults in 11 African Countries
Authors: He Jiawei , Flaxman Abraham , Imai-Eaton Jeffrey W. , Aravkin Aleksandr , Zheng Peng , Sorensen Reed , Mittal Shachi , Kyu Hmwe H.
Published: June 2024

We investigated the association between early sexual debut and HIV infection among adolescents and young adults. Analyzing data from nationally representative Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) surveys in 11 African countries, the research employed a multivariate logistic regression model to assess the relationship between the early sexual debut and new HIV infections in the age group of 10–24 years. The results revealed a significant and robust association, indicating that young individuals who experienced early sexual debut were approximately 2.65 times more likely to contract HIV than those who did not, even after accounting for other variables. These findings align with prior research suggesting that early initiation of sexual activity may increase vulnerability to HIV infection due to factors such as biological susceptibility and risky behaviors like low condom use and multiple sexual partners. The implications of these findings for HIV prevention strategies are substantial, suggesting that interventions aimed at delaying sexual debut could be an effective component in reducing HIV risk for this population. Targeted sex education programs that address the risks of early sexual debut may play a pivotal role in these prevention efforts. By employing a comprehensive approach, there is a possibility to advance efforts towards ending AIDS by 2030.
Enhancing trustworthy deep learning for image classification against evasion attacks: a systematic literature review
Authors: Akhtom Dua’a Mkhiemir , Singh Manmeet Mahinderjit , XinYing Chew
Published: June 2024

In the rapidly evolving field of Deep Learning (DL), the trustworthiness of models is essential for their effective application in critical domains like healthcare and autonomous systems. Trustworthiness in DL encompasses aspects such as reliability, fairness, and transparency, which are crucial for its real-world impact and acceptance. However, the development of trustworthy DL models faces significant challenges. This is notably due to adversarial examples, a sophisticated form of evasion attack in adversarial machine learning (AML), which subtly alter inputs to deceive these models and pose a major threat to their safety and reliability. The current body of research primarily focuses on defensive measures, such as enhancing the robustness of models or implementing explainable AI techniques. However, this approach often neglects to address the fundamental vulnerabilities that adversaries exploit. As a result, the field tends to concentrate more on counteracting measures rather than gaining an in-depth understanding of the vulnerabilities and attack strategies inherent in DL systems. This gap in comprehensive understanding impedes the formulation of effective defense mechanisms. This research aims to shift the focus from predominantly defensive strategies toward a more extensive comprehension of adversarial techniques and the innate vulnerabilities of DL models. We undertake this by conducting a thorough systematic literature review, encompassing 49 diverse studies from the previous decade. Our findings reveal the key characteristics of adversarial examples that enable their success against image classification-based DL models. Building on these insights, we propose the Transferable Pretrained Adversarial Deep Learning framework (TPre-ADL). This conceptual model aims to rectify the deficiencies in current defense strategies by incorporating the analyzed traits of adversarial examples, potentially enhancing the robustness and trustworthiness of DL models.
Pedigree analysis exploring the inconsistency between diverse phenotypes and testing criteria for germline TP53 mutations in Chinese women with breast cancer
Authors: Huang Xin , Chen Chang , Lin Yan , Wang Changjun , Zhou Xingtong , Xu Ying , Sun Qiang , Zhou Yidong
Published: June 2024

Purpose

In the present study, we addressed the inconsistency between the testing criteria and diverse phenotypes for germline TP53 mutation in patients with breast cancer in the Chinese population.

Method

We proposed a new added item (synchronous or metachronous bilateral breast cancer) as one of the testing criteria (aimed at high-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility genes) and applied it for determining TP53 germline mutation status in 420 female patients with breast cancer using multigene panel-based next-generation sequencing, Sanger sequencing, and mass spectrometry.

