bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research Review: A review of the past decade of family and genomic studies on adolescent mental health
Authors: Morneau‐Vaillancourt Geneviève , Palaiologou Elisavet , Polderman Tinca J.C. , Eley Thalia C.
Published: December 2024

Background

Mental health problems and traits capturing psychopathology are common and often begin during adolescence. Decades of twin studies indicate that genetic factors explain around 50% of individual differences in adolescent psychopathology. In recent years, significant advances, particularly in genomics, have moved this work towards more translational findings.

Methods

This review provides an overview of the past decade of genetically sensitive studies on adolescent development, covering both family and genomic studies in adolescents aged 10–24 years. We focus on five research themes: (1) co‐occurrence or comorbidity between psychopathologies, (2) stability and change over time, (3) intergenerational transmission, (4) gene–environment interplay, and (5) psychological treatment outcomes.

Results

First, research shows that much of the co‐occurrence of psychopathologies in adolescence is explained by genetic factors, with widespread pleiotropic influences on many traits. Second, stability in psychopathology across adolescence is largely explained by persistent genetic influences, whereas change is explained by emerging genetic and environmental influences. Third, contemporary twin‐family studies suggest that different co‐occurring genetic and environmental mechanisms may account for the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology, with some differences across psychopathologies. Fourth, genetic influences on adolescent psychopathology are correlated with a wide range of environmental exposures. However, the extent to which genetic factors interact with the environment remains unclear, as findings from both twin and genomic studies are inconsistent. Finally, a few studies suggest that genetic factors may play a role in psychological treatment response, but these findings have not yet been replicated.

Conclusions

Genetically sensitive research on adolescent psychopathology has progressed significantly in the past decade, with family and twin findings starting to be replicated at the genomic level. However, important gaps remain in the literature, and we conclude by providing suggestions of research questions that still need to be addressed.
European S2k guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa part 2: Treatment
Authors: Zouboulis C. C. , Bechara F. G. , Benhadou F. , Bettoli V. , Bukvić Mokos Z. , Del Marmol V. , Dolenc‐Voljč M. , Giamarellos‐Bourboulis E. J. , Grimstad Ø. , Guillem P. , Horváth B. , Hunger R. E. , Ingram J. R. , Ioannidis D. , Just E. , Kemény L. , Kirby B. , Liakou A. I. , McGrath B. M. , Marzano A. V. , Matusiak Ł. , Molina‐Leyva A. , Nassif A. , Podda M. , Prens E. P. , Prignano F. , Raynal H. , Romanelli M. , Saunte D. M. L. , Szegedi A. , Szepietowski J. C. , Tzellos T. , Valiukevičienė S. , van der Zee H. H. , van Straalen K. R. , Villumsen B. , Jemec G. B. E.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

This second part of the S2k guidelines is an update of the 2015 S1 European guidelines.

Objective

These guidelines aim to provide an accepted decision aid for the selection, implementation and assessment of appropriate and sufficient therapy for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS).

Methods

The chapters have been selected after a Delphi procedure among the experts/authors. Certain passages have been adopted without changes from the previous version. Potential treatment complications are not included, being beyond the scope of these guidelines.

Results

Since the S1 guidelines publication, validation of new therapeutic approaches has almost completely overhauled the knowledge in the field of HS treatment. Inflammatory nodules/abscesses/draining tunnels are the primary lesions, which enable the classification of the disease severity by new validated tools. In relation to the degree of detectable inflammation, HS is classified into the inflammatory and the predominantly non‐inflammatory forms. While the intensity of the inflammatory form can be subdivided by the IHS4 classification in mild, moderate and severe HS and is treated by medication accordingly, the decision on surgical treatment of the predominantly non‐inflammatory form is based on the Hurley stage of the affected localization. The effectiveness of oral tetracyclines as an alternative to the oral combination of clindamycin/rifampicin should be noted. The duration of systemic antibiotic therapy can be shortened by a 5‐day intravenous clindamycin treatment. Adalimumab, secukinumab and bimekizumab subcutaneous administration has been approved by the EMA for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe HS. Various surgical procedures are available for the predominantly non‐inflammatory form of the disease. The combination of a medical therapy to reduce inflammation with a surgical procedure to remove irreversible tissue damage is currently considered a holistic therapeutic approach.

Conclusions

Suitable therapeutic options while considering HS severity in the therapeutic algorithm according to standardized criteria are aimed at ensuring a proper therapy.
Unravelling Education Needs for Clinical Practice Guideline Development: A Survey Performed in the Netherlands
Authors: de Mortier Chloé A. , Klein Haneveld Mirthe J. , Verstegen Daniëlle M. L. , van Mastrigt Ghislaine A. P. G. , Paulus Aggie T. G. , Evers Silvia M. A. A. , Dreesens Dunja H. H. , Majoie Marian H. J. M.
Published: December 2024

Objective

The development of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) has evolved into a rigorous and complex process. There is a need for training of CPG developers including methodologists, panel members and patient representatives. This study explored the educational needs and experiences of CPG developers, with specific attention to the patient perspective and economic considerations.

