bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Utterance-genre-lifeworld and Sign-habit-Umwelt Compared as Phenomenologies. Integrating Socio- and Biosemiotic Concepts?
Authors: Olteanu Alin , Ongstad Sigmund 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study develops a biosemiotic framework for a descriptive phenomenology. We incorporate the set utterance-genre-lifeworld in biosemiotic theory by paralleling it with the Peircean-Uexküllean notions of sign, habit, and Umwelt (respectively). This framework for empirical semiotic studies aims to complement the concepts of affordance and scaffold, as applied in studies on learning.The paper also contributes to bridging Bakhtinian-Hallidayian-Habermasian views on utterance, genre, and lifeworld with biosemiotics. We exploit the possibility that biosemiotics offers to bring together hermeneutic and phenomenological analysis. We relate these views to integrated levels in a systemic framework for communication. Signs are seen as inter-dependent construction elements in utterances. Repeated use of utterances in shifting contexts generates shared recognizable kinds of communication, or genres. ‘Life-genre’ is used in a zoo-communication context, to avoid anthropocentrism. Life-genre serves animals’ life-functions. Genres make up a systemic network of communicational resources, along with the related concepts of event, affordance, and scaffold. Utterance, genre, and lifeworld have five aspects, constituting an integrative approach to communication: form, content, act, time, and space. Semiosis and positioning are processes that connect aspects and levels. Levels, aspects, and processes make up the framework as a system.While biosemiotics supports a phenomenological notion of life-genre, in turn, this notion also contributes to the development of the former, bridging a gap between organisms’ sign experience on a micro-level and organisms’ phenomenal lifeworld/Umwelt. Comparisons of lifeworld and Umwelt reveal that, although not identical, these are sufficiently similar to be perceived as an overall macro-level for signs and communication. Starting from a construal of utterance and genre as dynamic, dialogical, and reciprocal, genre is positioned as meso-level, mediating between signs in utterances and the lifeworld/Umwelt level. We propose genres, understood as semiotic scaffoldings built through affordances, as an analytical concept to capture meso-level phenomena. Scaffolding is determined by both ongoing events and (pre-)available genres. Events are manifestations of these scaffolding processes.Identifying animal and educational communication as two particularly relevant fields for future applications, we compare key socio-semiotic concepts to the notions of sign, habit, and Umwelt. The notions affordance and scaffolding are particularly important to think of learning as continuous with adaptation.An overall aim is to broaden as well as finetune semiotic phenomenology as a platform for empirical analyses of communication. We conclude by exemplifying and summarizing how the framework facilitates this.
“I have the Feeling that the Person is Here”: Older Adults’ Attitudes, Usage Intentions, and Requirements for a Telepresence Robot
Authors: Conde Melisa , Mikhailova Veronika , Döring Nicola 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe social integration of older adults has been shown to be vital for successful aging. Innovative communication technologies, such as telepresence robots, can protect older adults against loneliness and social isolation by helping them stay connected to their social networks. This human-centered qualitative study aims to identify the attitudes (research question 1, RQ1), intentions to use (RQ2), and requirements (RQ3) of older adults for robot-mediated communication (RMC) via a telepresence robot. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with N = 30 older adults from Germany, who evaluated storyboard illustrations depicting a fictional RMC scenario between a grandparent and their adult grandchild. The study identified 3 attitude groups towards telepresence robots among participants: positive, negative, and conflicting attitudes (RQ1). Furthermore, based on their intentions of use, participants were classified into reluctant future users (n = 12), future non-users (n = 10), and enthusiastic future users (n = 8) (RQ2). Finally, the study identified technological, social, and age-related requirements of older adults for a telepresence robot (RQ3). Practical recommendations are provided based on these findings, such as leveraging older adults’ current technology-related skills, adapting technologies to older adults’ lifestyles and social networks, and designing technologies that contribute to older adults aging in place. This study contributes to the human-centered design of telepresence robots that support the social integration of older adults.
Analysis of heavy precipitation-induced rill erosion
Authors: Hinsberger Rebecca 
Published: May 2024

