bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Ancient Slag Inclusion-Metal Systems as a Method to Disclose Processing Thermo-chemical Parameters: The Case Study of a Medieval Lombard Steel Bar from Northern Italy
Authors: Merico Paolomarco , Faccoli Michela , Cornacchia Giovanna 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAn archaeometallurgical characterization of a VI to VII century Lombard steel bar from Ponte di Val Gabbia I site (northern Italy) was performed to reconstruct its manufacturing process and extract processing thermochemical parameters (i.e., temperature and oxygen chemical potential) from the slag inclusion-metal systems. Metallographic observations by optical microscopy and Vickers microhardness measurements indicated that the steel bar was forged from a heterogeneous steel lump, most probably an iron bloom, which was cooled in the air after the forging process. The chemical composition of non-metallic inclusions was determined by scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray dispersive spectroscopy. A multivariate statistical analysis of the smelting-derived non-metallic inclusions chemistry allowed to conclude that the steel bar was obtained by the direct or bloomery method. Under the hypothesis of local near-equilibrium conditions for the slag inclusion-metal systems, a thermodynamic-based strategy was adopted to estimate the firing conditions in the bloomery furnace in terms of both temperature and oxygen chemical potential of the reducing gas atmosphere. In particular, the computed temperatures are in the range of 1003 °C to 1171 °C, whereas the values of oxygen chemical potential vary between − 447.47 and − 385.79 kJ/mol.
The Impact of Contact: Isotope Geochemistry Sheds Light on the Lives of Indigenous Australians Living on the Colonial Frontier in Late 19th Century Queensland
Authors: Adams Shaun , Collard Mark , McGahan David , Martin Richard , Phillips Susan , Westaway Michael C. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractHere, we report the first attempt to use isotope geochemistry to improve understanding of the experiences of Indigenous Australians living on the colonial frontier in late 19th century CE Australia. In the study, we analysed strontium (87Sr/86Sr), carbon (δ13C), and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios from the tooth enamel and dentine of six individuals who died in Normanton, Queensland, in the 1890s. The study was a collaboration between scientists and the local Traditional Owners, the Gkuthaarn and Kukatj people, and was carried out to promote truth and reconciliation. The enamel 87Sr/86Sr results suggest that the individuals moved to Normanton from three geologically distinct regions during the period of European expansion into the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York. This is consistent with the oral histories and historical documents, which suggest that many Indigenous people in the Gulf Country were displaced to camps on the outskirts of towns like Normanton because of European settlement. The δ13C values we obtained indicate that the individuals mostly ate C4 plants and/or C4-plant-consuming herbivores. When combined with the fact that some of the individuals’ teeth had dental caries, this suggests that the individuals may have had regular access to introduced foods. The enamel δ18O values are high compared to an international comparative sample, at 0.72–4.69‰ VPDB. We suspect the elevated values are due to a combination of a high degree of preferential loss of 16O through evaporation of surface water, the amount effect associated with the Australian monsoon, and high prevalence of introduced infectious diseases. Together, the results of our study demonstrate that isotopic analysis of human remains has the potential to further illuminate the effects of European colonisation on Indigenous people in Australia. Perhaps most importantly in connection with this, our study’s results show that isotopic analyses of human remains can provide surprisingly detailed information about the lives of a category of Indigenous Australians who rarely appear in the documents written by early ethnographers and colonial officials—subadults. That the analysis of the skeletal remains of Indigenous Australians can now contribute to the truth and reconciliation process is an unexpected, interesting, and welcome development in the story of bioarchaeology in Australia.
