Combined Interpretation Research Articles

Flow Cytometry for the Detection and Quantification of Mast Cells in Lymph Nodes: A Prospective Study in 64 Dogs With Mast Cell Tumour.

Nodal metastasis is a negative prognostic factor in dogs with mast cell tumours (MCTs), thus early detection enables more informed decision-making and provides valuable prognostic information. The aim of this study is to assess the concordance between histopathologic findings of LNs and cytology and flow cytometry (FC), respectively, and to evaluate the ability of FC to differentiate between metastatic (HN2-HN3) and non-metastatic (HN0-HN1) LNs. Overall, 117 LNs from 64 dogs with first occurring MCTs were submitted for cytology, histology and FC. LNs were cytologically and histologically classified according to Krick and Weishaar systems, respectively. Using FC, mast cells (MCs) were identified as IgE+ CD117+ CD5- CD21- cells and quantified as a percentage. When compared with histologic classification, cytology showed an accuracy of 88.2% in distinguishing between metastatic and non-metastatic LNs but did not detect 25.3% of metastatic cases. FC revealed an increase in the median percentages of MCs across histologic classes, progressing from HN0 to HN3. ROC curves pinpointed 0.3% as the optimal cut-off for distinguishing between metastatic and non-metastatic LNs, with an accuracy of 84.3%. A 1.1% cut-off proved valuable in identifying HN3 LNs. The combined interpretation of cytology and FC increased accuracy to 92.2%. An algorithm for guiding the combined interpretation of cytology and FC is suggested based on these findings. In conclusion, FC proves beneficial in enhancing the early detection of metastatic LNs, particularly when utilised alongside cytology. Histopathology remains essential for confirmation, enabling the discrimination of HN classes or, in doubtful cases, for the detection or exclusion of nodal metastases.

Digitising a Card Game for Teaching Pragmatic Markers

Most language learning applications focus on pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar of a language. However, learning the pragmatics enables learners to interpret contextual meanings of specific words uttered by native speakers during conversations. An educational card game called Mind You! was developed for non-native English-speaking international students in Australia to help them learn English pragmatic markers. The card game was designed to encourage social constructivism and situated learning, where learners construct their own sentences based on their combined interpretations of pragmatic markers, images and scenarios displayed on cards to answer hypothetical questions. A mobile application of the card game is being developed as a supplementary resource when face-to-face or in-person learning is neither possible nor practical. Learners can listen to audios of pragmatic markers in sentences and type or record their own sentences based on their interpretations of the cards and share them online with other learners. This provides a platform for distance collaborative learning between other language learners where they share sentences based on different interpretations of different card combinations. The objective of the mobile application is to train learners in using pragmatic markers for English conversations outside the game. This work-in-progress manuscript outlines how the card game can be digitised into a mobile application.

What caused the lag between oxygen-18 and deuterium excess in atmospheric vapor and precipitation during the earlier summer season in southwest China?

A combined interpretation of oxygen-18 (δ18O) and deuterium excess (d-excess) in various archives in the Indian monsoon-dominated region may add value to the isotopic climate significance. Yet, coupling water δ18O and d-excess together is rarely discussed. Here, we present measurements for both δ18O and δ2H in water vapor and precipitation samples collected in the Nujiang River valley, an important moisture corridor for the Indian monsoon in southwestern China, aiming for an improved understanding of the hydrological cycle on seasonal scales. The observation found a significant drop occurred in the earlier summer season for δ18O and d-excess in vapor and precipitation. However, an approximately one-month lag between vapor δ18O and vapor d-excess is observed in seasonal variations, revealing different drivers for the seasonal patterns of vapor d-excess and δ18O. Spatial correlation analysis found that d-excess is mainly modulated by the relative humidity over the core moisture source over the Bay of Bengal (BOB), while the sharp decrease of vapor δ18O corresponds to the onset of the Indian summer monsoon associated with large-scale convective activities, which significantly depleted the vapor heavy isotopes. The finding of the phase difference in the seasonal isotope signals and the underlying mechanism will benefit the study in particularly using both δ18O and d-excess for an improved understanding of the hydrological processes in the Indian monsoon-dominated region, and will provide new insight into studies of paleoclimate rebuilding by using isotope-based proxy as well.

