bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual and real ATM use performance in patients with acquired brain injury and healthy controls
Authors: Oliveira Jorge , Gamito Pedro , Pereira Rita , Salvador Ágata , Bourbon-Teles José , Dias Fábio , Galhordas João , Fantasia António
Published: June 2023

The acquired brain injuries (ABI) have consequences that affect the patients’ autonomy, particularly regarding activities of daily living (ADL). To reduce the impact that these changes will have on the patient’s life, it is important to develop diversified tasks with which individuals can train and improve their impaired abilities and strengthen those that are preserved. Therefore, this study aimed to validate a virtual ATM (Automated Teller Machine) task to be used to train patients with cognitive impairments. The sample consisted of 34 participants with ABI and 66 healthy controls. These participants performed the task either virtually or with a real ATM. Beyond revealing that the type of environment did not influence task performance, the results showed a relationship between the results of cognitive screening measures and the time to complete the task, in which participants with the lowest results had worse performance in the task. Also, the virtual ATM was more sensitive in discriminating the clinical group than the real task.
Fast but approximate homomorphic k-means based on masking technique
Authors: Rovida Lorenzo
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, computing on encrypted data seems to be more practical than a few years ago, thanks to the emergence of new Homomorphic Encryption schemes. In this paper, an algorithm based on Homomorphic Encryption for Arithmetic of Approximate Numbers (Cheon et al., in: Takagi, Peyrin (eds) Advances in cryptology—ASIACRYPT 2017, Springer, Cham, pp 409–437, 2017) (HEAAN, or also CKKS) scheme, that is able to perform a secure k-means algorithm which processes encrypted data, has been studied and presented. The performance of the classifier running on encrypted data has been evaluated using a standard k-means algorithm that works on plain data as a supervised structure, since the results are obtained by approximated computations. The main point of this paper is to take existent theoretical techniques (for example approximations of $$\text {sgn}(x)$$

sgn
(
x
)

), to use them and to observe if they are valid in practical applications. The output of the algorithm is a set of k encrypted masks that can be applied to the original dataset in order to obtain different clusters. The setting is a standard client–server one. The workload is heavily server-centric, as the client only has to execute a light masking algorithm at the end of each iteration, which, excluding the decryption, is faster than a plain k-means iteration; the main disadvantage concerns the accuracy of the results. Experiments show that the algorithm can be executed fairly quickly: the execution time of the training phase is on the order of seconds, while classification is on the order of tenths of a second.
A modeling approach to identify academically resilient students: evidence from PIRLS 2016
Authors: Johansson Stefan , Yang Hansen Kajsa , Thorsen Cecilia
Published: June 2023

In studies of academic resilience, the concept is typically operationalized by pre-defined cutoff values of students’ achievement level and their social background. A threat to the validity of such arbitrary operationalizations is that students around the cutoff values may be misclassified. The main objective of the current study is to apply a modeling approach to identify academically resilient students. Data come from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2016. The primary method used was latent profile analysis. The study demonstrates that it is possible to identify a group of academically resilient students using a set of variables indicating achievement level and protective factors. Even though results suggest that academically resilient students have higher reading achievement compared to other less-advantaged students, it is evident that they have higher interest and confidence in reading than the non-resilient groups. A sensitivity analysis for other countries indicated similar results. Implications stemming from the results are discussed.
Impact of performance and information feedback on medical interns' confidence–accuracy calibration
Authors: Staal J. , Katarya K. , Speelman M. , Brand R. , Alsma J. , Sloane J. , Van den Broek W. W. , Zwaan L.
Published: June 2023

Diagnostic errors are a major, largely preventable, patient safety concern. Error interventions cannot feasibly be implemented for every patient that is seen. To identify cases at high risk of error, clinicians should have a good calibration between their perceived and actual accuracy. This experiment studied the impact of feedback on medical interns’ calibration and diagnostic process. In a two-phase experiment, 125 medical interns from Dutch University Medical Centers were randomized to receive no feedback (control), feedback on their accuracy (performance feedback), or feedback with additional information on why a certain diagnosis was correct (information feedback) on 20 chest X-rays they diagnosed in a feedback phase. A test phase immediately followed this phase and had all interns diagnose an additional 10 X-rays without feedback. Outcome measures were confidence–accuracy calibration, diagnostic accuracy, confidence, and time to diagnose. Both feedback types improved overall confidence–accuracy calibration (R2No Feedback = 0.05, R2Performance Feedback = 0.12, R2Information Feedback = 0.19), in line with the individual improvements in diagnostic accuracy and confidence. We also report secondary analyses to examine how case difficulty affected calibration. Time to diagnose did not differ between conditions. Feedback improved interns’ calibration. However, it is unclear whether this improvement reflects better confidence estimates or an improvement in accuracy. Future research should examine more experienced participants and non-visual specialties. Our results suggest that feedback is an effective intervention that could be beneficial as a tool to improve calibration, especially in cases that are not too difficult for learners.
Analyzing countries’ performances within the international student mobility program over time
Authors: Breznik Kristijan , Restaino Marialuisa , Vitale Maria Prosperina , Ragozini Giancarlo
Published: June 2023

