bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The VST ATLAS Quasar Survey – III. Halo mass function via quasar clustering and quasar-CMB lensing cross-clustering
Authors: Eltvedt Alice M , Shanks T , Metcalfe N , Ansarinejad B , Barrientos L F , Murphy D N A , Alexander D M
Published: November 2024

We exploit the VST ATLAS quasar (QSO) catalogue to perform three measurements of the quasar halo mass profile. First, we make a new estimate of the angular autocorrelation function of ≈230 000 ATLAS quasars with $z_{\rm photo}\lesssim 2.5$ and $17 < g < 22$. By comparing with the $\Lambda$CDM mass clustering correlation function, we measure the quasar bias to be $b_{\rm Q}\approx 2.1$, implying a quasar halo mass of $M_{\rm halo} \approx 8.5\times 10^{11}\,h^{-1}\,{\rm M}_\odot$. Second, we cross-correlate these $z\approx 1.7$ ATLAS quasars with the Planck cosmic microwave background (CMB) lensing maps, detecting a somewhat stronger signal at $4\,{\rm arcmin} < \theta < 60\,{\rm arcmin}$ than previous authors. Scaling these authors’ model fit to our data, we estimate a quasar host halo mass of $M_{\rm halo}\approx 8.3\times 10^{11}\,h^{-1}\,{\rm M}_\odot$. Third, we fit halo occupation sistribution (HOD) model parameters to our quasar autocorrelation function and from the derived halo mass function, we estimate a quasar halo mass of $M_{\rm halo}\approx 2.5\times 10^{12}\,h^{-1}\,{\rm M}_\odot$. We then compare our HOD model prediction to our quasar-CMB lensing result, confirming their consistency. We find that most (≈2/3) QSOs have halo masses within a factor of ≈3 of this average mass. An analysis based on the probability of X-ray detections of AGN in galaxies and the galaxy stellar mass function gives a similarly small mass range. Finally, we compare the quasar halo mass and luminosity functions and suggest that gravitational growth may produce the constant space density with redshift seen in the quasar luminosity function.
Power spectrum multipoles and clustering wedges during the epoch of reionization
Authors: Chen Zhaoting , Pourtsidou Alkistis
Published: November 2024

We study the viability of using power spectrum clustering wedges as summary statistics of 21 cm surveys during the epoch of reionization (EoR). For observations in a wide redshift range $z\sim 7{\!-\!}9$ corresponding to a line-of-sight scale of $\sim 500\,$ Mpc, the power spectrum is subject to anisotropic effects due to the evolution along the light of sight. Information on the physics of reionization can be extracted from the anisotropy using the power spectrum multipoles. Signals of the power spectrum monopole are highly correlated at scales smaller than the typical ionization bubble, which can be disentangled by including higher-order multipoles. By simulating observations of the low-frequency part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory, we find that the sampling of the cylindrical wavenumber $\boldsymbol {k}$-space is highly non-uniform due to the baseline distribution, i.e. the distribution of antenna pairs sampling different transverse $\boldsymbol {k}_\perp$ scales. Measurements in clustering wedges partition the cylindrical $\boldsymbol {k}$-space into different radial $k_\parallel$ scales, and can be used for isolating parts of $\boldsymbol {k}$-space with relatively uniform sampling, allowing for more precise parameter inference. Using Fisher Matrix forecasts, we find that the reionization model can be inferred with per cent level precision with $\sim 120$ h of integration time using SKA-Low. Compared to model inference using only the power spectrum monopole above the foreground wedge, model inference using multipole power spectra in clustering wedges yields a factor of $\sim 3$ improvement on the marginalized 1D parameter constraints.
Measurements of the thermal and ionization state of the intergalactic medium during the cosmic afternoon
Authors: Hu Teng , Khaire Vikram , Hennawi Joseph F , Tripp Todd M , Oñorbe Jose , Walther Michael , Lukić Zarija
Published: November 2024