Study Design and Setting

An anonymised mixed‐method survey was distributed among CPG developers and panel members in the Netherlands. The survey, developed in collaboration with Dutch CPG development organisations and patient organisations, aimed to capture insights into the developers' roles, training needs, and the incorporation of economic considerations and patient perspectives in CPG development. Data analysis involved qualitative content analysis and descriptive quantitative analysis.

Results

A total of 271 responses were analysed. Respondents described role‐specific tasks and tasks overlapping between roles. Experience, guidance, and training influenced the respondents' feeling of preparedness for their tasks. Respondents expressed the need for content‐related training, including CPG development methodology. They also raised the importance of process‐related topics in training, such as the inclusion of different perspectives and responsibilities during CPG development. About half of the respondents (46%) indicated that economic considerations were included in their CPGs, however, there was no uniformity in approach. The patient perspective was included by 89% of the respondents, also in varying manners. Overall, respondents underscored the importance of both topics in CPG development (training) to ensure a future‐proof healthcare system.

Conclusion

This study underscores the importance of tailored CPG development training programmes addressing the specific competencies required for the different roles in CPG development. Thereby, recognising a holistic approach encompassing both content‐ and process‐related aspects. Addressing economic considerations and the patient perspective in training will contribute to CPGs that support a patient‐centred and sustainable healthcare system.
Peacebuilding and the Use of Force: A Review Essay
Authors: Kelsay John
Published: December 2024

Discussion of the ethics of war has long been a subject of essays published in the Journal of Religious Ethics (JRE). This essay focuses on three recent books that deal with various aspects of that topic. It begins with a discussion of Lisa Cahill's advocacy for peacebuilding as an expression of Christian discipleship, then turns to works on the topic of limited force by Daniel Brunstetter and Christian Braun. It concludes with comments about the role of theology in these works, and stresses the importance of statecraft for just war thinking.
Time's up! How Rising Wages and Time Stress Shapes Green Preferences
Authors: Babutsidze Zakaria , Chai Andreas
Published: December 2024

Many important pro‐environmental conservation practices do not only require money, but they also require time. This paper examines what role the shadow price of time plays in shaping green preferences across different behavioral domains. Using household production theory, we develop a simple model of “selfish” green consumer behavior that predicts how (i) rising wages and (ii) longer working hours influence how consumers trade‐off between purchasing relatively expensive green goods and engaging in time‐intensive conservation practices. The model predicts that rising wages will increase the consumer's Willingness To Pay (WTP) for green goods, but also reduce their propensity to adopt time‐intensive conservation practices. A second prediction is that self‐perceived financial stress and time stress will have asymmetric effects on inhibiting the adoption of green purchasing and conservation practices. Although time stress is predicted to have no significant influence on consumers' tendency to purchase green goods, it will inhibit the consumers' tendency to engage in time‐intensive conservation practices. The reverse is true for financial stress. Empirical evidence sourced from a French household survey supports these hypotheses and policy implications are discussed.
Is the Rising US Debt Sustainable: An Analysis of Primary Balance, Economic Growth, and Real Interest Rate
Authors: Khan Aman , Murova Olga
Published: December 2024

The rising US debt has been a concern for a long time, but the United States is not the only country with a long history of debt. Almost every country in the world, advanced and developing, has a debt history, but it is the size of the debt and the rate at which it has been growing that has increasingly become a concern, raising questions about its sustainability. Recent CBO projections have also raised similar concerns about the rising US debt. This paper examines the question of US debt sustainability, based on an established model of debt sustainability, with a limited range of realistic assumptions.
Compliance burden versus program integrity protection: A survey experiment on citizen attitudes toward administrative documentation requirements in public service policy
Authors: Stenderup Rasmus , Pedersen Mogens Jin
Published: December 2024

Public services often require formal documentation from citizens or public employees. Although these administrative requirements are commonly viewed as burdensome, they play a critical role in safeguarding program integrity. Drawing from a pre‐registered survey experiment conducted among Danish residents (n = 2004), this article examines citizen attitudes toward policy reforms that either intensify or alleviate the burden of formal documentation requirements. We analyze how these contrasting types of policy reforms shape citizen support, with a particular emphasis on the trade‐off between compliance burden and program integrity protection. Furthermore, the impact of whether these changes in requirements apply to citizens or public employees is explored. Our findings suggest a general preference among citizens for the removal of administrative documentation requirements aimed at protecting program integrity, regardless of whether they apply to citizens or public employees. These attitudes appear influenced by political ideology, personal experience, and the specific policy area context.
Impact of cartoon‐animated video, caregiver‐supervised training, and pamphlet on plaque control, oral hygiene status, and oral hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practices in orphaned adolescents: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: K Kasthuripriya , M Senthil , Kumar Ram Surath , Hebbal Mamata , Kangusamy Boopathi
Published: December 2024

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of cartoon animated video, caregiver‐supervised training, and pamphlet‐based oral health education on plaque control, oral hygiene status, and oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among orphaned adolescents with plaque‐induced gingivitis.

