bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of Risk‐Stratification Scores for Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Multi‐Ethnic Asian Population
Authors: Jiang Haowen , Tan Ju Le , Ruan Wen , Hon Jin Shing , Ismail Aidila , Lim Chee Lan , Perumal Sumathy , Koh Michelle , Sewa Duu Wen , Phua Ghee Chee , Oh Ying Zi , Ng Sue‐Ann , Hong Cassandra , Low Andrea , Lim Soo Teik , Yap Jonathan
Published: December 2024

Guidelines recommend risk stratification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients to guide management. There are currently several risk stratification scores available, which have largely been validated in various pulmonary hypertension registries in the West but not in Asia. We aim to study the performance of these different risk scores in PAH patients from a multi‐ethnic Asian population. A retrospective review of all PAH patients from Jan 2014 to Jun 2021 from a tertiary cardiac center was performed. Mortality outcomes were obtained from national registries. Using the 2022 ESC/ERS, REVEAL Lite 2.0 and COMPERA 2.0 risk scores, patients were classified into different risk strata at baseline and at follow‐up and changes in any risk strata recorded. The prognosis of patients based on these factors was compared. A total of 153 patients (mean age: 57 ± 17 years; 117 women; 94 Chinese, 33 Malay, 19 Indian) were included. All three scores showed significant difference in mortality outcomes between the different risk strata both at baseline and at follow‐up (p < 0.05), with the highest risk group showing the highest mortality. Patients who worsened to or remained at intermediate/high‐risk generally had a worse prognosis than those who remained stable at or improved to low‐risk strata. The 2022 ESC/ERS and COMPERA 2.0 risk scores had C‐statistics of 0.73 (0.58–0.88) and 0.80 (0.72–0.88), respectively, for predicting 1‐year mortality. Serial risk stratification is a useful tool in prognosticating Asian PAH patients and may play an important role in guiding therapeutic management.
Stairway to impact or highway to failure? A cognitive perspective on business model design processes in nascent sustainable ventures
Authors: Esau Eduard , Kannegießer Christina Lara , Reppmann Manuel , Piening Erk P. , Edinger‐Schons Laura Marie
Published: January 2025

Research Summary

Sustainable new ventures seeking to tackle grand challenges such as climate change or biodiversity loss through new business models face the difficult task of reconciling social and ecological goals with profit. To provide a better understanding of how founders balance such tensions and develop viable business models, this longitudinal case study traces the evolution of business models in six nascent sustainable ventures. We find that depending on the founding team's cognitive configuration (i.e., narrow vs. paradoxical), sustainable new ventures develop business models along two alternative paths. Reflecting different approaches to business model design in terms of what is done, how it is done, and when it is done, these trajectories explain why some ventures survive beyond the proof‐of‐concept phase while others do not.

Managerial Summary

Our study of six sustainable new ventures provides several insights for entrepreneurs on creating viable business models that meet social, ecological, and commercial goals. Founders should pursue a patient, experimental approach to business model design, avoiding early commitments while seeking stakeholder feedback for deeper insights into the challenges at hand. Furthermore, the team's mindset (narrow or paradoxical), influenced by members' value concepts (idealistic or pragmatic), determines the venture's design path. Teams with a paradoxical mindset, simultaneously integrating social, ecological, and economic goals, are more likely to navigate beyond the proof‐of‐concept phase successfully. Moreover, having idealistic and pragmatic perspectives within the team fosters cognitive diversity, which is crucial to dealing with complex challenges effectively.
A Formal Metric to Measure Inconsistencies in Stakeholder Preferences in Systems Engineering
Authors: Kannan Hanumanthrao
Published: December 2024

Developing complex systems like satellites and aircraft organizations involve numerous decision‐makers across various levels. These stakeholders, internal or external, express preferences traditionally through textual needs statements. Textual needs statements are easy to formulate and use, but offer limited analytical capacity. Alternative approaches based on decision analysis facilitate representing preferences rigorously but prove resource intensive without accuracy guarantees. Recently, researchers have proposed modal preference logic (MPL) to mathematically represent and reason about stakeholder preferences in systems engineering. Past work has demonstrated MPL's promise in identifying preference inconsistencies. This paper builds on that foundation to advance new theory and methods for systematically measuring detected inconsistencies. It introduces the Inconsistency Magnitude (IM), a rigorously developed metric grounded in minimal inconsistent subsets that sensitively quantifies inconsistencies and the spread of inconsistencies. Underpinning this metric, several theorems are presented that prove key properties across syntax variations. The research computationally exemplifies the metric over sample preference bases exhibiting differing complexity levels of inconsistencies.
Dream-Experience in Ibn Sīnā
Authors: Janssens Jules
Published: January 2025

Ibn Sīnā’s conception of dreams is scattered over parts of different works, both philosophical and medical. In the former, he tries as much as possible to explain the experience of dreams on the basis of the functioning of the inner senses, especially the imaginary faculty, during sleep. This appears to be in line with Aristotle. Contrary to Aristotle, however, Ibn Sīnā affirms the possibility of supernal, divinely inspired influences—more particularly, influences related to the celestial souls, sometimes called “angels.” Where Aristotle saw no real possibility of offering a causal explanation for prophecy in dreams, Ibn Sīnā is convinced he can offer one, by positing a congenerity between the celestial souls and our souls. On the medical side, however, he avoids any reference to experience based on divine intervention, limiting his comments instead to empirically observable facts. This complex approach to the experience of dreams can only be understood in the religious and scientific context of Ibn Sīnā’s time.
Epilogue: Experiencing Experiences—Four Encounters with Experience in the Medieval Islamicate World
Authors: McGinnis Jon
Published: January 2025

