bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Minimizing Questionable Research Practices – The Role of Norms, Counter Norms, and Micro-Organizational Ethics Discussion
Authors: Karabag Solmaz Filiz , Berggren Christian , Pielaszkiewicz Jolanta , Gerdin Bengt 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBreaches of research integrity have gained considerable attention due to high-profile scandals involving questionable research practices by reputable scientists. These practices include plagiarism, manipulation of authorship, biased presentation of findings and misleading reports of significance. To combat such practices, policymakers tend to rely on top-down measures, mandatory ethics training and stricter regulation, despite limited evidence of their effectiveness. In this study, we investigate the occurrence and underlying factors of questionable research practices (QRPs) through an original survey of 3,005 social and medical researchers at Swedish universities. By comparing the role of the organizational culture, researchers´ norms and counter norms, and individual motivation, the study reveals that the counter norm of Biasedness—the opposite of universalism and skepticism—is the overall most important factor. Thus, Biasedness was related to 40–60% of the prevalence of the questionable practices. The analysis also reveals the contradictory impact of other elements in the organizational environment. Internal competition was positively associated with QRP prevalence, while group-level ethics discussions consistently displayed a negative association with such practices. Furthermore, in the present study items covering ethics training and policies have only a marginal impact on the prevalence of these practices. The organizational climate and normative environment have a far greater influence. Based on these findings, it is suggested that academic leaders should prioritize the creation and maintenance of an open and unbiased research environment, foster a collaborative and collegial climate, and promote bottom-up ethics discussions within and between research groups.
Evaluating the efficacy of coconut oil as thermal storage media for enhancing solar drying performance of wood fuels
Authors: Kumar Baibhaw , Raj Arun K. , Szepesi Gábor , Szamosi Zoltán 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe appropriate storage, transportation, and utilization of wood-based fuels, including woodchips, pellets, and sawdust, in the energy production process, depends on their efficient drying. Traditional drying methods include limitations such as high thermal losses, inefficient heat transfer, and sustainability issues. These barriers, coupled with the high costs and complexities of maintaining the desired moisture content, underscore the need for innovative solutions. This study introduces a novel approach to wood fuel drying through the integration of phase-change materials (PCMs) with hybrid solar drying systems, aimed at enhancing thermal efficiency and sustainability. Employing coconut oil as the PCM, experiments were performed under a consistent artificial radiation of 755 W m−2. The hybrid system demonstrated the capability to retain approximately 200 watts of useful heat for three hours post-radiation, marking a significant improvement in heat storage. Our findings reveal peak thermal and exergy efficiencies of 30–35% and 13–14%, respectively. An economic and environmental analysis predicts a system lifespan of five years, with the cost of generating one kilogram of hot air at 0.0058 EUR and an annual CO2 emission of 64.09 kg. This research offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for wood fuel drying, presenting a significant advancement for large-scale producers and setting a benchmark for further exploration of wood fuel drying technologies.
Limit analysis of masonry arches and domes with finite strength: funicular analysis versus stability area method
Authors: Aita Danila , Bruggi Matteo , Taliercio Alberto 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study, framed within the context of the lower bound theorem of limit analysis, aims to assess the anti-funicular equilibrium of masonry arches and domes using a computational approach based on the constrained force density method. In contrast to the commonly adopted classical Heyman’s assumptions, the approach proposed here considers the effects of finite compressive strength in the material. Assuming a fixed plan projection for a network with independent sets of branches, a suitable set of local constraints is enforced at each joint to account for the limit bending moment resulting from the material’s assumptions, including limited compressive strength and zero tensile strength. Additionally, the stereotomy of the voussoirs is considered by assigning a geometric law to the joint inclination. The collapse load is determined by formulating a multi-constrained maximization problem. The method is validated using a modern version of the semi-analytical Durand-Claye’s method. For benchmark case studies, such as symmetric masonry arches and domes with specific stereotomies subjected to axi-symmetrical load conditions, the set of statically admissible solutions compatible with equilibrium and strength requirements is graphically determined in terms of the horizontal thrust and its eccentricity at the crown, examining the shape of the stability area. Assuming an infinite value for the friction coefficient, the collapse condition is reached when the stability area shrinks to a single point. The results obtained from both of these methods are in excellent agreement. The influence of compressive strength on the bearing capacity of the structures is also discussed.
Semantic Spectral Clustering with Contrastive Learning and Neighbor Mining
Authors: Wang Nongxiao , Ye Xulun , Zhao Jieyu , Wang Qing 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDeep spectral clustering techniques are considered one of the most efficient clustering algorithms in data mining field. The similarity between instances and the disparity among classes are two critical factors in clustering fields. However, most current deep spectral clustering approaches do not sufficiently take them both into consideration. To tackle the above issue, we propose Semantic Spectral clustering with Contrastive learning and Neighbor mining (SSCN) framework, which performs instance-level pulling and cluster-level pushing cooperatively. Specifically, we obtain the semantic feature embedding using an unsupervised contrastive learning model. Next, we obtain the nearest neighbors partially and globally, and the neighbors along with data augmentation information enhance their effectiveness collaboratively on the instance level as well as the cluster level. The spectral constraint is applied by orthogonal layers to satisfy conventional spectral clustering. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superiority of our proposed frame of spectral clustering.