Methods

A total of ninety adolescents were randomly selected and allocated into three different groups. Group A received the pamphlet (n = 30), Group B received the cartoon animated video (n = 30), and Group C received the caregiver‐supervised training (n = 30). A two‐stage random sampling methodology was employed to select orphanages and the study population in Puducherry, India. Clinical examinations were conducted using the plaque index and simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI‐S), and a pre‐validated questionnaire was administered to assess oral hygiene KAP, which were recorded at baseline, 3‐month, and 6‐month intervals.

Results

All three groups experienced statistically significant reductions in plaque scores (from 3.7 ± 0.8 to 0.9 ± 0.2 in the pamphlet group, 3.9 ± 0.8 to 0.4 ± 0.2 in the animated video group, and 3.6 ± 0.8 to 0.7 ± 0.1 in the caregiver group) and OHI‐S scores (from 3.9 ± 0.6 to 1.3 ± 0.3, 3.7 ± 0.5 to 1.0 ± 0.2, and 3.9 ± 0.7 to 0.5 ± 0.1, respectively). Notably, the caregiver‐based training and animated video methods demonstrated superior outcomes in reducing dental plaque and improving oral hygiene, while also an increase in the KAP scores compared to the pamphlet method.

Conclusion

Both caregiver‐supervised training and cartoon animated video methods proved to be more effective than the pamphlet method on plaque control and improvement of oral hygiene status, oral health knowledge, attitude, and its application in oral hygiene maintenance.
‘Seasons of the Anthropocene’: Politicization of the haze season in Southeast Asia
Authors: Varkkey Helena , Liu Felicia , Smith Thomas , Trott Sophie
Published: December 2024

Over the past three decades, a new ‘haze season’ has emerged in the public discourse in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The semantic construction of ‘haze season’ signifies societal acknowledgement of recurring and hazardous air pollution episodes caused by the widespread burning of tropical peatlands. This study problematizes the underlying political ecology of the discursive framing of haze as ‘seasonal.’ Through a comprehensive discourse analysis of news media and government/corporate/NGO documents, this paper identifies and analyses three storylines used by divergent groups of actors seeking to attribute meaning and value to haze: (1) ‘it keeps coming back’; (2) ‘it will go away’; and (3) ‘it is normal’. Political actors draw upon these storylines to meet their distinctive political and ecological objectives. Divergent framing of seasonality by different actors reveals some of the mechanisms influencing haze mitigation and adaptation. Our study highlights the importance of unearthing and interrogating the underlying politics involved in constructing ‘seasons of the Anthropocene’. The semantic construction and popularization of ‘seasonality’ for anthropogenic environmental events can be a double‐edged sword, with familiarity enhancing societal preparedness, while normalization can lead to desensitization and inertia towards mitigation. Untangling the divergent pathways of politicizing Anthropocene seasonalities is key to determining whether and how societies can build a ‘liveable future’.
Passive endurance: An analysis of barriers to aid among Flemish farmers
Authors: Adam Jeroen , Messely Lies , Prové Charlotte , Sanders Arthur
Published: December 2024

This article aims at uncovering why many farmers in Flanders, Belgium experience barriers in accessing aid services when confronted with problems. With this objective in mind, individual interviews and focus group discussions were conducted, reaching a total of 77 farmers. Based on these interviews, it will be illustrated how these barriers are rooted in a generalised ‘passive endurance’. This passive endurance points on the one hand at values of hard work, resilience and toughness. On the other hand, this concept points at a sense of resignation and disbelief that certain challenges can be overcome. It will be argued that this passive endurance acts as a major barrier to accessing aid services, as preference is given to continue established daily routines in farm organisations and the added value of aid services is systematically criticised and questioned.
Effects of virtual reality technology on anxiety and depression in older adults with chronic diseases: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Yang Jing , Li Yue , Gao Di , Xie Xuemei , Ji Wenting , Gao Jing
Published: December 2024

Background

Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) technology in many application areas. However, there is a clear gap in the literature regarding its effects on depression and anxiety in older adults with chronic diseases.

Aims

This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of VR interventions for depression and anxiety in older adults with chronic diseases.

Methods

Seven electronic databases were systematically searched from their inception to April 9, 2024. Two researchers evaluated methodological quality using RoB (version 2.0) and performed meta‐analyses using RevMan (version 5.4) and Stata (version 16.0) software.

