bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual-Doped Nickel Sulfide for Electro-Upgrading Polyethylene Terephthalate into Valuable Chemicals and Hydrogen Fuel
Authors: Chen Zhijie , Zheng Renji , Bao Teng , Ma Tianyi , Wei Wei , Shen Yansong , Ni Bing-Jie
Published: September 2023

Electro-upcycling of plastic waste into value-added chemicals/fuels is an attractive and sustainable way for plastic waste management. Recently, electrocatalytically converting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into formate and hydrogen has aroused great interest, while developing low-cost catalysts with high efficiency and selectivity for the central ethylene glycol (PET monomer) oxidation reaction (EGOR) remains a challenge. Herein, a high-performance nickel sulfide catalyst for plastic waste electro-upcycling is designed by a cobalt and chloride co-doping strategy. Benefiting from the interconnected ultrathin nanosheet architecture, dual dopants induced up-shifting d band centre and facilitated in situ structural reconstruction, the Co and Cl co-doped Ni3S2 (Co, Cl-NiS) outperforms the single-doped and undoped analogues for EGOR. The self-evolved sulfide@oxyhydroxide heterostructure catalyzes EG-to-formate conversion with high Faradic efficiency (> 92%) and selectivity (> 91%) at high current densities (> 400 mA cm−2). Besides producing formate, the bifunctional Co, Cl-NiS-assisted PET hydrolysate electrolyzer can achieve a high hydrogen production rate of 50.26 mmol h−1 in 2 M KOH, at 1.7 V. This study not only demonstrates a dual-doping strategy to engineer cost-effective bifunctional catalysts for electrochemical conversion processes, but also provides a green and sustainable way for plastic waste upcycling and simultaneous energy-saving hydrogen production.
Optimization of Heterogeneous Passenger Subway Transfer Timetable Considering Social Equity
Authors: Zhou Yuyang , He Shanshan , Wang Xutao , Wang Peiyu , Chen Yanyan , Luo Ming
Published: September 2023

With the accelerated operation of subway networks, the increasing number of subway transfer stations results in inefficient passenger travel. The target of this paper is to solve the research question of how to reduce transfer waiting time (TWTT) for heterogeneous passengers. The key problem is to determine the optimal concerted train timetable considering the transfer walking time (TWKT) of the passengers. On the basis of field survey data, the regression method was used to establish a TWKT prediction model for general passengers (G) and vulnerable passengers (V), including the elderly, passengers traveling with children, and those carrying large luggage. Afterward, a two-objective integer programming model was formulated to minimize the subway operating costs and TWTT for each group, in which V is given the priority weight to ensure social equity. The headway, loading capacity, and TWKT of heterogeneous passengers were set as optimization model constraints. A genetic algorithm (GA) was designed to find the optimal solution. A case study in which the Beijing Jianguomen Station was selected as the key transfer station was conducted to verify the performance of the proposed model. Key results show that the total TWTT for V and G can be reduced by 18.6% and 27.2%, respectively, with one train saved. Results of the parameter sensitivity analysis reveal the interconnection between the operating cost, heterogeneous passenger proportion, and transfer time. The proposed model can be used for improving transfer efficiency for passengers while considering the enterprise operating costs.
Investigation of the Effects of Important Factors in Suburban Rail Route Determination with MCDM
Authors: Öztürk Onur , Bozkurtoğlu Erkan
Published: September 2023

Thorough evaluation of suburban rail route alternatives is essential for determining the appropriate route. Suburban lines provide transportation services to suburban areas; that is, they provide transportation services to distant points of the city where demand is high. In this study, five alternative suburban rail routes in the commuter rail standard, starting from the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge’s European exit and ending at Istanbul Airport, were determined as a sample corridor in the province of Istanbul. High-standard suburban rail routes and their infrastructure construction costs were determined, and route options were delineated according to their construction costs. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods were examined, including the application of the decision matrix method (DMM) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to rank the routes in terms of the factors examined in the study. These routes were ranked according to the construction costs and according to the DMM and AHP methods, and the results were compared. In the decision matrix application, geomorphological-geological, geotechnical, infrastructural, and environmental factors were considered in the evaluation and determination process. A solution was developed in which all aspects were weighted to indicate their relevance, and these factors contributed to the determination of the results. The AHP method was also applied, in which five criteria were included in the evaluation: geology (including geomorphology and soil properties), engineering structures, construction costs, population values addressed by the routes, and railroad length. In addition, the distances to the active faults were examined according to the Turkey Earthquake Hazard Map specified in the Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBDY) 2018. Depending on the factors studied, the ordering of the routes was the same for all three methods.
Assessment, Prediction, and Mitigation of Metro-Induced Vibrations for an Opera Theatre Adjacent to a Station: A Case Study
Authors: Wang Qihao , Cai Xiaopei , Zhang Qian , Wang Yuqi , Tang Xueyang
Published: September 2023

