bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of morphological traits as a tool to identify the realized niche of phytoplankton populations: what do the shape of planktic microalgae, Anna Karenina and Vincent van Gogh have in common?
Authors: Naselli-Flores Luigi , Padisák Judit 
Published: April 2023

AbstractUnderstanding the dynamics of phytoplankton assemblages in various and variable aquatic ecosystems is of paramount importance, given the strategic supporting services offered by these organisms. Such knowledge is implicitly based on the analysis of the realized niche of the different populations, i.e. of the sets of conditions within which populations show a positive growth. The range of phytoplankton morphological traits variability is evolutionarily selected to maximize the ecological performance of species while they are entrained in the spectrum of turbulent flows. In addition, most phytoplankton species exhibit high morphological plasticity that can further optimize their performance under reduced environmental variability. Although this plasticity is well known, it is seldom considered in phytoplankton studies. Morphological analysis could therefore be used as a tool to estimate the environmental variability within which a species can persist and, ultimately, the niche width of phytoplankton populations. This opinion paper tries to answer the questions: to what extent can the morphological variability of phytoplankton offer a synthesis of the environmental variability of aquatic ecosystems?. Do the morphological traits contain sufficient information to describe the width of the realized niche of phytoplankton species? What can we do to fill eventual gaps in our knowledge?
Docility and dilemmas: Mapping ‘performative evaluation’ and informal learning
Authors: Clapham Andrew 
Published: April 2023

