bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Vlasov and Fokker-Planck Dynamics in Confined Systems with Drag: A Numerical Study
Authors: Atenas Boris , Curilef Sergio , Plastino Angel R.
Published: September 2024

We explore numerically the behavior of a one-dimensional many-body system consisting of particles that interact through short range repulsive forces, and are also under the effects of drag forces, and of an external confining potential. The statistical dynamics of systems of this kind exhibits interesting links with the thermostatistical formalism based on the Sq
non-additive entropies. In the regime of overdamped motion, these systems admit an effective description in terms of a non-linear Fokker-Planck equation. When the overdamped condition is relaxed, and inertial effects are explicitly taken into account, the system can be described by a Vlasov-like effective mean field dynamics. The Vlasov-like description of this type of systems has been recently investigated in the literature from an analytical point of view. In the present contribution we explore the behaviour of these system numerically, through direct molecular dynamics simulations. We consider examples of systems with four different short range repulsive forces, with a dependence on distance given by exponential, Heaviside, Lorentzian, and Bessel functions. The results of our numerical simulations are fully consistent with the predictions derived from the Vlasov-like mean field description. In particular, we verify that, in the asymptotic limit of large times, the system evolves towards a state exhibiting a spatial distribution of particles that coincides with the stationary solution of an appropriate nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation. This limit spatial distribution has the form of a q-Gaussian.
On the Formation of a Quasi-stationary Non-Traveling cluster in the Attractive Hamiltonian Mean-Field Model
Authors: Rivera Danilo M. , Navarro Roberto E.
Published: September 2024

Long-range interacting systems usually exhibit quasi-stationary states that deviate from thermal equilibrium over extended periods of time. In particular, in the attractive Hamiltonian mean-field (HMF) model, one of these states is characterized by traveling clusters of particles in the phase-space, generated by the resonance with two counter-propagating density waves. Here, we report the existence of a third, non-traveling cluster, and we explain its formation by the existence of a stationary wave in the system which is generated as a product of a linear superposition of the other two counter-propagating waves.
Filling phenomena in microfluidics and front microrheology of biological fluids
Authors: Pinto-Pino Agatha , Trejo-Soto Claudia
Published: September 2024

In this work we present a method, based on the functioning of microrheometry, which is capable to determine the viscosity of a fluid using the fluid-air interface dynamics driven by hydrostatic pressure, inside a rectangular microchannel. First, we worked at a constant velocity regime, where the viscosity of four Newtonian fluids were characterised: water, ethylene-glycol, 50% glycerol and blood plasma. Then, we applied this method to blood samples of 45% and 35% haematocrit, at the same velocity regime and we were capable to calculate the viscosity of these samples. Moreover the method was able to distinguish blood concentrations with different haematocrits.
Geometric analysis and design of circular form tools
Authors: Bodzás Sándor , Szanyi Gyöngyi
Published: September 2024

Supposing serial or quantity production of cylindrical workpieces having complex geometry the application of circular form tool is applicable. This type of cutting tool has complex geometry as a consequence the geometric and the manufacturing design take a lot of time and cost but it is economical since the cutting process is quite fast. In addition, the tool usage is feasible on conventional or CNC controlled machines and the process is independent from the workers’ facility. The tool profile is the conjugated pair of the workpiece profile. This tool geometry has high resharpening area that is advantageous comparing other form tools. The goal of this study is the manufacturing analysis and the geometric design of those tools. The geometric design process will be determined detailedly in constructional and mathematical way. After them a concrete tool generation process including CAD design will be shown.
Manufacturing design of plain milling technology of spline shaft by formed disc-type milling cutter
Authors: Bodzás Sándor
Published: September 2024

The spline fittings are widely used in different mechanical constructions where high load transmission is required from a shaft to a spline plate or a tooth gear or other internal cylindrical element. In many cases a key joint connection can not bear the load that we want to transform. In this case the application of double key could give solution. But sometimes it does not give solution due to the high load that is why spline fitting should be used. This publication focuses for the manufacturing of the spline shaft with plain milling technology. The type of the tool is a formed disc type milling cutter. Since more splines are around the perimeter of the shaft the repetition of the milling process is needed in the function of the number of the splines. All of the manufacturing parameters will be determined that are needed for a complex technological analysis such as cutting forces, machining times, speeds, etc. The chip volume will be approximated by volume constancy since the separated chip volume is a quite complex geometric body. I will prescribe initial technological parameters and define existing shaft geometries for which I will determine the technological parameters to show and analyze the correlations between the technological parameters and the variable for each shaft.
Improvement of the energy resolution and non-proportional light response of CsI:Tl to gamma radiation using dynamic integration times
Authors: Mianowska Z. , Mianowski S. , Syntfeld-Każuch A. , Gektin A.V. , Alberts R.
Published: September 2024

