bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase transition from turbulence to zonal flows in the Hasegawa–Wakatani system
Authors: Guillon P. L. , Gürcan Ö. D.
Published: January 2025

The transition between two-dimensional hydrodynamic turbulence and quasi-one-dimensional zonostrophic turbulence is examined in the modified Hasegawa–Wakatani system, which is considered as a minimal model of β-plane-like drift-wave turbulence with an intrinsic instability. Extensive parameter scans were performed across a wide range of values for the adiabaticity parameter C describing the strength of coupling between the two equations. A sharp transition from 2D isotropic turbulence to a quasi-1D system, dominated by zonal flows, is observed using the fraction of the kinetic energy of the zonal modes as the order parameter, at C≈0.1. It is shown that this transition exhibits a hysteresis loop around the transition point, where the adiabaticity parameter plays the role of the control parameter of its nonlinear self-organization. It was also observed that the radial particle flux scales with the adiabaticity parameter following two different power law dependencies in the two regimes. A simple quasi-linear saturation rule which accounts for the presence of zonal flows is proposed, and is shown to agree very well with the observed nonlinear fluxes. Motivated by the phenomenon of quasi-one dimensionalisation of the system at high C, a number of reduction schemes based on a limited number of modes were investigated and the results were compared to direct numerical simulations. In particular, it was observed that a minimal reduced model consisting of 2 poloidal and 2 radial modes was able to replicate the phase transition behavior, while any further reduction failed to capture it.
Effects of geometric and wake characteristics on vortex-induced vibrations of a seal-whisker cylinder
Authors: Shan Longxiang , Zhang Yang
Published: January 2025

The unique wavy surface of harbor seal whiskers can alter the surrounding flow field, enabling drag reduction and vibration suppression. Investigating how surface undulation parameters and wake flow influence vortex-induced vibration (VIV) characteristics of these whiskers can enhance our understanding of their flow-sensing mechanism. In this work, the effects of geometric and wake features on the VIV characteristics of seal-whisker cylinders are numerically investigated. Specifically, two scenarios are considered: the first scenario examines the VIV of a whisker with different surface undulation amplitudes and wavelengths in uniform flow, while the second scenario explores the VIV of a whisker under various wake conditions generated by upstream circular, square, and diamond-shaped cylinders. For both scenarios, the hydrodynamic performance and the vibration response of the whisker are analyzed and compared. The results reveal significant differences in the wake flow patterns of whiskers with varying surface undulations, which in turn affect the drag reduction and vibration suppression of the whiskers. The results also demonstrate that, the primary frequency of the transverse vibration of the whisker is consistent with the vortex-shedding frequency of the upstream object, and there are notable disparities among different wakes regarding the flow patterns between the upstream object and the downstream whisker. Some findings of this study could provide valuable insights for the design and optimization of biomimetic structures.
Suppressing APOE4-induced neural pathologies by targeting the VHL–HIF axis
Authors: Jiang Wei I. , Cao Yiming , Xue Yue , Ji Yichun , Winer Benjamin Y. , Chandra Rashmi , Zhang Xingyuan Fischer , Zhang Mengqi , Singhal Neel S. , Pierce Jonathan T. , Chen Song , Ma Dengke K.
Published: January 2025

The ε4 variant of human apolipoprotein E (
APOE4
) is a key genetic risk factor for neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease and elevated all-cause mortality in humans. Understanding the factors and mechanisms that can mitigate the harmful effects of
APOE4
has significant implications. In this study, we find that inactivating the VHL-1 (Von Hippel–Lindau) protein can suppress mortality, neural and behavioral pathologies caused by transgenic human
APOE4
in
Caenorhabditis elegans
. The protective effects of VHL-1 deletion are recapitulated by stabilized HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor), a transcription factor degraded by VHL-1. HIF-1 activates a genetic program that safeguards against mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, proteostasis imbalance, and endolysosomal rupture—critical cellular events linked to neural pathologies and mortality. Furthermore, genetic inhibition of
Vhl
reduces cerebral vascular injury and synaptic lesions in
APOE4
mice, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved mechanism. Thus, we identify the VHL–HIF axis as a potent modulator of
APOE4
-induced neural pathologies and propose that targeting this pathway in nonproliferative tissues may curb cellular damage, protect against neurodegeneration, and reduce tissue injuries and mortality.
Electromagnetism and thermostability of Cr7C3 synthesised with high-temperature and high-pressure quenching method
Authors: Yu Zekun , Zhou Chao , Bao Kuo , Wang Zhaoqing , Zhu Pinwen , Tao Qiang , Cui Tian
Published: January 2025

