bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An interaction-fair semi-decentralized trajectory planner for connected and autonomous vehicles
Authors: Liu Zhengqin , Lei Jinlong , Yi Peng , Hong Yiguang
Published: January 2025

Lately, there has been a lot of interest in game-theoretic approaches to the trajectory planning of autonomous vehicles (AVs). But most methods solve the game independently for each AV while lacking coordination mechanisms, and hence result in redundant computation and fail to converge to the same equilibrium, which presents challenges in computational efficiency and safety. Moreover, most studies rely on the strong assumption of knowing the intentions of all other AVs. This paper designs a novel autonomous vehicle trajectory planning approach to resolve the computational efficiency and safety problems in uncoordinated trajectory planning by exploiting vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology. Firstly, the trajectory planning for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) is formulated as a game with coupled safety constraints. We then define the interaction fairness of the planned trajectories and prove that interaction-fair trajectories correspond to the variational equilibrium (VE) of this game. Subsequently, we propose a semi-decentralized planner for the vehicles to seek VE-based fair trajectories, in which each CAV optimizes its individual trajectory based on neighboring CAVs’ information shared through V2X, and the roadside unit takes the role of updating multipliers for collision avoidance constraints. The approach can significantly improve computational efficiency through parallel computing among CAVs, and enhance the safety of planned trajectories by ensuring equilibrium concordance among CAVs. Finally, we conduct Monte Carlo experiments in multiple situations at an intersection, where the empirical results show the advantages of SVEP, including the fast computation speed, a small communication payload, high scalability, equilibrium concordance, and safety, making it a promising solution for trajectory planning in connected traffic scenarios. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to achieve semi-distributed solving of a game with coupled constraints in a CAV trajectory planning problem.
An infant case of autoimmune enteropathy: pivotal role of ultrasound in the management
Authors: Calvaruso Antonino , Baldazzi Michelangelo , Guida Fiorentina , Greco Laura , Di Vincenzo Anna Olga , Vivacqua Donatella , Marcolin Laura , Rossi Eugenio , Minelli Rocco , Albertini Elisa , Lovato Luigi , Lanari Marcello
Published: January 2025

Autoimmune enteropathy (AIE) is a rare cause of chronic intractable diarrhea. We report the case of a 2-month-old infant who presented with intractable diarrhea and significant weight loss. Once clinical stability was achieved, endoscopy allowed AIE to be diagnosed. Ultrasound studies (US) correlated clinical and laboratory findings with the gastrointestinal inflammatory state during the course of the disease. This approach facilitates an appropriate and timely therapeutic strategy, with immunosuppressive treatment currently representing the primary therapeutic option.
Dissecting casual effects of diet on the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and the potential mediation by gut microbiota: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Liu Tianqi , Zhou Lanqi , Lv Jiayao , Qu Yizhe , Shi Lin
Published: January 2025

Background

Diet plays a fundamental role in maintaining intestinal health. Here, we investigated whether there is the causal association of diet with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the potential effect of gut microbiota on these relationships, by using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses.

Materials and methods

Genetic instruments for 29 dietary intake variables and 139 food-liking traits were obtained from the UK-Biobank. The GWAS statistics on IBD and its two subtypes, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), were obtained from the IEU database. GWAS of gut microbiome was obtained from the MiBioGen alliance. Associations were assessed by inverse-variance weighted method, MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode and weighted mode. Gut microbiome was assessed for the mediated effect on the associations of dietary variables with IBD.

Results

We identified causal associations between 21 dietary factors (including 3 dietary intake and 18 food-liking traits) with IBD, UC and/or CD. These dietary variables affected 22 bacteria genera, and among them, 9 were causally associated with the IBD risk. Notably, Ruminococcus_torques_group, a symbiotic bacterium possessing anti-inflammatory properties, significantly mediated the relationship between various food-liking traits (e.g., liking for acquired taste, strong flavor, blue cheese and beans) and IBD risks. Ruminococcaceae UCG003 showed a significant mediating efficacy in the relation of liking for sharp flavor and CD.

Conclusion

Our study reveals the causal impacts of dietary factors on the risk of IBD and its subtypes, and provides novel insights on the potential of modulating intestinal microbiota as novel therapeutic targets between diet and IBD prevention.
Determinants of Market Participation among Milk Producers in Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Nurullaev Akhmadjon , Park Eunchun , Ahrendsen Bruce , Speelman Stijn , Connor Lawson
Published: January 2025

Numerous studies have been conducted to comprehend the economic importance of market participation for producers. However, a significant gap remains, particularly in Central Asia. This study assesses market participation drivers for Kyrgyzstan’s milk producers using the Life in Kyrgyzstan dataset, encompassing a comprehensive nationwide farm-level survey. Findings reveal that household assets boost market entry and sales volume, whereas distance from markets discourages participation but can increase sales for active sellers, reflecting transportation cost strategies. The insights inform policy interventions benefiting rural small-scale milk producers in Central Asian countries that share similar cultural backgrounds.
Major Internal Fires in Dutch Hospitals: A Scoping Review
Authors: van Stekelenburg Brett C.A. , Klokman Vincent W. , Tan Edward C.T.H. , Barten Dennis G.
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Fires are among the most feared incidents that can occur in a hospital. Hospital fires will disrupt care continuity, may require the evacuation of patients and have the potential to result in injuries or even deaths. The aim of this study is to gain insight into hospital fires in the Netherlands over a 20-year period.