The analysis of the light response of thallium-doped cesium
iodide to gamma radiation was performed on single scintillation
waveforms recorded using a digital oscilloscope. As an alternative
to classical pulse processing procedures, the use of dynamic
integration times instead of fixed shaping/integration times was
demonstrated. The dynamic integration time, changeable with the
amplitudes of the CsI:Tl scintillation pulses, allowed to optimise
the light collection with simultaneous minimization of a noise
contribution. It was shown that for low-energy γ-rays
(22 keV–60 keV), the scintillation pulses should be integrated
using shorter integration times (approximately
7 μs–14 μs), whereas for higher energies
(662 keV–835 keV), the best energy resolution was achieved with
integration times of about 28 μs–30 μs. The approach
also allowed for the registration of more proportional CsI:Tl light
responses to deposited X and gamma radiation in the energy range of
22 keV–835 keV.
High loading and sustained-release system of doxorubicin-carbon dots as nanocarriers for cancer therapeutics
Authors: Prasad Aswathy , Sekar Ram Prasad , Razana C A Mariyam , Sudhamani Smitha Devi , Das Anagha , Athipettah Jayakrishnan , Ngashangva Lightson
Published: September 2024

Nanocarriers for drugs have been investigated for decades, yet it is still challenging to achieve sustained release from nanomaterials due to drug loading inefficiency and burst release. In this study, we developed novel functional carbon dots (CDs) and investigated the therapeutic efficacy by studying the loading efficiency and release behavior of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). CDs were successfully synthesized using a one-step pyrolysis method with varying concentrations of citric acid (CA) and thiourea (TU). Functional groups, morphology, particle size, and zeta potential of synthesized CT-CDs and DOX loaded CT-CDs were investigated by UV–visible, Fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, Zeta Potential measurements, FTIR, and transmission electron microscopy. The zeta potential data revealed DOX loading onto CT-CDs by charge difference, i.e. −24.6 ± 0.44 mV (CT-CDs) and 20.57 ± 0.55 mV (DOX-CT-CDs). DOX was loaded on CDs with a loading efficiency of 88.67 ± 0.36%. In vitro drug release studies confirmed pH-dependent biphasic drug release, with an initial burst effect and sustained release of DOX was found to be 21.42 ± 0.28% (pH 5), 13.30 ± 0.03% (pH 7.4), and 13.95 ± 0.18% (pH 9) even after 144 h at 37 °C. The CT-CDs were non-toxic and biocompatible with L929 Fibroblasts cells. The cytotoxic effect of DOX-CT-CDs showed a concentration-dependent effect after 48 h with Glioblastoma U251 cells. Flow cytometry was used to examine the cellular uptake of CT-CDs and DOX-CT-CDs in L929 and U251 cells. It was observed that the maximum CT-CDs uptake was around 75% at the end of 24 h. This study showed that the synthesized fluorescent CT-CDs demonstrated a high drug loading capacity, pH-dependent sustained release of DOX, and high cellular uptake by mammalian cells. We believe this work provides practical and biocompatible CDs for chemotherapeutic drug delivery that can be applied to other drugs for certain therapeutic aims.
Do working forest easements work for conservation?
Authors: Thompson Jonathan R , Kalinin Alexey , Lee Lucy G , Pasquarella Valerie J , Plisinski Joshua , Sims Katharine R E
Published: September 2024

Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements designed to constrain land-use activities on private land to achieve conservation goals. Extensive public and private funding has been used to establish ‘working forest’ conservation easements (WFCE) that aim to protect conservation values while maintaining commercial timber production. We use variation in the timing and location of easements to estimate the impacts of WFCEs in Maine from a 33-year time-series of forest loss and harvesting. We find that WFCEs had negligible impacts on an already low rate of forest loss. Compared to matched control areas, easements decreased forest loss by 0.0004% yr−1 (95% CI: −0.0008, to −0.00003%) the equivalent of 3.17 ha yr−1 (95% C.I.: 1.6, to 6.7 ha yr−1) when scaled to the 839 142 ha of total conserved area. In contrast, WFCEs increased the rate of harvesting by 0.37% yr−1 (95% CI: 0.11%–0.63%), or 3,105 ha yr−1 (95% C.I.: 923–5,287 ha yr−1) when scaled to the conserved area. However, more recently established easements contained stricter restrictions on harvest practices and stricter easements reduced harvest by 0.66% yr−1 (95% CI: −1.03, −0.29). Our results suggest that future easements could be more effective if they were targeted to higher risk of loss areas and included additional provisions for harvest restrictions and monitoring.
Salinity challenges and adaptive strategies in salinization-affected coastal Bangladesh: Implications for agricultural sustainability and water resource management
Authors: Hossain Md Lokman , Li Jianfeng
Published: September 2024