Adipocytes reprogram prostate cancer stem cell machinery
Authors: Fontana Fabrizio , Anselmi Martina , Limonta Patrizia 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIt is now well-established that an obese condition correlates with a higher risk of prostate cancer (PCa). A crosstalk between adipose tissue and PCa has been observed but is still poorly characterized. Herein, we demonstrated that 3T3-L1 adipocyte conditioned media (CM) could endow PC3 and DU145 PCa cells with stemness properties, by stimulating their sphere formation ability and promoting CD133 and CD44 expression. Moreover, after exposure to adipocyte CM both PCa cell lines underwent partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), with E-/N-cadherin switch and Snail upregulation. Specifically, these changes in PC3 and DU145 cell phenotype were accompanied by increased tumor clonogenic activity and survival, as well as by enhanced invasion, anoikis resistance and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production. Finally, adipocyte CM-treated PCa cells exhibited reduced responsiveness to both docetaxel and cabazitaxel, demonstrating greater chemoresistance. Overall, these data indicate that adipose tissue can effectively contribute to PCa aggressiveness by reprogramming the cancer stem cell (CSC) machinery.
Graphical abstract
Adipocytes endow prostate cancer cells with stem-like properties and mesenchymal traits, increasing their tumorigenicity, invasion and chemoresistance.
The ‘PERFECT’ PARTNER: UNDERSTANDING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MEN WHO OWN SEX DOLLS
Authors: Lievesley Rebecca , Reynolds Rebecca , Harper Craig A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe ownership of sex dolls has become an increasingly discussed phenomenon in recent years, with legal scholars and legislators calling for increased regulation and criminalization of such articles. However, our knowledge of sex doll ownership is lacking, and the peer-reviewed literature is especially sparse on detailed phenomenological analyses of the motivations of sex doll owners and their experiences of owning a doll. In this study, we interviewed nine male owners of sex dolls to investigate these issues. Two main themes were elicited from the data: “the ‘perfect’ partner” and “sex doll or love doll?”. In understanding doll ownership in this way, we hope to add to ongoing social discussions about the types of people who own dolls, why they do so, and how dolls act as a functional aspect of their sexual (and nonsexual) lives.
Understanding left-wing authoritarianism: Relations to the dark personality traits, altruism, and social justice commitment
Authors: Krispenz Ann , Bertrams Alex 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn two pre-registered studies, we investigated the relationship of left-wing authoritarianism with the ego-focused trait of narcissism. Based on existing research, we expected individuals with higher levels of left-wing authoritarianism to also report higher levels of narcissism. Further, as individuals with leftist political attitudes can be assumed to be striving for social equality, we expected left-wing authoritarianism to also be positively related to prosocial traits, but narcissism to remain a significant predictor of left-wing authoritarianism above and beyond those prosocial dispositions. We investigated our hypotheses in two studies using cross-sectional correlational designs. Two nearly representative US samples (Study 1: N = 391; Study 2: N = 377) completed online measures of left-wing authoritarianism, the Dark Triad personality traits, and two variables with a prosocial focus (i.e., altruism and social justice commitment). In addition, we assessed relevant covariates (i.e., age, gender, socially desirable responding, and virtue signaling). The results of multiple regression analyses showed that a strong ideological view, according to which a violent revolution against existing societal structures is legitimate (i.e., anti-hierarchical aggression), was associated with antagonistic narcissism (Study 1) and psychopathy (Study 2). However, neither dispositional altruism nor social justice commitment was related to left-wing anti-hierarchical aggression. Considering these results, we assume that some leftist political activists do not actually strive for social justice and equality but rather use political activism to endorse or exercise violence against others to satisfy their own ego-focused needs. We discuss these results in relation to the dark-ego-vehicle principle.
