bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macroeconomic uncertainty and earnings management: evidence from commodity firms
Authors: Rigamonti Alessandro Paolo , Greco Giulio , Pierotti Mariarita , Capocchi Alessandro
Published: February 2024

This study examines the relationship between macroeconomic uncertainty and earnings management, using quarterly data of US commodity firms from the period 1990–2019. The findings show that oil and iron firms use both accruals and real activities to decrease earnings in quarters with high basis risk. Earnings management is economically significant. Further investigation provides fine-grained evidence that specific types of uncertainty (economic policy, climate policy, geopolitical) have varying effects on earnings management. The study also provides evidence that earnings management is aimed at giving investors useful information about the firms’ performance during uncertain times. The study contributes to previous research on uncertainty and earnings management. It also informs market participants about the financial reporting quality of commodity firms, and has practical implications for financial reporting regulation in extracting industries.
Volumetric Parameters Derived from CXCR4-Directed PET/CT Predict Outcome in Patients with Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Carcinomas
Authors: Michalski Kerstin , Schlötelburg Wiebke , Hartrampf Philipp , Heinrich Marieke , Serfling Sebastian , Buck Andreas K. , Werner Rudolf A. , Kosmala Aleksander , Weich Alexander
Published: February 2024

Background

Gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (GEP-NECs) are an aggressive subgroup of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). In patients affected with NEN, there is a growing body of evidence that increased C-X-C motif chemokine receptor (CXCR4) expression is linked to decreasing overall survival (OS) in an ex-vivo setting. Thus, we aimed to determine whether the in-vivo-derived CXCR4-directed whole-body PET signal can also determine GEP-NEC patients with shorter OS.

Methods

We retrospectively included 16 patients with histologically proven GEP-NEC, who underwent CXCR4-directed PET/CT for staging and therapy planning. We assessed maximum, peak, and mean standardized uptake values as well as whole-body tumor volume (TV) and total-lesion uptake (TLU = SUVmean × TV) using a semi-automatic segmentation tool with a 50% threshold. Association of PET-based biomarkers and OS or radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS; according to RECIST 1.1 criteria) was analyzed using univariable and multivariable cox regression.

Results

Median OS and rPFS was 7.5 and 7 months, respectively. A significant correlation between TV and TLU was found for OS (TV: hazard ratio (HR) 1.007 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.000–1.014, p = 0.0309; TLU: HR 1.002 95% CI 1.000–1.003, p = 0.0350) and rPFS (TV: HR 1.010 95% CI 1.002–1.021; p = 0.0275; TLU: HR 1.002 95% CI 1.000–1.004, p = 0.0329), respectively. No significant correlation with OS or rPFS was found for non-volumetric parameters (p > 0.4). TV remained a significant predictive marker for OS and rPFS in multivariable analysis (OS: HR 1.012 95%, CI 1.003–1.022, p = 0.0084; rPFS: HR 1.009, 95% CI 0.9999–1.019, p = 0.0491), whereas TLU remained only prognostic for OS (HR 1.009, 95% CI 0.9999–1.019, p = 0.0194) but narrowly failed significance for rPFS (p = 0.0559).

Conclusion

In-vivo assessment of CXCR4 PET-derived volumetric parameters is predictive for outcome of patients with GEP-NEC and could be used as a risk stratification tool, which detects patients prone to early progression.
ASD-Net: a novel U-Net based asymmetric spatial-channel convolution network for precise kidney and kidney tumor image segmentation
Authors: Ji Zhanlin , Mu Juncheng , Liu Jianuo , Zhang Haiyang , Dai Chenxu , Zhang Xueji , Ganchev Ivan
Published: February 2024

Early intervention in tumors can greatly improve human survival rates. With the development of deep learning technology, automatic image segmentation has taken a prominent role in the field of medical image analysis. Manually segmenting kidneys on CT images is a tedious task, and due to the diversity of these images and varying technical skills of professionals, segmentation results can be inconsistent. To address this problem, a novel ASD-Net network is proposed in this paper for kidney and kidney tumor segmentation tasks. First, the proposed network employs newly designed Adaptive Spatial-channel Convolution Optimization (ASCO) blocks to capture anisotropic information in the images. Then, other newly designed blocks, i.e., Dense Dilated Enhancement Convolution (DDEC) blocks, are utilized to enhance feature propagation and reuse it across the network, thereby improving its segmentation accuracy. To allow the network to segment complex and small kidney tumors more effectively, the Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) module is incorporated in its middle layer. With its generalized pyramid feature, this module enables the network to better capture and understand context information at various scales within the images. In addition to this, the concurrent spatial and channel squeeze & excitation (scSE) attention mechanism is adopted to better comprehend and manage context information in the images. Additional encoding layers are also added to the base (U-Net) and connected to the original encoding layer through skip connections. The resultant enhanced U-Net structure allows for better extraction and merging of high-level and low-level features, further boosting the network’s ability to restore segmentation details. In addition, the combined Binary Cross Entropy (BCE)-Dice loss is utilized as the network's loss function. Experiments, conducted on the KiTS19 dataset, demonstrate that the proposed ASD-Net network outperforms the existing segmentation networks according to all evaluation metrics used, except for recall in the case of kidney tumor segmentation, where it takes the second place after Attention-UNet.

