bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A transformer‐based approach for improving app review response generation
Authors: Zhang Weizhe , Gu Wenchao , Gao Cuiyun , Lyu Michael R.
Published: October 2022

Mobile apps are becoming an integral part of people's daily life by providing various functionalities, such as messaging and gaming. App developers try their best to ensure user experience during app development and maintenance to improve the rating of their apps on app platforms and attract more user downloads. Previous studies indicated that responding to users' reviews tends to change their attitude towards the apps positively. Users who have been replied are more likely to update the given ratings. However, reading and responding to every user review is not an easy task for developers since it is common for popular apps to receive tons of reviews every day. Thus, automation tools for review replying are needed. To address the need above, the paper introduces a Transformer‐based approach, named TRRGen, to automatically generate responses to given user reviews. TRRGen extracts apps' categories, rating, and review text as the input features. By adapting a Transformer‐based model, TRRGen can generate appropriate replies for new reviews. Comprehensive experiments and analysis on the real‐world datasets indicate that the proposed approach can generate high‐quality replies for users' reviews and significantly outperform current state‐of‐art approaches on the task. The manual validation results on the generated replies further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Regularized Buckley–James method for right‐censored outcomes with block‐missing multimodal covariates
Authors: Wang Haodong , Li Quefeng , Liu Yufeng
Published: October 2022

High‐dimensional data with censored outcomes of interest are prevalent in medical research. To analyze such data, the regularized Buckley–James estimator has been successfully applied to build accurate predictive models and conduct variable selection. In this paper, we consider the problem of parameter estimation and variable selection for the semiparametric accelerated failure time model for high‐dimensional block‐missing multimodal neuroimaging data with censored outcomes. We propose a penalized Buckley–James method that can simultaneously handle block‐wise missing covariates and censored outcomes. This method can also perform variable selection. The proposed method is evaluated by simulations and applied to a multimodal neuroimaging dataset and obtains meaningful results.
Phylogenetic analyses of Phaseolinae (Leguminosae) reveal a new genus endemic to limestone outcrops in Seasonally Dry Forests of Bahia, Brazil
Authors: da Silva Santos Felipe , Snak Cristiane , Ribeiro Carolina Lima , Silva Christian , de Queiroz Luciano Paganucci
Published: October 2022

Phaseolinae is one of the most diverse groups within the family Leguminosae, characterized by a style bearing a pollen brush and seeds with an epihilum. This subtribe has a complex taxonomic history and has undergone several changes over time. In the early 2000s, our research team found a phaseoloid liana growing in a limestone outcrop in western Bahia, Brazil. Its identity remained a mystery until recently, when we revisited the locality to study it in more detail and gathered material to generate nuclear ITS and plastid trnK/matK sequences. These sequences were included in a broadly sampled Phaseolinae matrix used to perform phylogenetic analyses and an ancestral character states reconstruction. Our results demonstrate that the enigmatic taxon represents a new lineage within subtribe Phaseolinae, sister to the genus Sigmoidotropis. This new lineage, along with Sigmoidotropis and Ancistrotropis, forms a clade here called the Sigmoid‐keel clade, since all representatives present flowers with sigmoid keel petals. The new taxon is here described as Delgadoa bambuicola gen. & sp. nov., a new genus and a new species of woody lianas known from only two localities in the state of Bahia. We also present an identification key to the genera of the Sigmoid‐keel clade, descriptions, illustrations, a distribution map, taxonomic comments, and a conservation status assessment of the new genus.
Partial Shading Method to Estimate the Shunt Resistance Component of a Photovoltaic Cell in a Module
Authors: Kobayashi Yasuyuki
Published: October 2022

We propose the application of an active partial shading method to estimate a working photovoltaic (PV) cell's shunt resistance () component in a PV module. Without obtaining the target cell's curve, the corresponding procedure involves changing the target cell's incidence light intensity with a mask of variable transparency or area, and measuring the module output current at every to estimate . The experimental results show that this method can estimate of a cell simulating an abnormal cell. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
A proposed association between subjective nonpulsatile tinnitus and migraine
Authors: Lee Ariel , Abouzari Mehdi , Akbarpour Meleeka , Risbud Adwight , Lin Harrison W. , Djalilian Hamid R.
Published: October 2022

Objective

Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound in the absence of an external source. We propose the hypothesis that migraine can cause exacerbation of tinnitus in some patients.

Methods

English literature from PubMed has been reviewed.

Results

Studies have reported a high prevalence of cochlear symptoms in patients with migraine headaches and up to 45% of tinnitus patients have been shown to concomitantly suffer from migraine. Both conditions are thought to stem from central nervous system disturbances, involving disruption of the auditory and trigeminal nerve pathways. One proposed mechanism of this association is the modulation of sound sensitivity by trigeminal nerve activation of the auditory cortex during migraine attacks, resulting in tinnitus fluctuation in some patients. Increased brain and inner ear vascular permeability resulting from trigeminal nerve inflammation, can also cause observed headache and auditory symptoms. Tinnitus and migraine also share a number of symptom triggers including stress, sleep disturbances, and dietary factors. These shared features may help explain promising results of migraine therapies for the treatment of tinnitus.