Shedding light on foreign currency cash flow hedges: transparency and the hedging decision
Authors: Jin Han , Marshall Beverly B. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractUtilizing firms in the S&P 500, we study whether greater transparency in the reporting of other comprehensive income (OCI) items, as mandated by ASU 2011-05, resulted in a reduction in information asymmetry, a change in the value relevance of this information, or a change in hedging practice. Our results show that while transparent reporting reduced information asymmetry, firms that engage in cash flow hedging do have greater information asymmetry than their counterparts that do not hedge. We find evidence that investors penalize firm value for greater volatility of OCI relative to net income volatility when reported transparently. When permitted, managers were able to mitigate the negative impact by reporting OCI only in the Statement of Shareholders’ Equity. We conclude that managers’ concerns regarding potential confusion surrounding OCI volatility following more prominent reporting led to changes in hedging behavior. After transparent reporting, we find a reduced likelihood of foreign currency cash flow (FXCF) hedges and a reduced level of FXCF hedging among firms experiencing the greatest volatility of unrealized hedging gains and losses.
Research collaboration and knowledge development in Africa: the case of neonatal conditions
Authors: Vieira Elizabeth S. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe literature has discussed the positive/negative effects of research collaboration (RC). However, no study looks at the effect of RC especially international research collaboration (IRC) on key developments in a research area. Using Main Path Analysis (MPA), I examined the literature on neonatal conditions (NC) produced by African scientists between 2000 and 2019. I found the (1) estimates of deaths of children under five years and their causes, with a focus on neonates and stillbirths, (2) usefulness of tools to collect data on NC-related variables, (3) identification of interventions to reduce deaths, and (4) treatment of hyperbilirubinemia in African neonates as the most important developments in NC in Africa. The high presence of articles with RC, in the MPA, especially those involving IRC between one or more scientists from a single African country and scientists from several non-African countries (60% of the studies) highlights the positive effect of RC on key developments of an area. About 40% of the articles refer the Saving Newborns Lives programme, the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG) or the departments of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Friction in Rolling a Cylinder on or Under a Viscoelastic Substrate with Adhesion
Authors: Nazari R. , Papangelo A. , Ciavarella M. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn classical experiments, it has been found that a rigid cylinder can roll both on and under an inclined rubber plane with a friction force that depends on a power law of velocity, independent of the sign of the normal force. Further, contact area increases significantly with velocity with a related power law. We try to model qualitatively these experiments with a numerical boundary element solution with a standard linear solid and we find for sufficiently large Maugis–Tabor parameter $$\lambda$$
λ
qualitative agreement with experiments. However, friction force increases linearly with velocity at low velocities (like in the case with no adhesive hysteresis) and then decays at large speeds. Quantitative agreement with the Persson–Brener theory of crack propagation is found for the two power law regimes, but when Maugis–Tabor parameter $$\lambda$$
λ
is small, the cut-off stress in Persson–Brener theory depends on all the other dimensionless parameters of the problem.
A Compressive Sensing Based Computationally Efficient High-Resolution DOA Estimation of Wideband Signals Using Generalized Coprime Arrays
Authors: El-Khamy Said E. , El-Shazly Ahmed M. , Eltrass Ahmed S. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMost recent state-of-the-art wideband direction of arrival (DOA) estimation techniques achieve reasonable accuracy at the expenses of high computational complexity. In this paper, a new computationally efficient approach based on compressive sensing (CS) is introduced for high resolution wideband DOA estimation. The low software complexity is achieved utilizing CS with deterministic chaotic Chebyshev sensing matrices that allow reducing the measurement vector dimension, while the high-resolution DOA estimation is acquired utilizing an efficient generalized coprime array configuration. The effectiveness of the introduced approach in enhancing the DOA estimation precision and reducing the computational complexity is studied along with a detailed comparison between three state-of-the-art wideband DOA estimation techniques, namely incoherent signal subspace method (ISSM), focusing signal subspace (FSS), and modified test of orthogonality of projected subspaces (mTOPS) with and without applying the proposed CS technique. The performance is examined utilizing various assessment metrics such as the spatial spectrum, the computational time, and the root mean square error between estimated and actual DOAs when varying the signal-to-noise ratio and number of elements. Results reveal that applying the proposed CS technique to the three algorithms (ISSM, FSS, and mTOPS) provides significant reduction in the execution time needed for the DOA estimation without affecting the resolution accuracy under various set of parameters. This reveals the importance of the proposed approach in wideband wireless communication systems.
Promoting pre-service teachers’ knowledge integration from multiple text sources across domains with instructional prompts