The phenomenon of internationalization is a priority for higher education institutions. The Erasmus program is the cornerstone of their internationalization strategy, bringing benefits for student recruitment and career outcomes, as well as for staff expertise. Within this scenario, our contribution aims to analyze the performance of European education systems in terms of learning mobility between countries from a longitudinal perspective. International student mobility is analyzed in the context of the Erasmus programs over twelve years in order to compare international mobility trajectories between European countries in terms of quantitative benchmarking and to identify the factors that may influence a country’s performance in terms of its role in mobility network exchanges. A mixed analytical strategy of analysis was adopted, combining exploratory and confirmatory approaches from a network perspective. Centrality indices and network modeling are computed to compare countries’ performances and factors affecting mobility patterns in higher education systems. The main findings can offer policy suggestions for universities in order to improve the quality of their international services.
Proliferating particle surface area via microbial decay has profound consequences for remineralisation rate: a new approach to modelling the degradation of sinking detritus in the ocean
Authors: Anderson Thomas R. , Gentleman Wendy C. , Cael B. B. , Hirschi Joël J.-M. , Eastwood Robert L. , Mayor Daniel J.
Published: June 2023

Sinking detritus particles in the ocean help to regulate global climate by transporting organic carbon into deep waters where it is sequestered from the atmosphere. The rate at which bacteria remineralise detritus influences how deep particles sink and the length-scale of carbon sequestration. Conventional marine biogeochemical models typically represent particles as smooth spheres where remineralisation causes surface area (SA) to progressively shrink over time. In contrast, we propose that particle SA increases during degradation as microbial ectoenzymes cause a roughening of surfaces in a process similar to acid etching on previously smooth glass or metal surfaces. This concept is investigated using a novel model, SAMURAI (Surface Area Modelling Using Rubik As Inspiration), in which the biomass of individual particles is represented as a 3D matrix of cubical sub-units that degrades by progressive removal of sub-units that have faces in contact with the external environment. The model rapidly generates microscale rugosity (roughness) that profoundly increases total SA, giving rise to biomass-specific remineralisation rates that are approximately double those of conventional models. Faster remineralisation means less carbon penetrates the ocean’s interior, diminishing carbon sequestration in deep waters. Results indicate that both SA and microbial remineralisation are highly dynamic, as well as exhibiting large variability associated with particles of different porosities. Our work highlights the need for further studies, both observational and modelling, to investigate particle SA and related microbial dynamics in order to reliably represent the role of ocean biology in global biogeochemical models.
Electroencephalography-Derived Functional Connectivity in Sensorimotor Networks in Post Stroke Fatigue
Authors: Wu Chi-Hsu , De Doncker William , Kuppuswamy Annapoorna
Published: June 2023

Background

Poor suppression of anticipated sensory information from muscle contractions is thought to underlie high fatigue. Such diminished task-related sensory attenuation is reflected in resting state connectivity. Here we test the hypothesis ‘altered electroencephalography (EEG)-derived functional connectivity in somatosensory network in the beta band, is a signature of fatigue in post-stroke fatigue’.

Methods

In non-depressed, minimally impaired stroke survivors (n = 29), with median disease duration of 5 years, resting state neuronal activity was measured using 64-channel EEG. Graph theory-based network analysis measure of functional connectivity via small-world index (SW) was calculated focusing on right and left motor (Brodmann areas 4, 6, 8, 9, 24 and 32) and sensory (Brodmann areas 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 40 and 43) networks, in the beta (13–30 Hz) frequency range. Fatigue was measured using Fatigue Severity Scale - FSS (Stroke), with scores of > 4, defined as high fatigue.

Results

Results confirmed the working hypothesis, with high fatigue stroke survivors showing higher small-worldness in the somatosensory networks when compared to low fatigue.

Conclusion

High levels of small-worldness in somatosensory networks indicates altered processing of somesthetic input. Such altered processing would explain high effort perception within the sensory attenuation model of fatigue.
Diet and lifestyle in relation to small intestinal cancer risk: findings from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)
Authors: Ersoy Guller Zeynep , Harewood Rhea N. , Weiderpass Elisabete , Huybrechts Inge , Jenab Mazda , Huerta José María , Sánchez Maria-Jose , Jakszyn Paula , Amiano Pilar , Ardanaz Eva , Agnoli Claudia , Tumino Rosario , Palli Domenico , Skeie Guri , Manjer Jonas , Papier Keren , Tjønneland Anne , Eriksen Anne Kirstine , Schulze Matthias B. , Kaaks Rudolf , Katzke Verena , Bergmann Manuela M. , Riboli Elio , Gunter Marc J. , Cross Amanda J.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The incidence of small intestinal cancer (SIC) is increasing, however, its aetiology remains unclear due to a lack of data from large-scale prospective cohorts. We examined modifiable risk factors in relation to SIC overall and by histological subtype.

