bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water Surge Risk Mapping Using GIS-Based Spatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Approach
Authors: Misbari S , Razak S S A , Jaafar M F F , Ghani N A A A , Jamlos M F
Published: January 2025

Water surge is a frequent natural disaster in Malaysia, with about 186 areas nationwide identified as being at risk. The absence of an updated water surge risk map for recreational areas has led to numerous deaths, property damage, and environmental destruction. Lack of assessment of the physical environment using geospatial technology towards water surge occurrence has led to less effective disaster management and mitigation strategies related to water surge in recreational areas. The aim of this study is to develop a recent water surge risk map using geospatial technology, with a focus on a recreational area in Pahang, Malaysia. The process entails gathering geographical data and evaluating data using GIS-based Spatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (SMCDA), which is generally based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model in ArcGIS Pro. A water surge risk map is developed by not only visualizing water surge factors but also weighting each relevant contributing factor, such as terrain elevation, land use type, and rainfall. The finding of the study suggests that Sg. Pandan Waterfall area falls into medium-risk water surge zones due to combination of three main factors including terrain elevation, land use or rainfall pattern. The map is crucial to enhancing resource allocation, disaster planning, and community resilience where water surges have not previously been mapped. This study not only helps in raising awareness about water surge risks but also supports SDG 14 and SDG 15 initiatives as well as building safe communities.
Fragility Curves Assessment on Multi-Span Reinforced Concrete Bridge by Using Incremental Dynamic Analysis
Authors: Htay Khin Thuzar , Masrilayanti  , Tanjung Jafril , Olivia Monita
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a comprehensive seismic assessment of reinforced concrete bridge hollow piers, with ductility as the primary evaluation parameter. The study employs Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) using ground motion records from four significant earthquakes: Aceh, Loma Prieta, Imperial Valley, and Kobe. Yield displacement and maximum displacement values derived from IDA curves are used to quantify the seismic response of the bridge piers. Fragility curves, developed through regression analysis, provide a probabilistic framework for predicting structural damage across four performance levels: slight, moderate, extensive, and collapse. The results indicate a 50% probability of exceeding these damage states at 0.035 g, 0.075 g, 0.14 g, and 0.56 g, respectively. In comparison, the corresponding ground motion intensities for a 100% probability are 0.1 g, 0.2 g, 0.6 g, and 0.85 g. Special attention is given to bridges in near-fault regions, where intense ground shaking and pulse-like effects amplify the seismic demands on structures. These fragility curves offer critical insights into the vulnerability of hollow pier bridges, particularly in fault-adjacent zones, where heightened seismic risks necessitate enhanced design and retrofitting measures. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of structural resilience in seismic-prone areas and support the development of more effective seismic design strategies for critical infrastructure.
Identifying Factors Influencing Demolition Waste Generation from Stakeholders Perspective
Authors: Halim Hasmanie Abdul , Gisen Jacqueline Isabella , Aziz Edriyana A. , Shahid Khairul Anuar , Ghazali Norhaiza
Published: January 2025

Although construction and demolition waste (CDW) is relatively less hazardous when compared with other solid wastes, the large volumes occupied by bulky wastes in landfills pose a continual threat to human health and the environment. Determining factors contributing to the generation of CDW is, therefore, an important step toward developing effective and sustainable waste handling strategies. The objective of this study is to identify the CDW generation factors in the construction industry and the common disposal waste management practices on-site. The data collection involved a structured-questionnaire survey with 101 respondents from construction stakeholders within Kuantan District and later is analysed based on the descriptive statistic approach. The study result has revealed the top three important factors of CDW generation during construction works are workforce, material-handling, and management factors. While the common CDW management practice is waste disposal at the landfill. These findings will assist policymakers to improve existing guidelines to manage the CDW on construction sites.
Performance Evaluation of Porous Asphalt Mixture Reinforced by Lignin Fiber
Authors: Fazilah Fatin Fahira Nisha Mohd , Masri Khairil Azman , Al-Attab Ammar , Jaya Ramadhansyah Putra
Published: January 2025

This study aims to investigate the performance evaluation of porous asphalt (PA) mixture reinforced by lignin fiber. A kind of pavement called porous asphalt is made to let water percolate through its surface, minimising runoff and enhancing water management. Because of the unique combination of aggregates and asphalt used in its construction, water can percolate through and be absorbed into the ground below. However, there is always room for improvement in terms of enhancing its mechanical properties and overall performance. In this research, lignin fiber is incorporated into Porous Asphalt to evaluate their influence on key performance indicators such as rutting resistance, fatigue life, cracking, and mechanical strength. The study includes laboratory tests and performance assessments to compare the modified PA with conventional PA. To achieve the research objectives, various proportions of lignin fiber additives are introduced into the PA mix design (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%). The modified asphalt mixtures are then prepared and subjected to comprehensive laboratory tests, including Marshall stability, Indirect tensile strength, Binder drain down test, LA abrasion loss, Softening point and Penetration test. The performance evaluation also involves rutting and fatigue tests to assess the resistance of the modified mixtures to permanent deformation and fatigue cracking under simulated traffic loading conditions. The results obtained from the experimental investigations are analyzed and compared with the performance characteristics of conventional LF. In conclusion, the addition of 2-3% of LF additives enhanced the performance of PA in terms of rutting resistance, fatigue life, moisture susceptibility, and mechanical strength.
Design Concept and Stress Analysis of a Self-Activated Flood Barrier
Authors: Panior Khairul Nizad , Ithnin Zanidah , Jihin Rosmawati Mat , Nazri Azmarini Ahmad , Zakaria Supa’at Hj , Zulkipli Mohd Zulhairi
Published: January 2025

