bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On low rank 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs
Authors: Li Bohan , Xie Dan , Yan Wenbin 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
There are two major ways of constructing 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal field theories (SCFTs): the first one is putting a 6d (2, 0) theory on a punctured Riemann surface (class-S theory), and the second one is putting type IIB string theory on a 3d canonical singularity. As there are interests on low rank theories, we search all the possibilities from above two constructions. Most of those theories are engineered by class-S theory with irregular singularities, and we find a universal formula for the rank of theory so that a complete search is possible. We then compute various physical quantities of those theories, such as the central charges, flavor symmetry, associated vertex operator algebra and Higgs branch, etc. One of interesting consequence of our results are the prediction of many new isomorphism of 2d vertex operator algebra.
Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous contents, related enzyme activities and organic matter fractions of litter and soil in a terra firme forest in Central Amazonia
Authors: Hoosbeek Marcel R. , Schaap Karst J. , Quesada Carlos A. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe response of lowland tropical forest on highly weathered P-limited soils to changes in atmospheric composition is likely to be regulated by P-availability from litter and soil. Our aim was to gain insight into possible mechanisms that may affect P-availability and C sequestration. We collected litter and soil samples along a transect in Central Amazonia. We examined litter and soil properties, determined C, N, and P contents and performed density fractionation to obtain organic-C, -N and -P fractions. To assess microbial demand and mineralization, we analysed C, N and P associated enzyme activities. The litter layer has an estimated turnover time of about one year or less and C, N and P contents were much smaller than in the mineral soil. Total soil C, N and P decreased with depth, while P was depleted relatively more. Most organic-C, -N and -P is stabilized by adsorption onto mineral surfaces. Non-adsorbed organic matter fractions were depleted of P. Nearly all organic-P appeared to be present in the mineral-associated fractions from where it, despite high phosphatase activities, appears not to be available for mineralization. Enzyme activities revealed that microbial C-demand in litter is higher than in soil, while P-demand was relatively high in soil and increased with depth. Hypothesized higher phosphatase activity under increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations may probably not alleviate P-limitation in these terra firme forests due to the limited availability of mineralizable organic-P.
Convergence of an asynchronous block-coordinate forward-backward algorithm for convex composite optimization
Authors: Traoré Cheik , Salzo Saverio , Villa Silvia 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn this paper, we study the convergence properties of a randomized block-coordinate descent algorithm for the minimization of a composite convex objective function, where the block-coordinates are updated asynchronously and randomly according to an arbitrary probability distribution. We prove that the iterates generated by the algorithm form a stochastic quasi-Fejér sequence and thus converge almost surely to a minimizer of the objective function. Moreover, we prove a general sublinear rate of convergence in expectation for the function values and a linear rate of convergence in expectation under an error bound condition of Tseng type. Under the same condition strong convergence of the iterates is provided as well as their linear convergence rate.
From Data to Wisdom: Biomedical Knowledge Graphs for Real-World Data Insights
Authors: Hänsel Katrin , Dudgeon Sarah N. , Cheung Kei-Hoi , Durant Thomas J. S. , Schulz Wade L. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractGraph data models are an emerging approach to structure clinical and biomedical information. These models offer intriguing opportunities for novel approaches in healthcare, such as disease phenotyping, risk prediction, and personalized precision care. The combination of data and information in a graph model to create knowledge graphs has rapidly expanded in biomedical research, but the integration of real-world data from the electronic health record has been limited. To broadly apply knowledge graphs to EHR and other real-world data, a deeper understanding of how to represent these data in a standardized graph model is needed. We provide an overview of the state-of-the-art research for clinical and biomedical data integration and summarize the potential to accelerate healthcare and precision medicine research through insight generation from integrated knowledge graphs.
Contrastive counterfactual visual explanations with overdetermination
Authors: White Adam , Ngan Kwun Ho , Phelan James , Ryan Kevin , Afgeh Saman Sadeghi , Reyes-Aldasoro Constantino Carlos , Garcez Artur d’Avila 
Published: May 2023

