bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of virtual reality to physical box and blocks on cortical an neuromuscualar activations in young adults
Authors: Parker Sheridan M. , Ricks Brian , Zuniga Jorge , Knarr Brian A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess the changes in neural activations when performing the box and block test (BBT) in virtual reality (VR) compared to the physical BBT. Young healthy participants performed three trials of the BBT with their left and right hands in both the VR BBT, using VR hand controllers, and physical BBT conditions. Electromyography sensors were placed on the upper extremity of both arms and functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure motor cortex activations throughout each condition. While a reduction in BBT score and increased wrist extensor neuromuscular activity is exhibited during the VR condition, there is no statistical difference in motor cortex activation between the two BBT conditions. This work provides a basis for exploring cortical and neuromuscular responses to VR in patient populations.
Intense zonal freshwater transport in the Eurasian Arctic during ice-covered season revealed by in situ measurements
Authors: Osadchiev Alexander , Sedakov Roman , Frey Dmitry , Gordey Alexandra , Rogozhin Vladimir , Zabudkina Zinaida , Spivak Eduard , Kuskova Ekaterina , Sazhin Andrey , Semiletov Igor 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe Kara Sea receives ~ 1/3 of total freshwater discharge to the Arctic Ocean, mainly from the large Ob and Yenisei rivers. The Ob-Yenisei plume covers wide area in the central part of the Kara Sea during ice-free season (June–October) and accumulates ~ 1000 km3 of freshwater volume. In late autumn, the Kara Sea becomes covered by ice, which hinders in situ measurements at this area. As a result, the fate of the Ob-Yenisei plume below sea ice during winter and spring remains unclear. In this study, we report multiple in situ measurements performed in the Kara Sea shortly before and during ice-covered season. We demonstrate that late autumn convection in the plume shortly before ice formation significantly reduces friction between the plume and the subjacent sea. The subsequent formation of solid sea ice coverage isolates the plume from wind forcing. These two factors precondition the Ob-Yenisei plume to form an intense buoyancy-driven coastal current below sea ice. As a result, the plume advects eastward to the Laptev Sea through the Vilkitsky Strait during several months in November-February. Eventually, by late winter this huge freshwater volume disappears from the Kara Sea and contributes to freshwater content of the Laptev Sea. The obtained result improves our understanding of freshwater balance of the Kara and Laptev seas, as well as provides an important insight into the large-scale freshwater transport in the Eurasian Arctic, which remain largely unknown during ice-covered season.
Do Italian people still wear masks? Analysis of personality and dispositional correlates of facemask use in post Covid-19 scenario
Authors: Rigo Paola , Miscioscia Marina , Spaggiari Silvia , Di Riso Daniela 
Published: October 2023

AbstractFace mask wearing is a low-cost preventative measure for the Covid-19 pandemic. In Italy, face masks are no longer mandatory indoors from the 1st of May 2022. Some research focused on factors that influence the choice of using masks, but less is known about mask-wearing when non-mandatory. The present study aims to compare those who were still wearing masks indoors when non-mandatory and those who were not, in personality traits, anxiety, depression, and trust in healthcare professions, in Italy, in 2022. Furthermore, we analyze if resilience, reactance, political orientation, and Covid-19 vaccinations moderate between negative affectivity and the choice of wearing masks. 1151 adults, aged 18–64, were recruited. Using the Qualtrics platform, participants filled in a socio-demographic interview, and self-report questionnaires. Results showed that people who were still wearing a mask indoors had higher levels of psychoticism and negative affectivity, worse mental health, greater trust in healthcare professions, and worries about the pandemic. Moreover, resilience partially moderates the relationship between negative affectivity and the choice of wearing a mask. These findings provide a better understanding of individuals’ responses to post-pandemic changes, identifying the personal and contextual aspects that can make people struggle with the process of returning to normality.
