bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment and deployment of a LSTM-based virtual sensor in an industrial process control loop
Authors: González-Herbón Raúl , González-Mateos Guzmán , Rodríguez-Ossorio José R. , Prada Miguel A. , Morán Antonio , Alonso Serafín , Fuertes Juan J. , Domínguez Manuel
Published: December 2024

Measurement of certain variables within the industrial sector remains a challenge due to the prohibitive costs of sensors, the intricate installation processes, or the continuous nature of production demands. Moreover, if a backup sensor is required in case the main sensor fails, the installation and maintenance difficulties are further increased. A possibility to address this issue is the indirect estimation of the desired variable by leveraging other correlated measures within the operational process. Data-driven techniques are well-suited for this aim, given their capacity to model potentially complex industrial processes. This paper proposes the implementation of a virtual flow sensor for its integration in the control loop of an industrial process. More specifically, four different data-driven methods have been tested to obtain the virtual sensor: multiple linear regression (MLR), multilayer perceptron (MLP), long-short term memory (LSTM) and deep long-short term memory (DeepLSTM). MAE, RMSE and $$R^2$$

R
2

have been chosen as evaluation metrics for model selection and testing. Furthermore, the robustness of the virtual flow sensor is not only evaluated under ideal operating conditions, but it is also tested under adverse conditions with various noise levels added to the measured signals. Additionally, the performance of the flow control loop using the real and virtual sensors is also evaluated in both ideal and adverse conditions. IAE, ITAE, and IAVU indices are used to assess the control performance. The results prove the robustness of the LSTM-based virtual flow sensor and the effectiveness of the control loop using it, avoiding the modification of the controller and interrupting the process when the real flow sensor fails.
Coupling ultrasound and membrane filtration for the fractionation of Spirulina platensis sp. and the recovery of phycocyanin and pigment-free proteins
Authors: Obeid Sara , Rida Hussein , Peydecastaing Jérôme , Takache Hosni , Ismail Ali , Pontalier Pierre-Yves
Published: November 2024

The cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was subjected to a fractionation process involving ultrasound-assisted extraction and membrane filtration to obtain a pure phycocyanin fraction and a clarified colorless protein fraction free of chlorophyll and carotenoids. The effects of pressure and power on total protein release were assessed. The retention of the extracted proteins was then assessed by ultrafiltration, with and without ammonium sulfate precipitation. Total protein recovery yields reached 97% in aqueous solution, at a low frequency (12 kHz), atmospheric pressure, and with an ultrasonic power of 200 Watts (W). Ammonium sulfate (25% w/v) precipitation was used to remove pigments and impurities from the crude protein extract. Finally, semi-frontal ultrafiltration resulted in high levels of C-phycocyanin recovery in the retentate: 95% and 91% with 10 and 100 kDa-cutoff membranes, respectively. However, the levels of total non-pigmented proteins in the permeate compartment did not exceed 67% with a 100 kDa-cutoff membrane. A fractionation process is proposed here for the valorization of two different protein fractions from Spirulina platensis.
Toddler Screen Time: Longitudinal Associations with Autism and ADHD Symptoms and Developmental Outcomes
Authors: Hill Monique Moore , Gangi Devon N. , Miller Meghan
Published: November 2024

Greater screen time is associated with increased symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (autism), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and lower scores on measures of development in preschool-aged community samples. In the current longitudinal study, we examined screen time differences at 18 months of age based on clinically-defined outcomes (i.e., Autism, ADHD Concerns, Comparison) determined at age 3–5 years in a genetically-enriched sample based on family history, along with prospective associations between toddler screen time and preschool autism/ADHD symptoms and developmental achievement. Participants (n = 82) included children at high and low familial likelihood for autism and ADHD. Children with Autism and ADHD Concerns outcomes experienced significantly more screen exposure at 18 months than children without autism or elevated symptoms of ADHD. Greater screen time at 18 months was also associated with preschool symptoms of autism and ADHD and lower developmental achievement across the sample. Preschoolers with neurodevelopmental challenges experienced more screen exposure earlier in development than same-age peers, increasing potential for negative developmental impacts.
Emergent Leadership and Gender Differences: A Comparative Case Study of 5–6-Year-Olds in Makerspaces
Authors: Peleg Adela , Levy Sharona T.
Published: November 2024