Salinization has become a rising global concern due to its notable effects on agriculture and freshwater resources. Coastal region of Bangladesh has been struggling with elevated levels of soil and water salinity, exacerbated by storm surges and rising sea levels. We assessed nutrient and salinity contents in agricultural and homestead lands, and the level of salinity in pond and canal water in six sub-districts in coastal Bangladesh. Finally, using household (HH) survey, focus group discussion (FGD) and key informant interview (KII), we explored the adaptive practices and challenges of salinity issues in agriculture and drinking water management. Soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents exhibited significant variations across the sub-districts, which reflect the diversity of agricultural practices and soil management strategies. However, there was no notable difference in soil salinity across the sub-districts, which underscores the commonality of soil salinity as a pressing concern. Shyamnagar (13.99 dS m−1) recorded the highest level of pond water salinity, followed by Assasuni (13.96 dS m−1), Dacope (13.91 dS m−1), Koyra (13.58 dS m−1), Morrelganj (13.33 dS m−1), and Mongla (13.19 dS m−1) sub-districts, which highlights that water salinity decreased from exposed coast to the landward areas. Respondents in HH surveys, FGDs and KIIs identified salinity as a major challenge in agriculture and drinking water. Furthermore, climate-related stresses were recognized as significant challenges impacting crop productivity. The research highlights the feasibility of rainwater harvesting, with 89%–100% of HHs harvest rainwater in HH tanks, as an effective adaptive practice for managing drinking water. The study emphasizes the positive impact of vermicompost in reducing soil salinity levels, which is demonstrated by the 43%–88% of HHs using this practice, indicating its potential as a nature-based solution to address soil salinization. The findings underscore the need for resilient agricultural systems and sustainable water management approaches to tackle these challenges.
A century of variability of heatwave-driven streamflow in melt-driven basins and implications under climate change
Authors: Anderson Sam , Chartrand Shawn
Published: September 2024

Meltwater runoff from snow and glaciers in high mountain regions supports the water needs of hundreds of millions of people, but extreme events such as heatwaves modify the timing and magnitude of water available for downstream communities and ecosystems. The streamflow response to heatwaves depends strongly on heatwave timing and temperature, and the amount of snow and glacier ice available to melt. However, as ongoing climate change continues to alter both seasonal melt patterns and the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, it is not well understood how such streamflow responses will evolve relative to the seasonal cycle of streamflow. We address this knowledge gap by using long-term meteorological and hydrological datasets to characterize spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the streamflow sensitivity to heatwaves at six basins with >80 years of observations in Western Canada. We use years with earlier freshets and less snowfall as proxies of anticipated climate change, and apply a metric to describe how the streamflow sensitivity to heatwaves varies across years with different hydro-climatological characteristics. We find that in future proxy years relative to baseline years, nival streamflow is more sensitive to early spring heatwaves but less sensitive to late spring and summer heatwaves. Relative to baseline years, late spring heatwaves in future proxy years generate a smaller fraction of peak streamflow that is diminished as the freshet progresses. Our findings imply that future heatwave-driven peak flows in spring may be lessened by the diminished streamflow sensitivity to heatwaves in late spring, but this may be partially offset by excess melt during future heatwaves that are longer and hotter.
Climate change mitigation policy for planetary health equity? An automated content analysis of countries’ nationally determined contribution reports
Authors: Arthur Megan , Frank Nicholas , Chakma Anurug , Friel Sharon
Published: September 2024

This study examines the extent to which national governments discuss the social determinants of planetary health equity (SDPHE) within their Nationally Determined Contribution reports (NDCs) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This is assessed relative to the frequency of discussion of economic factors and health outcomes, and how this varies between countries based on political, economic, and environmental factors. Using natural language processing, a dictionary-based automated content analysis was conducted of the frequency of terms within these reports. Correlation analyses examined the relationship between the frequency of dictionary categories and political, economic, and environmental variables to ascertain the role of contextual factors. Overall, NDCs were found to feature a greater proportion of economic language compared to health outcome and SDPHE terms. Among the SDPHE, equity- and gender-related terms occurred most frequently. Correlations were identified primarily among high-income countries, that suggest moderate positive associations between levels of CO2 emissions per capita and per dollar of gross domestic product and the use of economic terms, and a negative association of economic language with levels of democracy. Democracy was also positively associated with language related to social norms such as equity and justice, indicating potential scope for impact through democratic pressures. The relatively frequent use of economic frames in NDCs suggests that economic issues may receive more attention compared to the SDPHE. This analysis identifies potential enabling and constraining country-level factors for greater attention to the SDPHE in NDCs and more progressive climate change mitigation policymaking.
Unveiling the pivotal influence of sea spray heat fluxes on hurricane rapid intensification
Authors: Yang Sinil , Shin DW , Cocke Steven , Nam Chaehyeon Chelsea , Bourassa Mark , Cha Dong-Hyun , Kim Baek-Min
Published: September 2024