The interactions between the carbon skeleton and metal atoms in binary transition metal carbides are of particular interest for industrial applications involving advanced physics and chemistry, especially in magnetoelectric functional materials and cemented carbides. Cr and carbon BTMCs are a series of intermetallic compounds with specific chemical formulas that share certain unique characteristics. In this study, we used polycrystalline powders of chromium and carbon as precursors and synthesised single-phase bulk Cr7C3 (orthorhombic, space group: Pnma) with high density and good crystallinity using a high-temperature and high-pressure quenching method (HTHPQM). We studied the material properties and electronic structures of Cr7C3 with both experimental measurements and density functional theory ab intio simulations and found that Cr7C3 is a conductor with an electrical conductivity (2.32 × 10−3 Ω m), relatively high compaction (97.2%), excellent thermostability (oxidation at 1175 K), and a magnetic phase transition from paramagnetism to soft ferromagnetism around 50 K, and the electromagnetic properties are chiefly due to the abundance of the 3d electrons of Cr, and the orbital hybridisation between C and Cr with their 2p and 3d electrons is the reason for the crystal structure and high thermostability. Therefore, the synthesised Cr7C3 is a multifunctional material with promising application prospects, and HPHTQM is a simple and effective method for preparing samples.
Fast recurrent field transforms for optical flow on edge GPUs
Authors: Shi Ke , Miao Yinxiao , Li Xiongwei , Li Wenrui , Nie Suzhen , Wang Xiaoge , Li Dongxing , Sheng Yunlong
Published: January 2025

Optical flow reflects motion information in videos, serving as a crucial visual cue. However, high computational demands make dense optical flow estimation challenging to deploy on mobile platforms. We address this by introducing EdgeFlow, an optical flow network designed explicitly for edge GPU. To enable efficient feature extraction, we propose a novel low memory access cost net. Furthermore, we design a convolutional gated core for optical flow update, capable of obtaining high-quality features at low computational cost. During training and inference, we decouple the upsampling procedure. Inference speed is increased by only upsampling the final update outputs, reducing unnecessary computations. Our model demonstrates significant efficiency, utilizing only 52% of the parameters required by the baseline model. In generalization tests conducted on the Sintel dataset, EdgeFlow outperforms the baseline by achieving an 13% reduction in error rate. Additionally, the processing speed of EdgeFlow deployed on the Jetson Xavier NX platform is 7.5 times faster than the baseline. Finally, after using TensorRT to accelerate the model (with three recurrent updates), the inference speed is 98.67 FPS at 640 × 480 resolution. Source code is available at https://github.com/sklibra/EdgeFlow/tree/master.
Macroscopic parameterization of positive streamer heads in air
Authors: Bouwman Dennis , Teunissen Jannis , Ebert Ute
Published: January 2025

The growth of streamer discharges is determined at their heads, for individual streamers as well as in collective phenomena, such as streamer trees or coronas or streamer bursts ahead of lightning leaders. Some properties of the streamer heads, such as velocity v and radius R now can be measured quite well, but this is very challenging for others such as the maximal electric field, the charge content of the streamer head and the degree of chemical excitation and ionization in the streamer channel. Here we develop, test and evaluate a macroscopic approximation for positive streamer heads in air that relates macroscopic streamer head properties to each other. In particular, we find that velocity v, radius R and background field

E

bg

determine the complete profile of streamer heads with photoionization, if they propagate steadily. We also review Naidis’ approximate relation between v, R and the maximal field

E

max

. The approximate head model developed in the present paper consists of three first-order ordinary differential equations along the streamer axis. It is derived from the classical fluid model for streamer discharges by assuming axisymmetry, steady streamer propagation (i.e. with constant velocity and shape), and a spherical shape of the charge layer around the streamer head. The new reduced model agrees well with full solutions of the classical fluid model, even when it is applied to accelerating streamers. Therefore the model can be used for evaluations of experiments, like for the determination of the maximal electric field from radius and velocity of the streamer. It is also a step towards constructing reduced models for the collective dynamics of multi-streamer discharges.
HPC modelling for nuclear safety assessment
Authors: Cancemi S A , Lo Frano R , Angelucci M , Pucciarelli A , Subba F , Wu H
Published: January 2025

High Performance Computing (HPC) has taken on an increasingly important role in recent years since it enables to model efficiently the complex behaviour of Systems, Components, and Structures (SSCs) and their interactions, and to perform simulations of the operational scenarios faster. Particularly in the nuclear field, HPC is currently used and expected to be utilized in nearly all areas, such as design optimization, safe and long-term safe operation, integrity evaluation, etc. The latter, as an example, requires an exhaustive SSCs assessment, which in turn requires higherfidelity models, both in terms of resolution and physics, increased knowledge of the physics of the phenomena or mechanisms affecting them, parametric studies, and better estimation of margins by reducing uncertainties and optimising operations.

In this paper some case studies are presented and described.

The first case consists in the modelling of creep behaviour of a fuel element. Finite Element Modelling (FEM) on hardware designed for parallel computation allows to simulate increasingly complex physical systems and reduce the computation time of the performed transient non-linear analyses. Results point out on the reliable prediction of creep behaviour obtained with a surrogate model. Understanding the thermo-mechanical properties of structural and nuclear materials and their changes provided essential for the plant safe operation as well as the Uncertainty Quantification (UQ).

