bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adapting Direct-Current Current Transformers for contactless ion beam measurements of electric propulsion systems
Authors: Henrich Luca , Becker Daniel , Sach Max , Frey Jochen , Volkmar Chris
Published: February 2025

For electric propulsion (EP) systems, measurement of plume ion currents and densities is a core diagnostic tool. The state of the art, Faraday-Cups (FCs), terminate the beam, since the ions must impinge on a collector plate. Chief among the issues associated with this approach are the emission of secondary electrons, the unknown transmission function of the screening grid used, and backscattering, thus requiring calibration. Direct-Current Current Transformers (DCCT) provide, in principle, an absolute and contactless option for inductively measuring any direct current. For application in typical EP systems, the concept needs to be adapted for small currents

$$<{1}\ {\upmu }\text{A}$$

<
1

μ
A

compared to the established use case in particle accelerators (

$$\gg {1}\ {\upmu }\text{A}$$

≫
1

μ
A

). A modular prototype was developed and investigated for possible optimizations as well as error sources. The system was tested in the far field of the ion beam of a gridded ion source. However, the measurement does not align with the theoretically expected value. Susceptibility to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and non-periodic drifts in the measurement signal across various timescales were found to introduce noise. Wire-bound test currents down to

$$<{10}\ {\upmu }\text{A}$$

<
10

μ
A

could be reliably measured. The wire-bound tests show promise for DCCTs to complement FCs as a calibration device and alternative for use cases in which FCs show limitations, i.e. for extended, integral, near field, or combined diagnostics.
A drop in the bucket? The effectiveness of nudging healthier snacks in a supermarket in a deprived neighborhood in the Netherlands
Authors: van den Bekerom Loes , van Gestel Laurens C. , Bussemaker Jet , Adriaanse Marieke A.
Published: February 2025

Nudging is often proposed as a promising policy approach for improving healthy choices among lower socioeconomic position (SEP) populations. However, nudges may not suit lower SEP contexts and empirical studies are scarce. We examined the efficacy of a repositioning nudge at a supermarket in a deprived neighborhood in improving healthier snack purchases and described customers’ healthy grocery shopping needs. Daily sales were collected during 4-week control and intervention periods, where healthier snacks replaced unhealthy snacks at the checkout. Besides, questionnaires were administered. More healthier snacks were sold per day during the intervention (Median = 2.50, Q1 = 2.00, Q3 = 3.50) than control period (Median = 0, Q1 = 0, Q3 = 1.00), B = 1.77, z = 5.50, p < .001, incidence rate ratio = 5.87 (95%CI [3.52, 10.17]). Despite statistical significance, the absolute number of healthier snacks sold remains negligible. Customers report to find it important to eat healthily and to think carefully about their groceries, but to hardly buy snacks at the checkout and desire a healthy and affordable food offer. Repositioning nudges may not suit the circumstances and needs of lower SEP populations. Interventions must be tailored to lower SEP groups and integrated with system-level policies.
Smooth imploding solutions for 3D compressible fluids
Authors: Buckmaster Tristan , Cao-Labora Gonzalo , Gómez-Serrano Javier
Published: February 2025

Building upon the pioneering work of Merle, Raphaël, Rodnianski and Szeftel [67, 68, 69], we construct exact, smooth self-similar imploding solutions to the 3D isentropic compressible Euler equations for ideal gases for all adiabatic exponents

$\gamma>1$

. For the particular case

$\gamma =\frac 75$

(corresponding to a diatomic gas – for example, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen), akin to the result [68], we show the existence of a sequence of smooth, self-similar imploding solutions. In addition, we provide simplified proofs of linear stability [67] and nonlinear stability [69], which allow us to construct asymptotically self-similar imploding solutions to the compressible Navier-Stokes equations with density independent viscosity for the case

$\gamma =\frac 75$

. Moreover, unlike [69], the solutions constructed have density bounded away from zero and converge to a constant at infinity, representing the first example of singularity formation in such a setting.
Communications and “Communicators” in the Yuan and Early Ming
Authors: Rossabi Morris
Published: February 2025

Having conquered a vast multi-lingual domain, the Mongols needed to devise a means of communication with the population. In earlier Chinese dynasties, individuals had translated Buddhist texts, treaties, and commercial agreements, but the Mongols in China founded government agencies and recruited Chinese and non-Chinese interpreters and translators to provide these services. Attempting to unify his lands, Khubilai Khan, who founded the Yuan dynasty, commissioned ‘Phags-pa, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, to develop a written script that could be used for many languages. Despite repeated injunctions from the Yuan court, the script was used almost solely for such government issuances as paper money, seals, and paiza, objects which were markers of status or permission for a variety of activities or to ensure safe passage through the Mongol domains. Linguistic unity, via the ‘Phags-pa script or a lingua franca eluded the Mongols, although Persian and Turkic were employed for specific purposes. The succeeding Ming dynasty learned from the Mongols of the need for translators and interpreters and established colleges of translators and interpreters.
Waterbird foraging traces from the early Eocene Green River Formation, Utah
Authors: Zonneveld John-Paul , Naone Sarah , Britt Brooks
Published: February 2025

Foraging traces associated with the web-footed avian footprint ichnotaxon Presbyornithiformipes feduccii are described. Four new ichnospecies in three new ichnogenera are established to identify and describe the traces that resulted from foraging behaviors. All four ichnotaxa are, in places, overprinted by P. feduccii footprints and occur either laterally to, or sinuously woven between, P. feduccii trackways and therefore were clearly emplaced by the P. feduccii tracemaker.

