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The Tor browser is widely used for anonymity, providing layered encryption for enhanced privacy. Besides its positive uses, it is also popular among cybercriminals for illegal activities such as trafficking, smuggling, betting, and illicit trade. There is a need for Tor Browser forensics to identify its use in unlawful activities and explore its consequences. This research analyzes artifacts generated by Tor on Windows-based systems. The methodology integrates forensic techniques into incident responses per NIST SP (800-86), exploring areas such as registry, storage, network, and memory using tools like bulk-extractor, autopsy, and regshot. We propose an automated PowerShell script that detects Tor usage and retrieves artifacts with minimal user interaction. Finally, this research performs timeline analysis and artifact correlation for a contextual understanding of event sequences in memory and network domains, ultimately contributing to improved incident response and accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air traffic controllers' mental workload significantly impacts their operational efficiency and safety. Detecting their mental workload rapidly and accurately is crucial for preventing aviation accidents. This study introduces a mental workload detection model for controllers based on power spectrum features related to gamma waves. The model selects the feature with the highest classification accuracy, β + θ + α + γ, and utilizes the mRMR (Max-Relevance and Min-Redundancy) algorithm for channel selection. Furthermore, the channels that were less affected by ICA processing were identified, and the reliability of this result was demonstrated by artifact analysis brought about by EMG, ECG, etc. Finally, a model for rapid mental workload detection for controllers was developed and the detection rate for the 34 subjects reached 1, and the accuracy for the remaining subjects was as low as 0.986. In conclusion, we validated the usability of the mRMR algorithm in channel selection and proposed a rapid method for detecting mental workload in air traffic controllers using only three EEG channels. By reducing the number of EEG channels and shortening the data processing time, this approach simplifies equipment application and maintains detection accuracy, enhancing practical usability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centered around the questions of "whose" and "for whom" heritage is, this article explores various approaches in South America aimed at achieving a public archaeology that is inclusive and beneficial to communities. While the reflections and most case studies primarily focus on indigenous societies, specific efforts to develop collaborative methodologies that include other groups or collectives are also discussed. To provide a comprehensive view, a general review of relevant literature from different parts of the continent has been conducted, synthesizing it to present the state of the art on collaborative methodologies in the Americas, with a focus on South America. The core concepts addressed are heritage and community, their interrelationship, and the diverse ways their connection is crucial today, particularly in terms of collaborative methodologies in various research projects. The discussion highlights how the interpretation and presentation of the past become significant aspects when transitioning from theory to the practice of collaborations. After presenting several previously published examples and the articles comprising this dossier, the article concludes that significant advances have been made in the last decades in developing collaborative methodologies in archaeology. This progress marks a positive path toward the pluralization of the discipline. As an original contribution, the article offers a comparative reflection on collaborative work with communities in museums in Europe and the Americas, evaluating approaches and advancements. It concludes that researchers in the Americas have an advantage: working with materials that are closely connected to the groups that consider them their heritage, or considering themselves the heirs, allows for a more intimate and legitimate approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray computed tomography (XRCT) imaging allows non-destructive visualization of the structure of various materials. Applied to wooden objects, it allows determination of their morphologies or manufacturing techniques, but also measurement of growth ring widths. We have applied XRCT to a selection of 38 mummy labels. This funerary furniture, made up of endemic or imported tree species, has survived thanks to environmental conditions in very large quantities in regions in Middle and Upper Egypt and is featured now in museum collections across the globe. Mummy labels thus represent a unique and abundant data source to build floating or absolutely dated dendrochronological chronologies for this period. Here we discuss the possible contributions and limitations of XRCT for the analysis of these artifacts and show that the approach allows identification of discriminating markers for the identification of certain species on the transverse plane, but that the insufficient resolution of the tangential and radial planes normally prevents formal identification of species. By contrast, XRCT undeniably enhances the visibility of toolmarks (in terms of numbers and depth), and thereby allows highlighting marks that remain invisible to the naked eye; XRCT also provides key insights into cutting methods and the calibers used and yields new information on silvicultural practices and the knowhow of Egyptian craftsmen. Finally, the measurement of ring widths on XRCT imagery is also more accurate than what can be achieved by traditional dendrochronological measurements, especially in the case of cuts realized on a slab. The approach also confirms the limited potential of local broadleaved species for dendrochronological approaches due to unreadable or poorly visible tree rings and mostly short tree-ring sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare hardness versus strain rate data from different kinds of indentation creep test can be challenging. It is often difficult to determine whether measured differences in material response along different loading paths, such as constant load creep or load relaxation, are real or merely arise as artifacts from the analysis. We argue that the difficulty lies in how indentation strain rate is defined. For traditional definitions of strain rate, such as ε ˙ h , which measures the rate of penetration, or ε ˙ A , which measures the growth of indent area, material response might seem path-dependent even when it is not. We introduce a new definition of plastic strain rate, ε ˙ irr , which is based on irreversible work and is well-posed in the sense that it gives the same results from different loading paths when deformation is path-independent. This property frees experimenters to isolate and explore deformation mechanisms that respond differently along different loading paths, which is useful for revealing the influences of time and strain rate on evolution of structure. ε ˙ irr is important for exploring path-dependence in high-hardness/modulus (≳ 0.02) materials like ceramics and polymers. For low-hardness-modulus materials other measures