bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Task context dissociates the FN400 and the N400
Authors: Bader Regine , Tarantini Luca , Mecklinger Axel
Published: February 2023

In event‐related potential studies, familiarity‐based recognition has been associated with the FN400, that is, more positive‐going waveforms for old items than new items 300–500 ms post‐stimulus onset, maximal at frontal electrodes. We tested the proposition that the FN400 reflects the attribution of unexpected processing fluency to familiarity. This implies that the FN400 is greater when fluency is less expected, that is, for less familiar stimuli. Moreover, the FN400 should be modulated by the goal of remembering and only elicited when fluency is correctly attributed to the past, that is, by correct old responses in recognition memory tests. In the absence of a retrieval task, enhanced fluency for repeated items should be associated with an N400 attenuation as no episodic attribution takes place. In an incidental study‐test design with words of low and high life‐time familiarity, participants made pleasantness judgments for half of the studied words. The other half re‐appeared in a recognition test. Only in the latter task, participants had the goal of remembering. As both tasks included also new words, we could compare old/new effects under conditions in which both effects are driven by increased fluency for repeated words. We did not find the expected differences in the FN400 for low vs. high life‐time familiarity items. However, as expected, we found a frontally distributed FN400 in the recognition test whereas the old/new effect in the pleasantness task resembled an N400 effect. This supports the view that the FN400 occurs when fluency is attributed to familiarity during a recognition decision.
The impact of increasing internet penetration on prescription choices and response to pharmaceutical detailing: a 10‐year empirical investigation
Authors: Shrivastava Utkarsh , Zantedeschi Daniel , Jank Wolfgang , Stern Philip
Published: February 2023

This study investigates the implications of increased internet penetration on demand in the context of pharmaceutical prescribing. The internet has changed the information and tools available to make decisions in complex tasks such as those made by physicians, and any impact on prescribing patterns has implications for the marketing activities of drug manufacturers, necessitating a strategic rethink of business practices. This study conceptualizes the prescription decision‐making process through the lens of expectancy value theory. The unique research design allows for the observation of contrasting internet penetration rates of geographically distributed physicians over an extended time period in multiple drug categories. Modeling physician behavior as a combination of learning, peer effects, and face‐to‐face detailing by pharmaceutical firms, the study finds that the growth of the internet has a significant moderating impact on detailing efforts. Interestingly, the study also documents the interaction between learning and peer effects, as well as how the internet ultimately reduces reliance on prior prescription behavior (prescribing inertia) for the four Cardiovascular drug categories under consideration. We discuss the implications of these findings for R&D managers, marketers, and policymakers.
Remittances in Russia and Caucasus and Central Asia: The gravity model
Authors: Poghosyan Tigran
Published: February 2023

Remittances are an important source of external financing in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This paper uses the gravity model to analyze remittance flows in Russia and Caucasus and Central Asia countries. Standard gravity determinants, such as gross domestic product in sending and receiving countries, bilateral distance, existence of common borders and common official language, and fit remittance, flow well. Remittances also react to inflation and exchange rate movements in recipient countries to sustain their purchasing power. In line with the altruism hypothesis, remittances flow to countries with higher age dependency ratio. Remittances are countercyclical and help stabilize outputs in recipient countries. However, global shocks resulting in sharp output losses of sending countries would lead to large volatility and decline in remittance inflows in recipient countries.
Competition and Justice in Adam Smith
Authors: Jütten Timo
Published: February 2023

This article analyzes the relationship between competition and justice in Adam Smith in order to determine to what extent competition can promote and undermine justice. I examine how competition features in two basic motivations for human action, “the propensity to truck barter and exchange,” and “the desire of bettering our condition.” Both can be traced back to the desire for recognition, but they operate in very different ways. The former manifests itself in social cooperation, chiefly commercial exchange and the division of labor, and while it can take a competitive form, competitive success produces benefits for everyone. In contrast, the latter may manifest itself in win‐lose social competition. Commercial society harnesses both motivations, and both have negative as well as positive effects. However, while Smith explicitly addresses the negative effects of excessive specialization in the division of labor, it is less clear how he thinks the negative effects of social competition can be addressed. I argue that competition can undermine justice when (i) it pits people against each other and (ii) leads to psychological corruption. I conclude with some reflections on what a focus on competition adds to our understanding of Smith's work.
Queering Climate Change: Exploring the Influence of LGBTQ+ Identity on Climate Change Belief and Risk Perceptions*
Authors: Whitley Cameron T. , Bowers Melanie M.
Published: February 2023

Although researchers have broadly addressed how race, party identification, political ideology, and binary gender categories influence climate change opinions, little attention has been paid to the relationship between sexuality and gender variance (LGBTQ+ identity broadly) and climate change perceptions. Using a quota‐based survey from 2022 that approximates the US population on key demographic characteristics and oversamples LGBTQ+ individuals, we assess the degree to which LGBTQ+ individuals' climate change beliefs and risk perceptions are comparable to cisgender, heterosexual (cishet) individuals, specifically examining climate change beliefs, the perceived threat climate change poses, and worry about climate change. We argue that LGBTQ+ individuals' views are likely to be distinct from their cisgender heterosexual (cishet) counterparts for three reasons: climate change is likely to exacerbate existing structural inequalities, create disaster responses that reinforce heteronormative and discriminatory patterns, and activate LGBTQ+ political culture. We find evidence that LGBTQ+ individuals express higher agreement with climate change beliefs, identify climate change as a greater threat, and worry more about climate change when compared to their cishet counterparts.
Treatment of corneal ulceration and bullous keratopathy using a nictitating membrane flap in two horses
Authors: Burn Jessica B.
Published: February 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to describe placement of a nictitating membrane flap as a treatment for corneal ulceration and bullous keratopathy in two horses.

