bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced discovery mechanisms in model repositories
Authors: Indamutsa Arsene , Di Rocco Juri , Almonte Lissette , Di Ruscio Davide , Pierantonio Alfonso
Published: April 2024

As model‐driven engineering gains traction and poses as the new paradigm for software engineering, it raises a need for efficient approaches and tools to manage, discover, and retrieve relevant modeling artifacts. Hence, industry and academia are conceiving effective ways to store, search, and retrieve heterogeneous model artifacts that employ advanced discovery mechanisms. This paper presents MDEForge‐Search, a novel approach to discovering heterogeneous model artifacts over MDEForge, a distributed cloud‐based model repository. We designed advanced discovery mechanisms that retrieve heterogeneous artifacts within their context (megamodel) and reuse them across model management services. In addition, a domain‐specific approach has been proposed to formulate queries in terms of keywords, search tags, conditional operators, quality model assessment services and a transformation chain discoverer. Finally, the applicability of our approach was assessed in a recommender system modeling framework, which, thanks to the operated integration, can rely on the availability of more than 5000 model artifacts currently persisted in our cloud‐based model repository.
Music and the Social Construction of Self
Authors: Sumerau J. E. , Mathers Lain A. B.
Published: April 2024

Sociologists have demonstrated that people use music to construct meaning in numerous specific contexts, groups, and subcultures. This article expands such work by examining how people draw on music to construct identities in daily life beyond any specific setting. Drawing on four years of participant observation and twenty‐five in‐depth interviews, findings demonstrate three mechanisms of identity‐work as people use music in public to (1) define who they are, (2) explain how they feel because of who they are, and (3) narrate where they have been in their lives that made them who they are. These findings demonstrate how people use music in daily life to construct identities, and the theoretical potential of such exploration for sociological and music studies of public life.
Good water governance through cultural evolution along river basins: The role of UNESCO heritage sites and intangible cultural heritage
Authors: Khan Shahbaz
Published: April 2024

Highlights

Effective water governance is essential for sustainable management of water resources, particularly within river basins where diverse stakeholders intersect.

Cultural evolution along these river systems has profoundly influenced water governance practices.

UNESCO heritage sites and intangible cultural heritage play a pivotal role in preserving traditional knowledge and practices related to water management.

By recognizing and learning from UNESCO sites, we can enhance contemporary water governance strategies.

As water experts, we recognize that the preservation of cultural heritage is inseparable from effective water governance. Let us continue to celebrate and protect these invaluable resources.
Riemann–Hilbert approach, dark solitons and double‐pole solutions for Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel equation in an optical fiber, a ferromagnetic spin or a protein
Authors: Chen Su‐Su , Tian Bo , Tian He‐Yuan , Hu Cong‐Cong
Published: April 2024

Inverse scattering transform for the defocusing Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel equation with nonzero boundary condition is constructed via the Riemann–Hilbert approach. Since poles of the associated reflection coefficient are simple, ‐dark soliton solutions corresponding to simple poles are constructed. For ‐dark soliton solutions, results show that the soliton amplitude and width are not affected by the strength of the higher‐order linear and nonlinear effects , but soliton velocity has a linear correlation with ; the interactions between the two‐dark solitons and among the three‐dark solitons are elastic and experience phase and position shifts. Besides, asymptotic analysis of the double‐pole solutions for the focusing Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel equation with nonzero boundary condition is presented. Different from ‐dark soliton solutions which locate in the straight lines and experience position shift after the interaction, the double‐pole solutions diverge from each other logarithmically and experience no position shift after the interaction.
Technical Appendix: Quantifying the Impact of Economic Outcomes
Authors: Joffe Michael
Published: April 2024

Construction of the IEO will involve some methodological and practical challenges, but this has been true also with GDP, and statistical agencies have routinely solved the issues that have arisen in that context.

The inclusion criteria and weights for the IEO are based on estimates of the magnitude of the causal contribution of each candidate item to health and/or subjective wellbeing. Ideally, these would be derived from a comprehensive evidence base, but this will require development work. Initially, reliance will need to be placed on expert opinion where the evidence base is inadequate for this purpose.

Calculation of the magnitude of the causal effect is based on the population attributable fraction, a standard epidemiological measure. This requires a value for the causal relative risk of each variable, adjusted for the effects of the others. The formula for this calculation is given, and explained, for a single exposure and for multiple exposures, for new cases (counts) or alternatively for the timing of deaths—the interval by which a death is brought forward, using survival analysis.

The latter formula for years of life lost (YLL) can readily be extended to cover a reduction in the health-related quality, rather than the length, of life. This draws on the well-established literature on Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), which contains values for the severity of the loss of functional health due to disability or disease in terms equivalent to loss of life duration—e.g. diabetic foot is counted as 0.20, meaning that the value of five years living with that condition is considered equivalent to four years without it. The same calculation can be performed for subjective wellbeing using Wellbeing-Adjusted Life Years, and in principle these can be combined with health loss (DALYs) resulting in what I call D/WALYs.

