bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical and Compensation Behaviors of a Mixed Spin-(1, 2) Ising Model: Core–Shell Structure Case
Authors: Elmghabar Z. , Elidrysy A. , Azdouh A. , Harir S. , Drissi L. B.
Published: December 2024

Magnetic properties and hysteresis of a mixed spins (1, 2) hexagonal Ising nanowire with core–shell structure in the presence of lattice anisotropy and external magnetic field are investigated by using Monte Carlo simulation based on the Metropolis algorithm. First, we analyze the ground state phase diagrams to discover all probable and stable configurations based on minimizing the system energy. The effects of the exchange couplings ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and the single-ion anisotropies ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] on the magnetic quantities of the system, namely, the total magnetization, the transition temperatures and the hysteresis curves. Several characteristic behaviors are found, such as the appearance and the compensation behavior, which is of crucial importance for technological applications such as thermo-optical recording. Additionally, under certain physical parameters, multiple cycle hysteresis loops, such as single and triple hysteresis loops, that exhibit different step effects and various forms, are observed.
Efficient Latent-based Scoring Function Search for N-ary Relational Knowledge Bases
Authors: Di Shimin , Zhang Yongqi , Yao Quanming , Zhou Xiaofang , Chen Lei
Published: December 2024

Designing a proper scoring function is the key to ensuring the excellent performance of knowledge base (KB) embedding. Recently, the scoring function search method introduces the automated machine learning technique to design the data-aware scoring function for the given binary relational data (a.k.a. knowledge graph, KG), which can consistently achieve good performance on different data sets. However, the current data-aware search method is still not as good as desired. First, the existing model can only search scoring functions on the given binary relational data, which is a special form of N-ary relational KBs. Second, observing that existing scoring functions can exhibit distinct performance on different semantic patterns, we are motivated to explore such semantics by searching pattern-aware scoring functions. Unfortunately, it is hard to extend existing search approaches to the scenarios of N-ary and pattern-aware due to the search efficiency and effectiveness issues. In this paper, we propose latent-based factors to model relational patterns and an efficient search algorithm on the N-ary scenario, i.e., efficient
LA
tent-based
SCO
ring function search for N-ary relational KBs (LASCO). The empirical results of LASCO on binary and N-ary relational data sets demonstrate that the proposed method can efficiently search pattern-aware scoring functions and achieve better embedding performance than advanced baselines.
Preparation of Niobium through Electrolysis of NbCxOy Soluble Anode
Authors: Jiang Dongsheng , Zhao Zhuan , Zhang Huan , Wang Ruifang , Song Jianxun , Che Yusi , He Jilin
Published: December 2024

In this study, metallic niobium was produced by electrolysis in a NaCl-KCl melt using NbC
x
O
y
as a soluble anode. The anodic dissolution behavior of NbC
x
O
y
in the NaCl-KCl melt and the reduction mechanism of niobium ions were examined using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronopotentiometry. The results revealed that the electrode reduction process of niobium ion was Nb(Ⅴ) → Nb(Ⅲ) → Nb(Ⅰ) → Nb, with these reactions being diffusion-controlled. During successive multiturn scans, the reduction process of niobium ions favored the pathway of Nb(V) → Nb(III) → Nb. As the electrolytic voltage increased, the dissolution of niobium ions in NbC
x
O
y
also increased, with a tendency to oxidize into high-valence niobium ions. Constant-current electrolysis in a NaCl-KCl melt, using NbC
x
O
y
as the anode and Mo rods as the cathode resulted in the deposition of mainly metallic niobium on the Mo cathode, manifesting that NbC
x
O
y
can be used to extract metallic niobium. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the realization of a green and efficient extraction process for metallic niobium.
Failure Mechanism and Regeneration Strategy of Hygroscopic Ionic Liquids for Aluminium Electrodeposition
Authors: Yang Xiaoqing , Cui Penglei , Zhao Qiu , Li Yu , Li Tao , Ren Baozheng , Liu Boyang , Zhong Qin , Li Qingyang , Wang Qian
Published: December 2024

Chloroaluminic acid ionic liquids (ILs), e.g., 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride-aluminium chloride (EMIC-AlCl3), are recognized as promising green and low-carbon solvent for aluminium (Al) electrodeposition, because of their relatively high conductivity, low viscosity, and good stability. Nevertheless, electrodeposition of Al must be carried out under dry conditions with inert gas shielding, limited by the hygroscopic behavior of ILs in air atmosphere. Otherwise, the electrolyte will be a failure, thus impeding the development of Al electrodeposition from the ILs. To explore a possible method for the electrolyte regeneration, herein, the effect of water content on Al electrodeposition in the EMIC-AlCl3 ILs was investigated systematically. The results demonstrated that the electrical conductivity was gradually reduced with the increase of water content, leading to the elevated cell voltage and decreased current efficiency during Al electrodeposition. In addition, water adsorption may also change the coordination structure of electrochemical active species in EMIC-AlCl3, thereby influencing the electrodeposition behavior of Al along with deposit properties. All of these have a negative impact on Al electrodeposition. Detailed spectroscopic analysis combined with density functional theory calculation were conducted to clarify the failure mechanism of ILs electrolyte in humid environment, and meanwhile an effective strategy was proposed for the electrolyte regeneration.
Detection and perception of inspiratory resistive loads in older adults with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Epiu Isabella , Nguyen David A. T. , Boswell-Ruys Claire L. , Gandevia Simon C. , Butler Jane E. , Hudson Anna L.
Published: December 2024