Authors: Hähnlein Inka Sara , Pirnay-Dummer Pablo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMultiple document comprehension and knowledge integration across domains are particularly important for pre-service teachers, as integrated professional knowledge forms the basis for teaching expertise and competence. This study examines the effects of instructional prompts and relevance prompts embedded in pre-service teachers’ learning processes on the quality their knowledge integration in multiple document comprehension across domains. 109 pre-service teachers participated in an experimental study. They read four texts on “competencies” from different knowledge domains and wrote a text on a given scenario. Experimental group 1 was aided with instructional and relevance prompts, while experimental group 2 received only relevance prompts. The control group received no prompting. Perceived relevance of knowledge integration was assessed in a pre-post-test. Pre-service teachers’ separative and integrative learning, epistemological beliefs, metacognition, study-specific self-concept, and post-experimental motivation were assessed as control variables. Participants’ texts were analyzed concerning knowledge integration by raters and with computer linguistic measures. A key finding is that combined complex prompting enhances pre-service teachers perceived relevance of knowledge integration. This study found effects of prompting types on the pre-service teachers’ semantic knowledge structures. Implications for transfer are discussed.
Relationship of mTORC1 and ferroptosis in tumors
Authors: Liao Huilin , Wang Yueqing , Zou Lili , Fan Yanmei , Wang Xinyue , Tu Xiancong , Zhu Qiaobai , Wang Jun , Liu Xiaowen , Dong Chuanjiang 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFerroptosis is a novel form of programmed death, dependent on iron ions and oxidative stress, with a predominant intracellular form of lipid peroxidation. In recent years, ferroptosis has gained more and more interest of people in the treatment mechanism of targeted tumors. mTOR, always overexpressed in the tumor, and controlling cell growth and metabolic activities, has an important role in both autophagy and ferroptosis. Interestingly, the selective types of autophay plays an important role in promoting ferroptosis, which is related to mTOR and some metabolic pathways (especially in iron and amino acids). In this paper, we list the main mechanisms linking ferroptosis with mTOR signaling pathway and further summarize the current compounds targeting ferroptosis in these ways. There are growing experimental evidences that targeting mTOR and ferroptosis may have effective impact in many tumors, and understanding the mechanisms linking mTOR to ferroptosis could provide a potential therapeutic approach for tumor treatment.
Conjugation prepared by wet-Maillard reactions improves the stability and properties of lutein and lycopene loaded nanoparticles
Authors: Dursun Capar Tugba , Yalcin Hasan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn this study, lutein and lycopene were encapsulated in plant protein (faba bean protein concentrate, (FPC))-carrageenan (Car) conjugates prepared by Maillard reaction in an aqueous media. The conjugation improved encapsulation yield that reached to 82.69% and 93.07%, for lycopene and lutein, respectively. The mean particle diameters for lutein loaded nanoparticles observed smaller in FPC-Car conjugates (66.60 nm) than FPC (71.49 nm). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that FPC-Car conjugates were more spherical and no fractures or fissures on the surface, revealing that wall materials provided better protection and retention for core materials. The diameter of lycopene nanoparticles coated with FPC remained constant between pH 3–4 and 7–9 but increased to 220 nm at pH 4–6. Even though the diameter of lutein nanoparticles coated with FPC remains steady between pH 5 and 9, increased to 953 nm at pH 3. The bioaccessibility of the lutein or lycopene samples encapsulated by FPC were found as higher than FPC-Car conjugates. These findings suggest that protein-polysaccharide conjugates could be used as a wall material to encapsulate lipophilic lutein and lycopene in order to improve their stability, property and bioaccessibility. As a result, FPC-Car conjugates may be an alternative for the formation of functional beverages as well as other nutraceutical products.
Graphical abstract
Mammal recovery inside and outside terrestrial protected areas
Authors: Magoulick Katherine M. , Hull Vanessa , Liu Jianguo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractProtected areas are a key component of global conservation, and the world is aiming to increase protected areas to cover 30% of land and water through the 30 × 30 Initiative under the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. However, factors affecting their success or failure in regard to promoting mammal population recovery are not well studied, particularly using quantitative approaches comparing across diverse taxa, biomes, and countries. To better understand how protected areas contribute to mammalian recovery, we conducted an analysis of 2706 mammal populations both inside and outside of protected areas worldwide. We calculated the annual percent change of mammal populations within and outside of terrestrial protected areas and examined the relationship between the percent change and a suite of human and natural characteristics including biome, region, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protected area category, IUCN Red List classification, and taxonomic order. Our results show that overall mammal populations inside and outside of protected areas are relatively stable. It appears that Threatened mammals are doing better inside of protected areas than outside, whereas the opposite is true for species of least concern and Near Threatened species. We also found significant population increases in protected areas classified as category III and significant population decreases in protected and unprotected areas throughout Oceania. Our results demonstrate that terrestrial protected areas can be an important approach for mammalian recovery and conservation.
Changes in the ultrasound presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma: a center’s three decades of experience
Authors: Giannitrapani Lydia , Amodeo Simona , Mirarchi Luigi , Terranova Antonino , Seidita Aurelio , Mozzini Chiara , Cabibi Daniela , Brancatelli Giuseppe , Licata Anna , Soresi Maurizio 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Ultrasound (US) surveillance is a cornerstone for early diagnosis of HCC, anyway US presentation has undergone significant changes. With the aim of evaluating the effects of US surveillance program in the real-world clinical practice, we wanted to evaluate US presentation of HCCs over the last 30 years and the differences of HCCs presentation according to etiology.