Diagnosis and features of the treatment algorithm of non-lactational chronic mastitis on the example of a clinical case

Inflammatory processes in the mammary gland (MG) do not lose their relevance, the frequency of occurrence reaches 16% among all diseases of the MG. Non-lactational mastitis (NM) – inflammation in the MG outside the period of pregnancy and lactation – stands out among them [1]. With untimely and non-radical treatment of acute forms, there is a transition to chronic, with the formation of bacterial biofilm in the focus of inflammation and thick scar capsule after repeated surgical interventions, which is due to a vicious circle. The clinical picture of non-lactational chronic mastitis in most cases resembles a diffuse (mastitis-like, edematous-infiltrative) form of breast cancer (BC), which determines the differential-diagnostic difficulties in referring to a doctor both at initial treatment and at recurrence. This problem is faced by doctors of different specialties: oncologists, surgeons, gynecologists, therapists, specialists in radiation and radiological diagnostics [2, 3]. Radiation diagnostics is always the «gold standard» in the diagnosis of breast diseases, but has a number of disadvantages in the inflammatory process in the breast, and, in some cases, it is worth prioritizing the ultrasound method of investigation [4]. Through the combined interpretation of clinical data and ultrasound (USG) findings, the following parameters should be evaluated: skin thickness, pre-mammary fatty tissue, structure of glandular parenchyma of the MJ, presence and boundaries of inflammatory infiltrate/infiltrates in the MJ tissue; formation of «rarefaction» zones, microabscesses and/or already formed «draining» abscess cavities, assess the content of fluid cavities (homogeneity/homogeneity), the presence of pyogenic capsule, as well as the boundaries of inflammation/abscessing with unchanged breast tissue, taking into account possible «microfoci» outside the main mass of changes (like «satellites», «fluid spurs»). It is important to analyze the state of the ductal system of the breast (ductal diameter dilation, intraluminal content) and possible connection of ducts with abscessed areas, which may be a predictor of further spread of the process, recurrence or chronicization of the disease. Inflammation on the background of subacute and chronic process can lead to the development of fistulas [5]. However, there is not always the classic ultrasound picture of a purulent focus in the breast [6–9].

Resistivity anomalies in the shallow and deep crust beneath West Tasmania from a broadband magnetotelluric 2D transect

West Tasmania has a complex geological history, including a Cambrian tectonic collision and related orogenesis, which formed ore deposits in a volcanic hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) setting. While the topography and dense vegetation covering the area presents challenges for on-ground investigations, the area is relatively well-studied such that 3D geological models are available. This contribution presents results of a broadband magnetotelluric (MT) 2D transect across the area (∼30 stations over a ∼ 80 km line, deployed in early 2016) that enables a combined interpretation of regional-scale geoelectric and geological structures. After accounting for noise, distortion and geoelectric strike; we produce 2D resistivity models using OCCAM2D inversion. We infer low resistivity anomalies in the shallow ( < 3 km ), mid (3–8 km) and deeper crust. Along this MT transect the shallow and mid crust low resistivity zones correspond to major crustal faults. Deep low resistivity features in the east of the transect suggest fluid pathways associated with metamorphism along the western boundary of the Tyennan block during the Cambrian Tyennan Orogeny, while others potentially represent the metasomatism of lower crustal rocks and fluid pathways converging into the mid crust.

Combined interpretation of objective firearm evidence comparison algorithms using Bayesian networks.

