bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Packing isosceles right triangles of legs of harmonic lengths
Authors: Januszewski Janusz , Zielonka Łukasz
Published: October 2024

We estimate the area of the smallest square or triangle into which a sequence of isosceles right triangles of legs of harmonic lengths can be packed.
Rock Mass Classification of Chalk, a UK Perspective
Authors: Paraskevopoulou Chrysothemis , Saroglou Charalampos , Kaushik Aditya
Published: October 2024

Investigating the geomechanical engineering behaviour of Chalk is challenging since it is a generally soft rock formation and presents in cases a different behaviour from other competent rocks. Additionally, Chalk is widespread throughout the United Kingdom and other parts of the world. Thus, an in-depth understanding of Chalk is paramount when considered in engineering projects. In this research work, the geomechanical behaviour of Northern Province Chalk is examined. This study mainly involves characterising two significant units of Northern Province Chalk, namely Flamborough and Burnham Chalk, through intensive fieldwork and laboratory testing. Multiple scanline surveys are conducted along the cliffs of Flamborough to characterise the jointed nature of the Chalk. The samples collected are assessed in the lab to determine the physical properties of the intact Chalk. Moreover, the Chalk mass properties are compared to those estimated from empirical classification systems. Finally, the limitations of applying rock mass classification systems to Chalk have also been highlighted.
Ablation manual for liver cancer
Authors: Maruyama Hitoshi , Minami Yasunori , Sugimoto Katsutoshi , Funaoka Akihiro , Numata Kazushi
Published: October 2024

Because of recent advances in energy device technology, ablation has become popular worldwide. It is less invasive and provides faster postoperative recovery compared to surgery, and therefore, it has come to be applied to a wide range of organs, such as liver, lung, kidney, thyroid, and bone/soft tissue tumors. In order to properly guide the needle to the target area, imaging support is necessary, and ultrasound, which has the advantages of high resolution and real-time capability, is the most frequently used modality. In other words, ablation can be said to be a therapeutic method that makes the most of the advantages of ultrasound. This article outlines the role of ultrasound in ablation for liver cancer and its specific usage.
Proximal-stabilized semidefinite programming
Authors: Cipolla Stefano , Gondzio Jacek
Published: October 2024

A regularized version of the primal-dual Interior Point Method (IPM) for the solution of Semidefinite Programming Problems (SDPs) is presented in this paper. Leveraging on the proximal point method, a novel Proximal Stabilized Interior Point Method for SDP (PS-SDP-IPM) is introduced. The method is strongly supported by theoretical results concerning its convergence: the worst-case complexity result is established for the inner regularized infeasible inexact IPM solver. The new method demonstrates an increased robustness when dealing with problems characterized by ill-conditioning or linear dependence of the constraints without requiring any kind of pre-processing. Extensive numerical experience is reported to illustrate advantages of the proposed method when compared to the state-of-the-art solver.
An international survey on retinopathy of prematurity practice patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons for future management
Authors: Shemesh Rachel , Chiang Michael , Paul Chan R. V. , Orge Faruk , Yam Jason C. , Farzavandi Sonal , Sprunger Derek , Mezer Eedy , Wygnanski-Jafee Tamara
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To assess retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) practice patterns during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods

A survey on ROP practice patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic was sent to the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives, the International Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Council members, and to various national societies on May 19, 2020. The survey closed on the 31st of June 2020.

Results

Two hundred ninety-two ophthalmologists from 41 countries responded to the survey. Most replies originated in Asia (48%) and North America (38%). During the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 period, respondents reported a reduction of 15% in the number of NICU inpatients and 19.8% of the ROP outpatients’ follow-up visits. The number of ROP outpatients’ follow-up visits and inpatients’ exams was significantly greater in North America than in Asia (72.0% versus 37.2% and 87.8% versus 49.6%, respectively, P < 0.001). Only 14% of the ophthalmologists adopted new screening guidelines, and 7.2% reported changing their preferred treatment. In 50% of responders, laser photocoagulation was the preferred treatment. A significantly higher percentage of ophthalmologists reported using telemedicine during the pandemic, 29.8% (n = 85/285), and 15.6% (44/282) prior to the pandemic (χ2 = 15.51, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer ROP screening and follow-up visits were conducted on premature infants; these findings were especially prominent among physicians in Asia. Telemedicine usage increased during the pandemic. This study highlights the need to maintain screening protocols for ROP during pandemics. The utility of technological measures could enable this, along with adequate prevention of physical contact.
An approach for constructing spatially paired pseudo repeat-sales housing price indices in China
Authors: Zhang Haiyong , Song Zisheng , Chen Zhuo
Published: October 2024