This epilogue explores and sometimes expands on many of the recurrent themes of this volume. It takes seriously the editors’ observation about the subject-rootedness of experience as understood in the medieval Islamicate world and about the notion of internalized objectivity as a lens for reassessing our histories of science. It argues that rather than holding to our current sharp, even arbitrary, divide between the objective and subjective, it is more fruitful to approach Islamicate science as one that views the relation between the experience of the individual scientists and the standards of a given scientific community as forming an ecosystem. Using the interpretive frame set out in the volume’s introduction, the epilogue supplements and contextualizes the essays to show that both subject-rootednessand internalized objectivity were operative throughout the scientific endeavors of medieval Islamic science. Against this background, a number of disciplines that have been excluded from or marginalized in our histories of science—such as grammar, theology, astrology, and dream interpretation—emerge as areas of scientific and historical interest.
Circular Economy in Practice: The Benefits of Collaboration for Securing Material Flow in a US Study
Authors: Borner Daniel , Eisenbart Barbara
Published: January 2025

Purpose—This paper aims to describe an amiable approach of addressing challenges to transitioning to a circular economy through collaboration and knowledge sharing between different partners.

Design/methodology/approach—The design science research methodology is used to identify the problem of the circular economy, suggest solutions, develop a usable artefact based on gathered user feedback interviews (n = 15) with US recyclers and industry experts.

Findings—There are two main approaches to navigating the circular economy, soft and hard methods. Hard methods include investing in digitalization and newer technologies to improve one’s processes. However, these methods require an initial capital investment and high operation costs, which can deter many SMEs. Soft methods on the other hand, include methods such as collaboration and sharing of knowledge. These methods require no initial investments, but rather rely on the use of learning from partners to improve their processes and gather data to evaluate internal structures. These soft methods are explained in detail and an artefact has been developed to showcase these approaches.

Business and social implications—This article furthers ideas of the circular economy regarding collaboration to identify the right sourcing partner. This is of growing importance to meet regulatory requirements of increasing recycling quotas on specific materials like secondary plastic.

Originality/value—The developed artefacts of material sheet and utility analysis tools improve the transparency of reusable material flows. It has been proven for a global producer of reusable plastic packaging solutions operating in the US with state-specific recycling content requirements. It provides a decision-framework to secure sourcing of secondary plastic to acceptable costs, CO2 reduction/sustainability and partner’s fit.
Féeton (B − L gauge boson) dark matter testable in future direct detection experiments
Authors: Cheng Yu , Sheng Jie , Yanagida Tsutomu T.
Published: January 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we revisit the féeton (gauge boson of U(1)B−L symmetry) dark matter scenario, and first point out the U(1) gauge symmetry can be a linear combination of the B – L and the SM hypercharge gauge symmetries. With the redefinition of B – L charge of fermions, the coupling between electron and féeton can be enhanced. After showing the parameter space required from the DM stability and cosmic production, we discuss the potential for verifying them in dark matter direct detection experiments. The results show that future experiments, such as SuperCDMS, have a sensitivity to reach the féeton DM region consistent with its cosmic production.
Yukawa textures from non-invertible symmetries
Authors: Kobayashi Tatsuo , Otsuka Hajime , Tanimoto Morimitsu
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Phenomenological aspects of non-invertible symmetries, in particular the flavor structure of quarks and leptons, are studied. We start with a ℤM discrete symmetry and gauge ℤ2 so as to obtain a non-invertible symmetry. We study which Yukawa textures can be derived from the non-invertible symmetries. Various textures can be realized and some of them cannot be realized by a conventional symmetry. For example, the nearest neighbor interaction texture as well as other interesting textures of quarks and leptons are obtained.
Light transformation: a celestial and Carrollian perspective
Authors: Banerjee Sourish , Basu Rudranil , Bhatkar Sayali Atul
Published: January 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we first study the consequence of spacetime translations and Lorentz transformations on Celestial CFT OPEs. Working with the light transforms of the operators belonging to the modified Mellin basis, we found that the leading order singularity in the OPE of such operators could be fixed purely using Poincaré symmetries owing to the non-trivial action of the translations on these operators. The OPE coefficient is then fixed using the soft limit of the correlation functions. We check that this singular structure obtained from symmetries is consistent with the OPE limit of three-point functions. This approach could potentially be useful for studying Celestial CFT without adverting to bulk physics. As another goal, we explore the significance of light transformation in Carrollian CFTs. In the special cases we considered, we show that light transformation equips us with a map between two branches of Carroll CFT in d = 3 dimension at the level of correlation functions in the near coincident limit.
Axions in the dark dimension
Authors: Gendler Naomi , Vafa Cumrun
Published: January 2025