Methods

Systematic scoping review of news articles mentioning hospital fires in the Netherlands retrieved from the LexisNexis database, Google, Google News, PubMed, and EMBASE between 2000 and 2020. Hospital fires were included if they were associated with the closure of hospital departments or intervention units and/or evacuations. The cause, location, involved departments, need for evacuation, and the number of casualties were evaluated.

Results

Twenty-four major hospital fires were identified. More than half of these were caused by technical failures, and in 6 cases (25%), the fires were attributed to patients. In 71% of the incidents, acute care departments were affected by the fire. Twenty fires (83%) resulted in the evacuation of patients. In 2 cases, the fire resulted in the death of a patient.

Conclusions

Patient-attributed fires are a significant cause of major hospital fires in the Netherlands. Prevention and mitigation measures should be implemented accordingly.
Who Can Help Me? Citizens’ Help-Seeking on Weibo During the Shanghai Lockdown
Authors: Guo Difan , Liu Shaoqiang , Sun Yao
Published: January 2025

Objective

In the context of the Omicron-induced lockdown in Shanghai, this paper investigated the appeals for assistance by citizens on Weibo, aiming to understand their principal challenges and immediate needs.

Methods

This paper collected Weibo posts (N = 1040) containing the keyword “Shanghai Anti-epidemic Help” during the citywide lockdown. The online help requests from Shanghai citizens were analyzed across 7 dimensions, including the help sought, level of urgency, help recipient, the intended beneficiary of the help, expression, position, and emotion.

Results

The study found that the most common requests for assistance were related to social isolation, specifically in the areas of home and community (34.81%), isolation (10.86%), and personal freedom (7.31%). Of all help requests, 11.83% were deemed very urgent. Most of the Weibo posts sent out a plea for help to Internet users (56.06%), primarily requesting help for themselves (26.25%) or their families (27.60%).

Conclusions

The study found that personal freedom, food, and medical care were the most frequently sought help from the public, and most of the public’s positions and emotions were pessimistic. The relevant findings revealed the public’s needs and status during the city closure, providing a reference for emergency preparedness in public health events or emergencies.
The Investigation of Quality of Life and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Levels of Midwifery Students Experiencing an Earthquake
Authors: Yıldırım Emine , Güdücü Neriman
Published: January 2025

Objectives

The knowledge of students’ quality of life and post-traumatic stress disorder levels, investigation of the relationship between them, and taking measures are essential in terms of guiding the necessary interventions. This study was conducted to determine the quality of life and post-traumatic stress disorder levels of midwifery students experiencing an earthquake.

Methods

This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 363 midwifery students who had experienced the Kahramanmaras, Türkiye earthquake. Data were obtained using a Descriptive Information Form, the PTSD-Brief Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF).

Results

The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder in the sample studied (n = 363), which consisted of midwifery students who would work in the field of health, was 21.5% 2 months after the earthquake. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that factors predicting post-traumatic stress disorder following the earthquake were quality of life score related to physical and environmental domains, damage status of the house, presence of family history of depression, and smoking status.

Conclusions

This study, which was conducted 2 months following the earthquakes, showed that living spaces had an impact on the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Fight or Flight: Emergency Health Care Workers’ Willingness to Work during Crises and Disasters. A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study in the Netherlands
Authors: Engels Lindsy M.J. , Barten Dennis G. , Boumans Thimo J.T. , Gaakeer Menno I. , Latten Gideon H.P. , Mehagnoul Jannet , Tapirdamaz Özlem , van Osch Frits , Mortelmans Luc
Published: January 2025

Objective

Expanding staff levels is a strategy for hospitals to increase their surge capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether emergency health care workers (HCWs) are willing to work during crises or disasters, and which working conditions influence their decisions.

Methods

HCWs in the emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs) of 5 Dutch hospitals were surveyed about various disaster scenarios. For each scenario, HCWs were asked about their willingness to work (WTW) and which conditions would influence their decision. Knowledge, perceived risk, and danger were assessed per scenario.

Results

A total of 306 out of 630 HCWs completed the survey. Influenza epidemics, SARS-CoV-2 pandemics, and natural disasters were associated with the highest WTW rates (69.0%, 63.7%, and 53.3%, respectively). WTW rate was lowest in nuclear incident (4.6%) and dirty bomb (3.3%) scenarios. WTW rate was higher in physicians than in nurses. Male ED HCWs, single HCWs, and childless HCWs were more often willing to work. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and the safety of HCWs’ families were the most important working conditions. Perceived knowledge scored lowest in the dirty bomb, biological, and nuclear incident scenarios. These scenarios were rated highest with respect to perceived danger.