Conclusion

Given the complex association between tinnitus and migraine, further investigation is needed to identify the underlying mechanisms and determine the optimal treatment strategies for managing migraine‐related tinnitus patients.
Thermo‐mechanical nonlinear stability analysis of geometrically imperfect functionally graded plates with microstructural defects using logarithmic structure kinematics: An unified expression
Authors: Rajput Mohit , Gupta Ankit
Published: October 2022

In the present paper, thermo‐mechanical stability analysis of geometrically imperfect porous functionally graded plates (FGP) with geometric nonlinearity is presented. The equilibrium, stability, and compatibility equations are derived using Logarithmic structural kinematics in conjunction with the von‐Karman type of geometric nonlinearity. A logarithmic‐based shear‐strain function has been used for the first time for the buckling response of functionally graded material (FGM) plates. Generic imperfection function has been implemented to incorporate the various imperfection modes like sin‐type or global type in the formulation. The effective materials properties of the plates with porosity inclusion have been computed using modified power law. The plate is subjected to uniaxial and biaxial compression as well as combined compression and tension along with thermal loading. An exact expression for the critical buckling load and critical buckling thermal load of geometrically imperfect porous FGM plate for each loading case has been developed. After confirming the excellent accuracy of the current exact solutions, the effect of geometric imperfection, porosity inclusion, and geometric configurations on the nonlinear stability of the FGM plate have been discussed extensively. The results presented in this paper will be used as a benchmark for future research.
Spatial Design Considerations for Interactive Audio in Virtual Reality
Authors: Deacon Thomas , Barthet Mathieu
Published: October 2022

Space is a fundamental feature of virtual reality (VR) systems, and more generally, human experience. Space is a place where we can produce and transform ideas and act to create meaning. It is also an information container. When working with sound and space interactions, making VR systems becomes a fundamentally interdisciplinary endeavour. To support the design of future systems, designers need an understanding of spatial design decisions that impact audio practitioners’ processes and communication. This chapter proposes a typology of VR interactive audio systems, focusing on their function and the role of space in their design. Spatial categories are proposed to be able to analyse the role of space within existing interactive audio VR products. Based on the spatial design considerations explored in this chapter, a series of implications for design are offered that future research can exploit.
Comments on QCD3 and anomalies with fundamental and adjoint matter
Authors: Lohitsiri Nakarin , Sulejmanpasic Tin
Published: October 2022

Abstract

’t Hooft anomaly matching is powerful for constraining the low energy phases of gauge theories. In 3d one common anomaly is the parity anomaly in a T-symmetric theory where one cannot gauge the global symmetry group without breaking the time-reversal symmetry. We find that a T-symmetric SU(N) gauge theory with either fermionic or bosonic matter in the fundamental representation of the gauge group has a parity anomaly between the flavor group and T-symmetry provided that there is also a massless Majorana fermion in the adjoint representation of the gauge group. In particular, there is always a mixed anomaly between T and U(1) baryon symmetry. We then analyze the parity anomaly in this theory, together with the more recent mod 16 time-reversal anomaly, and give some free fermion proposals as candidates for the low energy phases consistent with the anomalies. We make brief comments about the large N limit and the T-broken regimes in the conclusion as well as related anomalies in 4d.
Optimisation of Thimble simulations and quantum dynamics of multiple fields in real time
Authors: Woodward Simon , Saffin Paul M. , Mou Zong-Gang , Tranberg Anders
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We apply the Generalised Thimble approach to the computation of exact path integrals and correlators in real-time quantum field theory. We first investigate the details of the numerical implementation and ways of optimizing the algorithm. We subsequently apply the method to an interacting two-field system in 0+1 dimensions, illustrating the scope for addressing realistic physical processes using real-time Generalised Thimble computations.
Individual dental and skeletal age assessment according to Demirjian and Baccetti: Updated norm values for Central-European patients
Authors: Paddenberg Eva , Dees Adrian , Proff Peter , Kirschneck Christian
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Chronological age often differs from dental and skeletal age. With orthopantomograms and lateral cephalograms, dental and skeletal development can be determined according to the methods published by Demirjian et al. and Baccetti et al. However, gender and skeletal class as possible confounders were frequently not considered and available norm values are not up-to-date. This retrospective cross-sectional study thus aimed to evaluate effects of skeletal class and gender on dental and skeletal age of growing patients and to generate updated norm values for contemporary Central-European patients.

Methods

A total of 551 patients were included in the dental and 733 in the skeletal age assessment, respectively. Dental analysis was based on tooth mineralisation stages in orthopantomograms (Demirjian) and skeletal age was defined by cervical vertebrae maturation stages (CVMS) in lateral cephalograms (Baccetti). Skeletal class was determined by the individualised ANB angle of Panagiotidis/Witt. With nonlinear regression analysis a formula for determining dental age was established. Effects of gender and skeletal class were evaluated and updated norm values generated.