Results

We found that 1.4% of patients carried a pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline TP53 mutation. Compared with BRCA mutation carriers (8.0%) and non-carriers (7.1%), TP53 mutation carriers (33.3%) developed breast cancer earlier. The majority of TP53 mutation carriers (66.7%) developed breast cancer after age 30 and had bilateral breast cancer (33.3%). Pedigree investigation of four TP53 carriers and a patient with a TP53 variant of unknown significance revealed that neither of their parents harbored the same mutations as the probands, indicating that the mutations might occur de novo.

Conclusion

Our study revealed distinguishing features of TP53 carriers among Chinese women with breast cancer, which is inconsistent with the currently used testing criteria; therefore, the newly proposed testing criteria may be more appropriate.
A Mitochondrial Basis for Heart Failure Progression
Authors: Watson William D. , Arvidsson Per M. , Miller Jack J. J. , Lewis Andrew J. , Rider Oliver J.
Published: June 2024

In health, the human heart is able to match ATP supply and demand perfectly. It requires 6 kg of ATP per day to satisfy demands of external work (mechanical force generation) and internal work (ion movements and basal metabolism). The heart is able to link supply with demand via direct responses to ADP and AMP concentrations but calcium concentrations within myocytes play a key role, signalling both inotropy, chronotropy and matched increases in ATP production. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) is a key adapter to increased workload, facilitating a greater and more rapid calcium concentration change. In the failing heart, this is dysfunctional and ATP supply is impaired. This review aims to examine the mechanisms and pathologies that link increased energy demand to this disrupted situation. We examine the roles of calcium loading, oxidative stress, mitochondrial structural abnormalities and damage-associated molecular patterns.
Reduction of Helicobacter pylori cells in rural water supply using slow sand filtration
Authors: Leyton Javier , Fernández Javier , Acosta Patricia , Quiroga Andrés , Codony Francesc
Published: June 2024

Helicobacter pylori is a microorganism that infects 60% of the population and is considered the main cause of atrophic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and gastric cancer. Different emerging pathogens have been found in drinking water and their presence is considered to be an important public health problem. For this reason, it is necessary to carry out the validation of reliable technologies for this type of pathogens and evaluate their performance. This paper reports, for the first time, H. pylori reduction in a drinking water pilot plant of two slow sand filters (SSF). Inlet water was taken from a gravel filtration system of a rural water supply in Colombia and then inoculated with viable cells of H. pylori. By determining the Genomic Units (GU) through quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), the concentration of GU/sample was measured. In the inlet water amplification for SSF1 and SSF2 were 5.13 × 102 ± 4.48 × 102 and 6.59 × 102 ± 7.32 × 102, respectively, while for the treated water they were 7.0 ± 5.6 and 2.05 × 101 ± 2.9 × 101 GU/sample for SSF1 and SSF2, respectively. The SSF pilot plant reached up to 3 log reduction units of H. pylori; therefore, since there is not an H. pylori contamination indicator and its periodic monitoring is financially complicated, the SSF could guarantee the drinking water quality necessity that exists in rural areas and small municipalities in developing countries, where infection rates and prevalence of this pathogen are high.
VaryMinions: leveraging RNNs to identify variants in variability-intensive systems’ logs
Authors: Fortz Sophie , Temple Paul , Devroey Xavier , Heymans Patrick , Perrouin Gilles
Published: June 2024

From business processes to course management, variability-intensive software systems (VIS) are now ubiquitous. One can configure these systems’ behaviour by activating options, e.g., to derive variants handling building permits across municipalities or implementing different functionalities (quizzes, forums) for a given course. These customisation facilities allow VIS to support distinct relevant customer requirements while taking advantage of reuse for common parts. Customisation thus allows realising both scope and scale economies. Behavioural differences amongst variants manifest themselves in event logs. To re-engineer this kind of system, one must know which variant(s) have produced which behaviour. Since variant information is barely present in logs, this paper supports this task by employing machine learning techniques to classify behaviours (event sequences) among variants. Specifically, we train Long Short Term Memory (LSTMs) and Gated Recurrent Units (GRUs) recurrent neural networks to relate event sequences with the variants they belong to on six different datasets issued from the configurable process and VIS domains. After having evaluated 20 different architectures of LSTM/GRU, our results demonstrate that it is possible to effectively learn the trace-to-variant mapping with high accuracy (at least $$80\%$$