Conclusions

WTW depends on disaster type, profession, and department. The provision of PPE and the safety of HCWs’ families were found to be the predominant favorable working conditions.
Pathways to care for psychosis in rural Uganda: Mixed-methods study of individuals with psychosis, family members, and local leaders
Authors: Lee Yang Jae , Nakaziba Kayera Sumaya , Waimon Sophie , Agwang Grace , Menon Kailash , Samuel Sam , Dyas Aaron Damon , Nkolo Travor , Ingabire Haba , Wykoff Jason , Hobbs Olivia , Kazungu Rauben , Basiimwa Job , Rosenheck Robert , Ashaba Scholastic , Tsai Alexander C.
Published: January 2025

Background

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear a disproportionate burden of mental illness, with limited access to biomedical care. This study examined pathways to care for psychosis in rural Uganda, exploring factors influencing treatment choices.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-methods study in Buyende District, Uganda, involving 67 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions (data collection continued until thematic saturation was reached) with individuals with psychotic disorders, family members, and local leaders. Structured questionnaires were administered to 41 individuals with psychotic disorders.

Results

Three main themes emerged: (1) Positive attitudes towards biomedical providers, (2) Barriers to accessing biomedical care (3) Perceived etiologies of mental illness that influenced care-seeking behaviors. While 81% of participants eventually accessed biomedical care, the median time to first biomedical contact was 52 days, compared to 7 days for any care modality.

Conclusions

Despite a preference for biomedical care, structural barriers and diverse illness perceptions led many to seek pluralistic care pathways. Enhancing access to biomedical services and integrating traditional and faith healers could improve mental health outcomes in rural Uganda.
Waving the same flag? Government legislation and obstructionism during the COVID-19 crisis in Italy
Authors: Gambacciani Paolo , Pedrazzani Andrea , Pinto Luca
Published: January 2025

This study examines the amendatory activities of the majority and opposition parties in the Italian 18th legislature (2018–2022) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Following the rally around the flag hypothesis, we test whether both sides exhibited similar legislative behaviour during emergencies. We exploit an original database covering amendments tabled by Italian legislators on bills converting decree-laws. Results reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic affected amendment activities without aligning majority and opposition behaviours. In other words, the opposition did not pull in the same direction of the government legislation. This can be explained by contingent factors and pre-existing party polarization.
On the formation of super-stable granular heaps
Authors: Lloyd H.A. , Maguire E.S.F. , Mistry D. , Reynolds G.K. , Johnson C.G. , Gray J.M.N.T.
Published: January 2025

A super-stable granular heap is a pile of grains whose free surface is inclined above the angle of repose, and which forms when particles are poured onto a plane that is confined laterally by frictional sidewalls that are separated by a narrow gap. During continued mass supply, the heap free surface gradually steepens until all the inflowing grains can flow out of the domain. As soon as the supply of grains is stopped, the heap is progressively eroded, and if the base of the domain is inclined above the angle of repose, then all the grains eventually flow out. This phenomenology is modelled using a system of two-dimensional width-averaged mass and momentum balances that incorporate the sidewall friction. The granular material is assumed to be incompressible and satisfy the partially regularized

$\mu (I)$

-rheology. This is implemented in OpenFOAM

$^{\circledR}$

and compared against small-scale experiments that study the formation, steady-state behaviour and drainage of a super-stable heap. The simulations accurately capture the dense liquid-like flows as well as the evolving heap shape. The steady uniform flow that develops along the heap surface has non-trivial inertial number dependence through its depth. Super-stable heaps are therefore a sensitive rheometer that can be used to determine the dependence of the friction

$\mu$

on the inertial number

$I$

. However, these flows are challenging to simulate because the free-surface inertial number is high, and can exceed the threshold for ill-posedness even for the partially regularized theory.
Global drag reduction and local flow statistics in Taylor–Couette turbulence with dilute polymer additives
Authors: Zhang Yi-Bao , Fan Yaning , Su Jinghong , Xi Heng-Dong , Sun Chao
Published: January 2025

We present an experimental study on the drag reduction by polymers in Taylor–Couette turbulence at Reynolds numbers (

$Re$

) ranging from

$4\times 10^3$

to

$2.5\times 10^4$

. In this

$Re$

regime, the Taylor vortex is present and accounts for more than 50 % of the total angular velocity flux. Polyacrylamide polymers with two different average molecular weights are used. It is found that the drag reduction rate increases with polymer concentration and approaches the maximum drag reduction (MDR) limit. At MDR, the friction factor follows the

$-0.58$

scaling, i.e.

