bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trophic Structure and a Temporal Shift in Trophic Diversity of Mobile Consumers in a Subarctic Estuary
Authors: St. George Jillian R. , Petersen Stephen D. , Roth James D. , Ferguson Steven H. , Yurkowski David J. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractQuantifying trophic relationships within and between species in terms of trophic position, ontogeny and trophic diversity provides information on community-level structure and function. Little attention has been focused on examining the trophic structure and temporal changes of communities in freshwater-marine coupled systems in the subarctic and associated impacts of anthropogenic activity on trophic interactions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the trophic position of mobile consumers (15 species in total) within the lower Churchill River area (Churchill, Manitoba, Canada), examine trophic position variation in relation to ontogeny, and measure the trophic diversity of a fish assemblage before (1993–1995) and after (2019–2020) the installation of the Churchill River weir in the late 1990s. We used stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) to quantify individual and group-level variation in trophic position of thirteen fish species and two seal species and also assessed six community-level metrics of a three fish species assemblage between time periods. Overall, species that mainly foraged on freshwater resources occupied lower trophic positions than species that mainly consumed marine resources. Trophic position increased with fish age only in cisco, fourhorn sculpin, Greenland cod and northern pike. A temporal shift from a trophically diverse to a more trophically redundant fish assemblage occurred between 1993–1995 and 2019–2020. As a result, these predator species now play similar trophic roles. Information on the long-term change in trophic structure of this sub-Arctic estuarine system may help with understanding how anthropogenic activity and climate change have influenced the trophic diversity of a fish assemblage inhabiting this system.
Isotopic insights into the Early Acheulean (1.95 Ma–1.66 Ma) high-elevation paleoenvironments at Melka Kunture (Upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia)
Authors: Briatico Giuseppe , Bocherens Hervé , Bonnefille Raymonde , Geraads Denis , Mussi Margherita 
Published: November 2023

AbstractIn this paper, we present stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of fauna tooth enamel from Garba IVD (1.95 Ma) and Gombore IB (1.66 Ma), two Early Acheulean sites of Melka Kunture (Upper Awash, Ethiopia), and discuss faunal taxonomy and fossil pollen. Our aim is to infer the diet and habitat of the fossil fauna, as well as the environment of both sites, in order to provide a broader paleoecological reconstruction. During the Pleistocene, the vegetation of the highlands of Ethiopia belonged to the Dry evergreen Afromontane Forest and grassland complex, which is distinct from the savanna of lower elevations in eastern Africa. Our carbon isotopic results indicate that all the analyzed faunal taxa were grazers consuming C4 plants, whereas oxygen isotopic results discriminate the taxa according to their semiaquatic or terrestrial habitats. These results are consistent with the taxonomic composition of the faunal assemblages and the palynological results, suggesting extended mountain grasslands in the landscape at Garba IVD. In contrast, the carbon isotopic results do not totally agree with the pollen paleoenvironmental reconstruction at Gombore IB, where the open vegetation was interrupted by forests and bushy vegetation. Stable isotope and pollen data provide different outcomes (feeding strategies vs. nearby plants) and have different temporal and spatial resolutions. This is relevant when reconstructing past environments by using independent proxies. Furthermore, isotopic comparisons with other Early Pleistocene paleontological and archaeological sites from eastern Africa indicate that all the analyzed taxa in common fed on C4 plants and that their dietary strategies were not affected by variations linked to the difference in elevations.
Determinants of Japanese-trained Chinese PhDs’ academic career attainments
Authors: Meng Shuoyang , Shen Wenqin 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe Chinese government has been actively recruiting foreign-trained Chinese scholars to return to China since the Chinese brain drain began. Japan is among the most popular destinations for Chinese scholars seeking to receive doctoral training. This study explores the factors contributing to the stratification of Japanese-trained Chinese PhDs’ academic career attainments using the Mertonian norm of universalism. The results indicate that the norm of universalism can partly explain the stratification of Japanese-trained Chinese PhDs. The reason for this is that their higher pre-graduation productivity enhances the chance that Japanese-trained Chinese PhDs have of obtaining an academic position at a top university in China. In addition to pre-graduation academic productivity, other factors, including the prestige of the university attended, the duration of the academic sojourn in Japan, and the ethnicity of the supervisor influence employment outcomes.
Long-term vs short-term subsite erosion rates on microtidal shore platforms (Southern Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean)
Authors: Gómez-Pujol Lluís , Fornós Joan J. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWe address changes in microtopography of a supratidal rocky surface on calcareous rocks in the shore platform of s'Alavern (S de Mallorca) by means of a TMEM monitoring device. TMEM site was installed in 2004 and subsequent microtopographies were obtained in 2005, 2008 and 2021; as well as a bi-hourly monitoring in 2005. When comparing subsite short-term erosion rates against long-term erosion rates, the results indicate that the erosion rates obtained during time intervals of less than 5 years show higher erosion rates (0.45 vs. 0.22 mm year−1) and with greater variance than those obtained for monitoring intervals greater than a decade. When comparing the variability of the value of the microtopographical altitude in hourly intervals with the behaviour of those same points on a long-time scale, it is evident that, in the short term, those points that experience negative displacements show higher long-term erosion rates than those that experience positive shifts on an hourly scale. However, this pattern is not statistically significant, which suggests that the magnitude and trend of the microtopography change is reflecting the role of different processes and agents that are operating at different temporal scales.
Triple-Diffusive Bioconvection Flow of Sutterby Nanofluid Over an Oscillatory Stretchable Surface Immersed in a Darcy-Forchheimer Porous Medium
Authors: Mkhatshwa Musawenkhosi 
Published: November 2023