Animals Studied

A 13‐year‐old American Saddlebred mare presented for severe corneal edema, superficial stromal ulceration, and a central bulla of the left eye. A 4‐year‐old Trakhener stallion also presented with a large axial bulla of the left eye with concurrent severe corneal edema and a deep stromal ulcer.

Procedure

A complete ophthalmic examination was performed. Samples were obtained for corneal cytology, and both horses were started on aggressive medical therapy. Both underwent general anesthesia for placement of a nictitating membrane flap and a subpalpebral lavage system (SPLS).

Results

Corneal cytology for each horse revealed a mixed bacterial population. Moderate Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured from the mare, while Aspergillus species and a few Enterococcus gallinarum were cultured from the stallion. The bullae in both horses resolved at 3 and 4 weeks and vision returned in the affected eye 4.5 and 3 months postoperatively at the last follow‐up, respectively.

Conclusion

Aggressive medical management with concurrent placement of a nictitating membrane flap is effective to treat bullous keratopathy in two horses. The described treatments could be used to treat horses that develop severe or progressive bullous corneal lesions.
Follow-up on Women with Abnormal Findings of Cervical Cancer Screening in “The Americas” Region:
Authors: Fernández Deaza Ginna Paola , Zuluaga Maria , Maza Mauricio , Luciani Silvana , Murillo Raúl
Published: February 2023

The Americas region ranks third in the world in incidence and mortality from cervical cancer among World Health Organization (WHO) regions. Several studies analyze screening coverage and accuracy of screening tests as the main reasons for lack of effectiveness; however, reports on follow-up of positive-screened women are scarce. Aim: To synthesize the existing knowledge about compliance with follow-up recommendations after an abnormal result of cervical cancer screening. Methods: We will search the PubMed via Medline and LILACS databases, with additional searches of grey literature. Inclusion criteria comprise studies on adult women from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) affiliated countries, with full text available and with specified data on follow-up outcomes. There are no language or publication date restrictions. Studies on special populations or including only women under age 25 will be excluded. Two reviewers will screen titles and abstracts independently, and two researchers will assess the methodological quality and risk of bias by using validated tools according to type of study. Disagreements will be solved by consensus. Discussion: This systematic review will provide information on differences and determinants of effective follow-up of positive-screened women in cervical cancer screening. The use of a Latin American database, the review of grey literature, and the inclusion of studies in all languages will allow us to identify more reports that might be relevant for low and middle income countries (LMIC) accounting with a high burden of disease.
Patologías pediátricas no asociadas con cuadros respiratorios o infecciones por SARS-CoV-2 en Colombia durante el primer aislamiento social obligatorio
Authors: Sanchez Cárdenas Julie Paola , Soler Ramírez Angela María , Estrada Cano Diana Carolina , Grajales Valencia Magdalena , Moncaris Gonzalez Mercy Eloisa
Published: February 2023

Objetivo: Describir el perfil epidemiológico en menores de 18 años atendidos en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio (HUSI) por una etiología diferente a una infección respiratoria aguda o confirmada de COVID-19 durante el primer aislamiento social obligatorio. Metodología: Estudio observacional descriptivo retrospectivo de los registros de pacientes menores de 18 años atendidos en el HUSI por una patología diferente a infección respiratoria aguda o por COVID-19, desde el 24 de marzo hasta el 31 de agosto de 2020. Resultados: De 955 pacientes recolectados, 461 (48 %) consultaron por causas no respiratorias ni diagnóstico de infección por SARS-CoV-2. El 40,3 % tenía entre 0, y 3 años y el 33,2 %, de 12 a 17 años. El 25 % correspondió a una patología crónica agudizada y el 75 % de las atenciones requirieron hospitalización. Los principales diagnósticos globales fueron ictericia neonatal, apendicitis aguda, infección urinaria y patología de salud mental en adolescentes. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los pacientes cursaron con patologías agudas y no prevenibles. Se evidenciaron consultas tardías, cuadros clínicos de mayor severidad con mayor porcentaje de hospitalización y un número importante de problemas de salud mental en el grupo de adolescentes.
Inducción Anestésica: Propofol, Ketamina o Ketofol ¿Cuándo utilizarlos?
Authors: Henao Zapata Jesús Andrés , Herrera Echeverry Catalina , Montealegre Arturo Jorge Steven , Ordoñez Lizarralde Rafael Antonio , Valbuena Pabón Juan Camilo
Published: February 2023