Results

Inter- and intrarater reliability tests revealed at least substantial measurement concordance for tooth mineralisation and CVMS. Demirjian stages and CVMS significantly depended on gender with girls developing earlier. Skeletal class significantly affected skeletal age only, but without clinical relevance. Updated norm values for dental age differed significantly from the original values of Demirjian and the values for skeletal age differed from those published by Baccetti.

Conclusion

Optimised norms, separated by gender, increase precision in determining individual dental and skeletal age during orthodontic treatment planning. Further studies analysing the effect of skeletal class on dental and skeletal development are needed.
Techno–economic simulation and evaluation of scalable ‘energy cells’ locally generating renewable energy
Authors: Bhat Karthik Subramanya , Ganglbauer Johanna , Bosch Elina
Published: October 2022

The ERA-Net SES project Regional Renewable Energy Cells (R2EC) [1] aims at developing a scalable system for decentralized, interacting ‘energy cells’ with a high concentration of locally generated renewable energy. ‘Energy cells’ are essentially Renewable Energy Communities (ECs) in the European context. The system aims at maximizing the utilization of locally generated renewable energy through Electrical Storage (ES) as well as high-electric applications like e‑heating, Heat Pumps (HPs), and E‑Vehicles (EVs). The system is also designed to interact with other energy cells locally, thus, improving the utilization of locally generated energy.

A variety of different adjacent energy cells in three countries, Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), and Norway (NO), are analyzed, and the results are used for the development of regional and renewable energy cell systems. This approach aims at developing tailor-made solutions that meet the different local and regional requirements and the electrical energy demand of the observed energy cells. A unique opportunity is created, as the three countries are at varying levels of regional development in the field of energy communities, and the regional requirements and conditions differ significantly. A comprehensive investigation of the technical and economic viability of the ECs in the three regions is conducted on a simulation level. The technical simulation results show an increased self-consumption of individual users and the overall cell in all of the observed testbeds, while the economic analysis shows economic benefits at varying levels in each of the observed testbeds. The implemented R2EC system ascertains both technical and economic viability in the observed testbeds.
Prozessfeedback und Prozesssteuerung in der Psychotherapie
Authors: Schiepek Günter
Published: October 2022

Kontinuierliches Prozessfeedback mit internet- und app-basierten Methoden hat sich in der Psychotherapie inzwischen etabliert, mit deutlichen Unterschieden in der Art der Realisierung. Das Synergetische Navigationssystem (SNS) bietet die Möglichkeit, die Komplexität und nichtlineare Dynamik von Therapieprozessen engmaschig zu erfassen, zu analysieren und zu visualisieren, wobei die Verlaufsmuster in regelmäßigen Feedbackgesprächen mit den Patient*innen besprochen werden. Dies wird an einem Fallbeispiel illustriert.
Sensitivity of a two-dimensional biomorphoelastic model for post-burn contraction
Authors: Egberts Ginger , Desmoulière Alexis , Vermolen Fred , van Zuijlen Paul
Published: October 2022

We consider a two-dimensional biomorphoelastic model describing post-burn scar contraction. This model describes skin displacement and the development of the effective Eulerian strain in the tissue. Besides these mechanical components, signaling molecules, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and collagen also play a significant role in the model. We perform a sensitivity analysis for the independent parameters of the model and focus on the effects on features of the relative surface area and the total strain energy density. We conclude that the most sensitive parameters are the Poisson’s ratio, the equilibrium collagen concentration, the contraction inhibitor constant, and the myofibroblast apoptosis rate. Next to these insights, we perform a sensitivity analysis where the proliferation rates of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are not the same. The impact of this model adaptation is significant.
Formation of One-Dimensional van der Waals Heterostructures via Self-Assembly of Blue Phosphorene Nanoribbons to Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Sun Yang , Zhou Kun , Wang Ruijie , Zhang Zhuhua , Tang Chun , Guo Wanlin
Published: October 2022

Van der Waals heterostructures composed of low-dimensional atomic layers host rich physics for new device applications, such as magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene and coaxial multi-walled hetero-nanotubes. Aside from exploring their abnormal physical behavior, fabrication of such structures also presents a great challenge to this area, owing to the subtle and sensitive interactions among neighboring layers. Here we show by molecular dynamics simulations that narrow blue phosphorene nanoribbons can be encapsulated into carbon nanotubes driven by van der Waals interactions and form one-dimensional heterostructures. It shows that by varying carbon nanotube diameters and nanoribbon width, the nanoribbons can either retain their original straight structures or twist into tubular structures. Wrapping phases are also observed for large-sized blue phosphorus. It is found that the underlying mechanism originates from the competition between van der Waals energy and bending energy induced by tube curvature. A phase diagram of the resultant 1D structure is thus obtained based on a simple analysis of energetics. The results are expected to stimulate further experimental efforts in fabricating one-dimensional van der Waals heterostructues with desired functionality.
A decision support system for reducing the strategic risk in the schedule building process for network carrier airline operations
Authors: Deveci Muhammet , Rodríguez Rosa Mª , Labella Álvaro , Ciftci Muharrem Enis
Published: October 2022

