bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated with IRB Review Time in a Non‐Federally Funded Study Using an sIRB of Record
Authors: Lamers‐Johnson Erin , Will Vanessa K. , Long Julie M. , Woodcock Lindsay , Kelley Kathryn , Steiber Alison L. , Jimenez Elizabeth Yakes
Published: June 2023

From 2018 to 2020, U.S. federal mandates began requiring the use of a single institutional review board (sIRB) of record for federally funded, multisite studies. With an interest in the efficiency of site activation, we compared the frequency with which local review and approval and three different reliance options (ways to establish a reliance agreement between the sIRB and the relying institution) were used during this period in a multisite, non‐federally funded study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03928548). Using general linear models, we analyzed the relationships between local reliance or approval and sIRB of record approval times and (a) the regulatory option selected and (b) relying‐site and process characteristics. Eighty‐five sites received sIRB approval through 72 submissions (40% using local review, 46% using the SMART IRB agreement, 10% using an IRB authorization agreement, and 4% using a letter of support). Median time to establish a local reliance or study approval and sIRB approval were longest for sites using a SMART IRB agreement. Study‐site region and the time of submission were significantly associated with local reliance or approval time, which averaged 129 and 107 days faster for Midwestern (p = 0.03) or Western (p = 0.02) sites, respectively, and 70 days slower for Northeastern sites (p = 0.42) compared with sites in the South, and 91 days slower when regulatory communication was initiated during or after February 2019 compared with before (p = 0.02). Similar relationships between sIRB approval time and region and time frame were observed; in addition, approval time was 103 days slower for sites affiliated with a research 1 (R1) university versus not (p = 0.02). Region of the country, time frame, and R1 university affiliation were associated with variations in study‐site activation in a non‐federally funded, multisite study.
How eDNA data filtration, sequence coverage, and primer selection influence assessment of fish communities in northern temperate lakes
Authors: García‐Machado Erik , Normandeau Eric , Côté Guillaume , Bernatchez Louis
Published: June 2023

For nearly 15 years now, environmental DNA has demonstrated its effectiveness in monitoring biodiversity. Methodological and technical improvements have significantly enhanced the field. However, the effect of factors such as sequence coverage, bioinformatic filtration, and primer choice have been less explored or need to be optimized according to specific survey objectives and study site characteristics. We evaluated these factors to help optimize monitoring fish biodiversity in North American temperate lakes. We sampled water for fish community eDNA analysis in 12 lakes from southwestern Québec, Canada. The lakes were selected to encompass a wide range of surface areas and species richness. We sampled water from a total of 520 sites (25–50 per lake) and analyzed three mitochondrial DNA regions (12S rRNA; 16S rRNA; and cytb) using NovaSeq sequencing. Our results, based on rarefied count matrices (from a sequencing depth of 100,000 to a minimum depth of 1000 reads per sample), showed that keeping only species in each sample if they represented at least one thousandth (species minimum read proportion threshold = 0.001) of the sample's reads was adequate to remove false positives and had a limited negative impact on true positives with low read counts. The sequencing depth was found to have a negligible impact on the accuracy of fish community assessment in a given lake. With the same sequencing depth and a complete local reference database for each primer set, a single primer set produced similar species richness medians than the combination of two or three primer sets. Overall, 12S and 16S detected more species and provided more consistent community profiles than cytb. Based on our observations, we suggest using the 12S MiFish‐U primer set and applying a minimum proportion of 0.001 reads per species and site to monitor north‐temperate lentic freshwater fish communities.
Heterogeneity and functions of the 13 IFN‐α subtypes – lucky for some?
Authors: Moreau Thomas R. J. , Bondet Vincent , Rodero Mathieu P. , Duffy Darragh
Published: June 2023

Type I IFNs are critical for host responses to viral infection and are also implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases. Multiple subtypes exist within the type I IFN family, in particular 13 distinct IFN‐α genes, which signal through the same heterodimer receptor that is ubiquitously expressed by mammalian cells. Both evolutionary genetic studies and functional antiviral assays strongly suggest differential functions and activity between the 13 IFN‐α subtypes, yet we still lack a clear understanding of these different roles. This review summarizes the evidence from studies describing differential functions of IFN‐α subtypes and highlights potential reasons for discrepancies between the reports. We examine both acute and chronic viral infection, as well as autoimmunity, and integrate a more recent awareness of the importance of anti‐IFN‐α autoantibodies in shaping the type I IFN responses in these different conditions.
Rice yield and carbon dioxide emissions in a paddy soil: A comparison of biochar and polystyrene microplastics
Authors: Rassaei Farzad
Published: June 2023

