bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Executive function and drivers’ ability to self-regulate behaviour when engaging with devices
Authors: Young Kristie L. , Stephens Amanda N. , McDonald Hayley 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDistracted driving is a leading cause of road trauma. While there is an understanding of some psychological mechanisms underlying distracted driving, there is limited knowledge on the role of executive function in the willingness to engage in non-driving tasks and even less is known about its potential role in drivers’ self-regulatory behaviour when distracted. This study investigated the relationship between executive function and driver engagement with technology. It specifically focussed on whether difficulties in everyday executive functioning impacts drivers’ ability to self-regulate behaviour when engaging with devices at the planning, decision and control levels. Twenty-five licenced drivers aged 20 to 65 years were recruited from the general driving public. Participants first completed the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Adult Version (BRIEF-A) and then filled in a series of trip diaries soon after driving over a four-week period. The diaries detailed their interactions with a range of on-board and portable devices during each trip. Generalised Estimated Equations were used to examine associations between executive function and drivers’ behavioural regulation when interacting with devices. Results revealed that difficulties with the behavioural regulation and metacognition aspects of executive function were associated with higher engagement with devices while driving. Executive function also had important links to drivers’ self-regulatory behaviours, particularly at the planning and decision levels. The relationship between executive function and self-regulation at the control level was less clear. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying distracted driving behaviour and suggest possible interventions to reduce engagement with devices and facilitate and enhance positive self-regulatory behaviours.
Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal variations of surface water quality using water quality indices and GIS
Authors: Uslu Aysenur , Dugan Secil Tuzun , El Hmaidi Abdellah , Muhammetoglu Ayse 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThere is a need for a comprehensive comparative analysis of spatiotemporal variations in surface water quality, particularly in regions facing multiple pollution sources. While previous research has explored the use of individual water quality indices (WQIs), there is limited understanding of how different WQIs perform in assessing water quality dynamics in complex environmental settings. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of three WQIs (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and System for Evaluation of the Quality of rivers (SEQ-Eau) and a national water quality regulation in assessing water quality dynamics. The pilot study area is the Acısu Creek in Antalya City of Turkey, where agricultural practices and discharge of treated wastewater effluents impair the water quality. A year-long intensive monitoring study was conducted includig on-site measurements, analysis of numerous physicochemical and bacteriological parameters. The CCME and SEQ-Eau indices classified water quality as excellent/good at the upstream, gradually deteriorating to very poor downstream, showing a strong correlation. However, the NSF index displayed less accuracy in evaluating water quality for certain monitoring stations/sessions due to eclipsing and rigidity problems. The regulatory approach, which categorized water quality as either moderate or good for different sampling sessions/stations, was also found less accurate. The novelty of this study lies in its holistic approach to identify methodological considerations that influence the performance of WQIs. Incorporating statistical analysis, artificial intelligence or multi-criteria decision-making methods into WQIs is recommended for enhanced surface water quality assessment and management strategies.
Solving nonlinear vectorial problems with a stable class of Jacobian-free iterative processes
Authors: Cordero Alicia , Jordán Cristina , Sanabria-Codesal Esther , Torregrosa Juan R. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn this manuscript, a general class of Jacobian-free iterative schemes for solving systems of nonlinear equations is presented. Once its fourth-order convergence is proven, the most efficient sub-family is selected in order to make a qualitative study. It is proven that the most of elements of this family are very stable, and this is checked by means on numerical tests on several problems of different sizes. Their performance is compared with other known Jacobian-free iterative procedure, being better in the most of results.
Quartic Rigid Systems in the Plane and in the Poincaré Sphere
Authors: Álvarez M. J. , Bravo J. L. , Calderón L. A. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWe consider the planar family of rigid systems of the form $$x'=-y+xP(x,y), y'=x+yP(x,y)$$

x
′

=
-
y
+
x
P

(
x
,
y
)

,

y
′

=
x
+
y
P

(
x
,
y
)