Each IEO component, such as illiteracy or insecure livelihood, is likely to play a causal role in various different types of impairments of health and/or subjective wellbeing. These would be combined as the sum of the D/WALYs lost that are attributable to that IEO component. Aggregation of the different IEO components to produce the overall index would start with the calculation of the complements of the scores of each item—for example, if the value is 0.05, its complement is 0.95. The IEO would then be calculated as their geometric mean (as has been used in the Human Development Index). The consequence is that the ideal IEO is 1 (probably best expressed as 100%), with real-life values being less than 1, and with the largest values indicating the most successful economies.
Analysing the contribution of intermittent rivers to beta diversity can improve freshwater conservation in Mediterranean rivers
Authors: Soria Maria , Cid Núria , Ortega Jean , Bini Luis Mauricio , Acosta Raúl , Gutiérrez-Cánovas Cayetano , Rodríguez-Lozano Pablo , Fortuño Pau , Vinyoles Dolors , Gallart Francesc , Prat Narcís , Bonada Núria
Published: April 2024

In Mediterranean climate regions, intermittent rivers (IRs) harbor highly dynamic communities with species and trait composition changing over time and space. Simultaneously considering multiple biodiversity facets and a spatiotemporal perspective is, therefore, key to developing effective conservation strategies for these ecosystems. We studied the spatiotemporal dynamics of aquatic macroinvertebrates in rivers of the western Mediterranean Basin by analysing (1) the taxonomic and functional richness and the local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD; measured considering taxonomic and functional facets) of perennial rivers and IRs over five sampling times, and (2) their relation with flow intermittence, local environmental uniqueness, and the number of anthropogenic impacts. Both analyses were also conducted for the subset of data including only IRs to compare values between their flowing and disconnected pool phases. According to our results, taxonomic and functional richness tended to be higher in perennial rivers than in IRs, while taxonomic and functional LCBD tended to be higher in IRs than in perennial rivers. When comparing IR sites over time, higher values of taxonomic and functional LCBD corresponded mostly to their disconnected pool phase. Flow intermittence, the number of anthropogenic impacts and the environmental uniqueness were significant predictors of taxonomic and functional richness, but only flow intermittence was an important predictor of taxonomic LCBD. For the IR-only data subset, disconnected pool permanence was the main predictor explaining spatiotemporal patterns. Our results highlight the importance of IRs to biodiversity conservation of Mediterranean climate rivers, especially during the disconnected pool phase, suggesting that these ecosystems cannot be ignored in conservation planning strategies.
Experimental studies of black holes: status and future prospects
Authors: Genzel Reinhard , Eisenhauer Frank , Gillessen Stefan
Published: April 2024

More than a century ago, Albert Einstein presented his general theory of gravitation (GR) to the Prussian Academy of Sciences. One of the predictions of the theory is that not only particles and objects with mass, but also the quanta of light, photons, are tied to the curvature of space-time, and thus to gravity. There must be a critical compactness, above which photons cannot escape. These are black holes (henceforth BH). It took 50 years after the theory was announced before possible candidate objects were identified by observational astronomy. And another 50 years have passed, until we finally have in hand detailed and credible experimental evidence that BHs of 10 to $$10^{10}$$

10
10

times the mass of the Sun exist in the Universe. Three very different experimental techniques, but all based on Michelson interferometry or Fourier-inversion spatial interferometry have enabled the critical experimental breakthroughs. It has now become possible to investigate the space-time structure in the vicinity of the event horizons of BHs. We briefly summarize these interferometric techniques, and discuss the spectacular recent improvements achieved with all three techniques. Finally, we sketch where the path of exploration and inquiry may go on in the next decades.
Springback prediction using point series and deep learning
Authors: Bingqian Yang , Zeng Yuanyi , Yang Hai , Oscoz Mariluz Penalva , Ortiz Mikel , Coenen Frans , Nguyen Anh
Published: April 2024

One of the main challenges that prevent wide adoption of Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) is the geometric accuracy of the process resulting primarily from the effect of springback. There are various expedients that can be adopted to address this, but one of the most common is tool path correction. The challenge is then how best to predict springback so as to implement tool path correction. It is established that springback, to a large extent, is related to the geometry of the part to be manufactured. The proposed mechanism uses a novel point series representation to capture local geometries that then form a global bank of geometries for general use. Each point series can then be associated with a predicted springback value generated using deep or machine learning. Experiments are reported using a Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) model coupled with a Multilayer Perception Network (MLP), and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) regression model. A best R2, “Coefficient of Determination”, of 0.9181 was obtained indicating that the proposed approach provided a realistic solution to the current limitations of SPIF.
Industrially relevant injection moulding apparatus for in situ time-resolving small-angle X-ray scattering measurements
Authors: Costa André A. , Gameiro Fábio , Massano Anabela P. , Arioli Matteo , da Silva Daniel P. , Carreira Pedro , Martínez Juan Carlos , Matias Joao , Martinho Pedro G. , Mateus Artur , Mitchell Geoffrey R.
Published: April 2024

