bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Approximate ground truth generation for semantic labeling of historical documents with minimal human effort
Authors: Rahal Najoua , Vögtlin Lars , Ingold Rolf
Published: June 2024

Deep learning approaches have shown high performance for layout analysis of historical documents, provided that enough labeled data is available. This is not an issue for generic tasks such as image binarization, text graphics separation, or text line and text block detection but can become an impediment for more specialized tasks specific to one or a few books only. This paper addresses layout analysis of medieval books with rich and complex layouts, for which no labeled data is initially available. The proposed strategy consists of training an initial model with artificial data created to reflect the rules a deep neural network should learn. Then, the model is iteratively fine-tuned by mixing the artificial data with real data obtained by previous predictions, post-processed, and manually selected by an expert user. Such a strategy needs less human effort than manual ground truthing. The approach is qualitatively and quantitatively assessed and shows that the system converges to an accurate model that finally produces approximate ground truth stable and good enough to train a final model to solve the targeted task with high accuracy.
Estimation of optimal adherence threshold for tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Harris Jennifer Toth , Yang Yi , Bentley John P. , Chen Yixin , Ramachandran Sujith
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Optimal adherence thresholds can vary across medications and disease states. The objective of the study was to determine the optimal threshold of the proportion of days covered (PDC) for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Patients with RA initiating self-administered TNF inhibitors were identified using 2012–18 Medicare fee-for-service claims. Time-varying PDC was calculated every day for the preceding 90 days during follow-up. Oral and injected glucocorticoid use, hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits, serious infections, and a composite of these were measured as outcomes. Time to first occurrence of each outcome as a function of time-varying PDC for TNF inhibitors was evaluated using Cox regression. Incident/dynamic time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves and Youden’s J index were used to obtain the optimal PDC threshold for outcomes at 365 days.

Results

Of the 1190 patients who met the study inclusion criteria, almost 75% (865 patients) experienced at least one of the outcomes. Increasing PDC by 10% was significantly associated with decreased risks of the composite outcome (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–1.00), oral glucocorticoid use (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91–0.96), and hospitalization (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.99) but an increased risk of ER visits (HR 1.04, 95% 1.01–1.07). Optimal PDC thresholds for the composite outcome, oral glucocorticoid use, and hospitalization were 0.64, 0.59, and 0.56, respectively.

Conclusions

Increased PDC was associated with a decreased risk of adverse outcomes, except ER visits. The optimal PDC for TNF inhibitors in Medicare patients with RA based on clinical outcomes was about 60%.

Key Points• The optimal proportion of days covered threshold for tumor necrosis factor inhibitors at 365 days based on clinical outcomes was found to be about 60%, which is lower than the traditional 80% used to define adherence.• Increased adherence was associated with decreased risks of oral glucocorticoid use, hospitalization, and the composite outcome. However, it was also associated with an increased risk of emergency room visits.• The mean time-varying 90-day proportion of days covered decreased throughout the study starting 92% at day 1 of follow-up to 62% at day 365.
Energy abundance, the geographical distribution of manufacturing, and international trade
Authors: Elliott Robert J. R. , Sun Puyang , Zhu Tong
Published: June 2024

One of the main challenges of the current energy transition is how countries can deliver a low-carbon future while at the same time ensuring they can meet an ever growing demand for energy. This paper investigates how the spatial distribution of endowments of energy resources influences the location of firms and their subsequent exports. Employing a pseudo-endowment approach, we measure energy abundance using province-sector-year input data for Chinese provinces from 2006 to 2010. Our results suggest that energy abundance has a positive and significant impact on the location of industrial production, especially for energy intensive sectors. Nonetheless, the impact of energy abundance on trade flows is much smaller than on production shares, in terms of both the magnitude and significance. Further analysis explores how an uneven distribution of new coal mines, fuel prices, and policy-driven shocks affect the location of production and trade. Our study contributes to understanding the economic consequences of the energy transition, particularly regarding the phase-out of traditional energy sources such as coal and its impact on firm location and trade flows.
Regional ionospheric correction generation for GNSS PPP-RTK: theoretical analyses and a new interpolation method
Authors: Zhang Wenhao , Wang Jinling , Khodabandeh Amir
Published: June 2024

The regional ionospheric corrections have become one of the critical parts of Precise Point Positioning (PPP)-based Real-Time-Kinematic (RTK) services to achieve fast positioning convergence. Several methods for regional ionospheric corrections supporting PPP-RTK have been developed and implemented over recent years, but little attention is given to the theoretical foundation of existing ionospheric correction methods and their performance comparison to find an optimal method in some sense. The optimality criterion of such methods should not only be based on the precision of the ionospheric correction itself, but also on its broadcasting strategies, and implementation aspects. This contribution studies ionospheric correction generation methods within the best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) framework. Comparing the accuracy performances of the methods, we demonstrate that the Kriging method with trend, as a special case of BLUP, is the most appropriate method for large-scale networks (above 500 km). A strategy for the evaluation of the uncertainty of the grid-interpolated ionospheric corrections is also developed. In contrast to other empirical methods, this new method is rigorous in the sense that it avoids the underestimation of the uncertainty of predicted ionospheric corrections, especially when reference stations are close to a grid point.
Regional-scale spatiotemporal landslide probability assessment through machine learning and potential applications for operational warning systems: a case study in Kvam (Norway)
Authors: Nocentini Nicola , Rosi Ascanio , Piciullo Luca , Liu Zhongqiang , Segoni Samuele , Fanti Riccardo
Published: June 2024

