bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical study on the flexural performance of HVFA-SCC beam with compression reinforcement
Authors: Christ Martin Rinaldi G. , Alfisa Saifullah Halwan , Adi Kristiawan Stefanus , Seha Purnomo Ak , Bayu Saputra Angga , Aji Bramantyo Anggit , Waskitho Bimo , Hilmy Abadi Farhan , Aldo Widhi Pangestu Fidelis , Putri Wulanningsih Monica
Published: January 2025

The increasing demand for concrete as the primary construction material has led to greater cement production and associated CO2 emissions. High Volume Fly Ash-Self Compacting Concrete (HVFA-SCC) was developed to address this issue. The present study aims to investigate the flexural performance of HVFA-SCC beams reinforced with compression reinforcement. This study involved laboratory testing of an HVFA-SCC beam under flexural static loading. The beam had dimensions of 300 mm width, 125 mm height, and 3200 mm length. The beam was designed to experience a flexural failure mode. Longitudinal reinforcement was placed at the bottom and top portions of the beam to resist the tensile and compressive stresses induced by the applied load. During the loading test, displacement, load, and strain in the reinforcing steel were recorded. The detailed behavior of the beam was explored through numerical modeling and analysis using the finite element software ATENA. Parametric studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of concrete compressive strength and tensile reinforcement ratio.
Implementation of the certificate of occupancy for sustainable building
Authors: Wiharti Wiwik , As’ad Sholihin , Sri Handayani Fajar
Published: January 2025

A sustainable building becomes one of the biggest challenges in infrastructure. Several procedures exist to guarantee sustainable building management, including constant maintenance actions. In Indonesia, it is regulated in the Ministerial Regulation of Public Works and Public Housing Number 27 of 2018 that a building is deemed functional if it meets the administrative and technical requirements according to the planned function of the building. Buildings are expected to offer certain levels of reliability, including safety, health, comfort, and convenience. Building components must be in good condition, comply with standards, and perform the expected service life of a building to be considered reliable. This is done by maintaining the building components properly and thoroughly. This study employed a descriptive quantitative research method. The research object of this study was the X Building. This study aimed to describe the relationship between the implementation of the certificate of occupancy (SLF) as a strategy for sustainable building. The analysis results showed the building reliability score of 77.14%. With the implementation of maintenance and fulfilment of building components, the reliability score increased to 95.00%. This indicated that maintaining the components of the building could optimally enhance their function and was an effort to implement sustainable building.
Community participation in 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) of household plastic waste in Balikpapan
Authors: Prasaningtyas Asri , Dwi Wahyu Setyo Rini Intan , Basransyah  , Ma’arij Harfadli Muhammad , Cholillah Rachmannia Nur
Published: January 2025

The 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) effort is focused on reducing plastic waste generated from household activities. Community participation is very necessary in realizing efforts to reduce plastic waste. This research aims to analyse community participation regarding efforts to reduce 3R plastic waste (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) based on the amount of generation and composition of household plastic waste in Balikpapan City. The data used in this research are primary and secondary data. Measurement of waste generation and composition data refers to SNI 19-3964-1994. Participation data collection was carried out by distributing and filling out questionnaires offline to the public with a total of 100 families of respondents obtained from the Slovin method calculation in determining the sample size. The results of this research showed that the average generation of household plastic waste from 100 families in Balikpapan City was 9.55 Kg/day with the highest composition of plastic waste dominated by PET at 3.14 Kg/day. Community participation in Reduce efforts was 68% in the “good” category, Reuse was 58% in the “good enough” category and Recycle was 29% in “not good” category.
The influence of openings on thermal comfort in the residential units of Sub-Communal RISHA, Mojo Surakarta
Authors: Dianingrum Anita , Mahendra Sulistiyo Raka , Anjar Sari Pratiwi , Rahmanisa Salwa
Published: January 2025

Temporary Housing Sub-Communal RISHA (Healthy Simple Instant House) is a temporary housing facility located in Surakarta, one of the housing development solutions for slum settlements. Sub-Communal RISHA was built to provide housing for residents affected by the development of the Bengawan Solo Riverbanks. This study was conducted to identify the effect of openings on the thermal comfort of the space in residential units and provide a recommendation to improve thermal comfort as an adaptation to environmental conditions affected by global warming. With a relatively small residential unit area, thermal comfort is essential so that residents remain comfortable in their activities and the house becomes healthier. The method combines observation, field measurements, and simulations using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) software. The study results stated that thermal comfort in residential units in Sub-Communal RISHA is in the uncomfortable category. This condition can lead to health issues and reduced productivity, where openings affect the flow of wind entering the room by placing the inlet and outlet, not facing each other, at different elevations, and the outlet area is larger than the inlet.
Navigating the nexus: Macroeconomic drivers and ESG variables in ASEAN Countries
Authors: Mego Sundoro Fredericho , Puspita Rahayu Rahma , Yoencha Thine Elma , Amalia Nur Aini Fita , Indah Sulistyowati Maya
Published: January 2025

