bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetic and elemental characterization of the particulate matter deposited on leaves of urban trees in Santiago, Chile
Authors: Préndez M. , Carvallo C. , Godoy N. , Egas C. , Aguilar Reyes B. O. , Calzolai G. , Fuentealba R. , Lucarelli F. , Nava S. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAirborne particulate matter is a serious threat to human health, especially in fast-growing cities. In this study, we carried out a magnetic and elemental study on tree leaves used as passive captors and urban dust from various sites in the city of Santiago, Chile, to assess the reliability of magnetic and elemental measurements to characterize particulate matter pollution from vehicular origin. We found that the magnetic susceptibility and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization measured on urban tree leaves is a good proxy for tracing anthropogenic metallic particles and allow controlling the exposure time for particulate matter collection, in agreement with other studies carried out in large cities. Similar measurements on urban soil can be influenced by particles of detritic (natural) origin, and therefore, magnetic measurements on tree leaves can help to identify hotspots where fine particles are more abundant. Elemental particle-induced X-ray emission analysis of tree leaves showed the presence of a number of elements associated with vehicular emissions, in particular Cu, Zn, Fe, K and S which are present at every site, and As, Se, V, Ni, Sr, Zr, Mo and Pb identified at some sites. We observed a correlation between magnetic parameters and the concentrations of S and Br as well as Cu to a smaller extent. Moreover, this study shows the importance of selecting carefully the tree species as well as the location of trees in order to optimize phytoremediation.
Reach hydromorphology: a crucial environmental variable for the occurrence of riverine macrophytes
Authors: Kaijser Willem , Hering Daniel , Lorenz Armin W. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractManagement measures targeting riverine macrophyte species often address dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. With recent reductions of nutrient pollution, effects of other variables have become more apparent. This study aims to shed light on the hierarchy of variables determining riverine macrophyte distribution, covering both surface water nutrients and a range of other variables, in a Central European landscape. We used a dataset of 1,371 monitoring samples to predict the presence and absence of 30 common macrophyte species with multiple random forest models. Besides surface water chemical variables (P-PO4, TN and pH), five reach hydromorphological variables (substrate, flow velocity, shading, width and depth) and a variable related to river size (distance from the river source) were use as predictors. The most important variables for the prediction of the species’ presence and absence were substrate, distance from the river source and flow velocity. Additionally, P-PO4 and shade were also important, whilst TN, pH, width and depth played only a minor role. River hydromorphology was more important than surface water chemistry for the occurrences of individual riverine macrophyte species, in particular under less extreme eutrophic conditions. Species occurrences were related to multiple interacting variables, amongst which hydromorphology often prevailed. Presence/absence of species and composition of assemblages cannot be attributed to surface water nutrients alone, even when considering river typologies. Therefore, the results support the conjecture that a broader approach considering a range of stressors is necessary to design restoration measures for management and enhancement of macrophyte diversity.
Effect of low-frequency ultrasound on disaggregation, growth and viability of an extremotolerant cyanobacterium
Authors: Robles María , Garbayo Inés , Wierzchos Jacek , Vílchez Carlos , Cuaresma María 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe efficacy of low-frequency ultrasound pulses in cell disaggregation of Chroococcidiopsis sp. aggregates has been studied as a possible strategy to improve the productivity and operation of the cultures. The modulation of the ultrasound pulses allowed to almost disaggregate most of the cyanobacterial aggregates completely while retaining cellular viability in terms of photosynthetic efficiency. In this study we used a strain isolated from the endolithic habitat of the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world due to the extremely scarce rainfall, low level of relative humidity and extremely high incident solar radiation. To survive these conditions and reduce the cell exposure to the incident UV radiation, Chroococcidiopsis sp. grows in the form of aggregates, diminishing the associated photo-oxidative damage. However, this adaptation strategy can reduce the availability of both light and nutrients to the growing cells. This study showed that the low-frequency ultrasound pulses were efficient in disaggregating Chroococcidiopsis sp. aggregates, improving light and nutrient availability to the cells. Our results revealed also that the modulated use of ultrasound pulses resulted in a decreased cell sedimentation velocity which becomes advantageous at large scale. The length of the ultrasound pulses can be optimized to achieve complete disaggregation of the aggregates without affecting cell viability. The preservation of cell viability is considered an advantage for eventual large-scale production as disaggregating of the aggregates can result in more homogeneous cultures with less energy needed to perform mechanical agitation. Additionally, our results indicated an improved growth of cyanobacterium in disaggregated cultures.
A green process for zeolite synthesis: low-temperature vapor phase treatment of natural bauxites
Authors: Belviso Claudia , Mancinelli Maura , Lettino Antonio 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn this work, three samples of bauxite were used as inexpensive sources for the zeolite formation by a green process based on vapor-phase crystallization (VPC) method. The synthesis was carried out using a water bath with deionized water heated at 35, 45, 60 or 90 °C. During the process, NaOH pre-fused bauxites were contacted only with vapor from the liquid. The results indicate that sodalite formed in all the samples after VPC at higher temperatures (60 °C and 90 °C). Large amount of zeolite A was instead synthesized in the sample characterized by SiO2/Al2O3 ratio next to 1 and after vapor treatment at 35 °C and 45 °C. These data highlight the determining role of both raw material chemical composition and amount of water molecules in type of zeolite formed by vapor crystallization method. Moreover, the results indicate that VPC process made it possible to synthesize zeolite generating no water waste.
On the Integration of Blockchain and SDN: Overview, Applications, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Rahman Anichur , Montieri Antonio , Kundu Dipanjali , Karim Md. Razaul , Islam Md. Jahidul , Umme Sara , Nascita Alfredo , Pescapé Antonio 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBlockchain (BC) and software-defined networking (SDN) are leading technologies which have recently found applications in several network-related scenarios and have consequently experienced a growing interest in the research community. Indeed, current networks connect a massive number of objects over the Internet and in this complex scenario, to ensure security, privacy, confidentiality, and programmability, the utilization of BC and SDN have been successfully proposed. In this work, we provide a comprehensive survey regarding these two recent research trends and review the related state-of-the-art literature. We first describe the main features of each technology and discuss their most common and used variants. Furthermore, we envision the integration of such technologies to jointly take advantage of these latter efficiently. Indeed, we consider their group-wise utilization—named BC–SDN—based on the need for stronger security and privacy. Additionally, we cover the application fields of these technologies both individually and combined. Finally, we discuss the open issues of reviewed research and describe potential directions for future avenues regarding the integration of BC and SDN. To summarize, the contribution of the present survey spans from an overview of the literature background on BC and SDN to the discussion of the benefits and limitations of BC–SDN integration in different fields, which also raises open challenges and possible future avenues examined herein. To the best of our knowledge, compared to existing surveys, this is the first work that analyzes the aforementioned aspects in light of a broad BC–SDN integration, with a specific focus on security and privacy issues in actual utilization scenarios.
“I noticed that when I have a good supervisor, it can make a Lot of difference.” A Qualitative Study on Guidance of Employees with a Work Disability to Improve Sustainable Employability
Authors: Schaap R. , Stevels V. A. , de Wolff M. S. , Hazelzet A. , Anema J. R. , Coenen P. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Purpose
For employees with a work disability adequate daily guidance from supervisors is key for sustainable employability. Supervisors often lack expertise to guide this group of employees. Mentorwijs (literal translation: Mentorwise) is a training for supervisors to improve the guidance of employees with a work disability. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of employees with a work disability regarding: (1) the guidance from their supervisors (who followed the Mentorwijs training), (2) which differences they notice in the guidance due to the Mentorwijs training, and (3) what kind of aspects they consider important in their guidance to achieve sustainable employability.