We perform the first measurement of the thermal and ionization state of the intergalactic medium (IGM) across $0.9 \lt z \lt 1.5$ using 301 Ly $\,\alpha$ absorption lines fitted from 12 archival Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph quasar spectra. We employ the machine-learning-based inference method that uses joint Doppler parameter–column density ($b{-}N_{{\rm {H\,{\small I}}}{}}$) distributions obtained from Ly$\,\alpha$ forest decomposition. Our results show that the H i photoionization rates, $\Gamma _{{\rm {H\,{\small I}}}{}}$, agree with recent ultraviolet background synthesis models, with $\log (\Gamma _{{\rm{H\,{\small I}}}}/\text{s}^{-1})={-11.79}^{+0.18}_{-0.15}$, ${-11.98}^{+0.09}_{-0.09}$, and ${-12.32}^{+0.10}_{-0.12}$ at $z=1.4$, 1.2, and 1, respectively. We obtain the IGM temperature at the mean density, $T_0$, and the adiabatic index, $\gamma$, as $[\log (T_0/\text{K}), \gamma ]=$ [${4.13}^{+0.12}_{-0.10}$, ${1.34}^{+0.10}_{-0.15}$], $[{3.79}^{+0.11}_{-0.11}$, ${1.70}^{+0.09}_{-0.09}]$, and $[{4.12}^{+0.15}_{-0.25}$, ${1.34}^{+0.21}_{-0.26}]$ at $z=1.4$, 1.2, and 1. Our measurements of $T_0$ at $z=1.4$ and 1.2 are consistent with the trend predicted from previous $z\lt 3$ temperature measurements and theoretical expectations, where the IGM cools down after He ii reionization in the absence of any non-standard heating. However, our $T_0$ measurement at $z=1$ shows unexpectedly high IGM temperature. Given the relatively large uncertainty in these measurements, where $\sigma _{T_0} \sim 5000$ K, mostly emanating from the limited size of our data set, we cannot conclude whether the IGM cools down as expected. Lastly, we generate mock data sets to test the constraining power of future measurement with larger data sets. The results demonstrate that, with redshift path-length $\Delta z \sim 2$ for each redshift bin, three times the current data set, we can constrain the $T_0$ of IGM within 1500 K, which would be sufficient to constrain the IGM thermal history at $z \lt 1.5$ conclusively.
Semi-supervised spectral classification of DESI white dwarfs by dimensionality reduction
Authors: Byrne Xander , Bonsor Amy , Rogers Laura K , Manser Christopher J
Published: November 2024

As a new generation of large-sky spectroscopic surveys comes online, the enormous data volume poses unprecedented challenges in classifying spectra. Modern unsupervised techniques have the power to group spectra based on their dominant features, circumventing the complete reliance on training data suffered by supervised methods. We outline the use of dimensionality reduction to generate a two-dimensional map of the structure of an intermediate-resolution spectroscopic data set. This technique efficiently separates white dwarfs of different spectral classes in the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument’s Early Data Release (DESI EDR), identifying spectral features that had been missed even by visual classification. By focusing the method on particular spectral regions, we identify white dwarfs with helium features at 90 per cent recall, and cataclysmic variables at 100 per cent recall, illustrating rapid selection of low-contamination samples from spectroscopic surveys. We also demonstrate the use of dimensionality reduction in a supervised manner, outlining a procedure to classify any white dwarf spectrum in comparison with those in the DESI EDR. With upcoming surveys promising tens of millions of spectra, our work highlights the potential for semisupervised techniques as an efficient means of classification and data set visualization.
The variability structure function of the highest luminosity quasars on short time-scales
Authors: Tang Ji-Jia , Wolf Christian , Tonry John
Published: November 2024

The stochastic photometric variability of quasars is known to follow a random-walk phenomenology on emission time-scales of months to years. Some high-cadence rest-frame optical monitoring in the past has hinted at a suppression of variability amplitudes on shorter time-scales of a few days or weeks, opening the question of what drives the suppression and how it might scale with quasar properties. Here, we study a few thousand of the highest luminosity quasars in the sky, mostly in the luminosity range of $L_{\rm bol}$$=[46.4, 47.3]$ and redshift range of $z=[0.7, 2.4]$. We use a data set from the NASA/Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System facility with nightly cadence, weather permitting, which has been used before to quantify strong regularity in longer term rest-frame-UV variability. As we focus on a careful treatment of short time-scales across the sample, we find that a linear function is sufficient to describe the UV variability structure function. Although the result can not rule out the existence of breaks in some groups completely, a simpler model is usually favoured under this circumstance. In conclusion, the data are consistent with a single-slope random walk across rest-frame time-scales of $\Delta t=[10, 250]$ d.
Accurate proper motions of the protostellar binary system L 1551 IRS 5
Authors: Hernández Garnica Ricardo , Loinard Laurent , Duran Aurora , Ordóñez-Toro Jazmín , Chandler Claire J , Dzib Sergio A , Cuello Nicolás , Ménard François , Maureira María José , Bianchi Eleonora , Cruz-Sáenz de Miera Fernando , Carrasco-González Carlos , Rodríguez Luis F , Torres Rosa M , Raga Alejandro C , Lim Jeremy , Feeney-Johansson Anton
Published: November 2024

We present an extensive astrometric study of the protostellar binary system L 1551 IRS 5, utilizing nearly four decades of interferometric observations obtained between 1983 and 2022 with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). We focus on observations with sufficient angular resolution to separate the two protostars (L 1551 IRS 5 N and S) in the system and derive accurate absolute proper motions for the two sources, as well as the relative proper motion between them. The absolute proper motion is dominated by the solar motion with only a modest contribution from L 1551 IRS 5’s peculiar velocity, as expected for a young stellar object. The relative proper motions enable us to constrain the orbit and derive a total mass of $0.96\pm 0.17$ M$_\odot$ for the system. While the emission of both sources at wavelengths shorter than about 1.3 cm is compact, the emission at longer wavelengths ($\lambda \gtrsim 2$ cm) is often affected by a free–free contribution from nearby shock features. The results presented here demonstrate that, when appropriate care is taken to combine the observations, interferometric data collected with different facilities, at different frequencies, and with different gain calibrators can be combined to obtain accurate astrometry. Observations of L 1551 IRS 5 over the next several decades with the VLA, ALMA, and eventually the ngVLA and SKA ought to improve its dynamical mass measurement down to an accuracy of a few per cent. Similar observations of other young multiple systems have the unique potential to provide dynamical mass estimates for the youngest known stellar objects.
Testing the framework of the halo occupation distribution with assembly bias modelling and empirical extensions
Authors: Zhai Zhongxu , Percival Will J
Published: November 2024