, where P is any polynomial with monomials of degree one and three. This is the simplest non-trivial family of rigid systems with no rotatory parameters. The family can be compactified to the Poincaré sphere such that the vector field along the equator is not identically null . We study the centers, singular points and limit cycles of that family on the plane and on the sphere.
Intuitive and Interactive Robotic Avatar System for Tele-Existence: TEAM SNU in the ANA Avatar XPRIZE Finals
Authors: Park Beomyeong , Kim Donghyeon , Lim Daegyu , Park Suhan , Ahn Junewhee , Kim Seungyeon , Shin Jaeyong , Sung Eunho , Sim Jaehoon , Kim Junhyung , Kim Myeong-Ju , Cha Junhyeok , Park Gyeongjae , Lee Hokyun , You Seungbin , Jang Keunwoo , Kim Seung-Hun , Schwartz Mathew , Park Jaeheung 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAvatar robots enable the teleoperation and telepresence of an operator with a rich and meaningful sense of existence in another location. Robotic avatar systems rely on intuitive interactions to afford operators comfortable and accurate robot control to perform various tasks. The ability of operators to feel immersed within a robot has drawn interest in multiple research fields to explore the future capabilities of such systems. This paper presents a robotic avatar system based on a custom humanoid robot, TOCABI, with a mobile base. Its teleoperation system was developed in response to the ANA Avatar XPRIZE. Combining the life-size humanoid robot and the mobile base allows for improved mobility and dexterous manipulation. The robotic avatar system comprises the robot/base and an operator station that incorporates haptic feedback devices, trackers, a head-mounted display, gloves, and pedals. These devices connect the robot-environment interaction and operator-avatar robot experience through visual, auditory, tactile, haptic, and kinesthetic feedback. Combining the untethered battery-operated and Wi-Fi-enabled robot with these sensory experiences enables intuitive control through the operator’s body movement. The performance of the robotic avatar system was evaluated through user studies and demonstrated in the ANA Avatar XPRIZE Finals, represented by Team SNU, where it completed 8 of the 10 missions, placing the team eighth among the 17 finalists.
Younger children and mothers’ labour supply in rural India: Evidence from fertility stopping behaviour
Authors: Gupta Isha 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis paper estimates the causal effect of having young children aged 0–5 years on mothers’ labour force participation in rural India. To address the potential endogeneity in the fertility decision, I exploit Indian families’ preference for having sons. I leverage exogenous variation in the gender of older children aged 6 + years as an instrumental variable for having younger children aged 0–5 years in the family. IV estimates show that the mothers’ participation is significantly reduced by 9.9% due to the presence of young children aged 0–5 years in the household, with the negative effect mostly driven by mothers belonging to the highest income quartile; mothers with high education; and mothers residing in nuclear families. The findings highlight the need for investment in high-skilled jobs and formal childcare facilities to encourage mothers’ labour supply. Using the testable implications for the generalizability of LATE discussed in Angrist (The Economic Journal, 114: C52 C83, 2004), I show that the estimated causal effect is homogenous across compliers, always takers, and never takers and thus, generalizable to the whole population of interest.
Identification of placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC-1) expression on human PC-3 cell line-derived prostate cancer stem cells compared to the tumor parental cells
Authors: Farhangnia Pooya , Ghods Roya , Falak Reza , Zarnani Amir-Hassan , Delbandi Ali-Akbar 
Published: June 2024

AbstractPlacenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC-1) is a gene primarily expressed in the placenta and the testis. Interestingly, it is also found to be expressed in many solid tumors, and it is involved in malignant cell features. However, no evidence has been reported regarding the relationship between PLAC-1 and cancer stem cells (CSCs). In the current research, we explored the expression of the PLAC-1 molecule in prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) derived from the human PC-3 cell line. The enrichment of PCSCs was achieved using a three-dimensional cell culture technique known as the sphere-formation assay. To confirm the identity of PCSCs, we examined the expression of genes associated with stemness and pluripotency, such as SOX2, OCT4, Nanog, C-Myc, and KLF-4, as well as stem cell differentiation molecules like CD44 and CD133. These evaluations were conducted in both the PCSCs and the original tumor cells (parental cells) using real-time PCR and flow cytometry. Subsequently, we assessed the expression of the PLAC-1 molecule in both enriched cells and parental tumor cells at the gene and protein levels using the same techniques. The tumor cells from the PC-3 cell line formed spheroids with CSC characteristics in a non-adherent medium. The expression of SOX2, OCT4, Nanog, and C-Myc genes (p < 0.01), and the molecules CD44 and CD133 (p < 0.05) were significantly elevated in PCSCs compared to the parental cells. The expression of the PLAC-1 molecule in PCSCs showed a significant increase compared to the parental cells at both gene (p < 0.01) and protein (p < 0.001) levels. In conclusion, it was indicated for the first time that PLAC-1 is up-regulated in PCSCs derived from human PC-3 cell line. This study may propose PLAC-1 as a potential target in targeted therapies, which should be confirmed through further studies.
Sustainability and the domestic credit market: worldwide evidence
Authors: Sol Murta Fátima , Gama Paulo Miguel 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis paper aims to uncover the cross-sectional relationship between country-level sustainability performance and the domestic lending activity of commercial banks. Considering a worldwide sample of countries, it uses publicly available sustainability scores from SolAlability Sustainable Intelligence, macroeconomic data, and banking sector data from the World Bank. The results show that the country’s sustainability performance is positively related to the amount of domestic credit granted by banks to the private sector and negatively related to the importance of nonperforming loans. Moreover, looking at the pillars that constitute the sustainability scores, this work finds evidence that social cohesion, intellectual capital, and governance are the pillars of sustainability that affect domestic lending activity. Results survive several robustness tests concerning samples, variables’ definitions, and estimation procedures. Our results suggest that policies aiming at improving a country’s sustainability contribute to domestic banking sector stability and financial development. Specifically, measures that contribute to social cohesion and solidarity, innovation and value-added industries, and the country’s governance performance, contribute to the smooth functioning of credit markets.
An Integrated Hydrometallurgical Treatment and Combustion Process for Sustainable Production of Sm2O3 Nanoparticles from Waste SmCo Magnets
Authors: Emil-Kaya Elif 
Published: June 2024

AbstractSamarium (Sm), as one of the rare earth elements (REEs), has gained significant attention in the production of SmCo magnets due to their high corrosion and oxidation resistance, as well as their high-temperature stability. SmCo magnets find applications in various industries, including but not limited to national defense, aerospace, military, and medical equipment. Sm and Co have been classified as a critical metal due to its economic importance and supply risk. Recovering Sm from SmCo magnets is an effective method to ensure a stable supply. The present study investigates an integrated hydrometallurgical treatment and combustion process for the preparation of rare earth oxide (Sm2O3) powders from SmCo. Initially, SmCo powders is exposed to nitric acid, and the resulting slurry is selectively oxidized at 250 °C to obtain Sm(NO3)3, Co2O3, and Fe2O3. Subsequently, the selectively oxidized powders are leached with water to extract Sm. Sm2O3 powders are produced from the obtained leaching solution using an energy- and time-efficient solution combustion process. In this process, once the ignition point of the leaching solution-citric acid complex is reached, combustion occurs and concludes within a short time. The combusted powders are then calcined at different temperatures to produce crystalline Sm2O3 powders. Finally, the optimal conditions for the production of Sm2O3 are identified, and the produced powder is characterized through XRD and FESEM analysis.
Quantum circuits for discrete graphical models
Authors: Piatkowski Nico , Zoufal Christa 
Published: June 2024