Results

This review included 19 randomized controlled studies. Meta‐analysis revealed that VR significantly improved depression (standard mean difference [SMD] = −0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.90, −0.45], p < .00001) and anxiety (SMD = −0.76, 95% CI [−0.95, −0.57], p < .00001) in older adults with chronic diseases, improved their quality of life (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI [0.17, 0.61], p = .0006) and positive emotions (SMD = 5.65, 95% CI [3.61, 7.69], p < .00001), and relieved stress (SMD = −1.08, 95% CI [−1.52, −0.64], p < .00001). However, the difference in self‐efficacy was statistically non‐significant (SMD = 1.01, 95% CI [−0.48, 2.50], p = .19).

Linking Evidence to Action

The results of this systematic review provide important evidence for developing interventions to improve the mental health of older adults with chronic diseases.
Normalizers and centralizers of subnormal subsystems of fusion systems
Authors: Henke Ellen
Published: December 2024

Every saturated fusion system corresponds to a group‐like structure called a regular locality. In this paper we study (suitably defined) normalizers and centralizers of partial subnormal subgroups of regular localities. This leads to a reasonable notion of normalizers and centralizers of subnormal subsystems of fusion systems.
Harmonic balls in Liouville quantum gravity
Authors: Bou‐Rabee Ahmed , Gwynne Ewain
Published: December 2024

Harmonic balls are domains that satisfy the mean‐value property for harmonic functions. We establish the existence and uniqueness of harmonic balls on Liouville quantum gravity (LQG) surfaces using the obstacle problem formulation of Hele–Shaw flow. We show that LQG harmonic balls are neither Lipschitz domains nor LQG metric balls, and that the boundaries of their complementary connected components are Jordan curves. We conjecture that LQG harmonic balls are the scaling limit of internal diffusion limited aggregation on random planar maps. In a companion paper, we prove this in the special case of mated‐CRT maps.
Technology Interventions in Rural India by an Academic Institute: Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
Authors: Prasad Yashwant , Bhat Suraj , Saha Subir Kumar , Ravi M. R. , Khadilkar Pramod
Published: December 2024

Industries often prioritize markets with high sales volumes and profit margins, showing little interest in developing technologies for low-income communities where demand and purchasing power are both low. More often, designers and researchers from various academic institutions voluntarily invest part of their professional engagements in developing technologies to enhance the livelihoods of low-income communities. However, academic professionals face several challenges, primarily due to their limited bandwidth in terms of their time and expertise. In this research, a methodology called action research was employed to identify the challenges faced by the above professionals in developing technologies for low-income communities and to propose strategies to address them. Seven identified challenges were classified under the four categories based on design projects spanning over nine years (2014–2022). As a result, a design framework comprising 12 strategies, grouped into four broad categories, is proposed. All 12 strategies were validated through their implementations in one of the projects of the Rural Technology Action Group.
Design and Analysis of a Bimanual Parallel Dexterous Hand With Cooperative Manipulation Capability
Authors: Xu Donglai , Guo Sheng , Zhao Fuqun , Jin Xiaodong
Published: December 2024

A bimanual parallel dexterous hand with cooperative manipulation capability is proposed to solve the problem that one hand cannot achieve continuous in-hand manipulation. The bimanual parallel dexterous hand is composed of two parts: the inner ring fingers and the outer ring fingers. It is possible not only to perform a 6-degree-of-freedom manipulation with the inner ring fingers or six fingers but also to cooperate with the inner ring fingers and the outer ring fingers to achieve in-hand manipulation. Firstly, the inverse kinematics of the dexterous hand is analyzed and the velocity Jacobian matrices are established. Then, the workspace, dexterity, and stiffness of the dexterous hand during the inner ring finger manipulation and the six finger manipulation are analyzed and compared. Finally, a prototype of the dexterous hand is constructed and its performance is tested. It proves that continuous manipulation and assembly tasks can be achieved through the cooperation of the bimanual dexterous hand. At the same time, the workspaces of the dexterous hand manipulating objects of six different shapes are measured to demonstrate the in-hand manipulation capability. The proposed bimanual parallel dexterous hand provides a feasible reference scheme for the development and application of cooperative manipulation of dexterous hands with multiple fingers.
Multimodal Assessment Battery and Heart Rate Variability Enhance Clinical Utility of Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test
Authors: Miner Daniel , Shiraishi Michael , Gibbons Pamela , Soangra Rahul , Harper Brent
Published: December 2024