Introducción: La anestesia general se subdivide en diferentes etapas donde una de las más importantes es la etapa de la inducción anestésica y los fármacos que se utilizan en ella, siendo el Propofol y la Ketamina los más nombrados Objetivo: Realizar una revisión de las propiedades farmacocinéticas y farmacodinámicas de estos dos medicamentos, para la toma de decisiones sobre en qué situaciones debería usarse cada uno de ellos o de forma concomitante Materiales y métodos: Se realizaron 4 búsquedas separadas en la base de datos de PUBMED, obteniendo un total de 27 bibliografías utilizadas para la revisión. Resultados: El propofol es un agente hipnótico útil para procedimientos cortos, en pacientes estables hemodinámicamente. La ketamina tiene un perfil farmacodinámico ideal para pacientes con inestabilidad hemodinámica. El ketofol es una alternativa que logra adecuado sinergismo permitiendo mantener los beneficios de cada uno de estos medicamentos y disminuyendo la probabilidad de efectos adversos. Conclusión: Dependiendo de la cirugía que se vaya a realizar y de la estabilidad hemodinámica de cada paciente se puede preferir un medicamento sobre otro.
Epidemiología, diagnóstico y tratamiento de las angiectasias gastrointestinales
Authors: Molineros Barón Camilo , Roa Ballestas Paola Andrea
Published: February 2023

Las angiectasias son las malformaciones vasculares mas comunes en el tracto gastrointestinal en la población general. Hasta el momento, la patogénesis de este tipo de malformaciones vasculares no ha esclarecida totalmente. Su incidencia ha venido en aumento debido a la mayor disponibilidad de métodos diagnósticos en gastroenterología, principalmente la videocápsula endoscópica (VCE) y la enteroscopia profunda asistida para el estudio del intestino delgado.

La terapia endoscópica es la estrategia de tratamiento inicial más efectiva, sin embargo existen otras alternativas terapéuticas como lo son la terapia farmacológica, la angiografía más embolización selectiva o la resección quirúrgica.
Microfluidic Transport in Ternary Liquid Layers Due to Sinusoidal Thermocapillary Actuation
Authors: Agrawal Shubham , Das Prasanta K. , Dhar Purbarun
Published: February 2023

The large-scale applicability of the micro- and nanofluidic devices demands continuous technological advancements in the transport mechanisms, especially to promptly mix the analytes and reagents at such a small scale. To this end, thermocapillarity-induced Marangoni hydrodynamics of three-layered, immiscible fluid streams in a microchannel is analytically explored. The system is exposed to periodic and sinusoidal thermal stimuli, and a theoretical framework is presented. The diffusion of the periodic thermal stimuli across and along the fluidic interfaces creates axial surface tension gradients, which induce vortical motion of the participating fluids within the microconduit. We show that depending on the physical parameters of the three participating fluids, such vortex patterns may be fine-tuned and controlled to obtain desired transport behavior. An analytical solution for the thermal and the hydrodynamic transport phenomena is obtained by solving the momentum and energy conservation equations under the umbrella of creeping flow characteristics (very low Reynolds and thermal Marangoni numbers), and nearly undeformed fluid interfaces (negligibly small Capillary number). The approximate profiles of the deformed interfaces are also quantified theoretically to justify the assumption of flat and undeformed interfaces. The independent influence of crucial thermophysical properties, the microchannel system parameters, and features of the applied thermal stimuli are shown in detail for a fixed combination of other parameters.
Challenges and Innovations of Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Management Under Extreme Conditions: A Review
Authors: Liu Siyi , Zhang Guangsheng , Wang Chao-Yang
Published: February 2023

Thermal management is critical for safety, performance, and durability of lithium-ion batteries that are ubiquitous in consumer electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), aerospace, and grid-scale energy storage. Toward mass adoption of EVs globally, lithium-ion batteries are increasingly used under extreme conditions including low temperatures, high temperatures, and fast charging. Furthermore, EV fires caused by battery thermal runaway have become a major hurdle to the wide adoption of EVs. These extreme conditions pose great challenges for thermal management and require unconventional strategies. The interactions between thermal, electrochemical, materials, and structural characteristics of batteries further complicate the challenges, but they also enable opportunities for developing innovative strategies of thermal management. In this review, the challenges for thermal management under extreme conditions are analyzed. Then, the progress is highlighted in two directions. One direction is improving battery thermal management systems based on the principles of heat transfer, which are generally external to Li-ion cells. The other direction is designing novel battery structures, which are generally internal of Li-ion cells such as smart batteries with embedded sensors and actuators. The latter approach could greatly simplify or even eliminate the need for battery thermal management under extreme conditions. New research integrating these two approaches is recommended.
Development of a Novel Perturbation Platform System for Balance Response Testing and Rehabilitation Interventions
Authors: Pew Corey A. , Sadeh Soroosh , Hsiao Hao-Yuan , Neptune Richard R.
Published: February 2023

