bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Griefbots, Deadbots, Postmortem Avatars: on Responsible Applications of Generative AI in the Digital Afterlife Industry
Authors: Hollanek Tomasz , Nowaczyk-Basińska Katarzyna
Published: May 2024

To analyze potential negative consequences of adopting generative AI solutions in the digital afterlife industry (DAI), in this paper we present three speculative design scenarios for AI-enabled simulation of the deceased. We highlight the perspectives of the data donor, data recipient, and service interactant – terms we employ to denote those whose data is used to create ‘deadbots,’ those in possession of the donor’s data after their death, and those who are meant to interact with the end product. We draw on the scenarios to map out several key ethical concerns posed by ‘re-creation services’ and to put forward recommendations on the ethical development of AI systems in this specific area of application. The recommendations, targeted at providers of AI-enabled re-creation services, include suggestions for developing sensitive procedures for retiring deadbots, ensuring meaningful transparency, restricting access to such services to adult users only, and adhering to the principle of mutual consent of both data donors and service interactants. While we suggest practical solutions to the socio-ethical challenges posed by the emergence of re-creation services, we also emphasize the importance of ongoing interdisciplinary research at the intersection of the ethics of AI and the ethics of the DAI.
Psychometric properties of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Short Form (OHQ-SF) in a Greek student sample
Authors: Grigoriadou Evangelia , Kolias Pavlos , Theocharidou Melissa , Gkioka Mara
Published: May 2024

Background

The purpose of the current study was to adapt and explore the psychometric properties of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Short Form (OHQ-SF) in a Greek student sample.

Aim

This quantitative cross-sectional study was applied in order to translate and validate the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Short Form (OHQ-SF) into Greek and to assess the psychometric properties.

Method

The English version of OHQ-SF was translated into Greek using the forward and backward translation. The sample was consisted of 88 adult students from the Public Educational Training Institution in Thessaloniki. Two self-report measures the Greek version of OHQ-SF and the Greek version of the Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R—to check the construct validity) were completed twice, for test and retest assessment, in full anonymity and confidentiality.

Statistical analysis

The psychometric properties of OHQ-SF/GR, namely the internal–external reliability and construct validity, were assessed, and the expected unidimensional structure was tested with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

Results and discussion

The Greek version of OHQ-SF (OHQ-SF/GR), for both test and retest, has adequate internal reliability, satisfactory structural validity, and adequate construct validity. The CFA indicated the unidimensional structure of the OHQ-SF/GR, and the fit indexes displayed good fit with the data. One item was removed due to poor correlation with the latent factor of happiness. The current study reveals that the final seven-item OHQ-SF/GR has very satisfactory psychometric properties being useful instrument to measure happiness levels in Greek adult students and is a valid tool that can be utilised in research field.
The Cambridge Platonists and Early Modern Philosophy
Authors: Kaldas Samuel M.
Published: May 2024

Often neglected by historians today, the seventeenth-century philosophers known as the Cambridge Platonists were recognised in their time as some of the most influential and controversial philosophers in England. Whereas most studies of the Cambridge Platonists have discussed their later careers, this book focuses on their early, formative years at Cambridge during the English Civil Wars. Samuel M. Kaldas explores how the Cambridge Platonists addressed issues central to philosophy of religion as we know it today through their engagement with early seventeenth-century religious controversies about predestination, the character and nature of God, and the role of reason in religion. His study serves as an accessible introduction to both the Cambridge Platonists, and to English religious controversies that contributed to the birth of the modern philosophy of religion. At the same time, Kaldas provides context for and fresh insights into the Cambridge Platonists' intellectual development and the coherence of their thought.
Rewriting the First Crusade
Authors: Smith Thomas W.
Published: May 2024

An exploration of the letters from the First Crusade, yielding evidence for a number of reinterpretations of the movement.
Christ the Physician in Late-Medieval Religious Controversy
Authors: Outhwaite Patrick
Published: May 2024

A consideration of the allegory of Christ the Divine Physician in medical and religious writings.
Water extraction in aero gas turbines for contrail mitigation
Authors: Gao X. , Isoldi A. , Nalianda D. , Nikolaidis T.
Published: May 2024