Constructing a reliable housing price index is crucial for accurately reflecting housing price dynamics and enhancing transparency in the housing market. However, existing methods for constructing housing price indices often confront many challenges, such as omitted variable issues in the hedonic model and constrained samples used in the repeat-sales model. To address these challenges, this study identifies a spatially paired relationship between complexes and develops a Spatially Paired Pseudo Repeat-Sales model to construct the housing price index. This approach offers two significant advantages: first, it enlarges the sample size used in the repeat-sales model at least 1.8 times; second, it effectively estimates the effects of spatial dependency and physical housing factors on prices while mitigating the impacts of unobservable factors through differentiation. The findings of this paper suggest that using the spatially paired pseudo repeat-sales model can significantly improve the estimation of housing price volatility, by approximately 13%. Moreover, the constructed housing price index model demonstrates significant robustness, even when the spatial weight settings are altered. This research provides convincing evidence of improved housing market transparency for stakeholders, including governments, institutional developers, and individual investors. Additionally, the constructed model can inform other similar research in housing price index construction by providing a spatially pairing perspective on housing complexes.
Communicating in Verse: How Reading Poetry Can Expand How We Care for Patients
Authors: Patel Tulsi R. , Hauser Joshua
Published: October 2024

It is a foundational principle of medical humanities that the appreciation of literature and other humanities enrich and expand medical training. But what are the mechanisms by which this happens? As a faculty member and former medical student, who met during an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional 5-session poetry seminar, we reflect on how poetry enriches our own experiences working with patients, as well as how we care for patients. Reading poetry in medicine has the potential to enhance observational skills, model an appreciation of uncertainties, and generate joy. Similar to our seminar, other institutions may also consider incorporating poetry into curricula.
Fixed-Magnetization Ising Model with a Slowly Varying Magnetic Field
Authors: Aoun Yacine , Ott Sébastien , Velenik Yvan
Published: October 2024

The motivation for this paper is the analysis of the fixed-density Ising lattice gas in the presence of a gravitational field. This is seen as a particular instance of an Ising model with a slowly varying magnetic field in the fixed magnetization ensemble. We first characterize the typical magnetization profiles in the regime in which the contribution of the magnetic field competes with the bulk energy term. We then discuss in more detail the particular case of a gravitational field and the arising interfacial phenomena. In particular, we identify the macroscopic profile and propose several conjectures concerning the interface appearing in the phase coexistence regime. The latter are supported by explicit computations in an effective model. Finally, we state some conjectures concerning equilibrium crystal shapes in the presence of a gravitational field, when the latter contributes to the energy only to surface order.
Continuous monitoring of outdoor natural gamma absorbed dose rate in air: a long-term study in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Authors: Mitra Pratip , Srivastava Saurabh , Reddy G. Priyanka , Garg Saurabh , Kumar A. Vinod
Published: October 2024

This study contributes to the overarching Indian Environmental Radiation Monitoring Network initiative, concentrating on the continual assessment of the gamma absorbed dose rate in outdoor air attributable to natural gamma radiation in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Over a span of fourteen years (2011–2024), data were gathered from 32 monitoring sites within the city utilizing permanently installed Geiger-Mueller detector-based environmental radiation monitors. This paper offers an analysis of extensive findings from long-term monitoring efforts. The absorbed gamma dose rate in outdoor air varied among the monitoring sites, ranging from 78 ± 5 to 137 ± 4 nGy h− 1, with a mean value of 107 ± 12 nGy h− 1. The estimated mean annual effective dose due to outdoor natural gamma radiation ranged from 0.10 ± 0.01 to 0.17 ± 0.01 mSv y− 1, with an overall mean of 0.13 ± 0.01 mSv y−1.
Estimating vegetation and litter biomass fractions in rangelands using structure-from-motion and LiDAR datasets from unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Fernández-Guisuraga José Manuel , Calvo Leonor , Enterkine Josh , Price William J. , Dinkins Jonathan B. , Jensen K. Scott , Olsoy Peter J. , Arispe Sergio A.
Published: October 2024

Context

The invasion of annual grasses in western U.S. rangelands promotes high litter accumulation throughout the landscape that perpetuates a grass-fire cycle threatening biodiversity.

Objectives

To provide novel evidence on the potential of fine spatial and structural resolution remote sensing data derived from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to separately estimate the biomass of vegetation and litter fractions in sagebrush ecosystems.

Methods

We calculated several plot-level metrics with ecological relevance and representative of the biomass fraction distribution by strata from UAV Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) datasets and regressed those predictors against vegetation, litter, and total biomass fractions harvested in the field. We also tested a hybrid approach in which we used digital terrain models (DTMs) computed from UAV LiDAR data to height-normalize SfM-derived point clouds (UAV SfM-LiDAR).