Abstract

The dark dimension scenario, which is motivated from Swampland principles and predicts a single micron scale extra dimension, suggests a consistent framework for the dark sector of the universe. We consider the implications of this scenario for the QCD axion. We find that in the scenario in which the axion is localized on the standard model brane (which we will argue is natural), a combination of theoretical (being bounded by the 5D Planck mass) and observational constraints forces it to have decay constant in a narrow range f ~ 109 – 1010 GeV. This corresponds to a mass for the QCD axion of ma ~ (1 – 10) meV. The axion mass surprisingly coincides with the mass scale for the dark energy, the dark matter tower, and the neutrinos. In this scenario axions are not expected to form a large fraction of the dark matter but nevertheless this range of axion parameters is accessible to observations in near future experiments.
Flavor symmetries from modular subgroups in magnetized compactifications
Authors: Kobayashi Tatsuo , Nasu Kaito , Nishida Ryusei , Otsuka Hajime , Takada Shohei
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We study the flavor structures of zero-modes, which are originated from the modular symmetry on $$ {T}_1^2\times {T}_2^2 $$

T
1
2

×

T
2
2

and its orbifold with magnetic fluxes. We introduce the constraint on the moduli parameters by τ2 = Nτ1, where τi denotes the complex structure moduli on $$ {T}_i^2 $$

T
i
2

. Such a constraint can be derived from the moduli stabilization. The modular symmetry of $$ {T}_1^2\times {T}_2^2 $$

T
1
2

×

T
2
2

is $$ \textrm{SL}{\left(2,\mathbb{Z}\right)}_{\tau_1}\times \textrm{SL}{\left(2,\mathbb{Z}\right)}_{\tau_2}\subset \textrm{Sp}\left(4,\mathbb{Z}\right) $$
SL

2
ℤ

τ
1

×
SL

2
ℤ

τ
2

⊂
Sp

4
ℤ

and it is broken to Γ0(N) × Γ0(N) by the moduli constraint. The wave functions represent their covering groups. We obtain various flavor groups in these models.
One-loop impact factors for heavy quarkonium production: S-wave case
Authors: Nefedov Maxim A.
Published: January 2025

Abstract

With the aim to extend the study of inclusive heavy quarkonium production at forward rapidities with the resummation of high partonic center-of-momentum-energy logarithms beyond Leading Logarithmic Approximation (LLA), the explicit analytic results for one-loop corrections to the following impact factors had been obtained: γR → $$ Q\overline{Q}\ \left[{^1S}_0^{\left[8\right]}\right] $$
Q

Q
¯

S

1

0

8

, gR → $$ Q\overline{Q}\ \left[{^1S}_0^{\left[1\right]}\right] $$
Q

Q
¯

S

1

0

1

, gR → $$ Q\overline{Q}\ \left[{^1S}_0^{\left[8\right]}\right] $$
Q

Q
¯

S

1

0

8

and gR →$$ Q\overline{Q}\ \left[{^3S}_1^{\left[8\right]}\right] $$
Q

Q
¯

S

3

1

8

, with R being the Reggeized gluon and Q is the heavy quark. The computation is done in the framework of Lipatov’s gauge-invariant EFT for Multi-Regge processes in QCD with the tilted-Wilson-line regularisation for rapidity divergences. As expected, only single-logarithmic rapidity divergence proportional to the one-loop Regge trajectory of a gluon remains in the final result for impact-factors. Numerical comparison with Regge limits (s/(–t) ≫ 1) of one-loop QCD amplitudes, described in the paper, provides a strong cross-check of obtained results. The relations of obtained results with other regularisation schemes for rapidity divergences used in low-x physics, such as BFKL scheme, High-Energy Factorisation (HEF) scheme and shockwave scheme, are given.
Pulsating string solution and stability in two parameter χ-deformed background
Authors: Nayak Rashmi R , Padhi Nibedita , Samal Manoranjan
Published: January 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate pulsating string solutions within the context of two parameter χ-deformed $$ \mathcal{R} $$
R
× S2 background. We derive the energy and oscillation number relation for the deformed $$ \mathcal{R} $$
R
× S2 in short string limit. Additionally, we derive the first order perturbation equation for pulsating string in this specific background. As a special case of the two parameter deformed background, we examine the stability of the pulsating string solution in one parameter deformed $$ \mathcal{R} $$
R
× S2 and AdS3 background by setting one of the deformation parameters to zero.
Path integral of free fields and the determinant of Laplacian in warped space-time
Authors: Chakraborty Soumangsu , Hashimoto Akikazu , Nastase Horatiu
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We revisit the problem of computing the determinant of Klein-Gordon operator ∆ = −∇2 + M2 on Euclideanized AdS3 with the Euclideanized time coordinate compactified with period β, H3/Z, by explicitly computing its eigenvalues and computing their product. Upon assuming that eigenfunctions are normalizable on H3/Z, we found that there are no such eigenfunctions. Upon closer examination, we discover that the intuition that H3/Z is like a box with normalizable eigenfunctions was false, and that there is, instead, a set of eigenfunctions which forms a continuum. Somewhat to our surprise, we find that there is a different operator $$ \overset{\sim }{\Delta } $$

∆
~

= r2∆, which has the property that (1) the determinant of ∆ and the determinant of r2∆ have the same dependence on β, and that (2) the Green’s function of ∆ can be spectrally decomposed into eigenfunctions of $$ \overset{\sim }{\Delta } $$

