bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensory Gating in the Auditory System: Classical and Novel Stimulus Paradigms
Authors: Gafoor Shezeen Abdul , Uppunda Ajith Kumar 
Published: February 2024

Purpose:
Sensory gating is a phenomenon where the cortical response to the second stimulus in a pair of identical stimuli is inhibited. It is most often assessed in a conditioning–testing paradigm. Both active and passive neuronal mechanisms have been implicated in sensory gating. The present study aimed to assess if sensory gating is caused by an active neural mechanism associated with stimulus redundancy.

Method:
The study was carried out on 20 young neurotypical adults. We assessed the gating phenomenon using identical and nonidentical stimuli pairs presented in an electrophysiological conditioning–testing paradigm. We hypothesized that the novel stimulus in the nonidentical stimulus pair would not exhibit the sensory gating effects (reduction in the amplitude of cortical potentials to the second stimuli in the pair), owing to stimulus novelty.

Results:
Contrary to our expectations, the response analyses of the cortical auditory evoked potentials revealed that adults gated repetitive and novel stimuli similarly.

Conclusions:
The findings are discussed in relation to the significance of methodological factors in evaluating sensory gating. We believe that additional research using oddball presentation of novel stimuli along with appropriate analysis methods is necessary before drawing any conclusions on the mechanisms underlying sensory gating.
A Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm‐based line parameters identification method for distribution network considering multisource measurement
Authors: Xu Dongliang , Song Xuewen , Wu Zaijun , Xu Junjun , Hu Qinran 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe uncertainty brought by the integration of distributed generations in distribution networks poses a higher demand for situation awareness in the distribution network. Accurate identification of distribution network line parameters is of great significance for the operation and control of the distribution network. This paper proposes a method for identifying distribution network line parameters considering multisource measurement. Firstly, the initial values of conductivity and susceptance are obtained through linear regression and converted into resistance and reactance, respectively. Then, based on the series parallel connection of the network end branches, a non‐linear function about resistance reactance is derived. By combining the measurement data of micro phasor measurement unit and advanced metering infrastructure at multiple times, the non‐linear measurement equation of the line is established, and the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm is used to solve the non‐linear function, thus achieving the identification of distribution line parameters. The case study demonstrates the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Optimizing air conditioning loads scheduling: A bi‐objective dynamic optimization algorithm considering life loss impact
Authors: Li Zhiwei , Hu Wenhao , Wu Pei , Cong Zhihan , Zhao Shuqiang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAir conditioning loads (ACLs) can actively contribute to optimizing energy usage and increasing renewable energy utilization rate through scheduling. Existing studies on the participation of ACLs in DR have mainly focused on developing ON/OFF strategies, little consideration has been given to the impact of DR on the life loss of ACLs. In light of this, the present study first introduces an equation for quantifying the life loss of ACLs. Building upon this, an optimizing ACLs scheduling model is established considering life loss impact. As the relationship between life loss and refrigeration power is a complex non‐linear high‐order fractional function, it cannot be solved by conventional commercial solvers. Therefore, a bi‐objective dynamic optimization algorithm is proposed based on non‐linear fractional programming (NFP) to address this problem. To assess the effectiveness of our algorithm, it is used in a microgrid case with three schemes. Scheme 3 is aquatinted to consider the economic cost and the life loss of ACLs simultaneously, aiming to maximize the comprehensive benefit of the scheduling scheme. The results confirm the efficiency and superiority of the proposed algorithm.
Patients with Heart Failure: Internet Use and Mobile Health Perceptions
Authors: Sohn Albert , Turner Anne M. , Speier William , Fonarow Gregg C. , Ong Michael K. , Arnold Corey W. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome noted on approximately one in eight death certificates in the United States. Vital to reducing complications of heart failure and preventing hospital readmissions is adherence to heart failure self-care routines. Mobile health offers promising opportunities for enhancing self-care behaviors by facilitating tracking and timely reminders.
Objectives We sought to investigate three characteristics of heart failure patients with respect to their heart failure self-care behaviors: (1) internet use to search for heart failure information; (2) familiarity with mobile health apps and devices; and (3) perceptions of using activity trackers or smartwatches to aid in their heart failure self-care.
Methods Forty-nine heart failure patients were asked about their internet and mobile health usage. The structured interview included questions adapted from the Health Information National Trends Survey.
Results Over 50% of the patients had utilized the internet to search for heart failure information in the past 12 months, experience using health-related apps, and thoughts that an activity tracker or smartwatch could help them manage heart failure. Qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed six themes: trust in their physicians, alternatives to mobile health apps, lack of need for mobile health devices, financial barriers to activity tracker and smartwatch ownership, benefits of tracking and reminders, and uncertainty of their potential due to lack of knowledge.
Conclusion Trust in their physicians was a major factor for heart failure patients who reported not searching for health information on the internet. While those who used mobile health technologies found them useful, patients who did not use them were generally unaware of or unknowledgeable about them. Considering patients' preferences for recommendations from their physicians and tendency to search for heart failure information including treatment and management options, patient–provider discussions about mobile health may improve patient knowledge and impact their usage.
The transformation of images of Nezha and the changing cultural discourses in Chinese national style animated films from 1979 to 2019
Authors: Li Zhuying 
Published: February 2024