The use of machine learning models for landslide susceptibility mapping is widespread but limited to spatial prediction. The potential of employing these techniques in spatiotemporal landslide forecasting remains largely unexplored. To address this gap, this study introduces an innovative dynamic (i.e., space–time-dependent) application of the random forest algorithm for evaluating landslide hazard (i.e., spatiotemporal probability of landslide occurrence). An area in Norway has been chosen as the case study because of the availability of a comprehensive, spatially, and temporally explicit rainfall-induced landslide inventory. The applied methodology is based on the inclusion of dynamic variables, such as cumulative rainfall, snowmelt, and their seasonal variability, as model inputs, together with traditional static parameters such as lithology and morphologic attributes. In this study, the variables’ importance was assessed and used to interpret the model decisions and to verify that they align with the physical mechanism responsible for landslide triggering. The algorithm, once trained and tested against landslide and non-landslide data sampled over space and time, produced a model predictor that was subsequently applied to the entire study area at different times: before, during, and after specific landslide events. For each selected day, a specific and space–time-dependent landslide hazard map was generated, then validated against field data. This study overcomes the traditional static applications of machine learning and demonstrates the applicability of a novel model aimed at spatiotemporal landslide probability assessment, with perspectives of applications to early warning systems.
A New Coding System for the Identification of Left Ventricular Rotation Patterns and Their Relevance to Myocardial Function
Authors: Mora Vicente , Geraldo Juan , Roldán Ildefonso , Galiana Ester , Gil Celia , Escribano Pablo , Arbucci Rosina , Hidalgo Alberto , Gramage Paula , Trainini Jorge , Carreras Francesc , Lowenstein Jorge
Published: June 2024

Rotational mechanics is a fundamental determinant of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The coding system currently employed in clinical practice does not distinguish between rotational patterns. We propose an alternative coding system that makes possible to identify the rotational pattern of the LV and relate it to myocardial function. Echocardiographic images were used to generate speckle tracking-derived transmural global longitudinal strain (tGLS) and rotational parameters. The existence of twist (basal and apical rotations in opposite directions) is expressed as a rotational gradient with a positive value that is the sum of the basal and apical rotation angles. Conversely, when there is rigid rotation (basal and apical rotations in the same direction) the resulting gradient is assigned a negative value that is the subtraction between the two rotation angles. The rotational patterns were evaluated in 87 healthy subjects and 248 patients with LV hypertrophy (LVH) and contrasted with their myocardial function. Our approach allowed us to distinguish between the different rotational patterns. Twist pattern was present in healthy controls and 104 patients with LVH and normal myocardial function (tGLS ≥ 17%, both). Among 144 patients with LVH and myocardial dysfunction (tGLS < 17%), twist was detected in 83.3% and rigid rotation in 16.7%. LVEF was < 50% in 34.7%, and all patients with rigid rotation had a LVEF < 50%. The gradient rotational values showed a close relationship with LVEF (r = 0.73; p < 0.001). The proposed coding system allows us to identify the rotational patterns of the LV and to relate their values with LVEF.
Frequency and characteristics of errors by artificial intelligence (AI) in reading screening mammography: a systematic review
Authors: Zeng Aileen , Houssami Nehmat , Noguchi Naomi , Nickel Brooke , Marinovich M. Luke
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) for reading breast screening mammograms could potentially replace (some) human-reading and improve screening effectiveness. This systematic review aims to identify and quantify the types of AI errors to better understand the consequences of implementing this technology.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched for external validation studies of the accuracy of AI algorithms in real-world screening mammograms. Descriptive synthesis was performed on error types and frequency. False negative proportions (FNP) and false positive proportions (FPP) were pooled within AI positivity thresholds using random-effects meta-analysis.

Results

Seven retrospective studies (447,676 examinations; published 2019–2022) met inclusion criteria. Five studies reported AI error as false negatives or false positives. Pooled FPP decreased incrementally with increasing positivity threshold (71.83% [95% CI 69.67, 73.90] at Transpara 3 to 10.77% [95% CI 8.34, 13.79] at Transpara 9). Pooled FNP increased incrementally from 0.02% [95% CI 0.01, 0.03] (Transpara 3) to 0.12% [95% CI 0.06, 0.26] (Transpara 9), consistent with a trade-off with FPP. Heterogeneity within thresholds reflected algorithm version and completeness of the reference standard. Other forms of AI error were reported rarely (location error and technical error in one study each).