$C_f \sim Re^{-0.58}$

, similar to channel/pipe flows. However, the drag reduction rate is about

$20\,\%$

at MDR, which is much lower than that in channel/pipe flows at comparable

$Re$

. We also find that the Reynolds shear stress does not vanish and the slope of the mean azimuthal velocity profile in the logarithmic layer remains unchanged at MDR. These behaviours are reminiscent of the low drag reduction regime reported in channel flow (Warholic et al., Exp. Fluids, vol. 27, no. 5, 1999, pp. 461–472). We reveal that the lower drag reduction rate originates from the fact that polymers strongly suppress the turbulent flow while only slightly weaken the mean Taylor vortex. We further show that polymers steady the velocity boundary layer and suppress the small-scale Görtler vortices in the near-wall region. The former effect reduces the emission rate of both intense fast and slow plumes detached from the boundary layer, resulting in less flux transport from the inner cylinder to the outer one and reduces energy input into the bulk turbulent flow. Our results suggest that in turbulent flows, where secondary flow structures are statistically persistent and dominate the global transport properties of the system, the drag reduction efficiency of polymer additives is significantly diminished.
Structure of mushy layers grown from perfectly and imperfectly conducting boundaries. Part 1. Diffusive solidification
Authors: Hitchen Joseph R. , Wells Andrew J.
Published: January 2025

We model transient mushy-layer growth for a binary alloy solidifying from a cooled boundary, characterising the impact of liquid composition and thermal growth conditions on the mush porosity and growth rate. We consider cooling from a perfectly conducting isothermal boundary, and from an imperfectly conducting boundary governed by a linearised thermal boundary condition. For an isothermal boundary we characterise different growth regimes depending on a concentration ratio, which can also be viewed as characterising the ratio of composition-dependent freezing point depression versus the temperature difference across the mushy layer. Large concentration ratio leads to high porosity throughout the mushy layer and an asymptotically simplified model for growth with an effective thermal diffusivity accounting for latent heat release from internal solidification. Low concentration ratio leads to low porosity throughout most of the mushy layer, except for a high-porosity boundary layer localised near the mush–liquid interface. We identify scalings for the boundary-layer thickness and mush growth rate. An imperfectly conducting boundary leads to an initial lag in the onset of solidification, followed by an adjustment period, before asymptoting to the perfectly conducting state at large time. We develop asymptotic solutions for large concentration ratio and large effective heat capacity, and characterise the mush structure, growth rate and transition times between the regimes. For low concentration ratio the high porosity zone spans the full mush depth at early times, before localising near the mush–liquid interface at later times. Such variation of porosity has important implications for the properties and biological habitability of mushy sea ice.
SRMR for Models with Covariates
Authors: McNeish Daniel , Matta Tyler H.
Published: January 2025

The standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR) is commonly reported to evaluate approximate fit of latent variable models. As traditionally defined, SRMR summarizes the discrepancy between observed covariance elements and implied covariance elements. However, current applications of latent variable models often include additional features like overidentified mean structures and covariates, to which the traditional SRMR definition is not applicable. To date, SRMR extensions for models with covariates have received limited attention. Nonetheless, mainstream software provide SRMR for models with covariates, but values differ based on model specification and differ across programs. The goal of this paper is to formalize SRMR definitions for models with covariates. We develop possible SRMR definitions corresponding to different model specifications with covariates, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each. Importantly, some SRMR definitions are susceptible to confounding misfit and model size such that SRMR values systematically decrease and suggest better fit when covariates are present, even if covariates have null effects. The primary conclusion is that there may not be a single unifying SRMR definition for covariates, but practically, researchers reporting SRMR with covariates should be aware (a) which definition is being used and (b) which information is and is not included in the particular definition.
PKLM: A Flexible MCAR Test Using Classification
Authors: Spohn Meta-Lina , Näf Jeffrey , Michel Loris , Meinshausen Nicolai
Published: January 2025

We develop a fully nonparametric, easy-to-use, and powerful test for the missing completely at random (MCAR) assumption on the missingness mechanism of a dataset. The test compares distributions of different missing patterns on random projections in the variable space of the data. The distributional differences are measured with the Kullback-Leibler Divergence, using probability Random Forests (Malley et al., 2011). We thus refer to it as “Projected Kullback–Leibler MCAR” (PKLM) test. The use of random projections makes it applicable even if very few or no fully observed observations are available or if the number of dimensions is large. An efficient permutation approach guarantees the level for any finite sample size, resolving a major shortcoming of most other available tests. Moreover, the test can be used on both discrete and continuous data. We show empirically on a range of simulated data distributions and real datasets that our test has consistently high power and is able to avoid inflated type-I errors. Finally, we provide an R-package PKLMtest with an implementation of our test.
An Overall Test of Pairwise Mean Conditional Covariances in IRT
Authors: Ellis Jules L. , van der Ark L. Andries , Sijtsma Klaas
Published: January 2025

We study how the Conditioning on Added Regression Predictions (CARP) statistics from different item pairs can be aggregated into a single overall test of monotone homogeneity. As a pairwise statistic, we use the mean conditional covariance (MCC) or its standardized value (

$Z$

). We use three different estimates of the covariance matrix of the pairwise test statistics: (1) the covariance matrix of the MCCs, based on the sample moments; (2) the covariance matrix of the MCCs or

$Z$

s, based on bootstrapping; and (3) the covariance matrix of the

$Z$

s, equated to the identity matrix. We consider various aggregation methods, including (a) the chi-bar-square statistic; (b) the preselected standardized partial sum of pairwise statistics; (c) the product of preselected