∆
~

. We identify the $$ \overset{\sim }{\Delta } $$

∆
~

operator as the “weighted Laplacian” in the context of warped compactifications, and comment on possible applications.
A class of ghost-free theories in symmetric teleparallel geometry
Authors: Bello-Morales Antonio G. , Jiménez Jose Beltrán , Cano Alejandro Jiménez , Koivisto Tomi S. , Maroto Antonio L.
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Theories formulated in the arena of teleparallel geometries are generically plagued by ghost-like instabilities or other pathologies that are ultimately caused by the breaking of some symmetries. In this work, we construct a class of ghost-free theories based on a symmetry under Transverse Diffeomorphisms that is naturally realised in symmetric teleparallelism. We explicitly show their equivalence to a family of theories with an extra scalar field plus a global degree of freedom and how Horndeski theories and healthy couplings to matter fields can be readily accommodated.
Classification of conformal carroll algebras
Authors: Afshar Hamid , Bekaert Xavier , Najafizadeh Mojtaba
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We classify a one-parameter family, $$ \mathfrak{confcar}{\mathfrak{r}}_z\left(d+1\right) $$
confcar

r
z

d
+
1

, of conformal extensions of the Carroll algebra in arbitrary dimension with z being the anisotropic scaling exponent. We further obtain their infinite-dimensional extensions, $$ {\overset{\sim }{\mathfrak{confcarr}}}_z\left(d+1\right) $$

confcarr
~

z

d
+
1

, and discuss their corresponding finite-dimensional truncated subalgebras when the scaling exponent is integer or half-integer. For all these conformal extensions, we also constrain the 2-point and 3-point correlation functions with electric and/or magnetic features.
The chiral torsional anomaly and the Nieh-Yan invariant with and without boundaries
Authors: Erdmenger Johanna , Matthaiakakis Ioannis , Meyer René , Vassilevich Dmitri
Published: January 2025

Abstract

There exists a long-standing debate regarding the torsion contribution to the 4d chiral anomaly of a Dirac fermion. Central to this debate is the Nieh-Yan anomaly, which has been considered ill-defined and a regularization artifact. Using a heat-kernel approach, we examine the relationship between the Dirac operator index, the Nieh-Yan invariant and the torsional anomaly. We show the Nieh-Yan invariant vanishes on spacetimes without boundaries, if the Dirac index is well-defined. In the known examples of non-vanishing Nieh-Yan invariant on manifolds without boundaries, the heat kernel expansion breaks down, making the index ill-defined. Finally, for finite boundaries we identify several finite bulk and boundary anomaly terms, alongside bulk and boundary Nieh-Yan terms. We construct explicit counterterms that cancel the Nieh-Yan terms and argue that the boundary terms give rise to a torsional anomalous Hall effect. Our results emphasize the importance of renormalization conditions, as these can affect the non-thermal Nieh-Yan anomaly coefficients. In addition, we demonstrate that anomalous torsional transport may arise even without relying on the Nieh-Yan invariant.
Holography for confined and deformed theories: TsT-generated solutions in type IIB supergravity
Authors: Castellani Federico , Nunez Carlos
Published: January 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we present a series of solutions of type IIB Supergravity, obtained through the TsT deformation of a seed background that is holographically dual to $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 Super Yang-Mills theory compactified on a circle (with a twist). We explore various holographic observables, focusing on disentangling the contributions of confinement, marginal deformations, and their interplay. Additionally, we provide a detailed analysis of how certain observables are influenced by the dynamics of the Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes arising from the circle compactification. Our results offer an improved understanding of the connections between the type IIB deformed backgrounds and the dual QFTs.
Electroweak gauge invariant Higgs multiplets
Authors: Maniatis M.
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We investigate the potential of general Higgs multiplets. We establish the domain of general Higgs multiplets within the context of the adjoint representation. The construction of the most general potential for arbitrary multiplets is achieved using the irreducible, totally symmetric representation of tensor products of doublets. Furthermore, we explore symmetry transformations of the Higgs multiplets, with particular emphasis on CP symmetries.
U-duality in quantum M2-branes and gauged supergravities
Authors: del Moral M. P. García , Heras C. las , Restuccia A.
Published: January 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we study the relation of the M2-brane with fluxes and monodromy in SL(2, ℤ), which has a quantum discrete supersymmetric spectrum with finite multiplicity and type IIB gauged supergravities in nine dimensions. SL(2, ℤ) is the group of isotopy classes of the area-preserving diffeomorphisms. The global description of these M2-branes we are considering is formulated on twisted torus bundles, and they are classified in terms of H2(Σ, ℤρ), or equivalently, by their coinvariants for a given monodromy subgroup. We find the ‘gauge’ symmetries between equivalent M2-branes on torus bundles with monodromy that lead to ℝ, SO(2), or SO(1, 1), the symmetry groups of type IIB gauged supergravities in 9d. We obtain an explicit relation between the equivalent classes of M2-brane bundles and the mass parameters that classify the gaugings of type IIB supergravities in 9d. We also find that the symmetries between inequivalent M2-branes on twisted torus bundles for a given monodromy are related to ℤ, ℤ3, ℤ5, ℤ9, or ℤ2n − 7 for n ≥ 5, the U-duality symmetry group, a subgroup of SL(2, ℤ). In distinction, in the case without monodromy, related to type II maximal supergravity at low energies, its U-duality group corresponds to the full SL(2, ℤ).
Coherent collision integrals for neutrino transport equations
Authors: Kainulainen Kimmo , Parkkinen Harri
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We present quantum kinetic equations for neutrinos and derive Feynman rules for computing scattering rates involving coherent states. Our rules encompass both flavour- and particle-antiparticle coherence and allow writing down the scattering matrix elements and collision integrals with the same intuitive ease as with the usual non-coherent Feynman rules. Our results are useful for computing collision rates that arise routinely in the context of coherently mixing neutrinos with arbitrary masses. We give several explicit examples, including some collision integrals for coherently mixing neutrinos in supernovae.
Uniting low-energy semileptonic and hadronic anomalies within SMEFT
Authors: Datta Alakabha , Kumar Jacky , Kumbhakar Suman , London David
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Two categories of four-fermion SMEFT operators are semileptonic (two quarks and two leptons) and hadronic (four quarks). At tree level, an operator of a given category contributes only to processes of the same category. However, when the SMEFT Hamiltonian is evolved down from the new-physics scale to low energies using the renormalization-group equations (RGEs), due to operator mixing this same SMEFT operator can generate operators of the other category at one loop. Thus, to search for a SMEFT explanation of a low-energy anomaly, or combination of anomalies, one must: (i) identify the candidate semileptonic and hadronic SMEFT operators, (ii) run them down to low energy with the RGEs, (iii) generate the required low-energy operators with the correct Wilson coefficients, and (iv) check that all other constraints are satisfied. In this paper, we illustrate this method by finding all SMEFT operators that, by themselves, provide a combined explanation of the (semileptonic) $$ \overline{b}\to \overline{s}{\ell}^{+}{\ell}^{-} $$

