bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiative Heat Transfer and Thermo-Diffusion Effects in Chemically Reactive Magnetized Mixed Convective Flow of Gold Nanofluid
Authors: Sharma Tarun , Sharma Pooja , Chaudhary Ravi
Published: December 2024

In this work, chemically reactive and mixed convective magnetized AuNF flow in a saturated porous medium inclined channel due to radiative heat transfer and thermo-diffusion/Soret effects is investigated. The prototype is designed and nondimensional partial differential equations are formulated and solved systematically. Also, the heat transfer rate for cylindrical-shaped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is evaluated and comparative analysis is done with other shapes (platelet, brick and blade) and previous studies. It is evaluated that the cylindrical shape of AuNPs within base fluid kerosene (C[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text]C[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text] enhances the heat transfer capacity of conventional fluids. The transient velocity and concentration profile of AuNF also increased due to a rise in the thermo-diffusion effect, whereas an increase in magnetic field, volume fraction, inclination angle and chemical reaction suppressed the AuNF velocity profile. The elucidated prototype and found results are prominently useful in engineering applications, such as microchannel heat exchangers, advanced cooling in electronic devices, solar thermal systems, aerospace applications and various chemical processes in chemical industries.
Novel Synthesis of Graphene/ZnO Nanomaterial Composite Using Hot Solvent Method for Enhanced Light Absorption
Authors: Hasan Mudassir
Published: December 2024

White light-absorbing materials are in high demand for catalysis and energy harvesting. Due to the UV (ultraviolet) light absorption capacity of graphene and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, the light harvesting of the whole range of visible and near-IR (infra-red) light by utilizing these materials is a significant barrier. In this study, a graphene-ZnO nanoparticle composite was prepared from graphene and ZnO powder through a simple and novel hot solvent process at low temperatures without a catalyst or expensive instrumentation. The fabricated composite was found to absorb light efficiently at an extended range of wavelengths (400–1665[Formula: see text]nm) with strong absorption intensity. Notably, the in situ graphene-ZnO showed a considerably low intensity of absorption in the visible to the near-IR range; however, when the graphene and ZnO powder were combined as a graphene-ZnO composite by ex situ hot solvent synthesis process, the light absorption intensity significantly increased within the whole range. The observation in this study is the first one that indicates that the ex situ hot solvent process tunes the light absorption properties at the extreme level of the visible- to the near-IR range. The prepared composite also showed excellent electrical conductivity. The graphene powder was also prepared through a straightforward self-developed solvothermal process with the help of the exfoliating agent.
Synergistic Effect of Surface Texturing and Graphene Coating on the Tribological Performances of Sliding Electrical Contact System
Authors: Wang Dongwei , Xu Jiankun , Wang Fanyu , Chen Qi , Liu Bin
Published: December 2024

The friction and wear problem of the electrical contact system (ECS) is common in various electrical equipment. Once the electrical contact fails due to wear, the electrical system may not work normally, which brings serious safety risks. Surface texture has been shown to have a good potential to improve interface wear under no-current conditions, while few studies have been performed to study the relationship between surface texture and current-carrying tribological performance. In addition, graphene is also receiving attention in the field of electrical contact due to its high electrical conductivity. However, the wear consumption of graphene during the friction process limits its long-term role. Therefore, combining the ability of surface texture to reduce wear and the ability of graphene in conducting and lubrication, a texture-graphene composite surface (TS-G surface) is constructed. The effects of TS-G surfaces on the tribological properties of electrical contact surfaces are studied by comparing them with smooth surfaces (SS surfaces), textured surfaces (TS surfaces) and smooth-graphene surfaces (SS-G surfaces). The results show that TS-G can effectively reduce the friction coefficient (COF), and the COF stays at about 0.15 during the whole current-carrying friction process, and no visible fluctuation can be observed from the COF curve. In addition, the TS-G surface can effectively suppress the interface friction-induced vibration. More importantly, the TS-G surface has a good effect on the electrical contact stability. The surface topography analysis shows that the wear degree of the TS-G surface is quite slight, and the width of the wear track is only 30[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m. The texture is found to be able to store graphene and continue to play the role of surface conduction and lubrication. The results of this study provide potential means for surface design to improve the stability of electrical contact.
Size Ramsey numbers of forests versus brooms
Authors: Si Yuan
Published: December 2024

Let [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be three graphs. We write [Formula: see text] if any red-blue edge-colored [Formula: see text] contains either a red subgraph [Formula: see text] or a blue subgraph [Formula: see text]. The size Ramsey number [Formula: see text] of two graphs [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], introduced by Erdős et al., is defined as [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we obtain some upper and lower bounds and some exact values of [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are some brooms.
The total upper domatic number of a graph
Authors: Samuel Libin Chacko , Joseph Mayamma
Published: December 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be a graph with no isolated vertices. For two disjoint subsets [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], if every vertex in [Formula: see text] is adjacent to at least one vertex in [Formula: see text], then the set [Formula: see text] is said to dominate set [Formula: see text]. A partition [Formula: see text] of the vertex set [Formula: see text] is a total upper domatic partition of [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] dominates [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] dominates [Formula: see text] or both, for any [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], has no isolated vertices. The total upper domatic number [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is the maximum order of a total upper domatic partition of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we initiate a study on the concept of total upper domatic number and determine the bounds of [Formula: see text] and exact values of the same for some classes of graphs.
Development of self-activated photoluminescent amorphous magnesium phosphate via microwave-assisted synthesis and structural de-watering
Authors: Jia Xiaowei , Li Huipeng , Zhou Huan , Yang Lei
Published: December 2024