In this increasingly complex modern era, sustainability and social responsibility have become crucial elements in assessing the success of a country. The social and environmental roles also define the country’s representation, thus the existence of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concept becomes important. This research is conducted to investigate the effect of ESG variables towards economic growth among ASEAN countries from 2002-2020. The macroeconomic variables include Inflation, FDI, and GDP growth; CO2 Emissions as the environment indicator; Human Development Index (HDI) and Labor Force Participation Rate as the social indicators; and government indicator explained by Government Effectiveness Index. This paper considers the regional clusterization of 10 countries in ASEAN to recognize the pattern of those macroeconomic variables along with ESG variables. In order to achieve our aims, this research applies Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The VECM is particularly suitable for this study due to its ability to handle non-stationary time series data while allowing for the exploration of both short-term and long-term dynamics between the variables. By including macroeconomic indicators, we can better isolate the specific effects of ESG variables on growth. The results from the VECM will be interpreted to understand both the immediate and gradual impacts of ESG initiatives on economic development in ASEAN countries. The analysis begins with unit root tests to confirm the stationarity of the data, followed by cointegration tests to establish long-term relationships among the variables. Finally, the VECM will be estimated to quantify the impact of ESG factors on economic growth with controlling for macroeconomic variables. Model quantitative research with secondary data from 2002-2020. The empirical results indicate that in the long term, CO2 emissions positively affect GDP, while FDI, the Government Effectiveness Index, Inflation, and Labor Force Participation Rate have negative effects, though HDI’s positive effect on GDP is statistically insignificant. In the short term, significant influences on GDP include its values from the previous two periods and HDI from one period ago.
Assesment of road condition and roads maintenance to reduce potential environmental damage
Authors: Faqih Seknun Hafifah , Setyawan Ary , Pungky Pramesti Florentina
Published: January 2025

Road Maintenance needs to consider environmental issues, which is an important step to ensure that road maintenance not only improves transportation quality but also protects the environment. Road conditions play a crucial role in reducing potential environmental damage, as quality and well-maintained roads can reduce negative environmental impacts, such as vehicle emissions, air pollution, and minimize damage to surrounding ecosystems. Conversely, damaged roads can cause vehicles to emit more vehicle emissions, and disrupt ecosystems. Therefore, timely road condition assessment and road maintenance are important steps to ensure that roads remain safe and efficient for users while protecting the environment from negative impacts Jalan Raya Timur Kendal road is a national road in Kendal city, The results showed that the condition of Jalan Raya Timur Kendal road experienced significant damage is There are 12 types along the flexible pavement on Jalan Raya Timur Kendal with the area of each damage with The largest damage is Patching & Util. Cut Patching damage with a damage area of 182,466 m2 for CO
2 emissions generated by vehicles travelling on the Jalan Raya Timur Kendal are 11.942,68 kg/year, it can be concluded that the condition of the road surface affects the emissions released by the vehicle, where the more damage to the pavement, the vehicle speed will decrease so that the vehicle will produce more CO emissions, and the technical treatments that can be applied to the pavement are P4 (Crack Filling), P5 (Patching) and P6 (Leveling).
Valuation of tourist contributions to carbon reduction for blue economy tourism in Nusa Penida, Indonesia
Authors: Wayan Koko Suryawan I , Rahman Ari , Suhardono Sapta
Published: January 2025

This study explores the economic valuation of tourist support for carbon reduction initiatives within the context of blue economy tourism in Nusa Penida, Indonesia. Employing a contingent valuation method (CVM), the research quantifies tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP) for initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices in a marine-focused tourism setting. A sample of 1,152 tourists was surveyed to assess their financial commitment based on demographic variables such as income, gender, and environmental awareness. The analysis reveals that tourists with higher incomes and strong environmental inclinations exhibit a greater propensity to financially support carbon reduction projects. This willingness is influenced significantly by an understanding of the benefits these initiatives have for marine conservation and the overall health of the local ecosystem. The study’s findings offer crucial insights for stakeholders in the tourism and environmental sectors, indicating that effective communication of the positive impacts of carbon reduction on marine environments can enhance visitor contributions. These contributions could crucially support the implementation of blue economy principles, promoting economic and environmental sustainability in Nusa Penida.
The role of hydropower on energy market: a comparative study in four EU countries
Authors: Čerpinska Marina , Nurković Rahman , Filannino Domenico , Kuriqi Alban , Finger David C. , Kasiulis Egidijus , Doujak Eduard
Published: January 2025