This research delves into the dynamics of 5–6-year-old children’s interactions within makerspaces, which are emerging as innovative environments in early childhood education. Despite their growing popularity, there is a notable absence of research evaluating the activities in these spaces for young learners. To address this gap, we conducted a comparative case study, observing three kindergarten classrooms. Qualitative data, gathered through observations, questionnaires, and interviews, provided insights into the children’s makerspace experiences and the social processes in which they engage. The findings yielded two major themes. Firstly, some children, often marginalized in other classroom settings, assumed leadership roles within makerspaces, highlighting their unique knowledge and potential for leadership development. Secondly, gender differences emerged, with boys engaging in mimetic activities influenced by male role models, and girls pursuing goal-oriented approaches. These differences reflect the interplay between gender roles, societal influences, and early childhood learning in makerspaces. We conclude that makerspaces serve as powerful environments in nurturing both resilience and creativity among young learners. This research provides educators with a deeper understanding of how to harness the potential of makerspaces for promoting leadership, achieving gender equity, and unraveling pivotal social interactions—all vital components of contemporary education.
High strehl and high contrast for the ELT instrument METIS
Authors: Feldt Markus , Bertram Thomas , Correia Carlos , Absil Olivier , Cárdenas Vázquez M. Concepción , Coppejans Hugo , Kulas Martin , Obereder Andreas , Orban de Xivry Gilles , Scheithauer Silvia , Steuer Horst
Published: November 2024

The Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph (METIS) is a first-generation instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), Europe’s next-generation 39 m ground-based telescope for optical and infrared wavelengths, which is currently under construction at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) site at Cerro Armazones in Chile. METIS will offer diffraction-limited imaging, low- and medium-resolution slit spectroscopy, and coronagraphy for high-contrast imaging between 3 and 13 microns, as well as high-resolution integral field spectroscopy between 3 and 5 microns. The main METIS science goals are the detection and characterisation of exoplanets, the investigation of proto-planetary disks, and the formation of planets. The Single-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (SCAO) system corrects atmospheric distortions and is thus essential for diffraction-limited observations with METIS. SCAO will be used for all observing modes, with high-contrast imaging imposing the most demanding requirements on its performance. The Final Design Review (FDR) of METIS took place in the fall of 2022; the development of the instrument, including its SCAO system, has since entered the Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing (MAIT) phase. Numerous challenging aspects of an ELT Adaptive Optics (AO) system are addressed in the mature designs for the SCAO control system and the SCAO hardware module: the complex interaction with the telescope entities that participate in the AO control, wavefront reconstruction with a fragmented and moving pupil, secondary control tasks to deal with differential image motion, non-common path aberrations and mis-registration. A K-band pyramid wavefront sensor and a GPU-based Real-Time Computer (RTC), tailored to the needs of METIS at the ELT, are core components. This current paper serves as a natural sequel to our previous work presented in Hippler et al. (2018). It reflects all the updates that were implemented between the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and FDR, and includes updated performance estimations in terms of several key performance indicators, including achieved contrast curves. We outline all important design decisions that were taken, and present the major challenges we faced and the main analyses carried out to arrive at these decisions and eventually the final design. We also elaborate on our testing and verification strategy, and, last not least, comprehensively present the full design, hardware and software in this paper to provide a single source of reference which will remain valid at least until commissioning.
Accessibility of Vulnerable Populations to Essential Opportunities: a Multimodal Approach with Application to Four Polish Cities
Authors: Radzimski Adam
Published: November 2024

Accessibility to essential opportunities is one of key measures of sustainability and equity of transport systems. This paper provides an overview of previous studies in this field and introduces a new method for calculating a relative accessibility score that takes into account multimodal travel scenarios. The method is then applied to four second-tier Polish cities: Gdańsk, Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław. The study includes five different types of destinations: education, jobs, healthcare, retail, and green areas, and three sustainable modes of transport: walking, cycling, and public transport. Accessibility scores are compared to population distributions and indicators of spatial autocorrelation are used to identify areas of insufficient accessibility. Results suggest that the degree of equity in accessibility distribution varies across categories of destinations. The share of vulnerable residents in low accessibility clusters was higher for retail and green areas than for education, jobs, and healthcare. The proposed method can be useful in identifying areas of socio-economic vulnerability that require improvements in accessibility.
Technological adoptions and sector-specific innovations in a low-tech environment: key actors and sources of R&D in InsurTech
Authors: Ozcan Sercan , Vogel Dominik Brian , Saritas Ozcan
Published: November 2024

Following financial technologies’ rapid growth, innovations and R&D are entering the insurance industry. The development of technologies such as smart sensors, artificial intelligence, and mobile technologies offers potential for disruptive innovations to revolutionise the industry. This paper identifies the key technological adoptions and R&D in the field of InsurTech considering the sources of innovations and actors through patentometrics. It analyses the main areas of granted patents and patent applications in this field. The present literature provides both quantitative and qualitative information about key areas, investments, and further financial data in the field, but a thorough patent analysis is not yet available. This study also contributes to the adoption and innovation theories. It outlines a new angle by examining the sources of innovations and technological adoptions through both academic and professional lenses. Patentometrics helps to identify the technological clusters and main actors globally. Patent applications can reveal potential future focus points. Hence, the analysis of patents can provide a more specific outlook than an extrapolation of historical financial data. In addition, interviews with experts are conducted to justify the results of the patentometrics and to collect further information. The results show how, in a low-tech environment, innovations occur with the support of third parties and industry-specific R&D and organisations. Interestingly, most adopters and innovators are within the insurance industry. Analysing InsurTech patent applications leads to the identification of R&D activities in the vehicle, health, and property insurance areas. These areas can represent the future trends of innovations in the InsurTech industry.
Interrater reliability of different scoring systems for drug-induced sleep endoscopy
Authors: Mitsikas Dimitrios , Jakob Benedikt , Janjic Vlado , Hasler Corinne , Tschopp Samuel
Published: November 2024

Purpose

To explore the interobserver reliability of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) of two classification systems.