Species-specific model to predict amphibian metamorphosis
Authors: Iwai Noriko , Tachiki Yuuya 
Published: October 2023

AbstractExploring the timing of life-history transitions has been a pivotal focus in the field of evolutionary ecology. Studies on amphibian metamorphosis are well suited to investigate this aspect. We propose a species-specific model to predict the optimal metamorphosis point for frog individuals with different larval growth trajectories. Because overall fitness will be determined throughout both aquatic and terrestrial stages, we included growth and survival rates of aquatic and terrestrial stages in the fitness equation. Then we conducted a rearing experiment on a brown frog, Rana ornativentris, as an example to obtain the size at metamorphosis, larval period, and larval growth trajectory. Based on these results, we determined the model's parameters to fit the actual metamorphosis patterns. Because the parameters are supposed to be evolutionarily maintained, our data-driven approach enabled obtaining fundamental ecological information (evolutionally-based life-history parameters) of the target species. Comparing the parameters among species will allow us to understand the mechanisms in determining life-history transition more deeply.
The effect of shrubs admixture in pine forest stands on soil bacterial and fungal communities and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Lasota Jarosław , Ważny Rafał , Kaźmierczak Marzena , Błońska Ewa 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of persistent toxic pollutants. The species composition of the stand is important in shaping the quality of soil organic matter and, consequently, the PAH content. The main purpose of the research was to determine the role of shrubs in shaping PAH accumulation in forest soils. The study covered the soils of the pine stands of the Rybnik Forest District, which experiences some of the highest deposition of industrial emissions in Europe. Pine stands with admixture of shrubs (alder buckthorn Frangula alnus and European hazelnut Coryllus avellana) growing in the same soil conditions were selected for the study. Samples for analyses were collected from the organic horizon (O) (from a depth of 0–7 cm) and humus mineral horizon (A) (from a depth of 7–15 cm). The organic C and total N concentrations, pH, alkaline cation content, soil enzyme activity and PAH content were determined. Additionally, the taxonomic composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities was determined. The highest activity of enzymes was noted in soils under influence of shrubs. The enzymatic activity was positively correlated with the content of total N, organic C, pH H2O and KCl and negatively with the C/N ratio. The highest PAH content was recorded in the soils of pine stands without the admixture of shrubs. Our research indicates the importance of shrubs in shaping the properties of surface horizons of forest soil and, consequently on the accumulation of PAHs. Shrubs stimulate biochemical activity of soils which results in lower PAHs accumulation by providing more easily decomposable organic matter.
Evaluating the effect of body mass index and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level on basal cell carcinoma using Mendelian randomization
Authors: Chen Xuezhao , Song Shan , Shi Jinyu , Wang Zhiyao , Song Wenyu , Wang Jiaxin , Wang Guoyan , Wang Xiaobing 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBasal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer with a rising incidence among white-skinned individuals. A number of epidemiological studies have suggested that obesity and serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels may affect the arising of BCC. To address this, we selected 443 and 96 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with body mass index (BMI) and serum level of 25(OH)D from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS), respectively. The univariable and multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted with a series of sensitivity analyses to ensure the results were reliable and reproducible. The results of univariable two-sample MR analysis showed that higher BMI was related to lower risk for BCC (Odds ratio(OR) = 0.90; 95% confidence interval (CI),[0.81,0.99]; p = 0.02). In addition, this causal effect of BMI on BCC still remained (OR = 0.88; 95%CI,[− 0.22, − 0.03], p-value = 0.008) after adjusting for 25(OH)D level in the multivariable MR analysis. However, the results suggested that 25(OH)D level was not associated with BCC(OR = 1.02; 95%CI, [0.94,1.09], p-value = 0.67). In conclusion, similar to the conclusions of retrospective observational studies, the MR results indicate that high BMI is an independent protective factor for BCC. Meanwhile, vitamin D levels may not be causally associated with the risk of basal cell carcinoma and increasing vitamin D supplementation is unlikely to reduce the risk.