Graphical Abstract
Seasonal abundance and trap comparisons of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) adults from its native region
Authors: Kamiyama Matthew T. , Matsuura Kenji , Hata Toshimitsu , Yoshimura Tsuyoshi , Yang Chin-Cheng Scotty
Published: February 2024

A challenging, yet fundamental part of initiating effective control measures against an invasive pest species is developing reliable means of monitoring the pest’s seasonal abundance. Halyomorpha halys, a polyphagous insect pest native to East Asia, has become a major economic threat to agricultural systems following unintentional introductions to North America, South America, and Europe. Research involving the seasonal phenology and monitoring attractant preferences of H. halys from its native range remain scarce. An 11-year collection of H. halys monitoring trap data from black light, incandescent light, and methyl (E, E, Z)-2, 4, 6-decatrienoate (MDT) lured traps from three locations in Kyoto, Japan was analyzed to fill gaps in knowledge relating to the native seasonal abundance and effectiveness of diferent trapping techniques for the pest. Due to a high amount of zero trap counts, a zero-inflated approach was taken to analyze the dataset. Overall, H. halys followed a bell-shaped population trend in Kyoto, with abundance peaking in the mid-summer. The attractant preference of H. halys varied slightly with the season, with black light traps producing to highest mean trap counts. The MDT lure traps generated the lowest mean trap counts, but displayed potential use in the reliable detection of early season H. halys. This work is expected to provide greater insight on H. halys in its native range and ultimately help refine existing management programs in invaded regions.
Power Cycling Reliability with Temperature Deviation of Pressureless Silver Sintered Joint for Silicon Carbide Power Module
Authors: Hong Won Sik , Kim Mi Song
Published: February 2024

SiC devices can enhance power conversion in electric vehicles. However, traditional soldering techniques are limited by their low melting temperatures. Therefore, we used pressureless Ag sintering to assemble a 1200 V/200 A SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor power module and compared the long-term reliability, electrical properties, and driving performance of the module with those of a similar module assembled using the solder Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305). To assess sinter joint reliability, we performed power cycling tests over two temperature ranges, 50–150°C and 50–175°C, for 15,000 cycles. Subsequently, we compared the breakdown voltage (BVDSS) and drain-source on-resistance (RDS(ON)) of the SiC power modules and performed cross-sectional analyses of the device bonding interfaces. No difference in BVDSS was found between the Ag-sintered and SAC305-soldered joints. However, the RDS(ON) exhibited minimal variation for the Ag-sintered module but significantly varied for the SAC305-soldered module, suggesting that the former better maintained its characteristics. Furthermore, the electrical characteristics of the SAC305-soldered module underwent more significant alterations with increasing temperature change during power cycling, indicating that cracks propagated throughout the SAC305 soldered joint over time. Therefore, Ag sintering was quantitatively validated as the superior die attachment technology compared to soldering for long-term reliability.
The state of the organ trade: Narratives of corruption in Egypt and Bangladesh
Authors: Columb Seán , Moniruzzaman Monir
Published: February 2024

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the trade in human organs in Egypt and Bangladesh. The authors draw on extensive qualitative and ethnographic fieldwork in both countries to assess the efficacy of legal measures in response to the organ trade. Despite the introduction of tough criminal sanctions in Egypt and Bangladesh the buying and selling of organs (e.g., kidneys, liver lobes) has continued unabated. Although there have been some sporadic attempts from law enforcement to curb organ trading, political indifference to the bodies of the poor and vested commercial interests (of state and non-state actors) means that the organ trade remains a relatively low risk crime with high profits. Adopting the view that support not punishment is integral to reducing crime we argue that enhancing social support, e.g., increasing public expenditure on healthcare, would limit demand for illegal transplants and disrupt the symbiotic arrangements that underpin organ markets.
Revision of Lower Devonian clam shrimp (Branchiopoda, Diplostraca) from the Rhenish Massif (Eifel, SW-Germany), and the early colonization of non-marine palaeoenvironments
Authors: Poschmann Markus J. , Hegna Thomas A. , Astrop Timothy I. , Hoffmann René
Published: February 2024

Three collections of clam shrimp from the Lower Devonian (upper lower Emsian) Klerf Formation of Willwerath and Waxweiler in the western Eifel Mountains are herein studied. Four discernible morphotypes are present in the Willwerath assemblage. These morphotypes correspond to the previously described species from this locality: Pseudestheria diensti (Gross), Pseudestheria subcircularis Raymond, and Palaeolimnadiopsis? eifelensis Raymond. The fourth morphotype also closely corresponds to Pseudestheria diensti, but is slightly different in outline. Asmussia willweratica (Novozhilov) is an objective synonym of Pseudestheria subcircularis. In the Willwerath clam shrimp sample, it is difficult to disentangle taphonomic/preservational versus ontogenetic/sexual variation. If taphonomic/preservational causes could be confirmed, all the Willwerath specimens may represent just one taxon and Pseudestheria subcircularis and Palaeolimnadiopsis? eifelensis would be potential subjective synonyms of Pseudestheria diensti. However, we refrain from a formal taxonomic act, which requires a larger number of specimens to be analysed.

