bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gynecomastia Surgery: Liposuction Alone versus Liposuction with Endoscope-Assisted Glandular Excision—A Comparative Study
Authors: Ali Sheikh Sarfraz , Ahmed Imran , Khurram Mohammed Fahud , Rehman Noha , Abhishek Rupraj
Published: January 2025

Background Gynecomastia, affecting around 30% of young males, has seen evolving surgical treatments, transitioning from traditional excision methods to contemporary techniques like liposuction. Emotional distress persists when glandular tissue is inadequately addressed, prompting exploration of combined liposuction and glandular excision procedures.

Materials and Methods Patients undergoing gynecomastia surgery over a period of 2 years were assessed, considering their demographics, medical history, and gynecomastia grade. Surgical procedures involved liposuction alone or with glandular excision. Endoscopy was used to assess the presence of fibroglandular tissue and the need for glandular excision. Postoperative assessments, clinical photography, and patient questionnaires spanned a 6-month follow-up.

Results Thirty-two breasts (17 in liposuction alone and 15 in liposuction with glandular excision groups) were included. Liposuction alone led to bruising and two hematomas, and “puffy nipples” necessitating one redo surgery. Glandular excision resulted in four cases of crater deformity and one case each of superficial skin necrosis, hematoma, and seroma. Cosmetic evaluations showed similar outcomes, with the liposuction alone group having higher redo surgery rates.

Conclusion This study finds that combining liposuction with glandular excision delivers comparable cosmetic results to liposuction alone for gynecomastia. Despite added complexity, the combined approach proves effective and helps in decision-making, emphasizing the need for tailored techniques and ongoing research to optimize treatment strategies.
Automated bail-in: eliminating regulatory restraints
Authors: Lendermann Urs B.
Published: January 2025

The Credit Suisse default in 2023 sparked considerable discourse about the absence of bank resolution procedures. Instead of resolution, public guarantees and unconventional emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) were provided. Of course, this occurred nearly two decades after the global financial crisis of 2007–2009, and evidently, there are still lessons to be learned. This study explores the bail-in tool and the total loss-absorbing capacity (TLAC) introduced by the G20 Financial Stability Board to eliminate the need for public bailouts of global systemically important banks in case of failure. Acknowledging the pragmatic standpoint, it is essential to recognise that banks hold divergent perspectives concerning their resolution planning while policymakers continue to grapple with the ‘too-big-to-fail’ dilemma without a discernible pathway for resolution. Thus, this study proposes contractual approaches to enhance the TLAC framework, incorporating a market-based trigger design. These improvements aim to create conditions that enable central banks to provide ELA, thereby averting systemic disruptions during a financial crisis.
Anomalous reflection of sound at a facet of a 4He quantum crystal
Authors: Tsymbalenko V. L.
Published: January 2025

It is shown that the mobility of elementary structural defects at a facet of a quantum crystal, viz., steps generated by Frank–Read sources, leads to a considerable variation of the reflection of ultrasound at the facet. It is proposed to use this effect for determining the parameters of the steps, i.e., their linear energy and mobility.
Discovery of high-energy continual radiation in cryocrystals of inert elements
Authors: Belov A. G. , Fugol’ I. Ya. , Yurtaeva E. M.
Published: January 2025

Cryocrystals of inert gases excited by electrons display a new type of radiation, viz., extended asymmetric continua whose maximum intensity lies above Eg. It is shown that the observed radiation corresponds to the earliest stages of energy relaxation of excitations. The significant role of the energy structure on the shape and position of the continua is revealed, and the mechanisms responsible for the formation of the observed radiation are considered.
Collapse of a transport current in hard superconductors
Authors: Baltaga I. V. , Makarov N. M. , Yampolskii V. A. , Fisher L. M. , Voloshin I. F.
Published: January 2025

A phenomenon of compression of a transport current I by an external ac magnetic field in hard superconductors being in the critical state is studied both theoretically and experimentally. This phenomenon occurs in a forceless configuration when the ac field and the transport current are parallel. The collapse takes place owing to forcing out the transport current by shielding currents flowing inside a surface region of a sample. Using the Hall probe we have directly observed such stratification of the currents with different orientations. The transport current tube contracts to the sample axis as the ac amplitude increases and occupies the whole sample core at some threshold amplitude Ht. As a result, the superconductor goes to the resistive state. A dependence of Ht on I is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally. It is shown, that the collapse in superconducting rings is accompanied by complex relaxation processes. The mechanism of decay of the circular current in rings under the action of an ac signal is investigated in detail. An application of the collapse to test the homogeneity of the critical current capability of superconductors is discussed.
Fourth sound in the relativistic theory of superfluidity
Authors: Vil’chinskiĭ S. I. , Fomin P. I.
Published: January 2025

