bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competitive Li-ion coordination for constructing a three-dimensional transport network to achieve ultra-high ionic conductivity of a composite solid-state electrolyte
Authors: Ma Yiteng , Qiu Yong , Yang Ke , Lv Shun , Li Yuhang , An Xufei , Xiao Guanyou , Han Zhuo , Ma Yuetao , Chen Likun , Zhang Danfeng , Lv Wei , Tian Yun , Hou Tingzheng , Liu Ming , Zhou Zhen , Kang Feiyu , He Yan-Bing
Published: September 2024

The competitive Li+ coordination environment with a three-dimensional transport network is designed in a composite solid-state electrolyte to realize a high ionic conductivity of 1.03 × 10−3 S cm−1 and ultralong-cycling solid-state batteries at 5C.
Reaction intermediates recognized by in situ FTIR spectroscopy in CO2 hydrogenation over the Cu/ZnO/SPP-zeolite catalyst
Authors: Liu Xiaolong , Fu Guangying , Lang Qiaolin , Ding Ruiqin , Guo Qiangsheng , Liang Ke , Gao Shuman , Yang Xiaobo , Yu Bing
Published: September 2024

SPP was used to confine the nanosized (2–8 nm) Cu/ZnO composite. The Cu surfaces maintains a constant carbonate coverage and low H2O adsorption during the reaction, while carbonyls and formates are rapidly formed and converted.
H/OH substitution achieving high-temperature multiferroicity in a Sn(iv)-based hybrid perovskite
Authors: Ren Mei-Ling , Luo Wang , Xu Ze-Jiang , Li Hua-Kai , Liu Lang , Shi Chao , Wang Na , Ye Heng-Yun , Miao Le-Ping
Published: September 2024

Our study achieves a high TC hybrid perovskite multiferroic via H/OH substitution strategy. It gives deep insights into the design of multiferroic materials.
Atomically precise Ag25(SR)18 nanoclusters: a stable photosensitizer for photocatalysis
Authors: Zhan Linjian , Zhang Junyi , Ning Boyuan , He Yunhui , Xiao Guangcan , Chen Zhixin , Xiao Fang-Xing
Published: September 2024

Ag25(SR)18 nanocluster is utilized to couple with transition metal chalcogenides for constructing TMC/Ag25(SR)18 heterostructures, which demonstrate boosted photoactivities toward selective organic transformation and heavy metal reduction.
PMMA-assisted electrospinning uniformly incorporates magnetic particles into carbon nanomaterials for efficient microwave absorption
Authors: Kou Xin , Zhao Xijin , Xiong XingYao , Yuan Shenglin , Huang Hui , Li Xiangcheng , Zhao Yongpeng
Published: September 2024

The electrospinning process integrates the magnetic precursor with carbon nanomaterials, while utilizing PMMA to uniformly disperse the magnetic particles onto the carbon material, so fabricating superior electromagnetic wave absorbing materials.
Nickel-catalysed enantioselective cross-electrophile coupling reaction with the retention of the β-fluorine atom
Authors: Shi Xin-Yi , Yan Xueyuan , Tang Xiaodong , Zhai Shi-Jing , Huang Genping , Ma Jun-An , Zhang Fa-Guang
Published: September 2024

A nickel-catalysed enantioselective reductive cross-coupling reaction of a new monofluoromethyl building block with acid chlorides is developed to give chiral α-monofluoromethyl acyloin derivatives.
Leveraging cooperative photocatalysis for the concurrent production of solar fuels and value-added chemicals: mediated by a metal-free porphyrin-based polymeric framework
Authors: Dhingra Kirti , Saini Neha , Kumar Amit , Kailasam Kamalakannan
Published: September 2024

Porphyrin-based Porp-Tz porous polymeric framework for the concurrent production of solar-fuel and value-added fine chemicals: an economic approach towards sustainability.
Novel anion-exchange membranes with accelerated hydroxide ion conduction through a quaternized covalent organic framework-doped electrospinning binary polymer
Authors: Wu Dan , Zhang Niuniu , Gao Weimin , Li Qingquan , Gao Xinna , Wang Shuang , Che Quantong
Published: September 2024

The mutual restriction between hydroxide ions' conductivity and alkaline stability is the main obstacle for the practical application of anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) in anion-exchange membrane fuel cells.
Harnessing medium entropy and oxygen defects in spinel ferrite cathodes for enhanced cycling performance in lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Zhang Jing , Chen Jin , Wei Jian , Liu Yanyi , Ma Yuzhao , Yang Xiaofeng , Li Yanjun
Published: September 2024

In this study, medium-entropy spinel ferrites were synthesized and oxygen vacancies were intentionally created in the medium-entropy spinel ferrites. The electrochemical properties of the materials as cathode materials for LSB were investigated.
Analysis of interference effect in VL‐NOMA network considering signal power parameters performance
Authors: Ngene Chidi Emmanuel , Thakur Prabhat , Singh Ghanshyam
Published: September 2024

