bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural phase transition of G-type antiferromagnetic SrMnO3 under pressure
Authors: Sukserm Akkarach , Pinsook Udomsilp , Bovornratanaraks Thiti
Published: May 2024

Perovskite SrMnO3 is a versatile material with applications in transistors, supercapacitors, and spintronic devices. This study employs the DFT+U calculations to investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of two polymorphs: 4H-SrMnO3 and 3C-SrMnO3 under isotropic pressure conditions up to 60 GPa. A novel approach based on density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) is employed to precisely determine the on-site Hubbard U value, yielding a computed value of 4.552 eV, consistent with experimental reports. Below P = 14 GPa, the G-AFM phase of 4H-SrMnO3 is the most favored stable, and transitioning to the G-AFM phase of 3C-SrMnO3 beyond 14 GPa. Notably, we observed significant changes in the band gaps, exhibiting an increasing trend under isotropic pressure, while the magnetic moments of the Mn sites exhibit a decreasing trend from ≈2.8 μ

B
to ≈2.3 μ

B
for P = 0 GPa and 60 GPa, respectively. The projected density of states (PDOS) reveals the p-d hybridization contributions between the 3d-Mn and 2p-O covalent bonds, along with d-d Mott Hubbard interactions within the localized 3d orbitals of neighboring Mn-Mn atoms. Furthermore, a decrease in the Mn1-O-Mn2 distance prompts enhanced charge transfer which was facilitated by ligand holes, leading to a noticeable decrease in the magnetic moment of the Mn site in the G-AFM phase of SrMnO3.
Influence of tool velocity ratio on force-torque and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 2050-T84 Al-Li alloy plates
Authors: Kesharwani Guru Sewak , Billa Kiran Kumar , Verma Juhi , Garg Shrwan Kumar , Katiyar Jitendra Kumar , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: May 2024

Aluminium-lithium (Al-Li) alloy is the most prominent alloy used in the aerospace industry’s internal structure and wings due to its improved physical and mechanical properties. The present study introduces a novel investigation into the joining of Al–Li alloy 2050-T84 using friction stir welding (FSW) at different tool velocity ratios (TVR) of 0.6, 0.8, and 1, respectively (i.e., the amalgamation of various process parameters like tool rotational speed (TRS of 600, 1000, and 1400 rpm and traverse speed of 60, 120, and 240 mm min−1) and constant tool tilt angle (1.5°). A threaded taper tool was used for joining the Al–Li alloy 2050-T84. This work aims to ascertain the effects of varying tool velocity ratios (TVR; rotational speed/traverse speed) on macrostructure, grain size distribution in the nugget zone, and mechanical strength of the welded specimens. The experimental results reveal that increasing the tool velocity ratio increases the grain size and decreases the welded specimen’s ultimate strength and hardness values. Higher tensile strength (403.2 MPa), micro-hardness values (122.15 HV0.1), and joint efficiency (75.49) of welded specimens are achieved at low TVR (0.6), and ductile failure is observed in all welded samples. Additionally, it is noticed that the stirred zone size increased with increasing the velocity ratio.
Complexiton, complex multiple kink soliton and the rational wave solutions to the generalized (3 + 1)-dimensional kadomtsev-petviashvili equation
Authors: Wang Kang-Jia , Li Shuai
Published: May 2024

Some new exact solutions of the generalized (3 + 1)-dimensional Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation (KPE) are explored in this study. Firstly, the resonant multiple soltion solutions (RMSs) are discussed via employing the linear superposition principle and weight algorithm. Then, by introducing pairs of the conjugate parameters to the RMSs, the complexiton solutions including the non-singular complexiton and singular complexiton solutions are extracted. In addition, the complex multiple kink soliton solutions are also probed by employing the bilinear approach. Finally, we investigate the rational wave solutions via the test function method and symbolic computation. By choosing the appropriate parameters, the graph descriptions of the derived solutions are presented to show the dynamical properties. The outcomes of this work are desirous to bring some new perspective to the study of the complexiton, complex solutions and rational wave solutions to the other PDEs.
Neuronal functional connectivity is impaired in a layer dependent manner near chronically implanted intracortical microelectrodes in C57BL6 wildtype mice
Authors: Chen Keying , Forrest Adam M , Burgos Guillermo Gonzalez , Kozai Takashi D Y
Published: May 2024