We demonstrated that young adults could detect a smaller change in pressure (as a proportion of predicted maximal inspiratory pressure) than older adults. The perceived effort to breathe with increases in the resistance of breathing was heightened in older, compared with young adults. There was no further impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Heightened dyspnea perception related to the effort to breathe was not associated with load detection thresholds in older adults.
Ferroptosis: when metabolism meets cell death
Authors: Zheng Jiashuo , Conrad Marcus
Published: December 2024

We present here a comprehensive update on recent advancements in the field of ferroptosis, with a particular emphasis on its metabolic underpinnings and physiological impacts. After briefly introducing landmark studies that have helped to shape the concept of ferroptosis as a distinct form of cell death, we critically evaluate the key metabolic determinants involved in its regulation. These include the metabolism of essential trace elements such as selenium and iron; amino acids such as cyst(e)ine, methionine, glutamine/glutamate, and tryptophan; and carbohydrates, covering glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, the electron transport chain, and the pentose phosphate pathway. We also delve into the mevalonate pathway and subsequent cholesterol biosynthesis, including intermediate metabolites like dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, squalene, coenzyme Q (CoQ), vitamin K, and 7-dehydrocholesterol, as well as fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism, including the biosynthesis and remodeling of ester and ether phospholipids and lipid peroxidation. Next, we highlight major ferroptosis surveillance systems, specifically the cyst(e)ine/glutathione/glutathione peroxidase 4 axis, the NAD(P)H/ferroptosis suppressor protein 1/CoQ/vitamin K system, and the guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1/tetrahydrobiopterin/dihydrofolate reductase axis. We also discuss other potential anti- and proferroptotic systems, including glutathione S-transferase P1, peroxiredoxin 6, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 2, vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 like 1, nitric oxide, and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4. Finally, we explore ferroptosis’s physiological roles in aging, tumor suppression, and infection control, its pathological implications in tissue ischemia-reperfusion injury and neurodegeneration, and its potential therapeutic applications in cancer treatment. Existing drugs and compounds that may regulate ferroptosis in vivo are enumerated.
Burden of Episodic and Chronic Migraine in Patients Who Had Failed Multiple Preventive Treatments From France, Spain, and the United Kingdom
Authors: Díaz-Insa Samuel , Santos-Lasaosa Sonia , Driessen Maurice T. , Cohen Joshua M. , Lee Lulu , Goadsby Peter J.
Published: December 2024

Objectives: Migraine affects more than 80 million people in Western Europe. The present study evaluated disability and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) who had failed multiple preventive treatments.

Materials and Methods: This study was an analysis of cross‐sectional, web‐based survey data from adult patients with migraine (EM and CM) from the United Kingdom, France, and Spain who had self‐reported failure of two or more preventive treatments. Patient characteristics and patient‐reported HRQoL, migraine‐related disability, healthcare resource use (HCRU), and burden of migraine were evaluated by classification (CM and EM) and country (EM only).

Results: In this sample of 316 patients (United Kingdom, n = 106; Spain, n = 105; France, n = 105), 76 (24.1%) patients had CM, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 39.5 (12.3) years, and 164 (51.9%) patients were female. Those patients with CM reported greater migraine‐related disability based on Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) scores versus those with EM (mean [SD]: 43.8 [44.7] vs. 23.2 [28.3]), as well as greater pain‐related impact on daily activities and higher HCRU. Among patients with EM, MIDAS scores indicated disability was severe in Spain (mean [SD]: 31.6 [31.1]) and France (24.3 [31.1]) and moderate in the United Kingdom (13.8 [17.9]), while HRQoL was similar across countries. Regarding the burden of EM, higher levels of pain and symptom‐related interference with many aspects of life, including occupational functioning, were reported in the United Kingdom and Spain versus France.

