bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of LGD‐4033 Metabolites in Camel Urine, Plasma, and Hair Following Oral Administration for Doping Control
Authors: Ondern Komathu Praseen , Padusha Syed Ali M , Saraswathy Laya , Nalakath Jahfar , Hebel Christiana , Palathinkal Ansar Babu , Naduvilakkandy Rasheed
Published: January 2025

Rationale

LGD‐4033, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), is recognized for promoting muscle growth and enhancing athletic performance. Its potent anabolic effects have led to its prohibition in both human and animal sports. Although initial in vitro studies have offered insights into its metabolism, an in‐depth in vivo analysis is necessary to fully understand its metabolic pathways. This research aims to thoroughly investigate the metabolic profile of LGD‐4033 in camels to establish reliable analytical markers, thereby addressing an important gap in the doping detection in camel racing.

Methods

Urine, plasma, and hair samples were collected from three healthy camels following a single oral administration of 100 mg LGD‐4033 mixed with food. These biological samples were then analyzed using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution Q Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐HRMS).

Results

Fourteen metabolites were identified across all sample types. The main Phase I metabolite, M6 (dihydroxylation), appears to be a primary target analyte for urine‐based doping analysis. Both dihydroxy and trihydroxy metabolites were notably abundant in urine, accompanied by glucuronic and sulfonic acid conjugates; however, sulfonic acid conjugates were absent in in‐vitro studies. Further research on hair samples, especially at higher LGD‐4033 dosages, is recommended.

Conclusions

The findings from this study will improve the rapid identification of LGD‐4033 and related compounds, supporting effective doping control in camel racing. These results enhance understanding of LGD‐4033 metabolism in camels and advance the development of reliable methods for detecting SARMs in this field.
Interstitial pneumonia due to Japanese spotted fever
Authors: Arai Katsunori , Tokuyasu Hirokazu , Konishi Tatsuya , Tatsukawa Toshiyuki , Takeda Kenichi , Yamasaki Akira
Published: January 2025

Key message

We report case of Japanese spotted fever with interstitial pneumonia. In patients with signs of interstitial pneumonia on chest computed tomography, Rickettsial pneumonia should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially if they have visited a Rickettsia‐endemic area.
Tap into practical AI tools to enhance engagement, success
Authors: Calhoun Daniel W. , Tolman Steven
Published: January 2025

Artificial intelligence is no longer just something you see in science fiction movies. On college campuses today, AI is driving innovation and transforming the expe  rience for students and higher education administrators. According to the “2024 NASPA Top Issues in Student Affairs” report, 90% of respondents indicated that AI is an important issue in technology and innovation in our work in student affairs.
Did court dismiss student's breach‐of‐contract claim?
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: January 2025

John Doe enrolled in Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania and joined the college's baseball team. During an out‐of‐state team tournament trip to Florida, he met Jane Roe, with whom he had a sexual encounter. The following day, Roe, then 16, filed a sexual battery complaint with local authorities. In a subsequent controlled call monitored by detectives, Doe reportedly admitted to the interaction. When interviewed by detectives later, he acknowledged that Roe had expressed discomfort but stated that he offered to stop and she agreed. However, he allegedly continued to initiate sexual contact after offering to stop. Doe was arrested and later charged with sexual battery of a minor.
Highly Conductive, Ultratough, and Adhesive Eutectogels with Environmental Tolerance Enabled by Liquid Metal Composites
Authors: Wang Jialin , Zhao Kai , Zhao Yanbo , Ye Changqing
Published: January 2025

Eutectogels are recently emerged as promising alternatives to hydrogels owing to their good environmental stability derived from deep eutectic solvents (DES). However, construction of competent eutectogels with both high conductivity and mechanical toughness is still difficult to achieve yet highly demanded. In this work, new LMNP‐PEDOT‐CMC‐AA (LPCA) eutectogels are prepared using acrylic acid (AA) and carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC) as polymeric networks, liquid metal nanoparticle‐poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (LMNP‐PEDOT) are added as multifunctional soft fillers. Benefiting from the compliant and conductive LMNP‐PEDOT, the LPCA eutectogels exhibit high conductivity (0.224 S m−1), electromechanical coupling, stretchability (4228%) and exceptional toughness (7.278 MJ m−3). Additionally, abundant hydrogen interactions and available functional groups within eutectogels endow them excellent self‐healing and adhesion on different substrates. Moreover, the LPCA eutectogels demonstrate superior environmental tolerance including anti‐freezing and anti‐drying, thus allowing for long‐term functional reliability. These appealing characteristics enable accurate and stable tracking of human motions, as well as information delivery based on Morse code. This study opens the possibility of designing conductive and tough eutectogels enabled by LM composites.
Modulating Interface of Ni‐Embedded Hollow Porous Ti3C2Tx MXene Film Toward Efficient EMI Shielding
Authors: Liu Heguang , Dang Jiarou , Lei Chao , Zhu Zhanglin , Li Xiaolian , Ding Haoyue , Tian Na , You Caiyin , Yang Yang
Published: January 2025