This paper presents the design concept and static stress analysis of a self-activated flood barrier, an innovative solution for flood defence in vulnerable areas such as urban centres, coastal regions, and riverbanks. The self-activated barrier is designed to respond autonomously to rising water levels without external power or human intervention, utilizing a buoyancy-driven mechanism that enables it to rise automatically as floodwaters approach critical levels. Designing a flood barrier involves a combination of scientific analysis, engineering design, construction, and community involvement. The design integrates a modular approach, allowing for scalability and adaptability to different geographic and infrastructural contexts. Static stress analysis was conducted on the barrier to evaluate its structural integrity under various flood conditions. The analysis focused on key components subjected to water pressure during deployment, ensuring the materials and structure could withstand the forces encountered during a flood event. Results from the analysis indicate that the barrier’s design is able to withstand the static load and the dynamic load that will occur under peak flood conditions. Furthermore, the material proposed for the inner barrier, which is Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is lightweight yet durable and corrosion-resistant which will ensure long-term operational performance in harsh environments. Overall, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of the self-activated flood barrier in providing reliable, low-maintenance flood protection, with static stress analysis confirming its capability to endure extreme flood pressures.
Bioelectricity is a universal multifaced signaling cue in living organisms
Authors: Zhang GuangJun , Levin Michael
Published: January 2025

The cellular electrical signals of living organisms were discovered more than a century ago and have been extensively investigated in the neuromuscular system. Neuronal depolarization and hyperpolarization are essential for our neuromuscular physiological and pathological functions. Bioelectricity is being recognized as an ancient, intrinsic, fundamental property of all living cells, and it is not limited to the neuromuscular system. Instead, emerging evidence supports a view of bioelectricity as an instructional signaling cue for fundamental cellular physiology, embryonic development, regeneration, and human diseases, including cancers. Here, we highlight the current understanding of bioelectricity and share our views on the challenges and perspectives.
Acquired drivers of C3 Glomerulopathy
Authors: Welsh Seth J , Zhang Yuzhou , Smith Richard J H
Published: January 2025

C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a group of heterogeneous ultra-rare kidney diseases characterized by dysregulated activation of the complement alternative pathway (AP) leading to excessive C3 cleavage. Diagnosis relies on kidney biopsy showing predominant C3 deposition in the glomerular basement membrane, with electron microscopy differentiating between dense deposit disease (DDD) and C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN). The main drivers of AP dysregulation in C3G are acquired rather than genetic and consist primarily of autoantibodies called nephritic factors (C3Nefs, C4Nefs, and C5Nefs) which bind to and stabilize complement convertases, causing complement over-activation. Current therapies are largely supportive, with limited efficacy from existing complement-targeting treatments like eculizumab. Challenges in studying C3G include variability in autoantibody detection and lack of standardized assays, which complicates clinical interpretation. Comprehensive assessment involving autoantibody panels, complement biomarkers, functional assays, and genetic testing provides a more complete understanding of disease dynamics; however, key knowledge gaps remain regarding Nef origins, mechanisms, and their pathogenic role. In this review we discuss acquired drives of C3G with an emphasis on C3Nefs and C5Nefs and suggest areas of interest that might benefit from future research.
BbGSD: Black-boned Sheep Genome SNP Database
Authors: He Chunjuan , Chen Lichang , Cao Juntao , Zhong Yuqing , Gao Zhendong , Deng Weidong , Zhang Jiajin
Published: January 2025