Conclusion

AI errors are largely interpreted in the framework of test accuracy. FP and FN errors show expected variability not only by positivity threshold, but also by algorithm version and study quality. Reporting of other forms of AI errors is sparse, despite their potential implications for adoption of the technology. Considering broader types of AI error would add nuance to reporting that can inform inferences about AI’s utility.
Spatial variability in water strontium isotopes and trace metals from the Clarence River Basin, New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Stoot Lauren J. , Baumgartner Lee J. , Butler Gavin L. , Thiem Jason D. , Knowles Brett M. , Doran Gregory S.
Published: June 2024

Understanding fish movement in river systems is essential in identifying habitats which are important for species to perpetuate. Water chemistry, paired with fish otoliths, can be used to trace movements among different habitats, although a detailed understanding of spatial variation in water chemistry is first required. To obtain this knowledge, we analysed surface water collected from 59 sites throughout the Clarence River Basin, a coastal river basin in northern New South Wales, Australia. The primary objective was to quantify the spatial variation of trace metals and strontium isotope ratios (87Sr:86Sr) for future and paired use with otolith microchemistry to track fish movement. Using ICP-OES, we identified that some trace metals, particularly strontium and barium as well as 87Sr:86Sr ratios, varied spatially when analysing all water samples and revealed three distinct regions centring around the estuary, interior and outer regions. These differences were driven by variation in the underlying surface geology between the Clarence–Moreton Basin and the New England Block. Tidal influence also affected trace metals and 87Sr:86Sr ratios throughout the estuarine area. We suggest that the level of differentiation identified in the current study has the potential to discriminate broad-scale fish movements among regions/habitats using otolith analysis, with fine scale movements best elucidated using complementary techniques.
Addressing multi-molecule field-coupled nanocomputing for neural networks with SCERPA
Authors: Ravera Federico , Beretta Giuliana , Ardesi Yuri , Graziano Mariagrazia , Piccinini Gianluca
Published: June 2024

The molecular field-coupled nanocompunting (molFCN) technology encodes the information in the charge distribution of electrostatically coupled molecules, making it an exciting solution for future beyond-CMOS low-power electronics. Recent literature has shown that multi-molecule molFCN enables the design of devices with tailored unconventional characteristics, such as majority voters working as artificial neurons. This work presents a multi-molecule molFCN neuron model based on the weighted-inputs formulation to estimate molFCN neurons behavior. Then, the introduced model is used to design each neuron of molFCN circuits working as neural networks. In particular, we propose a molFCN neural network operating as an input pattern classifier. The results show the model aptitude in predicting the logic output values for individual neurons and, consequently, entire networks. The model accuracy has been evaluated by comparing the results from the neuron mathematical model with those obtained from the circuit-level simulations conducted with the SCERPA tool. Overall, this study highlights the strategic use of diverse molecules in molFCN layouts, customizing circuit operations, and expanding design possibilities for specific molFCN device functioning.
Two Metallic Nanoparticles Formulas of Phyllostachys heterocycla Extract Exhibited Potent Cytotoxicity against Ovarian Cancer Cells through Apoptosis Induction
Authors: Abdelhameed Reda F. A. , Nafie Mohamed S. , Ibrahim Ahmed K. , Ibrahim Amany K. , Abdel-Kader Maged S. , Ahmed Safwat A. , El-Sayyad Gharieb S. , El-Batal Ahmed I. , Yamada Koji , Badr Jihan M. , Habib Eman S.
Published: June 2024

Phyllostachys heterocycla is well-known for its high diversity of bioactive metabolites, which are the reason for its various potential medical uses for which anticancer activity has been proven. Herein, Phyllostachys heterocycla extract was prepared in two different metallic nanoparticle formulas such as iron oxide nanoparticle-boron, and iron oxide nanoparticle-humic acid (Fe2O3 NP-B and Fe2O3 NP-HA) with average particle sizes of 12.25 nm and 15.80 nm, respectively. Phyllostachys heterocycla extract and the two nano-formulas were investigated to obtain their cytotoxic activity. The crude extract exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against the ovarian (OVCAR-3) cancer cell line, with IC50 values of 16.3 µg/mL. In comparison, the two nano-loaded forms displayed a much more promising cytotoxic activity with IC50 values of 0.9 µg/mL for Fe2O3 NP-HA, and 6.4 µg/mL for Fe2O3 NP-B. Additionally, NP-HA and NP-B showed potent cytotoxic activities against prostate (PC-3) and pancreatic (Panc1) cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 2.31, 6.3 µg/mL for Fe2O3 NP-HA, and 14.9, 16.8 µg/mL for Fe2O3 NP-B. For apoptosis investigation, Fe2O3 NP-HA induced total ovarian apoptotic cell death by a 87.34-fold change, and necrosis by 1.29-fold change. Regarding cell cycle analysis, Fe2O3 NP-HA-PHE arrested the cell proliferation of OVCAR-3 cells in S-phase, with an increased cell population at S-phase of 42.6%. Additionally, it confirmed the apoptosis mechanism by inhibiting the antiapoptotic gene and activating the proapoptotic gene markers. Moreover, upon continuation of our phytochemical investigation of the plant, additional chemical components of the crude extract of Phyllostachys heterocycla were isolated using various chromatographic techniques. As a result, six compounds were isolated. By using different spectroscopic data, the chemical structures of the pure isolated compounds were assigned as stigmasterol (1), glyceryl monobehenate (2), vanillic acid (3), ferulic acid (4), catechin (5), and thymidine (6). These isolated compounds were previously reported for their potent cytotoxic activities against panel of cancer cell lines including pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer cell lines (Ferulic acid), beside the anti-tumor potential against ovarian cell lines (Stigmasterol). In addition to the cytotoxic activity against human larynx carcinoma HepG-2 cell lines (Catechin), human breast cancer MCF7 (Thymidine), and human colon cancer cell line HT-29 (Vanillic acid). Which may explain the significant cytotoxic and anticancer properities of the crude extract of Phyllostachysheterocycla.
Descriptive Epidemiology of Female Suicides by Race and Ethnicity
Authors: Price James H. , Foh Erica Payton
Published: June 2024