The second case deals with a thermal-hydraulics application in support of Generation IV (GEN IV) Liquid Metal Fast Reactors (LMFRs). Results from RANS calculations will be compared with experimental data for a selected steady-state condition occurring in a rod-bundle geometry. UQ analyses are especially performed using deterministic sampling techniques to assess how much the results are affected by uncertainties in the input parameters.
Analysis of Occupational Health and Safety Risk Level in the Implementation of the Solo Balapan – Kadipiro Elevated Railway Construction Project (Stage 2)
Authors: Magfirona Alfia , Rachmawati Ghina Zamila , Rizana Rama
Published: January 2025

The elevated double-track railway construction project in Surakarta is a high-profile infrastructure initiative with significant risks related to occupational safety and health (HSE). Given the complexity of the project, strict adherence to HSE standards is essential to mitigate potential hazards. Construction projects, particularly large-scale ones like this, inherently involve various risks, and the identification, analysis, and control of these risks are critical to ensure worker safety. This research aims to identify risk variables, evaluate severity index values, determine risk levels, and explore risk control measures throughout the development process. It utilizes Job Safety Analysis (JSA) as an innovative and detailed method to pinpoint occupational health and safety risks, providing a more targeted approach to risk assessment. Data collection was conducted in the Railway Division of PT Adhi Karya, utilizing primary data through questionnaires distributed to 34 respondents involved in the construction project, and secondary data consisting of risk variables processed by the contractor’s HSE team. Job Safety Analysis revealed that the most significant risks during the erection of Pre-stressed Concrete I (PCI) Girders include being crushed by materials and work equipment, as well as heavy equipment being struck by trains. These risks, with a severity index calculation of 10, are classified as extreme. Risk control measures were subsequently implemented, leading to solutions such as mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all workers, full-body harnesses for workers at heights, and the installation of security fences within the railway track work area. The novelty of this study lies in its application of a comprehensive risk assessment methodology tailored specifically to the unique challenges of elevated railway construction, which contributes to improving safety standards in similar high-risk construction projects.
Investigating the Impact of Hybrid Asphalt Mixtures on the Mechanical Properties
Authors: Hin M S Wan Noor , Ramadhansyah P J , Masri K A
Published: January 2025

This study explores the mechanical performance of hybrid asphalt mixtures incorporating palm oil fuel ash (POFA), garnet waste, and sawdust as sustainable materials for asphalt modification. The aim is to assess the impact of these materials on key mechanical properties, including creep modulus and indirect tensile strength (ITS). A series of asphalt mixtures with varying hybrid content (0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%) by weight of conventional asphalt of 60/70 PEN grade were prepared using wet blending process and evaluated. Among the mixtures tested, the 6% hybrid asphalt mixture exhibited optimal mechanical performance, with a creep modulus of 32.7 MPa and an indirect tensile strength of 1492 kPa. Statistical analysis through one-way ANOVA confirmed a significant effect of hybrid content on creep stiffness modulus (F = 121.44, p < 0.001), underscoring the critical role of hybrid content in enhancing the stiffness of asphalt mixtures. These results indicate that the inclusion of POFA, garnet waste, and sawdust at 6% significantly enhances the stiffness and tensile resistance of the asphalt, making it a viable option for improving the durability and sustainability of pavements. The findings underscore the potential of hybrid materials in advancing the development of eco-friendly asphalt mixtures with superior mechanical properties.
Scalable and accurate simulation of electrolyte solutions with quantum chemical accuracy
Authors: Zhang Junji , Pagotto Joshua , Gould Tim , Duignan Timothy T
Published: January 2025

Electrolyte solutions play critical role in a vast range of important applications, yet an accurate and scalable method of predicting their properties without fitting to experiment has remained out of reach, despite over a century of effort. Here, we combine state-of-the-art density functional theory and equivariant neural network potentials to demonstrate this capability, reproducing key structural, thermodynamic, and kinetic properties. We show that neural network potentials can be recursively trained on a subset of their own output to enable coarse-grained/continuum-solvent molecular simulations that can access much longer timescales than possible with all atom simulations. We observe the surprising formation of Li cation dimers along with identical anion-anion pairing of chloride and bromide anions. Finally, we simulate the crystal phase and infinite dilution pairing free energies despite being trained only on moderate concentration solutions. This approach should be scaled to build a greatly expanded database of electrolyte solution properties than currently exists.
'Gifted Children' in Britain and the World
Authors: Crane Jennifer
Published: January 2025