Since the explosive growth of state‐of‐the‐art electronics and devices raises concerns about electromagnetic pollution, exploring novel and efficient electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials is desirable and crucial. Ti3C2Tx MXenes hold significant EMI shielding potential due to their inherent characteristics, including lightweight, metal‐like conductivities, unique layered structure, and facile processing. Nonetheless, it remains challenging to fabricate Ti3C2Tx MXenes‐based EMI shielding materials with efficient shielding capability and low reflection. Herein, an interface modulating strategy is designed to fabricate Ni‐embedded hollow porous Ti3C2Tx MXene film. Benefiting from this strategy, the impedance matching is enhanced and the magnetic loss is simultaneously introduced. The multiple reflections, Ohmic loss, magnetic loss, and interfacial polarization concurrently contribute to the EMI shielding mechanism of the film. Accordingly, the film delivers an impressive EMI shielding effectiveness (SET) of 70.7 dB at a thickness of ≈55 µm, whilst the average reflection effectiveness (SER) is only 17.4 dB. The specific EMI shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) is as high as 35126 dB∙cm2∙g−1. This study demonstrates a novel and effective routine for constructing EMI shielding materials with superior shielding capability and minimal reflection.
Study on pull‐out test of steel and semi‐grouting sleeve connection after high temperature
Authors: Ma Jinfeng , Zhu Jianing , Guo Dongdong
Published: January 2025

This paper conducted a study on the mechanical properties of steel and semi‐grouting sleeve connections after high temperatures through pull‐out tests. The primary parameters investigated in the experimental study included the anchorage length and temperature. The test results indicated that the bearing capacity of the steel and semi‐grouting sleeve connection hardly changes with the increase of temperature after being subjected to temperatures of 400°C and lower. After 600°C and higher, the bearing capacity of the steel and semi‐grouting sleeve connector decreased significantly, and the steel bar breaking occurred when the anchorage length was 145 mm, while the bond failure occurred when the anchorage length was smaller than 145 mm, which indicated that the bearing capacity of the specimen can be significantly improved by increasing the anchorage length in higher temperature condition. Finally, the calculation formula of the ultimate bearing capacity of steel and semi‐grouting sleeve connection after high temperature was put forward, and the proposed formula was proved to be accurate and feasible by comparing with the test results, which provided a reference for the relevant engineering design.
Humanizing Connections Outside of Higher Education
Authors: Mather Peter C.
Published: January 2025

This New Directions in Teaching and Learning issue has focused on rehumanizing higher education. Authors have highlighted a wide array of important topics that are relevant to ensuring the humanizing purposes of higher education are met by today's and tomorrow's colleges and universities. The author highlights reminds us that higher education is part of a larger system, including communities near and far that shape and are shaped by tertiary institutions. The author highlights central principles and practices (Mutuality, Asset‐based, and Relationship Stewardship) that should inform humanizing work. The author highlights also includes an admonishment for members of the higher education communities to recognize and embrace the wisdom that exists outside of the ivory tower.
The Clinical Impact of the Introduction of a Robot‐Assisted Program in a Specialized Hernia Center: A Propensity Score Matched Cohort Study on Short‐Term Outcomes
Authors: Marckmann Mads , Christoffersen Mette Willaume , Henriksen Nadia A. , Kiim Kristian S.
Published: January 2025

Background

The role of robot‐assisted approach in hernia surgery remains controversial due to high procedural costs and the proposed equal outcomes compared with open surgery. In this study, we report the 30‐day results of the introduction of robot‐assisted approach in a specialized regional ventral hernia repair center.

Methods

This was a retrospective single‐center cohort study including patients undergoing either robot‐assisted or open ventral hernia repair from 2017 to 2022. Patients undergoing either approach were matched by propensity scores in a 1:2 ratio on the variables age, type of hernia (primary/incisional), and horizontal fascial defect size to reduce bias risk. Multivariable logistic regression on outcomes length of stay, reoperation, and readmission was performed.

Results

A total of 109 patients undergoing robot‐assisted repair were compared to 229 undergoing open repair. Overall, 61.2% were patients had incisional hernia. Mean hernia defect size was 4.9 × 6.5 cm (horizontal × vertical). The mean length of stay was shorter after robot‐assisted repair (0.1 vs. 1.9 days, p < 0.001) as was the incidence of readmission (3.7% vs. 17.0%, p < 0.001). The incidence of reoperation was tangentially significantly lower after robot‐assisted repair (0.9% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.045); however, the estimate was significant after adjusting for confounders (OR 0.11, CI 0.01–0.89, p = 0.038).

