bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using a Small Hexapod Robot to Pick up Large Cylinders for Munitions Response
Authors: Gong Yifeng , Pan Mingyu , Daltorio Kathryn A. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTIn shallow water environments, traditional technologies face challenges in retrieving unexploded ordnance (UXO). We present an innovative and safe alternative robotic platform to replace traditional divers in this dangerous task. A waterproof 18‐DOF legged robot MR. Crab has been developed specifically for the purpose of locating and recovering UXO. Utilizing walking legs for both locomotion and manipulation, the robot demonstrates the capability to pick up inert UXO weighing at 2.78 kg (half of the robot's mass) with one pair of walking legs and 10.5 kg (184% of robot's mass) when utilizing all three pairs of legs. To enhance our understanding of gripping capacity, static analysis was conducted to predict the maximum weight of graspable UXO with respect to UXO radii, revealing that the weight of graspable UXO increases with its radius. A modified wave gait was developed to enable the robot to move while carrying a UXO with its middle pair of legs. For easier control, a user‐friendly GUI had been built for remote teleoperation, which also integrated two current sensors to assist human operators in determining the tightness of the UXO grip. Additionally, an automatic gripping algorithm was developed to efficiently place the robot in the optimal gripping position and grab the inert UXO. To validate its performance in real‐world environments, MR. Crab was tested at Lake Erie, demonstrating its ability to traverse the wave zone and retrieve a UXO.
Finite difference simulations for Darcy–Forchheimer–Brinkman model of MHD Oldroyd B fluid flow past a permeable sheet containing microorganisms
Authors: Saha Kajal Chandra , Saha Goutam , Alhazmi Hadil , Mohammed Najla A. , Khan Waqar A. , Aljohani Abdulrahman F. , Alzahrani Jawaher , Khan Ilyas 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThis study explores the behavior of gyrotactic microorganisms swimming on a stretching surface in a non‐Newtonian Oldroyd B fluid. The study considers the combined effects of magnetohydrodynamic, Buongiorno and the Darcy–Forchheimer‐Brinkman models. Additionally, the effects of Soret–Dufour, thermophoresis, Brownian motion, viscous dissipation, thermal relaxation time, and thermal generation/absorption with heat flux are investigated. The relevant problems are mathematically formulated, and the ordinary differential equation is obtained by applying appropriate transformations to the governing equations. The finite difference technique is then used to solve the equation. Velocity, temperature, concentration, and microorganism profiles are graphed to analyze the behavior of the flow in the presence of motile gyrotactic microorganisms under various physical and bio‐convection parameters. It is demonstrated that the skin friction of Oldroyd B fluid is affected by the Deborah number and mixed convection parameter. Bio‐convection parameters reduce the local Nusselt number and enhance transfer of motile microorganisms. However, increasing bio‐convection parameters decrease the Sherwood number, resulting in slower mass transfer from the surface.
Co-creation for Sustainable Well-being: A Value-Driven Initiative in Bangladeshi Higher Education
Authors: Islam Md Mahbubul , Islam Mohammad Aminul , Rashid Masud Ur , Islam Md Imamul , Al Mansur Ahmed , Mohiuddin Mohammad Golam 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe chapter highlights a value-driven initiative of co-creation in teaching and learning in higher education institutions to address the needs that emerged among local communities. The study presents three cases from three universities in Bangladesh. Findings demonstrate that staff-student co-creation can be applied as an inclusive tactic for facilitating teaching and learning in higher education. It can also build awareness among learners as active well-being agents. The pedagogical approaches endorsed several sustainable development goals (SDGs) and accrued cumulative social, economic and environmental values for the local community. The analysis of the cases offers significant implications for educators, researchers, and policymakers in academia and beyond.
Complex symplectic contractions and 3d mirrors
Authors: Dancer Andrew , Grimminger Julius F. , Martens Johan , Zhong Zhenghao 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
We propose magnetic quivers for the complex-symplectic contraction spaces, which are related to implosions and have a natural interpretation in terms of the Moore-Tachikawa category. We use 3-d mirrors to provide computational checks.
The magnetic maze: a system with tunable scale invariance
Authors: Zhou Tian-Gang , Winer Michael , Swingle Brian 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Random magnetic field configurations are ubiquitous in nature. Such fields lead to a variety of dynamical phenomena, including localization and glassy physics in some condensed matter systems and novel transport processes in astrophysical systems. Here we consider the physics of a charged quantum particle moving in a “magnetic maze”: a high-dimensional space filled with a randomly chosen vector potential and a corresponding magnetic field. We derive a path integral description of the model by introducing appropriate collective variables and integrating out the random vector potential, and we solve for the dynamics in the limit of large dimensionality. We derive and analyze the equations of motion for Euclidean and real-time dynamics, and we calculate out-of-time-order correlators. We show that a special choice of vector potential correlations gives rise, in the low temperature limit, to a novel scale-invariant quantum theory with a tunable dynamical exponent. Moreover, we show that the theory is chaotic with a tunable chaos exponent which approaches the chaos bound at low temperature and strong coupling.
Analyzing the effects of minimum wages: a microeconomic approach
Authors: Thielen Clemens , Weinschenk Philipp 
Published: November 2024