Biochar has been suggested as a soil supplement to improve soil fertility. The world is covered in microplastics (MPs). A pot greenhouse experiment was carried out to examine the effects of polystyrene (PS), sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB), and their interactions (PS × SBB) on the CO2 emission and rice yield in a rice paddy calcareous soil. The largest CO2 emissions occurred 35–40 days following rice planting, which corresponds to the tillering stages of rice growth. Higher CO2 emissions were detected after SBB treatment. Our findings showed that applying PS increased CO2 emissions in our soil samples. Our research revealed that adding SBB can boosted the negative effects of PS in the soil. The co‐application of SBB and PS increased PS's stimulation of the CO2 emissions. We infer that PS‐SBB interactions have an impact on global warming potential, microbial community activity, and CO2 emissions. Both SBB rates resulted in a significant increase in biomass and rice grain. Our research indicates that PS has a detrimental effect on rice grain output and biomass, but that the addition of SBB can slightly lessen these effects.
Technology Computer‐Aided Design device simulation of nanowall‐based CdS/CdTe solar cell for energy conversion
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Rahamathulla Mohammedasif , Ilango Murugaiya Sridar , Ramasesha Sheela K. , Cherusseri Jayesh
Published: June 2023

An innovative and novel electrode design for a Nanowall (NW)‐based solar cell has been proposed and demonstrated previously. In this work, this concept has been implemented utilizing Technology Computer‐Aided Design (TCAD) software SILVACO in NW‐based n‐CdS/ p‐CdTe solar cell to illustrate its potential for NW‐based solar cell technology. The device's photovoltaic parameters have been investigated as a function of geometrical factors like NW height and CdS window layer thickness, as well as parameters like mid‐gap and interface defects. The influence of the increase in the NW height seems to be increasing the photovoltaic parameters such as short circuit current density (), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (Eff) of the device. Increasing the depth of the CdS window layer has shown a slight decrease in the photovoltaic parameters. Besides, the effect of the defect density mid‐gap acceptor‐like states in the CdS layer and at the interface has also been simulated. It has been found that by increasing the mid‐gap defect states, a drop of 38, 18, and 45% in , FF, and Eff respectively has been observed with a very small rise of 4% in . It has also been observed that increasing the defect states causes not only a decrease in , FF, and Eff, but also an increase in blue loss in the lower wavelength range. Moreover, mid‐gap defect states seem to degrade the photovoltaic parameters much more severely than the interface defect states at the nanoscale dimension.
A review of current evidence on food allergies during pregnancy
Authors: Tufail Tabussam , Rasheed Yusra , Ain Huma Bader Ul , Arshad Muhammad Umair , Hussain Muzzamal , Akhtar Muhammad Nadeem , Saewan Shamaail A.
Published: June 2023

Food allergy is the reaction of the immune system of the body that occurs after consuming specific foods. During specific physiological ages of pregnancy, women are more prone to different allergic reactions and mostly these reactions may prolong and have long‐term effects. The hypersensitivity of different types of allergens is mainly linked with the adversity of reactions. The chances of suffering food allergies in women are greater than in men; women are usually more prone to get allergic to some foods during their specific physiological age of pregnancy. Food allergies are more common in pregnant women as every fifth pregnant woman is affected by some kind of allergy. The specific reasons and evidence of the causes of these food allergies during pregnancies have yet to be explored. A pregnant woman should take a balanced diet and avoid consuming known allergic foods to minimize the risk and complications. This review aimed to broaden the knowledge on food allergies during pregnancies, their onset in the babies, and to make it easy for pregnant women to cope with the complications caused by these food allergies. It also aimed to figure out the certain food that might be responsible for the onset of allergies in women during pregnancy and the effect of these allergies on their babies.
Glial modulation of the parallel memory formation
Authors: Kanaya Teppei , Ito Ryo , Morizawa Yosuke M. , Sasaki Daichi , Yamao Hiroki , Ishikane Hiroshi , Hiraoka Yuichi , Tanaka Kohichi , Matsui Ko
Published: June 2023

Actions from glial cells could affect the readiness and efficacy of learning and memory. Using a mouse cerebellar‐dependent horizontal optokinetic response motor learning paradigm, short‐term memory (STM) formation during the online training period and long‐term memory (LTM) formation during the offline rest period were studied. A large variability of online and offline learning efficacies was found. The early bloomers with booming STM often had a suppressed LTM formation and late bloomers with no apparent acute training effect often exhibited boosted offline learning performance. Anion channels containing LRRC8A are known to release glutamate. Conditional knockout of LRRC8A specifically in astrocytes including cerebellar Bergmann glia resulted in a complete loss of STM formation while the LTM formation during the rest period remained. Optogenetic manipulation of glial activity by channelrhodopsin‐2 or archaerhodopsin‐T (ArchT) during the online training resulted in enhancement or suppression of STM formation, respectively. STM and LTM are likely to be triggered simultaneously during online training, but LTM is expressed later during the offline period. STM appears to be volatile and the achievement during the online training is not handed over to LTM. In addition, we found that glial ArchT photoactivation during the rest period resulted in the augmentation of LTM formation. These data suggest that STM formation and LTM formation are parallel separate processes. Strategies to weigh more on the STM or the LTM could depend on the actions of the glial cells.
Tobacco excise tax reform: From the perspective of “tax to control tobacco” policy in China
Authors: Hong Qianqian , Su Jie , Hong Penghui
Published: June 2023