In addition, we investigated two samples from Waxweiler, which originate from distinct centimetre-thick layers and therefore represent associations. One of these associations comprises two discernible clam shrimp morphotypes. Because of limited preservation of morphological characters, one is here left in open nomenclature as Spinicaudata incertae sedis, whereas the other is recognised as a new species of the family Palaeolimnadiopseidae, Palaeolimnadiopsis frankeorum sp. nov. The second association from Waxweiler comprises at least four, possibly six different clam shrimp taxa. In addition to Pseudestheria diensti, Palaeolimnadiopsis sp., and poorly preserved Asmussia- and Ulugkemia-like specimens, two taxa can be described as new, namely the vertexiid Cornia wasvilrensis sp. nov. and the leaiine Eicheleaia wenndorfi gen. nov. et sp. nov. Altogether, the Klerf Formation at Waxweiler yields a total of at least five (possibly eight) clam shrimp taxa. The palaeoenvironment of these early clam shrimp from the Klerf Formation is interpreted as a non-marine, relatively proximal deltaic setting with no or very minor marine influence, such as a deltaic freshwater pond or lake. The comparatively high diversity of these lower Devonian clam shrimp suggests a considerably earlier origin and cryptic evolution of the group.
Study of Shellfish Growing Area During Normal Harvesting Periods and Following Wastewater Overflows in an Urban Estuary With Complex Hydrography
Authors: Campos Carlos J. A. , Gyawali Pradip , Hewitt Joanne
Published: February 2024

Viral testing combined with hydrographic studies is considered standard good practice in determining microbiological impacts on shellfish growing areas following wastewater overflows. In this study, norovirus genogroup I and II, indicators of viral contamination (F-RNA bacteriophage genogroup II (F-RNA GII), crAssphage, pepper mild mottle virus) and Escherichia coli were monitored during periods of normal harvesting and following overflows in two commercial shellfish growing areas in Otago Harbour (Aotearoa New Zealand). Dye tracing, drogue tracking and analysis of particle tracking modelling were also undertaken to assess the dispersion, dilution and time of travel of wastewater discharged from a pump station discharge that impacts the growing areas. Norovirus was not detected in any of the 218 shellfish samples tested. PMMoV and crAssphage were more prevalent than F-RNA GII as determined by RT-qPCR. The dye study indicated long residence time of the waters (≥5 days) in the embayment impacted by the discharge. No relationships were found between the concentrations of viral indicators or E. coli and wastewater dilution, distance between the discharge and the growing areas or time since the last overflow. For the three spills studied (≤327 m3), there was little evidence of microbiological impact on the growing areas. This was likely associated with a deep shipping channel that enhances water flushing in the harbour and reduces contaminant transport to the growing areas. We recommend flexibility in the approach for closure/reopening growing areas impacted by spills, particularly for small duration/volume spills and when norovirus is not present in the community.
A Characterization Approach for End-of-Life Textile Recovery Based on Short-Wave Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Bonifazi Giuseppe , Gasbarrone Riccardo , Palmieri Roberta , Serranti Silvia
Published: February 2024

Reusing and recycling End-Of-Life (EoL) textiles is a successful approach to develop sustainable and circular strategies in the apparel industry. Textile reuse and recycling can help to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion and textile industry by preserving natural resources and reducing waste. Textile fibers recognition and sorting, according to material composition, are of primary importance for the implementation of efficient and sustainable recycling strategies. In this work, Short-Wave InfraRed (SWIR: 1000–2500 nm) spectroscopy was applied to extract information regarding the fabric composition of different EoL textiles in order to set up a hierarchical classification procedure able to recognize different type of textile. In more detail, Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) pattern recognition technique was used and classifications were performed in two steps: (1) recognition of the fiber origin [i.e. plant-derived, animal-derived, artificial textiles such as synthetic and/or Man-Made Cellulosic Fibers (MMCFs)] and, (2) discrimination of fabrics according to the material classes (i.e. silk, cotton, wool, viscose, linen, jute, polyester and blends). The proposed chemometric technique successfully classified textiles based on their spectral properties. The acquired results are highly promising and provide important insight into the EoL textile recycling business. These analytical techniques have the potential to be utilized to successfully automate the recycling process, either in addition to or as a replacement for manual processes, hence improving sorting procedures.