of strain rate suffice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blooming artifacts caused by calcifications appearing on computed tomography (CT) images lead to an underestimation of the coronary artery lumen size, and higher X-ray energy levels are suggested to reduce the blooming artifacts with subjective visual assessment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of higher X-ray energy levels on the quantitative measurement of adjacent pixels affected by calcification using CT images. In this two-part study, CT images were acquired from dual-energy CT scanners by changing the X-ray energy levels such as kilovoltage peak (kVp) and kilo-electron volts (keV). Adjacent pixels affected by calcification were measured using the brightened length, excluding the actual calcified length, as determined by the full width at third maximum. In a separate clinical study, the adjacent affected pixels associated with 23 calcifications across 10 patients were measured using the same method as that used in the phantom study. Phantom and clinical studies showed that the change in kVp (field of view [FOV] 300 mm: p = 0.167, 0.494, and 0.861 for vendors 1, 2, and 3, respectively) and keV levels (p = 0.178 for vendor 2) failed to reduce the adjacent pixels affected by calcification, respectively. Moreover, the change in keV levels showed different aspects of adjacent pixels affected by calcification in the phantom study (FOV 300 mm: no significant difference [p = 0.191], increase [p < 0.001], and decrease [p < 0.001] for vendors 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Quantitative measurements revealed no significant relationship between higher X-ray energy levels and the adjacent pixels affected by calcification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer aided implant surgery has been widely adopted in modern implant dentistry. However, absence of reliable anatomic landmarks for superimposing digital data sets for patients with terminal dentition or complete edentulism remained challenging. Utilization of additional fiducial markers intraorally as the reference points for the improvement of accuracy became crucial in implant digital workflow. Nevertheless, the choice of the material for fiducial markers should present the least radiographic artifacts under cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for better accuracy. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the volume of radiographic artifacts generated through different materials under the image of CBCT. Fifteen dental materials were selected and configured into cubic shape. All the materials were scanned initially with the laboratory scanner as the control groups. The samples were scanned by CBCT machine as test groups and the volume of artifact generated under CBCT images were compared and analyzed using 3D modeling software. Eleven out of fifteen materials could be recognized under CBCT images. Volumetric analysis reported that statistically significant differences among the materials could be noted, and the flowable composite resin presented the least volumetric difference. Lithium disilicate glass-ceramic, flowable composite resin, and gutta-percha presented the least deformation and maintained their cubic shapes. The results of the present study may imply that flowable composite resin compared to all ceramic materials, amalgam and gutta-percha may be a preferable choice when utilized as fiducial markers under CBCT images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Demonstrate a case study on project management using the Scrum framework in the development of systems for a public organization. Design / Methodology / Approach: The research method used in the Case Study is an exploratory research with a qualitative approach, through data collection, application of a structured questionnaire to Stakeholders, Scrum Master and Product Owner and analysis of the artifacts generated. Results: The work demonstrated the factors that affect the effectiveness application of the Scrum framework, highlighting bad practices and barriers related to the understanding of business and products, which reduce the ability to deliver quality and value, ineffectiveness of the method application. Research limitations: the number of interviewees in the organization, for further analysis in the case study. Originality/Value: while previous studies focus on the application of the Scrum method in private companies, this paper presents a case study from the perspective of a public organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on digital forensic investigations of the databases used in an instant messenger application. Instant messengers store and manage user data in databases, which can be encrypted for privacy protection. We proposed a method to identify and decrypt an SQLite version 3.40.0 database encrypted using wxSQLite3 version 4.9.1, and then we examined the LINE instant messenger application to validate the proposed method. As a result, we successfully acquired the wxSQLite3 passphrase, which was used to decrypt the database of the LINE messenger application. We also performed artifact analysis to enumerate the data from a digital forensics perspective. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to propose a method to identify and decrypt of wxSQLite3-encrypted database and its applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an exploratory study that examines how 11 first-year writing instructors' conceptualizations of information literacy evolved over the course of their participation in an inquiry group co-developed and co-facilitated by the Libraries' teaching faculty and the Director of Composition & Rhetoric at a public university in the United States. The authors developed a coding schema to identify the presence of information literacy-related themes and practices in pre- and post-program course syllabi and in reflective pieces submitted by instructors. The findings revealed that instructors' use and applications of the ACRL Framework increased after the program, showing greater personal engagement as evidenced by more preferential application of frames most relevant to their learning goals. Moreover, instructors integrated those frames more fully into their instructional practices. The authors' analysis of instructor-created artifacts provides a unique lens into disciplinary instructors' conceptualizations of and approaches to information literacy while examining the impact of one path for collaboration and scalability of information literacy integration within a curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare the potential of various bone evaluations by considering photon-counting CT (PCCT) and multiple energy-integrating-detector CT (EIDCT), including three dual-energy CT (DECT) scanners with standardized various parameters in both standard resolution (STD) and ultra-high-resolution (UHR) modes. Methods: Four cadaveric forearms were scanned using PCCT and five EIDCTs, by applying STD and UHR modes. Visibility of bone architecture, image quality, and a non-displaced fracture were subjectively scored against a reference EIDCT image by using a five-point scale. Image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were also compared. To assess metal artifacts, a forearm with radial plate fixation was scanned by with and without Tin filter (Sn+ and