Context: The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) for exercise intolerance following concussion may highlight underlying autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic function at rest and with exertion may be predictive of neurocognitive performance for individuals with sports-related concussion. The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and utility of combining multimodal assessments with heart rate variability (HRV) measures during the BCTT for individuals with a remote history of concussion. Design: Prospective cohort study design, pretest/posttest. Methods: Participants included 5 males and 5 females (N = 10, age: 25.2 [3.3] y old, height: 173.2 [11.2] cm, mass: 73.4 [13.7] kg, body mass index: 24.5 [3.9], time since last concussion of 6.3 [4.5] y). All participants completed the multimodal assessment battery including: Concentration Reverse Digits (6 digits), Stroop Incongruent, and King–Devick Test under single- (seated) and dual-task conditions (walking on treadmill at 2.0 mph, 0% incline). Heart rate and HRV was collected at rest, during the BCTT, and during postexercise recovery. HRV data were processed and analyzed based on established protocols. Paired t tests were performed for pre- and postmeasurements separately for single- and dual-task tests of the multimodal assessment battery and HRV indices. Results: During the BCTT, HRV indices reflective of peripheral nervous system activity demonstrated a significant reduction with concomitant increase in HRV indices of sympathetic nervous system activity (P < .05). Recovery in these HRV indices toward baseline was observed during postexercise recovery. Neurocognitive performance on the Stroop task significantly improved with exercise (P < .05). Conclusion: Implementation of multimodal assessments to evaluate physiological and neurocognitive responses to exercise in individuals with history of sports-related concussion is feasible. Addition of these objective measures may decrease reliance on self-reporting of exercise-induced symptom exacerbation, enabling clinicians to identify individuals whose neurocognitive performance or physiologic response to exercise on the BCTT deviates from the expected.
Hydrodynamic moiré superlattice
Authors: Xu Guoqiang , Zhou Xue , Chen Weijin , Hu Guangwei , Yan Zhiyuan , Li Zhipeng , Yang Shuihua , Qiu Cheng-Wei
Published: December 2024

The structural periodicity in photonic crystals guarantees the crystal’s effective energy band structure, which is the fundamental cornerstone of topological and moiré physics. However, the shear modulus in most fluids is close to zero, which makes it challenging for fluids to maintain spatial periodicity akin to photonic crystals. We realized periodic vortices in hydrodynamic metamaterials and created a bilayer moiré superlattice by stacking and twisting two such vortex fluids. We observed energy delocalization and localization when the twist angles, respectively, result in the Pythagorean and non-Pythagorean triples in the fluidic moiré superlattice. Anomalous localization was found even in commensurate moiré fluids with large lattice constants that satisfy Pythagorean triples. Our work reports the moiré phenomena in fluids and opens an unexpected door to controlling the energy transfer, mass transport, and particle navigation through the elaborate dynamics of vortices in fluidic moiré superlattices.
Experiments outside the lab come with new responsibilities
Authors: Stilgoe Jack
Published: December 2024

St. Ives is an idyllic seaside town on the southwest tip of England. It is a magnet for holidaymakers and artists. In early 2023, its residents were surprised to find that their beloved bay had become the location for an experiment. A technology start-up called Planetary Technologies had gained permission from the local water company to add magnesium hydroxide to a wastewater outlet pipe and pump it a mile offshore. Some within the community were outraged to find out from a national newspaper not only about the planned release of the chemicals, but that a small test had already happened the previous September. That April 2023, more than 300 protesters gathered on the beach, some with slogans on their surfboards. Most of them were concerned about the risks to their ecosystem and its crabs, seals, and lobsters. On finding out more about the company and its ambitions, some of the protesters started to see the experiment in a new light.
Draft genome sequence of the marine halophile
Vibrio diabolicus
strain 3098
Authors: Boas Lichty Katherine , Thomas Heather E. , Bhide Soham M. , Richards Gary P. , Boyd E. Fidelma
Published: December 2024

Vibrio diabolicus 3098 is a marine halophile, a member of the
Gammaproteobacteria
. The draft whole-genome sequence is 5.17 Mb and has 4,829 predicted coding sequences divided into two chromosomes and a plasmid. A gene cluster predicted to allow for the catabolism of compatible solutes ectoine and 5-hydroxyectoine was uncovered.
Complete genome sequence of
Neobacillus
sp. strain OS1-2, a denitrifying bacterium isolated from apple orchard soil
Authors: Ahn Jinwoo , Jang Jeonghwan
Published: December 2024

We report here the complete genome sequence of
Neobacillus
sp. strain OS1-2, a bacterium isolated from apple orchard soil and possessing a complete set of denitrification functional genes in its genome. The isolate was observed to perform denitrification under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
Recognition of muddy hyperpycnites in deep-lacustrine settings: Depositional model for muddy hyperpycnal flows in lacustrine basins
Authors: Lin Miruo , Xi Kelai , Cao Yingchang , Niu Xiaobing , Otharán Germán , Wang Xiujuan , Hui Xiao , Liu Jiangyan , Liu Keyu , Zavala Carlos , Hao Fang
Published: December 2024