80
%

and up to $$99\%$$

99
%

) and at scale, i.e., identifying 50 variants using 5000+ traces for each variant.
Should Theories of Logical Validity Self-Apply?
Authors: Grossi Marco
Published: June 2024

Some philosophers argue that a theory of logical validity should not interpret its own language, because a Russellian argument shows that self-applicability is inconsistent with the ability to capture all the interpretations of its own language. First, I set up a formal system to examine the Russellian argument. I then defend the need for self-applicability. I argue that self-applicability seems to be implied by generality, and that the Russellian argument rests on a test for meaning that is biased against self-applicability. I propose an alternative test which is unproblematic for self-applicability. I conclude that self-applicability can be vindicated and the Russellian argument can be resisted.
Characterization of a new dwarf watercress (Nasturtium officinale R Br.) ‘Boldrewood’ in commercial trials reveals a consistent increase in chemopreventive properties in a longer-grown crop
Authors: Voutsina Nikol , Hancock Robert D. , Becerra-Sanchez Felipe , Qian Yufei , Taylor Gail
Published: June 2024

We describe ‘Boldrewood’, a new accession of watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) that was initially found to be of short stature with high antioxidant capacity (Payne et al. 2015). This was of particular commercial interest because it offered the potential to develop a novel watercress product with fork-friendly size and improved health-benefits. In two commercial trials comparing Boldrewood to a control, we confirmed that Boldrewood exhibits a dwarf phenotype with a significantly shorter stem and consistently produced more leaves per stem area alongside comparable crop biomass. The antioxidant and chemopreventive capacity of Boldrewood were comparable to the commercial crop. For the first time, we observed a novel increase in glucosinolate concentrations and cytotoxicity to cancer cells, characterised as decreased IC50 (half-maximal concentration of an inhibitor), associated with increased crop age at harvest. This suggests that a slower-growing and longer to harvest crop provides a significant improvement in health benefits gained in this leafy crop which is already known to be highly nutrient dense and with considerable chemopreventive ability.
Anxiety Symptom Trajectories Predict Depression Symptom Trajectories up to Four Years After CBT for Youth Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Fjermestad Krister W. , Norum Fredrik Ø. , Brask Helene S. , Kodal Arne , Silverman Wendy K. , Heiervang Einar R. , Wergeland Gro Janne
Published: June 2024

Long-term data on depression symptoms after cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for youth anxiety disorders are scant. We examined depression symptoms up to four years post CBT for anxiety addressing youth age and gender, family social class, and parent mental health as predictors. The sample comprised 179 youth (M age at pre-treatment = 11.5 years; SD = 2.1) in a randomized controlled trial. Clinically assessed anxiety diagnoses and youth and parent-reported anxiety and depression symptoms were measured before, after, and one and four years after CBT. Parent self-reported mental health was measured before CBT. We used regression analyses to determine whether full diagnostic recovery at post-CBT predicted depression trajectories across the four-year assessment period. We used growth curve models to determine whether anxiety trajectories predicted depression trajectories across the four-year assessment period. Youth who lost their anxiety diagnoses after CBT had significantly lower parent-reported depression levels over time, but not lower youth self-reported depression levels. The anxiety symptom trajectory predicted the depression symptom trajectory up to four years post-treatment. There was more explained variance for within-informant (youth-youth; parent-parent) than cross-informants. Being older, female, having lower socio-economic status and parents with poorer mental health were associated with more youth-rated depression over time. However, these demographic predictors were not significant when anxiety symptoms trajectories were added to the models. Successful CBT for anxiety in children is associated with less depression symptoms for as long as four years. Anxiety symptom improvement appears to be a stronger predictor that demographic variables and parent mental health.
Footloose and fancy-free in FinTech? Internationalization strategies of born regional and born global firms in the European financial service sector
Authors: Forsberg Paulina , Hulsink Willem
Published: June 2024