Conclusions

Length of stay and readmission rates were significantly decreased after the introduction of a robot‐assisted approach for ventral hernia repair.
Textural, mineralogical, and geochemical evidence for apatite metasomatism and REE mobility within the Corvo orebody at the Neves Corvo Cu-Zn-Pb(-Sn) deposit (Iberian Pyrite Belt)
Authors: Codeço Marta S. , Gleeson Sarah A. , Barrote Vitor , Harlov Daniel , Kusebauch Christof , Koch-Müller Monika , Relvas Jorge M. R. S. , Schleicher Anja M. , Schmidt Christian , Stammeier Jessica A. , Syczewski Marcin D. , Wilke Franziska D. H.
Published: January 2025

The Neves Corvo Cu-Zn-Pb(-Sn) deposit (Portugal) is one of the largest volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits (VMS) worldwide, hosted by Upper Devonian to Early Carboniferous rocks. Originally, it contained an early structurally controlled tin orebody (stockwork and massive cassiterite), which has now been mined out. In this study, we report the first occurrence of phosphate minerals (apatite, florencite, and xenotime) within the tin stockwork at Neves Corvo. We present a high-resolution multi-analytical study using petrographic, mineral chemistry, and whole-rock geochemical methods to understand the genesis of these phosphates and their implications for tin at the Neves Corvo deposit. Our results demonstrate that apatite forms coevally with cassiterite and has low trace element contents except for S, Sr, Y, and MREE (Middle Rare Earth Elements; 10–100 ppm) with a bell-shaped chondrite (C1) normalized REE pattern. We suggest that apatite likely formed as chlorapatite or oxyapatite that was subsequently metasomatized to fluorapatite with minor carbonate during hydrothermal alteration related to sulfide mineralization. The REE pattern of apatite, together with the presence of secondary phosphates (florencite and xenotime), indicates preferential scavenging of REE to form the latter phases due to the interaction with NaCl-rich and, to a minor extent, fluorine-rich fluids in an aluminum-saturated system. This study underscores how the analyses of primary and secondary phosphate minerals can help to track the evolution of the hydrothermal system and partially constrain the fluid composition and fluid-rock interaction processes. Therefore, the approaches outlined here are applicable to any hydrothermal ore-forming system where phosphate phases are formed.
Targeting refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma by CAR-WEE1 T-cells: In vitro evaluation
Authors: Ahmed Hadeer Mohamed , Moselhy Said Salama , Mohamad Magda I. , Soliman Ahmed F. , Hassan Marwa N. M. , El-Khazragy Nashwa
Published: January 2025

Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) presents a major therapeutic challenge due to its resistance to standard treatments. Engineered T-cells, especially Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells, have shown promise in overcoming drug resistance. This study investigates the effectiveness of WEE1-engineered T-cells in targeting and eliminating refractory DLBCL in vitro. CAR T-cells were created by transducing a 5th-generation CAR construct designed to recognize WEE1, a surface antigen commonly found on refractory DLBCL cells. The cytotoxic effect of engineered T-cells was tested against Rituximab-resistant DLBCL cells (RR-NU-DUL-1). Apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated using flow cytometry. Quantitative Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of WEE1, BCL2, and CDK2. The results showed a significant increase in target cell lysis, apoptosis, and necrosis, a significant reduction in the percentage of cells in the G2M phase of the cell cycle, as well as a decrease in gene expression level, indicating strong anti-tumor activity. These findings suggest that CAR T-cell therapy holds great promise for treating refractory DLBCL, offering a potential path for clinical application. This in vitro evaluation highlights the potential of WEE1-engineered T-cells as a targeted treatment strategy for refractory DLBCL, emphasizing their clinical applicability and ability to overcome resistance mechanisms in this aggressive lymphoma subtype.
Paranasal sinus mucoceles and its distortion of craniofacial-orbital anatomy: a narrative synthesis
Authors: Aladeyelu Okikioluwa Stephen , Burge Peter Michael , Atiba Peterson Makinde , Madaree Anil , Lazarus Lelika
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To explore available literature on PNS mucoceles and its distortions of craniofacial-orbital anatomy with regard to orbital bony defects and ophthalmic manifestations, highlighting the PNS mucoceles that mostly result in these distortions.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in June 2024 for available literature on the subject matter viz.; Google Scholar, PubMed and Medline, and Cochrane Library. Eligible studies were subjected to bias assessment. Extracted data from eligible studies were synthesized using narrative synthesis.

Results

Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The 18 studies correspond to a total of 638 patients diagnosed with different types of PNS mucoceles, with males being the highest incidence of patients. Frontal, ethmoid, and fronto-ethmoidal mucoceles had the highest incidences (26.36%, 24.03%, and 23.29%, respectively). Orbital-bony defects, such as disruption and breach of the lamina papyracea, orbital wall erosion, and skull base erosion, were reported as the damage mostly caused by frontal and ethmoidal mucoceles. Ophthalmic manifestations such as proptosis, diplopia, ptosis, preorbital swelling, epiphora, vision problems, and exophthalmos were reported to occur in any type of the PNS mucoceles but are more common in mucoceles in the anterior sinuses.