We investigate theoretical systematics caused by the application of the halo occupation distribution (HOD) to the study of galaxy clustering at non-linear scales. To do this, we repeat recent cosmological analyses using extended HOD models based on both the Aemulus and Aemulus $\nu$ simulation suites, allowing for variations in the dark matter halo shape, incompleteness, baryonic effects, and position bias of central galaxies. We fit to the galaxy correlation function including the projected correlation function, redshift-space monopole and quadrupole, and consider how the changes in HOD affect the retrieval of cosmological information. These extensions can be understood as an evaluation of the impact of the secondary bias in the clustering analysis. In the application of BOSS (Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey) galaxies, these changes do not have a significant impact on the measured linear growth rate. However, we do find weak to mild evidence for some of the effects modelled by the empirical parametrizations adopted. The modelling is able to make the HOD approach more complete in terms of cosmological constraints. We anticipate that the future and better data can provide tighter constraints on the new prescriptions of the HOD model.
Noncanonical microglial IL-1β maturation in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Zimmermann Silke , Mathew Akash , Bondareva Olga , Elwakiel Ahmed , Jiang Shihai , Rana Rajiv , Bechmann Ingo , Goldschmidt Jürgen , Klöting Nora , Sheikh Bilal N , Isermann Berend
Published: November 2024

Background

Organ transplantation reverses cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease (CKD), indicating that cognitive impairment driven by CKD is therapeutically amendable. We recently demonstrated that impaired cognition in CKD is linked to interleukin-1β (IL-1β) release from microglia and IL-1 receptor type 1 signalling in neuronal cells, thereby identifying a signalling pathway that can be exploited therapeutically. However, the mechanism of IL-1β maturation in microglia in CKD remains unknown. We hypothesized that microglia cells require caspase-1 for CKD-driven cognitive impairment.

Methods

We used a combination of single-cell analyses, in situ analyses, genetically modified mouse models (including newly generated Cre-LoxP mouse models) and in vitro models. The current study builds on a recently identified intercellular cross-talk between microglia and neurons that impairs cognition in CKD.

Results

Here we show that despite NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the brain and protection of mice with constitutive NLRP3 deficiency from CKD-induced cognitive impairment, caspase-1 is not required for IL-1β maturation in microglia and targeted caspase-1 deficiency in microglia does not improve cognition in CKD mice. These data indicate that IL-1β maturation in microglia is independent of the NLRP3–caspase-1 interaction in CKD. Indeed, microglia activation in CKD induces noncanonical, cathepsin C–caspase-8–mediated IL-1β maturation. Depletion of cathepsin C or caspase-8 blocks IL-1β maturation in microglia. Preliminary analyses suggest that noncanonical microglia IL-1β maturation occurs also in diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion

These results identify a noncanonical IL-1β-maturation pathway as a potential therapeutic target to combat microglia-induced neuronal dysfunction in CKD and possibly other peripheral diseases.
In-situ understanding on the formation of fibrillar morphology in green solvent processed all-polymer solar cells
Authors: Ma Ruijie , Li Hongxiang , Dela Peña Top Archie , Wang Heng , Yan Cenqi , Cheng Pei , Wu Jiaying , Li Gang
Published: November 2024

Solid additive engineering has been intensively explored on morphology tuning for highly efficient all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs), a promising photovoltaic technology towards multi-scenario application. Although the nano-fibrillar network of the active layer induced by additive treatment is confirmed as the key factor for power conversion efficiency (PCE) of all-PSCs, its formation mechanism is not clearly revealed, for lack of precise and convincing real-time observation of crystallization and phase separation during the liquid-to-solid transition process of spin-coating. Herein we report an in-situ grazing incidence wide-angle/small-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS/GISAXS) screening that reveals the fact that naphthalene derived solid additives can suppress the aggregation of the polymer acceptor (PY-IT) at the beginning stage of spin coating, which provides sufficient time and space for the polymer donor (PM6) to form the fibril structure. Moreover, guided by this knowledge, a ternary all-polymer system is proposed, which achieves cutting-edge level PCEs for both small-area (0.04 cm2) (also decent operational stability) and large-area (1 cm2) devices.
The Effect of Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) on Human Inflammation Biomarkers and Antioxidant Enzymes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Sarıkaya Buse , Kolay Ezgi , Guney-Coskun Merve , Yiğit- Ziolkowski Aslı , Aktaç Şule
Published: November 2024

Context

Consuming antioxidant-rich foods has been associated with potential benefits in managing chronic diseases by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

Objective

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of Aronia melanocarpa (aronia berry or chokeberry) on human inflammation biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes.

