bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Saving, sharing and shaping landrace seeds in commons: unravelling seed commoning norms for furthering agrobiodiversity
Authors: Sandström Emil , Ortman Tove , Watson Christine A , Bengtsson Jan , Gustafsson Clara , Bergkvist Göran 
Published: June 2024

AbstractOne of the major challenges facing agricultural and food systems today is the loss of agrobiodiversity. Considering the current impasse of preventing the worldwide loss of crop diversity, this paper highlights the possibility for a radical reorientation of current legal seed frameworks that could provide more space for alternative seed systems to evolve which centre on norms that support on-farm agrobiodiversity. Understanding the underlying norms that shape seed commons are important, since norms both delimit and contribute to what ultimately will constitute the seeds and who will ultimately have access to the seeds and thus to the extent to which agrobiodiversity is upheld and supported. This paper applies a commoning approach to explore the underpinning norms of a Swedish seed commons initiative and discusses the potential for furthering agrobiodiversity in the context of wider legal and authoritative discourses on seed enclosure. The paper shows how the seed commoning system is shaped and protected by a particular set of farming norms, which allows for sharing seeds among those who adhere to the norms but excludes those who will not. The paper further illustrates how farmers have been able to navigate fragile legal and economic pathways to collectively organize around landrace seeds, which function as an epistemic farming community, that maintain landraces from the past and shape new landraces for the present, adapted to diverse agro-ecological environments for low-input agriculture. The paper reveals how the ascribed norms to the seed commons in combination with the current seed laws set a certain limit to the extent to which agrobiodiversity is upheld and supported and discusses why prescriptions of “getting institutions right” for seed governance are difficult at best, when considering the shifting socio-nature of seeds. To further increase agrobiodiversity, the paper suggests future seed laws are redirected to the sustenance of a proliferation of protected seed commoning systems that can supply locally adapted plant material for diverse groups of farmers and farming systems.
Introduced mice influence the large-bodied alpine invertebrate community
Authors: Bertoia Aaron , Murray Tara J. , Robertson Bruce C. , Monks Joanne M. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractInvasive mammalian predators are a key threat to native fauna globally. Island ecosystems that developed in isolation from mammals are particularly threatened by introduced mammalian predators. This is the case in New Zealand, where introduced mammalian predators have caused the decline of native birds, lizards, and invertebrates. In alpine areas of New Zealand, predator control targets stoats, rats, and cats as they are recognised as the key threats to native birds. Mice, which are known predators of invertebrates at lower elevations, are not actively controlled. As a result, alpine invertebrates in New Zealand represent an ideal focus for a natural experiment to understand the effects of predator control efforts and invasive mice on native invertebrates that evolved in isolation from mammals. In the Fiordland region of New Zealand, we assessed the large-bodied alpine invertebrate community at eight different sites that vary in their occurrence of mice and control of higher-order predators. We found that the recent presence of mice influenced the invertebrate community: wētā (a group of native orthopterans) were less common at sites where mice were present, and the mean body size of invertebrates collected in pitfall traps was larger at sites where mice were absent compared to sites where they were present. Control of other predators (specifically rats and mustelids) did not influence invertebrate body size, abundance, or community composition. Our findings suggest that, as in lowland environments, mice are an important predator of large-bodied invertebrates in the alpine zone and should be incorporated into future predator management programmes.
Cancer metastasis through the lymphatic versus blood vessels
Authors: Leong Stanley P. , Witte Marlys H. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWhether cancer cells metastasize from the primary site to the distant sites via the lymphatic vessels or the blood vessels directly into the circulation is still under intense study. In this review article, we follow the journey of cancer cells metastasizing to the sentinel lymph nodes and beyond to the distant sites. We emphasize cancer heterogeneity and microenvironment as major determinants of cancer metastasis. Multiple molecules have been found to be associated with the complicated process of metastasis. Based on the large sentinel lymph node data, it is reasonable to conclude that cancer cells may metastasize through the blood vessels in some cases but in most cases, they use the sentinel lymph nodes as the major gateway to enter the circulation to distant sites.
Enhancing rural students’ computer science self-efficacy in a robotics-based language arts course
Authors: Tang Hengtao , Qian Yingxiao , Porter-Voss Susan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIntegrating computer science (CS) content into existing STEM curricula emerges as a viable solution to broadening rural students’ participation in CS, but rural students have a significant proficiency gap in science and mathematics. By focusing on an English language arts course as the context for CS integration, this exploratory study examined the impact of a robotics-based intervention integrated into a high school language arts class on rural students’ CS self-efficacy. A convergent mixed methods design was applied to collect and analyze qualitative and qualitative data separately. Quantitative results confirmed that the integrated robotics-based intervention significantly improved rural students’ CS self-efficacy. Qualitative findings provided insights on how embodied learning and mastery experience facilitated by the robotics-based intervention fostered rural students’ CS self-efficacy. The findings from the two sources of data were integrated, shedding light on the potential of curricular integration in language arts classes for broadening rural student participation in CS education.