The idea that a child is intellectually ‘gifted’ has a social and cultural history. This book analyses that social history at multiple scales, and makes the ‘voices’ of the gifted young themselves central. In daily encounters, those labelled ‘gifted’ sometimes loved this label, and felt special in comparison to peers at school and siblings at home. For others, ‘gifted’ was a silly or embarrassing label, and many questioned the idea of separating off young people in terms of intelligence, as well as specific forms of testing. Ideas of the gifted child also reshaped family lives—parents dedicated time to providing special leisure spaces, running them in their own homes and taking their children significant distances to spend time with others. Voluntary organisations were critical here, as the network through which young people and adults encountered the term, ‘gifted’, and lived and created it relationally. Voluntary organisations, looking to gain attention and visibility, also critically shaped the idea that the gifted young were elites of ‘the future’, central to answering challenges of economic decline, global warfare, or humanitarian aid. The hopes placed on gifted children between the 1960s and the 1990s were often sky high—yet many gifted young still felt that the community ‘wasted’ their talents, and did not support them. This book, then, provides new perspectives on the tensions between elitism and equality in modern Britain. It also offers vivid stories of optimism, hope, disappointment, and criticism, in which young people themselves play a central role.
Introduction
Authors: Crane Jennifer
Published: January 2025

‘Gifted Children’ in Britain and the World demonstrates that modern interest in the so-called ‘gifted child’ emerged in the late 1960s, due to concerted campaigning by voluntary organisations, who framed their work around embedding ‘equality’ in the post-war welfare state. Later, the distinct idea that gifted children would be ‘elites of the future’ was taken up powerfully in the 1970s and 1980s by the voluntary sector, as well as by clusters of policy-makers, journalists, psychologists, educationalists, and teachers, who posited that gifted children were critical to Britain’s national and international successes. This introduction discusses ever changing definitions of the ‘gifted child’, and starts to explore why they matter: notably because of reshaping broader ideas of ‘elites’, ‘equality’, and for disrupting established chronologies of modern Britain. The introduction also lays out the book’s innovative methodological work in centring children’s voices and ‘experiences’ throughout.
Industrial and Industrious Future Elites, 1990–2010
Authors: Crane Jennifer
Published: January 2025

This chapter argues that interest in the gifted child entered national policies, for the first time, in the 1990s and 2000s. While previously this interest was primarily confined—with significant effects—to local experiments and voluntary action, it featured in the educational and social policies of both John Major’s Conservative and Tony Blair’s New Labour governments. Throughout this period, interest in identifying elites of the future was signified by policies around streaming, specialisation, parent ‘choice’, testing, and standards. At the same time, the language of ‘aspiration’, a form of equality putting the responsibility onto individuals, became very powerful. In this this discourse, all young people were positioned as equally able to ‘aspire’ to being elites of the future, to recognise a broad variety of ‘gifts’, and achieve their potential in the job market. The frameworks of equality and elitism were increasingly measured, ranked, and compared in this decade through policy interest in the gifted child as an elite of the future. The chapter outlines these developments, and also reads ‘against the grain’ of the publications of contemporary giftedness programmes—such as the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth—to understand young people’s perspectives on visions of the future.
Gifted Children Saving ‘Europe’ and ‘the World’, 1975–2000
Authors: Crane Jennifer
Published: January 2025

This chapter studies how two transnational voluntary organisations—the World Council for Gifted Children (founded in 1975) and the European Council for High Ability (founded in 1988)—constructed gifted young people, ‘Europe’, and ‘the world’ in the late twentieth century. The chapter demonstrates that both of these organisations had high hopes that such young people, because of their special talents, could forge special global connections across borders, and that these connections could be used for a variety of contemporary aims: to prevent warfare, promote cultural ties across Europe, and fuel international development. At the same time, the chapter also demonstrates that lofty rhetoric from these groups, calling for these children to shape ‘a better world and our common future’, did not always shape broader practical work with the young themselves. This case study can significantly develop our understandings of ‘cultural internationalism’, and also shows the distinctive nature of framings of ‘elitism’ and ‘equality’ in British debates, studied throughout the rest of this book.
Conclusion
Authors: Crane Jennifer
Published: January 2025

Privilege is ingrained in the earliest years. It is lived out in the choices that parents and carers make about their children’s very first play dates, their weekend and evening activities, and the curation of their relationships and networks. Such privilege continues to shape children’s economic lives and fortunes as they age into employees (or not) and later to wealthy or bankrupt elders. Politicians speaking over the timespan of this book—the mid-to-late twentieth century—have sought to proclaim that we now live in a ‘meritocracy’ or ‘equal society’, and have reformed education and welfare systems in pursuit of this goal. Yet such shifts have failed to overcome the cultural, social, and economic inequalities borne from the earliest days of childhood. Interventions have been too broad, too narrow, or too late. This chapter reflects on the book’s research, and its significance for understanding elitism, equality, and voluntary organisations in modern Britain.
Robustly interrogating machine learning-based scoring functions: what are they learning?
Authors: Durant Guy , Boyles Fergus , Birchall Kristian , Marsden Brian , Deane Charlotte M
Published: January 2025

Motivation

Machine learning-based scoring functions (MLBSFs) have been found to exhibit inconsistent performance on different benchmarks and be prone to learning dataset bias. For the field to develop MLBSFs that learn a generalizable understanding of physics, a more rigorous understanding of how they perform is required.

