bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal trends in daily precipitation extremes over the Enkangala escarpment of South Africa: 1961–2021
Authors: Bello Abubakar Hadisu , Scholes Mary C. , Francois Engelbrecht A.
Published: February 2025

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its Sixth Assessment Report reported that increases in extreme weather events can already be detected in every region in the world. For eastern southern Africa the report provides evidence of an increasing trend in extreme precipitation events, but more research is needed to understand how this change is manifesting over regions as diverse as South Africa’s eastern escarpment and northern Mozambique. This study evaluates the trends in extreme precipitation over the Enkangala Escarpment, part of South Africa’s eastern escarpment, over the period 1961 to 2021. Daily precipitation data covering 22 stations with fewer than 10% missing values over 61 years were obtained from the South African Weather Service. A total of twelve extreme events precipitation indices were computed using the ClimPACT2 package, and a time series trend analysis was performed using the Trend Free Whitening Mann Kendal test and a field significance test. The results indicate significant increasing trends in nine out of the twelve extreme events indices that were investigated. The three indices which have shown significant decreasing trends include Consecutive Wet days (CWD) at (0.03 day/year total annual rainfall (PRCPTOT) (0.61 mm/decade) and the annual count of days when precipitation ≥ 10 mm (R10mm) of 0.32 days/decade. Indices such Rx1 days, Rx3 days and Rx5 days exhibited increasing trends of 0.2 days/decade each. Other indices with an increasing trend are CDD (3.6 day/decade), R20mm (0.2 days/decade) and R30mm (0.2 days/decade). The R95p (11.2 mm/decade) and R99p (6.0 mm/decade) indices, and Simple Daily Intensity Index(0.4 mm/decade) also exhibit positive trends over the study period. Overall the analysis is indicative of a change in the nature of rainfall over the Enkangala escarpment of South Africa, with annual rainfall totals, the number of consecutive wet days and the frequency of events with smaller thresholds such as 10 mm/day decreasing, but with extreme events of larger thresholds occurring more frequently. That is, when it rains, it tends to rain more intensely than in the past. The use of a field significance test was useful to formalise when relatively small but spatially homogeneous trends detected at separate weather stations yield statistical significance. The findings of the paper are relevant to decision and policy in multiple of socio-economic sectors active in South Africa’s eastern escarpment.
Addressing carbapenemase-producing extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the potential of cefiderocol and ceftazidime/avibactam plus aztreonam therapy
Authors: Montero María Milagro , Domene-Ochoa Sandra , Prim Núria , Ferola Eliana , López-Causapé Carla , Gomis-Font Marian , Ampuero-Morisaki Mario F. , Echeverria Daniel , Sorlí Luisa , Luque Sonia , Padilla Eduardo , Grau Santiago , Oliver Antonio , Horcajada Juan P.
Published: February 2025

This study evaluated the activity of cefiderocol and the combination of ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) plus aztreonam against carbapenemase-producing extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Nine clinical XDR P. aeruginosa isolates with different sequence types and class A (GES) or B (VIM, IMP or NDM) carbapenemases were analysed. Time-kill assays assessed bacterial load reduction for each treatment, while chemostat experiments on four isolates validated these findings. All isolates showed resistance to CZA, with four also resistant to aztreonam. Seven isolates were susceptible to cefiderocol, but two displayed borderline susceptibility (MIC 2–4 mg/L). Time-kill assays demonstrated bactericidal activity by cefiderocol in six isolates at 24 h, while CZA plus aztreonam showed bactericidal effects in three isolates and synergistic/additive effects in four isolates. In the chemostat model, cefiderocol and CZA plus aztreonam were bactericidal in all four tested isolates, with cefiderocol showing greater bacterial reduction in three of these isolates. Both cefiderocol and CZA plus aztreonam achieved significant reductions in bacterial counts compared to controls, but there was no significant difference between cefiderocol monotherapy and the combination. Both cefiderocol and CZA plus aztreonam demonstrated activity against XDR P. aeruginosa carrying metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) and/or serine-β-lactamase (SBL) carbapenemases. Cefiderocol was the only consistently effective monotherapy with a bactericidal effect across all tested isolates in the chemostat model.
“It’s all about factory farming:” German public imaginaries of gene editing technologies in animal agriculture
Authors: Clare Amy , Müller Ruth , Feiler Julia
Published: February 2025