Each year millions of females develop serious mental illnesses (SMI), which are major risk factors for suicides. Using the Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) for the years 2000, 2010 and 2020, we found in 2020 9,428 females (almost 190/week) committed suicide, losing 328,653 years off potential life before age 80 years. There were pronounced increases in female suicides from 2000 to 2020 across all racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of suicides were in non-Hispanic white females, but the highest rate of suicides was in non-Hispanic American Indians /Alaska Natives, and in females 15–24 years of age. The West had the highest female suicide rates, with methods used to commit suicides varying by census regions and race and ethnicity. Suffocation to commit suicide increased for most racial and ethnic groups and poisonings decreased for most groups between 2000 and 2020, These underscore the need for targeted primary prevention of suicides for females based on age, geographic location and method of suicide, to mitigate female suicides improved access (e.g. geographically and financially) to mental health care services is essential.
Knowing who occupies an office: purely contingent, necessary and impossible offices
Authors: Duží Marie , Číhalová Martina
Published: June 2024

This paper examines different kinds of definite descriptions denoting purely contingent, necessary or impossible objects. The discourse about contingent/impossible/necessary objects can be organised in terms of rational questions to ask and answer relative to the modal profile of the entity in question. There are also limits on what it is rational to know about entities with this or that modal profile. We will also examine epistemic modalities; they are the kind of necessity and possibility that is determined by epistemic constraints related to knowledge or rationality. Definite descriptions denote so-called offices, roles, or things to be. We explicate these α-offices as partial functions from possible worlds to chronologies of objects of type α, where α is mostly the type of individuals. Our starting point is Prior’s distinction between a ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ definite article ‘the’. In both cases, the definite description refers to at most one object; yet, in the case of the weak ‘the’, the referred object can change over time, while in the case of the strong ‘the’, the object referred to by the definite description is the same forever, once the office has been occupied. The main result we present is the way how to obtain a Wh-knowledge about who or what plays a given role presented by a hyper-office, i.e. procedure producing an office. Another no less important result concerns the epistemic necessity of the impossibility of knowing who or what occupies the impossible office presented by a hyper-office.
Assessment of associations between neutrophil extracellular trap biomarkers in blood and thrombi in acute ischemic stroke patients
Authors: Baumann Tristan , de Buhr Nicole , Blume Nicole , Gabriel Maria M. , Ernst Johanna , Fingerhut Leonie , Imker Rabea , Abu-Fares Omar , Kühnel Mark , Jonigk Danny D. , Götz Friedrich , Falk Christine , Weissenborn Karin , Grosse Gerrit M. , Schuppner Ramona
Published: June 2024

Inflammation including immunothrombosis by neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) has important implications in acute ischemic stroke and can affect reperfusion status, susceptibility to stroke associated infections (SAI) as well as functional clinical outcome. NETs were shown to be prevalent in stroke thrombi and NET associated markers were found in stroke patients’ blood. However, little is known whether blood derived NET markers reflect the amount of NETs in thrombi. Conclusions from blood derived markers to thrombus composition might open avenues for novel strategies in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We prospectively recruited 166 patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy between March 2018 and May 2021. Available thrombi (n = 106) were stained for NET markers DNA-histone-1 complexes and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Cell free DNA (cfDNA), deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity, MPO-histone complexes and a cytokine-panel were measured before thrombectomy and after seven days. Clinical data, including stroke etiology, reperfusion status, SAI and functional outcome after rehabilitation, were collected of all patients. NET markers were present in all thrombi. At onset the median concentration of cfDNA in blood was 0.19 µg/ml increasing to 0.30 µg/ml at 7 days. Median DNase activity at onset was 4.33 pmol/min/ml increasing to 4.96 pmol/min/ml at 7 days. Within thrombi DNA-histone-1 complexes and MPO correlated with each other (ρ = 0.792; p < 0.001). Moreover, our study provides evidence for an association between the amount of NETs and endogenous DNase activity in blood with amounts of NETs in cerebral thrombi. However, these associations need to be confirmed in larger cohorts, to investigate the potential clinical implications for individualized therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in acute ischemic stroke.