Rapid urban expansion and the development of urban rail transit networks have led to a deteriorating vibration environment along metro lines. These long-term vibrations pose significant challenges to adjacent buildings, such as opera theatres, and to the well-being of nearby residents. Consequently, there is a critical need for vibration evaluation and the implementation of mitigation solutions. This work provides a numerical investigation into the dynamics of vibrations observed in an opera theatre located above a metro station. A unified coupling method, known as the train-track-station-solum-opera model, is proposed and validated with field experiments. By employing contact theory, deformation coordination criteria, and spring elements, various components are meticulously modeled and coupled. Using this unified coupled approach, metro-induced vibrations at the opera theatre are predicted and evaluated. Additionally, vibration control measures are employed from the perspectives of transfer paths and vibration receivers to mitigate and isolate excessive theatre vibrations. The results, based on a case where the distance between the metro line and the opera theatre is 42 m, demonstrate that metro operations can lead to vibrations exceeding acceptable limits at the opera theatre near the metro station. Therefore, it is imperative that vibrations are assessed before constructing vibration-sensitive buildings along metro lines and that mitigation measures are implemented to meet specifications. In this work, the application of extruded polystyrene (XPS) plates and optimization of building structures effectively reduced excessive theatre vibrations by 1–2.5 dB, offering viable attenuation options without requiring modifications to the existing metro system.
Analysis of the Quality of Incoming AlSi9Mn Alloy Ingots
Authors: Gyarmati Gábor , Kéri Zoltán , Mende Tamás , Molnár Dániel
Published: September 2023

Previous research revealed that the quality of the ingots produced by different primary or secondary alloy suppliers can differ remarkably. In this way, the quality of the liquid metal and the castings produced from it can be affected by the impurity content of the ingots used as charge material. In this work, a modified reduced pressure test (RPT) technique, which is based on the remelting of samples extracted from ingots, was applied to investigate the quality of primary AlSi9Mn ingots made by horizontal direct-chill (HDC) casting and gravity casting techniques. For the evaluation of metal quality, image analysis of the cross sections was applied. Pore area fraction, number density, normalized bifilm index, and normalized total pore perimeter were determined, and the relationships between the different metrics were analyzed. The results were compared with the melt quality assessment of the as-melted batches made from the ingots. Solidification simulations, thermal analysis, and microstructural investigations were conducted to investigate the solidification conditions of traditional and remelted RPT samples. Based on the results, the HDC cast ingots possess lower oxide and gas concentrations, which can be traced back to the differences in the melt preparation and casting technologies of the ingots. The comparison of the parameters evaluated by image analysis revealed that there is a strong linear relationship between normalized bifilm index and normalized total pore perimeter. The possible sources of error in ingot quality evaluation are highlighted.
Climate of Syria Based on Cordex Simulations: Present and Future
Authors: Naaouf Nour , Torma Csaba Zsolt
Published: September 2023

Regional climate models are widely used to assess current and future impacts of climate change. In this study, we evaluate the performance of regional climate models from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment programme integrated over the following three CORDEX domains: AFR, MNA and WAS. Four meteorological variables (temperature, precipitation, solar radiation and cloud cover) were evaluated over Syria at a grid spacing of 0.44°. The performance of five models in simulating the present climate characteristics (1989–2008) is evaluated with respect to the observations: CRU, ERA5 reanalysis and SARA and CLARA satellite data. We find that the mini-ensemble captures well the general spatial patterns and annual cycles of the selected variables. Anotheraim of this study was to assess the expected change of the mentioned four climate variables over Syria under the moderate emission scenario (RCP4.5) and the high emission scenario (RCP8.5) in the near future (2031–2050) and in the far future (2080–2099) with respect to the present climate (1989–2008). The simulations show a decreasing trend in cloud cover (between 6% and 10%) and precipitation (up to 9%) by mid and late century, regardless of the forcing scenarios. The simulations show a pronounced warming over Syria, which is expected to reach 6 °C by the end of the twenty-first century following the high greenhouse gas concentration scenario (RCP8.5). Furthermore, such an increase, combined with a decrease in precipitation, will shift Syria’s climate towards a more arid one.
Absence of anti–rabphilin-3A antibodies in children and young adults with idiopathic central diabetes insipidus: a potential clue to elucidating a tumor etiology
Authors: Fujisawa Haruki , Takeuchi Takako , Ishii Akira , Muto Jun , Kamasaki Hotaka , Suzuki Atsushi , Sugimura Yoshihisa
Published: September 2023

Background

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare condition caused by various underlying diseases, including neoplasms, autoimmune diseases, and infiltrative diseases. Differentiating between CDI etiologies is difficult. What has initially been classified as “idiopathic” central diabetes insipidus might in fact underlie various pathogenic mechanisms that are less understood to date and/or are not obvious at initial presentation. Therefore, even if idiopathic CDI is diagnosed at the time of onset, it is common for tumors such as germinoma to develop during surveillance. Crucially, a delayed diagnosis of germinoma may be associated with a worse prognosis. Recently, the presence of anti–rabphilin-3A antibodies has been found to be a highly sensitive and specific marker of lymphocytic infundibuloneurohypophysitis, an autoimmune-mediated CDI.