Methods
A qualitative study was performed with semi-structured (group) interviews among twenty-one employees with a work disability. Thematic analysis was performed to analyze the data.

Results
Themes that followed from the interviews were: (1) work tasks and conditions can facilitate or hinder sustainable employability: (2) relationships among employees and with supervisors can affect sustainable employability; (3) a desire for new opportunities and challenges; and (4) a need for supervisor skills to facilitate sustainable employability, i.e. appreciation, availability of help, dealing with problems, listening, attitude and communication. According to employees, changes were mainly noticed in supervisor skills.

Conclusions
Employees with a work disability were very satisfied with the guidance of supervisors who followed the Mentorwijs training. To improve sustainable employability, training of supervisors should focus more on adequate work conditions, providing employees opportunities to learn new work tasks and improving supervisors’ skills regarding appreciation, attitude and communication.
Asymptotics for Cliques in Scale-Free Random Graphs
Authors: Haig Alastair , Daly Fraser , Shneer Seva 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn this paper we establish asymptotics (as the size of the graph grows to infinity) for the expected number of cliques in the Chung–Lu inhomogeneous random graph model in which vertices are assigned independent weights which have tail probabilities $$h^{1-\alpha }l(h)$$

h

1
-
α

l

(
h
)

, where $$\alpha >2$$

α
>
2

and l is a slowly varying function. Each pair of vertices is connected by an edge with a probability proportional to the product of the weights of those vertices. We present a complete set of asymptotics for all clique sizes and for all non-integer $$\alpha > 2$$

