bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-mode trade policy retaliation
Authors: Feinberg Robert M. , Nes Kjersti , Reynolds Kara M. , Schaefer Aleks
Published: November 2024

Previous studies have found evidence that countries may choose to retaliate against countries for certain trade actions. What has not been empirically examined is the use of multi-modal retaliation in trade policy. Using an exporter-importer-sector panel of antidumping (AD), sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS), and technical barriers to trade (TBT) actions between 1995 and 2019, we find evidence of cross-modal retaliation: importers are statistically more likely to initiate an AD petition against an exporter if they have an ongoing SPS-related concern against that exporter. The World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body (DSB) was initially seen as promoting the stability of the global trading system by limiting such unilateral retaliation, widespread throughout the 1980s. We find statistical evidence suggesting that countries may be increasingly engaging in unilateral actions, particularly through SPS and TBT, in response to trade policy disputes as confidence in the WTO DSB falls. Our findings suggest that countries may expect more unilateral retaliatory action through SPS and TBT if recent efforts to reform the WTO DSB fail.
Understanding the role of inequality of opportunity in body mass index and waist circumference among Mexican adults
Authors: Salas-Ortiz Andrea
Published: November 2024

Mexico faces one of the most acute obesity crises worldwide. Despite policy efforts to decrease the prevalence of obesity among adults, an upward trend continues. The aetiology of obesity is complex and defined by multiple factors. While most of the literature has centered on studying behavioural attitudes that contribute to an energy balance that is positive (e.g., when energy intake is greater than expenditure), fewer studies have explored the role of inequality of opportunity (IOp), which focuses on studying the pathways from people’s circumstances to health outcomes. In this study, IOp is measured, identified, and characterised in body mass index and waist circumference for Mexican adults. To address the challenges related to measuring IOp in these health outcomes, a modified version of the dissimilarity index and unconditional quantile regression models based on recentered influence functions are used. Results show that variation in both outcomes is related to inequality in circumstances. The two main drivers of these inequalities are parental health conditions and the geographic region where individuals live. These findings offer a broader perspective to the role of people’s circumstances and their importance in tackling the obesity crisis in Mexico.
Work from home, time allocation, and well-being: the impact of lockdowns
Authors: Giménez-Nadal José Ignacio , Molina José Alberto , Velilla Jorge
Published: November 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of working from home (WFH) skyrocketed as businesses closed and distancing standards were mandated, exposing many workers to a remote work arrangement. This paper studies how WFH relates to worker time allocation and enjoyment, considering gender differences and pandemic phases, using real-time data from the UK Click-and-Drag Diary covering pre-pandemic, lockdown, and post-pandemic periods. Findings show no statistically significant overall relationship to time allocation, but reveal gender disparities: pre-pandemic, WFH involved less paid work and more leisure among women, but during lockdowns, patterns converged. The results also indicate that there were no statistically significant differences in instantaneous enjoyment between WFH and non-WFH male employees. Female WFH employees enjoyed leisure time less than their counterparts pre-pandemic, however this negative correlation vanished during and after the pandemic. The economic implications span labor productivity, gender dynamics in employment, business model adaptation, and work-life balance. These findings could impact corporate policies, human resource strategies, and the design of governmental policies related to the labor market and gender equality.
Using Photogrammetry and Deviation Analysis to Conduct Quantitative Monitoring Surveys of WWII Sites in the Pacific
Authors: McKinnon Jennifer F. , Yamafune Kotaro
Published: November 2024

In 2012 a program to investigate the management of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) related to the WWII battle for Saipan was developed with several collaborative partners. The program was conceptualized in response to the creation of the WWII Battle for Saipan Underwater Heritage Trail that launched in 2010 (McKinnon and Carrell in J Maritime Archaeol 10(1):11–27, 2015). With the creation of the trail there became a need to monitor and record both the benefits and impacts of promoting visitation at UCH sites. The monitoring program began on a five-year interval and included archaeological site inspections and the collection of in situ conservation data in 2012 and 2017. In 2017, as photogrammetric survey data was advancing and becoming more useful, it was added to the monitoring program. Again in 2023, site inspections, in situ surveys, and photogrammetric surveys were undertaken providing a total of 15 years of data at five-year intervals. This data has proved invaluable for recording both qualitatively and quantitatively how these WWII submerged sites are changing over time. This article reports on the development of photogrammetric surveys and the use of deviation analysis to demonstrate natural and cultural changes on UCH sites of a WWII battlefield from 2017 to 2023.
A forgotten chapter in the history of immunotherapy: cancer therapy with Blastomyces extracts
Authors: Galassi Francesco M. , Ribatti Domenico
Published: November 2024

