bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of cutting tool design on ultrasonic-assisted drilling of fiber metal laminates
Authors: Atif Muhammad , Wang Xibin , Xie Lijing , Sun Ting , Giasin Khaled , Ma Yuan
Published: March 2024

Ultrasonic-assisted drilling (UAD) is a machining process that is known to improve the hole quality and reduce cutting forces. Previous studies focused on optimizing cutting parameters to improve the hole quality in conventional drilling (CD) and UAD, as well as to finding the optimum vibration parameters (frequency and amplitude) that will increase the effectiveness of the UAD process. However, the influence of cutting tool type during UAD has been largely overlooked. This research aims to address this gap by analyzing the effect of cutting tool type during UAD on the cutting forces and hole quality in GLARE (Glass Laminate Aluminum-Reinforced Epoxy) laminates. Four types of drills, namely, twist drill (TD), double cone drill (DCD), a step drill type 1 (SD1), and step drill type 2 (SD2) with different step length, were selected for this study. The lowest thrust force (47.04 N) and torque (0.079 Nm) were achieved using twist drill, while DCD, SD1, and SD2 exhibited higher thrust forces (12.81%, 20.69%, 41.3%) and torques (94%, 92%, 91%), respectively. In addition, TD produced high-quality holes with lowest surface roughness (Ra 1.66 μm, Rz 10.58 μm) and minimal burr formation (entry burr height 152.3 μm, exit burr height 69.22 μm). Conversely, DCD, SD1, and SD2 showed higher surface roughness Ra (23%, 16%, 24%) and Rz (16%, 37%, 29%), respectively, compared to the TD. Holes drilled using SD1 and SD2 generally had smaller burr height. Overall, UAD system effectively reduced cutting forces at low spindle speed and feed rate. To achieve higher drilling quality, specifically to reduce the surface roughness and exit burr height, a medium spindle speed of 3000 rpm, a feed rate of 225 mm/min is recommended. Drilling at higher cutting parameters using UAD resulted in a decline in hole quality, except for entry burr height.
Vision based trajectory dynamic compensation system of industrial robot
Authors: Zhao Nan , Murakami Kenichi , Yamakawa Yuji
Published: March 2024

This study aims to enhance the flexibility of robots in the manufacturing process to meet the growing demand for flexible manufacturing systems by constructing a dynamic compensation system. The system enables the end effector of the robot to track the trajectory contour on the horizontal plane, even if there is a deviation between the teaching trajectory and the target trajectory contour. The proposed system employs an innovative mechanism design and algorithm that enables dynamic compensation of the robot’s absolute position in the XY-plane, even when the end effector is obstructed. The system uses an XY-stage and two industrial cameras, with each axis being separately controlled. To detect and compensate for errors in the end effector and target trajectory, the two cameras are aligned with the X- and Y-direction linear stage, respectively. The cameras are fixed with respect to the linear stage, and the end effector is placed on the stage work surface. Unlike traditional stereo cameras, the cameras in this system do not require calibration for their positional relationship. To verify the system’s effectiveness, this study set a group of teaching and target trajectory contours with a maximum deviation of over than 8 mm. Under the compensation of the system, the maximum error between the end effector and the target trajectory contour was 22.8 pixels (1.34 mm), with an average absolute error of 5.4 pixels (0.32 mm). Compared to the maximum error of 8.45 mm before compensation, the error has been reduced by 84 %.
Adiabatic Evolution of Low-Temperature Many-Body Systems
Authors: Greenblatt Rafael L. , Lange Markus , Marcelli Giovanna , Porta Marcello
Published: March 2024

We consider finite-range, many-body fermionic lattice models and we study the evolution of their thermal equilibrium state after introducing a weak and slowly varying time-dependent perturbation. Under suitable assumptions on the external driving, we derive a representation for the average of the evolution of local observables via a convergent expansion in the perturbation, for small enough temperatures. Convergence holds for a range of parameters that is uniform in the size of the system. Under a spectral gap assumption on the unperturbed Hamiltonian, convergence is also uniform in temperature. As an application, our expansion allows us to prove closeness of the time-evolved state to the instantaneous Gibbs state of the perturbed system, in the sense of expectation of local observables, at zero and at small temperatures. As a corollary, we also establish the validity of linear response. Our strategy is based on a rigorous version of the Wick rotation, which allows us to represent the Duhamel expansion for the real-time dynamics in terms of Euclidean correlation functions, for which precise decay estimates are proved using fermionic cluster expansion.
To Approve or not to Approve? A Comparative Analysis of State-Company-Indigenous Community Interactions in Mining in Canada and Sweden
Authors: Beland Lindahl Karin , Wilson Gary N. , Allard Christina , Poelzer Greg
Published: March 2024