Conclusions: Migraine is associated with substantial disability and decreased HRQoL among patients who have failed previous preventive therapies. Although migraine burden varied by country, the results suggest high unmet needs in all countries. Appropriate treatment could reduce migraine‐related burden and HCRU among patients with difficult‐to‐treat migraine.
Radiation Hardness Analysis of Inorganic Scintillators Irradiated by a 6 MeV Electron Beam
Authors: Park Chansun , Kim Sangsu , Melis Alima , Jeong Won-Young , Kim Hyojung , Choi Jeong-Heon , Cho Shinhaeng , Yeom Jung-Yeol
Published: December 2024

This study aims to establish evaluation criteria for selecting suitable scintillators by investigating how inorganic scintillators respond to particle radiation, particularly electron beams. We conducted a radiation tolerance study of inorganic scintillators irradiated with a 6 MeV electron beam, examining factors such as beam energy, radiation dose, crystallinity, and operating environment. The energy spectral performance revealed a dose‐dependent decrease in the relative light outputs and energy resolutions of Lu3Al5O12:Pr (LuAG:Pr) and Gd2Si2O7:Ce (GPS:Ce) when irradiated with a 137Cs radioactive source, indicating a reduced radiation detection efficiency. After exposure to a 3 kGy dose of electron beam, the relative light outputs of these scintillators reduced to 66.2% and 56.9%, respectively. In contrast, Lu2−xYxSiO5:Pr and Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce maintained their spectral performances after electron beam irradiation. Changes in the surface microstructure due to surface defects and the formation of color centers in bulk sites, induced by electron beam irradiation, hinder scintillation light detection and transmission, highlighting the importance of defect mitigation strategies and selection of suitable scintillators for radiation detection systems. Transmittance measurements of LuAG:Pr and GPS:Ce demonstrated that with increasing radiation dose, their optical performances and photoluminescence intensities decreased, indicating the impact of defects on light collection efficiency. In addition, their reduced thermoluminescence intensity confirmed that the irradiated electron beam‐induced changes in the defect density within the scintillators. These results suggest that scintillators for medical and aerospace applications should be selected based on their operating environmental conditions. Further studies on defect behavior and its effect on scintillation properties will guide the advancement of radiation detection technology.
Circumferential Semianalytical Finite Element Method for the Analysis of Circumferential Guided Waves in an Anisotropic Hollow Cylinder
Authors: Zhang Jianwei , Zheng Mingfang , Zhang Xuecong , Li Nan
Published: December 2024

This paper presented a circumferential semianalytical finite element method (CSAFEM) to examine the distinctive wave characteristics of circumferential guided waves (CGWs) in anisotropic hollow cylinders. This methodology models the radial displacement using finite elements while expanding the circumferential displacements as harmonic exponentials. A weak‐form wave motion equation in an anisotropic hollow cylinder is formulated using Hamilton’s principle. Phase velocity curves are introduced to visualize the influence of anisotropy and the ratio of diameter to wall thickness (OD/WT) on wave propagation. The CSAFEM results are validated against analytical solutions for CGWs in isotropic hollow cylinders, achieving excellent agreement. This methodology extends to materials with complex symmetries, including triclinic and orthorhombic types. Numerical examples demonstrate that the OD/WT ratio significantly influences the phase velocity spectra of CGWs in the cylinders. In addition, the study explores the relationship between a planar structure and an annulus as the OD/WT ratio approaches infinity, highlighting unique wave phenomena specific to curved waveguides. This unique new mode appears at the initiation of the CA0 mode because the inner surface does not support the propagation of surface waves. This phenomenon is observed in isotropic, orthotropic, and triclinic materials.
Supplemental Figure 1 from Kinetics of Nirogacestat-Mediated Increases in B-cell Maturation Antigen on Plasma Cells Inform Therapeutic Combinations in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Shearer Todd , Comstock Melissa , Williams Rex L. , Johnson Mark C. , Cendrowicz Ewa , Leonowens Cathrine , Smith Margaret , Baughman Todd M. , Breitbach Caroline J. , Cheng Shinta , Green Damian J.
Published: December 2024

Isolation of BCMA-expressing PCs in whole blood and bone marrow
Data from Kinetics of Nirogacestat-Mediated Increases in B-cell Maturation Antigen on Plasma Cells Inform Therapeutic Combinations in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Shearer Todd , Comstock Melissa , Williams Rex L. , Johnson Mark C. , Cendrowicz Ewa , Leonowens Cathrine , Smith Margaret , Baughman Todd M. , Breitbach Caroline J. , Cheng Shinta , Green Damian J.
Published: December 2024