AbstractWe use a microeconomic approach to analyze the effects of minimum wages. Agents are allowed to have different productivities at different principals as well as different costs of working. We obtain several new and interesting effects. Minimum wages could influence the generated surplus when leaving employment unaffected, and destroy jobs that generate relatively high levels of surplus when affecting employment. Furthermore, minimum wages could harm agents even if these stay employed, while principals could benefit from them. We provide a complete characterization of the effects and show that these hold independently of the specific bargaining procedure and information structure.
The Ashley and Patterson (1986) test for serial independence in daily stock returns, revisited
Authors: Ashley Richard A. , Najafi Faezeh 
Published: November 2024

AbstractWe update and extend the non-parametric test proposed in Ashley and Patterson (J Financ Quant Anal 21:221–227, 2014) – of the proposition that the (pre-whitened) daily stock returns for a firm are serially independent, and hence unpredictable from their own past. That paper applied this test to daily returns from 1962 to 1981 for several U.S. corporations and aggregate indices, finding mixed evidence against this null hypothesis of serial independence. The returns dataset is updated here to include thirteen firms which are currently more relevant, and the sample is extended through the end of 2023. We also update the simulation methodology here to properly account for the conditional heteroskedasticity in the daily returns data, so that the present results should now be more statistically reliable. The results are broadly in line with our earlier results, but they do suggest further avenues of research in this area.
A possible role of plasmin-dependent activation of TGF-β in cancer-associated thrombosis: Implications for therapy
Authors: Smeda Marta , Maleki Ebrahim H. , Jasztal Agnieszka 
Published: November 2024

AbstractWhile the prevalence of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is high in cancer patients, its molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Moreover, the risks of recurrent CAT events and mortality remain high in cancer patients despite the introduction of anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy. Here, we discuss the possibility that increased plasmin activity driven by anticoagulant/antiplatelet treatment might be the major mechanism responsible for the activation of an excess of cancer-derived transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) originating from cancer cells and the tumour microenvironment. Hence, high coagulation and fibrinolysis rates in cancer patients may be linked to high rates of TGF-β activation, especially the excess of TGF-β derived from cancer cells. In turn, high TGF-β activation could contribute directly to maintaining high thrombotic risk and CAT recurrence in cancer patients since TGF-β signalling increases gene expression and secretion of the fibrinolysis inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI1). Thus, TGF-β could directly contribute to the high number of deaths among patients with cancer experiencing CAT, despite anticoagulant/antiplatelet treatment. In a longer-term perspective, increased TGF-β activation, by supporting a pro-coagulant cancer microenvironment, might also accelerate cancer progression. This review aims to discuss the published evidence that might support the scenario described above, and to put forward the hypothesis that cancer patients experiencing CAT events would largely benefit from anti-TGF-β therapy.
Understanding practicing and assessment of 21st-century skills for learners in makerspaces and FabLabs
Authors: Ioannou Andri , Miliou Ourania , Adamou Maria , Kitsis Andreas , Timotheou Stella , Mavri Aekaterini 
Published: November 2024