Mechanism and suppression of friction-induced vibration in catenary-pantograph system
Authors: Amano Yuki , Kobayashi Shigeyuki , Yabuno Hiroshi , Yamashita Yoshitaka , Mori Hiroki 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAn unexplained instability phenomenon in railways is known to be caused by sliding friction in a catenary-pantograph system at low speeds. This is an important engineering problem because this instability phenomenon contributes to increased wear of contact wires and requires a train driver to confirm safety, which leads to train delays. Tribological analyses have found an increase in the friction coefficient at low speeds. Pantograph models based on the finite element method, multibody dynamics, and pin-disk model have been proposed for kinematic analyses. However, the mechanism is still uncertain, and no experimental investigations have been conducted. In this study, experimental and numerical investigations are conducted on the instability phenomenon caused by sliding friction. A method for estimating the friction coefficient for an actual pantograph is proposed and applied to experimentally investigate the instability phenomenon. A dynamic model is constructed based on various experiments. The frequency and the stable-unstable boundary of the instability phenomenon obtained in the simulations agree with those obtained in the experiment. From the dynamic model, it is found that the instability is a flutter-type instability caused by the asymmetry of the stiffness matrix due to Coulomb friction. Countermeasures for preventing the instability phenomenon based on the determined mechanism are proposed, and their effectiveness is verified by simulations and experiments. The results could contribute to the design of new pantographs to improve stability and the development of countermeasures for existing pantographs that experience instability.
Nanostructured Mn@NiO composite for addressing multi-pollutant challenges in petroleum-contaminated water
Authors: Hasan Gamil Gamal , Laouini Salah Eddine , Osman Ahmed I. , Bouafia Abderrhmane , Althamthami Mohammed , Meneceur Souhaila , Kir Iman , Mohammed Hamdi , Lumbers Brock , Rooney David W. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractEfficient catalysts play a pivotal role in advancing eco-friendly water treatment strategies, particularly in the removal of diverse organic contaminants found in water-petroleum sources. This study addresses the multifaceted challenges posed by contaminants, encompassing a spectrum of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Zn alongside pollutants like oily water (OIW), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dyes, and pharmaceuticals, posing threats to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Herein, we present the synthesis of biogenically derived Mn@NiO nanocomposite (NC) photocatalysts, a sustainable methodology employing an aqueous Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract, yielding particles with a size of 36.7 nm. The catalyst demonstrates exceptional efficacy in removing heavy metals, achieving rates exceeding 99–100% within 30 min, alongside notable removal efficiencies for OIW (98%), TSS (87%), and COD (98%). Furthermore, our photodegradation experiments showed remarkable efficiencies, with 94% degradation for Rose Bengal (RB) and 96% for methylene blue (MB) within 120 min. The degradation kinetics adhere to pseudo-first-order behavior, with rate constants of 0.0227 min−1 for RB and 0.0370 min−1 for MB. Additionally, the NC exhibits significant antibiotic degradation rates of 97% for cephalexin (CEX) and 96% for amoxicillin (AMOX). The enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to the synergistic interplay between the Mn and NiO nanostructures, augmenting responsiveness to sunlight while mitigating electron-hole pair recombination. Notably, the catalyst demonstrates outstanding stability and reusability across multiple cycles, maintaining its stable nanostructure without compromise.
Graphical Abstract
Sustained Depolarization Induces Gene Expression Pattern Changes Related to Synaptic Plasticity in a Human Cholinergic Cellular Model
Authors: Carrese Anna Maria , Vitale Rossella , Turco Manuela , Masola Valeria , Aniello Francesco , Vitale Emilia , Donizetti Aldo 
Published: June 2024

AbstractNeuronal gene expression in the brain dynamically responds to synaptic activity. The interplay among synaptic activity, gene expression, and synaptic plasticity has crucial implications for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. These diseases are marked by synaptic dysfunction that affects the expression patterns of neuroprotective genes that are incompletely understood. In our study, we developed a cellular model of synaptic activity using human cholinergic neurons derived from SH-SY5Y cell differentiation. Depolarization induction modulates the expression of neurotrophic genes and synaptic markers, indicating a potential role in synaptic plasticity regulation. This hypothesis is further supported by the induction kinetics of various long non-coding RNAs, including primate-specific ones. Our experimental model showcases the utility of SH-SY5Y cells in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity in human cellular systems.
