bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional responses to changing environments: insights from salmonids
Authors: Ahi Ehsan Pashay , Lindeza Ana Sofia , Miettinen Antti , Primmer Craig R.
Published: February 2025

Understanding the molecular basis of plasticity and physiological tolerance to environmental changes is crucially important in the era of global change. Salmonids, a diverse family of fishes that includes salmon, trout, and charr, are emerging as powerful models for studying molecular responses to such changes. These species inhabit a wide range of aquatic environments, including freshwater and marine ecosystems, and are known for their remarkable adaptability to varying environmental conditions and for their variety of life history strategies. This review synthesizes current research on some of the major molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional responses to important environmental changes. We discuss key studies that have applied state-of-the-art genomic tools in salmonids to uncover some of the gene expression changes underpinning plastic or acclimatory responses due to changes in temperature, salinity, oxygen levels or pH. By presenting examples of genes involved in these processes in salmonids, this review aims to provide insights into the broader implications of these findings, namely for conservation strategies and management. We also consider the potential of salmonids as emerging model species for monitoring the impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems, and their capacity to cope with rapid and inevitable environmental change. Finally, we outline future research directions to further elucidate the molecular pathways underlying plastic responses to environmental changes, with potential implications for evolutionary adaptation in these species.
Awareness, knowledge, and motivations about lifespan, healthspan, and Healthy Longevity Medicine in the general population: the HEalthy LOngevity (HELO) conceptual framework
Authors: Wang Belinda , Szücs Anna , Sandalova Elena , Horberg E. J. , O’Keefe Paul A. , Island Louis , Meij Hans J. , Rosenthal Sonny , Maier Andrea B.
Published: February 2025

The global population is ageing and the gap between lifespan (total years lived) and healthspan (years lived free of diseases) is increasing. Healthy Longevity Medicine (HLM) is an approach to optimise health and healthspan, and it has substantial public health implications. Despite those implications, the understanding of public perspectives on this field is lacking. The HEalthy LOngevity (HELO) framework was developed through a literature review guided by expert discussions across disciplines to include evidence-based concepts of health-related decision-making, ageing, and HLM. The framework organises concepts into three components. The first two components, awareness and knowledge, explore public perception and understanding of the healthy longevity field, respectively. The third component, motivations, reflects factors underlying motivations towards healthy longevity. These include personality, current behaviours, personal values and beliefs, and health-related perceptions. The framework outlines the theoretical foundation to explore public knowledge and interest in healthy longevity. The framework will be refined based on findings from qualitative focus groups in Singapore and then applied to quantitative population surveys globally. These HELO initiatives aim to inform strategies for integrating HLM into public healthcare, promoting health and healthspan.
Technology-based interactive guidance to promote learning performance and self-regulation: a chatbot-assisted self-regulated learning approach
Authors: Lee Yen-Fen , Hwang Gwo-Jen , Chen Pei-Ying
Published: February 2025

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is an approach to learning which aims to improve learners' learning outcomes. In the SRL cycle, the quality of students' reflections is a critical factor in SRL performance that can improve learning outcomes. The feedback provided by teachers often has a significant impact on the quality of students' reflections. However, research has shown that teachers are often confronted with many students and so are unable to give individual feedback. To address this problem, this study proposed chatbot-assisted SRL, which provides personal and immediate feedback during the SRL process to promote the quality of students' reflection. This study applied this approach in the "Website Design" unit of an Introduction to Multimedia course. Two classes of second-year university students were the participants. One class with 23 students was the experimental group using the chatbot-assisted SRL mode, whereas the other class with 24 students was the control group using the conventional SRL mode. The experiment results showed that the proposed approach improved the students' performance, motivation, SRL, reflection, and meta-cognition tendency more than the conventional SRL approach.
Role-playing monument exploration: an online educational game with a role-playing mechanism and multi-dimensional scaffolding for monument tours
Authors: Liu Shu-Wei , Chan Hung-Yu , Hou Huei-Tse
Published: February 2025

The current monument guide teaching has proven to have many challenges, as the learning effectiveness may be reduced by external interference in the real guide activities, and online approaches may cause the problem of insufficient interaction. This study integrated role-playing and multi-dimensional scaffolding theories to develop a remote scaffolding-based educational game that involved a role-playing mechanism, in which guides and learners play the roles of historical characters and participate in historical events in an authentic game environment, with the aim of improving the problems of existing monument teaching and of enhancing the motivation to visit. The results showed that this learning model has advantages in flow and motivation compared to the traditional online guide. It was demonstrated that the multi-dimensional scaffolding formed by the guides, the game environment, and the peers could keep the learners quite engaged in the game, while the dynamic scaffolding of the guides could also be effective and even keep the learners interested in the monument after the activity.
Review of System Identification for Manoeuvring Modelling of Marine Surface Ships
Authors: Xu Haitong , Guedes Soares C.
Published: February 2025