b
¯

→

s
¯

ℓ
+

ℓ
−

anomalies and the (hadronic) B → πK puzzle.
Long-distance N-partite information for fermionic CFTs
Authors: Agón César A. , Bueno Pablo , van der Velde Guido
Published: January 2025

Abstract

The mutual information, I2, of general spacetime regions is expected to capture the full data of any conformal field theory (CFT). For spherical regions, this data can be accessed from long-distance expansions of the mutual information of pairs of regions as well as of suitably chosen linear combinations of mutual informations involving more than two regions and their unions — namely, the N-partite information, IN. In particular, the leading term in the I2 long-distance expansion is fully determined by the spin and conformal dimension of the lowest-dimensional primary of the theory. When the operator is a scalar, an analogous formula for the tripartite information I3 contains information about the OPE coefficient controlling the fusion of such operator into its conformal family. When it is a fermionic field, the coefficient of the leading term in I3 vanishes instead. In this paper we present an explicit general formula for the long-distance four-partite information I4 of general CFTs whose lowest-dimensional operator is a fermion ψ. The result involves a combination of four-point and two-point functions of ψ and $$ \overline{\psi} $$

ψ
¯

evaluated at the locations of the regions. We perform explicit checks of the formula for a (2 + 1)-dimensional free fermion in the lattice finding perfect agreement. The generalization of our result to the N-partite information (for arbitrary N) is also discussed. Similarly to I3, we argue that I5 vanishes identically at leading order for general fermionic theories, while the IN with N = 7, 9, … only vanish when the theory is free.
Half-BPS Janus solutions in AdS7
Authors: Conti Andrea , Dibitetto Giuseppe , Lozano Yolanda , Petri Nicolò , Ramírez Anayeli
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We study half-BPS flows in gauged minimal 7d supergravity featured by an AdS3× S3 slicing of the metric, supported by a dyonic three-form field. We first present a novel strategy for analytic integration of the BPS equations, which makes use of the integrals of motion. Subsequently, we discuss the suitable choice of integration constants that gives rise to smooth geometries. These flows are asymptotically locally AdS7 and close off smoothly reproducing an AdS3× ℝ4 geometry. We then discuss their uplifts to 11d and massive IIA supergravity and observe that they describe one-parameter deformations of their AdS7× S4 and AdS7× S3 vacua, respectively, their holographic interpretation being as conformal defect CFT2’s within the corresponding dual SCFT6’s. We conclude with the computation of the holographic central charge, by focussing on the M-theory interpretation.
Model-independent search for T violation with T2HK and DUNE
Authors: Chatterjee Sabya Sachi , Patra Sudhanwa , Schwetz Thomas , Sharma Kiran
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We consider the time reversal (T) transformation in neutrino oscillations in a model-independent way by comparing the observed transition probabilities at two different baselines at the same neutrino energy. We show that, under modest model assumptions, if the transition probability $$ {P}_{\nu_{\mu}\to {\nu}_e} $$

P

ν
μ

→

ν
e

around Eν ≃ 0.86 GeV measured at DUNE is smaller than the one at T2HK the T symmetry has to be violated. Experimental requirements needed to achieve good sensitivity to this test for T violation are to obtain enough statistics at DUNE for Eν ≲ 1 GeV (around the 2nd oscillation maximum), good energy resolution (better than 10%), and near-detector measurements with a precision of order 1% or better.
Canine models of inherited retinal diseases: from neglect to well-recognized translational value
Authors: Dufour Valérie L. , Aguirre Gustavo D.
Published: December 2024