AbstractNezha is a mythological and dynamic character in the Chinese cultural discourse. In traditional China, the mythological character of Nezha represents a cultural integration between Daoism and Buddhism. By applying the Chinese animated films as an approach, this article focuses on exploring the changing cultural discourses of the Chinese national style in post-Maoist cinema through critical analysis of the character of Nezha and the deployment of Daoist philosophy in the construction of Chinese national style from the post-Cultural Revolution context to the post-Socialist context. This article examines two Chinese national-style animated films. The first film is Nezha Naohai (1979) which was produced in 1979, and another animated film is Nezha Zhi Motong Jiangshi (2019) which was produced in contemporary China. Through the film and cultural analysis of Nezha Naohai (1979), this article argues that the Daoist philosophy engages in the cultural discourse of Chinese national style and shapes the narrative, rhetoric, aesthetics and characterisation of Nezha in the post-Cultural Revolution context. The contemporary film Nezha Zhi Montong Jiangshi (2019) reflects an ideological change in the discourse of Chinese soft power states the power of Chinese culture including Daoist philosophy within a modern and scientific paradigm, which promotes a more international Chinese national identity and national style.
Human population density and blue carbon stocks in mangroves soils
Authors: Chien Shih-Chieh , Knoble Charles , Krumins Jennifer Adams 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Mangrove soils provide many important ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, yet they are vulnerable to the negative impacts brought on by anthropogenic activities. Research in recent decades has shown a progressive loss of blue carbon in mangrove forests as they are converted to aquaculture, agriculture, and urban development. We seek to study the relationship between human population density and soil carbon stocks in urban mangrove forests to quantify their role in the global carbon budget. To this end, we conducted a global analysis, collecting mangrove soil carbon data from previous studies and calculating population density for each study location utilizing a recent database from the European Commission. Results indicate population density has a negative association with mangrove soil carbon stocks. When human population density reaches 300 people km−2, which is defined as ‘urban domains’ in the European Commission database, mangrove soil carbon is estimated to be lower than isolated mangrove forests by 37%. Nonetheless, after accounting for climatic factors in the model, we see the negative relationship between population density and soil carbon is reduced and is even non-significant in mixed effects models. This suggests population density is not a good measure for the direct effects of humans on mangrove ecosystems and further implies mangrove ecosystems in close proximity to very high population density can still possess valuable carbon stocks. Our work provides a better understanding of how soil carbon stocks in existing mangrove forests correlate with different levels of population density, underscores the importance of protecting existing mangroves and especially those in areas with high human population density, and calls for further studies on the association between human activities and mangrove forest carbon stocks.
Introduction
Authors: Pavlopoulos Niko 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Chapter 1 introduces the book. By reference to historical and modern examples, it demonstrates that questions concerning the identity of the governments of states have not been infrequent, that they arise in a range of contexts, and that they are of considerable significance to the smooth functioning of international law and to friendly interstate relations. By consideration also of the literature over the years, it indicates the apparent absence of a convincing and comprehensive account of the international legal regulation of the identity of the governments of states. The chapter then outlines the scope of the book before providing certain key terminological clarifications, including on the meaning of ‘the government’ of a state and the use of terms relating to the constitution and representation of a state. Finally, the chapter provides an overview of the main findings of the book.
The Concept of ‘the Government’ of a State in International Law
Authors: Pavlopoulos Niko 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Chapter 2 analyses the foundational conceptual aspects of the governments of states in international law. In this regard, it notes the existence and characteristics of certain organ-statuses which are invariably occupied by persons belonging to the government. It examines also the distinctive function of a state’s government in representing the state internationally, having regard to different rules and possible variations in this regard. Further, the chapter highlights certain foundational presumptive sovereign freedoms of states concerning the identity of their respective governments, including the freedom of each state to choose its government, and the possible value that these may have in relation to other aspects of the international legal regulation of governmental status. Finally, the chapter considers certain indications in favour of the objectivity of governmental status as a matter of international law.
A longitudinal mixed-methods study of pathology explanation clinics in patients with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer
Authors: Bergholtz Sarah E , Kurnot Sophia R , Elahi Esha , DeJonckheere Melissa , Hawley Sarah T , Owens Scott R , Salami Simpa , Morgan Todd M , Lapedis Cathryn J 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To characterize the role of pathology explanation clinics (PECs) in prostate cancer care and determine their impact on patients, urologic oncologists, and quality of care.