This Special Section explores the interplay between Indigenous peoples, industry, and the state in five proposed and active mining projects in Canada and Sweden. The overall aim is to identify factors shaping the quality of Indigenous community-industry-state interactions in mining and mine development. An ambition underlying the research is to develop knowledge to help manage mining related land-use conflicts in Sweden by drawing on Canadian comparisons and experience. This paper synthesizes the comparative research that has been conducted across jurisdictions in three Canadian provinces and Sweden. It focuses on the interplay between the properties of the governance system, the quality of interaction and governance outcomes. We combine institutional and interactive governance theory and use the concept of governability to assess how and why specific outcomes, such as mutually beneficial interaction, collaboration, or opposition, occurred. The analysis suggests there are measures that can be taken by the Swedish Government to improve the governability of mining related issues, by developing alternative, and more effective, avenues to recognize, and protect, Sámi rights and culture, to broaden the scope and increase the legitimacy and transparency of the EIAs, to raise the quality of interaction and consultation, and to develop tools to actively stimulate and support collaboration and partnerships on equal terms. Generally, we argue that Indigenous community responses to mining must be understood within a larger framework of Indigenous self-determination, in particular the communities’ own assessments of their opportunities to achieve their long-term objectives using alternative governing modes and types of interactions.
Untersuchung der Genauigkeit klinischer Diagnosen von Neoplasien der Konjunktiva
Authors: Gruben Arved Rikus , Hösel Kristin , Roider Johann , Ehlken Christoph
Published: March 2024

Hintergrund

Neoplasien der Bindehaut umfassen eine Vielzahl verschiedener Entitäten mit jeweils unterschiedlicher klinischer Präsentation. Diese sind anhand klinischer Merkmale nicht immer eindeutig voneinander zu unterscheiden. Die R0-Resektion stellt den Goldstandard für die meisten malignen Tumoren der Bindehaut dar, aber nicht jede benigne Läsion muss mittels Exzision behandelt werden. Im klinischen Alltag muss häufig ein konservatives Vorgehen gegen eine operative Exzision abgewogen werden.

Ziel

Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die Genauigkeit klinischer Diagnosen bei Neoplasien der Bindehaut zu ermitteln.

Methoden

In einer retrospektiven Untersuchung wurden im Zeitraum zwischen 2011 und 2020 die Daten aller Patienten nach Exzision eines Bindehautbefundes, die an der Klinik für Ophthalmologie am UKSH Campus Kiel operiert wurden, extrahiert und ausgewertet. Es wurde jeweils die Spezifität, Sensitivität und der positive und negative Vorhersagewert für die präoperative klinische Einschätzung der Dignität und die diagnostische Gruppe anhand des histopathologischen Befundes ermittelt.

Ergebnisse

Von 220 eingeschlossenen Fällen waren nach histologischer Beurteilung 75 % benigne, 25 % maligne. Die häufigste Neoplasie war der benigne Bindehautnävus (12,3 %). Die Sensitivität für die klinische Vorhersage einer benignen Läsion lag bei 0,86 (95%-Konfidenzintervall [95%-KI] 0,59–0,92), die Spezifität bei 0,95 (95%-KI: 0,85–0,99) und der positive Vorhersagewert bei 0,98 (95%-KI: 0,94–1,0). Die Sensitivität für die klinische Vorhersage maligner Dignität ergab 0,95 (95%-KI: 0,85–0,99), Spezifität 0,88 (95%-KI: 0,83–0,93) und der positive Vorhersagewert 0,73 (95%-KI: 0,61–0,83).

Schlussfolgerung

Die ermittelten Werte für die klinische Diagnose sind als gut zu bewerten. Dennoch sollte im klinischen Alltag, insbesondere bei untypischen Läsionen, die Verdachtsdiagnose kritisch überprüft werden und im Zweifel eine Exzision angestrebt werden.
Epidemiology, clinical features, and classification of 3,404 patients with uveitis: Colombian Uveitis Multicenter Study (COL-UVEA)
Authors: de-la-Torre Alejandra , Mejía-Salgado Germán , Cifuentes-González Carlos , Rojas-Carabali William , Cuevas Miguel , García Sandra , Rangel Carlos M. , Durán Claudia , Pachón-Suárez Diana Isabel , Bustamante-Arias Andrés
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To describe the epidemiology, clinical features, and classification of uveitis in a large cohort of Colombian patients.

Methods

Data were collected from seven ophthalmological referral centers in the four main cities in Colombia. The study included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of uveitis from January 2010 to December 2022. Information on demographics, ophthalmic examination findings, uveitis classification, and etiology was recorded.

Results

The study reviewed 3,404 clinical records of patients with uveitis. The mean age at diagnosis was 41.1 (SD 19.0) years, and 54.2% of the patients were female. Overall, 1,341(39.4%) were infectious, 626 (18.4%) non-infectious, and four masquerade syndromes (0.1%). The most common types of uveitis were unilateral (66.7%), acute (48.3%), and non-granulomatous (83%). Anterior uveitis was the most common anatomical localization (49.5%), followed by posterior uveitis (22.9%), panuveitis (22.3%), and intermediate uveitis (5.2%). A diagnosis was established in 3,252 (95.5%) cases; idiopathic was the most common cause (27.7%), followed by toxoplasmosis (25.3%) and virus-associated uveitis (6.4%). The age group between 30 and 50 exhibited the highest frequency of uveitis.

