bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Hyperintensional Variant of Kaplan’s Paradox
Authors: Lenta Giorgio
Published: March 2024

David Kaplan famously argued that mainstream semantics for modal logic, which identifies propositions with sets of possible worlds, is affected by a cardinality paradox. Takashi Yagisawa showed that a variant of the same paradox arises when standard possible worlds semantics is extended with impossible worlds to deliver a hyperintensional account of propositions. After introducing the problem, we discuss two general approaches to a possible solution: giving up on sets and giving up on worlds, either in the background semantic framework or in the corresponding conception of propositions. As a result, we conclude that abandoning worlds by embracing a truthmaker-based approach offers a promising way to account for hyperintensional propositions without facing the paradoxical outcome.
Towards 24/7 MRI: the effect of routine weekend inpatient MRI scanning on patient waiting times
Authors: Garrahy Darragh , Doran Simon , O’Neill Hazel , Dennan Suzanne , Beddy Peter
Published: March 2024

Background

Demand for inpatient MRI outstrips capacity which results in long waiting lists. The hospital commenced a routine weekend MRI service in January 2023.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a limited routine weekend MRI service on MRI turnaround times.

Methods

Waiting times for inpatient MRI scans performed before and after the introduction of weekend MRI from January 1 to August 31, 2022, and January 1 to August 31, 2023, were obtained. The turnaround time (TAT) and request category for each study were calculated. Category 1 requests were required immediately, category 2 requests were urgent and category 3 requests were routine.

Results

There was a 6% (n = 128) increase in MRI inpatient scanning activity in 2023 (n = 2449) compared to 2022 (n = 2322). There was a significant improvement in overall mean TAT for inpatient MRIs (p < .001) in 2023 (mean 65.2 h, range 0–555 h) compared to 2022 (mean 98.3 h, range 0–816 h). There was no significant difference in the mean waiting time for category 1 MRIs between 2022 and 2023. There was a significant improvement (p < .001) in mean waiting time in 2023 (mean 37.2 h, range 0–555) compared to 2022 (mean 55.4 h, range 0–816) for category 2 MRI. The mean waiting time for category 3 studies also significantly improved (p < .001) in 2023 (mean 93.4 h, range 1–2663) when compared to 2022 (mean 154.8, range 1–1706).

Conclusion

Routine weekend inpatient MRI significantly shortens inpatient waiting times.
Examining the approach to medical remediation programmes—an observational study
Authors: Maher Sean , Ryan Stephanie , O’Brien Conor , Fraughen Daniel , Spooner Muirne , McElvaney Noel G.
Published: March 2024

Background

Remediation of underperforming students is recognised as an important tool in medical education; however, there is no universally agreed approach.

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a remediation program for final year medical students who failed their first long case assessment (LCA1) and to compare their academic performance with their peers who passed their first long case assessment.

Methods

The study consisted of two phases. Phase 1 analysed the demographics and academic performance data for the 9% of the class in the remediation group. Phase 2 focused on collecting similar data for the remaining 91% of students in the non-remediation group. Statistical analyses including the Wilcoxon rank sum test and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to compare the groups.

Results

Phase 1 showed 88% of students who participated in remediation successfully passed the second long case assessment (LCA2); however, 25% of this cohort ultimately failed the academic year due to poor results in other assessments. Phase 2 results revealed that non-remediation group students scored significantly higher in LCA2 (59.71% vs 52.07%, p < 0.001) compared to their remediation counterparts, despite 19% of them failing this assessment. Non-remediation group students consistently outperformed their remediation group counterparts in formative and summative assessments. Overall, 6.25% of the entire class failed the academic year.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the need to focus on overall academic performance to identify struggling students rather than one high stakes exam. Most of the students in the remediation programme ultimately passed LCA2.
Determination of cortisol cut-off limits and steroid dynamics in the ACTH stimulation test: a comparative analysis using Roche Elecsys Cortisol II immunoassay and LC-MS/MS
Authors: Okutan Sema , Jørgensen Nanna Thurmann , Pedersen Lars Engers , Borresen Stina Willemoes , Hilsted Linda , Hansen Lennart Friis , Feldt-Rasmussen Ulla , Klose Marianne
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Measurement of cortisol concentrations is method dependent. The study aimed to establish assay-specific cut-off limits for cortisol after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation, comparing Roche Elecsys Cortisol II immunoassay to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and to assess the impact of patient characteristics, estrogen containing oral contraceptives as well as relation to other adrenocortical steroid hormone dynamics.

Methods

One hundred healthy participants underwent a 250 μg ACTH-test, with plasma samples analyzed using ElecsysCortI, ElecsysCortII, and LC-MS/MS. Cortisone, corticosterone, 17-OH-progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, and testosterone were additionally analyzed with LC-MS/MS. Cut-off limit for a normal cortisol response to the ACTH-test was defined as: 2.5th percentile–1.96 × SE.