Since its development, scientists have proclaimed that the novel gene editing technology CRISPR-Cas will allow them to modify organisms with unprecedented speed and accuracy. In agriculture, CRISPR-Cas is said to significantly extend the possibilities to genetically modify common livestock animals. Genetic targets in livestock include edits to optimize yield, minimize environmental impacts, and improve animal health, among other targets that could be environmentally, medically, and economically beneficial. In Germany, a transdisciplinary research consortium consisting of geneticists, local animal breeding organizations, social scientists and legal scholars co-developed a “vanguard vision” (Hilgartner in Science and democracy: Making knowledge and making power in the biosciences and beyond, Routledge, London, 2015) for CRISPR-Cas edits in livestock that would improve animal health and benefit local small- to medium-scale farmers. Part of our social science work in this consortium was to discuss these specific application scenarios with members of the public in focus group settings. In this article, we trace how the public engaged with the consortium’s vision of gene editing in smaller-scale animal agriculture. We found that instead of engaging with the vision proposed, a majority of participants held an entrenched “sociotechnical imaginary” (Jasanoff and Kim in Minerva 47:119–146, 2009) that was rooted in “storylines” (Hajer in The politics of environmental discourse: Ecological modernization and the policy process, Clarendon, Oxford, 1995) focused on factory farming, drawing upon arguments from German public and media discourses, NGO campaigning, and political decision-making about genetically modified organisms in the early 2000s. Our analysis points to the difficulties of establishing alternative visions of technology use once a specific sociotechnical imaginary has been established in a distinct national context, and raises questions regarding the possibilities of responsible research and innovation for highly contested technologies.
Microplastic contamination in commercial tilapia feeds: lessons from a developing country
Authors: Siddique Mohammad Abdul Momin , Tahsin Tasnia , Das Koushik
Published: February 2025

Microplastic (MP) contamination in aquaculture feed presents an increasing threat to both the aquaculture industry and global public health. This study examines the occurrence, abundance, characteristics, and risk assessment of MPs in commercial tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) feeds. MP contamination was found in all feed samples, with the highest levels observed in grower feeds (2150 ± 70.71 MPs/kg), followed by starter feeds (1650 ± 70.71 MPs/kg) and finisher feeds (1300 ± 141.42 MPs/kg). Fibers were the dominant morphotype (85%), and polymer analysis using FTIR identified polypropylene (38.74%) and polyethylene (33.61%) as the most common polymers. Additionally, 84.64% of the extracted MPs were in the 100–1500 µm size range, posing significant health risks to tilapia and potential exposure to consumers. The estimated polymer hazard index (PHI) value for the three feed categories was very high, signaling alarming health risks. The mean polymer load index (PLI) values across the feed categories ranged from 4.23 to 8.03, indicating minor contamination. The study attributes the sources of MPs to feed ingredients, packaging materials, and processing machinery. The high PHI value underscores the need for urgent action to mitigate MP pollution in tilapia farming.

Graphical Abstract
Structure-Modified Zeolites for an Enhanced Production of Bio Jet Fuel Components via Catalytic Pyrolysis of Forestry Residues
Authors: Butt Waqar , Cabello Judith Hernandez , Hedlund Jonas , Shafaghat Hoda
Published: February 2025

Aromatic hydrocarbons are important components of jet fuels mainly due to their effects on lowering the freeze point, enhancing the lubricity, and preventing the fuel leakage in the engines and fueling systems by interacting with their polymer seals. Produced from fossil resources, jet fuel consumption contributes to rising atmospheric CO2 levels. Therefore, efficient utilization of renewable resources, such as biomass, to produce jet fuel components is an important step toward building a sustainable society. Hence, structure-modified zeolite catalysts that determine a high selective production of aromatic HCs in the range of jet fuel chemicals from biomass via catalytic pyrolysis were synthesized and engineered in a PyroGC-MS/FID system. The structure-modified catalysts of hierarchical HBeta (HRCHY HBeta) and defect-free nano-sized crystals ZSM-5 (ZSM-5-F) were used to selectively deoxygenate the reactive species in biomass pyrolysis vapors leading to a high production of renewable jet fuels (bio jet fuels; BJFs). The morphology of zeolites were designed for an enhanced diffusion of biomass pyrolysis vapors and upgraded products, in and out of the catalyst, to selectively produce monoaromatic HCs. A comprehensive comparison of the experimental and theoretical results obtained from biomass pyrolysis using the commercial catalyst of HBeta and the structure-modified catalysts of hierarchical HBeta and defect-free ZSM-5 was accomplished in in-situ and ex-situ catalytic configurations. Meanwhile, the catalytic performance of the ZSM-5-F catalyst in the conversion of a biomass pyrolysis oil model into jet fuel chemicals was investigated using a fixed bed catalytic reactor.