Erevnoichnus blochi new ichnogenus new ichnospecies is established for a series of pits, joined by a marginal groove, that are associated with web-footed bird trackways. This ichnotaxon is interpreted to record regular probing/gaping as a waterbird swept its head from side to side searching for food. Erevnoichnus strimmena n. igen. new ichnospecies is established for en-echelon, gently arcuate grooves produced through forward probing by a waterbird searching for food. Ravdosichnus guntheri new ichnogenus new ichnospecies is established for simple grooves with u-shaped profiles produced when a waterbird dragged its bill backwards through the sediment. Aptosichnus diatarachi new ichnogenus new ichnospecies is established for a broad, shallow groove/trough characterized by sinuous margins and a complex, irregular fill. It is interpreted to record thorough bill stirring in an area with common prey.

All four ichnotaxa named herein are interpreted to record tactile feeding behavior by a marginal lacustrine waterbird searching for prey. Their association with Presbyornithiformipes feduccii suggests that the purported tracemaker, Presbyornis pervetus, did not forage solely through filter-feeding but was also capable of tactile foraging for larger prey.

UUID: www.zoobank.org/42c5d24b-6e9a-45da-9a48-78f8f040311c
Copelatus diving beetles (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) from early Miocene Mexican amber, with description of a new species displaying distinct sexual dimorphism
Authors: Hájek Jiří , Zippel Ana , Müller Patrick , Pankowski Maximilian G. , Hendrich Lars , Balke Michael
Published: February 2025

Two diving beetle species (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) from the extant genus Copelatus Erichson are documented from early Miocene Mexican amber. Copelatus chiapas new species is described based on a series of specimens of both sexes. Copelatus chiapas n. sp. is the third species of the subfamily Copelatinae described from amber and the first fossil diving beetle for which distinct sexual dimorphism is documented. The other species remains identified to genus level only, due to poor structural visibility. Key morphological characters of the species are illustrated.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/0127be7a-bcb5-41da-9363-283d5cd49738
Thomist Anthropology and the Problem of Causal Interface
Authors: Otte Marcus Shane
Published: February 2025

Aquinas’ anthropology is commonly believed to prevent the mind–body problem by treating the human being as one substance, and the soul as a formal cause. Thomists’ descriptions of Aquinas’ anthropology tend to understate or even omit its more dualistic elements, e.g., that the soul is an agent cause that moves the body, and that acts through the mediation of the ‘corporeal spirits’. More importantly, these descriptions overlook that Aquinas himself recognizes a problem of mental causality and even argues for some solutions to it. This paper aims to show that there is such a problem within Aquinas’ conceptual frame, and that contemporary Thomist anthropologies are also vulnerable to it.
Altitude estimation of radio frequency interference sources via interferometric near-field corrections
Authors: Ducharme Jade M. , Pober Jonathan C.
Published: February 2025

Radio-frequency interference (RFI) presents a significant obstacle to current radio interferometry experiments aimed at the Epoch of Reionization. RFI contamination is often several orders of magnitude brighter than the astrophysical signals of interest, necessitating highly precise identification and flagging. Although existing RFI flagging tools have achieved some success, the pervasive nature of this contamination leads to the rejection of excessive data volumes. In this work, we present a way to estimate an RFI emitter’s altitude using near-field corrections. Being able to obtain the precise location of such an emitter could shift the strategy from merely flagging to subtracting or peeling the RFI, allowing us to preserve a higher fraction of usable data. We conduct a preliminary study using a two-minute observation from the Murchison-Widefield Array (MWA) in which an unknown object briefly crosses the field of view, reflecting RFI signals into the array. By applying near-field corrections that bring the object into focus, we are able to estimate its approximate altitude and speed to be

$11.7$

km and 792 km/h, respectively. This allows us to confidently conclude that the object in question is in fact an airplane. We further validate our technique through the analysis of two additional RFI-containing MWA observations, where we are consistently able to identify airplanes as the source of the interference.
Constraining the link between the 2175Å dust absorption feature and PAHs in Nearby Star-Forming Galaxies using Swift/UVOT and JWST/MIRI
Authors: Battisti A. , Shivaei I. , Park H.-J. , Decleir M. , Calzetti D. , Mathew J. , Wisnioski E. , da Cunha E.
Published: February 2025

The 2175Å bump is a prominent absorption feature at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths in dust extinction and attenuation curves. Understanding the relative strength of this feature is important for making accurate dust corrections at both low- and high-redshift. This feature is postulated to arise from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) dust grains; however, the carrier has not been definitively established. We present results on the correlation between the 2175Å feature and PAH abundances in a spatially-resolved manner for 15 local galaxies in the PHANGS-JWST survey that have NUV and mid-IR imaging data from Swift/UVOT and JWST/MIRI, respectively. We find a moderate positive correlation between the 2175Å feature strength and PAH abundance (Spearman’s coefficient,

$0.3 \lesssim \rho \lesssim 0.5$

), albeit with large intrinsic scatter. However, most of this trend can be attributed to a stronger negative correlation of both quantities with SFR surface density and specific-SFR (proxies of ionising radiation;