Results

In this work, we compared the performance of a diverse set of popular MLBSFs (RFScore, SIGN, OnionNet-2, Pafnucy, and PointVS) to our proposed baseline models that can only learn dataset biases on a range of benchmarks. We found that these baseline models were competitive in accuracy to these MLBSFs in almost all proposed benchmarks, indicating these models only learn dataset biases. Our tests and provided platform, ToolBoxSF, will enable researchers to robustly interrogate MLBSF performance and determine the effect of dataset biases on their predictions.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/guydurant/toolboxsf.
Comparative analysis of the prediction accuracy of hydrogen cloud explosion overpressure peak based on three kinds of theoretical models
Authors: Peng Bin , Wang Qiuhong , Gao Wei , Xiao Huahua , Luo Zhenmin , Bi Mingshu , Liu Yifei , Zhu He , Liu Jianxiong
Published: January 2025

Hydrogen energy is pivotal in the energy transition due to its high efficiency and zero-emission characteristics. However, the potential for explosions constrains its broader application. Gaining insights into the dynamics of overpressure in hydrogen explosions is vital for the safe design of explosion-proof facilities and the determination of equipment spacing. This study investigates hydrogen explosions in open spaces of 1 and 27 m3 volumes, analyzing flame propagation and overpressure distribution. It also evaluates the accuracy of three theoretical models in predicting peak overpressure. The results reveal that the spherical flame from a hydrogen cloud explosion transforms into an ellipsoidal shape upon contact with the ground. The average flame propagation velocity across different equivalent ratio is ordered as follows: Va (φ = 1.0) > Va (φ = 1.5) > Va (φ = 2.5) > Va (φ = 0.5). At equivalent distances, the peak overpressure of hydrogen cloud explosions is comparable across both scales. The traditional trinitrotoluene model overestimates the peak overpressure of hydrogen cloud explosions at both scales. The optimized trinitrotoluene model achieves over 90% accuracy in predicting hydrogen cloud explosions in 1 m3 volumes but shows decreased accuracy in 27 m3 explosions. At source intensity level 3, the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek multi-energy model exhibits a prediction accuracy of over 70% for peak overpressure in hydrogen cloud explosions, with consistent performance across different scales, rendering it a more reliable model for such predictions. This research enhances hydrogen safety assessment technologies by providing a more precise method for evaluating large-scale hydrogen cloud explosion risks.
European Society of Cardiology quality indicators for the management of acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Rossello Xavier , Gonzalez-Del-Hoyo Maribel , Aktaa Suleman , Gale Chris P , Barbash Israel , Claeys Marc J , Coughlan J J , Ferreira Joao Pedro , Galbraith Mary , Leosdottir Margret , Schiele Francois , Raposeiras-Roubin Sergio , Gimenez Maria Rubini , Byrne Robert A , Ibanez Borja
Published: January 2025

Background

Closing the evidence-practice gap for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is central to improving quality of care. Under the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) framework, we aimed to develop updated quality indicators (QIs) for the evaluation of quality of care and outcomes for patients with ACS.

Methods

A Working Group of experts including members of the ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines Task Force for ACS, Acute CardioVascular Care Association and European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions followed the ESC methodology for QI development. This methodology involved (i) the identification of the domains of ACS care for the diagnosis and management of ACS; (ii) the construction of candidate QIs through a systematic review of the literature; and (iii) the selection of the final set of QIs (using a modified Delphi method).

Results

Five domains of care for the diagnosis and management of ACS were identified: (1) structural framework and logistics, (2) in-hospital non-invasive care, (3) invasive strategy and periprocedural management, (4) secondary prevention interventions, and (5) outcomes. In total, 21 main QIs were selected, covering all five domains of care for the diagnosis and management of ACS.

Conclusions

This document defines five domains of ACS care, and provides 21 QIs for the diagnosis and management of ACS. The updated ESC QIs for ACS may be used for quality improvement initiatives.
Sub-lethal exposures to bifenthrin impact stress responses and behavior of juvenile Chinook Salmon
Authors: Cominassi L , Segarra A , Chandler A , Habibullah-Al-Mamun M , Knaub K , Huff Hartz K E , Mauduit F , Fangue N , Whitledge G W , Lydy M J , Connon R E
Published: January 2025

Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations have decreased substantially in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) over the past decades, so considerably that two of the four genetically distinct runs are now listed in the Endangered Species Act. One factor responsible for this decline is the presence of contaminants in the Delta. Insecticides, used globally in agricultural, industrial, and household settings, have the potential to contaminate nearby aquatic systems through spray drift, runoff, and direct wastewater discharge. Chinook Salmon are therefore exposed, as they out-migrate through the Delta, to insecticides that have been associated with adverse biological effects in aquatic species, ranging from sub-lethal impairments to lethality. The goal of this study was to assess whether bifenthrin, a ubiquitous pyrethroid insecticide in the Delta, impacts thermal tolerance, hypoxia tolerance and behavior of juvenile Chinook Salmon. Fish were exposed for 10 days to environmentally relevant (125 ng/L, associated with resulting body residues in wild-caught fish) and sub-lethal bifenthrin concentrations (500 and 1000 ng/L). Juvenile Chinook Salmon exposed to bifenthrin were tolerant to increases in hypoxia but not temperature. Fish exposed to bifenthrin showed dose-dependent behavior changes: hypoactivity at 125 ng/L, hyperactivity at 1000 ng/L, and reduced anxiety-like behavior, including lower thigmotaxis and decreased social interaction. The results revealed that exposure to sublethal concentrations of bifenthrin, leading to environmentally relevant body burden residues, significantly altered upper thermal tolerance and caused non-linear behavioral changes. The study suggests the existence of behavioral effect thresholds in wild-caught fish and emphasizes that higher concentrations of contaminants may impair Chinook Salmon's ability to avoid predators in natural environments.
Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Events among Patients with Sleep Apnoea Syndrome: A Real-World Data Analysis of a Nationwide Epidemiological Dataset
Authors: Ko Toshiyuki , Kaneko Hidehiro , Suzuki Yuta , Komuro Jin , Komuro Kaoruko , Jimba Takahiro , Okada Akira , Fujiu Katsuhito , Takeda Norifumi , Morita Hiroyuki , Yumino Dai , Node Koichi , Ieda Masaki , Yasunaga Hideo , Komuro Issei , Takeda Norihiko
Published: January 2025

Aim

Sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) is a common sleep disorder associated with heightened cardiovascular risks, yet sex-specific differences in these risks remain unclear.

Methods

This retrospective observational cohort study utilized the JMDC Claims Database, covering >5 million individuals in Japan. We analyzed data from 4,173,702 individuals (2,406,930 men, 1,766,772 women) after excluding those with central SAS, cardiovascular disease, and incomplete lifestyle questionnaire data. SAS was identified using ICD-10 codes and treatment records. Cox regression models adjusted for multiple factors examined the association between SAS and cardiovascular outcomes.

Results

Among the participants, 39,078 men (1.62%) and 3,960 women (0.22%) were diagnosed with SAS. Over a mean follow-up of 1,290±1,000 days, SAS was associated with an increased risk of composite cardiovascular events, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.27 (95% CI, 1.23-1.31) in men and 1.72 (95% CI, 1.54-1.92) in women compared to those without SAS. The association was significantly stronger in women than in men (P-value for interaction< 0.001) and this sex difference was validated by various sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

Despite the lower prevalence of SAS among women, there was a gender disparity in the cardiovascular impact of SAS, with women demonstrating a significantly higher risk compared to men. This underscores the importance of tailored management strategies aimed at early detection and cardiovascular disease prevention specifically in female patients with SAS.
Information and communication technology use among social ties of varying strength: Who benefits and how?
Authors: Francis-Levin Jess , Fakhoury Nour , Brauer Simon G , Webster Noah J , Ajrouch Kristine J , Antonucci Toni C
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives

Information and communication technology (ICT) use has been associated with well-being among older adults. This link is often attributed to the fact that ICT use facilitates connecting with others. The purpose of this study is to assess how contact frequency and social tie strength impact the relationship between ICT use and depressive symptoms among older adults.

Research Design and Methods

Using data from the Detroit-based Social Relations Study collected in 2015, we use Bayesian analyses to examine the extent to which contact frequency with social network members moderates and the strength of these social tie (strong, moderate, and weak) mediate the link between ICT use and depressive symptoms among adults age 60+ (n=483).

Results

ICT use was found to be associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Furthermore, ICT use was associated with more moderate and weak ties which were, in turn, associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Finally, a moderating effect was also found as ICT use was associated with fewer depressive symptoms only among those with lower contact frequency.

Discussion and Implications

Our findings suggest that for older adults who communicate with others less frequently, ICT use can prove beneficial to mental health (i.e. fewer depressive symptoms). Furthermore ICT use may be especially meaningful to connect with weaker social ties. These findings may be due in part to ICTs capabilities which enable older adults to maintain connection to a diverse array of social ties and bridge social and physical distance.
Enhancing net zero decarbonization strategies: a comparative analysis with the analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Raman Arasu , Altalbawy Farag M A , Ali Amjad , Vora Tarak , Alkhayyat Ahmad , Yogi Kottala Sri , Sapaev I B , Dhaliwal Arshdeep Singh , Singh Ashish , Shafieezadeh M Mehdi
Published: January 2025

This paper comprehensively analyses decarbonization decision-making using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). With a pressing global mandate to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, systematic approaches are essential for effectively selecting and prioritizing decarbonization strategies. Applying AHP, this study evaluates and ranks strategies based on key criteria. Each criterion’s weighted priority reflects its significance in decision-making, highlighting the dominance of Social Equity and Environmental Impact in prioritizing decarbonization strategies. The findings underscore the real-world applicability of the AHP framework, providing policymakers and stakeholders with a structured decision-making tool to prioritize actions that balance environmental sustainability, economic feasibility, and social equity.
Resistance Analyses in Heavily Treatment-Experienced People With HIV Treated With the Novel HIV Capsid Inhibitor Lenacapavir After 2 Years
Authors: Margot Nicolas A , Jogiraju Vamshi , Pennetzdorfer Nina , Naik Vidula , VanderVeen Laurie A , Ling John , Singh Renu , Dvory-Sobol Hadas , Ogbuagu Onyema , Segal-Maurer Sorana , Molina Jean-Michel , Rhee Martin S , Callebaut Christian
Published: January 2025

Background

Lenacapavir is a highly potent first-in-class inhibitor of HIV-1 capsid that was approved for the treatment of heavily treatment-experienced people with HIV-1 harboring multidrug-resistant virus, and it is used in combination with an optimized background regimen (OBR). Resistance analyses conducted after 2 years of lenacapavir treatment in the phase 2/3 CAPELLA study are described.