Results

The metrics derived from UAV LiDAR data had the highest predictive ability in terms of total (R2 = 0.74) and litter (R2 = 0.59) biomass, while those from the UAV SfM-LiDAR provided the highest predictive performance for vegetation biomass (R2 = 0.77 versus R2 = 0.72 for UAV LiDAR). In turn, SfM and SfM-LiDAR point clouds indicated a pronounced decrease in the estimation performance of litter and total biomass.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that high-density UAV LiDAR datasets are essential for consistently estimating all biomass fractions through more accurate characterization of (i) the vertical structure of the plant community beneath top-of-canopy surface and (ii) the terrain microtopography through thick and dense litter layers than achieved with SfM-derived products.
Toward comprehensive short utterances manipulations detection in videos
Authors: Moufidi Abderrazzaq , Rousseau David , Rasti Pejman
Published: October 2024

In a landscape increasingly populated by convincing yet deceptive multimedia content generated through generative adversarial networks, there exists a significant challenge for both human interpretation and machine learning algorithms. This study introduces a shallow learning technique specifically tailored for analyzing visual and auditory components in videos, targeting the lower face region. Our method is optimized for ultra-short video segments (200-600 ms) and employs wavelet scattering transforms for audio and discrete cosine transforms for video. Unlike many approaches, our method excels at these short durations and scales efficiently to longer segments. Experimental results demonstrate high accuracy, achieving 96.83% for 600 ms audio segments and 99.87% for whole video sequences on the FakeAVCeleb and DeepfakeTIMIT datasets. This approach is computationally efficient, making it suitable for real-world applications with constrained resources. The paper also explores the unique challenges of detecting deepfakes in ultra-short sequences and proposes a targeted evaluation strategy for these conditions.
Social media “SoMe” in neuro-oncology: a review of the literature
Authors: Klein Benjamin R. , Levi David J. , Shah Ashish H. , Ivan Michael E. , Levi Allan D.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This article examines the current state of social media (SoMe) in neuro-oncology and neurosurgical oncology. The goal of this paper is to provide thorough discourse regarding benefits and disadvantages of being a neurosurgical oncologist on SoMe, while discussing the place SoMe will have in cranial tumor-based practices going forward.

Methods

The author’s performed a rigorous literature review on the topic. Included information was pertinent to the history of SoMe in neurosurgical oncology and its impact on the field of neuro-oncology. Incorporated as well are the benefits of being a neurosurgical oncologist on SoMe, the drawbacks of participation on SoMe platforms, and knowledge that facilitates discussion about the future of SoMe in neurosurgical oncology.

Results

SoMe plays an important role in neuro-oncology and neurosurgical oncology. SoMe continues to exponentially grow in the healthcare sphere as more providers utilize SoMe platforms. We report objective negative and positive outcomes of SoMe in neurosurgical oncology and neuro-oncology. Here, we summarize these results and provide dialogue describing the effect SoMe is having on the many different aspects of neurosurgical oncology and neuro-oncology.

Conclusion

Although SoMe platforms improve social presence and patient outreach, the use of SoMe can also adversely affect one’s career by exposing clinicians to unchecked societal, legal and professional consequences. While using SoMe as a vessel to propagate career initiatives, neurosurgical oncologists should exercise caution with the content they choose to circulate.
Explicit families of congruences for the overpartition function
Authors: Ryan Nathan C. , Sirolli Nicolás , Villegas-Morales Jean Carlos , Zheng Qi-Yang
Published: October 2024

In this article we exhibit new explicit families of congruences for the overpartition function, making effective the existence results given previously by Treneer. We give infinite families of congruences modulo m for $$m = 3, 5, 7, 11$$

m
=
3
,
5
,
7
,
11

, and finite families for $$m = 13, 17, 19$$

m
=
13
,
17
,
19

.
The use of ChatGPT for identifying disruptive papers in science: a first exploration
Authors: Bornmann Lutz , Wu Lingfei , Ettl Christoph
Published: October 2024

ChatGPT has arrived in quantitative research evaluation. With the exploration in this Letter to the Editor, we would like to widen the spectrum of the possible use of ChatGPT in bibliometrics by applying it to identify disruptive papers. The identification of disruptive papers using publication and citation counts has become a popular topic in scientometrics. The disadvantage of the quantitative approach is its complexity in the computation. The use of ChatGPT might be an easy to use alternative.
Robust and correspondence-free point cloud registration: an extended approach with multiple hypotheses evaluation
Authors: Di Lauro Federica , Sorrenti Domenico Giorgio , Fontana Simone
Published: October 2024

Point cloud registration is a fundamental problem in robotics, critical for tasks such as localization and mapping. Most approaches to this problem use feature-based techniques. However, these approaches have issues when dealing with unstructured environments where meaningful features are difficult to extract. Recently, an innovative global point cloud registration algorithm, PHASER, which does not rely on geometric features or point correspondences, has been introduced. It leverages Fourier transforms to identify the optimal rigid transform that maximizes cross-correlation between source and target point clouds. PHASER can also incorporate additional data channels, like LiDAR intensity, to enhance registration results. Because it does not rely on local features and because of its ability to exploit additional data, PHASER is particularly useful when dealing with very noisy point clouds or with many outliers. For this reason, we propose an extension to PHASER that considers multiple plausible rototranslation hypotheses. Our extended approach outperforms the original PHASER algorithm, especially in challenging scenarios where point clouds are widely separated. We validate its effectiveness on the DARPA SubT, and the Newer College datasets, showcasing its potential for improving registration accuracy in complex environments.
Vorwissen und Lernvoraussetzungen von Seiteneinsteiger:innen und Lehramtsstudierenden. Befunde aus der berufsbegleitenden Qualifizierung von Lehrkräften in Sachsen
Authors: Verheggen Anna Noémie , Puderbach Rolf
Published: October 2024