$p$

-values; (d) the minimum of preselected

$p$

-values; and (e–h) the same statistics, but now conditioned on post-selecting only the negative values in the test sample. We study the Type 1 error rate and power of the ensuing 20 tests based on simulations. The tests with the highest power among the tests that control the Type I error rate are based on

$Z$

-statistics with the identity matrix: the conditional likelihood ratio test, the conditionalized product of

$p$

-values, the conditionalized sum of Z-values, and the preselected product of

$p$

-values.
State-Dependent Missingness in Hidden Markov Models, with an Application to Drop-Out in a Clinical Trial
Authors: Speekenbrink Maarten , Visser Ingmar
Published: January 2025

Establishing the effectiveness of treatments for psychopathology requires accurate models of its progression over time and the factors that impact it. Longitudinal data is however fraught with missingness, hindering accurate modeling. We re-analyse data on schizophrenia severity in a clinical trial using hidden Markov models (HMMs). We consider missing data in HMMs with a focus on situations where data is missing not at random (MNAR) and missingness depends on the latent states, allowing symptom severity to indirectly impact probability of missingness. In simulations, we show that including a submodel for state-dependent missingness reduces bias when data is MNAR and state-dependent, whilst not reducing accuracy when data is missing-at-random (MAR). When missingness depends on time, a model that allows missingness to be both state- and time-dependent is unbiased. Overall, these results show that modelling missingness as state-dependent and including relevant covariates is a useful strategy in applications of HMMs to time-series with missing data. Applying the model to data from a clinical trial, we find that drop-out is more likely for patients with less severe symptoms, which may lead to a biased assessment of treatment effectiveness.
Infinitesimal Jackknife Estimates of Standard Errors for Rotated Estimates of Redundancy Analysis: Applications to Two Real Examples
Authors: Gu Fei , Jarukasemthawee Somboon , Pisitsungkagarn Kullaya , van Dam Ynte K.
Published: January 2025

In redundancy analysis (RA), the redundancy variates are interpreted in terms of the predictor variables that have the prominent redundancy loadings. Israels (1986) advocated the rotation of redundancy loadings to facilitate the interpretation of the rotated redundancy variates. In this paper, the purpose is to obtain the standard error estimates for rotated redundancy loadings that can facilitate the interpretation of the rotated redundancy variates. To this end, we modify the original RA-L model (Gu et al., 2023) and specify two modified RA-L models for orthogonal and oblique rotations, separately. On the basis of the modified RA-L models, we describe the infinitesimal jackknife (IJ) method that can produce the standard error estimates for rotated RA estimates. A simulation study is conducted to validate the standard error estimates from the IJ method, and two real examples are used to demonstrate the use of the standard error estimates for rotated redundancy loadings. Finally, we summarize the paper and provide additional remarks regarding the rotation methods and the use of numeric derivatives in the implementation of the IJ method.
Association between composite dietary antioxidant index and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults: results of NHANES 2015–2020 and Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Xiang Zhiyi , Wang Heng
Published: January 2025

Oxidative stress is present in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, the effect of increased dietary antioxidants on reducing COPD risk remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) with COPD in adults. This study conducted a cross-sectional investigation using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2015 to March 2020 to explore the association between CDAI and COPD in adults. This study included 9295 participants. Three logistic regression models (crude model, partially adjusted model and fully adjusted model) and restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were utilised to assess the association between CDAI levels and COPD risk. Subsequently, a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) was employed to analyse the causal impact of antioxidant levels within CDAI on the occurrence of COPD. CDAI levels were inversely associated with COPD after adjusting for confounders (OR = 0·97, 95 % CI 0·95, 1·00), and the association was linear (P < 0·001), and the results of the RCS showed that CDAI was linearly correlated with COPD occurrence (P < 0·001). MR analysis revealed a causal relationship between vitamin C and COPD occurrence (OR = 0·99, 95 % CI 0·98, 1·00, P < 0·05). Our study indicates that dietary sources of antioxidants may reduce the risk of COPD occurrence, and the results of the MR analysis further show that vitamin C is causally associated with a reduced risk of COPD occurrence. However, further exploration is needed to understand how antioxidants prevent COPD.
Pre-diagnostic 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and subsite-specific colorectal cancer risk: a nested case–control study from the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study (NOWAC)
Authors: Paulsen Elise Marlen , Braaten Tonje Bjørndal , Urbarova Ilona , Brustad Magritt
Published: January 2025