Abstract
B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is the target of several investigational and approved drugs for multiple myeloma. BCMA expressed on plasma cells (PC) and multiple myeloma cells is cleaved by the enzyme γ-secretase, reducing membrane-bound BCMA (mbBCMA) receptor density. γ-Secretase inhibitors (GSI) have been shown to increase mbBCMA density and may enhance efficacy of BCMA-targeted therapies. The pharmacodynamic profile of the GSI nirogacestat was evaluated in multiple myeloma cell lines and a phase I study in healthy volunteers. In multiple myeloma cell lines, mbBCMA density and soluble BCMA concentrations were measured before and after short-duration nirogacestat exposure and at serial time points following washout. In the phase I study, 23 participants were administered a single oral dose of nirogacestat 50, 150, or 300 mg or repeated doses of 100 mg every 12 hours for up to 48 hours; mbBCMA density on PCs (from whole blood and bone marrow) and nirogacestat plasma concentrations were measured at baseline and postdose. After single-dose administration, serum nirogacestat concentrations rapidly increased (Tmax ∼1 hour), and a two-compartment model with linear absorption and clearance best described nirogacestat pharmacokinetics. In multiple myeloma cells and healthy volunteers’ PCs, nirogacestat resulted in rapid and robust increases in mbBCMA density, with increases up to 20-fold within 4 to 8 hours of exposure. Concomitant decreases in soluble BCMA were observed. Nirogacestat is currently being evaluated in combination with several BCMA-directed therapeutic agents in patients with multiple myeloma. Elucidating the kinetics of BCMA in response to nirogacestat is key to guiding dosing and therapeutic strategies in multiple myeloma.
Significance:
GSIs can enhance multiple myeloma therapies targeting BCMA by increasing mbBCMA on plasma cells. In response to the GSI nirogacestat, mbBCMA rapidly and robustly increased in vitro and in vivo. Elucidating nirogacestat’s effects on BCMA kinetics will guide potential multiple myeloma dosing strategies.
Intra-Individual Reproducibility of Early and Late C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 in Patients with Non-Severe Ischaemic Stroke and Carotid Atherosclerosis
Authors: Gorey Sarah , McCabe John J. , Collins Sean , McAuley Karl , Inzitari Rosanna , Harbison Joe , Marnane Michael , Williams David J. , Kelly Peter J.
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Acute and late inflammatory markers including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are associated with future vascular events after stroke. However, few longitudinal studies exist examining the intra-individual reproducibility of inflammatory biomarker measures at different timepoints after atherosclerotic stroke. We sought to examine the reproducibility of hsCRP and IL-6 in a cohort of patients with minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) caused by ipsilateral carotid atherosclerosis. Methods: Two observational cohort studies (DUCASS and BIOVASC) were pooled. Included patients had non-severe ischaemic stroke and ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis (≥50%). Patients had bloods drawn within 2 weeks of their index stroke/TIA event which was stored for later analysis. All patients included were followed up at 5 years, and repeat phlebotomy was performed. Bloods were analysed for hsCRP and IL-6 using high-throughput immunochemiluminescence. Difference between baseline and follow-up blood levels and intraclass correlation (ICC) was calculated. Results: Ninety-five participants were included, median age 69 (IQR: 63–77), and 51 (53.7%) had TIA as their presenting event. When biomarkers were dichotomised (for hsCRP <2 mg/L or ≥2 mg/L, and for IL-6 <7.5 pg/mL [median] or ≥7.5 pg/mL), 68.4% (IL-6) and 65.2% (hsCRP) of participants remained in the same risk category (high or low) over time. However, when analysed as a continuous variable, ICC coefficients were low: ICC for IL-6 0.14 (95% CI: −0.06 to 0.33), ICC for hsCRP 0.05 (95% CI: −0.14 to 0.25). ICC increased after removing outliers. Clinical characteristics and treatment were not associated with observed variability. Conclusion: Our results suggest that concordance between early- and late-phase inflammatory marker risk categories is modest, and absolute levels are not highly correlated at early and late timepoints, despite associations at both times with future vascular risk. Investigators should standardise timing of phlebotomy and analysis protocols in future studies of inflammatory biomarkers.
Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Indonesian Adolescents: The Role of Sex, Urban Area, Baseline BMI and Appetitive Traits
Authors: Sarintohe Eveline , Burk William J. , Vink Jacqueline M. , Larsen Junilla K.
Published: December 2024

Introduction:
Little is known about how the COVID-19 situation affected weight development among Indonesian adolescents. This longitudinal study examined whether, and for whom the COVID-19 situation affected weight outcomes over time among adolescents from private schools and higher socioeconomic positions (SEP) in Indonesia, where being overweight is a rather prevalent characteristic. This study specifically examined whether appetitive traits (i.e., emotional overeating, food responsiveness), as well as baseline zBMI, sex, and urban area could explain changes in zBMI.
Methods:
At baseline, 411 adolescents from five private schools in Indonesia (53.3 % males, Mage = 12.02 years, SD = 0.45) filled out questionnaires on appetitive traits and background characteristics. In addition, their height and weight were measured. Of these, 336 adolescents (81.8%) also participated at follow-up. At follow-up, height and weight were measured or reported. We used linear regression to analyse the association between predictors and interactions with zBMI.
Results:
The results showed a significant decrease in zBMI over time, with a lower average zBMI during COVID-19 compared to before COVID-19. Female adolescents and adolescents with higher baseline zBMI values particularly tended to show this zBMI decreasing pattern. We did not find statistically significant main effects of baseline emotional overeating, food responsiveness, and urban area or any interactions.
Conclusions:
Indonesian adolescents appeared to decrease in terms of zBMI during COVID-19, particularly females and adolescents with higher pre-COVID-19 zBMI. Our findings suggest that (culturally-specific) contextual changes (i.e., less exposure to the Indonesian food environment at schools and more exposure to the home environment) might have a beneficial impact in terms of preventing overweight among Indonesian adolescents, particularly among those being more vulnerable (i.e., having higher baseline zBMI).
Predicting High-Risk Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma: The Power of Plasma Cell-Related Genes
Authors: Gao Jiameng , Zhou Xianqiang , Tian Weibin , Xia Junyi , Wang Lei , Shen Yao
Published: December 2024