Data Sources

A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science, to identify relevant studies investigating the potential effects of aronia on human inflammation biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes between April 2022 and November 2023.

Data Extraction

The selection of studies followed the PRISMA guidelines, data screening was conducted by 4 independent reviewers, and data extraction and risk-of-bias assessments were performed by 2 independent reviewers using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.

Data Analysis

A total of 1986 studies were screened, and 18 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in a systematic review that investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of aronia on various health parameters. These studies primarily focused on the effects of aronia on cardiometabolic diseases, performance in sport, and other health parameters.

Conclusions

This study examined the effects of Aronia intervention on human health outcomes using aronia juice, extract, or oven-dried powder for a period of 4 to 13 weeks. The primary health parameters considered were C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). The results showed that aronia had a beneficial effect on several inflammatory cytokines, including reductions in CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations, as well as elevated IL-10 levels. Moreover, positive changes have been observed in antioxidant enzyme systems, including; elevated SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activity. The findings of the presented studies provide evidence that Aronia melanocarpa may have beneficial effects on inflammatory markers.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration No. CRD42022325633.
Techno-economic assessment of hydrogen production in Ghana through PV electrolysis and biomass gasification
Authors: Tanyi Robinson J , Mensah Lena D , Ntiamoah Augustine , Quansah David A , Adaramola Muyiwa S
Published: November 2024

The potential to develop a green hydrogen market in Ghana is assessed in this paper. The focus is on biomass gasification and photovoltaic-driven water electrolysis. Using the H2A-Lite model, the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of these technologies are assessed for both current (2023) and future (2040) scenarios. In the current scenario, distributed and centralized Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolysis gave levelized costs of $5.56/kg and $4.35/kg for hydrogen respectively, while centralized biomass gasification yields the cheapest hydrogen cost at $2.68/kg. The high cost of solar PEM electrolysis is linked to expensive electricity and solar PV, but also to compression, storage, and dispensing costs for distributed systems. By year 2040, a general cost reduction is expected due to cheaper renewable energy and increased efficiency. However, these production methods still face competition from more economical conventional steam methane reforming (SMR) processes having a levelized cost of less than $2/kg H2. The study concludes that a hydrogen development strategy and roadmap for Ghana will be crucial to proceed with hydrogen, setting deployment targets, and engaging stakeholders in promoting the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier while creating new economic opportunities and achieving climate objectives.
The Global Law in the Context of Politics, Ethics, Justice
Authors: Capaldo Giuliana Ziccardi
Published: November 2024

The General Editor, Professor Emeritus Giuliana Ziccardi Capaldo, shares nothing short of a major makeover in her Editorial to the 2023 edition of the Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence (Yearbook, or GCYILJ). True to tradition, Ziccardi Capaldo announces a continuation of the general editorial scope of the publication: its commitment to monitoring international jurisprudence with a specific view to the transition to a global constitutional order and governance. However, one of the previous hallmarks—Legal Maxims—has been replaced, as a logical consequence of the ever-burgeoning international case-law. In her account of the alternative editorial angle, it nevertheless becomes evident that the core of the spirit in which Ziccardi Capaldo founded the Yearbook will be maintained, if not strengthened: the GCYILJ’s “global constitutionalism approach.” In particular, changes include a substantial expansion of the number of courts covered, a section on “Surveys” related to their activity, and increased attention to “Global Law” in the context of “Politics” and “Justice” and, with this, “Ethics.” The cutting-edge research of a slate of eminent experts was selected to express exactly how various sections contribute to the ongoing discourse.
ECOWAS Intervention in Niger
Authors: Amponsah-Mensah Afia A.
Published: November 2024

The possibility of the use of force by ECOWAS in Niger to restore the constitutionally elected government to power after its overthrow by the military raises a number of questions about the legality of intervention by a regional organization in the domestic affairs of a sovereign member state. Accepted principles of international law render prohibit the use of force against a state unless authorized by the UN Security Council; however, there is some evidence that a regional organization can act without prior UN approval to restore an elected government to power.
Interstate Cooperation Regarding Reparations for Victims
Authors: Zúñiga Reyes Marcela
Published: November 2024

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights set important standards on the obligation to cooperate in cases of gross human rights violations. In the Julien Grisonas v. Argentina case, the Inter-American Court recently ordered Argentina to coordinate interstate efforts, through the creation of a working group, to investigate the serious violations of human rights that occurred in this case and in the context of “Operation Condor.” In particular, the reparation measure included third states that were not involved in the case. This decision raises at least two questions: Can the Inter-American Court compel third states to comply with a reparation measure under the obligation to cooperate and the principle of collective guarantee? Second, does this decision open the debate about shared responsibility in the Inter-American Human Rights System?
Let There Be Light! Regime Hybridity as a Reinvention of (Different Dimensions of) the Democratic Paradox
Authors: Matwijkiw Anja
Published: November 2024