Due to economic globalization and technological advancements, businesses are increasingly required to navigate complex international markets. One type of firm that has emerged in response to these trends is the born global, which initiates foreign activities almost from the very start. While these startups expand their reach by pursuing pro-active internationalization strategies, it is unclear whether startups creating the FinTech revolution also belong to this category. This study investigates five key components of the internationalization strategies of European FinTech startups: the speed and scope of internationalization, the drivers of internationalization, international market selection, the mode of market entry, and the challenges involved in internationalization. While born globals use a systematic approach to international market selection and entry, European FinTechs use a quasi-systematic and opportunistic approach to searching and seizing their geographical markets. Their common approach includes quickly going beyond their home base to adjacent markets, followed by gradual experimentation and substantive growth in their home region, and becoming born-regional firms (with some evolving into born-global firms later).
Polycaprolactone scaffold surface modification with soft X-ray/extreme ultraviolet (SXR/EUV) radiation and low-temperature oxygen and nitrogen plasma for biomedical applications
Authors: Czwartos Joanna , Nowak-Stępniowska Agata , Budner Bogusław , Fok Tomasz , Bartnik Andrzej , Wachulak Przemysław , Fiedorowicz Henryk
Published: June 2024

Modification of the surfaces of polymeric scaffolds is often required to make the material suitable for specific tissue engineering applications. Physico-chemical properties of scaffolds can be altered using various methods, such as plasma treatment, laser processing, chemical modifications, grafting with nanoparticles, or surface coating. In this paper physico-chemical modification of polycaprolactone (PCL) surface fibers was performed by exposing PCL samples to simultaneous soft X-ray/extreme ultraviolet (SXR/EUV) radiation and low-temperature, SXR/EUV-induced, nitrogen, and oxygen plasmas. The physical and chemical changes on modified PCL surfaces were examined using a scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The effects of physico-chemical scaffold surface changes were verified with biological tests, i.e., MTT assay and immunofluorescence on murine osteoblast cell line (7F2). It was found that exposure of scaffolds to ionizing radiation and low-temperature plasmas induced strong chemical changes on their surface, i.e., appearance of various new chemical groups. Also, smoothing of the surface of PCL fibers, i.e., disappearance or significant reduction of the size of micropores on their fibers was also observed. Increased viability and adhesion of 7F2 osteoblasts on modified PCL samples after 24 h cell culture compared to non-treated PCL was also confirmed.

Graphical abstract
Rapid oxidation of semiconductors at room temperature with a basic plasma cleaner
Authors: Sánchez Angel , Diaz Jose Juan , Kudriavtsev Yuriy , Avendaño Miguel , Asomoza Rene
Published: June 2024

This paper shows how a simple modification of the electrodes in a basic commercial plasma cleaner allowed the oxidation of compound semiconductors (GaAs) and Si at room temperature. We explained the oxidation of the semiconductor surface by the participation of aluminum atoms evaporated from the electrode surface in the discharge, which resulting in additional ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the plasma. The UV radiation not only increases the decomposition of oxygen molecules adsorbed on the surface but also results in photoionization of GaAs with the formation of Ga and As ions at the oxide–GaAs interface. In addition to obtaining oxides on semiconductor surfaces, the modified device proved to be an effective tool for etching amorphous carbon films.
The effect of medium doses electron irradiation on the scattering of charge carriers in YBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystal
Authors: Khadzhai G. Ya. , Goulatis I. , Chroneos A. , Kislitsa M. V. , Kamchatna S. M. , Feher A. , Vovk R. V.
Published: June 2024

