bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foraging fidelity and individual specialisation in a temperate bat Myotis nattereri
Authors: Mordue Simone , Mill Aileen , Shirley Mark , Aegerter James
Published: November 2023

This study explores whether Natterer’s bats exhibit fidelity to their foraging sites and individual specialisation in their use of habitat types. The research tracked 34 individual bats in two different landscapes, with some bats tracked twice over varying time intervals. The study found that Natterer’s bats show consistency in their fidelity to foraging sites across different landscapes and intervals between observations. The bats repeatedly exploited specific foraging areas, and some showed individual specialisation in their habitat use. The study also found considerable variation in individual behaviour. The research suggests that a single full night of radio-tracking data can serve as a useful proxy for longer periods and contribute to more robust descriptions of resource requirements by Natterer’s bats in their breeding seasons. This study emphasises the importance of maximising the number of individuals from which movement data is obtained to inform conservation and management of temperate bats, whilst ensuring that the data represent a meaningful measure of behaviour. The results also suggest that protecting a mosaic of habitats rather than a single habitat may be important for Natterer’s bats, given their individual specialisation in habitat use.
Genome-wide analysis of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) indicates isolation-by-distance across the North Atlantic and potential local adaptation in adjacent waters
Authors: Autenrieth Marijke , Havenstein Katja , De Cahsan Binia , Canitz Julia , Benke Harald , Roos Anna , Pampoulie Christophe , Sigurðsson Guðjón Már , Siebert Ursula , Olsen Morten Tange , Biard Vincent , Heide-Jørgensen Mads Peter , Öztürk Ayaka Amaha , Öztürk Bayram , Lawson John W. , Tiedemann Ralph
Published: November 2023

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), a highly mobile cetacean species of the Northern Hemisphere, inhabits basins that vary broadly in salinity, temperature, and food availability; such variation can drive divergent adaptation among local populations. To shed light on range-wide population structure and local adaptation, we generated ddRAD sequencing data spanning the entire North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, as well as the Black Sea as an outgroup, and mapped this data to the high-quality draft genome of the species. We identified 11,978 genome-wide SNPs from 150 individuals, which we used for population genetic inferences. Our results support genetic differentiation between North Atlantic and Baltic Sea populations, with Kattegat as a transition zone. Across the North Atlantic the population differentiation is subtle from west to east, congruent with an isolation-by-distance pattern, but indicates a separation of southern North Sea harbour porpoises. We identified genomic outlier regions, i.e., scaffold regions where SNPs with high FST across North Atlantic populations co-occur. Together with the draft genome annotation, these regions could point towards candidate genes for differential local adaptation processes among populations. Furthermore, they enable the development of a SNP panel for routine population assignment which will be useful in a conservation and management context. We identified six outlier loci putatively under positive selection, based on the population structure inferred from the complete SNP set. Our study highlights the value of genome resources in conservation and management and provides a crucial additional resource for the study of harbour porpoise evolution and phylogeny.
Space-time multi-level modeling for zooplankton abundance employing double data fusion and calibration
Authors: Castillo-Mateo Jorge , Gelfand Alan E. , Hudak Christine A. , Mayo Charles A. , Schick Robert S.
Published: November 2023

An important objective for marine biologists is to forecast the distribution and abundance of planktivorous marine predators. To do so, it is critically important to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of their prey. Here, the prey we study are zooplankton and we build a novel space-time hierarchical fusion model to describe the distribution and abundance of zooplankton species in Cape Cod Bay (CCB), MA, USA. The data were collected irregularly in space and time at sites within the first half of the year over a 17 year period, using two different sampling methods. We focus on sea surface zooplankton abundance and incorporate sea surface temperature as a primary driver, also collected with two different sampling methods. So, with two sources for each, we observe true abundance or true sea surface temperature with measurement error. To account for such error, we apply calibrations to align the data sources and use the fusion model to develop a prediction of daily spatial zooplankton abundance surfaces throughout CCB. To infer average abundance on a given day within a given year in CCB, we present a marginalization of the zooplankton abundance surface. We extend the inference to consider abundance averaged to a bi-weekly or annual scale as well as to make an annual comparison of abundance.
Improving Rehabilitation Research to Optimize Care and Outcomes for People with Chronic Primary Low Back Pain: Methodological and Reporting Recommendations from a WHO Systematic Review Series
Authors: Cancelliere Carol , Yu Hainan , Southerst Danielle , Connell Gaelan , Verville Leslie , Bussières André , Gross Douglas P. , Pereira Paulo , Mior Silvano , Tricco Andrea C. , Cedraschi Christine , Brunton Ginny , Nordin Margareta , Shearer Heather M. , Wong Jessica J. , Hayden Jill A. , Ogilvie Rachel , Wang Dan , Côté Pierre , Hincapié Cesar A.
Published: November 2023