The consumption of tobacco is harmful to health and has huge social costs. "Tax to control tobacco" is a widely implemented tobacco control measure all over the world. In order to examine the achievements of two tobacco excise tax reforms in China in 2009 and 2015 on controlling tobacco consumption, we first establish an intertemporal consumption model for addictive goods, and then validate the effectiveness of the two tobacco excise tax reforms using a Continuous Difference‐in‐Differences Model based on the panel data from 294 cities in China from 2007 to 2018. The results show that the tobacco excise tax reform in 2015 considerably reduced tobacco consumption, while the reform in 2009 did not, providing empirical evidence on the importance of "price links to tax" for tobacco control. Additionally, the study discovers that the tax reform has a heterogeneous effect on the age of smokers, the price of cigarettes, and city size.
Soil moisture and temperature dynamics in juvenile and mature forest as a result of tree growth, hydrometeorological forcings, and drought
Authors: Rabbai Andrea , Wendt Doris E. , Curioni Giulio , Quick Susan E. , MacKenzie A. Robert , Hannah David M. , Kettridge Nicholas , Ullah Sami , Hart Kris M. , Krause Stefan
Published: June 2023

Afforestation, as one of the major drivers of land cover change, has the potential to provide a wide range of ecosystem services. Aside from carbon sequestration, afforestation can improve hydrological regulation by increasing soil water storage capacity and reducing surface water runoff. However, afforested areas are rarely studied over time scales appropriate to determine when changes in soil hydrological processes occur as the planted (mixed) forests establish and grow. This study investigates the seasonal soil moisture and temperature dynamics, as well as the event‐based responses to precipitation and dry periods, for a mature and a juvenile forest ecosystem over a 5‐year time period. Generally, soil moisture was higher in the juvenile forest than in the mature forest, suggesting a lower physiological water demand. Following the 2018 drought, soil moisture dynamics in the growing juvenile plantation began to match those of the mature forest, owing to canopy development and possibly also to internal resilience mechanisms of the young forest to these external hot weather perturbations. Soil temperature dynamics in the juvenile plantation followed air temperature patterns closely, indicating lower thermal regulation capacity compared to the mature forest. While our findings show that an aggrading juvenile plantation achieves mature forest shallow soil moisture storage dynamics at an early stage, well before physiological maturity, this was not the case for soil temperature. Our results shed light on long‐term trends of seasonal and event‐based responses of soil moisture and temperatures in different‐aged forest systems, which can be used to inform future assessments of hydrological and ecosystem responses to disturbances and forest management.
A healthy nutrition suggestion model for indian women sports players & active youth using long short‐term memory
Authors: Ramaraj Keerthana , Narayan Valliammal , Dhivyaprabha Thookanayakanpalayam Thyagarajan , Subashini Parthasarathy
Published: June 2023

Sports nutrition is the balanced diet or diet chart that helps to improve performance of sports persons. It is globally accepted that Indian foods are rich in nutrition. It is greatly preferred by yogis, gurus and dieticians to intake Indian foods in order to maintain a wellness and healthy lifestyle. Smart watches, wearable devices, mobile applications and digital portals are available to suggest foods to the sports persons. But software application based on Indian foods specifically for women athletes are not exists so far. In this paper an intelligent food recommendation system based on Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) and LSTM with GRU is proposed to suggest meals for women athletes. LSTM has connections and it processes the entire sequence of data thus, it is week suitable for suggestion models. The performance of the model is validated using evaluation metrices and the result demonstrate its effectiveness.
Computational NMR spectroscopy of 205Tl
Authors: Saielli Giacomo
Published: June 2023

We have investigated the NMR chemical shift of 205Tl in several thallium compounds, ranging from small covalent Tl(I) and Tl(III) molecules to supramolecular complexes with large organic ligands and some thallium halides. NMR calculations were run at the ZORA relativistic level, with and without spin‐orbit coupling using few selected GGA and hybrid functionals, namely BP86, PBE, B3LYP, and PBE0. We also tested solvent effects both at the optimization level and at the NMR calculation step. At the ZORA‐SO‐PBE0 (COSMO) level of theory we find a very good performance of the computational protocol that allows to discard or retain possible structures/conformations based on the agreement between the calculated chemical shift and the experimental value.
Optical Forces on Multipoles Induced by the Belinfante Spin Momentum
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Zhang Yanan , Xu Xiaohao , Nieto‐Vesperinas Manuel , Yan Shaohui , Li Manman , Gao Wenyu , Zhang Yao , Yao Baoli
Published: June 2023