During the past 15 years, the exploration and development of shale reservoirs worldwide promoted a significant progress in the understanding of shale depositional processes. Despite the fact that the suspension settling paradigm was challenged in the case of marine shale preserved in the rock record, deep-lacustrine shales are still commonly interpreted as the products of background sedimentation during periods of quiescence that promote the continuous settling of discrete particles out from suspension. In this paper, the integration of high-resolution sedimentology with organic geochemistry and cyclostratigraphy of deep-lacustrine shales belonging to the Chang 73 sub-member of the Yanchang Formation (Triassic), Ordos Basin, China, allows us to analyze the dynamic sedimentary processes responsible for the transport, distribution, and deposition of the fine-grained sediments in deep-lacustrine basins. Terrigenous organic matter and micro-sedimentary features indicative of dynamic depositional conditions were widely recognized in the deep-lacustrine shales, calling for a critical reappraisal of the prevailing depositional model. The evidence found in this study indicates that muddy hyperpycnal flows were important processes for the delivery of mud and silt to the deep-lacustrine setting. In the proximal regions, silt-grade feldspar and quartz quickly settled out of the decelerating turbulent hyperpycnal flow and formed the fining-upward silt-grade felsic lamina (SSFL) with erosional base. As the flow velocity decreased down the basin, and the flow was progressively depleted in silty materials, mud flocs formed that were transported as bedload along flow direction, and developed the clayey sediments with low-angle foresets, indicating the transformation from SSFL to tuff-rich lamina (TRL). The decreased sediment supply farther offshore induced the transition of clay-mineral−dominated layers to lens-like clay mineral aggregates, along with the increase of organic matter, promoting the replacement of TRL by organic-rich lamina. Shoreline changes caused by lake-level fluctuation further affect the basinward transport of the fine-grained sediments, thus controlling the vertical superposition of different types of laminae within the deep-lacustrine shales. Given the common occurrence of hyperpycnal flow in lake basins, the new depositional model proposed here may provide insights into the origin of deep-lacustrine shales and the process of organic matter enrichment in other lake basins around the world.
Numerical Investigation into the Stress Evolution and Failure Mechanism of Deep-Buried Hard Rock Under Blasting Loads
Authors: Shi Chong , Chen Xiao , Jia Yun , Yang Jun-xiong , Kanit Toufik , Zhang Cong
Published: December 2024

With the production activities continue progressing into deeper underground spaces, the rising ground stress poses new challenges in the fracturing of hard rock. Previous research mostly focused on the outer actions of blasting on conventional rock mass, while research on the inner actions of blasting via discrete element method (DEM) is relatively scarce, especially for deep-buried hard rocks under high ground stress. Relying on the pre-cracking project of hard rock protective layer in the thousand-meter deep well of Pingdingshan coal mine, this paper aims to numerically investigate the fracture mechanism of deep-buried hard rock under blasting loads via DEM. To this end, the algorithm of simulating explosion load is improved. The improved algorithm ensures a more reliable correspondence between numerical results and engineering practice, significantly enhancing the accuracy and credibility of calculations. After the calibration of mesoscopic parameters on the basis of laboratory tests, a series of parametric study, including confining pressure, peak blast stress and lateral stress coefficient, have been performed to understand the effects of in-situ stress on the behaviors of rock blasting. The obtained numerical results exhibit that confining pressure inhibits the fracture growth: under low confining pressure, confining pressure mainly inhibits the development of fractures in sparsely fractured zone while the crack growth in densely fractured zone and crushed zone is also inhibited under high confining pressure. According to the stress state, hoop peak stress is more sensitive to confining pressure than radial peak stress. Rock breakage in the vicinity of blasthole is essentially controlled by the radial peak stress, while crack propagation in the far-field is mainly induced by the hoop peak stress. With different lateral stress coefficients, the failure characteristics of rock mass are principally related to the hoop stresses in the vertical direction. The obtained numerical results and mesoscopic analysis are capable of providing new insights into the fracturing mechanism of deep-buried hard rock.
Radial basis neural network for the hard water consumption with kidney model
Authors: Alderremy A. A. , Hernández-Castañeda D. , Gómez-Aguilar J. F. , Sabir Zulqurnain , Aly Shaban , Lavín-Delgado J. E.
Published: December 2024