Background：The incidence of lung cancer remains high worldwide and is still the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.The primary reason for this is that the vast majority of patients are diagnosed only when the disease has progressed to an advanced stage or metastasized.Therefore,early diagnosis of lung cancer is crucial.Approximately 85% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC),As a type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lung adenocarcinoma is more prone to distant metastasis and has a poorer prognosis.It is often primarily treated with immunotherapy.Currently, immunotherapy mainly focuses on T cells,However, with the deepening of research, plasma cells, which have long been considered non-essential in anti-tumor responses, have been increasingly recognized for their critical role. Methods：This study integrates data from TCGA, Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub 2, and 10X databases, focusing on plasma cells. Through clustering analysis and LASSO regression analysis, it aims to establish a predictive model for high-risk LUAD patients and further explore the relationship between the risk model and immune cells, with the goal of providing potential predictions for the efficacy of immunotherapy for patients.Additionally, we conducted drug sensitivity analysis and immune checkpoint analysis to identify drugs with potential benefits for the clinical management of high-risk patients.At the same time, we performed further immune checkpoint analysis to identify potential therapeutic targets for LUAD.Results：By integrating the TCGA, Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub 2, and 10X databases, and focusing on plasma cells through clustering analysis and LASSO regression analysis, we established a predictive model for high-risk LUAD patients involving four feature genes: BEX5, CASP10, EPSTI1, and LY9. The ROC and results demonstrate that our model has strong predictive performance. Additionally, we found that the risk model is closely related to immune cells, providing potential for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy for patients. Subsequently, we conducted drug sensitivity analysis and immune checkpoint analysis, revealing that the majority of drugs are more sensitive to low-risk patients, while ABT-888, AS601245, and CCT007093 may have greater potential clinical benefits for high-risk patients. Immune checkpoint analysis showed significant differences in the expression of ADORA2A, BTLA, CD276, CD27, CD28, CD40LG, CD48, and TNFRSF14 between high-risk and low-risk patient groups, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets for LUAD..
Análisis de candidaturas juveniles subnacionales: evidencias desde Ecuador
Authors: Ulloa-Tapia César , Molina-Mendoza Alejandro , Palomeque-Rodríguez Horacio
Published: December 2024

(analítico)A partir de datos del Consejo Nacional, se comparan los porcentajes de los dos tipos de candidaturas ecuatorianas en las elecciones subnacionales (2019 y 2023), segmentadas por grupos etarios, cargos de elección popular, sexos y órdenes de inscripción. Esto con el objetoanalizar el impacto de la reforma electoral (2020) que estableció un umbral obligatorio del 25 % de inscripción para candidaturas jóvenes y 30 % de encabezamiento de listas por mujeres. Los hallazgos revelan que, a pesar del aumento de candidaturas juveniles, tienden a inscribirse en cargos subnacionales de menor relevancia política, enlistas de candidaturas suplentes y en órdenes de listas poco exitosas. Aunque se observa un incremento significativo en candidaturas de mujeres jóvenes en 2023 en cargos de mayor relevancia política.
Cardiac cGMP Regulation and Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Mishra Sumita , Chander Vivek , Kass David A.
Published: December 2024

cGMP plays a central role in cardiovascular regulation in health and disease. It is synthesized by NO or natriuretic peptide activated cyclases and hydrolyzed to 5′GMP by select members of the PDEs (phosphodiesterase) superfamily. The primary downstream effector is cGMP-dependent protein kinase, primarily cGK-1a (cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase 1 alpha) also known as protein kinase G 1a in the heart and vasculature. cGMP signaling is controlled in intracellular nanodomains to regulate myocyte growth, survival, metabolism, protein homeostasis, G-protein–coupled receptor signaling, and other critical functions. The vascular effects of cGMP signaling have been dominated by its lowering of smooth muscle tone, but other cellular processes are also engaged. Localization of cyclases and corresponding PDEs within intracellular domains, along with their varying expression across different cell types, adds multiorgan complexity to cGMP signaling. This diversity can be leveraged therapeutically by targeting selective pathway components to impact some but not other cGMP signaling effects. Here, we review the generation and regulation of cGMP by PDEs and cyclases, focusing mainly on their role in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. Current therapeutic uses of cGMP modulation and ongoing trials testing new potential applications are discussed.
1. Beginning
Authors: Greer Brian , Skovsmose Ole , Kollosche David
Published: December 2024