Graphical Abstract
Urban rail transit disruption management: Research progress and future directions
Authors: Wang Lebing , Jin Jian Gang , Sun Lijun , Lee Der-Horng
Published: February 2024

Urban rail transit (URT) disruptions present considerable challenges due to several factors: i) a high probability of occurrence, arising from facility failures, disasters, and vandalism; ii) substantial negative effects, notably the delay of numerous passengers; iii) an escalating frequency, attributable to the gradual aging of facilities; and iv) severe penalties, including substantial fines for abnormal operation. This article systematically reviews URT disruption management literature from the past decade, categorizing it into pre-disruption and post-disruption measures. The pre-disruption research focuses on reducing the effects of disruptions through network analysis, passenger behavior analysis, resource allocation for protection and backup, and enhancing system resilience. Conversely, post-disruption research concentrates on restoring normal operations through train rescheduling and bus bridging services. The review reveals that while post-disruption strategies are thoroughly explored, pre-disruption research is predominantly analytical, with a scarcity of practical pre-emptive solutions. Moreover, future research should focus more on increasing the interchangeability of transport modes, reinforcing redundancy relationships between URT lines, and innovating post-disruption strategies.
International Human Rights Law and Practice
Authors: Bantekas Ilias , Oette Lutz
Published: February 2024

Now in its fourth edition, Bantekas and Oette's textbook on international human rights law is the key text around the globe for both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in law and other disciplines with a human rights dimension. It covers theoretical approaches to rights as well its practice, from grassroots activism to strategic litigation. In addition to classical topics of human rights, the book includes chapters on the interface between investment/trade and human rights, terrorism, the protection of vulnerable persons (such as LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, older persons and others), the rights of women, international criminal and humanitarian law, the right to development and sustainable development, reparations and victims' rights, and many others. It has been widely adopted by instructors across the globe for LLM/JD and LLB courses.
The Logic of Entailment and its History
Authors: Mares Edwin
Published: February 2024

What follows from what, and how do we make statements (whether true or false) about which inferences are correct? In this book, Edwin Mares provides a new philosophical, semantical and historical analysis of and justification for the relevant logic of entailment. In the first half of the book he examines some key ideas in the historical development of the logic of entailment, looking in particular at the notion 'is derivable from' and at how symbolic logic has attempted to capture this notion. In the second half of the book he develops his own theory connecting ideas from the traditions in mathematical logic with some ideas in the philosophy of science. The book's fresh and original perspective on the logic of entailment will be valuable for all who want to know more about the historical and philosophical origins of modern symbolic logic.
Realist Trials and Systematic Reviews
Authors: Bonell Chris , Melendez-Torres G. J. , Warren Emily
Published: February 2024

This book describes an innovative approach to the evaluation of complex health interventions, assessing what interventions work, how and for whom. Rejecting the stalemate between trials and realist evaluation, it draws on the best of both. Randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews offer the least biased means of assessing intervention effects but tell us little scientifically about how interventions work. Policy-makers and practitioners are also not supported to decide which interventions are likely to achieve most benefits in their local contexts. Realists use other forms of evaluation and evidence synthesis exploring how intervention mechanisms interact with context to generate outcomes. But these approaches lack rigour in assessing causality. This book proposes how realist evaluation methods may be incorporated within randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews. This enables evaluations and evidence synthesis to benefit from the more nuanced questions posed within realist enquiry while maintaining rigour in assessing causality.
Fortin's Children's Rights and the Developing Law
Authors: Taylor Rachel E.
Published: February 2024

The notion that children constitute an important group of rights holders has gained increasing acceptance both domestically and internationally. Nevertheless, this rhetorical commitment to children's rights is not necessarily realised in practice. Now in its fourth edition, Fortin's Children's Rights and the Developing Law explores the extent to which law and policy in England promotes or undermines the rights of children. Fully revised and updated, this textbook uses current research on child development and welfare to reflect on the extent to which the law fulfils children's rights in a wide range of areas, including medical law, education and child poverty. These developments are measured again the domestic law and the UK's international obligations under, for example, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Analytic Combinatorics in Several Variables
Authors: Pemantle Robin , Wilson Mark C. , Melczer Stephen
Published: February 2024

Discrete structures model a vast array of objects ranging from DNA sequences to internet networks. The theory of generating functions provides an algebraic framework for discrete structures to be enumerated using mathematical tools. This book is the result of 25 years of work developing analytic machinery to recover asymptotics of multivariate sequences from their generating functions, using multivariate methods that rely on a combination of analytic, algebraic, and topological tools. The resulting theory of analytic combinatorics in several variables is put to use in diverse applications from mathematics, combinatorics, computer science, and the natural sciences. This new edition is even more accessible to graduate students, with many more exercises, computational examples with Sage worksheets to illustrate the main results, updated background material, additional illustrations, and a new chapter providing a conceptual overview.
The cardinal rules: Principles of personal protective equipment for high-consequence infectious disease events
Authors: Donovan Sara K. , Herstein Jocelyn J. , Le Aurora B. , Gibbs Shawn G. , Beam Elizabeth L. , Brown Christopher K. , Lowe Abigail E. , Lowe John J. , Lawler James V.
Published: February 2024