The development of energy prices over time has depended on several factors. Difficulties and disruptions in local and global energy markets caused by climate change, pandemics and wars have accelerated the transition to clean energy. The overview of electricity generation in four countries (e.g. Lithuania, Italy, Iceland and Austria) is examined. The energy policy outlined in the REPowerEU program focuses on saving energy, producing clean energy and diversifying the energy supply at EU level and in the member states. However, more electricity production from non-dispatchable renewable energy sources has introduced a phenomenon of negative electricity prices, highlighting importance of energy storage. This paper focuses on the contribution that hydropower can bring to the energy market. Two contributions of hydropower assets are crucial in the European energy market for the regulation of the power grid. The flexibility and storage capabilities of reservoir and pumped storage power plants are unmatched by any other technology. These contributions of the hydropower sector to the energy market and the new challenges in the operation of hydropower plants are discussed involving critical analysis of four countries.
On the potential role of flexible Norwegian hydropower in managing challenging renewable energy variability events in Europe
Authors: Arvesen Anders , Hansen Ole Martin , Harby Atle , Härtel Philipp , Korpås Magnus , Mo Birger , Naversen Christian Øyn , Schmitz Richard
Published: January 2025

Previous research has identified flexible Norwegian hydropower as one potential key resource for managing variations in wind and solar power in Northern Europe. There is, however, a need for further detailed examination of this potential role of Norwegian hydropower based on updated future scenarios and using the latest data and model tools available. We analyze potential power system impacts of expanding Norwegian hydropower flexibility and Norway-Europe transmission, considering renewable energy variability based on a simulation for the historical weather years 1991-2020. The simulations are performed using FanSi, a stochastic optimization model for analyzing large-scale power systems with significant shares of hydropower combined with high shares of wind/solar power. A year 2050 scenario for Europe from the integrated energy system model SCOPE SD is used as framework for our analysis with FanSi. Our results highlight how expanded hydropower and transmission can potentially reduce price spikes during periods of low wind/solar output, reduce wind/solar energy curtailment during periods of high wind/solar output; and reduce price differences between interconnected areas during periods of either low or high wind/solar output. We demonstrate that these effects are attributable to more dynamic operation and expanded operational ranges of hydropower and transmission in the simulations assuming expanded hydropower and transmission capacities. We acknowledge high fundamental uncertainty in modelling a future system for the year 2050.
Introduction
Authors: Phillips Ben
Published: January 2025

This chapter establishes motivation for the book, and the book’s scope. It sets out the structure of the book and how the book is best approached by the reader. The Introduction also steps through several case studies of invasive populations and uses these to explain invasion speed and show how invasion speed varies.
Why do populations invade new areas?
Authors: Phillips Ben
Published: January 2025

This chapter sets out the basic ecological theory for why invasions happen. It sets out the historical development of this theory, and explains how this theory predicts invasions that spread at a constant rate. The chapter then goes on to examine the common case of invasions that accelerate, and how ecological theory can be extended to capture this possibility.
Stochastic evolutionary processes on invasion fronts
Authors: Phillips Ben
Published: January 2025

This chapter shows that in addition to ecological stochasticity, invasion fronts can experience substantial evolutionary stochasticity also. The chapter explains these sources of stochasticity and examines the outcomes that can emerge from this stochasticity. These outcomes include clines in genetic diversity, mutation surfing, and expansion load leading to slowed invasions.
The Transatlantic Era of Autism
Authors: Briggs Jonathyne
Published: January 2025

This chapter focuses on Sammy Y., a nine-year-old autistic child whose treatment became the subject of a popular book that helped introduce autism to the French public. His case study illustrates several significant points about the history of autism in France, particularly the early transatlantic engagement between child psychologists, the assumptions about childhood shared between different nations, and questions concerning the appropriate treatment of disabled children. This chapter examines these elements as well as the history of child psychology as a distinct discipline in France to illuminate how autism treatment developed divergently. It foregrounds the work of child psychologists such as Serge Lebovici, Maud Mannoni, and Françoise Dolto, noting their influence in the interpretation of autism as their work reached professional and eventually general audiences. This chapter also examines the growing acceptance of psychoanalysis in French psychology and how its rise connected with larger trends in postwar intellectual life.
The Deepening Divergence
Authors: Briggs Jonathyne
Published: January 2025

This chapter examines the renewed advocacy of parents’ associations in the 1990s, as many other countries abandoned the psychogenic assumptions about autism. While these new efforts to change treatment strategies did not meet with sustained success, they did lead to greater international cooperation. The creation of the European Union added another layer of authority, which advocates used to challenge the situation in France, and many families sought treatment outside France. Their efforts contributed to important legal reforms during the 1990s specifically addressing the educational needs of autistic children. At the same time, however, the prominence of these groups marginalized the voices of autistic people and kept the focus on autism as a disorder of childhood, rather than a lifelong disability.
Health Equity Frameworks for Structural and Behavioral Change
Authors: Flynt-Wallington Sherrie
Published: January 2025