Graphical Abstract
Long-term solar radiation forecasting in India using EMD, EEMD, and advanced machine learning algorithms
Authors: RajasundrapandiyanLeebanon T. , Murugan N. S. Sakthivel , Kumaresan K. , Jeyabose Andrew
Published: February 2025

Solar radiation plays a critical role in the carbon sequestration processes of terrestrial ecosystems, making it a key factor in environmental sustainability among various renewable energy sources. This study integrates two advanced signal processing techniques—empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD)—with machine learning (ML) algorithms, including multilayer perceptron (MLP), random forest regression (RFR), support vector regression (SVR), and ridge regression, to forecast long-term solar radiation. Meteorological data spanning 13 years (2000–2012) from seven locations across India (Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Patna, and Trivandrum) were used for training and testing. The optimal model was identified based on performance metrics, including the highest linear correlation coefficient (R), and the lowest mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE). The results indicate that EEMD integrated with ML algorithms consistently outperformed EMD-based approaches. Among the ML models evaluated, EEMD integrated with MLP achieved the best performance across all locations, with RMSE = 0.332, MAE = 0.26, and R
2 = 0.99. Furthermore, a comparative analysis with previous studies demonstrated that the proposed approach provides superior accuracy, underscoring its efficacy in solar radiation forecasting.
The effect of particle–substrate adsorption on the deposition of particles from a thin evaporating sessile droplet
Authors: D’Ambrosio Hannah-May , Wray Alexander W. , Wilson Stephen K.
Published: February 2025

A mathematical model for the evaporation of, the flow within, and the deposition from, a thin, pinned sessile droplet undergoing either spatially uniform or diffusion-limited evaporation is formulated and analysed. Specifically, we obtain explicit expressions for the concentration of particles within the bulk of the droplet, and describe the behaviour of the concentration of particles adsorbed onto the substrate as well as the evolution of the masses within the bulk of the droplet, adsorbed onto the substrate, and in the ring deposit that can form at the contact line. In particular, we show that the presence of particle–substrate adsorption suppresses the formation of a ring deposit at the contact line for spatially uniform, but not for diffusion-limited, evaporation. However, in both scenarios, the final adsorbed deposit is more concentrated near to the contact line of the droplet when radial advection due to evaporation dominates particle–substrate adsorption, but is more concentrated near to the centre of the droplet when particle–substrate adsorption dominates radial advection due to evaporation. In addition, in an appendix, we investigate the formation of a ring deposit at the contact line for a rather general form of the local evaporative flux, and show that the presence of particle–substrate adsorption suppresses the formation of the ring deposit that can otherwise occur when the local evaporative flux is non-singular at the contact line.
Why Study Spherical Convexity of Non-Homogeneous Quadratics and what Makes it Surprising?
Authors: Bolton Ryan , Németh Sándor Zoltán
Published: February 2025

This paper establishes necessary, sufficient, and equivalent conditions for the spherical convexity of non-homogeneous quadratic functions. By examining criteria for determining spherical convexity, we identified unique properties that differentiate spherically convex quadratic functions from their geodesically convex counterparts in both hyperbolic and Euclidean spaces. Since spherically convex functions over the entire sphere are constant, our analysis focuses on proper spherically convex subsets of the sphere. Our primary results concern non-homogeneous quadratic functions on the spherically convex set of unit vectors with positive coordinates. We also extend our findings to more general spherically convex sets. Additionally, the paper explores special cases of non-homogeneous quadratic functions where the defining matrix is of a specific type, such as positive, diagonal, or a Z-matrix. This study not only provides useful criteria for spherical convexity but also reveals surprising characteristics of spherically convex quadratic functions, contributing to a deeper understanding of convexity in spherical geometries.
Political Soundness. Hobbes’s and Burke’s Complementing Views on the State
Authors: Doomen Jasper
Published: February 2025

There are important differences between some of the fundamental ideas and presumptions in Hobbes’ and Burke’s political philosophy. Someone who studies both thinkers may on that account be prompted to conclude that they are incompatible. I maintain that this is not the case, arguing that their positions in fact complement each other. Hobbes appears to present, from an amoral (so a morally neutral) perspective, a universal model of the state, while Burke takes the relevant circumstances into consideration. Their views on the state are compatible since they address different stages of development of a state.
How is China shaping Africa? The role of Chinese development projects on land cover transformation
Authors: Pecora Nicoló , Spelta Alessandro , Pagnottoni Paolo , Kim Jong-Min
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates the impact of Chinese development projects on the change of land covering in the African continent over the years 2000-2017 by means of a new gridded dataset. The geo-referenced panel dataset matches information on Chinese development projects with satellite data on the evolution of land surface. The econometric analysis shows that Chinese development projects have played a significant role in the transformation of the African land covering, and that the Chinese intervention in Africa has had a significant impact on the transition of land covering from natural to artificial surfaces.
The impact of risk retention on the pricing of securitizations
Authors: Hibbeln Martin , Osterkamp Werner
Published: February 2025

