bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The AccelerAge framework: a new statistical approach to predict biological age based on time-to-event data
Authors: Sluiskes Marije , Goeman Jelle , Beekman Marian , Slagboom Eline , van den Akker Erik , Putter Hein , Rodríguez-Girondo Mar 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAging is a multifaceted and intricate physiological process characterized by a gradual decline in functional capacity, leading to increased susceptibility to diseases and mortality. While chronological age serves as a strong risk factor for age-related health conditions, considerable heterogeneity exists in the aging trajectories of individuals, suggesting that biological age may provide a more nuanced understanding of the aging process. However, the concept of biological age lacks a clear operationalization, leading to the development of various biological age predictors without a solid statistical foundation. This paper addresses these limitations by proposing a comprehensive operationalization of biological age, introducing the “AccelerAge” framework for predicting biological age, and introducing previously underutilized evaluation measures for assessing the performance of biological age predictors. The AccelerAge framework, based on Accelerated Failure Time (AFT) models, directly models the effect of candidate predictors of aging on an individual’s survival time, aligning with the prevalent metaphor of aging as a clock. We compare predictors based on the AccelerAge framework to a predictor based on the GrimAge predictor, which is considered one of the best-performing biological age predictors, using simulated data as well as data from the UK Biobank and the Leiden Longevity Study. Our approach seeks to establish a robust statistical foundation for biological age clocks, enabling a more accurate and interpretable assessment of an individual’s aging status.
Effectiveness of Billion Trees Tsunami Afforestation Projects in restoration of forests in Pakistan
Authors: Haq Fazlul , Mark Bryan G. , Shum C. K. , Zeballos-Castellon Gabriel , Rahman Ghani 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe history of forest cover dynamics in Pakistan reveals an unsatisfactory environmental situation. In the past 5 decades, particularly during the period between 1990 and 2010, the country lost an average of 41,100 hectares of green cover with a deforestation rate of 1.6% per year. The factors behind that this high deforestation rate is numerous including socio-economic transformation after the major political change during the 1970s in the mountainous areas of Pakistan, demographic changes, accessibility improvements, and land use changes. Several social forestry campaigns have been launched over time to cope with this socioecological and environmental issue. However, most of them have not been very effective due to certain shortcomings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the most recent and history’s biggest forest restoration program initiated by the government of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province called the Billion Trees Tsunami Afforestation Project (BTTAP). This project was announced in 2013 when a new political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, came into power. The study is focused on one of the main forest hubs of the country in the Hindukush Mountains spanning five districts. Forest cover in this study area decreased from 20 to 2% between 1990 and 2010. After the launch of the BTTAP, the forest cover increased considerably from 2 to 35% by the year 2021. This growth was achieved through planting new trees, banning forest cutting, practicing surveillance, and enhancing community participation. If the project continues and the protection measures are not suspended, it can play a historical role in forest restoration.
Critical Math Kinds: A Framework for the Philosophy of Alternative Mathematics
Authors: Mangraviti Franci 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMathematics, even more than the other sciences, is often presented as essentially unique, as if it could not be any other way. And yet, prima facie alternative mathematics are all over the place, from non-Western mathematics to mathematics based on nonclassical logics. Taking inspiration from Robin Dembroff’s analysis of critical gender kinds, and from Andrew Aberdein and Stephen Read’s analysis of alternative logics, in this paper I will introduce a practice-centered framework for the study of alternative mathematics based on the notion of critical math kind. After sketching a model of mainstream mathematics, I will provide examples of how deviation along several distinct dimensions can occur, and how deviations can vary in their gravity. I will then discuss how the framework can be used to think of questions concerning the alternativeness status and philosophical implications of alleged alternative mathematics, and help us in identifying alternatives that suit our purposes.
The gamer’s dilemma: an expressivist response
Authors: Young Garry 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn this paper, I support a hybrid form of expressivism called constructive ecumenical expressivism (CEE) which I have previously used (to attempt) to resolve the gamer’s dilemma. (Young, 2016. Resolving the gamer’s dilemma. London: Palgrave Macmillan.) In support of CEE, I argue that the various other attempts at either resolving, dissolving or resisting the dilemma are consistent with CEE’s moral framework. That is, with its way of explaining what a claim to morality is, with how moral norms are established, with the role intuition is able to play in establishing these norms, and therefore with how the gamer’s dilemma can be resolved. I also demonstrate, more broadly, how CEE advocates robust relativism as a means of justifying the constructed moral norm’s normative credentials, and therefore how one society’s norm can be judged morally superior to another’s.
Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell. extracts reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine and PGE2 secretion, decrease COX-2 expression and down-regulate cytosolic NF-κB levels
Authors: Cock Ian E. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBased on their high antioxidant capacity and noteworthy phytochemistry, Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit and leaves have attracted considerable recent interest for their therapeutic potential. Whilst those studies have reported a variety of therapeutic properties for the fruit, the anti-inflammatory potential of T. ferdinandiana has been largely neglected and the leaves have been almost completely ignored. This study investigated the immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of T. ferdinandiana fruit and leaf extracts by evaluating their inhibition of multiple pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated and unstimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages using multiplex bead immunoassays and ELISA assays. The methanolic extracts were particularly good immune-modulators, significantly inhibiting the secretion of all the cytokines and chemokines tested. Indeed, the methanolic extracts completely inhibited IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, and MIP-2a secretion, and almost completely inhibited the secretion of TNF-α. In addition, the methanolic T. ferdinandiana extracts also significantly inhibited cytosolic COX-2 levels (by 87–95%) and the synthesis of the PGE2 (by ~ 98%). In contrast, the methanolic extracts stimulated LTB4 secretion by ~ 60–90%, whilst the aqueous extracts significantly inhibited LTB4 secretion (by ~ 27% each). Exposure of RAW 264.7 cells to the methanolic T. ferdinandiana extracts also significantly down-regulated the cytosolic levels of NF-κB by 33–44%, indicating that the immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of the extracts may be regulated via a decrease in NF-κB transcription pathways. Taken together, these results demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory properties for the extracts and provide insights into their anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Analysis of hippocampal local field potentials by diffusion mapped delay coordinates
Authors: Gonzalez D. A. , Peel J. H. , Pagadala T. , McHail D. G. , Cressman J. R. , Dumas T. C. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSpatial navigation through novel spaces and to known goal locations recruits multiple integrated structures in the mammalian brain. Within this extended network, the hippocampus enables formation and retrieval of cognitive spatial maps and contributes to decision making at choice points. Exploration and navigation to known goal locations produce synchronous activity of hippocampal neurons resulting in rhythmic oscillation events in local networks. Power of specific oscillatory frequencies and numbers of these events recorded in local field potentials correlate with distinct cognitive aspects of spatial navigation. Typically, oscillatory power in brain circuits is analyzed with Fourier transforms or short-time Fourier methods, which involve assumptions about the signal that are likely not true and fail to succinctly capture potentially informative features. To avoid such assumptions, we applied a method that combines manifold discovery techniques with dynamical systems theory, namely diffusion maps and Takens’ time-delay embedding theory, that avoids limitations seen in traditional methods. This method, called diffusion mapped delay coordinates (DMDC), when applied to hippocampal signals recorded from juvenile rats freely navigating a Y-maze, replicates some outcomes seen with standard approaches and identifies age differences in dynamic states that traditional analyses are unable to detect. Thus, DMDC may serve as a suitable complement to more traditional analyses of LFPs recorded from behaving subjects that may enhance information yield.
Habitat of two threatened short-tailed whip-scorpions (Arachnida: Schizomida) in the tropical Andes of Northern South America
Authors: Castillo-Figueroa Dennis , Castillo-Avila Camilo , Moreno-González Jairo A. , Posada Juan M. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Aim
Schizomids are one of the less-known arachnid groups in terms of their natural history and ecology. However, due to their remarkable short-range endemic distribution, they may be vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. In Colombia, although the national IUCN red list of threatened invertebrates has categorized species of schizomids as vulnerable (VU), this assessment was based on expert criteria. Therefore, information about the ecology of schizomids is critical for a more accurate reassessment of their conservation status. In this study, we describe the habitat of two species of Surazomus in endangered Andean tropical forests of Colombia after a sampling effort of 15.12 m2 (n = 168 soil samples) and the collection of 6999 soil fauna individuals from the samples. We analyzed soil fauna communities associated with schizomids as well as different forest and environmental variables from permanent plots installed a decade ago in the Sabana de Bogotá region. Detailed information on climate, plant communities, and forest structure was obtained from these plots. Thus, we provide the first comprehensive habitat description of schizomids including both above- and belowground compartments. We found that each species lives in specific habitats with different soil fauna communities, suggesting a potential association between geographical fidelity and habitat conditions. This result could indicate that schizomids are highly sensitive to dramatic environmental changes, such as those experienced in the Andean region of Colombia.