Methods

DISE examinations were recorded digitally for all patients and were evaluated independently by five examiners blinded to all patient data. Areas of obstruction were rated using VOTE (velum, oropharynx lateral wall, tongue base, epiglottis) classification and PTLTbE (palate, tonsils, lateral pharyngeal wall, tongue base, epiglottis) classification. Additionally, palatal coupling was assessed during the jaw thrust maneuver. Interobserver reliability was evaluated with Fleiss’ kappa for categorical data and linearly weighted kappa for ordinal data.

Results

In total, 123 patients were included in this study, 92 males and 31 females, with a mean (SD) age of 50.7 (12.1) years and a body mass index (BMI) of 28.3 (5.0) kg/m2. The mean apnea-hypopnea index was 22.2 (18) per hour, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale was 7.3 (2.3). In our cohort, the interobserver reliability for the VOTE classification ranged from 0.32 to 0.59 and for the PTLTbE classification from 0.23 to 0.49 over all assessed levels, indicating fair to moderate interobserver reliability. The weighted kappa for palatal coupling was 0.37. In the VOTE classification, the level with the best agreement was the velum, while in PTLTbE, the best agreement was observed for tonsillar obstruction.

Conclusion

The interrater agreement was fair to moderate for both classifications, with no clear superiority for one classification. The large variability shows the need to objectively quantify upper airway collapse during DISE and natural sleep endoscopy.
A Novel Real-time Phase Prediction Network in EEG Rhythm
Authors: Liu Hao , Qi Zihui , Wang Yihang , Yang Zhengyi , Fan Lingzhong , Zuo Nianming , Jiang Tianzi
Published: November 2024

Closed-loop neuromodulation, especially using the phase of the electroencephalography (EEG) rhythm to assess the real-time brain state and optimize the brain stimulation process, is becoming a hot research topic. Because the EEG signal is non-stationary, the commonly used EEG phase-based prediction methods have large variances, which may reduce the accuracy of the phase prediction. In this study, we proposed a machine learning-based EEG phase prediction network, which we call EEG phase prediction network (EPN), to capture the overall rhythm distribution pattern of subjects and map the instantaneous phase directly from the narrow-band EEG data. We verified the performance of EPN on pre-recorded data, simulated EEG data, and a real-time experiment. Compared with widely used state-of-the-art models (optimized multi-layer filter architecture, auto-regress, and educated temporal prediction), EPN achieved the lowest variance and the greatest accuracy. Thus, the EPN model will provide broader applications for EEG phase-based closed-loop neuromodulation.
Multilocus sequence typing, antimicrobial susceptibility, and phage discovery of motile Aeromonas species from the pond-cultured goldfish Carassius auratus on two farms in Japan
Authors: Fudeshima Kazuki , Kitaoka Kazuki , Kaneko Tomoyoshi , Yamamura Shuichi , Yamasaki Yuki , Mizutani Hiromasa , Miyanaga Kazuhiko , Tanji Yasunori , Mano Nobuhiro , Tsuneda Satoshi
Published: December 2024

Motile Aeromonas spp., including Aeromonas hydrophila, A. caviae, and A. veronii biovar sobria can cause motile aeromonad disease and pose serious threats to the aquaculture industry. Motile aeromonads showing high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to widely used various antibiotics in global aquaculture production have been reported. Several studies have shown that A. hydrophila phages are effective in treating infected fish. However, in Japan, epidemiological reports and phage studies of motile Aeromonas spp. isolated from fish are scarce. In this work, we visited two goldfish farms in Japan between 2020 and 2021, and obtained 33 motile Aeromonas isolates from Carassius auratus exhibiting symptoms of motile aeromonad disease. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed that the isolated motile aeromonads belonged to a wide variety of sequence types (STs) including new STs. The ST2007 accounted for 50% (6/12) of A. hydrophila isolates, and each was isolated at different timepoints and farms. The isolated bacteria exhibited high MICs for oxolinic acid, nitrofural, sulfamerazine, and oxytetracycline; 13 isolates (39%) which presented with MICs above commercially used concentrations of oxolinic acid, nitrofural, and sulfamerazine in Japan and were classified as non-wild types for oxytetracycline. The subsequently isolated phages showed high specificity for the motile aeromonads isolates.
Successful immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab in a patient with pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma
Authors: Inukai-Motokura Yumi , Ninomiya Kiichiro , Baba Takahiro , Omori Hiroki , Takeguchi Tetsuya , Uno Mari , Ayada Yoshiyuki , Tanaka Takehiro , Maeda Yoshinobu , Ohashi Kadoaki
Published: November 2024

Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP) is a rare form of lung cancer that occasionally presents with lymph node and extrapulmonary metastases, and multiple lesions. The treatment of metastatic PSP remains undefined. This study reports the case of a 48-year-old female patient diagnosed with PSP following surgical intervention for a solitary nodule in the left lower lobe. Four years later, recurrence occurred in the left hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, necessitating an additional resection. Concurrently, sacral metastases developed and required palliative radiotherapy. Genetic analysis identified an AKT1 E17K mutation, characteristic of PSP, and absence of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in the tumor. Two years post-recurrence, the tumor recurred in the left mammary gland and mediastinal lymph nodes. Combination immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab yielded a significantly positive response in this metastatic PSP case. This is the first reported case of successful treatment of multiple distant metastatic PSP with ipilimumab and nivolumab, following the failure of various local treatments. Further case series are warranted to validate the efficacy of immunotherapy in metastatic PSP.
Gut microbiota and epigenetic age acceleration: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Xu Han , Li Ouyang , Kim Dayoung , Bao Zhijun , Yang Fan
Published: November 2024

Background

The gut microbiota is closely related to aging, but the genetic relationship between gut microbiota and aging has not been well investigated. The aim of the study was to explore the association of microbiota with epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) using the Mendelian randomization.

Method

The independent genetic instruments of gut microbiota were obtained from MiBioGen consortium and the Dutch Microbiome Project. EAA data were derived from genome-wide association study. To assess the causal relationship between gut microbiota and EAA, we applied four different methods of Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis: the inverse variance weighted method (IVW), the MR-Egger regression, the weighted median analysis (WMA), and the weighted mode. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.

Results

We identified potential causal associations between 12 bacterial taxa and EAA (PIVW and PWMA < 0.05). Among them, species Holdemania_unclassified (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.13–1.52, P = 0.0004) retained a strong positive association with GrimAge acceleration. Family Acidaminococcaceae (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.44–0.93, P = 0.019) and family Clostridiaceae1 (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49–0.97 P = 0.031) were negative association with GrimAge acceleration. Reverse MR analyses indicated that EAA was associated with 6 bacterial taxa in IVW and WMA. Among them, a strong inverse association was found between Phenoage acceleration and genus Turicibacter (OR: 0.928, 95%CI: 0.888–0.971, PIVW and PWMA < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study implicates the potential causal effects of specific microbiota on EAA, potentially providing novel insights into the prevention aging through specific gut microbiota.
Implizite pädagogische Konzepte in Angeboten der Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung für zugewanderte Erwachsene
Authors: Pusch Barbara
Published: November 2024

Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE) richtet sich heute mit vielfältigen Projekten und Bildungsangeboten an unterschiedliche Zielgruppen; seit 2015 werden auch zugewanderte Erwachsene verstärkt adressiert. Der Beitrag setzt an diesem Punkt an und untersucht die BNE-Verständnisse und pädagogischen Ansatzpunkte ausgewählter BNE-Angebote. Dazu wurden mit der Dokumentarischen Diskursinterpretation BNE-relevante Kapitel von fünf Orientierungskursbüchern sowie öffentlich zugängliche Informationen wie Webseiten, Videos, Flyer, Presseinterviews, Projektzusammenfassungen und Handreichungen von zehn BNE-Angeboten ausgewertet. Aus den untersuchten Materialien konnten fünf Diskursstränge rekonstruiert werden, die in diesem Beitrag anhand von fünf Bildungsangeboten, die diese Diskurse repräsentieren, dargestellt werden. Mit Blick auf die verfolgten pädagogischen Konzepte zeigen die Rekonstruktionen, dass die untersuchten BNE-Angebote vor allem ältere pädagogische Ansätze aufgreifen, wodurch neuere Perspektiven auf Bildung und Erziehung in der Migrationsgesellschaft in diesen Bildungsangeboten weitgehend unberücksichtigt bleiben. Auch die BNE-Verständnisse, die den untersuchten BNE-Angeboten zugrunde liegen, divergieren stark und reichen von Umweltverständnissen, die sich auf Mülltrennung und Sauberhaltung der unmittelbaren Umwelt beschränken, bis hin zu umfassenden Auseinandersetzungen mit Nachhaltigkeit, die einem BNE-Verständnis gerecht werden, das auf ergebnisoffene Reflexions‑, Lern- und Bildungsprozesse abzielt und BNE als facettenreiches, mehrdimensionales Lernfeld versteht.
Investigation of continuous fiberglass reinforcement on additively manufactured primitive scaffolds
Authors: Polte Julian , Uhlmann Eckart , Del Conte Erik Gustavo , Marcello Arthur Ferreira , Heusler Franziska , de Sousa Rogerio Ramos , de Oliveira Amanda Rossi
Published: November 2024