This study addresses the evaluation of schedule time window of a new frequency for a network carrier airline. The ideal schedule for an airline can involve various criteria that consist of commercial and operational constraints. This study proposes a new integrated Best–Worst Method and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution based on heterogeneous decision making approach for determining the most suitable schedule. This approach combines the advantages of multi-expert multi-criteria decision analysis, which yields heterogeneous information, with a developed decision making model. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed to observe the robustness of the proposed approach. To illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach, a real world problem at a network carrier airline in Turkey is presented. The results indicate that the flexibility and applicability of the proposed approach can address real-world problems.
Identification of fungal dihydrouracil-oxidase genes by expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Bouwknegt Jonna , Vos Aurin M. , Ortiz Merino Raúl A. , van Cuylenburg Daphne C. , Luttik Marijke A. H. , Pronk Jack T.
Published: October 2022

Analysis of predicted fungal proteomes revealed a large family of sequences that showed similarity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Class-I dihydroorotate dehydrogenase Ura1, which supports synthesis of pyrimidines under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. However, expression of codon-optimised representatives of this gene family, from the ascomycete Alternaria alternata and the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune, only supported growth of an S. cerevisiae ura1Δ mutant when synthetic media were supplemented with dihydrouracil. A hypothesis that these genes encode NAD(P)+-dependent dihydrouracil dehydrogenases (EC 1.3.1.1 or 1.3.1.2) was rejected based on absence of complementation in anaerobic cultures. Uracil- and thymine-dependent oxygen consumption and hydrogen-peroxide production by cell extracts of S. cerevisiae strains expressing the A. alternata and S. commune genes showed that, instead, they encode active dihydrouracil oxidases (DHO, EC1.3.3.7). DHO catalyses the reaction dihydrouracil + O2 → uracil + H2O2 and was only reported in the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis (Owaki in J Ferment Technol 64:205–210, 1986). No structural gene for DHO was previously identified. DHO-expressing strains were highly sensitive to 5-fluorodihydrouracil (5F-dhu) and plasmids bearing expression cassettes for DHO were readily lost during growth on 5F-dhu-containing media. These results show the potential applicability of fungal DHO genes as counter-selectable marker genes for genetic modification of S. cerevisiae and other organisms that lack a native DHO. Further research should explore the physiological significance of this enigmatic and apparently widespread fungal enzyme.
Methods for assessing the epistemic uncertainty captured in ground-motion models
Authors: Aldama-Bustos Guillermo , Douglas John , Strasser Fleur O. , Daví Manuela , MacGregor Alice
Published: October 2022

A key task when developing a ground-motion model (GMM) is to demonstrate that it captures an appropriate level of epistemic uncertainty. This is true whether multiple ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) are used or a backbone approach is followed. The GMM developed for a seismic hazard assessment for the site of a UK new-build nuclear power plant is used as an example to discuss complementary approaches to assess epistemic uncertainty. Firstly, trellis plots showing the various percentiles of the GMM are examined for relevant magnitudes, distances and structural periods to search for evidence of “pinching”, where the percentiles narrow excessively. Secondly, Sammon’s maps, including GMPEs that were excluded from the logic tree, are examined to check the spread of the GMPEs for relevant magnitudes and distances in a single plot. Thirdly, contour plots of the standard deviation of the logarithms of predicted ground motions from each branch of the logic tree (σµ) are compared with plots drawn for other relevant hazard studies. Fourthly, uncertainties implied by a backbone GMM derived using Campbell (2003)’s hybrid stochastic empirical method are compared to those of the proposed multi-GMPE GMM. Finally, the spread of the percentile of hazard curves resulting from implementing the GMM are examined for different return periods to check whether any bands of lower uncertainty in ground-motion space result in bands of lower uncertainty in hazard space. These five approaches enabled a systematic assessment of the level of uncertainty captured by the proposed GMM.
RNA Editing Therapeutics: Advances, Challenges and Perspectives on Combating Heart Disease
Authors: Birgaoanu Maria , Sachse Marco , Gatsiou Aikaterini
Published: October 2022

Cardiovascular disease still remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current pharmacological or interventional treatments help to tackle symptoms and even reduce mortality, but cardiovascular disease cases continue to rise. The emergence of novel therapeutic strategies that precisely and efficiently combat cardiovascular disease is therefore deemed more essential than ever. RNA editing, the cell-intrinsic deamination of adenosine or cytidine RNA residues, changes the molecular identity of edited nucleotides, severely altering the fate of RNA molecules involved in key biological processes. The most common type of RNA editing is the deamination of adenosine residue to inosine (A-to-I), which is catalysed by adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs). Recent efforts have convincingly liaised RNA editing-based mechanisms to the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. In this review, we will briefly introduce the basic concepts of the RNA editing field of research. We will particularly focus our discussion on the therapeutic exploitation of RNA editing as a novel therapeutic tool as well as the future perspectives for its use in cardiovascular disease treatment.
Attributions for extreme weather events: science and the people
Authors: McClure John , Noy Ilan , Kashima Yoshi , Milfont Taciano L.
Published: October 2022