The Belinfante spin momentum (BSM) is a fundamental yet enigmatic quantity of electromagnetic fields. It vanishes from the global momentum of the field, but can be detected locally, manifesting itself as an optical force on small particles. Hitherto, however, the BSM force is a concept well established only within the dipole approximation, and there is no explicit experimental evidence for its action on multipoles. Here, a theoretical model for multipolar BSM forces, exerted on generic Mie particles supporting multipoles of arbitrary order, is developed. This multipolar mechanical action is observed experimentally from a structured light field, which suppresses the effect of spin–orbit coupling. It can also selectively enhance the multipolar BSM forces, while restraining the dipolar component on a probe particle (Au sphere). These results constitute a distinct chapter in the physics of high‐order interactions in light–matter systems and can facilitate additional progress in optomechanics, optical manipulation, and Mie‐tronics.
Broadband Asymmetric Light Transport in Compact Lithium Niobate Waveguides
Authors: Wu Shengjie , Song Wange , Sun Jiacheng , Lin Zhiyuan , Xin Haoran , Zhu Shining , Li Tao
Published: June 2023

Asymmetric on‐chip light transport is important but always challenging for photonic integrations. Although it has been recently implemented by adiabatically encircling the exceptional points in a non‐Hermitian system, these approaches are fundamentally restricted to the adiabatic condition that brings disadvantages of low transmission efficiency and large device footprint. Here, it is proposed to realize a broadband asymmetric light transport in compact non‐Hermitian coupled waveguides on the lithium niobate‐on‐insulator (LNOI) platform. The asymmetric function is fulfilled by a particular mode selection in a loss‐controlled LNOI waveguide triplet, where a lossless zero mode plays a crucial role. Moreover, the shortcut to adiabaticity is applied to speed up the light evolution and shorten the device length. The approach works out a new strategy to establish an asymmetric light transport in a compact form, indicating further new on‐chip light manipulations in this promising LNOI photonic platform.
The Role of Levodopa Challenge in Predicting the Outcome of Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation
Authors: Wolke Robin , Becktepe Jos Steffen , Paschen Steffen , Helmers Ann‐Kristin , Kübler‐Weller Dorothee , Youn Jinyoung , Brinker Dana , Bergman Hagai , Kühn Andrea A. , Fasano Alfonso , Deuschl Günther
Published: June 2023

Background

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN‐DBS) is an effective and evidence‐based treatment for idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD). A minority of patients does not sufficiently benefit from STN‐DBS.

Objective

The predictive validity of the levodopa challenge for individual patients is analyzed.

Methods

Data from patients assessed with a preoperative Levodopa‐test and a follow‐up examination (mean ± standard deviation: 9.15 months ±3.39) from Kiel (n = 253), Berlin (n = 78) and Toronto (n = 98) were studied. Insufficient DBS outcome was defined as an overall UPDRS‐III reduction <33% compared to UPDRS‐III in med‐off at baseline or alternatively if the minimal clinically important improvement of 5 points was not reached. Single UPDRS‐items and sub‐scores were dichotomized. Following exploratory analysis, we trained supervised regression‐ and classification models for outcome prediction.

Results

Data analysis confirmed significant correlation between the absolute UPDRS‐III reduction during Levodopa challenge and after stimulation. But individual improvement was inaccurately predicted with a large range of up to 30 UPDRS III points. Further analysis identified preoperative UPDRS‐III/med‐off‐scores and preoperative Levodopa‐improvement as most influential factors. The models for UPDRS‐III and sub‐scores improvement achieved comparably low accuracy.

Conclusions

With large prediction intervals, the Levodopa challenge use for patient counseling is limited, though remains important for excluding non‐responders to Levodopa. Despite these deficiencies, the current practice of patient selection is highly successful and builds not only on the Levodopa challenge. However, more specific motor tasks and further paraclinical tools for prediction need to be developed.
An efficient and accurate numerical method for the fractional optimal control problems with fractional Laplacian and state constraint
Authors: Zhang Jiaqi , Yang Yin
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we investigate the numerical approximation of an optimal control problem with fractional Laplacian and state constraint in integral form based on the Caffarelli–Silvestre expansion. The first order optimality conditions of the extended optimal control problem is obtained. An enriched spectral Galerkin discrete scheme for the extended problem based on weighted Laguerre polynomials is proposed. A priori error estimate for the enriched spectral discrete scheme is proved. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our method and validate the theoretical results.
Characterizing regional and global effects of epicardial adipose tissue on cardiac systolic and diastolic function
Authors: Hearon Christopher M. , Reddy Shiva , Dias Katrin A. , Shankar Aditi , MacNamara James , Levine Benjamin , Sarma Satyam
Published: June 2023

Objective

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether regional epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) exerts localized effects on adjacent myocardial left ventricular (LV) function.

Methods

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiography, dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry, and exercise testing were performed in 71 patients with obesity with elevated cardiac biomarkers and visceral fat. Total and regional (anterior, inferior, lateral, right ventricular) EAT was quantified by MRI. Diastolic function was quantified by echocardiography. MRI was used to quantify regional longitudinal LV strain.

Results

EAT was associated with visceral adiposity (r = 0.47, p < 0.0001) but not total fat mass. Total EAT was associated with markers of diastolic function (early tissue Doppler relaxation velocity [e'], mitral inflow velocity ratio [E/A], early mitral inflow/e' ratio [E/e']), but only E/A remained significant after adjustment for visceral adiposity (r = −0.30, p = 0.015). Right ventricular and LV EAT had similar associations with diastolic function. There was no evidence for localized effects of regional EAT deposition on adjacent regional longitudinal strain.