AbstractA novel explainable AI method called CLEAR Image is introduced in this paper. CLEAR Image is based on the view that a satisfactory explanation should be contrastive, counterfactual and measurable. CLEAR Image seeks to explain an image’s classification probability by contrasting the image with a representative contrast image, such as an auto-generated image obtained via adversarial learning. This produces a salient segmentation and a way of using image perturbations to calculate each segment’s importance. CLEAR Image then uses regression to determine a causal equation describing a classifier’s local input–output behaviour. Counterfactuals are also identified that are supported by the causal equation. Finally, CLEAR Image measures the fidelity of its explanation against the classifier. CLEAR Image was successfully applied to a medical imaging case study where it outperformed methods such as Grad-CAM and LIME by an average of 27% using a novel pointing game metric. CLEAR Image also identifies cases of causal overdetermination, where there are multiple segments in an image that are sufficient individually to cause the classification probability to be close to one.
Tailored elastic properties of beam-based lattice unit structures
Authors: Schwahofer Oliver , Büttner Sascha , Colin David , Drechsler Klaus 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn this paper a structural optimization framework is developed to design three-dimensional periodic lattice unit cells that meets specific mechanical requirements. The work is motivated by the high design freedom of additive manufacturing technologies, which enable complex multiscale lattice structures to be printed. An optimized lattice unit cell delivers desired orthotropic elastic material properties, providing a tailored metamaterial. The design variables are the coordinates of lattice skeleton nodes defined within the three-dimensional lattice cell space, and the connectivities between them resulting a strut-skeleton. Genetic algorithm (GA) is combined with posterior particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to establish an integrated topology and shape optimization tool. For the calculation of the elastic properties of the individual lattice cells, an effective Timoshenko beam-based finite element calculation method was developed. The novelty of the work stems from its free topology optimization nature, excluding the strut diameters from the optimization variables. The method is demonstrated by four lattice cell optimization cases, where extreme orthotropic elastic properties were targeted and achieved. The tailored lattice cells represent a metamaterial, that can be used to build a structural component on the macroscopic scale, by stacking the cells periodically together, to fill the macroscopic 3D design space. This framework is a strong basis that can be extended to meet further nonlinear metamaterial requirements, such as energy absorption.
Dysregulation of genes coding for proteins involved in metabolic processes in mucopolysaccharidoses, evidenced by a transcriptomic approach
Authors: Pierzynowska Karolina , Deresz Patrycja , Węgrzyn Grzegorz , Gaffke Lidia 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) caused by mutations in genes coding for enzymes responsible for degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Most types of these severe disorders are characterized by neuronopathic phenotypes. Although lysosomal accumulation of GAGs is the primary metabolic defect in MPS, secondary alterations in biochemical processes are considerable and influence the course of the disease. Early hypothesis suggested that these secondary changes might be due to lysosomal storage-mediated impairment of activities of other enzymes, and subsequent accumulation of various compounds in cells. However, recent studies indicated that expression of hundreds of genes is changed in MPS cells. Therefore, we asked whether metabolic effects observed in MPS are caused primarily by GAG-mediated inhibition of specific biochemical reactions or appear as results of dysregulation of expression of genes coding for proteins involved in metabolic processes. Transcriptomic analyses of 11 types of MPS (using RNA isolated from patient-derived fibroblasts), performed in this study, showed that a battery of the above mentioned genes is dysregulated in MPS cells. Some biochemical pathways might be especially affected by changes in expression of many genes, including GAG metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism which is especially interesting as secondary accumulation of various sphingolipids is one of the best known additional (while significantly enhancing neuropathological effects) metabolic defects in MPS. We conclude that severe metabolic disturbances, observed in MPS cells, can partially arise from changes in the expression of many genes coding for proteins involved in metabolic processes.
MiR-10a, miR-15a, let-7a, and let-7g expression as stress-relevant biomarkers to assess acute or chronic psychological stress and mental health in human capillary blood
Authors: Krammer Ulrike D. B. , Lerch Mariam L. , Haslberger Alexander G. , Hippe Berit 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Psychological stress, as an important cofactor in the development of many acute and chronic diseases, is crucial for general health or well-being, and improved markers are needed to distinguish situations of progressive pathological development, such as depression, anxiety, or burnout, to be recognized at an early stage. Epigenetic biomarkers play an important role in the early detection and treatment of complex diseases such as cancer, and metabolic or mental disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to identify so-called miRNAs, which would be suitable as stress-related biomarkers.

