bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two decades of accelerated deforestation in Peruvian forests: a national and regional analysis (2000–2020)
Authors: Móstiga Maricel , Armenteras Dolors , Vayreda Jordi , Retana Javier 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe global tree cover has kept reducing in the last two decades, mainly in tropical forests, despite the global efforts to conserve biodiversity and the ecosystem services that provides. Considering South America is the region that had the highest rate of net forest loss (2000–2020), it is crucial to understand the deforestation dynamics of each country and their regions for the evaluation of effective national conservation actions. Here, we carried out a spatiotemporal analysis of the deforestation rates from 2000 to 2020 on a national and regional scale, including the forest loss inside protected areas, in Peru. It was found that Peru lost 3.4 million ha of forest between 2000 and 2020, mainly in the Not Flooded Rainforest region. National deforestation rates accelerated, while within protected areas rates showed a very small increase. Regional deforestation rates followed the national pattern with one exception—the Coast region. Our results evidence the success of the national conservation strategy based on protected areas to avoid deforestation in all regions, except in the Andean. Moreover, the increment in deforestation rates is aligned with the growth in road infrastructure; increments in anthropic activities; and the more frequent and intense natural extreme events that vary according to the region. Therefore, it is urgent to differentiate the drivers of deforestation that operate at the national versus the regional scale, consider the inclusion of all forest types in the monitoring system, and the strengthening of policies related to land use change at all scales.
By-degree Health and Economic Impacts of Lyme Disease, Eastern and Midwestern United States
Authors: Yang Haisheng , Gould Caitlin A. , Jones Russ , St. Juliana Alexis , Sarofim Marcus , Rissing Matt , Hahn Micah B. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLyme disease (LD) is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States (U.S.). This paper assesses how climate change may influence LD incidence in the eastern and upper Midwestern U.S. and the associated economic burden. We estimated future Ixodes scapularis habitat suitability and LD incidence with a by-degree approach using variables from an ensemble of multiple climate models. We then applied estimates for present-day and projected habitat suitability for I. scapularis, present-day presence of Borrelia burgdorferi, and projected climatological variables to model reported LD incidence at the county level among adults, children, and the total population. Finally, we applied an estimate of healthcare expenses to project economic impacts. We show an overall increase in LD cases with regional variation. We estimate an increase in incidence in New England and the upper Midwestern U.S. and a concurrent decrease in incidence in Virginia and North Carolina. At 3°C of national warming from the 1986–2015 baseline climate, we project approximately 55,000 LD cases, a 38-percent increase from present-day estimates. At 6°C of warming, our most extreme scenario, we project approximately 92,000 LD cases in the region, an increase of 145 percent relative to current levels. Annual LD-related healthcare expenses at 3°C of warming are estimated to be $236 million (2021 dollars), approximately 38 percent greater than present-day. These results may inform decision-makers tasked with addressing climate risks, the public, and healthcare professionals preparing for treatment and prevention of LD.
Unraveling the mysteries of AI chatbots
Authors: Bridgelall Raj 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis primer provides an overview of the rapidly evolving field of generative artificial intelligence, specifically focusing on large language models like ChatGPT (OpenAI) and Bard (Google). Large language models have demonstrated unprecedented capabilities in responding to natural language prompts. The aim of this primer is to demystify the underlying theory and architecture of large language models, providing intuitive explanations for a broader audience. Learners seeking to gain insight into the technical underpinnings of large language models must sift through rapidly growing and fragmented literature on the topic. This primer brings all the main concepts into a single digestible document. Topics covered include text tokenization, vocabulary construction, token embedding, context embedding with attention mechanisms, artificial neural networks, and objective functions in model training. The primer also explores state-of-the-art methods in training large language models to generalize on specific applications and to align with human intentions. Finally, an introduction to the concept of prompt engineering highlights the importance of effective human-machine interaction through natural language in harnessing the full potential of artificial intelligence chatbots. This comprehensive yet accessible primer will benefit students and researchers seeking foundational knowledge and a deeper understanding of the inner workings of existing and emerging artificial intelligence models. The author hopes that the primer will encourage further responsible innovation and informed discussions about these increasingly powerful tools.