In Deutschland wird verbreitet auf Seiteneinsteiger:innen zurückgegriffen, um den Lehrkräftebedarf zu decken. Die Ausgestaltung solcher alternativen Berufszugänge erfolgt bundesweit nicht einheitlich. Gemein haben die Seiteneinstiegsprogramme jedoch, dass sie Personen ansprechen, die sich in ihrer bildungs- und berufsbiographischen Lage deutlich von den Adressat:innen der grundständigen Lehrkräftebildung unterscheiden. In Sachsen beginnt die berufsbegleitende Qualifizierung der Seiteneinsteiger:innen in der Regel erst nach bis zu zwei Jahren im Schuldienst und führt über eine Abfolge mehrerer Qualifizierungsschritte bis zur Gleichstellung mit grundständig qualifizierten Lehrkräften. Die Äquivalenz des erreichten Qualifikationsniveaus geht einher mit einer von der grundständigen Lehrkräftebildung stark abweichenden Schrittfolge im Professionalisierungsprozess. Der vorliegende Beitrag schildert, inwiefern sich Seiteneinsteiger:innen in Sachsen zu Beginn einer berufsbegleitenden universitären Qualifizierung von Studienanfänger:innen im Lehramt in ihren persönlichen Dispositionen und Lernvoraussetzungen unterscheiden und stellt die Frage nach der Notwendigkeit zielgruppenspezifischer Qualifizierungsprogramme. Der Vergleich basiert auf standardisierten Befragungen von 272 Seiteneinsteiger:innen im Grundschullehramt aus den Qualifizierungskohorten 2017 bis 2022 sowie von 96 Studienanfänger:innen für das Lehramt an Grundschulen im Wintersemester 2013/14.
JAK Inhibitors for Myelofibrosis: Strengths and Limitations
Authors: Thaw K. , Harrison C. N. , Sriskandarajah P.
Published: October 2024

Purpose of Review

The landscape of myelofibrosis (MF) has changed since the discovery of the JAK2 V617F mutation and subsequent development of JAK inhibitors (JAKis). However, treatment with JAKis remain a challenge. In this review we critically analyze the strengths and limitations of currently available JAK inhibitors.

Recent Findings

In MF patients, JAK inhibitors have been associated with reduced symptom burden and spleen size, as well as improved survival. However, durability of response and development of treatment resistance remain an issue. Recently, there has been increased efforts to optimize treatment with the development of highly selective JAK inhibitors, as well as use of combination agents to counter disease resistance through targeting aberrant signaling pathways.

Treatment of MF patients with JAKi therapy can be challenging but the development of more potent and selective JAK inhibitors, as well as combination therapies, represent exciting treatment advances in this field.
Enhancing Fracturing Proppant Performance: Methods and Assessment
Authors: Ramazanov Vahid , Matovu Stewart , Al Shafloot Talal , Alarifi Sulaiman A.
Published: October 2024

The use of fracturing proppants is a key element of hydraulic fracturing operations in the oil and gas industry. The selection of proppants with superior performance is critical to ensure efficient and effective hydraulic fracturing. Proppant technologies are developing rapidly. Therefore, standardization of proppant evaluation is necessary to ensure accurate proppant evaluation during proppant production. Although the API and ISO have released a number of recommended practices for this purpose, there are still significant gaps in them. This is because several hypotheses regarding proppant performance, including proppant embedment and diagenesis, and their influence on proppant conductivity, are still not fully clear. Numerous proppants have been produced within the petroleum industry, featuring diverse compositions, sizes, shapes, and intended uses. While many proppants consist of silica or ceramics, there is growing interest in advanced types such as ultra-lightweight proppants. These innovations aim to minimize settling and enable transport using low-viscosity fluids. Moreover, to reduce expenditures, it is common practice in hybrid completions to mix proppant of different sizes according to stimulation design objectives and assumptions. Proppant can be equally mixed, separated by tail-in, or mixed with dominating concentrations of a specific size, depending on the type of fluids, viscosity, and anticipated settlement velocity. Surface modification involves altering the surface properties of the proppant to improve its adhesion to the fracture face and to reduce embedment and fines generation. Surface modification techniques include silane treatment, plasma treatment, and chemical treatment. The method can maintain oil flow channels after the hydraulic fracturing operation for a very long time. Proppant flowback, fines generation, and gel degradation are the key factors that contribute to a proppant pack losing permeability. Proppant pack conductivity can be increased, and well cleanup can be hastened, with the aid of a surface modification. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of proppant and its types, proppant performance assessment, and methods to enhance proppant performance. We discuss various techniques to evaluate proppant performance, including crush resistance, conductivity, embedment, and closure stress. Additionally, we highlight the importance of selecting the most appropriate proppant type for a particular well based on the formation properties and proppant characteristics. Furthermore, we explore recent advancements in proppant enhancement methods, such as coating, sintering, altering proppant surface, and consolidation, and their effectiveness in improving proppant performance. The comprehensive review provides insight into current industry practices and highlights potential areas for future research to improve fracturing proppant performance.
Who and how to screen for endogenous hypercortisolism in adrenal and pituitary incidentaloma
Authors: Coscia Kimberly , Verrienti Martina , Di Dalmazi Guido , Zatelli Maria Chiara
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) and pituitary incidentalomas (PIs) have become frequent findings in the last two decades due to the widespread use of cross-sectional imaging in clinical practice. This review investigates the prevalence of endogenous hypercortisolism in patients with AIs and PIs. We aim to underscore the importance of early detection and management of endogenous hypercortisolism in this subset of patients to mitigate associated cardiometabolic complications and reduce mortality.