Sn−), and virtual monoenergetic image (VMI) at 120 keV was created. Regarding Sn+ and VMI, images were only obtained from the technically available scanners. Subjective scores and the areas of streak artifacts were compared. Results: PCCT demonstrated significantly lower noise (p < 0.001) and higher bone SNR and CNR (p < 0.001) than all EIDCTs in both resolution modes. However, there was no significant difference between PCCT and EIDCTs in almost all subjective scores, regardless of scan modes, except for image quality where a significant difference was observed, compared to several EIDCTs. Metal artifact analysis revealed PCCT had larger artifact in Sn− and Sn+ (p < 0.001), but fewer in VMIs than three DECTs (p < 0.001 or 0.001). Conclusions: Under standardized conditions, while PCCT had almost no subjective superiority in visualizing bone structures and fracture line when compared to EIDCTs, it outperformed in quantitative analysis related to image quality, especially in lower noise and higher tissue contrast. When using PCCT to assess cases with metal implants, it may be recommended to use VMIs to minimize the possible tendency for artifact to be pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), a method of cerebral tissue oxygenation measurement, is recorded using non-invasive near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) devices. A major limitation is that recorded signals often contain artifacts. Manually removing these artifacts is both resource and time consuming. The objective was to evaluate the applicability of using wavelet analysis as an automated method for simple signal loss artifact clearance of rSO2 signals obtained from commercially available devices. A retrospective observational study using existing populations (healthy control (HC), elective spinal surgery patients (SP), and traumatic brain injury patients (TBI)) was conducted. Arterial blood pressure (ABP) and rSO2 data were collected in all patients. Wavelet analysis was determined to be successful in removing simple signal loss artifacts using wavelet coefficients and coherence to detect signal loss artifacts in rSO2 signals. The removal success rates in HC, SP, and TBI populations were 100%, 99.8%, and 99.7%, respectively (though it had limited precision in determining the exact point in time). Thus, wavelet analysis may prove to be useful in a layered approach NIRS signal artifact tool utilizing higher-frequency data; however, future work is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Philósophos is the property of Revista Philosophos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wine was a primary commodity in antiquity and prevalent in the Southern Levant Mediterranean-basin regions and Mesopotamia. Therefore, its identification in archaeological artifacts by chemical analysis is of great importance. Many studies of wine residues were conducted on pottery from Mediterranean and Near Eastern sites, using a wide range of approaches to extract and detect organic compounds. This article will evaluate and compare these methods and raise consequent considerations for the interpretation of results to arrive at a historic picture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to understand the findings presented in the Comment by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539), we followed their data analysis methodology, omitting the hot and cold‐load calibrations that are an important part of the standard SOFIA GREAT instrument calibration procedure. This process requires scaling of the Venus off‐source spectra by an arbitrary factor, which in turn introduces residuals of the intrinsic receiver bandpass shape as spurious components in the resulting line/continuum spectra. Although these additional artifacts can be reduced via Fourier‐domain spectral filtering, their removal depends on an ill‐constrained interpolation of the Venus continuum across the PH3 spectral line positions, resulting in an unreliable final spectrum. We therefore conclude that the PH3 lines claimed to be detected in the Comment by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539) originate from data/analysis artifacts, and confirm our original result that there is no evidence for phosphine in the SOFIA Venus data. Plain Language Summary: We performed observations using a unique, flying telescope—the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)—to search for a gas called phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus, which has been suggested to be an indicator for life. The observations, published by Cordiner et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gl101055), were analyzed carefully but showed no evidence of phosphine. Our findings were called into question in the Comment by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539), who claimed to find phosphine lines in the SOFIA observations after following an unconventional data analysis method. We have investigated their method, and conclude that it is likely to introduce spurious signals into the data, so the claimed phosphine detection is therefore not significant. Key Points: The revised calibration procedure adopted by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539) introduces additional receiver artifacts into the SOFIA 4G2 Venus spectraThe claimed PH3 detection is likely a result of this, combined with interpolation artifacts that occur during subsequent Fourier filteringWe confirm our original conclusion that there is no evidence for phosphine in the SOFIA GREAT Venus data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of technology-enhanced online learning platforms is transforming teaching and learning practices within and outside the university. As online learning and educational technology become increasingly ubiquitous, there is a need for equity-minded scholarship attending to the social, cultural, and political implications of the technology sustaining online learning. While prior literature has made important strides framing education technology within conversations of equity and justice, there is a lack of empirical research analyzing marketing material of education technology. This presents a significant gap in understanding for education researchers, as marketing material plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions of technology, and can be widely read among students, instructors, and university stakeholders before directly engaging with the tool. Given recent scholarly interest in the ways subjective understandings of temporality are implicated in learning design, the present study connects burgeoning interest in temporality towards corporate marketing material of learning design. Drawing on artifact analysis methods, we analyzed blog posts from Coursera and customer success stories from Microsoft that describe how their products are designed to support online learning. Our research questions include: (1) How does marketing material from two education technology companies shape subjective understandings of temporality in online learning? (2) How can these temporal representations be leveraged to promote equity-oriented pedagogical design? Results from our analysis show how time is constituted as an efficient and agentic resource, and as an orientation towards future careers. We discuss how these findings have implications for equity-oriented pedagogical design