Results

ElecsysCort II measured cortisol concentrations 21% (95% CI: 19–22%) lower than ElecsysCort I. Cut-off limits for cortisol 30 and 60 min after ACTH were 426 and 485 nmol/L (ElecsysCort II) and 411 and 470 nmol/L (LC-MS/MS). Cut-offs were unaffected by gender, or body-composition. The ACTH-test resulted in significantly increased adrenocortical steroid hormones, except for decreased cortisone concentrations (both sexes), and decreased testosterone in men (1.9 nmol/L, 95% CI: 1.3–2.5). Testosterone was increased in women (0.07 nmol/L, 95% CI: 0.02–0.13).

Conclusion

ElecsysCort II has high analytical performance and yields significantly lower cortisol concentrations than prior polyclonal immunoassays. This clinically relevant difference underscores the necessity for revised cut-off limits for improved diagnostic precision. Suggested 30-minute cortisol cutoff limits are 411 nmol/L (LC-MS/MS) and 426 nmol/L (ElecsysCort II). Adrenocortical steroids increased upon ACTH stimulation, except for cortisone in both sexes and testosterone in men, both of which decreased.
Dynamics of neural fields with exponential temporal kernel
Authors: Shamsara Elham , Yamakou Marius E. , Atay Fatihcan M. , Jost Jürgen
Published: March 2024

We consider the standard neural field equation with an exponential temporal kernel. We analyze the time-independent (static) and time-dependent (dynamic) bifurcations of the equilibrium solution and the emerging spatiotemporal wave patterns. We show that an exponential temporal kernel does not allow static bifurcations such as saddle-node, pitchfork, and in particular, static Turing bifurcations. However, the exponential temporal kernel possesses the important property that it takes into account the finite memory of past activities of neurons, which Green’s function does not. Through a dynamic bifurcation analysis, we give explicit bifurcation conditions. Hopf bifurcations lead to temporally non-constant, but spatially constant solutions, but Turing–Hopf bifurcations generate spatially and temporally non-constant solutions, in particular, traveling waves. Bifurcation parameters are the coefficient of the exponential temporal kernel, the transmission speed of neural signals, the time delay rate of synapses, and the ratio of excitatory to inhibitory synaptic weights.
Alpine blooming of “snow fleas”: the importance of snow for Alpine springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) ecology and biodiversity
Authors: Valle Barbara , Porco David , Skarżyński Dariusz , Frati Francesco , Caccianiga Marco , Rodriguez-Prieto Ana , Zeni Michele , Gobbi Mauro
Published: March 2024

Springtails can occur in large populations on the snow surface. This peculiar habitat hosts specialized winter-active springtails living in colonies and using this seasonal habitat for feeding, effective dispersal and migration. Snow-active species have never been studied in Southern European Alps: the aim of this work is to study snow-active springtails of Adamello-Brenta Nature Park (“PNAB”; Italy), a peripheral mountain range of relevant biogeographic interest using integrative taxonomy. Springtail “bloomings” were sampled for 17 months by an environmental assistant of the park. Nine assemblages of springtails were found when temperatures were higher than 0 °C; eight were monospecific, with a total of five species found. The snow-active springtail fauna found includes both common Central-Northern European nival species like Desoria hiemalis (first record for Italy, although genetically differentiated from Northern Alps populations), Ceratophysella sigillata (known in Italy mainly from caves) and three species likely new to science (Hypogastrura cf. kelmendica sp1, Hypogastrura cf. kelmendica sp2, H. cf. peloponnesica, all belonging to the Hypogastrura socialisgroup). Snow is an important ephemeral habitat for springtails, for the biodiversity hosted and for its importance as an ecological corridor. We could hypothesize that snow, especially in peripheral mountain chains, acts as a fragmentary ephemeral habitat for those cold-adapted springtails. This could constitute a relevant aspect to take into consideration for conservation biology, especially in the context of the ongoing climate change. On the other hand, the Alpine chain probably acts as an ecological barrier for nival species, since isolated species and populations were found in PNAB.

Graphical Abstract
Expanding our knowledge of the coffee family in continental Africa: a synopsis of the genus Pyrostria (Rubiaceae)
Authors: Matheka Kennedy W. , Goyder David , Darbyshire Iain
Published: March 2024

A summary of the species ofPyrostriafrom continental Africa is presented, including full descriptions of three new species,P. makovui,P. namacubiensisandP.rovumensisfrom the coastal forests of the Tanzania-Mozambique border region, and one new subspecies,P. lobulatasubsp.bridsoniaefrom Zambia.Pyrostria makovuiis the first species with plurilocular (3-lobed) fruits and the second hermaphrodite species for the study area, characters that are otherwise found mainly in taxa ofPyrostriafrom Madagascar and surrounding islands. Five of the 16 species treated in this synopsis remain undescribed because they are known only from incomplete material. A key to the species ofPyrostriaoccurring in continental Africa is presented and notes on the distribution, habitat and relevant taxonomic considerations are provided, along with an assessment of the conservation status (extinction risk) for each species. TheCoastal Forests of Eastern AfricaBiodiversity Hotspot is found to be a centre of diversity forPyrostria, with the Rovuma Centre of Plant Endemism in Mozambique and Tanzania being particularly rich in endemic species.
OX26-cojugated gangliosilated liposomes to improve the post-ischemic therapeutic effect of CDP-choline
Authors: d’Avanzo Nicola , Paolino Donatella , Barone Antonella , Ciriolo Luigi , Mancuso Antonia , Christiano Maria Chiara , Tolomeo Anna Maria , Celia Christian , Deng Xiaoyong , Fresta Massimo
Published: March 2024

