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We attempted to deposit a platinum (Pt) layer onto a tungsten trioxide (WO3) thin film (Pt/WO3). The Pt layer deposited on WO3 was oxidized by calcining Pt/WO3 in air to form PtOx/WO3. An n-type anomalous photo-thermoelectric (photo-TE) effect was confirmed for Pt/WO3 and Pt/HyWO3−x. HyWO3−x is a protonated WO3 after the gaschromic (GC) reaction of WO3 in Pt/WO3. The anomalous photo-TE effect was that both the electrical conductivity (σphoto) and the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient (Sphoto) increased under UV light or visible light irradiation. After stopping the irradiation, σphoto and Sphoto decreased. In contrast, an n-type normal photo-TE effect was observed for PtOx/HyWO3−x after the GC reaction of PtOx/WO3, in which σphoto increased and the absolute value of Sphoto decreased under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, and vice versa after stopping the irradiation. These findings indicate that Pt was responsible for the anomalous photo-TE effect due to the electron accumulation capability of Pt, to which electrons were transferred from the conduction band of HyWO3−x. In contrast, electrons could not energetically transfer from HyWO3−x to PtO2, which existed in PtOx particles at the surface. Therefore, PtOx/HyWO3−x behaved similar to sole HyWO3−x, indicating the normal photo-TE effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasma-wall transition is investigated by a one-dimensional steady-state multifluid model, which was presented in detail in Part I [T. Gyergyek et al., AIP Adv. 14, 045201 (2024)]. In this work, the plasma-wall transition is analyzed for the case where the plasma consists of singly charged positive ions, electrons, and singly charged negative ions. When the temperature and initial density of the negative ions are varied, a transition between two types of solutions of the model is observed. We call them the low and high solution, with respect to the absolute value of the potential drop. When the density and temperature of the negative ions are above a critical value, the low solution is observed. As the mass of the positive ions increases, these critical values also increase, but only until the ion mass is below about 1000 electron masses. With larger ion masses, the critical density of the negative ions and the temperature no longer change. In the low solution, the potential drop in front of the sheath is determined by the negative ions and is smaller in absolute terms than in the case of the high solution, where the potential drop in front of the sheath is determined by the electrons. If the problem is analyzed on the pre-sheath scale, the transition between the low and high solution is very sharp. However, when the neutrality condition is replaced by the Poisson equation, this transition becomes blurred and the solutions of the model equations exhibit oscillations. The role of the smallness parameter is highlighted. It is shown how the initial electric field is determined. Deviation of the negative ion density profile from the Boltzmann relation is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we determine the dissociation line of the nitrogen (N2) hydrate by computer simulation using the TIP4P/Ice model for water and the TraPPE force field for N2. We use the solubility method proposed recently by some of us to evaluate the dissociation temperature of the hydrate at different pressures, from 500 to 1500 bar. Particularly, we calculate the solubility of N2 in the aqueous solution when it is in contact with a N2-rich liquid phase and when in contact with the hydrate phase via planar interfaces as functions of temperature. Since the solubility of N2 decreases with temperature in the first case and increases with temperature in the second case, both curves intersect at a certain temperature that determines the dissociation temperature at a given pressure. We find a good agreement between the predictions obtained in this work and the experimental data taken from the literature in the range of pressures considered in this work. From our knowledge of the solubility curves of N2 in the aqueous solution, we also determine the driving force for nucleation of the hydrate, as a function of temperature, at different pressures. In particular, we use two different thermodynamic routes to evaluate the change in chemical potential for hydrate formation. Although the driving force for nucleation slightly decreases (in absolute value) when the pressure is increased, our results indicate that the effect of pressure can be considered negligible in the range of pressures studied in this work. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time the driving force for nucleation of a hydrate that exhibits crystallographic structure sII, along its dissociation line, is studied from computer simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, optical anapole resonances in nanostructures have attracted increasing attention due to the strong field confinement and substantially suppressed scattering. This study provides the results of three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations exhibiting the possibility of the anapole state in high refractive index dielectric nanohole array metasurfaces having different profiles of the holes (square, hexagon, and octagon). Behavior of the effective optical Kerr nonlinearity of the metasurfaces in the vicinity of the anapole state is investigated. Depending on the geometry, the absolute value of the effective nonlinear Kerr coefficient of the metasurface may be up to three orders of magnitude greater than that of the unstructured film. A square transverse section of the nanohole is preferable for the optical Kerr effect in the holey metasurfaces. The effect of the random rotation of the square holes representing the metasurface irregularity on the optical nonlinearity is examined. As a result, the dielectric nanohole array metasurfaces display a concrete possibility to have the anapole state with large enhancement of the optical nonlinearity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an advanced measurement method for controlling the surface charge carrier density of passivated silicon wafers during photoconductance and photoluminescence measurements, by employing semitransparent poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) electrodes with an applied bias voltage. This is employed to study and analyze charge carrier dynamics in dielectric layers by measuring their direct influence on effective lifetime. With this method, the carrier population at the surface and the effective carrier lifetimes of n- and p-type samples can be investigated, from which the fixed charge carrier density Qf of the passivation can be extracted. Additionally, the defect density Dit can also be derived from the minimum lifetime values at flatband voltage. In SiO2/Al2O3 stacks with varying SiO2 interlayer thickness, it was shown that by changing the SiO2 thickness, the carrier density Qf can be tuned to a wide range of values, which corresponds to the results obtained in other studies. An increase in interlayer thickness resulted in a decrease in Qf. Varying the SiO2 thickness, the behavior of the respective effective lifetime under bias voltage also changes, exhibiting hysteresis-like effects, which are attributed to additional charges getting trapped at the surface during bias-voltage application. This effect is much more pronounced for samples with a thinner SiO2 layer as well as for the n-type samples. Additionally, the doping type also influences the magnitude of Qf, with p-type samples generally reaching lower absolute values. It was also shown that aging of the samples had a significant effect on the measured Qf, which was increased compared to the initial Qf of the passivation. This effect was more pronounced for the n-type samples. The measurements were realized by a cost-effective and easy-to-use microcontroller-based potentiostat, which can be used as a simple add-on to existing photoconductance or photoluminescence measurement setups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The computation of entropy in liquids and liquid crystal (LC) phases is a big challenge in statistical physics. In this work, we extend the two-phase thermodynamic model (2PT) to shape anisotropic soft repulsive spherocylinders (SRSs) and report the absolute values of entropy for different LC phases for a range of aspect ratios L/D = 2 − 5. We calculate the density of states for different LC phases and decompose it into contributions arising from translational and rotational degrees of freedom. The translational and rotational modes are further partitioned into diffusive, gas-like, and non-diffusive, solid-like components using a fluidicity factor. In the dilute limit, the entropy values obtained from the 2PT method match exactly those of an ideal rigid rotor. We find that, for a