Loan screening and monitoring are critical to loan performance, but incentives are diminished for securitized loans. Risk retention is intended to harmonize the interests of originators and investors; however, it is unclear to what extent investors anticipate and respond to originators’ screening and monitoring incentives, particularly with respect to different types of risk retention. The theoretical literature suggests that equity retention is optimal in terms of screening efforts; thus, if investors anticipate these incentives, equity retention should lead to low credit spreads. Employing OLS and instrumental variables regressions, we empirically examine the effect of retention on spreads. Our analysis, based on a unique dataset of securitizations, reveals that the effects highly depend on the considered investment type. Credit spreads decrease by approx. 26 to 39 bps if the originator retains a material fraction of at least 5% of the deal’s nominal value. For tranches with high information sensitivity—where screening and monitoring incentives are most critical—investors, though, impose an additional risk premium of 120 basis points when originators fail to retain a substantial portion of the securitizations. In addition, we find that transactions with vertical slice retention are associated with a notably higher risk premium than those with equity retention, demonstrating the differential impact of retention structures on investor perceptions. Overall, our results underline that the extent of asymmetric information, particularly with respect to different types of investments and risk retention, is an important component in the pricing of securitizations.
Rapid wall shear stress prediction for aortic aneurysms using deep learning: a fast alternative to CFD
Authors: Faisal Md. Ahasan Atick , Mutlu Onur , Mahmud Sakib , Tahir Anas , Chowdhury Muhammad E. H. , Bensaali Faycal , Alnabti Abdulrahman , Yavuz Mehmet Metin , El-Menyar Ayman , Al-Thani Hassan , Yalcin Huseyin Cagatay
Published: February 2025

Aortic aneurysms pose a significant risk of rupture. Previous research has shown that areas exposed to low wall shear stress (WSS) are more prone to rupture. Therefore, precise WSS determination on the aneurysm is crucial for rupture risk assessment. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a powerful approach for WSS calculations, but they are computationally intensive, hindering time-sensitive clinical decision-making. In this study, we propose a deep learning (DL) surrogate, MultiViewUNet, to rapidly predict time-averaged WSS (TAWSS) distributions on abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Our novel approach employs a domain transformation technique to translate complex aortic geometries into representations compatible with state-of-the-art neural networks. MultiViewUNet was trained on

$$\varvec{23}$$

23

real and

$$\varvec{230}$$

230

synthetic AAA geometries, demonstrating an average normalized mean absolute error (NMAE) of just

$$\varvec{0.362\%}$$

0.362
%

in WSS prediction. This framework has the potential to streamline hemodynamic analysis in AAA and other clinical scenarios where fast and accurate stress quantification is essential.

Graphical abstract
On bootstrapping, data overfitting and crocodiles: an additional comment to McPherron et al. (2022)
Authors: Domínguez-Rodrigo Manuel , Baquedano Enrique
Published: February 2025

Quaternary hominin-carnivore interactions is taphonomically reconstructed best through the use of bone surface modifications (BSM). This study examines redundancy in an experimental dataset of potentially similar BSM created by crocodile tooth-marking, sedimentary trampling and stone tool cut marking (Domínguez-Rodrigo and Baquedano in Sci Rep 8:5786, 2018). The original analysis of this experimental set, aiming to confidently classify the three types of BSM, was criticized by some authors (McPherron et al. in J Hum Evol 164:103071, 2022) insinuating that the analysis was flawed by a potential methodological overfitting caused by the improper use of bootstrap. A subsequent response to that critique (Abellán et al. in Geobios Memoire Special. 72–73, 12–21, 2022) showed that there was no difference in the results between using the raw data and the bootstrapped data. It was argued that structural co-variance and redundancy of the categorical dataset was responsible for the highly accurate models; however, this was never empirically demonstrated. Here, we show how the original experimental dataset is saturated with redundancy. Our analysis revealed that, out of 633 cases, only 116 were unique (18.3%) in the complete dataset, 45 unique cases (7.1%) in the intrinsic variable dataset, and just four unique cases (0.63%) in the three-variable dataset (accounting for most of the sample variance). Redundancy, therefore, ranged from 81.7% to over 99%. Machine learning analysis using Random Forest (RF) and C5.0 algorithms on the datasets demonstrated high accuracy with the raw data (90-98%). Proper bootstrapping yielded nearly identical accuracy (88-98%), while improper bootstrapping slightly reduced accuracy (86-98%) and introduced some degree of underfitting. This underscores that the potential biasing effects of bootstrapping differ between numerical and categorical datasets, especially on those with low dimensionality and low cardinality, in situations of feature interdependence and covariance. A complementary approach, consisting of an iterative data partitioning method through train-test resampling reproduced the results derived from the bootstrapped samples. The understanding of these methodological processes is essential to an adequate application of these experimental models to the fossil record.
Geochemistry and machine learning: methods and benchmarking
Authors: Prasianakis N. I. , Laloy E. , Jacques D. , Meeussen J. C. L. , Miron G. D. , Kulik D. A. , Idiart A. , Demirer E. , Coene E. , Cochepin B. , Leconte M. , Savino M. E. , Samper-Pilar J. , De Lucia M. , Churakov S. V. , Kolditz O. , Yang C. , Samper J. , Claret F.
Published: February 2025