Chronic primary low back pain (CPLBP) is a prevalent and disabling condition that often requires rehabilitation interventions to improve function and alleviate pain. This paper aims to advance future research, including systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), on CPLBP management. We provide methodological and reporting recommendations derived from our conducted systematic reviews, offering practical guidance for conducting robust research on the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for CPLBP. Our systematic reviews contributed to the development of a WHO clinical guideline for CPLBP. Based on our experience, we have identified methodological issues and recommendations, which are compiled in a comprehensive table and discussed systematically within established frameworks for reporting and critically appraising RCTs. In conclusion, embracing the complexity of CPLBP involves recognizing its multifactorial nature and diverse contexts and planning for varying treatment responses. By embracing this complexity and emphasizing methodological rigor, research in the field can be improved, potentially leading to better care and outcomes for individuals with CPLBP.
Neighborhood Predictors of Poor Prenatal Care and Well-Child Visit Attendance
Authors: Wolf Elizabeth R. , Richards Alicia , Sabo Roy T. , Woolf Steven H. , Nelson Bergen B. , Krist Alex H.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Women and children continue to miss preventive visits. Which neighborhood factors predict inadequate prenatal care (PNC) and well-child visit (WCV) attendance remain unclear.

Description

In a retrospective case–control study at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, mothers with less than 50% adherence or initiation after 5 months gestation were eligible as cases and those with ≥ 80% adherence and initiation before 5 months were eligible as controls. Children in the lowest quintile of adherence were eligible as cases and those with ≥ 80% of adherence were eligible as controls. Cases and controls were randomly selected at a 1:2 ratio and matched on birth month. Covariates were derived from the 2018 American Community Survey. A hotspot was defined as a zip code tabulation area (ZCTA) with a proportion of controls less than 0.66. ZCTAs with fewer than 5 individuals were excluded. Weighted quantile regression was used to determine which covariates were most associated with inadequate attendance.

Assessment

We identified 38 and 35 ZCTAs for the PNC and WCV analyses, respectively. Five of 11 hotspots for WCV were also hotspots for PNC. Education and income predicted 51% and 34% of the variation in missed PNCs, respectively; language, education and transportation difficulties explained 33%, 29%, and 17% of the variation in missed WCVs, respectively. Higher proportions of Black residents lived in hotspots of inadequate PCV and WCV attendance.

Conclusion

Neighborhood-level factors performed well in predicting inadequate PCV and WCV attendance. The disproportionate impact impact of inadequate PCV and WCV in neighborhoods where higher proportions of Black people lived highlights the potential influence of systemic racism and segregation on healthcare utilization.
On the Interest-Promoting Effect of Outreach Science Labs: A Comparison of Students’ Interest during Experimentation at an Outreach Science Lab and at School
Authors: Kirchhoff Tim , Wilde Matthias , Großmann Nadine
Published: November 2023

Outreach science labs aim to promote students’ interest. Previous research has often suggested that performing experiments in such labs has a positive effect on their interest. However, these studies often lack a comparison to the effects of performing them at school. This research gap was addressed in the present study. The sample consisted of 402 upper-secondary level students (age: M = 16.53 years, SD = 0.80 years) who performed three experiments on the topic of enzymology either in an outreach science lab (n = 203) or at school (n = 199). Contrary to the assumption, experimentation at the outreach science lab did not outperform experimentation at school in terms of students’ psychological state of interest in the comparison to the school setting. Surprisingly, differences in the value-related component of the psychological state of interest were even found in favor of the school treatment.
Tunable Laser Spectrometers for Planetary Science
Authors: Webster Christopher R. , Hofmann Amy E. , Mahaffy Paul R. , Atreya Sushil K. , House Christopher H. , Simon Amy A. , Garvin James B.
Published: November 2023

Distinguishing planetary formation and evolution pathways and understanding the origins of volatiles on planetary bodies requires determination of relative abundances and isotope ratios in the noble gases, and also of the isotope ratios in C, H, N, O and S at high precisions. Traditional planetary mass spectrometers uniquely provide excellent survey capability including the noble gas relative abundances and their isotope ratios. However, to distinguish planetary evolution models for the outer planets, stable isotope ratios in C and O require precisions of ∼10‰ or better, readily achievable with a tunable laser spectrometer (TLS). As demonstrated on the Mars Curiosity rover, and as planned for a now-selected NASA Venus mission, tunable laser spectrometers play a unique role synergistic with the capabilities of planetary mass spectrometers. The TLS technique of recording infrared absorption spectra at ultrahigh resolution (resolving power$\lambda $λ/$\delta \lambda \sim 5$δλ∼5million) provides unambiguous detection of a wide variety of gases such as H2O, H2O2, H2CO, HOCl, NO, NO2, HNO3, N2O, O3, CO, CO2, NH3, N2H4, PH3, H2S, SO2, OCS, HCl, HF, O2, HCN, and CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6at parts-per-billion levels. Through line-depth or line-area ratio comparisons of adjacent spectral lines, planetary TLS instruments can achieve isotope ratio measurements in C, H, N, O, and S molecules at precisions of ∼1–2‰, including for the triple isotope components of O and S. Expected performance of TLS instruments for Venus, Saturn, Enceladus and Uranus will be described as constrained by actual measurements reported at Mars on the Curiosity rover.
Explication in the Space of Reasons: What Sellars and Carnap Could Offer to Each Other
Authors: Pete Krisztián , Tuboly Adam Tamas
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we reconsider the highly underrated Carnap–Sellars relationship, arguing that Sellars might be able to provide an interesting resolution to some of Carnap’s finest problems around explication by offering a grand-scale picture of science/common-sense or manifest interactions. The narrative developed here points toward the need for some stratification and re-evaluation of a field of scholarship that all too often still engages in challenging and contradictory dichotomies, undermining the genuine intentions of scholars who were collaborating with, as well as living and researching in parallel with each other. We would like to explore what these figures can offer to each other, and whether, for example, a truly Sellarsian perspective could illuminate any problematic points in Carnap that have not yet been problematized by Carnapians but could still improve the original system.
Value creation and appropriation from the use of machine learning: a study of start-ups using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis
Authors: Costa-Climent Ricardo , Navarrete Samuel Ribeiro , Haftor Darek M. , Staniewski Marcin W.
Published: November 2023