AbstractTo respond to the demands of modern technological processes, the employment of nanofluids to maximize energy efficiency has been a topic of interest to many scientists. The stability of such nanofluids can be appropriately enhanced with the use of gyrotactic microorganisms. In the current framework, we inspect the triple-diffusive bioconvection flow of electro-magnetized Sutterby nanofluid via an oscillatory stretchable surface with Brownian diffusion of both nanoparticles and microorganisms, thermophoresis, buoyancy, and inertial forces. With the utilization of acceptable dimensionless variables, the governed flow equations are first metamorphosed into non-dimensional form, and solutions of the resulting equations are computed using the overlapping grid spectral collocation scheme. The rationale for choosing this numerical approach is provided by computing residual errors and condition numbers. The significance of physical parameters on the quantities of engineering interest and flow profiles is discussed. The main results include that reduced surface shear stress and minimal oscillatory nature of velocity are achieved with the inclusion of porous media, inertial forces, bioconvection, and nanofluid buoyancy forces. Temperature and rate of heat transfer are upsurged with the existence of variable thermal conductivity, nonlinear radiation, and convective heat conditions, which advocate that such features promote superior heat transport within the Sutterby working fluid. Growth in solutal Dufour Lewis number increases solutal concentration while reducing solutal-mass transfer rate. Improvement in microbial Brownian diffusion parameter causes enhancement in the rate of motile microorganisms transfer and reduction in the concentration of gyrotactic microorganisms. This implies that the random motion of motile microorganisms plays a prominent role in the dynamics of microorganisms.
Artificial intelligence to improve ischemia prediction in Rubidium Positron Emission Tomography—a validation study
Authors: Frey Simon M. , Bakula Adam , Tsirkin Andrew , Vasilchenko Vasily , Ruff Peter , Oehri Caroline , Amrein Melissa Fee , Huré Gabrielle , Rumora Klara , Schäfer Ibrahim , Caobelli Federico , Haaf Philip , Mueller Christian E. , Remppis Bjoern Andrew , Rocca Hans-Peter Brunner-La , Zellweger Michael J. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Patients are referred to functional coronary artery disease (CAD) testing based on their pre-test probability (PTP) to search for myocardial ischemia. The recommended prediction tools incorporate three variables (symptoms, age, sex) and are easy to use, but have a limited diagnostic accuracy. Hence, a substantial proportion of non-invasive functional tests reveal no myocardial ischemia, leading to unnecessary radiation exposure and costs. Therefore, preselection of patients before ischemia testing needs to be improved using a more predictive and personalised approach.