Methods

We analysed 450,107 participants enrolled in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate univariable and multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

During an average of 14.1 years of follow-up, 160 incident SICs (62 carcinoids, 51 adenocarcinomas) were identified. Whilst univariable models revealed a positive association for current versus never smokers and SIC (HR, 95% CI: 1.77, 1.21–2.60), this association attenuated in multivariable models. In energy-adjusted models, there was an inverse association across vegetable intake tertiles for SIC overall (HRT3vsT1, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.32–0.71, p-trend: < 0.001) and for carcinoids (HRT3vsT1, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.24–0.82, p-trend: 0.01); however, these attenuated in multivariable models. Total fat was also inversely associated with total SIC and both subtypes but only in the second tertile (SIC univariable HRT2vsT1, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.38–0.84; SIC multivariable HRT2vsT1, 95% CI: 0.55, 0.37–0.81). Physical activity, intake of alcohol, red or processed meat, dairy products, or fibre were not associated with SIC.

Conclusion

These exploratory analyses found limited evidence for a role of modifiable risk factors in SIC aetiology. However, sample size was limited, particularly for histologic subtypes; therefore, larger studies are needed to delineate these associations and robustly identify risk factors for SIC.
A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of how corruption, education, inequality and trust in parliament affect voter-turnout
Authors: Cruz José N.
Published: June 2023

This article empirically examines whether corruption, education, inequality, and trust in parliament affect voter turnout in countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Specifically, fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis is used to determine whether these factors (individually or in combination) are necessary or sufficient conditions for high or low voter turnout. To date, this method has never been applied to the study of voter turnout and this study attempts to fill this gap. The main conclusion is that corruption harms democracy by lowering voter turnout. The analysis also provides evidence that trust in parliament affects political participation and that the persistence of low educational attainment in a country, together with high inequality, is a sufficient condition for low turnout. Overall, the results suggest the importance of fighting corruption for citizen participation in democracy. They also show that measures to increase turnout should combine improvements in democratic institutions, education, and distributive justice.
Closer to the senses in post-pandemic teacher training – Reclaiming the body in online educational encounters
Authors: Martín-Bylund Anna , Stenliden Linnea
Published: June 2023

This study qualitatively examines synchronous online encounters in Swedish teacher education, learning from the distance and hybrid mode triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, conceptualized as emergency remote teaching. The separation of bodies in such online teacher education challenges participants’ sensory involvement and how they can be “present” to one another. The aim of this study is to scrutinize body-sensory dimensions of presence to enlighten online encounters in teacher training in circumstances of emergency remote teaching, as well as in contemporary and future online teacher education, generally. Online encounters were documented by video recordings during online seminars and lectures, and by diary entries and focus groups with eight teacher educators and their students. With inspiration from a posthumanist problematization of communication and post-qualitative methodology, the analytical process puts the concepts alterity and attunement to work with the data. Results show that online teaching encounters provides an altered body-sensory situation to which participants sensorily attune in different ways, bringing both positive, and troublesome affects. Different sensory attunements further involve exploiting some body-sensory dimensions (i.e. vision) when others are concealed. When performing teacher training of all levels through emergency remote teaching/online teacher education, awareness of how the material setting of online encounters affects the body and thus the didactic conditions for building meaningful relationships in the study environment, is important. Since the lived body has a key role in teachers’ professional becoming, the study suggests a critical, creative consideration of its full sensory, along with further, qualitative expansion of online teacher education.
What does it mean to have an equal say?
Authors: Kapelner Zsolt
Published: June 2023

Democracy is the form of government in which citizens have an equal say in political decision-making. But what does this mean precisely? Having an equal say is often defined either in terms of equal power to influence political decision-making or in terms of appropriate consideration, i.e., as a matter of attributing appropriate deliberative weight to citizens’ judgement in political decision-making. In this paper I argue that both accounts are incomplete. I offer an alternative view according to which having an equal say is having a say as an equal. That is, having an equal say is to be defined in terms of citizens’ occupying a role of political decision-makers, i.e., the political office of the democratic co-ruler of the polity, such that no citizen is a secondary or auxiliary decision-maker; they rule together as equals. This view aligns with the traditional understanding of democracy as rule by the people while providing a coherent conceptual framework for specifying what it means for democratic citizens to have an equal say which incorporates the strengths of alternative accounts and overcomes some of their challenges.
A discretization of Holst’s action for general relativity
Authors: Beltrán Carlos E. , Zapata José A.
Published: June 2023