Methods

We performed a PubMed literature search to provide updates regarding the prevalence of endogenous hypercortisolism in patients with AIs and PIs, the demographic and clinical characteristics of the studied populations, and the diagnostic test accuracy for early identification of endogenous hypercortisolism.

Results

Hypercortisolism, especially mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS), was identified in a notable proportion of patients with AIs. MACS was associated with increased cardiometabolic risks, contributing to an elevated overall mortality rate in this cohort. Furthermore, PIs were found to be linked with Cushing’s disease in a subset of patients, emphasizing the need for thorough evaluation and monitoring.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis and appropriate management of endogenous hypercortisolism are essential in preventing complications and improving patient outcomes. As the presence of undetected hypercortisolism is associated with clinical complications over time, the accurate identification of high-risk populations to screen remains crucial.
The Value of a Peer Mentorship Programme for Postgraduate Students in New Zealand: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Chen Joseph C. C. , Plank Julia R. , Tsai Angela , Lyndon Mataroria , Henning Marcus A.
Published: October 2024

Postgraduate students face significant challenges such as feelings of isolation, lack of guidance, and negotiating multiple identities. Navigating these challenges can adversely impact wellbeing, self-efficacy, and achievement. To combat these issues, a peer mentorship ‘buddy’ programme was piloted. This buddy programme formed buddy groups, consisting of one doctoral student (as the buddy group leader) with three to four pre-doctoral postgraduate students (as the buddies), which met fortnightly during the semester. Ten participants engaged in semi-structured interviews, and the transcripts were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Identified benefits to participants of the buddy programme included improved social resources, expanded skillsets, improved confidence, increased enjoyment and motivation, career advancement, improved ability to navigate postgraduate applications, improved sense of belonging, improved coping through COVID-19 lockdowns, and increased collegiality. More specifically, benefits of the buddy programme, as voiced by the participants, included gains in wellbeing, academic attainment, and resilience. Given the estimated cost of NZD$400 per buddy group, as well as the openly provided resources developed from this study, tertiary institutions may consider implementing similar low-cost programmes to support their postgraduate student populations.
Depopulation in the Central Apennines in the Twentieth Century: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Lucchetti Riccardo , Morettini Gabriele
Published: October 2024

We propose an empirical investigation of the population dynamics between 1931 and 2011 in a mountain area in Italy. The main novelty of our work is the usage of sub-municipal data, which makes it possible to disentangle several drivers of the overall depopulation trend. All these factors had been considered previously by separate strands of literature, but never jointly, as we do. One of our most interesting results is that different factors operate in different historical periods. Therefore, we use a flexible strategy by which we divide the sample in four different 20-year spans and adopt a different statistical model for each. Another notable result is that an appropriate quantitative description of the phenomenon must take into account the disappearance of inhabited centres separately from their size in terms on inhabitants. Consequently, the concept of local community is crucial for a systematic understanding of population change and “place-sensitive” policies in remote mountain areas.
The role of migration-innovation nexus for population aging
Authors: Aldieri L. , Nese A. , Vinci C. P.
Published: October 2024

Immigration can potentially address demographic challenges in developed countries by introducing young workers into the labor markets but, at the same time, it can increase competition for jobs with socio-economic effects that need to be carefully managed. Prior research has focused on the impact of immigration on local labor markets taking into account the skills of native-born inhabitants and immigrants. In contrast, analyses of age-specific effects are scarce despite the fact that immigration is likely to affect workers in different age-cohorts to different extents, with various policy implications. In addition, firms’ innovative capacity may contribute to shaping the effects of immigration. This work contributes to the existing literature by examining the relationships between immigration, labor market dynamics, and innovation in Western Europe between 2011 and 2019. The analysis uses microdata drawn from the Labour Force Surveys, from the OECD REGPAT database, and from the European Social Survey. The results show that immigrants are more likely to substitute younger native workers, while adult workers benefit from immigrants employed in complementary tasks. This substitution/complementarity nexus increases in the more innovative sectors. From a policy standpoint, these findings highlight the need for age-specific policies and training programs in order to mitigate the adverse effects of immigration and to maximize growth-promotion.
A Tale of Two Divestments: South Africa, Sudan, and Howard University
Authors: Tounsel Christopher
Published: October 2024