Ductility demands for stiffness-degrading SDOF systems under pulse-like ground motions of the 2023 Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) earthquake
Authors: Ucar Taner , Merter Onur 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis paper investigates the inelastic displacement ratios (IDRs) and displacement ductility demands of a wide range of single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems subjected to pulse-like ground motions (GMs) of the 2023 Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) earthquake. A set of twenty-seven GMs characterized as pulse-like are utilized in the study. As-recorded velocity time histories of horizontal components are rotated over 90° at a step of 1° to attain the waveform with the largest peak ground velocity (PGV) over all horizontal orientations. Inelastic displacement ratio and displacement ductility spectra are computed through nonlinear response history analysis (RHA). Local amplifications of both spectra are observed at some periods. The results of this study show that large inelastic displacement and ductility demands are imposed on certain reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Finally, predictive models of the mean inelastic displacement ratio and mean ductility demand spectra (DDS) are developed based on the Gauss–Newton algorithm (GNA). The model provides a strong correlation between the computed and the estimated data, and sufficient convergence criteria. The results of this study collectively emphasize the necessity of integrating pulse-like GMs into future revisions of earthquake codes.
Vegetation effects on radiation-induced natural convection in sloping water bodies
Authors: Prinos Panagiotis , Papaioannou Vassilios 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this work, vegetation effects on the characteristics of radiation-induced natural convection (isotherms, circulation patterns, exchange flow rate) in sloping water bodies are investigated numerically. The water body consists of (a) a sloping vegetated region (with a bottom slope equal to 0.1) and (b) a deep region with a horizontal bottom. The vegetation of porosity 0.85 (typical of aquatic plants found in lakes) has a length equal to the length of the sloping region. It can block (totally or partially) the radiation and as a result a non-uniform (differential) heating is developed along the free surface of the water body. The Volume-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations together with the Volume-Averaged Energy equation are solved numerically in the vegetated region. The radiation-induced natural convection in a water body with only a sloping region (with no vegetation) is also considered for validation purposes since numerical and scaling analysis results are available in literature. The results indicate significant vegetation effects on the thermal and flow patterns especially for vegetation which blocks completely surface heating.
Cascade screening in HBOC and Lynch syndrome: guidelines and procedures in a UK centre
Authors: Evans D. Gareth , Green Kate , Burghel George J. , Forde Claire , Lalloo Fiona , Schlecht Helene , Woodward Emma R. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn the 33 years since the first diagnostic cancer predisposition gene (CPG) tests in the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, there has been substantial changes in the identification of index cases and cascade testing for at-risk family members. National guidelines in England and Wales are usually determined from the National Institute of healthcare Evidence and these have impacted on the thresholds for testing BRCA1/2 in Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) and in determining that all cases of colorectal and endometrial cancer should undergo screening for Lynch syndrome. Gaps for testing other CPGs relevant to HBOC have been filled by the UK Cancer Genetics Group and CanGene-CanVar project (web ref. https://www.cangene-canvaruk.org/). We present time trends (1990–2020) of identification of index cases with germline CPG variants and numbers of subsequent cascade tests, for BRCA1, BRCA2, and the Lynch genes (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2). For BRCA1/2 there was a definite increase in the proportion of index cases with ovarian cancer only and pre-symptomatic index tests both doubling from 16 to 32% and 3.2 to > 8% respectively. A mean of 1.73–1.74 additional family tests were generated for each BRCA1/2 index case within 2 years. Overall close to one positive cascade test was generated per index case resulting in > 1000 risk reducing surgery operations. In Lynch syndrome slightly more cascade tests were performed in the first two years potentially reflecting the increased actionability in males with 42.2% of pre-symptomatic tests in males compared to 25.8% in BRCA1/2 (p < 0.0001).
Rethinking connectivity modeling for high-mobility ungulates: insights from a globally endangered equid
Authors: Rezvani Azita , Hemami Mahmoud-Reza , Goheen Jacob R. , Kaczensky Petra , Pourmanafi Saeid , Fakheran Sima , Esmaeili Saeideh 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Context
Maintaining connectivity is crucial for wildlife conservation in human-occupied landscapes. Structural connectivity modeling (SCM) attempts to quantify the degree to which physical features facilitate or impede movement of individuals and has been widely used to identify corridors, but its accuracy is rarely validated against empirical data.