It is well established that calcium phosphate can be a self-activated photoluminescent agent via lattice water removal-induced intrinsic defects, whose luminescence intensity can be further enhanced in terms of the amorphous state. Inspired by these facts, self-activated photoluminescent amorphous magnesium phosphate (MgP) was synthesized via microwave irradiation and thermal processing, along with calcium magnesium phosphate (CaMgP) and calcium phosphate (CaP) for comparisons. The relevant fluorescence imaging and transient steady-state fluorescence spectrometer tests revealed that the fluorescence performance of the as-formed particles increased in the order of CaP, CaMgP, and MgP. This phenomenon was attributed to the difference in structural water loss among these particles during thermal processing, in which the three tested materials experienced weight losses of 10%, 19%, and 25% when heated to [Formula: see text]C. Despite this, when amorphous MgP was heated up to 200, 300, and [Formula: see text]C, its photoluminescence emission intensity also increased. The impact of the pH of the precursor solution was also studied, paving the way for further improving MgP’s photoluminescence properties.
Fabrication of π-conjugated molecular nanoparticles for the effective photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes
Authors: Sun Shi-Xin , Huang Zhi-Heng , Tang Jin-Rui , Wang Yong-Xiang , Xu Guo-Dong , Li Wan-Xin , Fang Dong
Published: December 2024

[Formula: see text]-conjugated photocatalysts have recently gained popularity because they provide a high degree of synthetic flexibility and tenability of frontier orbital energies. Nevertheless, the majority of organic semiconductors were insoluble in aqueous solutions typically demonstrating suboptimal photocatalytic activity, limiting their deployment in visible light purification of aquatic environments. Nanoscale control of materials by dispersing [Formula: see text]-conjugated molecule 3,6-bis(5-((Z)-(3-ethyl-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-5-ylidene)methyl)thiophen-2-yl)-2,5-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-2,5-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione marked as DPPRD to nanoparticles (NPs) through a simple reprecipitation process provided a viable method to solve the phase interface control behavior. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis displayed that the NPs exhibited uniform and relatively distributed morphological features. The photocatalytic elimination ability of methyl orange, phenol red, rhodamine B and methylene blue was tested using the prepared photocatalyst with extremely small amounts of NPs, and the degradation efficiencies reached 90.8%, 91.1%, 94.5% and 95.7%, respectively. This nanoscale processing strategy was conducive to the application of organic optoelectronic functional materials in environmental and industrial fields.
Quantum error correction with Goppa codes from maximal curves: Design, simulation, and performance
Authors: Nourozi Vahid
Published: December 2024

This paper characterizes Goppa codes of certain maximal curves over finite fields defined by equations of the form [Formula: see text]. We investigate algebraic geometric and quantum stabilizer codes associated with these maximal curves and propose modifications to improve their parameters. The theoretical analysis is complemented by extensive simulation results, which validate the performance of these codes under various error rates. We provide concrete examples of the constructed codes, comparing them with known results to highlight their strengths and trade-offs. The simulation data, presented through detailed graphs and tables, offers insights into the practical behavior of these codes in noisy environments. Our findings demonstrate that while the constructed codes may not always achieve optimal minimum distances, they offer systematic construction methods and interesting parameter trade-offs that could be valuable in specific applications or for further theoretical study.
A novel fault prediction modeling and simulation method for power communication networks
Authors: Yan Lei , Wang Jinglong , Kang Chao , Yang Feixiang , Jiao Liying , Cheng Xuemin , Zhang Yiming , Li Junbo
Published: December 2024

The power communication network is the key to ensuring the safe operation of the distribution network, and how to quickly and accurately predict faults is a challenging task, especially considering the variable topology of the distribution network. To address this issue, common faults will be modeled and simulated to predict faults in power communication systems. In this study, considering the generalized Laplacian smoothing filters and the long sequence representation capability of the Transformer, an adaptive graph encoder based on historical performance graph embedding is proposed and used for fault prediction in power communication networks. The proposed method consists of two modules: (1) To better alleviate high-frequency noise in node features, a carefully designed Laplacian smoothing filter is first applied. (2) Adopting a transformer-based adaptive encoder to iteratively enhance filtering characteristics for better node embedding. The performance of the proposed method in fault prediction tasks is tested using a dataset collected from a real power communication network. The experimental results show that the proposed method consistently outperforms other fault prediction methods in terms of performance.
Cross-Modality Registration using Bone Surface Pointcloud for Robotic Ultrasound-Guided Spine Surgery
Authors: Ma Xihan , Zhang Xiao , Wang Yang , Nycz Christopher J. , Sungarian Arno , Ji Songbai , Huang Xinming , Zhang Haichong K.
Published: December 2024