Conclusions

There was no association between regional EAT deposition and corresponding regional LV segment function. Furthermore, the association between total EAT and diastolic function was attenuated after adjustment for visceral fat, indicating that systemic metabolic impairments contribute to diastolic dysfunction in high‐risk middle‐aged adults.
Analysis of safety specifications in risk management plan at the time of drug approval and addition of clinically significant adverse reactions in the package insert post‐approval in Japan
Authors: Saito Rieko , Miyazaki Seiko
Published: June 2023

Recently, post‐marketing safety measures have been considered critical in Japan due to the globalization of drug development and the introduction of new drug approval systems. Pharmacists are expected to play an active role in ensuring the safety of drugs post‐approval. Utilizing risk management plans (RMPs) to ensure safety throughout the development and post‐marketing phases is becoming even more critical. In this study, we examine the relationship between the safety specifications (SSs) in RMPs at the time of drug approval and the adverse reactions (ARs) added to the clinically significant adverse reactions (CSARs) section of the package inserts (PIs) post‐approval to determine whether SSs constitute useful drug information for pharmacists. The analysis included new active ingredient‐containing drugs approved in Japan from FY2013 to 2019. A 2 × 2 contingency table was created and analyzed using odds ratios (ORs) and Fisher's exact test. The OR was 14.22 (95% CI: 7.85–24.77; p < .001), which indicates a strong relationship between the ARs being SSs at the time of approval and being added to the PIs as CSARs post‐approval. The positive predictive value that SSs at the time of approval were added as CSARs to the PIs post‐approval was 7.1%. In addition, a similar relationship was observed with the “approval in shorter‐period drugs” reviewed for approval based on a limited number of clinical trials. Therefore, SSs in RMPs are important drug information for pharmacists in Japan.
Structural Interpretation of Sintering Temperature Effect on Optical and Electrical Properties of Pr3+‐Substituted Nickel Ferrites
Authors: Mondal Chaitali , Dutta Abhigyan , Sinha Ankurava
Published: June 2023

Herein, the sintering temperature effect on various properties of Pr3+‐substituted nickel ferrites prepared through the sol–gel–citrate autocombustion method is presented. The Rietveld refinement of X‐ray diffraction patterns confirms the formation of the inverse spinel nickel ferrite phase with an additional orthorhombic phase PrFeO3. The crystallinity of those samples is better with a lesser weight percentage of the secondary phase for higher sintered samples. Structural parameters like crystallite size, lattice parameter, microstrain, and bond lengths depend strongly on sintering temperature with an increasing trend. Scanning electron micrographs clearly show the grain growth of the samples with sintering temperature with the formation of a secondary phase at the grain boundaries. The photoluminescence study points to the photocatalytic nature of the compositions. The bandgaps of the samples are calculated using a UV–vis study, which shows an initial decrease in values with increasing sintering temperature. The electrical study confirms the grain and grain boundary contribution to the total conductivity. With higher sintering temperatures, activation energies decrease, but the dielectric loss and saturation dielectric constant tend to increase. The scaling of conductivity and dielectric loss spectra confirm the time–temperature superposition principle.
Robust consensus of multi‐agent systems with multiplicative uncertainties and its application in time synchronization
Authors: Wang Bo , Han Zhimin , Zhai Chunjie , Lv Xinxin
Published: June 2023

This article first studies the robust consensus problem of discrete‐time single‐integrator multi‐agent systems (MASs) with multiplicative uncertainties in switching networks. Under the assumption that the uncertainty is polynomially decaying, we prove that the consensus of the MAS can be achieved by adopting the decaying gain protocol if the switching network is uniformly strongly connected (USC). The convergence rate is quantified in terms of the decay rate of uncertainties. Then, we use the consensus conclusion studying the convergence analysis problem of a typical time synchronization algorithm (the LSTS algorithm proposed in Tian [IEEE Trans Automat Contr. 2017;62(10):5445–5450]) in wireless sensor networks. We prove that the LSTS algorithm can still achieve the bounded time synchronization even if the switching network is USC, a more general topology condition compared with existing convergence results in Tian (IEEE Trans Automat Contr. 2017;62(10):5445–5450). Simulation results are given to verify the correctness of both the consensus conclusion for MASs and convergence conclusion for LSTS algorithm.
Thermally Derived Hierarchical Nanoplates for Electromagnetic Protection and Waste Energy Recovery Device
Authors: Wang Meng‐Qi , Shu Jin‐Cheng , Wan Xiao , Cao Wen‐Qiang , Cao Mao‐Sheng
Published: June 2023