AbstractDespite the opportunities that makerspaces and FabLabs offer for the development of 21st-century skills, understanding how these skills are being practiced and assessed in these spaces has been proven challenging. In this work, we address this gap through an interview study investigating 13 maker-educators’ practices across different makerspaces and FabLabs. The findings reveal that, in general, maker-educators’ practice is not guided by any formal 21st century skills framework. Instead, they draw ideas from their national school curricula, literature, and primarily their own experiences and perceived best practices in their contexts. They report evidence of practicing 21st-century skills, most frequently referring to five skills: collaboration, creativity, communication, life/social skills, and problem-solving. Yet, they do not explicitly assess the development of these skills, for reasons that have to do with (i) the practical nature of making, which emphasizes the development of a tangible result and not skills development as such, (ii) the demanding nature of the making activities, which requires a lot of hands-on time, leaving no room for assessment, (iii) the making ethos, which presents maker-educators with choices around what to pursue and how to go about it, and cannot restrict making activities within the boundaries of formal assessment practices. The study helped to document some making practices linked to the practicing of 21st-century skills, as reported by the participating maker-educators. Future work could focus on the design of assessment practices and tools that can help to capture and advance the development of 21st-century skills in maker contexts, while respecting the openness in the making ethos.
Placental abruption and perinatal mortality in twins: novel insight into management at preterm versus term gestations
Authors: Lee Rachel , Brandt Justin S. , Ananth Cande V. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractTwins suffer a disproportionately higher burden of adverse perinatal outcomes than singletons. However, the degree to which preterm delivery shapes the relationship between abruption and perinatal mortality in twins is unknown. Through causal mediation decomposition, we examine how preterm delivery mediates the effect of abruption on perinatal mortality among twins using the US-matched multiple birth data (1995–2000). We estimated the hazard ratio (HR) from Cox models with gestational age as the timescale. We decomposed the total effect (TE) into counterfactual natural direct (NDE) and natural indirect (NIE) effects. 557,220 matched twin births, 1.3% (n = 7032) resulted in abruption with higher perinatal mortality rates than non-abruption births (143 versus 36 per 1000 births, respectively) and a 4.53-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.23, 4.82) increased hazard of perinatal mortality. HRs for NDE and NIE were 3.05 (95% CI: 2.84, 3.24) and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.49, 1.47, 1.50), respectively, and the proportion mediated (PM) was 41%. PM increased as the gestational age at delivery decreased. Associations persisted after correction for unmeasured confounders. The best strategies to improve perinatal delivery are delivery when abruption complicates twin pregnancies at term gestations and expectant management (avoiding early preterm delivery), if feasible, when abruption complicates twin pregnancies at preterm gestations.
Report of a novel missense TDP1 variant in a Pakistani family affected with an extremely rare disorder congenital spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy type 1 (SCAN1)
Authors: Ahmad Riaz , Sayyad Filza , Naeem Muhammad , Houlden Henry 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy type 1 (OMIM: 607250) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) gene. Only a single missense variant (p.His493Arg) in this gene has been reported. This variant was found in three Arab families with a possible common founder effect.

Methods and Results
We report a female patient born to a consanguineous Pakistani family segregating autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy type 1. The patient presents additional clinical features distinct from previously reported Arab families including congenital onset of the disease. We performed whole exome sequencing with the patient’s DNA and identified a novel missense variant (NC_000014.9:g.89991982C > T; p.His478Tyr) in exon 13 of the TDP1 gene. Sanger sequencing was performed to verify the autosomal recessive segregation of the p.His478Tyr variant in the family.

Conclusion
The current study expands both the clinical and mutation spectrum of the TDP1 associated spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy type 1 and increases the body of evidence that supports the pathogenic role of TDP1 in cerebellar ataxias with peripheral neuropathy.
Testing the meshing hypothesis in prospective teachers: Are there effects of matching learning style and presentation mode on learning performance and on metacognitive aspects of learning?
Authors: Melzner Lena , Kappes Cathleen 
Published: November 2024

AbstractLearning styles are a popular concept in the educational field, although there is no empirical evidence that matching learning materials to an individual’s learning style actually enhances learning outcomes (the so called meshing hypothesis). In this online study, the meshing hypothesis was tested in a sample of prospective teachers (N = 222) employing the revised Verbalizer-Visualizer Questionnaire (VVQ-R). In a between-subjects design, participants were presented with either visual or verbal learning materials (figures vs. texts) of the same content based on actual course material. There was no significant interaction between presentation mode and learning styles on learning outcome, revealing no advantage of matching learning style and presentation mode. Similarly, learning styles did not predict judgements of learning (JOL) or confidence ratings for the matching presentation mode. In sum, the study provides further evidence that considering learning style in teaching methods such as presentation mode is not beneficial. Importantly, the present study used ecologically valid learning materials and a sufficiently powered sample. Moreover, as in previous studies, attitudes towards learning styles and their implementation in the classroom were very positive in the present sample. Teaching about the theoretical and empirical background of learning styles somewhat decreased these positive attitudes.
Comparing PFAS analysis in batch leaching and column leaching tests
Authors: Kalbe Ute , Piechotta Christian , Bandow Nicole 
Published: November 2024