Objective. This study aims to reveal longitudinal changes in functional network connectivity within and across different brain structures near chronically implanted microelectrodes. While it is well established that the foreign-body response (FBR) contributes to the gradual decline of the signals recorded from brain implants over time, how the FBR affects the functional stability of neural circuits near implanted brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) remains unknown. This research aims to illuminate how the chronic FBR can alter local neural circuit function and the implications for BCI decoders. Approach. This study utilized single-shank, 16-channel,100 µm site-spacing Michigan-style microelectrodes (3 mm length, 703 µm2 site area) that span all cortical layers and the hippocampal CA1 region. Sex balanced C57BL6 wildtype mice (11–13 weeks old) received perpendicularly implanted microelectrode in left primary visual cortex. Electrophysiological recordings were performed during both spontaneous activity and visual sensory stimulation. Alterations in neuronal activity near the microelectrode were tested assessing cross-frequency synchronization of local field potential (LFP) and spike entrainment to LFP oscillatory activity throughout 16 weeks after microelectrode implantation. Main results. The study found that cortical layer 4, the input-receiving layer, maintained activity over the implantation time. However, layers 2/3 rapidly experienced severe impairment, leading to a loss of proper intralaminar connectivity in the downstream output layers 5/6. Furthermore, the impairment of interlaminar connectivity near the microelectrode was unidirectional, showing decreased connectivity from Layers 2/3 to Layers 5/6 but not the reverse direction. In the hippocampus, CA1 neurons gradually became unable to properly entrain to the surrounding LFP oscillations. Significance. This study provides a detailed characterization of network connectivity dysfunction over long-term microelectrode implantation periods. This new knowledge could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the health of the tissue surrounding brain implants and potentially inform engineering of adaptive decoders as the FBR progresses. Our study’s understanding of the dynamic changes in the functional network over time opens the door to developing interventions for improving the long-term stability and performance of intracortical microelectrodes.
Electrode wettability and capacitance of electrical double layer capacitor: a classical density functional theory study
Authors: Tian Cheng , Zhou Shiqi
Published: May 2024

We suggest a coarse-grained water model for use in classical density functional theory (cDFT) to describe aqueous inorganic salt solutions that act as working electrolytes in electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) with electrodes comprising two face-to-face doped carbon monolayers. Focus of the cDFT calculations lies on the influence of solvent electrode wettability (SEW) on capacitance and energy storage behaviors, while also considering its interaction with factors like electrolyte bulk concentration, pore size, electrode voltage, and temperature. New phenomena are disclosed theoretically. Remarkably, this study challenges the traditional notion that energy storage is consistently boosted by enhancing the electrode’s ionophobicity. Contrarily, the SEW effect reduces energy storage below the standard aqueous electrochemical window voltage (around 1.2 V) and only enhances the energy storage as the voltage surpasses a certain threshold up to the optimal window voltage (2 V–2.5 V). Furthermore, a non-monotonic SEW effect on energy storage is demonstrated under appropriate conditions, shedding new light on the complex relationship between ionophobicity and energy storage. Moreover, the present coarse-grained water model enables the prediction of the experimentally observed inverse relationship between temperature and capacitance. In contrast, the widely used electrolyte primitive model predicts the existence of a maximum value. The decisive factor for the impact of SEW on capacitance and energy storage is identified as congestion within the electrode pore, while other factors contribute by affecting this congestion. The present research offers valuable insights, highlighting the significance of SEW in the innovative and strategic design of aqueous inorganic EDLC devices.
Deployment of Water-based Liquid Scintillator in the Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment
Authors: Ascencio-Sosa M. , Bagdasarian Z. , Beacom J.F. , Bergevin M. , Breisch M. , Caceres Vera G. , Dazeley S. , Doran S. , Drakopoulou E. , Edayath S. , Edwards R. , Eisch J. , Feng Y. , Fischer V. , Foster R. , Gardiner S. , Gokhale S. , Hackspacher P. , Hagner C. , He J. , Kaiser B. , Krennrich F. , Lachenmaier T. , Lemmons F. , Maksimovic D. , Malek M. , Martyn J. , Mastbaum A. , McGivern C. , Minock J. , Nieslony M. , O'Flaherty M. , Orebi Gann G.D. , Pershing T. , Pickard L. , Poonthottathil N. , Reyes C. , Richards B. , Rosero R. , Sanchez M.C. , Schmid D.T. , Smy M. , Stender M. , Sutton A. , Svoboda R. , Tiras E. , Vagins M. , Veeraraghavan V. , Wang J. , Weinstein A. , Wetstein M. , Wurm M. , Yeh M. , Zhang T. ,   The ANNIE collaboration
Published: May 2024

The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment
(ANNIE) is a 26-ton water Cherenkov neutrino detector installed on
the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab. Its main physics goals
are to perform a measurement of the neutron yield from
neutrino-nucleus interactions, as well as a measurement of the
charged-current cross section of muon neutrinos. An equally
important focus is the research and development of new detector
technologies and target media. Specifically, water-based liquid
scintillator (WbLS) is of interest as a novel detector medium, as it
allows for the simultaneous detection of Cherenkov light and
scintillation. This paper presents the deployment of a 366 L WbLS
vessel in ANNIE in March 2023 and the subsequent detection of both
Cherenkov light and scintillation from the WbLS. This
proof-of-concept allows for the future development of reconstruction
and particle identification algorithms in ANNIE, as well as
dedicated analyses within the WbLS volume, such as the search for
neutral-current events and the hadronic scintillation component.
Socio-political dynamics in clean energy transition
Authors: Perri Saverio , Levin Simon , Cerasoli Sara , Porporato Amilcare
Published: May 2024