Large animal models of inherited retinal diseases, particularly dogs, have been extensively used over the past decades to study disease natural history and evaluate therapeutic interventions. Our group of investigators at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, has played a pivotal role in characterizing several of these animal models, documenting the natural history of their diseases, developing gene therapies, and conducting proof-of-concept studies. Additionally, we have assessed the potential toxicity of these therapies for human clinical trials, contributing to the regulatory approval of voretigene neparvovec-rzyl (Luxturna®) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of patients with confirmed biallelic mutation-associated retinal dystrophy. In this review, we aim to summarize the clinical features of a subset of these diseases and reflect on the challenges encountered in integrating canine models into the translational pipeline.
Difficult cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography—needle-knife precut versus transpancreatic sphincterotomy on the basis of successful cannulation and adverse events
Authors: Gustafsson Arvid , Tingstedt Bobby , Olsson Greger
Published: December 2024

Background

When cannulation is challenging during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and the standard guidewire technique with sphincterotomy is unsuccessful, alternative cannulation techniques can be used to access the biliary tree. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of adverse events and cannulation success rates between transpancreatic sphincterotomy (TPS) and precut sphincterotomy (PCS).

Methods

Data from the Swedish Registry for Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks), collected from 2011 to 2022, were analyzed. A total of 105,303 ERCP procedures were recorded in GallRiks during the study period. After exclusions, the study population consisted of 47,486 ERCP procedures. Of these, 4547 received PCS and 3273 received TPS. The remaining 39,666 ERCP procedures with conventional sphincterotomy served as the control group. The primary endpoints were successful cannulation and adverse events within 30 days.

Results

Successful cannulation was more frequent with the TPS technique than with the PCS technique (86.5% vs. 69.7%), but both groups had a lower cannulation rate than the control group (92.4%; OR-PCS 0.20, 95% CI 0.18–0.21; OR-TPS 0.58, 95% CI 0.52–0.64). The TPS group had a higher incidence of adverse events than the PCS group (24.1% vs. 18.8%) and both groups had a higher incidence of adverse events than the control group (15.5%; OR-PCS 1.25, 95% CI 1.15–1.36; OR-TPS 1.71, 95% CI 1.57–1.87). Adverse events for TPS were driven by a higher incidence of pancreatitis (10.5% vs. 6.4% vs. 4.5%; OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.23–2.86) and perforation (1.6% vs. 0.8% vs. 0.5%; OR 2.99, 95% CI 2.20–4.06) compared to both PCS and control.

Conclusion

TPS is more successful at cannulation than PCS; however, this success comes at a higher cost in terms of adverse events, particularly pancreatitis and perforation.

Graphical abstract
Mesopancreas dissection level 3 for pancreatic head cancer in combined robotic/open pancreatoduodenectomy: a propensity score-matched study
Authors: Shyr Bor-Shiuan , Wang Shin-E , Chen Shih-Chin , Shyr Yi-Ming , Shyr Bor-Uei
Published: December 2024

Background

Mesopancreas dissection (MPD) level 3 in combined robotic/open pancreatoduodenectomy (CR/OPD) is technique-demanding. This study aims to clarify the feasibility and justification of MPD level 3.

Methods

Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was conducted for 208 patients with pancreatic head cancer undergoing CR/OPD with or without MPD level 3. The comparison focused on surgical and oncological outcomes.

Results

After PSM, each group comprised 86 patients. Surgical outcomes were comparable between these two groups, except longer operation time for MPD level 3 (+), median: 10.5 vs. 9.5 h, p = 0.002. MPD level 3 (+) group exhibited higher lymph node yield, median: 20 vs. 17, p < 0.001, and curative (R0) resection rate, 89.5% vs. 69.8%, p = 0.001, compared to MPD level 3 (−) group. Among the entire cohort, no significant survival difference was observed between the MPD Level 3 (+) and (−) groups. Survival outcome for R0 resection after CR/OPD was notably better than those for R2 resection, 5-year survival: 34.0% vs. 0, p = 0.038. However, within the curative (R0) resection cohort, no survival difference was observed between the MPD level 3 (+) and MPD level 3 (−) groups.

Conclusion

MPD level 3 in CR/OPD is technically feasible without increasing the surgical risks but takes one hour extra operating time. Incorporation of MPD level 3 does not confer a survival advantage within the curative (R0) resection cohort. The primary focus should continue to be on achieving curative (R0) resection to maximize the survival benefits for pancreatic head cancer.
IPNA clinical practice recommendations on care of pediatric patients with pre-existing kidney disease during seasonal outbreak of COVID-19
Authors: Alhasan Khalid A. , Raina Rupesh , Boyer Olivia , Koh Jean , Bonilla-Felix Melvin , Sethi Sidharth K. , Amer Yasser S. , Coccia Paula , Temsah Mohamad-Hani , Exantus Judith , Khan Samina A. , Zhong Xuhui , Koch Vera , Duzova Ali , Vasudevan Anil , McCulloch Mignon , Allen Upton , Filler Guido , Montini Giovanni ,   On behalf of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association, Haffner Dieter , Marlais Matko , Morello William , Smith Jodi M. , Dharnidharka Vikas , Ashoor Isa F. , Trnka Peter , Prestidge Chanel , Bagga Arvind , Hari Pankaj , Ma Alison , Mantan Mukta , Rodriguez Luis Ignacio , Restrepo Jaime M. , Bresolin Nilzete Liberato , Safouh Hesham , Bhimma Rajendra , Admani Bashir , Esezobor Chris
Published: December 2024