Cerebrovascular impairment represents one of the main causes of death worldwide with a mortality rate of 5.5 million per year. The disability of 50% of surviving patients has high social impacts and costs in long period treatment for national healthcare systems. For these reasons, the efficacious clinical treatment of patients, with brain ischemic stroke, remains a medical need. To this aim, a liposome nanomedicine, with monosialic ganglioside type 1 (GM1), OX26 (an anti-transferrin receptor antibody), and CDP-choline (a neurotrophic drug) (CDP-choline/OX26Lip) was prepared. CDP-choline/OX26Lip were prepared by a freeze and thaw method and then extruded through polycarbonate filters, to have narrow size distributed liposomes of ~80 nm. CDP-choline/OX26Lip were stable in human serum, they had suitable pharmacokinetic properties, and 30.0 ± 4.2% of the injected drug was still present in the blood stream 12 h after its systemic injection. The post-ischemic therapeutic effect of CDP-choline/OX26Lip is higher than CDP-choline/Lip, thus showing a significantly high survival rate of the re-perfused post-ischemic rats, i.e. 96% and 78% after 8 days. The treatment with CDP-choline/OX26Lip significantly decreased the peroxidation rate of ~5-times compared to CDP-choline/Lip; and the resulting conjugated dienes, that was 13.9 ± 1.1 mmol/mg proteins for CDP-choline/Lip and 3.1 ± 0.8 for CDP-choline/OX26Lip. OX26 increased the accumulation of GM1-liposomes in the brain tissues and thus the efficacious of CDP-choline. Therefore, this nanomedicine may represent a strategy for the reassessment of CDP-choline to treat post-ischemic events caused by brain stroke, and respond to a significant clinical need.

Graphical abstract
Ellis enveloping semigroups in real closed fields
Authors: Baro Elías , Palacín Daniel
Published: March 2024

We introduce the Boolean algebra of d-semialgebraic (more generally, d-definable) sets and prove that its Stone space is naturally isomorphic to the Ellis enveloping semigroup of the Stone space of the Boolean algebra of semialgebraic (definable) sets. For definably connected o-minimal groups, we prove that this family agrees with the one of externally definable sets in the one-dimensional case. Nonetheless, we prove that in general these two families differ, even in the semialgebraic case over the real algebraic numbers. On the other hand, in the semialgebraic case we characterise real semialgebraic functions representing Boolean combinations of d-semialgebraic sets.
Advancing ocean ecosystem conservation via property rights, rather than marine protected areas (MPAs)
Authors: Libecap Gary D.
Published: March 2024

There is demand to protect at-risk fish species and ecosystems. Property rights regimes can be superior to spatial controls via Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for doing so. Empirical cases from Australia and the US indicate that MPAs are inequitable, too large and restrictive, and controversial. These conditions lead to resistance and political pushback, threatening long-term budgets and conservation goals. A critique of MPAs is presented along with a range of property rights arrangements–common, community, private—and Coasean bargaining as alternatives. Outlined benefits are a.) Rights holders have a stake in conservation and are central in its design. They are more than respondents. b). Costs/benefits can be more equally distributed, including direct payments that include both costs of transition and contribution to public goods provision. c.) Spatial set-asides confront tradeoffs and hence, are more apt to be economically sited and designed. d.) Modifications can occur more smoothly through market exchange than through the political process. Durable global conservation efforts can be enhanced.
COVID-19 vaccines: history of the pandemic’s great scientific success and flawed policy implementation
Authors: Prasad Vinay , Haslam Alyson
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 vaccine has been a miraculous, life-saving advance, offering staggering efficacy in adults, and was developed with astonishing speed. The time from sequencing the virus to authorizing the first COVID-19 vaccine was so brisk even the optimists appear close-minded. Yet, simultaneously, United States’ COVID-19 vaccination roll-out and related policies have contained missed opportunities, errors, run counter to evidence-based medicine, and revealed limitations in the judgment of public policymakers. Misplaced utilization, contradictory messaging, and poor deployment in those who would benefit most—the elderly and high-risk—alongside unrealistic messaging, exaggeration, and coercion in those who benefit least—young, healthy Americans—is at the heart. It is important to consider the history of COVID-19 vaccines to identify where we succeeded and where we failed, and the effects that these errors may have more broadly on vaccination hesitancy and routine childhood immunization programs in the decades to come.
Integration of Disability Awareness Improves Medical Students’ Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities
Authors: Sinha Tanvee , Parish Ashley , Lein Donald H. , Wylie Elizabeth , Carver Cathy , Brooks William S.
Published: March 2024