Balance perturbations are often used to gain insight into reactive control strategies used to prevent falls. We developed a perturbation platform system (PPS) that can induce perturbations in both vertical and angled directions. The PPS was evaluated using human subject testing to verify its function and performance. The final system consisted of two box platforms that can individually perform vertical and angled surface perturbations. Following a perturbation, the system can automatically reset for the next iteration under the weight of the standing participant. The PPS achieves a peak downward acceleration of 4.4 m/s2 during drop events that simulate sudden surface changes. The experimental testing revealed that the perturbation induced a peak limb loading of 280 ± 38% of body weight (BW) during vertical drops and that participants' center of mass displacements were consistent with previous balance studies evaluating vertical perturbations. The system can be used in a laboratory or clinical setting to better understand balance response and control mechanisms and assist in rehabilitation training to improve balance control and help mitigate the incidence of falls.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Particle Deposition on Human Lung Dynamic: A Comparison Between the Healthy and Fibrotic Lung
Authors: Carotenuto Carlo , Scurani Letizia , Fontanili Luca , Montorsi Luca , Milani Massimo
Published: February 2023

The lung is the human organ mainly affected by the severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In this pathology, the dynamic lung function and the respiratory mechanics are compromised, leading to the development of the ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). The resulting damage is the progressive reduction of gas exchange and death in the most critical patients. For these reasons, it is important to study and analyze how this virus adversely affects lung dynamics. The main objective of the present paper proposes a modeling method of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles spread in the 23rd generation of lung tree and the mechanical estimation of how a severe stage of COVID-19 characterized by pulmonary fibrosis affects the alveolar sac expansion and hence the breathing capability of the sick person. In this context, the dynamic analysis of the influence of SARS-CoV-2 spread on human lung under real conditions has been shown by means of a numerical approach. Therefore, a multiphase three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study is performed to estimate the COVID-19 virus particles dispersion throughout a simplified model of the 23rd generation of the bronchial tree, at the alveolar region. Then, a fully coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) with the mesh morphing technique and solid displacement characteristics are used to obtain and evaluate a realistic wall displacement during the expansion of the alveolar sac. A comparison is made between a healthy and a diseased lung. These phases are studied under cyclic steady-state conditions The novelties of this analysis are: first, the innovative CFD method proposed in order to model the particles spread inside the alveolar region, and second the evaluation of how the presence of Sars-Cov-2 can affect the mechanical properties of the alveolar sac and damage the lung function of a sick person at an advanced stage of infection, such as a person affected by pulmonary fibrosis.
Tracing the protoliths of the garnet amphibolitic and retrogressed eclogitic slices and a conceptual tectonic model for their emplacement onto the Central Menderes Massif, Turkey: New geochemical data and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry U-Pb zircon and rutile ages
Authors: Gürsu Semih , Möller Andreas , Inglis Jeremy D. , Göncüoğlu M. Cemal , Hefferan Kevin , Toksoy-Köksal Fatma , Küçük Aynur , Köksal Serhat
Published: February 2023

The age, emplacement, and metamorphic history of the garnet amphibolitic and retrogressed eclogitic slices in the Menderes Massif (Eastern Aegean) have been a matter of debate since the 1990’s. Late Cretaceous garnet amphibolitic and retrogressed eclogitic slices in the Bozdağ and Çine nappes show low-angle tectonic contacts with the surrounding Early Cambrian meta-siliciclastics in the Alaşehir-Yahyaalcı and late Neoproterozoic basement rocks in the Birgi and Tire-Çamlıca Klippe in the northern Menderes Massif. Lower and upper intercept ages on the discordia diagrams of the garnet amphibolitic slices are 82 ± 230 Ma and 554 ± 14 Ma, respectively, in the Yahyaalcı-Alaşehir area of the Bozdağ Nappe; and 96 ± 260 Ma and 550 ± 13 Ma, respectively, in the Camlica-Tire Klippe area of the Çine Nappe. Retrogressed eclogitic slices give dates of 81 ± 13 Ma lower intercept and 546 ± 13 Ma upper intercept discordant ages in the Yenişehir-Kiraz area of the Çine Nappe. Lower intercept age of 81 ± 13 Ma is supported by two spots dated on metamorphic zircons showing positive Eu patterns yielding 86.0 ± 1.3 Ma concordant age. Zircon U-Pb dating on the oscillatory zoning spots are dated as 537.5 ± 1.6 Ma (mean square weighted deviation [MSWD] = 1.5, n = 41) for the garnet amphibolic slices in the Yahyaalcı-Alaşehir area (Bozdağ Nappe), 539.0 ± 1.1 Ma (MSWD = 1.4, n = 56) for the garnet amphibolite slices in the Camlica-Tire Klippe area (Çine Nappe), and 536.6 ± 2.3 Ma (MSWD = 1.7, n = 32) for the retrogressed eclogitic slices (Çine Nappe). These ages combined with Eu negative anomalies on the dated spots are evaluated as representing their magmatic crystallization ages of the protoliths. Garnet isopleth intersections and pseudosections gave pressure-temperature conditions of 14 kbar and ∼680 °C for the retrogressed eclogites, whereas garnet amphibolites display disequilibrium in whole rock scale. We propose that the age of their protoliths likely correlate with the Cadomian rift-related Early Cambrian meta-mafic dykes that were subducted beneath the İzmir-Ankara-Erzincan Neotethyan lithosphere during the Late Cretaceous. The new rutile U-Pb age of 30.1 ± 2.0 Ma supports that the tectonic slices of the İzmir-Ankara oceanic lithosphere and metamorphosed Tauride-Anatolide continental margin were emplaced onto the Menderes Massif to generate the “main Menderes metamorphic terrane” during the latest Paleocene and early Eocene.
Large-scale Permo-Triassic back-arc extensions of the Mongol- Okhotsk Ocean
Authors: Zhu Mingshuai , Wakabayashi John , Pastor-Galán Daniel , Zhang Fuqin , Ganbat Ariuntsetseg , Miao Laicheng , Yang Shunhu , Wang Zeli
Published: February 2023