Water vapour and particles in aero engine exhaust can give rise to condensation trails (contrails) in the wake of aircrafts, and recent studies suggest that persistent contrails and contrail cirrus account for circa 50% of the total aviation-derived radiative forcing (RF). The Schmidt-Appleman criterion is widely used to qualitatively predict the formation of contrails. The criterion indicates that the formation of contrails is affected by both aero engine exhaust and ambient air conditions and can therefore provide the theoretical basis to devise contrail mitigation strategies and further allows quantitative assessment of these strategies. This work focuses on water extraction from the aircraft engine exhaust for contrail mitigation. The fuel water emission index (
${\rm{E}}{{\rm{I}}_{{{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{O}}}}$
) is one of the key factors that determines whether persistent contrails form or not. It indicates the amount of water produced for every kg of fuel burnt. Research has indicated that water extraction from the exhaust of the aero engine has been considered for Nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduction, but not for contrail mitigation. Assuming that water extraction is indeed possible, the emphasis of this work will therefore be on understanding how much water is needed to be extracted for contrail mitigation depending on the altitude and the relative humidity (RH), with the aim to carry out a meaningful study on the mitigation of persistent contrails and contrail cirrus to enable a fast and considerable reduction in aviation-derived RF.
$\beta$
-wave-based exploration of sensitive EEG features and classification of situation awareness
Authors: Feng C. , Liu S. , Wanyan X. , Dang Y. , Wang Z. , Qian C.
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this study was to explore the electroencephalogram (EEG) features sensitive to situation awareness (SA) and then classify SA levels. Forty-eight participants were recruited to complete an SA standard test based on the multi-attribute task battery (MATB) II, and the corresponding EEG data and situation awareness global assessment technology (SAGAT) scores were recorded. The population with the top 25% of SAGAT scores was selected as the high-SA level (HSL) group, and the bottom 25% was the low-SA level (LSL) group. The results showed that (1) for the relative power of
$\beta$
1 (16–20Hz),
$\beta$
2 (20–24Hz) and
$\beta$
3 (24–30Hz), repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) in three brain regions (Central Central-Parietal, and Parietal) × three brain lateralities (left, midline, and right) × two SA groups (HSL and LSL) showed a significant main effect for SA groups; post hoc comparisons revealed that compared with LSL, the above features of HSL were higher. (2) for most ratio features associated with
$\beta$
1 ∼
$\beta$
3, ANOVA also revealed a main effect for SA groups. (3) EEG features sensitive to SA were selected to classify SA levels with small-sample data based on the general supervised machine learning classifiers. Five-fold cross-validation results showed that among the models with easy interpretability, logistic regression (LR) and decision tree (DT) presented the highest accuracy (both 92%), while among the models with hard interpretability, the accuracy of random forest (RF) was 88.8%, followed by an artificial neural network (ANN) of 84%. The above results suggested that (1) the relative power of
$\beta$
1 ∼
$\beta$
3 and their associated ratios were sensitive to changes in SA levels; (2) the general supervised machine learning models all exhibited good accuracy (greater than 75%); and (3) furthermore, LR and DT are recommended by combining the interpretability and accuracy of the models.
Development and initial psychometric properties of the Research Complexity Index
Authors: Norful Allison A. , Capili Bernadette , Kovner Christine , Jarrín Olga F. , Viera Laura , McIntosh Scott , Attia Jacqueline , Adams Bridget , Swartz Kitt , Brown Ashley , Barton-Burke Margaret
Published: May 2024

Objective:

Research study complexity refers to variables that contribute to the difficulty of a clinical trial or study. This includes variables such as intervention type, design, sample, and data management. High complexity often requires more resources, advanced planning, and specialized expertise to execute studies effectively. However, there are limited instruments that scale study complexity across research designs. The purpose of this study was to develop and establish initial psychometric properties of an instrument that scales research study complexity.

Methods:

Technical and grammatical principles were followed to produce clear, concise items using language familiar to researchers. Items underwent face, content, and cognitive validity testing through quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Content validity indices were calculated, and iterative scale revision was performed. The instrument underwent pilot testing using 2 exemplar protocols, asking participants (n = 31) to score 25 items (e.g., study arms, data collection procedures).

Results:

The instrument (Research Complexity Index) demonstrated face, content, and cognitive validity. Item mean and standard deviation ranged from 1.0 to 2.75 (Protocol 1) and 1.31 to 2.86 (Protocol 2). Corrected item-total correlations ranged from .030 to .618. Eight elements appear to be under correlated to other elements. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.586 (Protocol 1) and 0.764 (Protocol 2). Inter-rater reliability was fair (kappa = 0.338).

Conclusion:

Initial pilot testing demonstrates face, content, and cognitive validity, moderate internal consistency reliability and fair inter-rater reliability. Further refinement of the instrument may increase reliability thus providing a comprehensive method to assess study complexity and related resource quantification (e.g., staffing requirements).
Opening a conversation on responsible environmental data science in the age of large language models
Authors: Oliver Ruth Y. , Chapman Melissa , Emery Nathan , Gillespie Lauren , Gownaris Natasha , Leiker Sophia , Nisi Anna C. , Ayers David , Breckheimer Ian , Blondin Hannah , Hoffman Ava , Pagniello Camille M.L.S. , Raisle Megan , Zimmerman Naupaka
Published: May 2024

The general public and scientific community alike are abuzz over the release of ChatGPT and GPT-4. Among many concerns being raised about the emergence and widespread use of tools based on large language models (LLMs) is the potential for them to propagate biases and inequities. We hope to open a conversation within the environmental data science community to encourage the circumspect and responsible use of LLMs. Here, we pose a series of questions aimed at fostering discussion and initiating a larger dialogue. To improve literacy on these tools, we provide background information on the LLMs that underpin tools like ChatGPT. We identify key areas in research and teaching in environmental data science where these tools may be applied, and discuss limitations to their use and points of concern. We also discuss ethical considerations surrounding the use of LLMs to ensure that as environmental data scientists, researchers, and instructors, we can make well-considered and informed choices about engagement with these tools. Our goal is to spark forward-looking discussion and research on how as a community we can responsibly integrate generative AI technologies into our work.
Comments on Dews's Modernist Reading of Schelling and his Basic Operation
Authors: Gabriel Markus
Published: May 2024