A state-of-the-art review is presented of mathematical manoeuvring models for surface ships and parameter estimation methods that have been used to build mathematical manoeuvring models for surface ships. In the first part, the classical manoeuvring models, such as the Abkowitz model, MMG, Nomoto and their revised versions, are revisited and the model structure with the hydrodynamic coefficients is also presented. Then, manoeuvring tests, including both the scaled model tests and sea trials, are introduced with the fact that the test data is critically important to obtain reliable results using parameter estimation methods. In the last part, selected papers published in journals and international conferences are reviewed and the statistical analysis of the manoeuvring models, test data, system identification methods and environmental disturbances used in the paper is presented.
Straddled optical solitons with polarization mode dispersion via the improved extended modified tanh-function algorithm
Authors: Jawad Anwar Ja’afar Mohamad , Noaman Saja Faeq , Arnous Ahmed H. , Hussein Layth , Biswas Anjan
Published: February 2025

This paper implements the improved version of the modified extended tanh—function approach to retrieve a few new exact soliton solutions the model with differential group delay. The self—phase modulation structure is from the Kerr law of nonlinearity. A few numerical simulations are included that support the analytical solutions recovered with the applied scheme.
Solvent extraction systems for selective isolation of light rare earth elements with high selectivity for Sm and La
Authors: Salehi Hossein , Maroufi Samane , Khayyam Nekouei Rasoul , Sahajwalla Veena
Published: February 2025

This study details a comprehensive approach focusing on the effective separation of light rare earth elements (REEs) via solvent extraction technique. A stock solution containing lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, and samarium was prepared by dissolving their pure mixed oxide (reclaimed from spent Ni-MH batteries) in a diluted HCl solution. Key extractants, including bis (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272), Cyanex 572, trialkylphosphine oxide (Cyanex 923), and 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC 88A), along with tributyl phosphate (TBP) as a phase modifier, were utilized to form organic systems. The extraction behavior and separability of these systems at various pH levels as well as their extraction mechanisms were investigated. The results demonstrated a direct relationship between the extraction trend and the experimental pH value, with enhanced selectivity when TBP was added. Notably, Nd and Pr exhibited similar extraction behaviors, with minor deviations from Ce, making their separation difficult to achieve. Sm extraction followed a distinct trend, allowing for its separation from other elements at pH ≤ 2. In contrast, La exhibited a low affinity for coordination with extractants when pH was ≤ 3.5, facilitating the separation of other elements from La, which could then be isolated in the raffinate. Among the studied organic systems, combinations of Cyanex 572 and PC 88A with TBP demonstrated superior performance in element separation. Optimum separation factors were calculated with β
Ce/La = 12, β
Nd/La = 87, β
Pr/La = 127, and β
Sm/La = 3191 for the former, and β
Sm/Ce = 54, β
Sm/Nd = 20, and β
Sm/Pr = 14 for the latter. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting extraction systems and designing experiments for the effective solvent extraction separation of light REEs from their mixture.

Graphic Abstract
Contemplative Practices in a Teamwork Setting: A Preliminary Study on Mindfulness Meditations and Interpersonal Skills
Authors: Chies Matteo , Penazzi Gabriele , Pavesi Maria Chiara , Gadotti Erik , De Pisapia Nicola
Published: February 2025

Objectives

This study took place in a high-level educational framework; it evaluated the effects of four contemplative practices: Focused Attention Meditation (FAM), Open Monitoring Meditation (OMM), Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM), and Self-Loving Kindness Meditation (self-LKM). The focus was on their impact on teamwork competencies, as well as how they were influenced by both the individual and the group mindfulness levels.

Method

Using a pre-post experimental design, three groups were compared: the first engaged in FAM, OMM, and LKM (Core Mindfulness Training); the second in OMM, LKM, and self-LKM (Empathy Expansion Training); and a control group participated in no meditation activities. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) was used to evaluate state mindfulness and teamwork competencies in Empathy Expansion Training. Teamwork competencies were measured across two main categories: empathy skills and interpersonal skills.

Results

Both training interventions significantly increased teamwork competencies. Core Mindfulness Training enhanced Perspective-taking, Fantasy, Extraversion, and Initiating relationships. Conversely, Empathy Expansion Training more effectively improved Empathic concern and Openness. The study confirmed the influence of both individual and group state mindfulness on teamwork competencies, though the relationships did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

The integration of contemplative practices within educational settings significantly enhances teamwork competencies, with distinct effects of different meditation practices on various competencies. These findings suggest that training frameworks incorporating contemplative practices improve cognitive and emotional well-being. Additionally, they enhance essential interpersonal skills critical for effective teamwork.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.
Female Labour Participation in Sub-Saharan African: The Role of Institutional Quality
Authors: Umar Habiba Mohammedbello , Seraj Mehdi , Ozdeser Huseyin
Published: February 2025