Methods

CAPELLA enrollment consisted of viremic cases of heavily treatment-experienced people with HIV-1 and resistance to ≥2 drugs per class in at least 3 of the 4 main drug classes. Postbaseline resistance in participants experiencing virologic failure was evaluated by resistance assays (HIV-1 capsid, protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase genotypic/phenotypic tests). Adherence to OBR was assessed by plasma drug measurement via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

After 2 years, lenacapavir + OBR treatment led to HIV-1 RNA suppression in 82% of participants (missing = excluded). Treatment-emergent capsid resistance occurred in 19% (14/72) of participants, including capsid mutations M66I, Q67H/K/N, K70H/N/R/S, and/or N74D/H/K, which were all associated with functional lenacapavir monotherapy. Seven participants with lenacapavir resistance reattained HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL upon OBR resumption or change while maintaining lenacapavir treatment.

Conclusions

Emergence of lenacapavir resistance after 2 years in CAPELLA was a consequence of functional lenacapavir monotherapy. In half of participants with lenacapavir resistance, continued treatment with lenacapavir + active OBR led to HIV-1 RNA resuppression.
An adaptive search strategy combination algorithm based on reinforcement learning and neighborhood search
Authors: Liu Xiaotong , Xu Ying , Wang Tianlei , Zeng Zhiqiang , Zhou Zhiheng , Zhai Yikui
Published: January 2025

Integrating multiple search operators to utilize their different characteristics in order to improve the performance of evolutionary algorithms is a challenging task. This paper proposes an adaptive combination algorithm that integrates four search operators, called RLACA. RLACA introduces a reinforcement learning-based adaptive search operator selection mechanism (RLAS) to dynamically choose the most suitable search operator based on the individual states. Additionally, a neighborhood search strategy based on differential evolution (NSDE) is incorporated to mitigate premature convergence by increasing population diversity. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, a comprehensive testing was conducted using the CEC2017 test suite. The experimental results demonstrate that RLAS can adaptively select a suitable search operator and NSDE can enhance the algorithm’s local search capability, thereby improving the performance of RLACA. Compared with the four basic algorithms and four combination algorithms, RLACA performs better in both convergence speed and resolution accuracy.
The effects of parasitism on sex allocation of a hermaphroditic acorn barnacle
Authors: Tamechika Masami M , Yamada Hiroyuki , Ijiri Shigeho , Yusa Yoichi
Published: January 2025

Sex allocation theory predicts the adaptive allocation of resources to male versus female reproduction in simultaneous hermaphrodites in response to individual characteristics or environmental factors. Because parasites uptake resources from their hosts, their presence could affect the sex allocation of the hosts. We investigated the effects of infestation status and infestation intensity by the rhizocephalan barnacle Boschmaella japonica on reproduction, including sex allocation, of the host intertidal barnacle Chthamalus challengeri. Feeding activity was also examined as a factor related to resource intake. Both male and female reproductive investment decreased with increasing parasite infestation, and the sex allocation of large-infested hosts was more male-biased than that of large uninfested hosts. Moreover, in contrast to the model prediction that male investment does not change under resource limitation, male investment decreased in infested hosts whose resources were taken by parasites. This reduction in male investment could be explained by changes in mating group size, since infested hosts have shorter penises and consequently are able to access fewer mating partners.
Paradigms of justice and the limits of ISDS reform
Authors: Giannakopoulos Charalampos
Published: January 2025

More than seven years into the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) reform process at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group III, several reforms have been proposed to address concerns with the current functioning of the system. This article asks whether the eventual outcome of the reform effort is likely to result in a new paradigm of ISDS justice. Focusing my remarks on the two opposing views on ISDS reform (ie non-structural/incremental versus the structural multilateral investment court proposal), I argue that there is cause for scepticism. Scepticism is warranted because there is little in UNCITRAL’s reform agenda and in the treaty negotiating practice of states for a different paradigm to take hold as to what the ‘constituency’ of ISDS is—that is, as to the full range of legal rights and interests that decision-makers in ISDS should take into account.
Decoding the molecular enigma behind asbestos and fibrous nanomaterial-induced carcinogenesis
Authors: Toyokuni Shinya , Kong Yingyi
Published: January 2025

Objectives: The natural fibrous mineral, asbestos, has been useful in industry for many centuries. In the 1960s, epidemiology recognized the association between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, and in 1987 the International Agency for Research on Cancer designated all kinds of asbestos as Group 1 carcinogens. However, various scientific enigmas remained regarding the molecular mechanisms of asbestos-induced mesothelial carcinogenesis. This review article was undertaken to reveal and summarize recent discoveries to resolve those enigmas.