The influence of electron irradiation with energies of 0.5–2.5 MeV with fluences up to 70 × 1018 cm–2 on the electrical resistivity in the basal plane of YBa2Cu3O7–δ single crystals in the temperature range from the superconducting transition, Tc, to 300 K has been studied. Such irradiation leads to the appearance of a significant number of defects that cause a decrease in anisotropy, an appreciable increase in phonon scattering, reduction of Tc, and broadening of the superconducting transition. Under the conditions specified, the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity is approximated with high accuracy by the charge carriers’ scattering on defects and phonons, and fluctuating conductivity in the Lawrence-Doniach (LD) model. The dependences of approximation parameters on fluence are discussed.
How Virtual are We? Introducing the Team Perceived Virtuality Scale
Authors: Handke Lisa , Costa Patrícia , Feitosa Jennifer
Published: June 2024

With the strong proliferation of virtual teams across various organizations and contexts, understanding how virtuality affects teamwork has become fundamental to team and organizational effectiveness. However, current conceptualizations of virtuality rely almost exclusively on more or less fixed, structural features, such as the degree of technology reliance. In this paper, we take a socio-constructivist perspective on team virtuality, focusing on individuals’ experience of team virtuality, which may vary across teams and time points with similar structural features. More specifically, we develop and validate a scale that captures the construct of Team Perceived Virtuality (Handke et al., 2021). Following a description of item development and content validity, we present the results of four different studies that demonstrate the construct’s structural, discriminant, and criterion validity with an overall number of 2,294 teams. The final instrument comprises 10 items that measure the two dimensions of Team Perceived Virtuality (collectively-experienced distance and collectively-experienced information deficits) with five items each. This final scale showed a very good fit to a two-dimensional structure both at individual and team levels and adequate psychometric properties including aggregation indices. We further provide evidence for conceptual and empirical distinctiveness of the two TPV dimensions based on related team constructs, and for criterion validity, showing the expected significant relationships with leader-rated interaction quality and team performance. Lastly, we generalize results from student project teams to an organizational team sample. Accordingly, this scale can enhance both research and practice as a validated instrument to address how team virtuality is experienced.
An Integrative Model of Psychotherapeutic Interventions Based on a Predictive Processing Framework
Authors: Villiger Daniel
Published: June 2024

There are numerous approaches to psychotherapy with distinct underlying theories. Yet, it is unlikely that any of these is conclusive because they broadly yield similar therapeutic effects. A different approach attempts to derive the common factors from the specific treatments and proposes that these common factors primarily promote therapeutic effects. But although generally promising, these common factors have not been integrated into a more fundamental explanatory framework that also considers the effectiveness of specific factors. Therefore, an integrative model of psychotherapeutic interventions is still missing. The aim of this paper is to help fill that gap by applying the theory of predictive processing to interventions from various psychotherapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioural therapy, client-centred therapy, and psychoanalysis. The analysis results in the predictive processing model of psychotherapeutic interventions (3PI model for short). The new model reveals that psychotherapy comprises two main functions: to provide a safe and positive environment to which the patient can adapt, and to facilitate the process of updating a dysfunctional generative model. Further, it shows that common factors primarily promote the first function, while specific factors mainly support the second function, offering a new perspective to the debate on common and the specific factors.
Drag on Cylinders Moving in Superfluid $$^3$$He-B as the Dimension Spans the Coherence Length
Authors: Autti S. , Haley R. P. , Jennings A. , Pickett G. R. , Surovtsev E. V. , Tsepelin V. , Zmeev D. E.
Published: June 2024

Vibrating probes when immersed in a fluid can provide powerful tools for characterising the surrounding medium. In superfluid $$^3$$

3

He-B, a condensate of Cooper pairs, the dissipation arising from the scattering of quasiparticle excitations from a mechanical oscillator provides the basis of extremely sensitive thermometry and bolometry at sub-millikelvin temperatures. The unique properties of the Andreev reflection process in this condensate also assist by providing a significantly enhanced dissipation. While existing models for such damping on an oscillating cylinder have been verified experimentally, they are valid only for flows with scales much greater than the coherence length of $$^3$$