The study examines the impact of institutional quality on female labour force participation across 48 Sub-Saharan African nations from 1996 to 2021. We specify and estimate the linear regression, pooled panel estimate, and system-generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) estimation. Findings from the study showed that while economic growth significantly increases female labour force participation in Africa, population growth, fertility rate, and self-employment significantly degrade it. On the other hand, voice, accountability, and regulatory quality considerably boost female labour force participation in Africa, whereas effective governance and political stability indices significantly hinder it. Additionally, sectorial studies revealed that while economic growth and fertility rates boost female employment in the sector within the SSA region, population and self-employment considerably inhibit it. Based on these findings, potential policy directions are suggested.
Aggregation-Induced Emissive Scintillators: A New Frontier for Radiation Detection and Imaging
Authors: Li Xinyi , Yu Jiafu , Fan Yinghao , Gao Yuting , Niu Guangda
Published: February 2025

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is a unique phenomenon where certain organic materials exhibit enhanced luminescence in their aggregated states, overcoming the typical quenching observed in conventional organic materials. Since its discovery in 2001, AIE has driven significant advances in fields like OLEDs and biological imaging, earning recognition in fundamental research. However, its application in high-energy radiation detection remains underexplored. Organic scintillators, though widely used, face challenges such as low light yield and poor radiation attenuation. AIE materials offer promising solutions by improving light yield, response speed, and radiation attenuation. This review summarizes the design strategies behind AIE scintillators and their very recent applications in X-ray, γ-ray, and fast neutron detection. We highlight their advantages in enhancing detection sensitivity, reducing background noise, and achieving high-resolution imaging. By addressing the current challenges, we believe AIE materials will play a pivotal role in advancing future radiation detection and imaging technologies.
Robust and Reprocessable Biorenewable Polyester Nanocomposites In Situ Catalyzed and Reinforced by Dendritic MXene@CNT Heterostructure
Authors: Wang Hao , Ding Jiheng , Zhao Hongran , Chu Qinchao , Zhu Jin , Wang Jinggang
Published: February 2025

Renewable 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyesters are one of the most promising materials for achieving plastic replacement in the age of energy and environmental crisis. However, their properties still cannot compete with those of petrochemical-based plastics, owing to insufficient molecular and/or microstructure designs. Herein, we utilize the Ti3C2Tx-based MXene nanosheets for decorating carbon nanotube (CNT) and obtaining the structurally stable and highly dispersed dendritic hetero-structured MXene@CNT, that can act as multi-roles, i.e., polycondensation catalyst, crystal nucleator, and interface enhancer of polyester. The bio-based MXene@CNT/polybutylene furandicarboxylate (PBF) (denoted as MCP) nanocomposites are synthesized by the strategy of “in situ catalytic polymerization and hot-pressing”. Benefiting from the multi-scale interactions (i.e., covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, and physical interlocks) in hybrid structure, the MCP presents exceptional mechanical strength (≈101 MPa), stiffness (≈3.1 GPa), toughness (≈130 MJ m−3), and barrier properties (e.g., O2 0.0187 barrer, CO2 0.0264 barrer, and H2O 1.57 × 10−14 g cm cm−2 s Pa) that are higher than most reported bio-based materials and engineering plastics. Moreover, it also displays satisfactory multifunctionality with high reprocessability (90% strength retention after 5 recycling), UV resistance (blocking 85% UVA rays), and solvent-resistant properties. As a state-of-art high-performance and multifunctional material, the novel bio-based MCP nanocomposite offers a more sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based plastics in packaging and engineering material fields. More importantly, our catalysis-interfacial strengthening integration strategy opens a door for designing and constructing high-performance bio-based polyester materials in future.
Increased Trophoblast Cell Ferroptosis via HMGB1/ACSL4 Pathway Is Associated with Spontaneous Abortion
Authors: Dong Yishan , Li Yong , Tang Wenjie , Chen Qin , Kong Chengcai
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Trophoblast cells undergo ferroptosis in pregnancy-related diseases. HMGB1 participates in pathological ferroptosis. However, whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -mediated HMGB1 expression induces the ferroptosis of trophoblast cells and further spontaneous abortion (SA) remains unknown.

Methods

HMGB1 and ACSL4 expression were measured in villous tissues from 20 women with SA and 20 women with elective abortion. Human HTR-8/SVneo cells were treated with LPS to establish an in vitro abortion model. The hallmarks of ferroptosis including MDA, GSH, Fe2+ and ROS were detected using indicated assay kits.

Results

The levels of HMGB1 and ACSL4 in villous tissues from SA women were significantly higher than those in the normal control group. HMGB1 interacts with and stabilizes ACSL4 to promote the ferroptosis of trophoblast cells. Conversely, HMGB1 and/or ACSL4 inhibition attenuated LPS-induced trophoblast cells ferroptosis.