The Late Paleozoic−Mesozoic Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic belt marks the final aggregation of East Asia. The geodynamics of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic plate subduction are still poorly understood due to its curved orogenic architecture, complex kinematics, and the protracted active continent margin that developed during oceanic subduction. Here, we report the discovery of an ophiolite within the southern paleo-active margin of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic belt. The ophiolitic slices are composed of serpentinites, metagabbros, and metabasalts, and interleaved with deformed volcaniclastic rocks. Using zircon U-Pb dating, we determined an age of 253 ± 2 Ma for the metagabbro, which suggests that the ophiolite formed during the Late Permian. Geochemical data and geologic relationships indicate that this ophiolite formed in a back-arc setting. The contemporaneous granitic dikes (ca. 255 Ma) intruding the basalts of the ophiolite were likely formed by crustal anatexis during the back-arc extension. Detrital zircon in sandstone associated with the ophiolite shows a prominent peak age of ca. 273 Ma that probably represents the sediments of the back-arc basin. Combining our discovery with the available data from the literature, we suggest that a >5000-km-long back-arc extension belt existed in the southwestern segment of the Mongol-Okhotsk belt, which indicates a probable Western Pacific-type active margin rather than the previously proposed Andean-type margin that formed during the Permo-Triassic period.
The good, the bad, and the ugly: Analysis of three arguments in the ongoing debate concerning the polarity of Mesozoic arcs along the western margin of North America
Authors: Lowey Grant W.
Published: February 2023

The debate concerning eastward versus westward subduction along the western margin of Mesozoic North America involves three main arguments: The tomography argument (westward) claims subducted slabs are observed by tomographic processing of seismic waves; the geologic evidence argument (eastward) claims subduction polarity is recorded by tripartite accretionary complex−forearc basin−magmatic arc assemblages; and the crucial geologic test argument (eastward) claims endemic terranes are characterized by detrital zircons of appropriate age and abundance, particularly Precambrian zircons. Reconstruction of the arguments in standard logic form as categorical syllogisms indicates that all three arguments are valid. However, evaluation of the truth-falsehood of the propositions supporting the arguments suggests: (1) propositions for the tomography argument seem more truthful than false; (2) propositions for the geologic test argument seem more false than truthful; and (3) propositions for the crucial geologic test argument also seem more false than truthful. Thus, the tomography argument appears to be a “good” argument (i.e., valid and sound); the geologic evidence argument appears to be a “bad” argument (i.e., valid and unsound); and the crucial geologic test argument appears to be an “ugly” argument—in the spirit that some mathematical proofs are ugly (i.e., valid and unsound, in addition to being convoluted and couched in vague terms such as “appropriate”). Proposed tests for falsification of the arguments include application of an alternate tomographic processing method to obtain non-wall-like structures in the mantle, demonstration that tripartite successions are not consanguineous, and procurement of additional evidence showing that endemic terranes do not contain Precambrian detrital zircons of appropriate age and abundance.
Use of an artificial neural network model for estimation of unfrozen water content in frozen soils
Authors: Ren Junping , Fan Xudong , Yu Xiong , Vanapalli Sai , Zhang Shoulong
Published: February 2023

The variation of unfrozen water content (UWC) has a significant influence on the physical and mechanical behaviors of frozen soils. Several empirical, semi-empirical, physical, and theoretical models are available in the literature to estimate the UWC in frozen soils. However, these models have limitations due to the complex interactions of various influencing factors that are not well understood or fully established. For this reason, in the present study, an artificial neural network (ANN) modeling framework is proposed and the PyTorch package is used for predicting UWC. Extensive UWC data of various types of soils tested under various conditions were collected through an extensive search of the literature. The developed ANN model showed good performance for the testing dataset. Its performance was further compared with two traditional statistical models on four soils and found to outperform these traditional models. Detailed discussions on the developed ANN model, and its strengths and limitations in comparison to different other models are provided. The study demonstrates that the proposed ANN model is simple yet reliable for estimating the UWC of various soils. In addition, the summarized UWC data and the proposed machine learning modeling framework are valuable for future studies related to frozen soils.
Overwintering capacity of water boatmen (Hemiptera: Corixidae) and other invertebrates encased in the ice of shallow prairie wetlands
Authors: Srayko Stephen H. , Mihalicz Jordan E. , Jardine Tim D. , Phillips Iain D. , Chivers Douglas P.
Published: February 2023