With the advent of intelligent society and the popularity of electronic equipment, the protection and treatment of electromagnetic (EM) radiation have become hot research topics all over the world. Herein, novel 2D carbon‐based nanoplates with uniformly embedded Co nanoparticles are prepared, with unique hierarchical structure and integrated magnetic‐dielectric components. The obtained hierarchical nanoplates exhibit a wide range of tunable EM properties (ε′ for 3.38 to 34.67 and ε″ for 0.13 to 31.45) by manipulating the dispersed states inside wax system, which can achieve an effective switch from microwave absorption to EM interference shielding performance. The optimal reflection loss reaches −55.6 dB, and the shielding efficiency is 93.5%. Meanwhile, the hierarchical nanoplates also exhibit impressive capacitive performance, with a specific capacitance of 1654 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. Based on this, a creative device is constructed with the nanoplates, which can convert harmful EM radiation to useful electric energy for recycling. This work offers a new idea for the development of EM materials and functional devices, powerfully promoting the advance of energy and environmental fields.
The Influence of Falling Costs for Electrolyzers on the Location Factors for Green Hydrogen Production
Authors: Niepelt Raphael , Schlemminger Marlon , Bredemeier Dennis , Peterssen Florian , Lohr Clemens , Bensmann Astrid , Hanke-Rauschenbach Richard , Brendel Rolf
Published: June 2023

A fast and extensive build‐up of green hydrogen production is a crucial element for the global energy transition. The availability of low‐cost renewable energy at high operating hours of the electrolyzer is a central criterion in today's choice of location for green hydrogen production. It is analyzed how decreasing electrolyzer costs that are expected by many may influence this choice. The energy system optimization framework ESTRAM is used to find the optimum configuration of wind turbine, photovoltaic (PV), and electrolyzer capacity for covering a given hydrogen demand by locally produced green hydrogen in different European locations. It is found that PV is part of the cost‐optimal solution in 96% of 1372 statistical regions in Europe. Decreasing electrolyzer costs are favoring the utilization of PV in wind–solar hybrid plants. At low electrolyzer costs, pure solar hydrogen outperforms the hybrid variant in many places if hydrogen storage is available, even with few full operating hours per year. At the same time, production costs are converging significantly. The article adds a new perspective to the discussion, as it is systematically shown how further technology development may lead to a shift in locational advantages for green hydrogen production, what should be considered to avoid stranded assets when building infrastructure.
Machine learning approach for measuring water quality of coastline and estuaries in Chennai coastal area
Authors: Kamarajan M. , Mohan S. R. , Anusuya S. , Sakthivel D. , Gopirajan Punniyakotti Varadharajan
Published: June 2023

Chennai has had the longest coastline over other major cities of India. It is decidedly vital to monitor seawater quality due to the increased coastline population. This study presents an Android mobile application based on a machine learning approach to perform basic testing parameters of seawater by applying convolutional neural network concepts. A commercially available “saltwater master test kit” was used in this study to test the level of pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and Total Phosphate (T.P.) in seawater. Six water samples collected from every 10 regions, including the coastline and coastal estuaries, were tested with the test kit in a microplate. Images were captured in the solely designed mobile app, and they were pre‐processed, and RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) were recorded from the Region of Interest (R.O.I.) of the image. A supervised Convolutional Neural Network Image Classifier (SCNNIC) algorithm was developed to classify the RGB pixel values. CIEDE2000 (C2K) color difference algorithm was applied over the recorded RGB values with the datasets stored previously to result in the nearest color match between the ideal dataset and R.O.I. of the captured image. Grayscale and RGB methods results were compared with the standard APHA method. This C2K color difference algorithm produced a percent accuracy of over 98% compared with other methods used, and R2 recorded by curve fitting method for pH, T.N. and T.P. were above 0.98. Disquieting results were reported in this study, especially in Muttukkadu backwater and Adayar river backwater estuaries, reported high values of pH (7.82 and 8.17), TN (13.74 mg/L and 13.45 mg/L) and T.P. (0.266 μg/L and 0.724 μg/L). The mean for all 10 regions of 110 km chosen in this study for the 2 years was calculated, and values were obtained as pH‐8.33, TN‐5.321 mg/L, and TP‐0.143 μg/L.
Feeding the future in Ghana: Gender inequality, poverty, and food insecurity
Authors: Egyir Irene S. , O'Brien Cheryl , Bandanaa Joseph , Opit George P.
Published: June 2023

As women's empowerment is critical for the adoption of agricultural technologies by farmers, some governments have over the last three decades adopted a gender equality approach to food security. In Ghana, women play a vital role as farmers and food processors, which means they impact household nutrition in important ways. In this article, we explore women's empowerment in maize‐producing sites in Ghana by drawing on original data collected from over 400 farmers and service providers as part of a United States Agency for International Development‐funded Feed the Future project. We employ a quasi‐“women's empowerment in agriculture index” to measure the extent to which men and women maize producers are either empowered or disempowered in the domains of production, access to resources, control over income, leadership, and time allocation. Our study reveals that cost and time poverty are the main factors that influence the adoption of technologies to reduce postharvest losses. We also find that women are disproportionately disempowered in the areas of control over the use of income and time poverty. Importantly, we further find that researchers need to account for perceived versus actual empowerment when examining gender inequality in agriculture. Our study findings and policy recommendations will be of interest to policymakers, scholars, and development practitioners.
Weak Galerkin finite element methods with and without stabilizers for H(div;Ω)${\bf H}(\mbox{div}; \Omega )$‐elliptic problems
Authors: Kumar Raman , Deka Bhupen
Published: June 2023