Implications for insect conservation
Our study is valuable for the future reassessment of the conservation status of schizomids in the country, particularly considering that the previous categorization was based on expert criteria. Since habitat conditions and soil fauna communities are species-specific, schizomids could be disproportionately vulnerable to climate change and human disturbances in the Colombian Andes.
Widespread annual occurrence of pesticides within designated critical habitats for endangered prairie butterflies
Authors: Runquist Erik , Nordmeyer Cale , Stapleton Seth 
Published: April 2024

AbstractInsect declines have become pronounced in prairie ecosystems, particularly in areas of agricultural intensification. Non-target pesticide exposure has been raised as a key concern for prairie remnant health. Over seven years, we screened grass and soil samples for the presence and quantities of hundreds of pesticides from five prairies in Minnesota and South Dakota that are designated as Critical Habitat for two globally endangered butterflies: Poweshiek skipperling and Dakota skipper. We documented dozens of pesticides across all sites and years on their larval host grasses. Interiors of prairies were not less likely to have detectable pesticides than along prairie-agriculture edges. Broad-spectrum organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides were common in late season. Chlorpyrifos quantities were higher at sites where both endangered species have been extirpated. Neonicotinoid insecticides, which have been frequently attributed to declines in insect pollinators, did not present a significant exposure signal in these prairie habitats. Few pesticides were detected in soil or early season grass samples. The prevalence and quantities of pesticides we observed are likely underestimates, and additional research is needed on the landscape of risk at small and large scales. Implications for Conservation: Protected prairies are not immune to the risk of pesticide exposure, which may impact efforts to re-establish lost populations of imperiled prairie insects, including endangered butterflies.
Factor Structure of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale among Early Adolescents: Results from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study
Authors: Smith Jacqueline E. , Brinkman Hannah R. , DiBello Angelo M. , Hamilton Jessica L. , Leyro Teresa M. , Altman Brianna R. , Farris Samantha G. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Introduction
Emotion regulation (ER) deficits in early adolescence are associated with subsequent negative health consequences, including anxiety and depression. Yet, limited work has evaluated the factor structure of measures of ER deficits in early adolescents, leaving a methodological gap for at-risk youths.

Method
This study examined the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) factor structure in early adolescents (N = 2300) recruited from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. We randomly split the sample into two sub-samples (n = 1150 each) and implemented an a-priori three-pronged approach: (1) A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed the fit of the six-factor DERS in Sample 1; (2) An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified an alternative factor structure in Sample 1; and (3) A second CFA assessed the new model in Sample 2. A bi-factor model was also used to assess the global structure of the DERS total and subscales.

Results
The original six-factor model yielded poor-to-adequate fit. EFA results supported an alternative five-factor model with different item mappings and ten omitted items. CFA results supported the five-factor solution with good fit. The bi-factor model, estimating a general factor with the five subscales, also demonstrated good fit.

Discussion
A five-factor structure of the DERS appears supported in a large community sample of early adolescents. Items from the former Awareness and Clarity subscales were combined into a single factor. Nearly all items from the former Strategies subscale were omitted, suggesting there may be developmental considerations rendering those items less relevant.
Effect of Silver-Graphene Oxide-Cobalt Oxide Nanocomposite on Cytotoxic Levels in MRC-5 and HepG2 Cell Lines and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Ilikci-Sagkan Rahsan , Istifli Erman Salih , Liman Recep , Atacan Keziban , Bas Salih Zeki , Ozmen Mustafa 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe cytotoxic properties of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles (NPs), in addition to graphene oxide (GO)-Co3O4 and silver (Ag)-GO-Co3O4 nanocomposites (NCs), were evaluated against both human healthy lung fibroblast (MRC-5) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines utilizing the XTT assay. The investigation revealed that synthesized Co3O4 NPs and NCs (GO-Co3O4 and Ag-GO-Co3O4) elicited significant cytotoxic responses in MRC-5 and HepG2 cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. Through molecular docking analyses, it was observed that all fabricated nanomaterials exhibited DNA recognition via minor groove binding, with molecular affinities ranging from − 4.82 to -11.66 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the docking outcomes illustrated that the angular conformations of GO-Co3O4 and Ag-GO-Co3O4 conferred ‘shape-selective’ characteristics as DNA minor groove binders, leading to heightened cytotoxicity, particularly in the HepG2 cell line compared to the normal MRC-5 cell line.
Stochastic Differential Equations with Singular Coefficients: The Martingale Problem View and the Stochastic Dynamics View
Authors: Issoglio Elena , Russo Francesco 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe consider stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with (distributional) drift in negative Besov spaces and random initial condition and investigate them from two different viewpoints. In the first part we set up a martingale problem and show its well-posedness. We then prove further properties of the martingale problem, such as continuity with respect to the drift and the link with the Fokker–Planck equation. We also show that the solutions are weak Dirichlet processes for which we evaluate the quadratic variation of the martingale component. In the second part we identify the dynamics of the solution of the martingale problem by describing the proper associated SDE. Under suitable assumptions we show equivalence with the solution to the martingale problem.
Pickl’s proof of the quantum mean-field limit and quantum Klimontovich solutions
Authors: Porat Immanuel Ben , Golse François 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper discusses the mean-field limit for the quantum dynamics of N identical bosons in $${\textbf{R}}^3$$