There is an ever-evolving language around health disparities and health equity and what is considered a disparity. Though “disparity” is used less often, health disparities and health equity are often conflated. This chapter assesses the various definitions of “health disparity” and “equity.” And finally, how do social determinants of health give power and privilege to some but not all? Identifying the mechanisms to grow health equity will implicate changing structures of privilege as well as stimulate individual-level behavioral change for people at placements along the privilege gradient. However, being able to identify those mechanisms requires an understanding of the underlying theory or framework to tell us where to look for problems. Mechanisms are essential because they can tell us how and where to intervene. This chapter summarizes various frameworks for health equity that trainees and scholars can use to describe the mechanisms and justify factors to explore in health equity.
Race Theories, Antiracism, and Applications for Health
Authors: Jones-Eversley Sharon D
Published: January 2025

Race theories provide a cultural context and stimulate intersectional research pathways in which race and race-related aspects, knowledge, and understanding are elevated, debated, and birthed. Critical race theory is a race theory that posits that the sociopolitical construction of race privileges White Americans while it dehumanizes and discriminates against non-White people, particularly Black people. This chapter historically reviews critical race theory, the various levels at which racism operates in public health, and how public health has been complicit in racist structures. The critical race theory and racial trauma theory serve as foundational theories to advocate for antiracism in public health. The chapter ends by presenting two methodology approaches: culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE) and decolonizing research methodological approaches. Collectively, these methodologies and theories may result in promising antiracist health education, practices, and research that can systematically benefit marginalized and minoritized populations
‘I Know Better What I Want and What I Can Do’: Career Development in Established Adulthood
Authors: Mehta Clare M
Published: January 2025

Committing to a job or a career is often seen as hallmark of adulthood. This chapter explores the significance of work in the lives of established adults, characterizing it as a period of career stability for some and a period of career growth and change for others. The chapter starts by describing the career exploration in emerging adulthood that prepares people for careers in established adulthood, and then describes the ways in which career exploration and career transitions may continue for some established adults. Next, the chapter explores established adults’ experiences of job stability and job satisfaction and describes how they think about and plan for the future of their careers. Finally, the chapter describes established adults’ experience of the career and care crunch with a focus on how care responsibilities influence their experience of work.
Discourse-based approaches to autistic focussed interests: Understanding shared focus, mutual accommodation, and multimodal expression
Authors: Aiston Jessica , Koteyko Nelya , van Driel Martine
Published: January 2025

Interactions between autistic and non-autistic people are often characterized by misunderstanding and a ‘double empathy problem’ (Milton, Gurbuz, and López 2022). Thus, there is a need for applied linguistics research that seeks to concretely address and improve these communication barriers and lead to more positive and equitable interactions. In this position paper, we critically review existing discourse approaches to autistic communication and argue that future research must be participatory, affirmative of neurodiversity, and applied in service of addressing this double empathy problem. In particular, we argue that applied linguists should pay more attention to the role of focussed interests and show how discourse analysis can shed light on the valuable role of interest-driven interactions, both among autistic people and between autistic and non-autistic people. Following this, we propose several directions for future directions for applied linguistics research into autistic communication. Specifically, we suggest that linguistics could explore the potential for focussed interests for fostering shared focus, mutual accommodation, and multimodal expression, and consider how these findings can be translated into positive impact for autistic communities.
Recent advances in the role of neuroregulation in skin wound healing
Authors: Al Mamun Abdullah , Shao Chuxiao , Geng Peiwu , Wang Shuanghu , Xiao Jian
Published: January 2025

Neuroregulation during skin wound healing involves complex interactions between the nervous system and intricate tissue repair processes. The skin, the largest organ, depends on a complex system of nerves to manage responses to injury. Recent research has emphasized the crucial role of neuroregulation in maximizing wound healing outcomes. Recently, researchers have also explained the interactive contact between the peripheral nervous system and skin cells during the different phases of wound healing. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, once observed as simple signalling molecules, have since been recognized as effective regulators of inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation. The significance of skin innervation and neuromodulators is underscored by the delayed wound healing observed in patients with diabetes and the regenerative capabilities of foetal skin. Foetal skin regeneration is influenced by the neuroregulatory environment, immature immune system, abundant growth factors, and increased pluripotency of cells. Foetal skin cells exhibit greater flexibility and specialized cell types, and the extracellular matrix composition promotes regeneration. The extracellular matrix composition of foetal skin promotes regeneration, making it more capable than adult skin because neuroregulatory signals affect skin regeneration. The understanding of these systems can facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies to alter the nerve supply to the skin to enhance the process of wound healing. Neuroregulation is being explored as a potential therapeutic strategy for enhancing skin wound repair. Bioelectronic strategies and neuromodulation techniques can manipulate neural signalling, optimize the neuroimmune axis, and modulate inflammation. This review describes the function of skin innervation in wound healing, emphasizing the importance of neuropeptides released by sensory and autonomic nerve fibres. This article discusses significant discoveries related to neuroregulation and its impact on skin wound healing.
Developmental maturation of millimeter-scale functional networks across brain areas
Authors: Powell Nathaniel J , Hein Bettina , Kong Deyue , Elpelt Jonas , Mulholland Haleigh N , Holland Ryan A , Kaschube Matthias , Smith Gordon B
Published: January 2025