In recognition of an increasing number of high-consequence infectious disease events, a group of subject-matter experts identified core safety principles that can be applied across all donning and doffing protocols for personal protective equipment.
Flow and aerodynamic noise control of a circular cylinder by local blowing
Authors: Maryami Reza , Arcondoulis Elias J.G. , Liu Yu
Published: February 2024

In this experimental study, the impact of symmetric local blowing on suppressing the vortex-induced noise of a circular cylinder was investigated. A highly instrumented cylinder with pressure taps and a series of blowing chambers was used to inject air along the span (seven times the cylinder diameter) at circumferential angles

$\theta _{b}={\pm }41^{\circ }$

,

${\pm }90^{\circ }$

and

${\pm }131^{\circ }$

corresponding to the boundary layer, shear layers on the cylinder and separated shear layers, respectively. The investigation aimed to understand the noise reduction mechanism of local blowing by conducting near-field pressure and far-field noise measurements in synchronisation with flow field velocity measurements. Near-field pressure was measured around the circumference of the cylinder using a remote-sensing technique and planar particle image velocimetry was implemented to measure the velocity of the wake flow field at a diameter-based Reynolds number of

$Re=7\times 10^{4}$

. The results revealed that the interaction of the rolling up separated shear layers, under the influence of high-momentum fluid travelling from the free stream to the wake, induced significant vertical flow movement in the vortex-formation region. This movement led to strong alternating surface pressure fluctuations at the cylinder's shoulders, contributing to the scattering of noise. It was demonstrated that local blowing delayed vortex shedding for all cases, except at

$\theta _{b}={\pm }90^{\circ }$

, which elongated the shear layers and pushed the high-momentum transfer area farther downstream. The application of local blowing at

$\theta _{b}={\pm }41^{\circ }$

was particularly effective in increasing the vortex formation size due to reduced entrainment of fluid-bearing vorticity.
Making a Difference: The Consequences of Electoral Experiments
Authors: Slough Tara
Published: February 2024

While experiments on elections represent a popular tool in social science, the possibility that experimental interventions could affect who wins office remains a central ethical concern. I formally characterize electoral experimental designs to derive an upper bound on aggregate electoral impact under different assumptions about interference. I then introduce a decision rule based on comparison of this bound to predicted election outcomes to determine whether an experiment should be implemented. Researchers can mitigate the possibility of affecting aggregate outcomes by reducing the saturation of treatment or focusing experiments in districts and electoral systems where treated voters are less likely to be pivotal. These conditions identify novel trade-offs between adhering to ethical commitments and the statistical power and external validity of electoral experiments. More broadly, this paper shows that the formalization of an ethical objective facilitates a closer mapping between ethical considerations and experimental design than is currently practiced.
How Experiments Help Campaigns Persuade Voters: Evidence from a Large Archive of Campaigns’ Own Experiments
Authors: HEWITT LUKE , BROOCKMAN DAVID , COPPOCK ALEXANDER , TAPPIN BEN M. , SLEZAK JAMES , COFFMAN VALERIE , LUBIN NATHANIEL , HAMIDIAN MOHAMMAD
Published: February 2024

Political campaigns increasingly conduct experiments to learn how to persuade voters. Little research has considered the implications of this trend for elections or democracy. To probe these implications, we analyze a unique archive of 146 advertising experiments conducted by US campaigns in 2018 and 2020 using the platform Swayable. This archive includes 617 advertisements produced by 51 campaigns and tested with over 500,000 respondents. Importantly, we analyze the complete archive, avoiding publication bias. We find small but meaningful variation in the persuasive effects of advertisements. In addition, we find that common theories about what makes advertising persuasive have limited and context-dependent power to predict persuasiveness. These findings indicate that experiments can compound money’s influence in elections: it is difficult to predict ex ante which ads persuade, experiments help campaigns do so, but the gains from these findings principally accrue to campaigns well-financed enough to deploy these ads at scale.
What Third-Party Forgiveness Has to Offer
Authors: Black Ashton
Published: February 2024

There are strong moral reasons to acknowledge that third parties can have the standing to forgive. Third-party refusals to forgive can reinforce the moral agency and value of women and disrupt the gendering of forgiveness. Third-party forgiveness can also be crucial for restorative justice aims, like recognizing the value of wrongdoers. Lastly, many victim-only accounts of forgiveness are problematic and utilize an individualistic conception of the self that reinforces the logic of misogyny. Victim-only accounts of forgiveness can also restrict focus to the victim's suffering, thereby neglecting the importance of healing and the relevance of third-party forgiveness for facilitating healing.
How to be absolutely fair Part II: Philosophy meets economics
Authors: Wintein Stefan , Heilmann Conrad
Published: February 2024