Lanping black-boned (LPBB) sheep are a unique and rare ruminant species, characterized by black pigmentation in the skin and internal organs. Thus far, LPBB are the only known animal with heritable melanin characteristics besides the black-boned chicken, and the only mammal known to contain a large amount of melanin in the body. LPBB have therefore attracted substantial research attention, due to their potential contribution to medicine. However, long periods of grazing freely and crossbreeding with Lanping normal sheep (LPN) have diluted LPBB breeding resources, posing a challenge to the protection of species. To ensure the effective conservation and management of LPBB genetic resources, the construction of a large-scale database of genotypic information is therefore very important. To achieve this, we established the first LPBB-specific SNP database, named Black-boned Sheep Genome SNP Database (BbGSD, http://202.203.179.115:3838/oarsnpdb) using sheep genotype data (100 LPBB and 50 LPN) across 46 894 242 SNP sites. In this database, we implemented four main function modules: (i) the “LD heatmap” module, which uses a heatmap to enable the interactive visualization of pairwise linkage disequilibrium (LD) measurements between SNPs; (ii) the “SNP distribution” module, which allows users to interactively visualize tabular genotype data as heat maps; (iii) the “Phylogenetics” module which enables phylogenetic analysis to explore the evolutionary history or genetic relationships of the LPBB sheep; and the “Diversity” module, which can be used to calculate and display the nucleotide diversity among sheep populations in user-specified genomic regions. BbGSD is essential for accelerating studies on the functional genomics and screening of molecular markers of molecular-assisted breeding in black-boned sheep.

Database URL: http://202.203.179.115:3838/oarsnpdb
The Welfare Effects of Supply and Demand Frictions in a Dynamic Pricing Game
Authors: Myśliwski Mateusz , Sanches Fabio Miessi , Junior Daniel Silva , Srisuma Sorawoot
Published: January 2025

We propose a dynamic oligopoly pricing model, in which consumers’ choices exhibit inertia and firms face costly price adjustments. The primitives of the model are estimated using scanner data from the UK butter and margarine industry. We evaluate the effects of frictions on price dynamics, profits and consumer welfare. We find that price adjustment costs are substantial and represent between 24-34% of net margins. Our model predicts that absence of these costs reduces persistence in prices, increases firms’ profits but has little effect on consumer surplus. The effects of consumer inertia on prices are much more pronounced than when firms cannot adjust prices freely.
An integrated ecotoxicological study reliability framework for use in toxicity value development
Authors: Kennedy Stephanie B , Heintz Melissa M , Klaren William D , Wikoff Daniele S , Haws Laurie C , Fitch Seneca E
Published: January 2025

A key component of ecological risk assessments is to develop evidence-based benchmarks to assess potential hazards to various receptors. To ensure that toxicity value development is performed using the best available science, the reliability (or inherent scientific quality) of these studies must be considered. The degree of reliability can be evaluated via critical appraisal tools (CATs), although application of such methods assessing ecotoxicological literature for toxicity value development is not well established compared with human health assessments. A review of existing CATs revealed that there is currently no approach that considers the full range of biases that should be considered for appraisal of internal validity in ecotoxicological studies. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive ecotoxicity study assessment framework that addresses RoB for the interpretation of study reliability, we propose the ecotoxicological study reliability (EcoSR) framework. This framework builds on the classic RoB assessment approach, frequently applied in human health assessments. The EcoSR framewok adds reliability and key criteria specific to ecotoxicity studies from existing appraisal methods, emphasizing those used by regulatory bodies. Additionally, the framework recommends a priori customization based on assessment goals. The EcoSR framework is composed of two tiers: an optional preliminary screening (Tier 1) and a full reliability assessment (Tier 2). The framework outlines a systematic approach for conducting ecotoxicity study appraisals that enhances transparency and consistency in determining study reliability. The EcoSR framework provides flexibility and can be refined and applied to a variety of chemical classes. This framework represents a significant step towards improving the transparency and reproducibility of ecotoxicological study appraisals; ultimately, contributing to more informed and reliable toxicity value development within the ecological sciences.
Tricuspid regurgitation and outcomes in mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair
Authors: Matsumoto Shingo , Ohno Yohei , Noda Satoshi , Miyamoto Junichi , Kamioka Norihiko , Murakami Tsutomu , Ikari Yuji , Kubo Shunsuke , Izumi Yuki , Saji Mike , Yamamoto Masanori , Asami Masahiko , Enta Yusuke , Shirai Shinichi , Izumo Masaki , Mizuno Shingo , Watanabe Yusuke , Amaki Makoto , Kodama Kazuhisa , Yamaguchi Junichi , Naganuma Toru , Bota Hiroki , Yamawaki Masahiro , Ueno Hiroshi , Mizutani Kazuki , Hachinohe Daisuke , Otsuka Toshiaki , Hayashida Kentaro
Published: January 2025

Background and Aims

The association between periprocedural change in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and outcomes in patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is unclear. This study aimed to examine the prognostic value of TR before and after M-TEER.

Methods

Patients in the OCEAN-Mitral registry were divided into four groups according to baseline and post-procedure echocardiographic assessments: no TR/no TR (no TR), no TR/significant TR (new-onset TR), significant TR/no TR (normalized TR), and significant TR/significant TR (residual TR) (all represents before/after M-TEER). Tricuspid regurgitation ≥ moderate was defined as significant. The primary outcome was cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization. Tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient was also evaluated.