Traditionally, firearm and toolmark examiners manually evaluate the similarity of features on two bullets using comparison microscopy. Advances in microscopy have made it possible to collect 3D topographic data, and several automated comparison algorithms have been introduced for the comparison of bullet striae using these data. In this study, open-source approaches for cross-correlation, congruent matching profile segments, consecutive matching striations, and a random forest model were evaluated. A statistical characterization of these automated approaches was performed using four datasets of consecutively manufactured firearms to provide a challenging comparison scenario. Each automated approach was applied to all samples in a pairwise fashion, and classification performance was compared. Based on these findings, a Bayesian network was empirically learned and constructed to leverage the strengths of each individual approach, model the relationship between the automated results, and combine them into a posterior probability for the given comparison. The network was evaluated similarly to the automated approaches, and the results were compared. The developed Bayesian network classified 99.6% of the samples correctly, and the resultant probability distributions were significantly separated more so than the automated approaches when used in isolation.

Epileptic network identification: insights from Dynamic Mode Decomposition of sEEG data.

For medically-refractory epilepsy patients, stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) is a surgical method using intracranial recordings to identify brain networks participating in early seizure organization and propagation (i.e., the epileptogenic zone, EZ). If identified, surgical EZ treatment via resection, ablation or neuromodulation can lead to seizure-freedom. To date, quantification of sEEG data, including its visualization and interpretation, remains a clinical and computational challenge. Given elusiveness of physical laws or governing equations modelling complex brain dynamics, data science offers unique insight into identifying unknown patterns within high dimensional sEEG data. We apply here an unsupervised data-driven algorithm, Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD), to sEEG recordings from five focal epilepsy patients (three with temporal lobe, and two with cingulate epilepsy), who underwent subsequent resective or ablative surgery and became seizure free. DMD obtains a linear approximation of nonlinear data dynamics, generating coherent structures ("modes") defining important signal features, used to extract frequencies, growth rates and spatial structures. DMD was adapted to produce Dynamic Modal Maps (DMMs) across frequency sub-bands, capturing onset and evolution of epileptiform dynamics in sEEG data. Additionally, we developed a static estimate of EZ-localized electrode contacts, termed the Higher-Frequency Mode-based Norm Index (MNI). DMM and MNI maps for representative patient seizures were validated against clinical sEEG results and seizure-free outcomes following surgery. DMD was most informative at higher frequencies, i.e. gamma (including high-gamma) and beta range, successfully identifying EZ contacts. Combined interpretation of DMM/MNI plots best identified spatiotemporal evolution of mode-specific network changes, with strong concordance to sEEG results and outcomes across all five patients. The method identified network attenuation in other contacts not implicated in the EZ. This is the first application of DMD to sEEG data analysis, supporting integration of neuroengineering, mathematical and machine learning methods into traditional workflows for sEEG review and epilepsy surgical decision-making.

Comparative study on pore-connectivity and wettability characteristics of the fresh-water and saline lacustrine tuffaceous shales: triggering mechanisms and multi-scale models for differential reservoir-forming patterns

Although particular attention has been paid to responses of hydrocarbon storage and percolation capacity to the devitrification concerning lacustrine tuffaceous shale reservoirs in recent years, there is still a lack of systematical and comparative investigation on differential patterns and potential triggering mechanisms concerning development of the pore-microfracture systems and characteristics of surface wettability between the fresh-water and saline lacustrine settings, which is of considerable importance in fully understanding of genesis and spatial distribution of dessert reservoir intervals of tuffaceous shale reservoirs, and to provide further conceptual basis for deciphering shale-oil movability of saline lacustrine fine-grained mixed sedimentary sequences. In this study, tuffaceous shales from both the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and Middle Permian Jingjingzigou Formation in the Junggar Basin are targeted to unravel the differential behavior of tuff devitrification and potential impacts on reservoir wettability and pore connectivity concerning fresh-water and saline lacustrine settings, and we present new results here from integrated analyses and combined interpretation of FE-SEM, Image Pro Plus (IPP) software image processing, contact angle and spontaneous imbibition experiments. In view of comparative analysis from representative samples, the tuffaceous shales from saline lacustrine environments are characterized by well-developed intergranular-intercrystalline and dissolution pores, and inorganic microfractures, generally yield a higher plane porosity of representative pore-fracture spaces and spontaneous imbibition slopes, a relatively lower average of n-decane contact angles and corresponding wettability parameters. The saline lacustrine tuffaceous shales are thus suspected to have undergone more intense devitrification resulting in a higher amount of devitrification and associated dissolution pores, and a relatively better connectivity between isolated micropore systems with adjacent microfractures. This would significantly facilitate the interface wettability reversal and occurrence of movable hydrocarbon fluid in microscopic reservoir spaces. Finally, a comprehensive and conceptual model is established illustrating the effects of differential devitrification on reservoir-forming patterns concerning tuffaceous shales developed in the fresh-water and saline lacustrine settings, respectively. These findings are of great theoretical and practical significance to enrich theory of high-quality reservoir formation and shale-oil accumulation in saline lacustrine tuffaceous shale reservoirs, and lay the foundation for guiding efficient exploration of continental fine-grained mixed sedimentary sequences.