In his ambitious Schelling's Late Philosophy in Confrontation with Hegel, Peter Dews sets out to reconstruct the fundamental difference between Schelling and Hegel on the basis of two related claims. The first, historical claim is that both are dealing with ‘our current historical situation’, which Dews identifies with ‘modernity’ (Dews 2023: 10). The second, systematic claim is that their mature systematic thinking is characterized by what he calls throughout the book, with reference to a canonical paper by Dieter Henrich (Henrich 1976), their respective Grundoperationen (‘basic operations’). He then walks the reader through major positions that Schelling developed over the course of his philosophical career in order to demonstrate how Schelling arrives at a specific genealogical account of modernity. On this account, modernity is understood as a formation of consciousness, which is supposedly not subject to the Hegelian type of dialectic which, according to Dews, is driven by

a rationalism so comprehensive that the very notion of unwarranted constraints on the agency of human beings or of the oppressive shaping of their consciousness has no place. (Dews 2023: 16)
Brightness enhancement on a narrow-linewidth fiber Bragg grating-based master oscillator power amplification fiber laser
Authors: Tian Xin , Rao Binyu , Wang Meng , Xi Xiaoming , Li Zhixian , Chen Zilun , Xiao Hu , Ma Pengfei , Wang Zefeng
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we have experimentally demonstrated a high-power and high-brightness narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier seeded by an optimized fiber oscillator. In order to improve the temporal stability, the fiber oscillator consists of a composite fiber Bragg grating-based cavity with an external feedback structure. By optimizing the forward and backward pumping ratio, the nonlinear effects and stimulated Raman scattering-induced mode distortion of the fiber amplifier are suppressed comprehensively, accompanied with the simultaneous improvement of beam quality and output power. The laser brightness is enhanced further by raising the threshold of transverse mode instability by approximately 1.0 kW by coiling the gain fiber with a novel curvature shape. Finally, a 6 kW narrow-linewidth laser is achieved with beam quality (M2) of approximately 1.4. The laser brightness doubled compared to the results before optimization. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest brightness narrow-linewidth fiber laser based on a one-stage master oscillator power amplification structure.
Dynamics of English gratitude expression: a corpus-assisted analysis of UK government COVID-19 briefings
Authors: Wei Jilan , Murphy M. Lynne
Published: May 2024

With a focus on politicians’ and medical experts’ gratitude expressions in UK government COVID-19 briefings, this research describes how perspective and intensity were modulated in expressing gratitude to realise different pragmatic intentions. This corpus-assisted analysis finds that retrospective or prospective gratitude expression was adopted by the two British elite groups to build solidarity (encouraging) and/or make requests (directing) for protecting public health. Gratitude of varying intensities was expressed (e.g. by highlighting metaphorical dimensions such as WIDTH and DEPTH) to correspond to the importance of a benefit (judged by how much the given benefit matches the receiver’s needs and preferences) and/or to implicitly display the evaluation of the benefactor’s responsibility and efforts. We tentatively formulate a dynamic model of gratitude expression in public discourse and shed light on the metaphorical conceptualisation of English gratitude expression and the power of gratitude expression in boosting social cohesion and directing social actions in a discourse of crisis.
First insights into the spatio-temporal ecology of sympatric large carnivores in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal
Authors: Horion Robin , Woodgate Zoe , Drouilly Marine
Published: May 2024

Large carnivores play a crucial role in their native ecosystems, but their populations are rapidly declining across the African continent. West Africa is no exception, with large protected areas often forming the last strongholds for these species. Little is known about the population status and ecology of large carnivores in the region, hampering the design and implementation of effective conservation strategies. We conducted a camera-trap survey during the dry season in Niokolo-Koba National Park, the largest terrestrial protected area in Senegal and the second largest in West Africa, to investigate the spatio-temporal ecology of the four large carnivores inhabiting the Park: the spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta, leopard Panthera pardus, West African lion Panthera leo leo and African wild dog Lycaon pictus. Spotted hyaenas and leopards had the widest spatial distribution and highest probability of site use. Spotted hyaena site use was positively associated with leopard relative abundance index and negatively associated with normalized difference vegetation index, whereas only distance to the nearest road influenced leopard site use. Distance to the Gambian River was the most important covariate positively affecting site use by lions. African wild dog site use was negatively associated with the relative abundance indices of lions and leopards. Lions, spotted hyaenas and leopards showed strong overlap in their activity patterns. By providing new information on the ecology of large carnivores in West Africa, including where they range and which habitats are critical for their survival, our study will facilitate conservation planning. Our findings lay the foundations for future research to conserve these threatened species in West Africa effectively and to guide ranger patrol efforts, which are key for their long-term survival.
Uncovering novel drug targets for bipolar disorder: a Mendelian randomization analysis of brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and plasma proteomes
Authors: Jia Tingting , Liu Tiancheng , Hu Shiyi , Li Yongjun , Chen Peixi , Qin Fengqin , He Yongji , Han Feng , Zhang Chengcheng
Published: May 2024

Background

There is a clear demand for innovative therapeutics for bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods

We integrated the largest BD genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataset (NCase = 41 917, NControl = 371 549) with protein quantitative trait loci from brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and plasma. Using a range of integrative analyses, including Mendelian randomization (MR), Steiger filter analysis, Bayesian colocalization, and phenome-wide MR analysis, we prioritized novel drug targets for BD. Additionally, we incorporated data from the UK Biobank (NCase = 1064, NControl = 365 476) and the FinnGen study (NCase = 7006, NControl = 329 192) for robust biological validation.