This study focuses on how start-ups use machine learning technology to create and appropriate value. A firm’s use of machine learning can activate data network effects. These data network effects can then create perceived value for users. This study examines the interaction between the activation of data network effects by start-ups and the value that they are able to create and appropriate based on their business model. A neo-configurational approach built on fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) explores how the design of a firm’s business model interacts with various aspects to explain value creation and appropriation using machine learning. The study uses a sample of 122 European start-ups created between 2019 and 2022. It explores the system of interactions between business model value drivers and value creation factors under the theory of data network effects. The findings show that start-ups primarily activate the efficiency and novelty elements of value creation and value capture.
Lehramtsstudierende im ersten Studienjahr – Die Veränderung ihrer Fehlerorientierung im Zusammenhang mit der Lehrkraftselbstwirksamkeit
Authors: Müller Juliane , Böhnke Anja , Thiel Felicitas
Published: November 2023

Lehramtsstudierende im ersten Studienjahr verfügen nur über wenig Erfahrungswissen und Handlungskompetenz. Ihnen können daher im Rahmen ihrer ersten Praxisphase häufiger Fehler im Unterricht unterlaufen. Von Bedeutung ist daher, wie die Lehramtsstudierenden Fehler im Unterricht für sich bewerten: als Bedrohung (Misserfolg) oder Lerngelegenheit? In diesem Zusammenhang wird die Lehrkraftselbstwirksamkeit als relevante Coping-Ressource diskutiert. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, zu untersuchen, wie sich die Fehlerorientierung von Lehramtsstudierenden während des ersten Studienjahres verändert und welche Rolle die Lehrkraftselbstwirksamkeit dabei spielt. Angenommen wird, dass sich eine lernorientierte Fehlerorientierung entwickelt und sich ein positiver Effekt der Lehrkraftselbstwirksamkeit darauf zeigt. Die Lehramtsstudierenden wurden per Paper-Pencil zu Beginn des Bachelorstudiums (T1; N = 676) und am Ende des zweiten Fachsemesters (T2; N = 465) – nach einer vierwöchigen Praxisphase – befragt. Die Ergebnisse der Latent Change Analysen zeigten einen signifikanten Anstieg der lernorientierten Bewertung von Fehlern im Unterricht. Erwartungskonform war die Zunahme bei den Lehramtsstudierenden unterschiedlich stark ausgeprägt. Die Lehrkraftselbstwirksamkeit hatte hingegen erwartungswidrig einen signifikant negativen Effekt auf die Veränderung der lernorientierten Bewertung von Fehlern.
Individualisierender Unterricht und der Wandel der Leistungsordnung. Erträge subjektivierungstheoretischer Forschung zur Responsibilisierung für Leistung in Praktiken
Authors: Rabenstein Kerstin , Steinwand Julia , Strauß Svenja
Published: November 2023

In den letzten Jahren wurde bildungspolitisch auf eine als heterogen wahrgenommene Schülerschaft mit individualisierendem Unterricht reagiert. Statt danach zu fragen, wie individualisierender Unterricht den Erwartungen bezüglich der Antwort auf das andauernde Problem ungleicher Chancen auf Bildungserfolg im deutschen Schulsystem gerecht wird, fragt der Beitrag nach verborgenen Machteffekten dieser pädagogisch idealisierten Form. Dafür rekonstruiert er ausgewählte Praktiken auf ihren subjektivierenden Gehalt hin. Er fragt, welche Regeln des Aufgabenarbeitens im individualisierenden Unterrichts mobilisiert werden: Wie also wird individualisiertes Lernen bzw. Arbeiten hervorgebracht und wie werden somit Schüler*innen als in der Verantwortung für ihr Lernen stehende Subjekte konstituiert? Ausgehend von einer Skizze zum Forschungsstand wird die Frage nach der geteilten Normativität miteinander verschränkter Praktiken als zentrale methodologische Weichenstellung einer über einzelne Situationen hinausgehende Forschung begründet und die These der Responsibilisierung von Schüler*innen für eigenes (Nicht‑)Vorankommen im individualisierenden Unterricht an ausgewähltem Datenmaterial plausibilisiert.
The Development of a Thermodynamic Database for Calculation and Prediction of Phase Equilibria in High-Temperature Refractory Alloys: A Tribute to Ted Massalski
Authors: Spencer P. J.
Published: November 2023