A rapid and effective transition to low-carbon energy production is essential to limit climate change impacts. While the scientific community has mostly focused on research and development and techno-economic aspects, quantifying the role of public acceptability and policy in shaping emission trajectories has been much more elusive. This study investigates the coupled dynamics of nonlinear socio-political acceptance and anthropogenic CO2 emissions, with implications for climate policies and clean energy investments. Our findings show that a top-down policy approach alone may not be sufficient for effective emission cuts, highlighting the need for a multi-level strategy that combines top-down and bottom-up approaches. Additionally, opinion polarization can trigger detrimental CO2 emission oscillations when governments decide to take heavy-handed policy interventions in highly polarized socio-political systems. Delayed perception of climate change damage or abrupt reactions to extreme weather events may also significantly affect emission reduction efforts, although in the opposite direction. Integrating these socio-political dynamics into climate models can enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between human and natural systems, enabling the development of more effective and resilient mitigation strategies.
Black hole firewalls and quantum mechanics
*
Authors: ’t Hooft Gerard
Published: May 2024

Firewalls in black holes are easiest to understand by imposing time reversal invariance, together with a unitary evolution law. The best approach seems to be to split up the time span of a black hole into short periods, during which no firewalls can be detected by any observer. Then, gluing together subsequent time periods, firewalls seem to appear, but they can always be transformed away. At all times we need a Hilbert space of a finite dimension, as long as particles far separated from the black hole are ignored. Our conclusion contradicts other findings, as these assume that information that entered into a black hole, cannot re-emerge. But re-emergence of that information is exactly what our version of firewalls is supposed to ensure. Indeed, the firewall transformation removes the problems caused by entanglement between very early and very late in- and out-particles, in a far from trivial way.
Field theory of active chiral hard disks: a first-principles approach to steric interactions
Authors: Kalz Erik , Sharma Abhinav , Metzler Ralf
Published: May 2024

A first-principles approach for active chiral hard disks is presented, that explicitly accounts for steric interactions on the two-body level. We derive an effective one-body equation for the joint probability distribution of positions and angles of the particles. By projecting onto the angular modes, we write a hierarchy for the lowest hydrodynamic modes, i.e. particle density, polarisation, and nematic tensor. Introducing dimensionless variables in the equations, we highlight the assumptions, which—though inherent—are often included implicit in typical closure schemes of the hierarchy. By considering different regimes of the Péclet number, the well-known models in active matter can be obtained through our consideration. Explicitly, we derive an effective diffusive description and by going to higher orders in the closure scheme, we show that this first-principles approach results in the recently introduced Active Model B +, a natural extension of the Model B for active processes. Remarkably, here we find that chirality can change the sign of the phenomenological activity parameters.
Influence of Yb3+/Ho3+ codoping on optical and thermal properties of TeO2-ZnO glass
Authors: Azam Mohd , Rai Vineet Kumar , Khan Savidh , Singh K
Published: May 2024

This paper reports the effect of incorporation of Yb3+ ions on the frequency downconversion luminescence and thermal properties of triply ionised Ho3+ doped zinc tellurite (TZ) glasses. The photoluminescence spectra of both the Ho3+/Yb3+ doped and codoped glasses have been recorded and observed a green emission band corresponding to the 5F4, 5S2 → 5I8 (∼550 nm) transition upon various excitations. In the downconversion (DC) emission process, the back energy transfer (BET) mechanism from Ho3+ ions to Yb3+ ions has also been explored. The colour emitted in the downconversion process is found to be non-tunable at different excitations. Thus, the Ho3+:TZ glass can be utilised for non-colour tunable optical devices under various UV excitations. Also the glass transition (Tg) and crystallisation (Tc) temperatures have been measured for both the doped and codoped glasses and found to be increased in the codoped glass. The singly Ho3+ions doped TZ glass shows better optical downconversion and glass forming ability.
Arithmetic degrees and Zariski dense orbits of cohomologically hyperbolic maps
Authors: Matsuzawa Yohsuke , Wang Long
Published: May 2024

A dominant rational self-map on a projective variety is called

p
p

-cohomologically hyperbolic if the

p
p

-th dynamical degree is strictly larger than other dynamical degrees. For such a map defined over

Q

¯

\overline {\mathbb {Q}}

, we study lower bounds of the arithmetic degrees, existence of points with Zariski dense orbit, and finiteness of preperiodic points. In particular, we prove that, if

f
f

is an

1
1

-cohomologically hyperbolic map on a smooth projective variety, then (1) the arithmetic degree of a

Q

¯

\overline {\mathbb {Q}}

-point with generic

f
f

-orbit is equal to the first dynamical degree of

f
f

; and (2) there are

Q

¯

\overline {\mathbb {Q}}

-points with generic

f
f

-orbit. Applying our theorem to the recently constructed rational map with transcendental dynamical degree, we confirm that the arithmetic degree can be transcendental.
A Global Constitutional Canon v Quasi-Canon?
Authors: Dixon Rosalind
Published: May 2024