Synechococcus nitrogen gene loss in iron-limited ocean regions
Authors: Sharpe Garrett , Zhao Liang , Meyer Meredith G , Gong Weida , Burns Shannon M , Tagliabue Allesandro , Buck Kristen N , Santoro Alyson E , Graff Jason R , Marchetti Adrian , Gifford Scott 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Synechococcus are the most abundant cyanobacteria in high latitude regions and are responsible for an estimated 17% of annual marine net primary productivity. Despite their biogeochemical importance, Synechococcus populations have been unevenly sampled across the ocean, with most studies focused on low-latitude strains. In particular, the near absence of Synechococcus genomes from high-latitude, High Nutrient Low Chlorophyll (HNLC) regions leaves a gap in our knowledge of picocyanobacterial adaptations to iron limitation and their influence on carbon, nitrogen, and iron cycles. We examined Synechococcus populations from the subarctic North Pacific, a well-characterized HNLC region, with quantitative metagenomics. Assembly with short and long reads produced two near complete Synechococcus metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Quantitative metagenome-derived abundances of these populations matched well with flow cytometry counts, and the Synechococcus MAGs were estimated to comprise &gt;99% of the Synechococcus at Station P. Whereas the Station P Synechococcus MAGs contained multiple genes for adaptation to iron limitation, both genomes lacked genes for uptake and assimilation of nitrate and nitrite, suggesting a dependence on ammonium, urea, and other forms of recycled nitrogen leading to reduced iron requirements. A global analysis of Synechococcus nitrate reductase abundance in the TARA Oceans dataset found nitrate assimilation genes are also lower in other HNLC regions. We propose that nitrate and nitrite assimilation gene loss in Synechococcus may represent an adaptation to severe iron limitation in high-latitude regions where ammonium availability is higher. Our findings have implications for models that quantify the contribution of cyanobacteria to primary production and subsequent carbon export.
Lightweight neural network based SNIP for CSI feedback in massive MIMO
Authors: Cui Yue , Liu Hongfu , Xu Fangmin , Li Bin , Zhao Chenglin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCsiNet, a deep neural network framework, utilizes an autoencoder to efficiently transmit downlink channel state information (CSI) in the feedback link, which reduces the cost of feedback, and significantly improves the quality of the reconstruction. However, the model with massive parameters incurs a lot of storage space and high computational complexity, which is impractical for low‐cost and low‐power edge devices. In this work, a lightweight CsiNet based SNIP (Single‐shot Network Pruning) is implemented, which prunes the model using the gradient information of the first training epoch, eliminating both pretraining and the complex pruning schedule. Numerical simulation results show that, under the same compression rates, the method can achieve a similar or even better reconstruction effect and more effectively reduce computational complexity, compared to traditional lightweight methods.
A zero‐watermarking technique based on i‐vector model for audio copyright protection
Authors: Xu Longting , He Mingrui , Guo Xing 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAudio zero‐watermarking is a promising technology for audio copyright protection. It does not modify the content of the original carrier and has good imperceptibility. Considering that i‐vector model can map audio signals of different lengths into a vector space of fixed length, which has good robustness against desynchronization attacks, a robust audio zero‐watermarking technique based on i‐vector model is proposed here. The proposed scheme extracts the i‐vector of the input signal to identify its inherent stability features and then generates a key by XOR operation on the watermark and encoded feature sequences. Experimental results show that this scheme can effectively resist common attacks and desynchronization attacks.
Short‐term electrical load forecasting model based on multi‐dimensional meteorological information spatio‐temporal fusion and optimized variational mode decomposition
Authors: Wang Lingyun , Zhou Xiang , Xu Honglei , Tian Tian , Tong Huamin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis paper proposes a method to enhance the accuracy of power load forecasting by considering the variability in the impact of multi‐dimensional meteorological information on power load in diverse regions. The proposed method employs spatio‐temporal fusion (SF) of multi‐dimensional meteorological information and applies the Copula theory to analyze the non‐linear coupling of meteorological information from multiple stations with power load to achieve SF in the spatial dimension. To enhance the accuracy of load forecasting in the time dimension, this paper improves the core parameters of the variational mode decomposition (VMD) using the marine predators algorithm (MPA) and utilizes the weighted permutation entropy (WPE) to construct the MPA‐VMD fitness function for the adaptive decomposition of the load sequence. Moreover, this paper constructs input sets for the long short‐term memory model and the MPA‐LSSVM model by combining each component of the time dimension and each meteorological information of the spatial dimension to obtain the prediction results of each component. The prediction model corresponding to each component is selected according to the evaluation index and reconstructed to obtain the overall prediction results. The analysis results demonstrate that the proposed forecasting method outperforms the traditional forecasting method and effectively enhances the accuracy of power load forecasting.