Both climate scientists and non-scientists (laypeople) attribute extreme weather events to various influences. Laypeople’s attributions for these events are important as these attributions likely influence their views and actions about climate change and extreme events. Research has examined laypeople’s attribution scepticism about climate change in general; however, few climate scientists are familiar with the processes underpinning laypeople’s attributions for individual extreme events. Understanding these lay attributions is important for scientists to communicate their findings to the public. Following a brief summary of the way climate scientists calculate attributions for extreme weather events, we focus on cognitive and motivational processes that underlie laypeople’s attributions for specific events. These include a tendency to prefer single-cause rather than multiple-cause explanations, a discounting of whether possible causes covary with extreme events, a preference for sufficient causes over probabilities, applying prevailing causal narratives, and the influence of motivational factors. For climate scientists and communicators who wish to inform the public about the role of climate change in extreme weather events, these patterns suggest several strategies to explain scientists’ attributions for these events and enhance public engagement with climate change. These strategies include showing more explicitly that extreme weather events reflect multiple causal influences, that climate change is a mechanism that covaries with these events and increases the probability and intensity of many of these events, that human emissions contributing to climate change are controllable, and that misleading communications about weather attributions reflect motivated interests rather than good evidence.
A caching mechanism to exploit object store speed in High Energy Physics analysis
Authors: Padulano Vincenzo Eduardo , Tejedor Saavedra Enric , Alonso-Jordá Pedro , López Gómez Javier , Blomer Jakob
Published: October 2022

Data analysis workflows in High Energy Physics (HEP) read data written in the ROOT columnar format. Such data has traditionally been stored in files that are often read via the network from remote storage facilities, which represents a performance penalty especially for data processing workflows that are I/O bound. To address that issue, this paper presents a new caching mechanism, implemented in the I/O subsystem of ROOT, which is independent of the storage backend used to write the dataset. Notably, it can be used to leverage the speed of high-bandwidth, low-latency object stores. The performance of this caching approach is evaluated by running a real physics analysis on an Intel DAOS cluster, both on a single node and distributed on multiple nodes.
An ecothermal paradox: bull trout populations diverge in response to thermal landscapes across a broad latitudinal gradient
Authors: Mochnacz Neil J. , Taylor Mark K. , Docker Margaret F. , Isaak Dan J.
Published: October 2022

Maintaining natural thermal regimes in montane stream networks is critical for many species, but as climate warms, thermal regimes will undoubtedly change. Mitigating impacts of changing thermal regimes on freshwater biodiversity requires knowledge of which elements of the thermal regime are limiting factors for aquatic biota. We used full-year stream temperature records sampled across a broad latitudinal gradient to describe the diversity of the thermal landscapes that bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) occupy and identify potential divergences from thermal regimes where this species has been studied previously. Populations of bull trout occupied stenothermic, cold thermal niches in streams that exhibited low to moderate thermal sensitivity throughout the species’ range. However, winter thermal regimes in the central and northernmost streams were colder and more stable than in the southernmost streams, reflecting differences in sensitivity to air temperature variation and contributions of perennial groundwater to baseflow. In the southernmost streams, bull trout distributions appeared to be regulated by warm summer temperatures, whereas in northern streams, unsuitably cold temperatures may be more limiting. Our results also suggest that local differences in the extent of complete freezing during winter among northern streams may further limit the distributions of suitable habitats. Contrasts in limiting factors at bull trout range extents would suggest differential responses to climate warming wherein northern populations extend their range while southern populations contract, and an overall change in species status that is less dire than previously anticipated.
High Latency Unmanned Ground Vehicle Teleoperation Enhancement by Presentation of Estimated Future through Video Transformation
Authors: Moniruzzaman MD , Rassau Alexander , Chai Douglas , Islam Syed Mohammed Shamsul
Published: October 2022

Long-distance, high latency teleoperation tasks are difficult, highly stressful for teleoperators, and prone to over-corrections, which can lead to loss of control. At higher latencies, or when teleoperating at higher vehicle speed, the situation becomes progressively worse. To explore potential solutions, this research work investigates two 2D visual feedback-based assistive interfaces (sliding-only and sliding-and-zooming windows) that apply simple but effective video transformations to enhance teleoperation. A teleoperation simulator that can replicate teleoperation scenarios affected by high and adjustable latency has been developed to explore the effectiveness of the proposed assistive interfaces. Three image comparison metrics have been used to fine-tune and optimise the proposed interfaces. An operator survey was conducted to evaluate and compare performance with and without the assistance. The survey has shown that a 900ms latency increases task completion time by up to 205% for an on-road and 147% for an off-road driving track. Further, the overcorrection-induced oscillations increase by up to 718% with this level of latency. The survey has shown the sliding-only video transformation reduces the task completion time by up to 25.53%, and the sliding-and-zooming transformation reduces the task completion time by up to 21.82%. The sliding-only interface reduces the oscillation count by up to 66.28%, and the sliding-and-zooming interface reduces it by up to 75.58%. The qualitative feedback from the participants also shows that both types of assistive interfaces offer better visual situational awareness, comfort, and controllability, and significantly reduce the impact of latency and intermittency on the teleoperation task.
Tribo-mechanical performance and antibacterial activity in (Cu, Zr)-alloyed Ti(Al)N coatings synthesized by reactive magnetron sputtering
Authors: Aissani Linda , Belgroune Ahlam , Saoudi Abdenour , Hmima Abdelhamid , Fellah Mamoun , Obrosov Aleksei , Alhussein Akram
Published: October 2022