This article recapitulates the discoveries and anti-tumoural therapeutical proposals by Francesco Sanfelice, who in 1931 published an essay entitled The Treatment of Cancer and Sarcoma with Cancrocidin (paraneoforming Blastomycetes). Sanfelice’s discoveries are contextualised with subsequent scientific discoveries, especially with those by L. Scott McDaniel and G. Cozad, who evaluated the functionality of murine peritoneal macrophages previously sensitised precisely with Blastomyces dermatitidis antigen extracts. Finally, recent research on the topic of intratumoural microbiota is mentioned showing how Sanfelice’s ideas, albeit partly outdated, can still inspire current biomolecular research.
Improvement of plan quality in whole-breast radiation following BCS using feasibility DVH by less-experienced planners
Authors: Zhang Yun , Huang Yuling , Luo Mingming , Yuan Xingxing , Wang Xiaoping , Gong Changfei
Published: November 2024

Variability in plan quality of radiotherapy is commonly attributed to the planner’s skill rather than technological parameters. While experienced planners can set reasonable parameters before optimization, less experienced planners face challenges. This study aimed to assess the quality of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients with left-sided breast cancer following breast-conserving surgery. Twenty-eight patients requiring whole-breast irradiation were randomly selected for inclusion. Each patient underwent two VMAT treatment plans: one optimized by an experienced planner (VMAT-EXP group) and the other designed by a less experienced planner using feasibility dose-volume histogram (FDVH) parameters from PlanIQ (VMAT-FDVH group). Both plans aimed to deliver a prescription dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions to the planning target volume (PTV). Dosimetry parameters for the PTV and organs at risk (OARs) were compared between the two groups. Both the VMAT-EXP and VMAT-FDVH groups met the clinical plan goals for PTV and OARs. VMAT-FDVH demonstrated a PTV coverage and homogeneity comparable to those of VMAT-EXP. Compared to VMAT-EXP plans, VMAT-FDVH plans resulted in a significant reduction in the mean ipsilateral lung dose, with an average decrease of 0.9 Gy (8.5 Gy vs. 7.6 Gy, P < 0.001). The V5Gy and V20Gy of the ipsilateral lung were also reduced by 3.2% and 1.8%, respectively. Minor differences were observed in the heart, contralateral lung, breast, and liver. Personalized objectives derived from the feasibility DVH tool facilitated the generation of acceptable VMAT plans. Less experienced planners achieved lower doses to the ipsilateral lung while maintaining adequate target coverage and homogeneity. These findings suggest the potential for the effective use of VMAT in in patients with left-sided breast cancer following breast-conserving surgery, especially when guided by feasibility DVH parameters.
Business-as-usual trends will largely miss 2030 global conservation targets
Authors: Palomo Ignacio , González-García Alberto , Ferraro Paul J. , Muradian Roldan , Pascual Unai , Arboledas Manuel , Bullock James M. , Bruley Enora , Gómez-Baggethun Erik , Lavorel Sandra
Published: November 2024

To address climate change and global biodiversity loss, the world must hit three important international conservation targets by 2030: protect 30% of terrestrial and marine areas, halt and reverse forest loss, and restore 350 Mha of degraded and deforested landscapes. Here, we (1) provide estimates of the gaps between these globally agreed targets and business-as-usual trends; (2) identify examples of rapid past trend-shifts towards achieving the targets; and (3) link these past trend-shifts to different levers. Our results suggest that under a business-as-usual scenario, the world will fail to achieve all three targets. However, trend-shifts that rapidly “bend the curve” have happened in the past and these should therefore be fostered. These trend-shifts are linked to transformative change levers that include environmental governance, economic factors, values, and knowledge. Further research on trend-shifts, as well as bold action on underlying levers, is urgently needed to meet 2030 global conservation targets.
Transitions to crop residue burning have multiple antecedents in Eastern India
Authors: Urban Cordeiro E. , Samaddar A. , Munshi S. , Ajay A. , Rossiter D. G. , Sohane R. K. , Malik R. , Craufurd P. , Pingali P. , McDonald A.J.
Published: November 2024

Far removed from the agricultural fire “hotspots” of Northwestern India, rice residue burning is on the rise in Eastern India with implications for regional air quality and agricultural sustainability. The underlying drivers contributing to the increase in burning have been linked to the adoption of mechanized (combine) harvesting but, in general, are inadequately understood. We hypothesize that the adoption of burning as a management practice results from a set of socio-technical interactions rather than emerging from a single factor. Using a mixed methods approach, a household survey (n = 475) provided quantitative insights into landscape and farm-scale drivers of burning and was complemented by an in-depth qualitative survey (n = 36) to characterize decision processes and to verify causal inferences derived from the broader survey. For communities where the combine harvester is present, our results show that rice residue burning is not inevitable. The decision to burn appears to emerge from a cascading sequence of events, starting with the following: (1) decreasing household labor, leading to (2) decreasing household livestock holdings, resulting in (3) reduced demands for residue fodder, incentivizing (4) adoption of labor-efficient combine harvesting and subsequent burning of loose residues that are both difficult to collect and of lower feeding value than manually harvested straw. Local demand for crop residues for livestock feeding plays a central role mediating transitions to burning. Consequently, policy response options that only consider the role of the combine harvester are likely to be ineffective. Innovative strategies such as the creation of decentralized commercial models for dairy value chains may bolster local residue demand by addressing household-scale labor bottlenecks to maintaining livestock. Secondary issues, such as timely rice planting, merit consideration as part of holistic responses to “bend” agricultural burning trajectories in Eastern India towards more sustainable practices.
A Method for Dynamic Kolsky Bar Compression at High Temperatures: Application to Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: Pittman E.R. , Clarke A. J. , Lamberson L. E.
Published: November 2024