R

3

interacting via a binary potential with Coulomb-type singularity. Our approach is based on the theory of quantum Klimontovich solutions defined in Golse and Paul (Commun Math Phys 369:1021–1053, 2019) . Our first main result is a definition of the interaction nonlinearity in the equation governing the dynamics of quantum Klimontovich solutions for a class of interaction potentials slightly less general than those considered in Kato (Trans Am Math Soc 70:195–211, 1951). Our second main result is a new operator inequality satisfied by the quantum Klimontovich solution in the case of an interaction potential with Coulomb-type singularity. When evaluated on an initial bosonic pure state, this operator inequality reduces to a Gronwall inequality for a functional introduced in Pickl (Lett Math Phys 97:151-164, 2011), resulting in a convergence rate estimate for the quantum mean-field limit leading to the time-dependent Hartree equation.
Intelligent waste classification approach based on improved multi-layered convolutional neural network
Authors: Chhabra Megha , Sharan Bhagwati , Elbarachi May , Kumar Manoj 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study aims to improve the performance of organic to recyclable waste through deep learning techniques. Negative impacts on environmental and Social development have been observed relating to the poor waste segregation schemes. Separating organic waste from recyclable waste can lead to a faster and more effective recycling process. Manual waste classification is a time-consuming, costly, and less accurate recycling process. Automated segregation in the proposed work uses Improved Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN). The dataset of 2 class category with 25077 images is divided into 70% training and 30% testing images. The performance metrics used are classification Accuracy, Missed Detection Rate (MDR), and False Detection Rate (FDR). The results of Improved DCNN are compared with VGG16, VGG19, MobileNetV2, DenseNet121, and EfficientNetB0 after transfer learning. Experimental results show that the image classification accuracy of the proposed model reaches 93.28%.
Effect of SO2 on the soot oxidation activity of flame spray pyrolysis-made manganese oxide catalyst in gasoline model exhaust
Authors: Werther Markus , Singer Christian , Gross Alexander , Kureti Sven , Martínez-Munuera Juan Carlos , García-García Avelina 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study deals with the effect of SO2 on the soot oxidation activity of flame spray pyrolysis-prepared manganese oxide in gasoline model exhaust. The catalyst was exposed to 15 and 30 ppm SO2 at 250 °C and was characterized by N2 physisorption, SO2-TPD, O2-TPD, DRIFTS, XPS and PXRD. It was shown that the SO2 adsorption results in the formation of surface sulfate, while the uptake increased from 26 to 45 μmol/g with growing sulfur content of the model exhaust. The sulfur adsorption reduces the mobility and availability of oxygen on the catalyst thus inhibiting the oxygen transport from gas phase over the catalyst to the contact points of the soot. Consequently, the soot oxidation activity, investigated with tight contact blends of catalyst and soot, decreases with inclining amount of sulfate. Finally, the sulfate species were mostly removed by thermal treatment at 705 °C, which additionally provoked catalyst sintering. As a result, the catalytic performance of the de-sulfated catalyst was slightly lower compared to the sulfated sample.
Measuring Employment and Unemployment from a Fuzzy Perspective. A Comparative Analysis Across European Countries
Authors: Cheli Bruno , Coli Alessandra , Regoli Andrea 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAccording to the standards set by the International Labour Office, people of working age who have performed some remunerated work during a specified short reference period are classified as employed, regardless of how many hours they have worked, while those who have not been able to work at all (despite wanting to) are classified as unemployed. As observed by many experts in the field, this rigid division between employed and unemployed can conceal labour markets with deeply different characteristics. In particular, the average number of hours worked and, more importantly, their distribution across employees may vary significantly across countries. The aim of this paper is to define fuzzy indicators of employment and unemployment by using the available information on the number of hours worked and the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of workers with this. In this approach, each person in the labour force is assigned a degree of employment between 0 and 1, where 0 means full non-membership in the fuzzy set of employed (and full membership in the fuzzy set of unemployed) and 1 means full membership in the fuzzy set of employed. To show the potentiality of the proposed method, we apply fuzzy measures to Labour Force Survey data from 29 European countries and compare the results with the official employment and unemployment statistics published by Eurostat.