In this work, copper and zirconium were added into the Ti(Al)N matrix to form deposited on TiAl(Cu, Zr)N coating using RF magnetron sputtering system in order to improve the mechanical, wear performance, and antibacterial activity. Results revealed that the TiAl(Cu, Zr)N coatings have a dense structure with (111) preferential orientation. The deposited TiAl(Cu, Zr)N coatings exhibited fcc-TiN structure, whereas the addition of Zr and Cu into the Ti(Al)N induced the appearance of Cu and ZrN. The solid solution strengthening and the increase in compressive residual stress (− 2.54 GPa) of Ti(Al, Zr)N coating with higher lattice strain (+ 0.1520) by the addition of Zr improved the hardness from 20.9 GPa. For the tribological property, the friction coefficient and wear rate decreased from (0.45, 5.9 × 10−3mm3/Nm) for the TiAlN to (0.29, 4.2 × 10−5mm3/Nm) for the Ti(Al, Zr)N, respectively, with high elasto-plastic H/E, H3/E2 (0.076, 0.121 GPa) ratios due to the low surface roughness, high adhesion, and nanocomposite structure. The results indicated the addition of Zr improves the friction property of Ti(Al)N coating. Although with their lower hardness than Ti(Al)N coating, the Ti(Al, Cu)N coating with 9.2 at.% Cu exhibited an excellent wear resistance and good antibacterial activity, which demonstrates its potential as a candidate material for biomedical application.

Graphical Abstract
A Test Environment for Wireless Hacking in Domestic IoT Scenarios
Authors: Muñoz Antonio , Fernández-Gago Carmen , López-Villa Roberto
Published: October 2022

Security is gaining importance in the daily life of every citizen. The advent of Internet of Things devices in our lives is changing our conception of being connected through a single device to a multiple connection in which the centre of connection is becoming the devices themselves. This conveys the attack vector for a potential attacker is exponentially increased. This paper presents how the concatenation of several attacks on communication protocols (WiFi, Bluetooth LE, GPS, 433 Mhz and NFC) can lead to undesired situations in a domestic environment. A comprehensive analysis of the protocols with the identification of their weaknesses is provided. Some relevant aspects of the whole attacking procedure have been presented to provide some relevant tips and countermeasures.
The varying roles of the dimensions of affluence in air pollution: a regional STIRPAT analysis for Germany
Authors: Lohwasser Johannes , Schaffer Axel
Published: October 2022

STIRPAT models investigate the impacts of population, affluence, and technology on the environment, with most STIRPAT studies revealing positive impacts of both population and affluence. Affluence is commonly defined as GDP per capita, but investigations of its impact largely neglect the possibility that increasing prosperity affects the environment in varying—even opposing—ways. This study addresses this gap by decomposing affluence into three dimensions—income per taxpayer, private car ownership, and the share of single-family houses—and analyzing their roles in the production of local NOx emissions. Results for 367 German districts and autonomous cities between 1990 and 2020 indicate that, while private car ownership and single-family houses per capita can be considered drivers of local pollutants, such is not the case for income per taxpayer, which we find has a negative impact on NOx emissions. The empirical findings suggest that policies should strengthen integrated mobility concepts and establish incentives that favor investment in modern heating or self-sufficiency systems.
The role of effect-based methods to address water quality monitoring in South Africa: a developing country’s struggle
Authors: Kruger Annika , Pieters Rialet , Horn Suranie , van Zijl Catherina , Aneck-Hahn Natalie
Published: October 2022

Water is an important resource, and it is a worldwide struggle to provide water of good quality to the whole population. Despite good governing laws and guidelines set in place to help protect the water resources and ensure it is of good quality for various consumers, the water quality in South Africa is worsening due to lack of management. The deteriorating infrastructure is becoming progressively worse, due to corruption and insufficient funds. The ever-increasing number of toxicants, as well as the identification of emerging chemicals of concern, are also challenges South Africa is facing. Chemical analysis cannot determine the total biological effect of a mixture of chemical compounds, but this shortcoming can be addressed by adding effect-based methods (EBMs) to water quality monitoring programmes. In this paper, the current status of water quality monitoring in South Africa is discussed, as well as the capacity of the country to add EBMs to its water quality monitoring programmes to protect and improve human and animal life.