Persons with disabilities (PWD) often require special accommodations and more comprehensive healthcare yet frequently have encounters with physicians who are unprepared to provide tailored and complete care. A multipronged disability awareness curriculum for second-year medical students was implemented, including content on disability etiquette, patient-centered and interprofessional learning sessions for individuals with physical disabilities and intellectual and developmental disabilities, and a debriefing session with physiatrists. The objective of this study was to utilize a mixed methods approach to evaluate the disability awareness curriculum in undergraduate medical education (UME). Assessment was conducted using course evaluations, pre- and post-surveys including the Attitudes and Perspectives Towards Persons with Disabilities (APPD) scale and Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS), and student focus groups. The mean scores from both the APPD (2.11 ± 0.43 pre-score vs. 1.7 ± 0.39 post-score) and MAS (2.45 ± 0.43 pre-score vs. 2.25 ± 0.55 post-score) indicate the curriculum improved medical students’ attitudes toward PWD (p < 0.05), with lower numbers representing more favorable attitudes. After completing the curriculum, medical students’ attitudes were comparable to those of doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students. Qualitative analysis from focus groups highlighted four major themes: education, comfort level, impact on future practice, and disability differences. This curriculum has potential as a valuable framework for delivering effective disability education to medical students to prepare future physicians to serve PWD and their unique needs. It meets core competencies, provides an opportunity to learn in interprofessional environments, and integrates PWD into the educational process.
Group decision on rationalizing disease analysis using novel distance measure on Pythagorean fuzziness
Authors: Baranidharan B. , Liu Jie , Mahapatra G. S. , Mahapatra B. S. , Srilalithambigai R.
Published: March 2024

Despite the fact that several technologies have been developed to assist healthcare workers in reducing errors and improving accuracy in illness diagnosis, there is still substantial ambiguity regarding the accurate disease diagnosis based on symptoms. The goal of this work is to establish a group decision-making problem in an uncertain situation to assist medical practitioners in generating accurate illness predictions based on symptoms. This study proposes a novel distance measure for Pythagorean fuzzy sets that incorporates the inherent uncertainty of complex, uncertain data by incorporating indeterminacy in the computation. First, we establish the proposed Mabala distance measure by describing it’s properties. Then, the suggested distance measure is applied to solve group decision-making problems in uncertain situations. A case study of disease analysis based on symptoms is presented to illustrate the decision-making procedure involving four medical professionals, five symptoms, and five probable diseases. Furthermore, We have presented two cases of disease analysis using non-standard and standard Pythagorean fuzzy soft matrices. The results suggest that the proposed Mabala’s distance measure has great potential for improving disease analysis. The proposed Mabala distance measure is compared to five existing distance measures using an identical data set of prospective disease symptoms. The comparative analysis indicates that the suggested Mabala distance measure’s result almost coincides with the results of the other distance measurements. A set of sensitivity analysis is provided to analyze the durability and consistency of the proposed distance measurements across different input scenarios.
Toward automatic robotic massage based on interactive trajectory planning and control
Authors: Xu Qinling , Deng Zhen , Zeng Chao , Li Zhuoran , He Bingwei , Zhang Jianwei
Published: March 2024

Autonomous robotic massage holds the potential to alleviate the workload of nurses and improve the quality of healthcare. However, the complexity of the task and the dynamic of the environment present significant challenges for robotic massage. This paper presents a vision-based robotic massage (VBRM) framework that facilitates autonomous robot massaging of the human body while ensuring safe operation in a dynamic environment. The VBRM framework allows the operator to define the massage trajectory by drawing a 2D curve on an RGB image. An interactive trajectory planning method is developed to calculate a 3D massage trajectory from the 2D trajectory. This method accounts for potential movements of the human body and updates the planned trajectory using rigid point cloud registration. Additionally, a hybrid motion/force controller is employed to regulate the motion of the robot’s end-effector, considering the possibility of excessive contact force. The proposed framework enables the operator to adjust the massage trajectory and speed according to their requirements. Real-world experiments are conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed approach. The results demonstrate that the framework enables successful planning and execution of the massage task in a dynamic environment. Furthermore, the operator has the flexibility to set the massage trajectory, speed, and contact force arbitrarily, thereby enhancing human–machine interaction.
Encountering the Face of Tū-mata-uenga: The Educational Experiences of Rangatahi Māori Apprehended for Offending
Authors: Cliffe-Tautari Tania
Published: March 2024

Marginalised and ousted from the New Zealand education system, 70% of youths apprehended for offending and appearing in a New Zealand Youth Court or Rangatahi Court experiencing complex needs are not engaged in education, employment, or training (Oranga Tamariki, Oranga Tamariki. (2020). Quarterly report—September 2020). This article reports findings from a broader PhD study investigating the educational experiences of 10 rangatahi Māori (Māori youth) aged 15–17 years apprehended for serious youth offending and excluded from mainstream education. Drawing on mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and kaupapa Māori, notions of indigenous resilience are used to unpack the rangatahi Māori participants’ responses to negative educational experiences in the mainstream English medium secondary school education system. This article posits that resilience was evident when the rangatahi Māori exercised tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty) through boldness (a characteristic of Tū-mata-uenga the guardian of war), resistance and liminality to reject educational spaces where they perceived they were underserved, discriminated against, and marginalised. Changing the negative Māori student exclusion and disengagement statistics in mainstream education is critical. To address the exclusion statistics, classroom practitioners could be more responsive to rangatahi Māori experiencing complex needs by recognising their experiences and understanding their responses to those experiences. Understanding how resilience as resistance, liminality, and boldness is understood within te ao Māori (the Māori world) perspectives will enable a more culturally responsive approach to working with these rangatahi Māori in mainstream education.
Cu-Fe and Cu-Ni metal blend-infused polystyrene-based electrospun nanofibers for dye degradation
Authors: Sharma Varun Kumar , Kumar Prem , Kumar Sunil , Yusuf Mohd , Ahmed Bilal
Published: March 2024