Objectives
We evaluated SCM’s ability to identify suitable habitat and corridors for onagers (Equus hemionus onager) through a comparison with functional connectivity (i.e., actual movement of individuals) using satellite tracking data.

Methods
We used MaxEnt to predict suitable habitat and evaluated the ability of three SCM approaches: circuit theory, factorial least cost path, and landscape corridors approaches to identify corridors. The performance of the three SCM approaches was validated against independently collected GPS telemetry data.

Results
Onagers selected water sources and dense vegetation while avoiding areas grazed intensely by livestock. The three approaches to SCMs identified similar movement corridors, which were interrupted by roads, affecting major high-flow movement corridors. The SCMs overlapped with functional connectivity by about 21%.

Conclusion
Movement corridors derived from SCMs did not align with the locations or intensity of corridors identified using the functional connectivity model. This finding suggests that SCMs might have a tendency to overestimate landscape resistance in areas with low habitat suitability. Therefore, SCM may not adequately capture individual decisions about habitat selection and movement. To protect corridors linking suitable habitat, data on functional connectivity (i.e., telemetry data) can be coupled with SCM to better understand habitat selection and movements of populations as a consequence of landscape features.
Science with a Small Two-Band UV-Photometry Mission II: Observations of Stars and Stellar Systems
Authors: Krtička Jiří , Benáček Jan , Budaj Jan , Korčáková Daniela , Pál András , Piecka Martin , Zejda Miloslav , Bakış Volkan , Brož Miroslav , Chang Hsiang-Kuang , Faltová Nikola , Gális Rudolf , Jadlovský Daniel , Janík Jan , Kára Jan , Kolář Jakub , Krtičková Iva , Kubát Jiří , Kubátová Brankica , Kurfürst Petr , Labaj Matúš , Merc Jaroslav , Mikulášek Zdeněk , Münz Filip , Paunzen Ernst , Prišegen Michal , Ramezani Tahereh , Rievajová Tatiana , Řípa Jakub , Schmidtobreick Linda , Skarka Marek , Szász Gabriel , Weiss Werner , Zajaček Michal , Werner Norbert 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe outline the impact of a small two-band UV-photometry satellite mission on the field of stellar physics, magnetospheres of stars, binaries, stellar clusters, interstellar matter, and exoplanets. On specific examples of different types of stars and stellar systems, we discuss particular requirements for such a satellite mission in terms of specific mission parameters such as bandpass, precision, cadence, and mission duration. We show that such a mission may provide crucial data not only for hot stars that emit most of their light in UV, but also for cool stars, where UV traces their activity. This is important, for instance, for exoplanetary studies, because the level of stellar activity influences habitability. While the main asset of the two-band UV mission rests in time-domain astronomy, an example of open clusters proves that such a mission would be important also for the study of stellar populations. Properties of the interstellar dust are best explored when combining optical and IR information with observations in UV.It is well known that dust absorbs UV radiation efficiently. Consequently, we outline how such a UV mission can be used to detect eclipses of sufficiently hot stars by various dusty objects and study disks, rings, clouds, disintegrating exoplanets or exoasteroids. Furthermore, UV radiation can be used to study the cooling of neutron stars providing information about the extreme states of matter in the interiors of neutron stars and used for mapping heated spots on their surfaces.
Automatic generation of ARM NEON micro-kernels for matrix multiplication
Authors: Alaejos Guillermo , Martínez Héctor , Castelló Adrián , Dolz Manuel F. , Igual Francisco D. , Alonso-Jordá Pedro , Quintana-Ortí Enrique S. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractGeneral matrix multiplication (gemm) is a fundamental kernel in scientific computing and current frameworks for deep learning. Modern realisations of gemm are mostly written in C, on top of a small, highly tuned micro-kernel that is usually encoded in assembly. The high performance realisation of gemm in linear algebra libraries in general include a single micro-kernel per architecture, usually implemented by an expert. In this paper, we explore a couple of paths to automatically generate gemm micro-kernels, either using C++ templates with vector intrinsics or high-level Python scripts that directly produce assembly code. Both solutions can integrate high performance software techniques, such as loop unrolling and software pipelining, accommodate any data type, and easily generate micro-kernels of any requested dimension. The performance of this solution is tested on three ARM-based cores and compared with state-of-the-art libraries for these processors: BLIS, OpenBLAS and ArmPL. The experimental results show that the auto-generation approach is highly competitive, mainly due to the possibility of adapting the micro-kernel to the problem dimensions.
Relationship of ankyloglossia and obstructive sleep apnea: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Camañes-Gonzalvo Sara , Montiel-Company José María , Paredes-Gallardo Vanessa , Puertas-Cuesta Francisco Javier , Marco-Pitarch Rocío , García-Selva Marina , Bellot-Arcís Carlos , Casaña-Ruiz María Dolores 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Recent studies have highlighted the potential role of a short lingual frenulum as a risk factor for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. A shortened frenulum may contribute to abnormal orofacial development, leading to increased upper airway resistance and susceptibility to upper airway collapsibility during sleep. Recognizing early indicators, such as a short lingual frenulum, is crucial for prompt intervention. This systematic review aims to evaluate the association between a short lingual frenulum and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children.