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, instigated by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has profoundly impacted healthcare infrastructures around the globe. While children are usually asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, children with pre-existing kidney conditions require specialized attention. This pivotal report, championed by the International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA), delivers precise and actionable recommendations tailored for pediatric patients with kidney ailments in this pandemic landscape. Central to our findings are rigorous infection control protocols. These are particularly stringent in high-risk zones, emphasizing telehealth’s indispensable role, the significance of curtailing in-person consultations, and the imperative of following rigorous guidelines in regions with heightened COVID-19 prevalence. Additionally, the report delves into vaccination approaches for children with kidney issues, highlighting that the choice of vaccine is often governed by regional accessibility and policy frameworks, rather than a universal preference. A notable observation is the potential correlation between COVID-19 vaccines and specific kidney disorders. However, establishing a direct causal link remains elusive. In summary, our research accentuates the critical need for specialized pediatric kidney care during global health crises and reaffirms the continuous research imperative, especially regarding vaccination ramifications.
The Excluded Minors for Embeddability into a Compact Surface
Authors: Georgakopoulos Agelos
Published: December 2024

We determine the excluded minors characterising the class of countable graphs that embed into some compact surface.
Shapes of surfactant-laden Taylor bubbles in a square microchannel
Authors: Igarashi Ryota , Hachikubo Riku , Kurimoto Ryo , Hayashi Kosuke
Published: December 2024

Experiments on contaminated Taylor flows in a square microchannel were carried out to investigate the effects of surfactant on the bubble shape in the nose and tail regions for different surfactant properties. The nose curvature was found to be proportional to the bubble length at low surfactant concentrations, while it was independent of the concentration at high concentrations. The rate of increase in the nose curvature at the former concentrations can be expressed in terms of the surface coverage ratio. The bubble velocity decreased with increasing the nose curvature, whereas the surface tension reduced by surfactant adsorption worked better to correlate the velocity data. The curvature of the bubble tail increased steeply at low concentrations as a consequence of the early coverage due to interfacial advection. The tail curvature also had a strong correlation with the surface coverage ratio.
“You Think We are in the Stone Age, but We Have Already Made Progress—Where are You?”: A Qualitative Study of Ultra-orthodox Women’s Telemedicine Service Usage in Israel
Authors: Chudner Irit , Drach-Zahavy Anat , Madjar Batya , Gelman Leah , Habib Sonia
Published: December 2024

This study explores Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women’s attitudes toward video-consultation usage in Israeli primary care settings. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-two women from diverse Ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Despite traditionally limited digital tool usage, participants showed readiness for video-consultations’ adoption through dedicated ‘kosher’ medical devices. Key motivations included after-hours accessibility, convenience, and privacy, while barriers involved cultural stigma and technology concerns. Healthcare organizations should develop dedicated telemedicine devices aligned with religious values, offering insights for implementing culturally sensitive services for religious minority groups.
Black Youth Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care and Academic Support Through E-Mentoring and a Black Church Partnership
Authors: Parker Janise S. , Haskins Natoya , Whitehead Robert A. , Christian Brenda , Jackson Tamika , Ford Anya
Published: December 2024

This qualitative case study used artifacts (e.g., youth activities), archival records (mentor logs), and individual interviews to understand 12 Black youths’ experiences of an electronic mentoring (e-mentoring) program that was designed in partnership with a local Black church to address subclinical mental and behavioral health challenges that impacted K-12 students’ academic functioning. Findings revealed participants learned how to persevere and regulate their actions to counter maladaptive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that impacted their engagement in school when faced with academic difficulties. Participants also learned how to maintain self-confidence and view themselves in a positive light through self-affirmations and by recognizing their strengths. Finally, the youth felt valued and nurtured by their mentors, which helped facilitate the students’ engagement in the program. This study shows how youth-centered e-mentoring through community partnerships with predominantly Black churches can help Black youth access culturally responsive mental health and behavioral health support that may foster their academic success.
“Our Hands are Tied”: The Disconnect Between the Statutory Rape Policy and Rural Teachers’ Realities in South Africa
Authors: Adekola Ayobami Precious , Mavhandu-Mudzusi Azwihangwisi Helen , Ikhile Ikekhwa Albert , Matakanye Hulisani , Tshivhase Livhuwani , Matahela Vhothusa Edward
Published: January 2025

Introduction

South Africa’s Department of Basic Education introduced a policy in December 2021 to protect rural school learners from sexual exploitation. Schools must report statutory rape cases involving pregnant learners under 16 years of age with partners over 16. However, rural implementation faces significant barriers, highlighting the gap between policy intent and reality.

Methods

A cyclical longitudinal ethnographic design was used to investigate the reasons for the limited implementation of the policy in rural schools. The data were collected through group discussions with 19 educators in August 2024 in the Soutpansberg North Circuit. The analysis, guided by an ethnographic content analysis framework, drew on intersectionality and social and cultural norms theories.