Graphical Abstract
Linking chemical surface water monitoring and pesticide regulation in selected European countries
Authors: Spycher Simon , Kalf Dennis , Lahr Joost , Gönczi Mikaela , Lindström Bodil , Pace Emanuela , Botta Fabrizio , Bougon Nolwenn , Staub Pierre-François , Hitzfeld Kristina L. , Weisner Oliver , Junghans Marion , Kroll Alexandra
Published: June 2024

The progress in chemical analytics and understanding of pesticide dynamics in surface waters allows establishing robust data on compounds with frequent exceedances of quality standards. The current chemical, temporal, and spatial coverage of the pesticide monitoring campaigns differs strongly between European countries. A questionnaire revealed differences in monitoring strategies in seven selected European countries; Nordic countries prioritize temporal coverage, while others focus on spatial coverage. Chemical coverage has increased, especially for non-polar classes like synthetic pyrethroids. Sweden combines monitoring data with agricultural practices for derived quantities, while the Netherlands emphasizes spatial coverage to trace contamination sources. None of the EU member states currently has established a process for linking chemical surface water monitoring data with regulatory risk assessment, while Switzerland has recently established a legally defined feedback loop. Due to their design and objectives, most strategies do not capture concentration peaks, especially 2-week composite samples, but also grab samples. Nevertheless, for substances that appear problematic in many data sets, the need for action is evident even without harmonization of monitoring programs. Harmonization would be beneficial, however, for cross-national assessment including risk reduction measures.
Wintertime diffusion of sedimentary phosphorus – implications for under-ice phosphorus removal from eutrophic lakes
Authors: Silvonen Soila , Niemistö Juha , Jilbert Tom , Horppila Jukka
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Many eutrophic lakes are located in regions where lakes become ice-covered during the winter. This study aimed to find out if phosphorus (P) could be withdrawn from such lakes by utilizing the wintertime accumulation of P to the near-bottom water.

Methods

Data for water quality and sediment characteristics were collected from two eutrophic boreal lakes with tube samplers and sediment corers. Diffusion rates of P across the sediment-water interface (SWI) and within the active sediment layers, and potential export of P via wintertime withdrawal were calculated.

Results

In the stratifying Lake Kymijärvi, P concentration in the near-bottom water reached 66 µg L−1 and P diffusion across SWI in the hypoxic area 5.4 mg m−2 d−1. In the shallow Lake Savijärvi, maximum P concentration was 78 µg L−1 but P diffusion rate only 0.34 mg m−2 d−1. In Kymijärvi, the concentrations of Fe and Mn in the sediment were high relative to P. In Savijärvi, sediment P was bound to clay minerals and calcium carbonates, while Fe was bound in sulfides.

Conclusion

In Kymijärvi, a theoretical14.3% reduction in epilimnetic TP concentration could be achieved in 20 years with 20 L s−1 winter withdrawal. In Savijärvi, 10 L s−1 withdrawal could theoretically cause a 5.8% reduction in TP concentration in 5 years, but the low P diffusion rate across SWI, and the low discharge of the lake may limit P removal. In Kymijärvi, where summertime withdrawal is already applied, additional winter withdrawal could accelerate lake recovery.
Topology of the space of conormal distributions
Authors: Álvarez López Jesús A. , Kordyukov Yuri A. , Leichtnam Eric
Published: June 2024

Given a closed manifold M and a closed regular submanifold L, consider the corresponding locally convex space $$I=I(M,L)$$

I
=
I
(
M
,
L
)

of conormal distributions, with its natural topology, and the strong dual $$I'=I'(M,L)=I(M,L;\Omega )'$$

I
′

=

I
′

(
M
,
L
)

=
I

(
M
,
L
;
Ω
)

′

of the space of conormal densities. It is shown that I is a barreled, ultrabornological, webbed, Montel, acyclic LF-space, and $$I'$$

I
′

is a complete Montel space, which is a projective limit of bornological barreled spaces. In the case of codimension one, similar properties and additional descriptions are proved for the subspace $$K\subset I$$

K
⊂
I

of conormal distributions supported in L and for its strong dual $$K'$$

K
′

. We construct a locally convex Hausdoff space J and a continuous linear map $$I\rightarrow J$$

I
→
J

such that the sequence $$0\rightarrow K\rightarrow I\rightarrow J\rightarrow 0$$

0
→
K
→
I
→
J
→
0

as well as the transpose sequence $$0\rightarrow J'\rightarrow I'\rightarrow K'\rightarrow 0$$

0
→

J
′

→

I
′

→

K
′

→
0

are short exact sequences in the category of continuous linear maps between locally convex spaces. Finally, it is shown that $$I\cap I'=C^\infty (M)$$

I
∩

I
′

=

C
∞

(
M
)

in the space of distributions. In another publication, these results are applied to prove a Lefschetz trace formula for a simple foliated flow $$\phi =\{\phi ^t\}$$

ϕ
=
{

ϕ
t

}

on a compact foliated manifold $$(M,\mathcal {F})$$

(
M
,
F
)