Hydrocarbon-generating potential of the Middle Permian Lucaogou source rock in the eastern Junggar Basin, China

The Middle Permian Lucaogou Formation is the most significant source rock in the eastern Junggar Basin. Previous studies have confirmed its excellent hydrocarbon-generating potential in the Jimsar Sag. However, its potential in other areas of the eastern Junggar Basin remains uncertain. Based on total organic carbon and pyrolysis, organic petrology, hydrocarbon simulation experiments, basin simulation, and combined well-seismic coupling interpretation, this study systematically compares the hydrocarbon-generating potential of the Lucaogou source rock in the Jimsar Sag with other areas of the eastern Junggar Basin. It discusses the sedimentary environment of high-quality source rocks and depicts the distribution of practical source kitchens. The Lucaogou source rocks in the eastern Junggar Basin are oil-prone, dominated by type I–II kerogen, and generally classified as good to excellent source rocks. Nowadays, the area of the Lucaogou source rocks that have entered the main oil-generating window is approximately 11 × 103 km2. Except for the bulge area, the Lucaogou source rocks in the eastern Junggar Basin successively entered the hydrocarbon-generating threshold during the Jurassic and the main oil-generating window in the Cretaceous. The Lucaogou source rocks in the Jimsar Sag and other parts of the eastern Junggar Basin share similar biomarker fingerprints, characterized by relatively low ratios of Pr/Ph, Pr/n-C17, Tm/C30 hopane, C19/C20 tricyclic terpene, and C24 tetracyclic terpene/C26 tricyclic terpene, and high β-carotene content, gammacerane index, and Ts/Tm ratios. These characteristics reflect deposition in a strongly reducing brackish lacustrine environment with parental sources dominated by lower organisms such as algae and bacteria. Generally, the Lucaogou source rocks in the eastern Junggar Basin have an oil-generating intensity of more than 3 × 106 t/km2. Several oil-generating centers with an intensity of more than 5 × 106 t/km2 have developed in the front of the Bogda Mountain, Jimsar Sag, Dongdaohaizi Sag, Wucaiwan Sag, and Shazhang Fault Zone, covering a total area of approximately 12,500 km2. These characteristics of the Lucaogou source rocks promise favorable potential for forming large and medium oil fields. The results further consolidated the oil and gas resources in the eastern Junggar Basin and provided valuable references for exploring future oil and gas fields.

Improved prenatal assessment of kidney disease using multiple ultrasound features.