We present a simplicial model for gravity written in terms of a discretized Lorentz connection and a discretized tetrad field. The continuum limit of its action is Holst’s action for general relativity. With the intention of using it to construct spin foam modes for quantum gravity, we write two other equivalent models written in terms of a discretized and constrained B field. The differences between our model and existing models are most likely inessential in the sense that a quantization would lead to equivalent quantum theories in the Wilsonian continuum limit. Nevertheless, we mention two features leading to possible advantages: Curvature degrees of freedom are described at the level of each 4-simplex. Our model offers a picture of bulk geometry leading to actions for matter couplings that split as a sum over 4-simplices.
Investigating PhDs’ early career occupational outcomes in Italy: individual motivations, role of supervisor and gender differences
Authors: Carriero Renzo , Coda Zabetta Massimiliano , Geuna Aldo , Tomatis Francesca
Published: June 2023

The paper examines how individual motivations, the role of the supervisor and gender influence the early career path of doctorate holders. We investigate PhD graduates’ occupational outcomes beyond academia in the framework of current literature on the oversupply of PhD holders and labor market constraints. Our analysis relies on two unique datasets. The first, at the national level, includes microdata from the Italian National Institute of Statistics regarding about 41,000 graduates who account for over 70% of the population of 6 cohorts surveyed for the period 2004–2014. The other dataset is from a single university, and resulted from an original survey of 760 PhD holders who earned their doctorates from the University of Turin in 2007–2017. We find that PhD holders’ motivation towards science is associated with their subsequent employment in academia or in other research and non-research jobs. Sponsoring support in early career and the supervisor’s propensity for basic research also play a role in the future academic career path. Gender differences in type of occupation, however, continue to persist even taking motivations and the supervisor’s role into account.
Labor share as an "automatic stabilizer" of income inequality
Authors: Bises Bruno , Bloise Francesco , Scialà Antonio
Published: June 2023

We provide a new and unexplored explanation of the relationship between the functional and personal distribution of income. By proposing a simple theoretical framework, we show that, in the noncomprehensive personal income tax (PIT) hypothesis (i.e., when some or all capital income items are excluded from the PIT base), the correlation between disposable and market income inequality depends on the labor share level, which may influence the overall effectiveness of the tax-benefit system in addition to the PIT progressivity. We test our hypothesis using panel data on 33 OECD countries from 2000 to 2017 and find that a 10-pp increase in labor share is related to a 0.06 reduction in the correlation between market and disposable income inequality. This significant result obtained after controlling for country and year fixed effects, country-specific linear trends, and several confounders capturing the characteristics of the tax-benefit system suggests that labor share may act as an "automatic stabilizer" of market income inequality. Relevant implications for tax policy concern the role of the PIT's base for the public budget's overall redistributive effect.
An Innovative Selective Fluorescence Sensor for Quantification of Hazardous Food Colorant Allura Red in Beverages Using Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots
Authors: Salman Baher I.
Published: June 2023

An innovative simple, sensitive, and selective method has been developed and validated for quantification of hazardous Allura red (AR, E129) dye in beverages. Allura red (AR) is a synthetic dye that is commonly used in the food industry to give foods a bright and appealing color. The method is based on microwave-assistant nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N@CQDs) from a very cheap source with a high quantum yield equal to (36.60%). The mechanism of the reaction is based on an ion-pair association complex between AR and nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N@CQDs) at pH 3.2. The reaction between AR and N@CQDs led to a quenching effect of the fluorescence intensity of N@CQDs at 445 nm after excitation at 350 nm. Moreover, the quantum method’s linearity covered the range between 0.07 and 10.0 µg mL− 1 with a regression coefficient is 0.9992. The presented work has been validated by ICH criteria. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), Zeta potential measurements, fluorescence, UV-VIS, and FTIR spectroscopy have all been used to fully characterize of the N@CQDs. The N@CQDs were successfully utilized in different applications (beverages) with high accuracy.
Determination of Maximum Accuracy of Concrete Textures as Natural Targets for Movement Tracking Through DIC
Authors: Ferrer B , Tomás M. B. , Mas D.
Published: June 2023

The use of natural targets is one of the obstacles to the extensive use of digital image cross-correlation for measuring movements in civil structures. Long distance measurement through image and without access to the structure itself, brings results in an improvement in accessibility, being the procedure cheaper and safer than common methods that require direct access to the measuring point. One of the most used materials in construction is concrete. Therefore, it is important to analyze its performance when using image cross-correlation. In this work, we have made a series of concrete probes with different production characteristics to have a representative variety of concrete surfaces. With them, we have studied their floor error in a cross-correlation procedure using different illumination and blur conditions, to evaluate the influence of those parameters on the results. All results are compared to those obtained using the conventional texture for image cross-correlation techniques, that is a pseudo-speckle target. All experiments are done in laboratory conditions to control all variables involved and to avoid the influence of other variables linked to open air conditions, such as atmospheric disturbances. As a result, we have determined the best conditions to use the natural concrete texture and we have quantified that using this texture leads to a decrease in the accuracy of the results from two to three times the one obtained with a typical pseudo-speckle texture.
Weather, climate change, and transport: a review
Authors: Gössling Stefan , Neger Christoph , Steiger Robert , Bell Rainer
Published: June 2023