In the article ‘How to be absolutely fair, Part I: the Fairness formula’, we presented the first theory of comparative and absolute fairness. Here, we relate the implications of our Fairness formula to economic theories of fair division. Our analysis makes contributions to both philosophy and economics: to the philosophical literature, we add an axiomatic discussion of proportionality and fairness. To the economic literature, we add an appealing normative theory of absolute and comparative fairness that can be used to evaluate axioms and division rules. Also, we provide a novel definition and characterization of the absolute priority rule.
Adsorption of Ar into zeolite Al-MFI (NH4)
Authors: Scherry Colin W. , Kaduk James A. , Wong-Ng Winnie , Nguyen Huong Giang T.
Published: February 2024

The crystal structure of anhydrous Al-MFI (NH4) containing adsorbed Ar has been determined and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data taken at 90 K, and optimized using density functional theory techniques. Six highly occupied Ar sites almost completely fill the pore volume of the zeolite. Changing the gas flow from Ar to He at 90 K decreases the Ar occupancies of all six sites, but two decrease more than the others. Warming the sample from 90 to 295 K in Ar flow results in further decreases in site occupancies, but five of the original six sites persist.
Aquatic Feasibility of Limbs Application of Tourniquets (AFLAT) during a Lifeguard Water Rescue: A Simulation Pilot Study
Authors: Barcala Furelos Roberto , Schmidt Andrew , Manteiga Urbón José , Aranda García Silvia , Otero-Agra Martín , di Tullio Nicolò , de Oliveira Joel , Martínez Isasi Santiago , Fernández-Méndez Felipe
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

Control of massive hemorrhage (MH) is a life-saving intervention. The use of tourniquets has been studied in prehospital and battlefield settings but not in aquatic environments.

Objective:

The aim of this research is to assess the control of MH in an aquatic environment by analyzing the usability of two tourniquet models with different adjustment mechanisms: windlass rod versus ratchet.

Methodology:

A pilot simulation study was conducted using a randomized crossover design to assess the control of MH resulting from an upper extremity arterial perforation in an aquatic setting. A sample of 24 trained lifeguards performed two randomized tests: one using a windlass-based Combat Application Tourniquet 7 Gen (T-CAT) and the other using a ratchet-based OMNA Marine Tourniquet (T-OMNA) specifically designed for aquatic use on a training arm for hemorrhage control. The tests were conducted after swimming an approximate distance of 100 meters and the tourniquets were applied while in the water. The following parameters were recorded: time of rescue (rescue phases and tourniquet application), perceived fatigue, and technical actions related to tourniquet skills.

Results:

With the T-OMNA, 46% of the lifeguards successfully stopped the MH compared to 21% with the T-CAT (P = .015). The approach swim time was 135 seconds with the T-OMNA and 131 seconds with the T-CAT (P = .42). The total time (swim time plus tourniquet placement) was 174 seconds with the T-OMNA and 177 seconds with the T-CAT (P = .55). The adjustment time (from securing the Velcro to completing the manipulation of the windlass or ratchet) for the T-OMNA was faster than with the T-CAT (six seconds versus 19 seconds; P < .001; effect size [ES] = 0.83). The perceived fatigue was high, with a score of seven out of ten in both tests (P = .46).

Conclusions:

Lifeguards in this study demonstrated the ability to use both tourniquets during aquatic rescues under conditions of fatigue. The tourniquet with the ratcheting-fixation system controlled hemorrhage in less time than the windlass rod-based tourniquet, although achieving complete bleeding control had a low success rate.
The association between consideration of future consequences and food intake is mediated by food choice motives in a French adult population
Authors: Bénard Marc , Robert Margaux , Méjean Caroline , Allès Benjamin , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle , Paolassini-Guesnier Pauline , Bellisle France , Etilé Fabrice , Reach Gérard , Hercberg Serge , Touvier Mathilde , Péneau Sandrine
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

Consideration of future consequences (CFC) distinguishes individuals who adopt behaviours based on immediate needs and concerns from individuals who consider the future consequences of their behaviours. We aimed to assess the association between CFC and diet, and testing the mediating role of food choice motives on this relationship.

Design:

Individuals (aged ≥ 18 years) completed the CFC-12 questionnaire in 2014, at least three 24-h dietary records, and a food choice motive questionnaire. A multiple mediator analysis allowed to assess the mediating effect of food choice motives on the cross-sectional association between CFC and diet, adjusted for socio-demographic factors.

Setting:

Data from the NutriNet-Santé cohort study.

Participants:

27 330 participants.

Results:

CFC was associated with all food choice motives (P < 0·001), with the strongest positive associations for avoidance for environmental reasons, absence of contaminants and health motives and the strongest negative associations for innovation and convenience. Positive total effects were found between CFC and the consumption of healthy food groups (fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods, legumes), and negative total effects for alcohol, meat and poultry and processed meat (P < 0·001). CFC was positively associated with diet quality (P < 0·001). Across food groups, major mediators of these relationships were higher health (8·4–32·6%), higher environmental (13·7–22·1 %) and lower innovation (7·3–25·1 %) concerns.