Regime hybridity occupies the gray zone in political governance discourse by cutting across the distinction between democracy and non-democracy. This essay relies on a mixed regime and crime typology to facilitate an interdisciplinary comprehension of the phenomenon, as well as the two poles that demarcate the ideal and the antithesis to this, namely, liberal democracy and authoritarianism. The contribution shows that hybridity opens up for the democratic paradox in various ways while at the same time problematizing relevant perceptions and assumptions that flow from liberal outlooks. The advantage of the ideal cannot be taken for granted. E.g., the principle versus power contrast is not unique for realpolitik, which also comes with a relativization factor for key concepts. Country-specific cases from the EU forum provide informative examples on the difficulty of finding light at the end of the tunnel. In particular, the contribution may inspire continued and thoughtful reflection in the case of Ukraine.
Economic Court of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS Economic Court)
Authors: Douhan Alena
Published: November 2024

The CIS Economic Court is a regional international court established as a means for settlement of economic disputes between new independent states in the post-Soviet territory in 1992. The Court has effectively worked for the period between 1992 and 2017, exercised functions of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union until 2012, and changed to “sleeping” sessional work in 2017. Rules of procedure of the CIS Economic Court have been reviewed in 2023 to “vitalize” functioning of the Court and ensure settlement of disputes in the areas not covered by other international courts. In its work, the CIS Economic Court has focused on the interpretation of multiple international agreements concluded within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States due to the framework character of the latter, as well as decisions of the CIS organs. The CIS Economic Court played an important role in the establishment, formulation, and interpretation of the law of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
European Free Trade Association Court (EFTA Court)
Authors: Hreinsson Páll , Einarsson Ólafur Jóhannes
Published: November 2024

In this introductory note, the case law of the EFTA Court in 2022 and the first half of 2023 is covered. The introductory note also serves as a brief introduction to European Economic Area (EEA) law and the EEA Agreement. During this period, the Court dealt with cases in the fields of competition and state aid, workers and social security, public procurement and taxation, in addition to interesting questions regarding the fundamentals of EEA law and the four freedoms. The most significant case of the period is the Court’s judgment in Telenor, whereas its continued case law on the Social Security Regulation and its judgment in the case of RS are also noteworthy. This introductory note provides a summary of these judgments and a few others, which together form the most significant judgments of the EFTA Court in the period covered.
Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR)
Authors: Manrique Ricardo C. Pérez
Published: November 2024

In year 2022, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a significant number of decisions, comprising twenty-five judgements on merits, nine on interpretation, and an advisory opinion. Additionally, it set a new record by delivering fifty-eight orders pertaining to the monitoring of compliance with judgements, along with sixteen orders relating to provisional measures. Through this period, the Inter-American Court effectively reinforced its jurisprudential stance on various crucial matters. These encompassed violations of economic, social, and cultural rights; the issue of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals; and instances of breaching procedural guarantees. It is worth noting that amidst these affirmations of existing jurisprudence, the Court also embarked on the development of fresh legal reasoning. This was evident in its approach to complex subjects such as freedom of speech, obstetric violence, incarcerated individuals, and environmental defenders. Moreover, the Court exhibited a perspective concerning forced disappearances, along with a thorough examination of its gender dimension’s impact. The legal information included in this edition of the Yearbook shed light on some of these advances in the Court's jurisprudence.
UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC)
Authors: Desierto Diane A.
Published: November 2024

The UN Human Rights Committee’s Views (1 January 2022–31 July 2023)—a total of ninety publicly available decisions (Views) issued to states parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)— reflect the Committee’s assessment of emergency and law enforcement measures from authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes around the world, in both peacetime situations and armed conflicts. Violent and repressive governmental measures are escalating against civilians, journalists, civil society organizations, religious organizations, and workers’ associations—often justified as emergency measures to enforce public order and respond to alleged terrorist threats. The UN Human Rights Committee found breaches of the ICCPR by states parties in sixty-five of its ninety Views, with only one decision on the merits (View) finding that a state did not violate the ICCPR, twenty-three decisions on the inadmissibility of authors’ communications, and one decision declaring admissibility and not yet in the merits phase.
Self-consistent N-body simulation of planetesimal-driven migration. I. The trajectories of single planets in the uniform background
Authors: Jinno Tenri , Saitoh Takayuki R , Funato Yoko , Makino Junichiro
Published: November 2024