Aims
Using multiple variables (symptoms, vitals, ECG, biomarkers), artificial intelligence–based tools can provide a detailed and individualised profile of each patient. This could improve PTP assessment and provide a more personalised diagnostic approach in the framework of predictive, preventive and personalised medicine (PPPM).

Methods
Consecutive patients (n = 2417) referred for Rubidium-82 positron emission tomography were evaluated. PTP was calculated using the ESC 2013/2019 and ACC 2012/2021 guidelines, and a memetic pattern–based algorithm (MPA) was applied incorporating symptoms, vitals, ECG and biomarkers. Five PTP categories from very low to very high PTP were defined (i.e., < 5%, 5–15%, 15–50%, 50–85%, > 85%). Ischemia was defined as summed difference score (SDS) ≥ 2.

Results
Ischemia was present in 37.1%. The MPA model was most accurate to predict ischemia (AUC: 0.758, p < 0.001 compared to ESC 2013, 0.661; ESC 2019, 0.673; ACC 2012, 0.585; ACC 2021, 0.667). Using the < 5% threshold, the MPA’s sensitivity and negative predictive value to rule out ischemia were 99.1% and 96.4%, respectively. The model allocated patients more evenly across PTP categories, reduced the proportion of patients in the intermediate (15–85%) range by 29% (ACC 2012)–51% (ESC 2019), and was the only tool to correctly predict ischemia prevalence in the very low PTP category.

Conclusion
The MPA model enhanced ischemia testing according to the PPPM framework:

The MPA model improved individual prediction of ischemia significantly and could safely exclude ischemia based on readily available variables without advanced testing (“predictive”).

It reduced the proportion of patients in the intermediate PTP range. Therefore, it could be used as a gatekeeper to prevent patients from further unnecessary downstream testing, radiation exposure and costs (“preventive”).

Consequently, the MPA model could transform ischemia testing towards a more personalised diagnostic algorithm (“personalised”).
EpiPredict: Agent-Based Modeling of Infectious Diseases
Authors: Suer Janik , Ponge Johannes , Hellingrath Bernd 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the impact of emerging infectious diseases on various aspects of public life. Decision-makers in the public-health sector faced the challenge of selecting effective countermeasures for a newly emerging disease with limited historical data and little understanding of its dynamics. To evaluate these decisions, infectious disease modeling has proven to be a valuable tool, providing insights into disease dynamics and predicting future outcomes for different scenarios. Agent-based models, which simulate populations at an individual level, are especially well-suited to capture the complex individual behaviors and the arising aggregated system evolution, making these models suitable tools to evaluate disease progression within highly heterogeneous populations. This paper focuses on the EpiPredict project, which has aimed to develop a flexible, easy-to-use simulation framework for constructing, executing, and analyzing agent-based infectious disease models. The project objective arose from the observation that epidemiologists or public-health decision-makers, i.e., people without a strong IT background, lacked simulation tools, as most available tools required extensive programming skills to create and simulate agent-based models. Within this paper, the EpiPredict project and platform will be presented, and the relation of agents to the field of artificial intelligence discussed.
An FDD-based modal parameter-less proportional flexibility-resembling matrix for response-only damage detection
Authors: Calidori Andrea , Bernagozzi Giacomo , Castellaro Silvia , Landi Luca , Diotallevi Pier Paolo 
Published: November 2023