Fused Filament Fabrication is an Additive Manufacturing technology that allows continuous fiber reinforcement to be incorporated into printed parts during manufacturing. Materials like short carbon fiber reinforced Polyamide 6 serve as matrix material between the continuous fibers, resulting in a superposition of continuous and short fiber reinforcement. This facilitates the production of lightweight components with high rigidity and strength. Furthermore, Additive Manufacturing enables the integration of complex geometries like Triply Periodic Minimal Surface structures. The combination of these structures with a strategic fiber reinforcement offers the potential for substantial improvement in mechanical properties. This study presents a strategy for optimized integration of continuous fiberglass into Fused Filament Fabrication-printed primitive Triply Periodic Minimal Surface. The objective was to achieve a maximum enhancement in mechanical properties and optimal manufacturability. Finite Element Simulations indicated that the necks of the structures were regions experiencing significant stress concentration, which was addressed with the strategical positioning of continuous fiber along these areas. Morphological and thermal analyses were conducted to determine optimal printing conditions for processing the feedstock materials. The printed structures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and the effectiveness of the fiber reinforcement was demonstrated by compression tests. The strategic placement of the continuous fiberglass resulted in an increase in maximum strength of Δσmax = 185% and in Young’s modulus of ΔE = 95%. Furthermore, an increase in absorbed energy capacity of ΔW = 123% and in crushing strength of Δσc = 94% at the first peak were measured. The results show the considerable potential of selective continuous fiberglass integration into Triply Periodic Minimal Surface structures. The substantial improvement of the mechanical properties suggests that material can be reduced and thereby enable the production of significantly lighter and more sustainable components.
Exploring the Psychometric Properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC)
Authors: Minnett Katie , Stephenson Zoe
Published: December 2024

The aim of this paper was to critically evaluate the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The CD-RISC is a brief, self-report instrument consisting of 25 items on a 5-point Likert scale which ranges from zero to four with higher scores reflecting greater resilience. A five-factor scale is used to conceptualise resilience with eight items on personal competence, high standards, and tenacity; seven items on trust in one’s instinct, tolerance of negative effects, and strengthening effects of stress; five items on positive acceptance of change and secure relationships; three items on control; and two items on spiritual influences. The CD-RISC has been used across a range of contexts and populations and has been translated into many languages. The CD-RISC has been critically evaluated as a part of wider reviews and has been critiqued within individual studies which have utilised the measure; however, there has not yet been a specific, critical evaluation of the scale which provides a comprehensive picture of the measure by drawing such research together. Given how widely the measure is used across both clinical and non-clinical populations, it is felt necessary to provide clinicians and researchers with an evaluation of the measure in terms of its reliability and validity. Such information is essential when drawing conclusions from scores on the measure. As such, this article will present and discuss the strengths and limitations of the CD-RISC with reference to its psychometric properties. In addition, the implications of the findings of the review will be discussed with reference to its use in current practice and research.
Perceived values of luxury fashion brands—evidence from Indonesian Millennials
Authors: Sun Yan , Wang Rachel , Bai Huifeng , Whyatt Georgina , Ohandi Tesalia Tamara
Published: December 2024

Consumers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries represent rapid growth, and they are anticipated to become next wave of important markets for luxury fashion sector. This empirical study aims to examine millennials’ perceptions towards luxury fashion brand values and how these influence their purchase intentions in Indonesia, the biggest market in the ASEAN. Through quantitative research, the primary data was collected from 301 self-completed online questionnaires. It is revealed that Indonesian millennials regard the consumption of luxury fashion brands as an investment. Meanwhile, ethical and sustainability issues have become increasingly important in consumers’ decisions to purchase luxury fashion brands. Based upon the value-based segmentation of luxury consumption, the present study recognizes that Indonesian millennials prioritize symbolic and financial values and seek conspicuousness in line with self-identity.
Democratizing value alignment: from authoritarian to democratic AI ethics
Authors: Huang Linus Ta-Lun , Papyshev Gleb , Wong James K.
Published: December 2024

Value alignment is essential for ensuring that AI systems act in ways that are consistent with human values. Existing approaches, such as reinforcement learning with human feedback and constitutional AI, however, exhibit power asymmetries and lack transparency. These “authoritarian” approaches fail to adequately accommodate a broad array of human opinions, raising concerns about whose values are being prioritized. In response, we introduce the Dynamic Value Alignment approach, theoretically grounded in the principles of parallel constraint satisfaction, which models moral reasoning as a dynamic process that balances multiple value principles. Our approach also enhances users’ moral and epistemic agency by granting users greater control over the values that influence AI behavior. As a more user-centric, transparent, and participatory framework for AI ethics, our approach not only addresses the democratic deficits inherent in current practices but also ensures that AI systems are flexibly aligned with a diverse array of human values.
Hall effect thruster impedance characterization in ground-based vacuum test facilities
Authors: Jovel David R. , Cabrera Janice D. , Walker Mitchell L. R.
Published: December 2024