Case presentation

We herein present two cases, namely, a 13-year-old boy (patient 1) and a 19-year-old young man (patient 2) who were diagnosed with idiopathic CDI. In both patients, panhypopituitarism developed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed pituitary stalk thickening and pituitary swelling approximately 1 1/2 years after the onset of CDI. Western blotting did not reveal the presence of anti-rabphilin-3A antibodies in serum in either patient, suggesting that autoimmune mechanisms might not be involved. Both patients were subsequently diagnosed with germinoma on pathological examination. They received chemotherapy, followed by radiation therapy. Notably, testosterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels normalized, and libido and beard growth recovered after chemoradiotherapy in patient 2.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that the absence of anti-rabphilin-3A antibodies in young patients clinically diagnosed with idiopathic CDI may increase the probability of the development of non-lymphocytic lesions, including germinoma. We thus recommend a more attentive approach at the onset of these diseases.
Parents’ and caregivers’ perspectives on the benefits of a high-risk outdoor play space
Authors: Sturges Marion , Gray Tonia , Barnes Jaydene , Lloyd Amanda
Published: September 2023

Adult values, attitudes, behaviours, and beliefs are factors that shape childhood exposure to risk-taking experiences. This study examined the role of adults in supporting children’s play and learning in a high-risk park environment. Considering this context, our research incorporated a two-phased mixed-methods approach to explore parent and caregiver perceptions of a bespoke Australian outdoor “nature play park” named Boongaree. Quantitative data collected from participants (n = 302) investigated playground visitation patterns, and qualitative data were collected around parents’ and caregivers’ insights around the benefits and challenges of the park. A noteworthy finding that emerged was the parents’ and caregivers’ strong support of children’s risky play at this park and how the park supported the children’s development. Nine emergent themes from the qualitative data showed that the adults supported their children’s engagement with this high-risk park as it offered opportunities to (1) engage with an innovative nature play park, (2) be challenged and solve problems, (3) connect to the outdoors, (4) have fun, (5) direct their own play, (6) be physically active, (7) be creative and curious, (8) demonstrate confidence and independence, and (9) build social capacity. Finally, our study concluded that the risk appetite or risk tolerance level of parents’ and caregivers’ is one of the primary factors underpinning their desire to engage (and re-engage) with risky nature play opportunities for their child.
Measuring responsible artificial intelligence (RAI) in banking: a valid and reliable instrument
Authors: Ratzan John , Rahman Noushi
Published: September 2023

Widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the US banking industry raises red flags with regulators and social groups due to potential risk of data-driven algorithmic bias in credit lending decisions. The absence of a valid and reliable measure of responsible AI (RAI) has stunted the growth of organizational research on RAI (i.e., the organizational balancing act to optimize efficiency and equity). To address this void, we develop a novel measurement instrument to assess RAI maturity in firms. A review of the nascent literature reveals that there is a wide distribution of RAI capabilities. The RAI instrument that we advance is based on the exhaustive review of this dispersed literature. Analyses of data from large US banks show strong evidence of validity and reliability of the RAI maturity instrument.
Smoothed Dirichlet Distribution
Authors: Wickramasinghe Lahiru , Leblanc Alexandre , Muthukumarana Saman
Published: September 2023

When the cells are ordinal in the multinomial distribution, i.e., when cells have a natural ordering, guaranteeing that the borrowing information among neighboring cells makes sense conceptually. In this paper, we introduce a novel probability distribution for borrowing information among neighboring cells in order to provide reliable estimates for cell probabilities. The proposed smoothed Dirichlet distribution forces the probabilities of neighboring cells to be closer to each other than under the standard Dirichlet distribution. Basic properties of the proposed distribution, including normalizing constant, moments, and marginal distributions, are developed. Sample generation of smoothed Dirichlet distribution is discussed using the acceptance-rejection algorithm. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed smoothed Dirichlet distribution using 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) batters data.
Fluid-Kinetic-hybrid simulation for ion thruster using polymorphic particles
Authors: Joshi Ninad , Heiliger Christian
Published: September 2023

A hybrid Fluid-Kinetic model based on a polymorphic Particle-in-Cell method is developed for the simulation of plasmas in ion thruster. The numerical scheme is suited for scenarios in which thermal ions or electrons undergo strong acceleration. The polymorphic PIC model is tested for the extraction region of an ion thruster. In this paper, we report the results achieved by implementing the scheme on a single extraction orifice and compare our results with the simulation from known IGUN software for ion extraction.
Which Lives Matter?
Authors: Burch Traci
Published: September 2023

This Element explores the factors that lead the public to pay attention to and mobilize in support of victims of officer-involved killings. The author argues that race is the most important factor shaping both attention and mobilization. Black victims are statistically significantly more likely to trend on Google and get protested than victims of other races. Deaths of low threat Black victims are more likely to affect political interest, voter turnout, and protest rates, and only among young Black observers. This Element attributes this pattern to the fact that mobilization around officer-involved killings is responding to anti-Black discrimination, rather than general sentiments about police violence. It also finds that the local density of social justice organizations increases political mobilization.
Impacts of US Public R&D Investments on Agricultural Productivity and GHG Emissions
Authors: Baldos Uris Lantz C.
Published: September 2023