Conclusions

The narrative review summarizes the distortion of PNS mucoceles to craniofacial-orbital anatomy. Findings from this review will help to create more awareness of the extent of possible distortion that PNS mucoceles could have on craniofacial-orbital anatomy.
Validation of dynamic response of a 2-MW hybrid-spar floating wind turbine during power production
Authors: Tanaka Koji , Iwamoto Atsuhiro , Utsunomiya Tomoaki
Published: January 2025

Accurate estimation of the dynamic response of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs) are essential for the design and development of FOWTs to ensure their safety and reliability. Up to now, extensive efforts for the development of design tools for FOWTs have been made, and nowadays several design tools are available. The simulation tools have been validated using water tank experimental data and comparisons between codes. Although validation using full-scale FOWT has been performed, there are few published literatures publicly available. In this paper, we describe a simulation of the dynamic response of a 2-MW spar-type FOWT during power production in an actual sea area. Simulation of the dynamic response of FOWT in a power production state is described using Adams with SparDyn which has already been validated by simulations and measurements during typhoon in actual sea areas. Five cases were selected from low to high wind speed range during power production. Numerical simulations were performed using time-series data of wind speed, wind direction, wave height, wave direction, current speed and current direction obtained during power production. Comparisons have shown good agreement between the simulated and the measured values. The effect of tower shadows was also examined.
Teachers’ collaborative knowledge building in professional learning communities: connecting interaction patterns to learning gains
Authors: Hendrickx Marloes M. H. G. , Thurlings Marieke C. G. , Den Brok Perry
Published: January 2025

Teacher professional learning communities (PLCs) have the potential to result in teacher professional development, provided that effective communication takes place during PLC meetings. Building on the perspective of collaborative knowledge building, this study examined teachers’ interaction patterns during these meetings. Connections were explored between teachers’ self-perceived learning gains from a PLC and the interaction patterns that occurred. From a larger set of PLCs in the Netherlands, four cases were selected that differed regarding teachers’ learning gains profiles. Orbital decomposition analysis, a technique used to study emerging patterns in complex dynamic systems, was used to examine the extent to which interaction patterns were characterized by conversational moves associated with knowledge building. Results from these analyses showed that in general, all PLCs showed relatively few knowledge-building patterns. However, the low-gains PLC was a bit more focused on exchanging information and opinions. High-gains PLCs’ interactions were characterized more by open and involved communication. Conversation in mixed-gains PLCs revealed a connection between teachers’ knowledge gains and question–answer patterns, and between teachers’ changes in beliefs and elaborating upon opinions. Together, these results point to qualitative differences in the interactions of teacher PLCs who experience higher versus lower learning gains. Implications for the role of the facilitator are discussed.
“You’re in an Image of a Man but Not a Man”: A Qualitative Analysis of Intersectional Stigma Among Men with HIV Experiencing Subfertility in Rural Southwestern Uganda
Authors: Pratt Madeline C. , Owembabazi Moran M. , Menninger Alex T. , Kanini Eunice , Kansiime B. Rosemary , Smith Patricia M. , Turan Janet M. , Matthews Lynn T. , Atukunda Esther C.
Published: January 2025

Many men with HIV (MWH) want to have children and may encounter HIV- and infertility-related stigma experiences. Integration of reproductive health and HIV care for men is rare. When available, safer conception care focuses on HIV prevention but lacks fertility support. We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews in Uganda with 30 MWH who desired more children and self-reported no partner pregnancy after 12 or more months of conception attempts. We separately interviewed 10 female partners. Interviews explored stigma experiences and factors impacting engagement in HIV and reproductive care. We used vignettes to elicit responses to stories of couples experiencing challenges of HIV and subfertility. The study team discussed, coded, and analyzed data from individual participant interview transcripts, inductively identifying emergent themes. The following overarching themes emerged: (1) Reproductive goals often take priority over HIV prevention among HIV-affected couples in this context, influenced by multi-level subfertility stigma in society. (2) MWH may pursue behaviors that increase risk of HIV transmission to meet their reproductive goals. (3) Men and women are eager to maintain their primary partnerships, prevent HIV transmission, and meet their reproductive goals with guidance from healthcare providers. Further research is needed on the causes of subfertility and infertility among HIV-affected couples in East Africa to better support their conception goals. Additionally, studies on the intersection of HIV and infertility stigma in high-fertility, high-HIV prevalence areas are essential for designing interventions that meet couples’ social, emotional, and medical needs.
Transformer-based neural marked spatio temporal point process model for analyzing football match events
Authors: Yeung Calvin , Sit Tony , Fujii Keisuke
Published: January 2025

Predictive modeling plays a crucial role in machine learning, data analysis, and statistics. In sports, predictive modeling methods have emerged to provide insights and evaluate performances based on key performance metrics. However, most existing models tend to focus on predicting only partial aspects of an event, such as the outcome, action type, or location, while neglecting the temporal factors involved. To address this gap, this study introduces the Transformer-Based Neural Marked Spatio-Temporal Point Process (NMSTPP) model, specifically designed for football event data. The NMSTPP model predicts a comprehensive set of future event components, including inter-event time, zone, and action. Additionally, it features a dependent prediction layers architecture to enhance model performance. The Holistic Possession Utilization Score (HPUS) metric is also proposed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of possession periods in football based on the NMSTPP model. With open-source football event data, the NMSTPP model successfully predicted the aforementioned three components of future events, with an improvement of up to 4% overall and 9% for individual components compared to baseline models. The HPUS demonstrated a 0.9 correlation with existing performance metrics, highlighting its utility in performance evaluation. The NMSTPP and HPUS were applied to the Premier League to demonstrate their practical feasibility.
Adsorption-Assisted Photocatalytic Degradation of Anionic Direct Yellow-50 and Cationic Methylene Blue Dyes by Chemically Synthesized Poly(1,5-diaminoanthraquinone)
Authors: Akıllı Aleyna , Özler Ayşenur , Taymaz Bircan Haspulat , Hancı Ahmet , Eskizeybek Volkan , Kamış Handan
Published: January 2025