Hall effect thrusters (HETs) are typically regarded as DC electric propulsion devices as they are operated with isolated DC power supplies. However, it is well known that the HET’s discharge current possesses oscillations of varying magnitudes and frequencies and is thus a function of time with AC characteristics. The observed oscillations are caused by plasma processes associated with ion, electron, and neutral particle dynamics that occur inside the HET’s discharge channel and in the plume as the HET electrically interacts with its local operating environment. The extent to which plasma oscillations impact HET discharge dynamics is difficult to quantify due to the complexity of analyzing AC signals, given that the HET is a nonlinear, time-variant electrical load. In this work, we overcome the challenge of nonlinearity and time-variance of HETs by conducting a small-signal impedance analysis to characterize the effective resistance and reactance of the HET discharge with a novel and versatile impedance measurement diagnostic. The impedance magnitude and phase of a 7-kW class HET were measured from 100 Hz to 300 kHz with an excitation signal of ± 2 Vpk for two discharge operating conditions on krypton: 4.5 kW, 15 A and 6 kW, 20 A. The results were used to quantify resistive, capacitive, and inducive characteristics present within the HET discharge signature. For the 4.5 kW, 15 A thruster operating condition, the breathing mode capacitance was estimated to be 12.6 µF with an inductance of 15.3 µH. Furthermore, the impedance characteristics of the breathing mode are within ± 2.4 kHz of the power spectral density plots independently generated by time-resolved oscilloscope traces indicating good agreement in the frequency domain. Thus, the impedance measurement tool is a new diagnostic for characterizing the impedance and associated AC characteristics of HETs.
Microbial diversity and cover plants in de-sealed urban soil as strategies for mitigating anthropogenic volatile organic compounds
Authors: Cucu Maria Alexandra , Neri Luisa , Sillo Fabiano , Zampieri Elisa , Calvo Alice , Giovannini Luca , De Benedictis Cinzia , Zaldei Alessandro , Gioli Beniamino , Baraldi Rita , Balestrini Raffaella
Published: December 2024

Urbanization exacerbates soil degradation, compromising global soil health and biodiversity. To reduce this, strategies for soil de-sealing and bioremediation are necessary. In a mesocosm experiment using a de-sealed soil from an urban site as substrate, an inoculum of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and two cover plants, Cynara cardunculus L. and Trifolium repens L., were utilized to assess their effects on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and soil microbial community dynamics. The soil status was investigated employing soil VOC and metabarcoding analyses. Our results showed that the soil VOC emission was mainly composed by anthropogenic derived VOCs, especially arene and furan classes. These two classes were shown to be less concentrated in C. cardunculus soils, with and without AM fungal inoculation, suggesting a positive impact of these conditions on soil health restoration. Additionally, AM fungal inoculation of C. cardunculus resulted in increased bacterial alpha diversity, with enhanced Proteobacteria/Acidobacteria, Cyanobacteria/Chloroflexi, and Fungi/Bacteria ratios, suggesting an improvement in soil quality conditions. In our experimental conditions, order Chloroflexales and specific bacterial genera, including Ralstonia, Delftia, Ramlibacter, were identified as contributors to VOC degradation, highlighting their adaptability in contaminated environments. Overall, this study provided evidence on the importance of integrating AM fungal inoculation and specific flowerbed/ornamental plants in urban soil management after de-sealing processes.
God and Happiness
Authors: Shea Matthew
Published: November 2024

This Element explores the connection between God and happiness, with happiness understood as a life of well-being or flourishing that goes well for the one living it. It provides a historical and contemporary survey of philosophical questions, theories, and debates about happiness, and it asks how they should be answered and evaluated from a theistic perspective. The central topics it covers are the nature of happiness (what is it?), the content of happiness (what are the constituents of a happy life?), the structure of happiness (is there a hierarchy of goods?), and the possibility of happiness (can we be happy?). It argues that God's existence has significant, positive, and desirable implications for human happiness.
Elliott Carter's String Quartet No. 1
Authors: Emmery Laura
Published: November 2024

This Element offers a critical analysis of the history of Elliott Carter's String Quartet No. 1 and the composer's rise to public acclaim, not through the study of the work itself but through intriguing and captivating narratives that surround this quartet and their socio-cultural-political context, which led Carter to become one of the most dominant voices in the post-1945 American music scene. Carter's road to success was meticulously paved by powerful institutions and individuals, including critics, scholars, festival and radio programming directors, and the US government, for whom, in the context of the Cold War, Carter was chosen to represent an exemplary American triumphant story. The author argues that it is not the quartet itself that contributed to Carter's reception and legacy, but the inextricable narratives that we associate with this work.
Ethics and the Environment
Authors: Jamieson Dale
Published: November 2024