Methods
Semistructured interviews with 10 patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer were conducted before and after a PEC pilot and at the 1- and 6-month follow-up visits. Information about participants’ cancer knowledge and anxiety were collected quantitatively. Documented pathologist communications and proper review of outside biopsy slides were collected. Semistructured interviews were also completed with participating urologic oncologists following the pilot.

Results
Pathology explanation clinics improved participants’ understanding of their diagnosis, cognitively and emotionally supporting them first in their urologic oncology visit and later in making an informed treatment decision. Mean knowledge scores were high, and a minority of participants had prostate cancer anxiety. Urologic oncologists noted improved understanding and reduced anxiety among participants, enabling nuanced conversations about prognosis and management during the visit. By ensuring review of outside biopsy slides and communication of clinically significant or unexpected diagnoses, PECs supported high-quality care and patient safety.

Conclusions
In this small pilot, PECs positively affected patients with prostate cancer, their clinicians, and the overall care system. Additional studies in larger populations and diverse settings will be useful.
LAVASET: Latent Variable Stochastic Ensemble of Trees. An ensemble method for correlated datasets with spatial, spectral, and temporal dependencies
Authors: Kasapi Melpomeni , Xu Kexin , Ebbels Timothy M D , O’Regan Declan P , Ware James S , Posma Joram M 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Motivation
Random forests (RFs) can deal with a large number of variables, achieve reasonable prediction scores, and yield highly interpretable feature importance values. As such, RFs are appropriate models for feature selection and further dimension reduction. However, RFs are often not appropriate for correlated datasets due to their mode of selecting individual features for splitting. Addressing correlation relationships in high-dimensional datasets is imperative for reducing the number of variables that are assigned high importance, hence making the dimension reduction most efficient. Here, we propose the LAtent VAriable Stochastic Ensemble of Trees (LAVASET) method that derives latent variables based on the distance characteristics of each feature and aims to incorporate the correlation factor in the splitting step.

Results
Without compromising on performance in the majority of examples, LAVASET outperforms RF by accurately determining feature importance across all correlated variables and ensuring proper distribution of importance values. LAVASET yields mostly non-inferior prediction accuracies to traditional RFs when tested in simulated and real 1D datasets, as well as more complex and high-dimensional 3D datatypes. Unlike traditional RFs, LAVASET is unaffected by single ‘important’ noisy features (false positives), as it considers the local neighbourhood. LAVASET, therefore, highlights neighbourhoods of features, reflecting real signals that collectively impact the model’s predictive ability.