This study analyses the interference effect in a visible light‐non‐orthogonal multiple access (VL‐NOMA) network that considers the signal power parameters performance for near and far users. The light‐emitting diode (LED) as a carrier transmits signals, and we investigate the interference effect. The interference effect challenge is a result of unaligned signal power parameters, thereby producing noise or echo during the signal transmission. The signal power parameters are successfully aligned, and NOMA techniques are deployed, which improves the signal performance in terms of bit‐error rate (BER), achieved data rate, and signal‐to‐interference plus noise ratio (SINR). Furthermore, the deployed NOMA techniques, such as power allocations (PA) to assign the signals appropriately, then superposition coding (SC) encodes the entire signal, and successive interference cancellation (SIC) cancels the interference within the signals. The signal behavior of the aligned and the unaligned signal power parameters performance are used to investigate the interference effect. We observed that unaligned signal power parameters reduce the signal performance of achieved data rate, BER, and SINR. Further, the aligned signal power parameter with NOMA techniques improves the signal performance. Moreover, in the aligned signal power scenario of NOMA, the near user performed better than the far user.
No evidence for interstellar fireballs in the CNEOS database
Authors: Hajduková M. , Stober G. , Barghini D. , Koten P. , Vaubaillon J. , Sterken V. J. , Ďurišová S. , Jackson A. , Desch S.
Published: September 2024

Context. The detection of interstellar meteors, especially meteorite-dropping meteoroids, would be transformative, as this would enable direct sampling of material from other stellar systems on Earth. One candidate is the fireball observed by U.S. government sensors on January 8, 2014. It has been claimed that fragments of this meteoroid have been recovered from the ocean floor near Papua New Guinea and that they support an extrasolar origin. Based on its parameters reported in the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) catalog, the fireball exhibits a hyperbolic excess velocity that indicates an interstellar origin; however, the catalog does not report parameter uncertainties.

Aims. To achieve a clear confirmation of the fireball’s interstellar origin, we assessed the underlying error distributions of the catalog data. Our aim was also to confirm whether the fragments of this meteoroid survived passage through the atmosphere and assess all conditions needed to unambiguously determine the fragments’ origin.

Methods. We approached the investigation of the entire catalog using statistical analyses and modeling, and we provide a comprehensive analysis of the individual hyperbolic CNEOS cases.

Results. We have developed several independent arguments indicating substantial uncertainties in the velocity and radiant position of the CNEOS events. We determined that all the hyperbolic fireballs exhibit significant deviations from the majority of the events in one of their velocity components, and we show that such mismeasurements can produce spurious parameters. According to our estimation of the speed measurement uncertainty for the catalog, we found that it is highly probable that such a catalog containing only Sun-bound meteors would show at least one event that appears highly unlikely to be Sun-bound. We also establish that it is unlikely that any fragments from a fireball traveling at the high inferred velocities could survive passage through the atmosphere. When assuming a much lower velocity, some fragments of this meteoroid could survive; however, they would be of a common Solar System origin and thus highly probable to be indistinguishable from the quantity of other local micrometeorites that have gradually accumulated on the sea floor.

Conclusions. We conclude that there is no evidence in the CNEOS data to confirm or reject the interstellar origin of any of the nominally hyperbolic fireballs in the CNEOS catalog. Therefore, the claim of an interstellar origin for the fireball recorded over Papua New Guinea in 2014 remains unsubstantiated. We have also gathered arguments that refute the claim that the collected spherules from the sea floor originated in the body of this fireball.
Feedback-regulated seed black hole growth in star-forming molecular clouds and galactic nuclei
Authors: Shi Yanlong , Kremer Kyle , Hopkins Philip F.
Published: September 2024

Context. The detection of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in high-redshift luminous quasars may require a phase of rapid accretion, and as a precondition, substantial gas influx toward seed black holes (BHs) from kiloparsec or parsec scales. Our previous research demonstrated the plausibility of such gas supply for BH seeds within star-forming giant molecular clouds (GMCs) with high surface density (∼104 M⊙ pc−2), facilitating “hyper-Eddington” accretion via efficient feeding by dense clumps, which are driven by turbulence and stellar feedback.

Aims. This article presents an investigation of the impacts of feedback from accreting BHs on this process, including radiation, mechanical jets, and highly relativistic cosmic rays.

Methods. We ran a suite of numerical simulations to explore diverse parameter spaces of BH feedback, including the subgrid accretion model, feedback energy efficiency, mass loading factor, and initial metallicity.