An experimental apparatus for measuring the dynamic behavior of materials subjected to strain rates on the order of 10$$^3$$

3

 s$$^{-1}$$

-
1

and temperatures up to 800°C with a unique triple actuation system is developed in this work. This system is based on the traditional Kolsky (or split-Hopkinson pressure) bar design, with the addition of an external furnace used to heat the specimen to the desired temperature. A synchronized triple pneumatic actuation system is used to control the motion and timing of the the sample, incident, and transmitted bars. The cold contact time (CCT), or the time during which the heated sample is in contact with the room temperature bars before compression, is measured experimentally and carefully controlled to minimize the development of a temperature gradient across the sample and avoid heating of the bars. Experiments are performed in conjunction with ultra high speed imaging and 2D digital image correlation (DIC), as well as high speed thermal imaging. To verify the viability of the proposed system, experiments were conducted on Ti-6Al-4V (wt.%) at temperatures from 25°C up to and 800°C at an average strain rate of approximately 1200 s$$^{-1}$$

-
1

.
Responses of ‘Burlat’ Sweet Cherry Trees to Selenium Fertilisation under Low Soil Selenium Conditions
Authors: Wójcik Paweł
Published: November 2024

Selenium (Se) malnutrition in humans primarily results from low soil Se availability. In this study, we examined the effects of soil application and preharvest Se sprays on the vegetative growth, yield response, Se nutrition, and fruit quality of ‘Burlat’ sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) trees. Selenium was applied through (i) soil application at a rate of 250 g ha− 1 or 500 g ha− 1 in each season and in the first year of the study, respectively, and (ii) four preharvest sprays per season at a rate of 15 g ha− 1 spray− 1. Se sprays were applied with or without calcium chloride (CaCl2). Leaves from Se-fertilised trees contained more Se and had enhanced SPAD readings. However, the Se treatments did not affect tree growth and fruit yield. Compared to the control fruit, Se concentrations in fruit from trees sprayed with Se and CaCl2, trees sprayed with Se alone, and trees supplied with Se to the soil were increased 15-, 12-, and 8-fold, respectively. None of the Se treatments affected fruit size, and acidity and the soluble solids concentration (SSC) of the fruit. Only the combined sprays of Se and CaCl2 decreased the incidence of rain-induced fruit cracking. None of the tested Se treatments resulted in leaf injuries. In sweet cherry orchards, at least for the ‘Burlat’ variety, grown in low Se soils, preharvest Se sprays with or without CaCl2 can be recommended to biofortify the fruit with Se and increase SSC in the fruit.
Neuroimmune-mediated neuropsychiatric syndromes: perspectives for standardised diagnostics and personalised care
Authors: Scott Elizabeth M. , Shin Mirim , Banati Richard B. , Brown David A. , Koethe Dagmar , Leweke F. Markus , Rohleder Cathrin , Hickie Ian B.
Published: November 2024

There is considerable interest in the role of neuroimmune processes in neuropsychiatric presentations among young people seeking mental health, neurological, paediatric and rheumatological services. The increasing availability of new immunotherapies, particularly monoclonal antibodies, introduces challenges in effectively and appropriately selecting candidates for immunotherapies. Neuroimmune-mediated neuropsychiatric syndromes (NIMNPS) typically include two broad types: i) ‘autoimmune encephalitis’, characterised by acute or subacute onset, neurological signs such as seizures, delirium or motor features and severe psychotic or major mood phenomena. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis was a pioneering clinical example, but various other autoantibodies have since been associated with this phenotype; and ii) atypical mood or psychotic syndromes with sub-acute or insidious onset, moderately severe atypical mood or psychotic symptoms, autonomic dysregulation, narcolepsy-like features, poor response to conventional treatments and adverse (notably motor) effects from psychotropic medications. Diagnosis of NIMNPS requires clinical or laboratory evidence of direct brain involvement, though autoantibodies are not always detectable. Given the broad and controversial diagnostic criteria for NIMNPS, we propose standardised clinical criteria for identifying ‘possible cases’, followed by laboratory, neuropsychological and brain imaging tests to confirm ‘probable’ cases suitable for immunotherapy. We emphasise rapid clinical and informed co-decision-making with young people and their families and loved ones. While immunotherapy holds promise for symptom alleviation, highly-personalised approaches and long-term management are essential. Future research should validate our proposed criteria, establish optimal, standardised yet personalised immunotherapy strategies that balance between clinical benefit and risks, and identify predictive markers of treatment response.
Antimicrobial-resistant central line-associated bloodstream infections in adult intensive care units: findings from an Australian surveillance network, 2011–2022
Authors: Lim Lyn-li , Lim Kang Wei Esther , Malloy Michael J. , Bull Ann , Brett Judith , Worth Leon J.
Published: November 2024

Objective:

We aimed to describe the incidence, pathogens, and antimicrobial susceptibility of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in adult intensive care units (ICU).