Predicting rapid hurricane intensification remains a challenge, partially due to neglected factors like sea spray-mediated heat flux. To shed light on the specific roles of spray-mediated sensible and latent heat fluxes, we conducted sensitivity experiments with heat flux parameterizations. Our results demonstrate that the inclusion and variation of the spray-mediated sensible heat significantly reduce model errors when compared against dropsonde data. These findings uniquely quantify the pivotal role of spray-mediated sensible heat flux in accurately predicting hurricane rapid intensification compared to previous studies. Without sea spray processes, ocean-coupled model simulations could not reproduce the steep intensification rate observed in multi-case studies of four high-impact hurricanes. This study also highlights that dropsonde data, as well as directly observed flux, is useful in minimizing uncertainty in the flux parameterization used for hurricane simulations. In this paper, we show how spray-mediated heat flux affects hurricane energetics through turbulent heat exchange and subsequent humid air inflow through primary and secondary circulations. Our findings provide new insights into the transformative role of sea spray in turbulent heat exchange that drives rapid hurricane intensification.
Marine infrastructure support fewer producers and more filter feeders than natural habitats: a review and meta-analysis
Authors: McKibbin Orla , Vergés Adriana , Pottier Patrice , Mayer Pinto Mariana
Published: September 2024

Coastal infrastructure has reduced habitat complexity and altered light regimes compared to natural habitats, altering ecological communities and reducing overall biodiversity. Although, many studies have assessed effects of infrastructure on the overall biodiversity, these were often restricted in scope, by assessing only a particular type of infrastructure, such as coastal defence structures, or by focusing solely on diversity metrics. Therefore, we still have little knowledge on the functional impacts of infrastructure, in general, on coastal habitats. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the functional composition of natural and artificial marine habitats. We analysed a total of 68 publications from 26 countries, with data collected between 1995–2019. We found up to 60% more habitat-forming algae on natural habitats than on infrastructure at most tidal heights, but no differences were found when looking at all species of macro-algal, i.e. including non-habitat-formers. In contrast, we found more habitat-forming filter feeders, such as oysters and mussels, on subtidal vertical and floating structures, such as pylons and pontoons, respectively, than on natural habitats. Differences on the abundance of grazers varied with tidal height and/or the type of infrastructure. For example, in the subtidal, grazers were significantly more abundant on natural boulders than on infrastructure, while at low tidal heights, we found significantly less grazers on artificial floating structures and on vertical structures than on natural habitats. With coastal development on the rise, these differences have significant implications for productivity, energy and nutrient flow in coastal systems. Our findings highlight the importance of adopting a functional approach to have a more holistic understanding on the environmental impacts associated to marine urbanisation and thus better inform management and restoration efforts.
Filling in Munk’s ‘orbital gap’ in climate and sea-level variability
Authors: Valle-Levinson Arnoldo , Pattiaratchi Charitha
Published: September 2024

This study explores the linkage between lunar precessions, solar activity, plus their interactions, and the interannual variability of climate indices and Australian sea level. The focus is on variability longer than the lunar nodal cycle (18.6 years), but shorter than millennia, also known as orbital gap. Climate indices include the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the Southern Oscillation Index, the Indian Ocean Dipole, and the Southern Annular Mode. Long-term (>100 years) sea-level data were examined at Fremantle (Western Australia) and Fort Denison (Sydney, Eastern Australia). Periodicities associated with gravitational and radiational forces were fitted to 3 year- and 5 year-filtered records of each climate index and of sea-level records. All fits, 10 for climate indices and 12 for sea level, explained the variance of all filtered records remarkably well (>60%). Findings suggest that lunar precessions and their interactions with solar activity may be connected to interannual variations in oceanic mixing. Mixing leads to climate variability through transport of heat, mass and solutes in the atmosphere and ocean, and ultimately relates to interannual sea-level variability. This study represents the possibility of astronomic effects on Earth’s environmental variables, beyond the internal variability of the ocean–atmosphere system.
Quantitative characterization of rubber three-body abrasion wear: multi-scale testing and analysis methods based on defect detection
Authors: Di Yunfei , Zhou Qin , Zhou Ziyi , Wei Tangshengjie , Zhang Kai , Wang Nan , Yu Longxiang
Published: September 2024

Abrasive wear is one of the main causes of rapid deterioration of rubber serviceability. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain information on the degree of rubber abrasion and the wear mechanism. Due to the complex nature of abrasive surfaces, obtaining accurate information on rubber abrasion is often difficult and provides limited quantitative parameters. This study presents a method to quantify rubber abrasion through defect detection and analysis. Accurate and fast identification of typical abrasion defects is achieved, and in addition, macro- and microscopic characterization data are provided based on the distribution of defects to understand the degree of abrasion and the wear mechanism. Experimental validation demonstrated the fast and accurate characterization capability of the method, especially the advanced advantages at the microscopic level. The method achieves accurate and efficient characterization of rubber abrasion, which helps to advance the study of rubber tribological behavior and is important for guiding engineering applications and improving design.
Inkjet-printed p-type tellurene and n-type MoS2 transistors for CMOS electronics
Authors: Mondal Sandeep Kumar , Prakasan Lakshmi , Dasgupta Subho
Published: September 2024