The propagation of fourth sound waves in relativistic superfluid systems is investigated. Equations describing the propagation of fourth sound are derived in Lorentz-covariant form, and its velocity is evaluated. The nature of the oscillations in the generated acoustic mode is determined.
Properties of paramagnetic ions Co2+, Ni2+, and Fe2+ in the matrix FeSiF6·6H2O according to EPR data in static and pulsed magnetic fields. Effect of bulk compression
Authors: Krygin I. M. , Lukin S. N. , Neilo G. N. , Prokhorov A. D.
Published: January 2025

The properties of the ground states of impurity ions Co2+ and Ni2+ and the matrix ion Fe2+ in ferrous fluosilicate are investigated. Six inequivalent centers observed in the low-symmetry phase of the crystal correspond to three domains. The angle between the axis C3 of the crystal and the quantization axis Z for the ion Co2+ (3.6°) is close to a similar angle for the matrix ion Fe2+ (4°), while the corresponding angle for Ni2+ (1.7°) differs significantly. Experiments carried out under high pressure show that the sign of the initial splitting of the spin multiplet for Fe2+ changes in the high-pressure phase, and the ground state corresponds to the magnetic doublet |±2⟩ with g = 2.35. It is shown that relaxation processes occur in ferrous fluosilicate predominantly through the interaction with Fe2+ ions involving their excited states and are much more efficient than intrinsic relaxation of impurity ions.
Nonequilibrium phase transition in KEr(MoO4)2
Authors: Kut’ko V. I. , Kobets M. I.
Published: January 2025

The relaxation absorption of microwave power in KEr(MoO4)2 is measured in the critical region of the structural phase transition of the type of cooperative Jahn–Teller effect induced by an external magnetic field for varying microwave power. The observed peculiarity in the behavior of the relaxation peak is of threshold nature with respect to microwave pumping power. The obtained results are interpreted as a nonequilibrium phase transition induced by the microwave field and accompanied by the formation of a coherent structure at phonons.
Structure and properties of the atomic solid phase of solid nitrogen. A comparison of theory with computer experiment
Authors: Yakub L. N.
Published: January 2025

The results of calculation of the distribution function and thermodynamic properties of crystalline nitrogen in the atomic phase are analyzed and compared on the basis of the statistical theory and the Monte Carlo method for a certain potential model. It is shown that for densities typical of the crystalline phase, the theory gives good quantitative results both for pressure and for internal energy even in the first approximation.
FPGA acceleration of tensor network computing for quantum spin models
Authors: Liang Yang , Lv Songtai , Tang Zhexuan , Zhou Liguo , Zheng Qibin , Zou Haiyuan
Published: January 2025

Increasing the degree of freedom for quantum entanglement within tensor networks can enhance the depiction of the essence in many-body systems. However, this enhancement comes with a significant increase in computational complexity and critical slowing down, which drastically increases time consumption. This work converts a quantum tensor network algorithm into a classical circuit on the Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and arranges the computing unit with a dense parallel design, efficiently optimizing the time consumption. Test results show that the FPGA-based design achieves a computational speed 1.7 times greater than that of the central processing unit and is comparable to the graphics processing unit. This work explores a scalable and reusable approach suitable for parallel tensor operations implemented on FPGA, advancing research in quantum physics for many-body computing and quantum technologies.
A variance reduction technique for Monte Carlo simulations of electrons and ions in electric and magnetic fields
Authors: Vialetto Luca , Ancona Elena , Longo Savino
Published: January 2025

A computationally efficient variance reduction technique for Monte Carlo simulations of electrons and ions in weakly ionized gases is proposed. The transport of charged particles under electric and magnetic fields is expressed as a discrete-time Markov process in a grid. This results in a significant reduction of the computational time and statistical fluctuations of the computed velocity distribution functions (VDFs). The results are presented for a model gas and different values of the Hall parameter. The method is then applied to simulations of electrons in D2 and H+ ions in H2 using state-of-the-art cross sections and different values of externally applied electric and magnetic fields. It is shown that this approach allows one to study the combined effects of electric and magnetic fields on charged particles transport in a notably simple way, without employing a spherical harmonic expansion of the VDF.
A glovebox-integrated confocal microscope for quantum sensing in inert atmosphere
Authors: Volkova Kseniia , Kumar Abhijeet M. , Bolotin Kirill , Naydenov Boris
Published: January 2025

Confocal microscopy is an invaluable tool for studying fluorescent materials and finds a wide application in biology and in quantum sensing. Usually, these experiments are performed under ambient conditions, but many materials are air sensitive (for example, black phosphorus) and degrade quickly under the strong laser irradiance. Here, we present a glovebox-integrated confocal microscope designed for nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center-based nano-scale sensing and NMR spectroscopy in an inert gas atmosphere. Using black phosphorus as a test material, we confirm that the glovebox maintains low oxygen levels and prevents material degradation during laser exposure. We demonstrate the setup’s capabilities through experiments that show NV center detection and spin manipulation under a black phosphorus flake. This custom-built system enables the study of air-sensitive materials and opens new perspectives for exploring surface chemistry in a controlled environment. Our work outlines both the strengths and the challenges of using a glovebox-integrated confocal microscope for quantum technology applications.
How to correct Ehrenfest nonadiabatic dynamics in open quantum systems: Ehrenfest plus random force (E + σ) dynamics
Authors: Chen Jingqi , Lee Joonho , Dou Wenjie
Published: January 2025