Availability and implementation
LAVASET is freely available as a standalone package from https://github.com/melkasapi/LAVASET.
To Whom is the Chaplain Beholden? Guest Editor Introduction to Special Issue
Authors: Mason Jordan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn this issue of Christian Bioethics, we invite chaplains and theologians to examine the role of the hospital chaplain in the contemporary institutional setting of the hospital. The simplicity of the chaplain’s role is often taken for granted; yet, this role is actually multivalent, with duties and loyalties pulling from many different sides. Chaplains are people of faith, ordained and/or endorsed ministers, and pastoral care professionals; they are at once beholden to God, to their own faith expression, and to their sense of vocation, to the hospital, and to the patient. With various loyalties and responsibilities in mind, we must ask the question, “To whom is the chaplain beholden?” The responses in this issue critically and constructively examine this question, providing theological resources that call chaplaincy away from the dominant modes of medicine. Whether through a primary loyalty to their calling, to God, to Divine presence, or to the spiritual formation of the patient, the authors in this special issue aim to help chaplains find theological resources to faithfully withstand the tensions they face in modern medical institutions.
Separable amygdala activation patterns in the evaluations of robots
Authors: Wei Zhengde , Chen Ying , Zhao Qian , Ren Jiecheng , Piao Yi , Zhang Pengyu , Zha Rujing , Qiu Bensheng , Zhang Daren , Bi Yanchao , Han Shihui , Li Chunbo , Zhang Xiaochu 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Given the increasing presence of robots in everyday environments and the significant challenge posed by social interactions with robots, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding into the social evaluations of robots. One potentially effective approach to comprehend the fundamental processes underlying controlled and automatic evaluations of robots is to probe brain response to different perception levels of robot-related stimuli. Here, we investigate controlled and automatic evaluations of robots based on brain responses during viewing of suprathreshold (duration: 200 ms) and subthreshold (duration: 17 ms) humanoid robot stimuli. Our behavioral analysis revealed that despite participants’ self-reported positive attitudes, they held negative implicit attitudes toward humanoid robots. Neuroimaging analysis indicated that subthreshold presentation of humanoid robot stimuli elicited significant activation in the left amygdala, which was associated with negative implicit attitudes. Conversely, no significant left amygdala activation was observed during suprathreshold presentation. Following successful attenuation of negative attitudes, the left amygdala response to subthreshold presentation of humanoid robot stimuli decreased, and this decrease correlated positively with the reduction in negative attitudes. These findings provide evidence for separable patterns of amygdala activation between controlled and automatic processing of robots, suggesting that controlled evaluations may influence automatic evaluations of robots.
Sex-based differences in fairness norm compliance and neural circuitry
Authors: Chen Wanting , Xiao Zhibing , Turel Ofir , Zhang Shuyue , He Qinghua 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Human behavior often aligns with fairness norms, either voluntarily or under external pressure, like sanctions. Prior research has identified distinct neural activation patterns associated with voluntary and sanction-based compliance or non-compliance with fairness norms. However, an investigation gap exists into potential neural connectivity patterns and sex-based differences. To address this, we conducted a study using a monetary allocation game and functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine how neural activity and connectivity differ between sexes across three norm compliance conditions: voluntary, sanction-based, and voluntary post-sanctions. Fifty-five adults (27 females) participated, revealing that punishment influenced decisions, leading to strategic calculations and reduced generosity in voluntary compliance post-sanctions. Moreover, there were sex-based differences in neural activation and connectivity across the different compliance conditions. Specifically, the connectivity between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right dorsal anterior insular appeared to mediate intuitive preferences, with variations across norm compliance conditions and sexes. These findings imply potential sex-based differences in intuitive motivation for diverse norm compliance conditions. Our insights contribute to a better understanding of the neural pathways involved in fairness norm compliance and clarify sex-based differences, offering implications for future investigations into psychiatric and neurological disorders characterized by atypical socialization and mentalizing.
Development of the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based aroma designer capable of modifying volatile chemical compositions in complex odors
Authors: Obara Kaname , Uenoyama Reiko , Obata Yutaro , Miyazaki Masao 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are used to produce various commercial products with aromas mimicking natural products. The VOCs responsible for aromas have been identified from many natural products. The current major strategy is to analyze chemical compositions and aroma qualities of individual VOCs using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and GC-olfactometry. However, such analyses cannot determine whether candidate VOCs contribute to the characteristic aroma in mixtures of many VOCs. In this study, we developed a GC/MS-based VOC collection/omission system that can modify the VOC compositions of samples easily and rapidly. The system is composed of GC/MS with a switching unit that can change gas flow routes between MS and a VOC collection device. We first applied this system to prepare gas samples for omission tests, and the aroma qualities of VOC mixtures with and without some VOCs were evaluated by panelists. If aroma qualities were different between the 2 samples, the omitted VOCs were likely key odorants. By collecting VOCs in a gas bag attached to the collection device and transferring some VOCs to MS, specific VOCs could be omitted easily from the VOC mixture. The system could prepare omission samples without chemical identification, preparation of each VOC, and laborious techniques for mixing VOCs, thus overcoming the limitations of previous methods of sample preparation. Finally, the system was used to prepare artificial aromas by replacing VOC compositions between different samples for screening of key odorants. In conclusion, the system developed here can improve aroma research by identifying key odorants from natural products.