Conclusion

This multicenter study comprehensively describes uveitis characteristics in Colombian patients, providing valuable insights into its demographic and clinical features. The study findings emphasize the need to continue updating the changing patterns of uveitis to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies for diseases associated with intraocular inflammation.
Open communication between patients and relatives about illness & death in advanced cancer—results of the eQuiPe Study
Authors: Haaksman Michelle , Ham Laurien , Brom Linda , Baars Arnold , van Basten Jean-Paul , van den Borne Ben E. E. M. , Hendriks Mathijs P. , de Jong Wouter K. , van Laarhoven Hanneke W. M. , van Lindert Anne S. R. , Mandigers Caroline M. P. W. , van der Padt-Pruijsten Annemieke , Smilde Tineke J. , van Zuylen Lia C. , van Vliet Liesbeth M. , Raijmakers Natasja J. H.
Published: March 2024

Objective

To assess the degree of openness of communication about illness and death between patients with advanced cancer and their relatives during the last three months of the patient’s life, and its association with relatives’ characteristics and bereavement distress.

Methods

We used data from bereaved relatives of patients with advanced cancer from the prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational eQuipe study. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between the degree of openness of communication (measured using the validated Caregivers’ Communication with patients about Illness and Death scale), the a priori defined characteristics of the relatives, and the degree of bereavement distress (measured using the Impact of Event Scale).

Results

A total of 160 bereaved relatives were included in the analysis. The average degree of open communication about illness and death between patients with advanced cancer and their relatives was 3.86 on a scale of 1 to 5 (SE=0.08). A higher degree of open communication was associated with a lower degree of bereavement distress (p=0.003). No associations were found between the degree of open communication and the relatives’ age (p=0.745), gender (p=0.196), level of education (p>0.773), (religious) worldview (p=0.435), type of relationship with the patient (p>0.548), or level of emotional functioning before the patient’s death (p=0.075).

Conclusions

Open communication about illness and death between patients and relatives seems to be important, as it is associated with a lower degree of bereavement distress. Healthcare professionals can play an important role in encouraging the dialogue. However, it is important to keep in mind that some people not feel comfortable talking about illness and death.
Summer heatwaves trends and hotspots in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region (1914–2020)
Authors: Serra Carina , Lana Xavier , Martínez Maria-Dolors , Arellano Blanca , Roca Josep , Biere Rolando
Published: March 2024

Daily maximum, TX, and minimum, TN, temperatures recorded at Fabra Observatory, for the period 1914–2020 (from June to September), have permitted to identify the daytime and night time heatwaves, HWs, at the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, BMR, along 107 years. Four heatwaves indices have been computed both for maximum and minimum temperatures: the number of events per season, HWN; their maximum duration, HWD; their frequency of occurrence, HWF; and the amplitude of the hottest day event, HWA. Trends in these indices have been obtained and their statistical significance quantified by means of the Mann-Kendall test. For the whole period (1914–2020), positive significant trends have been detected for the four indices, with a marked positive trend since year 2000 for TX, and since 1985 for TN. Nevertheless, when 31-year moving windows have been analysed, both positive and negative significant trends are obtained, being remarkable the change in trend signs around 1960s. The convenience of using the four HW indices is evaluated applying a Principal Component Analysis, PCA, obtaining two principal components. Additionally, the spatial distributions of the MODIS land surface temperatures, LST, corresponding to some extreme heatwaves, permits the detection of two hotspots in the BMR, one for TX and the other for TN. It is also worth mentioning that correlations between the Western Mediterranean Oscillation index, WeMOi, and HW episodes are detected, being notable that, at the beginning of these episodes, WEMOi values are usually lower. These correlations could improve the HWs forecasting.
An augmented reality approach for communicating intangible and architectural heritage through digital characters and scale models
Authors: Galani Sophie , Vosinakis Spyros
Published: March 2024

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) represents living cultural expressions and practices that are part of the heritage of a community, and their preservation and transmission are considered highly important. Various methods and tools have been applied so far for the digitization and dissemination of ICH content including a wide range of technologies. Mobile augmented reality is a promising solution along this path that enables the overlap of digital and real-world information in an engaging and efficient manner. Despite the widespread use of AR in cultural heritage, there are not many studies regarding the user experience, the learning outcomes, and the way in which users observe and interact with the virtual content. This paper presents a mobile augmented reality installation that re-enacts the stages of leather tanning process, adopting a novel approach that augments 3D content upon a physical scale model of an old tannery. This approach pursues to transmit the cultural value of traditional craftmanship to visitors of the building and associate its architectural elements to its history and use. A user evaluation was conducted aiming to measure the users’ engagement, learning, and experience using the installation. The encouraging results led to a follow-up study about the impact of the physical scale model on the experience. Two variations of the experience have been studied, one with a physical scale model and one with a digital-only version in a between-subject design. The results of the two studies provide evidence that the proposed approach generated a positive user experience and evident learning gain and was considered easy to use, highlighting its potential to be widely adopted in buildings with architectural value.
A color Passthrough mixed reality application for learning piano
Authors: Banquiero Mariano , Valdeolivas Gracia , Ramón David , Juan M.-Carmen
Published: March 2024