Conclusions

An HMGB1/ACSL4 axis is engaged in LPS-induced ferroptosis of trophoblast cells, and may be targeted to design treatments preventing SA.
Toxicological analysis of building materials to determine the effects of sick building syndrome on occupants and construction workers
Authors: Mishra A. K. , Sudarsan J. S. , Nithiyanantham S.
Published: February 2025

Residents and construction workers are exposed to such kind of toxic materials such as cement, paint, tiles, sand, bricks and etc., which may severely affect their health. The overall aim of this study is to assess the toxicity of these building materials in the case of Arjundhara municipality of Jhapa district (Province 1), Nepal. The toxicity assessment is done for the materials based on available material safety data sheet of A Class materials by performing ABC analysis. Health effects on construction workers and on residents are listed as per literature reviews. Likert 6 point scale is used to rate the health effects and it is analyzed through Relative Importance Index (RII). The construction workers have identified skin corrosion and irritation as the mostly occurring health hazard with a RII of 0.92. Asthma and then carcinogenicity are the least occurring health effects to the respondents with a RII score of both 0.32 each. For project 1, the most frequently occurring health effect is fatigue/dizziness with RII score of 0.76 and the least occurring is carcinogenicity with RII 0.29. For the second project which comprises of school children, headache is classified as the most frequently occurring health hazard with RII score of 0.63 and respiratory tract irritation least with RII 0.23. Similarly for project 3, residents have given highest score for fatigue/dizziness with RII 0.83 and least occurring as respiratory tract irritation 0.31.
Will Heritage Save Us?
Authors: Bortolotto Chiara
Published: February 2025

Drawing on extensive ethnographic engagement with the social world of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, this Element explores the mainstreaming of sustainable development principles in the heritage field. It illustrates how, while deeply entwined in the UN standardizing framework, sustainability narratives are expanding the frontiers of heritage and unsettling conventional understandings of its social and political functions. Ethnographic description of UNESCO administrative practices and case studies explain how the sustainabilization of intangible cultural heritage entails a fundamental shift in perspective: heritage is no longer nostalgically regarded as a fragile relic in need of preservation but as a resource for the future with new purposes and the potential to address broader concerns and anxieties of our times, ranging from water shortages to mental health. This might ultimately mean that the safeguarding endeavor is no longer about us protecting heritage but about heritage protecting us.
Sidgwick's Ethics
Authors: Skelton Anthony
Published: February 2025

Henry Sidgwick's The Methods of Ethics is one of the most important and influential works in the history of moral philosophy. The Methods of Ethics clarifies and tackles some of the most enduring and difficult problems of morality. It offers readers a high-calibre example of analytical moral philosophy. This Element interprets and critically evaluates select positions and arguments in Sidgwick's The Methods of Ethics. It focuses specifically on Sidgwick's moral epistemology, his argument against common-sense morality, his argument for utilitarianism, his argument for rational egoism, and his argument for what he calls 'the dualism of practical reason', the thesis that utilitarianism and rational egoism are coordinate but conflicting requirements of rationality. Sidgwick's Ethics attempts to acquaint readers with the scholarly and theoretical debates relating to Sidgwick's theses, while providing readers with a greater appreciation of the depth and sophistication of Sidgwick's masterpiece.
Regulating precarious work: A paradigm shift
Authors: Quinlan Michael G , Rawling Michael J
Published: February 2025

Precarious work, the problems it poses in terms of labour standards/regulation, and remedies to this, have sparked considerable attention from researchers and policy-makers over the past three decades. This paper examines industrial relations (IR) legislation introduced by the Australian Labor government elected in 2022, and which, amongst other things, has addressed precarious work. These initiatives are placed in historical context, noting how essentially similar problems shaped IR regulation a century earlier. The article also examines the more immediate precursors to the legislation, by reviewing state and federal inquiries into precarious work and related issues in Australia from the 1990s onwards. Placing the new legislation into historical context enhances our understanding of the law and surrounding policy debates. The Albanese federal Labor government package of industrial relations laws introduced between 2022 and 2024 marked a paradigm shift from earlier measures. While these reforms are rooted in Australian institutions, law and industrial relations history, they provide an alternative policy template for addressing the problems wrought by neoliberalism on labour standards, especially if accompanied by synergistic reforms in other areas, such as immigration and economic policies promoting manufacturing.
Transitive mappings on the Cantor fan
Authors: BANIČ IZTOK , ERCEG GORAN , KENNEDY JUDY , MOURON CHRIS , NALL VAN
Published: February 2025

Many continua that admit a transitive homeomorphism may be found in the literature. The circle is probably the simplest non-degenerate continuum that admits such a homeomorphism. However, most of the known examples of such continua have a complicated topological structure. For example, they are indecomposable (such as the pseudo-arc or the Knaster bucket-handle continuum), or they are not indecomposable but have some other complicated topological structure, such as a dense set of ramification points (such as the Sierpiński carpet) or a dense set of end-points (such as the Lelek fan). In this paper, we continue our mission of finding continua with simpler topological structures that admit a transitive homeomorphism. We construct a transitive homeomorphism on the Cantor fan. In our approach, we use two different techniques, each of them giving two constructions of a transitive homeomorphism on the Cantor fan: one technique using quotient spaces of products of compact metric spaces and Cantor sets, and one using Mahavier products of closed relations on compact metric spaces. We also demonstrate how our technique using Mahavier products of closed relations may be used to construct a transitive function f on a Cantor fan X such that

$\varprojlim (X,f)$

is a Lelek fan.
Scattering of surface waves by ocean currents: the U2H map
Authors: Wang Han , Villas Bôas Ana B. , Vanneste Jacques , Young William R.
Published: February 2025