There is an increasing demand for materials capable of withstanding ever-higher temperatures. However, because the difficulties associated with carrying out experimental investigations at very high temperatures are significant, the published information relating to the phase stability of potential refractory materials is, in many instances, still lacking. The work described in this paper attempts to rectify this deficit through the on-going development of a thermodynamic database for high-temperature materials based on carbides, nitrides, borides, and silicides. Because of technological requirements of high-temperature stability and strength, combined with lightness, these are the materials that come into question most frequently for high-temperature applications. In developing the present database, and to ensure reliability of its use, emphasis has been placed on the need to maintain the compatibility of data and modeling when assessing experimental data and estimating missing values. The methods used to achieve compatibility of published information are described and calculations of phase equilibria relevant to the industrial application of various refractory materials are presented. The similarity to, and the importance of the scientific background and published work of Ted Massalski for the work of the present author is stressed.
A scheme for realizing nonreciprocal interlayer coupling in bilayer topological systems
Authors: Wang Xiaoxiao , Gu Ruizhe , Li Yandong , Qi Huixin , Hu Xiaoyong , Wang Xingyuan , Gong Qihuang
Published: November 2023

Nonreciprocal interlayer coupling is difficult to practically implement in bilayer non-Hermitian topological photonic systems. In this work, we identify a similarity transformation between the Hamiltonians of systems with nonreciprocal interlayer coupling and on-site gain/loss. The similarity transformation is widely applicable, and we show its application in one- and two-dimensional bilayer topological systems as examples. The bilayer non-Hermitian system with nonreciprocal interlayer coupling, whose topological number can be defined using the gauge-smoothed Wilson loop, is topologically equivalent to the bilayer system with on-site gain/loss. We also show that the topological number of bilayer non-Hermitian C6v-typed domain-induced topological interface states can be defined in the same way as in the case of the bilayer non-Hermitian Su–Schrieffer–Heeger model. Our results show the relations between two microscopic provenances of the non-Hermiticity and provide a universal and convenient scheme for constructing and studying nonreciprocal interlayer coupling in bilayer non-Hermitian topological systems. This scheme is useful for observation of non-Hermitian skin effect in three-dimensional systems.

Graphical Abstract
Genetically Proxied Therapeutic Effect of Metformin Use, Blood Pressure, and Hypertension’s Risk: a Drug Target-Based Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Jiang Junhong , Hu Di , Zhang Qi , Lin Zenan ,   on behalf of The μ-Biomedical Data Investigation Group (Mu-BioDig)
Published: November 2023

In this work, we aim to evaluate the association of the genetically proxied effect of metformin on blood pressure (BP) and hypertension through a drug target-based Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Thirty-two instrumental variables for five metformin targets (i.e., AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), mitochondrial glycerol 3 (MG3), mitochondrial complex I (MCI), and glucagon (GCG)) were introduced to the MR analysis on the datasets of hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP). The MR analyses demonstrated that the MCI- and MG3-specific metformin’s use would significantly reduce SBP, DBP, and hypertension risk. The meta-analyses showed that the genetically proxied metformin’s use equivalent to a 6.75 mmol/mol reduction on HbA1c could decrease both the SBP (beta =  − 1.05, P < 0.001) and DBP (beta =  − 0.51, P = 0.096). Furthermore, metformin’s use was also implied to reduce the hypertension risk. The MG3- and MCI-dependent metformin’s effect may play key roles in the anti-hypertension function.

Graphical Abstract
Sex differences in the risk of retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review, frequentist and Bayesian meta-analysis, and meta-regression
Authors: Hundscheid Tamara M. , Gulden Silvia , Almutairi Mohamad F. , Bartoš František , Cavallaro Giacomo , Villamor Eduardo
Published: November 2023

Background

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is generally considered to be more frequent in males than in females. However, it is not known whether sex differences in ROP affect all degrees of the condition, are global and have changed as neonatology has developed. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies addressing sex differences in the risk of developing ROP.

Methods

PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched. The frequentist, random-effects risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Bayesian model averaged (BMA) meta-analysis was used to calculate the Bayes factors (BFs). The BF10 is the ratio of the probability of the data under the alternative hypothesis (H1) over the probability of the data under the null hypothesis (H0).

Results

We included 205 studies (867,252 infants). Frequentist meta-analysis showed a positive association between male sex and severe ROP (113 studies, RR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.07–1.22) but no association with any ROP (144 studies, RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.96–1.03). BMA showed extreme evidence in favor of H1 for severe ROP (BF10 = 71,174) and strong evidence in favor of H0 for any ROP (BF10 = 0.05). The association between male sex and severe ROP remained stable over time and was present only in cohorts from countries with a high or high-middle sociodemographic index.

Conclusions

Our study confirms the presence of a male disadvantage in severe ROP but not in less severe forms of the disease. There are variations in the sex differences in ROP, depending on geographical location and sociodemographic level of the countries.