Conducting polymers renowned for their exceptional photocatalytic activity, conductivity, and visible-light absorption capabilities present a compelling alternative for advanced photocatalytic applications. In this regard, the creation of conductive polymers of the next generation has enormous promise for improving energy efficiency as well as solving environmental issues. In this study, the conductive polymer poly(1,5-diaminoanthraquinone) (PDAAQ) with a band gap of 1.28 eV and an electrical conductivity of 1.23 S/cm was successfully synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization using ammonium peroxydisulfate as an oxidant and perchloric acid as an initiator in an acetonitrile polymerization medium. The adsorption-assisted photocatalytic performance of PDAAQ has been investigated in cationic methylene blue (MB) and an anionic direct yellow (DY) dye under visible irradiation. The effect of polymerization medium, oxidant type, polymerization time, and monomer oxidant ratio on adsorption-assisted photocatalytic degradation of MB was investigated. The synthesized PDAAQ polymer demonstrates exceptional photocatalytic performance, completely degrading MB and DYE dyes under visible light illumination in 6 and 8 min through an adsorption-assisted photocatalysis mechanism. Besides, the photocatalytic dye degradation performance of PDAAQ was investigated for the degradation of synthetic wastewater (SWW) under visible light. The PDAAQ polymer proves to be an effective photocatalyst for photocatalytic applications, showcasing exceptional potential in degrading model dyes and treating synthetic wastewater.
Physical properties of chlorophyll–quinone conjugates prepared via Friedel–Crafts reaction
Authors: Kichishima Saki , Sakaguchi Kana , Tamiaki Hitoshi
Published: January 2025

Pheophytin-a derivatives possessing plastoquinone and phylloquinone analogs in the peripheral 3-substituent were prepared by Friedel–Crafts reactions of a 3-hydroxymethyl-chlorin as one of the chlorophyll-a derivatives with benzo- and naphthohydroquinones, respectively, and successive oxidation of the 1,4-dihydroxy-aryl groups in the resulting dehydration products. The 3-quinonylmethyl-chlorins exhibited ultraviolet–visible absorption and circular dichroism spectra in acetonitrile, which were composed of those of the starting 3-hydroxymethyl-chlorin and the corresponding methylated benzo- and naphthoquinones. No intramolecular interaction between the chlorin and quinone π-systems was observed in the solution owing to the methylene spacer. The first reduction potentials of the quinone moieties in the synthetic conjugates were determined by cyclic voltammetry and shifted positively from those of the reference quinones. The former quinonyl groups were reduced more readily by approximately 0.1 V than the latter quinones, which was ascribable to the stabilization of the quinonyl anion radical by the nearby macrocyclic chlorin π-chromophore. This observation implied that the reduction potentials of quinones were regulated by the close pheophytin-a derivative by through-space interaction. Considering the charge shift from pheophytin-a anion radical to plastoquinone and phylloquinone in reaction centers of photosystems II and I, respectively, the reduction potentials of these quinones as a determinant factor of the rapid electron transfer process would be dependent on the pheophytin-a in the photosynthetic reaction centers of oxygenic phototrophs as well as on the neighboring peptides.
African and Western Conceptions of Death and Dying: The Role of Ancestors, the Enduring Past and the Meaning of Life
Authors: Freerks Vanessa Anne-Cecile
Published: January 2025

In his article, Attoe (2023a) claims that the African conception of death presupposes the meaninglessness of life and in the first section of this article, I outline Attoe’s strong pessimistic approach to meaning in light of our mortality. In my second section, I suggest that Frankl’s comments about the permanence of the past offer a different approach to the meaning of life in light of our mortality. In tune with Frankl’s idea that when we die our completed lives endure as part of the past, I touch upon some of the literature on the “digital afterlife.” Specifically, I look at how the digital age reconfigures our understanding of modernity’s rupture between living and dying, the living and the hereafter. In light of Frankl, I also go on to draw on Deleuze’s reading of the concept of “duration” (la durée) and the latter’s idea of a “world memory” to consolidate my point against Attoe’s reductively presentist and individualist approach to the meaning of life. Returning to the African tradition in my last section I argue that death does not take anything away from the meaning of life as Attoe claims and the strength of the African tradition is that it is based on the ambivalence between life and death. In the process, I refer to Baudrillard’s concept of “symbolic exchange” along with his genealogy of the exclusion of death in modernity. I take a cross-cultural approach by intertwining individual representatives of the African philosophical tradition with Western ones. Against Attoe’s individualist stance, I take a relational approach and I pay close attention to social practices and myths, because maintaining a connection between the living and the dead, subject and objects as well as acknowledging the symbolic sphere of the “ancestors” is significant. When we focus exclusively on “how to live” as Attoe (2023a: 13) suggests we should, this does not in my view profit life. Although life is shielded from death it must end in death, a death now devoid of symbolic meaning. In the footsteps of Nietzsche, Baudrillard’s symbolism of exchange contests all forms of self-preservation, as a limit to life-affirmation.
Adaptation into Basque language and validation of the Barthel Index, EQ-5D-5L and PHQ-9 questionnaires in adult patients
Authors: Mestre Daniela , Orive Miren , Gascón María , Bilbao-González Amaia , Erkoreka Leire , González Nerea , Quintana Jose M.
Published: January 2025

Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) tools are limited resources in Basque, co-official language in Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. The aim of this study was to translate and adapt Basque Barthel Index (BI) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and to validate them along with Basque EQ-5D-5L. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out to assess the psychometric properties of Basque questionnaires. We recruited Basque speaking adults suffering from diabetes mellitus, heart failure, respiratory or musculoskeletal diseases and a convenience sample (overall n = 347) via post mail, all of them covered by the Galdakao-Usansolo University Hospital. Participants were classified depending on the number of comorbidities and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). BI and PHQ-9 were translated to Basque and back-translated to Spanish and English, respectively. Basque EQ-5D-5L was already available. The comprehensibility and feasibility of instruments were evaluated by cognitive debriefing interviews. Reliability (Cronbach’s alpha), factor analysis, convergent validity and known-groups validity were assessed. Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.93 for BI, 0.85 for EQ-5D-5L and 0.89 for PHQ-9. Each tool fit into its own single dimension. Three questionnaires correlated independently (each one’s ρ > 0.4, p < .0001) with the physical component (PCS) of Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the PHQ-9 with the mental component (MCS) of SF-36, confirming the convergent validity. All the instruments detected differences depending on the number of comorbidities or CCI, demonstrating the known-groups validity. Basque BI, EQ-5D-5L and PHQ-9 are reliable and valid tools that satisfy the psychometric quality requirements for use in clinical practice and research studies.
Wind impacts on buildings in Hong Kong during super Typhoon Mangkhut
Authors: Wang Huanhuan , Wang Qun , Fu Zhaowan , Tang Jia , Chan Pak Wai , Zheng Xing
Published: January 2025

Typhoons, among the most devastating natural hazards, have caused billions in property losses and posed significant threats to human safety globally. Damage to urban structures, particularly building windows, constitutes a major component of direct losses caused by typhoons. This study investigates wind impacts on buildings using large-eddy simulations (LES) in three neighbourhoods where window shattering occurred in Hong Kong during Typhoon Mangkhut. The focus is on three buildings among which two had shattered window glass multiple times in the past years during typhoons. It is commonly believed that wind pressure exceeding a threshold for window breakage is the primary cause. However, our results indicate that the maximum pressure on target walls where window breakage occurred can only reach up to −1.90 kPa, which does not exceed the threshold of the Hong Kong standard for curtain walls set at −2.86 kPa. The maximum pressure in the neighborhood can reach up to −5.47 kPa, occurring in regions of high wind speed downstream of the tallest buildings, where the Venturi effect and downwash effect combine. Although the wind speed and pressure are not as high as expected, the turbulence kinetic energy is extremely high. Therefore, designing curtain walls may need to consider wind speed, pressure, and turbulence to ensure structural resilience and safety.
Examination of adolescent and youth modern contraceptive users’ perceptions on how religion influences contraceptive use and their rationale and circumstances of use: qualitative evidence from Burkina Faso, Kenya and Niger
Authors: Speizer Ilene S. , Bazie Fiacre , Maytan-Joneydi Amelia , Mushomi John A. , Chaibou Sanoussi , Boukary Kindo , Agali Balki Ibrahim , Rwenyo Julius
Published: January 2025

While religion is a key determining factor of contraceptive use, few studies examine how religion influences adolescent and youth contraceptive attitudes, beliefs, and use. We use recently collected (August–November 2022) qualitative data from Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Niger among young users of modern contraception who practice Christianity or Islam. In-depth interviews with married and unmarried young women ages 18–24 years were conducted in two sites in each country to obtain a mix of religions and method users. In each country, many young Christian and Muslim women perceived that their religion is not supportive of contraceptive use. Some nuances around perceived acceptability of use were identified in Niger and among Muslim women in Kenya particularly for married women for spacing or health reasons. Reasons given for using related to realities of life, personal choices, and that use is their prerogative and God will forgive them. Most married women felt there would be few consequences if their religious community learned of their use whereas unmarried young women feared more consequences from their religious and broader community. These findings demonstrate that while religion is important in all three study contexts, decisions around contraceptive use among the young women included were not necessarily influenced by their religious beliefs and practices. As a greater number of young people adopt contraception, with or without perceived religious support, social norms are likely to change leading to increased access to contraception for all young women, married and unmarried, when or if they need it.
An extended state repetitive observer formulation for periodic/polynomial signal rejection in feedback control schemes
Authors: Coral-Enriquez Horacio , Otero-Leal Jeisson E. , Cortés-Romero John
Published: January 2025