Results

The numbers of patients in each group were 2103 (no TR), 201 (new-onset TR), 504 (normalized TR), and 858 (residual TR). Baseline assessment for TR and TR pressure gradient was not associated with outcomes after M-TEER. In contrast, patients with new-onset TR had the highest adjusted risk for the primary outcome, followed by those with residual TR [compared with no TR as a reference, hazard ratio 1.83 (95% confidence interval: 1.39–2.40) for new-onset TR, 1.45 (1.23–1.72) for residual TR, and 0.82 (0.65–1.04) for normalized TR]. Similarly, from baseline to post-procedure, TR pressure gradient changes were associated with subsequent outcomes after M-TEER. New-onset and residual TR incidence was commonly associated with dilated tricuspid annulus diameter and atrial fibrillation.

Conclusions

Post-procedural TR, but not baseline TR, was associated with outcomes after M-TEER. Careful TR assessment after the procedure would provide an optimal management for concomitant significant TR in patients undergoing M-TEER.
Isolation by environment is more important than isolation by distance along a tropical gradient in direct developing frogs
Authors: Percino-Daniel Ruth , Jones Kara S , Maigret Thomas A , Weisrock David W , Piñero Daniel
Published: January 2025

Abiotic factors are important for defining population structure and limiting gene flow, especially in ectotherm species. In amphibians, abiotic factors like temperature and precipitation can facilitate or restrict gene flow. The challenge is identifying if these factors can lead to a pattern of isolation by environment. Our study aims to quantify the extent to which divergence is driven by abiotic factors such as temperature, precipitation and elevation. To do so, we used a direct-developing frog species, Craugastor loki that occurs along a steep elevation gradient. Using restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) from individuals collected from 100 m to 2250 m of elevation across 13 localities at Sierra Madre de Chiapas in southern Mexico, we described population structure using a variety of model-based clustering and landscape genomics approaches. We found that populations sampled at higher elevation probably correspond to an undescribed new species of Craugastor, and that populations from Craugastor loki between 120 m and 1500 m are clustered in two different genetic groups: a Pacific slope group and a Central Depression slope group. We found signatures of isolation by environment more important than isolation by distance in contributing to genetic divergence in this group of frogs at a fine scale. The environmental variables such as: mean temperature of wettest and warmest quarter, annual mean temperature, and seasonality in temperature and precipitation play an important role on population differentiation. Our results underscore the importance of abiotic factors as drivers of genetic differentiation and highlight the use of different approaches to illuminate fine scale population divergence given the complexity of disentangling the contribution of both patterns of isolation.
‘The movie theatres are little bits of things’: Poetry and Cinema in Montale and Stevens
Authors: Manara Matilde
Published: January 2025

Theodor Adorno, Siegfried Kracauer, José Ortega y Gasset: these are just a few of the thinkers who, at the turn of the twentieth century, expressed critical views on cinema and the way it affects its audience. Poets of the same period were equally sceptical about the new media and, above all, about the model of mass liberal education that was held responsible for their success. Caught between fascination and revulsion, they nevertheless seemed unable to avoid adding to their texts some elements taken from the collective and supposedly hypnotizing experience of watching a movie, often with the aim of contrasting it with the solitary and controlled experience of reading a poem. This article aims to reflect on these intermediary fragments in the work of two of the most representative authors of European and Anglo-American Modernism: Eugenio Montale and Wallace Stevens. The analysis of ‘Forse un mattino andando in un’aria di vetro’ and ‘The Ordinary Women’, as well as the reading of their notes on cinema, will allow us to show that the relationship of Modernist poetry (a supposedly conservative and elitist movement) with mass culture and its media is much more ambivalent than is usually thought.
Spatially explicit estimation of recent migration rates in plants using genotypic data
Authors: Chybicki Igor J , Robledo-Arnuncio Juan J
Published: January 2025

We present a new hierarchical Bayesian method using multilocus genotypes to estimate recent seed and pollen migration rates in a spatially explicit framework that incorporates distance effects separately for each type of dispersal. The method additionally estimates population allelic frequencies, population divergence values, individual inbreeding coefficients, individual maternal and paternal ancestries, and allelic dropout rates. We conduct a numerical simulation analysis that indicates that the method can provide reliable estimates of seed and pollen migration rates and allow accurate inference of spatial effects on migration, at affordable sample sizes (25–50 individuals/population) when population genetic divergence is not low (FST≥0.05), or by increasing sampling (to at least 100 individuals/population) under weaker levels of divergence (FST=0.025). Simulations also show that the accuracy provided by assays with about one thousand unlinked polymorphic SNP loci may approach, for a given sample size, the theoretical maximum achievable under categorical origin discrimination. We apply our method to Taxus baccata data, revealing low but significant seed and pollen migration among nearby population remnants during the last generation, with a negative effect of interpopulation distance on migration that was detectable for pollen but not for seeds.
Activated SKN-1 alters the aging trajectories of long-lived C. elegans mutants
Authors: Turner Chris D , Curran Sean P
Published: January 2025