Image guidance using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intraoperative ultrasound (US) can improve the outcome of spine surgery. Employing a robotic US system (RUSS) allows the automated acquisition of large 3D US volumes, facilitating accurate registration. However, such registration remains challenging due to the cross-modality discrepancy. To address this issue, we present a pipeline that extracts spine pointclouds from MRI and 3D US to perform per-vertebra registration. Experiments showed a registration accuracy of 1.82 mm in terms of residual root mean square error and 7.02 mm in terms of Chamfer distance. The pipeline exhibits superior robustness to suboptimal initial conditions compared with the two baseline methods. It also demonstrated good time efficiency under real-time conditions, demonstrating the potential applicability in RUSS-guided spine surgeries.
ANALYZING CLIMATE SHIFTS: PATTERNS OF TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN PAKISTAN
Authors: TARIQ MOIN
Published: December 2024

As of today, mankind faces an existential threat in the form of climate change. The geological location and other anthropogenic occurrences make Pakistan rank among the top-10[Formula: see text]countries worldwide most affected by climate change and natural tragedies. This review provides an in-depth examination of the shifting patterns of temperature and precipitation in Pakistan, highlighting the significant impacts of climate change on the region. Significant differences in temperature have been reported in Pakistan, indicating that the maximum and minimum annual temperatures varied at the rates of 0.12–0.29°C/decade and 0.10–0.37°C/decade, respectively. Annual precipitation shows notable fluctuations over the decades, highlighting periods of both surplus and deficit; especially, precipitation in the year 2023 was 16% above the long-period average of 1961–2010 with 344.1[Formula: see text]mm. When the air temperatures continue to rise, it is imperative for Pakistan to enhance its resilience to climate change through improved infrastructure, sustainable agricultural practices, and effective water management. This study also reviews the disastrous effects of climate change on Pakistan, especially the recent occurrences of flooding and heatwaves.
HYDROLOGY IN PAKISTAN: A REVIEW OF RUNOFF, FLOODS, DROUGHTS AND THEIR IMPACTS
Authors: MURAD MARIA , SAGHIR MUHAMMAD ZAIN
Published: December 2024

This review explores the complex relationship between climate change and hydrology in Pakistan, which is leading to significant weather extremes such as rainfall, temperature, floods, droughts and variable runoff patterns. It highlights the significant challenges posed by these water-related issues and the adaptive strategies needed for sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change and human activities. This study observes the major hydrological challenges in Pakistan focusing on repetitive floods and droughts that have deep impacts on the country’s economy, agriculture and environment. According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country as it experiences extreme weather events since the last few decades. Pakistan has faced many worst floods due to the changes in climate and hydrological extremes. The recurring occurrence of extreme rainfall events can be challenging to alleviate the flood hazards. This study will be helpful for our understanding on water management strategies to safeguard water resources and diminish the impacts of climate change on the country.
Test Accounts: A Hidden Risk
Authors: Vachon Phil
Published: December 2024

You may decide the risks are acceptable, but if not, here are some rules for avoiding them.
LLM App Store Analysis: A Vision and Roadmap
Authors: Zhao Yanjie , Hou Xinyi , Wang Shenao , Wang Haoyu
Published: December 2024

The rapid growth and popularity of large language model (LLM) app stores have created new opportunities and challenges for researchers, developers, users, and app store managers. As the LLM app ecosystem continues to evolve, it is crucial to understand the current landscape and identify potential areas for future research and development. This paper presents a forward-looking analysis of LLM app stores, focusing on key aspects such as data mining, security risk identification, development assistance, and market dynamics. Our comprehensive examination extends to the intricate relationships between various stakeholders and the technological advancements driving the ecosystem’s growth. We explore the ethical considerations and potential societal impacts of widespread LLM app adoption, highlighting the need for responsible innovation and governance frameworks. By examining these aspects, we aim to provide a vision for future research directions and highlight the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities within the LLM app ecosystem. The insights and recommendations provided in this paper serve as a foundation for driving innovation, ensuring responsible development, and creating a thriving, user-centric LLM app landscape.
Vulnerability Detection and Improvements of an Image Cryptosystem for Real-Time Visual Protection
Authors: Talhaoui Mohamed Zakariya , Wang Zhelong , Midoun Mohamed Amine , Smaili Abdelkarim , Mekkaoui Djamel Eddine , Lablack Mourad , Zhang Ke
Published: December 2024