Processing sensory information, generating perceptions, and shaping behavior engages neural networks in brain areas with highly varied representations, ranging from unimodal sensory cortices to higher-order association areas. In early development, these areas share a common distributed and modular functional organization, but it is not known whether this undergoes a common developmental trajectory, or whether such organization persists only in some brain areas. Here, we examine the development of network organization across diverse cortical regions in ferrets using in vivo wide field calcium imaging of spontaneous activity. In both primary sensory (visual, auditory, and somatosensory) and higher order association (prefrontal and posterior parietal) areas, spontaneous activity remained significantly modular with pronounced millimeter-scale correlations over a 3-wk period spanning eye opening and the transition to externally-driven sensory activity. Over this period, cortical areas exhibited a roughly similar set of developmental changes, along with area-specific differences. Modularity and long-range correlation strength generally decreased with age, along with increases in the dimensionality of activity, although these effects were not uniform across all brain areas. These results indicate an interplay of area-specific factors with a conserved developmental program that maintains modular functional networks, suggesting modular organization may be involved in functional representations in diverse brain areas.
A generative model for non-assortative communities in directed networks
Authors: Liu Cathy Xuanchi , Alexander Tristram J , Altmann Eduardo G
Published: January 2025

Large complex networks are often organized into groups or communities. In this paper, we introduce and investigate a generative model of network evolution that reproduces all four pairwise community types that exist in directed networks: assortative, core-periphery, disassortative, and the newly introduced source-basin type. We fix the number of nodes and the community membership of each node, allowing node connectivity to change through rewiring mechanisms that depend on the community membership of the involved nodes. We determine the dependence of the community relationship on the model parameters using a mean-field solution. It reveals that a difference in the swap probabilities of the two communities is a necessary condition to obtain a core-periphery relationship and that a difference in the average in-degree of the communities is a necessary condition for a source-basin relationship. More generally, our analysis reveals multiple possible scenarios for the transition between the different structure types, and sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the observation of the different types of communities in network data.
Distinct bacteria display genus and species-specific associations with mycobionts in paramo lichens in Colombia
Authors: Chaib De Mares Maryam , Arciniegas Castro Emerson , Ulloa Maria Alejandra , Torres Jean Marc , Sierra Maria A , Butler Daniel J , Mason Christopher E , Zambrano María Mercedes , Moncada Bibiana , Reyes Muñoz Alejandro
Published: January 2025

Lichens are complex symbiotic systems where fungi interact with an extracellular arrangement of one or more photosynthetic partners and an indeterminate number of other microbes. Recently, specific lichen–microbial community associations have been proposed. In this study, we aimed to characterize the differences in bacteria associated with closely related lichens, under a defined set of environmental conditions in Colombian paramos. Our goal was to determine if there is a correlation between microbiota and host divergence in lichen species belonging to the genus Sticta. We found that specific microbiota are defined by their mycobiont at the genus level. Further, distinct bacterial families show differences among the three studied genera, and specific amplicon sequence variants further discriminate among lichen species within each genus. A geographic component also determines the composition of these microbial communities among lichen species. Our functional analysis revealed that fungal partners play a key role in synthesizing complex polysaccharides, while bacterial-derived antioxidants and photoprotective mechanisms contribute to desiccation tolerance in lichens. These insights highlight the complex interactions within lichen symbioses that could be relevant in environments such as the paramo ecosystem.
Plasmodium falciparum CyRPA Glycan Binding Does Not Explain Adaptation to Humans
Authors: Sharp Paul M , Bibollet-Ruche Frederic , Hahn Beatrice H
Published: January 2025

The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum evolved from a parasite that infects gorillas, termed Plasmodium praefalciparum. The sialic acids on glycans on the surface of erythrocytes differ between humans and other apes. It has recently been shown that the P. falciparum cysteine-rich protective antigen (PfCyRPA) binds human sialoglycans as an essential step in the erythrocyte invasion pathway, while that of the chimpanzee parasite, Plasmodium reichenowi has affinities matching ape glycans. Two amino acid changes, at sites 154 and 209, were shown to be sufficient to switch glycan binding preferences and inferred to reflect adaptation of P. falciparum to humans. However, we show that sites 154 and 209 are identical in P. falciparum and P. praefalciparum, with no other differences located in or near the CyRPA glycan binding sites. Thus, the gorilla precursor appears to have already been preadapted to bind human sialoglycans.
Reviewing and Advocating for Data Disaggregation in Aging-Related Health Research: NIA Grants and Recommendations for Equity
Authors: Fernandez Cajavilca Moroni , Lee Matthew , Ðoàn Lan N
Published: January 2025