Results

Through MR analysis, we found that in the brain, downregulation of DNM3, MCTP1, ABCB8 and elevation of DFNA5 and PDF were risk factors for BD. In cerebrospinal fluid, increased BD risk was associated with increased levels of FRZB, AGRP, and IL36A and decreased CTSF and LRP8. Plasma analysis revealed that decreased LMAN2L, CX3CL1, PI3, NCAM1, and TIMP4 correlated with increased BD risk, but ITIH1 did not. All these proteins passed Steiger filtering, and Bayesian colocalization confirmed that 12 proteins were colocalized with BD. Phenome-wide MR analysis revealed no significant side effects for potential drug targets, except for LRP8. External validation further underscored the concordance between the primary and validation cohorts, confirming MCTP1, DNM3, PDF, CTSF, AGRP, FRZB, LMAN2L, NCAM1, and TIMP4 are intriguing targets for BD.

Conclusions

Our study identified druggable proteins for BD, including MCTP1, DNM3, and PDF in the brain; CTSF, AGRP, and FRZB in cerebrospinal fluid; and LMAN2L, NCAM1, and TIMP4 in plasma, delineating promising avenues to development of novel therapies.
Early-treatment cerebral blood flow change as a predictive biomarker of antidepressant treatment response: evidence from the EMBARC clinical trial
Authors: Dang Yi , Lu Bin , Vanderwal Tamara , Castellanos Francisco Xavier , Yan Chao-Gan
Published: May 2024

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent and disabling illnesses worldwide. Treatment of MDD typically relies on trial-and-error to find an effective approach. Identifying early response-related biomarkers that predict response to antidepressants would help clinicians to decide, as early as possible, whether a particular treatment might be suitable for a given patient.

Methods

Data were from the two-stage Establishing Moderators and Biosignatures of Antidepressant Response for Clinical Care (EMBARC) trial. A whole-brain, voxel-wise, mixed-effects model was applied to identify early-treatment cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes as biomarkers of treatment response. We examined changes in CBF measured with arterial spin labeling 1-week after initiating double-masked sertraline/placebo. We tested whether these early 1-week scans could be used to predict response observed after 8-weeks of treatment.

Results

Response to 8-week placebo treatment was associated with increased cerebral perfusion in temporal cortex and reduced cerebral perfusion in postcentral region captured at 1-week of treatment. Additionally, CBF response in these brain regions was significantly correlated with improvement in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score in the placebo group. No significant associations were found for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment.

Conclusions

We conclude that early CBF responses to placebo administration in multiple brain regions represent candidate neural biomarkers of longer-term antidepressant effects.
Understanding the expansion of social control and helping professionals as unwilling agents of the state: The passing of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act in the United States
Authors: Williams-Butler Abigail , Cunningham Shari , Gandarilla Ocampo María , Golden Guzman Kate , Mendez Alicia
Published: May 2024

It is widely known that those in the helping professions are mandated to report suspected incidences of child maltreatment. However, few are aware of the historical resistance to mandated reporting that helping professionals demonstrated before the passing of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 1974 and the associated federal mandates that compelled helping professionals to engage in mandated reporting, oftentimes against their will. By analysing historical policy documents through a grounded theory approach, the authors identified three themes that describe the rationale for the passage of CAPTA: (1) identifying national evidence of child abuse; (2) resistance to intrusion of the helping professional-client relationship; and (3) the necessity of immunity waivers for those who reported instances of child abuse and misdemeanor punishment for those who failed to report such instances. In light of conversations around abolishing or reforming child protective services, it is important to understand how the first federal child protective services policy in the United States originated and how these regulations embedded social control into the foundation of the helping professional-client relationship, thus turning helping professionals into unwilling agents of the state. Implications of mandated reporting, including introducing a penal aspect to the helping professional-client relationship, are also explored.
WILLIAM GELL'S ENCOUNTERS WITH ISLAMIC SPAIN, 1808–36
Authors: Ansell Richard
Published: May 2024