This chapter outlines a functionalist approach to defining a global canon of constitutional thought—i.e. an approach that aims to reduce the transaction costs to new and early-career scholars entering the field of comparative constitutional studies, and thereby increase the scope and depth of scholarly contributions to the field. Consistent with this, it proposes quite demanding criteria of (i) knowledge and (ii) influence for any work to be included in the global constitutional canon. At the same time, it suggests the value of a second layer of shared global constitutional knowledge that is defined in more pluralistic, permissive terms, and constitutes a ‘quasi-canon’ that provides useful, not mandatory, background knowledge for those entering the field.
The Jurisprudences of Canons of Comparative Constitutional Law
Authors: Tushnet Mark
Published: May 2024

This chapter explores several candidate jurisprudences that might shape a canon of comparative constitutional law. The first candidate defines the field as something akin to “contemporary liberal democratic moral and political theory as applied to basic institutions of government,” the second somewhat more broadly as “applied political theory for achieving human flourishing.” A third candidate places even more emphasis on context, and specifically upon the political contexts in which constitutions are located. The final candidate is American Legal Realism, understood as a jurisprudence aimed at deflating claims about how much law (here, constitutional law) can do to advance liberal democratic goals and human flourishing. The chapter concludes with examples of how, guided by their respective jurisprudences, we can choose what to include in each of these canons.
Emmanuel Sieyès, ‘What is the Third Estate?’ (1789)
Authors: Comella Victor Ferreres
Published: May 2024

In 1789, before the outbreak of the French Revolution, Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès published ‘What is the Third Estate?’, a pamphlet that became very influential in the construction of the modern notion of constituent power. Sieyès drew a sharp distinction between the nation or people as the source of the Constitution, on the one hand, and the institutions of government established in the Constitution, on the other. According to his theory, the constituent power is legally unlimited and does not depend for its existence on the operation of any legal rules. This conception of the constitution-making power, however, is untenable, for the power to enact a Constitution does not exist in a legal vacuum. The principles of constitutional democracy, moreover, are at odds with the idea that an omnipotent subject is the fountain of all governmental institutions.
A Constitutional Canon for Africa
Authors: Fowkes James
Published: May 2024

This chapter introduces the idea of a constitutional canon for Africa, to open up its examples to greater attention in comparative scholarship and teaching both within and outside the continent. It does so via two examples, each presented in its broader context. The negative or anti-canonical example is the 1982 Act that made Kenya under Daniel arap Moi a de jure one-party state. Under Moi’s predecessor, Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya had already required many of the features of a one-party state, but matters intensified under Moi, and features of this system indeed survived the formal repeal of the one-party state in 1991. The countervailing positive or canonical example is Benin’s National Conference, in 1990, introduced via the Presidential Decree of 23 February 1990, which (tellingly) announced the Conference after it had already begun. The National Conference, a multi-stakeholder assembly, essentially conducted a peaceful seizure of power from the one-party rule of Mathieu Kérékou, and led to the enactment of a new constitution for Benin and a peaceful transition to democratic elections. The Conference has been widely copied since in post-Cold War Francophone Africa. But it was at its most successful in the Benin original which, despite Benin’s current troubles, deserves far greater prominence in comparative discussion.
Separation of Powers
Authors: Tan Kevin Y L
Published: May 2024

This chapter examines the concept of the separation of powers through the lens of three primary documents; two of which are canonical, and one which is anti-canonical. Canonical are the Constitution of the United States of America, and the 1965 case of Liyanage & Ors v. The Queen (1967), a decision of the Privy Council on an appeal from Ceylon. The US Constitution was pioneering in how it manifested the separation of powers doctrine. It has stood the test of time and become the model for constitution-making since. The decision in Liyanage reinforces the concept of the separation of powers in the absence of a codified language that mandates such separation. The anti-canon is the Constitution of Brunei 1984, an example of the type of constitution typically drafted by religious or theocratic states that rejects the separation of powers doctrine in favour of a more absolutist form of government.
Global Canons, Term Limits, and the Constituent Power Theory
Authors: Verdugo Sergio
Published: May 2024

This chapter proposes the conditions that legal materials need to fulfill to be considered a global canon or anticanon and suggests considering two Latin American judicial decisions: The Colombian Constitutional Court’s ruling that prevented President Uribe from serving a third term in 2010, and the Bolivian Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal’s decision that removed the term limits from the Constitution in 2017. While the Colombian decision could be used as an example that strengthens the minimum core of democracy, the Bolivian ruling undermines that core. The chapter claims that studying both decisions can contribute to advancing the literature on international human rights law, the constituent power theory, and the democratic role of constitutional courts in adverse conditions. The chapter also argues that if judges use the constituent power theory as a judicial doctrine—despite that theory’s important shortcomings—judges should follow the example of the Colombian, and not the Bolivian, court.
The Secession and Constitutionalism Canon
Authors: Fessha Yonatan T
Published: May 2024

Secession, a topic that is largely dominated by political science, is increasingly becoming a burgeoning topic of constitutional law, which also makes it an important site for a global canon. This chapter focuses on two texts that directly bear on the law of secession. The first, chosen for its status as a candidate for a global canon, is the celebrated decision of the Supreme Court of Canada that frames secession from a constitutional perspective. The second text, Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution, is arguably anti-canonical. This is not because it unusually constitutionalizes the right to secession but because of the scanty procedure it provides for effecting secession.
Comparative Constitutional Law of Property
Authors: Schneiderman David
Published: May 2024