This work presents the design and construction of an automated industrial injection moulding apparatus that can be used with a typical multi-user beamline such as the NCD-SWEET small-angle X-ray scattering at the ALBA Synchrotron Light Source. This apparatus is focused on developing an understanding of how the mould temperature and the injection temperature and pressure affect both the orientation and morphology of the semi-crystalline polymer used to fabricate the injected parts. The system design follows current industrial practice and enables the collection of time-resolved X-ray scattering data at several points within the mould cavity, so we can understand the 4D morphology. In this work we show the effectiveness of the equipment using some results from the injection moulding of a random copolymer of polypropylene and that it can be used with a more demanding material such as polyhydroxybutyrate. This can be seen as the first step toward a multiscale digital twin for injection moulding.
Bacteriocins: potentials and prospects in health and agrifood systems
Authors: Reuben Rine Christopher , Torres Carmen
Published: April 2024

Bacteriocins are highly diverse, abundant, and heterogeneous antimicrobial peptides that are ribosomally synthesized by bacteria and archaea. Since their discovery about a century ago, there has been a growing interest in bacteriocin research and applications. This is mainly due to their high antimicrobial properties, narrow or broad spectrum of activity, specificity, low cytotoxicity, and stability. Though initially used to improve food quality and safety, bacteriocins are now globally exploited for innovative applications in human, animal, and food systems as sustainable alternatives to antibiotics. Bacteriocins have the potential to beneficially modulate microbiota, providing viable microbiome-based solutions for the treatment, management, and non-invasive bio-diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The use of bacteriocins holds great promise in the modulation of food microbiomes, antimicrobial food packaging, bio-sanitizers and antibiofilm, pre/post-harvest biocontrol, functional food, growth promotion, and sustainable aquaculture. This can undoubtedly improve food security, safety, and quality globally. This review highlights the current trends in bacteriocin research, especially the increasing research outputs and funding, which we believe may proportionate the soaring global interest in bacteriocins. The use of cutting-edge technologies, such as bioengineering, can further enhance the exploitation of bacteriocins for innovative applications in human, animal, and food systems.
Gradient Flow of the Sinai–Ruelle–Bowen Entropy
Authors: Jiang Miaohua
Published: April 2024

Motivated by an extension to Gallavotti–Cohen Chaotic Hypothesis, we study local and global existence of a gradient flow of the Sinai–Ruelle–Bowen entropy functional in the space of transitive Anosov maps. For the space of expanding maps on the unit circle, we equip it with a Hilbert manifold structure using a Sobolev norm in the tangent space of the manifold. Under the additional measure-preserving assumption and a slightly modified metric, we show that the gradient flow exists globally and every trajectory of the flow converges to a unique limiting map where the SRB entropy attains the maximal value. In a simple case, we obtain an explicit formula for the flow’s ordinary differential equation representation. This gradient flow has close connection to a nonlinear partial differential equation, a gradient-dependent diffusion equation.
Decline in the Conception Rate of Wild Japanese Monkeys after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident
Authors: Hayama Shin-ichi , Nakanishi Setsuko , Tanaka Aki , Kato Takuya , Watanabe Chinatsu , Kikuchi Nobutaka , Danjo Risa , Matsuda Ayano , Mori Wakako , Kawabata Yuki , Akiba Hikari , Konno Fumiharu , Kawamoto Yoshi , Omi Toshinori
Published: April 2024

We examined the conception rate of wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) in Fukushima City that were exposed to radiation as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. The conception rate in the year of delivery from 2009 to 2022 was estimated by dissecting individuals that were euthanized by the government for population control as a countermeasure against crop damage. To evaluate the effects of exposure, the cumulative exposure dose for each individual was calculated using the concentration of radiocesium deposited in the soil at the capture site and the concentration of radiocesium in muscle estimated from the aggregated transfer factor. There were no significant differences in conception rates across all age classes over time. In terms of conception rates by age class, there was a significant decrease post-exposure compared with pre-exposure in the age class ≥ 8 years, but no significant differences in the age class 5–7 years. The non-ovulation rate did not significantly differ between the pre- and post-exposure periods for any age class. Body fat index, which can affect fertility, was compared between the pre- and post-exposure periods, and no significant differences were found in either age class. In contrast, the median total cumulative exposure (cumulative internal exposure + cumulative external exposure) was significantly higher in the age class ≥ 8 years compared with the age class 5–7 years. These results suggest that the total cumulative exposure dose may be one of the reasons for the lower conception rate in the post-exposure period among the age class ≥ 8 years.
Nachhaltiges Alter(n) im Kontext des Klimawandels: Stand der Forschung und konzeptioneller Ausblick
Authors: Brandt Martina , Höppner Grit
Published: April 2024

Hintergrund

Die Alter(n)sforschung nimmt sich zunehmend der Herausforderungen im Zuge des Klimawandels an, behandelt jedoch eher die „Reaktionsbedarfe“ denn „Aktionsmöglichkeiten“ älterer Menschen.