In the presence of stressful environments, the SKN-1 cytoprotective transcription factor is activated to induce the expression of gene targets that can restore homeostasis. However, chronic activation of SKN-1 results in diminished health and a reduction of lifespan. Here we demonstrate the necessity of modulating SKN-1 activity to maintain the longevity-promoting effects associated with genetic mutations that impair daf-2/insulin receptor signaling, the eat-2 model of dietary restriction, and glp-1-dependent loss of germ cell proliferation. A hallmark of animals with constitutive SKN-1 activation is the age-dependent loss of somatic lipids and this phenotype is linked to a general reduction in survival in animals harboring the skn-1gf allele. Surprisingly, daf-2lf; skn-1gf double mutant animals do not redistribute somatic lipids, which suggests the insulin signaling pathway functions downstream of SKN-1 in the maintenance of lipid distribution. As expected, the eat-2lf allele, which independently activates SKN-1, continues to display somatic lipid depletion in older ages with and without the skn-1gf activating mutation. In contrast, the presence of the skn-1gf allele does not lead to somatic lipid redistribution in glp-1lf animals that lack a proliferating germline. Taken together, these studies support a genetic model where SKN-1 activity is an important regulator of lipid mobilization in response to nutrient availability that fuels the developing germline by engaging the daf-2/insulin receptor pathway.
Introduction to International Relations and Global Politics
Authors: Sørensen Georg , Møller Jørgen
Published: January 2025

Introduction to International Relations (IR) & Global Politics (GP) provides a comprehensive introduction to the principal theories and approaches that deal with world politics, and explores how theory can be used to analyse contemporary issues. Throughout the text, the chapters encourage readers to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the theories presented, and the major points of contention between them. In so doing, the text helps the reader to build a clear understanding of how major theoretical debates link up with each other, and how the structure of the discipline of international relations and global politics is established. The book places a strong emphasis throughout on the relationship between theory and practice, carefully explaining how theories organize and shape our view of the world. It also shows how a historical perspective can often refine theories and provide a frame of reference for contemporary problems of international relations. Topics include realism, liberalism, International Society, International Political Economy, social constructivism, post-structuralism, postcolonialism, feminism, queer theory, and green theory, major issues of world politics, foreign policy, and world order. Each chapter ends by discussing how different theories have attempted to integrate or combine international and domestic factors in their explanatory frameworks. The final part of the book is dedicated to major global issues and how theory can be used as a tool to analyse and make sense of these issues.
1. What Is International Relations and Global Politics and Why Study It?
Authors: Sørensen Georg , Møller Jørgen
Published: January 2025

This chapter provides a brief introduction to the principal international relations and global politics theories and approaches, and explores how theory can be used to analyse contemporary issues. It provides a brief and concise description of the historical development of state systems and shows how thinking about IR and GP has evolved over time. The chapter considers four major encounters that have shaped the development of the discipline: the first was between utopian liberalism and realism; the second between traditional approaches and behaviouralism; the third between neorealism/neoliberalism and neo-Marxism; the fourth between established traditions and what we term theories of global politics, including post-structuralism, postcolonialism, feminism and queer theory, and green theory. These critical approaches challenge the established traditions of IR, and they show how vibrant the study of world politics has become. The chapter concludes with a discussion about criteria for good theory in IR and GP.
5. International Political Economy: Marxism and Its Competitors
Authors: Sørensen Georg , Møller Jørgen
Published: January 2025

This chapter examines International Political Economy (IPE) theories. It suggests that IPE is about economics (wealth, poverty) and politics (power), about who gets what in the international economic and political system. The major classical theory is Marxism, and the chapter pays special attention to that tradition, and how it has inspired neo-Marxist IPE theories. It also includes extended discussions of two other classical theories within the field of IPE: mercantilism and economic liberalism. The outlook of mercantilism has much in common with realism, while economic liberalism is an addition to liberalism. The chapter considers the relationship between politics and economics, and between states and markets in world affairs. It concludes with a discussion about the connection between Marxism and the global politics (GP) perspectives that are covered in Part II of the book.
16. Foreign Policy
Authors: Sørensen Georg , Møller Jørgen
Published: January 2025

This chapter examines theories and approaches involved in foreign policy analysis. Foreign policy analysis (FPA) is concerned with the study of the management of external relations and activities of nation-states, as distinguished from their domestic policies. The chapter first explains the concept of foreign policy before discussing various approaches to foreign policy analysis. It then evaluates the arguments of major theories by using a ‘level-of-analysis’ approach that addresses the international system level, the nation-state level, and the level of the individual decision maker. It also presents a case-study on the Gulf War to illustrate how insights from various approaches to foreign policy analysis can be brought together. The chapters ends with reflections on foreign policy in autocracies and about Donald Trump’s foreign policy.
17. The Big Question: World Order or World Chaos?
Authors: Sørensen Georg , Møller Jørgen
Published: January 2025