3

He, which is of the order of a hundred nanometres. With our increasing proficiency in fabricating nanosized oscillators, which can be readily used in this superfluid, there is a pressing need for the development of new models that account for the modification of the flow around these smaller oscillators. Here we report preliminary results on measurements of the damping in superfluid $$^3$$

3

He-B of a range of cylindrical nanosized oscillators with radii comparable to the coherence length and outline a model for calculating the associated drag.
Fourth-Order Accurate Compact Scheme for First-Order Maxwell’s Equations
Authors: Versano I. , Turkel E. , Tsynkov S.
Published: June 2024

We construct a compact fourth-order scheme, in space and time, for the time-dependent Maxwell’s equations given as a first-order system on a staggered (Yee) grid. At each time step, we update the fields by solving positive definite second-order elliptic equations. We develop compatible boundary conditions for these elliptic equations while maintaining a compact stencil. The proposed scheme is compared computationally with a non-compact scheme and with a convolutional dispersion relation preserving (DRP) scheme.
Another Look at Stein’s Method for Studentized Nonlinear Statistics with an Application to U-Statistics
Authors: Leung Dennis , Shao Qi-Man , Zhang Liqian
Published: June 2024

We take another look at using Stein’s method to establish uniform Berry–Esseen bounds for Studentized nonlinear statistics, highlighting variable censoring and an exponential randomized concentration inequality for a sum of censored variables as the essential tools to carry out the arguments involved. As an important application, we prove a uniform Berry–Esseen bound for Studentized U-statistics in a form that exhibits the dependence on the degree of the kernel.
Displacement chromatography of gadolinium isotopes with strong cation exchange resin using 1,2-cyclohexanedinitrilotetraacetic acid (CDTA)
Authors: Boda Anil , Deb A. K. Singha , Ali Sk. M. , Shenoy K. T.
Published: June 2024

Adsorptive separation of Gd3+ ions was evaluated using DOWEX-50×8 ion exchange resin. It has shown a maximum adsorption capacity of 228.50 mg/g at optimum pH 5 and room temperature. Separation of Gd isotopes was investigated using packed bed columns of the resin in displacement chromatographic techniques where 1,2-cyclohexanedinitrilotetraacetic acid was used as displacer in the mobile phase. Isotopic analysis data by using MC‒ICP‒MS confirmed that the front end of the Gd adsorption band exhibited enrichment of the heavier isotope (160Gd), while the lighter isotopes (157Gd and 155Gd) were concentrated at the rear end of the stationary phase.
Cultural Injustice and Refugee Discrimination
Authors: Al Hashmi Rufaida
Published: June 2024

Many believe that it is morally impermissible to select refugees applying for resettlement on the basis of religion but morally permissible to do so on the basis of language. In this paper, I challenge this position. I argue that if we oppose selection by religion, then we should also oppose selection by language. I argue that the kind of religious selection proposed by some is demeaning because of a history of cultural injustice, which I examine through the context of colonialism. I show that this account of the wrongness of religious selection fares better than alternative views. Since language played an important role in this history of cultural injustice, I conclude that language selection is demeaning for the same reason. An upshot of my argument is that some kinds of language selection should be viewed as a form of cultural selection. Language, like religion, can be culturally laden in ways that makes it impermissible grounds for the selection of refugees applying for resettlement and indeed would-be immigrants more generally.
Universal Child Mental Health Screening for Parents: a Systematic Review of the Evidence
Authors: Brinley Shona K. , Tully Lucy A. , Carl Talia , McLean Rebecca K. , Cowan Caitlin S. M. , Hawes David J. , Dadds Mark R. , Northam Jaimie C.
Published: June 2024