Thanks to the recent progress in numerical methods and computer technology, the application fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning methods (ML) are growing at a very fast pace. The field of geochemistry for nuclear waste management has recently started using ML for the acceleration of numerical simulations of reactive transport processes, for the improvement of multiscale and multiphysics couplings efficiency, and for uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis. Several case studies indicate that the use of ML based approaches brings an overall acceleration of geochemical and reactive transport simulations between one and four orders of magnitude. This paper presents a benchmarking exercise that aims at providing a set of reference data and models for developing and applying ML techniques for geochemical and reactive transport simulations. Several well-known geochemical speciation codes are used to generate systematically a consistent set of high-quality chemical equilibrium data, to be used as input for the training of several ML methods. Two benchmarks are formulated, each with multiple levels of gradually increasing degree of complexity. The first benchmark focuses on cement chemistry, while the second one considers uranium sorption on a clay mineral. The performance of different ML techniques is then evaluated in terms of their numerical efficiency and accuracy. A speedup of several orders of magnitude is observed. The benefits and the limitations of different ML based techniques are then analysed and highlighted.
Supplier Justice Practice in Building Buyers’ Resilience: A Mediated-Moderation Model
Authors: Chowdhury Mesbahuddin , Bhattacharya Ananya , Koushan Mona
Published: February 2025

While justice practice in the buyer–supplier relationship has been well-researched, its impact has mainly been discussed in achieving various relational outcomes (such as satisfaction, commitment, collaboration, etc.) and various firm performances (such as social, operational, financial, etc.). This study extends the application of justice practice beyond this traditional focus and investigates its role in building resilience, a critical capability to survive during a disruptive environment. The purpose of this study is not only to understand the relationships among the dimensions of supplier justice practices but also to understand the usefulness of the supplier justice practice in building buyers’ resilience through supplier flexibility practice. The contingent role of firm size and firm age is also examined with the link between supplier flexibility and buyers’ resilience. We collected data from 205 Australian firms to examine the theoretical framework. Following the PLS-SEM technique, our findings show that suppliers’ interactional justice positively influences both distributive and procedural justice. Our result further reveals that only suppliers’ procedural justice directly influences buyers’ resilience and distributive and interactional justice impacts buyers’ resilience through supplier flexibility. This confirms the presence of supplier flexibility as a mediator between distributive justice, interactional justice, and buyers’ resilience. Our findings further show that only firm size positively moderates the effect of supplier flexibility on buyers’ resilience. We also present the theoretical and managerial implications of the study based on the findings.
Navigating the Future of Psychiatry: A Review of Research on Opportunities, Applications, and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Linardon Jake
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform psychiatric care, offering a solution to complex problems such as predicting illness prognosis, facilitating diagnostic decisions, and personalizing treatment plans. Despite growing enthusiasm surrounding these innovations, widespread integration of AI technologies into clinical practice remains a challenge. The purpose of this review is to highlight opportunities, applications and challenges of AI in psychiatry, by focusing on recent research across three domains: (1) smartphone sensing and digital phenotyping; (2) chatbots; and (3) natural language processing.

Recent Findings

Accumulating evidence shows that multimodal data streams captured through smartphone sensors, electronic heath records, and textual information derived from social media posts and session transcripts can be leveraged to build machine learning models capable of predicting patient outcomes. The efficacy of generative AI chatbots on psychiatric symptoms is also emerging, though reporting guidelines on harms and safety standards are urgently needed.

The preponderance of pilot/feasibility studies in this field suggests that research should now shift focus towards validation to help determine clinical relevance and inform patient decisions in real-world practice. Doing so could expedite the safe integration of AI in psychiatric care and ensure that each patient receives appropriate services personalized to their needs.
Quantifying the Associations Between Social Determinants of Health and Blood Pressure 1–3 Years Following Pregnancy in Black Women
Authors: Walker Shannon L. , Walker Rebekah J. , Dawson Aprill Z. , Williams Joni S. , Palatnik Anna , Egede Leonard E.
Published: February 2025

Objective

Examine the association between social determinants of health (SDOH) (cultural, neighborhood, and physical factors) and blood pressure (BP) in Black women 1–3 years following delivery.

Methods

Cross-sectional data collected from N=204 adult Black women who had a live delivery between 2013 and 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, were analyzed. Sequential linear and logistic regression models were run to test associations between SDOH variables and systolic and diastolic BP. SDOH were the independent variables; systolic and diastolic BP were the outcome variables. Stepwise linear and logistic regression with forward selection were run to assess the independent associations between SDOH and BP in Black women 1–3 after pregnancy.

Results

Mean systolic and diastolic BP were 120.1 (± 17.4 SE) and 82.0 (± 13.2 SE), respectively. In final stepwise regression models, age (β 0.61, 95% CI 0.20, 1.02), income (β 5.45 95% CI 0.35, 10.56), chance health locus of control (β −0.78, 95% CI −1.37, −0.19), depression (β 0.59, 95% CI 0.10, 1.08), BMI (β 0.33, 95% CI 0.08, 0.57), family history of preeclampsia (β 7.92, 95% CI 1.49, 14.35), and kidney disease (β 60.32, 95% CI 38.71, 81.93) were associated with systolic BP. Age (β 0.53, 95% CI 0.23, 0.83), depression (β 0.55, 95% CI 0.22, 0.87), BMI (β 0.45, 95% CI 0.28, 0.63), family history of preeclampsia (β 5.71, 95% CI 0.97, 10.45), and kidney disease were significantly associated with diastolic BP.