This work presents the development of a mixed reality (MR) application that uses color Passthrough for learning to play the piano. A study was carried out to compare the interpretation outcomes of the participants and their subjective experience when using the MR application developed to learn to play the piano with a system that used Synthesia (N = 33). The results show that the MR application and Synthesia were effective in learning piano. However, the students played the pieces significantly better when using the MR application. The two applications both provided a satisfying user experience. However, the subjective experience of the students was better when they used the MR application. Other conclusions derived from the study include the following: (1) The outcomes of the students and their subjective opinion about the experience when using the MR application were independent of age and gender; (2) the sense of presence offered by the MR application was high (above 6 on a scale of 1 to 7); (3) the adverse effects induced by wearing the Meta Quest Pro and using our MR application were negligible; and (4) the students showed their preference for the MR application. As a conclusion, the advantage of our MR application compared to other types of applications (e.g., non-projected piano roll notation) is that the user has a direct view of the piano and the help elements appear integrated in the user’s view. The user does not have to take their eyes off the keyboard and is focused on playing the piano.
Level constrained first order methods for function constrained optimization
Authors: Boob Digvijay , Deng Qi , Lan Guanghui
Published: March 2024

We present a new feasible proximal gradient method for constrained optimization where both the objective and constraint functions are given by summation of a smooth, possibly nonconvex function and a convex simple function. The algorithm converts the original problem into a sequence of convex subproblems. Formulating those subproblems requires the evaluation of at most one gradient-value of the original objective and constraint functions. Either exact or approximate subproblems solutions can be computed efficiently in many cases. An important feature of the algorithm is the constraint level parameter. By carefully increasing this level for each subproblem, we provide a simple solution to overcome the challenge of bounding the Lagrangian multipliers and show that the algorithm follows a strictly feasible solution path till convergence to the stationary point. We develop a simple, proximal gradient descent type analysis, showing that the complexity bound of this new algorithm is comparable to gradient descent for the unconstrained setting which is new in the literature. Exploiting this new design and analysis technique, we extend our algorithms to some more challenging constrained optimization problems where (1) the objective is a stochastic or finite-sum function, and (2) structured nonsmooth functions replace smooth components of both objective and constraint functions. Complexity results for these problems also seem to be new in the literature. Finally, our method can also be applied to convex function constrained problems where we show complexities similar to the proximal gradient method.
Polyhedral properties of RLT relaxations of nonconvex quadratic programs and their implications on exact relaxations
Authors: Qiu Yuzhou , Yıldırım E. Alper
Published: March 2024

We study linear programming relaxations of nonconvex quadratic programs given by the reformulation–linearization technique (RLT), referred to as RLT relaxations. We investigate the relations between the polyhedral properties of the feasible regions of a quadratic program and its RLT relaxation. We establish various connections between recession directions, boundedness, and vertices of the two feasible regions. Using these properties, we present a complete description of the set of instances that admit an exact RLT relaxation. We then give a thorough discussion of how our results can be converted into simple algorithmic procedures to construct instances of quadratic programs with exact, inexact, or unbounded RLT relaxations.
Lethal dog attacks on adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in an anthropogenic landscape
Authors: Chakraborty Bidisha , Pithva Krishna , Mohanty Subham , McCowan Brenda
Published: March 2024

For nonhuman primates living in anthropogenic areas, predation by larger predators is relatively rare. However, smaller predators, such as free-ranging as well as domesticated dogs, can shape the socioecology of urban nonhuman primates, either directly by attacking and killing them or indirectly by modifying their activity patterns. Here, we describe three (two probably fatal) cases of dog attacks on adult rhesus macaques inhabiting an anthropogenic landscape in Northern India and the circumstances surrounding these incidents. We discuss the importance of considering human presence and intervention in dog–nonhuman primate relationships while studying nonhuman primate populations across anthropogenic gradients, and its potential influences on group social dynamics and transmission of zoonotic agents.
A classification method of marine mammal calls based on two-channel fusion network
Authors: Li Danyang , Liao Jie , Jiang Hongbo , Jiang Kailin , Chen Mingwei , Zhou Bei , Pu Haibo , Li Jun
Published: March 2024

Marine mammals are an important part of marine ecosystems, and human intervention seriously threatens their living environments. Few studies exist on the marine mammal call recognition task, and the accuracy of current research needs to improve. In this paper, a novel MG-ResFormer two-channel fusion network architecture is proposed, which can extract local features and global timing information from sound signals almost perfectly. Second, in the input stage of the model, we propose an improved acoustic feature energy fingerprint, which is different from the traditional single feature approach. This feature also contains frequency, energy, time sequence and other speech information and has a strong identity. Additionally, to achieve more reliable accuracy in the multiclass call recognition task, we propose a multigranular joint layer to capture the family and genus relationships between classes. In the experimental section, the proposed method is compared with the existing feature extraction methods and recognition methods. In addition, this paper also compares with the latest research, and the proposed method is the most advanced algorithm thus far. Ultimately, our proposed method achieves an accuracy of 99.39% in the marine mammal call recognition task.
Being a Surrogate Partner: The Challenges of Fragile Boundaries
Authors: Oreg Ayelet , Avlagon Elad , Gitlitz Tamar
Published: March 2024