The mitigation of hazardous effects of chemical dyes on the environment and living organisms, greatly demands an efficient and effective management of dye-laden wastewater. One such solution gaining prominence is the utilization of metal-infused nanofibers-based dye removal techniques, which are simple, effective, and environmentally friendly. In this report, we present the fabrication of mechanically stable hydrophobic nanofibers infused with metal blends, fabricated through the utilization of electrospinning techniques. The successful fabrication of these mechanically stable hydrophobic nanofibers is evidenced through contact angle measurements, tensile tests, and FESEM analysis. While polystyrene-based nanofibrous mats were anticipated to be effective, nanofibrous mats infused with Cu-Fe and Cu-Ni metal blends exhibit exceptional efficacy in degrading dyes. The size and morphology of nanofibers depend on polymer concentration, with the average diameter increasing from 13 to 20%. At a 20% polystyrene concentration, only nanometer-scale fibers of polystyrene polymers were fabricated, while both Cu-Fe and Cu-Ni metal blend-infused fibers were synthesized in micrometers. Fibers infused with Cu-Fe and Cu-Ni metal blend at a 17% polymer concentration displayed nano-scale diameters, confirmed by FESEM characterizations. The heat-based technique is identified as an accessible and cost-effective approach for industries reliant on color-based processes.
Pimonidazole-alkyne conjugate for sensitive detection of hypoxia by Cu-catalyzed click reaction
Authors: Tamura Iori , Sakamoto Daichi M. , Yi Bo , Saito Yutaro , Yamada Naoki , Takakusagi Yoichi , Sando Shinsuke
Published: March 2024

Hypoxia is involved in various diseases, such as cancers. Pimonidazole has often been used as the gold-standard marker to visualize hypoxic regions. Pimonidazole labels hypoxic regions by forming a covalent bond with a neighboring protein under hypoxic conditions in the body, which is detected by immunohistochemistry performed on tissue sections. To date, some pimonidazole-fluorophore conjugates have been reported as fluorescent probes for hypoxia imaging that do not require immunostaining. They are superior to pimonidazole because immunostaining can produce high background signals. However, large fluorophores in the conjugates may alter the original biodistribution and reactivity. Here, we report a new hypoxia marker, Pimo-yne, as a pimonidazole-alkyne conjugate. Pimo-yne has a similar hypoxia detection capability as pimonidazole because the alkyne tag is small and can be detected by Cu-catalyzed click reaction with azide-tagged fluorescent dyes. We successfully visualized hypoxic regions in tumor tissue sections using Pimo-yne with reduced background signals. The detected regions overlapped well with those detected by pimonidazole immunohistochemistry. To further reduce the background, we employed a turn-on azide-tagged fluorescent dye.

Graphical abstract
Investigation of policy tools for energy efficiency improvement in public buildings in China—current situation, obstacles, and solutions
Authors: Zhou Hao , Tian Xin , Zhao Yang , Chang Chenchen , Lin Borong
Published: March 2024

The energy consumption from the building sector accounts for more than 21% of the total in China, where the energy-use intensity of public buildings could reach 3 times that of residential buildings. Energy efficiency improvement (EEI) is considered to be one of the most rapid and cost-effective means for the building sector to achieve carbon neutrality. The Chinese government has carried out a series of policy tool exploration to promote the energy efficiency improvement efforts by public building owners since over a decade ago, but encountered various problems and obstacles. This paper investigated and compared the current status challenges, and problems in the implementation of EEI policy tools in China and developed countries through literature review, field investigations and interviews with experts and stakeholders, and finally also put forward some possible coping strategies for Chinese government. Results indicated that energy grading and labeling, energy benchmarking, carbon-emission trading and energy-consumption quota management were the main 4 EEI policy tools designed based on measured energy consumption data, where the first 3 ones had been widely used over the developed countries but the last one was unique to China. Difficulty in large-scale collection of building energy-consumption data, lack of scientific methods on building energy-use level evaluation, limited data application and feedback, undesirable association between stakeholders, etc., were the main obstacles for achieving the long-term effectiveness of the EEI policy tools. Cooperating with energy supply enterprises to collect data, establishing an effective energy grading system and a closed loop of policy implementation, exploring a new model of building carbon-emission trading and a differential pricing mechanism, combined with innovative financial supports, might be the solutions. The main contribution of this study is that a comprehensive investigation and analysis on the current development status, obstacles, and possible solutions of the public building EEI policy tools in China was carried out, which is expected to provide a reference for the government of China and even the world.
Behavioral finance impacts on US stock market volatility: an analysis of market anomalies
Authors: Akin Isik , Akin Meryem
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the impacts of behavioral finance on stock market volatility. The primary aims are to explain the reasons behind changes in the S&P 500 price within the context of behavioral finance and to analyze investor behavior in response to these changes. To achieve this, the research employs time-series analysis over a 10-year period, focusing on the S&P 500, real interest rates, consumer confidence, market volatility and credit default swaps while considering the effects of behavioral biases. The findings reveal several significant correlations: rising real interest rates negatively affect stocks due to loss aversion and sentiment. Conversely, higher consumer confidence tends to positively influence the stock market, driven by herding behavior and optimism. Additionally, market volatility shows a negative correlation with the S&P 500, influenced by risk aversion, recency bias and herding behavior. Moreover, an increase in credit default swap rates leads to stock market declines, primarily influenced by risk perception, loss aversion and herding behavior.
Short-wavelength instabilities in a finite-amplitude plane inertial wave
Authors: Abhiram D.S. , Mathur Manikandan
Published: March 2024