Childhood represents a critical window for the emergence and treatment of mental health disorders, yet many are not being identified, or are identified too late to receive adequate intervention. This systematic review (Prospero registration: CRD42022299560) aimed to determine the effectiveness and acceptability of parent reported universal mental health screening (UMHS) to improve the early identification of children at-risk of mental health difficulties, and to identify barriers and enablers that may influence parental engagement. Six databases were searched in February 2022 for peer-reviewed, primary research. Studies conducted in targeted populations, evaluating psychometric properties, or focused on screening non-psychological problems were excluded. Ten studies examined parent reported (n = 3,464 parents) UMHS for children from birth to 18 years, suggesting an overall scarcity of research. Findings are presented in a table of study characteristics and a narrative summary of acceptability, effectiveness, barriers, and enablers. Quantitative findings indicated that parents generally support and accept UMHS. Research assessing effectiveness was limited, although two studies indicated increased referrals and referral adherence following positive screens. Confidentiality and stigma were commonly identified barriers. Quality assessment using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool indicated that studies varied in quality, meeting four to seven of the seven quality criteria. Understanding and addressing parent attitudes to UMHS across settings is necessary for the successful implementation of screening and improvement of child mental health outcomes. More high-quality research studies, including randomized controlled trials are therefore needed to examine the acceptability and effectiveness of UMHS for parents and their children.
Does risk management moderate the relationship between CEO power and corporate philanthropy?
Authors: Adams Mike , Jiang Wei , Liu Siqi
Published: June 2024

By integrating upper echelons, agency, and stakeholder theories, we examine the relationship between CEO power and charitable cash donations. Utilizing a novel hand-collected dataset from the UK's insurance industry, our focus lies particularly on how risk management influences this relationship. We find that CEO power is positively related to charitable giving. However, alternative risk mitigation strategies play a moderating role in the CEO power-donations relationship, suggesting that in firms with alternative risk management strategies, CEOs are less likely to advocate for corporate giving as a method to mitigate business risks. Our results are robust to various endogeneity checks and alternative measures of CEO power. Our paper enriches the comprehension of the motives driving corporate philanthropy.
Certified coordinate selection for high-dimensional Bayesian inversion with Laplace prior
Authors: Flock Rafael , Dong Yiqiu , Uribe Felipe , Zahm Olivier
Published: June 2024

We consider high-dimensional Bayesian inverse problems with arbitrary likelihood and product-form Laplace prior for which we provide a certified approximation of the posterior in the Hellinger distance. The approximate posterior differs from the prior only in a small number of relevant coordinates that contribute the most to the update from the prior to the posterior. We propose and analyze a gradient-based diagnostic to identify these relevant coordinates. Although this diagnostic requires computing an expectation with respect to the posterior, we propose tractable methods for the classical case of a linear forward model with Gaussian likelihood. Our methods can be employed to estimate the diagnostic before solving the Bayesian inverse problem via, e.g., Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. After selecting the coordinates, the approximate posterior can be efficiently inferred since most of its coordinates are only informed by the prior. Moreover, specialized MCMC methods, such as the pseudo-marginal MCMC algorithm, can be used to obtain less correlated samples when sampling the exact posterior. We show the applicability of our method using a 1D signal deblurring problem and a high-dimensional 2D super-resolution problem.
The cross-employment of PhDs across the university sector boundary: an analysis of Finnish register data
Authors: Helin Jouni , Koerselman Kristian , Nokkala Terhi , Siekkinen Taru , Tohmo Timo , Viinikainen Jutta , Välimaa Jussi
Published: June 2024