The “hard water” factor shows the management of water in the Nusa Tenggara Timur, which shows a higher ratio based on the ion’s minerals. The incessant use of hard water presents kidney dysfunction, which produces diabetic and vascular kinds of diseases. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the influences of hard water on kidney function. A novel design of a stochastic solver using the transfer radial basis function is provided by applying the Bayesian regularization neural network for solving the model. The kidney dysfunction mathematical system is divided into humans (susceptible, infected, recovered) and water components (magnesium, calcium). Twelve numbers of neurons with the radial basis transfer function have been used in the hidden layers for solving the model. The approach performance is remarked through the results comparison and further reducible absolute error found around [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] develop the scheme’s exactness. Moreover, the statistical performances including regression coefficient performances around 1 for each case of the model validate the reliability and exactness of the scheme for solving the model.
Observational constraints on freezing quintessence in a nonlinear f(R,Lm) gravity
Authors: Myrzakulov Yerlan , Koussour M. , Çalíşkan A. , Güdekli E. , Muminov S. , Rayimbaev J.
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we investigate the freezing quintessence scenario in late-time cosmic expansion using a nonlinear [Formula: see text] gravity model, [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a free parameter. We consider a solution for this model using an appropriate parametrization of the scale factor, and then the model is constrained by observational datasets, including CC, Pantheon[Formula: see text] (SN), and CC[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]SN[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]BAO. Our analysis yields results aligning closely with observational data. The Hubble parameter, deceleration parameter, matter-energy density, and EoS parameter of our model exhibit expected trends over cosmic time, supporting its physical validity. Furthermore, the model demonstrates consistency with the [Formula: see text]CDM model in late times, displaying freezing behavior in the [Formula: see text] plane and stability against density perturbations. Our findings suggest that the modified [Formula: see text] gravity model is a credible approach to describing the universe’s accelerating phase.
Hurwitz series over ascending chain of rings
Authors: Dabbabi Abdelamir
Published: December 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be an increasing sequence of rings and [Formula: see text]. It is shown that the ring [Formula: see text] (respectively, [Formula: see text]) is Noetherian if and only if (i) the ring [Formula: see text] is Noetherian, (ii) the sequence [Formula: see text] is stationary, (iii) for each [Formula: see text], the [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] is finitely generated and (iv) [Formula: see text]. Also, we show that if [Formula: see text] is a ring extension and [Formula: see text] an ideal of [Formula: see text], the following assertions hold: (1) if the ring [Formula: see text] (respectively, [Formula: see text]) is Noetherian, then (i) the ring [Formula: see text] is Noetherian, (ii) the [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] is finitely generated, (iii) the ideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is idempotent and (iv) [Formula: see text]. Conversely, (2) if (i) the ring [Formula: see text] is Noetherian, (ii) the [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] is finitely generated, (iii) the ideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is idempotent and (iv) [Formula: see text], then the ring [Formula: see text] (respectively, [Formula: see text]) is Noetherian.
Robust and Energy-Efficient Torque Vectoring for a Four in-Wheel Motor Electric Vehicle Based on Sliding Mode and Model Predictive Control
Authors: Zheng Zhewen , Cao Wenjing , Kubota Yuya , Nakano Yoshihisa , Gao Shuang , Suzuki Takashi
Published: December 2024

Torque vectoring (TV) is a commonly used method for four in-wheel motor electric vehicles (4-IWM EVs). Several existing studies based on model predictive control (MPC) focus on improving system stability and energy efficiency by minimizing or maximizing a performance function, defined as the time integral of the weighted sum of two cost functions. However, this approach must address the challenge of balancing these two objectives. Furthermore, the MPC framework lacks sufficient robustness against model uncertainties and external disturbances. This study proposes a two-layer TV controller for a 4-IWM EV, designed to enhance both robustness and energy efficiency, as specified in the Autonomous Driving Control Benchmark Challenge of IEEE CDC 2023. The first layer includes a direct yaw moment control module and a longitudinal force control module based on first-order sliding mode control, integrated with nonlinear disturbance observers (NDOBs) to estimate disturbance amplitudes from rough roads and reduce chattering. The second layer employs MPC to allocate torque among the wheels to minimize total energy consumption. Simulations, performed using a full 4-IWM EV simulator developed in Modelica, focused on the ISO double lane change on a rough road, as required by the benchmark challenge. The results demonstrate that the proposed control system significantly improves the vehicle’s robustness and energy efficiency in this scenario.
A typology of explanations to support Explainability-by-Design
Authors: Tsakalakis Niko , Stalla-Bourdillon Sophie , Huynh Dong , Moreau Luc
Published: December 2024

As automated decision-making permeates almost all aspects of everyday life, capabilities to generate meaningful explanations for various stakeholders (i.e., decision-makers, addressees of decisions including individuals, auditors, and regulators) should be carefully deployed. This article presents a typology of explanations intended to support the first pillar of an explainability-by-design strategy. Its production has been achieved by pursuing a responsible innovation approach and introducing a new persona within the research and innovation process, i.e., a legal engineer, whose role is to work at the interface of two teams, the compliance and the engineering teams, and to oversee the process of requirement elicitation, which is often opinionated and narrowing. Once explanation requirements have been derived from applicable regulatory requirements, compliance rules, or business policies, they have been mapped to the dimensions of the typology to produce fine-grained explanation requirements, forming computable building blocks that can then be translated into system requirements during the technical design phase. The typology has been co-created with industry partners operating in two sectors: finance and education. Two pilot studies have thus been conducted to test both the feasibility of the generation and computation of explanations on the basis of the typology and the usefulness of the outputs in the light of the state-of-the-art. The typology comprises nine hierarchical dimensions. It can be leveraged to operate a stand-alone classifier of explanations that acts as detective controls within a broader partially automated compliance strategy. A machine-readable format of the typology is provided in the form of a light ontology.
Nanocatalysts for High-Energy-Density Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Wang Biying
Published: December 2024