The anti-apartheid movement and Save Darfur campaign were important moments of African American activism towards Africa. Howard University played a central role by divesting from both South Africa and Sudan. This article examines each divestment within Howard University’s history of engagement with Africa. While each divestment was linked by a concern to support oppressed African peoples, the roles of race and racism operated differently in each action. Such an analytic provides space to reconsider the role of US higher education in African-facing human rights activism during the age of Black Lives Matter.
Bacteria–fungi interaction for material formation
Authors: Kieffer Lynn H.
Published: October 2024

This paper describes an early-stage research and experiments exploring methods of co-cultivation of the fungal strain Ganoderma lucidum and the bacterial strain Sporosarcina pasteurii within the field of architecture. Co-cultivating these species within a bio-based compound, forming a living material, shows that the binding abilities of both microbial partners can be harnessed through multistep production techniques. As the mycelial network of the fungus spreads through the inoculated wood substrate, bacterial cells disperse and multiply on this same network and release the enzyme urease throughout the now-forming compound bound by the fungus. The enzyme is one of the key actors in the biocementation process, which is activated with the addition of a calcium source to the material. Calcium carbonate minerals form and attach on the hyphae, as well as in between the network, inside the wood sawdust pieces and around void spaces within the composite. While additional data collection is required, the current state of this research suggests that properties of both living materials can be expanded, for example, fire resistance and compressive strength compared to traditional mycelium-based composites, as well as the increased ability of the bacteria to homogeneously distribute and exist in unfavorable environments compared to mono-cultured bacterial communities.
Kinetics of Mg-Ni saponite crystallization from precursor mixtures
Authors: Zhang Chaoqun , Decarreau Alain , Blanc Philippe , Baron Fabien , Yuan Yuhuan , Tao Qi , Gregoire Brian , Zhu Jianxi , He Hongping , Petit Sabine
Published: October 2024

Smectite growth is of importance across various fields due to its abundance on the surface of both Earth and Mars. However, the impact of the crystallinity of initial materials on smectite growth processes remains poorly understood. In this study, the kinetic processes of smectite growth were examined via experimental synthesis of trioctahedral Mg-Ni saponites. Mg-Ni saponites were synthesized using mixed precursors, specifically end-member Mg-saponite and Ni-saponite, which exhibit different crystallinities. The crystal chemistry and morphology of samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results converge towards these main conclusions: (i) the formation of Mg-Ni saponite solid solutions are promoted when the precursors are small particles, whereas large-particle precursors limit their own dissolution and do not yield Mg-Ni saponite solid solutions under the experimental conditions; (ii) because Ni exhibits a greater stability within the saponite structure compared to Mg, the Mg-Ni-saponite solid solutions formed more easily from the mixture of Ni-saponite germs and well-crystallized Mg-saponite precursors than from the mixture of Mg-saponite germs and well-crystallized Ni-saponite precursors; (iii) the dissolution extent (DE) of precursor mixtures increases with longer synthesis time, higher synthesis temperature, and larger gap between synthesis temperature of precursors and of samples, and stabilizes once it reaches a certain value. Thus DE can be used to estimate the kinetics of Mg-Ni saponite crystallization from precursor mixtures. These results obtained from the experimental Mg-Ni saponite system are useful for predicting the evolution processes of smectite in natural systems.
Implementation of MyChart for recruitment at an academic medical center
Authors: Dykes Carrie , Gardner Cody , Chang Jack , Pinto David , Wilson Karen , Zand Martin S. , Dozier Ann
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

Recruitment of participants into research studies remains a major concern for investigators. Using clinical teams to identify potentially eligible patients can present a significant barrier. To overcome this, we implemented a process for using our patient portal, called MyChart, as a new institutional recruitment option utilizing our electronic health record’s existing functionality.

Methods:

To streamline the institutional approval process, we established a working group comprised of representatives from human subject protection, information technology, and privacy and vetted our process with many stakeholder groups. Our specific process for study approval is described and started with a consultation with our recruitment and retention function funded through our Clinical and Translational Science Award.

Results:

The time from consultation to the first message(s) sent ranged from 84 to 442 days and declined slightly over time. The overall patient response rate to MyChart messages about available research studies was 23% with one third of those saying they were interested in learning more. The response rate for Black and Hispanic patients was about 50% that of White patients.