Design:

State surveillance data from 2011 to 2022 were analyzed to identify patient and device days and CLABSI events. Pathogen data were analyzed to determine the most common organisms and patterns of antimicrobial resistance grouped into 3-year time epochs.

Setting:

Adult ICU in Victoria, Australia.

Participants:

Healthcare organizations participating in CLABSI state surveillance.

Results:

608 events were reported over 751,350 device days. Overall, CLABSI incidence was 0.81 per 1,000 central-line days, with a 49.3% rate reduction from 2011 to 2022 (1.39 to 0.70 per 1,000 central-line days). Overall device utilization ratio was 0.57, with a 15.4% reduction from 2011 to 2022 (0.67 vs 0.56). Of 690 pathogens, the most common by rank order were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS), Candida species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. The proportion of CNS-causing events increased by 69.0% from 2011 to 2022; this trend was not observed for other organisms. For every increase in epoch, a 33% decrease in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 4% increase in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and 12% increase in ceftriaxone-resistant Escherichia coli pathogens were observed.

Conclusions:

We demonstrate a decreasing incidence of CLABSI in Victorian adult ICU and an increasing burden of infections due to CNS. No significant time trend increases in antimicrobial-resistant organisms, including MRSA, vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, and ceftriaxone-resistant E. coli were observed. These findings are relevant for identifying priorities for CLABSI prevention in Victorian adult ICU.
Co-creation and recovery in mental health services: a lived experience perspective
Authors: Elwan Michael
Published: November 2024

This article explores the shift in mental health recovery from mere symptom management to a holistic approach via the CHIME framework. It delves into the author’s experience, beginning with the loss of his father, a war veteran with mental health struggles, at 16, thrusting him into the role of primary caregiver for his mother, who also battled mental health issues and eventually took her own life. These events spotlight the shortcomings of traditional mental health care and the urgent need for empathetic, multifaceted services. Advocating for co-creation in mental health services, the article outlines a transition towards a system that integrates recovery principles through stages from co-ideation to co-evaluation, emphasising holistic, person-centred care. It calls for a reimagined mental healthcare system that respects individual journeys and is rooted in co-creation, signalling a critical move towards systemic change.
Medicalization of Sufism: the discourse of psychiatry, psychopathology, and secularity in Karay’s Kadınlar Tekkesi
Authors: Buğdaycı Çiğdem
Published: November 2024

This article examines the complex relationship between Sufism, secularity, and psychiatry through Refik Halid Karay’s 1956 novel, Kadınlar Tekkesi (Women’s Lodge). The article argues that Kadınlar Tekkesi recontextualizes Sufism by medicalizing and pathologizing it through psychiatry and psychopathology. This analysis draws upon discourse analysis and Michel Foucault’s exploration of abnormality and power dynamics. The article contends that this approach diverges from previous anti-Sufi agendas of Turkish novels, which were primarily motivated by religious and moralistic criticisms. The article argues that the application of psychiatric terminology to Sufism suggests a shift in Turkish secularism’s attitude toward Sufism, which transitions from dismissing Sufism as obsolete to engaging with it systematically through scientific study. Informed by modern scientific rationality, this shift signifies a redefined interaction between knowledge and power and the gendered aspects of the medicalization process. The article underscores that interactions between the discourses of secularism, Sufism, and psychopathology suggest a new regime of truth based on secular and scientific thought, while implicitly supported by orthodox Islamic principles.
Multilayer network games: A cooperative approach
Authors: Boruah Parishmita , Borkotokey Surajit , Kumar Rajnish
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we introduce the concept of a multilayer network game in a cooperative setup. We consider the notion of simultaneous contribution of individual players or links to two different networks (say, X and Z). Our model nests both classical network games and bi-cooperative network games. The calculation of the utility of players within a specific network in the presence of an additional/alternative network provides a broader spectrum of real-world decision dynamics. The subsequent challenge involves achieving an optimal distribution of payoffs among the players forming the networks. The link-based rule best fits to our model as it delves into the influence of the alternative links in the network. We have designed an extended Position value to address the complexities arising from scenarios where networks overlap. Further, it is shown that the Position value is uniquely characterized by the Efficiency and Balanced Link Contribution axioms.
Bioturbation increases time averaging despite promoting shell disintegration: a test using anthropogenic gradients in sediment accumulation and burrowing on the southern California shelf
Authors: Tomašových Adam , Kidwell Susan M. , Dai Ran , Alexander Clark R. , Kaufman Darrell S. , Edie Stewart , Leonard-Pingel Jill S. , McNinch Jesse E. , Parker Thomas , Wadman Heidi M.
Published: November 2024