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer globally, causes over 900 000 deaths annually. Although vitamin D is observed to have potential anti-carcinogenic properties, research findings on its preventable effect against CRC remain inconclusive. Notably, different subsites within the colon and rectum may be associated with distinct risk factors. While some studies have explored this relationship with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the results remain contradictory. Our study employed a nested case–control design, involving 775 CRC cases matched with 775 cancer-free controls based on age, region of living and the time of blood sampling. The study was conducted within the Norwegian Women and Cancer post-genome cohort, which comprises approximately 50 000 women. We measured pre-diagnostic circulating plasma 25(OH)D status 5–13 years before diagnosis. Adjustment variables were based on self-administered questionnaires and included BMI, physical activity level, smoking, intake of processed meat, calcium, alcohol and fibre. An increase of 5 nmol/l in 25(OH)D reduced the risk of proximal colon cancer by 6 % (OR = 0·94, 95 % CI 0·89, 0·99). Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis revealed a 62 % increased risk among the women with 25(OH)D levels below 50 nmol/l compared with sufficient levels, ≥ 50 to < 75 nmol/l (OR = 1·62, 95 % CI 1·01, 2·61). No association was found with CRC, colon or distal colon cancer. We observed a subsite-specific association between 25(OH)D and CRC, highlighting the need for further investigation to elucidate the potential underlying mechanisms and clinical implications.
Quasilinear drift kinetic theory of alpha particle transport by neoclassical tearing modes
Authors: Tolman Elizabeth A. , Catto Peter J.
Published: January 2025

Kinetic theory of particles near resonances is a current topic of discussion in plasma physics and astrophysics. We extend this discussion to the kinetic theory of the interaction between alpha particles (energetic particles predicted to exist in large quantities in next-generation fusion experiments) and a neoclassical tearing mode (NTM), a resistively-driven perturbation which sometimes exists in a tokamak. We develop a quasilinear treatment of the interaction between alpha particles and an NTM, showing why an NTM can be a source of significant passing alpha particle transport in tokamaks. The limitations on quasilinear theory constrain our theory's applicability to small amplitude NTMs, highlighting the importance of nonlinear studies.
Human‐Induced Climate Change Intensifies Extreme Precipitation Events in Central China's Urban Areas
Authors: Chen Yufan , Zhang Shuyu , Wang Hong , Chen Deliang , Liu Junguo
Published: January 2025

Understanding the drivers behind extreme precipitation is crucial for predicting and mitigating the impacts of climate change globally, yet it remains little known how anthropogenic factors contribute to these phenomena. This study investigates the impact of human‐induced climate change on circulation patterns conducive to extreme precipitation over the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration in China, a region frequently experiencing severe flooding and home to a dense population with significant economic and agricultural activities. Using advanced techniques such as deep learning and optimal fingerprinting, this study identifies and analyzes the physical mechanisms behind the extreme precipitation. The findings reveal that greenhouse gas emissions play a pivotal role in altering atmospheric circulation patterns, specifically promoting the westward extension of western North Pacific subtropical high and northwestward shift of South Asian High, along with tropical cyclones. These changes enhance moisture transport and convective activity, leading to more frequent and intense precipitation events.
Resonant Scattering of Sub‐keV Electrons by Beam‐Driven Electron Cyclotron Harmonic Waves
Authors: Zhang Xu , Artemyev Anton , Angelopoulos Vassilis , Zhang Xiao‐Jia , Ma Qianli , An Xin , Jia Ying‐dong
Published: January 2025

Electron cyclotron harmonic waves (ECH) play a key role in scattering and precipitation of plasma sheet electrons. Previous analysis on the resonant interaction between ECH waves and electrons assumed that these waves are generated by a loss cone distribution and propagate nearly perpendicular to the background magnetic field. Recent spacecraft observations, however, have demonstrated that such waves can also be generated by low energy electron beams and propagate at moderately oblique angles . To quantify the effects of this newly observed ECH wave mode on electron dynamics in Earth's magnetosphere, we use quasi‐linear theory to calculate the associated electron pitch angle diffusion coefficient. Utilizing THEMIS spacecraft measurements, we analyze in detail a few representative events of beam‐driven ECH waves in the plasma sheet and the outer radiation belt. Based on the observed wave properties and the hot plasma dispersion relation of these waves, we calculate their bounce‐averaged pitch angle, momentum and mixed diffusion coefficients. We find that these waves most efficiently scatter low‐energy electrons (10–500 eV) toward larger pitch angles, on time scales of to seconds. In contrast, loss‐cone‐driven ECH waves most efficiently scatter higher‐energy electrons (500 eV–5 keV) toward lower pitch‐angles. Importantly, beam‐driven ECH waves can effectively scatter ionospheric electron outflows out of the loss cone near the magnetic equator. As a result, these outflows become trapped in the magnetosphere, forming a near‐field‐aligned anisotropic electron population. Our work highlights the importance of ECH waves, particularly beam‐driven modes, in regulating magnetosphere‐ionosphere particle and energy coupling.
A Durable Electron Density Profile Near the Inner Edge of the Io Torus
Authors: Kurth W. S. , Hospodarsky G. B. , Faden J. B. , Menietti J. D. , Sulaiman A. H. , Elliott S. S. , Bagenal F. , Nerney E. G. , Connerney J. E. P. , Allegrini F. , Bolton S. J.
Published: January 2025