Graphical abstract

Created in Biorender.com
The effects of home-based exercise therapy for breast cancer-related fatigue induced by radical radiotherapy
Authors: Mavropalias Georgios , Cormie Prue , Peddle-McIntyre Carolyn J. , Galvão Daniel A. , Taaffe Dennis R. , Schofield Christelle , Ray Sharon , Zissiadis Yvonne , Newton Robert U.
Published: October 2022

Background

Radiotherapy (RT) can lead to cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in breast cancer patients. The purpose of this trial was to examine the feasibility and efficacy of a home-based resistance and aerobic exercise intervention for reducing CRF and improving HRQoL in breast cancer patients during RT.

Methods

Women with breast cancer (N = 106) commencing RT were randomized to 12 weeks of home-based resistance and aerobic exercise (EX) or usual care/control (CON). The primary endpoint was CRF, with secondary endpoints of HRQoL, sleep duration and quality, and physical activity. Measurements were undertaken prior to RT, at completion of RT (~ 6 weeks), at completion of the intervention (12 weeks), and 6 and 12 months after RT completion, while CRF was also measured weekly during RT.

Results

Eighty-nine women completed the study (EX = 43, CON = 46). Over the 12-week intervention, EX completed 1–2 resistance training sessions and accumulated 30–40 min of aerobic exercise weekly. For CRF, EX had a quicker recovery both during and post-RT compared to CON (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant difference in HRQoL between groups at RT completion, with HRQoL unchanged in CON and higher in EX (p < 0.05). There was no change in sleep duration or quality for either group and there were no exercise-related adverse effects.

Conclusions

Home-based resistance and aerobic exercise during RT is safe, feasible, and effective in accelerating CRF recovery and improving HRQoL. Improvements in CRF and HRQoL for these patients can be achieved with smaller exercise dosages than stated in the generic recommendations for breast cancer.
Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function using an automated analysis algorithm is feasible for beginners and experts: comparison with invasive and non-invasive methods
Authors: Nicol Philipp , Rank Andreas , Lenz Tobias , Schürmann Friederike , Syryca Finn , Trenkwalder Teresa , Reinhard Wibke , Adolf Rafael , Hadamitzky Martin , Kastrati Adnan , Joner Michael , Schunkert Heribert , Engel Leif-Christopher
Published: October 2022

Aims

Echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular function using a user-friendly automated three-dimensional algorithm is highly attractive as it promises quick and accurate diagnosis, circumventing limitations associated with visual estimation or manual biplane measurements. We sought to assess the feasibility and correlation of such automated analysis with clinically established methods.

Methods

A total of 198 patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with assessment of left ventricular parameters by automated software algorithm (Philips 3D-Heartmodel; 3D-HM) which additionally had either left ventricular angiography (LVA) or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 24 h of the TTE examination were analyzed. Left ventricular parameters (left ventricular end-diastolic volume, LVEDV, left ventricular end-systolic volume, LVESV as well as left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF) were compared between 3D-HM, CMR and LVA.

Results

Correlation of left ventricular measurements was overall good to excellent and stronger for CMR (EF r = 0.824) than for LVA (EF r = 0.746). Unexperienced and expert clinicians yielded comparable good results. For CMR, highest correlation was detected in patients with BMI < 25 and excellent image quality. High agreement was seen between 3D-HM and CMR or LVA when stratifying patients according to heart failure categories.

Conclusions

Echocardiographic quantification of left ventricular parameters using a software-based algorithm correlated well with established invasive and non-invasive modalities in the clinical setting, even for unexperienced clinicians. Such automated approaches are promising as they allow a reliable, more observer-independent as well as reproducible assessment of left ventricular function.
Differentiation of skull morphology and cranial kinesis in common toads
Authors: Ivanović Ana , Cvijanović Milena , Vučić Tijana , Arntzen Jan W.
Published: October 2022

We examined the cranial morphology and cranial kinesis of the common toadsBufo bufoandB. spinosuswith micro-computed tomography and geometric morphometrics and compared the results with published data for related species in a phylogenetic context. The species significantly diverge in skull shape. The skull ofB. spinosusis shorter and higher, with a ventral arm of the squamosal bone and the jaw articulation point positioned perpendicular to the braincase, in comparison with a more lateral position inB. bufo. In either species, females have a shorter snout and a higher and wider skull at the jaw articulation point that is positioned more posteriorly, in comparison with conspecific males. High variation in the amount of bone ossification was recorded in both species, ranging from scarcely ossified and loosely connected bones to highly ossified and firmly connected bones. We also found that skull shape and inferred kinetic properties of the skull are highly variable across the Bufonini tribe. However, sample sizes are mostly small and intraspecific variation is high, which might compromise the analyses. Overall, the results suggest that developmental plasticity produces high variation in ossification and cranial kinesis, affecting individuals’ feeding performances. At the population level, this variation supports an efficient exploitation of the habitat and may promote morphological adaptation in a changing environment.
A productivity prediction method for multi-fractured horizontal wells in tight oil reservoirs considering fracture closure
Authors: Gao Xinchen , Guo Kangliang , Chen Peng , Yang Haoran , Zhu Guowei
Published: October 2022