Chaos-based cryptosystems are regarded as highly secure techniques for image encryption. However, despite the considerable enhancement of encryption robustness provided by chaotic systems, security vulnerabilities may still arise, potentially leading to drastic damage in contexts involving sensitive data such as medical or military images. Identifying these vulnerabilities and developing corresponding countermeasures are essential to prevent security breaches and achieve higher protection. From this perspective, this research thoroughly examines the security of an image encryption scheme based on the 1D sine-powered chaotic map. This analysis identifies vulnerabilities within the scheme that can reduce it to a permutation-only scheme. Exploiting the found vulnerabilities, three distinct cryptanalysis attacks are proposed in this work. These attacks enable unauthorized individuals to replicate the encryption and decryption processes without possessing the secret key, posing significant security risks. Under ciphertext-only attack, chosen-plaintext attack, and chosen-ciphertext attack conditions, the proposed attacks demonstrate their effectiveness through simulation and experimentation. Notably, the results indicate that these attacks can be executed within seconds and using only a few special plaintext or ciphertext images. An improved version of the analyzed scheme is introduced to address the identified vulnerabilities and enhance its security and speed.
EVCS-DAS: Evolving Visual Cryptography Schemes for Dynamic Access Structures
Authors: Wu Xiaotian , Feng Xinjie , Chen Bing , Yang Ching-Nung , Peng Qing-Yu , Yan Weiqi
Published: December 2024

A systematic investigation of evolving visual cryptography scheme (EVCS) is carried out in this article. The evolving scheme, denoted as

\((k,\infty)\)

, differs from the

\((k,n)\)

threshold in that it permits an arbitrary and perhaps unlimited number of participants. More importantly, the access structure can be updated dynamically by adding new users. First of all, a preliminary implementation strategy for the

\((2,\infty)\)

EVCS is introduced. Then, by employing the

\((2,2)\)

VCS recursively with the

\((2,\infty)\)

EVCS, a

\((k,\infty)\)

EVCS is created. In order to enhance the performance, an improved scheme is constructed based on the multi-secret VCS (MVCS) and a series of EVCS schemes with thresholds of

\((1,\infty)\)

,

\(\cdots\)

,

\((k-1,\infty)\)

. Moreover, Boolean XOR operation is adopted for secret recovery to further improve the visual quality. To facilitate the XOR decryption, a novel access structure partition algorithm is presented. Additionally, the proposed partition method can successfully solve the security issue in existing multi-secret XOR-based VCS (MXVCS). By integrating the more secure MXVCS into the improved scheme, XOR decryption is provided. The two proposed methods are shown to be effective and advantageous through extensive experiments and comparisons.
VQEG Column: Emerging Technologies Group (ETG)
Authors: Barman Nabajeet , Zadtootaghaj Saman
Published: December 2024

This column provides an overview of the new Video Quality Experts Group (VQEG) group called the Emerging Technologies Group (ETG), which was created during the last VQEG plenary meeting in December 2022. For an introduction to VQEG, please check the VQEG homepage or this presentation.

The works addressed by this new group can be of interest for the SIGMM community since they are related to AI-based technologies for image and video processing, greening of streaming, blockchain in media and entertainment, and ongoing related standardization activities.
Generative AI Agents for Knowledge Work Augmentation in Finance
Authors: Ganesh Sumitra , Ardon Leo , Borrajo Daniel , Garg Deepeka , Sehwag Udari Madhushani , Narayanan Annapoorani Lakshmi , Canonaco Giuseppe , Veloso Manuela M.
Published: December 2024

The development of software agents that can autonomously take actions to achieve goals has been a long-standing foundational objective in the field of AI. Recent advances in generative AI have given rise to a new class of agents. These advances have opened up the possibility of developing agents that can augment knowledge work in finance that primarily involves the cognitive processing of information by skilled humans. In this article, we bring these fields together. We break down the specific challenges in knowledge work in finance, review the current literature on generative AI agents, and identify potential directions for research and development that would help realize the potential of generative AI agents in finance. We conclude by proposing a framework to delineate the levels of autonomy for AI agents in the context of knowledge work, and an architecture for human–AI collaboration that can pave the path for progressively increasing the autonomy of agents.
Cardiac CT, MRI, and PET in 2023: Exploration of Key Articles across Imaging and Multidisciplinary Journals
Authors: Flynn Sebastian , Haenel Alexander , Coughlan Fionn , Crilly Shane , Leipsic Jonathon A. , Dodd Jonathan D.
Published: December 2024

This review explores the most impactful cardiac imaging advancements in CT, MRI, and PET in 2023, involving photon-counting CT, artificial intelligence, plaque assessment, cardiomyopathy evaluation, the brain-heart axis, and society statements and guidelines.
Method—Deconvoluting Losses in Lithium-Ion Batteries via a Versatile Reference Electrode
Authors: Koch Brian J. , Garrick Taylor R. , Gao Jing , Zhang Anne
Published: December 2024