by linking conceptions of time to neoliberalism and humanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative data analysis in single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is crucial for studying cellular functions at the biomolecular level. In the past decade, several quantitative methods were developed for analyzing SMLM data; however, imaging artifacts in SMLM experiments reduce the accuracy of these methods, and these methods were seldom designed as user-friendly tools. Researchers are now trying to overcome these difficulties by developing easy-to-use SMLM data analysis software for certain image analysis tasks. But, this kind of software did not pay sufficient attention to the impact of imaging artifacts on the analysis accuracy, and usually contained only one type of analysis task. Therefore, users are still facing difficulties when they want to have the combined use of different types of analysis methods according to the characteristics of their data and their own needs. In this paper, we report an ImageJ plug-in called DecodeSTORM, which not only has a simple GUI for human–computer interaction, but also combines artifact correction with several quantitative analysis methods. DecodeSTORM includes format conversion, channel registration, artifact correction (drift correction and localization filtering), quantitative analysis (segmentation and clustering, spatial distribution statistics and colocalization) and visualization. Importantly, these data analysis methods can be combined freely, thus improving the accuracy of quantitative analysis and allowing users to have an optimal combination of methods. We believe DecodeSTORM is a user-friendly and powerful ImageJ plug-in, which provides an easy and accurate data analysis tool for adventurous biologists who are looking for new imaging tools for studying important questions in cell biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BRAC: Barcelona, Research, Art, Creation is the property of BRAC: Barcelona, Research, Art, Creation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The application of an integrated research approach to the reconstruction of ceramic production technology on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic is considered based on the results obtained by modern methods. For the first time, the results of studying physicomechanical and physicochemical properties are summarized and an attempt is made to open up methods of technical analysis of ceramic artifacts. A unified scientific approach has been developed to the ceramics of various periods ranging from the 2nd millennium BC to our era up to the 10th – 12th centuries, and excavated in Kyrgyzstan, so as to determine the relationship between their microstructure and physical and mechanical properties. Ceramic technology, like no other industry, requires this kind of research because of the specificity of technical information associated with both natural and social factors. The lack of solid knowledge in the field of ceramics technology prevents the acquisition of important information about the history, culture, and economy of Kyrgyzstan as a nation-building entity. However, a comprehensive study of production techniques, types, compositions, and quality of ceramics would open up completely new prospects for confirming the antiquity of Kyrgyzstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image rotation makes fake images more realistic in geometric perspective, and the performance of existing JPEG image rotation angle estimation algorithms is easily disturbed by block artifacts and the image block size. It remains an imminent and challenging work for the rotation angle interval [1°,15°]. This study presents an effective algorithm to estimate the rotation angle of JPEG images based on block artifact spectral analysis. Firstly, the edges of the image are extracted and removed using a variant colony algorithm to highlight block effects. Secondly, the effect of image texture is further mitigated by cross-differentiation. Thirdly, extraneous peaks are removed in the Fourier transform domain by setting reasonable thresholds and using a Gaussian high-pass filter to reduce interference. Finally, the amplitude component of the Fourier spectrum is projected into the polar coordinates, and the polar angle corresponding to the peak in the polar coordinates is the estimation of rotation angle we need. The experimental results show that the average absolute error of the method is lower than that of the existing methods for the detection of small-size JPEG images whose rotation angle lies within the [1°,15°] interval. Besides, when the compression quality factor is gradually reduced, the performance of the proposed method is still better than the existing methods, and the robustness of the proposed method to JPEG compression is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen is the most crucial component of leather artifacts and analyzing collagen can provide vital information for studying and conserving such artifacts. However, collagen in leather artifacts often faces challenges such as degradation, denaturation, and contamination, which make it difficult to achieve an ideal protein extract using traditional extraction methods. This study aimed to find an efficient collagen extraction strategy for aging leather by comparing and improving commonly used methods. The results of comparing different extraction methods indicated that a NaOH solution was highly effective in extracting collagen from aged leather. To determine the optimal conditions for collagen extraction from the NaOH solution, we conducted orthogonal experiments. The results revealed that a NaOH concentration of 0.05 mol/L, a dissolution temperature of 80 °C, and a dissolution time of 12 h were the most favorable conditions. To validate the effectiveness of this method, we performed SDS-PAGE and biological mass spectrometry tests on collagen extracts from leather samples with varying degrees of aging. All collagen extracts exhibited distinct bands in the gel, and the molecular weight of collagen in each sample exceeded 20 kDa. Furthermore, even with a reduced sample mass of 1 mg (micro-destructive sampling), biological mass spectrometry identified 124 peptides in the protein extract. Notably, four of these peptides were unique to cattle hide collagen and were not present in the collagen of pig, sheep, horse, deer, or human skins. These experimental findings confirm the efficacy of the NaOH solution for extracting collagen from aging leather, suggesting that it can serve as a significant method for collagen identification and analysis in leather artifacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the times of Émile Durkheim, the problem of analyzing religious manifestations within specific cultures has been the focus of researchers in the field of History and Anthropology. Before Durkheim, names like Max Weber, Herbert Spencer, J. G. Frazer and Bronislaw Malinowski had already addressed that issue, aspiring to separate the universes of the sacred and the profane. This article aims to address, within the area of the historiographical debate, the cultural and religious context of England in the Early Middle Ages and how the use of the traditional idea of "paganism" is inadequate nowadays, leading to the need for a deeper knowledge of the sources and respective periods