One key challenge in the study of nonadiabatic dynamics in open quantum systems is to balance computational efficiency and accuracy. Although Ehrenfest dynamics (ED) is computationally efficient and well-suited for large complex systems, ED often yields inaccurate results. To address these limitations, we improve the accuracy of the traditional ED by adding a random force (E + σ). In this work, the construction of random forces is considered in Markovian and non-Markovian scenarios, and we ensure the dynamics satisfy the detailed balance in both scenarios. By comparing our E + σ with existing methods such as the electronic friction model and surface hopping, we furthermore validate its reliability. In addition, the E + σ model still retains the high efficiency of ED and does not incur much additional computation. We believe that this method provides an alternative to accurately describe the mixed quantum–classical dynamics in open quantum systems, particularly for large complex systems.
Sediment effects on interstitial faunal distribution in Brazilian sandy beaches: a multi-phylum approach
Authors: Cortez Thainá , Marangoni Giulia , Andrade Sónia Cristina da Silva , Di Domenico Maikon
Published: January 2025

Context In sandy beaches, the interstitial system, i.e. spaces among sand grains, forms a habitat that supports a diversity of microorganisms, as meiofauna. The interstitial fauna exhibits wide richness and diversity. Sediment-specific impacts on these communities remain understudied from a broader perspective. Aims To describe the interstitial fauna by using a multi-phylum approach and to explore the influence of variations in sediment characteristics at both mesoscale (within a beach) and macroscale (among beaches). Methods We sampled 10 sandy beaches, performed granulometric analyses, and searched for potential associations between community assemblages and sediment characteristics. Key results Eight phyla were identified, exhibiting a patchy distribution pattern at the mesoscale. Coarse-, medium- and fine-sediment assemblages differed significantly. At the macroscale, phylum preference for sediment type (coarse, medium and fine) was observed, where annelids, flatworms and nemerteans were abundant in the coarse sediment, and nematodes in the fine sediment. Conclusions Sediment, along with other ecological factors, plays a role in determining the richness of interstitial assemblages. Not only grain size, but also sorting degree and skewness notably influence the abundance of interstitial communities. Implications Ecological studies of interstitial fauna from a broader perspective offer a more comprehensive understanding of interstitial communities and provide valuable insights into habitat preferences.
Light signal regulates endoreduplication and tomato fruit expansion through the SlPIF1a-SlTLFP8-SlCDKB2 module
Authors: Zhang Jiaojiao , Xu Jiayi , Wang Xinman , Liu Ying , Li Shuangtao , Zhang Jialong , He Lingfeng , Guo Luqin , Li Chonghua , Li Xin-Xu , Guo Yang-Dong , Zhang Na
Published: January 2025

Light serves as an energy source for cell division and expansion during fruit development. Cell expansion significantly influences fruit size and is closely linked to endoreduplication, a unique cell cycle variation characterized by DNA replication without cytokinesis. Paradoxically, under conditions of ample photosynthates, light signaling suppresses cell expansion. The intricate regulation of endoreduplication in response to light signaling during fruit development has remained an intriguing question. Here, our study revealed that Tubby-like F-box protein 8 (SlTLFP8) orchestrated endoreduplication to facilitate fruit cell expansion. As an Skp1-Cullin-F-box (SCF)-type E3 ligase, SlTLFP8 promoted the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE B2 (SlCDKB2), thereby elevating DNA ploidy. The light signaling component PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 1a (SlPIF1a), identified as a pivotal negative regulator in the plant’s light response, was found to directly interact with the promoter of the
SlTLFP8
gene, thereby stimulating its transcriptional activation. Indeed, SlPIF1a contributed to a faster expansion rate of tomato fruit during nighttime. Altogether, our results elucidate the connection between light signals and fruit size regulation through endoreduplication.
The LIM-domain-only protein LMO2 and its binding partner LDB1 are differentially required for class switch recombination
Authors: Yang Beibei , Guo Yao , Liu Lilong , Huang Ting , Zhao Bo , Bai Wanyu , Zhang Guigen , Zhu Chengming , Dong Junchao
Published: January 2025

The LIM-domain-only protein LMO2 interacts with LDB1 in context-dependent multiprotein complexes and plays key roles in erythropoiesis and T cell leukemogenesis, but whether they have any roles in B cells is unclear. Through a CRISPR/Cas9-based loss-of-function screening, we identified LMO2 and LDB1 as factors for class switch recombination (CSR) in murine B cells. LMO2 contributes to CSR at least in part by promoting end joining of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and inhibiting end resection. Although LDB1 stabilizes LMO2 proteins, it is not required for end joining but functions as a positive regulator of AID transcription independent of LMO2, and this function of LDB1 requires its dimerization domain. Moreover, LDB1 directly binds to and promotes the looping of the AID promoter to upstream enhancers through dimerization. Our study revealed the mechanistically separated roles of LMO2 and LDB1 in different steps of CSR for antibody diversification.
Metabolic activity controls the emergence of coherent flows in microbial suspensions
Authors: Fragkopoulos Alexandros A. , Böhme Florian , Drewes Nicole , Bäumchen Oliver
Published: January 2025