AbstractEducators working in museums, zoos, and botanic gardens are increasingly required to demonstrate impact. These requirements position ‘performative evaluation’ as the dominant model, one which also acts as a political, non-neutral, and managerial form of accountability. In contrast, ‘practice evaluation’ is intended to be democratic, dialogic, and developmental. To explore this contrast, Foucault’s concept of the docile body is directed toward interviews with five educators from Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom who worked in museums, zoos or botanic gardens. In addition to their work mediating informal learning, all five also had responsibilities to provide evaluation reports to audiences including managers, trustees, funders, policy makers, and politicians. Analysis of these interviews identified a set of dilemmas that the participants faced—dilemmas which illustrate how performative evaluation becomes a disciplinary mechanism which produces docile bodies. I argue that such evaluation is not only inappropriate for the context of informal learning, but undemocratic and non-dialogic. The paper concludes that a reset of performative evaluation from an accountability technology, to a developmental one—along a more sophisticated reading of how informal learning is defined—would not only generate rich evaluate data but mitigate against educators being rendered docile by the process.
The Influence of NiO Nanoparticles on Structural, Optical and Dielectric Properties of CMC/PVA/PEDOT:PSS Nanocomposites
Authors: Salim E. , Tarabiah A. E. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe solution casting process was used to fabricate nanocomposite samples composed of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and filled with varied concentrations of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs). The effect of NiO nanoparticles on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the pure CMC/PVA/PEDOT:PSS mixture was studied and discussed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the NiO NPs are cubic in phase and range in size from 10 to 55 nm. The XRD analysis of the incorporated films indicated that the NiO NPs crystallinity increased at expense of the CMC/PVA/PEDOT:PSS composites. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) examination revealed the main absorption vibrational peaks of CMC, PVA, PEDOT:PSS, and Ni-O, whose intensities changed randomly after filling, revealing the intermolecular interaction between the nanocomposite components. The UV and visible range absorption spectra showed a sharp peak around 228 for the pure blend, which can be assigned to the π→π* transition. After being filled with NiO NPs, the nanocomposites produced displayed new peaks at 292 and 422 nm that steadily increased with increasing NiO NPs concentration. The optical energy gap (Eg) was computed, and it was discovered that when the NiO NPs content increased, the Eg decreased (from 4.88 to 4.06 eV). At room temperature and over a wide frequency range, between 10− 1 and 107 Hz, the samples’ impedance, AC conductivity, and dielectric qualities were examined. Increased NiO NPs content was seen to gradually enhance dielectric loss (up to 2255), and dielectric constant (up to 311). The AC conductivity of the filled samples is also enhanced and corresponds to Jonscher power law. By analysing impedance components of the Z*, the equivalent electrical circuit for each sample was determined. Because of the considerable improvement in optical and electrical properties, these composite films could compete for usage in optoelectronic applications.
A new fractal index to classify forest fragmentation and disorder
Authors: Peptenatu Daniel , Andronache Ion , Ahammer Helmut , Radulovic Marko , Costanza Jennifer K. , Jelinek Herbert F. , Di Ieva Antonio , Koyama Kohei , Grecu Alexandra , Gruia Andreea Karina , Simion Adrian-Gabriel , Nedelcu Iulia Daniela , Olteanu Cosmin , Drăghici Cristian-Constantin , Marin Marian , Diaconu Daniel Constantin , Fensholt Rasmus , Newman Erica A. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractContextForest loss and fragmentation pose extreme threats to biodiversity. Their efficient characterization from remotely sensed data therefore has strong practical implications. Data are often separately analyzed for spatial fragmentation and disorder, but no existing metric simultaneously quantifies both the shape and arrangement of fragments.ObjectivesWe present a fractal fragmentation and disorder index (FFDI), which advances a previously developed fractal index by merging it with the Rényi information dimension. The FFDI is designed to work across spatial scales, and to efficiently report both the fragmentation of images and their spatial disorder.MethodsWe validate the FFDI with 12,600 synthetic hierarchically structured random map (HRM) multiscale images, as well as several other categories of fractal and non-fractal test images (4880 images). We then apply the FFDI to satellite imagery of forest cover for 10 distinct regions of the Romanian Carpathian Mountains from 2000–2021.ResultsThe FFDI outperformed its two individual components (fractal fragmentation index and Rényi information dimension) in resolving spatial patterns of disorder and fragmentation when tested on HRM classes and other image types. The FFDI thus offers a clear advantage when compared to the individual use of fractal fragmentation index and the Information Dimension, and provided good classification performance in an application to real data.ConclusionsThis work improves on previous characterizations of landscape patterns. With the FFDI, scientists will be able to better monitor and understand forest fragmentation from satellite imagery. The FFDI may also find wider applicability in biology wherever image analysis is used.
The four-dimensional Yang–Mills partition function in the vicinity of the vacuum
Authors: Etesi Gábor 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe partition function of four-dimensional Euclidean, non-supersymmetric$$\textrm{SU}(2)$$SU(2)Yang–Mills theory is calculated in the perturbative and weak coupling regime, i.e., in a small open ball about the flat connection and when the gauge coupling constant acquires a small but finite value. The computation is based on various known inequalities, valid only in four dimensions, providing two-sided estimates for the exponentiated Yang–Mills action in terms of the$$L^2$$L2-norm of the derivative of the gauge potential only; these estimates then give rise to Gaußian-like infinite- dimensional formal integrals involving the Laplacian and hence can be computed via zeta-function and heat kernel techniques. It then turns out that these formal integrals give a sharp value for the partition function in the aforementioned perturbative and weak coupling regime of the theory. In the resulting expression for the partition function, the original classical value of the coupling constant is shifted to a smaller one which can be interpreted as the manifestation, in this approach, of a non-trivial$$\beta $$β-function and asymptotic freedom in pure non-Abelian gauge theories.
An empirical study of quantum dynamics as a ground state problem with neural quantum states
Authors: Vargas-Calderón Vladimir , Vinck-Posada Herbert , González Fabio A. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractWe consider the Feynman–Kitaev formalism applied to a spin chain described by the transverse-field Ising model. This formalism consists of building a Hamiltonian whose ground state encodes the time evolution of the spin chain at discrete time steps. To find this ground state, variational wave functions parameterised by artificial neural networks—also known as neural quantum states (NQSs)—are used. Our work focuses on assessing, in the context of the Feynman–Kitaev formalism, two properties of NQSs: expressivity (the possibility that variational parameters can be set to values such that the NQS is faithful to the true ground state of the system) and trainability (the process of reaching said values). We find that the considered NQSs are capable of accurately approximating the true ground state of the system, i.e. they are expressive enough ansätze. However, extensive hyperparameter tuning experiments show that, empirically, reaching the set of values for the variational parameters that correctly describe the ground state becomes ever more difficult as the number of time steps increase because the true ground state becomes more entangled, and the probability distribution starts to spread across the Hilbert space canonical basis.
What are teacher relational skills? A defining study using a bottom-up modified Delphi method
Authors: Gerosa Tiziano , Argentin Gianluca , Spada Alice 
Published: April 2023

AbstractRelational skills are an essential work-related tool for several professions, especially teaching. This specific domain of teacher competence is acquiring ever-increasing attention due to the connection between social and emotional aspects of education and student school success. Nonetheless, a persistent focus on content-related knowledge, didactic skills and digital literacy has generated uncertainties about what teacher relational skills effectively are. In this respect, our study presents an alternative bottom-up approach for the definition of teacher relational skills based on the use of a modified Delphi method. Four iterative rounds of data collection and analysis were carried out on a sample of 35 experienced teachers. This Delphi was pushed to generate innovative definitions, taking advantage of its bottom up perspective with teachers simultaneously involved as reflective professionals and as experts by experience of professional development completion. The emerging innovative elements were coherently integrated with previous literature thanks to a circular relationship between the Delphi panelists and an external group of experts. As a result, 6 relational domains, 44 relational skills and 180 practical examples of their application were identified. Our findings underline the importance of stimulating the debate around direct experiences of effective practices for the development of competence-based working approaches, especially in the areas of socialization, relations and emotions, where well established theoretical frameworks are still a long way off.
A Republican Approach to Jerkish Speech on Online Platforms
Authors: Hoeksema Bernd 
Published: April 2023