. It describes a Lefschetz distribution $$L_{\textrm{dis}}(\phi )$$

L
dis

(
ϕ
)

defined by the induced action $$\phi ^*=\{\phi ^{t\,*}\}$$

ϕ
∗

=

{

ϕ

t

∗

}

on the reduced cohomologies $${\bar{H}}^\bullet I(\mathcal {F})$$

H

¯

∙

I

(
F
)

and $${\bar{H}}^\bullet I'(\mathcal {F})$$

H

¯

∙

I
′

(
F
)

of the complexes of leafwise currents that are conormal and dual-conormal at the leaves preserved by $$\phi $$
ϕ
.
Lower molars of the large morganucodontan Storchodon cingulatus from the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) of Germany
Authors: Martin Thomas , Averianov Alexander O. , Lang Andreas J. , Wings Oliver
Published: June 2024

Three new lower molars of Storchodon cingulatus and a fragmentary upper molar confirm its morganucodontan affinities. Cusps b and c are relatively higher than in Morganucodon, and cusp c is larger than cusp b. Cusp a is asymmetric, with slightly distally recurved tip. All known lower Storchodon molars have a pronounced furcation between the roots on the labial and lingual sides. The wear pattern of Storchodon corresponds to that observed in Morganucodon. Cusp A of the upper molar occludes into the valley between cusps a and c of the lower antagonist, causing large confluent wear facets. The smaller wear facets present on the mesiolabial flank of cusp b and the distolabial flank of cusp c were caused by cusp C of the upper antagonist that occluded into the embrasure between two lower molars. So far, the Morganucodon-like occlusal mode is restricted to the morganucodontans Morganucodon, Dinnetherium nezorum, Cifellilestes ciscoensis, and Storchodon cingulatus, whereas Megazostrodon and Erythrotherium exhibit embrasure occlusion. Although Storchodon belongs to the larger morganucodontans, it is questionable if it represents a case of island gigantism as suggested earlier.
Quantitative evaluation of bolt pre-load using coda wave interferometry and nonlinear coda wave interferometry: a comparative study
Authors: Wang Lei , Yi Shanchang , Sun Xiangtao , Yu Yang , Samali Bijan
Published: June 2024

The quantitative evaluation of bolt pre-load is crucial for the maintenance and prevention of accidents in bolt-connected structures. This study introduces the coda wave interferometry (CWI) method and the nonlinear coda wave interferometry (NCWI) method for quantitative evaluation of bolt pre-load. Experimental tests across three different scales of bolt pre-load changes were conducted on a bolt to compare the performances of CWI and NCWI in the quantitative evaluation of bolt pre-load. The results demonstrate that both CWI and NCWI can effectively characterize changes in bolt pre-load. For CWI, the relative velocity change (∆v/v) exhibits a linear relationship with the bolt pre-load. Meanwhile, for NCWI, the effective nonlinear level, denoted as $${\alpha }_{\Delta v/v}$$

α

Δ
v
/
v

, demonstrates a quadratic dependence on the bolt pre-load. In CWI, the calculation of ∆v/v is dependent on the correlation coefficient between the coda waves of signals before and after bolt pre-load changes. It is prone to failure when there are significant changes in bolt pre-load. Conversely, NCWI demonstrates enhanced robustness in evaluating bolt pre-load changes across a range of magnitudes.
Leveraging students' voices: understanding ways university support services can strengthen student support
Authors: Hitches Elizabeth , Woodcock Stuart , O’Sullivan Kerry-Ann , Ehrich John
Published: June 2024

Student diversity in higher education is increasing, and to reduce barriers to students’ full and equitable participation, universities often provide accessibility and wellbeing support services to accommodate their needs. However, a more student-centred approach is required to respond to the challenges for many students with accessibility requirements or disabilities who are insufficiently accommodated, impacting negatively on their achievement and wellbeing. This study explored students’ (n = 60) beliefs about the ways in which support may not have accommodated their needs effectively, and their suggestions for how this could be improved. Students were considerate of the high demand support services were under and offered a range of high leverage solutions for strengthening and enhancing what is already available. Overall, students recommended accessible, personalised and student-centred support, which facilitated their own sense of agency and empowerment. Where these attributes were lacking, support was deemed catering to them ineffectively or partially. In addition, the findings of this study raised questions as to whether the available support is sufficiently targeted to the diverse experiences of students with chronic health conditions. By leveraging students’ voices, the higher education sector can gain deeper insight into ways to support students to reach their full potential.
Bernstein–Jacobi-type operators preserving derivatives
Authors: Lara-Velasco David , Pérez Teresa E.
Published: June 2024

A general frame for Bernstein-type operators that preserve derivatives is given. We introduce Bernstein-type operators based in the weighted classical Jacobi inner product on the interval [0, 1] that extend the well known Bernstein–Durrmeyer operator as well as some other types of Bernstein operators that appear in the literature. Apart from standard results, we deduce properties about the preservation of derivatives and prove that classical Jacobi orthogonal polynomials on [0, 1] are the eigenfunctions of these operators. We also study the limit cases when one of the parameters of the Jacobi polynomials is a negative integer. Finally, we study several numerical examples.
Pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesives (PSAs): how it began and the present state of art
Authors: Robert Czech Zbigniew
Published: June 2024