This study formally links the literature on R&D-driven productivity growth to studies which examine GHG emission benefits from increased farm productivity growth. Using a global agricultural model and estimates from the literature, this study examines the impact of greater US public agricultural R&D spending over 2025−2035. The results show that roughly doubling public R&D investments in US agriculture could provide greater economic gains relative to its costs over the period 2017−2050. The GHG mitigation co-benefits from these investments also can be enhanced by combining R&D policies with strategies aimed at directly reducing farm inputs.
Towards the characterisation of sustainable diet’s gut microbiota composition and functions: A narrative review
Authors: Lares-Michel Mariana , Reyes-Castillo Zyanya , Housni Fatima Ezzahra
Published: September 2023

The gut microbiome is a key element for health preservation and disease prevention. Nevertheless, defining a healthy gut microbiome is complex since it is modulated by several factors, such as host genetics, sex, age, geographical zone, drug use, and, especially, diet. Although a healthy diet has proven to increase microbial alpha and beta diversity and to promote the proliferation of health-related bacteria, considering the current environmental and nutritional crisis, such as climate change, water shortage, loss of diversity, and the obesity pandemic, it should be highlighted that a healthy diet is not always sustainable. Sustainable diets are dietary patterns that promote all dimensions of people’s health and well-being while exerting low pressure on the environment, and being accessible, affordable, safe, equitable, and culturally acceptable. Examples of diets that tend to be sustainable are the Planetary Health Diet of the EAT-Lancet Commission or territorial diets such as the Mediterranean and the Traditional Mexican diet (milpa diet), adapted to specific contexts. These diets are principally plant-based but include small or moderate amounts of animal-based foods. Characterising the effects of sustainable diets on gut microbiota is urgent to ensure that the benefits for human health are aligned with environmental preservation and respect the sociocultural aspects of individuals.
Pretending to Support? Duterte's Popularity and Democratic Backsliding in the Philippines
Authors: Kasuya Yuko , Miwa Hirofumi
Published: September 2023

The incumbent-led subversion of democracy represents the most prevalent form of democratic backsliding in recent decades. A central puzzle in this mode of backsliding is why these incumbents enjoy popular support despite their actions against democracy. We address this puzzle using the case of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Although some Philippine analysts have speculated that his popularity was inflated due to social desirability bias (SDB) among survey respondents, there has been limited empirical examination. Our pre-registered list experiment surveys conducted in February/March 2021 detected SBD-induced overreporting at about 39 percentage points in face-to-face surveys and 28 percentage points in online surveys. We also found that the poor Mindanaoans, and those who believed their neighbors supported Duterte, were more likely to respond according to SDB. These possibly counter-intuitive results should be interpreted with caution because the survey was conducted during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, and the findings cannot necessarily be extrapolated to the other period of his presidency. Nevertheless, this study suggests that preference falsification could be an alternative explanation for the puzzle of popular incumbents in democratic backsliding.
Dietary saturated fat and cholesterol: cracking the myths around eggs and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Antoni Rona
Published: September 2023

Whilst dietary cholesterol guidelines have waivered through the years with historic restrictions lifted for the majority of the general population, recommendations to reduce saturated fat intake have been the mainstay of dietary guidelines since the 1980s and were recently reinforced by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). Cholesterol metabolism is complex, with saturated fat known to have a more significant contribution at raising levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is clear from metabolic research that hyper-responsiveness to both dietary cholesterol and saturated fat exists; hence, for specific subsets of the population, reductions in both nutrients may be indicated. With this in mind, the current article aims to provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying biological variation in responsiveness and introduces research currently underway which will hopefully identify simple biomarkers that can be used to predict responsiveness and permit tailored, personalised, dietary advice. Eggs are a well-known source of dietary cholesterol whilst being low in saturated fat. A common question encountered in clinical practice is must individuals limit intake to manage blood cholesterol levels. This article summarises key recent papers which confirm that eggs can be enjoyed as part of a healthy balanced diet, whilst highlighting the need for further research in certain population groups, e.g. in individuals with diabetes.
The burden of major depressive disorder in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990–2019
Authors: Safiri Saeid , Mousavi Seyed Ehsan , Nejadghaderi Seyed Aria , Noori Maryam , Sullman Mark J. M. , Kolahi Ali-Asghar , Shekarriz-Foumani Reza
Published: September 2023

Background:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading causes of disability. We aimed to report the MDD-attributable prevalence, incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 1990 to 2019 by age, sex and socio-demographic index (SDI).

Methods:

Publicly available data on the burden of MDD were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019 for the 21 countries in MENA. The counts and age-standardised rates (per 100,000) were presented, along with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals.