Results. Using radiative feedback models inferred from the slim disk, we find that hyper-Eddington accretion is still achievable, yielding BH bolometric luminosities of as high as 1041 − 1044 erg/s, depending on the GMC properties and specific feedback model assumed. We find that the maximum possible mass growth of seed BHs
(ΔMmax
BH)
is regulated by the momentum-deposition rate from BH feedback,
ṗfeedback/(ṀBHc), which leads to an analytic scaling that agrees well with simulations. This scenario predicts the rapid formation of ∼104 M⊙ intermediate-massive BHs (IMBHs) from stellar-mass BHs within ∼1 Myr. Furthermore, we examine the impacts of subgrid accretion models and how BH feedback may influence star formation within these cloud complexes.
Escape of fast radio bursts from magnetars
Authors: Sobacchi E. , Iwamoto M. , Sironi L. , Piran T.
Published: September 2024

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are bright extragalactic transients likely produced by magnetars. We study the propagation of FRBs in magnetar winds, assuming that the wind is strongly magnetized and composed of electron-positron pairs. We focused on the regime where the strength parameter of the radio wave, a0, is larger than unity and the wave frequency, ω0, is larger than the Larmor frequency in the background magnetic field, ωL. We show that strong radio waves with a0 > 1 are able to propagate when ω0 > a0ωL, as the plasma current is a linear function of the wave electric field. The dispersion relation is independent of the wave strength parameter when ω0 > a0ωL. Radio waves could instead be damped when ω0 < a0ωL, as a significant fraction of the wave energy is used to compress the plasma and amplify the background magnetic field. Our results suggest that FRBs should be produced at large distances from the magnetar (i.e., R > 1012 cm, where the condition ω0 > a0ωL is satisfied). Alternatively, the structure of the magnetar wind should be strongly modified during a flare to allow for the escape of FRBs produced at radii R < 1012 cm.
The Relationship Between Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Narrative Review
Authors: Ross Emily J , Shanahan Mackenzie L , Joseph Ellen , Reynolds John M , Jimenez Daniel E , Abreu Maria T , Carrico Adam W
Published: September 2024

Background

There is clear evidence that loneliness and social isolation have profound health consequences. Documenting the associations of loneliness and social isolation with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms, disease severity, and treatment outcomes could meaningfully improve health and quality of life in patients with IBD.

Purpose

The purpose of this narrative review was to synthesize the empirical evidence on the associations of loneliness and social isolation with IBD symptoms, disease severity, and treatment outcomes.

Methods

Articles were identified through systematic database searches. Quantitative studies that enrolled patients with IBD were included if they examined one of the following outcomes: (a) loneliness or social isolation or (b) IBD-related symptoms, disease severity, or treatment outcomes.

Results

We identified 1,816 articles after removing duplicates. Of the 18 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 15 were cross-sectional and 3 were longitudinal. Overall, studies found that loneliness was associated with greater disease activity, functional gastrointestinal symptoms, IBD illness stigma, depressive symptoms, daily IBD symptom burden, reduced resilience, and poorer quality of life. Social isolation was associated with higher prevalence of IBD hospitalizations, premature mortality, and depression.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that loneliness and social isolation are associated with poorer health and quality of life in patients with IBD. Prospective cohort studies examining the biobehavioral mechanisms accounting for the associations of loneliness and social isolation with IBD-related outcomes are needed to guide the development of psychological interventions for individuals living with IBD.
Validation of monocyte CD169 expression as a valuable rapid diagnostic marker of SARS-CoV-2 and other acute viral infections
Authors: Pratesi Chiara , De Rosa Rita , Pivetta Eliana , Vattamattathil Kathreena , Malipiero Giacomo , Fontana Desré Ethel , Basaglia Giancarlo , Doretto Paolo
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Acute infectious diseases are some of the most common reasons for receiving medical care, and analysis of the host immune response is an attractive approach for their diagnosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential usefulness of CD169 expression on peripheral monocytes (mCD169) as a marker of viral-associated host immune response.

Methods

In a large mono-institutional cohort of 4,025 patients evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 (CoV2) and other viral infections, mCD169 analysis was performed by rapid flow cytometry assay.

Results

Increased mCD169 values (median, 17.50; IQR, 8.40-25.72) were found in 1,631 patients with CoV2+ acute infection compared to 2,394 in CoV2– patients (median, 2.35; IQR, 2.0-3.25) (odds ratio [OR], 21.84; 95% CI ,17.53-27.21; P < .001). Among CoV2– patients, 1,484 (62.0%) were assessed for other viral infections, and viral etiology was laboratory confirmed in 428 patients (CoV2– Vir+), with RNA viruses most frequently detected (94.6%). Higher levels of mCD169 were also confirmed in CoV2– Vir+ compared to CoV2– Vir– patients (OR, 10.05; 95% CI, 7.35-13.74; P < .001).

Conclusions

mCD169 analysis by rapid flow cytometry assay may be a sensitive broad marker useful for the rapid triage of patients with suspected acute viral infections and could potentially be directly applied to eventual new emergent viral outbreaks.
Quality and access outcomes in 2 Veterans Health Administration facilities with fidelity to the comprehensive medication management framework
Authors: Gould Kyleigh , Shawn McFarland M , Seckel Ellina , Tran Michael , Ourth Heather , Morreale Anthony
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Utilization of clinical pharmacists providing comprehensive medication management (CMM) has been shown to improve the quadruple aim of healthcare. Lack of fidelity surrounding CMM practice standardization components has led to heterogeneity in interpretation of clinical pharmacist outcomes. We compared 2 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities with the patient-aligned care team (PACT) Platinum Practice designation in terms of clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP) access and care quality relative to national CPP averages.