AbstractModal flexibility-based methods are effective tools for vibration-based structural damage detection, including in the output-only case. These methods are typically characterized by two stages: first, the modal parameters are identified, thus obtaining a certain number of modes; second, these modal parameters are used to assemble the modal flexibility matrix. This paper proposes a method for estimating a matrix that approximates a proportional flexibility matrix, termed proportional flexibility-resembling (PFR) matrix, and shows that this matrix can be used for damage detection and localization purposes. This matrix is obtained through signal processing operations to be executed after applying the first steps of the frequency-domain decomposition (FDD) technique—i.e., after the singular value decomposition of the spectral density matrix. The defining aspect of the PFR matrix is that, differently from the traditional formulation of modal flexibility and proportional flexibility matrices, it can be assembled without the need of an explicit identification of the modal parameters. In fact, the matrix is estimated by processing all first singular vectors and also all first singular values in a selected frequency range. In the proposed method, the typical two stage approach of traditional modal flexibility methods is avoided, and the intervention of an operator is limited to setting the values of a few parameters in the initial phase of the process. Numerical simulations and experimental data from a testbed structure were used to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach, and the analyses were performed by considering structures with different damage scenarios and damping properties.
Real and illusionary difficulties in conceptual learning in mathematics: comparison between constructivist and inferentialist perspectives
Authors: Uegatani Yusuke , Otani Hiroki , Shirakawa Shintaro , Ito Ryo 
Published: November 2023

AbstractDue to the learning paradox, students cannot have real difficulty in understanding a mathematical concept that they have not yet understood. There is a gap between real difficulties, directly experienced by students, and illusionary ones, only observed by researchers. This paper aims to offer a critical reflection on our understanding of the term difficulty in mathematics education research. We start this paper by arguing that a constructivist perspective, which has often been adopted in researches on mathematical task design, can deal with difficulties in solving a mathematical problem, but it cannot theoretically deal with those in understanding a mathematical concept. Therefore, we need the alternative philosophy of Robert Brandom’s inferentialism to capture students’ real difficulties in conceptual learning. From an inferentialist perspective, we introduce the idea of illusionary and real difficulties. The former is defined as what students cannot do, but they are not conscious of what they should do, while the latter is defined as what students cannot do despite their consciousness of what they should do. Through an eighth grade classroom episode, we argue that it is important in mathematics education research to focus not only on illusionary difficulties but also on the transition from illusionary to real difficulties. Researchers are encouraged to design a learning environment in which students become conscious of what they cannot do and to observe their mathematics learning in such an environment.
On minimal Gorenstein Hilbert functions
Authors: Bezerra Lenin , Gondim Rodrigo , Ilardi Giovanna , Zappalà Giuseppe 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWe conjecture that a class of Artinian Gorenstein Hilbert algebras called full Perazzo algebras always have minimal Hilbert function, fixing codimension and length. We prove the conjecture in length four and five, in low codimension. We also prove the conjecture for a particular subclass of algebras that occurs in every length and certain codimensions. As a consequence of our methods we give a new proof of part of a known result about the asymptotic behavior of the minimum entry of a Gorenstein Hilbert function.
Strategies for Digital Clinical Teaching During the COVID Pandemic: A Scoping Review
Authors: Voss Miranda , Geniets Anne , Winters Niall 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWidespread “lockdowns” during the COVID pandemic in 2020–2021 restricted medical students’ access to patients. We used a scoping review with exploratory thematic synthesis to examine how reports of digital clinical teaching during the first year of the COVID pandemic could inform digital clinical teaching in the post-pandemic world. We looked at strategies used and outcomes reported, lessons learned about how best to use digital methods for clinical teaching, and learning theories used. The eighty-three articles included in the final review fell into four groups. These were telehealth interventions; virtual case-based teaching; multi-modal virtual rotations; and a small group of “other” strategies. Telehealth reports indicated that COVID has probably accelerated the adoption of telehealth, and these skills will be required in future curricula. Engagement with virtual case-based teaching was problematic. Virtual rotations were particularly valued in specialties that relied on visual interpretation such as radiology and dermatology. For general clinical specialties, digital clinical teaching was not a satisfactory substitute for real clinical exposure because it lacked the complexity of usual clinical practice. Sixty-seven articles reported students’ reactions only, and 16 articles reported a change in knowledge or skills. Demands on instructors were considerable. Few studies were theorized and none tested theory, which limited their transferability. While telehealth teaching may be a valuable addition to some curricula, digital clinical teaching is unlikely substantially to replace exposure to real patients outside of specialties that rely on visual interpretation. High demands on instructors suggest little potential for new, scalable digital clinical offerings after COVID.
Estimate for the largest zeros of the D’Arcais polynomials
Authors: Heim Bernhard , Neuhauser Markus 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe zeros of the nth D’Arcais polynomial, also known in combinatorics as the Nekrasov–Okounkov polynomial, dictate the vanishing properties of the nth Fourier coefficients of all complex powers x of the Dedekind $$\eta $$
η
-function. In this paper, we prove that these coefficients are non-vanishing for $$\vert x \vert > \kappa \, (n-1)$$