In this article, we propose the weak Galerkin (WG) finite element schemes for ‐elliptic problems with and without stabilizers. Optimal orders of convergence are established for the WG approximations in both discrete energy norm and L2 norm. Removing stabilizers from WG finite element methods will simplify the formulations, reduce programming complexity, and may also speed up the computation time. More precisely, for sufficiently smooth solutions, we have proved the supercloseness of order two for the stabilizer free weak Galerkin finite element solution. Several numerical tests are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Visual working memory in immersive visualization: a change detection experiment and an image-computable model
Authors: Bassano Chiara , Chessa Manuela , Solari Fabio
Published: June 2023

Visual working memory (VWM) is a cognitive mechanism essential for interacting with the environment and accomplishing ongoing tasks, as it allows fast processing of visual inputs at the expense of the amount of information that can be stored. A better understanding of its functioning would be beneficial to research fields such as simulation and training in immersive Virtual Reality or information visualization and computer graphics. The current work focuses on the design and implementation of a paradigm for evaluating VWM in immersive visualization and of a novel image-based computational model for mimicking the human behavioral data of VWM. We evaluated the VWM at the variation of four conditions: set size, spatial layout, visual angle (VA) subtending stimuli presentation space, and observation time. We adopted a full factorial design and analysed participants’ performances in the change detection experiment. The analysis of hit rates and false alarm rates confirms the existence of a limit of VWM capacity of around 7 ± 2 items, as found in the literature based on the use of 2D videos and images. Only VA and observation time influence performances (p<0.0001). Indeed, with VA enlargement, participants need more time to have a complete overview of the presented stimuli. Moreover, we show that our model has a high level of agreement with the human data, r>0.88 (p<0.05).
Telemedicine for cognitive impairment: a telephone survey of patients’ experiences with neurological video consultation
Authors: Ruggiero Fabiana , Zirone Eleonora , Molisso Maria Takeko , Carandini Tiziana , Fumagalli Giorgio , Pietroboni Anna , Ferrucci Roberta , Aiello Edoardo Nicolò , Poletti Barbara , Silani Vincenzo , Comi Giacomo , Scarpini Elio , Barbieri Sergio , Arighi Andrea , Mameli Francesca
Published: June 2023

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the experience with telemedicine in patients with cognitive impairments and their caregivers.

Methods

We conducted a survey-based study of patients who completed neurological consultation via video link between January and April 2022.

Results

A total of 62 eligible neurological video consultations were conducted for the following categories of patients: Alzheimer’s disease (33.87%), amnesic mild cognitive impairment (24.19%), frontotemporal dementia (17.74%), Lewy body dementia (4.84%), mixed dementia (3.23%), subjective memory disorders (12.90%), non-amnesic mild cognitive impairment (1.61%), and multiple system atrophy (1.61%).

The survey was successfully completed by 87.10% of the caregivers and directly by the patients in 12.90% of cases. Our data showed positive feedback regarding the telemedicine experience; both caregivers and patients reported that they found neurological video consultation useful (caregivers: 87.04%, ‘very useful’; patients: 87.50%, ‘very useful’) and were satisfied overall (caregivers: 90.74%, ‘very satisfied’; patients: 100%, ‘very satisfied’). Finally, all caregivers (100%) agreed that neurological video consultation was a useful tool to reduce their burden (Visual Analogue Scale mean ± SD: 8.56 ± 0.69).

Conclusions

Telemedicine is well received by patients and their caregivers. However, successful delivery incorporates support from staff and care partners to navigate technologies. The exclusion of older adults with cognitive impairment in developing telemedicine systems may further exacerbate access to care in this population. Adapting technologies to the needs of patients and their caregivers is critical for the advancement of accessible dementia care through telemedicine.
Mapping from SIBDQ to EQ-5D-5L for patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Steiner Isa Maria , Bokemeyer Bernd , Stargardt Tom
Published: June 2023

Objective

Clinical studies commonly use disease-specific measures to assess patients’ health-related quality of life. However, economic evaluation often requires preference-based utility index scores to calculate cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). When utility index scores are not directly available, mappings are useful. To our knowledge, no mapping exists for the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). Our aim was to develop a mapping from SIBDQ to the EQ-5D-5L index score with German weights for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Methods

We used 3856 observations of 1055 IBD patients who participated in a randomised controlled trial in Germany on the effect of introducing regular appointments with an IBD nurse specialist in addition to standard care with biologics. We considered five data availability scenarios. For each scenario, we estimated different regression and machine learning models: linear mixed-effects regression, mixed-effects Tobit regression, an adjusted limited dependent variable mixture model and a mixed-effects regression forest. We selected the final models with tenfold cross-validation based on a model subset and validated these with observations in a validation subset.