Repetitive control is a renowned method for managing periodic disturbances and references in control systems. Despite its effectiveness, performance issues arise when confronting disturbances like polynomial or sinusoidal signals. To enhance its capability, we introduce an extended state repetitive observer by incorporating internal models of periodic, sinusoidal, and polynomial signals into a novel observer framework. This design empowers the observer to adeptly reject and track both periodic and combined sinusoidal+polynomial signals. Beyond addressing the limitations of traditional repetitive control, our observer offers precise disturbance estimation for further analysis and feedback implementation. The observer’s performance is demonstrated through experimental validation within a control setup across various scenarios, focusing on its ability to reject periodic disturbances and track periodic signals effectively.
Pride in Asia
Authors: Rowlett Benedict J. L. , Saisuwan Pavadee , Go Christian , Chen Li-Chi , Hiramoto Mie
Published: January 2025

This Element provides a transregional overview of Pride in Asia, exploring the multifaceted nature of Pride in contemporary LGBTQIA+ events in Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This collaborative research that combines individual studies draws on linguistic landscapes as an analytical and methodological approach. Each section examines the different manifestations of Pride as a discourse and the ways in which affordances and limitations of how discourse facilitates social, political, and cultural projects of LGBTQIA+ people in Asia, illustrating both commonalities and specificities in Asian Pride movements. Analyzing a variety of materials such as protest signs, t-shirts, and media reports, each section illustrates how modes of semiosis, through practice, intersect notions of gender and sexuality with broader social and political formations. The authors thus emphasize the need to view Pride not as a uniform global phenomenon but as a dynamic, locally shaped expression of LGBTQIA+ solidarity.
Mitigation of flow separation in a highly bent intake duct with active and passive flow control
Authors: Max P. , Stößel M. , Kožulović D. , Krummenauer M.
Published: January 2025

Typically, the fuselage of a modern military aircraft is designed in such a way that the propulsion system is integrated into it. The main reasons are reduction of installation space and minimisation of radar signature. Those requirements can be achieved by using highly bent engine intakes, which are occluding a direct line of sight to the compressor system. Depending on their design, secondary flows and flow separation can be expected due to the strong curvature of the intake system. In this study, a serpentine intake in front of the Larzac 04 test engine is investigated experimentally and its performance compared with and without flow stabilising measures. In detail, a configuration with vortex generators was compared experimentally with a configuration of active flow control by injected air. In order to analyse and compare the efficiency of both systems, the dimensionless total pressure coefficient, the distortion coefficient (DC60) and detailed surface pressure distributions as well as the aerodynamic interface plane are evaluated. In addition, different throttle lines were recorded for surge line evaluation of the low pressure compressor of the Larzac engine and compared for each flow-stabilising measure investigated. It was found that the application of injecting air showed a larger improvement in surge margin and reduction in distortion coefficients compared to the passive flow control.
Effects of personality, motives, and socioeconomics on hard cider consumption
Authors: Gustavsen Geir W. , Rickertsen Kyrre
Published: January 2025

We used a survey to investigate the effects of personality, motives, and socioeconomics for drinking hard cider among 3,373 Norwegian respondents in 2023. Wine interest, cultural interest, having a high score on conspicuous attitude, or being female increased the predicted consumption frequencies of hard cider. Scoring high on the taste index, being a conscientious respondent, being older, higher educated, or believing religion is important reduced the predicted frequencies. The estimated effects were compared with the corresponding effects for red, white, and sparkling wines. Cultural interest and wine interest are the main motives for hard cider and all categories of wine.
‘La Nación y la Emigración’: How Post-Soviet Era Cuba Designed its Diaspora Statecraft
Authors: Kami Hideaki
Published: January 2025

This article assesses the inner workings of Cuban diaspora statecraft behind the ‘La Nación y la Emigración’ Conference, post-Soviet era Cuba's first major outreach to the Cuban community abroad. In contrast to works observing how changing emigration demographics might have transformed Cuba, this study argues that the Cuban state purposefully tried to reshape the homeland–diaspora relationship through the design of its emigration strategies. Because the Cuban geopolitics of mobility had profound security, economic and ideological implications, the leadership discussed not just how to neutralise the counterrevolution abroad but how to address both the diaspora's needs and popular sentiment at home.
Human–elephant conflict in expanding Asian elephant range in east-central India: implications for conservation and management
Authors: Natarajan Lakshminarayanan , Nigam Parag , Pandav Bivash
Published: January 2025