Tacit knowledge flows can be facilitated by employment transitions, such as for example the transitions of PhDs from university employment to industry. There are however barriers to transitions into and out of university employment, and as a consequence, such transitions are relatively rare. PhDs can circumvent the barriers to permanent transitions by simultaneous secondary employment relationships. Though we know that such cross-employment exists, we do not know how common it de facto is. In this paper, we use a nine-year panel of daily-level employment microdata on the full population of Finnish PhDs to show that about 30% of university-employed PhDs are cross-employed outside of universities. This is a substantial share, and its magnitude alone suggests a central but underappreciated role for cross-employment in contemporary knowledge production and dissemination. We furthermore find that similar numbers of non–university-employed PhDs are cross-employed at universities as university PhDs are cross-employed outside of universities, and that many cross-employment relationships are in non-technical fields, and with public sector organizations. This illustrates the importance of understanding the nature of knowledge flows other than the unidirectional flows of technical knowledge from universities to industrial firms.
Comparative assessment of deep belief network and hybrid adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system model based on a meta-heuristic optimization algorithm for precise predictions of the potential evapotranspiration
Authors: Akiner Muhammed Ernur , Ghasri Mehdi
Published: June 2024

Accurately predicting potential evapotranspiration (PET) is crucial in water resource management, agricultural planning, and climate change studies. This research aims to investigate the performance of two machine learning methods, the adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and the deep belief network (DBN), in forecasting PET, as well as to explore the potential of hybridizing the ANFIS approach with the Snake Optimizer (ANFIS-SO) algorithm. The study utilized a comprehensive dataset spanning the period from 1983 to 2020. The ANFIS, ANFIS-SO, and DBN models were developed, and their performances were evaluated using statistical metrics, including R2, $${R}_{adj}^2$$

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, NSE, WI, STD, and RMSE. The results showcase the exceptional performance of the DBN model, which achieved R2 and $${R}_{adj}^2$$

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values of 0.99 and NSE and WI scores of 0.99 across the nine stations analyzed. In contrast, the standard ANFIS method exhibited relatively weaker performance, with R2 and $${R}_{adj}^2$$

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values ranging from 0.52 to 0.88. However, the ANFIS-SO approach demonstrated a substantial improvement, with R2 and $${R}_{adj}^2$$

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values ranging from 0.94 to 0.99, suggesting the value of optimization techniques in enhancing the model’s capabilities. The Taylor diagram and violin plots with box plots further corroborated the comparative analysis, highlighting the DBN model’s superior ability to closely match the observed standard deviation and correlation and its consistent and low-variance predictions. The ANFIS-SO method also exhibited enhanced performance in these visual representations, with an RMSE of 0.86, compared to 0.95 for the standard ANFIS. The insights gained from this study can inform the selection of the most appropriate modeling technique, whether it be the high-precision DBN, the flexible ANFIS, or the optimized ANFIS-SO approach, based on the specific requirements and constraints of the application.
Improving mentalizing deficits in older age with region-specific transcranial direct current stimulation
Authors: Lischke Alexander , Pahnke Rike , Mäder Anna , Martin Andrew K. , Meinzer Marcus
Published: June 2024

Older adults have difficulties to detect the intentions, thoughts, and feelings of others, indicating an age-associated decline of socio-cognitive abilities that are known as “mentalizing”. These deficits in mental state recognition are driven by neurofunctional alterations in brain regions that are implicated in mentalizing, such as the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ) and the dorso-medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). We tested whether focal transcranial current stimulation (tDCS) of the rTPJ and dmPFC has the potential to eliminate mentalizing deficits in older adults. Mentalizing deficits were assessed with a novel mindreading task that required the recognition of mental states in child faces. Older adults (n = 60) performed worse than younger adults (n = 30) on the mindreading task, indicating age-dependent deficits in mental state recognition. These mentalizing deficits were ameliorated in older adults who received sham-controlled andodal tDCS over the rTPJ (n = 30) but remained unchanged in older adults who received sham-controlled andodal tDCS over the dmPFC (n = 30). We, thus, showed for the first time that anodal tDCS over the rTPJ has the potential to remediate age-dependent mentalizing deficits in a region-specific way. This provides a rationale for exploring stimulation-based interventions targeting mentalizing deficits in older age.