Conclusions:

CFC was associated with healthier dietary intake, essentially mediated by a greater motivation of future-oriented participants for self-centred and altruistic outcomes, including health and environment. Focusing on the awareness of future benefits in public health interventions might lead to healthier dietary behaviours.
Bridging the first-aid knowledge gap: a cross-sectional study of medical scope students in Syria
Authors: Ataya Jamal , Ataya Jawdat , Aljarad Ziad
Published: February 2024

Introduction and Objective:

Sufficient knowledge required to deal with emergencies at the accident site may not be found in most medical students due to the lack of effective first-aid training in most medical education curricula. This study aims to assess and evaluate medical students’ knowledge level in providing first-aid care, especially first-year students.

Methods:

An electronic questionnaire was distributed via social media to 1,855 medical students in October 2020. The knowledge level was assessed based on scores obtained for each clinical scenario requiring first aid and classified as good, intermediate, or weak. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.

Results:

The study found that academic year and specialization significantly influence medical students’ first-aid knowledge level. However, demographic factors such as gender, university, marital status, housing status, work status, financial condition, and previous first-aid training did not show any significant effect.

Conclusion:

The level of knowledge among Syrian medical students in providing first-aid care is somewhat limited. Therefore, first-aid courses should be made more accessible to these students, and their effectiveness should be ensured and maintained through frequent updates. Moreover, more attention should be placed on publicizing first-aid knowledge to make life-saving procedures attainable to anyone, anytime and anywhere.
The effect of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation on the balance and neurophysiological characteristics of young healthy adults
Authors: Omofuma Isirame , Carrera Robert , King-Ori Jayson , Agrawal Sunil K.
Published: February 2024

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) is gaining popularity as a noninvasive alternative to epidural stimulation. However, there is still much to learn about its effects and utility in assisting recovery of motor control. In this study, we applied TSCS to healthy subjects concurrently performing a functional training task to study its effects during a training intervention. We first carried out neurophysiological tests to characterize the H-reflex, H-reflex recovery, and posterior root muscle reflex thresholds, and then conducted balance tests, first without TSCS and then with TSCS. Balance tests included trunk perturbations in forward, backward, left, and right directions, and subjects’ balance was characterized by their response to force perturbations. A balance training task involved the subjects playing a catch-and-throw game in virtual reality (VR) while receiving trunk perturbations and TSCS. Balance tests with and without TSCS were conducted after the VR training to measure subjects’ post-training balance characteristics and then neurophysiological tests were carried out again. Statistical comparisons using t-tests between the balance and neurophysiological data collected before and after the VR training intervention found that the immediate effect of TSCS was to increase muscle activity during forward perturbations and to reduce balance performance in that direction. Muscle activity decreased after training and even more once TSCS was turned off. We thus observed an interaction of effects where TSCS increased muscle activity while the physical training decreased it.
Surface Cloud Warming Increases as Late Fall Arctic Sea Ice Cover Decreases
Authors: Arouf Assia , Chepfer Hélène , Kay Jennifer E. , L'Ecuyer Tristan S. , Lac Jean
Published: February 2024

During the Arctic night, clouds regulate surface energy budgets through longwave warming alone. During fall, any increase in low‐level clouds will increase surface cloud warming and could potentially delay sea ice formation. While an increase in clouds due to fall sea ice loss has been observed, quantifying the surface warming is observationally challenging. Here, we use a new observational data set of surface cloud warming at instantaneous 330 m × 90 m spatial resolution. By instantaneously co‐locating surface cloud warming and sea ice observations in regions where sea ice varies, we find October large surface cloud warming values (>80 W m−2) are much more frequent (∼+50%) over open water than over sea ice. Notably, in November large surface cloud warming values (>80 W m−2) occur more frequently (∼+200%) over open water than over sea ice. These results suggest more surface warming caused by low‐level opaque clouds in the future as open water persists later into the fall.
Atmospheric and Land Drivers of Streamflow Flash Droughts in India
Authors: Singh Rajesh , Mishra Vimal
Published: February 2024

Streamflow flash droughts (SFDs), characterized by a rapid decline in streamflow over a relatively short period, affect water availability, hydropower generation, and the ecosystem. However, atmospheric and land processes that drive SFDs in the monsoonal climate of India remain unexplored. Using observations, reanalysis data sets, and model simulations, we examined the critical drivers of SFDs in 64 catchments in India during the 1971–2018 period. We identified meteorological flash droughts (MFDs) using precipitation and SFDs using in situ observations and model simulations of streamflow. We show that precipitation deficit and anomalous high temperature, driven mainly by the summer monsoon breaks, lead to the development of MFDs. Antecedent baseflow conditions play a major role in the propagation of MFDs to SFDs. Favorable atmospheric conditions (driven by the monsoon breaks) cause MFDs, which translate to SFDs. High and low baseflow conditions limit the rapid decline in streamflow, which controls the occurrence of streamflow flash drought. On the other hand, favorable atmospheric conditions combined with moderate baseflow can trigger SFDs in India during the summer monsoon season. Moreover, humid catchments are more prone to propagation from MFDs to SFDs during the monsoon season in India. Understanding the crucial role of atmospheric and land drivers can assist in examining the occurrence of streamflow flash drought with implications for water resources planning and management.
Is the Inverted Field Gradient in the Catalina Schist Terrane Primary or Constructional?
Authors: Platt John P. , Schmidt William L.
Published: February 2024