Integrating Economic Theory, Domain Knowledge, and Social Knowledge into Hybrid Sentiment Models for Predicting Crude Oil Markets
Authors: Kaplan Himmet , Weichselbraun Albert , Braşoveanu Adrian M. P. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractFor several decades, sentiment analysis has been considered a key indicator for assessing market mood and predicting future price changes. Accurately predicting commodity markets requires an understanding of fundamental market dynamics such as the interplay between supply and demand, which are not considered in standard affective models. This paper introduces two domain-specific affective models, CrudeBERT and CrudeBERT+, that adapt sentiment analysis to the crude oil market by incorporating economic theory with common knowledge of the mentioned entities and social knowledge extracted from Google Trends. To evaluate the predictive capabilities of these models, comprehensive experiments were conducted using dynamic time warping to identify the model that best approximates WTI crude oil futures price movements. The evaluation included news headlines and crude oil prices between January 2012 and April 2021. The results show that CrudeBERT+ outperformed RavenPack, BERT, FinBERT, and early CrudeBERT models during the 9-year evaluation period and within most of the individual years that were analyzed. The success of the introduced domain-specific affective models demonstrates the potential of integrating economic theory with sentiment analysis and external knowledge sources to improve the predictive power of financial sentiment analysis models. The experiments also confirm that CrudeBERT+ has the potential to provide valuable insights for decision-making in the crude oil market.
Concentration of Innovation Investments Along the Business Cycle
Authors: Mendi Pedro 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis paper addresses the question of the impact of demand reductions on firms’ concentration of innovation investments. Evidence is drawn from the PITEC database, which includes a stable panel of firms yearly surveyed in the 2006–2013 period. Controlling for selection, firms in the sample are found, following a demand decrease, to reduce the number of innovation investment categories. The effect of demand decreases is stronger for small firms. No evidence is found of exporting being a moderator of the relationship between demand fluctuations and the concentration of innovation investments. These findings suggest that downturns reduce the diversity in the innovation of firms, which could potentially have long-lasting effects on their innovation activities, and, ultimately, on their competitiveness.
A spatiotemporal transferable image fusion technique for GeoEye-1 satellite imagery
Authors: Elshora Mohamed 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis study proposed a novel technique to solve the problem of color distortion in the fusion of the GeoEye-1 satellite's panchromatic (PAN) and multispectral (MS) images. This technique suggested reducing the difference in radiometry between the PAN and MS images by using modification coefficients for the MS bands in the definition of the intensity (I) equation, which guarantees using only the overlapped wavelengths with the PAN band. These modification coefficients achieve spatiotemporal transferability for the proposed fusion technique. As the reflectance of vegetation is high in the NIR band and low in the RGB bands, this technique suggested using an additional coefficient for the NIR band in the definition of the I equation, which varies based on the ratio of the agricultural features within the image, to indicate the correct impact of vegetation. This vegetation coefficient provides stability for the proposed fusion technique across all land cover classes. This study used three datasets of GeoEye-1 satellite PAN and MS images in Tanta City, Egypt, with different land cover classes (agricultural, urban, and mixed areas), to evaluate the performance of this technique against five different standard image fusion techniques. In addition, it was validated using six additional datasets from different locations and acquired at different times to test its spatiotemporal transferability. The proposed fusion technique demonstrated spatiotemporal transferability as well as great efficiency in producing fused images of superior spatial and spectral quality for all types of land cover.
The Inactivation of Hippo Signaling Pathway Promotes the Development of Adenomyosis by Regulating EMT, Proliferation, and Apoptosis of Cells
Authors: Jin Tingting , Li Mengqi , Li Ting , Yan Simiao , Ran Qingzhen , Chen Wanqun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAdenomyosis is a benign gynecological disease. The pathogenesis of adenomyosis is still unclear. The Hippo signaling pathway is highly conserved in vivo and associated with endometriosis and various cancers. Our objective was to study the expression of Hippo signaling pathway–related proteins in the uterus of mice with and without adenomyosis. We also sought to determine the relationship between the Hippo signaling pathway and cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis in adenomyosis. The inactivation of Hippo signaling pathway and abnormal expression of EMT-related proteins were observed in mice with adenomyosis. In vitro, the YAP inhibitor verteporfin can inhibit the proliferation and migration of Ishikawa cells and promote apoptosis, while inhibiting the EMT process. In addition, intraperitoneal injection of verteporfin inhibits EMT process and proliferation and promotes apoptosis of cells in the uterus of adenomyosis mice. It suggests that the Hippo signaling pathway participates in the EMT, proliferation, and apoptosis of cells in adenomyosis. In conclusion, these results suggest that Hippo signaling pathway may be involved in the development of adenomyosis by regulating EMT, proliferation, and apoptosis of cells, which provide a potential target for the treatment of adenomyosis.