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries hold promise to be the next-generation Li energy-storage systems due to the high theoretical energy density (2600 W h ), and the abundance and environmental friendless of sulfur. Nevertheless, challenges arising from the fundamental Li-S chemistry hamper the practical viability of Li-S batteries. Specifically, the dissolution of Li polysulfides and their slow conversion kinetics collectively cause irreversible loss of the active material and short cycle life. Efforts have been intensively dedicated in physical confinement or chemical trapping of Li polysulfides, yet such passive blocking strategy is unable to fundamentally and sufficiently suppress the accumulation of sulfide products in the electrolyte, especially for high sulfur loading and long cycling. Here, we report a Li cation-doped tungsten oxide electrocatalyst that allows accelerated conversion kinetics to counteract the polysulfide dissolution and migration. In addition, the significant lithium sulfide (Li2S) oxidation barrier necessitates activation with a high overpotential, which results in low sulfur utilization and fast capacity decay. Accordingly, we also report a heterostructured WOx/W2C nanocatalyst synthesized via ultrafast Joule heating, and the resulting heterointerfaces contribute to enhance electrocatalytic activity for Li2S oxidation, as well as controlled Li2S deposition. We studied the fundamental relationships between the improved electrocatalytic activity and the optimized structures of the electrocatalysts, demonstrated the electrocatalytic effect on battery performance and highlighted the future design of catalytic materials for the advancement of practical Li-S batteries.
The Effects of the Al Distribution on the Physicochemical and Electrochemical Properties of Ni-Rich NCA Cathodes
Authors: Lee In-Su , Park Geon-Tae , Sun Yang-Kook
Published: December 2024

High-energy-density Ni-rich Li[NixCoyAl1-x-y]O2 (NCA) is often chosen as the promising candidate for commercial EV batteries. However, the optimal synthesis method and Al concentration for fabricating high-performance NCA cathodes remain to be established. Al doping during coprecipitation facilitates the uniform incorporation of Al within the precursor particles through continuous feeding of the dopant during particle growth.1 On the other hand, supplying excess Al during calcination results in uneven distributions and induces segregation of Al along the grain boundaries.2 Herein, we provide an in-depth investigation of NCA cathodes prepared using coprecipitation and dry doping methods to focus on their different microstrcuture from spatial distribution of Al and the resulting properties. The homogeneous Al overdoping during coprecipitation did not provide additional drag force for grain consolidation, thereby producing near circular primary particles. By contrast, the heterogeneous Al distribution during dry doping retarded random grain coarsening, resulting in anisotropically grown primary particles with twinned crystal structures.3 Thus, Al heterogeneity induced the formation of spoke-like primary particles, which successfully dissipated the internal strain and allows NCA to retain 74.1% of its inital capacity after 1000 cycles in a full cell under sever operating conditions (3 C and 45 ℃), markedly improved the electrochemical performance of the cathode.

References:

[1] Y. Kim, D. Kim, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 4 (2012) 586–589

[2] Y. Mishin, C. Herzig, Mater. Sci. Eng. 260 (1999) 55–71

[3] G.-T. Park, J.-H. Ryu, J.-H Kim, H.H Sun, D.E Suh, S.-M. Han, N.-Y Park, Y.-K Sun, Energy Storage Materials 70 (2024) 103496
Optimized Cycling Stability of Single-Crystalline Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 Cathode Material via Molten Salt Synthesis for Advanced Sodium-Ion Battery Applications
Authors: Dong Yifan , Hu Jiacheng , Schrock Riley , Hou Dewen , Lee Gihyeok , Yang Wanli , Xiong Claire
Published: December 2024

Recent advancements have highlighted the P2-layered Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 (NNMO) cathode material as a leading candidate for next-generation sodium-ion batteries due to its superior specific capacity. Traditional solid-state synthesis methods, while straightforward and scalable, struggle with challenges such as achieving homogeneous atomic-level elemental distribution and mitigating the formation of intermediate phases during powder mixing. In contrast, the molten salt synthesis method offers a controllable and efficient alternative for producing uniform materials with varied chemical compositions and structures. In this study, we utilize sodium chloride as the molten salt flux, with Na2CO3, NiO, and Mn2O3 as reactants, to synthesize single-crystal MS-NNMO. This method yields an NNMO with an initial reversible capacity of 90.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1C across a voltage range of 2.0-4.2 V, demonstrating 88.5% capacity retention after 100 cycles. Long-term stability is further evidenced by an 83.9% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 1C. In full cell tests, MS-NNMO paired with a hard carbon anode shows 90.3% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 1C. Additionally, MS-NNMO exhibits exceptional bulk stability, with no impurity peaks detected after 1 hour of water exposure, underscoring its superior air stability. This work validates the molten salt method as an effective and scalable process for producing high-performance sodium-ion battery cathodes.