Federal minimum standards for collecting and reporting race and ethnicity data implicitly categorize diverse individuals into broad, monolithic categories. Despite advancements in policy and practice and calls for inclusive research, data equity remains a significant issue in aging-related health research. Racially and ethnically diverse older adults are underrepresented in health research and rarely disaggregated by ethnicity in data collection, analysis, and reporting of aging-related health outcomes. Data disaggregation offers a promising approach to advancing data equity in aging research. We searched the National Institute on Health RePORT Expenditures and Results (NIH RePORTER) database to identify extramural National Institute on Aging (NIA) grants from 1985 to 2024 that proposed disaggregating race and ethnicity data for aging-related research. We found only 12 NIA-funded awards, visually demonstrating how understudied data disaggregation is within the field of aging. Most disaggregation-focused grants were awarded from 2015 onwards (92%), with 42% being R01 grants. Enhancing methodological rigor in demographic data collection and reporting reflective of the diversifying aging population is crucial for data equity. We conclude with recommendations to advance aging health research and highlight considerations and ethical issues for data disaggregation for historically surveilled racial and ethnic minoritized communities.
Modeling Pathways by which the Caregiver TLC Psychoeducational Program Impacts Psychological Health of Caregivers
Authors: Montoro-Rodriguez Julian , Reeve Charlie L , Gallagher-Thompson Dolores , Ramsey Jennifer , Choryan Bilbrey Ann , Kajiyama Bruno
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives

The study seeks to elucidate the pathways by which the Caregiver TLC psycho-educational program impacts the psychological health of caregivers by examining the degree to which changes in self-efficacy, personal gains, and emotional support mediate the changes on perceived depression, anxiety and burden.

Research Design and Methods

Using pre-post data from the Caregiver TLC randomized controlled trial (n = 81) for each outcome and mediator pair, a series of multiple regression models were executed to test the degree to which the program’s total effects on changes in depression, burden and anxiety from baseline to post-intervention are due to changes in each mediator variable from pre- and post-intervention assessments. Caregivers were primarily female (85%), White (62 %), Black (38%), with a median age of 62 and household income of $75,000+. Caregivers reported caring for a person with dementia (69%) or chronic health conditions (31%).

Results

Mediation path modeling indicated that changes in self-efficacy affected by participation in the Caregiver TLC program, mediating between 32% and 63% of the total treatment effect on the outcome variables. Change in personal gains and change in emotional support also demonstrated meaningful mediation effects, albeit smaller in magnitude.

Discussion and Implications

Results confirm that the observed positive impact of the Caregiver TLC program is due to changes in self-efficacy (in particular) and to a lesser degree to changes in personal gains and emotional support. These results confirm that strengthening caregivers perceived self-efficacy to manage stress plays a significant role in improving psychosocial functioning.
Imbuing climate security with positive peace: a peace continuum approach to sustaining peace during climate crisis
Authors: Moe Louise Wiuff
Published: January 2025

Climate change impacts peacebuilding and is an important topic within the UN Security Council (UNSC). Yet, the UN's member states take conflicting positions on whether climate change should be framed as a security threat or a development issue, and several scholars have warned against its securitization. Introducing a ‘peace continuum’ approach to climate security, this policy paper shifts attention from a ‘for or against’ debate on framing climate change as a security threat, instead considering climate crisis as a call for rethinking security itself. A peace continuum approach connects climate finance and adaptation with a continuum of peace efforts. This broadens the outlook of security to integrate human and ecological security concerns and offers a perspective on climate security that emphasizes ‘positive peace.’ Imbuing climate security with the notion of positive peace resonates with peacebuilding norm developments around the primacy of politics, prevention and adaptive approaches. Grounding the discussion of a peace continuum approach in case-studies from the Horn of Africa, the paper highlights three major developments. First, new networked climate security governance has emerged within and around the UN and UNSC, showing promise for scaling up a peace continuum approach. Second, recognizing climate change as a security issue can enhance commitments to climate finance and adaptation, while finance and adaptation can contribute to peace dividends, including in ‘high-risk’ contexts. Third, regional climate security hubs are emerging as vehicles for regional–international knowledge exchanges, and serve as entry-points for flexible UN support, well suited to shifting peacebuilding trends away from large-scale missions. In a context of geopolitical competition, strained multilateralism and competing priorities, there is no automaticity ensuring the advancement of a progressive climate security agenda—achieving that will require continuous, committed efforts.
Deep Sequencing of Crohn’s Disease Lamina Propria Phagocytes Identifies Pathobionts and Correlates With Pro-Inflammatory Gene Expression
Authors: Jacobsen Gillian E , Gonzalez Eddy E , Mendygral Payton , Faust Katerina M , Hazime Hajar , Fernandez Irina , Santander Ana M , Quintero Maria A , Jiang Chunsu , Damas Oriana M , Deshpande Amar R , Kerman David H , Proksell Siobhan , Sendszichew Shane Morgan , Sussman Daniel A , Ghaddar Bassel , Cickovsk Trevor , Abreu Maria T
Published: January 2025

Background

Crohn’s disease (CD) is characterized by an inflammatory response to gut microbiota. Macrophages and dendritic cells play an active role in CD inflammation. Specific microbiota have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ileal CD. We investigated the phagocyte-associated microbiome using an unbiased sequencing approach to identify potential pathobionts and elucidate the host response to these microbes.