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials combine exceptional electronic transport properties with mechanical flexibility and hence can be an ideal choice for large-area flexible and wearable electronics. While inkjet printing may be a suitable approach to fabricate high throughput electronic components on polymer substrates, solution-processed 2D semiconductor network transistors suffer from two major hindrances: extremely high inter-flake resistance and the lack of high-performance p-type semiconductors. This study shows that inkjet-printed tellurium nanowires or tellurene nanoflakes can offer high-performance p-type TFTs with current density up to 100 μA μm−1 and an On–Off ratio >105. In order to circumvent the high inter-flake junction resistance, a narrow-channel, near-vertical device architecture has been used that ensures predominantly intra-flake/ intra-nanowire transport, which resulted in three orders of magnitude increase in the current density compared to conventional devices without compromising on the On–Off ratio. Moreover, we show the whole device operation within ±2 V, with a threshold voltage close to 0 V. The complete device fabrication is carried out at room temperature, thereby making it compatible with inexpensive polymer substrates. Next, outstanding device performance has also been realized with electrochemically-exfoliated and inkjet-printed n-type MoS2 TFTs, demonstrating a current density of 60 μA μm−1 and an On–Off ratio of 106. Furthermore, we show tellurene-based p-type depletion-load unipolar inverters and CMOS inverters alongside n-type MoS2 TFTs, demonstrating a signal gain of 12 and 11, respectively. The CMOS inverters are found to operate at a frequency of 1 kHz.
Research on tribological properties of new Ni-based single crystal alloy containing Re
Authors: Li Ben , Zhang Yilin , Zhou Hongyan , Liu Gang , Li Xuewu , Zhang Zhengkai , Zhang Quan
Published: September 2024

The particles in high-temperature and high-speed airflow in the battlefield environment will form sliding friction and wear on the aeroengine turbine blades, thus reducing the service performance of the blades. However, few studies has been reported on the tribological properties of Ni-based single crystal alloy. Accordingly, the tribological properties of Ni-based single crystal alloys with different contents of Re (0 wt%, 1.5 wt%, 2.5 wt%, 3.5 wt%, 4.5 wt% and 5.5 wt%) are investigated by tribological experiments and molecular dynamics simulations in this paper. The results of tribological experiments show that Ni-based single crystal alloy without Re exhibits the characteristics of abrasive wear and adhesive wear, while the wear state is significantly improved after adding Re element. In particular, the worn surface of Ni-based single crystal alloy containing 5.5% Re (NSCA5) is the smoothest and only a few minor defects are observed. In addition, the micro-tribological characteristics of Ni-based single crystal alloy are analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations, the results show that Re atoms can inhibit the dislocation movement and reduce the system potential energy, which enhance the stability and hardness of Ni-based single crystal alloy, thereby the wear resistance of the material are improved.
Member State Equality and Procedural Fairness in Differentiated Integration: A Republican Perspective
Authors: Leuffen Dirk
Published: September 2024

Dirk Leuffen’s contribution builds on internationalist republicanism to claim that differentiation does not, per se, violate the principle of equality among Member States. For him though, ‘differentiated integration must be designed not to violate, but instead honour the principle of freedom as non-domination’, an approach which, in author’s view, leads to differentiated integration ensuring Member States’ and thus citizens’ equality, instead of posing a threat to it. In Leuffen’s view, Member States are set under an ‘associative obligation’ towards each other. This obligation does not, however, translate to non-EU members involved in initiatives of external differentiated integration. In author’s opinion, therefore, ‘differentiated integrated must not violate the principle of freedom as non-domination’, and Member States are under the ‘obligation to respect freedom as non-domination of all Member States’ when acting in and outside the EU legal framework, but this obligation does not exist vis-à-vis third states, that is, in cases of external differentiation. Furthermore, Leuffen stresses the necessity for the process leading to differentiation to be perceived as fair by citizens, and for it to be transparent, and also proposes, among other things, an original mechanism to introduce ex post opt-outs.
How Differentiated is EMU Membership? The De Facto and De Jure Constraints of EU Economic Governance
Authors: Dawson Mark , Woźniakowski Tomasz P
Published: September 2024