Methods and Results
In this study, 173 participants (36.4% males, and 63.6% females) were interviewed about stress, stress-related diseases, lifestyle, and diet to assess their acute and chronic psychological stress status. Using qPCR analysis, 13 different miRNAs (miR-10a-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-26b-5p, miR-29c-3p, miR-106b-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-142-3p, let-7a-5p, let-7g-5p, miR-21-5p, and miR-877-5p) were analyzed in dried capillary blood samples. Four miRNAs were identified, miR-10a-5p, miR-15a-5p, let-7a-5p, and let-7g-5p (p < 0.05), which could be used as possible candidates for measuring pathological forms of acute or chronic stress. Let-7a-5p, let-7g-5p, and miR-15a-5p (p < 0.05) were also significantly higher in subjects with at least one stress-related disease. Further, correlations were identified between let-7a-5p and meat consumption (p < 0.05) and between miR-15a-5p and coffee consumption (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
The examination of these four miRNAs as biomarkers using a minimally invasive method offers the possibility of detecting health problems at an early stage and counteracting them to maintain general and mental health.
Talking Mungee – a teacher, provider, connector, exemplar: what’s not to celebrate about the world’s largest mistletoe, Nuytsia floribunda
Authors: Lullfitz Alison , Knapp Lynette , Cummings Shandell , Woods Jessikah , Hopper Stephen D. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPurposeEndemic to Noongar Country of southwestern Australia, the charismatic and much-loved mistletoe,Nuytsia floribunda(Labill.) R.Br. ex G.Don (Munjee/Moodjarin Noongar language), was the subject of a 2010 review which explored aspects of its cultural importance and botanical attributes based largely on early colonial accounts and scientific findings. Our purpose was to apply cross-cultural methods to review and update findings reported by Hopper (2010).MethodsWe have recently explored this iconic species through a collaborative Elder-led, cross-cultural process, largely through oral accounts of contemporary Merningar Noongar knowledge holders.ResultsWe record previously unpublished insights relating toNuytsia floribunda, and longheld Noongar custom relating to its conservation, use and multi-faceted relationships with southwestern Australia’s First Nations peoples. We present Noongar- and Western science-derived knowledge relating to the physiology, ecology and evolution of this species.ConclusionThe unique biology, ingenuity and physical prominence ofNuytsia floribundahas been recognised in Noongar lore for millennia. We suggest it as a valuable teacher and exemplar of prosperous survival in old, climatically-buffered, infertile landscapes and to this end, should be widely celebrated.
The utilisation of domestic goats in rural and peri-urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Khowa Anele Aurelia , Tsvuura Zivanai , Slotow Rob , Kraai Manqhai 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Goats are a common ruminant in livestock husbandry systems in communal areas of southern Africa, but less so in peri-urban areas. While dynamics of goat farming in the former are relatively well-understood, little is known about it in peri-urban environments. We investigated the contribution of small-scale farming of goats to household livelihoods in rural and peri-urban areas in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. We used a semi-structured questionnaire survey to elicit views of 115 respondents on the contribution of goats to household income at two rural (Kokstad, Msinga) and two peri-urban (Howick, Pietermaritzburg) locations. Goats contributed to household income as a source of cash and meat in various sociocultural contexts such as at weddings, funerals and festive period gatherings (e.g. Easter and Christmas), including payment for household needs and expenses including food, school fees and medico-cultural consultations. These findings were more pronounced in rural areas, where more goats were kept than in peri-urban areas, which also had smaller herds per household. Goats were a source of cash in numerous ways including sales of their skins after slaughter and use of skins through value addition to make household craft items such as stools that could be sold for cash. None of the farmers milked their goats. Goat famers also kept cattle (52%), sheep (23%) and chickens (67%). Goat ownership appeared to be more profitable in rural areas and contributed to a lesser extent as a source of income in peri-urban areas where goats were largely kept for sale. There is potential for increased value addition of goat products to increase returns from small-scale goat farming in rural and peri-urban settings. Artefacts and cultural symbols derived from goat products are pervasive amongst Zulu people, and represent an additional avenue of research into ‘hidden’ valuation of goats.
The influence and impact of livelihood capitals on livelihood diversification strategies in developing countries: a systematic literature review
Authors: Habib Nusrat , Ariyawardana Anoma , Aziz Ammar Abdul 
Published: May 2023