Conclusions:

Many different types of studies from any medical specialty successfully identified interested patients using this option. Study teams needed support in defining appropriate inclusion/exclusion criteria to identify the relevant population in the electronic health records and they needed assistance writing study descriptions in plain language. Using MyChart for recruitment addressed a critical barrier and opened up the opportunity to provide a full recruitment consultation to identify additional recruitment channels the study teams would not have considered otherwise.
Elasto-inertial focusing and rotating characteristics of ellipsoidal particles in a square channel flow of Oldroyd-B viscoelastic fluids
Authors: Hu Xiao , Lin Jianzhong , Zhu Zuchao , Yu Zhaosheng , Lin Zhaowu , Li Xiaojun
Published: October 2024

The elasto-inertial focusing and rotating characteristics of spheroids in a square channel flow of Oldroyd-B viscoelastic fluids are studied by the direct forcing/fictitious domain method. The rotational behaviours, changes in the equilibrium positions and travel distances are explored to analyse the mechanisms of spheroid migration in viscoelastic fluids. Within the present simulated parameters (1 ≤ Re ≤ 100, 0 ≤ Wi ≤ 2, 0.4 ≤ α ≤3), the results show that there are four kinds of equilibrium positions and six (five) kinds of rotational behaviours for the elasto-inertial migration of prolate (oblate) spheroids. We are the first to identify a new rotational mode for the migration of prolate spheroids. Only when the particles are initially located at a corner and wall bisector, some special initial orientations of the spheroids have an impact on the final equilibrium position and rotational mode. In other general initial positions, the initial orientation of the spheroid has a negligible effect. A higher Weissenberg number means the faster the particles migrate to the equilibrium position. The spheroid gradually changes from the corner (CO), channel centreline (CC), diagonal line (DL) and cross-section midline (CSM) equilibrium positions as the elastic number decreases, depending on the aspect ratio, initial orientation and rotational behaviour of the particles and the elastic number of the fluid. When the elastic number is less than the critical value, the types of rotational modes of the spheroids are reduced. By controlling the elastic number near the critical value, spheroids with different aspect ratios can be efficiently separated.
Graph theoretic methods for assessing the effects of a background shear current on internal solitary waves
Authors: Membrere Ireneo James , Stastna Marek
Published: October 2024

Internal solitary waves are a widely observed phenomenon in natural waters. Mathematically, they are fundamentally a nonlinear phenomenon that differs from the paradigm of turbulence, in that energy does not move across scales. Internal solitary waves may be computed from the Dubreil–Jacotin Long equation, which is a scalar partial differential equation that is equivalent to the stratified Euler equations. When a background shear current is present the algebraic complexity of the problem increases substantially. We present an alternative point of view for characterizing the situation with a shear current using Lagrangian (particle-like) models analysed with graph theoretic methods. We find that this yields a novel, data-centric framework for analysis that could prove useful well beyond the study of internal solitary waves.
Fluid-mediated impact of soft solids
Authors: Bilotto Jacopo , Kolinski John M. , Lecampion Brice , Molinari Jean-François , Subhash Ghatu , Garcia-Suarez Joaquin
Published: October 2024

A viscous, lubrication-like response can be triggered in a thin film of fluid squeezed between a rigid flat surface and the tip of an incoming projectile. We develop a scaling for this viscous approach stage of fluid-mediated normal impact, applicable to soft impactors. Under the assumption of mediating fluid being incompressible, the impacting solid displays two limit regimes: one dominated by elasticity, and the other by inertia. The transition between the two is predicted by a dimensionless parameter, which can be interpreted as the ratio between two time scales that are the time that it takes for the surface waves to warn the leading edge of the impactor of the forthcoming impact, and the characteristic duration of the final viscous phase of the approach. Additionally, we elucidate why nearly incompressible solids feature (a) substantial ‘gliding’ prior to contact at the transition between regimes, (b) the largest size of entrapped bubble between the deformed tip of the impactor and the flat surface, and (c) a sudden drop in entrapped bubble radius past the transition between regimes. Finally, we argue that the above time scale ratio (a dimensionless number) can govern the different dynamics reported experimentally for a fluid droplet as a function of its viscosity and surface tension.
Free-surface-induced ground effect for flapping swimmers
Authors: Zheng Kaiyuan , He Sida , Zhao Xizeng , Shen Lian , Zhu Xiaojue
Published: October 2024

Numerous flying and swimming creatures use the ground effect to boost their propulsive performance, with the ‘ground’ referring to either a solid boundary or a free surface. While our knowledge of how a solid boundary affects biolocomotion is relatively comprehensive, the ground effect of a free surface is not fully understood. To address this limitation, we conduct a numerical investigation on the propulsion performance of a flapping plate under a free surface, subject to a range of control parameters. When the Froude number (

$Fr$

) is very low (i.e. little surface deformation), the effects of a free surface are similar to those of a solid boundary, with enhanced thrust and input power but little change in efficiency. However, as

$Fr$

increases (i.e. more surface deformation), our results reveal an optimal

$Fr$

of approximately 0.6, where the free surface induces a more streamlined flow around the flapping plate, effectively reducing the added mass. This results in a significant decrease in input power and greatly enhanced efficiency.
International trends in male youth suicide and suicidal behaviour
Authors: Rice Timothy , Livshin Anton , Rihmer Zoltan , Walther Andreas , Bhuiyan Mohammed , Boude Adriana Bruges , Chen Ying-Yeh , Gonda Xenia , Grossberg Aliza , Hassan Yonis , Lafont Ezequiel , Serafini Gianluca , Vickneswaramoorthy Arthi , Shah Salonee , Sher Leo
Published: October 2024

Objective:

Suicide and suicidal behaviour strongly contribute to overall male youth mortality. An understanding of worldwide data contextualises suicide and suicidal behaviour in young men within any given country.