This chapter contributes to a discussion of what properly belongs to the canon of comparative constitutional law of property. Two dominant paradigms within the liberal legal tradition are identified. The first is a classical legal version of property, under the influence of the private law tradition, that emphasizes exclusivity of ownership, exchanged between willing buyers and sellers via transactions occurring within self-regulated markets. From this angle, property is primordial in the Lockean sense—it precedes state formation and shields individual rights from societal encroachments. A second view treats constitutionally protected property not as a body of stand-alone rights but as internally limited from the outset. Rather than being portrayed as opposites, property and regulation go hand in hand, crowded in by other constitutional rights, limits, and projects. The chapter then discusses three cases drawn from familiar jurisdictions (the United States, Europe, and South Africa) that concern one of the most private of property rights—the home. Each candidate for the canon offers compelling interpretive accounts of constitutional property clauses where the rhetorically superior interests of property owners either prevail or yield to vulnerable owners of property or those with no property at all. The cases illustrate how constitutional property, even within the liberal rights tradition, is capable of being transformed in ways that resemble Polanyi’s double movement: converted from rights that shield markets from regulation into solidaristic rights that aim to serve societal needs.
The Shifting Canon of Constitutional Equality
Authors: Uitz Renata
Published: May 2024

Equality as an ideal, a principle, a value, and a right permeates the canons of contemporary constitutionalism. The recognition of individuals as persons of equal worth and liberty (moral equality) is the working premise of a liberal constitutional democracy. At the same time, the constitutional mandate to advance or promote the conditions of a particular disadvantaged social group (or individuals belonging to it) violates the principle of equal treatment. The constitutional canon on equality has long been shaped by such inherent tensions. The new global wave of autocratization brought restrictions on the rights of women and sexual and religious minorities, highlighting the continuing relevance of debates that are often older than written constitutions. The chapter traces the shifting canon of constitutional equality across three scenarios that provide comparative insights into the canon and the counter-canon of equality and non-discrimination jurisprudence. The cases focus on the constitutional justification of the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’, disability rights, and gender citizenship, also introducing the challenge of intersectionality and affirmative action.
The Canons of Social and Economic Rights
Authors: Young Katharine G
Published: May 2024

Social and economic rights remain central to debates on constitutional democracy and human rights, but their foundations are contestable. Indeed, it is worth nominating not only recognizable “canons,” but also “proto-canons” and “counter-canons” for such rights. The 2000 South African case of Republic of South Africa v. Grootboom is exemplary as a “canon.” Three features of Grootboom—its reasoning, provenance, and visibility—give it a canonical status, which include the case’s apparent resolution of the challenge of justiciability, its proximity to South Africa’s post-apartheid Constitution and Constitutional Court, and the case’s ambivalent legacy for housing rights. Yet Grootboom is not a singular source for establishing and renewing the boundaries of a global canon. The chapter draws on constitutional theory to debate the status of the “proto-canons” and “counter-canons” of socioeconomic rights. It therefore nominates the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a proto-canon for social and economic rights, as crystallizing incipient ideas of freedom from want, and an institutionally broad (and non-court-centric) vision of realization. The chapter also nominates the 1973 U.S. case of San Antonia School District v. Rodriguez as a counter-canon, as that case marks the interpretive closure, by the Supreme Court of the United States, of available arguments for constitutional social and economic rights, and the devolution of the right to education to the states in that country. These proto- and counter-canons help us reflect on the highly unsettled constitutional and democratic norms of the present.
Techniques of Judicial Avoidance
Authors: Albert Richard
Published: May 2024

This chapter introduces a peculiar form of self-imposed limitation on judicial power: judicial avoidance, which occurs when judges choose to avoid certain disputes presented squarely before them despite there being no constitutional rule requiring them to decline to adjudicate these matters. Drawing from three jurisdictions—Canada, France, and the United States—the chapter highlights three distinguishable techniques of judicial avoidance: remedial judicial avoidance, jurisdictional judicial avoidance, and substantive judicial avoidance. It also offers reflections on a pivotal lesson in the construction of judicial power: all three distinguishable techniques of judicial avoidance can sometimes be deployed strategically to preserve or increase judicial power, not to reduce it.
Evaluating palliative care case conferences in primary care for patients with advanced non-malignant chronic conditions: a cluster-randomised controlled trial (KOPAL)
Authors: Mallon Tina , Schulze Josefine , Dams Judith , Weber Jan , Asendorf Thomas , Böttcher Silke , Sekanina Uta , Schade Franziska , Schneider Nils , Freitag Michael , Müller Christiane , König Hans-Helmut , Nauck Friedemann , Friede Tim , Scherer Martin , Marx Gabriella
Published: May 2024

Background

Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia are underrepresented in specialist palliative home care (SPHC). However, the complexity of their conditions requires collaboration between general practitioners (GPs) and SPHC teams and timely integration into SPHC to effectively meet their needs.

Objective

To facilitate joint palliative care planning and the timely transfer of patients with advanced chronic non-malignant conditions to SPHC.