This chapter examines the degree to which the introduction of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) has meaningfully differentiated membership of the European Union. Examining both de jure and de facto differentiation, the chapter argues that the distinctions between euro and non-eurozone members are less stark than often depicted. The nexus between EMU and political union, as well as the inevitable economic interdependencies between EU states, act as centripetal forces, making obligations in EMU more rather than less uniform (a trend the EU’s COVID-19 response may further cement). The argument will be demonstrated by examining the main legal arrangements applicable in EMU’s three main fields: monetary policy, fiscal policy, and prudential/banking supervision. This will be complemented by a more detailed study of parliamentary scrutiny of EU fiscal policy in one non-eurozone state: Poland. As that study will demonstrate, non-members of the eurozone may take equally seriously the obligations of the European Semester, and of European economic governance, as eurozone members.
Playing Fast and Loose: Unravelling Membership in the AFSJ
Authors: Curtin Deirdre , Patrin Maria
Published: September 2024

This chapter investigates the forms and instruments of differentiation in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ), and their impact on the idea of EU membership. As a particularly heterogenous and rapidly evolving area, AFSJ reveals a high level of differentiation, which is deeply entrenched in its policies, and has, by now, become constitutive. The chapter explores how differentiation is shaped in several AFSJ policies, including Schengen, police cooperation and cooperation in criminal matters (Europol and the European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO)), and asylum. The analysis shows that the overlap of various forms of differentiation creates a space in which the distinction between participating and non-participating Member States, as well as external and EU members, gets diluted, and varies depending on the different participation patterns. The resulting landscape unveils an unravelling membership with considerable degrees of flexibility, and characterized by permeable and fraying edges. Finally, the analysis considers how Brexit is changing the very concept of EU membership, and what impact this is having on the differentiated integration of the AFSJ.
Governance Architecture and Prospects for Regulatory Differentiation in the EU–UK Trade Relationship
Authors: Wright Kathryn
Published: September 2024

This chapter addresses the governance arrangements of the EU–UK trade relationship, which are central to managing regulatory differentiation. These arrangements reflect the outcome of the negotiations to reconcile the UK’s ambition of regulatory autonomy with the EU’s concerns about a regulatory competitor on its doorstep. The chapter analyses in detail the overarching governance arrangements, the level playing field rules, and other divergence-constraining provisions in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, before exploring the administrative level of regulatory agencies. It applies insights from the EU external governance literature to further show why prospects for regulatory differentiation may be limited. The roles of multilevel networks between regulators, decentralized horizontal coordination, and the existing embeddedness of EU law and standards are important factors. By examining the UK’s unique situation as a former Member State, the chapter contributes to a recharacterization of EU membership and participation.
Diffusion and Differentiation of EU Norms in the EEA
Authors: Franklin Christian NK
Published: September 2024

This chapter looks at how EU legal norms take shape in their European Economic Area (EEA) setting, and how concerns of differentiation in their diffusion, while possible, are more theoretical than real in practice. It shows how the EEA Agreement allows three non-EU Member States (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) to fully participate in core parts of the EU’s internal market without requiring membership of the EU itself. Crucial to the success of EEA cooperation, while the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states do not formally participate in decision-making at EU level, they take full part in the decision-making procedures within the EEA, and in the enforcement of EEA norms in practice. The EFTA states are further bound by numerous EEA legal rights and duties which render their status within the internal market project as largely akin to that of the EU Member States. While various EEA legal tools do exist which could undoubtedly be used to limit the full transplantation of EU internal market rules into EEA law, these are in fact rarely utilized by the Contracting Parties to the Agreement. Fuelled by the EEA principle of homogeneity, the result is an inevitably high degree of almost seamless diffusion of EU rights and obligations in the EFTA states.
The Western Balkans and European Union Enlargement—Exploring Possibilities of Differentiated Integration
Authors: Milenković Marko
Published: September 2024

Differentiated integration has been under-explored as an option for the Western Balkans. This chapter builds on the premise that it is vital to (re-)examine the region’s EU integration by exploring the legal and political alternatives embodied in the differentiated integration already used widely within or by the EU. This approach would still afford the Union a transformative power and strong presence in the Balkans, despite the relatively slow process of EU integration and its being hampered by numerous factors, both on the EU side and among the candidates. This (re-)examination firstly considers current (differentiated) integration traits for the Balkans and involvement in EU policies, moving on to how the experiences of more developed non-members may provide a model, and the potential role of EU agencies. The possibility of bringing the association process to the next level by utilizing existing experiences and possibilities under the founding treaties, so as to enable the stable Europeanization of the region in the absence of full membership, is also considered. In the context of the ever more clearly seen uncertainty over ever attaining accession in the region, and enlargement fatigue within the Union, this chapter contributes to the debate on future (non-) membership options for the region.
Democratic Reform and Backsliding in the Post-Soviet Area: What Role for the EU?
Authors: Bosse Giselle
Published: September 2024