Methods

We collected ileal and colonic mucosal biopsies from CD patients and controls without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), isolated lamina propria phagocytes (CD11b+ cells), and performed deep RNA sequencing (n = 37). Reads were mapped to the human genome for host gene expression analysis and a prokaryotic database for microbiome taxonomic and metatranscriptomic profiling. Results were confirmed in a second IBD cohort (n = 17). Lysed lamina propria cells were plated for bacterial culturing; isolated colonies underwent whole genome sequencing (n = 11).

Results

Crohn’s disease ileal phagocytes contained higher relative abundances of Escherichia coli, Ruminococcus gnavus, and Enterocloster spp. than those from controls. CD phagocyte-associated microbes had increased expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis pathways. Phagocytes with a higher pathobiont burden showed increased expression of pro-inflammatory and antimicrobial genes, including PI3 (antimicrobial peptide) and BPIFB1 (LPS-binding molecule). E. coli isolated from the CD lamina propria had more flagellar motility and antibiotic resistance genes than control-derived strains.

Conclusions

Lamina propria resident phagocytes harbor bacterial strains that may act as pathobionts in CD. Our findings shed light on the role of pathobionts and the immune response in CD pathogenesis and suggest new targets for therapies.
An integrative machine learning approach to understanding South Pacific Ocean albacore tuna habitat features
Authors: Liu Liwen , Wan Rong , Wu Feng , Wang Yucheng , Zhu Yonghan , Zhou Cheng
Published: January 2025

This study employs a random forest model combined with interpretable machine learning techniques to analyze the habitat preferences of South Pacific albacore tuna, incorporating a broad range of marine environmental variables. Among these, several factors derived from mesoscale eddy structures, including eddy polarity, eddy radius, and eddy kinetic energy, are integrated to further enhance the characterization of mesoscale eddy features. Interpretable methods were applied to provide intuitive visualizations of albacore tuna habitat preferences, with a focus on the most influential factors, including seawater temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, and normalized mesoscale eddy radius. Seawater temperature and oxygen concentration are directly linked to the physiological needs of albacore tuna, while mesoscale eddy characteristics influence foraging and behavior by altering water column properties. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the characteristics of albacore tuna habitat and the mechanisms driving its oceanographic variables, providing valuable insights for developing location-based, practical science-based management strategies for fishery resources.
Associations of fetal and postnatal growth trajectories with child cognition: the GUSTO cohort study
Authors: Ong Yi Ying , Ng Nicholas Beng Hui , Michael Navin , Cai Shirong , Thway Tint Mya , Ooi Delicia Shu Qin , Tan Ai Peng , Tan Kok Hian , Shek Lynette , Yap Fabian , Chong Yap Seng , Eriksson Johan Gunnar , Chan Shiao-Yng , Broekman Birit F P , Godfrey Keith M , Silveira Patricia Pelufo , Tiemeier Henning , Law Evelyn C , Aris Izzuddin M , Lee Yung Seng
Published: January 2025

Background

Using longitudinal ultrasounds as an improved fetal growth marker, we aimed to investigate if increased postnatal growth following fetal abdominal circumference (AC) growth deceleration is associated with improved child cognition.

Methods

Among 797 term-born singletons in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort, we derived 2nd–3rd trimester fetal AC growth z-score, fetal AC growth deceleration, standardized height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) growth at early infancy (0–4 months), late infancy (4–15 months), toddlerhood (15–37 months), and early childhood (3–7 years), and investigated their associations with intelligence quotient (IQ) at ages 4.5 years (verbal, non-verbal) and 7 years (non-verbal—block design, matrix reasoning), adjusting for socio-demographic and biological confounders.

Results

Among term-born newborns, 23.3% experienced fetal AC growth deceleration, which was associated with lower non-verbal IQ (4.5 years) [β (95% CI), –4.00 (–7.49, –0.51)]. Higher 0–7 years z-BMI gain was associated with lower non-verbal IQ (block design) (7 years) [–1.33 (–2.51, –0.14)]. Higher late infancy z-BMI gain was associated with higher verbal IQ (4.5 years) [3.36 (0.82,5.90)] but lower non-verbal IQ (matrix reasoning) (7 years) [–2.32 (–4.48, –0.17)]. Among those with fetal AC growth deceleration, higher 0–7 years z-weight gain was associated with lower non-verbal IQ (block design) (7 years) (P-interaction = .049); at z-weight gain of +2 standard deviation score (SDS), those with fetal AC growth deceleration had lower IQ [margins (95% CI), –2.6 (–7.1,1.9)]. On average, children with fetal AC growth deceleration caught up in z-height, z-weight, and z-BMI by 7 years.