Chhattisgarh, India, harbours a metapopulation of 250–300 Asian elephants Elephas maximus that has expanded its range from neighbouring states since 2000. Elephants in the state occur across a mosaic of forests interspersed with agricultural settlements, leading to frequent interactions with people, some of which culminate in conflict. We assessed patterns of crop losses as a result of elephant incursions, at two spatial scales. We found widespread crop losses, with 1,426 settlements in and around 10 forest divisions and four protected areas reporting elephant-related crop losses during 2015–2020. At the landscape scale, spanning c. 39,000 km2, intensity of habitat use by elephants, forest cover and number of forest patches explained variations in intensity of crop losses. At a finer spatial scale, covering c. 1,200 km2 of forest–agriculture matrix in Surguja, probability of crop loss was low near roads but high close to forest patches and was also affected by patch heterogeneity. Both male and female elephant groups fed on crops. As areas with high crop losses are also areas used intensively by elephants, management to increase elephant occupancy in relatively large and connected forest patches is imperative, to minimize crop losses and improve elephant conservation. Concomitantly, expansion of elephant range into agricultural areas that lack forests should be discouraged. In forest divisions, options to reduce negative human–elephant interactions include institutionalizing elephant monitoring, transparent and prompt ex gratia payment for crop losses, and the use of portable physical barriers.
Last I heard: on the use of evidential last I fragments
Authors: MUSTAFA OZAN , KALTENBÖCK GUNTHER
Published: January 2025

This study investigates fragments of the type last I heard/checked based on data from the Corpus of Contemporary American English, which shows a steep increase in frequency for this construction in recent decades. Syntactically, ‘last I fragments’ are disjuncts that are positionally mobile with respect to their host clause and their ‘elliptical’ form can be linked to different ‘full’ forms, viz. specificational sentences and temporal adjuncts. Functionally, their underlying evidential meaning gives rise to different, more specific discourse functions depending on contextual use: viz. downtoner, booster and ironic use. A comparison with unreduced (full) forms shows that these fragments are more likely to have evidential meaning, with reduced form thus acting as an important functional signal. Finally, it is argued that their grammatical status is best captured by a constructional account, which identifies them as constructionalizing units, rather than a simple ellipsis account.
Ellipsis meets the reactive what-x construction in English
Authors: NYKIEL JOANNA , PÕLDVERE NELE
Published: January 2025

We suggest a novel theoretical analysis of what is known as the reactive what-x construction. This construction, which has recently been noticed and described in Põldvere & Paradis (2019, 2020), has primarily clarificational properties and requires the presence of an antecedent in the preceding context. We begin by summarizing its syntactic properties and main functions, based on data drawn from the London–Lund Corpora of spoken British English, and then address a pattern that has escaped notice thus far, i.e. that the majority of the instances of this construction feature a type of ellipsis known as fragments. Departing from the analysis articulated in Põldvere & Paradis (2020), we present one that captures the elliptical properties of the reactive what-x construction by assimilating it to two classes of fragments: those serving as reprise utterances and those serving as direct utterances. Our analysis relies on Ginzburg & Sag's (2000) detailed analysis of reprise and direct fragments couched within a non-sententialist approach to ellipsis. This allows us to analyze the reactive what-x construction as a type of an in-situ interrogative clause whose elliptical properties are licensed by a version of the constraint Ginzburg & Sag (2000) use to license fragments.
Is structural priming a possible mechanism of language change in heritage language grammars? Some evidence from accusative clitic doubling in Spanish
Authors: Hurtado Irati , Montrul Silvina
Published: January 2025

The language of heritage speakers is characterized by variability and structural innovations compared to the baseline grammar of first-generation immigrants. Although many factors contribute to these differences, this study considers structural priming with structures that do not exist in the majority language as a potential mechanism for language change. The linguistic focus is accusative clitic doubling, which exists in some Spanish varieties, but which is unacceptable in others. Our research examined how flexible heritage speakers’ grammars are compared to baseline speakers, and to what extent heritage speakers adopt structures attested in the diachronic development and in other varieties of their heritage language. In two studies, we tested the acceptability of accusative clitic doubling and primed accusative clitic doubling in oral production. Results showed that heritage speakers of Spanish are somewhat accepting of innovative structures and more sensitive to structural priming compared to baseline speakers, who are generally not.
A compositional approach to modeling cause-specific mortality with zero counts
Authors: Dong Zhe Michelle , Shang Han Lin , Hui Francis , Bruhn Aaron
Published: January 2025

Understanding and forecasting mortality by cause is an essential branch of actuarial science, with wide-ranging implications for decision-makers in public policy and industry. To accurately capture trends in cause-specific mortality, it is critical to consider dependencies between causes of death and produce forecasts by age and cause coherent with aggregate mortality forecasts. One way to achieve these aims is to model cause-specific deaths using compositional data analysis (CODA), treating the density of deaths by age and cause as a set of dependent, nonnegative values that sum to one. A major drawback of standard CODA methods is the challenge of zero values, which frequently occur in cause-of-death mortality modeling. Thus, we propose using a compositional power transformation, the

$\alpha$

-transformation, to model cause-specific life-table death counts. The

$\alpha$

-transformation offers a statistically rigorous approach to handling zero value subgroups in CODA compared to ad hoc techniques: adding an arbitrarily small amount. We illustrate the

$\alpha$

-transformation in England and Wales and US death counts by cause from the Human Cause-of-Death database, for cardiovascular-related causes of death. The results demonstrate the

$\alpha$

-transformation improves forecast accuracy of cause-specific life-table death counts compared with log-ratio-based CODA transformations. The forecasts suggest declines in the proportions of deaths from major cardiovascular causes (myocardial infarction and other ischemic heart diseases).