Photosynthetic microbes have evolved and successfully adapted to the ever-changing environmental conditions in complex microhabitats throughout almost all ecosystems on Earth. In the absence of light, they can sustain their biological functionalities through aerobic respiration, and even in anoxic conditions through anaerobic metabolic activity. For a suspension of photosynthetic microbes in an anaerobic environment, individual cellular motility is directly controlled by its photosynthetic activity, i.e. the intensity of the incident light absorbed by chlorophyll. The effects of the metabolic activity on the collective motility on the population level, however, remain elusive so far. Here, we demonstrate that at high light intensities, a suspension of photosynthetically active microbes exhibits a stable reverse sedimentation profile of the cell density due to the microbes’ natural bias to move against gravity. With decreasing photosynthetic activity, and therefore suppressed individual motility, the living suspension becomes unstable giving rise to coherent bioconvective flows. The collective motility is fully reversible and manifests as regular, three-dimensional plume structures, in which flow rates and cell distributions are directly controlled via the light intensity. The coherent flows emerge in the highly unfavorable condition of lacking both light and oxygen and, thus, might help the microbial collective to expand the exploration of their natural habitat in search for better survival conditions.
The discursive representation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Austrian news coverage:
2010–2015–2020
Authors: Goldberger Marie-Antoinette , Janík Miroslav
Published: January 2025

is paper traces the terminological shifts in the media representation of immigrants from 2010 to 2020. Using a
corpus-based approach to Critical Discourse Analysis, we examine the terms “migrant(s),” “refugee(s),” and “asylum seeker(s)” in
the Austrian daily newspaper Der Standard during the refugee crisis (2015) and five years before (2010) and after
(2020). Our research, which employs collocation analysis complemented by critical discourse analysis, reveals significant shifts
in the connotations of all three terms. The notion of “migrant” evolves from a positive and individualizing portrayal in 2010 to a
more negative, stereotypical one by 2020. Conversely, “asylum seekers” shift from being viewed with suspicion in 2010 to being
recognized as legitimate beneficiaries of protection in 2020. Only “refugees” remain relatively featureless. We interpret these
changes as a reflection of the balancing act between the left-liberal stance of Der Standard and the rising
right-wing extremism in society.
The metapragmatic act of debating in the media
Authors: Jacobsen Ronald R.
Published: January 2025

The aim of this paper is to lay the theoretical foundation of the metapragmatic act of debating, and to present
evidence that it provides a better approach to mediated debate than existing theoretical notions of metapragmatic acts and
intertextuality in the media. To achieve this goal, it contrasts its notion with Bublitz’
(2015) metapragmatic act of quoting, and analyses a simple and a complex exchange from the First 2004 US presidential
debate. The theory proposed and data analyzed suggest two things: (1) that the metapragmatic act of debating is best conceived of
as a combination of Caffi’s (2006) third sense of metapragmatics and Mey’s (2001) notion of pragmatic act, (2) operationalizing the theoretical notion of a
metapragmatic act means adapting it to a specific context, for example, there is no such thing as a general metapragmatic act.
A hydrostatic comparator for the density determination of solid objects
Authors: McLinden Mark O , Bernardini Luca , Richter Markus
Published: January 2025

We describe a hydrostatic comparator optimized for the determination of the density (or equivalently volume) of the sinkers used in magnetic suspension densimeters. The hydrostatic comparator is a modification of the traditional hydrostatic weighing technique for the determination of the density of solid objects: by weighing a density standard as well as the unknown object (with both immersed in a fluid) the density information of the standard is transferred to the unknown, and the density of the hydrostatic bath fluid need not be known. Our instrument makes use of two density standards of single-crystal silicon and a high-density, fluorinated-ether bath fluid; it can weigh objects as large as 100 g four-at-a-time (one or more standards and up to three unknowns). We discuss weighing designs and demonstrate a new method that employs an additional standard to eliminate the need for the usual empty-pan weighings. Uncertainties are reduced by the use of compensation and sensitivity masses. As a demonstration of the instrument’s capabilities, results are presented for a set of 12 objects with masses from 33 g to 99 g and densities from 2.33 g⋅cm–3–16.7 g⋅cm–3. The expanded (k = 2) uncertainty in volume averaged 0.000 041 cm–3, with relative uncertainties ranging from 1.1 × 10–6 for a 99 g/42.3 cm3 silicon object to 7.5 × 10–6 for a 60 g/7.5 cm3 gold-plated stainless steel object.
An overview of the CMS High-Granularity Calorimeter
Authors: Amendola Chiara ,   the CMS collaboration
Published: January 2025