Conclusion

Depression was associated with increased systolic BP and chance health locus of control was associated with decreased systolic BP. Depression was significantly associated with increased diastolic BP. Future research should explore causal mechanisms between depression and hypertension risk.
Integrating Assessment of Circadian Rhythmicity to Improve Treatment Outcomes for Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders: Updates on New Treatments
Authors: Gloston Gabrielle F. , Ward Katherine C. , Rodriguez-Torres G. Carolina , Gamble Karen L. , Thomas S. Justin
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

Despite advancements in basic circadian research, development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies for circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders (CRSWDs) has been slow. Here, we review the most recent innovations in human circadian assessment and emerging new therapies for CRSWDs.

Recent Findings

Researchers have improved existing circadian assessment methods to overcome logistical barriers and developed novel circadian assessment methods. New treatments for CRSWDs involve pharmacological and behavioral treatments that modulate circadian phase, amplitude, and/or robustness of the central circadian clock.

Commercialization of these emerging tools will require overcoming barriers, such as additional testing to confirm the underlying pathology and mechanism of action of potential treatments. Clinicians and scientists are also called to survey adjacent fields and adopt existing diagnostic tools that may offer diagnostic clarity in CRSWDs. Lastly, we must continue to advocate for medical insurance coverage of current and future tools and technologies to improve patient care.
Restricted to the “Traditional Female Role”: Australian high-school graduates’ perceptions of the messaging about women in relationship and sex education
Authors: Catlin William B. , Dzidic Peta L. , Phillips Matthew J. , Breen Lauren J.
Published: February 2025

Australia is faced with gendered issues like intimate partner violence and sexual assault which are perpetuated by widespread negative public attitudes that position women as an inferior gender. High-school Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) offers one intervention into these gendered issues. Research shows students dissatisfaction with RSE and gendered inequalities within it. Based on reflections of recent Australian high-school graduates, this study explored the question, “what messages about women are communicated through RSE?” 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australians (10 women, 2 men) aged 19 to 22 (M = 19.58) in 2023 who graduated from high-school in the previous three years. Using critical realist epistemology, an abductive Reflexive Thematic Analysis was conducted, through a postmodern feminist lens. Four themes were constructed: Oversimplified Misrepresentations of Women, The Liable Sex, The Deprioritised Other, and The Virtuous Woman. These themes were supported by a reductive-expansive continuum describing variation in portrayals of women, ranging from rigid traditional conceptualisations to more inclusive, expansive representations. Participants described restrictive, rigid, and outdated gendered messaging. Much messaging about women in RSE reflected problematic attitudes toward women. Shame surfaced as a significant, gendered concept in RSE, particularly affecting women participants; this was explained through Shame Resilience Theory. The reductive-expansive continuum offers a practical framework for evaluating and improving how women are represented in RSE programs. Findings echo calls for comprehensive RSE teacher training and necessitate policy makers and educators to review curricula and reform RSE.
Fire safety regulations in Brazil: Analysis of the occupancy classification of buildings
Authors: de Lourdes Ferreira Minervino Bernardete , dos Santos Cristina Calmeiro , von Krüger Paulo Gustavo , Rodrigues João Paulo C.
Published: February 2025

Fire safety in a building depends on several factors, including its use and occupancy, which fire protection systems are present in the building and the state of maintenance of these systems. Considering the fact that Brazil has 27 federal states and each of them has its own fire safety legislation, it is common for there to be divergences that result in different protection requirements depending on the state where the building is located. This study analyzes Brazilian state fire safety legislation with regard to the sizing of fire protection systems for buildings, considering the parameters used for such sizing. It then identifies the differences in classification in terms of the use and occupation of buildings in the 27 federal states; and presents a proposal for a standardized classification for the whole country, taking into account the convergences that already exist in state legislation. The main objective is to suggest a discussion starter for the process of standardizing fire safety parameters in Brazil.
Criteria for enhancing comfort and liveability conditions in homogenous built contexts through innovative façade interventions
Authors: Stival Carlo Antonio , Bisiani Thomas , Limoncin Paola
Published: February 2025