This work enables high fidelity, virtual evaluation of prospective large format cell designs against program requirements early in the vehicle development process. It demonstrates conclusively the scalability of small, 3-electrode cell data to the large, commercial cell format. In doing so, it provides a protocol for the deconvolution of individual electrode resistances among the kinetics, ohmic, and transport domains at the 3-electrode level that can be directly translated to the same domains in a large format full cell. For the test cell seen in this work, this process details that the largest contribution to the overall losses in the battery cell are due to the anode kinetic and ohmic losses, followed by the losses due to the current collectors, internal leads, welds, and other electrical connections. This process can be generally applied to any electrochemical cell, and the materials and methods reported here can be utilized for any lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery.
4H-SiC Wafer Surfaces Irradiated with Femtosecond Laser at Fluence below the LSFL Threshold
Authors: Cheng Chung-Wei , Li Yi-En , Liu Yi-Hsien
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the microstructural and surface compositional changes of 4H-SiC wafers irradiated with femtosecond lasers at fluences below the threshold for low-spatial frequency laser-induced periodic surface structures (LSFL). Using scanning electron microscopy, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we characterized the processed SiC surfaces. Our results demonstrate precise control over the oxide layer thickness on the SiC surface at low laser fluences, allowing for the removal of only a few nanometers. This precise modification holds potential for future applications in wafer bonding by enabling the creation of a shallow SiO2 layer on the SiC surface.
Sulforaphane treatment mimics contractile activity-induced mitochondrial adaptations in muscle myotubes
Authors: Champsi Sabrina , Hood David A.
Published: December 2024

Nrf-2 is a transcription factor that has been implicated in mitigating oxidative stress and regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. However, limited research has demonstrated how Nrf-2-mediated adaptations compare with those produced by exercise. To investigate this, we treated myotubes with Sulforaphane, a well-established Nrf-2 activator, and combined this with stimulation-induced chronic contractile activity to model exercise training. Our work is the first to establish that sulforaphane mimics training-induced mitochondrial adaptations, including enhancements in respiration, biogenesis, and dynamics.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Climate Variability and Trends in West Arsi Zone, South‐Central Ethiopia
Authors: Engda Abebe , Yimer Fantaw , Mekuyie Muluken , Tadesse Menfese
Published: December 2024

The objective of this study was to evaluate the historical trends and variability of rainfall and temperature and to estimate the extent of change across various agroecological zones (AEZs) in the West Arsi Zone of south‐central Ethiopia from 1983 to 2019. Data on daily temperature and rainfall were collected from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute. The study utilized the Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator, and descriptive statistical methods to analyze data and identify trends. The analysis revealed a significant increase in mean annual temperature (p < 0.001) with 0.045°C per annum. The lowland and midland experienced significant increases in mean annual temperature (p < 0.001) by 0.063°C and 0.094°C per year, respectively, while insignificant increase was found in the highland AEZ. Analysis of rainfall revealed high interannual and seasonal variability, with the highest rainfall variability observed in the lowland. The analysis also revealed the study area experienced a significant decrease in annual average rainfall (p < 0.01) by 3.704 mm and Belg rainfall, short rainy season from mid‐February to May (p < 0.05) by 22.46 mm per year. The annual number of rainy days (RDs >1 mm) shows a significant decreasing trend (p < 0.001). The analysis further revealed decreasing trends of rainfall in all AEZs where the midland experienced a significant decrease in annual rainfall (p < 0.01) by 8.72 mm and Belg rainfall (p < 0.05) by 4.734 mm. In the Kiremt rainfall pattern, there was a decreasing wet spell and an increasing dry spell, and the annual rainfall coefficient of variation (CV) was 17.22% in the highland, 26% in the midland, and 32.36% in the lowland. Overall, the detected alterations in rainfall patterns, coupled with their considerable variability, are expected to negatively affect rain‐fed agriculture and the environment. The results of this study are anticipated to offer crucial insights into the spatiotemporal variability and climate trends, aiding decision‐makers and development planners in crafting tailored strategies to enhance climate resilience.
Oxidative Stress and Cancer Risk in Schistosomiasis
Authors: Afrifa Justice , Ofori Eric Gyamerah , Opoku Yeboah Kwaku , Asare Kwame Kumi , Sorkpor Rosemary Doe , Naveh-Fio Ibrahim W. , Armah Richard , Ofori Sandra , Ephraim Richard K. D.
Published: December 2024

Background: Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, coming second only to malaria in terms of morbidity. The disease‐causing parasite can inhabit the body for over a decade, leading to imbalances in the host’s metabolic systems. The flukes and their eggs can illicit various immunological and metabolic complications resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These are known to have several devastating effects on the host through increased oxidative stress, DNA mutation, and gene modifications, which can lead to fibrosis and cancer.

Main Body: Here, we discuss oxidative stress and cancer risk in Schistosoma infection. The concept of ROS generation and the complex antioxidant systems that enable the parasite to evade oxidant insults and prolong its life span in the host are explored. Further, the various roles of ROS during the initiation and progression of schistosomiasis and its influence on the host are discussed. Finally, mechanisms linked to the risk of bladder cancer in Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) infections are elucidated.