Ocean turbulence at meso- and submesocales affects the propagation of surface waves through refraction and scattering, inducing spatial modulations in significant wave height (SWH). We develop a theoretical framework that relates these modulations to the current that induces them. We exploit the asymptotic smallness of the ratio of typical current speed to wave group speed to derive a linear map – the U2H map – between surface current velocity and SWH anomaly. The U2H map is a convolution, non-local in space, expressible as a product in Fourier space by a factor independent of the magnitude of the wavenumber vector. Analytic expressions of the U2H map show how the SWH responds differently to the vortical and divergent parts of the current, and how the anisotropy of the wave spectrum is key to large current-induced SWH anomalies. We implement the U2H map numerically and test its predictions against WAVEWATCH III numerical simulations for both idealised and realistic current configurations.
Intimate image abuse offences: stakeholder perspectives of the effectiveness of the new offences in Hong Kong
Authors: Crofts Thomas
Published: February 2025

Intimate image abuse is a problem that is shared by many societies, and jurisdictions are learning from each other about how best to address this issue. In 2021 Hong Kong enacted four new intimate image abuse offences. Based on 15 semi-structured interviews with service providers and legal professionals, this study explores stakeholder perceptions of the effectiveness of the new offences in Hong Kong. Themes that emerged included why there was a need for specific offences, the impact that the new offences have had and whether further criminal law or non-criminal law reforms are necessary. A key finding from this research is that crafting offences to specifically target intimate image abuse is important to strengthen community awareness of the wrongfulness of intimate image abuse, enhance protection of victims and increase prosecutions. To be most effective, however, criminal law reform should be accompanied by holistic education and police training. Other non-criminal law reforms, such as working with providers and developing alternative complaints mechanisms, are also necessary to successfully combat intimate image abuse.
THE CHALLENGES TO ECONOMIC MEASUREMENT ARISING FROM INFLATION IN THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
Authors: Dixon Huw
Published: February 2025

The pandemic caused expenditure shares to vary more than usual, leading to serious ramifications when combined with the fact that the expenditure shares used to calculate CPI inflation are 1-2 years old. This caused a potential bias in the measurement of inflation. We also look at the cost-of-living crisis and found that the lags in updating the expenditure shares for energy and food led to an underestimate of inflation in 2022. Inflation also has a large effect on the measurement of the public sector deficit. With a high debt-GDP ratio and high inflation, there was a substantial inflation tax.
Why Was the American Revolution a War? A Rationalist Interpretation
Authors: LAKE DAVID A.
Published: February 2025

This paper poses a rationalist account of the American Revolution that locates the turn to war in problems of credible commitment on both sides of the Atlantic. On the one hand, Britain could not commit credibly to restrain its authority, especially once the political equipoise that had prevailed before the Seven Years War was broken. To render a new colonial bargain credible required tying the hands of Parliament, but any form of colonial representation would have severely disrupted politics in Britain in a period of political change and conflict. On the other hand, Americans could not credibly commit to follow rules set in London, especially those restricting trade and Westward expansion. Neither settlers nor elites had an incentive to comply with imperial edicts and, more importantly, the colonies lacked any means to enforce any potential agreement.
EXCEPTIONAL GROUPS OF ORDER
$p^6$
FOR PRIMES
$p\geq 5$
Authors: O’BRIEN E. A. , PRAJAPATI SUNIL KUMAR , UDEEP AYUSH
Published: February 2025

The minimal faithful permutation degree

$\mu (G)$

of a finite group G is the least integer n such that G is isomorphic to a subgroup of the symmetric group

$S_n$

. If G has a normal subgroup N such that

$\mu (G/N)> \mu (G)$

, then G is exceptional. We prove that the proportion of exceptional groups of order

$p^6$

for primes

$p \geq 5$

is asymptotically zero. We identify

$(11p+107)/2$

such groups and conjecture that there are no others.
Introduction: arguing about the stars on the southern side of the confessional divide
Authors: Garau Rodolfo , Omodeo Pietro Daniel
Published: February 2025

Arguing about the stars has rarely been more controversial and dangerous than in the early modern period in Europe, especially in Catholic countries, in a time when old and novel conceptions of the heavens, planetary models and theories of celestial motions and influences were intensely debated, revised and scrutinized for philosophical soundness and religious conformity.1 In the hundred years or so that witnessed the birth and censorship of the Copernican theory; the execution in Rome of the most passionate defender of post-Copernican cosmology, Giordano Bruno (1548–1600), and the rise and fall of Galileo Galilei's (1564–1642) fame linked to his novel interpretation of the book of nature, the Catholic Church created some of the most powerful instruments of cultural control and educational conformity ever seen: the Inquisition, the Index of Forbidden Books and the vast network of Jesuit schools that spread from Rome and the Iberian peninsula across the globe.2
The Group-Basis of Political Behaviour among Minoritized Communities: The Case of LGBTQ+ Linked Fate and Sexual and Gender Minorities
Authors: Chan Nathan K. , Magni Gabriele
Published: February 2025