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and the urinary tract (CAKUT), often discovered in utero, cover a wide spectrum of outcomes ranging from normal postnatal kidney function to fetal death. The current ultrasound workup does not allow for an accurate assessment of the outcome. The present study aimed to significantly improve the ultrasound-based prediction of postnatal kidney survival in CAKUT. Histological analysis of kidneys of 15 CAKUT fetuses was performed to better standardize the ultrasound interpretation of dysplasia and cysts. Ultrasound images of 140 CAKUT fetuses with 2-year postnatal follow-up were annotated for amniotic fluid volume and kidney number, size, dysplasia and/or cysts using standardized ultrasound readout. Association of ultrasound features and clinical data (sex and age at diagnosis) with postnatal kidney function was studied using logistic regression. Amniotic fluid proteome associated to kidney dysplasia or cysts was characterized by mass spectrometry. Histologically, poor ultrasound corticomedullary differentiation was associated to dysplastic lesions and ultrasound hyperechogenicity was associated to the presence of microcysts. Of all ultrasound and clinical parameters, reduced amniotic volume, dysplasia and cysts were the best predictors of poor outcome (Odd ratio = 57 [95%CI: 11-481], 20 [3-225] and 7 [1-100], respectively). Their combination into an algorithm improved prediction of postnatal kidney function compared to amniotic volume alone (area under the ROC curve = 0.92 [0.86-0.98] in a 10-fold cross validation). Dysplasia and cysts were correlated (Cramer's V coefficient = 0.44, p<0.0001), but amniotic fluid proteome analysis revealed that they had distinct molecular origin (extracellular matrix and cell contacts versus cellular death, respectively), probably explaining the additivity of their predictive performances. Antenatal clinical advice for CAKUT pregnancies can be improved by a more standardized and combined interpretation of ultrasound data.

THE IMPACT OF THE MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY REGIME ON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES ACCORDING TO ALBANIAN LEGISLATION

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the interaction between the legal discipline of matrimonial property regimes and the commercial activities of spouses that are established before or during marriage. It aims to investigate how the legal community impacts commercial companies, specifically in the hypothesis where the shareholder of the company is married. There is ongoing debate within legal circles about whether shares of a commercial company established by one spouse during marriage or acquired through a legal transaction are part of the legal community. Regarding this matter, several issues arise: whether the participation in the company's initial capital is governed by community administration rules, which is the legal nature of shares acquired by one spouse, and how the marital community regime interplays with commercial legislation. Another issue that has engaged legal doctrine is whether the spouse of a shareholder is recognised as a shareholder and can participate in the company administration. Albanian Family Code lacks specificity on shares, mainly addressing small family businesses. The study of the interaction of these two disciplines aims to assist jurisprudence because, despite some cases of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court in recent years, this is still a relatively new field for Albanian doctrine and jurisprudence. Methods: The research methodology adopted for this paper employs a multi-faceted approach, integrating desk research, legal analysis, case law review, and a comparative study. It encompasses an examination of relevant national legislation, as well as foreign legislation from civil law tradition countries such as France and Italy. Furthermore, European soft law, notably the principles of the European Commission of Family Law (CEFL) focusing on matrimonial property issues, has been reviewed. Our research methodology includes gathering and analysing existing studies and academic literature on matrimonial property regimes. To better understand the norms of the Family Code regarding matrimonial property regimes, we will analyse Italian and French doctrine and jurisprudence, as well as the legal systems based on which the Albanian Family Code has been drafted. It should be emphasised that while this paper’s primary aim is not solely comparative analysis, it strives to assist in better understanding and implementation of the legal community regime as the most used regime by spouses in practice. Also, a comprehensive comparative analysis has been conducted, comparing Albanian legislation and the CEFL Principles, to identify key similarities, differences, and potential areas for enhancement within legal frameworks. Moreover, the jurisprudence of both Albanian and foreign High courts has been extensively utilised to enrich the analysis and provide insights into practical applications of legal principles. Results and Conclusions: The solution to the abovementioned issues depends on the company’s legal structure and articles of participation rules and requires a combined interpretation of matrimonial property regimes and commercial law. In this combined interpretation of the rules, protecting the rights and interests of all involved subjects, the interests of the spouses and those of the commercial company as a legal entity is crucial.