AbstractLaboratory leaching tests are tools to assess the mobility of environmental contaminants released from granular materials. Comparative leaching tests were performed using four PFAS-contaminated soils whose concentration patterns of 10 selected perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) differed due to the two types of contamination sources. This study aimed to evaluate the equivalence of two usual laboratory-scale leaching test procedures, batch and column percolation tests, at liquid-to-solid ratios (L/S) of 2 l/kg, which is the current practice within the German assessment framework, and 10 l/kg (relevant for some EU regulations such as the landfill directive). The differences between the replicates of leaching tests investigating PFAS were smaller for column percolation tests than for batch tests, probably mainly due to the greater sample size and the better representativeness of the sample portion analyzed. It was observed that batch tests overestimate the release of shorter-chain PFAS, whereby the effect was greater with carboxylic than with sulfonic acids. Currently, the limits of detection of analyses given by the DIN standard with regard to PFCA and PFSA in soils are partly not sufficient to detect very low contents, whereas the detection of selected PFCA and PFSA in eluates is more sensitive, in accordance with the available standards. This results in limitations when calculating mass balances.
Beyond batch experiments: unveiling the potential of bimetallic carbon xerogels for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of hospital wastewater in continuous mode
Authors: Santos Silva Adriano , Roman Fernanda Fontana , Ribeiro Rui Sérgio , Garcia Juan , Gomes Helder Teixeira 
Published: November 2024

AbstractSingle- and bimetallic carbon xerogels were prepared by incorporating iron and iron-cobalt precursors during their synthesis, respectively, and tested in the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of ibuprofen spiked into a simulated matrix in batch mode. The bimetallic catalyst outperformed single and non-metallic catalyst by 25 and 85% after 360 min of reaction, at mild temperature (30 °C). The best-performing catalyst was further used to treat hospital wastewater in a CWPO system operating in full continuous mode. Process optimization was carried out considering different catalyst loads, temperatures, and pH. The results obtained showed that the best conditions are initial pH 3, T = 80 °C, and a catalyst load of 35.4 mg cm−3. Having maintained values of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals as high as 80% after 24 h of continuous operation, the results herein reported revealed the high potential of the bimetallic carbon xerogel for CWPO of hospital wastewater beyond conventional applications in batch mode. Despite some catalytic deactivation, the bimetallic carbon xerogel still delivered a mineralization degree as high as 55% of the initial total organic carbon (TOC) content of the hospital wastewater in the third 24-h cycle of CWPO in continuous mode of operation with successive catalyst reuse, as opposed to a 73% TOC removal in the first cycle. Therefore, our results open prospects for the implementation of CWPO for hospital wastewater treatment in continuous mode of operation.
Institutional Complementarity and Substitution in Indian Multinational Enterprises’ Cross-Border Investment Decisions
Authors: Nayyar Rishika , Luiz John M. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe assumption that better institutions are favoured in multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) location choices has been questioned in terms of whether emerging market MNEs might have different capabilities associated with the institutional conditions in their home country that they may exploit when internationalizing. They might seek to expand both to better institutional environments (institutional substitution) and to other emerging market environments (institutional complementarity). We examine if elements of institutional complementarity and substitution are evident in the internationalization decisions of Indian MNEs, and whether there are boundary conditions or limits attached to the benefits of these two effects. Our arguments are tested on a sample of Indian MNEs’ cross-border acquisitions between 2002 and 2021. The study differentiates between institutional distance effects in terms of both magnitude and direction, and institutional quality. We raise the notion of “institutional ranges or thresholds” (different points on the institutional profile distribution representing varying levels of institutional quality) and explicitly seek to identify such thresholds where the effects of institutional complementarity and substitution may set in and/or disappear, and why that may be the case.
The future of cognitive strategy-enhanced persuasive dialogue agents: new perspectives and trends
Authors: Chen Mengqi , Guo Bin , Wang Hao , Li Haoyu , Zhao Qian , Liu Jingqi , Ding Yasan , Pan Yan , Yu Zhiwen 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPersuasion, as one of the crucial abilities in human communication, has garnered extensive attention from researchers within the field of intelligent dialogue systems. Developing dialogue agents that can persuade others to accept certain standpoints is essential to achieving truly intelligent and anthropomorphic dialogue systems. Benefiting from the substantial progress of Large Language Models (LLMs), dialogue agents have acquired an exceptional capability in context understanding and response generation. However, as a typical and complicated cognitive psychological system, persuasive dialogue agents also require knowledge from the domain of cognitive psychology to attain a level of human-like persuasion. Consequently, the cognitive strategy-enhanced persuasive dialogue agent (defined as CogAgent), which incorporates cognitive strategies to achieve persuasive targets through conversation, has become a predominant research paradigm. To depict the research trends of CogAgent, in this paper, we first present several fundamental cognitive psychology theories and give the formalized definition of three typical cognitive strategies, including the persuasion strategy, the topic path planning strategy, and the argument structure prediction strategy. Then we propose a new system architecture by incorporating the formalized definition to lay the foundation of CogAgent. Representative works are detailed and investigated according to the combined cognitive strategy, followed by the summary of authoritative benchmarks and evaluation metrics. Finally, we summarize our insights on open issues and future directions of CogAgent for upcoming researchers.