The contributions in this book focus on critically analysing the relationship between mathematics as a discipline and mathematics as a school subject. The discontents of school mathematics are universally acknowledged and include questions such as: Why do so many people, however intelligent and successful, have feelings of inadequacy and alienation towards the subject? Why does mathematics education in school not seem to improve despite all the effort put into it? Our collective attempt to address such questions through radical rethinking begins by arguing that it is more productive to speak in terms of doing mathematics, in a variety of senses, rather than using words that imply that mathematics exists as some kind of entity. In particular, we reject the notion of mathematics being independent of human agency. Such a reformulation is in line with recent developments in mathematics and the philosophy of mathematics that problematise the quest for a definitive and timeless definition of mathematics. Related developments in history of mathematics, anthropology, and related fields make it imperative to acknowledge historical, cultural, social, ethical, and political – in short, human – dimensions of mathematics and mathematics education. Multiple important themes that are generated by this perspective are summarised.
4. Formalism, structuralism, and the doctrine of neutrality
Authors: Skovsmose Ole
Published: December 2024

The doctrine of neutrality states that mathematics can be researched and developed without considering any ethical or socio-political issues. This doctrine became elaborated and argued in detail by the school of logical positivism. By the turn of the nineteenth century, a range of paradoxes and inexplicable mathematical phenomena appeared, a situation referred to as the foundational crisis of mathematics. To many, intuition was the scoundrel, and it had to be eliminated from mathematics. Formalism provided a principal approach by identifying mathematics with formal structures. This idea was embraced by logical positivists who claimed that mathematics as the language of science ensures the ethical neutrality of science. They considered mathematics not only as being neutral itself, but also as a guarantee for scientific neutrality in general. In this way, a most profound stipulation of the doctrine of neutrality was reached. Formalism developed into structuralism, which described mathematics as an architecture of pure formal structures. As part of the structuralist conception of mathematics, the doctrine of neutrality was expanded from being a conception of mathematical research to become also a doctrine shaping educational practices in mathematics. I am going to confront this conception. The doctrine of neutrality is a stipulation, which makes us ignore that a profound politicisation of both mathematics and mathematics education might be taking place.
11. A critical conception of mathematics
Authors: Skovsmose Ole
Published: December 2024

A critical conception of mathematics emerged through several routes: this chapter takes a closer look at three of them. First, we follow how the students’ movement, beginning in the late 1960s, inspired a critique of university studies in mathematics. This analysis turned into a critique of mathematical modelling, emphasising that it is an illusion that mathematics ensures objectivity and neutrality. It became recognised that, when brought into action, mathematics may have all kinds of technological, economic, and political impacts, including many of the most questionable kind. Second, we see how mathematics becomes recognised as a plurality of constructions. I show that mathematics is shaped through social, historical, cultural, and political – in short, human – processes, and that any uniform conception of mathematics is a deception, if not a falsification. Third, I illustrate how mathematics can be developed as a critical resource and become a means for identifying forms of economic and political oppression. Mathematics can play a part in the struggle for social justice.
14. Rethinking mathematics education
Authors: H. Schoenfeld Alan
Published: December 2024

I am now concluding my fiftieth year as a professional mathematics educator. That benchmark provides an opportunity to reflect on the emergence of ideas and understandings over the past five decades, and the persistence of challenges that the field continues to face. To quote from the opening page of A Tale of Two Cities, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” On the one hand, our intellectual advances have been extraordinary. We understand thinking, teaching, and learning in ways that transcend previous understandings. In this chapter, we take a chronological tour through such discoveries—the nature of problem solving, of teaching, of powerful learning environments. On the other hand, both social progress and institutional progress have been hard to come by. Schools and classrooms reflect the structural and racial ills of American society; mathematics instruction, while potentially meaningful and useful in people’s lives, has little to do with the kinds of sense-making it could support. If anything, school mathematics’ distance from meaningful issues in people’s lives serves to reify current structures rather than to problematize and challenge them. The chapter concludes with a proposal to address this state of affairs.
15. Networks, controversies, and the political in mathematics education research
Authors: Björklund Boistrup Lisa , Valero Paola
Published: December 2024

The stories about what constitutes the field of mathematics education research are threaded in a network of institutions, people, and materialities that both produce and sustain them. In such distributed network, controversies concerning these stories are constantly negotiated. Drawing on Latourian concepts and analytical strategies, such stories, network and controversies are explored in an attempt of understanding the political in mathematics education as a ‘matter of concern’. An analysis is deployed of the contemporary controversy on the justification for school mathematics in the school curriculum as it is played out in research that engages with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD)’s Program for International Student Assessment ( PISA) as an event shaping the political reasoning about mathematics education. Using the format of a play, the results show the positions entangled in the controversy surrounding mathematics education in current societies. Casting light to these controversies helps trace the multiple entanglements between mathematics education and the cultural politics and economy of our times.
17. Bringing ethnomathematical perspectives into classrooms
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Swapna , Greer Brian
Published: December 2024