Surrogate partner therapy is a type of treatment in which the surrogate partner (SP) works in a triadic setting with a sex therapist and a patient. At the same time, the SP acts as an intimate surrogate partner to the patient. The SP treatment includes a range of therapeutic experiences such as relaxation, intimate communication, sensual and sexual contact, and training for the acquisition of social skills. In the current study, we ask what and how SPs experience, understand, and construct boundaries in their work. We used Winnicott’s therapeutic conceptualization of psychotherapy as a mode of playing and Goffman's dramaturgical role theory as the theoretical framework for our exploration. Applying a phenomenological and empathic approach, we analyzed 13 in-depth interviews with Israeli SP. It appears that SP’s transitions from one performance to another are dramatic, in that their role requires the involvement of sexual and emotional helping relations with their patients. Moreover, SPs are obliged to have secrecy at all levels and in various relationships in their lives. We uncovered various complexities that SPs experience, such as a lack of clarity about their role, which creates challenges for building their professional and personal identity and affects their family and social relationships.
Drought effects on soil greenhouse gas fluxes in a boreal and a temperate forest
Authors: Gillespie L. M. , Kolari P. , Kulmala L. , Leitner S. M. , Pihlatie M. , Zechmeister-Boltenstern S. , Díaz-Pinés E.
Published: March 2024

Changing water regimes (e.g. drought) have unknown long-term consequences on the stability and resilience of soil microorganisms who determine much of the carbon and nitrogen exchange between the biosphere and atmosphere. Shifts in their activity could feedback into ongoing climate change. In this study, we explored soil drought effects on soil greenhouse gas (GHG; CO2, CH4, N2O) fluxes over time in two sites: a boreal, coniferous forest in Finland (Hyytiälä) and a temperate, broadleaf forest in Austria (Rosalia). Topsoil moisture and topsoil temperature data were used to identify soil drought events, defined as when soil moisture is below the soil moisture at the permanent wilting point. Data over multiple years from automated GHG flux chambers installed on the forest floor were then analyzed using generalized additive models (GAM) to study whether GHG fluxes differed before and after drought events and whether there was an overall, multiyear temporal trend. Results showed CO2 and N2O emissions to be more affected by drought and long-term trends at Hyytiälä with increased CO2 emission and decreased N2O emissions both following drought and over the entire measurement period. CH4 uptake increased at both sites both during non-drought periods and as an overall, multiyear trend and was predominantly affected by soil moisture dynamics. Multiyear trends also suggest an increase in soil temperature in the boreal forest and a decrease in soil moisture in the temperate forest. These findings underline forests as an important sink for CH4, possibly with an increasing rate in a future climate.
A whole-food, plant-based randomized controlled trial in metastatic breast cancer: weight, cardiometabolic, and hormonal outcomes
Authors: Campbell Thomas M. , Campbell Erin K. , Culakova Eva , Blanchard Lisa M. , Wixom Nellie , Guido Joseph J. , Fetten James , Huston Alissa , Shayne Michelle , Janelsins Michelle C. , Mustian Karen M. , Moore Richard G. , Peppone Luke J.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Breast cancer treatment is associated with weight gain, and obesity and its related cardiometabolic and hormonal risk factors have been associated with poorer outcomes. Dietary intervention may address these risk factors, but limited research has been done in the setting of metastatic breast cancer requiring systemic therapy.

Methods

Women with metastatic breast cancer on stable treatment were randomized 2:1 to an 8-week intervention (n = 21) or control (n = 11). The intervention included weekly assessment visits and an ad libitum whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet with provided meals. Cardiometabolic, hormonal, and cancer markers were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.

Results

Within the intervention group, mean weight decreased by 6.6% (p < 0.01) after 8 weeks. Fasting insulin decreased from 16.8 uIU/L to 11.2 uIU/L (p < 0.01), concurrent with significantly reduced insulin resistance. Total cholesterol decreased from 193.6 mg/dL to 159 mg/dL (p < 0.01), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased from 104.6 mg/dL to 82.2 mg/dL (p < 0.01). Total testosterone was unchanged, but free testosterone trended lower within the intervention group (p = 0.08) as sex hormone binding globulin increased from 74.3 nmol/L to 98.2 nmol/L (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in cancer progression markers at week 8, although mean CA 15-3, CA 27.29, and CEA were lower in the intervention group (p = 0.53, p = 0.23, and p = 0.54, respectively) compared to control, when adjusted for baseline.

Conclusion

WFPB dietary changes during treatment for metastatic breast cancer are well tolerated and significantly improve weight, cardiometabolic and hormonal parameters. Longer studies are warranted to assess the durability of changes.