Methods

All data was extracted from the VHA Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) and reports derived from data within the CDW. Within the fiscal year 2019-2020 timeframe, the PACT Platinum Practice facilities were assessed against a national average comparator on quality and access metrics using electronic VHA databases that capture data on patient visits with a CPP. For the evaluation of care quality, an electronic composite score of diabetes and hypertension metrics was used. Third next available appointment for the primary care provider (PCP) and CPP utilization were used as measures of access.

Results

Compared to national averages, the PACT Platinum Practice facilities had a higher proportion of patients meeting the evaluated quality metric across all months of the study period. For access, the mean time to the third next available primary care appointment was lower for the PACT Platinum Practice facilities compared to the national average. PACT Platinum sites had CPP utilization rates higher than national averages across the study period, and these rates remained stable.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated improved quality and access outcomes for 2 VA medical centers designated as PACT Platinum Practice sites relative to national averages. This is important because these practices have been evaluated and shown to have fidelity with the CMM practice management component. Evaluation of outcomes removing the element of practice heterogeneity allows for a more standardized comparison of outcome measures.
We-intentions and immunity to error through misidentification
Authors: Petersson Björn
Published: September 2024

When I intend to J, I may be wrong about what I intend but not about who intends it. In this sense, action intentions appear immune to error. A standard explanation of this immunity is that the subject of the intention is not represented in the content of the intention in the first place. When I think that we intend to J, it seems obvious that I can misjudge who ‘we’ are. This may seem to indicate that the ‘we’ must be represented in the content of the intention. This argument from misidentification is an objection against purely perspectival accounts of the distinction between I- and we-intentions. However, in several relevant respects we-intentions and I-intentions are on a par in relation to errors in identification, and the argument from misidentification against the perspectival account of the distinction backfires.
Investment protection standards: Can EU law fill the shoes of investment treaties?
Authors: Burgstaller Markus , Negret Auriane
Published: September 2024

The termination of Bilateral Investment Treaties (‘BITs’) concluded between Member States of the European Union (‘EU’) raises the question of whether investments by an investor from an EU Member State in another Member State (‘intra-EU’ investments) are sufficiently protected under EU law. By comparing investment protection standards of intra-EU investments under EU law with the standards usually found in investment treaties, this article offers an analysis of whether the termination of intra-EU BITs creates a legal vacuum for investment protection within the EU. It then goes on to analyse whether the freedom of establishment—an EU law concept with no equivalent in investment treaties—and the proportionality principle can plug some of the gaps in investment protection identified in our comparative analysis.
ChatGPT as a fourth arbitrator? The ethics and risks of using large language models in arbitration
Authors: Moreira João Ilhão , Zhang Jiawei
Published: September 2024

Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have the potential to significantly change how arbitral proceedings are conducted by aiding arbitrators in performing case analyses, drafting decisions, and undertaking legal research; this may enable arbitrators to render high-quality decisions more quickly. However, the use of LLMs in arbitration comes with potential risks due to a lack of reliability and confidentiality concerns, which, to an extent, can be mitigated. Beyond this, the use of LLMs in arbitration raises a more specific concern: whether the use of these models is compatible with the scope of the personal mandate of arbitrators. Given that arbitrators are bound to solve disputes themselves and are generally not allowed to delegate this duty to third parties, the arbitral community must establish clear standards regarding the use of LLMs. This article proposes evaluating the acceptability of using LLMs in arbitration based on the particular task of the arbitral tribunal in question. An arbitral tribunal must handle its core tasks of materially deciding a dispute without recourse to these models. However, ancillary tasks that may influence the outcome may be accomplished with the support of LLMs, provided that disclosure and consent of parties are ensured. Tasks that have no bearing on the outcome may be accomplished with the support of an LLM at the arbitral tribunal’s discretion.
Rehabilitating homonymous visual field deficits: white matter markers of recovery—stage 1 registered report
Authors: Willis Hanna E , Cavanaugh Matthew R , Ajina Sara , Pestilli Franco , Tamietto Marco , Huxlin Krystel R , Watkins Kate E , Bridge Holly
Published: September 2024