Transportation is affected by weather and extreme weather events, and there is evidence that heatwaves, heavy precipitation, storms, wildfires, and floods increasingly affect transport infrastructures, operations, and travel behavior. Climate change is expected to reinforce this trend, as mean weather parameters change, and the frequency and intensity of extreme events increases. This paper summarizes interrelationships of weather and transport for different transport modes from both supply and demand side perspectives on the basis of a literature review. To further explore the complexity of these interrelationships, it also evaluates news items (n = 839) in a sample of global media news outlets covering the world and population-dense world regions. Results confirm that extreme events have become disruptive of transport systems at the micro and macro scale, also affecting transport behavior. There are implications for environment, economy, technology, health, and society. Interrelationships are illustrated and discussed: Climatic impact drivers can be expected to increase transport vulnerabilities and risks, and have relevance for transport planning and adaptation.
Data assimilation method for improving the global spatiotemporal predictions of epidemic dynamics yielded by an ensemble Kalman filter and Metropolis–Hastings sampling
Authors: Liu Feng , Nie Xiaowei , Wu Adan , Zhao Zebin , Ma Chunfeng , Ning Lijin , Zhu Yajie , Wang Liangxu , Guo Xuejun , Li Xin
Published: June 2023

Assimilating the latest epidemic data can improve the predictions of epidemic dynamics compared with those using only dynamic models. However, capturing the nonlinear spatiotemporal heterogeneity remains challenging. We propose a data assimilation method to simultaneously update the parameters and states with respect to their spatiotemporal variation intervals by (1) developing a susceptible-infected-removed-vaccinated model by considering vaccination strategy and quarantine periods and (2) assimilating real-time epidemic data using an ensemble Kalman filter for daily updates of the state variables and Metropolis–Hastings sampling for weekly parameter estimation. Synthetic experiments and a WebGIS-based global prediction system demonstrate the sufficient nowcasting accuracy of this method. An analysis of the system outcomes shows that modeling vaccination details, embedding reasonable model and observation errors, using up-to-date parameters, and avoiding the prediction of sporadic cases can increase the correlation coefficient and coefficient of determination by more than 31.35% and 161.19%, respectively, and decrease the root mean square error by more than 54.17%. Our prediction system has been working well for more than 700 days. Its worldwide nowcasting accuracies have been continuously improved, where the overall correlation coefficients, coefficient of determination, and threat percent score exceed 0.7, 0.5 and 65%, respectively. The proposed method lays promising groundwork for the real-time spatiotemporal prediction of infectious diseases.
Resultant moral luck and the scope of moral responsibility
Authors: Rolffs Matthias
Published: June 2023

Resultant moral luck occurs whenever aspects of an agent’s moral responsibility are affected by luck pertaining to the outcomes of their actions. Many authors reject the existence of moral luck in this sense, but they do so in different ways. Michael Zimmerman argues that resultant luck affects the scope of moral responsibility, but not its degree. That is, it affects what agents are responsible for, but not how responsible they are. Andrew Khoury takes a more resolute approach, arguing that both the scope and the degree of moral responsibility are free from resultant luck.

In this paper, I criticize both accounts and develop an alternative. I argue, first, that Khoury’s approach leads to an implausibly far-reaching error-theory about moral responsibility. Second, Zimmerman’s account cannot account for all the ways in which moral responsibility comes in degrees. Third, these problems can be overcome by introducing a distinction between two concepts of responsibility that both come with scope and degree. The first concept I call internal responsibility, as it applies exclusively to agent-internal factors. The second concept I call external responsibility, as it applies to (partly) agent-external factors such as actions and their outcomes. Given this distinction, we can avoid the problems of Khoury’s as well as Zimmerman’s accounts while preserving the central intuition behind the rejection of resultant moral luck.
Effects of spring wheat / faba bean mixtures on early crop development
Authors: Paul Madhuri R. , Demie Dereje T. , Seidel Sabine J. , Döring Thomas F.
Published: June 2023

Aims

Intercropping cereals and grain legumes has the potential to increase grain yield in comparison to the respective sole crops, but little is known about mixture effects at the early crop developmental stage. In cereal legume mixtures, the cereal is usually the dominating partner. We aimed to find out when domination starts, which factors may enhance early domination, and if there is a legacy effect of early domination on later growth stages.

Methods

We set up field trials at a low input conventional site in 2020 and an organic site in 2020 and 2021. Treatments included all possible monocultures and 1:1 mixtures of twelve spring wheat (SW) entries, and two faba bean (FB) cultivars. All combinations were each sown in two sowing densities. To measure the effect of the mixture on early crop development, we counted crop emergence (plant m-2) at ~ 23 days after sowing (DAS) and crop biomass dry matter at ~ 52 and ~ 82 DAS.