Calorimetry at the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) faces many challenges, particularly in the
forward direction, such as radiation tolerance and large in-time event pileup. To meet these
challenges, the CMS Collaboration is preparing to replace its current endcap calorimeters for the
HL-LHC era with a High-Granularity Calorimeter (HGCAL), featuring an unprecedented transverse and
longitudinal segmentation, for both the electromagnetic and hadronic sectors, with 5D information
(space-time-energy) read out. The proposed design uses silicon sensors for the electromagnetic
section and high-irradiation regions of the hadronic section, while in the low-irradiation regions
of the hadronic section plastic scintillator tiles equipped with on-tile silicon photomultipliers
(SiPMs) are used. The full HGCAL will have approximately 6 million silicon sensor channels and
about 240 thousand channels of scintillator tiles. This will facilitate particle-flow-type
calorimetry, where the fine structure of showers can be measured and used to enhance particle
identification, energy resolution and pileup rejection.
Study on the relation between magnetic field gradient and operating range of flow rate for Hall thrusters
Authors: Zhong Chao , Li Hong , Hu Shuo , Yu Daren
Published: January 2025

The development of all-electric low-orbit satellite constellations requires a wide thrust output from low-power Hall thrusters to satisfy the power requirements of orbit elevation, position maintenance, maneuvering, and deorbiting. Adjusting the thrust of a Hall thruster is most effectively achieved by flow rate manipulation. However, the efficiency at low flow rates decreases rapidly due to the deterioration of ionization, particularly evident in small thrusters. At present, the research of broadening the operational range of flow rate focuses on changing the density and distribution of neutral atoms. Although magnetic fields are widely used to optimize Hall thrusters, it is rarely used in wide-range variable flow conditions. In this study, we investigate the influence of magnetic field gradient on the flow-rate range experimentally, and the experimental results are explained by theoretical deduction. These conclusions provide guidance and a theoretical basis for designing high-performance Hall thruster with a wide-range Hall thruster.
Seismic resilience and energy optimization of educational RC buildings using BIM: a sustainable design approach
Authors: Pandimani  , P Bilgates , Y Raviteja , Akhil P D V S , Y Sowmya
Published: January 2025

Building information modeling (BIM) allows structures to be digitally designed and visualized before physical construction begins, effectively addressing and eliminating many inefficiencies and issues that typically arise during the construction process. This research evaluates the seismic design and energy consumption of Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings using different BIM tools. The impact of different building configurations (including window-wall ratio, shading, and automation sensor effects) and orientation on the electrical energy consumption are evaluated. Integrating these factors into energy analysis can enhance conceptual design, leading to better environmental effectiveness and aiding in the achievement of environmental sustainability goals. The study determined that aligning the building at true north (zero degrees), using two-thirds window shade height, maintaining a 0% window-wall ratio, and integrating day-lighting and occupancy sensors resulted in the most effective energy optimization outcomes. Optimization resulted in a reduction of overall energy consumption from 975 MJ/m2/year to 729 MJ/m2/year, demonstrating that the BIM model is 25% more efficient than the actual building envelope. The sustainable design alternative achieves a 36.84% savings in lifecycle energy costs. The findings accentuate the need for adopting passive designs to improve energy efficiency, cost, and sustainability.
Personal Advice
Authors: Jonas Monique
Published: January 2025

Although the norms of advice apply across the board, their demands are context sensitive. This chapter examines the ethics of advising outside of professional exchanges. Drawing on the concept of role obligations, the ethical contours of advising strangers are traced. It is concluded that there are ways in which strangers can be better placed to advise than friends and family, if the role of ‘facework’ in upholding an advisee’s standing is attended to. However, we generally regard close friends and family as the proper people to deliver challenging advice. A case provides a basis for assessing when unwelcome advice should be given despite predicted resentment and likely futility. The chapter culminates in a summary of principles about when advice should be given or withheld in personal contexts.
What Makes Representational Painting Truly Visual? (2003)
Authors: Wollheim Richard
Published: January 2025

A response to Robert Hopkins, in a Session on pictorial representation and published in the Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society of 2003. Hopkins defends a sophisticated variant of the view that Wollheim’s ‘seeing-in’ can be cashed out as ‘experienced resemblance’. In part, Wollheim reacts as he did previously, arguing that Hopkins has a predilection for linear as opposed to painterly styles. In addition, to have the appropriate experience, Hopkins’s view wrongly entails that ‘it is not necessary to have any kind of experience’ of the represented object. Moreover, his view suggests that each represented component can be ‘localized’; but not all can be, as when a picture, for example, depicts the aftermath of a storm. Wollheim closes with some fresh remarks in connection with Kendall Walton’s ‘Make-Believe’ theory of depiction.
In Defense of Seeing-In (2003)
Authors: Wollheim Richard
Published: January 2025