Methods
174 patients diagnosed between 1993 and 98 (G1), 96 between 2003 and 08 (G2), 102 between 2013 and 18 (G3), were compared. US patterns were: single, multiple or diffuse nodules. The echo-patterns: iso-, hypo-, hyper-echoic, or mixed.
In G1, the HCC diagnosis was mainly histologic; in G2 by EASL 2001 and AASLD 2005, in G3 AASLD 2011, EASL 2012, and AISF 2013 guidelines.

Results
HCV was the most frequent etiology, dropping between G1 (81%) and G3 (66%) (P < 0.01), metabolic increased between G1 (5%) and G3 (14%) (P < 0.01). Single HCC was more prevalent in G3 vs G1 (65.6% vs 40%) (P < 0.0001), multiple nodules in G1 (50%) vs G3 (33.3%) (P < 0.02) and diffuse in G1 (16%) vs G2 (2%) and vs G3 (1%) (P < 0.001). The most frequent echo-pattern was hypo-echoic G1 (50%) vs G2 (79%) and G1 vs G3 (65%) (P < 0.01). Iso-echoic pattern was the least frequent (7–12%). Mixed pattern decreased from G1 (28%) to G3 (12%) (P < 0.002). In G3 there were more multiple or diffuse HCCs in metabolic (P < 0.03).