Reionisation time field reconstruction from 21 cm signal maps
Authors: Hiegel Julien , Thélie Émilie , Aubert Dominique , Chardin Jonathan , Gillet Nicolas , Galois Pierre , Mai Nicolas , Ocvirk Pierre , Ibata Rodrigo 
Published: October 2023

Context.During the epoch of reionisation, the intergalactic medium is reionised by the UV radiation from the first generation of stars and galaxies. One tracer of the process is the 21 cm line of hydrogen that will be observed by the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) at low frequencies, thus imaging the distribution of ionised and neutral regions and their evolution.Aims.To prepare for these upcoming observations, we investigate a deep learning method to predict from 21 cm maps the reionisation time field (treion(r)), the time at which each location has been reionised. Thetreion(r) method encodes the propagation of ionisation fronts in a single field, and gives access to times of local reionisation or to the extent of the radiative reach of early sources. Moreover it gives access to the time evolution of ionisation on the plane of sky, when this evolution is usually probed along the line-of-sight direction.Methods.We trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) using simulated 21 cm maps and reionisation time fields produced by the simulation code21cmFAST. We also investigated the performance of the CNN when adding instrumental effects.Results.Overall, we find that without instrumental effects the 21 cm maps can be used to reconstruct the associated reionisation times field in a satisfying manner. The quality of the reconstruction is dependent on the redshift at which the 21 cm observation is being made, and in general it is found that small-scale features (< 10 cMpch−1) are smoothed in the reconstructed field, while larger-scale features are recovered well. When instrumental effects are included, the scale dependence of reconstruction is even further pronounced, with significant smoothing on small and intermediate scales.Conclusions.The reionisation time field can be reconstructed, at least partially, from 21 cm maps of IGM during the epoch of reionisation. This quantity can thus be derived in principle from observations, and should then provide a means to investigate the effect of local histories of reionisation on the first structures that appear in a given region.
Prediction of Arterial Blood pCO2 by Measuring the Ventilating Gas Exhaust pCO2 from a Bubble Oxygenator
Authors: Riley Jeffrey B. 
Published: October 2023

Ventilating gas exhaust pCO2 (PexCO2) was continuously monitored by a mass spectrometer during hypothermic, total heart lung bypass employing a bubble oxygenator. The hypothesis that the arterial blood pCO2, temperature corrected to the arterial blood temperature (pCO2, TBo) is in equilibrium with the PexCO2 was tested.
While the PexCO2 trends well with the pCO2, TBo during rapid cooling, it assumes a lower value compared to the arterial pCO2 corrected to the nasopharyngeal temperature (pCO2, TNP) because the blood temperature is much less than nasopharyngeal.
During warming, PexCO2 reads consistently lower than pCO2, TBo apparently due to increased blood CO2 removal (V̇CO2) and an inability of the PexCO2 to come to equilibrium with pCO2, TBo in the oxygenator. During low V̇CO2 and steady state conditions, PexCO2 predicts pCO2, TBo well (r = .803, p <.01 ). The percent disagreement of PexCO2 and pCO2, TBo is a linear function of the V̇CO2 (r = −.606, p <.01).