α
>
2

. We also explain why the case of an integer $$\alpha $$
α
is different, and present partial results for the asymptotics in that case.
Performance of borated scintillator screens for high-resolution neutron imaging
Authors: Schillinger Burkhard , Chuirazzi William , Craft Aaron , Cool Steven , Tengattini Alessandro 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe most commonly used screens for neutron imaging consist of 6LiF + ZnS. This type of screen yields the highest light output per detected neutron. For high resolution, gadolinium oxysulfide (GOS, Gadox) screens are employed, which have a much higher detection efficiency, but a light output so much lower than LiF + ZnS that measurements are often limited by photon statistics. Historically, screens using boron as a neutron-sensitive material have not been very successful. However, a new preparation method was introduced recently that produces light output higher than Gadox with detection efficiency greater than LiF + ZnS. Measurements of these new borated screens were performed at the NeXT facility at ILL, Grenoble, in comparison to a high resolution Gadox screen.
A two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic system: geometric decomposition and canonical reduction
Authors: Rogers Colin , Schief Wolfgang K. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractA geometric decomposition previously adopted in areas of nonlinear continuum mechanics and soliton theory is applied to a two-dimensional time-independent magnetohydrodynamic system to obtain reduction to a canonical third order nonlinear equation subject to a constraint. Novel classes of exact solutions to the magnetohydrodynamic system are thereby constructed. Connection is made with kinematic conditions which attend certain steady two-dimensional motions of fibre-reinforced viscous fluids.
Efficacy of Multimodal Sensory Therapy in Adult Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Review
Authors: Norwood Michael Francis , Lakhani Ali , Watling David Phillip , Marsh Chelsea Hannah , Zeeman Heidi 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAdults who experience an acquired brain injury often experience disorders of consciousness, physical difficulties, and maladaptive behaviours. Multimodal sensory therapy may benefit brain injured patients, however the extent this therapy can facilitate rehabilitation is not well understood. This systematic review aimed to synthesize multimodal sensory therapy research for adults affected by acquired brain injury. PRISMA guidelines were followed and searches for work published up until July 2021 were undertaken in 5 databases, finding 1054 articles. 43 articles were included in the study. Results describe 29 studies related to coma following an acquired brain injury and 14 to no coma studies (mostly stroke). Multimodal sensory therapy was mostly used as a coma arousal technique following traumatic brain injury, finding positive effects. Multimodal sensory therapy was less applied in stroke, no coma rehabilitation, where most studies found improvement in somatosensory sensation and motor control in an affected limb. In several no coma studies, effects were maintained after several months. The most common senses stimulated in coma studies were audio (N = 30), tactile (N = 28), visual (N = 26), olfactory (N = 22), and gustatory (N = 17), while the most common senses stimulated in stroke, no coma studies were proprioception (N = 7), tactile (N = 8), and stereognosis (N = 4). Multimodal sensory therapy can be beneficial for patients, especially those in a minimally conscious state or attempting physical rehabilitation following stroke. Negative findings are infrequent in the current literature base. Multimodal sensory therapy appears to be a low-risk intervention with positive outcomes.
Anatomical acclimation of mature leaves to increased irradiance in sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.)
Authors: Wyka Tomasz P. , Robakowski Piotr , Żytkowiak Roma , Oleksyn Jacek 
Published: September 2022