Methods

A two-arm, unblinded, cluster-randomised controlled trial. 49 GP practices in northern Germany were randomised using web-based block randomisation. We included patients with advanced CHF, COPD and/or dementia. The KOPAL intervention consisted of a SPHC nurse–patient consultation followed by an interprofessional telephone case conference between SPHC team and GP. The primary outcome was the number of hospital admissions 48 weeks after baseline. Secondary analyses examined the effects on health-related quality of life and self-rated health status, as measured by the EuroQol 5D scale.

Results

A total of 172 patients were included in the analyses. 80.4% of GP practices had worked with SHPC before, most of them exclusively for cancer patients. At baseline, patients reported a mean EQ-VAS of 48.4, a mean quality of life index (EQ-5D-5L) of 0.63 and an average of 0.80 hospital admissions in the previous year. The intervention did not significantly reduce hospital admissions (incidence rate ratio = 0.79, 95%CI: [0.49, 1.26], P = 0.31) or the number of days spent in hospital (incidence rate ratio = 0.65, 95%CI: [0.28, 1.49], P = 0.29). There was also no significant effect on quality of life (∆ = −0.02, 95%CI: [−0.09, 0.05], P = 0.53) or self-rated health (∆ = −2.48, 95%CI: [−9.95, 4.99], P = 0.51).

Conclusions

The study did not show the hypothesised effect on hospitalisations and health-related quality of life. Future research should focus on refining this approach, with particular emphasis on optimising the timing of case conferences and implementing discussed changes to treatment plans, to improve collaboration between GPs and SPHC teams.
Trends of use and characterisation of anti-dementia drugs users: a large multinational-network population-based study
Authors: Reyes Carlen , Newby Danielle , Raventós Berta , Verhamme Katia , Mosseveld Mees , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Burn Edward , Duarte-Salles Talita
Published: May 2024

Background

An updated time-trend analysis of anti-dementia drugs (ADDs) is lacking. The aim of this study is to assess the incident rate (IR) of ADD in individuals with dementia using real-world data.

Setting

Primary care data (country/database) from the UK/CPRD-GOLD (2007–20), Spain/SIDIAP (2010–20) and the Netherlands/IPCI (2008–20), standardised to a common data model.

Methods

Cohort study. Participants: dementia patients ≥40 years old with ≥1 year of previous data. Follow-up: until the end of the study period, transfer out of the catchment area, death or incident prescription of rivastigmine, galantamine, donepezil or memantine. Other variables: age/sex, type of dementia, comorbidities. Statistics: overall and yearly age/sex IR, with 95% confidence interval, per 100,000 person-years (IR per 105 PY (95%CI)).

Results

We identified a total of (incident anti-dementia users/dementia patients) 41,024/110,642 in UK/CPRD-GOLD, 51,667/134,927 in Spain/SIDIAP and 2,088/17,559 in the Netherlands/IPCI.

In the UK, IR (per 105 PY (95%CI)) of ADD decreased from 2007 (30,829 (28,891–32,862)) to 2010 (17,793 (17,083–18,524)), then increased up to 2019 (31,601 (30,483 to 32,749)) and decrease in 2020 (24,067 (23,021–25,148)). In Spain, IR (per 105 PY (95%CI)) of ADD decreased by 72% from 2010 (51,003 (49,199–52,855)) to 2020 (14,571 (14,109–15,043)). In the Netherlands, IR (per 105 PY (95%CI)) of ADD decreased by 77% from 2009 (21,151 (14,967–29,031)) to 2020 (4763 (4176–5409)). Subjects aged ≥65–79 years and men (in the UK and the Netherlands) initiated more frequently an ADD.

Conclusions

Treatment of dementia remains highly heterogeneous. Further consensus in the pharmacological management of patients living with dementia is urgently needed.
Alcohol effects on interoception shape expectancies and subjective effects: a registered report using the heart rate discrimination task
Authors: Leganes-Fonteneau Mateo
Published: May 2024

Aims

Alcohol acutely impacts interoceptive processes, which in turn affect the perception of alcohol effects and the development of alcohol expectancies. However, previous research is limited by the tools used to measure cardiac interoception and subjective alcohol effects. This registered report proposes a re-examination of previous findings using a state-of-the-art measure of interoceptive capacity, the heart rate discrimination task, and measurements of subjective alcohol effects across both ascending and descending limbs.

Methods

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment, n = 36 participants were given 0.4 g/kg of ethanol, and a baseline measure of alcohol expectancies was obtained. Changes in interoceptive capacity after beverage administration, along with measures of light-headedness, mood, and biphasic alcohol effects, were assessed over two sessions.

Hypotheses

As registered in this secondary data analysis, alcohol was expected to acutely impact different indices of interoceptive capacity, and those changes were hypothesized to correlate with subjective alcohol effects and expectancies. Analyses were conducted only following in-principle acceptance.

Results

Alcohol-induced changes in interoceptive capacity predicted the development of light-headedness, stimulation, and negative mood. Changes in interoceptive capacity were also correlated with negative alcohol expectancies, as measured 2 weeks prior to the experiment. These effects were unique to the interoceptive condition, as null effects were observed in an exteroceptive control task.