We perform a linear stability analysis of a finite-amplitude plane inertial wave (of frequency

$\omega$

in the range

$0\le \omega \le f$

, where

$f$

is the Coriolis frequency) by considering the inviscid evolution of three-dimensional (3-D), small-amplitude, short-wavelength perturbations. Characterizing the base flow plane inertial wave by its non-dimensional amplitude

$A$

and the angle

$\varPhi$

that its wavevector makes with the horizontal axis, the local stability equations are solved over the entire range of perturbation wavevector orientations. At sufficiently small

$A$

, 3-D parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) is the only instability mechanism, with the most unstable perturbation wavevector making an angle close to

$60^{\circ }$

with the inertial wave plane. In addition, the most unstable perturbation is shear-aligned with the inertial wave in the inertial wave plane. Further, at large

$\varPhi$

, i.e.

$\omega \approx f,$

there exists a wide range of perturbation wavevectors whose growth rate is comparable to the maximum growth rate. As

$A$

is increased, theoretical PSI estimates become less relevant in describing the instability characteristics, and the dominant instability transitions to a two-dimensional (2-D) shear-aligned instability, which is shown to be driven by third-order resonance. The transition from 3-D PSI to a 2-D shear-aligned instability is shown to be reasonably captured by two different criteria, one based on the nonlinear time scale in the inertial wave and the other being a Rossby-number-based one.
A Cacophony of Classifications: Education and Identification in a Prenational Empire
Authors: Bernot Jan , Stergar Rok
Published: March 2024

The article seeks to fill a gap in existing scholarship on explicit and implicit linguistic, ethnic, and national classifications in Habsburg schools and their effects. It attempts to reconstruct the classifications that appeared in textbooks and other teaching materials as well as in daily practice, pupils’ exposure to them, and their engagement with these categories. Temporally, the study begins with the establishment of compulsory education (1774) and ends in the revolutionary period of 1848–49 and focuses on the Slavophone population of the Habsburg crownlands Carniola, Carinthia, Styria, and the Austrian Littoral. Our research suggests that systematic and uniform classification schemes were not yet in place in the school environment in the period under review. As a result, the influence of classificatory systems on identifications was limited. If anything, the schools inadvertently reproduced existing local and provincial identifications while the students’ limited internalization of emerging transregional identifications only happened through their personal relationships with a few teachers and peers. The transition from familiarization with emerging transregional ethnolinguistic identifications through personal networks to the systemic (and often completely unintentional) reproduction of nationalist ideology happened only after 1848.
Same Naira, More Possibilities! Assessing the Legal Status of the eNaira and Its Potential for Privacy and Inclusion
Authors: Omotubora Adekemi
Published: March 2024

On 25 October 2021, Nigeria became the second country in the world, and the first in Africa, to launch a central bank digital currency. Launched with the tag line “Same Naira. More possibilities”, the Central Bank of Nigeria publicized the eNaira as having the capability to deepen financial inclusion, reduce the cost of financial transactions and support a more efficient payment system. However, more than one year after its launch, its usage is yet to gain a critical mass. This article identifies the significant challenges that make the eNaira unacceptable and potentially ineffective. First, its status as legal tender is questionable; secondly, it undermines privacy, a critical component of physical cash. Thirdly, it is incapable of wide acceptance by individuals and entities across Nigeria. The article explains each of these challenges and proposes a roadmap to the eNaira's acceptance and effectiveness.
Reconstruction of 3D DPR Observations Using GMI Radiances
Authors: Yang Yunfan , Han Wei , Sun Haofei , Xie Hejun , Gao Zhiqiu
Published: March 2024