Trial registration First registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03045289) on February 7, 2017.
The Boy at the Top of the Mountain as a Source of Axiological Ethics for Holocaust fiction
Authors: Mašát Milan
Published: March 2024

The main aim of this paper is to point out the artistic and other qualities of Boyne’s publication The Boy at the Top of the Mountain, especially in relation to what could be considered as a lack of scholarly reception of this artistic narrative. In summary, the transformation of Pierrot’s mindset from a humanistically minded bilingual boy to an uncritical recipient of Nazi ideas over the course of the narrative is effectively portrayed. It should also be noted that the change in axiological values in the narrative is influenced by events that entered the child character Pierrot’s life: for example, his stay in an orphanage or his long stay in a house on the top of a mountain owned by Adolf Hitler. Based on qualitative content analysis, the paper answers four questions: (1) How is Pierrot’s change of mind portrayed? (2) How does Pierrot as a child perceive Nazi ideas? (3) To what extent is the war the driving force behind the plot of The Boy at the Top of the Mountain? (4) Is The Boy at the Top of the Mountain suitable for children and young people to read at all?
Taser Use in Scotland: a Qualitative Study of Police Officer and Community Perspectives
Authors: Deuchar Ross , Frondigoun Liz , Densley James A. , Davidones Catherine
Published: March 2024

This study delves into police and public views on Taser deployment in Scotland, coinciding with its most significant introduction. Using comprehensive qualitative data, we highlight findings from interviews with 13 Specialized Training Officers (STOs), responses from 88 police officers, and focus groups involving 66 community members in western Scotland. Findings indicate officers largely perceive Tasers as an effective deterrent against violent crime, enhancing community safety. However, while the general public is predominantly supportive, concerns arise regarding potential misuse against youth and risks posed to the vulnerable. These apprehensions cast doubts over further Taser expansions. The study underscores key considerations for future policies, operational practices, and research avenues.
It is “Part of this Larger Tapestry of Anti-queer Experiences”: LGBTQ+ Australians’ Experiences of Street Harassment
Authors: Fileborn Bianca , Hindes Sophie
Published: March 2024

Most research on street harassment has focused on the experiences of heterosexual, cisgender women, shaping our understandings of street harassment as a problem of sexism and men’s violence against women. In this article, we examine semi-structured interviews with 25 LGBTQ+ Australians who detailed their experiences of street harassment. We found that LGBTQ+ people experience unique forms, contexts, and trajectories of street harassment that a cisheteronormative gendered framework cannot fully account for. Homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism are drivers that have been under-theorized in street harassment literature. Our findings reiterate the importance of moving beyond over-simplified understandings of gender-based violence and the need to analyze other intersecting forms of marginalization beyond binary conceptualizations of gender.
Impact of carbamazepine on SMARCA4 (BRG1) expression in colorectal cancer: modulation by KRAS mutation status
Authors: Shaykevich Aaron , Chae Danbee , Silverman Isaac , Bassali Jeremy , Louloueian Netanel , Siegman Alexander , Bandyopadhyaya Gargi , Goel Sanjay , Maitra Radhashree
Published: March 2024

SMARCA4 is a gene traditionally considered a tumor suppressor. Recent research has however found that SMARCA4 likely promotes cancer growth and is a good target for cancer treatment. The drug carbamazepine, an autophagy inducer, was used on colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT1116 and Hke3 (KRAS mutant and wildtype). Our study finds that Carbamazepine affects SMARCA4 levels and that this effect is different depending on the KRAS mutation status. This study analyzes the effect of carbamazepine on early-stage autophagy via ULK1 as well as simulates the docking of carbamazepine on KRAS, depending on the mutation status. Our study highlights the therapeutic uses of carbamazepine on cancer, and we propose that carbamazepine in conjunction with other chemotherapies may prove useful in targeting KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer.
Improvements in digital meteor spectra reduction
Authors: Šegon Marko , Vojáček Vlastimil , Borovička Jiří
Published: March 2024

This study addresses the complexity and importance of developing a method of calibrating digital observations of meteor spectra with all-sky cameras. It aims to present novel approaches to spectral sensitivity, atmospheric extinction and flat-field corrections. Images of a known line emission spectrum were captured at various positions within the field of view using a camera with a fish-eye lens and plastic holographic grating. The flat-field correction was separated into a wavelength-independent and wavelength-dependent component, both dependent on the position of the spectral line in the field of view (FoV). Total profile intensities of spectra obtained from the images were compared throughout the spectral range at different positions in the FoV. The flat-field was constructed by fitting those dependencies with high-degree polynomial functions. Using a simplified atmospheric model, a novel approach was constructed to determine the atmospheric extinction curve throughout the spectral range, allowing it to be separately considered from the spectral sensitivity which was previously not the case. A comparison of the newly developed and previously used methodology was tested on several meteor spectra of the same meteor captured from different stations of the European Fireball Network. It revealed a significantly improved correspondence of the analysed spectra in the part of the spectral range unaffected by the limitations imposed by the newly developed methodology. Failing to follow the correct calibration methodology precisely may introduce varying degrees of uncertainty in computations of elemental abundances and other physical properties, depending on the equipment’s specific effect magnitude.
Comparison of gas sensing performances in various yarn types coated with polyaniline
Authors: Gozukizil Mehmet Fatih , Nayman Enes , Temel Sinan , Gokmen Fatma Ozge
Published: March 2024