$\rho\sim-0.6$

). The latter trends are consistent with previous findings that both the 2175Å carrier and PAHs are small grains that are easily destroyed by UV photons, although the proxy for PAH abundance (based on photometry) could also be influenced by dust heating. When controlling for SFR surface density, we find weaker correlations between the 2175Å feature and PAH abundances (

$\rho \lesssim 0.3$

), disfavouring a direct link. However, analyses based on spectroscopic (instead of photometric) measurements of the 2175Å feature and PAH features are required to verify our findings. No significant trends with gas-phase metallicity or galactocentric radii are found for the 2175Å feature and PAHs; however, the metallicity range of our sample is limited (

$8.40 \lt 12+\log[\mathrm{O/H}] \lt 8.65$

). We provide prescriptions for the strength of the 2175Å feature and PAHs in local massive (metal-rich) galaxies with SFR surface density and specific-SFR; however, the former should be used with caution due to the fact that bump strengths measured from Swift/UVOT are expected to be underestimated.
ON NEW MINIMAL EXCLUDANTS OF OVERPARTITIONS RELATED TO SOME q-SERIES OF RAMANUJAN
Authors: DHAR ARITRAM , MUKHOPADHYAY AVI , SARMA RISHABH
Published: February 2025

Inspired by work of Andrews and Newman [‘Partitions and the minimal excludant’, Ann. Comb.23 (2019), 249–254] on the minimal excludant or ‘mex’ of partitions, we define four new classes of minimal excludants for overpartitions and establish relations to certain functions due to Ramanujan.
EXISTENCE OF K-MULTIMAGIC SQUARES AND MAGIC SQUARES OF kth POWERS WITH DISTINCT ENTRIES
Authors: FLORES DANIEL
Published: February 2025

We demonstrate the existence of K-multimagic squares of order N consisting of

$N^2$

distinct integers whenever

$N> 2K(K+1)$

. This improves our earlier result [D. Flores, ‘A circle method approach to K-multimagic squares’, preprint (2024), arXiv:2406.08161] in which we only required

$N+1$

distinct integers. Additionally, we present a direct method by which our analysis of the magic square system may be used to show the existence of

$N \times N$

magic squares consisting of distinct kth powers when

$$ \begin{align*}N> \begin{cases} 2^{k+1} & \text{if}\ 2 \leqslant k \leqslant 4, \\ 2 \lceil k(\log k + 4.20032) \rceil & \text{if}\ k \geqslant 5, \end{cases}\end{align*} $$

improving on a recent result by Rome and Yamagishi [‘On the existence of magic squares of powers’, preprint (2024), arxiv:2406.09364].
ELEMENTARY PROOFS OF THE DIAMETER BOUNDS FOR POWER GRAPHS
Authors: BARBIERI MARCO , REKVÉNYI KAMILLA
Published: February 2025

We give a simplified version of the proofs that, outside of their isolated vertices, the complement of the enhanced power graph and of the power graph are connected and have diameter at most

$3$

.
ON MINIMAL ADDITIVE COMPLEMENTS
Authors: WANYAN GUO , TANG MIN
Published: February 2025

Let C and W be two integer sets. If

$C+W=\mathbb {Z}$

, then we say that C is an additive complement to W. If no proper subset of C is an additive complement to W, then we say that C is a minimal additive complement to W. We study the existence of a minimal additive complement to

$W=\{w_i\}_{i=1}^{\infty}$

when W is not eventually periodic and

$w_{i+1}-w_{i}\in \{2,3\}$

for all i.
A Crisis of Political Trust? Global Trends in Institutional Trust from 1958 to 2019
Authors: Valgarðsson Viktor , Jennings Will , Stoker Gerry , Bunting Hannah , Devine Daniel , McKay Lawrence , Klassen Andrew
Published: February 2025

In the study of politics, many theoretical accounts assume that we are experiencing a ‘crisis of democracy’, with declining levels of political trust. While some empirical studies support this account, others disagree and report ‘trendless fluctuations’. We argue that these empirical ambiguities are based on analytical confusion: whether trust is declining depends on the institution, country, and period in question. We clarify these issues and apply our framework to an empirical analysis that is unprecedented in geographic and temporal scope: we apply Bayesian dynamic latent trait models to uncover underlying trends in data on trust in six institutions collated from 3,377 surveys conducted by 50 projects in 143 countries between 1958 and 2019. We identify important differences between countries and regions, but globally we find that trust in representative institutions has generally been declining in recent decades, whereas trust in ‘implementing’ institutions has been stable or rising.
Application of Lagrangian techniques for calculating the on-axis rotational transform
Authors: Guinchard S. , Sengupta W. , Hudson S.R.
Published: February 2025

The Floquet exponents of periodic field lines are studied through the variations of the magnetic action on the magnetic axis, which is assumed to be elliptical. The near-axis formalism developed by Mercier, Solov'ev and Shafranov is combined with a Lagrangian approach. The on-axis Floquet exponent is shown to coincide with the on-axis rotational transform. A discrete solution suitable for numerical implementation is introduced, which gives the Floquet exponents as solutions to an eigenvalue problem. This discrete formalism expresses the exponents as the eigenvalues of a