of time in the English history. Intending to comprehend what we are going to name "the spiritual universe of Anglo-Saxon England", the main point of our analysis is the artifact known as the Franks Casket and how it helps us understand the universe of culture and mentalities of the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representing past, present and future locations is key for spatial navigation. Indeed, within each cycle of the theta oscillation, the population of hippocampal place cells appears to represent trajectories starting behind the current position of the animal and sweeping ahead of it. In particular, we reported recently that the position represented by CA1 place cells at a given theta phase corresponds to the location where animals were or will be located at a fixed time interval into the past or future assuming the animal ran at its typical, not the current, speed through that part of the environment. This coding scheme leads to longer theta trajectories, larger place fields and shallower phase precession in areas where animals typically run faster. Here we present a mechanistic computational model that accounts for these experimental observations. The model consists of a continuous attractor network with short-term synaptic facilitation and depression that internally generates theta sequences that advance at a fixed pace. Spatial locations are then mapped onto the active units via modified Hebbian plasticity. As a result, neighboring units become associated with spatial locations further apart where animals run faster, reproducing our earlier experimental results. The model also accounts for the higher density of place fields generally observed where animals slow down, such as around rewards. Furthermore, our modeling results reveal that an artifact of the decoding analysis might be partly responsible for the observation that theta trajectories start behind the animal's current position. Overall, our results shed light on how the hippocampal code might arise from the interplay between behavior, sensory input and predefined network dynamics. Author summary: To navigate in space we need to know where we are, but also where we are going and, possibly, where we are coming from. In mammals, including humans, this might rely on the hippocampal theta phase code, where in each cycle of the theta oscillation, spatial representations appear to start behind the animal's location and then sweep forward. Previously, we showed that these sweeps extend to the locations that were or will be reached at fixed time intervals in the past or future, but assuming the animal ran at its typical speed through each portion of the environment. Here, we present a computational model that can account for these effects, as well as for the over-representation of reward zones in the hippocampal code. The model uses preconfigured neural sequences in the hippocampus to learn sequences of spatial inputs, a mechanism which is supported by experimental findings. Similar mechanisms have been proposed to underlie the encoding of episodic memories. Our work might therefore help reconcile the prominence of spatial representations in the hippocampus with its well-known function in episodic memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is frequently used to corroborate the signs and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, artifacts induced by dental restorations might complicate the diagnosis of CRS. Here, we assessed the frequency and location of artifacts in CBCT images taken to confirm the CRS. Methods: All CBCT images of the patients referred to the Emergency Radiology unit, Turku University Hospital, with an indication of CRS in 2017 were re-examined. The prevalence of the artifacts was analyzed in three cross-sectional views and three horizontal levels delimited by anatomical landmarks. Results: In total, 214 CBCT images of patients with CRS were evaluated. The diagnosis of apical periodontitis (AP) was impaired by artifacts present in 150/214 images (70%). The diagnosis of CRS was impaired in 5 of the 214 images (2.3%). The main origins of the artifacts were large dental fillings or crowns, and endodontic fillings were present in 95% (203/214) and 52% (111/214) of the images, respectively. Conclusions: AP as an etiology of CRS is possible to miss because of artifacts originating from dental and endodontic fillings in the CBCT images of the paranasal sinuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista del Museo de Antropología is the property of Museo de Antropologia - IDACOR and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study concerns the digital documentation of the city wall of Verona. The "Verona Città Murata" project began in 2015 thanks to the research agreement between the Municipality of Verona (UNESCO office) and the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture of the University of Pavia. The project stems from the request to develop tools to document the site's conservation to initiate timely restoration, management, and maintenance studies. Measures for protecting, conserving, and enhancing a comprehensive and impressive cultural and natural heritage, such as the Magistral Walls and the Veronese Park, are complex and multifaceted. The multi-disciplinary aspect and the use of flexible tools to manage the information and analyses obtained during the study phase are fundamental. The research aims to optimize the fortified system's acquisition process by validating integrated survey methods and assessing point cloud data's potential, limitations, and planimetric and elevation accuracy (TLS, MLS, UAVs). On the one hand, the research products are aimed to structure a methodology of valuable representation for the documentation and diagnostic and conservative analysis of the artifact; on the other hand, they will become a helpful tool for the narrative description of Verona's fortifications to disseminate and valorize the fabric of military technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cultural heritage, three-dimensional documentation of historic buildings is fundamental for conservation and valorisation projects. In recent years, the consolidated tools and methods: Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and close-range photogrammetry, have been joined by portable Mobile Mapping Systems (MMSs), which can offer significant advantages in terms of speed of survey operations at the price of reduced accuracy. The reduction of survey times and, therefore, costs makes the application of MMS techniques ideal for the preliminary stages of analysis of historical artifacts, when a rapid survey is indispensable for estimating the costs of conservation interventions.In this paper, we present a methodology for the expeditious survey of historic buildings and the surrounding urban fabric that is based on the use of an MMS and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The MMS is the Gexcel Heron MS Twin color. It was used to survey two architecture of interest and the urban context surrounding them from the ground level. The UAV is the DJI Mini 2, used to integrate the terrestrial survey by acquiring the buildings' roofs. The case study presented in the paper is the survey of San Clemente and San Zeno al Foro churches, two historic churches in the city centre of Brescia (Italy).The result are a complete point cloud of