Material und Methoden

Auf Basis eines Scoping Review von 39 Fachbeiträgen werden Konstruktionen von Alter(n) im Kontext des Klimawandels und von Nachhaltigkeit analysiert und es wird auf existierende Verengungen hingewiesen. Aus diesen Überlegungen wird ein Modell entworfen, das erfolgreiches, aktives und nachhaltiges Alter(n) in Einklang bringen lässt.

Ergebnisse

In der Fachliteratur werden ältere Menschen häufig als homogene, vulnerable Gruppe eingeordnet, die dem Klimawandel ausgeliefert ist. Im Kontext von Nachhaltigkeit kommt ihnen entweder die Rolle als zentrale Verursacher:innen des Klimawandels zu, oder sie werden als Teil der Lösung von Umweltkrisen verhandelt. Solche Verengungen werden in diesem Beitrag aufgelöst und es werden existierende Ambivalenzen in Lebenswelt und Forschung im Modell des „nachhaltigen Alter(n)s im Kontext das Klimawandels“ verbunden.

Diskussion

Der Klimawandel kann nur gemeinsam bewältigt werden. Die Alter(n)sforschung kann auf Basis des vorgestellten Modells wichtige Beiträge zum Umgang mit Klimaveränderungen und zu (Re‑)Aktionen im Hinblick auf die Umweltkrise leisten.
The effect of target and background texture on relative depth discrimination in a virtual environment
Authors: Lew Wei Hau , Coates Daniel R.
Published: April 2024

The spatial frequency (SF) content of an object’s texture is an important cue for depth perception, although less is known about the role of background texture. Here, we used bandpass-filtered noise patterns to systematically study the interactions between target and background textures in a virtual environment. During the trials, three square targets were presented at 3 m against a background wall 6 m away from the observer. One of the squares was presented closer than the other two, and the subjects had to indicate it with a key press. The threshold distance from the two reference tiles was determined using a staircase procedure. Both the target and background were tested with different combinations of SF textures and a non-textured gray, which were rendered onto the flat surfaces. Against a gray background, the distance thresholds were smallest when the targets were presented with a mid-SF texture. Performance declined significantly with a non-textured target against a textured background. With different combinations of target-background texture, the background texture significantly affected the performance. We propose several hypotheses to explain the behavioral result. Understanding the effect of surrounding texture can be useful in improving the depth perception experience in virtual reality.
Reversed cooling and heating performance of modernized courtyard envelope in hot-arid climates: a case study at an educational campus
Authors: Balah Eman Mohamed , Shokry Hassan , Hagishima Aya , Mahmoud Hatem
Published: April 2024

Courtyard buildings embraced as a passive design paradigm, find wide application in modulating outdoor climatic conditions and fostering energy efficiency. Consequently, exploring passive strategies to mitigate the repercussions of climate change becomes a compelling priority. However, previous studies have predominantly emphasized the daytime performance of traditional courtyards in hot climates, often overlooking their performance throughout the entire day. This oversight includes the impact of courtyards in releasing stored heat into the air during nighttime, commonly referred to as "the reversed impact of the courtyard." This study evaluates the reversed thermal impact of glazed “modernized” courtyard envelope during nighttime and day-exposed radiation. This analysis considers the complex interaction between incoming and outgoing radiation flows. The study employed a combined approach involving onsite measurements and numerical simulations centered upon an educational building within a hot-arid zone. The scope of the study encompasses diverse courtyard geometries and various mitigation strategies, all characterized by heightened proportions of glazed surface areas. The results, depending on prevailing weather conditions, reveal the potential for these factors to reduce heating time from 17 h to just 2 h at the optimum. In contrast, there is an increase in cooling impact, ranging from 7 to 22 h throughout both day and night, with scenarios representing the least and most favorable cases, respectively. For designing processes, optimizing aspect ratio without exceeding 1.6 and glazed façade orientation is essential to control multi-reflection at the modernized courtyard envelope criteria.

Graphical abstract
Characterization and differentiation of dissolved organic matter in leachate derived from an old Japanese landfill site through Orbitrap mass spectrometry
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc Thi , Kusakabe Taketoshi , Takaoka Masaki
Published: April 2024

Elucidating the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is crucial to assessing its impact on the bioavailability and mobility of pollutants in landfill leachate. This study reports a comprehensive 5–month investigation into the characteristics of DOM in leachate from an old Japanese landfill, collected at six different sampling points. The molecular composition, chemical properties, and structural characteristics of DOM were assessed using Orbitrap mass spectrometry and spectral analysis. The leachate DOM mainly consisted of CHO-containing molecules (58.5–88.9%), low-oxygen unsaturated phenolic compounds (40.5–54.0%), and aliphatic compounds (19.4–47.3%), with slight variation among sampling points. A significant portion of the nominal oxidation state of carbon was in the reduced zone (76.2–95.4%). The results underscore the distinct molecular composition of DOM in mature Japanese landfill leachate compared to young and mature leachates from other countries. Two of six sampling points, with notable differences in molecular characteristics, were compared and elucidated. The composition of landfill waste, rather than landfill age, was the main factor affecting the characteristics and differentiation of leachate DOM.
On the application of process management and process mining to Industry 4.0
Authors: Monti Flavia , Mathew Jerin George , Leotta Francesco , Koschmider Agnes , Mecella Massimo
Published: April 2024