Recent exoplanet observations have revealed a diversity of exoplanetary systems, which suggests the ubiquity of radial planetary migration. One powerful known mechanism of planetary migration is planetesimal-driven migration (PDM), which can let planets undergo significant migration through gravitational scattering with planetesimals. In this series of papers, we present the results of our high-resolution, self-consistent N-body simulations of PDM, in which gravitational interactions among planetesimals, the gas drag, and Type I migration are all taken into account. In this first paper (Paper I), we investigate the migration of a single planet through PDM within the framework of the classical standard disk model (the minimum-mass solar nebula model). Paper I aims to improve our understanding of planetary migration through PDM, addressing previously unexplored aspects of both the gravitational interactions among planetesimals and the interactions with disk gas. Our results show that even small protoplanets can actively migrate through PDM. Such active migration can act as a rapid radial diffusion mechanism for protoplanets and significantly influence the early stages of planetary formation (i.e., during the runaway growth phase). Moreover, a fair fraction of planets migrate outward. This outward migration may offer a potential solution for the “planet migration problem” caused by Type I migration and gives a natural mechanism for outward migration assumed in many recent scenarios for the formation of outer planets.
Limits to dynamic range in GHz-THz single-dish planetary spectra
Authors: Greaves J S
Published: November 2024

When bright solar-system objects are observed by GHz-THz regime telescopes, off-axis signals bounce around locally and re-enter the signal path with a time delay, causing sinusoidal ripples in output spectra. Ripples that are unstable over time are challenging to remove. A typical detection limit for planetary spectral lines is a fraction $\sim 10^{-3}$ of continuum signal, restricting searches for minor atmospheric trace-gases. Modern wideband spectra of Venus demonstrate a plethora of effects, at three example telescopes spanning nearly a factor-of-50 in frequency. Characterization of instrumental effects as families of pure sine-waves via Fourier-analysis is shown to improve dynamic-range by factors of a few. An example upper limit on sulphuric acid (H$_2$SO$_4$) vapour in Venus’ mesosphere, from fully automated data-cleaning of a 3.5 GHz band containing 10 line components, goes as deep as the best previously published limit. The most challenging cases are searches for single lines of width comparable to ripple periods. Traditional polynomial-fitting approaches can be deployed to test for false positives, to demonstrate robustness at a level of zero ‘fake lines’ in >1000 comparisons. Fourier-based data-cleaning avoids subjectivity and can be fully automated, and synthetic spectra can be injected before processing to test to what degree signals are lost in cleaning. An ideal robustness strategy is mitigation at the data-acquisition stage, e.g. using slow drifts in target-velocity with respect to the telescope to isolate a planetary line from a quasi-static instrumental ripple pattern.
Predictors of the effectiveness of first-line CTLA4-Ig in patients with RA: the FIRST registry
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroki , Miyazaki Yusuke , Nakayamada Shingo , Hanami Kentaro , Fukuyo Shunsuke , Kubo Satoshi , Yamaguchi Ayako , Inoue Yoshino , Todoroki Yasuyuki , Miyata Hiroko , Tanaka Hiroaki , Fujino Yoshihisa , Hirata Shintaro , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: November 2024

Objective

This study aimed to elucidate which bio-naïve patients with RA are suitable for treatment with CTLA4-Ig.

Methods

This study enrolled 953 patients with RA who were administered their first biological DMARD (CTLA4-Ig, n = 328; tumour necrosis factor inhibitor [TNFi], n = 625) from July 2013 to August 2022. The primary outcome was the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission rate at week 24 in each group, adjusted using propensity score (PS)-based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW).

Results

After minimizing selection bias using PS-based IPTW, the CDAI remission showed no significant difference between the CTLA4-Ig and TNFi groups (P = 0.464). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified low baseline HAQ–Disability Index (DI) scores as a contributing factor to the CDAI remission rate at week 24 in both groups, along with high baseline ACPA levels in the CTLA4-Ig group. However, among patients with high baseline HAQ-DI scores and low baseline ACPA levels (≦57.2), the CDAI remission rate was significantly higher in the TNFi group (29.8%) compared with the CTLA4-Ig group (5.9%, P < 0.0001). Among patients with high baseline HAQ-DI scores and ACPA levels (>57.2), the CDAI remission rate was significantly higher in the CTLA4-Ig group (35.6%) compared with the TNFi group (22.1%, P = 0.0057).

Conclusion

Bio-naive RA patients with low HAQ-DI scores showed high treatment efficacy with no significant difference between CTLA4-Ig and TNFi. Among patients with high baseline HAQ-DI scores, TNFi and CTLA4-Ig were more likely to be effective in those with lower and higher baseline ACPA levels, respectively.
Inclusion body myositis and immunosenescence: current evidence and future perspectives
Authors: Allameen Nur Azizah , Salam Sharfaraz , Reddy Venkat , Machado Pedro M
Published: November 2024

IBM remains an enigmatic and complex muscle disorder where a deeper understanding of disease pathomechanisms and the identification of potential genetic contributors represent an unmet need. The absence of effective treatments has spurred endeavours to reassess the interplay between degeneration, including autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction and proteasomal dysregulation, and autoimmunity. IBM is unique among the other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies owing to its molecular signature involving highly differentiated cytotoxic T cells that evade immune regulation. This has led to a resurgence of interest in the development of immunomodulatory therapy. This review discusses the potential role of cellular immunosenescence in sustaining inflammation and/or fibrotic remodelling observed in IBM and appraises the rationale for some potential therapeutic approaches to mitigate disease progression.
Leveraging foundation and large language models in medical artificial intelligence
Authors: Wong Io Nam , Monteiro Olivia , Baptista-Hon Daniel T. , Wang Kai , Lu Wenyang , Sun Zhuo , Nie Sheng , Yin Yun
Published: November 2024