Water Content Evolution in the EDZ of Opalinus Clay: A Methodic Approach for a Comparative Interpretation of Measurements and Modelling

In the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory (Switzerland), an interdisciplinary examination program is carried out to increase knowledge about coupled hydro-mechanical effects in Opalinus Clay, which are of significant interest regarding the stability and integrity of a potential storage facility for high-level radioactive waste. This article focuses on the characterization of the claystone in the near field of excavations and related hydraulic effects due to excavation and ventilation. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is applied to characterize the OPA: Several open fractures correlate with regions of high resistivity values, indicating potential preferential flow paths that are relevant for transport processes. Due to the combined interpretation of ERT long-term monitoring and seasonally repeated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, a relationship between electrical resistivity and water content can be established, resulting also in a time-dependent map of the water content around excavations with different climatic conditions. The statistical interpretation of these measurements indicates the existence of small-scale singularities in contrast to dominating, more homogeneous zones. The presented approach leads to a better process understanding of these heterogeneous near field effects and provides a valuable basis for a pragmatic approach to safety assessment.

‘We have opened a can of worms’: using collaborative ethnography to advance responsible artificial intelligence innovation

ABSTRACT With the recent rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI), social scientists and computational scientists have approached overlapping questions about ethics, responsibility, and fairness. Joined-up efforts between these disciplines have nonetheless been scarce due to, among other factors, unfavourable institutional arrangements, unclear publication avenues, and sometimes incompatible normative, epistemological and methodological commitments. In this paper, we offer collaborative ethnography as one concrete methodology to address some of these challenges. We report on an interdisciplinary collaboration between science and technology studies scholars and data scientists developing an AI system to detect online misinformation. The study combined description, interpretation, and (self-)critique throughout the design and development of the AI system. We draw three methodological lessons to move from critique to action for interdisciplinary teams pursuing responsible AI innovation: (1) Collective self-critique as a tool to resist techno-centrism and relativism, (2) Moving from strategic vagueness to co-production, and (3) Using co-authorship as a method.

Late Pleistocene island weathering and precipitation in the Western Pacific Warm Pool

Deciphering past climate variability in the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP), the Earth’s largest heat and moisture centre, is vital for understanding the global climate system. Nevertheless, its long-term evolution remains controversial, largely due to ambiguities in existing proxy interpretations and discrepancies between records. Here, we present a weathering and erosion reconstruction from the WPWP spanning the last 140,000 years, based on the mineralogy and geochemistry of a sediment core from offshore of northern New Guinea. The paleo-weathering reconstruction is consistent with the simulated precipitation evolution on nearby islands, thereby suggesting a close coupling between climate variability and island weathering in a tropical setting. In addition, our combined data-model interpretation of WPWP climate history shows many similarities to the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) variability over orbital timescales. Overall, our study highlights the critical role of precession-paced interhemispheric energy redistribution, via the West Pacific meridional sea-surface pressure gradient, in linking orbital-scale WPWP climate and EASM variability.

The 1980 Aparejo Glacier catastrophic detachment: new insights and current status

The catastrophic detachment of Aparejo Glacier (one of the three known cases in the Andes) took place on 1 March 1980 and resulted in the removal of an ice volume initially estimated to be 7.2 Mm3, which originally was 1.0 km long and covered an area of 0.2 km2. The event caused the sudden mobilization of the sliding mass 3.7 km down valley at an estimated speed of 110 km/h, causing remarkable geomorphological changes, including the obliteration of most of the glacier. 40 years after the event, we analyze new evidence: 3 ground surveys carried out in 2015 and 2016; DEMs and glacier outlines compiled from orthorectified aerial imagery pre-and post-event; GNSS data; Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data; a terrestrial LiDAR scan survey of 2020, together with detailed interviews with 2 direct witnesses of the event, terrestrial and helicopter-borne photographs acquired 12 days after the sudden detachment. The combined interpretation of these new data, allow us to make a more precise estimation of the pre-detachment glacier volume, 12.9 ± 0.6 × 106 m3 and the detached ice volume of 11.7 ± 0.6 × 106 m3 (90% of the total volume of the glacier). We also show that in the 40-year period Aparejo Glacier has recovered 12.4% of the original glacier volume, with a mean ice thickness of 19.5 m and a maximum of 40 m according to GPR data, being preserved within the same basin as the detached glacier. In recent years, the glacier has shown a mean elevation change of −3.7 ± 1.2 m during the 2015–2020 period, with maximum thinning values greater than 8 m, which are probably caused by enhanced ablation due to climate warming and reduced precipitation during the current megadrought which started in 2010 and has lasted more than 1 decade. We conclude that under the projected scenarios of climate warming and reduced precipitation for central Chile, the risk associated to a new detachment of Aparejo Glacier is unlikely.