Methods
This systematic review adheres to PRISMA criteria for a quantitative analysis. A comprehensive search was conducted on five databases until January 2024 to identify relevant studies. The selected articles underwent rigorous analysis, considering study design, sample characteristics, lingual frenulum characterization, sleep assessment methods, and key findings.

Results
A total of 239 references were initially identified. Finally, six studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, with four studies eligible for the quantitative synthesis. The Newcastle–Ottawa scale was employed to assess study quality. Meta-analysis, supported by a moderate evidence profile according to the GRADE scale, revealed statistically significant differences, with odds ratios of 3.051 (confidence interval: 1.939 to 4.801) for a short frenulum and 12.304 (confidence interval: 6.141 to 24.653) for a high-arched palate.

Conclusion
This systematic review and meta-analysis provide evidence supporting the association between ankyloglossia and obstructive sleep apnea in children. Nevertheless, it is crucial to consider additional factors such as tongue mobility and the presence of a high-arched palate in further evaluations.
Sensitivity Study Using Synthetic 3D Image Datasets to Investigate the Effect of Noise Artefacts on Digital Volume Correlation
Authors: Paraskevoulakos C. , Ghosh S. , Andriollo T. , Michel A. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
The potential effect of image noise artefacts on Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) analysis has not been thoroughly studied and, more particularly quantified, even though DVC is an emerging technique widely used in life and material science over the last decade.

Objective
This paper presents the results of a sensitivity study to shed light on the effect of various noise artefacts on the full-field kinematic fields generated by DVC, both in zero and rigid body motion.

Methods
Various noise artefacts were studied, including the Gaussian, Salt & Pepper, Speckle noise and embedded Ring Artefacts. A noise-free synthetic microstructure was generated using Discrete Element Modelling (DEM), representing an idealistic case, and acting as the reference dataset for the DVC analysis. Noise artefacts of various intensities (including selected extreme cases) were added to the reference image datasets using MATLAB (R2022) to form the outline of the parametric study. DVC analyses were subsequently conducted employing AVIZO (Thermo Fisher). A subset-based local approach was adopted. A three-dimensional version of the Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) was used to define the similarity between the compared image datasets on each occasion. Sub-pixel rigid body motion was applied on the DEM-generated microstructure and subsequently “poisoned” with noise artefacts to evaluate mean bias and random error of the DVC analysis.

Results
When the local approach is implemented, the sensitivity study on zero motion data revealed the insignificant effect of the Gaussian, Salt & Pepper, and Speckle noise on the DVC-computed kinematic field. Therefore, the presence of such noise artefacts can be neglected when DVC is executed. On the contrary, Ring Artefacts can pose a considerable challenge and therefore, DVC results need to be evaluated cautiously. A linear relationship between SSIM and the correlation index is observed for the same noise artefacts. Gaussian noise has a pronounced effect on the mean bias error for sub-pixel rigid body motion.

Conclusions
Generating synthetic image datasets using DEM enabled the investigation of a variety of noise artefacts that potentially affect a DVC analysis. Given that, any microstructure – resembling the material studied – can be simulated and used for a DVC sensitivity analysis, supporting the user in appropriately evaluating the computed kinematic field. Even though the study is conducted for a two-phase material, the method elaborated in this paper also applies to heterogeneous multi-phase materials also. The conclusions drawn are valid within the environment of the AVIZO DVC extension module. Alternative DVC algorithms, utilising different approaches for the cross-correlation and the sub-pixel interpolation methods, need to be investigated.
Stabilin-2 mediated apoptotic cell phagocytosis induces interleukin-10 expression by p38 and Pbx1 signaling
Authors: Jo Han-Seul , Kim Ha-Jeong 
Published: March 2024

AbstractApoptotic cell death occurs under normal physiological conditions, such as development, tissue remodeling, and inflammation. Appropriate removal of apoptotic cells by phagocytes and the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 are important mechanisms for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Apoptotic cell phagocytosis is mediated by several phosphatidylserine recognition receptors on non-professional or professional phagocytes, such as neighboring epithelial cells or macrophages. Stabilin-2 is reported as a phosphatidylserine recognition receptor for apoptotic cell phagocytosis, and its downstream signaling pathway for cytoskeletal rearrangement for phagocytosis is well known. However, the mechanisms for stabilin-2-mediated IL-10 production has not yet been reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate stabilin-2 receptor-mediated IL-10 transcription regulation signaling pathway.