Recent advancements in the field of medical artificial intelligence (AI) have led to the widespread adoption of foundational and large language models. This review paper explores their applications within medical AI, introducing a novel classification framework that categorizes them as disease-specific, general-domain, and multi-modal models. The paper also addresses key challenges such as data acquisition and augmentation, including issues related to data volume, annotation, multi-modal fusion, and privacy concerns. Additionally, it discusses the evaluation, validation, limitations, and regulation of medical AI models, emphasizing their transformative potential in healthcare. The importance of continuous improvement, data security, standardized evaluations, and collaborative approaches is highlighted to ensure the responsible and effective integration of AI into clinical applications.
Two Cases of FAVA With an Uncommon Localization in Adults
Authors: Fernandez-Flores Angel , Martínez-Amo José Luis
Published: November 2024

The fibroadipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) is a relatively unknown vascular anomaly in the realm of adult dermatopathology. Despite its intramuscular location, dermatologists often encounter cases, approaching them surgically under the presumption of a potential lipoma. This entity was first described in 2014, and consequently, many FAVA cases may be concealed in our archives under diagnoses of other entities that require differential diagnoses, such as intramuscular fast-flow vascular anomaly. Clinically, these anomalies typically manifest preferably in young women or girls and predominantly in the extremities. In this article, we present 2 cases of FAVA with atypical clinical features in terms of their topography and age at onset. However, histopathologically, they exhibit typical characteristics with fibroadipose tissue and dysmorphic venous vessels dissecting the affected striated muscle.
The Need for Higher Levels of Evidence in Plastic Surgery
Authors: Wang Jennifer , Schafer Charles , Steele Thomas , Janis Jeffrey E. , Losken Albert
Published: November 2024

Background:

Evidence-based medicine in plastic surgery is essential to provide optimal care to individual patients. Level of evidence (LOE) and number of citations are metrics used to gauge quality of research and impact within a field, respectively. The objective of this study was to determine an association between LOE and number of citations within recently published articles in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS).

Methods:

A review of original research articles published in PRS from January 2018 to June 2022 was performed. LOE was identified through the PRS website, and the number of citations identified via PubMed. Articles were further divided into sections of their corresponding topic.

Results:

A total of 965 articles were reviewed, of which 21 (2.2%) were articles assigned level I evidence. There were 147 (15.2%) level II articles, 360 (37.3%) level III articles, 377 (39.1%) level IV articles, and 60 (6.2%) level V articles. The average number of citations per article was 2.72, and the average LOE of all included articles was 3.31. Level I articles had an average of 4.95 citations, whereas level II, III, IV, and V articles had averages of 2.95, 2.54, 2.64, and 2.71, respectively. Breast articles were cited on average 3.85 times each, more than any other type of article.

Conclusions:

Our data show that articles assigned level I evidence in PRS trend toward higher numbers of citations compared with articles assigned lower LOEs. These findings should encourage investigators to publish high-quality research to advance the field of plastic surgery.
Experience of Hyperbaric Chamber Usage in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Practice for Recovery and Complication Prevention
Authors: Aguilar Hugo A. , Ramírez Brian A. , Serrano Hector M. , Villabona Silvia J. , Hoyos Alfredo E. , Varela Agustina
Published: November 2024

Background:

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) increases oxygen concentration in affected tissues that enhance the cellular hypoxia recovery process, neovascularization, fibroblast proliferation, increased reactive oxygen species, suppression of proinflammatory states, and vascular compression. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the experience in the use of the hyperbaric chamber as an adjunctive management for the prompt recovery of patients who underwent aesthetic plastic surgery.

Methods:

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted between 2021 and 2023, involving 296 patients who received HBOT after aesthetic surgical procedures, to demonstrate the recuperation time rate and the complication incidence in postoperative patients using HBOT.

Results:

Most participants were women, with a median age of 33.5 years. Surgical procedures were grouped in liposculpture, abdominoplasty, and breast interventions. Complications related to the surgical event were low (10.7%), with occurrences of hematomas (n = 14, 4.72%), anemias (n = 9, 3.04%), and wound dehiscence (n = 8, 2.70%). There were no reports of surgical site infections or necrosis. Recovery times to get back to work were 10 days for liposuction, 3 days for breast interventions, and 21 days for abdominoplasty.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated the experience of using a postoperative hyperbaric chamber in aesthetic plastic surgery to promote recovery processes. The patient cohort in this study showed shortened recovery times than the data obtained from the major international plastic surgery organizations. Also, HBOT patients had a low complication rate, without infections, indicating the potential efficacy of this adjunctive therapy. Overall, this study underscores the promising role of hyperbaric chamber therapy in facilitating postoperative recovery and mitigating complications.
Off-Centered DMEK Grafts: Impact and Resolution
Authors: Romano Vito , Airaldi Matteo , Romano Davide , Miglio Francesco , Borgia Alfredo , Parekh Mohit , Semeraro Francesco , Pereira Nicolas Cesário
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of off-centered Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) grafts compared to descemetorhexis.