Results

For the first four data availability scenarios, we selected mixed-effects Tobit regressions as final models. For the fifth scenario, mixed-effects regression forest performed best. Our findings suggest that the demographic variables age and gender do not improve the mapping, while including SIBDQ subscales, IBD disease type, BMI and smoking status leads to better predictions.

Conclusion

We developed an algorithm mapping SIBDQ values to EQ-5D-5L index scores for different sets of covariates in IBD patients. It is implemented in the following web application: https://www.bwl.uni-hamburg.de/hcm/forschung/mapping.html.
Record of thanatology and cannibalism in drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus)
Authors: Casetta Grazia , Nolfo Andrea Paolo , Palagi Elisabetta
Published: June 2023

Comparative thanatology includes the scientific study of death in non-human animals, which involves emotional, social, and exploratory responses of individuals and groups towards corpses. Stillborn babies and dead infants often elicit maternal and alloparental care that can persist for days, weeks, or even months, especially in primates. After this period, cannibalistic acts can occur not only by groupmates but also by the mother. Such cannibalism has been reported both in captive and wild primate groups, suggesting that the phenomenon is evolutionary adaptive. Here, we report a case in drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus), a largely unstudied monkey species. We collected data from the birth to the death of the infant on maternal and alloparental care towards the newborn across three phases: pre-mortem, post-mortem, and post-mortem cannibalism. The mother maintained high levels of grooming after the infant’s death. Both the mother and other group members interacted with the dead baby by trying to engage its gaze. Two days after the death, the mother started to eat the corpse until it was almost completely consumed; there was no sharing with other group members. Although we cannot draw firm conclusions about potential benefits of the mother’s behavior, this observation on drills adds a piece to the puzzle of thanatological behaviors and cannibalism in primates.
The role of politeness in human–machine interactions: a systematic literature review and future perspectives
Authors: Ribino Patrizia
Published: June 2023

The growing prevalence of interactions between humans and machines, coupled with the rapid development of intelligent and human-like features in technology, necessitates considering the potential implications that an increasingly inter-personal interaction style might have on human behavior. Particularly, since human–human interactions are fundamentally affected by politeness rules, several researchers are investigating if such social norms have some implications also within human–machine interactions. This paper reviews scientific works dealing with politeness issues within human–machine interactions by considering a variety of artificial intelligence systems, such as smart devices, robots, digital assistants, and self-driving cars. This paper aims to analyze scientific results to answer the questions of why technological devices should behave politely toward humans, but above all, why human beings should be polite toward a technological device. As a result of the analysis, this paper wants to outline future research directions for the design of more effective, socially competent, acceptable, and trustworthy intelligent systems.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the potential effect of medicinal plants on innate immunity of selected freshwater fish species: its implications for fish farming in Southern Africa
Authors: Mbokane Esau Matthews , Moyo Ngonidzashe Adreck Gukuta
Published: June 2023

One of the major bottlenecks affecting the expansion of the freshwater aquaculture sector in developing countries is the outbreak of diseases. Fish farmers have traditionally relied on antibiotics and synthetic chemicals to control diseases. However, antibiotics and synthetic chemicals are associated with negative effects on the environment and consumers and their excessive use has resulted in antibiotic-resistant pathogens. In addition, the majority of freshwater fish farmers, especially small-scale farmers, have limited access to antibiotics and synthetic chemicals due to lack of resources. Medicinal plants have been reported to be suitable replacements in aquaculture, but their usage in aquaculture is still limited. The aim of this paper is to undertake a meta-analysis on the effect of medicinal plants on innate immune response and disease resistance in commonly farmed freshwater aquaculture fish species, namely Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and cyprinids (Labeo rohita and Cyprinus carpio). The analysis showed that the mean effect size for respiratory burst (− 1.90 (95% CI − 2.40; − 1.40), I2 = 100%, P = 0); lysozyme activity (0.05 (95% CI − 0.38; 0.48), I2 = 97%, P < 0.01); white blood cells (− 0.69 (95% CI − 1.16; − 0.23), I2 = 89%, P < 0.01); and phagocytic activity (− 1.21 (95% CI − 2.08; − 0.35), I2 = 91%, P < 0.01) was significantly different. Mean effect size for survival rates was not significantly different (2.56 (95% CI 0.10; 5.01), I2 = 0%, P = 1). The funnel plots for all parameters were asymmetrical, which indicates possible publication bias or the presence of systematic differences or inconsistencies among studies. Overall, the meta-analysis showed that medicinal plants could enhance immunity and disease resistance in tilapia, African catfish, carp, and trout. These findings reinforce the observation that plant supplements can be used to prevent disease outbreaks in aquaculture. It is therefore recommended that freshwater fish farmers in African regions such as Southern Africa learn to produce their own diets supplemented with plants at their farms in order to prevent diseases in cultured fish.