Discrepancy between regulations and practice in initial margin calculation
Authors: Kitani Ryosuke , Nakagawa Hidetoshi 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCounterparty risk remains an issue in over-the-counter derivative transactions following the 2008 financial crisis. While the margin for a derivative transaction can only be transferred until just before the counterparty’s default, the exposure of the derivative transaction can vary stochastically during the margin period of risk, that is, the period from the counterparty’s default to the actual closing-out of the transaction. Thus, the anticipated positive exposure may not be recognized, resulting in counterparty risk. Considering it is difficult to calculate the initial margin (IM) according to the regulations, IM has been calculated in practice using a simplified method proposed by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), which is called the ISDA Standard Initial Margin Model (“ISDA SIMM”). In this study, we derive an approximate formula for some counterparty risk indicators for a stochastic volatility model and illustrate numerical analyses for a call option in the SABR model as an example to examine the effect of the discrepancy between regulations and practices in margin calculation. Our results imply that the IM calculated in practice may be insufficient for counterparty risk management, particularly when the market is volatile.
Experimental investigation on the anisotropy of friction property for dry and water-saturated rock
Authors: Yang Qing , He Mingming , Zhao Jinrui , Ding Mingchen , Wang Jing 
Published: June 2024

AbstractFriction properties of rock are closely connected with the anisotropy. The anisotropy of rock friction can provide a valuable assessment for geotechnical and geological engineering. In this study, the rotary friction tests were conducted to analyze the water effect on the friction property and the friction anisotropy of the four types of rock. The drilling response model (DD-model) was employed to characterize the rotary friction behavior of the rocks. The parameters of this model include the three types of friction parameters: 1/ς, μ, and f, where 1/ς and μ are constant, and f is a variable. A quantitative method is proposed for assessing the anisotropy of rock friction. The results of the rotary friction tests indicate that the relation between torque force and thrust force conforms to the DD-model. The changes of two friction constants 1/ς and μ from dry state to water-saturated state suggest that the water effect on the friction strength of the rocks exhibits significant anisotropy. The friction strength determined by the friction variable f increases first, then decreases, and finally stabilizes with the increasing of depth. AIf is an anisotropy index calculated by the proposed method. The percentage difference of the average value of AIf between water-saturated and dry states shows the degree of the water effect on the friction anisotropy of the rocks, mudstone (MU) > granite (GR) > fine sandstone (FS) > argillaceous siltstone (AS). The quantitative model is hopefully constructed for characterizing the relation between the anisotropic friction strength of rock and the moisture state in future.
Subsurface deformation mechanism and the interplay relationship between strength-ductility and fretting wear resistance during fretting of a high-strength titanium alloy
Authors: Tong Yanlin , Hua Ke , Xie Haoyang , Cao Yue , Huang Zhuobin , Liang Zhenpeng , Li Xiaolin , Wu Hongxing , Wang Haifeng 
Published: June 2024

AbstractFretting wear damage of high-strength titanium fasteners has caused a large number of disastrous accidents. Traditionally, it is believed that both high strength and excellent ductility can reduce fretting wear damage. However, whether strength and ductility are contradictory or not and their appropriate matching strategy under the external applied normal stress (Fw) are still confusing problems. Here, by analyzing the subsurface-microstructure deformation mechanism of several samples containing various α precipitate features, for the first time, we design strategies to improve fretting damage resistance under different matching relation between Fw and the tensile strength of materials (Rm). It is found that when Fw is greater than Rm or Fw is nearly equivalent to Rm, the deformation mechanism mainly manifests as serious grain fragmentation of β and αGB constituents. Homogeneous deformation in large areas only reduces damage to a limited extent. It is crucial to improve the strength to resist cracking and wear, but it is of little significance to improve the ductility. However, when Fw is far less than Rm, coordinated deformation ability reflected by ductility plays a more important role. The deformation mechanism mainly manifests as localized deformation of β and αGB constituents (kinking induced by twinning and spheroidizing). A unique composite structure of nano-grained/lamellar layer and localized deformation transition layer reduces fretting damage by five times compared with a single nano-grained layer. Only when the strength is great enough, improving the plasticity can reduce wear. This study can provide a principle for designing fretting damage resistant alloys.
In Situ Polymer Gel Electrolyte in Boosting Scalable Fibre Lithium Battery Applications
Authors: Luo Jie , Zhang Qichong 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe poor interfacial stability not only deteriorates fibre lithium-ion batteries (FLBs) performance but also impacts their scalable applications. To efficiently address these challenges, Prof. Huisheng Peng team proposed a generalized channel structures strategy with optimized in situ polymerization technology in their recent study. The resultant FLBs can be woven into different-sized powering textiles, providing a high energy density output of 128 Wh kg-1 and simultaneously demonstrating good durability even under harsh conditions. Such a promising strategy expands the horizon in developing FLB with particular polymer gel electrolytes, and significantly ever-deepening understanding of the scaled wearable energy textile system toward a sustainable future.