The continuous evolution of digital technologies applied to the more traditional world of industrial automation led to Industry 4.0, which envisions production processes subject to continuous monitoring and able to dynamically respond to changes that can affect the production at any stage (resilient factory). The concept of agility, which is a core element of Industry 4.0, is defined as the ability to quickly react to breaks and quickly adapt to changes. Accurate approaches should be implemented aiming at managing, optimizing and improving production processes. In this vision paper, we show how process management (BPM) can benefit from the availability of raw data from the industrial internet of things to obtain agile processes by using a top-down approach based on automated synthesis and a bottom-up approach based on mining.
Patient activation and health literacy in Dutch patients with multiple involved specialties
Authors: Dijkstra Hidde , Weil Liann I. , Vermeeren Y. , Verhoeff M. , van Munster Barbara C.
Published: April 2024

Aim

To examine the association between having a higher number of involved specialties, patient activation (PA), and health literacy (HL) in patients visiting a general hospital.

Subject and methods

Patients ≥ 18 years of age who had an appointment with the medical specialist or physician assistant were asked to participate in this study. Patients completed the Patient Activation Measure-13 (PAM) questionnaire and the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q). They were stratified into having < 3 or ≥ 3 involved medical specialties in the past 12 months. Two association models were built to examine the association.

Results

This study included 200 patients with 52% males (n = 104), a median age of 65 years, and low levels of education (67%). Patients with ≥ 3 involved medical specialties (58%) had lower total PAM scores (p = 0.03) and had lower HLS-EU-Q index scores (p = 0.23). The multivariable regression analysis showed that having ≥ 3 involved medical specialties was not associated with low PAM scores (OR = 1.59, p = 0.13) when adjusted for low education, low HLS-EU-Q scores, and higher age (> 65 years). In addition, having ≥ 3 involved medical specialties was not associated with low HLS-EU-Q scores (OR = 1.10, p = 0.76) when adjusted for low PAM scores and low education.

Conclusion

Patients with ≥ 3 involved medical specialties visiting the internal medicine department of a general (non-academic) hospital had variable levels of PA and HL. Moreover, having ≥ 3 involved medical specialties was not significantly associated with lower PA and HL. Importantly, the number of involved specialties may not be a proxy for recognizing low PA and HL. Organizations aiming to improve PA and HL could measure these constructs directly.
Family Planning Counseling for Women Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of the Impact on Contraceptive Uptake, Intention to Use Contraception and Pregnancy Incidence, 2011 to 2022
Authors: O’Reilly Kevin R. , Yeh Ping Teresa , Kennedy Caitlin E. , Fonner Virginia A. , Sweat Michael D.
Published: April 2024

Women’s ability to control their fertility and have the number of children they want when they want them is an internationally recognized human right. This right has been the driving force behind family planning programs in low- and middle-income countries for more than five decades. The HIV epidemic added greater urgency to those efforts once the risk of vertical transmission of the virus from mothers to their infants was recognized. In 2013, we published a systematic review of the evidence of effectiveness of family planning counseling for women living with HIV, emphasizing HIV related behaviors. In this updated review, we examined 23 studies, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa. The evidence we uncovered reflected efforts to integrate services provided to women. These showed that providing contraceptive services, including intensified counseling and support, in the HIV clinics where women living with HIV received their care increased the likelihood of subsequent use of modern contraception by as much as fourfold. These studies reflected a greater focus on women’s family planning decisions and behaviors and less focus on HIV-related behaviors. Among the possible causes of this noted difference we include the widespread coverage of antiretroviral treatment for HIV. This advance has apparently changed the rationale and the approach to integrating family planning and HIV services in ways that may not have been fully appreciated. The results, however, are beneficial: greater coverage of family planning for women who wish to control their fertility and a more equal partnership between family planning services and HIV services in pursuit of the mutual goal of providing integrated services to meet women’s needs.
Innovative supply chain network design with two-step authentication and environmentally-friendly blockchain technology
Authors: Babaei Ardavan , Tirkolaee Erfan Babaee , Ali Sadia Samar
Published: April 2024