AbstractLivelihood diversification is an essential strategy for managing economic and environmental shocks and reducing rural poverty in developing countries. This article presents a comprehensive two-part literature review on livelihood capital and livelihood diversification strategies. Firstly, it identifies the role of livelihood capital in determining livelihood diversification strategies, and secondly, it assesses the role of livelihood diversification strategies in reducing rural poverty in developing countries. Evidence suggests that human, natural, and financial capitals are the primary determining assets of livelihood diversification strategies. However, the role of social and physical capital with livelihood diversification has not widely been studied. Education, farming experience, family size, land holding size, access to formal credit, access to market, and membership in village organizations were the major influencing factors in the adoption process of livelihood diversification strategies. The contribution of livelihood diversification in poverty reduction (SDG-1) was realized through improved food security and nutrition, increased income level, sustainability of crop production, and mitigating climatic vulnerabilities. This study suggests enhanced livelihood diversification through improved access to and availability of livelihood assets is vital in reducing rural poverty in developing countries.
Prediction of prostate tumour hypoxia using pre-treatment MRI-derived radiomics: preliminary findings
Authors: Zhong Jim , Frood Russell , McWilliam Alan , Davey Angela , Shortall Jane , Swinton Martin , Hulson Oliver , West Catharine M. , Buckley David , Brown Sarah , Choudhury Ananya , Hoskin Peter , Henry Ann , Scarsbrook Andrew 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To develop a machine learning (ML) model based on radiomic features (RF) extracted from whole prostate gland magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prediction of tumour hypoxia pre-radiotherapy.

Material and methods
Consecutive patients with high-grade prostate cancer and pre-treatment MRI treated with radiotherapy between 01/12/2007 and 1/08/2013 at two cancer centres were included. Cancers were dichotomised as normoxic or hypoxic using a biopsy-based 32-gene hypoxia signature (Ragnum signature). Prostate segmentation was performed on axial T2-weighted (T2w) sequences using RayStation (v9.1). Histogram standardisation was applied prior to RF extraction. PyRadiomics (v3.0.1) was used to extract RFs for analysis. The cohort was split 80:20 into training and test sets. Six different ML classifiers for distinguishing hypoxia were trained and tuned using five different feature selection models and fivefold cross-validation with 20 repeats. The model with the highest mean validation area under the curve (AUC) receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was tested on the unseen set, and AUCs were compared via DeLong test with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results
195 patients were included with 97 (49.7%) having hypoxic tumours. The hypoxia prediction model with best performance was derived using ridge regression and had a test AUC of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.14). The test AUC for the clinical-only model was lower (0.57), but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.35). The five selected RFs included textural and wavelet-transformed features.