This new edition of a widely used and cited introduction to ethics and the environment offers a broad and lively discussion of nature's future, focusing on climate change, conservation, and justice for both our contemporaries and future generations. It discusses the nature of environmental problems and their relationship to economics, religion, technology, and aesthetics. It includes incisive discussions of our moral relations with other animals, and of how animals are used in our food systems. It also provides a deep discussion of the value of nature, which takes up ecofeminist and deep ecology views as well as sentientism and biocentrism.  It discusses the plurality of values, and applies this analysis to some conflicts from the author's home state of California. The volume is comprehensively revised and updated, with several new chapters, and concludes with a compelling discussion of the question “How should I live?” in this new epoch of the Anthropocene.
Usage-centered, efficient, and sustainable: an IoT-driven transformation of water heaters
Authors: Chaudhry Hassan Habib , Raja Ramish Majeed , Zahid Muhammad Azmeer , Zaffar Nauman , Alizai Muhammad Hamad , Bhatti Naveed Anwar
Published: November 2024

In developing countries, a significant amount of natural gas is used for household water heating, accounting for roughly 50% of total usage. Legacy systems, typified by large water heaters, operate inefficiently by continuously maintaining a large volume of water at a constant temperature, irrespective of demand. With dwindling domestic gas reserves and rising demand, this increases dependence on expensive energy imports.

We introduce a novel Internet of Things (IoT)-inspired solution to understand and predict water usage patterns and only activate the water heater when there’s a predicted demand. This retrofit system is maintenance-free and uses a rechargeable battery powered by a thermoelectric generator (TEG), which capitalizes on the temperature difference between the heater and its environment for electricity. Our study shows a notable 70% reduction in natural gas consumption compared to traditional systems. Our solution offers a sustainable and efficient method for water heating, addressing the challenges of depleting gas reserves and rising energy costs.
Hegel’s Family and the Problem of Modern Patriarchy
Authors: Rustighi Lorenzo
Published: November 2024

This paper addresses the problem of patriarchy in Hegel’s Philosophy of Right by focusing on his conceptualization of family life. The question is not whether the social order envisaged by Hegel is patriarchal or not: his account of the domestic relations between the sexes, in the first place, leaves no doubt about the fact that what he has in mind is a society ruled by men at all levels, while women have no access to public life broadly conceived (from the labour market to corporations and political affairs). The point is rather to ask what kind of patriarchal order this is. Through an analysis of Hegel’s joint criticism of both the social contract and the marriage contract, I intend to show how a specifically modern form of patriarchal rule, understood as pure masculine domination, has emerged as the product of the contractualist interpretation of social relationships. Hegel helps us indeed acknowledge that a peculiar kind of dominion, one that systematically places the structure of arbitrariness at the heart of politics, is inscribed in the rationale of contractualism in so far as it has progressively become the theoretical basis of legitimate authority in modern European states. Patriarchy, in this context, surfaces as the negation of traditional patriarchal rule: it consists in the formalistic and thus arbitrary absolutization of a masculine order that is no longer articulated in society’s constitutional arrangement but is ideologically subsumed from an unproblematized social experience. Hegel’s patriarchal order, on the contrary, remains a strictly political-constitutional feature of the organization of ethical life. Although his views in this regard are both despicable and unviable for us, then, his speculative contribution concerning the conceptual framework of social domination can help us better frame modern and contemporary forms of patriarchy.
Observations on the structure of turbulent boundary layers interacting with embedded propeller tip vortices
Authors: Virgilio M. , Biler H. , Chaitanya P. , Ganapathisubramani B.
Published: December 2024

The study presents observations on the interaction of double-blade propeller tip vortices with a smooth-wall turbulent boundary layer (TBL). The wall-bounded helicoidal vortices from the propeller modify the velocity profiles and turbulence statistics. The effects of two different tip clearances,

$\epsilon = 0.1\delta _0$

and

$0.5\delta _0$

, at a matched thrust, are explored with particle image velocimetry to understand the dynamics of tip-vortex formation within the logarithmic and wake regions of the boundary layer. The measurements are performed with

$\lambda =U_{tip}/U_{\infty }$

in the range 5.3–5.9, and a blade passing frequency (

$\,f_{prop}$

) of the same order of the boundary-layer time scale (

$\,f_{TBL}$

). Observations indicate a reduction in the extent of the log region and an enhancement of the wake parameter

$\varPi$

, mirroring the behaviour seen in TBLs under adverse pressure gradient conditions. Notably, the slipstream most contracted region exhibits a significant reduction in the skin friction coefficient

$C_f$

and an amplification of the velocity fluctuation statistics across the entire boundary layer. At a clearance of

$\epsilon = 0.1\delta _0$

, there is evidence of the formation of paired coherent wall-bounded structures. The presence of the wall decreases the amplitude of both periodic and stochastic fluctuations obtained with a phase-locked triple decomposition. An exception is observed behind the propeller for the stochastic fluctuations of the wall-normal component of the flow, which become amplified as the blades move away from the wall. This leads to the creation of a more intense phase-locked two-point spatial coherence than that observed in fluctuations aligned with the streamwise direction. Furthermore, results reveal that reduced tip clearances lead to higher viscous dissipation and more active energy exchange between the mean flow and organized motions.
An extension of the compound flow theory with friction between the streams and at the wall
Authors: Van den Berghe Jan , Mendez Miguel A. , Bartosiewicz Yann
Published: December 2024