LGBTQ+ individuals often display consistent political behaviour despite being internally diverse. We theorize about the importance of group-based heuristics to understand this cohesiveness by proposing the concept of LGBTQ+ linked fate. First, we argue that LGBTQ+ linked fate is stronger among privileged individuals within the LGBTQ+ community (white, cisgender, gays/lesbians) and among those whose life experiences have made their LGBTQ+ identity salient. Then, expanding on social identity theory, we posit that individuals with greater LGBTQ+ linked fate are more likely to hold group-based political attitudes and voice these preferences through electoral participation. We provide support for these claims using a novel oversample of ∼2,000 LGBTQ+ Americans from the 2020 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey. We show that stronger LGBTQ+ linked fate is associated with higher voter turnout, leaning ideologically liberal, and identifying with the Democratic Party. This study contributes to understanding group identity, solidarity, and political behaviour among marginalized communities.
‘First record of Hsiungia pekingensis (Nematoda: Strongylidae) in North America: Morphological and molecular identification of a rare equine strongyle
Authors: Mohtasebi S. , Ahn S. , Rosa B. , Moyes K. , Kuzmina T. A. , Gilleard J.S. , Poissant J.
Published: February 2025

Equids are infected by a diversity of gastrointestinal nematode parasites, including 64 species of equine strongyle nematodes from19 genera. Despite numerous surveys of horse strongyles worldwide, certain geographic regions and rare species remain understudied. In 1964, a new species of equine strongyle, Cylicocyclus pekingensis, was described from a donkey in China. Subsequently, this species was recorded in horses from Kazakhstan and reclassified as Hsiungia pekingensis (K’ung and Yang, 1964), the only species in this genus. Since then, H. pekingensis has not been reported elsewhere, with limited knowledge on its distribution and phylogeny.

This study documents the first record of H. pekingensis in North America. Adult specimens were recovered from fecal samples of a domestic horse in Alberta, Canada, following treatment with ivermectin. Species identification involved detailed morphological examination, complemented with sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S rRNA gene, and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions of the nuclear genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close evolutionary relationship with species from Poteriostomum and Parapoteriostomum genera. Nemabiome ITS2 sequencing of a paired pre-treatment sample also detected the presence of H. pekingensis in the studied horse. Re-analysis of public equine nemabiome datasets further detected H. pekingensis in feral horses in Alberta, but not in other regions considered. This study expands the known distribution of this rare species and enhances our knowledge of its placement in the phylogeny of equine strongyles. Furthermore, our re-analysis of public nemabiome datasets highlights the value of this approach for studying the global distribution of parasite species.
Efficient relative localization and coordination system for unmanned ground vehicle formations under directed graph structure
Authors: Kabore Kader M. , Güler Samet
Published: February 2025

Onboard localization for multi-robot systems stands as a critical area of research with wide-ranging applications. This paper introduces an innovative framework for multi-robot localization, uniquely characterized by its onboard capability, thereby negating the dependency on external infrastructure. Our approach harnesses the inherent capabilities of each robot, enabling them to localize and synchronize their movements independently. The integration of cooperative localization algorithms with formation control mechanisms empowers a group of robots to sustain a predefined formation while following a linear trajectory. The efficacy of our framework is substantiated through comprehensive simulations and real-world experimental validations. We rigorously assess the system’s resilience to localization inaccuracies and external disturbances, demonstrating its adaptability and consistency in maintaining formation under diverse conditions. Furthermore, we explore the scalability of our approach, highlighting its potential to manage varying numbers of robots and its applicability in tasks such as collaborative transportation.
Kinematic design and analysis of a novel overconstraint walking mechanism
Authors: Selvi Ozgun , Cindioglu Cagri , Ider Sitki Kemal , Ceccarelli Marco
Published: February 2025

Walking mechanisms offer advantages over wheels or tracks for locomotion but often require complex designs. This paper presents the kinematic design and analysis of a novel overconstrained spatial a single degree-of-freedom leg mechanism for walking robots. The mechanism is generated by combining spherical four-bar linkages into two interconnecting loops, resulting in an overconstrained design with compact scalability. Kinematic analysis is applied using recurrent unit vector methods. Dimensional synthesis is performed using the Firefly optimization algorithm to achieve a near-straight trajectory during the stance phase for efficient walking. Constraints for mobility, singularity avoidance, and transmission angle are also implemented. The optimized design solution is manufactured using 3D printing and experimentally tested. Results verify the kinematic properties including near-straight-line motion during stance. The velocity profile shows low perpendicular vibrations. Advantages of the mechanism include compact scalability allowing variable stride lengths, smooth motion from overconstraint, and simplicity of a single actuator. The proposed overconstrained topology provides an effective option for the leg design of walking robots and mechanisms.
Improving the Lifelong Planning A-star algorithm to satisfy path planning for space truss cellular robots with dynamic obstacles
Authors: Dai Ye , Lv Weijian , Li Shikun , Zong Muyan
Published: February 2025