In this chapter, we offer some suggestions, informed by our personal histories and experiences, as to how ethnomathematical perspectives might enrich school mathematics classrooms. We regard this as inherently political work, in terms of combatting the intellectual White supremacy that pervades the Eurocentric narrative of the history of academic mathematics and that is explicitly or subliminally everpresent in so many mathematics classrooms. Likewise, we argue that the ongoing worldwide homogenisation of school mathematics is unhealthy. Above all, we argue that school mathematics is culpably deficient in terms of its relations with other forms of mathematical activities and insofar as it does characterise such relationships, often harmfully misleading.
19. Gender, mathematics, and mathematics education
Authors: Kollosche David , Steflitsch Daniela , Deweis-Weidlinger Kora
Published: December 2024

This chapter approaches the discipline of mathematics from the perspective of gender studies. It provides an overview of the gendering of mathematics and mathematics education based on aspects such as images of mathematics, achievement, representation, biology, cognition, learning preferences, classroom interaction, and belonging. These aspects are then critically addressed from a post-structural perspective on gender and mathematics. Special attention is paid on moral dilemmas in dealing with gender inequality in mathematics and on the question how the perspective of gender studies can enrich our understanding of mathematics.
5. Public Investment and Structural Transformation in Spain
Authors: Alvarez Ignacio , Uxó Jorge
Published: December 2024

During the decade of 2010–2019, public investment experienced a profound decline in Spain, because of the fiscal austerity policies implemented during the Great Recession. Even with the recovery of economic growth starting in 2015, public investment did not improve and the net capital stock decreased. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced an important change in trend, with a general turnaround in fiscal policies accompanying the disbursement of Next Generation EU funds. These European Union funds will allow the implementation of an industrial transformation strategy focused on key specific sectors with high pulling power and strong multiplier effects.
10. Sustainable Mobility and Industrial Policy
Authors: Guarascio Dario , Simonazzi Annamaria
Published: December 2024

Focusing on the automotive industry, this chapter addresses the problem of Europe’s vulnerability (e.g., import dependency, technological backwardness in key domains) and the hypothesis of the obsolescence of its growth and production model. First, we analyze the evolution of the Sino-German relationships highlighting the emergence of two divergent trajectories: while a well-tailored combination of industrial and trade policies allowed China to become the leader in electric vehicle (EV) production, the German development model, mostly driven by the choices of key carmakers, slowed innovation, fostered fragmentation within the European Union (EU) and created the conditions for the current vulnerability. Second, we identify the key elements— i.e., increasing demand for affordable EVs, investments in infrastructure for the provision of public goods, building-up a European Directorate for Resource Security—of a European industrial policy for sustainable mobility which may help achieve the multiple goals of decarbonizing the economy, increasing resilience, and reducing inequalities between and within countries.
11. Financing Structural Investment after 2027
Authors: Barbier Sophie , von Glasenapp Helmut
Published: December 2024

An investment can be described as structural if it contributes to financing the structural transformation of the economy and thus making it sustainably competitive. Experience shows that private investments alone are not sufficient due to externalities associated with this type of investment. A mixed public and private financing method is essential and it will help to accelerate the transformation. The challenge of the next European Union (EU) Multiannual Financial Framework (“post-2027”) will be to promote the development of this f inancing method. In this respect, the European budget will have to rely on four pillars: prioritize and plan, activate expenditure, decentralize implementation and strengthen steering. It is on this basis that Europe will be able to finance its structural investments and achieve the structural transformation necessary to maintain and develop its long-term competitiveness within the framework of a new European Competitiveness Pact.
Characteristics of Elevated Thunderstorms on the Cold Side of Fronts in China during the Period 2017–21
Authors: Ma Manman , Huang Xiaogang , Fei Jianfang , Li Chao , Cheng Xiaoping
Published: December 2024

Elevated thunderstorms are a type of convection that occurs above a stable layer. Elevated thunderstorms occurring on the cold side of fronts (ETCFs) in China remain poorly understood due to limited observational data. ERA5 reanalysis data, Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) precipitation data, and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning data spanning 2017–21 are used to identify and characterize ETCFs to build a climatology. In general, ETCFs are mainly located in Hunan and Guizhou Provinces. The annual cycle exhibits a peak in spring, and the diurnal cycle exhibits a peak at night. In winter, almost all CG lightning in Hunan and Guizhou is in ETCFs. ETCFs initiate primarily on the east side of mountains and move from west to east. The main weather pattern of ETCFs in Southwest China is as follows: the cold air near the surface is blocked and forms a “cold-air damming” due to the blocking of mountains, and there is a low-level jet above the front and a cyclonic circulation in the middle and lower troposphere. ETCFs in the Northeast China cold vortex (NCCV), predominantly occurring during summer, are typically located to the north of warm fronts. Under the influence of NCCV and the cold air near the surface, warm and moist air climbs along the fronts, triggering the development of ETCFs. These results offer valuable insights into understanding the climatology of ETCFs in China better.