The Juno Waves instrument can be used to accurately determine the electron density inside Io's orbit, the inner Io torus. These observations have revealed a local peak in the electron density just inside M = 5 and at centrifugal latitudes above about 10 that is likely the ’cold torus' as identified in Earth‐based observations of emissions. This peak or “finger” is separated from the more dense Io torus by a local minimum or ’trough’ at M 5. The electron densities are inferred by identifying characteristic frequencies of the plasma such as the low‐frequency cutoff of Z‐mode radiation at and the low‐frequency cutoff of ordinary mode radiation at that depend on the electron density. The “finger” density ranges from about 0.2 to 65 and decreases with increasing centrifugal latitude. The “trough” densities range from 0.05 to 10 . This pattern of a density “trough” followed by the “finger” closer to Jupiter is found on repeated passes through the inner Io torus over a range of centrifugal latitudes. Using a simple model for the electron densities measured above about 10 centrifugal latitude, we've estimated the scale height of the “finger” densities as about 1.17 with respect to the centrifugal equator, which is somewhat surprising given the expected cold temperature of the cold torus. The larger scale height suggests a population of light ions, such as protons, is elevated off the centrifugal equator. This is confirmed by a multi‐species diffusive equilibrium model.
The Retard‐Boost Effect of Fragmentation in Rock Avalanches
Authors: Jiang Hui , Feng Ye‐Nan , Zhou Yuan‐De , Wang Jin‐Ting , Du Xiu‐Li
Published: January 2025

This study presents a micro‐mechanical numerical investigation of the fundamental aspects of progressive fragmentation and its effects on rock avalanche dynamics. The simulations involve breakable rock assemblies that are released along an inclined plane and subsequently collide onto a horizontal surface. A discrete‐continuous numerical model is adopted to effectively capture progressive particle breakage and complex interparticle interactions. By incorporating variations in fracture mechanics parameters, the model systematically evaluates the influence of progressive grain fragmentation on rock avalanche dynamics. A multi‐layer analysis method and the interlayer transmitting coefficient are proposed to analyze the temporal and spatial kinematics, stress distribution and the ongoing particle size reduction process. The results indicate that grain fragmentation significantly influences rock avalanche motion, identified as the “retard‐boost” effect in this study. At low fragmentation degrees, densely packed rock particles exhibit an interlayer transmitting effect, with kinematic energy dissipation primarily resulting from grain breakage. Conversely, full mobilization of rock fragmentation from the base upwards enhances flow mobility by reducing basal friction through the agitation of fragments. The findings indicate a competition between positive feedback, which enhances rock avalanche mobility at high fragmentation levels, and negative feedback, which results in energy dissipation at low fragmentation levels, with the predominance of these effects varying according to the degree of fragmentation.
One-sided device-independent random number generation through fiber channels
Authors: Zhang Jinfang , Li Yi , Zhao Mengyu , Han Dongmei , Liu Jun , Wang Meihong , Gong Qihuang , Xiang Yu , He Qiongyi , Su Xiaolong
Published: January 2025

Randomness is an essential resource and plays important roles in various applications ranging from cryptography to simulation of complex systems. Certified randomness from quantum process is ensured to have the element of privacy but usually relies on the device’s behavior. To certify randomness without the characterization for device, it is crucial to realize the one-sided device-independent random number generation based on quantum steering, which guarantees security of randomness and relaxes the demands of one party’s device. Here, we distribute quantum steering between two distant users through a 2 km fiber channel and generate quantum random numbers at the remote station with untrustworthy device. We certify the steering-based randomness by reconstructing covariance matrix of the Gaussian entangled state shared between distant parties. Then, the quantum random numbers with a generation rate of 7.06 Mbits/s are extracted from the measured amplitude quadrature fluctuation of the state owned by the remote party. Our results demonstrate the first realization of steering-based random numbers extraction in a practical fiber channel, which paves the way to the quantum random numbers generation in asymmetric networks.
Beyond visible: giant bulk photovoltaic effect for broadband neuromodulation
Authors: Chai Xueping , Sun Zhipei
Published: January 2025

The giant bulk photovoltaic effect in tellurene nanomaterials has been harnessed to enable broadband infrared neuromodulation, expanding the potential for safe, non-invasive neural stimulation and highlighting the importance of material innovation in advancing infrared photonic applications.
High-integrated photonic tensor core utilizing high-dimensional lightwave and microwave multidomain multiplexing
Authors: Meng Xiangyan , Shi Nuannuan , Zhang Guojie , Li Junshen , Jin Ye , Sun Shiyou , Shen Yichen , Li Wei , Zhu Ninghua , Li Ming
Published: January 2025