Damage to the primary visual cortex (V1) or its afferent white matter tracts results in loss of vision in the contralateral visual field that can present as homonymous visual field deficits. Recent evidence suggests that visual training in the blind field can partially reverse blindness at trained locations. However, the efficacy of visual training to improve vision is highly variable across subjects, and the reasons for this are poorly understood. It is likely that variance in residual functional or structural neural circuitry following the insult may underlie the variation among patients. Many patients with visual field deficits retain residual visual processing in their blind field, termed ‘blindsight’, despite a lack of awareness. Previous research indicates that an intact structural and functional connection between the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) and the human extrastriate visual motion-processing area (hMT+) is necessary for blindsight to occur. We therefore predict that changes in this white matter pathway will underlie improvements in motion discrimination training. Twenty stroke survivors with unilateral, homonymous field defects from retro-geniculate brain lesions will complete 6 months of motion discrimination training at home. Visual training will involve performing two daily sessions of a motion discrimination task, at two non-overlapping locations in the blind field, at least 5 days per week. Motion discrimination and integration thresholds, Humphrey perimetry and structural and diffusion-weighted MRI will be collected pre- and post-training. Changes in fractional anisotropy will be analysed in two visual tracts: (i) between the ipsilesional dLGN and hMT+ and (ii) between the ipsilesional dLGN and V1. The (non-visual) tract between the ventral posterior lateral nucleus of the thalamus (VPL) and the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) will be analysed as a control. Tractographic changes will be compared to improvements in motion discrimination and Humphrey perimetry-derived metrics. We predict that (i) improved motion discrimination performance will be directly related to increased fractional anisotropy in the pathway between ipsilesional dLGN and hMT+ and (ii) improvements in Humphrey perimetry will be related to increased fractional anisotropy in the dLGN-V1 pathway. There should be no relationship between behavioural measures and changes in fractional anisotropy in the VPL-S1 pathway. This study has the potential to lead to greater understanding of the white matter microstructure of pathways underlying the behavioural outcomes resulting from visual training in retro-geniculate strokes. Understanding the neural mechanisms that underlie visual rehabilitation is fundamental to the development of more targeted and thus effective treatments for this underserved patient population.
Strengthening community empowerment initiatives as a route to greater equity: an English case study
Authors: Heaton Linda , Halliday Emma , Wheeler Paula , Ring Adele , Kaloudis Harris , Popay Jennie
Published: September 2024

Community empowerment is prominent in global and national policies that aim to increase social and health equity. This paper describes the pathways through which community empowerment could in theory contribute to greater equity and highlights concerns about the potential for current initiatives to deliver positive impacts. Understanding and addressing imbalances in power, valuing knowledge people acquire from their experience of inequalities and supporting people to build alliances beyond the boundaries of their own communities can all contribute to addressing some of the limitations of contemporary empowerment initiatives.

An initiative in nine disadvantaged neighbourhoods in NW England sought to address these concerns, through a Community Research and Engagement Network (COREN). The initiative aimed to enhance and direct collective capabilities at action on social inequalities driving health inequalities. The COREN model explicitly considered how local power dynamics could be shifted to enable residents to operate as equals alongside other actors and how their experiential knowledge could be valued as equal to that of professionals and academics. An evaluation highlighted how the COREN had contributed to positive impacts including perceived influence, social connections and feeling valued, alongside cultural, economic, environmental and governance impacts. However, local empowerment initiatives can only be part of the solution to social and health inequalities, as the root causes of these inequalities lie outside the control of people living and working in disadvantaged areas.
Effect of homestead land titling programme on most vulnerable Adivasis: the case of the Lodhas of West Bengal
Authors: Biswas Sudipta , Pal Sukumar
Published: September 2024

India has seventy-five extremely vulnerable tribal communities that are officially recognized as particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs). Certain studies have highlighted their vulnerabilities rooted in their deprivation of land and forest resources. However, any study focusing on their rights to homestead lands is unknown. This article situates the Lodhas of West Bengal (India)—the largest PVTG in the state—as the most vulnerable Adivasi and examines the effect of Nijo-Griha-Nijo-Bhumi, a state-run homestead land titling programme, on their life. Drawing on primary data, the study offers valuable insights into various qualitative transformations experienced by this community. In conclusion, the article contends that integrating a community empowerment approach into homestead land titling programmes can yield more positive outcomes towards mitigating their vulnerabilities.
Classically time-controlled quantum automata: definition and properties
Authors: Díaz-Caro Alejandro , Villagra Marcos
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we introduce classically time-controlled quantum automata or classically time-controlled quantum automaton (CTQA), which is a reasonable modification of Moore–Crutchfield quantum finite automata that uses time-dependent evolution and a ‘scheduler’ defining how long each Hamiltonian will run. Surprisingly enough, time-dependent evolution provides a significant change in the computational power of quantum automata with respect to a discrete quantum model. Indeed, we show that if a scheduler is not computationally restricted, then a CTQA could even decide the Halting problem. In order to unearth the computational capabilities of CTQAs, we study the case of a computationally restricted scheduler. In particular, we showed that depending on the type of restriction imposed on the scheduler, a CTQA can (i) recognize non-regular languages with cut-point, even in the presence of Karp–Lipton advice, and (ii) recognize non-regular promise languages with bounded-error. Furthermore, we study the cutpoint-union of cutpoint languages by introducing a new model of Moore–Crutchfield quantum finite automata with a rotating tape head. CTQA presents itself as a new model of computation that provides a different approach to a formal study of ‘classical control, quantum data’ schemes in quantum computing.
Reliable broadcasting-based content acquisition for named data MANETs
Authors: Kuang Jian , Xie Bailin , Luo Jianzhen , Li Jianhong
Published: September 2024