$6\times 6$

matrix.
Disentangling the causal role of motivation, enjoyment, and anxiety in second language speech learning: A final report
Authors: Saito Kazuya , Dewaele Jean-Marc , In’nami Yo , Abe Mariko
Published: February 2025

While our earlier report focused on the initial four months of the dataset (Saito et al., 2018, Language Learning), this study investigates the relationship between individual differences in motivation (Ideal Self and Ought–to Self), emotions (Enjoyment and Anxiety), and L2 speech learning among 121 Japanese English–as–a–Foreign–Language high school students over 1.5–years. Participants’ L2 speech proficiency consistently improved at each testing point (6 months, 10 months, and 1.5 years), while their motivation and emotions, measured through questionnaires, remained relatively stable. The results of structural equation modeling suggest that the relationship between motivation, emotions, and acquisition may evolve. Within the first 6-10 months, data indicated a correlational relationship, highlighting a mutual influence among motivation, emotions, and acquisition. However, as the study progressed beyond one year, after students had fully adapted to their educational settings, a clearer causal relationship emerged: Enhanced motivation and more positive emotions were linked to increased classroom practice, leading to significant gains in L2 speech proficiency. The predictive roles of Anxiety remained unclear in this longitudinal dataset.
Nuer has a floating suprasegmental component consisting of quantity and tone
Authors: Reid Tatiana , Remijsen Bert
Published: February 2025

It is well-attested that floating tones can associate across a word boundary, but it is typologically unusual for floating weight units to do so. The Nuer language presents a floating suprasegmental component (FSC), which is part of lexical morphemes, and includes a unit of quantity and a High tone. This component is located at the left edge of nouns and is realised primarily across a word boundary on a preceding vowel. This article examines the FSC through a phonological analysis and a production study with eight speakers. These investigations reveal how the FSC interacts with the specifications for vowel length and tone of the adjacent context. Specifically, the weight unit of the FSC lengthens a preceding word-final short vowel, and its High tone combines in a compositional manner with tone of this preceding context. Comparisons with related languages suggest that the FSC developed out of a word-initial vowel /a/.
Complementary fine-scale habitat selection of the European nightjars (Caprimulgus europaeus) in nesting and foraging sites
Authors: Pradervand Jean-Nicolas , Wildi Julia , Guisan Antoine , Korner Pius , Evens Ruben , Jacot Alain
Published: February 2025

Land-use changes are considered one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Agricultural intensification, pastoral abandonment, and changes in forest management have led to the homogenisation of landscapes. In particular, the encroachment of grasslands and the densification of forests that are no longer pastured threaten species that require multiple habitats to nest and forage, such as the European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. Whereas previous studies have focused on understanding factors influencing the decrease of nightjars at regional or national scales, here, we aimed to assess fine-scaled habitat selection by nightjars within nesting and foraging sites based on high-resolution GPS tracking data. Vegetation structure and composition were quantified in the field. In the nesting habitat, nightjars prefer open forests with a low percentage of trees and where the ground is not covered by more than 40% of grass and crawling bushes (dwarf bushes such as Juniperus species). In contrast, when foraging, nightjars select open grasslands and biodiversity-friendly managed vineyards, both richly structured, i.e. interspersed or surrounded by other land-use types such as hedges or isolated trees. Both the nesting and foraging habitats are currently threatened, either by the abandonment of forest management, which makes stands denser and more homogeneous, or through agricultural intensification, which reduces land-use diversity. Clear habitat-specific management recommendations and political incentives are needed to simultaneously preserve and/or restore these critical habitats, which are important for nightjars that use complementary resources for nesting and foraging.
MORE ON THE ORIGIN OF FINANCIAL ECONOMICS: EARLY CONTRIBUTIONS TO JOINT LIFE ANNUITY VALUATION
Authors: Poitras Geoffrey
Published: February 2025

The origin of modern financial economics can be traced to early discounted expected value solutions for the price of life annuities. In contrast to the single life annuity valuations attributed to Jan de Witt and Edmond Halley, the computational complexity of joint life annuity valuation posed difficulties. Following a brief review of various joint life annuity specifications, a history of joint life annuity issuance and valuation in northern Europe from the thirteenth to the mid-eighteenth centuries is provided. With this background, the 1671 correspondence from de Witt to Jan Hudde on possible methods for valuing joint life annuities is detailed. These methods are contrasted with the geometric method described in Halley (1693), providing impetus for examination of the analytical approximations developed by Abraham de Moivre and Thomas Simpson.
What Does Politics & Gender Publish? Trends, Methods, and Topics in Gender and Politics Research
Authors: Barnett Carolyn , FitzGerald Michael , Krumbholz Katie , Lamba Manika
Published: February 2025

We draw on a comprehensive dataset of metadata about journal articles substantively related to gender and politics published in 37 political science journals through the end of 2023, including Politics & Gender, to characterize and compare trends over time and the most prominent topics addressed by these journals. We show that the volume of work published by Politics & Gender has increased over time, has become increasingly quantitative in nature, and tends to focus on questions related to women running for political office and the nature of women’s political representation. These patterns closely reflect broader tendencies in the gender and politics research published by general-interest political science journals. Other journals dedicated to research on gender and politics tend to publish more qualitative research on topics including care work, the diffusion of equality norms, and conflict.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression after traumatic brain injury: responders’ characteristics
Authors: Maxwell Hillary , Dubois Sacha , Mazmanian Dwight , Ozen Lana , Gibbons Carrie , Bédard Michel
Published: February 2025