The burgeoning volume of parameters in artificial neural network models has posed substantial challenges to conventional tensor computing hardware. Benefiting from the available optical multidimensional information entropy, optical intelligent computing is used as an alternative solution to address the emerging challenges of electrical computing. These limitations, in terms of device size and photonic integration scale, have hindered the performance of optical chips. Herein, an ultrahigh computing density optical tensor processing unit (OTPU), which is grounded in an individual microring resonator (MRR), is introduced to respond to these challenges. Through the independent tuning of multiwavelength lasers, the operational capabilities of an MRR are orchestrated, culminating in the formation of an optical tensor core. This design facilitates the execution of tensor convolution operations via the lightwave and microwave multidomain hybrid multiplexing in terms of the time, wavelength, and frequency of microwaves. The experimental results for the MRR-based OTPU show an extraordinary computing density of 34.04 TOPS/mm2. Additionally, the achieved accuracy rate in recognizing MNIST handwritten digits was 96.41%. These outcomes signify a significant advancement toward the realization of high-performance optical tensor processing chips.
Phasor-FSTM: a new paradigm for multicolor super-resolution imaging of living cells based on fluorescence modulation and lifetime multiplexing
Authors: Wang Luwei , Chen Yue , Guo Jiaqing , Weng Xiaoyu , Yan Wei , Song Jun , Ye Tong , Qu Junle
Published: January 2025

Multicolor microscopy and super-resolution optical microscopy are two widely used techniques that greatly enhance the ability to distinguish and resolve structures in cellular imaging. These methods have individually transformed cellular imaging by allowing detailed visualization of cellular and subcellular structures, as well as organelle interactions. However, integrating multicolor and super-resolution microscopy into a single method remains challenging due to issues like spectral overlap, crosstalk, photobleaching, phototoxicity, and technical complexity. These challenges arise from the conflicting requirements of using different fluorophores for multicolor labeling and fluorophores with specific properties for super-resolution imaging. We propose a novel multicolor super-resolution imaging method called phasor-based fluorescence spatiotemporal modulation (Phasor-FSTM). This method uses time-resolved detection to acquire spatiotemporal data from encoded photons, employs phasor analysis to simultaneously separate multiple components, and applies fluorescence modulation to create super-resolution images. Phasor-FSTM enables the identification of multiple structural components with greater spatial accuracy on an enhanced laser scanning confocal microscope using a single-wavelength laser. To demonstrate the capabilities of Phasor-FSTM, we performed two-color to four-color super-resolution imaging at a resolution of ~λ/5 and observed the interactions of organelles in live cells during continuous imaging for a duration of over 20 min. Our method stands out for its simplicity and adaptability, seamlessly fitting into existing laser scanning microscopes without requiring multiple laser lines for excitation, which also provides a new avenue for other super-resolution imaging technologies based on different principles to build multi-color imaging systems with the requirement of a lower budget.
The molecular reach of antibodies crucially underpins their viral neutralisation capacity
Authors: Huhn Anna , Nissley Daniel , Wilson Daniel B. , Kutuzov Mikhail A. , Donat Robert , Tan Tiong Kit , Zhang Ying , Barton Michael I. , Liu Chang , Dejnirattisai Wanwisa , Supasa Piyada , Mongkolsapaya Juthathip , Townsend Alain , James William , Screaton Gavin , van der Merwe P. Anton , Deane Charlotte M. , Isaacson Samuel A. , Dushek Omer
Published: January 2025

Key functions of antibodies, such as viral neutralisation, depend on high-affinity binding. However, viral neutralisation poorly correlates with antigen affinity for reasons that have been unclear. Here, we use a new mechanistic model of bivalent binding to study  >45 patient-isolated IgG1 antibodies interacting with SARS-CoV-2 RBD surfaces. The model provides the standard monovalent affinity/kinetics and new bivalent parameters, including the molecular reach: the maximum antigen separation enabling bivalent binding. We find large variations in these parameters across antibodies, including reach variations (22–46 nm) that exceed the physical antibody size (~15 nm). By using antigens of different physical sizes, we show that these large molecular reaches are the result of both the antibody and antigen sizes. Although viral neutralisation correlates poorly with affinity, a striking correlation is observed with molecular reach. Indeed, the molecular reach explains differences in neutralisation for antibodies binding with the same affinity to the same RBD-epitope. Thus, antibodies within an isotype class binding the same antigen can display differences in molecular reach, substantially modulating their binding and functional properties.
Global and regional perspectives on optimizing thermo-responsive dynamic windows for energy-efficient buildings
Authors: Gao Yuan , Jonsson Jacob C. , Curcija D. Charlie , Vidanovic Simon , Hong Tianzhen
Published: January 2025

Architectural thermo-responsive dynamic windows offer an autonomous solution for solar heat regulation, thereby reducing building energy consumption. Previous work has emphasized the significance of thermo-responsive windows in hot climates due to their role in solar heat control and subsequent energy conservation; conversely, our study provides a different perspective. Through a global-scale analysis, we explore over 100 material samples and execute more than 2.8 million simulations across over two thousand global locations. World heatmap results, derived from well-trained artificial neural network models, reveal that thermo-responsive windows are especially useful in climates where buildings demand both heating and cooling energy, whereas thermo-responsive windows with optimal transition temperatures show no dynamic features in most of low-latitude tropical regions. Additionally, this study provides a practical guideline and an open-source mapping tool to optimize the intrinsic properties of thermo-responsive materials and evaluate their energy performance for sustainable buildings at various geographical scales.