This is a good recommendation for introducing students to Wollheim’s theory of pictorial representation. He concisely explains ‘seeing-in’, arguing that this capacity plausibly predates representation, and goes on to discuss its relation to twofoldness and the role of the artist’s intention in fixing what can correctly be seen in a picture, as opposed (for instance) to the mere seeing of things in a stained wall. He rather soft-pedals the appeal to what elsewhere he terms ‘prompting’, but takes pains to establish limits to the role of cognition: a picture cannot represent what cannot be seen in it. All of this is done briefly but in an unfussy way with examples. In the closing section, he observes that attempts to explain depiction in terms of objective properties of surfaces, and types of thing, run up against the sheer diversity of representation.
Style Now (1975)
Authors: Wollheim Richard
Published: January 2025

What is the importance of a style? Wollheim begins by considering and rejecting the view of Weitz (1916–1981), and takes more pains with that of Gombrich (1909–2001), but he rejects it all the same. The right account of style is to conceive of it as deeply analogous to Chomsky’s idea of transformational grammar, which operates on the basic lexicon—the ‘deep grammar’ as Chomsky termed it—to produce surface structures, the purposes of which can be thought of as close to ordinary sentences. If we read something like ‘primordial content’ for ‘deep structure’ and the ‘the physical work of art’ for ‘sentence’, we can get a rough idea of the analogy. This would explain the reaction—which Wollheim goes to some length to explain and justify—to a painting produced by a ‘non-painter’, i.e. the one-off product by some person or animal that happens to be indistinguishable from the product of some master: One cannot rate it, one cannot say with any precision what it expresses. What is missing is a style, a grammar under which it was produced. Style turns out to be essentially psychological, not sociological.
A Note on Mimesis as Make-Believe (1991)
Authors: Wollheim Richard
Published: January 2025

This article reviews the book Mimesis as Make-Believe (1990) by Kendall Walton. In his discussion on Seurat’s La Grande Jatte (1884), Walton explains how such fictional truth works: the very dabs of the brush highlight the material quality of the painting without preventing us from imagining the couple strolling in the park. In other words, the textures, colours—that is, the material qualities of paintings—act as props to create illusionary reality, or ‘fictional truths’. Richard Wollheim praises the book: ‘[I] t is important, it is interesting, and it is ambitious.’ But here he wants to discuss his almost two-decade disagreement with Walton on the nature of pictorial representation—disagreement that is nevertheless spawned by a shared belief that paintings fundamentally have representational contents or meaning. According to Wollheim, for Walton a picture ‘represents what occurs or is fictional in those games of make-believe or coordinated imagination which it is the function of the picture to prescribe’. Wollheim finds fault with this, partly for relatively complex internal reasons, but chiefly because his own view is simpler and plainly intuitive by comparison.
Berlioz and the Aesthetics of Sacred Music
Authors: Walker Jennifer
Published: January 2025

Berlioz spilled a considerable amount of ink throughout his career in the process of crafting an aesthetic of sacred music. Given the often contrary history of sacred music in France following the French Revolution of 1789 and the closure of church choir schools in 1791, musicians such as Berlioz found themselves neither within the official Catholic structure in which to develop an aesthetic of sacred music nor a part of an institution that taught its composition. Berlioz was thus free to form an original aesthetic of sacred music-despite his distaste for the term "aesthetics." This chapter focuses on the state of sacred music in France during the early decades of the nineteenth century in order to provide the backdrop for the composition of the Requiem and reveals how the work may be heard as the culmination of what Berlioz saw to be the resuscitation and transformation of a dying art form.
Institutional actors and the survival of international organizations
Authors: Dijkstra Hylke , von Allwörden Laura , Schütte Leonard , Zaccaria Giuseppe
Published: January 2025

This chapter provides the theoretical framework to address the research question of why the institutional actors of international organizations (IOs) respond differently to existential challenges. It starts by discussing the different types of existential challenges that IOs may face: direct challenges by powerful states and indirect challenges through competing institutions. The chapter notes that IOs are purposeful actors that can strategically adapt or try to resist such existential challenges. They can do so through behavioural and discursive responses. The chapter points out that institutional actors within IOs play a key role in this regard. The chapter puts forward two propositions. First, it proposes that institutional actors tailor their responses to the different types of existential challenges. Second, it proposes that the ability of institutional actors to strategically respond varies depending on their leadership, organizational structure, formal competences, and external network. The chapter concludes by discussing the potential outcomes for IOs.
Climate and Energy
Authors: Dijkstra Hylke , von Allwörden Laura , Schütte Leonard , Zaccaria Giuseppe
Published: January 2025

This chapter analyses two case studies of the responses of institutional actors in international organizations (IOs) to existential challenges in the field of climate and energy. This chapter starts by studying the existential challenge that the Trump administration posed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Rather than responding publicly, the UNFCCC Secretariat set out to prevent further withdrawals by activating its large external network in support for climate action. The second case study concerns the challenge to the International Energy Agency (IEA) posed by the newly created International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The IEA had long been accused of not doing enough in terms of energy transition and was also criticized for its exclusive membership. It took a while for the IEA to respond. Only with the arrival of a new Executive Director, the IEA adapted itself.
Security and Defence
Authors: Dijkstra Hylke , von Allwörden Laura , Schütte Leonard , Zaccaria Giuseppe
Published: January 2025