This chapter aims to explain why some countries in the post-Soviet area show more steady progress in the implementation of democratic reforms and alignment with the European Union (EU)’s political acquis than others. Since the end of the Cold War, most states in post-Soviet Europe and Eurasia have embarked on some form of democratic transition. Yet, the scope and content of the reforms varies significantly across states. Particularly puzzling are developments since the mid 2000s, when democracy scores across the region began to slow down or decline, such as in Ukraine, Armenia, or the Russian Federation. A wide array of explanations has already been advanced in the literature. However, current explanations are based mainly on single case studies, which makes it difficult to account for the broader variation of democratic reform across the countries in the post-Soviet area. This chapter identifies the main determinants of democratic reform and backsliding through a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) across thirteen countries in the post-Soviet area between 2006 and 2018. It shows that only a combination of EU-specific, domestic, and external factors accounts for the variation in the pace of democratic reforms in post-Soviet countries. While the EU is found to be a sufficient factor in democratic reform, autonomous social capital is identified as a necessary condition. Moreover, EU assistance can have positive but also negative effects on democracy. And dependence on the Russian Federation, considered an external autocracy promoter, can curtail but also fuel democratic reform progress.
Integration without Membership? Achievements and Limitations of Functionalist Cooperation in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood
Authors: Delcour Laure
Published: September 2024

Focusing on Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, this chapter analyzes how the model of integration proposed by the European Union (EU) to neighbouring countries has played out since the early 2000s, when the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was launched. It starts by reviewing the ENP against other models of integration offered to third countries. The chapter then scrutinizes the leverage used by the EU to induce domestic change in its neighbourhood in the absence of a membership perspective. Finally, it analyzes how far ENP countries have come in adopting and applying EU norms and templates. The chapter argues that the Eastern Partnership (EaP, designed as the umbrella framework for EU–eastern neighbours relations) can no longer be regarded as a single model of relations with the EU. Its relevance and sustainability are undermined by the extreme differentiation in neighbours’ modes and levels of integration with the EU, which results from partner countries’ miscellaneous aspirations and preferences in their relations with the EU.
Increases in Psychological Stress Are Associated With Higher Fasting Glucose in US Chinese Immigrants
Authors: Fang Carolyn Y , Rao Ajay , Handorf Elizabeth A , Deng Mengying , Cheung Peter , Tseng Marilyn
Published: September 2024

Background

The majority of Chinese Americans is foreign-born, and it is well-documented that immigration to the United States (US) leads to increased risk for chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes. Increased disease risk has been attributed to changes in lifestyle behaviors following immigration, but few studies have considered the psychosocial impact of immigration upon biomarkers of disease risk.

Purpose

To examine associations of psychological stress and social isolation with markers of type 2 diabetes risk over time among US Chinese immigrants.

Methods

In this longitudinal study of 614 Chinese immigrants, participants completed assessments of perceived stress, acculturative stress, negative life events, and social isolation annually at three time points. Fasting blood samples were obtained at each time point to measure blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and insulin resistance. Mean duration between baseline and follow-up assessments was approximately 2 years.

Results

Increases in migration-related stress, perceived stress and social isolation were associated with significant increases in fasting glucose at follow-up independent of age, body mass index, length of US residence, and other potential covariates. Moreover, increases in glucose varied depending on perceived stress levels at baseline, such that those with higher baseline stress had a steeper increase in glucose over time.

Conclusions

Psychological stress and social isolation are associated with increases in fasting glucose in a sample of US Chinese immigrants. Findings suggest that the unique experiences of immigration may be involved in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition that is prevalent among US Chinese despite relatively low rates of obesity.
Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Standard Versus Postures-Only Yoga Session: Potential Self-Regulatory and Neurophysiological Mechanisms of an Ancient Practice
Authors: Gust Charleen J , Bryan Angela D
Published: September 2024

Background

It is well-recognized that maintaining a regular yogic practice is associated with numerous physical and psychological health benefits. However, few studies have explored the possible psychological and neurophysiological mediators through which the component parts of yoga—ethics, breath regulation, postures, and meditation—work to produce salutary effects.

Purpose

To address this gap, we conducted a cluster randomized trial to test the following set of theory-based mechanisms: emotion regulation for ethics, self-control for breath regulation, discomfort and distress tolerance for postures, and mindfulness for meditation. We also explored yoga’s effects on the autonomic nervous system by examining salivary acetylcholinesterase levels.

Methods

Participants (N = 260) were randomly assigned in clusters (n = 37) to a single, hour-long standard or postures-only yoga class.

Results

Findings suggest that a single yoga class may confer both psychological and neurophysiological benefits, yet there were few differences between the two types of yoga classes. Pre- to post-session main effects of time, all in the expected direction, emerged for five of eight theoretical mediators, as well as for salivary acetylcholinesterase levels. Time X condition interactions observed for three of the mediators—cognitive reappraisal, discomfort tolerance, and expressive suppression—along with findings from the exploratory mediation analysis suggest potential unique benefits of the two yoga sessions for certain outcomes.