Results

We found positive mixture effects on SW emergence at the conventional site and on SW and FB emergence at the organic site in 2021. Spring wheat was the dominating partner in all three environments; SW domination, without suppressing FB, was already noticed at emergence at the conventional site. There, a small head start of SW at emergence favored dominance at later growth stages and lead to superiority over FB in terms of plant biomass.

Conclusions

Understanding early dominancy as observed here may help managing competition in mixture to enhance complementarity and improve productivity.
Non-rigid point cloud registration for middle ear diagnostics with endoscopic optical coherence tomography
Authors: Liu Peng , Golde Jonas , Morgenstern Joseph , Bodenstedt Sebastian , Li Chenpan , Hu Yujia , Chen Zhaoyu , Koch Edmund , Neudert Marcus , Speidel Stefanie
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Middle ear infection is the most prevalent inflammatory disease, especially among the pediatric population. Current diagnostic methods are subjective and depend on visual cues from an otoscope, which is limited for otologists to identify pathology. To address this shortcoming, endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides both morphological and functional in vivo measurements of the middle ear. However, due to the shadow of prior structures, interpretation of OCT images is challenging and time-consuming. To facilitate fast diagnosis and measurement, improvement in the readability of OCT data is achieved by merging morphological knowledge from ex vivo middle ear models with OCT volumetric data, so that OCT applications can be further promoted in daily clinical settings.

Methods

We propose C2P-Net: a two-staged non-rigid registration pipeline for complete to partial point clouds, which are sampled from ex vivo and in vivo OCT models, respectively. To overcome the lack of labeled training data, a fast and effective generation pipeline in Blender3D is designed to simulate middle ear shapes and extract in vivo noisy and partial point clouds.

Results

We evaluate the performance of C2P-Net through experiments on both synthetic and real OCT datasets. The results demonstrate that C2P-Net is generalized to unseen middle ear point clouds and capable of handling realistic noise and incompleteness in synthetic and real OCT data.

Conclusions

In this work, we aim to enable diagnosis of middle ear structures with the assistance of OCT images. We propose C2P-Net: a two-staged non-rigid registration pipeline for point clouds to support the interpretation of in vivo noisy and partial OCT images for the first time. Code is available at: https://gitlab.com/nct_tso_public/c2p-net.
Improving the Interparticle Bonding and Ductility of Cold Sprayed Aluminum Alloys by Deformation Processing
Authors: Özsaygılı Özüm , Huang Huang , Ando Teiichi
Published: June 2023

Cold spray (CS) can produce thick coatings and free-standing bulk materials and is adaptable to additive manufacturing, including on-site repair. However, the structural applications of CS materials have been limited by the inherently incomplete interparticle metallurgical bonding in CS materials. In this work, an ultrasonic washing test (UWT) was used to semi-quantitatively assess the extent of interparticle bonding in CS Al6061 and CS Al2024 in relation to key CS parameters and post-CS deformation processing. Results indicate that spraying with a lighter gas or a softer powder promotes the interparticle bonding, although full metallurgical bonding is hardly achieved even by spraying at high deposition efficiencies. Sprayed particles remain in the deposit only because they acquire partial bonding that is sufficient to prevent them from bouncing off. Post-CS rolling and T6 heat treatment increase the interparticle bonding and hence ductility of CS Al alloys. Ultrasonic ironing (UI), a new post-CS deformation processing technique, also produces similar effects. The increased interparticle bonding by post-CS deformation processing arise from fragmentation of oxide layers inherited from powder particle surfaces and consequent metal-to-metal joining at the particle boundaries.
How do firms value sales career paths?
Authors: Keshavarz Ali Reza , Rouzies Dominique , Kramarz Francis , Quelin Bertrand , Segalla Michael
Published: June 2023

Sales employees can build their careers across industries, firms, and occupations. Yet it is unclear how their sales career paths affect their compensation. To assess the value of their experience, we examine the paychecks drawn by nearly 25,000 sales employees over 22 years. Consistent with our arguments, we find that firms place greater value on sales managers' experience than salespeople’s, reflecting the multiplier effect attributed to managers. In particular, sales occupation experience seems to be the most salient type of experience for both groups, as it is fungible across industries and firms. We uncover two distinct paths in sales organizations: the salesperson’s career path rewarding sales experience and another path providing promotional prospects in sales. Analyses indicate that most newly promoted sales managers have no sales experience and move laterally from other managerial positions. Implications of our findings for research and sales-compensation practice are discussed.
Activation maps of convolutional neural networks as a tool for brain degeneration tracking in early diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease based on magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Suwalska Aleksandra , Siuda Joanna , Kocot Szymon , Zmuda Weronika , Rudzinska-Bar Monika , Polanska Joanna
Published: June 2023