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can alter day-to-day life. While changes in cognition and physical function are most often cited, emotional disturbances, notably depression, are also common. For individuals who experience depression symptoms, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) may afford the opportunity to address these symptoms by teaching skills to mitigate negative thought patterns and foster acceptance. Yet, as with any treatment for depression, MBCT may not be the best fit for everyone. According to the literature, characteristics such as age, gender, and baseline mindfulness or pain levels have the potential to affect treatment response. While these factors have yet to be explored within a TBI sample, we must additionally consider whether possible cognitive impairment due to TBI plays a role in treatment response. Drawing from an earlier multi-site randomized controlled trial to explore the efficacy of MBCT for depression in a TBI sample, the current study examined the associations between a number of baseline factors (demographic, emotional, physical, and cognitive) and decreased depression scores post-intervention. Partial correlations adjusted for gender. Findings indicated that only higher levels of pain at baseline were associated with lesser effectiveness of the intervention. MBCT offers a good treatment option for most individuals experiencing depression following TBI.

Key learning aims

(1)

To explore factors associated with treatment response to MBCT for depression after TBI.

(2)

To understand how cognitive impairment resulting from TBI need not preclude treatment response.

(3)

To reflect on the role of pain in treatment response.
Evaluating the effectiveness of tfCBT and EMDR interventions for PTSD in an NHS Talking Therapies service
Authors: Belli Stefano R. , Howell Mark , Grey Nick , Tiraboschi Silvia , Sim Alexander
Published: February 2025

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye-movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) are NICE-recommended evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, there is less specification of which individuals might find CBT versus EMDR more effective, or whether other factors influence treatment outcomes. This study describes a service evaluation of trauma-focused CBT (CT-PTSD) and EMDR treatment outcomes for PTSD in a London out-patient NHS Talking Therapies (NHS TT) service over 11 years (N=1580). The evaluation was conducted in an adult sample (mean age 37 years), of which 65% were women. The mean number of treatment episodes for PTSD in the service in the sample was 2.39 (SD=1.86), and the mean number of therapy sessions attended was 6.15 (SD=6.43). When using NHS TT recovery criteria, there was no significant difference between PTSD recovery rates in the service for those who received CT-PTSD (40.8%) versus EMDR (43.6%). CT-PTSD was associated with greater reductions in anxious and depressive (but not PTSD-specific) symptoms than EMDR, but this was confounded by the fact that individuals receiving CT-PTSD in the service had higher anxiety and depression scores at start-of-treatment. Older age and non-female gender were associated with higher anxiety and depression scores. PTSD recovery rates were comparable to other NHS TT services. There is no clear indication that either CBT or EMDR is a more effective treatment for PTSD symptoms in the service, although preliminary findings could inform treatment planning regarding differential effects of the treatments on anxious and depressive symptoms. Other clinical implications are discussed.

Key learning aims

(1)

To gain a better understanding of the relative effectiveness of trauma-focused CBT and EMDR for PTSD, as provided in a working NHS TT service.

(2)

To allow better-informed clinical and treatment pathway planning for individuals with trauma problems in a talking therapies service.

(3)

To contribute to the wider research literature on effective interventions for trauma within cognitive therapy and NHS frameworks.
A Method for Calculating Attenuation in Creeping Materials
Authors: Maor Ron , Badt Nir Z. , Ulloa Hugo N. , Goldsby David L.
Published: February 2025

The phase lag between an applied forcing and a response to that forcing is a fundamental parameter in geophysical signal processing. For solid deforming materials, the phase lag between an oscillatory applied stress and the resulting strain response encapsulates information about the dynamical behavior of materials. The phase lag is not directly measured and must be extracted through multiple steps by carefully comparing two time‐series signals. The extracted value of the phase lag is highly sensitive to the nature of the signals and the analysis method. Here, we propose a method for extracting the phase lag between two signals when either one or both include an underlying nonlinear trend, which is very common when measuring attenuation in creeping materials. We demonstrate the robustness of the method by analyzing artificial signals and quantifying their absolute and relative errors. We apply the method to two experimental datasets and compare our results with previous studies.
Accounting for Compound Flooding Can Prevent Maladaptation—A Baltic Sea Case Study
Authors: Kupfer Sunna , Vafeidis Athanasios T. , MacPherson Leigh R.
Published: February 2025