This chapter examines two case studies of the responses of institutional actors in international organizations (IOs) to existential challenges in security and defence. The first case study is about the Trump administration contesting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by demanding that other allies share a larger part of the burden and that the Alliance would adopt a different stance on Russia. The chapter highlights that NATO international actors proactively responded by placating Trump in public and leveraging him to get other allies to increase their commitments. Yet they resisted Trump’s demands on Russia and circumvented the President by working directly with more like-minded U.S. institutions. The second case study concerns the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which faced challenges from competing security institutions, notably the European Union (EU) and whose mandate was simultaneously undermined by Russia under President Putin. The OSCE failed to adequately respond.
Sustainability
Authors: Ali Saleem H.
Published: January 2025

Sustainability: A Very Short Introduction explores the concept of sustainability and its development. The growing concern about global environmental change and human impacts on the planet has led to the emergence of a broad field of study on the sustainability of human societies. The VSI then highlights the key concepts crucial to sustainability, such as the material and energy flows in consumption and production and the technological interventions for a sustainable society. Some of the important concepts include tipping points, resilience in natural and social systems, and renewability and circularity in the economy. The VSI also discusses the political means of managing anthropogenic change for a more sustainable society.
Editome Disease Knowledgebase v2.0: an updated resource of editome–disease associations through literature curation and integrative analysis
Authors: Zhu Tongtong , Chu Yuan , Niu Guangyi , Pan Rong , Chen Ming , Cheng Yuanyuan , Zhang Yuansheng , Li Zhao , Jiang Shuai , Hao Lili , Zou Dong , Xu Tianyi , Zhang Zhang
Published: January 2025

Motivation

Editome Disease Knowledgebase (EDK) is a curated resource of knowledge between RNA editome and human diseases. Since its first release in 2018, a number of studies have discovered previously uncharacterized editome–disease associations and generated an abundance of RNA editing datasets. Thus, it is desirable to make significant updates for EDK by incorporating more editome–disease associations as well as their related editing profiles.

Results

Here, we present EDK v2.0, an updated version of editome–disease associations based on both literature curation and integrative analysis. EDK v2.0 incorporates a curated collection of 1097 editome–disease associations involving 115 diseases from 321 publications. Meanwhile, based on a standardized pipeline, EDK v2.0 provides RNA editing profiles from 48 datasets covering 2536 samples across 55 diseases. Through differential analysis on RNA editing, it further identifies a total of 7190 differential edited genes and 86 242 differential editing sites (DESs), leading to 266 339 DES–disease associations. Moreover, a curated list of 28 160 cis-RNA editing QTL associations, 458 187 DES–RNA binding protein associations, and 21 DES–RNA secondary structure associations are annotated and added to EDK v2.0. Additionally, it is equipped with a series of user-friendly tools to facilitate RNA editing online analysis.

Availability and implementation

https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/edk/.
Social relations, social positioning theory and Marx
Authors: Lawson Tony
Published: January 2025

Aspects of social positioning theory and central features of Marx’s general ontological, and specifically social relational, presuppositions are compared and found to be rather similar. Furthermore, various long-standing debates and puzzles surrounding Marx’s ontological assessments and preconceptions are seen to be reasonably easily resolved if we view Marx as everywhere drawing on a social relational framework along the lines of a social positioning conception.
The use of simulations in economic cybersecurity decision-making
Authors: Kianpour Mazaher , Franke Ulrik
Published: January 2025

This paper presents an in-depth examination of the use of simulations in economic cybersecurity decision-making, highlighting the dual nature of their potential and the challenges they present. Drawing on examples from existing studies, we explore the role of simulations in generating new knowledge about probabilities and consequences in the cybersecurity domain, which is essential in understanding and managing risk and uncertainty. Additionally, we introduce the concepts of “bookkeeping” and “abstraction” within the context of simulations, discussing how they can sometimes fail and exploring the underlying reasons for their failures. This discussion leads us to suggest a framework of considerations for effectively utilizing simulations in cybersecurity. This framework is designed not as a rigid checklist but as a guide for critical thinking and evaluation, aiding users in assessing the suitability and reliability of a simulation model for a particular decision-making context. Future work should focus on applying this framework in real-world settings, continuously refining the use of simulations to ensure they remain effective and relevant in the dynamic field of cybersecurity.
The effect of increased vascular afterload measures on flow rate and survival in severe aortic stenosis
Authors: Hungerford Sara L , Song Ning , Loo Brandon , Sritharan Hari , Rye Eleanor , Everett Kay , Jabbour Andrew , Hayward Christopher , Kapur Navin K , Muller David W M , Adji Audrey I
Published: January 2025

Aims

Although an association between the systemic circulation and transaortic flow rate (TFR) is frequently hypothesized in patients with aortic stenosis (AS), it has not been demonstrated previously. We sought to explore the relationship between blood pressure (BP), vascular afterload measures, clinical history of hypertension, TFR, and survival in patients with severe AS (aortic valve area ≤ 1 cm²).