This research is conducted within the framework of the Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem (iNEST) project, funded by the Next Generation EU and the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The global project focuses on developing sustainable solutions for the built environment in Northeastern Italy, aligning with both UN Agenda 2030 and European directives on energy transition, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation. This research refers to the methodology Renovation through Design for Adaptability/Flexibility/Change to analyze and enhance existing buildings, with particular emphasis on façade systems and spatial concepts. The research applies to the case study of the Panzano residential District (1907–1927), a historic workers’ village associated with the Monfalcone shipyards, comprising of over 600 dwellings. This district exemplifies the challenge of balancing the general requirements for adapting dwelling units to contemporary needs, providing additional spaces, and mitigating energy impacts while preserving the historical value of the built heritage of a 20th -century company town. In the research approach, technology should become an integral component of the architectural design process, focusing on façade systems as a key point. These interventions aim to enhance environmental comfort, to ensure the transformability of interior spaces, and to foster inclusive interactions between individuals and their environment, while maintaining compatibility with the principles of heritage preservation. The developed methodology contributes to defining effective approaches for renovating existing buildings, while addressing both the technological and social aspects of sustainability.
Analysis of the National Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory (2021) in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Jang Jeongpil , Han Eunmi , Heo Jinha , Choi Suah , Park Jihoon , Lee Kang-San , Joo Jongmin , Song Hyeongdo , Yoo Chul
Published: February 2025

In the Republic of Korea, air pollutant emissions are annually estimated and published. These emissions are used to formulate and evaluate national air quality policies. In this study, the 2021 National Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory in the Republic of Korea was estimated. In addition, emission sources and primary causes affecting changes in emissions were analyzed. As a result, air pollutant emissions in the Republic of Korea were 57,317 tons of PM-2.5, 160,993 tons of SOx, 884,454 tons of NOx, 1,002,810 tons of VOCs, and 262,008 tons of NH3. PM-2.5, SOx, and NOx emissions in 2021 were lower than those in 2020 because of the reduction policy effects, such as the shutdown of old coal-fired power plants and stricter emission standards in workplaces. However, emissions of VOCs and NH3 in 2021 increased those in 2020 due to socioeconomic effects, particularly in everyday activity sector. Specifically, it was caused by increased use of paint for construction and shipbuilding to meet rising demands as well as a rise in cattle numbers due to increased meat consumption. Spatially, Gyeonggi-do had the highest emissions of PM-2.5, NOx, and VOCs due to its dense populations and heavy traffic, while Ulsan and Chungcheongnam-do had the highest emissions of SOx and NH3 from production process in their large national industrial complexes.
Socio-emotional e-competencies, cyberaggression, and cybervictimisation in adolescents: differences according to sex and academic year
Authors: Cebollero-Salinas Ana , Hernández Santos Orejudo , Escoriaza Jacobo Cano
Published: February 2025

The socialisation of adolescent boys and girls takes place primarily online in virtual environments, where cyberbullying is one of the greatest current social dangers faced by that age group. Socio-emotional e-competencies (i.e., competencies that apply specifically to online environments) are a protective factor against cyberaggression and cybervictimisation, and research has shown that the variables of sex and academic year (age) play a relevant role in that interaction. Although such socio-emotional e-competencies have been shown to play an adaptive role in further types of online behaviour, they have not yet been studied specifically in relation to cyberaggression and cybervictimisation. Our study’s goal was thus to ascertain whether socio-emotional e-competencies have a predictive value for cyberaggression and cybervictimisation, and whether differences can be observed according to sex or academic year. Participants were 945 Spanish adolescents (56.5% female, 43.5% male) ages 12 to 16 (mean age: 13.80, DE = 1.27) enrolled in 13 secondary schools. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires (European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire [ECIP-Q] and Socio-Emotional E-Competencies Questionnaire [e-COM]). We observed differences according to sex and academic year in cyberbullying behaviour and socio-emotional e-competencies. Moreover, significant relationships can be established between socio-emotional e-competencies, on the one hand, and cyberaggression and cybervictimisation, on the other, with differences among groups as revealed by SEM multigroup analysis. The levels of emotional e-regulation in girls and e-self-control of impulsivity in boys across all academic years explain most instances of cybervictimisation and cyberaggression, especially in younger-aged groups. These findings provide a new focus to help prevent cyberbullying.
Inside Criminalized Governance
Authors: Barnes Nicholas
Published: February 2025

For over four decades, drug trafficking gangs have monopolized violence and engaged in various forms of governance across hundreds of informal neighborhoods known as favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Drawing on three years of ethnographic fieldwork, over 200 interviews with gang members and residents, 400 archival documents, and 20,000 anonymous hotline denunciations of gang members, this book provides a comprehensive examination of the causes and consequences of these governance arrangements. The book documents the variation in gang-resident relationships – from responsive relations in which gangs provide a reliable form of order and stimulate the local economy, to coercive and unresponsive relations in which gangs offers residents few benefits – then identifies the factors that account for this variation. The result is an unprecedented ethnographic study that provides readers a unique, in-depth insight into the evolution of Rio de Janeiro's drug trafficking gangs from their emergence in the 1970s to the present day.
Pure Cloning
Authors: Takala Tuija , Häyry Matti
Published: February 2025