Blockchain Technology (BT) has the potential to revolutionize supply chain management by providing transparency, but it also poses significant environmental and security challenges. BT consumes energy and emits carbon gases, affecting its adoption in Supply Chains (SCs). The substantial energy demand of blockchain networks contributes to carbon emissions and sustainability risks. Moreover, for secure and reliable transactions, mutual authentication needs to be established to address security concerns raised by SC managers. This paper proposes a tri-objective optimization model for the simultaneous design of the SC-BT network, considering a two-step authentication process. The model considers transparency caused by BT members, emissions of BT, and costs related to BT and SC design. It also takes into account uncertainty conditions for participating BT members in the SC and the range of transparency, cost, and emission targets. To solve the model, a Branch and Efficiency (B&E) algorithm equipped with BT-related criteria is developed. The algorithm is implemented in a three-level SC and produces cost-effective and environmentally friendly outcomes. However, the adoption of BT in the SC can be costly and harmful to the environment under uncertain conditions. It is worth mentioning that implementing the proposed algorithm from our article in a three-level SC case study can result in a significant cost reduction of over 16% and an emission reduction of over 13%. The iterative nature of this algorithm plays a vital role in achieving these positive outcomes.
Portfolio decision analysis for pandemic sentiment assessment based on finance and web queries
Authors: Cerqueti Roy , Cesarone Francesco , Ficcadenti Valerio
Published: April 2024

COVID-19 has spread worldwide, affecting people’s health and the socio-economic environment. Such a pandemic is responsible for people’s deteriorated mood, pessimism, and lack of trust in the future. This paper presents a portfolio decision analysis framework for policymakers aiming at recovering the population from psychological distress. Specifically, we explore the relative relevance of a country to the overall “mood of the world” in light of pursuing predefined targets through optimization criteria. Toward this aim, we design a statistical indicator for measuring the mood by considering the financial markets’ outcomes and the people’s online searches about COVID-19. Then, we adapt existing portfolio selection models to evaluate the role of an extensive collection of countries and stock markets based on different criteria. More precisely, such criteria are established assuming “rational” goals of a policymaker, namely to aspire to a general and stable optimism and avoid waves of opposite moods or excess pessimism. Empirical experiments validate the theoretical proposal. The employed dataset contains 39 countries selected on the basis of data reliability and relevance in the context of COVID-19. Data on daily Google Trends searches of the term “coronavirus” (and its translations) and closing prices of relevant domestic stock indexes are considered for 2020 to develop the statistical mood indicator. Results offer different insights based on the selected optimization criteria. The practical implications of the proposed models have been illustrated through arguments based on a National Recovery and Resilience Plan-type normative framework.
Hybrid simulation of a steel frame with Dissipative Replaceable Link Frames
Authors: Giuliani Giulia , Andreotti Roberto , Tondini Nicola
Published: April 2024

In the last decades, high priority has been given to enhancing the seismic resilience of structures by reducing the damage of structural and non-structural elements after a disaster. In this context, the European Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) project DISSIPABLE was funded to perform large demonstration tests of steel frames equipped with easily repairable seismic dissipative devices. The paper extensively describes the experimental campaign carried out at the University of Trento on a steel frame equipped with innovative Dissipative Replaceable Link Frame (DRLF) systems, composed of two rigid columns connected by weakened beams at their ends. Hybrid Simulation was employed, enabling to physically test the first floor of the building yet allowing for considering the response of the remaining five floors, which were numerically simulated. A bidimensional frame was tested under increasing seismic intensity levels: Damage Limitation, Significant Damage and Near Collapse limit states. The experimental results proved that the DRLF system was able to dissipate energy and protect the primary elements of the structure from plasticisation. Moreover, the structure's re-centring capability was verified to ensure the components' replaceability. Finally, the calibration of the nonlinear model was performed following the tests, which allowed to develop a high-fidelity model suitable for further numerical investigation.
Eros In-between and All-around
Authors: Candiotto Laura
Published: April 2024

In this paper, I focus on the concept of embeddedness as the background against which eros is a force and a power in and through interactions. To go beyond an internalist account of eros, I engage in a dialogue with some philosophical accounts of desire from an enactive perspective.This enables me to shed light on the location of the embodied tension as “in-between” lovers and “all-around” them. Crucial to this tensional account of embedded eros is the intertwining between self and others’ becomings in processes of participatory sense-making. Through participatory sense-making lovers make their worlds, creating new ways of being and knowing in the ensemble. I advance some steps towards an enactive ethics of eros where, I claim, the cultivation of the space in-between and all-around lovers is the key to avoid the traps of a degenerated form of eros.
Persistent Schedule Evaluation and Adaptive Re-planning for Maritime Search Tasks
Authors: Bays Matthew J. , Wettergren Thomas A. , Shin Jaejeong , Chang Shi , Ferrari Silvia
Published: April 2024

Search operations performed by adaptive autonomous maritime vehicles have been a topic of considerable interest for many years. Such operations require carefully scheduled coordination of multiple vehicles performing search tasks across the region of interest. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the maritime environment, however, an initially planned search schedule may not be maintained if the vehicles have significant capability to adapt their tasks to match the environment they detect in real time. We propose a multi-vehicle adaptive algorithm for dynamic evaluation and elastic re-planning of variable-length tasks commonly found in the maritime environments. In adaptive evaluation and re-planning problems, a set of tasks are initially planned for execution by adaptive, autonomous search vehicles. Tasks are allocated to search vehicles under a pre-defined schedule based on prior knowledge and desired outcome. Because of the vehicles’ autonomy and reactivity to in situ conditions such as environment or target pose, the precise duration and actions required by each task are unknown a priori. We develop a hidden Markov model (HMM) for propagating task estimates, coupled with a quadratic-programming-based elastic re-scheduler. The result is an integrated estimate-and-schedule adaptation scheme that quickly and efficiently re-plans the vehicles’ schedules based on in situ observations. The numerical simulation results show that this novel HMM approach decreases avoidable schedule variation by over a factor of two compared to existing methods.
Hydrogen trapping and embrittlement of titanium- and vanadium carbide-containing steels after high-temperature hydrogen charging
Authors: Boot Tim , Suresh Kumar Athira , Eswara Santhana , Kömmelt Pascal , Böttger Amarante , Popovich Vera
Published: April 2024