Conclusion: Finally, we provide an opinion on how some of these mechanisms could give directions for future studies as well as provide a springboard for diagnostics and drug targeting in schistosomiasis.
Epidemiology of Cysticercus tenuicollis in Sheep and Goats in the Tropics: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lawan Prudentia Yensi , Niba Aziwo Tatanja , Awah-Ndukum Julius
Published: December 2024

Sheep and goat influence the socioeconomic sustainability of rural communities in tropical countries, but parasitic diseases and Cysticercus tenuicollis in particular are responsible for their low productivity. The occurrence of Cysticercus tenuicollis in most affected regions of the world has been associated to the presence of stray dogs in the grazing area, which play vital roles in the life cycle of the parasite and poor disposal of contaminated and seized offal, organs, and carcasses. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the epidemiology of Cysticercus tenuicollis infection in sheep and goats in the tropics between 2010 and 2022 through the analysis of published qualitative and quantitative data on prevalence, risk factors, organ distribution, and interventions. The review showed that goats are more susceptible to Cysticercus tenuicollis than sheep in the tropics, and the prevalence rates based on meat inspection range from 0.45% to 56.8% in sheep and 4.83% to 72.38% in goats. More adult (2.9% to 83.17%) and female (0.96% to 71.42%) were infected than young (2.7% to 61.79%) and male (2.3% to 72.53%) animals. Higher infection rates were reported among animals in highland (7.99% to 73.61%) compared to animals in lowlands (4.70% to 69.69%). Overall, Cysticercus tenuicollis were observed on the abdominal visceral organs but predominantly on the omentum and liver, and affected animals were significantly higher during wet seasons. The review highlights the implementation of the One Health approach to improve understanding of the epidemiology, roles of different hosts, and environmental health in relation to the prevention and control of Cysticercus tenuicollis in the tropics.
Electrophysiological Signatures in Global Cerebral Ischemia: Neuroprotection Via Chemogenetic Inhibition of CA1 Pyramidal Neurons in Rats
Authors: Liu Penglai , Xu Jiang , Chen Yilan , Xu Qi , Zhang Wei , Hu Bin , Li Anan , Zhu Qiuju
Published: December 2024

Background

Although there has been limited research into the perturbation of electrophysiological activity in the brain after ischemia, the activity signatures during ischemia and reperfusion remain to be fully elucidated. We aim to comprehensively describe these electrophysiological signatures and interrogate their correlation with ischemic damage during global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Methods and Results

We used the 4‐vessel occlusion method of inducing global cerebral ischemia in rats. We used in vivo electrophysiological techniques to simultaneously record single units, scalp electroencephalogram, and local field potentials in awake animals. Neuronal damage and astrocyte reactivation were examined by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and quantitative real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction under chemogenetic inhibition of glutamatergic neurons. Electroencephalogram/local field potentials power and phase‐amplitude coupling of the theta and low‐gamma bands were reduced during ischemia and the acute phase of reperfusion. The firing rate of single units was enhanced by ischemia–reperfusion, and the phase relationship between the local field potentials theta band and neuronal firing was altered. Precise inhibition of hippocampus CA1 pyramidal neuron hyperactivity by chemogenetics rescued the firing dysfunction, ischemic neuronal damage, and A1 astrocyte activation.

Conclusions

Our results provide a comprehensive description of the characteristics of electrophysiological activity that accompany ischemia–reperfusion and highlight the significance of this activity in ischemic damage.
Pathways From Socioeconomic Factors to Major Cardiovascular Events Among Postmenopausal Veteran and Nonveteran Women: Findings From the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Beydoun Hind A. , Beydoun May A. , Kinney Rebecca L. , Liu Simin , Yu Rona , Allison Matthew , Wallace Robert B. , Xiao Qian , Liu Longjian , Gradidge Philippe , Jung Su Yon , Tindle Hilary A. , Follis Shawna , Brunner Robert , Tsai Jack
Published: December 2024

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death for women in the United States, with veterans being at potentially higher risk than their nonveteran counterparts due to accelerated aging and distinct biopsychosocial mechanisms. We examined pathways between selected indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) such as education, occupation, household income, and neighborhood SES and major CVD events through lifestyle and health characteristics among veteran and nonveteran postmenopausal women.

Methods and Results

A total of 121 286 study‐eligible WHI (Women's Health Initiative) participants (3091 veterans and 118 195 nonveterans) were prospectively followed for an average of 17 years, during which 16 108 major CVD events were documented. Using generalized structural equations modeling coupled with survival analysis techniques, we estimated the effects of SES on major CVD events through smoking, body mass index, comorbidities, cardiometabolic risk factors, and self‐rated health, controlling for WHI component, region, age, race, ethnicity, marital status, and health care provider access. Among veterans, SES characteristics were indirectly related to major CVD events through body mass index, comorbidities, cardiometabolic risk factors, and self‐rated health. Among nonveterans, lower education (β= 0.2,
P
<0.0001), household income (β=+0.4,
P
<0.0001), and neighborhood SES (β=+0.2,
P
<0.0001) were positively related to major CVD events, and these relationships were partly mediated by body mass index, comorbidities, cardiometabolic risk factors, and self‐rated health. Smoking played a mediating role only among nonveterans.

Conclusions

Nonveteran postmenopausal women exhibit more complex pathways between SES and major CVD events than their veteran counterparts, informing the design, conduct, and evaluation of preventive strategies targeting CVD by veteran status.
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Valvular Heart Disease, 1990 to 2021
Authors: Chen Qin‐Fen , Shi Shanzhen , Wang Yu‐Fei , Shi Jingjing , Liu Chenyang , Xu Tiancheng , Ni Chao , Zhou Xi , Lin Weihong , Peng Yangdi , Zhou Xiao‐Dong
Published: December 2024

Background

Valvular heart disease poses an escalating global health challenge with an increasing impact on mortality and disability. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the global burden of valvular heart disease.