Bioturbation can increase time averaging by downward and upward movements of young and old shells within the entire mixed layer and by accelerating the burial of shells into a sequestration zone (SZ), allowing them to bypass the uppermost taphonomically active zone (TAZ). However, bioturbation can increase shell disintegration concurrently, neutralizing the positive effects of mixing on time averaging. Bioirrigation by oxygenated pore-water promotes carbonate dissolution in the TAZ, and biomixing itself can mill shells weakened by dissolution or microbial maceration, and/or expose them to damage at the sediment–water interface. Here, we fit transition rate matrices to bivalve age–frequency distributions from four sediment cores from the southern California middle shelf (50–75 m) to assess the competing effects of bioturbation on disintegration and time averaging, exploiting a strong gradient in rates of sediment accumulation and bioturbation created by historic wastewater pollution. We find that disintegration covaries positively with mixing at all four sites, in accord with the scenario where bioturbation ultimately fuels carbonate disintegration. Both mixing and disintegration rates decline abruptly at the base of the 20- to 40-cm-thick, age-homogenized surface mixed layer at the three well-bioturbated sites, despite different rates of sediment accumulation. In contrast, mixing and disintegration rates are very low in the upper 25 cm at an effluent site with legacy sediment toxicity, despite recolonization by bioirrigating lucinid bivalves. Assemblages that formed during maximum wastewater emissions vary strongly in time averaging, with millennial scales at the low-sediment accumulation non-effluent sites, a centennial scale at the effluent site where sediment accumulation was high but bioturbation recovered quickly, and a decadal scale at the second high-sedimentation effluent site where bioturbation remained low for decades. Thus, even though disintegration rates covary positively with mixing rates, reducing postmortem shell survival, bioturbation has the net effect of increasing the time averaging of skeletal remains on this warm-temperate siliciclastic shelf.
Why Study the Humanities When People Are Dying?
Authors: McWilliams Barndt Susan
Published: November 2024

Lately, my students have been asking: “Why should we be here, when there are people suffering out there?” Evidently, they are asking about the public value of higher education. But they are also asking old questions, some of the oldest that human beings have seen fit to ask. Versions of these questions appear in all scriptural traditions, in ancient and modern philosophical works, in stories and novels and songs. They are questions at the core of what we call “the humanities.” Part of why we study the humanities – and why we must – is to get help in asking, articulating, and trying to answer such questions. There aren’t single right answers to any of those questions. Each of us must work answers out for ourselves. But we can work out better answers for ourselves if we spend time in the company of others who take those questions seriously. This is not just an individual task; it’s a collective task of great public import. In this short piece, I defend the idea of the public humanities on these terms.
ON THE CODEGREES OF STRONGLY MONOLITHIC CHARACTERS OF FINITE GROUPS
Authors: ERKOÇ TEMHA , YIlMAZTÜRK UTKU
Published: November 2024

Let G be a finite group and let

$\chi $

be an irreducible character of G. The number

$|G:\mathrm {ker}\chi |/\chi (1)$

is called the codegree of the character

$\chi $

. We provide several relations between the structure of G and the codegrees of the characters in a given subset of

$\mathrm {Irr}(G)$

, where

$\mathrm {Irr}(G)$

is the set of all complex irreducible characters of G. For example, we show that if the codegrees of all strongly monolithic characters of G are odd, then G is solvable, analogous to the well-known fact that if all irreducible character degrees of a finite group are odd, then that group is solvable.
Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy has no impact on postpartum transient longitudinal changes in hip geometry in adolescent mothers: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Rached Verônica , Diogenes Maria Eduarda L. , Crivelli Marise , Donangelo Carmen M. , Bezerra Flávia F.
Published: November 2024

We have previously demonstrated that calcium plus vitamin D supplementation during adolescent pregnancy reduces the magnitude of transient postpartum bone mass loss. In the present post hoc analysis, we further investigated the effect of calcium plus vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy in hip geometry throughout one year postpartum in Brazilian adolescents with low daily calcium intake (∼600 mg/d). Pregnant adolescents (14–19 years) were randomly assigned to receive calcium (600 mg/d) plus vitamin D3 (200 μg/d) or a placebo from 26 weeks of gestation until parturition. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry images were obtained at 5 (n 30 and 26 for calcium plus vitamin D and placebo, respectively), 20 (n 26 and 21) and 56 (n 18 and 12) weeks postpartum, and hip geometry parameters were analysed by Advanced Hip Assessment software. The effects of the intervention, time point and their interaction were assessed using repeated-measures mixed-effects models. No significant intervention effects or intervention × time interactions were observed on hip geometry parameters (P > 0·05). Time effects were observed in cross-sectional area, cross-sectional moment of inertia and section modulus parameters with decreases from the 5th to the 20th week postpartum followed by recovery from the 20th to the 56th week (P < 0·05). Our findings indicate that the postpartum period is associated with transient changes in the hip geometry of lactating adolescent mothers, regardless of the low calcium intake and the supplementation offered during pregnancy, suggesting that a physiological adaptation of these adolescents to low calcium intake is at play.
Perceiving God like an angel
Authors: Chen Wen , Zhang Xiaoxing
Published: November 2024