The British antiquary William Gell (1777–1836) is known for his work on ancient Greece and Rome, which he based on a lifetime of Mediterranean travel and two decades of residence in Italy. This article uses a remarkable notebook held at the British School at Rome to explore his unheralded interest in Islamic Spain (al-Andalus), which emerged from his Iberian travels of 1808–11 and took up much of his energy in the early 1830s, the final years of his life. As such, the notebook shows how engagement with other cultures might continue well beyond an initial encounter through travel. It brings together Gell's on-the-spot sketches and descriptions of the Alhambra, his copious later reading on the Emirate of Granada and evidence that he was teaching himself Arabic, offering a case study of early nineteenth-century scholarship that straddles the transition between eighteenth-century antiquarianism and Romantic, Orientalist approaches. The materiality and the contents of Gell's notebook chart the changing ways in which British travellers and writers incorporated al-Andalus into their understandings of Europe and the Mediterranean.
Vision-based adaptive LT sliding mode admittance control for collaborative robots with actuator saturation
Authors: Huang Cong , Zhu Minglei , Song Shijie , Zhao Yuyang , Jiang Jinmao
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we propose a novel vision-based adaptive leakage-type (LT) sliding mode admittance control for actuator-constrained collaborative robots to realize the synchronous control of the precise path following and compliant interaction force. Firstly, we develop a vision-admittance-based model to couple the visual feedback and force sensing in the image feature space so that a reference image feature trajectory can be obtained concerning the contact force command and predefined trajectory. Secondly, considering the system uncertainty, external disturbance, and torque constraints of collaborative robots in reality, we propose an adaptive sliding mode controller in the image feature space to perform precise trajectory tracking. This controller employs a leakage-type (LT) adaptive control law to reduce the side effects of system uncertainties without knowing the upper bound of system uncertainties. Moreover, an auxiliary dynamic is considered in this controller to overcome the joint torque constraints. Finally, we prove the convergence of the tracking error with the Lyapunov stability analysis and operate various semi-physical simulations compared to the conventional adaptive sliding mode and parallel vision/force controller to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed controller. The simulation results show that compared with the controller mentioned above, the path following accuracy and interaction force control precision of the proposed controller increased by 50% and achieved faster convergence.
Co-designing versatile quadruped robots for dynamic and energy-efficient motions
Authors: Fadini Gabriele , Kumar Shivesh , Kumar Rohit , Flayols Thomas , Del Prete Andrea , Carpentier Justin , Souères Philippe
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a concurrent optimization approach for the design and motion of a quadruped in order to achieve energy-efficient cyclic behaviors. Computational techniques are applied to improve the development of a novel quadruped prototype. The scale of the robot and its actuators are optimized for energy efficiency considering the complete actuator model including friction, torque, and bandwidth limitations. This method and the optimal bounding trajectories are tested on the first (non-optimized) prototype design iteration showing that our formulation produces a trajectory that (i) can be easily replayed on the real robot and (ii) reduces the power consumption w.r.t. hand-tuned motion heuristics. Power consumption is then optimized for several periodic tasks with co-design. Our results include, but are not limited to, a bounding and backflip task. It appears that, for jumping forward, robots with longer thighs perform better, while, for backflips, longer shanks are better suited. To explore the tradeoff between these different designs, a Pareto set is constructed to guide the next iteration of the prototype. On this set, we find a new design, which will be produced in future work, showing an improvement of at least 52% for each separate task.
BinaryTech in motion: The sexgender in the European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence
Authors: Aalto Juho
Published: May 2024

Sexgender has become politicized by neo-conservative and populist movements in Europe and elsewhere. This article explores how the sexgender binary is foundational to the social and material construction of the non-heterosexual legal subject and unveils binary hierarchies embedded therein. Furthermore, it develops a new materialist methodology called BinaryTech, which exposes the binary formulas of inequality and difference in the Court’s jurisprudence. This new materialist approach, based on Karen Barad’s agential realism, is used to critically examine how differences are produced as stable features of subjects and objects. The human of the Convention being heterosexual is thereby the result, constructed on material-discursive differentiation of non-heterosexuals. The article concludes by describing how new materialist interventions and Nordic feminist perspectives on law can offer valuable insights within the emerging material turn.
Impacts of environmental factors on the aetiological diagnosis and disease severity of community-acquired pneumonia in China: a multicentre, hospital-based, observational study
Authors: Zhang Yichunzi , Li Jiang , Wu Chao , Xiao Yan , Wang Xinming , Wang Ying , Chen Lan , Ren Lili , Wang Jianwei
Published: May 2024

Environmental exposures are known to be associated with pathogen transmission and immune impairment, but the association of exposures with aetiology and severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are unclear. A retrospective observational study was conducted at nine hospitals in eight provinces in China from 2014 to 2019. CAP patients were recruited according to inclusion criteria, and respiratory samples were screened for 33 respiratory pathogens using molecular test methods. Sociodemographic, environmental and clinical factors were used to analyze the association with pathogen detection and disease severity by logistic regression models combined with distributed lag nonlinear models. A total of 3323 CAP patients were included, with 709 (21.3%) having severe illness. 2064 (62.1%) patients were positive for at least one pathogen. More severe patients were found in positive group. After adjusting for confounders, particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and 8-h ozone (O3-8h) were significant association at specific lag periods with detection of influenza viruses and Klebsiella pneumoniae respectively. PM10 and carbon monoxide (CO) showed cumulative effect with severe CAP. Pollutants exposures, especially PM, O3-8h, and CO should be considered in pathogen detection and severity of CAP to improve the clinical aetiological and disease severity diagnosis.
Bishops in the House of Lords: fit for the future?
Authors: Hatcher Mark
Published: May 2024