Graphical abstract
The Aetiology and Global Impact of Paediatric Sepsis
Authors: Bracken Abbey , Lenihan Rebecca , Khanijau Aakash , Carrol Enitan D.
Published: November 2023

Purpose of Review

This review provides an overview of paediatric sepsis, focusing on sepsis definitions in children, global aetiology of sepsis, application of biomarkers in clinical practice, and challenges of global application of current evidence.

Recent Findings

Clinical definitions for paediatric sepsis vary, and a validated measurement is lacking. Aetiology varies by age and geography, with differences in healthcare, vaccination, and pathogens. Biomarkers show promise but have limited translation to clinical practice, especially in children.

Paediatric sepsis has a significant global impact, with high mortality and long-term morbidity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Adapting definitions and validating biomarkers are crucial, especially in LMICs. Global efforts are needed to improve identification and management of paediatric sepsis, along with the evolving challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A global approach is essential to address complexities and enhance outcomes for affected children worldwide.
Real-world HbA1c changes and prescription characteristics among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients initiating treatment with once weekly semaglutide for diabetes
Authors: Frazer Monica , Swift Caroline , Sargent Andrew , Leszko Michael , Buysman Erin , Gronroos Noelle N. , Alvarez Sara , Dunn Tyler J. , Noone Josh , Gamble Cory L.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient, prescriber, and dose characteristics and evaluate changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for patients prescribed once weekly semaglutide for diabetes (OW sema T2D).

Methods

This study was a retrospective claims-based study using the Optum Research Database. The sample included adult patients who had at least one claim for OW sema T2D between Jan 1, 2018, and Dec 31, 2019, were continuously enrolled in the health plan and had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) during the pre-index or post-index periods. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients using OW sema T2D were collected, as were the dose and prescriber specialty and the change between pre-index and post-index HbA1c measures was calculated. Results were stratified by the latest pre-index HbA1c measurement (HbA1c greater than or equal to 9.0%, uncontrolled vs. HbA1c less than 9%, controlled). Statistical comparisons between HbA1c groups were conducted.

Results

Most patients, 76.3%, were prescribed a 0.25/0.50 mg dose of OW sema T2D. Patients had an overall decrease in HbA1c of 0.8% and patients with uncontrolled diabetes had a greater reduction in mean HbA1c compared to those with controlled diabetes (-2.1% vs. -0.3%, p < 0.001). Most patients had their index dose of OW sema T2D prescribed by endocrinologists (27.6%) primary care providers (24.6%) and internal medicine providers (21.6%).

Conclusions

OW sema T2D is an effective real-world T2DM treatment. Future research should further investigate real-world use patterns of this medication.
The field of moduli of varieties with a structure
Authors: Bresciani Giulio
Published: November 2023

If X is a variety with an additional structure $$\xi $$
ξ
, such as a marked point, a divisor, a polarization, a group structure and so forth, then it is possible to study whether the pair $$(X,\xi )$$

(
X
,
ξ
)

is defined over the field of moduli. There exists a precise definition of “algebraic structures” which covers essentially all of the obvious concrete examples. We prove several formal results about algebraic structures. There are immediate applications to the study of fields of moduli of curves and finite sets in $$\mathbb {P}^{2}$$

P

2

, but the results are completely general. Fix G a finite group of automorphisms of X, a G-structure is an algebraic structure with automorphism group equal to G. First, we prove that G-structures on X are in a 1 : 1 correspondence with twisted forms of $$X/G\dashrightarrow \mathscr {B}G$$

X
/
G
⤏
B
G

. Secondly we show that, under some assumptions, every algebraic structure on X is equivalent to the structure given by some 0-cycle. Third, we give a cohomological criterion for checking the existence of G-structures not defined over the field of moduli. Fourth, we identify geometric conditions about the action of G on X which ensure that every G-structure is defined over the field of moduli.
The Hedonism of Eudoxus of Cnidus
Authors: Davies Richard
Published: November 2023

Mathematician and astronomer Eudoxus of Cnidus was a younger contemporary of Plato and an older contemporary of Aristotle, on both of whom he exerted some influence during his stays in Athens. This is perhaps most apparent with regard to his ethical doctrine that identifies the good as pleasure (hedonism). While Plato seems rather unsure how seriously to take this proposal, Aristotle provides the materials for reconstructing the battery of ingenious arguments that Eudoxus brought forward in its defence. Taken together in this Element, these arguments foreshadow almost everything that has been said in the Western tradition in favour of the positive value of pleasure, and, if taken aright, point in the direction of a hedonism that sets store by the cultivation of activities akin to those for which Eudoxus has been most renowned: mathematics and astronomy.
Lakatos and the Historical Approach to Philosophy of Mathematics
Authors: Gillies Donald
Published: November 2023