AbstractJerkish speech on online platforms is at risk of being overlooked as a result of being comparatively insignificant next to the existence of explicit hate speech or other online harms. In this paper I approach online jerkish speech from a republican perspective. I discuss two ways in which republicans can account for jerkish speech. First, jerkish speech could amount to micro-domination, referring to instances of domination that are relatively inconsequential by themselves but problematic when considered in aggregate. Second, jerkish speech can be considered an instantiation of systemic domination, where groups and members are structurally subordinated. I briefly discuss the role of regulatory bans on jerkish speech, before suggesting that Suzanne Whitten’s proposal for critical civility—as an appropriate answer to jerkish speech in online environments—might be too demanding. This might be alleviated by leveraging the role of online platforms.
Alpha band modulation caused by selective attention to music enables EEG classification
Authors: Mizokuchi Kana , Tanaka Toshihisa , Sato Takashi G. , Shiraki Yoshifumi 
Published: April 2023

AbstractHumans are able to pay selective attention to music or speech in the presence of multiple sounds. It has been reported that in the speech domain, selective attention enhances the cross-correlation between the envelope of speech and electroencephalogram (EEG) while also affecting the spatial modulation of the alpha band. However, when multiple music pieces are performed at the same time, it is unclear how selective attention affects neural entrainment and spatial modulation. In this paper, we hypothesized that the entrainment to the attended music differs from that to the unattended music and that spatial modulation in the alpha band occurs in conjunction with attention. We conducted experiments in which we presented musical excerpts to 15 participants, each listening to two excerpts simultaneously but paying attention to one of the two. The results showed that the cross-correlation function between the EEG signal and the envelope of the unattended melody had a more prominent peak than that of the attended melody, contrary to the findings for speech. In addition, the spatial modulation in the alpha band was found with a data-driven approach called the common spatial pattern method. Classification of the EEG signal with a support vector machine identified attended melodies and achieved an accuracy of 100% for 11 of the 15 participants. These results suggest that selective attention to music suppresses entrainment to the melody and that spatial modulation of the alpha band occurs in conjunction with attention. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to detect attended music consisting of several types of music notes only with EEG.
Does Inflammation Play a Major Role in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease?
Authors: Wiatrak Benita , Jawień Paulina , Szeląg Adam , Jęśkowiak-Kossakowska Izabela 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease leading to dementia for which no effective medicine exists. Currently, the goal of therapy is only to slow down the inevitable progression of the disease and reduce some symptoms. AD causes the accumulation of proteins with the pathological structure of Aβ and tau and the induction of inflammation of nerves in the brain, which lead to the death of neurons. The activated microglial cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that induce a chronic inflammatory response and mediate synapse damage and the neuronal death. Neuroinflammation has been an often ignored aspect of ongoing AD research. There are more and more scientific papers taking into account the aspect of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of AD, although there are no unambiguous results regarding the impact of comorbidities or gender differences. This publication concerns a critical look at the role of inflammation in the progression of AD, based on the results of our own in vitro studies using model cell cultures and other researchers.
Impact of perineural invasion on the outcome of patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery
Authors: Zozaya Gabriel , Cienfuegos Javier Álvarez , Martí-Cruchaga Pablo , Hernández-Lizoain José Luis , Baixauli Jorge , Pardo Fernando , Robledano Ramón , Rodríguez Javier , Arbea Leire , Rotellar Fernando 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To analyze the prognostic value of variables of the primary tumor in patients with synchronous liver metastases in colorectal cancer (CLRMs) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery.

Methods/Patients
From a prospective database, we retrospectively identified all patients with synchronous CLRMs who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and liver resection. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we identified the variables associated with tumor recurrence. Overall survival and disease-free survival were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method with differences determined by the Cox multiple hazards model. Results were compared using the log-rank test.

Results
Ninety-eight patients with synchronous CLRMs were identified. With a median follow-up of 39.8 months, overall survival and disease-free survival at 5 and 10 years were 53%, 41.7%, 29% and 29%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified three variables associated with tumor recurrence: location in the colon (p = 0.025), lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.011) and perineural invasion (p = 0.005). Multivariate analysis identified two variables associated with worse overall survival: perineural invasion (HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.162–4.818, p = 0.018) and performing frontline colectomy (HR 3.286, 95% CI 1.256–8.597, p = 0.015). Perineural invasion remained as the only variable associated with lower disease-free survival (HR 1.867, 95% CI 1.013–3.441, p = 0.045). Overall survival at 5 and 10 years in patients with and without perineural invasion was 68.2%, 54.4% and 29.9% and 21.3%, respectively (HR 5.920, 95% CI 2.241–15.630, p < 0.001).