Pressure-sensitive adhesives, especially acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesives, are the main group of polymers used to produce a wide range of pressure-sensitive adhesives. Self-adhesive adhesives based on well-known natural resins and polymers have been known for a long time. The development of synthetic adhesives, especially those based on acrylate, began after World War II. BASF has made great contributions in this field. Therefore, because polyacrylates are relatively cheap, they are resistant to aging and the damaging effects of oxygen and UV radiation. Polyacrylate-based adhesives are known as solvent-based, water-dispersion, and solvent-free adhesives.
A Model for the Effect of Microstructure on the Ultimate Tensile Strength of Cast Irons
Authors: Matsushita Taishi , Domeij Björn , Fourlakidis Vasilios , Belov Ilja , Diószegi Attila
Published: June 2024

The aim of the present study is to elucidate the influence of individual microstructural parameters, such as pearlite fraction, nodularity, and eutectic cell size, on the tensile strength (UTS) of cast irons. The UTS model was built by integrating the rule of mixtures for each microstructural component, and the UTS was described as a function of the aforementioned factors. The UTS and the required microstructure parameters for the model calculation were obtained experimentally. In the model, two coefficients were introduced to quantify the influence of the eutectic cell size and the interaction terms for the mixed two components. These coefficients were determined through fitting the experimental data, and the model's accuracy was validated using data not included in the fitting process. The results exhibited reasonable agreement, confirming the model's reliability. The model, thus, offers insights into the influence of each microstructural factor on UTS and serves as a guide for designing alloys to achieve the desired UTS through microstructure modifications.
Thermal history transfer from complex components to representative test specimens in laser powder bed fusion
Authors: Mohr Gunther , Chaudry Mohsin Ali , Scheuschner Nils , González Sergio Blasón , Madia Mauro , Hilgenberg Kai
Published: June 2024

Additively manufactured components are characterized by heterogeneous mechanical properties due to variations of the microstructure, flaws and residual stresses resulting from the inhomogeneous fabrication process. The large number of influencing factors poses a further challenge in understanding the correlation between material properties, process parameters and component geometry. Therefore, the qualification of components based on witness specimens produced within the same job is questionable. This work aims to present a new strategy for the characterization of PBF-LB/M components based on representative specimens. The key assumption is the feasibility of a transfer of the thermal history from a component to a specimen. It is assumed that similar material properties are determined for components and specimens produced adopting a similar thermal history. After the definition of a region of interest in the component, a combination of thermal analyses by means of finite elements and in-situ experimental determination of the thermal history through infrared thermography is used to produce test coupons with a similar thermal history. The effectiveness of the procedure is demonstrated on a pressure vessel for applications in the chemical industry.
MCMC sampling of directed flag complexes with fixed undirected graphs
Authors: Unger Florian , Krebs Jonathan
Published: June 2024

Constructing null models to test the significance of extracted information is a crucial step in data analysis. In this work, we provide a uniformly sampleable null model of directed graphs with the same (or similar) number of simplices in the flag complex, with the restriction of retaining the underlying undirected graph. We describe an MCMC-based algorithm to sample from this null model and statistically investigate the mixing behaviour. This is paired with a high-performance, Rust-based, publicly available implementation. The motivation comes from topological data analysis of connectomes in neuroscience. In particular, we answer the fundamental question: are the high Betti numbers observed in the investigated graphs evidence of an interesting topology, or are they merely a byproduct of the high numbers of simplices? Indeed, by applying our new tool on the connectome of C. elegans and parts of the statistical reconstructions of the Blue Brain Project, we find that the Betti numbers observed are considerable statistical outliers with respect to this new null model. We thus, for the first time, statistically confirm that topological data analysis in microscale connectome research is extracting statistically meaningful information.
Prevalence of Human Toxoplasmosis in Spain Throughout the Three Last Decades (1993–2023): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Miguel-Vicedo Mariola , Cabello Paula , Ortega-Navas M. Carmen , González-Barrio David , Fuentes Isabel
Published: June 2024

Humans are infected by Toxoplasma gondii worldwide and its consequences may seriously affect an immune deprived population such as HIV and transplanted patients or pregnant women and foetuses. A deep knowledge of toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in Spain is needed in order to better shape health policies and educational programs. We present the results of the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the human prevalence for this disease in Spain. Databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Teseo) were searched for relevant studies that were published between January 1993 and December 2023 and all population-based cross-sectional and longitudinal studies reporting the human seroprevalence in Spain were revised. Within the population analysed, our targeted groups were immunocompetent population, pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. Among 572 studies and 35 doctoral theses retrieved, 15 studies and three doctoral theses were included in the meta-analysis. A random effects model was used for the meta-analyses due to the high heterogeneity found between studies (I2: 99.97), since it is a statistically conservative model, in addition to allowing better external validity. The global pooled seroprevalence was 32.3% (95% CI 28.7–36.2%). Most of the studies carried out were in pregnant women and the meta-analysis reported that the pooled seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Spain was 24.4% (24,737/85,703, 95% CI 21.2–28.0%), based on the random effects model. It is recommended to continue monitoring the seroprevalence status of T. gondii in order to obtain essential guidelines for the prevention and control of the infection in the population.
Indigenous bridging/foundation education: student feedback on programme successes, challenges and opportunities
Authors: Anderson Anneka , Curtis Elana , Tkatch Melaney , Loring Belinda , Reddy Sue , Stokes Kanewa , Nepia Wills , Winter Tracey , Reid Papaarangi
Published: June 2024