Soil CO2 fluxes measured in the Acoculco Geothermal System, Mexico: Baseline emissions from a long-term prospection programme

The Acoculco Caldera Complex is considered a promissory hidden high-temperature geothermal system in Mexico. To support the geothermal prospection of this anomalous area, a comprehensive programme of soil CO2 flux measurements was performed. A long-term measurement programme was conducted to determine the baseline of natural soil CO2 effluxes. Significant efforts were devoted both to measuring the CO2 fluxes between 2015 and 2022 and interpreting their origin. Eighteen soil gas surveys of CO2 were carried out by using the accumulation chamber method. >1200 diffuse CO2 fluxes were measured in six different areas of the Acoculco Caldera. Two areas (Los Azufres and Alcaparrosa) exhibited cold degassing sites, acid-sulphate springs, and gas bubbling in surface water bodies. The soil CO2 fluxes ranged from 1 to 26,000 g m−2 d−1, whereas lower fluxes <29 g m−2 d−1 were determined as the degassing baseline. A total CO2 output of 492 t d−1 km−1 was estimated using an integrated SGS-GSA approach, where the highest total soil CO2 fluxes were obtained for Alcaparrosa (299 t d−1 km−2) compared with Los Azufres (164 t d−1 km−2), and Surroundings (29 t d−1 km−2). Such results agree well with those values measured in other worldwide volcanic and active geothermal ecosystems. The range of CO2 isotopic composition values from −28.83 ‰ to −3.11 ‰, together with their statistical distribution, suggests multiple CO2 production sources feeding soil degassing. The combined interpretation of flux and isotopic data allowed us to identify two distinct gas sources: endogenous and biogenic. The present study highlights the importance of using soil CO2 monitoring to determine baseline emissions at the early exploration stage of geothermal systems.

Development of a system for controlling a diamond drilling mode in terms of rock fault resistance

Relevance. Resistance to rock-cutting elements in rock destruction largely determines the effectiveness of drilling results. Information about the drag coefficient allows you to correctly and timely adjust the intensity of a drilling tool impact on the bottom of the well. To control the force contact of the drilling tool cutters with the bottom of the well, it is necessary to have a methodological apparatus that allows determining the rock destruction mechanism, taking into account the resistance forces. The existing methods for selecting combinations of diamond drilling mode parameters according to the known RPI index or according to the criterion of energy intensity of rock destruction N/vm , where N is the bottomhole power to overcome the resistance during rock destruction at the bottom hole; vm – mechanical drilling speed, have a number of disadvantages. They consist, for example, in occurrence of tool wear or the need to obtain a bottomhole power value in the current time mode, which is difficult under modern drilling conditions. Therefore, the study of rock resistance to destruction by a diamond cutter, based on application of the full factorial experiment method with obtaining mathematical models of factors and their graphical interpretation in combination with process control systems using computer technology in the current time mode, is a relevant topic. The disclosure of this topic will determine the direction of increasing technical and economic indicators of drilling. Aim. To develop a methodological apparatus that allows determining the mechanism of rock destruction taking into account the resistance forces to ensure optimal control of diamond drilling. Objects. Mechanism of rock resistance to destruction by a diamond cutter. Methods. Analysis, analytical research, full factorial experiment. Results. The paper presents an analytical analysis of the possibility of controlling drilling modes in order to achieve the greatest effect from drilling by estimating the drag coefficient as a function of the intensity of destruction or deepening per one revolution. Based on the analytical studies and the mode of drilling control by a computer in the real time mode, the authors have proposed a method for selecting the parameters of the drilling mode according to a given optimal value of the resistance index during drilling, and a way for its automatic implementation.