Conclusions

Additional studies are needed to replicate these results and to test other potential mediators and/or primary outcomes through which yoga might work to promote health.
dHICA: a deep transformer-based model enables accurate histone imputation from chromatin accessibility
Authors: Wen Wen , Zhong Jiaxin , Zhang Zhaoxi , Jia Lijuan , Chu Tinyi , Wang Nating , Danko Charles G , Wang Zhong
Published: September 2024

Histone modifications (HMs) are pivotal in various biological processes, including transcription, replication, and DNA repair, significantly impacting chromatin structure. These modifications underpin the molecular mechanisms of cell-type-specific gene expression and complex diseases. However, annotating HMs across different cell types solely using experimental approaches is impractical due to cost and time constraints. Herein, we present dHICA (deep histone imputation using chromatin accessibility), a novel deep learning framework that integrates DNA sequences and chromatin accessibility data to predict multiple HM tracks. Employing the transformer architecture alongside dilated convolutions, dHICA boasts an extensive receptive field and captures more cell-type-specific information. dHICA outperforms state-of-the-art baselines and achieves superior performance in cell-type-specific loci and gene elements, aligning with biological expectations. Furthermore, dHICA’s imputations hold significant potential for downstream applications, including chromatin state segmentation and elucidating the functional implications of SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms). In conclusion, dHICA serves as a valuable tool for advancing the understanding of chromatin dynamics, offering enhanced predictive capabilities and interpretability.
The Impact of Group Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy on Disease Severity and Psychosocial Functioning in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Kalogeropoulou Maria , Karaivazoglou Katerina , Konstantopoulou Georgia , Vinni Eleni , Sotiropoulos Christos , Tourkochristou Evanthia , Aggeletopoulou Ioanna , Lourida Theoni , Labropoulou Efthymia , Diamantopoulou Georgia , Mouzaki Athanasia , Assimakopoulos Konstantinos , Gourzis Philippos , Thomopoulos Konstantinos , Theocharis Georgios , Triantos Christos
Published: September 2024

Background and Aims

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often report symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as impaired quality of life (QoL). To date, there are few studies on the effect of psychotherapy on psychological functioning and clinical outcome in patients with IBD. The aim of this prospective, randomized, controlled study was to investigate the effect of a brief psychotherapeutic intervention on psychological distress, QoL, sexual functioning, and inflammation and disease activity indices in patients with IBD.

Methods

Participants were randomized to receive either group cognitive behavioral therapy or treatment as usual (controls) and were assessed at baseline and after 6 months using psychometric instruments to assess psychological distress, QoL, and sexual functioning. In addition, laboratory measurements, including levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, and calprotectin, and calculations of disease activity indices were performed during the 2 study periods.

Results

A total of 80 participants took part in the study. Patients who received psychotherapy reported a significant decrease in anxiety and depression symptoms; a significant improvement in physical functioning, general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health; and a decrease in physical pain and role limitations caused by emotional problems. CRP levels and the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) also decreased significantly at follow-up compared to controls.

Conclusions

Group cognitive behavioral therapy is proving to be an important component of holistic care for IBD patients, as it can significantly improve not only patients’ psychosocial functioning but also their clinical course by inhibiting inflammation and reducing disease activity.

Clinical Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03667586
An economic test for an unlawful agreement to adopt a third-party’s pricing algorithm
Authors: Harrington Joseph E
Published: September 2024

Artificial intelligence has helped fuel a growing market in the supply of pricing algorithms by software developers. While there is an efficiency rationale for outsourcing pricing, anticompetitive concerns have been expressed when competitors in a market adopt the same pricing algorithm. These concerns have resulted in private litigation claiming a third-party company (who developed the pricing algorithm) and firms (who adopted it) had an unlawful agreement. This study develops an empirical test for determining whether firms’ adoption decisions are coordinated. If adoption decisions are coordinated then adopters’ average price is increasing in the number of adopting firms, while if adoption decisions are independent then adopters’ average price does not depend on the number of adopting firms. This test could provide economic evidence to support a claim of an unlawful agreement between a third-party developer and adopting firms.
Admixture in the fungal pathogen Blastomyces
Authors: Jofre Gaston I , Dagilis Andrius J , Sepúlveda Victoria E , Anspach Tayte , Singh Ashutosh , Chowdhary Anuradha , Matute Daniel R
Published: September 2024

Blastomyces is an emerging primary fungal pathogen that affects patients worldwide. The evolutionary processes that have resulted in the current diversity in the genus remain largely unexplored. We used whole-genome sequences from 99 Blastomyces isolates, including 2 sequenced in this study using long-read technologies, to infer the phylogenetic relationships between Blastomyces species. We find that 5 different methods infer 5 different phylogenetic trees. Additionally, we find gene tree discordance along the genome with differences in the relative phylogenetic placement of several species of Blastomyces, which we hypothesize is caused by introgression. Our results suggest the urgent need to systematically collect Blastomyces samples around the world and study the evolutionary processes that govern intraspecific and interspecific variation in these medically important fungi.