„Wahl der Lappenplastik zur Phalloplastik – was ist
zeitgemäßer Standard“ – Konsensus-Bericht der
deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Mikrochirurgie der peripheren
Nerven und Gefäße
Authors: Küenzlen Lara , Wallmichrath Jens Christian , Küntscher Markus V. , Rothenberger Jens , Laback Christian , Schaefer Dirk Johannes , Schaff Jürgen , Bozkurt Ahmet , Djedovic Gabriel , Langer Stefan , Hirsch Tobias , Rieger Ulrich 
Published: October 2023

Zusammenfassung Das Interesse am Aufbau eines Penoids wird von Seiten der stetig
wachsenden Zahl an trans Männern wie auch der sie betreuenden Chirurgen
zunehmend größer. Während die Indikation zur Operation
und die positive Auswirkung der Phalloplastik auf die Lebensqualität,
psychische Gesundheit und sexuelle Funktion der Patienten bereits
überzeugend nachgewiesen wurde, fehlt es an Daten, die die operativen
Teilschritte bewerten und vergleichen. Im Rahmen des Konsensus-Workshops der 43.
Jahrestagung der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für
Mikrochirurgie der peripheren Nerven und Gefäße zum Thema
„Wahl der Lappenplastik zur Phalloplastik – was ist
zeitgemäßer Standard?“ wurde die vorhandene Literatur
diskutiert und Empfehlungen zur operativen Technik der Phalloplastik
konsentiert. Die Beschlüsse für die folgenden Themen werden hier
dargelegt: Auswahl der Lappenplastik zur Phalloplastik, Präoperative
Diagnostik vor Phalloplastik, Urethrakonstruktion bei der Radialis- und
ALT-Lappenplastik, Präformierung der Urethra am Unterarm oder
Oberschenkel, Venöse Drainage der Radialislappenplastik, Innervation des
Penoids, „staged“ Phalloplastik, Glansplastik und Versorgung des
Hebedefektes nach Radialislappenplastik.
Strategic partner election: proposal for a Binary Logistic Model for the European Union
Authors: Rivera Pablo Podadera , Garashchuk Anna 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe European Union awarded the special status of strategic partner to ten states. Its key partners are dissimilar in political philosophies and structure, power status, ethical values, economic development, unequal in size and mineral reserves. Some of them are traditional Post-Second World War partners while the others have established recent partnerships in a new multipolar world order. However, from the very beginning the EU Conception of Strategic Partnership was just an assemblage of political statements without any official definition and clear established criteria for being chosen as a strategic partner. In this regard, this paper aims to analyze the strategic partnership phenomenon in EU Foreign Policy and provide our own definition of the term with a view to underpin it subsequently by common criteria. Based upon obtained main components the Binary Logistic Model was applied, which not only did allow to make the election of EU strategic partners more science-based but also propose the potential EU partners.
Fatalistic normalisation, daunted managerialism and afflictive condemnation as forms of slow violence
Authors: Yetiş Erman Örsan , Bakırlıoğlu Yekta 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSlow violence is an analytical concept that reveals the unseen and unrecognised forms of violence that accumulate over time and space, leading to devastating environmental and social consequences. This paper argues that slow violence involves discursive practices that render violence-producing mechanisms and processes invisible, concealed, and misrecognised and ensure the continuance of violent systems by hindering cognitive and emotional awareness of the links between different forms of violence and social harms, and thus, any potential resistance against them. These discursive practices are identified as fatalistic normalisation, daunted managerialism, and afflictive condemnation, all of which operate in tandem to veil the links between different forms of violence and social harm. The paper provides an operational framework of slow violence to help unveil these links and pave the way towards cognitive and emotional awareness for radical social transformation.
Diamond nitrogen-vacancy color-centered thermometer for integrated circuit application
Authors: Chen Guobin , Wu Di , Xue Yawen , Ma Wenhao , He Feiyue , Du Guanxiang , Zhou Li 
Published: October 2023

With the advancement of the chip industry, accurate temperature measurement and thermal management have become crucial. Traditional infrared temperature imaging has limitations in terms of resolution and accuracy. ln recent years, quantum diamond nitrogen-vacancy centers have emerged as a promising option for temperature sensing, but separating temperature from magnetic field effects remains a challenge. This paper presents a numerical approach to decouple temperature and magnetic fields using an ensemble Hamiltonian in high-current density Integrated Circuit (IC) applications. The proposed method demonstrates a temperature sensitivity of 22.9 mK/Hz1/2 and the ability to perform scanning temperature imaging with a spatial resolution of 20 µm on a typical IC.