Conclusion
Whole prostate MRI-radiomics has the potential to non-invasively predict tumour hypoxia prior to radiotherapy which may be helpful for individualised treatment optimisation.
Preparing prospective secondary teachers to teach mathematical reasoning and proof: the case of the role of examples in proving
Authors: Buchbinder Orly , McCrone Sharon 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMathematics teacher education programs in the United States are charged with preparing prospective secondary teachers (PSTs) to teach reasoning and proving across grade levels and mathematical topics. Although most programs require a course on proof, PSTs often perceive it as disconnected from their future classroom practice. Our design research project developed a capstone course Mathematical Reasoning and Proving for Secondary Teachers and systematically studied its effect on PSTs’ content and pedagogical knowledge specific to proof. This paper focuses on one course module—Quantification and the Role of Examples in Proving, a topic which poses persistent difficulties to students and teachers alike. The analysis suggests that after the course, PSTs’ content and pedagogical knowledge of the role of examples in proving increased. We provide evidence from multiple data sources: pre-and post-questionnaires, PSTs’ responses to the in-class activities, their lesson plans, reflections on lesson enactment, and self-report. We discuss design principles that supported PSTs’ learning and their applicability beyond the study context.
Influence of shape distortion on the precision of holes in parts fabricated by metal binder jetting
Authors: Zago M. , Lecis N. , Mariani M. , Uçak O. U. , Cristofolini I. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMetal binder jetting (MBJ) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology split into two process steps: printing and sintering. Firstly, product is built up layer-by-layer by the selective deposition of a binder agent on a powder bed. Secondly, a thermal treatment (sintering) consolidates the metal structure. MBJ is currently becoming more and more attractive on the reason of high potential scalability, cost-effective production and wide range of available material feedstocks. However, the transition towards industrial scale production is restrained by the critical control of dimensional and geometrical precision of parts after sintering operation. In fact, product geometry is affected by anisotropic dimensional change or even shape distortion. This study aims at investigating the dimensional and geometrical precision of through holes. Three sample geometries were designed, having a through hole with axis perpendicular to the building direction and located at different levels along sample height. Samples were measured by a coordinate measuring machine before and after sintering, in order to assess the shrinkage and any shape change. Results highlight the inhomogeneous volumetric and linear shrinkage of the three geometries, which is influenced by the printing position in the building plane. A macroscopic deformation of parallelepiped geometry was also evidenced, caused by the superposition of layer shifting originated on printing, and by the frictional forces between sample surface and alumina support during sintering. Such distortion significantly affects the shrinkage and form error of holes.
Covering a reduced spherical polygon by a disk
Authors: Musielak Michał 
Published: May 2023

AbstractA spherical convex body R is called reduced if any convex body properly contained in R has thickness smaller than the thickness $$\Delta (R)$$

Δ
(
R
)

of R. We show that for every reduced spherical convex polygon V there exists its boundary point such that the disk of radius $$\Delta (V)$$

Δ
(
V
)

centered at this point contains V.
Variable exponent Sobolev spaces and regularity of domains-II
Authors: Górka Przemysław , Karak Nijjwal , Pons Daniel J. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWe provide necessary conditions on Euclidean domains for inclusions $$W^{1,p(\cdot )}(\Omega ) \hookrightarrow L^{q(\cdot )}(\Omega ) $$

W

1
,
p
(
·
)

(
Ω
)

↪

L

q
(
·
)

(
Ω
)

of variable exponent Sobolev spaces. The conditions on the exponent $$ p(\cdot ) $$

p
(
·
)

are log-Hölder and log-log-Hölder continuity, while those on the domain $$ \Omega $$
Ω
are the measure and the log measure density conditions. Restrictions on the exponents $$ q(\cdot ) $$

q
(
·
)

and $$ p(\cdot )$$

p
(
·
)

appearing in Górka et al. (J. Geom. Anal. 310: 7304-7319, 2021) are relaxed, improving the results obtained in that work.