|
x
|
>
κ

(
n
-
1
)

and $$\kappa \approx 9.7225$$

κ
≈
9.7225

. Numerical computations imply that 9.72245 is a lower bound for $$\kappa $$
κ
. This significantly improves previous results by Kostant, Han, and Heim–Neuhauser. The polynomials studied in this paper include Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind, 1-associated Laguerre polynomials, Hermite polynomials, and polynomials associated with overpartitions and plane partitions.
A novel fuzzy TOPSIS method based on T-spherical fuzzy Aczel–Alsina power Heronian mean operators with applications in pharmaceutical enterprises’ selection
Authors: Liu Peide , Khan Qaisar , Jamil Ayesha , Haq Ijaz Ul , Sikandar Waseem , Hussain Fawad 
Published: November 2023

AbstractOne of the most significant and complete approaches to accommodate greater uncertainty than current fuzzy structures is the T-Spherical Fuzzy Set (TSPFS). The primary benefit of TSPFS is that current fuzzy structures are special cases of it. Firstly, some novel TSPF power Heronian mean (TSPFPHM) operators are initiated based on Aczel–Alsina operational laws. These aggregation operators (AOs) have the capacity to eliminate the impact of uncomfortable data and can simultaneously consider the relationships between any two input arguments. Secondly, some elementary properties and core cases with respect to parameters are investigated and found that some of the existing AOs are special cases of the newly initiated aggregation operators. Thirdly, based on these AOs and Aczel–Alsina operational laws a newly advanced technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)-based method for dealing with multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problems in a T-Spherical fuzzy framework is established, where the weights of both the decision makers (DMs) and the criteria are completely unknowable. Finally, an illustrative example is provided to evaluate and choose the pharmaceutical firms with the capacity for high-quality, sustainable development in the TSPF environment to demonstrate the usefulness and efficacy. After that, the comparison analysis with other techniques is utilized to demonstrate the coherence and superiority of the recommended approach.
“Out of my control”: science undergraduates report mental health concerns and inconsistent conditions when using remote proctoring software
Authors: Pokorny Annika , Ballen Cissy J. , Drake Abby Grace , Driessen Emily P. , Fagbodun Sheritta , Gibbens Brian , Henning Jeremiah A. , McCoy Sophie J. , Thompson Seth K. , Willis Charles G. , Lane A. Kelly 
Published: November 2023

AbstractEfforts to discourage academic misconduct in online learning environments frequently include the use of remote proctoring services. While these services are relatively commonplace in undergraduate science courses, there are open questions about students’ remote assessment environments and their concerns related to remote proctoring services. Using a survey distributed to 11 undergraduate science courses engaging in remote instruction at three American, public, research-focused institutions during the spring of 2021, we found that the majority of undergraduate students reported testing in suboptimal environments. Students’ concerns about remote proctoring services were closely tied to technological difficulties, fear of being wrongfully accused of cheating, and negative impacts on mental health. Our results suggest that remote proctoring services can create and perpetuate inequitable assessment environments for students, and additional research is required to understand the efficacy of their intended purpose to prevent cheating. We also advocate for continued conversations about the broader social and institutional conditions that can pressure students into cheating. While changes to academic culture are difficult, these conversations are necessary for higher education to remain relevant in an increasingly technological world.