Results:

In 2019, MDD had an age-standardised point prevalence of 3322.1 and an incidence rate of 4921.7 per 100,000 population in MENA. Furthermore, there were 4.1 million YLDs in 2019. However, there were no substantial changes in the MDD burden over the period 1990–2019. In 2019, Palestine had the highest burden of MDD. The highest prevalence, incidence and YLDs attributable to MDD were found in the 35–39 age group. In 2019, the YLD rate in MENA was higher than the global rate for almost all age groups. Furthermore, there was a broadly negative association between the YLD rate and SDI.

Conclusion:

The study highlights the need to prevent the disorder using a multidisciplinary approach and for the provision of cost-effective treatments for those affected, in order to increase their quality of life.
Intersection configurations in free and free times free-abelian groups
Authors: Delgado J. , Roy M. , Ventura E.
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we study intersection configurations – which describe the behaviour of multiple (finite) intersections of subgroups with respect to finite generability – in the realm of free and free times free-abelian (FTFA) groups. We say that a configuration is realizable in a group $G$ if there exist subgroups $H_1,\ldots, H_k \leqslant G$ realizing it. It is well known that free groups ${\mathbb {F}_{n}}$ satisfy the Howson property: the intersection of any two finitely generated subgroups is again finitely generated. We show that the Howson property is indeed the only obstruction for multiple intersection configurations to be realizable within nonabelian free groups. On the contrary, FTFA groups ${\mathbb {F}_{n}} \times \mathbb {Z}^m$ are well known to be non-Howson. We also study multiple intersections within FTFA groups, providing an algorithm to decide, given $k\geq 2$ finitely generated subgroups, whether their intersection is again finitely generated and, in the affirmative case, compute a ‘basis’ for it. We finally prove that any intersection configuration is realizable in an FTFA group ${\mathbb {F}_{n}} \times \mathbb {Z}^m$, for $n\geq 2$ and large enough $m$. As a consequence, we exhibit finitely presented groups where every intersection configuration is realizable.
Fixed point conditions for non-coprime actions
Authors: Burkhart Michael C.
Published: September 2023

In the setting of finite groups, suppose

$J$

acts on

$N$

via automorphisms so that the induced semidirect product

$N\rtimes J$

acts on some non-empty set

$\Omega$

, with

$N$

acting transitively. Glauberman proved that if the orders of

$J$

and

$N$

are coprime, then

$J$

fixes a point in

$\Omega$

. We consider the non-coprime case and show that if

$N$

is abelian and a Sylow

$p$

-subgroup of

$J$

fixes a point in

$\Omega$

for each prime

$p$

, then

$J$

fixes a point in

$\Omega$

. We also show that if

$N$

is nilpotent,

$N\rtimes J$

is supersoluble, and a Sylow

$p$

-subgroup of

$J$

fixes a point in

$\Omega$

for each prime

$p$

, then

$J$

fixes a point in

$\Omega$

.
Holocene millennial-scale variability of coastal environments on the southern coast of Korea and its controlling factors
Authors: Lim Jaesoo , Yi Sangheon , Kim Youngeun
Published: September 2023

Coastal evolution is influenced by past sea-level changes and resultant shifts from fluvial- to marine-dominant environments and the accompanying significant geochemical and isotopic changes in the water mass and sediments. We investigated the elemental and isotopic features of coastal sedimentary cores (27 m in length) from a small paleo-bay located on the southern coast of Korea to determine such geochemical variability and specify past changes in the bay environment and anoxic conditions and possible links to past climate changes. We analyzed total organic carbon (TOC), total sulfur (TS), their isotopes (δ13CTOC and δ34STS), and pyrite. The δ13CTOC values ranging from −25 to −19‰ (a proxy for terrestrial influence) were lower than average (−22.5‰) before 8300 cal yr BP and since 500 cal yr BP, while the intervening Early to Late Holocene showed higher δ13CTOC values, indicating a shallow coastal environment. The δ34STS values fluctuating between −35 and +5‰ resembled sedimentation rate change. Based on the changes in the ratios of TOC to TS (C/S ratios), sedimentation rate, and δ34STS, we found five possible periods with higher salinity and intensified anoxic conditions at millennial timescales: 8900–8200, 7950–6500, 5200–4300, 3500–2600, and 2000–1100 cal yr BP. These intensified anoxic conditions seem to have been influenced by increased air temperature and sea-surface temperature conditions, which could have intensified the intensity of thermal stratification (less ventilation and mixing) between surface and bottom waters and resultant anoxic conditions.
CHINESE PORNOGRAPHY IN A PORTUGUESE NUNNERY: ON A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN BOWL RECOVERED FROM THE SANTANA CONVENT (LISBON)
Authors: Afonso Luís Urbano , Gomes Mário Varela , Gomes Rosa Varela
Published: September 2023