The Element begins by claiming that Imre Lakatos (1922–74) in his famous paper 'Proofs and Refutations' (1963–64) was the first to introduce the historical approach to philosophy of mathematics. Section 2 gives a detailed analysis of Lakatos' ideas on the philosophy of mathematics. Lakatos died at the age of only 51, and at the time of this death had plans to continue his work on philosophy of mathematics which were never carried out. However, Lakatos' historical approach to philosophy of mathematics was taken up by other researchers in the field, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Element give an account of how they developed this approach. Then Section 5 gives an overview of what has been achieved so far by the historical approach to philosophy of mathematics and considers what its prospects for the future might be.
Phenomenology and Mathematics
Authors: Roubach Michael
Published: November 2023

This Element explores the relationship between phenomenology and mathematics. Its focus is the mathematical thought of Edmund Husserl, founder of phenomenology, but other phenomenologists and phenomenologically-oriented mathematicians, including Weyl, Becker, Gödel, and Rota, are also discussed. After outlining the basic notions of Husserl's phenomenology, the author traces Husserl's journey from his early mathematical studies. Phenomenology's core concepts, such as intention and intuition, each contributed to the emergence of a phenomenological approach to mathematics. This Element examines the phenomenological conceptions of natural number, the continuum, geometry, formal systems, and the applicability of mathematics. It also situates the phenomenological approach in relation to other schools in the philosophy of mathematics-logicism, formalism, intuitionism, Platonism, the French epistemological school, and the philosophy of mathematical practice.
Fight against Corruption-Related Crimes in Wartime in Ukraine
Authors: Holovkin Bohdan M. , Semenyshyn Mykola , Tavolzhanskyi Oleksii V. , Lysodyed Oleksandr V. , Smetanina Nataliia V.
Published: November 2023

The article aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical and practical analysis of the issues in the legal regulation of corruption prevention, study the state of the fight against corruption and the legalization of proceeds of corruption-related crimes under martial law, determine new corruption risks during a war, and suggest recommendations for their minimization. The authors of this article established the main problems that cause the emergence and spread of corruption in society and ways to overcome this phenomenon. The study’s results established that independent anti-corruption agencies and authorized law enforcement agencies have continued preventive and law enforcement activities even under war conditions, their purpose being to ensure the normal State functioning, the country’s defence capacity, and society’s security. In law-making and law enforcement activities, this research work can help to improve international relations between Ukraine and foreign countries in the context of the development of bilateral relations regarding the provision of assistance to Ukraine for post-war recovery, the attraction of investment, the fight against corruption, and possible accession to the European Union.
Experimental study on Richtmyer–Meshkov instability at a light–heavy interface over a wide range of Atwood numbers
Authors: Chen Chenren , Xing Yinuo , Wang He , Zhai Zhigang , Luo Xisheng
Published: November 2023

Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) at a light–heavy single-mode interface over a wide range of post-shock Atwood numbers

$A_1$

is studied systematically through elaborate experiments. The interface generation and

$A_1$

variation are achieved by the soap-film technology and gas-layer scheme, respectively. Qualitatively, the nonlinear interface evolution features, including spike, bubble and roll-up structures, are more significant in RMI with higher

$A_1$

. Quantitatively, both the impulsive model and an analytical linear model perform well in predicting the linear growth rate under a wide range of

$A_1$

conditions. For the weakly nonlinear stage, the significant spike acceleration occurring when

$A_1$

is high, which is observed experimentally for the first time, results in the evolution law of RMI with high

$A_1$

being different from the counterpart with low or intermediate

$A_1$

. None of the considered nonlinear models is found to be applicable for RMI under all

$A_1$

conditions, and the predictive capabilities of these models are analysed and summarized. Based on the present experimental results, an empirical nonlinear model is proposed for RMI over a wide range of

$A_1$

. Further, modal analysis shows that in RMI with high (low or intermediate)

$A_1$

, high-order harmonics evolve rapidly (slowly) and cannot (can) be ignored. Accordingly, for RMI with high (low or intermediate)

$A_1$

, the modal model proposed by Zhang & Sohn (Phys. Fluids, vol. 9, 1997, pp. 1106–1124) is less (more) accurate than the one proposed by Vandenboomgaerde et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 14, 2002, pp. 1111–1122), since the former ignores perturbation solutions higher than fourth order (the latter retains only terms with the highest power in time).
Delay and settlement: The disposition of medical negligence claims in Ireland
Authors: Tumelty Mary-Elizabeth
Published: November 2023

Reflecting the international experience, statistics show that most medical negligence cases in Ireland settle. Less is known, however, about the duration of these cases, though anecdotal evidence suggests that they are protracted in nature. Procedurally focused reforms, aimed at reducing costs and facilitating more expedient resolution of these disputes have been proposed in Ireland, yet await implementation. As such, the pace of litigation is largely determined by the parties to the dispute. Drawing on the findings of an empirical study (an analysis of closed case files and qualitative interviews), this article explores two questions: first, how long do medical negligence cases take to resolve; and secondly, what contributes to delay in this context. Whilst causes of delay may vary by case, it is important to attempt to identify and explore common factors which contribute to delay. If these factors can be problematised and understood, possible solutions may be reached. In doing so, the article contributes to the debate on medical negligence reform across common law jurisdictions, evidencing the broader considerations, in addition to procedurally focused reforms, which are required when considering the issue of delay.
Prenatal Exposure to Heavy Metals and Adverse Birth Outcomes: Evidence From an E‐Waste Area in China
Authors: Chen Chen , Ma Chaochen , Li Qiyao , Hang Jin Guo , Shen Jiantong , Nakayama Shoji F. , Kido Teruhiko , Lin Yibin , Feng Hao , Jung Chau‐Ren , Sun Xian Liang , Lou Jianlin
Published: November 2023