The impacts of environmental science on Bhutanese students’ environmental sustainability competences
Authors: Mongar Kishore 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe subject of environmental science (ES) was introduced into Bhutanese schools to educate students about sustainable environmental conservation. This study aims to answer the research question: What are the impacts of studying ES on Bhutanese students for environmental sustainability? The study employed mixed methods to draw data from interviews with six principals, 14 teachers and 189 students, and surveys with 14 teachers and 563 students from six secondary schools. Participants indicated the development of students’ Gross National Happiness value of sustainable environmental and socioeconomic development. However, an anthropocentric perspective appeared to be dominant among participants, suggesting a need to develop ecocentric worldviews to support sustainability. Most students noted their changed behaviours, development of optimism, stewardship and agency towards ecological sustainability from studying ES. To prepare students to take action to address sustainability issues, teachers could leverage students’ optimism, agency and stewardship through action-oriented approaches to teaching ES.
Vision geometry-based UAV flocking
Authors: Wang L. , He T. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractA distributed UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) flocking control method based on vision geometry is proposed, in which only monocular RGB (red, green, blue) images are used to estimate the relative positions and velocities between drones. It does not rely on special visual markers and external infrastructure, nor does it require inter-UAV communication or prior knowledge of UAV size. This method combines the advantages of deep learning and classical geometry. It adopts a deep optical flow network to estimate dense matching points between two consecutive images, uses segmentation technology to classify these matching points into background and specific UAV, and then maps the classified matching points to Euclidean space based on the depth map information. In 3D matching points, also known as 3D feature point pairs, each of their classifications is used to estimate the rotation matrix, translation vector, velocity of the corresponding UAV, as well as the relative position between drones, based on RANSAC and least squares method. On this basis, a flocking control model is constructed. Experimental results in the Microsoft Airsim simulation environment show that in all evaluation metrics, our method achieves almost the same performance as the UAV flocking algorithm based on ground truth cluster state.
A synthetic study of acoustic full waveform inversion to improve seismic modelling of firn
Authors: Pearce Emma , Booth Adam D. , Rost Sebastian , Sava Paul , Konuk Tuğrul , Brisbourne Alex , Hubbard Bryn , Jones Ian 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe density structure of firn has implications for hydrological and climate modelling and for ice shelf stability. The firn structure can be evaluated from depth models of seismic velocity, widely obtained with Herglotz-Wiechert inversion (HWI), an approach that considers the slowness of refracted seismic arrivals. However, HWI is appropriate only for steady-state firn profiles and the inversion accuracy can be compromised where firn contains ice layers. In these cases, Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) can be more successful than HWI. FWI extends HWI capabilities by considering the full seismic waveform and incorporates reflected arrivals, thus offering a more accurate estimate of a velocity profile. We show the FWI characterisation of the velocity model has an error of only 1.7% for regions (vs. 4.2% with HWI) with an ice slab (20 m thick, 40 m deep) in an otherwise steady-state firn profile.
Lockdown life - experiences of partners of individuals with an acquired brain injury during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study
Authors: Beal Erin M. , Pelser Cara , Coates Peter 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectives:The present study sought to investigate the experience of individuals living with their partner with an acquired brain injury (ABI) during the first lock down period of the COVID-19 pandemic.Method:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven partners of individuals who had sustained a range of ABIs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was carried out by two of the researchers exploring the unique narratives.Results:ABI occurs within a relational framework, which means that it has repercussions not only for the individual but also the entire family system. COVID-19 prevented family systems (living separately) from coming together which negatively impacted them; however, it also slowed life down, with many people working from home with flexible arrangements in place which participants found to be beneficial. Three main themes emerged from the interview data: partner focus, slowing down and support networks. The narratives identified the struggles of having to continue their partner’s rehabilitation when face to face services could not visit the home, the importance of establishing routine, the positives of a slower paced life (due to COVID-19) that enabled them to build stronger relationships with their partners, and the difficulties of being separated from family and loved ones.Conclusion:This research suggests that it is imperative to consider individual experiences and choices. Some families benefited from reduced treatment and a slowed pace of life, whilst others may find this overwhelming and burdensome. The study makes recommendations for supporting couples after an ABI during the ongoing pandemic.