In this paper, a cellular robot for space trusses is structured so that it can perform tasks such as moving the truss and assembling the truss. There may be some spatial operating mechanisms on the space truss that cause obstacles to the robot’s movement, especially other mobile mechanical devices that are working, which are dynamic obstacles, so a suitable path planning for the robot is needed. In path planning, A-star algorithm has the advantages of efficient searching speed and good optimization effect, but it can’t deal with the path planning problem with dynamic obstacles, so this paper improves Lifelong Planning A-star (LPA-star) algorithm so that the improved algorithm satisfies the dynamic path planning task. Then a three-dimensional truss mathematical model is established, a dynamic obstacle environment is set up, the improved LPA-star algorithm is used for path planning, and the unimproved LPA-star algorithm and the improved A-star algorithm are used to compare with it. The simulation results show that in the environment set up in this paper, the optimal path length of the improved LPA-star algorithm is shortened by about 25% and the algorithm search time is shortened by about 55% compared with the improved A-star algorithm; while the unimproved LPA-star algorithm is unable to accomplish the dynamic path planning task. Therefore, the improved LPA-star algorithm can reduce the robot’s moving distance and time consumption.
Hericium erinaceus: A possible future therapeutic treatment for the prevention and delayed progression of Alzheimer’s disease? – A Narrative Review
Authors: Cornford Nisha , Charnley Margaret
Published: February 2025

At present, the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease involves only symptomatic medications which have continually demonstrated little efficacy, primarily due to the presence of biological barriers. Despite efforts, researchers have yet to discover a therapeutic treatment that delays neurodegenerative progression or restores associated Alzheimer neuropathological processes. For centuries, Hericium erinaceus (HE) has been used predominantly in Asian countries for its culinary and medicinal purposes, however, the use of this mushroom has not yet been utilised in western pharmacology. This review systematically investigates evidence pertaining to the use of HE as a potential future therapeutic treatment for the prevention and delayed progression of Alzheimer’s disease, by highlighting any fundamental neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties. In total, 3 human clinical trials and 13 animal-model studies were included for review. The use of HE demonstrated positive significant differences in results obtained from behavioural, histological, and biochemical assessments from both human clinical trials and animal model studies accentuating its utility for the improvement of cognitive function. In addition, erinacine A enriched HE appears to demonstrate the highest bioactive potency of all HE extracted compounds providing the greatest effects, while also evidencing transportability ease across biological barriers. In conclusion, evidence suggests that an intake of HE may be an appropriate and relevant future therapeutic treatment for the prevention and delayed progression of Alzheimer’s disease, however, continued research is necessary to provide increased significant evidence of this relationship, most likely through the increased quantity of human clinical trials.
The Weight of Lightness: Italian Opera and Parody in Congress Vienna
Authors: Babić Barbara
Published: February 2025

Recent scholarship at the crossroads of opera and Habsburg studies has emphasised the centrality of Italian opera within the political agenda of the Congress era (1814–22). It was a particularly effective means to project prestige, cosmopolitanism and belonging within a new geopolitical order, as the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was integrated under the Habsburg Crown. While much attention has been given to performances of Italian opera at the Viennese court theatres, the role of suburban venues has so far been largely neglected. This article aims to demonstrate the ‘weight’ that the so-called ‘light’ genres carried within the cultural life of the capital and across the Habsburg lands. Two parodies written by Adolf Bäuerle for the Theater in der Leopoldstadt in Vienna – Tankredi (1817, music by Wenzel Müller) and Die falsche Prima Donna in Krähwinkel (1818, music by Ignaz Schuster) – serve as case studies for a discussion of the fluidity of genres, operatic voices and audiences, and the role of such singers as Gentile Borgondio, Angelica Catalani and Ignaz Schuster as ‘aural ambassadors’ of the Habsburg cultural project.
On a general matrix-valued unbalanced optimal transport problem
Authors: Li Bowen , Zou Jun
Published: February 2025

We introduce a general class of transport distances

$\mathrm {WB}_{\Lambda }$

over the space of positive semi-definite matrix-valued Radon measures

$\mathcal {M}(\Omega, \mathbb {S}_+^n)$

, called the weighted Wasserstein–Bures distance. Such a distance is defined via a generalised Benamou–Brenier formulation with a weighted action functional and an abstract matricial continuity equation, which leads to a convex optimisation problem. Some recently proposed models, including the Kantorovich–Bures distance and the Wasserstein–Fisher–Rao distance, can naturally fit into ours. We give a complete characterisation of the minimiser and explore the topological and geometrical properties of the space

$(\mathcal {M}(\Omega, \mathbb {S}_+^n),\mathrm {WB}_{\Lambda })$

. In particular, we show that

$(\mathcal {M}(\Omega, \mathbb {S}_+^n),\mathrm {WB}_{\Lambda })$

is a complete geodesic space and exhibits a conic structure.
Global well-posedness and Turing–Hopf bifurcation of prey-taxis systems with hunting cooperation
Authors: Tao Weirun , Wang Zhi-An
Published: February 2025