Overwintering in shallow habitats presents a serious obstacle for aquatic invertebrates. Here we investigated the little-known ability of water boatmen (Hemiptera: Corixidae), an aquatic insect, to survive the winter encased in air pockets within the ice of shallow wetlands. We extracted and experimentally thawed large blocks of ice from prairie wetlands in Saskatchewan, Canada, from which we examined the species composition and revival of corixids. While multiple corixid species were present in wetlands prior to freeze-up, a single species, Cymatia americana Hussey, 1920, comprised the vast majority of corixids that were found within the ice later in winter. Only 4%–9% of corixids, all Cymatia americana, revived after ice thawing over both study years. Being encased within an air pocket appeared to be necessary for the survival of corixids in the ice, with up to 300 individuals grouped together. Other invertebrate taxa also revived after thawing, including Haliplidae and Dytiscidae (Coleoptera) encased within air pockets both alongside corixids and on their own, as well as Coenagrionidae (Odonata), Phryganeidae and Leptoceridae (Trichoptera), Chironomidae (Diptera), and Physidae and Planorbidae (Basommatophora), which appeared to be encased in solid ice. The ability to overwinter inside ice represents a little understood survival mechanism of aquatic invertebrates in shallow wetlands, which could confer energetic and reproductive advantages to those that endure until spring.
Improved Approximation Algorithms for Matroid and Knapsack Means Problems
Authors: Zhao Ao , Zhou Yang , Liu Qian
Published: February 2023

Both matroid means and knapsack means are variations of the classic [Formula: see text]-means problem in which we replace the cardinality constraint by matroid constraint or knapsack constraint respectively. In this paper, we give a 64-approximation algorithm for the matroid means problem and a [Formula: see text]-approximation algorithm for the knapsack means problem by using a simpler and more efficient rounding method. We improve previous 304 approximate ratio for the former and 20016 approximate ratio for the latter. In the rounding process, the application of integrality of the intersection of submodular (or matroid) polyhedra provides strong theoretical support. Moreover, we extend this method to matroid means problem with penalties, and give 64 and 880-approximate algorithms for uniform penalties and nonuniform penalties problem.
Quantum decomposition algorithm for master equations of stochastic processes: The damped spin case
Authors: AlMasri M. W. , Wahiddin M. R. B.
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we introduce a quantum decomposition algorithm (QDA) that decomposes the problem [Formula: see text] into a summation of eigenvalues times phase–space variables. One interesting feature of QDA stems from its ability to simulate damped spin systems by means of pure quantum harmonic oscillators adjusted with the eigenvalues of the original eigenvalue problem. We test the proposed algorithm in the case of undriven qubit with spontaneous emission and dephasing.
A study of the elastic πN scattering at finite baryon density
Authors: Han Hyeon-Dong , Hutauruk Parada T. P. , Nam Seung-il
Published: February 2023

In this work, we investigate the elastic [Formula: see text] scattering for the [Formula: see text] channel dominated by the [Formula: see text] resonance at finite baryon density for the symmetric nuclear matter, employing the effective Lagrangian approach at the tree-level Born approximation. The quark-meson coupling (QMC) model is employed to describe the medium modifications for the in-medium baryon properties that are constructed at the quark level, such as the nucleon and [Formula: see text] masses, and [Formula: see text] full decay width. We first reproduce the experimental data of the cross-section in a vacuum and we then analyze various physical observables including the total and differential cross-sections and proton-spin asymmetry in a medium. It turns out that suppression and broadening on the peak of the in-medium cross-section becomes more significant at higher baryon density due to the increase of the decay width in the nuclear medium. Also, we find that beyond the [Formula: see text]-resonance region [Formula: see text] GeV, the elastic cross-section scattering is almost independent of the density. Results for the in-medium [Formula: see text] resonance will be relevant and useful for the relativistic heavy-ion collisions (RHICs).
Feature-Based Object Detection and Tracking: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Husna Fauzi Nurul Izzatie , Musa Zalili , Hujainah Fadhl
Published: February 2023

Correct object detection plays a key role in generating an accurate object tracking result. Feature-based methods have the capability of handling the critical process of extracting features of an object. This paper aims to investigate object tracking using feature-based methods in terms of (1) identifying and analyzing the existing methods; (2) reporting and scrutinizing the evaluation performance matrices and their implementation usage in measuring the effectiveness of object tracking and detection; (3) revealing and investigating the challenges that affect the accuracy performance of identified tracking methods; (4) measuring the effectiveness of identified methods in terms of revealing to what extent the challenges can impact the accuracy and precision performance based on the evaluation performance matrices reported; and (5) presenting the potential future directions for improvement. The review process of this research was conducted based on standard systematic literature review (SLR) guidelines by Kitchenam’s and Charters’. Initially, 157 prospective studies were identified. Through a rigorous study selection strategy, 32 relevant studies were selected to address the listed research questions. Thirty-two methods were identified and analyzed in terms of their aims, introduced improvements, and results achieved, along with presenting a new outlook on the classification of identified methods based on the feature-based method used in detection and tracking process.
THE CONCEPT OF BUSINESS MODELS–DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES
Authors: WIRTZ BERND W. , MÜLLER WILHELM M. , LANGER PAUL F.
Published: February 2023