This work studies the effect of TiC and VC precipitate sizes on hydrogen trapping and embrittlement. Two experimental ferritic HSLA steels containing either TiC or VC carbides for precipitation strengthening are annealed in nitrogen and hydrogen gas. This results in a hydrogen uptake of up to 0.91 and 0.44 wppm in the TiC and VC steels, respectively. TEM and TDS analysis indicate that semi-coherent TiC particles trap hydrogen in misfit dislocations with an activation energy of 43 kJ/mol. Coherent VC particles are suggested to trap hydrogen in interface carbon vacancies, with an energy between 53 and 72 kJ/mol. Carbon vacancies are the likely trapping site in incoherent precipitates, where SIMS imaging confirms that incoherent TiC precipitates trap preferentially near the interface, whereas incoherent VC precipitates trap throughout their bulk. Neither alloy is embrittled in SSRT tests after hydrogen absorption, which shows that these precipitates can be used as both a hydrogen sink and a strengthening mechanism in steels.

Graphical abstract
Investigation of group 13 elements as potential candidates for p-type dopants in the narrow-gap thermoelectric semiconductor α-SrSi2
Authors: Kunioka Haruno , Shiojiri Daishi , Takahashi Shinta , Hiratsuka Kota , Yamaguchi Masato , Hirayama Naomi , Imai Yoji , Imai Motoharu , Iida Tsutomu
Published: April 2024

To investigate the possibility of p-type doping of α-SrSi2, a promising as an eco-friendly thermoelectric material, the energy changes of substitutions of the Si site of α-SrSi2 by group 13 elements were evaluated using first-principles calculations. It is found that Ga doping was the most energetically favorable dopant while In is the most unfavorable. We examined the synthesis of Ga- and In-doped α-SrSi2 using the vertical Bridgeman method and investigated their thermoelectric properties. The Ga atoms were doped to α-SrSi2 successfully up to 1.0 at. %, while In atoms could not be doped as suggested by calculations. For experimental prepared Ga-doped samples, the carrier density was observed to increase with Ga doping, from 3.58 × 1019 cm−3 for undoped α-SrSi2 to 4.49 × 1020 cm−3 for a 1.0 at. % Ga-doped sample at 300 K. The temperature dependence of carrier concentrations was observed to change from negative to positive with increasing Ga content. In addition, the temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient was also observed to change from negative to positive with increasing Ga content. The results indicate that α-SrSi2 undergoes a semiconductor–metal transition with Ga doping. The power factor for the undoped sample was quite high, at 2.5 mW/mK2, while the sample with 0.3 at. % Ga had a value of 1.1 mW/mK2 at room temperature.
Evaluation of PVC@Silver Nanocomposite as Sensor for Low Limit Detection of Cadmium Ion By Surface Plasmon Resonance Based Method
Authors: Ali Safaa S. , Ebnalwaled A. A. , Mohamed Gehad G. , Hafez M.
Published: April 2024

This study explores the development of a PVC@Silver nanocomposite for enhanced detection of cadmium ions in water samples. Various characterization techniques confirmed the successful incorporation of silver nanoparticles into the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix across different concentrations (1–4%). X-ray diffraction revealed the face-centered cubic crystalline structure of the silver nanoparticles, with the intensities of the (111), (200), (220), and (311) peaks increasing with higher Ag concentrations. The average crystallite sizes ranged from 26.1 nm (3% Ag) to 30.0 nm (2% Ag). Dynamic light scattering showed nanoparticle sizes of 24–43 nm, while zeta potential values of -24 to -40 mV indicated reasonable colloidal stability. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis demonstrated a decreasing surface area from 30.09 m2/g (1% Ag) to 25.27 m2/g (3% Ag), attributed to pore filling by silver nanostructures. Significantly, the PVC@Silver nanocomposite facilitated sensitive detection of Cd(II) ions using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), exhibiting an SPR angle shift of 26.30° with intensity values ranging from 10.80 (4% Ag) to 12.19 (3% Ag). UV–vis spectra revealed a prominent surface plasmon resonance band at 420–430 nm, indicating the presence of silver nanoparticles. The optical band gap varied from 4.51eV (1% Ag) to 4.12eV (4% Ag).
Divergence in diversity-area relationships between lawn and non-lawn plants in residential landscapes
Authors: Russo Kacey A. , Vasconcelos Vitor V. , Jones Jesse C. , Malakhova Olesya , Broadbent Eben N. , Colee James , Dale Adam G. , Qiu Jiangxiao , Taylor Nicholas W. , Wilber Wendy L. , Iannone Basil V.
Published: April 2024

Context

In residential landscapes, people acknowledge and manage larger, conventionally attractive plants differently than smaller, less conspicuous ones, possibly leading to a divergence in basic ecological patterns such as diversity-area relationships.