Enhancing Vulnerable Groups’ Participation in Medicines Risk Regulation: The Case of the European Medicines Agency’s Public Hearing on Quinolone Antibiotics
Authors: Wood Matthew 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWhat is the value of including vulnerable people in risk regulation decision-making in the European Union (EU)? This article examines a distinctive approach employed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA): public hearings integrated within safety reviews of medicinal products. The article presents findings from a case study of the EMA’s public hearing on Quinolone antibiotics, which was included by the EMA as part of a review process that led to significant tightening of regulatory restrictions on the prescribing of this class of antibiotics. The article argues that the public hearing enabled a group of patients who had been victims of a debilitating toxicity syndrome associated with Quinolone antibiotics to criticise the existing scientific evidence base around the safety of Quinolone. Deploying the quantitative Discourse Quality Index and an interpretive analytical approach, the article shows how patients challenged the evidence base in a manner that was efficacious in advancing knowledge in this area of risk regulation. When physically staged alongside interventions by professional experts, the article argues that patients facilitated a process of “negotiation” of expertise, leading professional representatives to propose methods of coordination in order to integrate the patients’ qualitative evidence of their suffering with the toxicity syndrome. Ultimately, this process led to the EMA proposing more stringent future guidelines for the prescription of Quinolone antibiotics in the EU.
Conditioned limit theorems for hyperbolic dynamical systems
Authors: GRAMA ION , QUINT JEAN-FRANÇOIS , XIAO HUI 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLet
$({\mathbb X}, T)$
be a subshift of finite type equipped with the Gibbs measure
$\nu $
and let f be a real-valued Hölder continuous function on
${\mathbb X}$
such that
$\nu (f) = 0$
. Consider the Birkhoff sums
$S_n f = \sum _{k=0}^{n-1} f \circ T^{k}$
,
$n\geqslant 1$
. For any
$t \in {\mathbb R}$
, denote by
$\tau _t^f$
the first time when the sum
$t+ S_n f$
leaves the positive half-line for some
$n\geqslant 1$
. By analogy with the case of random walks with independent and identically distributed increments, we study the asymptotic as
$ n\to \infty $
of the probabilities
$ \nu (x\in {\mathbb X}: \tau _t^f(x)>n) $
and
$ {\nu (x\in {\mathbb X}: \tau _t^f(x)=n) }$
. We also establish integral and local-type limit theorems for the sum
$t+ S_n f(x)$
conditioned on the set
$\{ x \in {\mathbb X}: \tau _t^f(x)>n \}.$
Cultura afrobarroca mexicana: Soberanía negra en las calles de la Ciudad de México, 1610
Authors: Valerio Miguel A. 
Published: March 2023

ResumenEste artículo estudia la cultura afrobarroca y la soberanía negra de los afromexicanos a través del análisis de la descripción de dos performances de “reyes negros” que se encuentran en la “Relación de las fiestas insignes que en la Ciudad de México se hicieron en la dedicación de la Iglesia de la Casa Profesa y beatificación de nuestro Santo Padre Ignacio” de 1610. La finalidad de este análisis es triple. Primero se busca distinguir estos reyes negros festivos de los presuntos reyes negros rebeldes. En segundo lugar, y más central al artículo, se busca exponer la cultura afrobarroca que los afrodescendientes desarrollaron en el México colonial, resaltando su agencia cultural, social y política en la formación de esa cultura. Por último, a luz de esa triple agencia, se teoriza sobre su soberanía, o autonomía y libertad en darle el carácter que quisieron a su cultura criolla.