the two buildings and a metric virtual tour of all spaces. These results were made available to the architects through the Cintoo web platform to plan future activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interventional biopsy needles need to be accurately localized to the target tissue during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interventions. In this context, severe susceptibility artifacts affect the visibility of structures in the MR images depending on the needle's material composition. In particular, standard needles for the spinal cord made of nickel-titanium alloys (NiTi) generate massive susceptibility artifacts during MRI. Consequently, this does not allow the precise placement of the needle to the target. The aim was to prove that using a non-metallic material for the needle can significantly reduce the appearance of artifacts. Hence, this work used a new combination of non-metallic materials based on an enforced fiber bundle as an inner core with different outer hollow sheets to fabricate seven prototypes of interventional spinal needles to optimize their visualization in MRI scans. Susceptibility artifacts for the non-metallic needles were evaluated in MRI images by an automatic quantification based on a K-means algorithm and compared with manual quantification. The width and length of the artifacts were measured for each needle. The non-metallic needles showed significantly lower artifacts in comparison to the standard needle. K-means provided the capability for detecting needle artifacts in MRI images, facilitating qualitative and quantitative assessment of MRI artifacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Art & Interpretation / Sanat ve Yorum is the property of Ataturk University Coordinatorship of Scientific Journals and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

EEG signals may be affected by physiological and non-physiological artifacts hindering the analysis of brain activity. Blind source separation methods such as independent component analysis (ICA) are effective ways of improving signal quality by removing components representing non-brain activity. However, most ICA-based artifact removal strategies have limitations, such as individual differences in visual assessment of components. These limitations might be reduced by introducing automatic selection methods for ICA components. On the other hand, new fully automatic artifact removal methods are developed. One of such method is artifact subspace reconstruction (ASR). ASR is a component-based approach, which can be used automatically and with small calculation requirements. The ASR was originally designed to be run not instead of, but in addition to ICA. We compared two automatic signal quality correction approaches: the approach based only on ICA method and the approach where ASR was applied additionally to ICA and run before the ICA. The case study was based on the analysis of data collected from 10 subjects performing four popular experimental paradigms, including resting-state, visual stimulation and oddball task. Statistical analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio showed a significant difference, but not between ICA and ASR followed by ICA. The results show that both methods provided a signal of similar quality, but they were characterised by different usabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We improve the understanding of the golden ratio algorithm, which solves monotone variational inequalities (VI) and convex-concave min-max problems via the distinctive feature of adapting the step sizes to the local Lipschitz constants. Adaptive step sizes not only eliminate the need to pick hyperparameters, but they also remove the necessity of global Lipschitz continuity and can increase from one iteration to the next. We first establish the equivalence of this algorithm with popular VI methods such as reflected gradient, Popov or optimistic gradient descent-ascent (OGDA) in the unconstrained case with constant step sizes. We then move on to the constrained setting and introduce a new analysis that allows to use larger step sizes, to complete the bridge between the golden ratio algorithm and the existing algorithms in the literature. Doing so, we actually eliminate the link between the golden ratio 1 + √5 / 2 and the algorithm. Moreover, we improve the adaptive version of the algorithm, first by removing the maximum step size hyperparameter (an artifact from the analysis), and secondly, by adjusting it to nonmonotone problems with weak Minty solutions, with superior empirical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article rescues the methodological arsenal of doctoral research that took as its object of investigation the curriculum of serial media narratives, meaning it is an artifact involved in the 'pedagogization' of existences and the delimitation of lives as livable and as killable. The objective was to highlight the death policies and affirmative escapes in the investigated curriculum. Divided into some methodological notes, the analysis of this artifact was carried out from an articulation of different postcritical orientations, producing a 'methodology-zapping', based on the analysis of Michel Foucault's discourse and the cartography of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. In the exercise of a 'methodologyzapping', we conclude that the curriculum of serial media narratives is produced between tensions, clashes, and conflicts that constitute as a hybrid artifact, making it possible to connect a map of the production of death with a map of escapes and affirmation. of life. This is because, in addition to all the necropolitics at stake, all the investments in addressing violence and death to dissident subjects, and all the attempts to either normalize or annihilate difference, there are also spaces for resistance. It is in this in-between space that the curriculum of serial media narratives demonstrates that it can shed blood, but also overflow with life. Zapear: arsenal metodológico para sintonizar políticas de muerte y escapes afirmativos en un currículo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This note highlights the recent finding of a previously unknown Roman villa with evidence for 'watery' deposits and subsequent early medieval activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the range and nature of ceramic analyses at the Institute of Archaeology. It highlights the global reach of such work, the analytical facilities available and the depth to which research informs teaching in the department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accomplishing long-term plans to harvest and modify natural resources has been a crucial skill for the survival of our species since early Prehistory. Research on this first step of production mostly focuses on the provenience study of lithic artifacts uncovered at archaeological sites, using petrographic and geochemical analyses to correlate the artifacts with potential geological outcrops. Although fundamental for understanding key aspects of landscape use and mobility, regional raw material economy, and extraction technology, Palaeolithic raw material sources have been less intensively investigated, as they are often difficult to locate and challenging to tackle with traditional archaeological approaches. Lojanik in the Central Balkans