Mystical experiences are often regarded as potential sources of epistemic justification for religious beliefs. However, the ‘disanalogy objection’ maintains that, in contrast to sense perceptions, mystical experiences lack social verifiability and are thus merely subjective states that cannot substantiate objective truths. This article explores a novel externalist response that involves the concept of angels. As spiritual beings, angels can directly perceive God and verify these perceptions in their celestial community. Thus, the ‘direct perception of God’ is not inherently incapable of social verification. While invoking angels might appear contentious, it coheres with the externalist approach of conceptualising cognitive states under hypothetical settings. Despite the differences between humans and angels and their lack of interaction for verification purposes, our approach remains valid because mystics not only exemplify the same general type of ‘direct perception of God’ as angels but can also be preliminary members of a wider celestial community.
Word of mouth: Mouthing patterns in a bimodal multilingual deaf community
Authors: Jaraisy Marah , Stamp Rose
Published: November 2024

Deaf signers are typically multilingual, often exposed to a signed language and a spoken and/or written language. One outcome of this type of contact is ‘mouthing’—the silent articulation of spoken/written words with the simultaneous production of a sign. This article focuses on mouthing patterns in the Kufr Qassem deaf community, in which there is contact between Kufr Qassem Sign Language (KQSL), Israeli Sign Language (ISL), as well as Hebrew, and Arabic, which exists as a diglossia. The findings show that mouthing is constrained by the interlocutor and sign language used, with more mouthing with an ISL interlocutor than KQSL interlocutor, and when using ISL signs than KQSL signs. Contact with a diglossic spoken language shows that signers mouth in Palestinian Arabic rather than in Modern Standard Arabic. Furthermore, evidence of diachronic changes in mouthing was found, reflecting changes in education and mobility. (Mouthing, sign language, language contact, Kufr Qassem Sign Language, Israeli Sign Language, Arabic, diglossia)*
Global left ventricular relaxation index in predicting cardiac cellular rejection in paediatric heart transplant patients
Authors: Raja Kishore R. , Bokl Amr El , Karim Farida , Rodgers Nathan , Aggarwal Varun , Langworthy Benjamin W. , Wolf Jack M. , Peck Daniel
Published: November 2024

Background:

Endomyocardial biopsy remains the gold standard for cardiac cellular rejection surveillance after heart transplantation. We studied a novel non-invasive index of left ventricular relaxation to detect cardiac cellular rejection in paediatric heart transplant patients.

Methods:

This is a single-centre retrospective study of paediatric heart transplant patients who underwent endomyocardial biopsy from June 2014 to September 2021. Left ventricular relaxation index was calculated as the sum of diastolic tissue Doppler imaging velocities (E) of the left ventricular lateral, septal, and posterior walls divided by the percentage of the left ventricular posterior wall thinning by M-mode. Statistical analysis included t-tests and Mann-Whitney tests to compare means and medians between treatment and non-treatment groups. We used the cut-off with the maximum Youden index to compare the sensitivity and specificity of left ventricular relaxation index to detect rejection.

Results:

The study included 65 patients who underwent 246 cardiac catheterizations and endomyocardial biopsies. Out of 246, 192 procedures were included and 54 were excluded due to recent transplants or lack of echocardiographic data. A total of 114 demonstrated Grade 0R, 68 Grade 1R, 8 Grade 2R, and 2 Grade 3R allograft rejection. The difference in mean left ventricular relaxation index between treatment versus non-treatment groups (2R, 3R vs. 0R, 1R) was not statistically significant (p = 0.917). A left ventricular relaxation index cut-off of 0.73 had the highest Youden index with good sensitivity (100%) and poor specificity (23%) for detecting rejections with grades 2R and 3R.

Conclusion:

Left ventricular relaxation index, a novel index of left ventricular relaxation, was not a sensitive or specific predictor of cardiac cellular rejection in paediatric heart transplants.
Private equity involvement in primary care: the case of Ireland
Authors: Mercille Julien
Published: November 2024

Private equity (PE) firms play an increasingly important role in healthcare. Yet, existing research remains uneven, mostly focused on the United States and on certain sectors such as nursing homes. Some geographical areas and health specialties remain under-explored. This brief paper outlines a research agenda focusing on three key issues: (1) PE's significance and (2) business strategies in healthcare, and (3) PE's impacts on health and healthcare. The paper uses primary care in Ireland as an example. The proposed research agenda should improve our understanding of the nature of PE in healthcare and serve as a basis for policy-makers to explore appropriate and effective regulation of PE to reduce its negative impacts if and when they exist.
Gender disparity and post-traumatic stress disorder and elevated psychological distress in humanitarian migrants resettled in Australia: the moderating role of socioeconomic factors
Authors: Handiso Demelash Woldeyohannes , Boyle Jacqueline A , Paul Eldho , Shawyer Frances , Enticott Joanne C
Published: November 2024

Aims

Humanitarian migrants are at increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and elevated psychological distress. However, men and women often report varying degrees of stress and experience different challenges during migration. While studies have explored PTSD, psychological distress, gender, and resettlement stressors, they have not explored the interplay between these factors. This study aims to address that gap by investigating gender disparities in PTSD and psychological distress among humanitarian migrants in Australia, with a focus on the moderating role of socioeconomic factors.