Compound flows consist of two or more parallel compressible streams in a duct and their theoretical treatment has gained attention for the analysis and modelling of ejectors. Recent works have shown that these flows can experience choking upstream of the geometric throat. While it is well known that friction can push the sonic section downstream of the throat, no mechanism has been identified yet to explain its displacement in the opposite direction. This study extends the existing compound flow theory and proposes a one-dimensional (1-D) model, including friction between the streams and the duct walls. The model captures the upstream and downstream displacements of the sonic section. Through an analytical investigation of the singularity at the sonic section, it is demonstrated that friction between the streams is the primary driver of upstream displacement. The 1-D formulation is validated against axisymmetric Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes simulations of a compound nozzle for various inlet pressures and geometries. The effect of friction is investigated using an inviscid simulation for the isentropic case and viscous simulations with both slip and no-slip conditions at the wall. The proposed extension accurately captures the displacement of the sonic section, offering a new tool for in-depth analysis and modelling of internal compound flows.
An experimental study of flow near an advancing contact line: a rigorous test of theoretical models
Authors: Gupta Charul , Choudhury Anjishnu , Chandrala Lakshmana D. , Dixit Harish N.
Published: November 2024

The flow near a moving contact line depends on the dynamic contact angle, viscosity ratio and capillary number. We report experiments involving immersing a plate into a liquid bath, concurrently measuring the interface shape, interfacial velocity and fluid flow using digital image processing and particle image velocimetry. All experiments were performed at low plate speeds to maintain small Reynolds and capillary numbers for comparison with viscous theories. The dynamic contact angle, measured in the viscous phase, was kept below

$90^{\circ }$

and the viscosity ratio,

$\lambda < 1$

. This region of parameter space is largely unexplored for advancing contact lines. An important aim of the present study is to provide new experimental data against which new contact line models can be developed. The flow field is directly compared against the prediction from the viscous theory of Huh & Scriven (J. Colloid Interface Sci., vol. 35, issue 1, 1971, pp. 85–101) but with a slight modification involving the curved interface. Remarkable agreement is found between experiments and theory across a wide parameter range. The prediction for interfacial speed from Huh & Scriven is also in excellent agreement with experiments except in the vicinity of the contact line. Material points along the interface were found to rapidly slow down near the contact line, thus alleviating the singularity at the moving contact line. To the best of our knowledge, such a detailed test of theoretical models has not been performed before and we hope the present study will spur new modelling efforts in the field.
Thrust generation by shark denticles
Authors: Savino Benjamin S. , Wu Wen
Published: December 2024

Direct numerical simulation is performed for flow separation over a bump in a turbulent channel. Comparisons are made between a smooth bump and one where the lee side is covered with replicas of shark denticles – dermal scales that consist of a slender base (the neck) and a wide top (the crown). As flow over the bump is under an adverse pressure gradient (APG), a reverse pore flow is formed in the porous cavity region underneath the crowns of the denticle array. Remarkable thrust is generated by the reverse pore flow as denticle necks accelerate the fluid passing between them in the upstream direction. Several geometrical features of shark denticles, including some that had not previously been considered hydrodynamically functional, are identified to form the two-layer denticle structure that enables and sustains the reverse pore flow and thrust generation. The reverse pore flow is activated by the APG before massive flow detachment. The results indicate a proactive, on-demand drag reduction mechanism that leverages and transforms the APG into a favourable outcome.
First-passage time for Sinai’s random walk in a random environment
Authors: Hong Wenming , Sun Mingyang
Published: November 2024

We investigate the tail behavior of the first-passage time for Sinai’s random walk in a random environment. Our method relies on the connection between Sinai’s walk and branching processes with immigration in a random environment, and the analysis on some important quantities of these branching processes such as extinction time, maximum population, and total population.
The People’s Court: Dissonant Institutionalization and Judicial Populism in Pakistan
Authors: Kureshi Yasser
Published: November 2024

What is a populist judge, and when do judges embrace populism? Populist judges bypass legal and procedural constraints, seek an unmediated relationship with the public, and claim to represent the public better than political elites. Judicial populism can emerge in response to institutionalized dissonance in the political system. Dissonant institutionalization facilitates contestation between state institutions and can undermine the legitimacy of political institutions. This legitimacy crisis can imbue judges with a belief in their role as representatives of the public interest. In Pakistan, the dissonance caused by unresolved differences between the civil-military bureaucracy and the elected political leadership—differences that were embedded into the constitutional framework, facilitated the rise of judicial populism. I outline the key features of judicial populism and study the dynamics surrounding the rapid expansion of populist jurisprudence between 2005 and 2019 in Pakistan, with a focus on public interest litigation that became the cornerstone of the judiciary’s populist turn. Through case analysis, archival research, and semi-structured interviews, I discuss features of the populist approach to jurisprudence and trace how dissonance within Pakistan’s political system created new opportunities for the judiciary and changed judicial role conceptions within the legal and judicial community.