given packing fraction, the magnitude of the total entropy is roughly equal regardless of the different LC phases associated with different aspect ratios. We also compute the excess entropy (for L/D = 5) and compare those with the values obtained using the standard integration approach of MD or Monte Carlo equation of state of SRS. The values obtained using both approaches match very well. The rotational and translational fluidicity factors are further used to determine the phase boundaries of different LC phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a theoretical modeling of the flexoelectric response of dielectric–ferroelectric (DE–FE) multilayers based on phase field simulations in the framework of the Landau–Ginzburg–Devonshire (LGD) theory. The correlation between negative capacitance and flexoelectric response is revealed, and the single-domain and multi-domain models are compared. It shows that the dielectric layers drive the ferroelectric layer into a negative capacitance regime, and the flexoelectric response of the multilayer is maximal when the negative capacitance of the ferroelectric layer has a minimal absolute value. Moreover, the flexoelectric response peak will be shifted to a lower temperature by increasing the thickness of dielectric layer, indicating a possibility of achieving a stronger flexoelectric response at room temperature compared with that of pure ferroelectric. However, while the single-domain model shows that the flexoelectric response peak is simply shifted to a lower temperature with near constant peak value and width, the multi-domain model reveals a significant suppressing of the flexoelectric peak by the dielectric layer. This is attributed to the formation of the vortex domain state, which eases the depolarization effect and leads to large absolute value of negative capacitance of the ferroelectric layer. Our work provides new insights into flexoelectricity in ferroelectric heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding sensory processing relies on the establishment of a consistent relationship between the stimulus space, its neural representation, and perceptual quality. In olfaction, the difficulty in establishing these links lies partly in the complexity of the underlying odor input space and perceptual responses. Based on the recently proposed primacy model for concentration invariant odor identity representation and a few assumptions, we have developed a theoretical framework for mapping the odor input space to the response properties of olfactory receptors. We analyze a geometrical structure containing odor representations in a multidimensional space of receptor affinities and describe its low-dimensional implementation, the primacy hull. We propose the implications of the primacy hull for the structure of feedforward connectivity in early olfactory networks. We test the predictions of our theory by comparing the existing receptor-ligand affinity and connectivity data obtained in the fruit fly olfactory system. We find that the Kenyon cells of the insect mushroom body integrate inputs from the high-affinity (primacy) sets of olfactory receptors in agreement with the primacy theory. Author summary: Sensory systems face the problem of computing stimulus identity that is invariant with respect to multiple stimulus features. In the olfactory system, odorant percepts often retain their identity despite substantial variations in the odorant concentration. How can olfactory networks robustly represent odorant identity despite variable stimulus intensity? In the nose, odorants are sensed by the odorant receptors (ORs), the specialized proteins that can be activated by the odorant molecules. In this study, we develop a theory for encoding concentration-invariant odor objects. We propose that the identities of a small group of the most sensitive ORs represent odorant identity in a concentration-invariant manner. We argue that, although absolute values of olfactory receptor responses may depend on concentration, their ranking remains invariant, leading to invariance in the membership of the most sensitive (primary) group. We call this form of representation of concentration invariant odorant identity the primacy coding model. We investigate the mathematical principles underlying the primacy coding model and test its predictions using connectivity and neuronal activations data from the fruit fly olfactory system. We find that neurons in the fly olfactory system integrate inputs from the high-affinity (primacy) sets of ORs in agreement with the primacy theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of a 1-time measurement of non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non–HDL-C) or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to predict the cumulative exposure to these lipids during early adulthood (age 18-40 years) and the associated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk after age 40 years is not clear. The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether a 1-time measurement of non-HDL-C or LDL-C in a young adult can predict cumulative exposure to these lipids during early adulthood, and to quantify the association between cumulative exposure to non-HDL-C or LDL-C during early adulthood and the risk of ASCVD after age 40 years. We included CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study) participants who were free of cardiovascular disease before age 40 years, were not taking lipid-lowering medications, and had ≥3 measurements of LDL-C and non–HDL-C before age 40 years. First, we assessed the ability of a 1-time measurement of LDL-C or non–HDL-C obtained between age 18 and 30 years to predict the quartile of cumulative lipid exposure from ages 18 to 40 years. Second, we assessed the associations between quartiles of cumulative lipid exposure from ages 18 to 40 years with ASCVD events (fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction and stroke) after age 40 years. Of 4,104 CARDIA participants who had multiple lipid measurements before and after age 30 years, 3,995 participants met our inclusion criteria and were in the final analysis set. A 1-time measure of non–HDL-C and LDL-C had excellent discrimination for predicting membership in the top or bottom quartiles of cumulative exposure (AUC: 0.93 for the 4 models). The absolute values of non–HDL-C and LDL-C that predicted membership in the top quartiles with the highest simultaneous sensitivity and specificity (highest Youden's Index) were >135 mg/dL for non–HDL-C and >118 mg/dL for LDL-C; the values that predicted membership in the bottom quartiles were <107 mg/dL for non–HDL-C and <96 mg/dL for LDL-C. Individuals in the top quartile of non–HDL-C and LDL-C exposure had demographic-adjusted HRs of 4.6 (95% CI: 2.84-7.29) and 4.0 (95% CI: 2.50-6.33) for ASCVD events after age 40 years, respectively, when compared with each bottom quartile. Single measures of non–HDL-C and LDL-C obtained between ages 18 and 30 years are highly predictive of cumulative exposure before age 40 years, which in turn strongly predicts later-life ASCVD events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub‐nanoporous membranes with ion selective transport functions are important for energy utilization, environmental remediation, and fundamental bioinspired engineering. Although mono/multivalent ions can be separated by monovalent ion selective membranes (MISMs), the current theory fails to inspire rapid advances in MISMs. Here, we apply transition state theory (TST) by regulating the enthalpy barrier (ΔH) and entropy barrier (ΔS) for designing next‐generation monovalent cation exchange membranes (MCEMs) with great improvement in ion selective separation. Using a molecule‐absorbed porous material as an interlayer to construct a denser selective layer can achieve a greater absolute value of ΔS for Li+ and Mg2+ transport, greater ΔH for Mg2+ transport and lower ΔH for Li+ transport. This recorded performance with a Li+/Mg2+ perm‐selectivity of 25.50 and a Li+ flux of 1.86 mol ⋅ m−2 ⋅ h−1 surpasses the contemporary "upper bound" plot for Li+/Mg2+ separations. Most importantly, our synthesized MCEM also demonstrates excellent operational stability during the selective electrodialysis (S‐ED) processes for realizing scalability in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aortic regurgitation (AR) has an important impact on myocardial mechanics and recent studies have proved the value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the assessment of its severity and prognosis. Our purpose was to assess if the direct impact of the regurgitant jet on the myocardial wall could affect regional longitudinal strain. Methods: Eighty patients with chronic moderate/severe AR were retrospectively studied. Patients were considered to have a jet-related longitudinal strain reduction when the myocardial segments directly impacted by the jet had their longitudinal strain reduced by at least 30% compared to nonaffected segments. AR severity, left ventricular (LV) size and function were compared according to the presence/absence of this regional pattern. For those who underwent surgery, postoperative regional and global LV function was also analyzed. Results: A pattern of regional longitudinal strain impairment was identified in 43% of patients, with a regional reduction (in median) of 10 percentage points in absolute strain values in the segments impacted by the jet, compared to nonaffected segments. In the subgroup who underwent surgery, this pattern became attenuated after surgery. Patients with regional longitudinal strain impairment were less likely to improve GLS after surgery (10% vs. 38% improved GLS by at least 2.5%, P = 0.049). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study identifies for the first time, a link between the location of the impact of the regurgitant jet in AR and regional longitudinal strain impairment. The presence of this regional pattern might be associated with worse postoperative LV recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objectives Methods Results Conclusions Immature platelet fraction (IPF) for differentiating bacteremia has been explored, whereas its prognostic correlation remains uncertain. This study aims to confirm the predictive capability of IPF for bacteremia and investigate its association with prognosis.Patients with complete blood count (CBC) on the blood culture day (D1) and the preceding day (D0) were retrospectively recruited and categorized into bacteremia and nonbacteremia groups. Immature platelet (IP) analysis, alongside CBC, was conducted. Delta IPF, defined by the absolute values of D1 minus D0 results was calculated. The ability to distinguish bacteremia from nonbacteremia patients, and the correlation with mortality were analyzed.From February to December 2020, a total of 150 patients were enrolled, with 75 having bacteremia. The specificity for delta IPF ≥3.4% to predict bacteremia was 97.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.7–99.7). When delta IPF ≥3.4% combined with procalcitonin ≥0.5 (ng/mL), the sensitivity was 90.5% (95% CI: 69.6%–98.8%). Within the bacteremia group, delta IPF and the proportion of patients with delta IPF ≥1.5% were significantly higher in nonsurvival, while delta platelet levels did not. Furthermore, delta IPF ≥1.5% was independently associated with 30‐day mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 3.88, 95% CI: 1.2%–11.4%; p = 0.020). The 30‐day survival curve demonstrated a significant difference between patients with delta IPF ≥1.5% and those without (p < 0.001).Delta IPF correlates with mortality in bacteremia patients. Our findings suggest IPF not only helps detect bacteremia but also predicts prognosis in the early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been increasing focus on two-dimensional (2D) materials, especially those derived from chalcogenides, due to their distinctive electrical and mechanical properties, which are crucial for numerous applications, particularly in the field of photocatalysis. Recent studies have concentrated on 2D Janus structures, investigating architectures where layers of Group-13 elements (Ga, In, and Tl) are interleaved between layers of chalcogen atoms (S, Se, and Te). Our research specifically examines the effects of swapping the positions of Group-13 and chalcogen atoms within Tl 2 S 2 and Janus XTlS 2 (X = Al, Ga, In), emphasizing their potential as catalysts for hydrogen production through photocatalysis. Detailed analyses of the structural, optical, and electronic properties of these nanosheets were provided to elucidate their role in enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. The findings reveal the presence of covalent bonding between the two inner layers in all the compounds studied. Band structure analysis indicates that these systems are semiconductors with band gaps ranging from E g = 0.34 eV for GaTlS(1) to Eg = 1.84 eV for TlS(1). Moreover, all compounds exhibit their highest absorption peaks in the ultraviolet (UV) range, making them efficient absorbers of sunlight for potential use in photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications. Notably, these systems demonstrate low rates of charge carrier recombination due to the presence of a built-in electric field (in Janus structures) or their indirect band gap character. Additionally, except for ATlS(1), the compounds show promise as photocathodes for hydrogen production even through seawater splitting, pH = 8.3, with an absolute value of the Gibbs free energy change | Δ G | < 1. 5 eV. In contrast, InTlS(1) emerges as an exceptionally promising material for applications in highly acidic environments, exhibiting a Δ G of about −0.53 eV. [Display omitted] • DFT study of 2D material-based photoelectrodes for water splitting. • Tl 2 S 2 and Janus XTlS 2 (X = Al, Ga, In) 2D materials with novel atomic arrangements. • Nanosheets show potential for hydrogen production at neutral pH. • GaTlS(1) demonstrates spontaneous seawater splitting. • InTlS(1) effective in acidic water photoelectrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the tire is in contact with the wet road, the anti-skid performance is significantly reduced. In order to reveal the mechanism of the decline of the anti-skid performance of the tire when driving on the wet road, combined with the source of the friction force in the interaction between the tire and the road, this paper improved the use method of the British pendulum and conducts an indoor test. At the same time, the contact model between the tire and the road surface was established by the method of molecular dynamics, and the relationship between the change of energy in the model and the macroscopic anti-skid performance index of the laboratory was analyzed. The results show that the pendulum value of the asphalt mixture specimen in the wet state is obviously lower than that in the dry state, and as the temperature increases, the pendulum value decreases more, and the maximum value can reach 8.1%;The existence of water molecules significantly reduces the absolute value of van der Waals energy between rubber molecules and aggregate molecules, and weakens the interaction between tires and road surfaces; water molecules exist between the rubber and aggregate molecules, which will weaken the adhesion between the two. The variation of van der Waals energy between rubber molecules and aggregate crystals with temperature has no obvious correlation with the variation trend of indoor macroscopic anti-slip performance index pendulum value BPN (British Pendulum Number). The variation of adhesion energy with temperature has a strong correlation with the variation trend of BPN in the laboratory test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the theory of exploitation which Marx sets out in Capital. It argues that Marx assumes that there are five modes of extraction of surplus value. These are associated with the following principles: (1) extended duration of the working day; (2) enhanced productivity (due to the introduction of new technology); (3) efficient organization of the process of production; (4) increased intensity of labour and (5) depressed consumption of the labourer. The article argues that Marx's theory of exploitation is not as systematic as it could have been. For this reason it is ripe for a theoretical reconstruction. The article also discusses the views of recent commentators who have developed the idea of 'super-exploitation', which is taken from Marx's writings. There is a tendency in this literature to associate this notion with the principle of depressed consumption and to argue that it is especially relevant for understanding of what is happening in the societies of the Global South. Those concerned identify this as a third mode of extracting surplus value, in addition to the principle of extended duration (absolute surplus value) and enhanced productivity (relative surplus value). The article argues that this procedure overlooks certain aspects of Marx's theory of exploitation, especially those having to do with the efficient organization or rational administration of labour within the process of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a prevalent yet incurable hematologic malignancy. Despite the proven efficacy of proteasome inhibitors in treating MM, resistance to Bortezomib-based treatments persists in a subset of patients. This case control study explores the potential of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as biomarkers for predicting response to Proteasome Inhibitor based therapy combined with Dexamethasone in MM patients. This study was conducted on 105 MM patients receiving bortezomib plus dexamethasone therapy and 90 healthy individuals as a control group. Utilizing 8-color multi-parameter flow cytometry, we assessed the levels of circulating EPCs, identified