New geothermometry using laser‐Raman data on carbonaceous material from low and intermediate grade rocks on Santa Catalina Island, California, together with existing thermobarometric data, show that there is a quasi‐continuous increase in peak metamorphic temperature from 327 ± 8°C in lawsonite blueschist facies rocks at the lowest structural levels, through ∼433°C in overlying epidote blueschists, 546 ± 20°C in albite‐epidote amphibolite facies rocks, to 650–730°C in amphibolite facies rocks at the top of the sequence. Rocks of different metamorphic grade are separated from one another by tectonic contacts across which temperature increases by ∼100°C in each case. Previously published geochronological data indicate that peak metamorphism in the highest grade rocks at 115 Ma preceded deposition of blueschist facies metasediments by ∼15 million years, so that the present inverted grade sequence does not represent an original inverted temperature gradient. The present structure results from progressive underplating of oceanic rocks in a cooling subduction zone following a high‐T metamorphic event at 115 Ma. An inverted temperature gradient of ≥100°C/km across the subduction channel likely existed during the high‐T event, decreased during underplating, and reached zero by ∼90 Ma.
CHRNA5 links chandelier cells to severity of amyloid pathology in aging and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Rybnicek Jonas , Chen Yuxiao , Milic Milos , Tio Earvin S. , McLaurin JoAnne , Hohman Timothy J. , De Jager Philip L. , Schneider Julie A. , Wang Yanling , Bennett David A. , Tripathy Shreejoy , Felsky Daniel , Lambe Evelyn K.
Published: February 2024

Changes in high-affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are intricately connected to neuropathology in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Protective and cognitive-enhancing roles for the nicotinic α5 subunit have been identified, but this gene has not been closely examined in the context of human aging and dementia. Therefore, we investigate the nicotinic α5 geneCHRNA5and the impact of relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in prefrontal cortex from 922 individuals with matched genotypic andpost-mortemRNA sequencing in the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROS/MAP). We find that a genotype robustly linked to increased expression ofCHRNA5(rs1979905A2) predicts significantly reduced cortical β-amyloid load. Intriguingly, co-expression analysis suggestsCHRNA5has a distinct cellular expression profile compared to other nicotinic receptor genes. Consistent with this prediction, single nucleus RNA sequencing from 22 individuals revealsCHRNA5expression is disproportionately elevated in chandelier neurons, a distinct subtype of inhibitory neuron known for its role in excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance. We show that chandelier neurons are enriched in amyloid-binding proteins compared to basket cells, the other major subtype of PVALB-positive interneurons. Consistent with the hypothesis that nicotinic receptors in chandelier cells normally protect against β-amyloid, cell-type proportion analysis from 549 individuals reveals these neurons show amyloid-associated vulnerability only in individuals with impaired function/trafficking of nicotinic α5-containing receptors due to homozygosity of the missenseCHRNA5SNP (rs16969968A2). Taken together, these findings suggest thatCHRNA5and its nicotinic α5 subunit exert a neuroprotective role in aging and Alzheimer’s disease centered on chandelier interneurons.
Saracatinib inhibits necroptosis and ameliorates psoriatic inflammation by targeting MLKL
Authors: Li Jingyi , Liu Xingfeng , Liu Yuanyuan , Huang Fangmin , Liang Jiankun , Lin Yingying , Hu Fen , Feng Jianting , Han Zeteng , Chen Yushi , Chen Xuan , Lin Qiaofa , Wu Lanqin , Li Lisheng
Published: February 2024

Necroptosis is a kind of programmed cell death that causes the release of damage-associated molecular patterns and inflammatory disease including skin inflammation. Activation of receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) is the hallmark of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF)-induced necroptosis. Here, we screened a small-molecule compound library and found that saracatinib inhibited TNF-induced necroptosis. By targeting MLKL, Saracatinib interfered with the phosphorylation, translocation, and oligomerization of MLKL induced by TNF. Consistently, mutation of the saracatinib-binding site of MLKL reduced the inhibitory effect of saracatinib on TNF-induced necroptosis. In an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mouse model, saracatinib effectively blocked MLKL phosphorylation and inflammatory responses in vivo. Taken together, these findings indicate that saracatinib inhibits necroptosis by targeting MLKL, providing a potential therapeutic approach for skin inflammation-related diseases such as psoriasis.