This Element explores the rationality and morality of the kind of human reproductive cloning that does not involve genetic enhancements or other biological alterations in the individuals produced. The analysis is needed because, sooner or later, the technique will be safe enough to be tested; yet its pros and cons have not been sufficiently investigated. The literature abounds with defenses and criticisms of cloning but these do not distinguish between impure and pure forms, the one allowing the combination of reproduction and amendments, the other not. Therefore, cloning is condemned or condoned on grounds that have more to do with enhancements than the reproductive act. This Element shows how the conceptual landscape changes when the distinction is made visible and the arguments targeted at the production of a new life without the support or burden of the enhancement factor. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Infrared Spectroscopy of Archaeological Sediments
Authors: Toffolo Michael B.
Published: February 2025

Infrared spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between infrared radiation and matter. Its application to the characterization of archaeological sedimentary contexts has produced invaluable insights into the archaeological record and past human activities. This Element aims at providing a practical guide to infrared spectroscopy of archaeological sediments and their contents taken as a dynamic system, in which the different components observed today are the result of multiple formation processes that took place over long timescales. After laying out the history and fundamentals of the discipline, the author proposes a step-by-step methodological framework, both in the field and the laboratory, and guides the reader in the interpretation of infrared spectra of the main components of archaeological sediments with the aid of selected case studies. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
About Suffering
Authors: Hadjiyiannis Christos
Published: February 2025

Poetry has always courted suffering. Poets sing their suffering, we've been told, and there can be no poetry without suffering. Louise Glück wasn't too sure about that. Suffering features centrally in her poetry and she discussed its role in poetry in her critical writing, where she often retained the language of poetry as martyrdom. However, she was keen to stress that suffering's part in composition has been misplaced and misunderstood, its function idealised and fetishised. Surveying a wide range of texts about poetry's relationship to suffering, and drawing surprising links between very different voices, this book situates Glück both in the tradition of Rainer Maria Rilke's lyrical suffering and in the tradition of T. S. Eliot's impersonal approach to poetry. Glück's most powerful and characteristic discussion of suffering, it argues, takes place in her 1992 volume, The Wild Iris.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Intercultural Citizenship in Higher Education
Authors: Golubeva Irina
Published: February 2025

Traditionally, the fields of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Intercultural Citizenship Education (ICitE) have been treated separately in Higher Education (HE) and beyond, with DEI often being associated with domestic diversity, while ICitE is often situated within international contexts. Although such binary perception is no longer adequate due to the superdiversity that characterizes today's university communities, the origins of this categorical distinction can be explained through an examination of the disciplinary roots, theoretical foundations, primary focus, and implementation approaches. Despite this difference in perspectives between the two fields, the Element argues that DEI and ICitE can complement each other in a variety of positive and productive ways. It does so by identifying the intersections between these two distinct yet interrelated fields and by providing an example of how they can be intentionally synergized in HE practice.
Islamicate Environments
Authors: Ruggles D. Fairchild
Published: February 2025

Islam burst forth from Arabia in the seventh century and spread with astonishing speed and force into the Middle East, Asia and northern Africa and the Mediterranean. While its success as a dominant culture has often been attributed to military strength, astute political organization, and religious factors, this Element focuses on the environmental conditions from which early Islamic societies sprang. In the belt of arid land that stretches from Iran to the Maghreb (Spain and Morocco)-i.e. the territories of early Islam-the adaptation of natural water systems, landforms and plant varieties was required to make the land habitable and productive.
Bus Station Hustle
Authors: Stasik Michael
Published: February 2025

Bus stations are among the most prominent sites of social and economic activity in Africa. Integral to transport, trade, and exchange over distance, they provide livelihoods for large numbers of people. Through a detailed ethnography of one of Ghana's busiest long-distance bus stations, Michael Stasik explores the dialectical relationship between the ways in which people make the station work and how the station shapes popular economic engagement and social life. Drawing on a dual understanding of 'hustle' as a distinct mode of economic activity and organisation, as well as a marker of complex and sometimes bewildering situations, Stasik challenges dominant views of transport work in urban Africa, especially those wedded to generic notions of 'informality'. Bus Station Hustle offers a nuanced anthropological perspective on the hands-on work in and the institutional workings of an infrastructural hub of mobility and exchange. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Exhibitionist Japan
Authors: Lockyer Angus
Published: February 2025

From the second half of the nineteenth century, Japan has been a particularly enthusiastic user of exhibitions. Large-scale international exhibitions, including Osaka 2025, form only the tip of an iceberg comprising over 1,300 industrial, regional, and local exhibitions held in Japan over the past 150 years. In this unique history, Angus Lockyer explores how and why these events have been used as catalysts of development and arenas for fostering modern industry, empire, and nation. He traces their complicated genesis, realization, and reception, demonstrating that although they rarely achieve their stated aims, this does not undermine their utility – Japanese expos have provided a model subsequently adopted around the world. The history of this enthusiasm provides a more nuanced understanding of development in modern Japan, and emphasizes the shared experiences of global modernity.