The closure fracture phenomenon increases the complexity of well testing and reduces the accuracy of productivity forecasts when tight oil reservoirs are exploited. However, most existing productivity models tend to ignore this. Therefore, a productivity prediction model for multi-fractured horizontal wells in tight oil reservoirs considering fracture closure has been developed by considering the stress sensitivity in the formation and combining the physical parameters of actual production. The model is solved by the Laplace transform, perturbation transform, Pedrosa transform, and Stehfest numerical inversion. Drawing productivity impact curves and discussing productivity influence factors based on the model results from this study show that the model is reasonable. In the actual production process, the hydraulic fracture parameter values are not as high as possible, and they have a reasonable range of values. The fracture closure pressure has a significant impact on the production of tight oil reservoirs. The higher the fracture closure pressure is, the greater the fracture conductivity decreases sharply, and the larger the proppant elastic modulus is, the stronger the fracture conductivity. The influence of fracture conductivity on the production in tight oil reservoirs has an obvious point, and when the value is less than the point, the production effect is good. Improved production can be achieved by balancing the relationship between fracture parameters. The findings of this study can help to better understand the influence of fracture parameters on productivity and contribute to increasing well production and improved development of tight oil reservoirs.
Silvopastoral systems for offsetting livestock emissions in the tropics: a case study of a dairy farm in Costa Rica
Authors: Brook Robert , Forster Eilidh , Styles David , Mazzetto André Mancebo , Arndt Claudia , Esquivel M. Jimena , Chadwick David
Published: October 2022

Ways are being sought to reduce the environmental impact of ruminant livestock farming. Integration of trees into farming systems has been advocated as a measure to deliver ecosystem services, inter alia climate regulation and adaptation, water quality regulation, provisioning of fibre, fuel and habitats to support biodiversity. Despite the rapid expansion of cattle farming in the tropics, notably in Latin America, there is little robust evidence on the extent to which trees are able to mitigate the effects of cattle farming in this ecological zone. This article describes a case study conducted on a large, specialised dairy farm in Costa Rica, where two-thirds of the field boundaries are live tree fences. For the first time, this study quantifies the offset potential of trees by estimating rate of carbon sequestration in a silvopastoral system (SPS) in the tropics. It was found that over a 30-month interval, trees sequestered 1.43 Mg C ha−1 year−1 above and below ground. Attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) (cradle to farm gate) was applied to calculate the carbon footprint of milk produced on the farm for the years 2016 to 2018. Trees in live fences offset 21–37% of milk footprints, resulting in residual net footprints of 0.75±0.25 to 0.84±0.26 kg CO2 eq. kg−1 milk. Exclusion of life cycle emissions that may not fall within national emission inventory accounting (e.g. fertiliser manufacture and feed production) increased the mean offset from 27 to 34% of gross milk footprint. Although based on temporally limited data (30 months), our findings indicate that a live fence SPS could play an important role in short- to medium-term climate mitigation from livestock production, buying time for deployment of long-term mitigation and adaptation planning.
A collaborative neurodynamic optimization algorithm to traveling salesman problem
Authors: Zhong Jing , Feng Yuelei , Tang Shuyu , Xiong Jiang , Dai Xiangguang , Zhang Nian
Published: October 2022

This paper proposed a collaborative neurodynamic optimization (CNO) method to solve traveling salesman problem (TSP). First, we construct a Hopfield neural network (HNN) with$$n \times n$$n×nneurons for thencities. Second, to ensure the convergence of continuous HNN (CHNN), we reformulate TSP to satisfy the convergence condition of CHNN and solve TSP by CHNN. Finally, a population of CHNNs is used to search for local optimal solutions of TSP and the globally optimal solution is obtained using particle swarm optimization. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the CNO approach for solving TSP.
Comparison of One-Part and Two-Part Alkali-Activated Metakaolin and Blast Furnace Slag
Authors: Segura Isabel Pol , Luukkonen Tero , Yliniemi Juho , Sreenivasan Harisankar , Damø Anne Juul , Jensen Lars Skaarup , Canut Mariana , Kantola Anu M. , Telkki Ville-Veikko , Jensen Peter Arendt
Published: October 2022

One-part alkali-activated materials prepared with solid-form alkali activator are gaining attention in the construction industry, as they are an easier and safer approach for cast-in-situ applications in comparison with two-part approach (i.e., involving the use of alkali-activator solutions). The present study compares the one-part and conventional two-part mixing methods with two aluminosilicate precursors, metakaolin and ground granulated blast-furnace slag, using identical mix designs (in terms of molar ratios of SiO2, Al2O3, and Na2O) with both preparation methods. The results revealed that using one-part mix delays the setting time, increases the heat of reaction, decreases the shrinkage, and reaches between 80 and 85% of the compressive strength of the two-part mix. In addition, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis showed no major differences between one- and two-part. However, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance experiments indicated that the extent of reaction in two-part alkali-activated mixes is higher than for one-part.

Graphical Abstract