This final chapter addresses a really big question: are world politics heading towards order or chaos? To answer this question, it interrogates the different IR and GP theories presented in previous chapters. An initial section provides a conceptual map, based on a review of different understandings of the concept of world order. The chapter proceeds by discussing the effect of the rise of authoritarian powers such as China, new challenges in established democracies, fragile states in the Global South, and the governance provided by international institutions. The chapter ends by arguing that the glass is at the same time half-full and half-empty: the world faces new and formidable challenges and we are very far from meeting current aspirations for world order; at the same time, global relations are much more ordered than they used to be just a few generations ago—and things are far better than many pessimists claim.
Potential risk of cross-resistance to voriconazole in HIV/AIDS patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection and the mechanisms of the cross-resistance
Authors: Zheng Yan-Qing , Li Qiang-Guo , Latge Jean-Paul , Tang Xi-Ke , Najwa Al-Odaini , Pan Kai-Su , Yang Shi-Xiong , Cao Cun-Wei
Published: January 2025

Background

The use of fluconazole for long-term oral candidiasis treatment in HIV/AIDS patients can potentially affect the clearance rate and antifungal efficacy of voriconazole against Talaromyces marneffei infection. We isolated two T. marneffei strains that were both resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole. To investigate the mechanism underlying the induction of the cross-resistance in T. marneffei.

Methods

Fluconazole-resistant strains were induced in vitro. The target enzyme 14-α sterol demethylase Cyp51B was sequenced, and drug efflux pump expression was determined by RT–qPCR in all strains.

Results

The sensitivity of fluconazole-induced resistant strains to fluconazole was greater than 128 mg/L, and this resistance was stably inherited after fluconazole pressure was removed. MICs of voriconazole for resistant strains were 4∼16 times greater than FRR (0.25–1 versus 0.06 mg/L). Two mutation hotspots in Cyp51B were detected: G441D and G441V. The AtrF, Mdr1 and Pmfcz genes were significantly overexpressed in the vast majority of the fluconazole-resistant strains (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The growth of T. marneffei in the presence of fluconazole could induce voriconazole resistance in vitro. The main cause of this cross-resistance in T. marneffei appears to be related to a mutation in Cyp51B at G441 and overexpression of the efflux pumps AtrF, Mdr1 and Pmfcz.
Comparison of MIC Test Strip and reference broth microdilution method for amphotericin B and azoles susceptibility testing on wild-type and non-wild-type Aspergillus species
Authors: Hermida-Alava Katherine , Pola Santiago , García-Effrón Guillermo , Cuestas María L
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to evaluate whether the MIC Test Strip (MTS) quantitative assay for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) correlated with the CLSI reference broth microdilution (BMD) method for antifungal susceptibility testing of wild-type and non-wild-type Aspergillus species against antifungal agents known to be usually effective against Aspergillus spp. This study was performed to assist in the decision-making process for possible deployment of the MTS assay for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Aspergillus species into regional public health laboratories of Mycology due to difficulties in equipping the reference BMD methods in a laboratory routine. For this purpose, a set of 40 phenotypically diverse isolates (27 wild-type, 9 non-wild-type, and 4 species with reduced susceptibility to azoles and amphotericin B [AMB]) collected from clinical samples were tested. MICs were performed by both MTS and reference BMD for AMB and azoles. MTS results for posaconazole correlated well with reference BMD, rendering an almost perfect agreement (kappa value = 1.000) by category interpretation (CI)/category distribution of MICs (CDM) (100%), while voriconazole MTS results yielded a substantial correlation with BMD (kappa value = 0.788) by CI/CDM (97.5%). In contrast, itraconazole and AMB yielded the poorest correlation with BMD, rendering moderate agreement (kappa values of 0.554 and 0.437, respectively) by CI/CDM (87.5% and 85%, respectively). In conclusion, the MTS method represents a valid option for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Aspergillus species against posaconazole and voriconazole. Itraconazole and AMB MTS results showed some concerning lack of correlation with the corresponding reference BMD results.
Ringworlds and Dyson spheres can be stable
Authors: McInnes Colin R
Published: January 2025

In his 1856 Adams Prize essay, James Clark Maxwell demonstrated that Saturn's rings cannot be comprised of a uniform rigid body. This is a consequence of the two-body gravitational interaction between a ring and planet resulting in instability. Similarly, it is also known that a so-called Dyson sphere encompassing a single star would be unstable due to Newton's shell theorem. A surprising finding is reported here that both a ring and a sphere (shell) can be stable in the restricted three-body problem. First, if two primary masses are considered in orbit about their common centre of mass, a large, uniform, infinitesimal ring enclosing the smaller of the masses can in principle be stable under certain conditions. Similarly, a Dyson sphere can, be stable, if the sphere encloses the smaller of the two primary masses, again under certain conditions. These findings extend Maxwell's results on the dynamics of rings and have an interesting bearing on so-called Ringworlds and Dyson spheres from fiction. Moreover, the existence of passively stable orbits for such large-scale structures may have implications for so-called techno-signatures in search for extra-terrestrial intelligence studies.
A search for close binary systems in the SALT survey of hydrogen-deficient stars using TESS
Authors: Snowdon E J , Jeffery C S , Schlagenhauf S , Dorsch M
Published: January 2025