This paper discusses a rare Late Ming blue and white porcelain bowl with five cartouches depicting scenes of sexual intercourse, which was found during archaeological excavations in the Santana convent, a former Franciscan nunnery located in Lisbon founded in 1562. The paper begins with a description of the bowl, the context of its recovery and its significance, highlighting its extreme rarity among Chinese export porcelains. The second section discusses Chinese sexuality and the production of erotica during the Late Ming period, namely porcelains with erotic and sexual imagery, a subject that has been overlooked by mainstream scholarship. The last section proposes an explanation for the presence of this bowl in the Santana nunnery, emphasising the gap between the ideals of Iberian Catholic monastic life and the worldly practices conducted by the members of these religious orders in the Baroque era.
Dairy products and brain structure in French older adults
Authors: Pellay Hermine , Thomas Aline , Baillet Marion , Helmer Catherine , Catheline Gwénaëlle , Marmonier Corinne , Samieri Cécilia , Féart Catherine
Published: September 2023

Among food groups with putative benefits for brain structures, dairy products (DP) have been poorly studied. The sample included participants without dementia from the ancillary brain imaging study of the Three-City cohort who were aged 65+ years, had their DP intake assessed with a FFQ at baseline and underwent an anatomical scan 3 years (n 343) or 9 years (n 195) after completing the dietary survey. The frequencies of consumption of total DP, milk and cheese were not associated with brain structure. Compared with the lowest frequency, the highest frequency of fresh DP (F-DP) consumption (< 0·5 v. > 1·5 times/d) was significantly associated with a lower medial temporal lobe volume (MTLV) (β = −1·09 cm3, 95 % CI − 1·83, −0·36) 9 years later. In this population-based study of older adults, the consumption of F-DP more than 1·5 times/d was associated with a lower MTLV, which is considered an early biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease, 9 years later. This original study should be replicated in different settings before conclusions are drawn.
Association of dietary and lifestyle inflammation score with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic risk factors in Iranian adults: Sabzevar Persian Cohort Study
Authors: Bakhshimoghaddam Farnush , Jafarirad Sima , Maraghi Elham , Ghorat Fereshteh
Published: September 2023

Systemic inflammation may contribute to the initiation and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through diet and lifestyle. We examined the association of dietary inflammation score (DIS), lifestyle inflammation score (LIS) and dietary and lifestyle inflammation score (DLIS) with T2DM and cardiometabolic risk factors among Iranian adults. In this study, we identified and recruited 619 patients with T2DM and 2113 without T2DM from 35 to 75 years old men and women in the baseline phase of the Sabzevar Persian Cohort Study. Using a validated 115-item semi-quantitative FFQ, we calculated a 19-component DIS and a 3-component LIS weighted by circulating inflammation biomarkers. The DIS, LIS and DLIS associations with diabetes were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The average age of the participants was 48·29 (sd 8·53) (without T2DM: 47·66 (sd 8·42); with T2DM: 50·44 (sd 8·57)). Individuals in the highest compared with the lowest tertiles of DLIS (OR: 3·40; 95 % CI 2·65, 4·35; Ptrend < 0·001), DIS (OR: 3·41; 95 % CI 2·66, 4·38; Ptrend < 0·001) and LIS (OR: 1·15; 95 % CI 0·90, 1·46; Ptrend = 0·521) had an increased risk of T2DM. For those in the highest relative to the lowest joint DIS and LIS tertiles, the results were OR: 3·37; 95 % CI 2·13, 5·32; Pinteraction < 0·001. No significant associations were found between DLIS and cardiometabolic risk factors, including blood pressure, liver enzymes and glycaemic and lipid profiles, except for waist circumference (P < 0·001) and waist-to-hip ratio (P = 0·010). A higher DIS and DLIS score was associated with a higher risk of T2DM, while the LIS score was not associated with T2DM risk.
Vitamin A biomarkers were associated withα(1)-acid glycoprotein and C-reactive protein over the course of a human norovirus challenge infection
Authors: Victor Courtney P. , Leon Juan S. , Williams Anne M.
Published: September 2023

Retinol binding protein (RBP) is used as a proxy for retinol in population-based assessments of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) for cost-effectiveness and feasibility. When the cut-off of < 0·7 μmol/l for retinol is applied to RBP to define VAD, an equivalence of the two biomarkers is assumed. Evidence suggests that the relationship between retinol and RBP is not 1:1, particularly in populations with a high burden of infection or inflammation. The goal of this analysis was to longitudinally evaluate the retinol:RBP ratio over 1 month of follow-up among fifty-two individuals exposed to norovirus (n26 infected,n26 uninfected), test whether inflammation (measured asα-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) affects retinol, RBP and the ratio between the two and assess whether adjusting vitamin A biomarkers for AGP or CRP improves the equivalence of retinol and RBP. We found that the median molar ratio between retinol and RBP was the same among infected (0·68) and uninfected (0·68) individuals. AGP was associated with the ratio and RBP individually, controlling for CRP, and CRP was associated with both retinol and RBP individually, controlling for AGP over 1 month of follow-up. Adjusting for inflammation led to a slight increase in the ratio among infected individuals (0·71) but remained significantly different from the expected value of one. These findings highlight the need for updated recommendations from the WHO on a cut-off value for RBP and an appropriate method for measuring and adjusting for inflammation when using RBP in population assessments of VAD.
Theory matters for identifying a causal role for genetic factors in socioeconomic outcomes
Authors: Durlauf Steven N. , Rustichini Aldo
Published: September 2023