Traditional IP-based unicast routing cannot utilize the inherent broadcast property of wireless network, and unicast path can be broken down frequently due to node mobility. Based on the nature of named data networking (NDN) which faces “content” rather than “host”, broadcast mode can be applied for content delivery in named data mobile ad hoc networks (ND-MANETs). However, since there are no acknowledgment and retransmission mechanisms in the broadcast mode of IEEE 802.11 protocol, it would cause the problem of transmission unreliability. Moreover, if all forwarding nodes transmit packet concurrently, it can easily lead to collision and redundancy. This paper presents a reliable broadcasting-based content acquisition scheme for highly dynamic ND-MANETs, which makes full use of the inherent broadcast nature of wireless network, and solves the unreliability, collision, and redundancy problems. We define Transmission Reliability Degree ($TRD$) for broadcast mode, and estimate its value through Markov model. A content-oriented and $TRD$ of sending node-based resend algorithm is proposed to improve reliability of broadcast transmission. An area divided and $TRD$ of receiving node-based reforwarding algorithm is proposed to reduce collision and redundancy. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed mechanism.
Honey bees and bumble bees react differently to nitrogen-induced increases in floral resources
Authors: Mu Junpeng , Che Peiyue , Li Dawei , Chen Juanli , Zhao Chuan , Grozinger Christina M
Published: September 2024

Atmospheric and soil nitrogen levels are increasing across the world. Nitrogen addition can alter vegetative and flower traits, including flowering phenology, floral production, and flower morphology, and the quantity and quality of floral rewards such as nectar. However, it is not well understood if and how these changes in floral traits will affect foraging preferences and pollination by different pollinator species. We hypothesized that honey bees (Apis mellifera) would exhibit a preference for plants with increased numbers of flowers, while bumble bees (Bombus spp.) would exhibit a preference for plants with increased nectar production as a result of soil nitrogen addition. A 2-yr field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen supply levels (e.g., 0, 4, 8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 of N0, N4, and N8) on the vegetative and floral traits of a perennial plant (Saussurea nigrescens), as well as the visitation rates of introduced managed honey bees (A. mellifera) and the native wild bumble bees. The results showed that adding nitrogen increased the number of flowers and nectar production. However, honey bees and bumble bees were responding to different floral resources that induced by nitrogen addition, with honey bees prioritizing the number of flowers and bumble bees prioritizing nectar quantity. The findings shed new light on how plants and pollinators interact when nitrogen is added, as well as how pollinator communities will be affected in the future.
Recurrent acute myocardial and renal infarction with aplastic anaemia/paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria syndrome: a case report
Authors: Kato Yuta , Hadase Mitsuyoshi , Nakamura Takashi
Published: September 2024

Background

Aplastic anaemia (AA) is known to progress to paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) during treatment, and thrombosis is a characteristic symptom of PNH. This case report investigates a case of repeated and rapidly progressive multiple arterial thrombosis due to PNH.

Case Summary

This case is a 24-year-old woman undergoing treatment for AA. She presented with chest pain and underwent emergency coronary angiography. Thrombus occlusion was found in the distal portion of the right coronary artery, acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed and percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. Thrombus aspiration and balloon dilation were performed. Anticoagulants were administered, but chest pain flared up again on Day 9; coronary angiography was performed, indicating that the proximal portion of the right coronary artery had caused occlusion. On Days 9 and 24, she experienced back pain and was diagnosed with renal infarction. Considering that AA had evolved into PNH and intravascular haemolysis and thrombosis appeared, the diagnosis of PNH was made via flow cytometry. Multiple arterial thrombosis due to PNH was diagnosed, and ravulizumab treatment was started, resulting in the improvement of thrombus progression, chest pain, and back pain.

Discussion

Thrombosis due to PNH can recur even after the administration of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents and has been associated with a high fatality rate. The treatment with ravulizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against complement C5, helps with the prevention of thrombosis. Furthermore, anti-complement component C5 therapy is very effective in improving rapidly progressive multiple arterial thrombosis resistant to anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents due to PNH.
Artificial intelligence-enhanced wearable technology enables ventricular arrhythmia prediction
Authors: Kolk Maarten Z H , Frodi Diana My , Langford Joss , Jacobsen Peter Karl , Risum Niels , Andersen Tariq O , Tan Hanno L , Hastrup Svendsen Jesper , Knops Reinoud E , Diederichsen Søren Zöga , Tjong Fleur V Y
Published: September 2024

Background and aims

Patterns in physical behaviour may be associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia. We examined associations between temporal dynamics in physical behaviour measured through wearable technology, and the risk of ventricular arrhythmia.