Estuarine areas are currently at risk of compound flooding, the frequency and intensity of which is expected to increase with climate change. Even though efforts are made to adapt against single flood drivers using hard protection, potential subsequent changes in flood risk due to compound flooding are often overlooked in flood risk assessments. This is because risk assessments mostly focus on individual flood drivers and do not account for changes in risk from adaptation measures. We address this question and use hydrodynamic modeling to simulate compound flooding for two adaptation scenarios. We consider adaptation in terms of storm surge barriers, in two locations along the Trave estuary, namely Schlutup and Trave, at Lübeck, Germany. We assess the effectiveness of both storm surge barriers in reducing flooding by simulating individual‐driver, as well as low‐ and high‐magnitude compound flood scenarios. We find that while during low‐magnitude compound flooding both barriers reduce the overall flood extent by 25%–86%, high‐magnitude compound flooding leads to an increase of up to 100%, depending on the location of the barrier. Our results suggest that the river contribution is amplified by 52%–100% by the Schlutup Barrier. The Trave Barrier, however, only amplifies flood extents in the high‐magnitude compound flood scenarios. Our findings highlight the need to consider compound flooding in adaptation planning to avoid defense failure and unexpected increases in risk. However, as this study considers only two (low probability) extreme events, a more comprehensive approach is necessary to fully understand the overall impact on risk.
Anomalous Sediment Consolidation and Alteration From Buried Incoming Plate Seamounts Along the Cascadia Margin
Authors: Lee Michelle K. , Carbotte Suzanne M. , Han Shuoshuo , Shuck Brandon , Gurun Pinar , Boston Brian , Nedimovic Mladen , Tobin Harold , Norvell Ben , Spinelli Glenn
Published: February 2025

Oceanic plate seamounts are believed to play an important role in megathrust rupture at subduction zones, although consistent relationships between subducting seamounts and plate interface seismicity patterns are not found. While most studies focus on impacts linked to their topography, seamounts are also sites of heterogeneity in incoming plate sediments that may contribute to megathrust properties. Here, we characterize incoming plate sediments along the Cascadia subduction zone using new high‐resolution seismic images and compressional wave (Vp) models from the CASIE21 multi‐channel‐seismic experiment. Nine fully‐to‐partially buried seamounts are identified seaward of the deformation front within a region of thick Plio‐Pleistocene sediment where the Juan de Fuca plate is bending into the subduction zone. Anomalously high Vp sediment blankets two seamounts offshore Washington‐Central Oregon, with wavespeeds reaching 36% and 20% higher than adjacent sediment. Fluid seepage and temperatures warm enough for smectite diagenesis extending to shallow depths are inferred from heat flow studies and we attribute Vp anomalies to sediment cementation linked primarily to smectite dehydration. Signatures of fluid seepage above seamounts are also identified offshore Vancouver Island, but anomalously low Vp sediment below distinct reverse polarity reflections are found, indicating trapped fluids, and cooler basement temperatures are inferred. Landward of one seamount, a zone of enhanced sediment compaction is found, consistent with the predicted stress modulating effects of seamount subduction. These new findings of variations in sediment diagenesis and strength around seamounts prior to subduction may contribute to the diverse megathrust frictional properties and seismicity patterns evident at subducting seamounts.
Transgenerational inheritance of diabetes susceptibility in male offspring with maternal androgen exposure
Authors: Zhang Yuqing , Hu Shourui , Han Shan , Liu Congcong , Liang Xiaofan , Li Yuxuan , Lin Zongxuan , Qin Yiming , Geng Chunxuan , Liu Yue , Cui Linlin , Hu Jingmei , Zhang Changming , Wang Zhao , Liu Xin , Ma Jinlong , Chen Zi-Jiang , Zhao Han
Published: February 2025

Androgen exposure (AE) poses a profound health threat to women, yet its transgenerational impacts on male descendants remain unclear. Here, employing a large-scale mother-child cohort, we show that maternal hyperandrogenism predisposes sons to β-cell dysfunction. Male offspring mice with prenatal AE exhibited hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance across three generations, which were further exacerbated by aging and a high-fat diet. Mechanistically, compromised insulin secretion underlies this transgenerational susceptibility to diabetes. Integrated analyses of methylome and transcriptome revealed differential DNA methylation of β-cell functional genes in AE-F1 sperm, which was transmitted to AE-F2 islets and further retained in AE-F2 sperm, leading to reduced expression of genes related to insulin secretion, including Pdx1, Irs1, Ptprn2, and Cacna1c. The methylation signatures in AE-F1 sperm were corroborated in diabetic humans and the blood of sons with maternal hyperandrogenism. Moreover, caloric restriction and metformin treatments normalized hyperglycemia in AE-F1 males and blocked their inheritance to offspring by restoring the aberrant sperm DNA methylations. Our findings highlight the transgenerational inheritance of impaired glucose homeostasis in male offspring from maternal AE via DNA methylation changes, providing methylation biomarkers and therapeutic strategies to safeguard future generations’ metabolic health.
Unveiling charge utilization mechanisms in ferroelectric for water splitting
Authors: Zhang Jie , Liu Yong , Dittrich Thomas , Wang Zhuan , Ji Pengxiang , Li Mingrun , Ta Na , Zhang Hongyan , Zhen Chao , Xu Yanjun , Li Dongfeng , Feng Zhendong , Li Zheng , Luo Yaling , Cui Junhao , Su Dong , Weng Yuxiang , Liu Gang , Wang Xiuli , Fan Fengtao , Li Can
Published: February 2025