Any empirical claim about the role of genes in socioeconomic outcomes involves successfully addressing the identification problem. This commentary argues that socioeconomic outcomes such as education are sufficiently complex, involving so many mechanisms, that understanding the role genes requires the use of formal theoretical structures.
Benefits of hereditarian insights for mate choice and parenting
Authors: Miller Geoffrey F.
Published: September 2023

Madole & Harden develop some good ideas about how to understand genetic causality more clearly, but they frame the benefits of behavior genetics research at a largely collective level, focused on the pros and cons of different ways to engineer the gene pool or social behavior. This neglects the individual benefits of hereditarian insights for mate choice and parenting.
Polygene risk scores and randomized experiments
Authors: Ross Lauren N. , Kendler Kenneth S. , Woodward James F.
Published: September 2023

We explore Madole & Harden's (2022) suggestion that single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)/trait correlations are analogous to randomized experiments and thus can be given a causal interpretation.
Polygenic scores, and the genome-wide association studies they derive from, will have difficulty identifying genes that predispose one to develop a social behavioral trait
Authors: Fox Edward
Published: September 2023

Polygenic scores (PGSs) have several limitations. They are confounded with environmental effects on behavior and cannot be used to study how mutations affect brain function and behavior. For this, mutations with large effects, which often arise in only one geographical population are needed. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs), commonly used for identifying mutations, have difficulty detecting these mutations. A strategy that overcomes this challenge is discussed.
True to form: Media and data technologies of self-inscription
Authors: Oertzen Christine von
Published: September 2023

Argument

This paper examines self-inscription, a mode of census enumeration that emerged during the nineteenth century. Starting in the 1840s, a number of European states introduced self-inscription as an auxiliary means to facilitate the work of enumerators. However, a decisive shift occurred when Prussian census statisticians implemented self-inscription via individual “Zählkarten”—or “counting cards”—in 1871. The paper argues that scientific ideals of accuracy and precision prevalent in the sciences at the time motivated Prussian census officials to initiate self-inscription as an at-home scenario unmediated by enumerators, in which the census form alone was to yield truthful information from the respondents. By illuminating the bureaucratic means for implementing scientific ideals and practices in gathering personal census data, the paper offers an in-depth analysis of the media, technologies, and manpower that census takers deployed to reveal the epistemic—as well as social and political—impact of being “true to form.”
Language proficiency modulates L2 orthographic learning mechanism: Evidence from event-related brain potentials in overt naming
Authors: Fu Yang , Bermúdez-Margaretto Beatriz , Beltrán David , Huili Wang , Dominguez Alberto
Published: September 2023

The present study investigates bilinguals’ capacity to rapidly establish memory traces for novel word forms in a second language (L2), as a function of L2 linguistic proficiency. A group of Chinese-English bilinguals with various English proficiency levels were presented with a reading-aloud task, consisting of 16 pseudowords and 16 English words repeatedly presented across six training exposures. Behavioral and neurophysiological data were collected, and modulations in the word-length effect across repetitions were measured as an index of transition from sublexical to lexical involvement. Results revealed that higher L2 proficiency was associated with decreased word-length effect on novel words, reflected in both naming latencies and early N1 and P200 brain responses. In contrast, lower proficiency learners appeared to engage in effortful letter-to-sound decoding processes, with higher attentional allocation to the letter sequence and greater use of sublexical processing across exposures. Our findings highlight the need to tackle specific grapheme-to-phoneme skills for efficient learning of L2, particularly in populations where the L1 is nonalphabetic.
Duration of untreated illness in gambling disorder
Authors: Grant Jon E. , Chamberlain Samuel R.
Published: September 2023

Objective

Gambling disorder is common, affects 0.5–2% of the population, and is under-treated. Duration of untreated illness (DUI) has emerged as a clinically important concept in the context of other mental disorders, but DUI in gambling disorder, has received little research scrutiny.

Methods

Data were aggregated from previous clinical trials in gambling disorder with people who had never previously received any treatment. DUI was quantified, and clinical characteristics were compared as a function of DUI status.

Results

A total of 298 individuals were included, and the mean DUI (standard deviation) was 8.9 (8.4) years, and the median DUI was 6 years. Longer DUI was significantly associated with male gender, older age, earlier age when the person first started to gamble, and family history of alcohol use disorder. Longer DUI was not significantly associated with racial-ethnic status, gambling symptom severity, current depressive or anxiety severity, comorbidities, or disability/functioning. The two groups did not differ in their propensity to drop out of the clinical trials, nor in overall symptom improvement associated with participation in those trials.