Electronic waste that has not been properly treated can lead to environmental contamination including of heavy metals, which can pose risks to human health. Infants, a sensitive group, are highly susceptible to heavy metals exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between prenatal heavy metal exposure and infant birth outcomes in an e‐waste recycling area in China. We analyzed cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As) concentrations in 102 human milk samples collected 4 weeks after delivery. The results showed that 34.3% of participants for Cr, which exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, as well as the mean exposure of Cr exceeded the WHO guidelines. We collected data on the birth weight (BW) and length of infants and analyzed the association between metal concentration in human milk and birth outcomes using multivariable linear regression. We observed a significant negative association between the Cd concentration in maternal milk and BW in female infants (β = −162.72, 95% CI = −303.16, −22.25). In contrast, heavy metals did not associate with birth outcomes in male infants. In this study, we found that 34.3% of participants in an e‐waste recycling area had a Cr concentration that exceeded WHO guidelines, and there was a significant negative association between prenatal exposure to the Cd and infant BW in females. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to heavy metals in e‐waste recycling areas may lead to adverse birth outcomes, especially for female infants.
Novel biomarker SARIFA in colorectal cancer: highly prognostic, not genetically driven and histologic indicator of a distinct tumor biology
Authors: Reitsam Nic G. , Grozdanov Veselin , Löffler Chiara M. L. , Muti Hannah S. , Grosser Bianca , Kather Jakob N. , Märkl Bruno
Published: November 2023

SARIFA (Stroma AReactive Invasion Front Areas) has recently emerged as a promising histopathological biomarker for colon and gastric cancer. To elucidate the underlying tumor biology, we assessed SARIFA-status in tissue specimens from The-Cancer-Genome-Atlas (TCGA) cohorts COAD (colonic adenocarcinoma) and READ (rectal adenocarcinoma). For the final analysis, 207 CRC patients could be included, consisting of 69 SARIFA-positive and 138 SARIFA-negative cases. In this external validation cohort, H&E-based SARIFA-positivity was strongly correlated with unfavorable overall, disease-specific, and progression-free survival, partly outperforming conventional prognostic factors. SARIFA-positivity was not associated with known high-risk genetic profiles, such as BRAF V600E mutations or microsatellite-stable status. Transcriptionally, SARIFA-positive CRCs exhibited an overlap with CRC consensus molecular subtypes CMS1 and CMS4, along with distinct differential gene expression patterns, linked to lipid metabolism and increased stromal cell infiltration scores (SIIS). Gene-expression-based drug sensitivity prediction revealed a differential treatment response in SARIFA-positive CRCs. In conclusion, SARIFA represents the H&E-based counterpart of an aggressive tumor biology, demonstrating a partial overlap with CMS1/4 and also adding a further biological layer related to lipid metabolism. Our findings underscore SARIFA-status as an ideal biomarker for refined patient stratification and novel drug developments, particularly given its cost-effective assessment based on routinely available H&E slides.
A general strategy to develop fluorogenic polymethine dyes for bioimaging
Authors: Martin Annabell , Rivera-Fuentes Pablo
Published: November 2023

Fluorescence imaging is an invaluable tool to study biological processes and further progress depends on the development of advanced fluorogenic probes that reach intracellular targets and label them with high specificity. Excellent fluorogenic rhodamine dyes have been reported, but they often require long and low-yielding syntheses, and are spectrally limited to the visible range. Here we present a general strategy to transform polymethine compounds into fluorogenic dyes using an intramolecular ring-closure approach. We illustrate the generality of this method by creating both spontaneously blinking and no-wash, turn-on polymethine dyes with emissions across the visible and near-infrared spectrum. These probes are compatible with self-labelling proteins and small-molecule targeting ligands, and can be combined with rhodamine-based dyes for multicolour and fluorescence lifetime multiplexing imaging. This strategy provides access to bright, fluorogenic dyes that emit at wavelengths that are more red-shifted compared with those of existing rhodamine-based dyes.
Aligning climate scenarios to emissions inventories shifts global benchmarks
Authors: Gidden Matthew J. , Gasser Thomas , Grassi Giacomo , Forsell Nicklas , Janssens Iris , Lamb William F. , Minx Jan , Nicholls Zebedee , Steinhauser Jan , Riahi Keywan
Published: November 2023