Significance Statement

Elevated thunderstorms, a form of deep moist convection, have not been sufficiently studied despite their potential to produce severe weather such as hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. This paper presents the first comprehensive analysis of elevated thunderstorms on the cold side of fronts (ETCFs) in China. The characteristics of ETCFs are revealed through the analysis of spatial and temporal distribution, movement, and weather patterns. Hunan, Guizhou, and their surrounding areas are the frequent areas of ETCFs, and the ETCFs are greatly affected by terrain. This study establishes a foundation for future research on ETCF mechanisms and aims to enhance the accuracy of ETCF forecasting.
Self-Harm in Young People From Disadvantaged Neighborhoods in Turkey: A Grounded Theory Analysis of Contextual Risks and Functions
Authors: Pekasil Ayse Nur , Ersahin Zehra
Published: December 2024

To effectively prevent and address self-harm behavior (SHB), it is crucial to understand the relational and social contexts of young people (YP) who engage in SHB, as well as the meanings they ascribe to their behavior. The aim of study is to gain a deeper understanding of the processes SHB among YP in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Turkey. The research examines the factors that contribute to SHB and how YP interpret this behavior. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 YP, aged 14 to 24, who demonstrated moderate SHB that did not lead to mutilation. Through the application of Embodied Grounded Theory, findings were organized into 11 sub-categories and 4 main categories and presents a model proposal for understanding the SHB journeys of these YP. The findings highlight the significance of the meanings attached to SHB in its onset and persistence, besides the influence of social and relational contexts on these meanings.
Fighting for the True Path of Revolution: The Communist Party of El Salvador (PCS) during the Sixties
Authors: Martín Álvarez Alberto
Published: December 2024

The Salvadoran Communist Party (PCS) underwent great internal tensions throughout the 1960s, which led to its fracture at the end of the decade. Conventionally, these tensions have been explained as the result of internal differences related to the party’s position on the armed struggle. In contrast, this article shows that the internal dynamics of the party in this period can be explained by a series of disputes with a strong class component, which involved the two factions competing for the leadership of the organization. On the one hand, there was a workers’ faction in favor of proletarianizing the leadership of the party and deepening the class struggle through the work of the trade unions, and on the other, a sector of intellectuals that supported the political-electoral struggle, with the prospect of gradually accumulating forces. The reversal of the liberalization process experienced under the Salvadoran authoritarian regime since the early sixties, together with the party’s position on the war against Honduras, aggravated the internal contradictions of the organization, leading to its rupture in 1970.
Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Low Back Activity Confidence Scale (LoBACS)
Authors: Solum Sezin , Salbaş Ender
Published: December 2024

The Low Back Activity Confidence Scale (LoBACS) is a 15-item scale designed to assess low back pain (LBP) through self-efficacy, a key predictor of functional recovery. This study aimed to culturally adapt and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of LoBACS in patients with LBP. The translation and adaptation followed Beaton et al.’s protocol. Content and face validity were assessed with a pre-patient group. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to evaluate construct validity. Internal consistency, as well as test-retest reliability, were evaluated in a sample of 150 patients aged 18–70 years. Concurrent validity was measured alongside the Oswestry Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS). Two factors emerged from factor analysis, with item loadings for Functional Self-efficacy (FnSE) ranging from 0.745 to 0.896 and for Self-Regulatory and Exercise Self-efficacy (Self-Reg&ExSE) from 0.817 to 0.940. Cronbach’s alpha was high for FnSE, Self-Reg&ExSE, and the total scale (α = 0.941). Total correlation for each item ranged between 0.770 and 0.925. Test-retest reliability was also high (r = 0.941, p < .01). LoBACS showed moderate agreement with ODQ and QBPDS, demonstrating concurrent validity. In conclusion, the Turkish version of LoBACS is a valid and reliable tool for measuring LBP-related self-efficacy.
Electoral Failure of Political Islam: The Case of Jamaat-E-Islami in Bangladesh
Authors: Mostofa Shafi Md
Published: December 2024

This article investigates why the Jamaat-e-Islami of Bangladesh (JIB), the largest Islamist political party in South Asia, has been failing to achieve electoral success since 1991, despite their strong Islamist ideology. In fact, the party’s vote share has decreased from its highest point in 1991 to its lowest in 2008. The article, drafted before the recent dramatic political events in Bangladesh, argues that while JIB remains active, the scope for its success in electoral politics in Bangladesh remains questionable. The initial analysis proposes that the syncretic culture of Bangladesh, endorsed by moderate Sufis and the major political parties, together with JIB’s proto-religious objections to Bangladesh’s independence and their opposition to the state’s neoliberal direction, partly explains JIB’s lack of success in presenting a narrative that resonates with the voting public. The article also highlights the mistrust of the media, civil society and political elites towards JIB and identifies competition from other Islamist groups in the electoral arena. Recent developments in Bangladesh, though, raise questions to what extent any form of ‘Islamised’ political messages is actually a dominant matter of concern for elections in Bangladesh.