AbstractGraphical models are useful tools for describing structured high-dimensional probability distributions. The development of efficient algorithms for generating samples thereof remains an active research topic. In this work, we provide a quantum algorithm that enables the generation of unbiased and independent samples from general discrete graphical models. To this end, we identify a coherent embedding of the graphical model based on a repeat-until-success sampling scheme which clearly identifies whether a drawn sample represents the underlying distribution. Furthermore, we show that the success probability for finding a valid sample can be lower bounded with a quantity that depends on the number of maximal cliques and the model parameter norm. Moreover, we rigorously proof that the quantum embedding conserves the key property of graphical models, i.e., factorization over the cliques of the underlying conditional independence structure. The quantum sampling algorithm also allows for maximum likelihood learning as well as maximum a posteriori state approximation for the graphical model. Finally, the proposed quantum method shows potential to realize interesting problems on near-term quantum processors. In fact, illustrative experiments demonstrate that our method can carry out sampling and parameter learning not only with idealized simulations of quantum computers but also on actual quantum hardware solely supported by simple readout error mitigation.
Incorporation of Recycled Concrete Aggregates as Road Pavement Material in South Africa
Authors: Pitso Reatile I. , Mostafa Mohamed M.H. , Elsaigh Walied A. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractConstruction and Demolition Waste (C&DW) management has become a burden locally and globally. Thinking towards consumption of large C&DW quantities, particularly Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCA), in road construction is the main derive of this study. Natural aggregates, used as a control material and designated G5 (i.e. South African road pavement material class), is compared to RCA. A series of physical and chemical tests were conducted to classify the RCA and assess the material’s appropriateness for pavement structure as unbound base or/and subbase layers. Additional tests were carried out by adding varying amounts of cement (i.e. 2%, 2.5% and 3%) to evaluate the pertinence of RCA to cement-treated materials often prescribed for pavement layers. The result indicates great potential concerning the beneficial reuse of RCA in the pavement structure.
Heading in the direction of bifurcated networks: Hong Kong's evolution amidst the global submarine cable system
Authors: Zhang Jun 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe full understanding of the importance of submarine cables as part of the global network infrastructure in the digital economy era, along with decades of knowledge accumulation in this field, has not prevented Hong Kong from facing increasing difficulties in gaining more access to submarine cable systems since 2017. Given that geopolitical differences between China and the U.S. are dividing the international network infrastructure, the business interests of Hong Kong enterprises and the urban development prospects of the Hong Kong government have been forced to defer to Beijing’s security concerns. Meanwhile, in recent years China has been acquiring data power by modelling the “data collection – data sharing – data space governance” path that the United States and its allies set previously. During this process, the power shaped by China’s unique technological, social and institutional characteristics offers an alternative to American dominance, although it exacerbates the global divergence of internet infrastructure. Many projects along the Belt and Road Initiative and the Digital Silk Road are the examples of China’s data power projection, and will bring opportunities for Hong Kong’s own submarine cables sector and for the city’s role as a super connector in the coming years.
Smartphone usage and its associated behaviours among undergraduate medical students in Pakistan
Authors: Naeem Noor-i-Kiran , Naeem Zil-e-Fatima , Anwar Asfand Yar 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the trends of smartphone usage and behaviours associated with its use among undergraduate medical students at ABWA Medical College, Pakistan. Conducted from July to December 2023, this cross-sectional survey involved 270 undergraduate medical students, with 264 participants responding, resulting in a 97.7% response rate. The validated Smartphone Addiction Survey (SAS) was administered via an online Google form after obtaining informed consent. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The study identified that smartphone usage among medical students includes information storage, communication, education, and entertainment, with no statistically significant gender-based differences (p > 0.05). Behaviours associated with smartphone usage included daily life disturbance, overuse, withdrawal, cyberspace-oriented relations, and tolerance. The ANOVA test revealed significant differences in cyberspace-oriented relations (p = 0.012), while no significant differences were found among different MBBS classes for daily life disturbance, overuse, withdrawal, and tolerance. These findings provide valuable insights into smartphone usage patterns and behaviours among medical students, highlighting significant variations in online interaction habits. The results can inform targeted interventions to promote healthy smartphone use and improve educational experiences for medical students in the digital age.
Enhanced Hydrologic Connectivity and Solute Dynamics Following Wildfire and Drought in a Contaminated Temperate Peatland Catchment
Authors: Marcotte Abbey L. , Limpens Juul , Nunes João Pedro , Howard Ben C. , Hurley Alexander G. , Khamis Kieran , Krause Stefan , Croghan Danny , Kourmouli Angeliki , Leader Samantha , Singh Tanu , Stoof Cathelijne R. , Ullah Sami , Kettridge Nicholas 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIntact peatlands provide hydrological ecosystem services, such as regulating water regimes and immobilizing pollutants within catchments. Climate change impacts including drought and wildfire may impair their functioning, potentially impacting ecosystem service delivery. Here we investigate stream water quality changes following the combined impacts of a summer drought and wildfire in a peat‐dominated catchment in the UK during 2018. The study catchment stores legacy pollutants (i.e., metals) due to past industrial activity, thus making it particularly susceptible to pollutant release during wildfires. We quantified changes in water chemistry during five storm events over a 9‐month period following the wildfire. Concentration‐discharge (C‐Q) relationships for nine solutes were analyzed to explore changes in activation and connectivity of solute source zones. Hysteresis and flushing indices of C‐Q responses further described solute dynamics during storm events. We found that most nutrient and base cation concentrations in the stream discharge were highest in the immediate post‐fire storm events and decreased during subsequent autumn and spring storms. Metal concentrations increased during autumn and spring storms, indicating delayed mobilization from within‐peat or distal headwater sources. Our findings suggest that seasonal re‐wetting and hydrologic connectivity following disturbance influenced solute source zone activation and transport in the study catchment. Water quality responses associated with wildfire and drought were primarily observed in the months following the wildfire, suggesting mobilization of pollutants peaks shortly after fire. Our results contribute to a critical understanding of the future of water quality risks in temperate peatland catchments subject to disturbances exacerbated by climate change.
Transcriptome profiling of fast/glycolytic and slow/oxidative muscle fibers in aging and obesity
Authors: Zhang Feng-Min , Wu Hao-Fan , Wang Ke-Fan , Yu Ding-Ye , Zhang Xian-Zhong , Ren Qi , Chen Wei-Zhe , Lin Feng , Yu Zhen , Zhuang Cheng-Le 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAging and obesity pose significant threats to public health and are major contributors to muscle atrophy. The trends in muscle fiber types under these conditions and the transcriptional differences between different muscle fiber types remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate distinct responses of fast/glycolytic fibers and slow/oxidative fibers to aging and obesity. We found that in muscles dominated by oxidative fibers, the proportion of oxidative fibers remains unchanged during aging and obesity. However, in muscles dominated by glycolytic fibers, despite the low content of oxidative fibers, a significant decrease in proportion of oxidative fibers was observed. Consistently, our study uncovered that during aging and obesity, fast/glycolytic fibers specifically increased the expression of genes associated with muscle atrophy and inflammation, including Dkk3, Ccl8, Cxcl10, Cxcl13, Fbxo32, Depp1, and Chac1, while slow/oxidative fibers exhibit elevated expression of antioxidant protein Nqo-1 and downregulation of Tfrc. Additionally, we noted substantial differences in the expression of calcium-related signaling pathways between fast/glycolytic fibers and slow/oxidative fibers in response to aging and obesity. Treatment with a calcium channel inhibitor thapsigargin significantly increased the abundance of oxidative fibers. Our study provides additional evidence to support the transcriptomic differences in muscle fiber types under pathophysiological conditions, thereby establishing a theoretical basis for modulating muscle fiber types in disease treatment.