This research aims to systematically analyse literature reviews on business models to determine which and to what extent specific business model (BM) research topics receive attention. The systematic meta approach allows 23 selected studies to be examined on the basis of their content by comparing their research approach, focus and results, citation success and stated research directions. In this context, 10 key BM research areas could be derived, which can be grouped into four research domains: (1) BM terminology, (2) BM factors, (3) BM outcomes and impacts, and (4) BM concept application and transfer. The systematic and detailed analysis of the research enables the identification of research gaps and the derivation of recommendations for future BM research efforts.
Lessons Learned on Engaging Teenage Visitors in Museums with Story-Based and Game-Based Strategies
Authors: Cesário Vanessa , Nisi Valentina
Published: February 2023

While museums are designed to engage and interest various audiences, teenagers are often a neglected segment. Without digital interactivity, it is challenging for a museum to remain exciting and relevant to a young, tech-savvy audience. Games can benefit museums by fostering positive attitudes towards museum spaces and creating more joyful destinations to promote meaningful informal learning combined with entertainment. We developed a dual-gamified mobile experience targeted at teenagers, for the Natural History Museum of Funchal, Portugal: a story-based strategy (
Memories of Carvalhal's Palace
—
Turning Point)
and a game-based strategy (
Memories of Carvalhal's Palace
—
Haunted Encounters
). These strategies were studied in depth with 159 teenagers (15–19 years old) to understand how gamified strategies might enhance their user experience in a museum. On one hand, game-based strategies, in which game mechanics predominate, can catch a visitor's attention by displaying challenging questions that promote competition. On the other hand, story-based strategies, in which storytelling is prominent, can promote an emotional connection with the museum and exhibits and facilitate awareness of historical facts by including an engaging plot with high-quality media and tightly edited stories. This article reports on lessons learned that museum experience designers and curators can use in designing enjoyable, interactive experiences for teenage visitors.
Context-Aware Magnetic MIMO Wireless Charging with Parallel In-Band Communication
Authors: Zhou Wangqiu , Zhou Hao , Wang Zhan , Tan Haisheng , Li Xiang-Yang
Published: February 2023

Wireless power transfer (e.g., based on RF or magnetic) enables convenient device charging, and triggers innovative applications that typically call for faster, smarter, economic, and even simultaneous adaptive charging for multiple smart devices. Designing such a wireless charging system meeting these multi-requirements faces critical challenges, mainly including the better understanding of real-time energy receivers’ status and the power-transferring channels, the limited capability and the smart coordination of the transmitters and receivers. In this work, we devise
Camel
, a context-aware MIMO MRC-WPT (magnetic resonant coupling based wireless power transfer) system, which enables
adaptive
charging of multiple devices simultaneously with a novel context sensing scheme. In
Camel
, we craft an innovative MIMO MRC-WPT channels’ state estimation and collision-aware parallel
in-band
communication among multiple transmitters and receivers. We design and implement the
Camel
prototype and conduct extensive experimental studies. The results validate our design and demonstrate that
Camel
can support simultaneous charging of as many as 10 devices, high-speed context sensing within 50 ms, and efficient parallel communication among transceivers within proximity of ∼0.5 m.
Bringing Underwater Networking to the 21st Century
Authors: Chan Justin , Chen Tuochao , Gollakota Shyamnath
Published: February 2023

The state of underwater networking today is similar to ARPANET back in the 1970s, when only a select few people with expensive hardware resources had access to the technology. We present the first acoustic system that brings underwater networking capabilities to existing mobile devices like smartphones and smart watches. Our software-only solution leverages audio sensors, i.e., microphones and speakers, ubiquitous in today's devices, to enable acoustic underwater communication between mobile devices. To achieve this, we design a communication system that adapts in real-time to differences in frequency responses across mobile devices, changes in multipath and noise levels at different locations and dynamic channel changes due to mobility. We evaluate our system in six different real-world underwater environments in the presence of boats, ships and people fishing and kayaking. With the release of Apple Watch Ultra that is specifically designed for underwater settings, our software-based approach has the potential to democratize underwater networking capabilities by making them widely available to anyone with a mobile device.
Eating Disorders in Boys and Men
Authors: Brown Tiffany A. , Keel Pamela K.
Published: February 2023

While boys and men have historically been underrepresented in eating disorder research, increasing interest and research during the twenty-first century have contributed important knowledge to the field. In this article, we review the epidemiology of eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia (the pathological pursuit of muscularity) in boys and men; specific groups of men at increased risk for eating disorders; sociocultural, psychological, and biological vulnerability factors; and male-specific assessment measures. We also provide an overview of current research on eating disorder and muscle dysmorphia prevention efforts, treatment outcomes, and mortality risk in samples of boys and men. Priorities for future research are including boys and men in epidemiological studies to track changes in incidence, identifying (neuro)biological factors contributing to risk, eliminating barriers to treatment access and utilization, and refining male-specific prevention and treatment efforts.
IgE, IgE Receptors and Anti-IgE Biologics: Protein Structures and Mechanisms of Action
Authors: McDonnell J.M. , Dhaliwal B. , Sutton B.J. , Gould H.J.
Published: February 2023