Methods: We collected recent important findings from our own laboratory and others to explain why mesothelial cells are the target for asbestos-induced carcinogenesis and what are the key molecular mechanisms.

Results: The long incubation period of 30-40 years for mesothelial carcinogenesis after asbestos exposure allows the asbestos fibers to go through the pulmonary parenchyma from the central to peripheral portions and ultimately reach the parietal mesothelium by piercing visceral pleura. Asbestos fibers have affinity for hemoglobin and histones, thus accumulating iron on the surface while traveling through the lung. Mesothelial cells are phagocytic cells, engulfing iron-coated asbestos fibers. Accordingly, homozygous deletion of the p16INK4a tumor suppressor gene, a signature of excess iron-induced carcinogenesis, is acquired through oxidative DNA damage. Recently, exosome-dependent iron transfer from asbestos-fed macrophages to mesothelial cells was reported. Similar molecular mechanisms are observed with multiwalled carbon nanotubes of ~50-nm diameter.

Conclusions: Physical dimensions, biopersistence, and affinity to iron/histones are essential for fibrous material to be carcinogenic to mesothelial cells. Therefore, local iron reduction may be a strategy to prevent mesothelial carcinogenesis.
The Public Mental Health Framework: thinking about law as preventive medicine
Authors: Wilson Kay E
Published: January 2025

Health, mental health, and well-being are not ‘natural’ but are shaped by social and environmental factors. This article aims to reorient the development of all laws and policies to do more to prevent mental ill-health and promote well-being as a core function of the contemporary state. It introduces a new conceptual and empirical model, the Public Mental Health Framework, based on three areas of research: (i) the social determinants of health and mental health, which include social structures and daily living conditions (such as poverty, inequality, education, employment, discrimination, adverse childhood experiences, and crime); (ii) health and human rights; and (iii) the intermediate social model of disability. It then explains how the Public Mental Health Framework can be incorporated into law and policy development through parliamentary analysis similar to that used for ‘statements of compatibility’ in the Human Rights Act 1998 (UK) and legislation such as the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (Wales), interdepartmental administrative structures, proactive strategic planning, and continued advocacy.
NEAT1-mediated regulation of proteostasis and mRNA localization impacts autophagy dysregulation in Rett syndrome
Authors: Siqueira Edilene , Velasco Cecilia D , Tarrasón Ariadna , Soler Marta , Srinivas Tara , Setién Fernando , Oliveira-Mateos Cristina , Casado-Pelaez Marta , Martinez-Verbo Laura , Armstrong Judith , Esteller Manel , Alves Letícia F , Llobet Artur , Guil Sonia
Published: January 2025

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder primarily caused by loss-of-function mutations in the MECP2 gene, resulting in diverse cellular dysfunctions. Here, we investigated the role of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 in the context of MeCP2 deficiency using human neural cells and RTT patient samples. Through single-cell RNA sequencing and molecular analyses, we found that NEAT1 is markedly downregulated in MECP2 knockout (KO) cells at various stages of neural differentiation. NEAT1 downregulation correlated with aberrant activation of the mTOR pathway, abnormal protein metabolism, and dysregulated autophagy, contributing to the accumulation of protein aggregates and impaired mitochondrial function. Reactivation of NEAT1 in MECP2-KO cells rescued these phenotypes, indicating its critical role downstream of MECP2. Furthermore, direct RNA–RNA interaction was revealed as the key process for NEAT1 influence on autophagy genes, leading to altered subcellular localization of specific autophagy-related messenger RNAs and impaired biogenesis of autophagic complexes. Importantly, NEAT1 restoration rescued the morphological defects observed in MECP2-KO neurons, highlighting its crucial role in neuronal maturation. Overall, our findings elucidate lncRNA NEAT1 as a key mediator of MeCP2 function, regulating essential pathways involved in protein metabolism, autophagy, and neuronal morphology.
The Complex Landscape of Updated Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines
Authors: Thindwa Deus , Shapiro Eugene D , Weinberger Daniel M
Published: January 2025

Pneumococcus is a major cause of serious infections, especially among vulnerable populations. While pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) provide effective protection against disease caused by the included serotypes, a substantial burden of disease remains. Several new PCVs are under development or were recently recommended for use to counteract the remaining disease burden. This had led to complicated policy deliberations on their optimal use in different populations. We discuss how key factors should be considered in any policy decision: serotype coverage of a new PCV, prevalence of the untargeted remaining serotypes, strength of the immune response to the serotypes in a new PCV, potential for PCV evasion, PCV costs, and optimal simultaneous use of PCVs in children and adults. We also suggest the need for robust analyses of available surveillance data and continual monitoring of changes in the pneumococcal serotypes that are responsible for disease and colonization to help decision makers make optimal recommendations.