through CD34 FITC and CD309 PE markers at diagnosis and after one treatment cycle (4 weeks). Our findings revealed that patients exhibiting poor response to therapy showed significantly higher CD34/CD309 values than those with a good response (p < 0.001). The delineation of response based on CD34/CD309 expression was established with a cutoff ≤ 0.9 for percentage (yielding 100% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity) and ≤ 12.5 for absolute value (also with 100% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity). These results underscore the potential of EPC population levels, as quantified by CD34/CD309, to serve as a predictive biomarker for immunomodulatory treatment in MM patients undergoing Proteasome Inhibitor and Dexamethasone therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion The objective of this study is to assess the correspondence, in live conditions, between clinical gradings of facial aging signs by three dermatologists and those afforded by an automatic AI‐based algorithm that analyses smartphones' selfie images of Chinese subjects.In total, 125 Chinese subjects of both genders, aged 18–62y, took a selfie using their own smartphones and were immediately viewed by three dermatologists. The latter graded the severity of 15 facial signs in women and 9 in men, using the standardized values afforded by a Skin Aging Atlas referential dedicated to Asian skin. The data issued by both methodologies were then statistically compared.The absolute gradings of the automatic system were found highly correlated with clinical assessments, with lower values in most cases. In women, large differences in absolute values were found on the gradings for size of isolated spot, cheek fold, spread macules, and texture of mouth contour women. Analysis of the Mean Absolute Errors (M.A.E) revealed that these rarely exceed 0.6 grading units in women and to a lesser extent in men.The present study confirmed the value of the automatic system towards an extended use towards large human cohorts as a surrogate of clinical evaluations and allowed to detect the points where improvements must be brought to the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Automated measurements of the ratio of concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide, [CH 4 ]:[CO 2 ], in breath from individual animals (the so-called "sniffer technique") and estimated CO 2 production can be used to estimate CH 4 production, provided that CO 2 production can be reliably calculated. This would allow CH 4 production from individual cows to be estimated in large cohorts of cows, whereby ranking of cows according to their CH 4 production might become possible and their values could be used for breeding of low CH 4 -emitting animals. Estimates of CO 2 production are typically based on predictions of heat production, which can be calculated from body weight (BW), energy-corrected milk yield, and days of pregnancy. The objectives of the present study were to develop predictions of CO 2 production directly from milk production, dietary, and animal variables, and furthermore to develop different models to be used for different scenarios, depending on available data. An international dataset with 2,244 records from individual lactating cows including CO 2 production and associated traits, as dry matter intake (DMI), diet composition, BW, milk production and composition, days in milk, and days pregnant, was compiled to constitute the training dataset. Research location and experiment nested within research location were included as random intercepts. The method of CO 2 production measurement (respiration chamber [RC] or GreenFeed [GF]) was confounded with research location, and therefore excluded from the model. In total, 3 models were developed based on the current training dataset: model 1 ("best model"), where all significant traits were included; model 2 ("on-farm model"), where DMI was excluded; and model 3 ("reduced on-farm model"), where both DMI and BW were excluded. Evaluation on test dat sets with either RC data (n = 103), GF data without additives (n = 478), or GF data only including observations where nitrate, 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), or a combination of nitrate and 3-NOP were fed to the cows (GF+: n = 295), showed good precision of the 3 models, illustrated by low slope bias both in absolute values (−0.22 to 0.097) and in percentage (0.049 to 4.89) of mean square error (MSE). However, the mean bias (MB) indicated systematic overprediction and underprediction of CO 2 production when the models were evaluated on the GF and the RC test datasets, respectively. To address this bias, the 3 models were evaluated on a modified test dataset, where the CO 2 production (g/d) was adjusted by subtracting (where measurements were obtained by RC) or adding absolute MB (where measurements were obtained by GF) from evaluation of the specific model on RC, GF, and GF+ test datasets. With this modification, the absolute values of MB and MB as percentage of MSE became negligible. In conclusion, the 3 models were precise in predicting CO 2 production from lactating dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction to a previous article on gas-phase metallicities in MaNGA. The correction addresses an error in the calculation of O3N2-based calibrations, resulting in incorrect metallicity values. The correction decreases the raw metallicity values for these calibrations and slightly increases the number of overall spaxels with metallicities. The document also includes additional tables showing the number of metallicity values per calibration and the scatter of emission-line permutations between calibrations. The update on the polynomial fits used in the study shows a shift in the fits when converting between different calibrations, with a median magnitude of 0.032 dex. Some figures in the original study are affected, but most are not visibly different. The emission-line data used in the study is publicly available, and metallicity values can be obtained upon request. [Extracted from the article]

To broaden the applications of yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) in mobile phone back panels and high‐end decorative materials, the 3 mol% YSZ (3YSZ) ceramics doped with erbium oxide (Er2O3) as colorant were successfully sintered at 1250 and 1350°C in air. The influences of Er2O3‐doping concentration and sintering temperature on the phase, microstructure, color, and mechanical properties of the pink Er2O3‐3YSZ ceramics were investigated. As the Er2O3 concentration increased, the redness value a* gradually increased, while the yellowness value b* and the lightness value L* gradually decreased. The highest value a* and b* of Er2O3‐3YSZ ceramics reached absolute values of 15.2 and 4.5, respectively. The effect of Er2O3 concentration is also depicted in detail, which also affects the mechanical properties including hardness and fracture toughness of the ceramics. The maximum hardness and fracture toughness of Er2O3‐3YSZ ceramics reached 13.9 ± 0.3 GPa and 6.21 ± 0.20 MPa·m1/2, respectively. The hardness of the ceramics exceeds 12.5 GPa, which is the required market index for further practical application. This work provides a method for preparing 3YSZ ceramics with excellent mechanical properties and bright pink color, which has the potential to be used in the fields of advanced and superior electronics in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we show that ∞-adic multiple zeta values associated to the function field of an algebraic curve of higher genus over a finite field are not zero, under certain assumption on the gap sequence associated to the rational point ∞ on the given curve. Using arguments and results of Sheats and Thakur for the case of the projective line, we calculate the absolute values of power sums in the series defining multiple zeta values, and show that the calculation implies the non-vanishing result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of ball-in/out-play, ball possession, and different moments of soccer match play on running performance in professional Brazilian soccer players. Methods: Twenty-four professional soccer players were monitored using GPS units during 14 matches from the Brazilian National 4th Division League. Distance- and accelerometry-based measures were calculated by dividing absolute values by the total duration of the matches. SBG Sports® generated a timeline of the match's duration to define ball-in-play, ball-out-play, ball possession, no-ball possession, offensive/defensive organizations, and offensive/defensive transitions. Results: Ball-in-play presented higher running outputs than ball-out-play, and no-ball possession reported greater all match running performance (i.e., high-intensity) variables than ball possession (p < 0.001–0.033; ES = large–very large). Greater running outputs were observed during the offensive/defensive transition compared to offensive/defensive organization (p < 0.001–0.039; ES = medium–very large). Additionally, physical demands were higher in defensive organization/transition vs. offensive organization/transition (p < 0.001–0.041; ES = medium–very large). In contrast, wide midfielders and strikers showed higher distances, high-speed running distance, and accelerations during the offensive transition than the defensive transition (p < 0.001–0.04; ES = very large). Conclusion: In conclusion, different phases and moments of the match of the match-play impact running performance in soccer. Coaches and practitioners should embrace a contextualized understanding of match physical demands, employing a holistic approach, to effectively prescribe training tasks aligned with real match requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of alpaca textile fibre has great potential, especially if objectionable fibres (coarse and medullated fibres) that cause itching are reduced, considering that objectionable fibres can be identified by diameter and medullation types. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for medullar types and their respective diameters to evaluate the possibility of incorporating them as selection criteria in alpaca breeding programmes. The research used 3149 alpaca fibre samples collected from 2020 to 2022, from a population of 1626 Huacaya type alpacas. The heritability and correlations of the percentages of non‐medullated (NM), fragmented medulle (FM), uncontinuous medullated (UM), continuous medullated (CM), and strongly medullated (SM) fibres were analysed, also the fibre diameter (FD) for each of the medullation types. The heritability estimated for medullation types were 0.25 ± 0.01, 0.18 ± 0.01, 0.10 ± 0.01, 0.20 ± 0.01 and 0.11 ± 0.01 for NM, FM, UM, CM and SM, respectively. The genetic correlations for medullation categories ranged from 0.15 ± 0.03 to 0.66 ± 0.02 (in absolute values). The heritabilility estimated for fibre diameter (FD) of each of the medullation types were 0.29 ± 0.03, 0.27 ± 0.02, 0.35 ± 0.02, 0.30 ± 0.02, 0.25 ± 0.02 and 0.10 ± 0.02 for FD, FD_NM, FD_FM, FD_UM, FD_CM and FD_SM, respectively. The genetic correlations for fibre diameter of the medullation types ranged from 0.04 ± 0.04 to 0.97 ± 0.01. FD, NM and FM are the main traits to be used as selection criteria under a genetic index, since they would reduce fibre diameter, and also increase NM and FM, and, in addition reducing indirectly CM, SM, and SM_FD. Therefore, the quality of alpaca fibre could be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the high-performance trajectory tracking requirements of underactuated autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) under complex disturbances and parameter uncertainty, a three-dimensional trajectory tracking controller method with predefined dynamic performance and convergence time is proposed. Firstly, by extending the forward position channel of the underactuated AUV, and a multi-input multi-output trajectory tracking control-oriented model is developed. Subsequently, by combining dynamic process functions with predefined-time control theory, a dynamic performance-predefined trajectory tracking control system is established, which allows the transient quality of AUV trajectory tracking to be determined by dynamic process functions, and the actual convergence time of tracking errors to be predefined by a single control parameter. Finally, to avoid control singularities and the " differential explosion" phenomenon, the controller design incorporates the absolute value correction method and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) fitting method. Numerical simulation results indicate that the proposed controller significantly improves the disturbance rejection and transient quality of underactuated AUV, achieving fact, smooth, and High-performance trajectory tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department 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.)

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office 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.)

We introduce the notion of pullback along a measurable cocycle and we use it to extend the Borel invariant studied by Bucher, Burger and Iozzi to the world of measurable cocycles. The Borel invariant is constant along cohomology classes and has bounded absolute value. This allows to define maximal cocycles. We conclude by proving that maximal cocycles are actually trivializable to the restriction of the irreducible representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy of a graph is calculated by summing the absolute values of the eigenvalues found in its adjacency matrix. In this study, we present examples of line graphs with energy equivalent to the energy of a complete graph, which are called the borderenergetic graphs. As the examples of borderenergetic line graphs are rare, we introduce a new type of graphs called almost borderenergetic graphs whose energy differs from the borderenergetic energy by at most 1. In this paper, we begin by exploring the energy properties of line graphs derived from regular graphs and strongly regular graphs. Specifically, we establish a criterion for a line graph to exhibit borderenergetic characteristics when it consists of p many connected regular graphs and q many complete graphs, even when the original regular graph is disconnected. Additionally, we present a criterion for the line graph of a strongly regular graph to exhibit borderenergetic characteristics. To illustrate these concepts, we offer examples of connected borderenergetic graphs that are not necessarily complete. In the second part, we give the spectrum of the line graph of rK1∇K2, and show that it is an almost borderenergetic graph for r ≥ 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem CO2 efflux is an important component of the carbon balance in forests. The efflux is considered to principally reflect the net result of two dominating and opposing processes: stem respiration and stem photosynthesis. In addition, transport of CO2 in xylem sap is thought to play an appreciable role in affecting the net flux. This work presents an approach to partition stem CO2 efflux among these processes using sap-flux data and CO2-exchange measurements from dark and transparent chambers placed on mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees. Seasonal changes and monthly parameters describing the studied processes were determined. Respiration contributed most to stem net CO2 flux, reaching up to 79% (considering the sum of the absolute values of stem respiration, stem photosynthesis, and flux from CO2 transported in xylem sap to be 100%) in June, when stem growth was greatest. The contribution of photosynthesis accounted for up to 13% of the stem net CO2 flux, increasing over the monitoring period. CO2 transported axially with sap flow decreased towards the end of the growing season. At a reference temperature, respiration decreased starting around midsummer, while its temperature sensitivity increased during the summer. A decline was observed for photosynthetic quantum yield around midsummer together with a decrease in light-saturation point. The proposed approach facilitates modeling net stem CO2 flux at a range of time scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CYP2D6 testing is increasingly used to guide drug therapy and thus, reliable methods are needed to test this complex and polymorphic gene locus. A particular challenge arises from the detection and interpretation of structural variants (SVs) including gene deletions, duplications, and hybrids with the CYP2D7 pseudogene. This study validated the Absolute Q™ platform for digital PCR-based CYP2D6 copy number variation (CNV) determination by comparing results to those obtained with a previously established method using the QX200 platform. In addition, protocols for streamlining CYP2D6 CNV testing were established and validated including the "One-pot" single-step restriction enzyme digestion and a multiplex assay simultaneously targeting the CYP2D6 5'UTR, intron 6, and exon 9 regions. Methods: Genomic DNA (gDNA) samples from Coriell (n = 13) and from blood, saliva, and liver tissue (n = 17) representing 0-6 copies were tested on the Absolute Q and QX200 platforms. Custom TaqMan™ copy number (CN) assays targeting CYP2D6 the 5'UTR, intron 6, and exon 9 regions and a reference gene assay (TERT or RNaseP) were combined for multiplexing by optical channel. In addition, two digestion methods (One-pot digestion and traditional) were assessed. Inconclusive CN values on the Absolute Q were resolved using an alternate reference gene and/or diluting gDNA. Results: Overall, results between the two platforms and digestions methods were consistent. The "One-pot" digestion method and optically multiplexing up to three CYP2D6 regions yielded consistent result across DNA sample types and