Methods

This study used data from five waves of the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) survey, a longitudinal study of 2,399 humanitarian migrants who arrived in Australia in 2013. PTSD and psychological distress were measured using the PTSD-8 and Kessler-6 (K6) scales, respectively. We conducted generalised linear mixed-effect logistic regression analyses stratified by gender.

Results

Female humanitarian migrants exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of PTSD and psychological distress than males over five years of resettlement in Australia. Women facing financial hardship, unemployment, or residing in short-term housing reported greater levels of PTSD and distress compared to men.

Conclusions

Women facing financial hardship, inadequate housing, and unemployment exhibit higher rates of PTSD and psychological distress, underscoring the significant impact of socioeconomic factors. Addressing these challenges at both individual and systemic levels is essential for promoting well-being and managing mental health among female humanitarian migrants.
The Process Model of Emotion Regulation Scale (PMERQ)
Authors: Heekerens Johannes B. , Olderbak Sally , Gross James J. , Wingenfeld Katja , Roepke Stefan
Published: November 2024

Abstract: Past research on individual differences in emotion regulation has focused either on specific sets of strategies or on the engagement versus disengagement orientation of the regulatory efforts. A new measure, the Process Model of Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (PMERQ; Olderbak et al., 2022 ), comprehensively assesses engagement-oriented and disengagement-oriented strategies across all stages of the emotion generation process. In this article, we present a German version of the PMERQ. In Study 1 ( N = 189), we investigated the factor structure of a forward-backward translation of the original 10-scale, 45-item questionnaire. We describe how necessary revisions were identified and implemented. In Study 2 ( N = 241) and Study 3 ( N = 198), we show that the ten PMERQ subscales of the final German version had a predominantly appropriate factor structure and sufficient reliability. In terms of validity, the convergent, discriminant, and criterion correlations were as expected and comparable to those in the original instrument. We conclude that the German version of the PMERQ provides a reliable and valid tool for the comprehensive assessment of individual differences in emotion regulation. Due to differences in measurement models, we advise caution when using the German version for comparisons across age groups and genders.
Fe2+ Partitioning in Al‐Free Pyrolite: Consequences for Seismic Velocities and Heterogeneities
Authors: Zhuang Jingyi , Wentzcovitch Renata
Published: November 2024

Iron partitioning among the main lower mantle phases, bridgmanite (Bm) and ferropericlase (Fp), has non‐monotonic behavior owing to the high‐spin to low‐spin crossover in ferrous iron (Fe2+) in Fp. Previously reported iron partitioning coefficient between these phases, , still have considerable uncertainty. Here, we investigate the Fe2+ partitioning behavior using ab initio free energy results. Although we focus on Fe2+ only, we describe the effect of this iron spin crossover (ISC) on and of the latter on compositions and seismic velocities in a pyrolitic aggregate. Our results suggest that its velocities are mainly affected by the ISC and less so by the Fe2+ partitioning. In contrast, iron partitioning manifests in thermally induced velocity heterogeneity ratios. Prediction of the seismological parameter including iron partitioning effects resembles quantitatively ’s inferred from several tomographic studies down to 2,400 km depth.
Local Time and Hemispheric Asymmetries of Field‐Aligned Currents and Polar Electrojet During May 2024 Superstorm Periods
Authors: Wang Hui , Cheng Qihang , Lühr Hermann , Zhong Yunfang , Zhang Kedeng , Xia Hao
Published: November 2024

This study examines field‐aligned currents (FACs) and polar electrojet (PEJ) characteristics during the extreme May 2024 geomagnetic storms across dawn, dusk, daytime, and nighttime in both hemispheres. FACs and PEJ intensities were up to 9 times greater than usual, with equatorward FACs reaching −44° Magnetic Latitude. Maximum FACs and PEJ are larger at dawn than dusk in the Northern Hemisphere but larger at dusk than at dawn in the Southern Hemisphere. Dawn and duskside FACs correlate best with Dst or solar wind dynamic pressure (Pd) in both hemispheres. On the dayside (nightside), most FACs in both hemispheres are primarily correlated with Pd (merging electric field, Em or Pd). The PEJs correlate largely with Dst and partly with Em and Pd. Duskside (nighttime) currents are located at lower latitudes than dawnside (daytime), and northern currents are positioned more poleward than southern currents. The latitudes of peak FACs are most strongly correlated with Dst or Pd in both hemispheres. However, in the northern daytime sector, they are primarily influenced by Em. The latitudes of peak PEJ show the strongest correlation with Dst or Pd in both hemispheres, except on the northern dawnside, where they are primarily influenced by Em. The qualitative relationships between peak current density, corresponding latitude, solar wind parameters, and the Dst index are derived.
Mapping membrane biophysical nano-environments
Authors: Panconi Luca , Euchner Jonas , Tashev Stanimir A. , Makarova Maria , Herten Dirk-Peter , Owen Dylan M. , Nieves Daniel J.
Published: November 2024