Results

The findings revealed that in addition to a lack of awareness of the policy and a lack of training, deep-rooted sociocultural norms hindered teachers and schools from reporting statutory rape cases. The findings also suggested interventions to improve implementation.

Conclusion

Based on the study findings, we recommend adopting a multidisciplinary approach and integrating knowledge and methodologies from various fields, such as education, psychology, and social work. Specifically, we recommend that the Department of Basic Education should raise awareness of the policy in schools and among teachers and communities; implement a confidential, standardised reporting system; and provide training to educators on handling statutory rape cases to ensure more effective implementation and achieve the intended outcomes of the policy.

Policy Implications

To bridge the gap between the statutory rape policy and effective implementation, policymakers must contextualise educational policies in terms of the realities of rural South African teachers.
Coal bursting liability determination by needle penetration test: Empirical criterion and machine learning
Authors: Zhao Yixin , Xie Ronghuan , Wang Shirui , Gao Yirui , Gao Sen , Guo Xiaodong , Sun Chuncheng , Guo Jinbao
Published: December 2024

Coal bursting liability refers to the mechanical property of the degree and possibility of coal burst. The bursting liability is important to evaluate coal burst in mining. In this paper, the needle penetration test was carried out to determinate the coal bursting liability, and the empirical criterion of coal bursting liability was proposed. Moreover, the machine learning method was applied to coal bursting liability determination. Through analyzing the elastic strain energy release and failure time, the residual elastic strain energy release rate index KRE was proposed to evaluate the coal bursting liability. According to the relationship between needle penetration index (NPI), KRE and the critical value of KRE, the Needle Penetration Test-based Empirical Classification Criterion (NPT-ECC) was obtained. In addition, four machine learning classification models were constructed. After training and testing of the models, Needle Penetration Test-based Machine Learning Classification Model (NPT-MLCM) was proposed. The research results show that the accuracy of NPT-ECC is 6.66% higher than that of China National Standard Comprehensive Evaluation (CNSCE) according to verification of the coal fragment ejection ratio F. Gridsearch cross validation-extreme gradient boosting (GSCV-XGBoost) has the best prediction performance among all the models, and accuracy, Macro-Precision, Macro-Recall and Macro-F1-score of which were 86.67%, 88.97%, 87.50% and 87.37%. Based on this, the Needle Penetration Test-based GSCV-XGBoost (NPT-GSCV-XGBoost) was proposed. After comparative analysis and discussion, NPT-GSCV-XGBoost is superior to NPT-ECC and CNSCE in the comprehensive prediction ability.
An asymptotically optimal two-sample instrumental variables estimation using many instruments
Authors: Kunitomo Naoto , Yuasa Ryota
Published: December 2024

We investigate the statistical estimation of the coefficients in a linear structural equation within a simultaneous equation system, utilizing two-sample data and a large number of instrumental variables. Specifically, we derive the asymptotic properties of the two-sample least variance ratio (2SLVR) estimator, an extension of the limited information maximum likelihood (LIML) estimator designed for one-sample contexts, in the two-sample setting with numerous instruments. It is well-documented that the one-sample two-stage least squares (TSLS) estimator and the generalized method of moments (GMM) suffer from non-negligible bias. Despite their widespread practical use, these methods often lose consistency when a large number of instruments are employed. In contrast, our findings demonstrate that the variance–covariance matrix of the limiting distribution of the 2SLVR estimator and its modifications frequently achieve the asymptotic lower bound, even when the disturbance terms deviate from a normal distribution. The results of this study hold significant potential for applications in econometrics and biometrics, particularly in contexts such as Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses using DNA data.
Enhancement in Reliability of IEEE 802.15.4 WBAN Using Greedy Spider Monkey Algorithm
Authors: Pandey Umashankar , Chandra Saroj Kumar , Dewangan Narendra Kumar
Published: December 2024

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) hold immense potential in healthcare monitoring, but ensuring reliable data transmission is crucial. While the IEEE 802.15.4 standard offers low-power operation and basic security, its Contention-Based Access (CBA) mechanism can lead to packet collisions and reduced reliability, especially in congested scenarios. This paper proposes a novel approach to enhance reliability in 802.15.4 WBANs by incorporating a Greedy Spider Monkey Optimization Algorithm (GSMA). The GSMA mimics the intelligent foraging behaviour of spider monkeys, enabling dynamic channel selection and optimal transmission scheduling. Our approach aims to minimize packet collisions by selecting channels with lower traffic based on historical data and real-time network conditions; the GSMA reduces the likelihood of collisions and data loss. Secondly, the algorithm prioritizes critical data packets based on their urgency and channel availability, ensuring the timely delivery of essential medical information. Finally, by reducing collisions and optimizing scheduling, the GSMA helps maintain efficient data flow within the WBAN. This paper presents the design and implementation of the GSMA-based approach within the 802.15.4 framework. Simulation results are presented to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving reliability, reducing packet loss, and enhancing overall network performance in WBANs. The findings demonstrate the potential of the GSMA to address the limitations of 802.15.4 and contribute to developing more reliable and efficient WBAN solutions for healthcare applications.