Polyaniline (PANI)-coated yarn samples were performed by dip coating method and characterized. Structural and morphological properties were investigated by FTIR and FESEM, respectively. Gas sensor applications of PANI-coated yarns were performed in a uniquely designed gas detection and control system. The usability of PANI-coated yarn samples as gas sensors was evaluated and the performances of different yarn types were compared. Conductivity changes of PANI-coated yarns exposed to CO and NH$$_3$$

3

gases were measured and the effects of these changes on gas sensing capabilities were analyzed. In CO gas applications, the responses of PANI-coated yarn samples in 400 ppm, 600 ppm, and 800 ppm were examined and it was determined that the polyamide yarn sample exhibited a significant conductivity increase. In NH$$_3$$

3

gas applications, the response times and recovery times of different yarn types in 400 ppm were evaluated and it was observed that cotton yarn sensors had high response times, though acrylic yarn sensors offered fast response times in general. The study demonstrates the potential of PANI-coated different yarn samples as gas sensors for wearable technology.
Self-efficacy in teaching mathematics and the use of effective pedagogical practices in New Zealand primary schools
Authors: Berg David A. G. , Ingram Naomi , Asil Mustafa , Ward Jenny , Smith Jeffrey K.
Published: March 2024

This study explored teachers’ self-efficacy in teaching mathematics (SETM) as related to their teaching profile and pedagogical practices. Using data from 327 New Zealand primary teachers, a multilevel structural equation model was constructed and analyzed that looked at the relationships among SETM and effective pedagogical practice scales and included characteristics related to the teachers and their schools. No significant gender, year level, or school socioeconomic differences were found with teachers’ SETM. Experienced teachers had significantly higher SETM scores than their inexperienced colleagues. Teachers who were self-efficacious in their mathematics teaching reported pedagogical practices known to be effective in the mathematics classroom in contrast to their low self-efficacy colleagues.
Persistence Probabilities of a Smooth Self-Similar Anomalous Diffusion Process
Authors: Aurzada Frank , Mittenbühler Pascal
Published: March 2024

We consider the persistence probability of a certain fractional Gaussian process $$M^H$$

M
H

that appears in the Mandelbrot-van Ness representation of fractional Brownian motion. This process is self-similar and smooth. We show that the persistence exponent of $$M^H$$

M
H

exists, is positive and continuous in the Hurst parameter H. Further, the asymptotic behaviour of the persistence exponent for $$H\downarrow 0$$

H
↓
0

and $$H\uparrow 1$$

H
↑
1

, respectively, is studied. Finally, for $$H\rightarrow 1/2$$

H
→
1
/
2

, the suitably renormalized process converges to a non-trivial limit with non-vanishing persistence exponent, contrary to the fact that $$M^{1/2}$$

M

1
/
2

vanishes.
Decadal decreasing trend in biological carbon pump estimated from 234Th in the western subarctic North Pacific
Authors: Kawakami Hajime
Published: March 2024

We measured thorium-234 (234Th), particulate organic carbon (POC), and chlorophyll a in the western subarctic North Pacific surface layer in 1997–2008. 234Th, POC, and chlorophyll a in the surface layer showed clear seasonal changes. As a result of approximation by using a trigonometric function, 234Th export flux estimated from the deficiency of 234Th relative to 238U and the ratio of POC to particulate 234Th (POC/234ThP) indicated constant and decreasing trends in the study area from 1997 to 2008, respectively. POC export flux estimated from 234Th decreased in the study area, showing that the strength of the biological carbon pump in this region declined in the studied decade. The ratio of POC/chlorophyll a decreased during the term. These trends were possibly caused by a decline in not the biomass but particle size of phytoplankton. Our results suggest that not only the biological carbon pump but also phytoplankton community structure change in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean in a decade.
SiO2/WO3/ZnO based self-cleaning coatings for solar cells
Authors: Koysuren Ozcan , Dhoska Klodian , Koysuren Hafize Nagehan , Markja Irida , Yaglikci Savas , Tuncel Bilge , Bebi Elena
Published: March 2024

The accumulation of pollution and any kinds of contamination on the glass cover of the solar cell affects the efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) systems. The contamination on the glass cover can absorb and reflect a certain part of the sunlight irradiation, which can decrease the intensity of the light coming in through the glass cover. With the study, it was planned to develop self-cleaning coatings for the PV systems. It was aimed to prevent or reduce the contamination-induced efficiency loss of the existing PV systems. In the scope of the project, SiO2/WO3 and SiO2/WO3/ZnO composites were coated from their solutions on the glass substrates using a dip-coating technique. WO3 was selected as a photocatalyst semiconductor. Under the UV light irradiation, WO3 could absorb the photons of the UV light, generating the photoinduced charge carriers. The photoexcited charge carriers provide both the photoinduced hydrophilicity on the surface of the coating and the photocatalytic degradation of the organic contaminants accumulated on the surface of the coating, which allows water droplets to spread and flow on the surface of the cover glass to remove the contaminations. However, the recombination rate of the photoexcited charge carriers on the WO3 film was high. In order to suppress the recombination of the photoinduced charge carriers, WO3 was coupled with SiO2 and ZnO. Both of these semiconductors improved the photocatalytic activity of the WO3 film. Although SiO2 has superior features in terms of the light transmission, it was not very effective under UV light as a photocatalyst alone. The widely preferred photocatalyst ZnO was added into the composite film structure to enhance the photocatalytic activity. The self-cleaning mechanism of the film coatings on a solar cell was investigated through the photocatalytic dye removal efficiency on the as-prepared film samples. There was a slight decrease in the light transparency and the solar cell efficiency because of the WO3 content of the composite film. On the other hand, coupling the SiO2/WO3 film with ZnO enhanced the photocatalytic activity, and it suppressed the reduction effect of the WO3 phase on both the light transparency and the solar cell efficiency. The photocatalytic dye removal efficiency was increased to over 90% after 240 min of UVA light irradiation. In addition, the solar cell coated with the SiO2/WO3/ZnO film provided almost the same solar cell efficiency as the uncoated solar cell. The water contact angle measurement also exhibited the photocatalytic degradation of the model contamination on the glass cover of the solar cell under the UVA light irradiation.