Conclusions

These data suggest that gambling disorder has a relatively long DUI and highlight the need to raise awareness and foster early intervention for affected and at-risk individuals. Because earlier age at first gambling in any form was strongly linked to longer DUI, this highlights the need for more rigorous legislation and education to reduce exposure of younger people to gambling.
Association of maternal psychosocial stress with newborn body composition in the Healthy Start study
Authors: Buck Kaitlin E. , Dhaliwal Satvinder K. , Dabelea Dana , Perng Wei
Published: September 2023

Maternal psychosocial stress is associated with delivery of both small- and large-for-gestational-age newborns. Prior studies have relied on methods that do not capture fat mass (FM) vs. fat-free mass (FFM). We aimed to assess the relationship of maternal psychosocial stress, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), with newborn body composition. The sample included 604 mother/newborn pairs in the Healthy Start study. We used linear regression to examine associations of EPDS (>6.5 vs. ≤6.5) and PSS (>21 vs. ≤21) with newborn adiposity (FM and %FM measured by air displacement plethysmography [ADP], BMI-for-age, weight-for-length, and weight-for-age z-scores) and lean mass (FFM and length-for-age z-score). Average age of the women was 29.2 ± 6 y. Fifty-five percent of the women were white, 26.2% Hispanic, and 12.1% Black. Twenty-four percent of women had EPDS >6.5 and 18.1% had PSS >21. Mean ± SD birthweight was 3136 ± 437 g. After adjustment for confounders, EPDS >6.5 vs. ≤6.5 corresponded with 35.3 (95% CI: 6.6, 64.0) g lower offspring FM and 0.18 (−0.03, 0.39) units shorter length z-score. PSS was not associated with any neonatal outcomes. Maternal psychosocial stress is associated with delivery of shorter newborns with less FM.
Low‐Latitude Forcing and High‐Latitude Response of the South Asian Summer Monsoon Through the Pliocene
Authors: Zhang Ze , Huang Chunju , Kemp David B. , Xu Yuqi , Cao Mengmeng , Wang Zhixiang
Published: September 2023

Precipitation carried by the Asian summer monsoon influences the livelihoods of millions of people, and there has been a great deal of work trying to reveal the driving mechanisms behind past changes. Compared to the widely studied East Asian summer monsoon, the behavior of the South Asian summer monsoon (SASM) in the Pliocene is still not well known. Here, we present new high‐resolution geochemical (Rb/Sr and Ti) data from the lacustrine Yuanmou Basin (Southwest China) spanning the Pliocene to early Pleistocene (4.30–2.0 Ma) that permit detailed analysis of hydroclimate changes related to orbital‐scale SASM variability. We find a clear weakening of the SASM at 2.9–2.75 Ma, which may be related to warming in the high‐latitude southern hemisphere and a weakening of atmospheric circulation at low latitudes over the Indian Ocean. Our results highlight that 405‐ and 100‐Kyr eccentricity forcing had a dominant role in driving climate change in the Yuanmou Basin during the Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Based on analysis of our data from the Yuanmou Basin, coupled with marine data from the Arabian Sea, we suggest that orbital‐scale SASM variability during the Pliocene was mainly controlled by changes in low‐latitude insolation. In addition, oscillations of the West Antarctic ice sheet after ∼3.5 Ma also significantly influenced the evolution of the SASM on orbital time scales.
Intercomparison of Atmospheric Carbonyl Sulfide (TransCom‐COS): 2. Evaluation of Optimized Fluxes Using Ground‐Based and Aircraft Observations
Authors: Ma Jin , Remaud Marine , Peylin Philippe , Patra Prabir , Niwa Yosuke , Rodenbeck Christian , Cartwright Mike , Harrison Jeremy J. , Chipperfield Martyn P. , Pope Richard J. , Wilson Christopher , Belviso Sauveur , Montzka Stephen A. , Vimont Isaac , Moore Fred , Atlas Elliot L. , Schwartz Efrat , Krol Maarten C.
Published: September 2023

We present a comparison of atmospheric transport models that simulate carbonyl sulfide (COS). This is part II of the ongoing Atmospheric Transport Model Inter‐comparison Project (TransCom–COS). Differently from part I, we focus on seven model intercomparison by transporting two recent COS inversions of NOAA surface data within TM5‐4DVAR and LMDz models. The main goals of TransCom‐COS part II are (a) to compare the COS simulations using the two sets of optimized fluxes with simulations that use a control scenario (part I) and (b) to evaluate the simulated tropospheric COS abundance with aircraft‐based observations from various sources. The output of the seven transport models are grouped in terms of their vertical mixing strength: strong and weak mixing. The results indicate that all transport models capture the meridional distribution of COS at the surface well. Model simulations generally match the aircraft campaigns HIAPER Pole‐To‐Pole Observations (HIPPO) and Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom). Comparisons to HIPPO and ATom demonstrate a gap between observed and modeled COS over the Pacific Ocean at 0–40°N, indicating a potential missing source in the free troposphere. The effects of seasonal continental COS uptake by the biosphere, observed on HIPPO and ATom over oceans, is well reproduced by the simulations. We found that the strength of the vertical mixing within the column as represented in the various atmospheric transport models explains much of the model to model differences. We also found that weak‐mixing models transporting the optimized flux derived from the strong‐mixing TM5 model show a too strong seasonal cycle at high latitudes.