Conclusion
US presentation became less severe due to surveillance programs. HCV remains the most frequent cause, an increase in metabolic etiology has been shown throughout the decades.

Graphical abstract
Configuration spaces and multiple positive solutions to a singularly perturbed elliptic system
Authors: Clapp Mónica , Saldaña Alberto , Szulkin Andrzej 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe consider a weakly coupled singularly perturbed variational elliptic system in a bounded smooth domain with Dirichlet boundary conditions. We show that, in the competitive regime, the number of fully nontrivial solutions with nonnegative components increases with the number of equations. Our proofs use a combination of four key elements: a convenient variational approach, the asymptotic behavior of solutions (concentration), the Lusternik–Schnirelman theory, and new estimates on the category of suitable configuration spaces.
Magnetic reconnection in the magnetodisk of centrifugally dominated giant planets
Authors: Guo Ruilong , Yao Zhonghua 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMagnetic reconnection is crucial in understanding magnetospheric dynamics and aurorae processes at planets. In planetary magnetospheres, magnetic reconnection has often been identified on the dayside magnetopause and in the nightside magnetodisk, where thin-current-sheet conditions are conducive to reconnection. At the Earth, the magnetopause and magnetotail current sheets are primarily controlled by the upstream solar wind. At Jupiter and Saturn, their fast rotation and internal mass sources lead to an additional current sheet that encircles the planet, forming a magnetodisk inside the magnetosphere. The reconnection processes in the magnetodisk current sheet are associated with centrifugal force-driven dynamics. The magnetodisk reconnection is not limited to the nightside but is discretely distributed at all local times inside the magnetosphere. The reconnection sites also rotate with the magnetosphere. These widely distributed small-scale reconnection sites can result in the global release of energy and mass from the magnetosphere.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia diagnosis: electrochemical sensors for rapid and sensitive detection of pyocyanin
Authors: Noorizadeh Mohammad , Al-Hasan Tamim M. , Sha Mizaj S. , Bensaali Faycal , Meskin Nader , Sadasivuni Kishor K. , Zughaier Susu M. , Elgamal Mahmoud , Hssain Ali Ait 
Published: April 2024

AbstractVentilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a severe condition in critically ill patients that requires timely diagnosis to improve patient outcomes. In this study, we developed an electrochemical sensor for pyocyanin detection using a TiO$$_2$$

2

-NiO-rGO catalyst and found that it could detect the concentration of pyocyanin required for mimicking the throat trachea’s environment (LOD: 0.2 $$\mu $$
μ
g/mL). We also investigated using DNA aptamer for detecting pyocyanin, a biomarker of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common causative agent of VAP. Our findings suggest that the TiO$$_2$$

2

-NiO-rGO catalyst without aptamer could provide a rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tool for VAP, and the electrochemical sensor has the potential to be made disposable for in vivo applications. Using the TiO$$_2$$

2

-NiO-rGO catalyst offers synergistic effects that enhance the detection process’s overall electrochemical performance, sensitivity, and selectivity. This work’s results demonstrate that electrochemical detection of pyocyanin using a TiO$$_2$$

2

-NiO-rGO catalyst holds great potential for various applications, such as clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. Further research and optimization of the catalyst composition, morphology, and surface modifications can contribute to advancing this pyocyanin electrochemical detection approach.