The lexical source of BIN and habitual be in African American English

AbstractAlthough various works on African American English (AAE) offer significant and insightful analyses of the semantic interpretation of its aspectual elements, including in particular stressed remote past BIN and habitual be (behab), the syntactic analysis of these elements is problematic. BIN and behab are claimed to be invariant lexical elements with fixed semantic values, and to not interact with INFL (Tense) as auxiliaries do, thus not displaying subject–verb agreement or undergoing any operations typical of finite auxiliaries. However, considerations including syntactic positioning, accompanying auxiliaries, patterns of verb affixation, and the formation of active and passive sentences point instead to BIN and behab being in most instances phonetic manifestations of any of the various ordinary auxiliary verbs be (progressive, passive, and copular), elements of the system of auxiliaries common to both AAE and Mainstream American English (MAE). The surface forms BIN and be are sufficient to trigger their special meanings in logical representation. Semantically dedicated lexical elements are unnecessary. The various interpretations of sentences containing these forms are due to constructional semantic interpretation of various combinations of surface elements. This analysis further reveals the existence of another AAE innovation, a fourth auxiliary verb be unique to AAE indicating simple past.

Inconsistent effects of components as evidence for non-compositionality in chimpanzee face-gesture combinations? A response to Oña et al (2019).

Using field observations from a sanctuary, Oña and colleagues (DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7623) investigated the semantics of face-gesture combinations in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The response of the animals to these signals was encoded as a binary measure: positive interactions such as approaching or grooming were considered affiliative; ignoring or attacking was considered non-affiliative. The relevant signals are illustrated in Fig. 1 (https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7623/fig-1), together with the outcome in terms of average affiliativeness. The authors observe that there seems to be no systematicity in the way the faces modify the responses to the gestures, sometimes reducing affiliativeness, sometimes increasing it. A strong interpretation of this result would be that the meaning of a gesture-face combination cannot be derived from the meaning of the gesture and the meaning of the face, that is, the interpretation of chimpanzees' face-gesture combinations are non compositional in nature. We will revisit this conclusion: we will exhibit simple compositional systems which, after all, may be plausible. At the methodological level, we argue that it is critical to lay out the theoretical options explicitly for a complete comparison of their pros and cons.

Exploring the topic structure and abuse trends of new psychoactive Substance since the 21st century from a bibliometric perspective

Nowadays, NPS abuse are continuing to expand in terms of harm and scope, due to its cheap and easy to manufacture anywhere in the world. This study reviewed articles related to seven heavily abused NPS to analyze the structure and trends of NPS abuse. A total of 2476 articles were retrieved based on the search strategy for bibliometric analysis. A significant trend of research in recent years was the increasing number of research on synthetic opioids and designer benzodiazepines, but synthetic cannabinoid and synthetic cathinone still dominate, which were mainly concerned with the development of metabolic models and determining methods as well as their abuse characteristics and reasons. However, with the introduction of class-wide ban on synthetic cannabinoid in China and a series of enhancements in other countries, the abuse of it might decrease to some extent, but more than 20 kinds of synthetic cannabinoid beyond the scope of ban in China still reminded researchers of their potential threats. As for synthetic cathinone, an important phenomenon was some of the drugs first identified during certain period might be more widely distributed in the future. Besides, several problems such as the regulation and prevention mode of emerging NPS, development of testing technologies as well as the interpretation and identification of multiple NPS combinations were also worth paying attention to. This study could help entrants better understand the structure of NPS abuse and provided direction for future research in forensic toxicology.