Methods and Results

Using the Global Burden of Disease 2021 data, we analyzed the prevalence and disability‐adjusted life years, examining implications across demographics and geographic regions. In 2021, an estimated 54.8 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 43.3–67.6) cases of rheumatic heart disease, 13.3 million (95% UI, 11.4–15.2) cases of nonrheumatic calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), and 15.5 million (95% UI, 14.5–16.7) cases of nonrheumatic degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) were reported globally. Despite the rising prevalence, disability‐adjusted life years declined between 1991 and 2021. Among individuals aged 70 years or older, the age‐standardized prevalences were 1803.6 per 100 000 (95% UI, 1535.5–2055.7) for CAVD and 2148.9 per 100 000 (95% UI, 2001.4–2310.1) for DMVD. Sub‐Saharan Africa had the highest age‐standardized prevalence for rheumatic heart disease; Conversely, high‐income regions led in CAVD and DMVD prevalence. Rheumatic heart disease had the highest age‐standardized prevalence of 1184.2 per 100 000 (95% UI, 932.4–1478.2) in low Socio‐Demographic Index (SDI) regions, whereas CAVD peaked at 349.8 per 100 000 (95% UI, 303.6–395.8) in high SDI regions. The most substantial increases in age‐standardized prevalences of CAVD from 1990 to 2021 occurred in the middle SDI and low‐middle SDI regions. A parallel trend was noted for DMVD.

Conclusions

Rheumatic heart disease remains a significant burden in low SDI regions, whereas CAVD and DMVD pose challenges in high SDI regions with aging populations.
Aristotle, De Anima 1.3, 406b2 κατὰ τὸ σῶµα
Authors: Liu Kezhou
Published: December 2024

My aim in this paper is to examine Aristotle’s assertion in De Anima 1.3, 406b1-3 that the soul engages in the same motion as the body, focusing particularly on the puzzle and contentious phrase at 406b2, κατὰ τὸ σῶµα. By clarifying Aristotle’s specific notion of sameness and the argument’s context, I will attempt to demonstrate that it is still possible to defend the traditional interpretation of the phrase κατὰ τὸ σῶµα without emending the text. As I shall show, Aristotle’s assertion here is neither a repetition of his previous major premise nor an inappropriate generalization that hinders him from reaching a further conclusion. Instead, it serves as a crucial step in demonstrating the incoherence of the Platonic view, which posits that the soul is essentially a self- moving entity.
The New Asylum Pact: Brave New World or Dystopian Hellscape?
Authors: Peers Steve
Published: December 2024

The EU has recently agreed on the asylum pact, a comprehensive amendment of EU asylum law. This paper offers an overview and critique of the new legislation in its broader context.

asylum – common European asylum system
A Decolonial Agenda for EU Migration and Asylum Law
Authors: Corcodel Veronica
Published: December 2024

This article seeks to advance a decolonial research agenda in EU migration and asylum law, arguing that there is significant scope for further development within existing scholarship. It offers some theoretical tools grounded in postcolonial and decolonial literature, contending that a decolonial project for EU migration and asylum law should critically engage with the enduring epistemic foundations of colonial unequal mobilities and treatment. These include the ‘sedentary bias’ and the ‘cheap labour’ bias, as well as the ways in which these have been shaped by race, gender, class, and other epistemic formations. Building on these insights, the article outlines potential avenues for further research, especially in relation to the EU Schengen regime, the externalisation of EU borders, the construction of the ‘economic migrant’ and the Common European Asylum system.
(Un)stable Ghettos
Authors: Di Nepi Serena
Published: December 2024

This article reviews Italian and international historiography on the history of Jews in Italy during the early modern period, aiming to critically engage with the notion of the “ghetto” and the interpretive frameworks through which it has been studied. It situates this concept within broader historiographical trends in Italian history of the period. The study gives particular attention to the growing influence of the Roman Inquisition and its pervasive—though not total—control over Jewish communities, noting the varied ways this influence was enacted across Italy’s diverse urban and rural regions. The analysis begins with an exploration of Jewish responses to the temporary readmission into the Papal States under Pope Sixtus V from 1587 to 1590, using this episode to re-evaluate the category of the ghetto. The conclusion argues for a future research direction that moves beyond the assumed stability of the ghetto, reconstructing the history of Jews in Italy by identifying people, places, actors, distinctions, and movements—while remaining mindful of the profound impact of the long history of persecutions.
Hugo Grotius, the African Slave Trade, and the Natural Law Tradition
Authors: Hasan-Birdwell Aminah
Published: December 2024

The following paper brings together the history of the Atlantic slave trade in the seventeenth century and Hugo Grotius’s treatment of slavery, war, and trade in the De iure belli ac pacis. In this paper I focus on the practices of slave raids during the trade in the 1630s through the 1640s in Central and West Africa. The practice of slave raids was often described and categorized by both Africans and Europeans as war or acts of war. I argue that given Grotius’s depictions of a solemn war, it is difficult to legally distinguish an intent to enslave in a raid from an act of war against an enemy nation.
Liability of Hosting providers for User-generated Content
Authors: Karwowska Anna
Published: December 2024