Methods

The multicenter, prospective SafeHeart study recruited 303 patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) from May 2021 to September 2022. Continuous physical behaviour data were collected over 365 consecutive days and nights using wearable accelerometers. We characterised each 28-day behavioural time-series using statistical summary indices, and deep representations learned by neural networks. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between physical behaviour and the subsequent risk of ventricular arrhythmia as detected by ICD and treated appropriately. Predictive performance was assessed using k-fold cross-validation and quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

Results

From the SafeHeart cohort, 277 patients and 56 ventricular arrhythmia were analysed, contributing to a total of 64,995 days of behavioural data. Reduced numbers of daily physical activity bouts and low day-to-day variation in sleep characteristics were associated with an increased risk of an arrhythmic event. Deep representations improved the predictive performance, with an AUROC of 0.74 ±0.05, compared to statistical summary indices with an AUROC 0.67 ±0.14 (p=0.05 for comparison).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that behavioural patterns captured through wearable technology are independently associated with ventricular arrhythmia, particularly when these are characterised by deep representations.
The effect and implementation of the COVID Box, a remote patient monitoring system for patients with a COVID-19 infection in primary care: a matched cohort study
Authors: van Hattem Nicoline E , Mijnsbergen Niels J , van Os Hendrikus J A , Mertens Bart A , Eekhof Just A H , Chavannes Niels H , Atsma Douwe E , Bonten Tobias N
Published: September 2024

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure on hospitals increased tremendously. To alleviate this pressure, a remote patient monitoring system called the COVID Box was developed and implemented in primary care. The aim was to assess whether the COVID Box in primary care could reduce emergency department (ED) referrals due to a COVID-19 infection. A matched cohort study was performed between December 2020 and June 2021. Patients with a COVID-19 infection in need of intensive monitoring based on the clinical judgement of their own general practitioner received the COVID Box in primary care combining home monitoring of vital parameters with daily video consultations. The control group was retrospectively matched by propensity score matching. We conducted a subgroup analysis in higher-risk patients with oxygen saturation measurements, considering oxygen saturation as a critical parameter for assessing the risk of a complicated infection. We included 205 patients, of whom 41 patients were monitored with the COVID Box (mean age 70 and 53.7% male) and 164 in the control group (mean age 71.5 and 53% male). No difference was found in ED referrals between the intervention and control groups in our primary analysis. In the subgroup analysis, we found a nonsignificant trend that remote monitoring could reduce the ED referrals. While the overall study found comparable ED referrals between groups, the subgroup analysis suggested a promising prospect in reducing ED referrals due to remote monitoring of higher-risk patients with acute respiratory disease in primary care.
Salinirarus marinus gen. nov., sp. nov., Haloplanus salilacus sp. nov., Haloplanus pelagicus sp. nov., Haloplanus halophilus sp. nov., and Haloplanus halobius sp. nov., halophilic archaea isolated from commercial coarse salts with potential as starter cultures for salt-fermented foods
Authors: Zhang Qing-Ke , Zhu Ling-Rui , Dong Xin-Yue , Yang Xiao-Yan , Hou Jing , Cui Heng-Lin
Published: September 2024

Five halophilic archaeal strains, XH8T, CK5-1T, GDY1T, HW8-1T, and XH21T, were isolated from commercial coarse salt produced in different regions of China. Their 16S rRNA and rpoB′ gene sequences indicated that four of the strains (CK5-1T, GDY1T, HW8-1T, and XH21T) represent distinct species within the genus Haloplanus (family Haloferacaceae), while strain XH8T represents a novel genus within the same family. These assignments were supported by phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses, which showed that strains CK5-1T, GDY1T, HW8-1T, and XH21T cluster with the current species of the genus Haloplanus, while strain XH8T forms a separate branch from the genus Haloplanus. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity (AAI) values among these four strains and the current members of the genus Haloplanus were 23.1%–35.2% and 75.9%–83.8%, respectively; and those values between strain XH8T and other genera in the family Haloferacaceae were 18.8%–33.6% and 59.8%–66.6%, respectively, much lower than the threshold values for species demarcation. Strain XH8T may represent a novel genus of the family Haloferacaceae according to the cut-off value of AAI (≤72.1%) proposed to differentiate genera within the family Haloferacaceae. These five strains could be distinguished from the related species according to differential phenotypic characteristics. Based on these results, it is proposed that strain XH8T represents a novel genus within the family Haloferacaceae, and strains CK5-1T, GDY1T, HW8-1T, and XH21T represent four novel species of the genus Haloplanus, respectively. Additionally, these five strains possess genes encoding enzymes critical for the fermentation process in salt-fermented foods, indicating their potential as starter cultures for these applications.
‘It’s all settled on the right page’ surrogates’ feelings and reflections of surrogacy two decades on
Authors: Shaw K , Imrie S , Hall P , Jadva V
Published: September 2024

STUDY QUESTION

How do surrogates think, feel, and reflect on their experiences of being a surrogate over time?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Despite continuing to require physical, emotional, and interpersonal labour, surrogates in this study reflected positively on their experiences of being a surrogate decades later.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Research on families created through surrogacy shows that it can be a positive experience for both the intended parents and the surrogate. No existing research has examined the experiences of surrogacy for surrogates beyond 10 years post-birth.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 women who had completed a total of 71 surrogacy arrangements. Participants had given birth to their first surrogate child on average 20 years previously.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS METHODS