AbstractErosion is an ongoing environmental problem that leads to soil loss and damages ecosystems downstream of agriculture. Increasingly frequent heavy precipitation causes single erosion events with potentially high erosion rates owing to gully erosion. In this study, analyses of croplands affected by heavy precipitation and linear erosion indicate that erosion occurs only on sparsely vegetated fields with land cover ≤ 25% and that slope gradient and length are significant factors for the occurrence of linear erosion tracks. Existing erosion models are not calibrated to the conditions of heavy precipitation and linear erosion, namely high precipitation intensities and long and steep croplands. In this study, natural linear erosion was analyzed using an unmanned aerial vehicle and erosion volumes were determined for 32 rills and gullies of different sizes. Comparisons with the RUSLE2 and EROSION-3D model values showed an underestimation of linear erosion in both models. Therefore, calibration data for erosion models used for heavy precipitation conditions must be adapted. The data obtained in this study meet the required criteria.
Toward a Unified Account of Advanced Concentrative Absorption Meditation: A Systematic Definition and Classification of Jhāna
Authors: Sparby Terje , Sacchet Matthew D. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Objectives
The jhānas are series of advanced concentrative absorption meditative (ACAM) states brought about by meditation. While previously cultivated mostly in monastic settings, a series of modern meditation manuals both openly discuss the jhānas and describe how they may be attained by laypeople. Simultaneously, the phenomenological and neuroscientific investigation of the jhānas is advancing. Although the descriptions of the jhānas in contemporary jhāna manuals to some degree overlap with one another, there are also significant disagreements. Here our objectives are to identify common features of jhāna in meditation manuals, to identify and discuss disagreements, and to offer an account of jhāna that is both comprehensive and consistent.

Methods
A literature search and review was conducted. The search resulted in eight meditation manuals that provide phenomenologically rich accounts of the full range of the jhānas. Common characteristics and discrepancies in the different accounts of the jhānas have been identified by comparing terms and descriptions.

Results
We offer a general definition of jhāna, distinguish three types of jhāna, and investigate phenomenological dimensions that may be necessary to address in order to comprehensively articulate the experience of ACAM.

Conclusions
To ensure scientific rigor, the study of jhāna needs to be informed by both commonalities and differences in the existing accounts of jhāna. While differences exist, these may also be systematically unified in a way that yields a comprehensive account of ACAM.
Pathways to Sustainability in Sub-Sahara Africa: Are Institutional Quality Levels Subservient in Achieving Green GDP Growth?
Authors: Appiah Michael , Onifade Stephen Taiwo , Gyamfi Bright Akwasi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThere is a growing need for a transition to green economic growth (GGDP) given that the current economic system is largely environmentally unsustainable. This study thus addresses GGDP enhancement in less developed countries using the case of Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) countries where institutional deficiencies are typically at the root of most resource depletion and environmental degradation issues. Six institutional quality measures were used namely corruption control, government effectiveness, political stability, regulatory quality, rule of law, and voice of accountability while controlling for other factors like industrialization, energy use, and population growth in the region. The study applied a battery of second-generation panel econometric techniques in the empirical analysis after which both Bootstrap Quantile regression (BQR) technique and panel ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation approaches were applied to observe the variables' roles on GGDP advancement in SSA. From the findings, corruption control and government (policy) effectiveness favorably impact Green GDP in SSA. However, both rule of law and regulatory quality performed poorly as they were insignificant to GGDP enhancement. Furthermore, all control variables promote GGDP except for population growth. Thus, the findings buttress the need to strengthen institutions for effective governance and quality environmental regulations to enhance GGDP growth towards actualizing sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the SSA region.
Tropical fruits as a potential source for the recovery of bioactive compounds: Tamarindus indica L., Annona muricata, Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica
Authors: Toscano Oviedo Mashell A. , García Zapateiro Luis A. , Quintana Somaris E. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe objective of this review is to identify the bioactive compounds present in tropical fruits such as Tamarindus indica L., Annona muricata, Mangifera indica, and Psidium guajava and their biological activities. The identification of these compounds shows their potential as a food ingredient in the development of products, providing added value to them, because not only the pulp of the fruit is used, but also the shell and its other parts, such as the leaves, are used, being viable sources to obtain some compounds that benefit human health. Implementing fruits that have certain bioactive compounds such as carotenoids (β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin), antioxidants (vitamins A and C), and phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, gallic acid, citric acid) in the production process in the food industry, allows them to become functional foodstuffs. The results obtained show the need to implement the operational processes that allow obtaining different compounds, which ensure their stability and precision, applying different extraction methods such as maceration, Soxhlet, supercritical fluids, and ultrasound.
Aquatic Interventions to Improve Motor and Social Functioning in Children with ASD: A Systematic Review
Authors: van t Hooft Patty , Moeijes Janet , Hartman Catharina , van Busschbach Jooske , Hartman Esther 
Published: May 2024

AbstractChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have motor impairments. A promising strategy to improve motor and social functioning in children with ASD may be an aquatic intervention because of the properties of water. This systematic review investigated the characteristics and effects of aquatic interventions on motor and social skills in children with ASD. Searches in six databases on studies conducted between 2000 and 2023 resulted in 19 intervention studies involving 429 children aged 3 to 17 years with ASD. Best evidence syntheses and meta-analyses were used to evaluate the effects. Aquatic interventions guided by a combination of professionals in influencing behavior and in aquatic skills improved motor and social skills and significantly decreased autistic behavior in children with ASD.
Stroke and frailty index: a two-sample Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Wei Jiangnan , Wang Jiaxian , Chen Jiayin , Yang Kezhou , Liu Ning 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Introduction
Previous observational studies have found an increased risk of frailty in patients with stroke. However, evidence of a causal relationship between stroke and frailty is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential causal relationship between stroke and frailty index (FI).

Methods
Pooled data on stroke and debility were obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS).The MEGASTROKE Consortium provided data on stroke (N = 40,585), ischemic stroke (IS,N = 34,217), large-vessel atherosclerotic stroke (LAS,N = 4373), and cardioembolic stroke (CES,N = 7 193).Summary statistics for the FI were obtained from the most recent GWAS meta-analysis of UK BioBank participants and Swedish TwinGene participants of European ancestry (N = 175,226).Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed by inverse variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger regression, Simple mode, and Weighted mode, and heterogeneity and horizontal multiplicity of results were assessed using Cochran’s Q test and MR-Egger regression intercept term test.

Results
The results of the current MR study showed a significant correlation between stroke gene prediction and FI (odds ratio 1.104, 95% confidence interval 1.064 − 1.144, P < 0.001). In terms of stroke subtypes, IS (odds ratio 1.081, 95% confidence interval 1.044 − 1.120, P < 0.001) and LAS (odds ratio 1.037, 95% confidence interval 1.012 − 1.062, P = 0.005). There was no causal relationship between gene-predicted CES and FI. Horizontal multidimensionality was not found in the intercept test for MR Egger regression (P > 0.05), nor in the heterogeneity test (P > 0.05).