Three‐dimensional global precipitation observation is crucial for understanding climate and weather dynamics. While spaceborne precipitation radars provide precise but limited observations, passive microwave imagers are available much more frequently. In this study, we propose a deep learning approach to reconstruct active radar observations using passive microwave radiances. We introduce the Hybrid Deep Neural Network (HDNN) model, which utilizes reflectivity profiles from the Dual‐frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) onboard the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory Satellite as the “target” and combines radiances from the GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) with supplementary reanalysis data to serve as the “features.” Results underscore the HDNN's exemplary performance, with a root mean square error below 4 dBZ across all altitude levels, and a consistent accuracy across different precipitation types. Its efficacy is further illustrated when applied to typhoon cases of Haishen and Khanun, emerging as a superior tool for capturing 3D structures of expansive precipitation systems.
Thin Current Sheets in the Magnetotail at Lunar Distances: Statistics of ARTEMIS Observations
Authors: Kamaletdinov S. R. , Artemyev A. V. , Runov A. , Angelopoulos V.
Published: March 2024

The magnetotail current sheet's (CSs) spatial configuration and stability control the onset of magnetic reconnection ‐ the driving process for magnetospheric substorms. The near‐Earth CS has been thoroughly investigated by numerous missions, whereas the midtail CS has not been adequately explored. This is especially the case for the long‐term variation of its configuration in response to the solar wind. We present a statistical analysis of 1261 magnetotail CS crossings by the Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of Moon's Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS) mission orbiting the moon (X ∼ −60 RE), collected during the entirety of Solar Cycle 24. We demonstrate that the magnetotail CS typically remains extremely thin, with a characteristic thickness comparable to the thermal ion gyroradius, even at large distances from Earth's dipole. We also find that a substantial fraction (∼one quarter) of the observed CSs have a partially force‐free magnetic field configuration, with a significant contribution of the magnetic field shear component to the pressure balance. Further, we quantify the impact of the changing solar wind driving conditions on the properties of the midtail around the lunar orbit. During active solar wind driving conditions, we observe an increase in the occurrence rate of thin CSs, whereas quiet solar wind driving conditions seem to favor the formation of partially force‐free CSs.
Long‐ and Short‐Term Effects of Seismic Waves and Coseismic Pressure Changes on Fractured Aquifers
Authors: Zhang Yan , Manga Michael , Fu Li‐Yun , Zhang Huai , Huang Tianming , Yang Qiuye , Cui Zhen‐Dong , Qi Shengwen , Huang Yuan
Published: March 2024

Two adjacent groundwater wells on the North China Platform are used to study how earthquakes impacted aquifers. We use the response of water level to solid Earth tides to document changes after earthquakes and how aquifer and fracture properties recovered to pre‐earthquake properties. We consider two models for the phase and amplitude of water level response to the lunar diurnal (O1) and semidiurnal (M2) tides: a leaky aquifer model, and a model in which fracture orientation determines the response. In the leaky aquifer model, changes arise from changes in permeability and storage; in the fracture model, changes are due to changes in apparent orientation of transmissive fractures. Responses in one well are best explained by the leaky aquifer model, and can explain the large amplitude coseismic water level and permeability changes and the non‐recoverable changes after the largest earthquake. Responses in the other well are consistent with the fracture model and show little coseismic change in water level but changes in apparent fracture orientation. Larger ground motions lead to larger coseismic water level changes and longer recovery times. We propose that the well in the more permeable and shallow aquifer has less variable pore‐pressures around the well. Larger coseismic strains from water level changes may enable longer‐lasting changes in aquifer properties. We conclude that relatively high permeability aquifers are less susceptible to impacts from seismic waves, and thus have small changes in water levels and hydrogeological properties.
Laboratory Investigation of Energy Dissipation and Turbulent Mixing During Internal Solitary Wave Breaking on the Rough Shelf Slope
Authors: Yuan Yeping , Luo Yuanye , Wang Yixin , Lin Ying‐Tien , Liu Qian , Song Jinbao
Published: March 2024

When internal solitary waves (ISW) propagate to the continental shelf, they typically runup and break on the forereef. This process might lead to periodic temperature drops at the reef slope, which has potential to protect coral reefs from bleaching threats. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate turbulence characteristics and energy dissipation during the ISW breaking events on the shelf slope with different bottom roughness to mimic the forereef environment. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser‐induced fluorescence (PLIF) were coupled to obtain simultaneous high‐resolution velocity and density fields, based on which we then calculate the energy budget and turbulent dissipation rate. We found that the ISW breaking can be divided into two turbulent processes, the production of shear instability and coherent structures. Ratio of energy loss is weakened with the increase of bottom roughness and the collapse height, while the rough structure substantially enhanced the turbulent dissipation rate. The mixing efficiency is between 0.1 and 0.3, close to its maximal rate at 0.25. Our results reveal that the bottom roughness has impact on the mixing efficiency and turbulent process during the ISW breaking events. We found that rough structures at the shelf slope inhibit the mixing efficiency, especially in cases with small amplitude incline ISW. This finding may help us to better understand the reef damage and coral reef decline and support the management of coral protection strategy.
Clinical decision support for bipolar depression using large language models
Authors: Perlis Roy H. , Goldberg Joseph F. , Ostacher Michael J. , Schneck Christopher D.
Published: March 2024