This article seeks to provide a constitutional law perspective on the contribution of the Lords Spiritual to the scrutiny of legislation in the House of Lords. It examines the legal basis of the bishops’ role in the Upper House and how this has evolved. It considers how far the bishops currently meet expectations about their role against the background of calls for reform of the House of Lords and changes in religious affiliation in the United Kingdom. The paper draws, amongst other things, on the experience of a group of current and former Lords Spiritual who shared their views with the author in the course of some informal semi-structured conversations. It also examines the relationship between the Lords Spiritual and the Church of England's national institutions. It concludes that the Lords Spiritual make a distinctive contribution to the legislature which should be maintained, with some modifications to meet the needs of the time.
Archbishop of Uganda v Joyce and Others
Authors: Cranmer Frank
Published: May 2024

In April 2023, the House of Bishops of the Province of the Church of Uganda elected Canon Godfrey Kasana as Bishop of Luwero. Before his consecration could take place, however, a member of the church submitted a petition alleging that he was unsuitable for consecration on grounds of adultery – and in June the House of Bishops revoked his nomination. The respondents, in effect, sought judicial review of that decision, while the Archbishop argued that the claim was brought against the wrong party and was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process.
Re Holy Trinity and St Jude, Halifax
Authors: Willink David
Published: May 2024

Following the grant of a faculty for the felling of particular trees in the churchyard, the petitioners’ contractor in error felled two trees not covered by the faculty. A petition was issued for a confirmatory faculty; the contractor was added as an additional party.
Detection and prebiotic chemistry of possible glycine precursor molecule methylenimine towards the hot molecular core G10.47+0.03
Authors: Manna Arijit , Pal Sabyasachi
Published: May 2024

Amino acids are essential for the synthesis of protein. Amino acids contain both amine (R–NH2) and carboxylic acid (R–COOH) functional groups, which help to understand the possible formation mechanism of life in the universe. Among the 20 types of amino acids, glycine (NH2CH2COOH) is known as the simplest non-essential amino acid. In the last 40 years, all surveys of NH2CH2COOH in the interstellar medium, especially in the star-formation regions, have failed at the millimetre and sub-millimetre wavelengths. We aimed to identify the possible precursors of NH2CH2COOH, because it is highly challenging to identify NH2CH2COOH in the interstellar medium. Many laboratory experiments have suggested that methylenimine (CH2NH) plays a key role as a possible precursor of NH2CH2COOH in the star-formation regions via the Strecker synthesis reaction. After spectral analysis using the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) model, we successfully identified the rotational emission lines of CH2NH towards the hot molecular core G10.47+0.03 using the Atacama Compact Array (ACA). The estimated column density of CH2NH towards G10.47+0.03 is (3.40 ± 0.2) × 1015 cm−2 with a rotational temperature of 218.70 ± 20 K, which is estimated from the rotational diagram. The fractional abundance of CH2NH with respect to H2 towards G10.47+0.03 is 2.61 × 10−8. We found that the derived abundance of CH2NH agree fairly well with the existing two-phase warm-up chemical modelling abundance value of CH2NH. We discuss the possible formation pathways of CH2NH within the context of hot molecular cores, and we find that CH2NH is likely mainly formed via neutral–neutral gas-phase reactions of CH3 and NH radicals towards G10.47+0.03.
Genetic diversity in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) germplasm for vegetative and agronomic characteristics in semi-arid regions
Authors: Sabaghnia Naser , Ahadnezhad Amin , Janmohammadi Mohsen
Published: May 2024

Safflower, a semiarid crop, contains a healthy oil with high unsaturated fatty acids. Genetically diverse accessions are important for genetic maintenance of safflower and breeding proposes. The objectives of present investigation were to evaluate the morphological variation of 100 safflower accessions across two years (2022 and 2023), to explore similar genotypic groups and to identify the higher contribution of traits with to the observed variability. The highest coefficient of variation (CV) was observed for seeds per secondary capitulum, number of capitula per plant and weight of lateral capitulum in the first year and the highest CV values were observed for number of capitula per plant and capitula per lateral branch in the second year. The factor analysis identified five factors in the first year and six factors in the second as yield components, height, seed yield, capitulum diameter and phonology while number of branches was identified as the extra factor in the second year. Results showed that the variation of morphologic traits was made up of from the most measured traits of safflower. We defined seven distinct clusters, which made it possible to differentiate safflower accessions based on measured traits across two years. Of 45 accessions were grouped in similar clusters across two years, without any or similar genotype by environment interaction. Some high yielding accessions like C-47 and Lesaf-175 can be entered directly in multi-environmental trials for cultivar release proposes. The recognized variation improves as a good resource, indicating an important issue for future projects for safflower germplasm maintenance and breeding.
Looking for Life on Enceladus: What Questions Should We Ask?
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: May 2024