Data were collected about (i) surrogates’ relationships with the families they had helped, (ii) how important being a surrogate was to their own identity, and (iii) how they felt surrogacy was perceived by the public. Data were analysed according to the principles of reflexive thematic analysis.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Surrogates’ reflections on their experiences were constructed into two themes: (i) hard work but worth it and (ii) part of who I am. Surrogacy had taken a physical toll on some participants, and for most, being a surrogate continued to involve emotional labour and effort to maintain relationships with the families. Making friends through the process and feeling proud of what they had done to help someone meant that overall, surrogates reflected positively on surrogacy and had incorporated their experiences as surrogates into a stable aspect of their identity.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

There is a risk of selection bias, with surrogates who had a more positive experience being more likely to continue to participate in the research. All surrogacies occurred within the UK. While the sample is relatively diverse in terms of surrogates’ ages, current employment status, and relationship status, the sample lacks ethnic diversity. Most participants had been surrogates for heterosexual couples, and thus long-term relationships involving gay couples or single men may differ.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The findings from this study show the importance of understanding surrogacy as a ‘relational’ process and suggest to prospective surrogates and intended parents what they may expect from their relationship over time. Given the findings that even as the children grow up, being a surrogate continues to require emotional labour, support should be made available to surrogates over the longer term if required.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This project was funded by the Wellcome Trust [grant number 208013/Z/17/Z] and the University of Cambridge Returning Carers Scheme. The authors have no competing interests to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.
Evaluation of Crohn’s Disease Activity: Validation of a Segmental Simple Ultrasound Score in a Multicenter Study
Authors: Ripollés Tomás , Poza Joaquín , Martínez-Pérez María J , Suarez Ferrer Cristina , Blanc Esther , Paredes Jose María
Published: September 2024

Objective

Our objective was to validate a previously published simple ultrasound (US) score for Crohn’s disease (CD).

Methods

A total of 107 CD patients from 2 hospitals prospectively underwent both ileocolonoscopy (reference standard) and US as part of their clinical care. Endoscopic activity was assessed using the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES-CD) and was also categorized as absent, mild (inflammation without ulcers), or severe (presence of ulceration). The US data of 27 patients were reexamined for interobserver assessment using weighted kappa.

Results

The analysis encompassed 126 intestinal segments. Consistent with the prior derivation study, independent predictors of disease severity, using SES-CD as a reference, were determined to be bowel wall thickness and color Doppler grade. Interobserver agreement for both wall thickness and color Doppler assessment was excellent. The simple US score, derived from the sum of mural thickness and color Doppler grade, demonstrated a significant correlation with SES-CD (r = .757, P < .001). In the validation cohort, the score exhibited high accuracy in diagnosing active disease, with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area of 0.979, sensitivity of 92.5%, and specificity of 100%, using a cutoff point of 3.1. However, using the same cutoff point of 5.5 in the simple intestinal US (IUS) activity index obtained in the development phase, the results obtained were almost identical to those previously published, with a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 86.4%, and an ROC area of 0.923. For detecting the presence of ulceration, the ROC area was 0.853, sensitivity was 0.73, and specificity was 0.81, using a cutoff point of 7.

Conclusions

The validation of a simple IUS scoring system for CD, based on the sum of bowel wall thickness and color Doppler grade, has been established. This scoring system can effectively diagnose endoscopically active CD and identify cases of severe disease.
Stabilization of bilinear systems with distributed delays using the Banach state space decomposition method
Authors: Cheddour Ayoub , Elazzouzi Abdelhai , Rihan Fathalla A
Published: September 2024

The strong stabilization of the considered system is established by presenting sufficient conditions based on an observability condition expressed by the semigroup solution of the linear part of the bilinear system. An explicit estimate on the convergence of the decay rate is established. Moreover, some sufficient conditions are used to discuss the weak stabilization of the considered system. Additionally, an illustrative example with numerical simulations is included.
Reconsidering Mood and Narrative Cinema
Authors: Strpko Garrett Hartman
Published: September 2024

This article provides a much-needed continuation of the discussion of mood in narrative cinema. Whereas the dominant accounts of mood and cinema are interested in how films and filmmakers artistically express ‘mood,’ and in whether these films can therefore give rise to an equivalent mood in viewers, this paper introduces the consideration of the moods spectators themselves bring to viewing experiences. I begin first with an overview of the influential accounts of mood and narrative cinema put forward by Carl Plantinga and Robert Sinnerbrink, examining their strengths and weaknesses. In the second section, drawing on insights from phenomenological approaches to mood, namely a renewed concept of ‘attunement,’ I offer provisional sketches of three possible complex mood negotiations unexplored in the former accounts, with reference to sequences from specific films. In these cases, viewers can experience the aesthetically crafted moods of a film with affective, mooded investment without sharing an equivalent mood.