Methods:

This is a retrospective case series of DMEK procedures conducted between June 2022 and July 2023 with postoperative graft decentration, characterized by a gap between the graft and descemetorhexis edge.

Results:

Eight eyes of 8 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average gap between the descemetorhexis edge and DMEK graft was 911.2 μm (range 306–1468). The resulting focal peripheral edema overlying the gap resolved in all cases, with a median time of 3 months. Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.49 (±0.26) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution to 0.01 (±0.02) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution at 12 months (P = 0.003). Central corneal thickness decreased from 646.5 (±177.8) μm to 473.7 (±29.6) μm at 12 months (P = 0.05). One eye, in the overlapped area of host–donor Descemet membranes, had small peripheral partial graft detachment less than one-third of graft surface area. No eyes required graft rebubbling. A larger descemetorhexis to DMEK gap showed a trend toward longer resolution times (P = 0.06). Focal edema in the inferonasal periphery took longer to recover compared with the nasal position (P = 0.01). Larger descemetorhexis to DMEK gaps did not significantly influence the longitudinal visual acuity trend (P = 0.75).

Conclusions:

Decentered DMEK, characterized by a gap between the graft and descemetorhexis edge, leads to focal stromal edema that diminishes over time, with no impact on final visual acuity.
A Preliminary Study of the Relevance of Zhu You Shu and Narrative Medicine
Authors: SUN Qimeng , ZHAO Lan , BAI Xuerui , JIANG Jiabao , QIU Nan
Published: November 2024

Zhu You Shu (祝由术 a form of traditional Chinese spiritual healing) originated and was extensively utilized in China. This paper illustrates the origin, concept and techniques of Zhu You Shu in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and explores the correlation between Zhu You Shu and the three focuses and three elements of narrative medicine. The elements of Zhu You Shu, such as Zhu Shuo Bing You (祝说病由 explaining the original cause of the disease) and Qing Zhi Xiang Sheng (情志相胜 generation and restraint of emotions) share fundamental similarities with narrative medicine. Based on the principles and the interoperability of Zhu You Shu and narrative medicine, the doctor engages in active listening and communication with the patient to establish a trusting relationship. Utilizing the Qing Zhi Xiang Sheng technique, the doctor seeks to understand and regulate the patient’s psychological processes. By integrating psychological cues, the aim is to restore emotional balance and enhance the patient’s emotional and mental well-being while fostering a lasting emotional bond and providing spiritual support. Zhu You Shu has the potential to enhance the clinical pathway of narrative medicine in TCM. Simultaneously, the progress of narrative medicine will offer more sophisticated contemporary medical theories to assist the advancement of Zhu You Shu.
Doctor-patient Narrative Re-discovered from Overseas Traditional Chinese Medicine Practices
Authors: SHEN Chengju , YANG Yidan , LI Zhenyi
Published: November 2024

The doctor-patient narrative has been revisited and appreciated in both the West and the East due to the negative impact of biochemical medicine in the past two centuries on healthcare. Biochemical medicine system simply marginalized the roles of doctors and patients. More research and practice of “doctor’s benevolence” and “humanistic medicine” have called for the return of the doctor-patient narrative. This paper draws on interviews with several non-Chinese overseas traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, whose clients are also non-Chinese. We adopted discourse analysis to explore our data. We found that they actively engaged in doctor-patient narrative with localized interpretation of TCM. We believe such a return to basic doctor-patient narrative is caused by fundamental needs for doctor-patient narrative coinciding with loose control of TCM practices in the studied countries. This discovery may inspire further study on re-establishing doctor-patient narratives in healthcare institutions by re-positioning biochemical medicine.
The cardiovascular unphysiology of thrice weekly hemodialysis
Authors: Shringi Sandipan , Shah Ankur D.
Published: November 2024

Purpose of review

This review examines the unphysiological nature of conventional intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) and explores alternative dialysis modalities that more closely mimic natural kidney function. As cardiovascular complications remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients, understanding and addressing the limitations of IHD is crucial for improving outcomes.

Recent findings

IHD's intermittent nature leads to significant fluctuations in metabolites, electrolytes, and fluid status, contributing to hemodynamic instability and increased cardiovascular risk. More frequent dialysis modalities, such as short daily hemodialysis and nocturnal hemodialysis have numerous benefits including reduced left ventricular hypertrophy, improved blood pressure control, and potentially decreasing mortality. Peritoneal dialysis offers a more continuous approach to treatment, which may provide cardiovascular benefits through gentler fluid removal and residual kidney function preservation.

Conventional thrice weekly intermittent hemodialysis offers a fundamentally unphysiologic equilibrium of uremic solutes. Alternate approaches have demonstrated cardiovascular benefits.