is one of the largest Prehistoric quarrying areas known in Europe, showing numerous lithic raw material outcrops exploited from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Chalcolithic periods, over an area of 18 hectares. In this paper, we present the results from our renewed research program in this region. Combining airborne LIDAR mapping, geomorphological and archaeological survey, and techno-typological analysis of lithic artifacts, we were able to reconstruct the geomorphological evolution of the landscape and its use by prehistoric societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung ultrasound is based on the analysis of ultrasound artifacts generated by the pleura and air within the lungs. In recent years, lung ultrasound has emerged as an important alternative for quick evaluation of the patient at the bedside. Several techniques and protocols for performing lung ultrasound have been described in the literature, with the most popular one being the Bedside Lung Ultrasound in Emergency (BLUE) protocol which can be utilized to diagnose the cause of acute dyspnea at the bedside. We attempt to provide a simplified approach to understanding the physics behind the artifacts used in lung ultrasound, the imaging techniques, and the application of the BLUE protocol to diagnose the commonly presenting causes of acute dyspnea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis-infused product manufacturers often add terpenes to enhance flavor. Meanwhile, labeling requirements for these same products necessitate testing for residual solvent levels. We have found that heating terpene samples containing an oxygen or air atmosphere results in the detection of significantly higher levels of acetone when compared to the same compound in argon atmosphere using temperature regimes common to headspace autosampler routines. This formation was statistically significant (p = 0.05) for most of the predominant terpenes found in cannabis. The largest increase in acetone formation was seen for terpinolene which showed an 885% increase in oxygen atmosphere (4603.6 PPM) when compared to analysis under argon (519.9 PPM). Cannabinoids were shown to reduce this formation and explain why high levels of acetone are not reported in cannabis extracts, even though these can contain up to 40% terpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a noninvasive determination, Raman and XRF analyses showed the possibility of identifying specific phases and elements characteristic of the use of recipes and ingredients imported from Europe, according to the information documented in Chinese and European archives. Two sets of objects, supposed to have been produced during the Qing Dynasty (1662–1912) at the Forbidden City ('imperial bowls' of the Baur Foundation, Geneva) and in the customs district of Guangzhou (Musée Ariana, Geneva), were analyzed with pXRF and also for some objects with Raman microspectroscopy also on-site. The heterogeneity of the colored zones, in three spatial directions, requires the development of a new methodology. We focused particular attention on the cobalt used in the colored areas and marks, drawn either on the body layer (standard underglaze) or on the glaze itself (overglaze). Comparison is made with previous data on Chinese and Vietnamese porcelains from the Yuan (1271–1368) and Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) periods. Combined data for objects attributed to Guangzhou from the Kangxi and Yongzheng periods indicates the use of the same raw materials containing cobalt, associated with arsenic, nickel, zinc, copper and bismuth, according to the European sources. Similarity of the glaze composition and impurities promotes the production of the glazed body with the same raw materials as those used at Jingdezhen. A consistent shift in data for Qianlong style items, which are significantly richer in manganese, is compatible with their partial mixing with Asian cobalt. The deliberate selection of conflicting objects—namely, examples belonging to the other places of production or different periods—are well-observed outside the 'Guangzhou' cluster. Some artifacts have anachronistic purity characteristics that support a production after ca. 1850. For instance, two objects on which certain attributions had been made concerning the stylistic analysis are definitive examples of ceramics using a refined 'cobalt', and therefore now may be assigned to the later production period of the first half of the 19th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a methodological framework based on design science research for the design and development of data and information artifacts in data analysis projects, particularly managerial performance analysis. Design science research methodology is an artifact-centric creation and evaluation approach. Artifacts are used to solve real-life business problems. These are key elements of the proposed approach. Starting from the main current approaches of design science research, we propose a framework that contains artifact engineering aspects for a class of problems, namely data analysis using machine learning techniques. Several classification algorithms were applied to previously labelled datasets through clustering. The datasets contain values for eight competencies that define a manager's profile. These values were obtained through a 360 feedback evaluation. A set of metrics for evaluating the performance of the classifiers was introduced, and a general algorithm was described. Our initiative has a predominant practical relevance but also ensures a theoretical contribution to the domain of study. The proposed framework can be applied to any problem involving data analysis using machine learning techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers can improve the ecological validity of brain research by studying humans moving in real-world settings. Recent work shows that dual-layer EEG can improve the fidelity of electrocortical recordings during gait, but it is unclear whether these positive results extrapolate to non-locomotor paradigms. For our study, we recorded brain activity with dual-layer EEG while participants played table tennis, a whole-body, responsive sport that could help investigate visuomotor feedback, object interception, and performance monitoring. We characterized artifacts with time-frequency analyses and correlated scalp and reference noise data to determine how well different sensors captured artifacts. As expected, individual scalp channels correlated more with noise-matched channel time series than with head and body acceleration. We then compared artifact removal methods with and without the use of the dual-layer noise electrodes. Independent Component Analysis separated channels into components, and we counted the number of high-quality brain components based on the fit of a dipole model and using an automated labeling algorithm. We found that using noise electrodes for data processing provided cleaner brain components. These results advance technological approaches for recording high fidelity brain dynamics in human behaviors requiring whole body movement, which will be useful for brain science research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological studies conducted at one of the sites located on the river banks of the Sungai Batu aim to reveal the architecture of the ancient