AbstractTrees regenerating in the understory respond to increased availability of light caused by gap formation by undergoing a range of morphological and physiological adjustments. These adjustments include the production of thick, sun-type leaves containing thicker mesophyll and longer palisade cells than in shade-type leaves. We asked whether in the shade-regenerating tree Acer pseudoplatanus, the increase in leaf thickness and expansion of leaf tissues are possible also in leaves that are already fully formed, a response reported so far only for a handful of species. We acclimated potted seedlings to eight levels (from 1 to 100%) of solar irradiance and, in late summer, transferred a subset of them to full sunlight. Within 30 days, the pre-shaded leaves increased leaf mass per area and became thicker mostly due to the elongation of palisade cells, except for the most shaded individuals which suffered irreversible photo-oxidative damage. This anatomical acclimation was accompanied by a transient decline in photosynthetic efficiency of PSII (Fv/FM), the magnitude of which was related to the degree of pre-shading. The Fv/FM recovered substantially within the re-acclimation period. However, leaves of transferred plants were shed earlier in the fall, indicating that the acclimation was not fully effective. These results show that A. pseudoplatanus is one of the few known species in which mature leaves may re-acclimate anatomically to increased irradiance. This may be an important mechanism enhancing utilization of gaps created during the growing season.
Improving bridge estimators via f-GAN
Authors: Xing Hanwen 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBridge sampling is a powerful Monte Carlo method for estimating ratios of normalizing constants. Various methods have been introduced to improve its efficiency. These methods aim to increase the overlap between the densities by applying appropriate transformations to them without changing their normalizing constants. In this paper, we first give a new estimator of the asymptotic relative mean square error (RMSE) of the optimal Bridge estimator by equivalently estimating anf-divergence between the two densities. We then utilize this framework and proposef-GAN-Bridge estimator (f-GB) based on a bijective transformation that maps one density to the other and minimizes the asymptotic RMSE of the optimal Bridge estimator with respect to the densities. This transformation is chosen by minimizing a specificf-divergence between the densities. We showf-GB is optimal in the sense that within any given set of candidate transformations, thef-GB estimator can asymptotically achieve an RMSE lower than or equal to that achieved by Bridge estimators based on any other transformed densities. Numerical experiments show thatf-GB outperforms existing methods in simulated and real-world examples. In addition, we discuss how Bridge estimators naturally arise from the problem off-divergence estimation.
A non-stationary model for spatially dependent circular response data based on wrapped Gaussian processes
Authors: Marques Isa , Kneib Thomas , Klein Nadja 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCircular data can be found across many areas of science, for instance meteorology (e.g., wind directions), ecology (e.g., animal movement directions), or medicine (e.g., seasonality in disease onset). The special nature of these data means that conventional methods for non-periodic data are no longer valid. In this paper, we consider wrapped Gaussian processes and introduce a spatial model for circular data that allow for non-stationarity in the mean and the covariance structure of Gaussian random fields. We use the empirical equivalence between Gaussian random fields and Gaussian Markov random fields which allows us to considerably reduce computational complexity by exploiting the sparseness of the precision matrix of the associated Gaussian Markov random field. Furthermore, we develop tunable priors, inspired by the penalized complexity prior framework, that shrink the model toward a less flexible base model with stationary mean and covariance function. Posterior estimation is done via Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation. The performance of the model is evaluated in a simulation study. Finally, the model is applied to analyzing wind directions in Germany.
Stephen F. Mason—structural chemist and historian of science—a centenary remembrance
Authors: Hargittai Istvan 
Published: September 2022

AbstractStephen F. Mason (1923–2007) was a polymath. He applied a variety of spectroscopic and computational techniques to investigate molecular properties. His best-known results appeared in connection with chirality. He was a pioneer in advocating the importance of chiral separation for pharmaceuticals even before the thalidomide tragedy. Another pioneering contribution was his work on biomolecular homochirality and the recognition of the electroweak origin of biomolecular handedness. He published important books spanning the range from the history of science through the chemical history of the elements to the origin of the universe and life. Our remembrance focuses on his views on some turning points in the history of science and, especially, in the history of chemistry.
On the use of deep learning and parallelism techniques to significantly reduce the HEVC intra-coding time
Authors: Galiano Vicente , Migallón Héctor , Martínez-Rach Miguel , López-Granado Otoniel , P. Malumbres Manuel 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIt is well-known that each new video coding standard significantly increases in computational complexity with respect to previous standards, and this is particularly true for the HEVC and VVC video coding standards. The development of techniques for reducing the required complexity without affecting the rate/distortion (R/D) performance is therefore always a topic of intense research interest. In this paper, we propose a combination of two powerful techniques, deep learning and parallel computing, to significantly reduce the complexity of the HEVC encoding engine. Our experimental results show that a combination of deep learning to reduce the CTU partitioning complexity with parallel strategies based on frame partitioning is able to achieve speedups of up to 26$$\times$$
×
when 16 threads are used. The R/D penalty in terms of the BD-BR metric depends on the video content, the compression rate and the number of OpenMP threads, and was consistently between 0.35 and 10% for the video sequence test set used in our experiments
Causes of abortion in Iranian sheep flocks and associated risk factors
Authors: Esmaeili Hossein , Shakeri Amir Pasha , Rad Zia Nosrati , Arani Ehsan Baghal , Villanueva-Saz Sergio , Ruiz Héctor , Lacasta Delia 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAbortion is a major issue in sheep husbandry. It can result in significant economic losses and a severe public health risk. This survey assessed the infectious and non-infectious causes of abortion in Iranian sheep flocks and determined the main risk factors. In this cross-sectional survey, causes of abortion were evaluated in 757 sheep flocks, and risk factors were analysed. A checklist containing general animal information for each abortion outbreak evaluated was filled in. Data were analysed using univariate tests and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. In this sense, parity, gestational age of the aborted fetus, vaccination protocol, mineral supplementation and history of stillbirth showed significant associations with abortion. Infectious agents such as Coxiella burnetti (22.7%), Chlamydia abortus (12.3%) and Brucella melitensis (10.4%) were the most frequently isolated in the investigated flocks, with more than 2% of abortion rates. On the other hand, non-infectious agents such as trauma, pregnancy toxaemia and vitamin E/Se deficiency were involved in those flocks with low abortion rates (less than 10%). Results revealed multiple causes of abortion outbreaks among Iranian sheep flocks, which need careful investigation to identify possible aetiology and risk factors. Further studies are necessary to evaluate if these factors are similar to other countries in the same region.