The mammalian plasma membrane is known to contain domains with varying lipid composition and biophysical properties. However, studying these membrane lipid domains presents challenges due to their predicted morphological similarity to the bulk membrane and their scale being below the classical resolution limit of optical microscopy. To address this, we combine the solvatochromic probe di-4-ANEPPDHQ, which reports on its biophysical environment through changes in its fluorescence emission, with spectrally resolved single-molecule localisation microscopy. The resulting data comprises nanometre-precision localisation coordinates and a generalised polarisation value related to the probe’s environment – a marked point pattern. We introduce quantification algorithms based on topological data analysis (PLASMA) to detect and map nano-domains in this marked data, demonstrating their effectiveness in both artificial membranes and live cells. By leveraging environmentally sensitive fluorophores, multi-modal single molecule localisation microscopy, and advanced analysis methods, we achieve nanometre scale mapping of membrane properties and assess changes in response to external perturbation with methyl-β-cyclodextrin. This integrated methodology represents an integrated toolset for investigating marked point pattern data at nanometre spatial scales.
Small molecule modulation of protein corona for deep plasma proteome profiling
Authors: Ashkarran Ali Akbar , Gharibi Hassan , Sadeghi Seyed Amirhossein , Modaresi Seyed Majed , Wang Qianyi , Lin Teng-Jui , Yerima Ghafar , Tamadon Ali , Sayadi Maryam , Jafari Maryam , Lin Zijin , Ritz Danilo , Kakhniashvili David , Guha Avirup , Mofrad Mohammad R. K. , Sun Liangliang , Landry Markita P. , Saei Amir Ata , Mahmoudi Morteza
Published: November 2024

The protein corona formed on nanoparticles (NPs) has potential as a valuable diagnostic tool for improving plasma proteome coverage. Here, we show that spiking small molecules, including metabolites, lipids, vitamins, and nutrients into plasma can induce diverse protein corona patterns on otherwise identical NPs, significantly enhancing the depth of plasma proteome profiling. The protein coronas on polystyrene NPs when exposed to plasma treated with an array of small molecules allows for the detection of 1793 proteins marking an 8.25-fold increase in the number of quantified proteins compared to plasma alone (218 proteins) and a 2.63-fold increase relative to the untreated protein corona (681 proteins). Furthermore, we discovered that adding 1000 µg/ml phosphatidylcholine could singularly enable the detection of 897 proteins. At this specific concentration, phosphatidylcholine selectively depletes the four most abundant plasma proteins, including albumin, thus reducing the dynamic range of plasma proteome and enabling the detection of proteins with lower abundance. Employing an optimized data-independent acquisition approach, the inclusion of phosphatidylcholine leads to the detection of 1436 proteins in a single plasma sample. Our molecular dynamics results reveal that phosphatidylcholine interacts with albumin via hydrophobic interactions, H-bonds, and water bridges. The addition of phosphatidylcholine also enables the detection of 337 additional proteoforms compared to untreated protein corona using a top-down proteomics approach. Given the critical role of plasma proteomics in biomarker discovery and disease monitoring, we anticipate the widespread adoption of this methodology for the identification and clinical translation of biomarkers.
Cryo-EM structure of a lysozyme-derived amyloid fibril from hereditary amyloidosis
Authors: Karimi-Farsijani Sara , Sharma Kartikay , Ugrina Marijana , Kuhn Lukas , Pfeiffer Peter Benedikt , Haupt Christian , Wiese Sebastian , Hegenbart Ute , Schönland Stefan O. , Schwierz Nadine , Schmidt Matthias , Fändrich Marcus
Published: November 2024

Systemic ALys amyloidosis is a debilitating protein misfolding disease that arises from the formation of amyloid fibrils from C-type lysozyme. We here present a 2.8 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of an amyloid fibril, which was isolated from the abdominal fat tissue of a patient who expressed the D87G variant of human lysozyme. We find that the fibril possesses a stable core that is formed by all 130 residues of the fibril precursor protein. There are four disulfide bonds in each fibril protein that connect the same residues as in the globularly folded protein. As the conformation of lysozyme in the fibril is otherwise fundamentally different from native lysozyme, our data provide a structural rationale for the need of protein unfolding in the development of systemic ALys amyloidosis.
Finding the optimal probe state for multiparameter quantum metrology using conic programming
Authors: Hayashi Masahito , Ouyang Yingkai
Published: November 2024

The ultimate precision in quantum sensing could be achieved using optimal quantum probe states. However, current quantum sensing protocols do not use probe states optimally. Indeed, the calculation of optimal probe states remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we present an algorithm that efficiently calculates a probe state for correlated and uncorrelated measurement strategies. The algorithm involves a conic program, which minimizes a linear objective function subject to conic constraints on a operator-valued variable. Our algorithm outputs a probe state that is a simple function of the optimal variable. We prove that our algorithm finds the optimal probe state for channel estimation problems, even in the multiparameter setting. For many noiseless quantum sensing problems, we prove the optimality of maximally entangled probe states. We also analyze the performance of 3D-field sensing using various probe states. Our work opens the door for a plethora of applications in quantum metrology.