This paper is concerned with a predator–prey system with hunting cooperation and prey-taxis under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. We establish the existence of globally bounded solutions in two dimensions. In three or higher dimensions, the global boundedness of solutions is obtained for the small prey-tactic coefficient. By using hunting cooperation and prey species diffusion as bifurcation parameters, we conduct linear stability analysis and find that both hunting cooperation and prey species diffusion can drive the instability to induce Hopf, Turing and Turing–Hopf bifurcations in appropriate parameter regimes. It is also found that prey-taxis is a factor stabilizing the positive constant steady state. We use numerical simulations to illustrate various spatiotemporal patterns arising from the abovementioned bifurcations including spatially homogeneous and inhomogeneous time-periodic patterns, stationary spatial patterns and chaotic fluctuations.
Saving for a stormy day? The Jamaican Government Savings Bank and the precautionary savings motive
Authors: Spencer Nekeisha , Strobl Eric
Published: February 2025

The Government Savings Bank of Jamaica (GSB) was created post-emancipation in order to serve the poor as a vehicle for precautionary savings and has been viewed as largely successful in this goal, at least after its restructuring in the late 1860s. We investigate this by examining GSB depositor behaviour after income shocks due to hurricanes. To this end, we combine digitized parish-level GSB account information with a hurricane damage index generated from historical storm tracks. Our results show little evidence of a precautionary savings motive by GSB account holders in that while net account balances and deposits drop after hurricanes, withdrawals and the number of accounts closed also fall. Additionally, the net decrease in account holders seems not to be driven by small savers, who are likely to be the poorest. Our findings are thus more in line with the GSB potentially being used to finance non-necessary consumption.
Extremely rare association: Desbuquois dysplasia type 1 with coronary-cameral fistula
Authors: Öztürk Musa , Tanrısever Türk Merve , Şimşek Kiper Pelin Özlem , Aykan Hayrettin Hakan
Published: February 2025

Purpose:

Desbuquois dysplasia type 1 is a rare autosomal recessive chondrodysplasia characterised by distinct skeletal abnormalities and multisystem involvement, including pulmonary, renal, and ocular abnormalities, has also been reported. Cardiac complications, although infrequently discussed in the literature, include aortopathy and atrioventricular valve prolapse, potentially due to defective proteoglycan production.

Case Report:

This case report details a 7-year-old male diagnosed with Desbuquois dysplasia type 1 and a coronary-cameral fistula, both of which are exceedingly rare conditions. Genetic analysis revealed a previously reported homozygous pathogenic variant in the calcium-activated nucleotidase 1 gene, ENST00000c.898C>T; p.Arg300Cys. Echocardiographic findings indicated significant cardiac enlargement, mitral valve prolapse, coronary-cameral fistula, pulmonary hypertension, advanced aortic root enlargement and aneurysmatic ascending aorta, and atrial septal defect, necessitating careful clinical management.

Conclusion:

This case underscores the complexity of Desbuquois dysplasia and its associated cardiac anomalies, highlighting the need for further research into the systemic implications of this disorder. To the best of our knowledge, this case has importance as it is the first of its kind in the literature.
High Altitude Dynamics in Cerebral Oxygenation of Mountain Rescue Personnel: A Prospective Alpine Proof-of-Concept Field Study
Authors: Schnaubelt Sebastian , Egger Alexander , Fuhrmann Verena , Tscherny Katharina , Niederer Maximilian , Uray Thomas , Schreiber Wolfgang , Herkner Harald , Roth Dominik
Published: February 2025

Background:

Mountain Rescue Services (MRS) are a vital link in the chain of survival when it comes to emergencies at high altitudes. Cognitive impairment in hypobaric hypoxic conditions is known, and previous studies have shown suboptimal performance of MRS members after a steep ascent. These impairments may be linked to regional cerebral oxygenation (rSO2). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether there are dynamics in rSO2 between “baseline” and “working” altitudes after climbing up to a potential patient.

Methods:

In this alpine proof-of-concept field study, experienced mountaineers of the Austrian MRS had to perform an active rapid ascent of 1,200 meters on foot to 3,454 meters above sea level. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to measure rSO2 before and after the climb. Continuous data were compared among subgroups using Mann-Whitney-U tests, and categorical data were compared with χ2-square tests. Statistical significance was defined by two-tailed P values of <.05.

Results:

Twenty MRS members were assessed. Their rSO2 values at baseline altitude were significantly higher than at working altitude (70 [SD = 1]% versus 60 [SD = 1]%; absolute difference 10 [95% CI, 6-15]; P <.001). When assessing the single dynamics of each mountain rescuer, there was a wide variability in delta rSO2, ranging from a minimum of 0% to a maximum of 32% (mean 10 [SD = 8]%).

Conclusion:

Overall, low rSO2 values were found in mountain rescuers at high altitudes, and there were considerable interpersonal differences of changes in cerebral oxygenation after an ascent. Using rSO2 to assess performance-readiness in mountain rescuers and individual proneness to potential cognitive dysfunction or acute mountain sickness (AMS) could be further research goals.