On icy ocean worlds, a research framework built around the theory of organic chemical evolution could surface deeper insights than a hunt limited to direct evidence of life.
A New Type of Jovian Hectometric Radiation Powered by Monoenergetic Electron Beams
Authors: Collet B. , Lamy L. , Louis C. K. , Zarka P. , Prangé R. , Louarn P. , Kurth W. S. , Allegrini F.
Published: May 2024

In this study, we statistically analyze the Jovian auroral radio sources detected in situ by Juno/Waves at frequencies f below the electron cyclotron frequency fce. We first conduct a survey of Juno/Waves data over 1–40 MHz from 2016 to 2022. The 15 detected HectOMetric (HOM) sources all lie within 1–5 MHz and are both less frequent than the radio sources commonly observed slightly above fce and clustered in the southern hemisphere, within ∼90–270° longitudes. We analyze these emission regions with a growth rate analysis in the framework of the Cyclotron Maser Instability (CMI), which we apply to JADE‐E high cadence electron measurements. We show that the f < fce emissions correspond to crossed radio sources, ∼300 km wide. They are located in a hot and highly depleted auroral plasma environment, along flux tubes colocated with upward field‐aligned current and at the equatorward edge of the main auroral oval. The wave amplification is consistent with the CMI and its free energy source consists of a shell‐type electron distribution function (EDF) with characteristic energies of 0.2–5keV. More energetic, 5–50 keV, shell‐type EDFs were systematically observed at higher latitudes but without any radio counterpart. Various parameters for the f < fce HOM sources, reminiscent of the ones at Earth/Saturn, are compared. Other CMI‐unstable EDFs, primarily loss cone ones, are systematically observed during the same intervals, giving rise to emission observed at fce < f < fce + 0.5%. Our analysis thus reveals that different portions of the same EDF can be CMI‐unstable and simultaneously amplify radio waves below and above fce.
Immediate fortification of human milk with a bovine milk-derived human milk fortifier in very low birth weight infants: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Wynter Zanna , Gorham Jane Anne , Thompson Amy B. , Mundy Cynthia , Waller Jennifer L. , Stansfield Brian K.
Published: May 2024

Objective

Double-blind randomized control trial of early addition of a bovine milk-derived human milk fortifier (HMF) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (NCT05228535).

Methods

VLBW infants were randomized to receive bovine milk-derived HMF with first feedings or delayed fortification at 80 ml/kg/day. Anthropometrics were assessed weekly through 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Unadjusted and adjusted (race, gender, gestational age, and birth weight) differences between study arms were examined using two-sample t-test and ANCOVA, respectively.

Results

Fifty-two VLBW infants (57% female, 60% Black) were enrolled. Baseline demographics did not differ between groups. Weight velocity at DOL 28 did not differ between study arms. Secondary outcomes including NPO occurrence, incidence of metabolic acidosis, NEC, retinopathy, or late-onset sepsis did not differ between groups.

Conclusion

Immediate fortification of enteral feedings with a bovine milk-derived HMF appears safe and well-tolerated although no clear growth benefit could be established.
Miconazole and phenothiazine hinder the quorum sensing regulated virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Gad Amany I. , El-Ganiny Amira M. , Eissa Ahmed G. , Noureldin Nada A. , Nazeih Shaimaa I.
Published: May 2024

Antibiotic resistance is a major health problem worldwide. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative pathogen with an arsenal of virulence factors and elevated antimicrobial resistance. It is a leading cause of nosocomial infections with high morbidity and mortality. The significant time and effort required to develop new antibiotics can be circumvented using alternative therapeutic strategies, including anti-virulence targets. This study aimed to investigate the anti-virulence activity of the FDA-approved drugs miconazole and phenothiazine against P. aeruginosa. The phenotypic effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of miconazole and phenothiazine on biofilm, pyocyanin, protease, rhamnolipid and hemolysin activities in PAO1 strain was examined. qRT-PCR was used to assess the effect of drugs on quorum-sensing genes that regulate virulence. Further, the anti-virulence potential of miconazole and phenothiazine was evaluated in silico and in vivo. Miconazole showed significant inhibition of Pseudomonas virulence by reducing biofilm-formation approximately 45–48%, hemolytic-activity by 59%, pyocyanin-production by 47–49%, rhamnolipid-activity by approximately 42–47% and protease activity by 36–40%. While, phenothiazine showed lower anti-virulence activity, it inhibited biofilm (31–35%), pyocyanin (37–39%), protease (32–40%), rhamnolipid (35–40%) and hemolytic activity (47–56%). Similarly, there was significantly reduced expression of RhlR, PqsR, LasI and LasR following treatment with miconazole, but less so with phenothiazine. In-silico analysis revealed that miconazole had higher binding affinity than phenothiazine to LasR, RhlR, and PqsR QS-proteins. Furthermore, there was 100% survival in mice injected with PAO1 treated with miconazole. In conclusion, miconazole and phenothiazine are promising anti-virulence agents for P. aeruginosa.
Network-based elucidation of colon cancer drug resistance mechanisms by phosphoproteomic time-series analysis
Authors: Rosenberger George , Li Wenxue , Turunen Mikko , He Jing , Subramaniam Prem S. , Pampou Sergey , Griffin Aaron T. , Karan Charles , Kerwin Patrick , Murray Diana , Honig Barry , Liu Yansheng , Califano Andrea
Published: May 2024