Conclusions
This study provides evidence for a causal relationship between stroke and FI and offers new insights into the genetic study of FI.
Codivergences and information matrices
Authors: Derumigny Alexis , Schmidt-Hieber Johannes 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe propose a new concept of codivergence, which quantifies the similarity between two probability measures $$P_1, P_2$$

P
1

,

P
2

relative to a reference probability measure $$P_0$$

P
0

. In the neighborhood of the reference measure $$P_0$$

P
0

, a codivergence behaves like an inner product between the measures $$P_1-P_0$$

P
1

-

P
0

and $$P_2-P_0$$

P
2

-

P
0

. Codivergences of covariance-type and correlation-type are introduced and studied with a focus on two specific correlation-type codivergences, the $$\chi ^2$$

χ
2

-codivergence and the Hellinger codivergence. We derive explicit expressions for several common parametric families of probability distributions. For a codivergence, we introduce moreover the divergence matrix as an analogue of the Gram matrix. It is shown that the $$\chi ^2$$

χ
2

-divergence matrix satisfies a data-processing inequality.
Parallel virus machines
Authors: Ramírez-de-Arellano Antonio , Orellana-Martín David , Pérez-Jiménez Mario J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWithin the branch of Natural Computing, several models or types of computation arise, some of them are well-established such as neural networks, evolutionary computing or membrane computing, while others have yet to be studied and developed. One such model is virus machines, which draws inspiration from the replication and transmission mechanisms of viruses. This model has been successfully applied to mathematical problems, supported by its robust formal structure and the verification of various parallel virus machines. Parallelism has been one of the milestones in several branches of Natural Computing. This paper presents a novel extension: parallel virus machines. Furthermore, several semantics are studied to fix possible ambiguities related to this new variant. Finally, a comparison with well-established neural-like systems, called spiking neural P systems, is discussed.
In-silico prediction and validation of Carica papaya protein domains interaction with the Papaya leaf curl virus and associated betasatellite encoded protein
Authors: Srivastava Aarshi , Pandey Vineeta , Marwal Avinash , Ali Akhtar , Gaur R. K. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBegomovirus, the first-largest genus of plant viruses in family Geminiviridae, is a persistent menace to plants that causes millions of dollars’ worth of damage in a variety of vital crops around the world. One of the most important tropical fruit crops is Carica papaya, which has a wealth of pharmacological and bioactive components that are commonly used to treat a wide range of human illnesses, is infected by divergent begomovirus species. Here, we report the interacting regions of the one of the begomovirus species i.e. Papaya Leaf Curl Virus (PaLCuV and Papaya leaf betasatellite (PaLCuB) protein with papaya plant protein by using computational approaches. This includes primary sequence recognition, secondary structural assessment, 3D modelling, energy minimization, binding site prediction, protein–protein interaction, and interface analysis. Our results showed that papaya plant protein such as S-adenosyl methionine synthetase (SAMS), Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Cyclin-dependent kinases regulatory subunit 1 (CDK1), Adenosine kinase (ADK), and Calmodulin (CaM), an encoded protein of C. papaya, are involved in host–virus interaction. However, we find the best domain-level interactions based on the structural and interface analysis of the SAMS-CP, PCNA-Rep, CDK1-Rep, ADK-REn, CaM-PreCP, and PCNA-βC1 proteins of PaLCuV–PaLCuB. In this study, we attempted to understand the sequence–structure relationship and mode of the virus–host binding complex, which was verified and validated with integrative in silico approaches. Using several bioinformatics tools, our study has provided novel insights into the papaya protein–begomovirus protein binding mechanism. Thus, we anticipate that our findings from this study will be useful for the development of new therapeutic agents against the pathogen, paving the way for researchers to better control this destructive plant virus. This is the first in-silico investigation that combined the prediction and structural validation and interface analysis of the interaction between PaLCuV–PaLCuB and papaya proteins.
A Trimode Self-Cleaning Composite Membrane with an Eco-friendly Substrate for Energy-Saving Wastewater Recycling