Taking stock of global progress towards achieving the Paris Agreement requires consistently measuring aggregate national actions and pledges against modelled mitigation pathways1. However, national greenhouse gas inventories (NGHGIs) and scientific assessments of anthropogenic emissions follow different accounting conventions for land-based carbon fluxes resulting in a large difference in the present emission estimates2,3, a gap that will evolve over time. Using state-of-the-art methodologies4and a land carbon-cycle emulator5, we align the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-assessed mitigation pathways with the NGHGIs to make a comparison. We find that the key global mitigation benchmarks become harder to achieve when calculated using the NGHGI conventions, requiring both earlier net-zero CO2timing and lower cumulative emissions. Furthermore, weakening natural carbon removal processes such as carbon fertilization can mask anthropogenic land-based removal efforts, with the result that land-based carbon fluxes in NGHGIs may ultimately become sources of emissions by 2100. Our results are important for the Global Stocktake6, suggesting that nations will need to increase the collective ambition of their climate targets to remain consistent with the global temperature goals.
Structural insights into intron catalysis and dynamics during splicing
Authors: Xu Ling , Liu Tianshuo , Chung Kevin , Pyle Anna Marie
Published: November 2023

The group II intron ribonucleoprotein is an archetypal splicing system with numerous mechanistic parallels to the spliceosome, including excision of lariat introns1,2. Despite the importance of branching in RNA metabolism, structural understanding of this process has remained elusive. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of three single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy structures captured along the splicing pathway. They reveal the network of molecular interactions that specifies the branchpoint adenosine and positions key functional groups to catalyse lariat formation and coordinate exon ligation. The structures also reveal conformational rearrangements of the branch helix and the mechanism of splice site exchange that facilitate the transition from branching to ligation. These findings shed light on the evolution of splicing and highlight the conservation of structural components, catalytic mechanism and dynamical strategies retained through time in premessenger RNA splicing machines.
The Alien Flora of Australia (AFA), a unified Australian national dataset on plant invasion
Authors: Martín-Forés I. , Guerin G. R. , Lewis D. , Gallagher R. V. , Vilà M. , Catford J. A. , Pauchard A. , Sparrow B.
Published: November 2023

Biological invasions are a major threat to Australia. Information on alien flora in Australia is collated independently by different jurisdictions, which has led to inconsistencies at the national level, hampering efficient management. To harmonise different information sources, we present the Alien Flora of Australia (AFA), a nationally unified dataset. To create the AFA, we developed an R script that compares existing data sources (the Australian Plant Census and state and territory censuses), identifies mismatches among them and integrates the information into unified invasion statuses at the national scale. The AFA follows the taxonomy and nomenclature adopted for the Australian Plant Census, introduction status and impact of plants known to occur in Australia. The up-to-date information presented in this dataset can aid early warning of alien species invasions, facilitate decision-making at different levels, and biosecurity at national scale. The associated script is ready to be implemented into new versions of the AFA with updated releases of any of the data sources, streamlining future efforts to track of alien flora across Australia.
Inverse shielding and mutual exclusion for PET-MR hybrid imaging concerning induced positronium hyperfine splits radiations
Authors: Wang Kelin , Huq M. Saiful
Published: November 2023

Prevalent PET imaging reconstructs 2γ-photon pairs emitted after an annihilation from para-positronium (p-Ps) and rejects 3γ events from ortho-positronium (o-Ps) as noises. The 3γ/2γ decay ratio is ~ 3/7 in human body theoretically but in fact significantly lower due to pick-off process, hence PET imaging quality is well controlled. In a PET-MR hybrid unit, the MR magnetic field alters positronium decay patterns through magnetic quenching: all o-Ps and excited p-Ps states are split into finer quantum states under strong magnetic field, thus transitions between some triplet and singlet finer states (mz = 0) were no longer forbidden, thus some o-Ps converts to p-Ps spontaneously by emitting hyperfine split (HFS) photons, which also drops 3γ/2γ ratio hence helps PET imaging quality. However, inverse magnetic quenching might also occur if any external source of HFS frequencies is nearby, thus many p-Ps convert to o-Ps by absorbing those HFS photons (induced HFS transitions). This will dramatically increase 3γ/2γ ratio and hence degrade PET imaging quality instantaneously. The HFS spectrum lies in a broad range of microwaves, from 0.02 to 200 GHz. To prevent inverse magnetic quenching, it is necessary to block external microwave sources outside the hybrid vault, by adding a thin metal layer at all directions of the vault. This could be achieved by adopting the metallic Faraday Cage, which was originally for MR shielding, with possible amendment if necessary. The frequencies of excitation pulses in MR imaging overlap with HFS spectrum, however, the chance for mutual interference during hybrid imaging is small, hence there seems no need to veto each other during hybrid scans.
Deep reinforcement learning with significant multiplications inference
Authors: Ivanov Dmitry A. , Larionov Denis A. , Kiselev Mikhail V. , Dylov Dmitry V.
Published: November 2023

We propose a sparse computation method for optimizing the inference of neural networks in reinforcement learning (RL) tasks. Motivated by the processing abilities of the brain, this method combines simple neural network pruning with a delta-network algorithm to account for the input data correlations. The former mimics neuroplasticity by eliminating inefficient connections; the latter makes it possible to update neuron states only when their changes exceed a certain threshold. This combination significantly reduces the number of multiplications during the neural network inference for fast neuromorphic computing. We tested the approach in popular deep RL tasks, yielding up to a 100-fold reduction in the number of required multiplications without substantial performance loss (sometimes, the performance even improved).