river jetty structure. In order to obtain primary data related to the architectural appearance of this jetty, field research consisting of survey, mapping, excavation and analysis of artifacts was conducted to enable the final interpretation to be submitted. Based on the study has revealed the discovery of a monumental structure built entirely of brick directed and sloping towards the ancient river clearly suggests its function as a ancient jetty. The chronometric dating of the jetty was determined using the OSL method which was built since 582 BCE. Based on Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) data revealed by the world-impact jet site, it allows iconic travel packages to be created and offered to tourists in the district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Military History is the property of Wilfrid Laurier University, Laurier Center for Military, Strategic & Disarmament Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Anatomical realistic voxel models of human beings are commonly used in numerical dosimetry to evaluate the human exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields. The downside of these models is that they do not correctly reproduce the boundaries of curved surfaces. The stair-casing approximation errors introduce computational artifacts in the evaluation of the induced electric field and the use of post-processing filtering methods is essential to mitigate these errors. With a suitable exposure scenario, this paper shows that tetrahedral meshes make it possible to remove stair-casing errors. However, using tetrahedral meshes is not a sufficient condition to completely remove artifacts, because the quality of the tetrahedral mesh plays an important role. The analyses carried out show that in real exposure scenarios, other sources of artifacts cause peak values of the induced electric field even with regular meshes. In these cases, the adoption of filtering techniques cannot be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, various decentralized network web services are emerging. However, the decentralized network web service is not well exposed to general users because it is difficult to access it using a general portal search engine. This point is similar to the deep web, and in the case of Tor (The Onion Routing), a kind of deep web. It has been used for various online crimes such as distribution of child pornography and online drug dealing, and its usage is continuously increasing. Therefore, the decentralized network web service is also likely to be abused for crimes, and forensic investigation techniques are needed to respond to the crime of the decentralized network web service. This paper is about artifact analysis to identify traces of users accessing and actioned on ZeroNet, which is one of the decentralized network web services, and the digital forensic method for applying to forensic investigations for decentralized network web services. As a result, the method of acquiring artifacts for meaningful user access trace analysis and the storage structure of access record trace data were analyzed for a total of five platforms including Windows and macOS. As a result of analyzing the acquired data, it was able to identify users who distributed decentralized network web services through the illegal decentralized network web service address accessed by the user, a list of files downloaded to access the decentralized network web service and BitTorrent. In addition, it constructed a hypothetical scenario and presented a plan to use it from the perspective of forensic investigation. Through this thesis, when ZeroNet, a kind of decentralized network web service, is found on the user's PC during a forensic investigation, it contributes to the development of forensic investigation techniques by presenting a method to obtain a list of decentralized network web service addresses, downloaded files, and users sharing files. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the stone artifacts made by the Bolaños culture through the application of the methodology of the "operative chains" allowed both their comprehensive understanding and that of the social, economic and ideological dimension of the group that created them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeomatica is the property of MediaGEO and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

COVID-19 has demonstrated the necessity of examining the implications of the deceptively simple term "essential worker." As an author who spent summer 2020 as an essential worker, I explore one federal and two Minnesota-centered artifacts that focus on creating and distributing definitions: the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's guidance, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's Executive "stay-at-home" order, and a debriefing by Walz and other officials to the public. These artifacts and my analysis all attempt to answer the question, what does "essential worker" mean and what are its implications on people's lives? What arises in these artifacts is a slippage between the "worker" and the "infrastructure," each defined as essential through their relationship with the other. Cluster criticism (Burke) shows that the term "essential worker" invokes the obligations and responsibilities of a group identity for people defined by it. I argue that in our capitalistic society, value is ultimately placed on labor yet demands workers take on this heavy responsibility and identity. However, the term has caused audiences to recognize this discrepancy in how value is communicated. Because language and the material world influence one another to create a "mangle" of meaning (Hekman), the usage of "essential worker" in discourse has contributed to a cultural re-imagining of labor and the identity one holds as a worker within society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Yegâh Music Journal is the property of International Yegah Music Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To quantify metal artifact reduction using 130 keV virtual monochromatic imaging (VMI) with and without orthopedic metal artifact reduction (O-MAR) in total hip arthroplasty. Methods: Conventional polychromatic images and 130 keV VMI of a phantom with pellets representing bone with unilateral or bilateral prostheses were reconstructed with and without O-MAR on a dual-layer CT. Pellets were categorized as unaffected, mildly affected and severely affected. Results: When 130 keV VMI with O-MAR was compared to conventional imaging with O-MAR, a relative metal artifact reduction in CT values, contrast-to-noise (CNR), signal-to-noise (SNR) and noise in mildly affected pellets (67%, 74%, 48%, 68%, respectively; p < 0.05) was observed but no significant relative metal artifact reduction in severely affected pellets. Comparison between 130 keV VMI without O-MAR and conventional imaging with O-MAR showed relative metal artifact reduction in CT values, CNR, SNR and noise in mildly affected pellets (92%, 72%, 38%, 51%, respectively; p < 0.05) but negative relative metal artifact reduction in CT values and noise in severely affected pellets (− 331% and -223%, respectively; p < 0.05), indicating aggravation of metal artifacts. Conclusion: Overall, VMI of 130 keV with O-MAR provided the strongest metal artifact reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]