Identification of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients at risk for development of dementia is crucial for early intervention. However, diagnosing dementia in PD patients requires the use of a time-consuming and complex battery of psychological tests performed by an experienced psychologist. The study aims to prove the usefulness of convolutional neural networks for the identification of brain areas related to the progress of cognitive impairment by using standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences. T1 & T2 sequences of 18 patients were used in the pilot study. Activation maps were generated, and the brain regions most involved in the classification process were identified, showing areas potentially significant in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment severity. The cerebellum was proven significant for distinguishing the above-mentioned classes in relative cerebellum volume (ANOVA p value = 0.0038 with large effect size $$\eta ^{2}$$

η
2

= 0.5254) and folding (p value = 0.0031, $$\eta ^{2}$$

η
2

= 0.5357), which is consistent with reports by other authors. Our analysis demonstrates that convolutional neural networks combined with a proper image preprocessing pipeline could be used for feature extraction in MRI sequences and can successfully support the identification of disease-specific abnormalities of the brain image.
Recent Advances in MercuryDPM
Authors: Thornton Anthony R. , Plath Timo , Ostanin Igor , Götz Holger , Bisschop Jan-Willem , Hassan Mohamed , Roeplal Raïsa , Wang Xiuqi , Pourandi Sahar , Weinhart Thomas
Published: June 2023

In this paper we introduce the open-source code MercuryDPM: a code for simulating discrete particles. The paper discusses software and management issues that may be interesting for the developers of other open-source codes. Then we review the new features that have been added since the last publication: an improved Hertz-Mindlin model; a new liquid bridge model of Lian and Seville; a droplet-spray model; better support for re-creating complex, measured particle size distributions; a new implementation of rigid clumps; an implementation of elastic membranes; a wear model for walls; a soft-kill feature and a cloud-deployment interface for AWS.
Combined Effect of Airborne Ultrasound and Temperature On the Drying Kinetics and Quality Properties of Kiwifruit (Actinidia Deliciosa)
Authors: Llavata B. , Femenia A. , Clemente G. , Cárcel J. A.
Published: June 2023

Drying is one of the most used options for the stabilization of the surpluses resulting from kiwifruit industrialization for their upcycling. However, drying conditions, such as drying temperature or ultrasound application during drying to intensify the process, can highly affect its final quality. Thus, with the aim to assess the combined influence of temperature and ultrasound application in the drying process of kiwifruit, ultrasonically assisted drying experiments were performed at 40, 50, 60 and 70 ºC. The process kinetics was greatly dependent on the temperature, as shown by the activation energy value obtained, 30.95 kJ/mol. Ultrasound application increased the drying kinetics, with its influence being more marked at the lowest temperatures tested. The increase in effective diffusivity and the mass transfer coefficient induced by ultrasound application was similar to the increase induced by an increase of drying temperature of 10 ºC. Drying caused a significant change in the color although the use of ultrasound helped to preserve it at the higher temperatures. Antioxidant capacity and vitamin C content decreased after drying, but the total phenolic content increased. The greatest retention of the antioxidant properties was observed in ultrasonically assisted samples dried at the highest temperatures. In the case of fiber properties, the best results were obtained at intermediate ones. Drying kiwifruit at 60 ºC with ultrasound application could serve as a means of balancing a fast drying process and good final quality.
A Continuous Transition from $$\mathcal {E}$$-Sets to R-sets and Beyond
Authors: Ding Jie , Heittokangas Janne , Wen Zhi-Tao
Published: June 2023

The well-known $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
-set introduced by Hayman in 1960 is a countable collection of Euclidean discs in the complex plane, whose subtending angles at the origin have a finite sum. An important special case of an $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
-set is known as the R-set, for which the sum of the diameters of the discs is finite. These sets appear in numerous papers in the theories of complex differential and functional equations. A given $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
-set (hence an R-set) has the property that the set of angles $$\theta $$
θ
for which the ray $$\arg (z)=\theta $$

arg
(
z
)
=
θ

meets infinitely many discs in the $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
-set has linear measure zero. This paper offers a continuous transition from $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
-sets to R-sets and then to much thinner sets. In addition to rays, plane curves that originate from the zero distribution theory of exponential polynomials will be considered. It turns out that almost every such curve meets at most finitely many discs in the collection in question. Analogous discussions are provided in the case of the unit disc $$\mathbb {D}$$
D
, where the curves tend to the boundary $$\partial \mathbb {D}$$