No Virtuous Insulation: A Dilemma for Veritism
Authors: Sjölin Wirling Ylwa 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
This paper interrogates the idea of a virtue-first approach to the question of what has fundamental epistemic value. It has been suggested that a virtue-first approach is needed to strengthen the view known as veritism, according to which only truth has fundamental epistemic value. I distinguish between an ontological and a methodological virtue-first approach, and suggest that only the latter is an attractive option for a veritist. I then argue that the methodological virtue-first approach is incompatible with the idea that the epistemic domain is insulated, in the sense that being of epistemic value does not entail being of value. But insulationism is arguably an important tool for veritists in meeting various objections to their view, aside from being considered generally attractive by many. Veritists thus face a dilemma that requires them to give up one of two arguably attractive tools in their kit: either the virtue-first motivation of their view, or the insulationist conception of epistemic value.
A Comparative Study Examining the Effects of Mixed and Virtual Reality on Plausibility Illusion and Emotional States
Authors: Shin Mincheol , Sibuea Rumittar , Lee Heejae 
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Understanding the unique impact of extended reality (XR) technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), on emotional states is important for predicting users’ subsequent judgments and behaviors. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether and how the differences in the structural affordances of VR and MR (i.e., a sense of being there vs. a sense of an object being in the physical environment) can indeed induce distinct effects. Therefore, the present study aims to elucidate the role of VR and MR technologies on users’ emotional states through the theoretical lens of plausibility illusion. Specifically, we hypothesized that plausibility illusion would mediate the effects of XR modality on emotional states, including arousal and perceived fear toward a fearful object. In addition, we explored the potential moderating role of object virtuality (i.e., ontological characteristic of virtual objects) in the relationship between XR modality and plausibility illusion. Results from a mixed 2 (XR modality: VR vs. MR) × 2 (virtuality: para-authentic vs. artificial) design experiment ( N = 100) showed that VR induced a higher sense of plausibility illusion than MR, which played a mediating role in amplifying arousal and perceived fear. This finding suggests that the differences in the structural affordances of VR and MR can induce distinctive effects on emotional states. Further implications of the findings are discussed.
Impacts of Natural Environmental Factors and Anthropogenic Activities on the Distribution of Threatened Orchid Species in China
Authors: Shang Weixuan , Mao Lingfeng , Miao Lu , Yan Yuehong , Li Shicheng , Feng Gang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractNatural environmental factors and anthropogenic activities could have strong impacts on threatened species distribution. Based on Random Forest modeling and ordinary least squares models, we tested the correlations between natural environmental factors (mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP) and elevation range), anthropogenic activities (changes in cropland area, population density and pasture area) over different periods (between 1700 and 1800, between 1800 and 1900, and between 1900 and 2000) and ratio of threatened orchids in China. The results showed that threatened orchids were concentrated in Southwest China, Central China and Northeast China. The ratio of threatened orchids was positively correlated with MAT and MAP, but negatively correlated with elevation range. In addition, the three anthropogenic activity variables most correlated with threatened orchids ratio were changes of cropland area between 1900 and 2000, population density between 1700 and 1800, and between 1800 and 1900. These correlations were positive, indicating that areas with more anthropogenic activities had more threatened orchids. Moreover, MAP and changes of cropland area between 1900 and 2000 together were more correlated with threatened orchids ratio than other variables. These findings suggest important roles of contemporary climate and anthropogenic activities in shaping the distribution of threatened orchid species in China.
ANCHOR: Global Parametrized Ionospheric Data Assimilation
Authors: Forsythe Victoriya V. , McDonald Sarah E. , Dymond Kenneth F. , Fritz Bruce A. , Burrell Angeline G. , Zawdie Katherine A. , Drob Douglas P. , Burleigh Meghan R. , Hickey Dustin A. , Metzler Christopher A. , Kuhl David D. , Hodyss Daniel , Hughes Joe H. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractANCHOR is a novel assimilative model developed at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, which was designed for rapid assimilative runs. ANCHOR uses recently developed PyIRI model for the background and for the formation of the background covariance matrix. It only takes a few minutes for ANCHOR to complete the data assimilation (DA) for one day, including data pre‐processing and model set up. ANCHOR extracts ionospheric parameters from radio occultation (RO) and ionosonde data using PyIRI formalism and assimilates them as point measurements into maps of the background parameters using a Kalman Filter approach. This paper introduces the ANCHOR algorithm, discusses its coordinate system and background, explains the background covariance formation, discusses the extraction of the ionospheric parameters from the data and the assimilation process, and, finally, shows the results of the observing system simulation experiment with synthetic data simulated using the SAMI3 model. ANCHOR reduces the root mean square errors in the analysis by more than a half for all of the ionospheric parameters in comparison to the background. Finally, this paper discusses advantages and limitations of the parametrized ionospheric DA, highlighting the avenues for its future improvement.