Whenever the courts are called on to deal with the cases of liability of hosting providers for copyright infringements in different contexts, standards shift. Nonetheless, the core issues remain invariable: hosting provider’s knowledge regarding illegal content and the way it reacts to notice-and-take-down procedure. A new piece has been added into the puzzle in recent years, namely the Polish case of Chomikuj.pl. This paper’s purpose is to compare the scope of hosting providers’ liability for user-generated content in the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU), placing the spotlight on the Chomikuj.pl case, which may offer a major contribution to the discussion. The key issues entail knowledge and awareness constituting hosting provider’s liability for the infringing content on its platform, alongside the establishment of adequate notice-and-take-down procedure to hold the infringing party responsible.
Seamanship in the Age of Automation: Reduced Practical Wisdom? Observations from Fieldwork on Automated Car Ferries in Norway
Authors: Aalberg Asbjørn Lein
Published: December 2024

This study contributes to the debate on the role of humans in highly automated maritime environments by exploring whether increased automation entails the extraction of seamanship from the maritime sector. Traditionally, seafaring practice has been the observable outcome of seamanship: an idealistic competence norm close to the seafarers’ identity. One element of seamanship is to solve known and unknown problems through ethical and practical deliberations and improvisations. Based on fieldwork on state-of-the-art automated car ferries in Norway, I demonstrate how seafarers (continue to) adapt to a highly automated environment. Seafarers informally learned the necessary basis for the automation practices. I discuss the relationship between seamanship and practical wisdom, and problematise the safety implications of increasingly automated and digitalised systems. The paper concludes with potential strategies for retaining professional practical wisdom, despite the advent of autonomy.
Does Ernest Nagel’s Model of Reduction Permit Ontological Reduction?
Authors: Chen Bohang , Zhang Zhihan
Published: December 2024

This article resolves and draws lessons from the recent controversy over whether Ernest Nagel’s model of reduction permits ontological reduction. The resolution lies in distinguishing between two types of ontological reduction: while Nagel’s model accommodates ontological reduction1, it rejects ontological reduction2. Ontological reduction1 concerns the relationships among worldly things, mediated by theories and statements, as is generally asserted by logical empiricists. In contrast, ontological reduction2, which often leads to eliminativism, arbitrarily designates certain entities as fundamental while treating others merely derivative. Two key lessons emerge from this controversy. First, it is easy to conflate these two types of ontological reduction. Second, emphasizing the epistemological foundations of reduction is crucial to avoid such conflation and the associated dogmatic tendencies, such as eliminativism and emergentism. This analysis uncovers a critical yet underappreciated rationale for Nagel’s preference for an epistemological presentation of his model of reduction.
Cun 存 as Caring Existence: Ontology and Ethics in Early Chinese Thought and Heidegger
Authors: Liang Yuchen
Published: December 2024

Ontology and ethics are often regarded as distinct fields in contemporary philosophy, reflecting a broader division between the natural and social worlds in modern thought. In contrast, ancient Chinese thought presents a different perspective. The term cun 存, for example, encompasses both existence and care within its meaning. This affective dimension of cun has largely been forgotten in modern East Asian languages, where it is now used in cunzai, a generic and somewhat hollow translation of “being.” However, in pre-Qin Chinese texts, such as Mencius and the Xici, cun was employed in a way that integrates existence with ethics and care with ontology. This interwoven interpretation of existence and care also resonates with Heidegger’s concept of Sorge (care), a central idea in his seminal work Being and Time. Heidegger explored the care for other Daseins and for the world, as well as the relationship between care and time, which he viewed as fundamental to the existence of Dasein. I aim to demonstrate that cun was used in ways that parallel these aspects of Sorge. Through this comparison, I seek to achieve two main objectives: 1) to show that an ethical interpretation of Heidegger’s fundamental ontology is indeed possible, and 2) to highlight that ancient Chinese thought engages with the concept of being or existence, contrary to the view that East Asian philosophy is nihilistic and limited to moralization – showing instead that it always links existence with ethics.
Water boatmen (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Corixidae) of Romania
Authors: BERCHI GAVRIL MARIUS , RĂDAC IOAN ALEXANDRU , BODA PÁL , KMENT PETR
Published: December 2024

We here update the distribution and provide a checklist of the water boatmen (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Corixoidea: Corixidae) of Romania based on country-wide sampling, a literature survey, and private and museum collections. The Romanian fauna currently comprises 25 water boatmen species and subspecies in eight genera and two subfamilies. The occurrence of Glaenocorisa propinqua (Fieber, 1860), Arctocorisa carinata carinata (Sahlberg, 1819), and Corixa panzeri Fieber, 1848, all known from old and single records, is here confirmed. The first record of an intermediate shape of the pala between Sigara falleni (Fieber, 1848) (triangular) and S. iactans Jansson, 1983 (trapezoidal) is reported from the southeastern European population of the latter, suggesting possible hybridization.