The TESS periodograms of the SALT survey catalogue of hydrogen-deficient stars were searched for evidence of short-period variability. Periodic light-curve variations were identified in 16 stars out of 153 catalogue objects, of which 10 were false positives. From the remaining 6 identified variables, Ton S 415 is a known close binary system and the sixth close binary containing a hydrogen-deficient hot subdwarf. Radial velocity and SED analyses ruled out the remaining 5 as close binary systems; the causes of their variability remain uncertain. With one or more K-type companions, BPS CS 22956-0094 may be a wide binary or triple. From this SALT + TESS sample, the fraction of close binaries stands at $1/29 \approx 3.5~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for intermediate helium hot subdwarfs and $0/124 = 0~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for extreme helium subdwarfs.
The NCORES programme: precise planetary masses, null results, and insight into the planet mass distribution near the radius gap
Authors: Armstrong David J , Osborn Ares , Burn Remo , Venturini Julia , Adibekyan Vardan , Bonfanti Andrea , Burt Jennifer A , Collins Karen A , Delgado Mena Elisa , Hadjigeorghiou Andreas , Howell Steve , Quinn Sam , Sousa Sergio G , Keniger Marcelo Aron F , Barrado David , Barros S C C , Bayliss Daniel , Bouchy François , Castro-González Amadeo , Collins Kevin I , Conti Denis M , Crossfield Ian M , Diaz Rodrigo , Dumusque Xavier , Feng Fabo , Lester Kathryn V , Lillo-Box Jorge , Matson Rachel A , Matthews Elisabeth C , Mordasini Christoph , Murgas Felipe , Osborn Hugh P , Palle Enric , Santos Nuno , Schwarz Richard P , Silva Tomás Azevedo , Stassun Keivan , Strøm Paul , Tan Thiam-Guan , Teske Johanna , Wang Gavin , Wheatley Peter J
Published: January 2025

NCORES was a large observing programme on the ESO HARPS spectrograph, dedicated to measuring the masses of Neptune-like and smaller transiting planets discovered by the TESS satellite using the radial velocity technique. This paper presents an overview of the programme, its scientific goals and published results, covering 35 planets in 18 planetary systems. We present spectrally derived stellar characterization and mass constraints for five additional TOIs where radial velocity observations found only marginally significant signals (TOI-510.01, $M_p = 1.08^{+0.58}_{-0.55}{\rm M}_{\rm{\oplus }}$), or found no signal (TOIs 271.01, 641.01, 697.01, and 745.01). A newly detected non-transiting radial velocity candidate is presented orbiting TOI-510 on a 10.0 d orbit, with a minimum mass of $4.82^{+1.29}_{-1.26}{\rm M}_{\rm{\oplus }}$, although uncertainties on the system architecture and true orbital period remain. Combining the NCORES sample with archival known planets, we investigate the distribution of planet masses and compositions around and below the radius gap, finding that the population of planets below the gap is consistent with a rocky composition and ranges up to a sharp cut-off at $10M_{\rm{\oplus }}$. We compare the observed distribution to models of pebble- and planetesimal-driven formation and evolution, finding good broad agreement with both models while highlighting interesting areas of potential discrepancy. Increased numbers of precisely measured planet masses in this parameter space are required to distinguish between pebble and planetesimal accretion.
Simulation of adaptive immune receptors and repertoires with complex immune information to guide the development and benchmarking of AIRR machine learning
Authors: Chernigovskaya Maria , Pavlović Milena , Kanduri Chakravarthi , Gielis Sofie , Robert Philippe A , Scheffer Lonneke , Slabodkin Andrei , Haff Ingrid Hobæk , Meysman Pieter , Yaari Gur , Sandve Geir Kjetil , Greiff Victor
Published: January 2025

Machine learning (ML) has shown great potential in the adaptive immune receptor repertoire (AIRR) field. However, there is a lack of large-scale ground-truth experimental AIRR data suitable for AIRR-ML-based disease diagnostics and therapeutics discovery. Simulated ground-truth AIRR data are required to complement the development and benchmarking of robust and interpretable AIRR-ML methods where experimental data is currently inaccessible or insufficient. The challenge for simulated data to be useful is incorporating key features observed in experimental repertoires. These features, such as antigen or disease-associated immune information, cause AIRR-ML problems to be challenging. Here, we introduce LIgO, a software suite, which simulates AIRR data for the development and benchmarking of AIRR-ML methods. LIgO incorporates different types of immune information both on the receptor and the repertoire level and preserves native-like generation probability distribution. Additionally, LIgO assists users in determining the computational feasibility of their simulations. We show two examples where LIgO supports the development and validation of AIRR-ML methods: (i) how individuals carrying out-of-distribution immune information impacts receptor-level prediction performance and (ii) how immune information co-occurring in the same AIRs impacts the performance of conventional receptor-level encoding and repertoire-level classification approaches. LIgO guides the advancement and assessment of interpretable AIRR-ML methods.
Pancreatic β cell-secreted factor FGF23 attenuates Alzheimer's disease-related amyloid β-induced neuronal death
Authors: Yazawa Kyosuke , Nakashima Mieko , Nakagawa Tadashi , Yanase Yuhki , Yoda Yukari , Ozawa Koichiro , Hosoi Toru
Published: January 2025