The evolution of IgE in mammals added an extra layer of immune protection at body surfaces to provide a rapid and local response against antigens from the environment. The IgE immune response employs potent expulsive and inflammatory forces against local antigen provocation, at the risk of damaging host tissues and causing allergic disease. Two well-known IgE receptors, the high-affinity FcεRI and low-affinity CD23, mediate the activities of IgE. Unlike other known antibody receptors, CD23 also regulates IgE expression, maintaining IgE homeostasis. This mechanism evolved by adapting the function of the complement receptor CD21. Recent insights into the dynamic character of IgE structure, its resultant capacity for allosteric modulation, and the potential for ligand-induced dissociation have revealed previously unappreciated mechanisms for regulation of IgE and IgE complexes. We describe recent research, highlighting structural studies of the IgE network of proteins to analyze the uniquely versatile activities of IgE and anti-IgE biologics.
Inhibition of IL-6 signaling prevents serum-induced umbilical cord artery dysfunction from patients with severe COVID-19
Authors: Almeida Cellyne R. , Lima Júlia F. , Machado Mirele R. , Alves Juliano V. , Couto Ariel E.S. , Campos Ligia C.B. , Avila-Mesquita Carolina D. , Auxiliadora-Martins Maria , Becari Christiane , Louzada-Júnior Paulo , Tostes Rita C. , Lobato Núbia S. , Costa Rafael M.
Published: February 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has a negative impact on the cytokine profile of pregnant women. Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines seem to be correlated with the severity of the disease, in addition to predisposing to miscarriage or premature birth. Proinflammatory cytokines increase the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is unclear how interleukin-6 (IL-6) found in the circulation of patients with severe COVID-19 might affect gestational health, particularly concerning umbilical cord function. This study tested the hypothesis that IL-6 present in the circulation of women with severe COVID-19 causes umbilical cord artery dysfunction by increasing ROS generation and activating redox-sensitive proteins. Umbilical cord arteries were incubated with serum from healthy women and women with severe COVID-19. Vascular function was assessed using concentration-effect curves to serotonin in the presence or absence of pharmacological agents, such as tocilizumab (antibody against the IL-6 receptor), tiron (ROS scavenger), ML171 (Nox1 inhibitor), and Y27632 (Rho kinase inhibitor). ROS generation was assessed by the dihydroethidine probe and Rho kinase activity by an enzymatic assay. Umbilical arteries exposed to serum from women with severe COVID-19 were hyperreactive to serotonin. This effect was abolished in the presence of tocilizumab, tiron, ML171, and Y27632. In addition, serum from women with severe COVID-19 increased Nox1-dependent ROS generation and Rho kinase activity. Increased Rho kinase activity was abolished by tocilizumab and tiron. Serum cytokines in women with severe COVID-19 promote umbilical artery dysfunction. IL-6 is key to Nox-linked vascular oxidative stress and activation of the Rho kinase pathway.
DIR-SLAM: Dynamic Interference Removal for Real-Time VSLAM in Dynamic Environments
Authors: Ma Xiaomin , Yang Ye , Zhu Lei , Yi Yingmin , Xin Jing , Su Xueping , Li Minqi
Published: February 2023

Traditional visual simultaneous localization and mapping (VSLAM) systems mostly rely on the static-world assumption, which limits their applications in real-world scenarios with dynamic objects. When there are dynamic objects in the scene, the localization accuracy of the system decreases seriously. In this paper, in order to minimize the interference of dynamic objects in vision localization, we propose a real-time and robust dynamic interference removal (DIR) method, which is based on both prior knowledge and geometry information. Our approach employs a novel lightweight CNN network to output semantic labels and extends the semantics based on the correlations of descriptors to generate a segmented mask. We design a geometric consistency check module to remove the dynamic interference, which computes the bundle adjustment to predetermine the static keypoints, and then the semantic weighted epipolar constraint is used to identify the dynamic outliers. The proposed method is integrated into the front end of ORB-SLAM2 to filter out the dynamic keypoints which are associated with the known and unknown dynamic objects. We conduct experiments on the public TUM RGB-D dataset, the qualitative and quantitative results prove that the DIR method can improve the performance of the state-of-the-art VSLAM system in dynamic scenarios.
Providing a Novel Approach Based on Decomposition for Congestion Management considering EVCSs, Wind Farms, and DLC
Authors: Nikkhah Mohammad Hasan , Samadi Mahdi , Hajiabadi Mohammad Ebrahim , Lotfi Hossein
Published: February 2023

The acceptance of renewable energy sources and electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) around the world is growing, which changes the network’s congestion. From the operator’s perspective, congestion management is essential for network reliability despite increased demand. Additionally, it is among the most crucial elements in preventing network market power. Therefore, the items affecting the congestion changes of network lines, in particular, congested lines, are important for the operator. In this paper, using an analytical method and structural decomposition, the impact of wind farms, EVCSs, and demand response to changes in network line congestion in various cases has been investigated. In addition, some indices have been proposed to evaluate the ability of each item to change the congestion at low and peak loads. The proposed method has been implemented on the IEEE standard 24-bus network, and the results have been analyzed. This method is an effective tool for the network operator to predict the state of the network due to changes in items.