Graphical Abstract
Direct and indirect impacts of land use/cover change on urban heat environment: a 15-year panel data study across 365 Chinese cities during summer daytime and nighttime
Authors: He Tong , Wang Nan , Chen Jiayue , Wu Feng , Xu Xinliang , Liu Luo , Han Dongrui , Sun Zongyao , Lu Yingshuang , Hao Yan , Qiao Zhi
Published: March 2024

Context

Land use/cover change (LUCC) can directly and indirectly affect surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) and the effects need to be decomposed.

Objectives

To perform long-term trend analyses of contribution indexes (CIs) of land use types to urban heat environment in cities and to deconstruct direct and indirect effects of LUCC on SUHII within geographical regions.

Methods

Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope were used to examine the trends of CIs and SUHII in 365 cities during summer of 2005–2019. Structural equation models were established to quantify direct and indirect effects of land use types’ CIs on SUHII in six geographical regions of China.

Results

First, SUHII in 78.08% and 73.70% of the Chinese cities increased during summer daytime and nighttime, respectively. Second, the CI of built-up land significantly increased across more than half of the cities in all the six regions. Third, not all land use types exerted both direct and indirect effects on SUHII. At daytime, the CI of cropland (direct) was the dominant factor in East China (1.386), South-central (− 0.637), and Northwest (− 0.399) regions. At nighttime, the CI of water bodies (both direct and indirect) was the dominant factor in Northwest (0.506) and Northeast (0.697) regions while CI of built-up land (both direct and indirect) determined in North China (0.476).

Conclusions

Separation of direct and indirect effects of land use types on SUHII had practical implications for cities to optimize the structures and functions of ecosystems and to take regionally based actions improving the urban heat environment.
A Correlation-Redundancy Guided Evolutionary Algorithm and Its Application to High-Dimensional Feature Selection in Classification
Authors: Sun Xiang , Guo Shunsheng , Liu Shiqiao , Guo Jun , Du Baigang
Published: March 2024

The processing of high-dimensional datasets has become unavoidable with the development of information technology. Most of the literature on feature selection (FS) of high-dimensional datasets focuses on improvements in search strategies, ignoring the characteristics of the dataset itself such as the correlation and redundancy of each feature. This could degrade the algorithm's search effectiveness. Thus, this paper proposes a correlation-redundancy guided evolutionary algorithm (CRGEA) to address high-dimensional FS with the objectives of optimizing classification accuracy and the number of features simultaneously. A new correlation-redundancy assessment method is designed for selecting features with high relevance and low redundancy to speed up the entire evolutionary process. In CRGEA, a novel initialization strategy combined with a multiple threshold selection mechanism is developed to produce a high-quality initial population. A local acceleration evolution strategy based on a parallel simulated annealing algorithm and a pruning method is developed, which can search in different directions and perform deep searches combing the annealing stage around the best solutions to improve the local search ability. Finally, the comparison experiments on 16 public high-dimensional datasets verify that the designed CRGEA outperforms other state-of-the-art intelligent algorithms. The CRGEA can efficiently reduce redundant features while ensuring high accuracy.
A Novel Boundary-Guided Global Feature Fusion Module for Instance Segmentation
Authors: Gao Linchun , Wang Shoujun , Chen Songgui
Published: March 2024

The task of instance segmentation is widely acknowledged as being one of the most formidable challenges in the field of computer vision. Current methods have low utilization of boundary information, especially in dense scenes with occlusion and complex shapes of object instances, the boundary information may become ineffective. This results in coarse object boundary masks that fail to cover the entire object. To address this challenge, we are introducing a novel method called boundary-guided global feature fusion (BGF) which is based on the Mask R-CNN network. We designed a boundary branch that includes a Boundary Feature Extractor (BFE) module to extract object boundary features at different stages. Additionally, we constructed a binary image dataset containing instance boundaries for training the boundary branch. We also trained the boundary branch separately using a dedicated dataset before training the entire network. We then input the Mask R-CNN features and boundary features into a feature fusion module where the boundary features provide shape information needed for detection and segmentation. Finally, we use a global attention module (GAM) to further fuse features. Through extensive experiments, we demonstrate that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art instance segmentation algorithms, producing finer and more complete instance masks while also improving model capability.