Conclusion

Fetal AC growth deceleration was associated with lower cognition scores at preschool age. Increased weight or BMI growth from 0–7 years following fetal AC growth deceleration might not be favorable to cognition among generally well-nourished term-born children.
Research on automated optimization of low-carbon architectural landscape spaces based on computer vision and machine learning
Authors: Mu Rongbing , Cheng Yue , Feng Haoxuan
Published: January 2025

In this study, computer vision and machine learning techniques are used to develop an automatic optimization method for low-carbon building landscape space. Firstly, the semantic segmentation of landscape images is carried out using U-Net network to realize the automatic extraction of key landscape features. Then, using the segmentation results, a multi-objective optimization algorithm is developed. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulation experiments, which not only significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of landscape space optimization, but also provides valuable optimization suggestions for designers.
Research on the application of deep learning algorithm in energy management for low-carbon society
Authors: Niu Xiumin , Luo Xufeng
Published: January 2025

The present study endeavors to investigate the application of deep learning algorithms in energy management, aimed at fostering a low-carbon society. Specifically, the study focuses on the performance of wavelet packet decomposition for noise reduction in predicting carbon emissions. The results indicate a significant enhancement in predictive accuracy, outperforming models without noise reduction across various evaluation metrics. This research not only elevates the precision and reliability of predictions but also underscores the critical role of data preprocessing in complex tasks, thereby offering novel methodologies and perspectives for carbon emission monitoring and forecasting in energy management.
Performance analysis of salinity solar pond: design evaluation and dimensional analysis
Authors: Al-Tahaineh Hamza A
Published: January 2025

The overall impacts of the solar pond’s surface area, heat flux from solar radiation, effective water–salt thermal conductivity, depth, water density, water-specific heat, and transient time on its performance was investigated by a dimensional analysis of the solar pond. These variables were combined into a four-dimensional, recognized group using the Π-theorem. The results of dimensional analysis were applied to the pond that was being studied, and two additional ponds of different sizes were then contrasted. For the solar pond, temperature profiles and performance curves were displayed. For the dimensionless parameter ${\pi}_1<14$, the optimal value of the nondimensional size parameter was found to be around${\pi}_1=25$ for the best pond performance.
Improved therapeutic efficacy of a bifunctional anti-C5 mAb-FH SCR1–5 fusion protein over anti-C5 mAb in an accelerated mouse model of C3 glomerulopathy
Authors: Sato Sayaka , Miwa Takashi , Gullipalli Damodar , Golla Madhu , Mohammadyari Eshagh , Zhou Lin , Palmer Matthew , Song Wen-Chao
Published: January 2025

C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), a rare kidney disease caused by dysregulation of alternative pathway complement activation, is characterized by glomerular C3 deposition, proteinuria, crescentic glomerulonephritis, and renal failure. The anti-C5 monoclonal antibody (mAb) drug eculizumab has shown therapeutic effects in some but not all patients with C3G, and no approved therapy is currently available. Here, we developed and used a triple transgenic mouse model of fast progressing lethal C3G (FHm/mP−/−hFDKI/KI) to compare the therapeutic efficacy of a bifunctional anti-C5 mAb fused to a functional factor H (FH) fragment (short consensus repeat 1–5 [SCR1–5]) and the anti-C5 mAb itself. The new C3G mouse model is derived by humanizing factor D (hFDKI/KI) in a previously described FHm/mP−/− mouse that developed lethal C3G. We tested the effectiveness of these 2 complement inhibitors in triple transgenic mice with established C3G and glomerular disease. No FHm/mP−/−hFDKI/KI mice treated with vehicle survived the 30-d study period. All FHm/mP−/−hFDKI/KI mice treated with the C5 mAb-FH SCR1–5 fusion protein and 50% of mice treated with the anti-C5 mAb survived the 30-d treatment period. Moreover, mice treated with the C5 mAb-FH SCR1–5 fusion protein, but not those treated with the anti-C5 mAb, showed restored plasma alternative pathway complement control. The C5 mAb-FH SCR1–5 fusion protein reversed glomerular disease to a greater degree than the anti-C5 mAb. These data suggest that simultaneously inhibiting the terminal and proximal complement pathways, by anti-C5 mAb and FH SCR1–5, respectively, can reverse established C3G and is more efficacious than inhibiting the terminal pathway alone. A similar approach may be effective in treating human C3G.