Charge separation is a critical process for achieving high photocatalytic efficiency, and ferroelectrics hold significant potential for facilitating effective charge separation. However, few studies have demonstrated substantial photocatalytic activity in these materials. In this study, we demonstrate that in ferroelectric PbTiO3, surface Ti vacancy defects near the positively polarized facets impede photocatalytic performance by trapping electrons and inducing their recombination. To tackle this issue, we selectively grew SrTiO3 nanolayers on the polarized facets PbTiO3, effectively mitigating interface Ti defects. This modification establishes a efficient electron transfer pathway at the interface between the positively polarized facets and the cocatalyst, extending the electron lifetime from 50 microseconds to the millisecond scale and significantly increasing electron participation in water-splitting reactions. Consequently, the apparent quantum yield for overall water splitting achieves the highest values reported to date for ferroelectric photocatalytic materials. This work provides an effective strategy for designing advanced ferroelectric photocatalytic systems.
Sensori- and psychomotor abnormalities, psychopathological symptoms and functionality in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: a network analytic approach
Authors: Fritze Stefan , Brandt Geva A. , Volkmer Sebastian , Daub Jonas , Altinok Dilsa Cemre Akkoc , Kubera Katharina M. , Correll Christoph U. , Northoff Georg , Meyer-Lindenberg Andreas , Hirjak Dusan
Published: February 2025

Sensori- and psychomotor abnormalities are an inherent part of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) pathophysiology and linked to psychopathological symptoms as well as cognitive and global functioning. However, how these different symptom clusters simultaneously interact with each other is still unclear. Here, we examined 192 SSD patients (37.75 ± 12.15 years, 73 females). First, we investigated the cross-sectional prevalence and overlap of individual sensori- and psychomotor abnormalities. Second, we applied network analysis methods to simultaneously model the associations between Neurological Soft Signs (NSS), level of akathisia, parkinsonism symptoms, tardive dyskinesia (TD) and catatonia signs as well as cognition, psychopathology, global functioning and daily antipsychotic dose. The largest centralities were exhibited by NSS (0.90), catatonia signs (0.82) and global functioning (0.79). NSS showed strong partial correlations with cognition and parkinsonism symptoms (edge weight, ew = 0.409 and ew = 0.318, respectively). Catatonia signs showed strong connections with global functioning (ew = 0.333). In contrast, TD, akathisia and daily antipsychotic dose were weakly connected with other variables (e.g., largest ew=0.176 between TD and akathisia). In conclusion, NSS and cognition, parkinsonism symptoms and NSS as well as catatonia signs and global functioning seem to be preferentially connected in SSD. The daily medication had little influence on sensori- and psychomotor abnormalities, indicating that they are features of core SSD pathophysiology. Future studies should incorporate these relationships to enhance the understanding of SSD.
Identifying vaccine-hesitant subgroups in the Western Pacific using latent class analysis
Authors: Choi Yongjin , Leung Kathy , Wu Joseph T. , Larson Heidi J. , Lin Leesa
Published: February 2025

Vaccine hesitancy seriously compromised the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out across the Western Pacific with limited evidence-based recommendations for diverse populations across the region. This study investigates the profile of the vaccine-hesitant populations by using fixed-effect latent class analysis and multi-country survey data collected in 12 countries in 2021 and 2022: Cambodia, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Mongolia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. The analysis identified 9 latent classes: Stay-at-home mothers, High-school-educated employees, High-school-educated older adults, High-school-educated young adults, University-educated employees, University-educated older adults, University-educated young adults, Unemployed, Non-compliant employees. The probabilities of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and booster uptake were significantly lower in most of these latent classes, compared to University-educated older adults, as the reference group. While each country had unique compositions of latent classes among vaccine-hesitant people, there were also some shared risk groups, such as High-school-educated employees and High-school-educated young adults, across the countries. The study findings demonstrate the benefits of subgroup analysis in unpacking the complex interplay of characteristics within vaccine-hesitant populations, highlighting the need for customised strategies tailored to each country’s unique profile of vaccine hesitancy.
Cortical activity during painful and non-painful stimulation over four lower limb body sites: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: Liao Jiawen , Silvoni Stefano , Desch Simon , Serian Angela , Andoh Jamila , Flor Herta
Published: February 2025

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) holds potential utility as a measure of neural correlates of pain. However, most studies have focused on upper limb stimulation, with limited investigation into lower limbs. In this study, we utilized fNIRS to observe brain changes in oxyhemoglobin levels during painful and non-painful electrical stimulation of various lower limb sites (bilateral groins and knees) in 16 healthy participants. Additionally, we explored perceptual responses to painful and non-painful electrical stimulation across these lower limb sites. Our findings showed no significant main effect of stimulation across different body sites on oxyhemoglobin activity. However, the interaction between body sites, stimulation modalities, and brain regions significantly influenced oxyhemoglobin activity. Specifically, we found a decrease of neuro-metabolic activity in prefrontal and bilateral primary somatosensory cortices during painful stimulation of the left groin compared to non-painful stimulation, whereas an increase of neuro-metabolic activity was observed during painful stimulation of the right knee. Our findings also revealed that stimulation intensity was notably lower for bilateral knees compared to the left groin. These findings underscore the potential and feasibility of utilizing fNIRS to investigate pain mechanisms related to stimulation across distinct lower limb regions.
Binary phase-only gallium oxide diffractive optical element for beam shaping
Authors: Jia Wei , Blair Steve , Sensale-Rodriguez Berardi
Published: February 2025