Objectives

We tested for divergences between lawn and non-lawn plants, and compared perceived and actual species richness in residential yards. We hypothesized that: (1) homeowner perception of plant species richness is more related to the actual species richness of non-lawn plants than lawn plants, and (2) alpha diversity will increase more rapidly, and beta diversity will decrease less rapidly for non-lawn plants than lawn plants with increasing spatial scale.

Methods

We recorded all plant species in four 5 × 5 m plots in the front and back yards of 30 residences within four neighborhoods of Gainesville, Florida, United States (N = 238 plots). We also surveyed residents regarding perceived plant species richness in their yards.

Results

We detected 386 non-lawn and 140 lawn species. Perceived plant species richness was positively related to non-lawn species richness and negatively related to lawn species richness, suggesting perception of species richness largely reflected that of non-lawn plants. Alpha diversity increased more rapidly, while beta diversity decreased less rapidly, for non-lawn plants than lawn plants with increasing spatial scale, although lawns had more species within individual yards.

Conclusions

Findings revealed a divergence in diversity-area relationships between different plant groups in residential landscapes. We should consider the ecological implications of unrecognized plant diversity, particularly in residential lawns, where management often strives to limit plant species richness.
Development of a Csy4-Processing TRV-Based CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing System in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Luo Yanjie , Tang Xiaodong , Yu Cuihong , Qiu Yang , Nowak Julia S. , Lu Qing Shi , Tian Lining , Na Ren
Published: April 2024

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a site-specific genome editing tool that has been widely used in various plant species. The plant virus-based gRNA (guide RNA) delivery system, which differs from the typical Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, is an attractive method to facilitate the application of CRISPR/Cas9. The virally delivered gRNA is usually driven by heterologous plant U6 or viral promoters (e.g., pea early-browning virus, PEBV; barley stripe mosaic virus, BSMV). However, heterologous promoters may have poor performance in some cases. In this paper, a feasible option to detach gRNA(s) from the virus genome is employed. Specifically, the Csy4-RNA processing system is used to release gRNA(s) from the tobacco rattle virus (TRV). The coding sequences of Cas9 and Csy4 nucleases are cloned into a single polycistronic expression cassette under an estrogen-inducible promoter in a binary vector, and the gRNA is cloned into the TRV genome flanked by two 20 bp Csy4 recognition sites. The results show that the Csy4-processing TRV-based delivery system works effectively in targeting single and multiple sites, nucleotide replacement, and large fragment deletion in Cas9-mediated genome editing via transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. The Csy4-TRV is a promising gRNA(s) processing and delivery system for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. This method can be easily adapted to other plant RNA viruses, facilitating the application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in plants.
Intrinsic Harnack’s Inequality for a General Nonlinear Parabolic Equation in Non-divergence Form
Authors: Kurkinen Tapio , Siltakoski Jarkko
Published: April 2024

We prove the intrinsic Harnack’s inequality for a general form of a parabolic equation that generalizes both the standard parabolic p-Laplace equation and the normalized version arising from stochastic game theory. We prove each result for the optimal range of exponents and ensure that we get stable constants.
k-Positivity and Schmidt number under orthogonal group symmetries
Authors: Park Sang-Jun , Youn Sang-Gyun
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we present a new application of group theory to develop a systematical approach to efficiently compute the Schmidt numbers. The Schmidt number is a natural quantification of entanglement in quantum information theory, but computing its exact value is generally a challenging task even for very concrete examples. We exhibit a complete characterization of all orthogonally covariant k-positive maps. This result generalizes earlier results by Tomiyama (Linear Algebra Appl 69:169–177, 1985). Furthermore, we optimize duality relations between k-positivity and Schmidt numbers under group symmetries. This new approach enables us to transfer the results of k-positivity to the computation of the Schmidt numbers of all orthogonally invariant quantum states.
Philosophical Reflections on Teachers’ Ethical Dilemmas in a Global Pandemic
Authors: Gurr Sarah K. , Geron Tatiana , Forster Daniella J. , Levinson Meira
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic raised not only overwhelming practical challenges but also deep ethical dilemmas for educators. There have been few efforts to connect these challenges to either ethical dilemmas teachers faced in pre-pandemic times or to philosophical analyses of complex normative terrain of teachers’ work. We facilitated eleven discussion groups with 101 educators from seven countries on the dilemmas they faced due to COVID-19. Analysis of these sessions reveals how the pandemic amplified, exacerbated and augmented pre-pandemic educational dilemmas in ways that recalibrated teachers’ core values and beliefs, and highlights the importance of engaging teachers in ethical dialogue.