Aberrant signaling pathway activity is a hallmark of tumorigenesis and progression, which has guided targeted inhibitor design for over 30 years. Yet, adaptive resistance mechanisms, induced by rapid, context-specific signaling network rewiring, continue to challenge therapeutic efficacy. Leveraging progress in proteomic technologies and network-based methodologies, we introduce Virtual Enrichment-based Signaling Protein-activity Analysis (VESPA)—an algorithm designed to elucidate mechanisms of cell response and adaptation to drug perturbations—and use it to analyze 7-point phosphoproteomic time series from colorectal cancer cells treated with clinically-relevant inhibitors and control media. Interrogating tumor-specific enzyme/substrate interactions accurately infers kinase and phosphatase activity, based on their substrate phosphorylation state, effectively accounting for signal crosstalk and sparse phosphoproteome coverage. The analysis elucidates time-dependent signaling pathway response to each drug perturbation and, more importantly, cell adaptive response and rewiring, experimentally confirmed by CRISPR knock-out assays, suggesting broad applicability to cancer and other diseases.
A locally solvent-tethered polymer electrolyte for long-life lithium metal batteries
Authors: Zhu Yanfei , Lao Zhoujie , Zhang Mengtian , Hou Tingzheng , Xiao Xiao , Piao Zhihong , Lu Gongxun , Han Zhiyuan , Gao Runhua , Nie Lu , Wu Xinru , Song Yanze , Ji Chaoyuan , Wang Jian , Zhou Guangmin
Published: May 2024

Solid polymer electrolytes exhibit enhanced Li+ conductivity when plasticized with highly dielectric solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). However, the application of DMF-containing electrolytes in solid-state batteries is hindered by poor cycle life caused by continuous DMF degradation at the anode surface and the resulting unstable solid-electrolyte interphase. Here we report a composite polymer electrolyte with a rationally designed Hofmann-DMF coordination complex to address this issue. DMF is engineered on Hofmann frameworks as tethered ligands to construct a locally DMF-rich interface which promotes Li+ conduction through a ligand-assisted transport mechanism. A high ionic conductivity of 6.5 × 10−4 S cm−1 is achieved at room temperature. We demonstrate that the composite electrolyte effectively reduces the free shuttling and subsequent decomposition of DMF. The locally solvent-tethered electrolyte cycles stably for over 6000 h at 0.1 mA cm−2 in Li | |Li symmetric cell. When paired with sulfurized polyacrylonitrile cathodes, the full cell exhibits a prolonged cycle life of 1000 cycles at 1 C. This work will facilitate the development of practical polymer-based electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and long cycle life.
Frequency comb generation via synchronous pumped χ(3) resonator on thin-film lithium niobate
Authors: Cheng Rebecca , Yu Mengjie , Shams-Ansari Amirhassan , Hu Yaowen , Reimer Christian , Zhang Mian , Lončar Marko
Published: May 2024

Resonator-based optical frequency comb generation is an enabling technology for a myriad of applications ranging from communications to precision spectroscopy. These frequency combs can be generated in nonlinear resonators driven using either continuous-wave (CW) light, which requires alignment of the pump frequency with the cavity resonance, or pulsed light, which also mandates that the pulse repetition rate and cavity free spectral range (FSR) are carefully matched. Advancements in nanophotonics have ignited interest in chip-scale optical frequency combs. However, realizing pulse-driven on-chip Kerr combs remains challenging, as microresonator cavities have limited tuning range in their FSR and resonance frequency. Here, we take steps to overcome this limitation and demonstrate broadband frequency comb generation using a χ(3) resonator synchronously pumped by a tunable femtosecond pulse generator with on-chip amplitude and phase modulators. Notably, employing pulsed pumping overcomes limitations in Kerr comb generation typically seen in crystalline resonators from stimulated Raman scattering.
circCDK13-loaded small extracellular vesicles accelerate healing in preclinical diabetic wound models
Authors: Huang Qilin , Chu Ziqiang , Wang Zihao , Li Qiankun , Meng Sheng , Lu Yao , Ma Kui , Cui Shengnan , Hu Wenzhi , Zhang Wenhua , Wei Qian , Qu Yanlin , Li Haihong , Fu Xiaobing , Zhang Cuiping
Published: May 2024

Chronic wounds are a major complication in patients with diabetes. Here, we identify a therapeutic circRNA and load it into small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) to treat diabetic wounds in preclinical models. We show that circCDK13 can stimulate the proliferation and migration of human dermal fibroblasts and human epidermal keratinocytes by interacting with insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 in an N6-Methyladenosine-dependent manner to enhance CD44 and c-MYC expression. We engineered sEVs that overexpress circCDK13 and show that local subcutaneous injection into male db/db diabetic mouse wounds and wounds of streptozotocin-induced type I male diabetic rats could accelerate wound healing and skin appendage regeneration. Our study demonstrates that the delivery of circCDK13 in sEVs may present an option for diabetic wound treatment.