∂
D

tangentially or non-tangentially. Finally, these findings will be used for improving well-known estimates for logarithmic derivatives, logarithmic differences and logarithmic q-differences of meromorphic functions, as well as for improving standard results on exceptional sets.
Efficient hybrid digital image watermarking
Authors: Eldaoushy Amany F. , Desouky Moawad I. , El-Dolil Sami A. , El-Fishawy Adel S. , El-Samie Fathi E. Abd
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, multimedia security is a major issue. Images, video, audio, and text files lose credibility in most times, because they face several attacks related to illegal distribution, duplication, and manipulation of the information conveyed by them. Digital watermarking is an important tool for protecting digital content. This paper introduces an efficient hybrid digital image watermarking scheme. It consists of two stages of Singular Value Decomposition (SVD). The first one is the embedding stage, which is performed by using SVD followed by block-based SVD (B-SVD). The second stage is the extraction stage, which depends on the SVD on the whole image and then B-SVD to get the original watermarks. In this scheme, the watermarking requirements are satisfied, while capacity is increased. Furthermore, watermark detection, robustness, and security are improved. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated by the correlation coefficientCrbetween the original and extracted watermarks, and the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) between the original and watermarked images. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme has a good performance, whereCrreaches 0.9975 andPSNRreaches 45.8605. It is more secure than the previous schemes, when subjected to attacks. In addition, the proposed scheme is compared to the most recent schemes, revealing its superiority.
Teaching creative writing in primary schools: a systematic review of the literature through the lens of reflexivity
Authors: Barton Georgina , Khosronejad Maryam , Ryan Mary , Kervin Lisa , Myhill Debra
Published: June 2023

Teaching writing is complex and research related to approaches that support students’ understanding and outcomes in written assessment is prolific. Written aspects including text structure, purpose, and language conventions appear to be explicit elements teachers know how to teach. However, more qualitative and nuanced elements of writing such as authorial voice and creativity have received less attention. We conducted a systematic literature review on creativity and creative aspects of writing in primary classrooms by exploring research between 2011 and 2020. The review yielded 172 articles with 25 satisfying established criteria. Using Archer’s critical realist theory of reflexivity we report on personal, structural, and cultural emergent properties that surround the practice of creative writing. Implications and recommendations for improved practice are shared for school leaders, teachers, preservice teachers, students, and policy makers.
Green diesel production using stearic and palmitic acids on Ni catalysts obtained from Ternary Hydrotalcites Ni-Mg–Al
Authors: Sánchez-Cupil J. L. , Cuevas-García R. , Ramírez J. , Gutiérrez-Alejandre A. , Jiménez-Díaz M. L.
Published: June 2023

Ni-Mg–Al ternary hydrotalcites (HTs) with molar ratio M2+ (Ni2+  + Mg2 +)/Al = 3, and different content of Ni, Ni0Mg3, Ni2Mg1, Ni2Mg1, Ni3Mg0 were prepared. The HTs were calcined and then reduced to generate catalysts based on metallic Ni, which, were used to produce green diesel from a mixture of stearic and palmitic acids at 320 °C and 1400 psia of H2. A reaction scheme was proposed; the main products were alkanes n-C17 and n-C15. The prepared catalysts carry out, mainly, reactions of decarboxylation (DCX) and decarbonylation (DCN), and some hydrocracking. The most active catalyst was Ni2Mg1 because it forms small clusters of nickel, apparently stabilized on MgO or NiO-MgO spinel like structures.

Graphical Abstract
The Influence of Grandparents on Children’s Dietary Health: A Narrative Review
Authors: Jongenelis Michelle I. , Budden Timothy
Published: June 2023

Purpose of Review

To examine and synthesise recent evidence on the role of grandparents in shaping children's dietary health.

Recent Findings

The influence of grandparents on children’s dietary health was evident across studies. Grandparents frequently provide their grandchildren with meals and snacks, and engage in many of the same feeding practices used by parents. Although grandparents report providing their grandchildren with healthy foods, the provision of treat foods high in sugar or fat was a common finding. This provision led to family conflict, with the indulgent behaviours of grandparents seen by parents as a barrier to healthy eating.

Summary

Grandparents are exerting significant influence on child dietary health. Efforts are needed to ensure these care providers are considered key stakeholders in the promotion of healthy eating and are targeted in policies and programs addressing children’s diets. Research that determines how to best support grandparents to foster healthy behaviours in children is critical.
Human–Animal Interactions in Disaster Settings: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wu Haorui , Heyland Lindsay K. , Yung Mandy , Schneider Maryam
Published: June 2023

This systematic review aimed to assess the current knowledge of human–animal interactions (HAIs) in disaster settings and identify areas for future research. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses search was conducted on three multidisciplinary databases, identifying English-language journal articles published between January 2000 and February 2022 that explored the benefits of and challenges associated with HAI in disasters and emergencies. The review analyzed 94 articles using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The review found a paucity of universal terminology to describe the bidirectional relationship between humans and animals during disasters and a failure to include all animal types in every stage of disaster and emergency management. Additionally, research predominantly focused on the health and well-being benefits of HAI for humans rather than animals. Efforts to promote social and environmental justice for humans and their co-inhabitants should support the welfare of both humans and animals in disaster settings. Four recommendations were developed based on these findings to increase the inclusion of HAI in research, policy, and practice. Limitations of the review included the exclusion of pre-2000 articles and all grey literature, limited research examining different combinations of animal and disaster types, and limited research outside of North America.