diverse SVs, reliably detecting up to 6 gene copies. Rare variation in reference genes were found to interfere with results and interpretation, which were resolved by using a different reference. Conclusion: The Absolute Q produced accurate and reliable CYP2D6 copy number results allowing for a streamlined and economical protocol using One-pot digestion and multiplexing three target regions. Protocols are currently being expanded to other pharmacogenes presenting with SVs/CNVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precision of deformation monitoring with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) relative positioning is significantly influenced by the distance between the monitoring and base stations. In long strip regions, the considerable differences in station spacing lead to inconsistent monitoring precision among multiple stations. This presents a challenge to accurately model and predict the deformation pattern. To tackle this issue, this paper introduces a novel dual-base station constraint method. This method integrates the baseline length constraint between two base stations into the conventional relative positioning model. The formulae of the proposed method are first derived in detail. Then the data collected at eight monitoring stations in two strip regions of 6 km and 8 km over a 28-day period are used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The quantitative analysis of monitoring precision consistency indicators and hypothesis testing on the correlation between monitoring precision and station spacing are conducted. The results show that: (1) median values of the East, North, and Up consistency indicators are reduced from 2.14, 1.41, and 1.83 to 0.91, 0.67, and 0.55 and from 1.85, 1.85, and 2.32 to 0.69, 1.00, and 0.87, respectively, indicating monitoring precision consistency improvement for two case studies; (2) the absolute values of the correlation coefficients between monitoring precision and station spacing decrease from 0.99, 0.94, and 0.98 to 0.09, 0.36, and 0.32. Using the t-test with a significant level of 0.01, it is demonstrated that there is no significant correlation between monitoring precision and station spacing when employing the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuels should behave appropriately in all sections of the engine system: the engine, fuel delivery system, and tank. Fuel quality can be linked to the following three crucial areas: performance, fitness for current use, and stability. Classical methods of diesel fuel examination mostly rely on the absolute value measurement of one specific parameter while stabilizing outside conditions. In contrast, multiparametric methods depend on simultaneously measuring a set of parameters. Therefore, multiparametric methods open the possibility of intriguing new examinations and classifications of diesel fuel quality while raising specific issues relating to the instrumentation and construction of sensing devices. This paper presents a review, based on the published literature and the authors' research, of the current state-of-the-art multiparametric methods for rapid diesel fuel quality classification and related instrumentation, systematizing the various types of methods from the point of view of the principles of their operation. The main conclusion is that different measuring procedures use similar methods of data processing. Moreover, the heavy, costly, and complex devices that enable standard examinations can be converted to simpler devices in the future, whose cost of use is significantly lower. However, to achieve this, progress in electronic devices is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work highlights the relationship between heat transport in nanofluids and wall velocity ratios in the context of mixed convection heat transport in porous cavities. The research scrutinizes the inspiration of numerous flow variables such as Richardson number, porosity, Hartmann number, Darcy number, wall velocity ratio, nanomaterials volume fraction and Eckert number on fluid flow and heat transport performance. The governing flow expressions are tackled using the SIMPLE algorithm, and the outcomes are authenticated against prior research. The findings designate that heat transfer rates upsurge with higher values of Richardson number, Darcy number, nanomaterials volume fraction, and absolute value of wall velocity ratio, while decreasing with increasing porosity and Hartmann number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the determination of a holomorphic function from its absolute value. Given a parameter θ∈R$\theta \in \mathbb {R}$, we derive the following characterization of uniqueness in terms of rigidity of a set Λ⊆R$\Lambda \subseteq \mathbb {R}$: if F$\mathcal {F}$ is a vector space of entire functions containing all exponentials eξz,ξ∈C∖{0}$e^{\xi z}, \, \xi \in \mathbb {C} \setminus \lbrace 0 \rbrace$, then every F∈F$F \in \mathcal {F}$ is uniquely determined up to a unimodular phase factor by {|F(z)|:z∈eiθ(R+iΛ)}$\lbrace |F(z)|: z \in e^{i\theta }({\mathbb {R}}+ i \Lambda) \rbrace$ if and only if Λ$\Lambda$ is not contained in an arithmetic progression aZ+b$a\mathbb {Z}+b$. Leveraging this insight, we establish a series of consequences for Gabor phase retrieval and Pauli‐type uniqueness problems. For instance, Z×Z∼${\mathbb {Z}}\times \tilde{{\mathbb {Z}}}$ is a uniqueness set for the Gabor phase retrieval problem in L2(R+)$L^2({\mathbb {R}}_+)$, provided that Z∼$\tilde{{\mathbb {Z}}}$ is a suitable perturbation of the integers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Ultraviolet-Visible Hyperspectral Sensors (UVS) instrument is an ultraviolet-visible imaging spectrograph equipped with two-dimensional charge-coupled device detectors. It records both the spectrum and the swath perpendicular to the flight direction, offering a wide 112° swath. This configuration enables global daily ground coverage with high spatial resolution. The absolute values of in-orbit solar irradiance can be evaluated using the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF), with the measurement accuracy directly affecting the accuracy of constituent inversion. This paper outlines the calibration process for the BRDF of the UVS, detailing the calibration methods and equipment used. It also proposes a BRDF model and discusses key coefficients. The accuracy levels of the UVS in the UV1, UV2, and VIS channels were 2.162%, 2.162%, and 2.173%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the realization of a unimorph vibration energy harvester with an Al/AlN/Al structure by magnetron sputtering is proposed. Starting from an Al substrate, the device with an Al/AlN/Al structure was obtained by using a magnetron sputtering in two different operative conditions. The realized energy harvester was investigated in the unimorph bender set-up. The electrical characterization was performed by estimation of the AlN d31 piezoelectric coefficient and measurements of the output power. The estimated absolute value of d31 was 0.48 pC/N and the maximum output power was about 17 μW with 9.81 m/s2 (rms value) excitation acceleration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated potential use of computed tomography (CT)-based parameters in the lumbar spine as a surrogate for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based findings. Methods: In this retrospective study, all individuals, who had a lumbar spine CT scan and MRI between 2006 and 2012 were reviewed (n = 198). Disc height (DH) and endplate degeneration (ED) were evaluated between Th12/L1-L5/S1. Statistics consisted of Spearman correlation and univariate/multivariable regression (adjusting for age and gender). Results: The mean CT-DH increased kranio-caudally (8.04 millimeters (mm) at T12/L1, 9.17 mm at L1/2, 10.59 mm at L2/3, 11.34 mm at L3/4, 11.42 mm at L4/5 and 10.47 mm at L5/S1). MRI-ED was observed in 58 (29%) individuals. CT-DH and MRI-DH had strong to very strong correlations (rho 0.781-0.904, p <.001). MRI-DH showed higher absolute values than CT-DH (mean of 1.76 mm). There was a significant association between CT-DH and MRI-ED at L2/3 (p =.006), L3/4 (p =.002), L4/5 (p <.001) and L5/S1 (p <.001). A calculated cut-off point was set at 11 mm. Conclusions: In the lumbar spine, there is a correlation between disc height on CT and MRI. This can be useful in trauma and emergency cases, where CT is readily available in the lack of an MRI. In addition, in the middle and lower part of the lumbar spine, loss of disc height on CT scans is associated with more pronounced endplate degeneration on MRIs. If the disc height on CT scans is lower than 11 mm, endplate degeneration on MRIs is likely more pronounced. Level and design: Level III, a retrospective study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patients with spinal metastases undergoing surgical treatment face challenges related to preoperative anemia, intraoperative blood loss, and frailty, emphasizing the significance of perioperative blood management. This retrospective analysis aimed to assess the correlation between hemoglobin-related parameters and outcomes, identifying key markers to aid in blood management. Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who underwent surgical treatment for spinal metastases. Hb-related parameters, including baseline Hb, postoperative nadir Hb, predischarge Hb, postoperative nadir Hb drift, and predischarge Hb drift (both in absolute values and percentages) were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. These analyses were conducted in conjunction with other established variables to identify independent markers predicting patient outcomes. The outcomes of interest were postoperative short-term (6-week) mortality, long-term (1-year) mortality, and postoperative 30-day morbidity. Results: A total of 289 patients were included. Our study demonstrated that predischarge Hb (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44–0.88, P = 0.007) was an independent prognostic factor of short-term mortality, while baseline Hb (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66–0.88, P < 0.001) was identified as an independent prognostic factor of long-term mortality. Additionally, nadir Hb drift (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70–0.97, P = 0.023) was found to be an independent prognostic factor for postoperative 30-day morbidity. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that predischarge Hb, baseline Hb, and nadir Hb drift are prognostic factors for outcomes. These findings provide a foundation for precise blood management strategies. It is crucial to consider Hb-related parameters appropriately, and prospective intervention studies addressing these markers should be conducted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prostate cancer hypoxia is a negative prognostic biomarker. A promising MRI-based tool to assess hypoxia is the 'Consumption and Supply based Hypoxia' (CSH) model based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The aim of the study was to validate the association between the CSH hypoxia fraction (HFDWI) with pathological Grade Group (pGG) and pathological T-staging (pTstage) in an external prostatectomy cohort. Methods: Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional blood volume (fBV) maps were assessed from DWI data from 291 prostatectomies and combined by the CSH model. HFDWI was calculated for each lesion after median scaling of ADC and fBV to address differences in acquisition and analysis between centers. The absolute HFDWI values and the associations of HFDWI between pGG < 3 versus ≥ 3, and pTstage = 2 versus = 3 in the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) cohort were compared to the obtained by original cohort (Oslo cohort). Statistical T- and Mann-Whitney tests (p<0.05) were performed. Pearson correlation was determined between HFDWI and individual pGG groups. Results: The HFDWI showed comparable absolute values and similar metric performance as in the original published cohort. Higher HFDWI values were observed for higher pGG(Oslo: 0.27; NKI: 0.24) compared to lower pGG (Oslo: 0.11; NKI: 0.17). Similar results were obtained for pTstage. Furthermore, HFDWI demonstrated a significant positive correlation with pGG groups 1-5 (r = 0.41, p<0.001). Conclusion: The CSH model exhibited sufficient robustness in the external cohort, suggesting a plausible reflection of true hypoxia and enabling the use of the HFDWI metric for further research into prostate cancer and hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the temporal variability of the surface velocity of 30 glaciers in the Mont Blanc massif (European Alps). We calculated the monthly velocity between 2016 and 2024 using digital image correlation of Sentinel-2 optical imagery. The main objectives of the study were (i) to characterize the variability of the velocity fields of such glaciers (referring to both their temporal seasonal and inter-annual and spatial variations) and (ii) to investigate relationships between the morphology of glaciers and their kinematics. We measured monthly velocities varying from 12.7 to 487.4 m yr -1. We observed an overall decrease in the velocity between 2016 and 2019 and an unexpected rise in 2020–2022, which are especially visible in most glaciers on the southern side of the massif. Considering the whole period, half of the glaciers showed positive acceleration, which reached values > 4 m yr -2 in three glaciers. In general, the trend's absolute value in the cold season is higher in the case of positive acceleration and lower in the case of negative acceleration. We found that smaller glaciers have a more pronounced seasonality, with winter–summer velocity differences of 50 %–100 %. Finally, in 2016, 2018, and 2022, we observed an exceptionally high winter–summer velocity difference in the 0.3 km 2 wide Charpoua Glacier, when summer velocities increased by 1 order of magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explaining the maintenance of genetic variation in fitness‐related traits within populations is a fundamental challenge in ecology and evolutionary biology. Frequency‐dependent selection (FDS) is one mechanism that can maintain such variation, especially when selection favours rare variants (negative FDS). However, our general knowledge about the occurrence of FDS, its strength and direction remain fragmented, limiting general inferences about this important evolutionary process. We systematically reviewed the published literature on FDS and assembled a database of 747 effect sizes from 101 studies to analyse the occurrence, strength, and direction of FDS, and the factors that could explain heterogeneity in FDS. Using a meta‐analysis, we found that overall, FDS is more commonly negative, although not significantly when accounting for phylogeny. An analysis of absolute values of effect sizes, however, revealed the widespread occurrence of modest FDS. However, negative FDS was only significant in laboratory experiments and non‐significant in mesocosms and field‐based studies. Moreover, negative FDS was stronger in studies measuring fecundity and involving resource competition over studies using other fitness components or focused on other ecological interactions. Our study unveils key general patterns of FDS and points in future promising research directions that can help us understand a long‐standing fundamental problem in evolutionary biology and its consequences for demography and ecological dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For T n (x) = cos n arccos x , x ∈ [ - 1 , 1 ] , the n-th Chebyshev polynomial of the first kind, we study the quantity τ n , k : = | T n (k) (ω n , k) | T n (k) (1) , 1 ≤ k ≤ n - 2 , where T n (k) is the k-th derivative of T n and ω n , k is the largest zero of T n (k + 1) . Since the absolute values of the local extrema of T n (k) increase monotonically towards the end-points of [ - 1 , 1 ] , the value τ n , k shows how small is the largest critical value of T n (k) relative to its global maximum T n (k) (1) . This is a continuation of our (joint with Alexei Shadrin) paper "On the largest critical value of T n (k) ", SIAM J. Math. Anal.50(3), 2018, 2389–2408, where upper bounds and asymptotic formuae for τ n , k have been obtained on the basis of the Schaeffer–Duffin pointwise upper bound for polynomials with absolute value not exceeding 1 in [ - 1 , 1 ] . We exploit a 1996 result of Knut Petras about the weights of the Gaussian quadrature formulae associated with the ultraspherical weight function w λ (x) = (1 - x 2) λ - 1 / 2 to find an explicit (modulo ω n , k ) formula for τ n , k 2 . This enables us to prove a lower bound and to refine the previously obtained upper bounds for τ n , k . The explicit formula admits also a new derivation of the asymptotic formula approximating τ n , k for n → ∞ . The new approach is simpler, without using deep results about the ordinates of the Bessel function, and allows to better analyze the sharpness of the estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove mixing convergence of the least squares estimator of autoregressive parameters for supercritical autoregressive processes of order 2 with Gaussian innovations having real characteristic roots with different absolute values. We use an appropriate random scaling such that the limit distribution is a two-dimensional normal distribution concentrated on a one-dimensional ray determined by the characteristic root having the larger absolute value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Cystic fibrosis is a genetically determined disease that significantly influences and shortens life. Treatment with CFTR modulators (CFTR-T) is a new hope for patients. It can change the predictive values of a poor prognosis (e.g., exacerbation rate and FEV1 value). The aim of the study was to analyse exacerbation incidence and spirometry data before and after one year (+/− 2 weeks) of CFTR-T in 85 CF patients at the CF Centre in Poznań. To our knowledge, this is the first analysis of CFTR-T efficiency in the Central–Eastern Europe population. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the spirometry and exacerbation data of 85 CF adult patients (both men and women), who in the middle of 2022 began treatment with CFTR modulators. Results: The one-year ratio of hospitalisation caused by severe exacerbations lowered from 1.25 to 0.21 per patient per year. We also saw a 66% decline in ambulatory exacerbations. The median FEV1% increased by 9.60% in absolute values and by 460 mL. Even in the group with very severe obstruction (FEV1 < 35%), there was an increase in median FEV1% of 5.9 in absolute values. We also proved the increase in FVC% (median 17.10% in absolute value and 600 mL) in the study group. Conclusions: After one year of treatment, an impressive improvement was observed in two important predictive values of poor prognosis: exacerbation rate and FEV1 values. Further observation is needed to determine how long the improvement will be present and its influence on quality of life and life expectancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a cost-effective and efficient closed-loop calibration method to enhance the absolute positioning accuracy of industrial robots. The method utilizes an economical and highly accurate set of simple measurement devices, including a device mounted on the robot's end effector and a spherical constraint device positioned within the robot's workspace. A novel local area measurement method is employed for the spherical constraint device, effectively converting position errors into the errors in the sphere center position of the constraint device. Furthermore, the error model considers both kinematic parameter deviations of the robot itself as well as those of the measurement device, along with non-kinematic errors caused by link self-weight. The closed-loop calibration model relies on position constraints, enabling identification and compensation of all error parameters using Levenberg Marquardt method after substituting measured data. The effectiveness of this proposed method is demonstrated through simulation and experimentation. In simulations, average position error reduces from 8.249 mm to 0.8384 mm, while absolute mean difference in sphere center positions obtained using our measurement equipment decreases from 1.206 mm to 0.1027 mm. Significant reductions in both position error and difference in sphere center position are indicated after calibration. This proves that the absolute mean value of the sphere center position difference can be used as the basis for judging the size of the robot's end position error. Experimental results show that absolute mean difference in sphere center position decreases from 0.4319 mm to 0.02869 mm, leading to substantial improvement in overall positioning accuracy. • Calibration model incorporates both kinematic and non-kinematic deviation. • Local area measurement data effectively reflects the robot's end position error. • Closed-loop calibration method exhibits robustness in the presence of noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dunhuang murals, a significant part of Chinese heritage, have suffered deterioration primarily due to environmental and chemical factors, notably salt damage. This study proposes a sophisticated method that synergizes Fractional Order Differentiation (FOD) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) to accurately invert the phosphate content in the mural plaster of the Dunhuang paintings. The focal points of the research include: (1) To address the issue of information loss and reduced modeling precision caused by integer-order differentiation algorithms, the FOD method is employed for preprocessing spectral data. This approach ensures the fine spectral differences in the phosphate content of the mural plaster are precisely captured, (2) Utilizing PLSR, the study models the spectral bands identified at a significance level of 0.01 with measured conductivity values, thereby enabling the precise prediction of the phosphate content in the murals. The research outcomes reveal: (1) The FOD method can elucidate the nonlinear characteristics and variation patterns of the mural samples in the spectral data. As the order increases from zero to two, the number of spectral bands meeting the 0.01 significance test initially decreases and then increases. The highest absolute value of the positive correlation coefficient is observed at the 1.9 order, corresponding to the 2077 nm band, (2) For predicting the phosphate content in the murals, the model at the 1.9 order is most suitable for inversion. This model, after cross-validation, achieves a maximum R2 value of 0.861. This study created an efficient FOD-based model for estimating phosphate in mural plaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topography can strongly affect ground motion, and studies of the quantification of hill surfaces' topographic effect are relatively rare. In this paper, a new quantitative seismic topographic effect prediction method based upon the BP neural network algorithm and three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) was developed. The FEM simulation results were compared with seismic records and the results show that the PGA and response spectra have a tendency to increase with increasing elevation, but the correlation between PGA amplification factors and slope is not obvious for low hills. New BP neural network models were established for the prediction of amplification factors of PGA and response spectra. Two kinds of input variables' combinations which are convenient to achieve are proposed in this paper for the prediction of amplification factors of PGA and response spectra, respectively. The absolute values of prediction errors can be mostly within 0.1 for PGA amplification factors, and they can be mostly within 0.2 for response spectra's amplification factors. One input variables' combination can achieve better prediction performance while the other one has better expandability of the predictive region. Particularly, the BP models only employ one hidden layer with about a hundred nodes, which makes it efficient for training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the Li–Yorke chaos in linear systems with weak topology on Hilbert spaces. A weak topology induced by bounded linear functionals is first constructed. Under this weak topology, it is shown that the weak Li–Yorke chaos can be equivalently measured by an irregular or a semi-irregular vector, which are utilized to establish criteria for the weak Li–Yorke chaos of diagonalizable operators, Jordan blocks, and upper triangular operators. In particular, for a linear operator that can be decomposed into a direct sum of finite-dimensional Jordan blocks, it is Li–Yorke chaotic in weak topology if its point spectrum contains a pair of real opposite eigenvalues with absolute values not less than 1, or a pair of complex conjugate eigenvalues with moduli not less than 1. Interestingly, as a specific example of upper triangular operator, the existence of Li–Yorke chaos in weak topology can be derived for a class of linear operators expressed as the direct sum of finite-dimensional Jordan blocks and a strongly irreducible operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fusion of multiple precipitation products can effectively improve precipitation accuracy. In order to reduce the uncertainty of traditional precipitation members and improve the applicability of Bayesian model averaging (BMA), this study proposes a dynamic ensemble calibration framework with seasonality and real‐time capability, namely dynamic K‐nearest neighbour BMA (DKBMA), for the integration calibration and comparison of ERA5 reanalysis products and three satellite precipitation products (CMORPH, 3B42RT and 3B42V7). The application results of the DKBMA in the Yujiang River basin, Southern China, during the period of 2011–2016 show that (1) the DKBMA can overcome the problem of ERA5 error interference on the seasonal scale, reduce the systematic bias of ensemble precipitation members at coastal sites and demonstrate strong robustness at different altitudes. (2) Compared with the traditional BMA, the DKBMA has significantly improved accuracy, especially in capturing extreme precipitation events. The correlation coefficient has increased from 0.793 (traditional BMA) to 0.841 (DKBMA), the root‐mean‐square error has decreased from 35.61 (traditional BMA) to 30.95 (DKBMA), and the absolute value of relative bias has decreased from 62.80% (traditional BMA) to 49.94% (DKBMA). The proposed DKBMA in this study can provide a new solution for the fusion of multi‐source precipitation products in data‐scarce regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]