Authors: Yu Yuelin , Yu Yongtao , Wu Hongyi , Shi Jian , Morikawa Hideaki , Zhu Chunhong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA separation membrane with low or clean energy costs is urgently required for energy-saving and long-term service since electric energy generated from burning non-renewable resources will gradually cause a burden to the environment. At present, the conventional membrane being used in one mode is critical for a variety of scenarios in real life, which suffers from a trade-off effect, short service life, being difficult to recycle after damage. Herein, we report a trimode purification membrane composed of an eco-friendly polycaprolactone (PCL) substrate and functional graphene dioxide/polyaniline (GO/PANI) particles. Due to the photothermal transfer and photocatalytic properties of GO/PANI blend, the composite membrane can absorb 97.44% solar energy to handle natural seawater or mixed wastewater, which achieves a high evaporation rate of 1.47 kg m−2 h−1 in solar-driven evaporation mode. For the photocatalytic adsorption–degradation mode, 93.22% of organic dyes can be adsorbed and degraded after 12 h irradiation under 1 kW m−2. Moreover, electric-driven cross-flow filtration mode as a supplement also shows effective rejection over 99% for organic dyes with a high flux over 40 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. The combination of solar-driven evaporation, photocatalytic adsorption–degradation, and electric-driven cross-flow filtration demonstrates a prospective and sustainable strategy to generating clean water from sewages.
Graphical Abstract
A trimode self-cleaning composite membrane of bio-degradable substrate PCL and functional particles GO/PANI were successfully fabricated, which can purify natural seawater or mixed wastewater stably in solar-driven evaporation mode, handle organic dyes by reduction–oxidation chemical transformation in photothermal adsorption–degradation mode, and be applied in cross-flow filtration mode driven by electric as a supplement for rainy, cloudy days, or at night.
Presynaptic antiseizure medications - basic mechanisms and clues for their rational combinations
Authors: Czapińska-Ciepiela Ewa K. , Łuszczki Jarogniew , Czapiński Piotr , Czuczwar Stanisław J. , Lasoń Władysław 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAmong clinically highly efficient antiseizure medications (ASMs) there are modifiers of the presynaptic release machinery. Of them, levetiracetam and brivaracetam show a high affinity to the synaptic vesicle protein type 2 A (SV2A), whereas pregabalin and gabapentin are selective ligands for the α2δ1 subunits of the voltage-gated calcium channels. In this paper, we present recent progress in understanding the significance of presynaptic release machinery in the neurochemical mechanisms of epilepsy and ASMs. Furthermore, we discuss whether the knowledge of the basic mechanisms of the presynaptically acting ASMs might help establish a rational polytherapy for drug-resistant epilepsy.
Optical and molecular insights into dissolved organic matter release in soils induced by downward migration of biochar colloids
Authors: Zhao Kang , Shang Jianying 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe frequent wildfires and extensive biochar application accumulate biochar colloids in soils. The transport of biochar colloids may influence the release of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) due to their high mobility and active surface, posing a detrimental impact on carbon cycle, pollutants behaviors, and water quality. Here, we examined the effect of pristine and aged biochar colloids on soil DOM release in three types of soils (black soil, fluvisol, and paddy soil) through adsorption and column experiments combined with fluorescence excitation/emission matrix spectroscopy (EEM) and fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Adsorption experiment showed that biochar exhibited little effect on soil DOM release, while transport experiment indicated that the downward movement of both pristine and aged biochar colloids significantly enhanced the release of soil DOM, especially black soil and fluvisol. EEM spectra indicated that a humic acid-like substance with large molecular weights was the primary DOM that enhanced release from black soil (10.9–12.0% enhancement) and fluvisol (6–8% enhancement) during biochar colloid transport. Condensed aromatic-like (22.8% and 19.4%) and tannin-like (18.4% and 18.9%) compounds are the primary molecules correlated to the enhanced release of humic acid-like substances. Although chemical aging resulted in a more negative surface of aged biochar colloids and slightly enhanced biochar colloid transport (up to 7.0%), it showed no distinct effect on the release of soil DOM. This study indicates that biochar colloids may cause an increase in DOM release when irrigation and rainfall occur, and more attention should be paid to the environmental impacts of biochar colloids from intensive biochar application and wildfires.
Graphical Abstract