Method:

Members and colleagues of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry’s Task Force on Men’s Mental Health review the relevant data from several regions of the world. The review identifies notable findings across regions of relevance to researchers, policymakers, and clinicians.

Results:

Male suicide and suicidal behaviour in adolescence and emerging adulthood within North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, Continental Africa, South Asia, East Asia, China, and Oceania share similarities as well as significant points of divergence.

Conclusions:

International data provide an opportunity to obtain a superior understanding of suicide and suicidal behaviour amongst young men.
Ethno-Imagined Communities: Rethinking Benedict Anderson and Anthony Smith’s Theories of Nations through Bernard Stiegler’s Theory of Epiphylogenesis
Authors: Shamis Asaf J.
Published: October 2024

This article explores Bernard Stiegler’s concept of Epiphylogenesis as an alternative framework for understanding modern nations while aspiring to resolve major gaps in the classic theories of Benedict Anderson and Anthony Smith. Epiphylogenesis offers a fresh perspective and broader scope for the study of nations, with a view to critically enlarging the dynamic interaction between modern mass media and cultural traditions, particularly as conceptualized by Anderson and Smith. Stiegler classifies modern nations as chapters in the broader narrative of technical evolution. In epiphylogenesis, cultural traditions and technical artefacts function as a working partnership; modern nations are seen as the outcome of this co-constitutive process, wherein mass media technical systems (that is, print capitalism) exteriorize cultural traditions (ethnié), dressing them up in distinctive, open, pervasive, and standardized forms. This discussion concludes by exploring the relevance of epiphylogenesis for assessing the impact of networked communications on contemporary national identities.
Anaplasma platys and Rickettsia massiliae in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto ticks collected on dogs in the Patagonian region of Argentina
Authors: Maas Lara M. I. , Winter Marina , Herrmann Verónica , Abate Sergio D. , Obiegala Anna , Nava Santiago , Sebastian Patrick S.
Published: October 2024

The aim of this study was to examine the presence of tick-borne rickettsial bacteria in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto ticks collected from dogs in the Patagonian region of Argentina. Fourteen stray dogs from Valcheta, Río Negro province, Argentina were examined for the presence of R. sanguineus s.s. ticks. Ninety ticks were collected and identified to species level. DNA was extracted and analysed by conventional PCR assays for the presence of tick-borne bacteria belonging to the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia. Thirty-three tick pools were tested by different PCR assays of which 3 were positive for Anaplasmataceae bacteria. From the 3 Anaplasmataceae positive samples, 2 partial 16S rDNA sequences were generated and belonging to Anaplasma platys, the causative agent of canine cyclic thrombocytopenia. Two tick samples were positive in Rickettsia specific PCR assays and were identified by phylogenetic analysis as Rickettsia massiliae, a member of the spotted fever group rickettsiae. The results of this study demonstrate the molecular detection of 2 rickettsial bacteria in R. sanguineus s.s. in a region of Argentina where no data were available so far.
Polygenic liabilities and treatment trajectories in early-onset depression: a Danish register-based study
Authors: Mundy Jessica , Hall Alisha S. M. , Steinbach Jette , Albinaña Clara , Agerbo Esben , Als Thomas D. , Thapar Anita , McGrath John J. , Vilhjálmsson Bjarni J. , Nordentoft Merete , Werge Thomas , Børglum Anders , Mortensen Preben B. , Musliner Katherine L.
Published: October 2024

Background

The clinical course of major depressive disorder (MDD) is heterogeneous, and early-onset MDD often has a more severe and complex clinical course. Our goal was to determine whether polygenic scores (PGSs) for psychiatric disorders are associated with treatment trajectories in early-onset MDD treated in secondary care.

Methods

Data were drawn from the iPSYCH2015 sample, which includes all individuals born in Denmark between 1981 and 2008 who were treated in secondary care for depression between 1995 and 2015. We selected unrelated individuals of European ancestry with an MDD diagnosis between ages 10–25 (N = 10577). Seven-year trajectories of hospital contacts for depression were modeled using Latent Class Growth Analysis. Associations between PGS for MDD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, and anorexia and trajectories of MDD contacts were modeled using multinomial logistic regressions.

Results

We identified four trajectory patterns: brief contact (65%), prolonged initial contact (20%), later re-entry (8%), and persistent contact (7%). Relative to the brief contact trajectory, higher PGS for ADHD was associated with a decreased odds of membership in the prolonged initial contact (odds ratio = 1.06, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.11) and persistent contact (1.12, 1.03–1.21) trajectories, while PGS-AN was associated with increased odds of membership in the persistent contact trajectory (1.12, 1.03–1.21).

Conclusions

We found significant associations between polygenic liabilities for psychiatric disorders and treatment trajectories in patients with secondary-treated early-onset MDD. These findings help elucidate the relationship between a patient's genetics and their clinical course; however, the effect sizes are small and therefore unlikely to have predictive value in clinical settings.