Hikitia te Ora (Certificate in Health Sciences) is a 1 year Indigenous bridging foundation programme at the University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. The programme aims to increase Māori and Pacific health workforce representation. This qualitative study applied a Kaupapa Māori positioning to elucidate the strengths, challenges, and opportunities of the programme. Data were collected through two workshops and seven focus groups with a total of 67 participants who were students of Hikitia te Ora from past and present cohorts, or their family members. Using a general inductive thematic analysis, the primary themes identified were that programme successes encompassed whanaungatanga (process of establishing relationships), academic and pastoral support, programme structure and the teaching content. Challenges included social cliques and divisive social groupings, timetabling of courses and high workloads. The three areas that emerged for further development include extending Pacific content, increasing the number of students in the programme, and maintaining a programme-specific study space for students. Implementing the findings from this study into Hikitia te Ora is expected to improve educational outcomes for Māori and Pacific students and may have the potential to benefit other bridging foundation courses aiming to promote Indigenous health workforce development.
Relationship between indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity in a residential building in Central Europe
Authors: Božič Anže
Published: June 2024

Relative humidity and temperature in indoor spaces are two important environmental factors that not only determine the behaviour and well-being of building occupants but also influence airborne transmission of respiratory diseases in closed spaces. While recent studies have examined how well indoor conditions relate to outdoor ambient weather, most studies on weather-related health effects still use a single central site monitor such as a weather station since outdoor values are more convenient to measure. However, the correlation between indoor and outdoor values is not always straightforward. Our case study explores the relationships between indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity in a residential building apartment in a temperate climate in Central Europe. Measurements performed over the period of one year allow for a detailed comparison and analysis of correlations between both daily averages as well as daily profiles of indoor and outdoor variables. The results of this case study add further evidence to the observations that day-to-day variation in indoor temperature and relative humidity are not well-represented by outdoor measurements. It further adds to the growing body of data on indoor environmental variables and should thus prove useful in studies aiming to determine the influence of relative humidity and temperature on indoor transmission of airborne diseases as well as in studies examining the influence of these two variables on the well-being of building occupants.
A Displaced Lower Mantle Source of the Hainan Plume in South China Revealed by Receiver Function Imaging of the CEArray
Authors: Zhang Yan , Niu Fenglin , Ning Jieyuan , Yu Chunquan
Published: June 2024

We analyzed 49,592 teleseismic receiver functions (RFs) recorded by 278 CEArray stations to image the mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath the South China Block to understand the origins of deep velocity anomalies and their potential links to subduction and intraplate volcanism. We employed a fast‐marching method and a high‐resolution 3‐D velocity model (FWEA18) derived from full waveform inversion in computing P‐to‐S conversion times to better image the 410‐ and 660‐km discontinuities. Our results indicate that the common‐conversion‐point stacking of RFs using 3‐D conversion times yielded better migration images of the two discontinuities. The images revealed a slightly depressed 410‐km with a few small uplifted patches, and showed that the 660‐km beneath the western Yangtze Craton is depressed by 10–25 km, which is likely caused by the stagnant Paleo‐Pacific slab. The 660‐km beneath the southern Cathaysia Block has a 5–15 km high plateau with a topographic low at its central part. The lateral dimension of the topographic low is ∼150 km and is located beneath the central Pearl River Mount Basin near Hong Kong. We speculate that the topographic low occurs within the Hainan plume with a temperature excess of ∼300–400 K and is caused by the garnet phase transition. The displaced deep plume enters the MTZ and spreads nearly horizontally at the base. The plume evolves into two channels with a minor one toward the northeast and a major one toward the southwest, which keep moving upward to the 410‐km. The southwest channel is likely the source that feeds the Hainan volcanoes.
Effects of Initial Injection Condition on Colloid Retention
Authors: Al‐Zghoul Bashar M. , Volponi Sabrina N. , Johnson W. P. , Bolster Diogo
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the impact of initial injection conditions on colloid transport and retention in porous media. Employing both uniform and flux‐weighted distributions for the initial colloid locations, the research explores diverse flow scenarios, ranging from simple Poiseuille flow to more complex geometries. The results underscore the pivotal role the injection mode plays on the shape of colloid retention profiles (RPs), particularly those that display anomalous non‐exponential decay with distance. Broadly, uniform injection yields multi‐exponential profiles, while flux‐weighted injection can lead to nonmonotonic profiles in certain conditions. The study identifies preferential flow paths as a key factor in producing nonmonotonic RPs. Notably, variations in fluid velocity, colloid size, and ionic strength affect attachment rates near the inlet but do not significantly alter the qualitative transition between multi‐exponential and nonmonotonic profiles. The study emphasizes that the chosen injection mode dictates retention profile shapes, highlighting its crucial role in porous media colloid transport. These insights provide a possible partial explanation of previously observed anomalous transport behaviors, urging consideration of injection conditions in interpretations of experiments, where they can be difficult to accurately control and measure with high precision.