Management of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder remains challenging for clinicians despite the availability of treatment guidelines. In other contexts, large language models have yielded promising results for supporting clinical decisionmaking. We developed 50 sets of clinical vignettes reflecting bipolar depression and presented them to experts in bipolar disorder, who were asked to identify 5 optimal next-step pharmacotherapies and 5 poor or contraindicated choices. The same vignettes were then presented to a large language model (GPT4-turbo; gpt-4-1106-preview), with or without augmentation by prompting with recent bipolar treatment guidelines, and asked to identify the optimal next-step pharmacotherapy. Overlap between model output and gold standard was estimated. The augmented model prioritized the expert-designated optimal choice for 508/1000 vignettes (50.8%, 95% CI 47.7–53.9%; Cohen’s kappa = 0.31, 95% CI 0.28–0.35). For 120 vignettes (12.0%), at least one model choice was among the poor or contraindicated treatments. Results were not meaningfully different when gender or race of the vignette was permuted to examine risk for bias. By comparison, an un-augmented model identified the optimal treatment for 234 (23.0%, 95% CI 20.8–26.0%; McNemar’s p < 0.001 versus augmented model) of the vignettes. A sample of community clinicians scoring the same vignettes identified the optimal choice for 23.1% (95% CI 15.7–30.5%) of vignettes, on average; McNemar’s p < 0.001 versus augmented model. Large language models prompted with evidence-based guidelines represent a promising, scalable strategy for clinical decision support. In addition to prospective studies of efficacy, strategies to avoid clinician overreliance on such models, and address the possibility of bias, will be needed.
Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies are a potential biomarker for ulcerative colitis-like immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis
Authors: Yokode Masataka , Shiokawa Masahiro , Kawakami Hisato , Kuwada Takeshi , Nishikawa Yoshihiro , Muramoto Yuya , Kitamoto Hiroki , Okabe Makoto , Yamazaki Hajime , Okamoto Norihiro , Morita Toshihiro , Ohno Kazuya , Nakanishi Risa , Takimoto Ikuhisa , Yasuda Muneji , Chikugo Koki , Matsumoto Shimpei , Yoshida Hiroyuki , Ota Sakiko , Nakamura Takeharu , Okada Hirokazu , Hirano Tomonori , Kakiuchi Nobuyuki , Matsumori Tomoaki , Yamamoto Shuji , Uza Norimitsu , Ooi Makoto , Kodama Yuzo , Chiba Tsutomu , Hayashi Hidetoshi , Seno Hiroshi
Published: March 2024

Background

No specific biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced colitis has been established. Previously, we identified anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies in >90% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Given that a subset of ICI-induced colitis is similar to UC, we aimed to clarify the relationship between such autoantibodies and ICI-induced colitis.

Methods

Serum anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibody levels were compared between 26 patients with ICI-induced colitis and 157 controls. Endoscopic images of ICI-induced colitis were centrally reviewed. Characteristics of anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies in the ICI-induced colitis patients were compared with those of UC patients.

Results

Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies were found in 8/26 (30.8%) patients with ICI-induced colitis and 3/157 (1.9%) controls (P < 0.001). Patients with anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies had significantly more typical UC endoscopic features than those without the autoantibodies (P < 0.001). Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies in ICI-induced colitis patients were associated with grade ≥3 colitis (P = 0.001) and steroid resistance (P = 0.005). Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibody titers correlated with ICI-induced colitis disease activity. Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies of ICI-induced colitis exhibited similar characteristics to those of UC.

Conclusions

Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies may serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis, classification, risk management, and monitoring the disease activity, of ICI-induced colitis.
Antibiotics treatment promotes vasculogenesis in the brain of glioma-bearing mice
Authors: Rosito Maria , Maqbool Javeria , Reccagni Alice , Giampaoli Ottavia , Sciubba Fabio , Antonangeli Fabrizio , Scavizzi Ferdinando , Raspa Marcello , Cordella Federica , Tondo Lucrezia , Di Angelantonio Silvia , Trettel Flavia , Miccheli Alfredo , D’Alessandro Giuseppina , Limatola Cristina
Published: March 2024

In recent years, several studies described the close relationship between the composition of gut microbiota and brain functions, highlighting the importance of gut-derived metabolites in mediating neuronal and glial cells cross-talk in physiological and pathological condition. Gut dysbiosis may affects cerebral tumors growth and progression, but the specific metabolites involved in this modulation have not been identified yet. Using a syngeneic mouse model of glioma, we have investigated the role of dysbiosis induced by the administration of non-absorbable antibiotics on mouse metabolome and on tumor microenvironment. We report that antibiotics treatment induced: (1) alteration of the gut and brain metabolome profiles; (2) modeling of tumor microenvironment toward a pro-angiogenic phenotype in which microglia and glioma cells are actively involved; (3) increased glioma stemness; (4) trans-differentiation of glioma cells into endothelial precursor cells, thus increasing vasculogenesis. We propose glycine as a metabolite that, in ABX-induced dysbiosis, shapes brain microenvironment and contributes to glioma growth and progression.