This study presents an experimentally validated demonstration of an inverse-optimized binary phase-only gallium oxide diffractive optical element (DOE). This DOE transforms an incident Gaussian beam into a square flat-top beam at the working plane. The design methodology for this binary phase-only DOE beam shaper is founded on an efficient process that integrates the modified Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm and the adjoint method. Experimental characterization of the fabricated device on a single crystal
$$\:\left(\stackrel{-}{2}01\right)\:$$
gallium oxide substrate is conducted at a wavelength of 532 nm, confirming its ability to transform an incident Gaussian beam into a focused square flat-top beam. Such a device holds significant promise for various high-power laser applications, notably in laser welding and similar domains. Furthermore, because of the ultrawide bandgap of gallium oxide, DOEs operating at shorter wavelengths in the UV are also possible based on this technique.
AI can outperform humans in predicting correlations between personality items
Authors: Schoenegger Philipp , Greenberg Spencer , Grishin Alexander , Lewis Joshua , Caviola Lucius
Published: February 2025

We assess the abilities of both specialized deep neural networks, such as PersonalityMap, and general LLMs, including GPT-4o and Claude 3 Opus, in understanding human personality by predicting correlations between personality questionnaire items. All AI models outperform the vast majority of laypeople and academic experts. However, we can improve the accuracy of individual correlation predictions by taking the median prediction per group to produce a “wisdom of the crowds” estimate. Thus, we also compare the median predictions from laypeople, academic experts, GPT-4o/Claude 3 Opus, and PersonalityMap. Based on medians, PersonalityMap and academic experts surpass both LLMs and laypeople on most measures. These results suggest that while advanced LLMs make superior predictions compared to most individual humans, specialized models like PersonalityMap can match even expert group-level performance in domain-specific tasks. This underscores the capabilities of large language models while emphasizing the continued relevance of specialized systems as well as human experts for personality research.
20 years of research on giant viruses
Authors: Bosmon Tressy , Abergel Chantal , Claverie Jean-Michel
Published: February 2025

Some twenty years ago, the discovery of the first giant virus, Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (now mimivirus bradfordmassiliense species), paved the way for the discovery of more than 10 new families of protist-infecting DNA viruses with unexpected diversity in virion shape and size, gene content, genome topology and mode of replication. Following their brief description, we examine how the historical concepts of virology have held up in the light of this new knowledge. Although the initial emphasis was on the gigantism of the newly described viruses infecting amoebae, the subsequent discovery of viruses with intermediate virion and genome sizes gradually re-established a continuum between the smallest and largest viruses within the phylum Nucleocytoviricota.
Impact of ionizable groups in star polymer nanoparticles on NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Authors: Malhotra Mehak , Thodur Sarmishta , Kulkarni Ashish
Published: February 2025

Impact of star polymer nanocarrier design on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Differences in cytokine release in macrophages by varying ionizable groups with a constant hydrophobic moiety, offering strategies for safer, immunomodulatory biomaterials.
Unveiling a novel RNA G-triplex structure: its function and potential in CRISPR-based diagnostics
Authors: Li Tao , Li Runchen , Li Zheyu , Li Zhihao , Wang Mengjun , He Xiaoling , Zhang Guojun , Zhang Yuanqing , Yang Yunhuang , Li Ying
Published: February 2025

The truncated TERRA sequence [UUAGGG]3 forms a stable parallel RNA G-triplex structure and can be used as a novel biosensing element.
Acceptorless oxidant-free dehydrogenation of amines catalyzed by Ru–hydride complexes of amide-acid/ester ligands
Authors: Yadav Samanta , Gupta Rajeev
Published: February 2025

Ru–Hydride complexes of amide-based ligands containing appended ester/acid groups catalyze acceptorless, oxidant-free, and base-free dehydrogenation of amines.
High-efficiency moisture energy harvesting at −30 °C via hybrid solute engineering
Authors: Li Lin , Dong Fagui , Miao Pengpeng , He Nan , Wang Bingsen , Sun Xisheng , Miao Jie , Wang Haonan , Tang Dawei
Published: February 2025

The hybrid solute strategy improves antifreeze properties and electrical output, overcoming freezing-induced ion migration blockage, and ensures reliable energy harvesting in subzero environments.
Sea cucumber polysaccharides overcome immunotherapy resistance in tumor-bearing mice via modulation of the gut microbiome
Authors: Li Jiahui , Jia Jinhui , Teng Yue , Wang Xiaojuan , Xia Xiaojun , Song Shuang , Zhu Beiwei , Xia Xiaodong
Published: February 2025

Sea cucumber polysaccharides sensitize mice with CT-26 tumors to anti-PD1 therapy by modulating tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and reshaping gut microbiota.
Research progress on the epitaxial growth of hexagonal boron nitride on different substrates by CVD method
Authors: Li Zikang , Wang Zanbo , Bai Xiaoqi , Zhang Quan , Peng Lingxiang , Yao Zhiqiang
Published: February 2025

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has a hexagonal structure similar to graphene, comprising alternating boron and nitrogen atoms. This unique structure imbues h-BN with a plethora of excellent properties, including a...
Membrane-based Adsorbent Materials for Uranium Extraction from Seawater: Recent Progress and Future Prospects
Authors: Liu Zhong , Tan Huanhuan , Shao Yuling , Nie Guoliang , Hou Zewei , Yang Peipei , Li Songwei , Liu Chuntai
Published: February 2025

The global energy shortage problem is becoming more and more serious, and it is urgent to solve the energy shortage. Nuclear energy is considered to be a green, efficient and...