Discussion

This report offers a replication of key previous findings that alcohol impacts interoceptive processes to shape the detection of subjective alcohol effects. We propose that, through repeated drinking occasions, bodily responses feed into the experience of intoxication, shaping future expectancies about alcohol effects.
Inhibition of Adipocyte Necroptosis Alleviates Fat Necrosis and Fibrosis After Grafting in a Murine Model
Authors: Liu Xu , Yao Yao , Zhu Yufan , Lu Feng , Chen Xihang
Published: May 2024

Background

Because of the delicate structure of the adipose tissue, fat necrosis accounts for 43.7% of all complications after autologous fat grafting; however, its regulation remains unclear.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of necroptosis in fat graft remodeling after grafting.

Methods

Clinical fat graft necrosis samples were collected, and the expression levels of the necroptosis marker phosphorylated(p)-MLKL were analyzed. Transcriptome analysis was performed on fat grafts before and 1 week after transplantation in C57BL/6 mouse fat grafting models. Additionally, the in vivo effects of RIPK1 inhibitor Nec-1s or RIPK3 inhibitor GSK′872 on the fat grafting complications, including fat necrosis and fibrosis, were investigated.

Results

Necroptosis markers were observed and associated with higher occurrence of fibrosis in clinical fat graft necrosis samples compared to normal fat tissue. Amplification and RNA-Seq were conducted on RNA isolated from fat grafts before and after grafting. MLKL, RIPK1, and RIPK3's expression levels were significantly upregulated in comparison to controls. Higher expression levels of necroptotic RNAs were associated with higher levels of DAMPs, including Cxcl2, HMGB1, S100a8, S100a9, Nlrp3, and IL33, and activated proinflammatory signaling pathways, including the TNF, NF-kappa B, and chemokine signaling pathways. Necroptotic inhibitor Nec-1s and GSK′872 robustly suppressed the p-MLKL expression level and significantly inhibited necroptotic cell death, especially in adipocytes. Moreover, administration of Nec-1s and GSK′872 significantly alleviated fat necrosis and subsequent fibrosis in fat grafts.

Conclusions

Collectively, our study findings highlight the potential therapeutic applications of necroptosis inhibitors in preventing fat necrosis and fibrosis after grafting.

Level of Evidence: 4
Patient Satisfaction and Bleeding Rates Following an Introital Fascial Approach for Temporary and Permanent Hymenoplasty Techniques: A Comparative Study
Authors: Dogan Ozan , Ucar Kartal Duygu , Aktoz Fatih , Yassa Murat
Published: May 2024

Background

Bleeding during first sexual intercourse represents a significant sociocultural concern with potential implications for some couples.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to introduce a novel modification to temporary and permanent hymenoplasty and evaluate both the objective and subjective success of defined techniques by assessing surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction with either temporary or permanent hymenoplasty procedures.

Methods

A retrospective study of 246 patients was conducted between 2015 and 2023. Various parameters, including age, sexual history, pregnancies, BMI, and bleeding satisfaction, were assessed. Pain at first intercourse was rated on a visual analog scale (VAS).

Results

The age at the time of operation was significantly lower in patients undergoing permanent hymenoplasty compared with those undergoing temporary hymenoplasty (24.0 years [interquartile range (IQR), 22.0-26.0 years] vs 27.0 years [IQR, 26.0-29.0 years]; P < .001). Patients undergoing permanent hymenoplasty reported significantly lower VAS scores at first sexual intercourse compared with those undergoing temporary hymenoplasty (4.0 [IQR, 2.0-5.0] vs 7.0 [IQR, 6.0-7.0]; P < .001]. Satisfaction rates were high in both groups, with all temporary hymenoplasty patients satisfied with duration of bleeding compared with 78.6% (110/140) of permanent hymenoplasty patients (P < .001).

Conclusions

This study introduces a novel modified temporary and permanent hymenoplasty technique to the literature and provides the first video documentation for both temporary and permanent hymenoplasty procedures. Both hymenoplasty techniques are effective and reliable. However, temporary hymenoplasty is associated with a higher bleeding rate than permanent hymenoplasty, despite resulting in higher VAS scores.

Level of Evidence: 3
Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides, L.) pulp oil prevents ultraviolet-induced damage in human fibroblasts
Authors: Okamoto Takuya , Nakashima Fumie , Shibata Takahiro , Mori Daisuke
Published: May 2024

Seabuckthorn pulp oil (SBO) is used in beauty products because of its rich lipophilic substances with high nutraceutical and cosmeceutical potential. However, the mechanism through which SBO enhances skin elasticity remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we examined the anti-photoaging activity of SBO in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Pretreatment with SBO significantly suppressed UV-B-induced cell toxicity and collagen degradation, suggesting that SBO contains anti-photoaging substances. Further, palmitoleic acid, the main component of SBO, maintained cell viability and collagen levels in UV-B-irradiated NHDF by suppressing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 and acted on the inhibition of p38 and JNK phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B. These findings suggest the utility of SBO as an anti-photoaging agent.
Predicting RNA polymerase II transcriptional elongation pausing and associated histone code
Authors: Ren Lixin , Ma Wanbiao , Wang Yong
Published: May 2024

RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) transcriptional elongation pausing is an integral part of the dynamic regulation of gene transcription in the genome of metazoans. It plays a pivotal role in many vital biological processes and disease progression. However, experimentally measuring genome-wide Pol II pausing is technically challenging and the precise governing mechanism underlying this process is not fully understood. Here, we develop RP3 (RNA Polymerase II Pausing Prediction), a network regularized logistic regression machine learning method, to predict Pol II pausing events by integrating genome sequence, histone modification, gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and protein–protein interaction data. RP3 can accurately predict Pol II pausing in diverse cellular contexts and unveil the transcription factors that are associated with the Pol II pausing machinery. Furthermore, we utilize a forward feature selection framework to systematically identify the combination of histone modification signals associated with Pol II pausing. RP3 is freely available at https://github.com/AMSSwanglab/RP3.
Peak wall rupture index is associated with risk of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms, independent of size and sex
Authors: Siika Antti , Talvitie Mareia , Lindquist Liljeqvist Moritz , Bogdanovic Marko , Gasser T Christian , Hultgren Rebecka , Roy Joy
Published: May 2024

Background

Information on the predictive determinants of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture from CT angiography are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate biomechanical parameters in abdominal aortic aneurysms and their association with risk of subsequent rupture.

Methods

In this retrospective study, the digital radiological archive was searched for 363 patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. All patients who underwent at least one CT angiography examination before aneurysm rupture were included. CT angiography results were analysed to determine maximum aneurysm diameter, aneurysm volume, and biomechanical parameters (peak wall stress and peak wall rupture index). In the primary survival analysis, patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms less than 70 mm were considered. Sensitivity analyses including control patients and abdominal aortic aneurysms of all sizes were performed.

Results

A total of 67 patients who underwent 109 CT angiography examinations before aneurysm rupture were identified. The majority were men (47, 70%) and the median age at the time of CTA examination was 77 (71–83) years. The median maximum aneurysm diameter was 56 (interquartile range 46–65) mm and the median time to rupture was 2.13 (interquartile range 0.64–4.72) years. In univariable analysis, maximum aneurysm diameter, aneurysm volume, peak wall stress, and peak wall rupture index were all associated with risk of rupture. Women had an increased HR for rupture when adjusted for maximum aneurysm diameter or aneurysm volume (HR 2.16, 95% c.i. 1.23 to 3.78 (P = 0.007) and HR 1.92, 95% c.i. 1.06 to 3.50 (P = 0.033) respectively). In multivariable analysis, the peak wall rupture index was associated with risk of rupture. The HR for peak wall rupture index was 1.05 (95% c.i. 1.03 to 1.08) per % (P < 0.001) when adjusted for maximum aneurysm diameter and 1.05 (95% c.i. 1.02 to 1.08) per % (P < 0.001) when adjusted for aneurysm volume.

Conclusion

Biomechanical factors appear to be important in the prediction of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture. Women are at increased risk of rupture when adjustments are made for maximum aneurysm diameter alone.
Adapting across Borders: Experiences of Hong Kong Social Workers in England—Navigating Challenges and Fostering Professional Growth through Cultural Adaptation and Continuing Professional Development
Authors: Chan Ka Ki
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the experiences of overseas-qualified Hong Kong social workers in England, specifically focusing on the challenges they encounter while preparing for or working in the social work sector and the strategies they employ to navigate these challenges within the unique English social context. It offers valuable background information for comprehending the journeys of migrant Hong Kong social workers as they transition into a new social work environment. Using qualitative enquiry, ten experienced Hong Kong social workers, who had moved to England in 2021, were selected as participants. This study contributes significantly to the literature on transnational social workers by emphasising the critical role of continuing professional development (CPD) for transnational social workers during their relocation process. It addresses complex transnational issues, such as cultural differences, language barriers, professional development and the integration of global and local intervention skills and practices, filling existing gaps in the literature. This research also provides insight into the importance of CPD for transnational social workers during their relocation and transnational experiences and the potential for advancing their local social work practices.
Meditation and Empowerment of Female Trauma Survivors with Co-Occurring Disorders: Implications for Social Work Practice
Authors: Kirsch Jaclyn , Lee Mo Yee
Published: May 2024

The addition of an empowerment perspective to treatment of female trauma survivors with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns has been found to be beneficial. Meditation is a mental health intervention that has the potential for increasing feelings of empowerment amongst this population. This qualitative study explores the experiences of female trauma survivors with co-occurring disorders engaging in a meditation intervention and its impact on their feelings of empowerment. Grounded theory approaches were used to analyse in-depth interviews with participants (N = 32). Results from analysis of the data show the process through which meditation allowed the women to gain empowerment in order to develop skills to heal on their own. This study provides evidence of the use of meditation as a viable strength-based intervention for social workers in order to increase feelings of empowerment amongst female trauma survivors of interpersonal violence with co-occurring disorders. Future research should expand understanding of this empowerment pathway by exploring the impact of meditation within other populations with high levels of trauma.