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory impairment. The pathophysiology of AD may involve aggregated amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation, which may underlie the disease mechanism. Patients with diabetes exhibit an elevated risk of developing AD, indicating potential therapeutic implications upon elucidating the underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that pancreatic β cell-secreted factors could protect neurons from Aβ-induced toxicity. Therefore, we established an experimental model to elucidate the communication between pancreatic β cells and neuronal cells. Notably, our findings demonstrate that pancreatic β cell culture supernatant effectively inhibits Aβ-induced neuronal cell death. Transcriptomic analysis showed significant up-regulation of multiple ribosomal protein genes in neuronal cells treated with pancreatic β cell culture supernatant. Fibroblast growth factor 23, a secreted factor from pancreatic β cells, significantly suppressed Aβ-induced neuronal cell death. Our findings suggest that pancreatic β cells may secrete previously unrecognized neuroprotective factors, thereby attenuating neuronal cell death in AD.
The Lives and Futures of Late Adolescent Black Members of the LGBTQIA Population
Authors: Barnes Sandra L
Published: January 2025

Studies about young Black members of the LGBTQIA population tend to focus on health disparities related to HIV/AIDS among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (BMSM). Although important, this emphasis often ignores diverse sexual identities as well as the late adolescent experience, including sentiments about their lives and futures as they navigate dynamics associated with race, sexuality, gender, and age. This mixed-methodological study considers the experiences of 123 late adolescent Black members of the LGBTQIA population 18–22 years old. Informed by emerging adulthood theory, survey and in-depth interview data are examined using content and multivariate analyses. Qualitative themes document the plans, problems, and processes individuals associate with future aspirations and expectations. Quantitative findings show the importance of age and sexual identity, as well as racial and spiritual wellbeing in explaining healthy sexual decision-making known to affect their lives and futures. The importance of multi-faceted developmental strategies, people, practices, and programs to help individuals who embrace varied sexual identities remain adaptive and resilient is discussed.
Civil Lawfare
Authors: Fernandes April D , Friedman Brittany , Kirk-Werner Gabriela M
Published: January 2025

To offset rising mass incarceration expenses, states adopted strategies to increase revenue, including charging incarcerated individuals pay-to-stay fees, a per diem room and board charge for the cost of their incarceration. In several states, the collection of these fees is done through civil lawsuits where defendants are alleged to be unlawful consumers of state goods and resources resulting from their incarceration. We draw on the case of pay-to-stay collection in Illinois using 102 civil lawsuits, focusing particularly on the state’s attempts to collect from the most vulnerable of incarcerated individuals, those with disabilities, to develop the theoretical concept of “civil lawfare.” We argue that civil lawfare describes how the state and legal actors weaponize the strictures and procedure of civil law to leverage an assault against vulnerable, disenfranchised populations facing institutional barriers accessing legal resources. We detail the challenges faced by incarcerated individuals with disabilities in navigating this system and how legal actors wage war to facilitate perpetual indebtedness to the state. We position civil lawfare as an understudied legacy of the twentieth century wars on poverty, drugs, and crime which facilitated the decimation and destruction of predominantly Black communities through deploying racialized sentencing laws, targeted policing, and exponential incarceration rates.
Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers as Research Participants: Lessons from a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Keemink Jolie R , Stander Willem J , Montgomery Paul , Schaub Jason
Published: January 2025

Social work research in the UK has significant challenges in building research capacity due to a lack of funding, austerity policies, and the quality of research training within social work degrees. As a result, the workforce has limited understanding of the value and relevance of research to practice. Indeed, previous studies report a substantial lack of social workers as research participants. Although healthcare research includes a wealth of literature providing guidance on recruitment and retention of participants, these suggestions are not automatically applicable to social work research due to the distinct nature of the sector and the differential understanding and valuation of research. Based on the authors’ experiences from a randomized controlled trial, for which they recruited 614 social workers, this article is the first to offer recommendations for the recruitment and retention of social workers as research participants. The authors describe valuable lessons for future research, including advice on meaningful stakeholder involvement, social media strategies, and emphasizing the value of participation for the advancement of the field and the personal experience of the social worker. The authors conclude with a summary list of actionable recommendations that will improve the research involvement of the social work workforce.