Conclusions
Perineural invasion in the primary tumor is the variable with most impact on survival in patients with synchronous CLRMs treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery.
Observational study of HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer patients treated with abemaciclib in Spain in the Named Patient Use Program (AbemusS)
Authors: Blanch Salvador , Gil-Gil Juan Miguel , Arumí Miriam , Aguirre Elena , Seguí Miguel Ángel , Atienza Manuel , Díaz-Cerezo Silvia , Molero Alberto , Cervera José Manuel , Gavilá Joaquín 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Introduction/objectives
To describe abemaciclib use in patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-negative (HR+/HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) who participated in the Named Patient Use program (NPU) in Spain.

Material and methods
This retrospective study was based on medical record review of patients across 20 centers during 2018/2019. Patients were followed up until death, enrolment in a clinical trial, loss of follow-up or study end. Clinical and demographic characteristics, treatment patterns and abemaciclib effectiveness were analyzed; time-to-event and median times were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier (KM) method.

Results
The study included 69 female patients with mBC (mean age 60.4 ± 12.4 years), 86% of whom had an initial diagnosis of early BC and 20% had an ECOG ≥ 2. Median follow-up was 23 months (range 16–28). Metastases were frequently observed in bone (79%) and visceral tissue (65%), with 47% having metastases in > 2 sites. Median number of treatment lines before abemaciclib was 6 (range 1–10). Abemaciclib monotherapy was received by 72% of patients and combination therapy with endocrine therapy by 28% of patients; 54% of patients required dose adjustments, with a median time to first adjustment of 1.8 months. Abemaciclib was discontinued in 86% of patients after a median of 7.7 months (13.2 months for combination therapy and 7.0 months for monotherapy) mainly due to disease progression (69%).

Conclusion
These results suggest that abemaciclib is effective, as monotherapy and in combination, for patients with heavily pretreated mBC, consistent with clinical trial results.
Whose waters, whose nutrients? Knowledge, uncertainty, and controversy over eutrophication in the Mar Menor
Authors: Cabello Violeta , Brugnach Marcela 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThis work explores the role of knowledge claims and uncertainty in the public dispute over the causes and solutions to nonpoint-driven overfertilization of the Mar Menor lagoon (Spain). Drawing on relational uncertainty theory, we combine the analysis of narratives and of uncertainty. Our results show two increasingly polarized narratives that deviate in the causes for nutrient enrichment and the type of solutions seen as effective, all of which relate to contested visions on agricultural sustainability. Several interconnected uncertainties are mobilized to dispute the centrality of agriculture as a driver for eutrophication and to confront strategies that may hamper productivity. Yet, both narratives rest on a logic of dissent that strongly relies on divergent knowledge to provide legitimacy, ultimately reinforcing contestation. Transforming the ongoing polarization dynamics may require different inter- and transdisciplinary approaches that focus on sharing rather than assigning responsibility and that unpack rather than disregard existing uncertainties.
Numerical simulation of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide emissions of biodiesel diffusion flame
Authors: Amsal Mohamed , Tran Manh-Vu , Lee Chia Chun , Nurmukan Dastan , Hung Yew Mun , Scribano Gianfranco , Chong Cheng Tung 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBiodiesel is one of the most promising fossil fuel replacements for automotive engines, furnaces, and turbines due to its sustainability, energy savings, and reduced carbon emissions. While commonly reported in engine studies, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) released from combustion of biodiesel have not been studied in laminar diffusion flames. This numerical study examines the concentrations of NOx and CO emissions of the laminar biodiesel diffusion flames at different carbon flow rates and then compares its emissions with those of two liquid hydrocarbon fuel surrogates, n-heptane and iso-octane. A consistent carbon flow rate of 17.2 g/h is applied at the fuel inlet to compare the NOx and CO emissions of the three liquid fuels. The results show that biodiesel diffusion flame produces greater NOx and CO emissions with increasing carbon flow rate. At the same flow rate, n-heptane produces the greatest NO with 2.1% greater than biodiesel and 4.2% greater than iso-octane. The primary pathway for generating NO in biodiesel flame is the prompt pathway, with significant contributions from the thermal and NO2 decomposition pathways. While the NO productions in n-heptane and iso-octane flames are predominantly through the thermal pathway. It is also observed that biodiesel produces the greatest CO emission with 3.2% more than those of n-heptane and iso-octane. The oxidisation reaction of CO, CO + OH = CO2 + H primarily controls the CO mass fraction in the product for all fuels.