Methods and results

We studied 323 patients ≥ 65 years (110 prospective, 213 registry analysis) who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement over a 5-year period. Aortic flow was obtained by Doppler echocardiography, with TFR calculated using a mathematical derivation method. A BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg and/or mean arterial pressure ≥ 90 mmHg was considered hypertensive. Simultaneous pressure–flow analysis demonstrated that higher systolic BP (ß −0.545; P = 0.01†), pulse pressure (ß −0.545; P = 0.01†), vascular resistance (ß −0.02; P = 0.041), characteristic impedance (ß −0.27; P = 0.01), and lower arterial compliance (ß 32.73; P < 0.001†) were associated with reduced TFR in linear regression. In registry analysis, TFR was lower in those with a history of hypertension (223 ± 67 vs. 244 ± 77 mL/s; r −0.138; P = 0.045), coronary artery disease (CAD, P < 0.01), dialysis dependency (P < 0.01), and with increased anti-hypertensive medication use (P = 0.04), of which CAD (ß −28.5; P = 0.08†) and dialysis dependency (ß −68.5; P = 0.04†) remained significant in linear regression. A TFR ≤ 210 mL/s in normotensive patients was the strongest predictor of mortality (73.3% vs. 86.7%; P = 0.043; † denotes adjusted).

Conclusion

Elevated vascular afterload measures and comorbidities linked to arteriosclerosis and/or degenerative aortic stiffening independently reduce flow rates in severe AS. A TFR ≤ 210 mL/s predicts mortality but improves with BP assessment during evaluation.
Arterial stiffness mediates insulin resistance-related risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a real-life, prospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Zhaogui , Lan Yulong , Wu Dan , Chen Shuohua , Jiao Rong , Wu Shouling
Published: January 2025

Background

The precise pathways connecting insulin resistance (IR) to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remain undefined. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of arterial stiffness in the association between IR and ASCVD, providing epidemiology insights into the potential mechanisms driving IR to incident ASCVD.

Methods

A total of 59,777 participants from the Kailuan Study Arterial Stiffness Subcohort who were free of ASCVD at baseline were enrolled in the present study. Arterial stiffness was assessed using baPWV and IR was assessed by triglyceride glucose index (TyG) or metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR). Mediation analysis was adopted to explore the mediating effects of baPWV on the associations between IR and ASCVD and its subtypes.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 5.97 years, a total of 2073 cases of ASCVD were identified, with 478 cases of coronary heart disease (CHD) and 1636 cases of ischemic stroke. Mediation analyses revealed that 11.1% of the total association (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.30) between the TyG index and ASCVD was mediated through baPWV. Specifically, 6.58% and 14.0% of the total associations of the TyG index with CHD and ischemic stroke, respectively, were mediated through baPWV. Similar patterns were observed for METS-IR. These results remained consistent when assessed through causal mediation analysis, time-lagged mediation analysis, and various sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

The association between IR indices and ASCVD was found to be partly mediated by baPWV, indicating a pathway connecting IR to ASCVD outcomes and the potential for interventions targeting arterial stiffness for ASCVD prevention.
High prevalence of unrecognized chronic kidney disease in the Lolland-Falster Health Study: a population-based study in a rural provincial area of Denmark
Authors: Mannheimer Ebba , Buus Jørgensen Morten , Hommel Kristine , Kamper Anne-Lise , Jepsen Randi , Rasmussen Knud , Thygesen Lau Caspar , Feldt-Rasmussen Bo , Hornum Mads
Published: January 2025

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10–15% globally and is a marked independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Prevalence estimations are essential for public health planning and implementation of CKD treatment strategies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and stages of CKD in the population-based Lolland-Falster Health Study, set in a rural provincial area with the lowest socioeconomic status in Denmark. Additionally, the study characterized participants with CKD, evaluated the overall disease recognition, including the awareness of CKD and compared it with other common conditions. Cross-sectional data were obtained from clinical examinations, biochemical analyses, and questionnaires. CKD was defined as albuminuria (urine albumin–creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m², or by a diagnosis in the National Patient Register. Patient awareness was assessed by self-reported CKD, and overall disease recognition by either a registered hospital diagnosis or self-reported CKD. Among 16 097 adults (median age 58.6 years), CKD prevalence was 18.0% (n = 2903), with 70.1% identified by albuminuria, 28.4% by reduced eGFR, and 1.5% by a registered diagnosis alone. Of those with CKD, 98.8% had stages 1–3 (eGFR ≥30 ml/min/1.73 m²), and 1.2% had stages 4–5 (eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m²). Female sex, comorbidities, smoking, and low socioeconomic parameters were independently associated with CKD. Patient awareness of CKD was 4.4%, compared to >50% for hypertension and >80% for diabetes, and the overall CKD recognition (self-reported or registered diagnosis) was 7.1%. Thus, in this population-based study, CKD was highly prevalent but poorly recognized, indicating great potential for preventing CKD progression and related complications.