bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative applicability of strength of materials approach to laminated composites with glass and carbon fibre prepregs
Authors: Patra A K , Silip M , B Grismitha , Subagia I D G
Published: November 2024

Laminated composites are used in various fields for excellent properties. Study of their failure characteristics is essential in engineering. Applicability of strength of materials (SOM) approach in analysing failures and designing laminated composites with glass and carbon prepregs have been investigated through computational method. Glass fibre (GF) and carbon fibre (CF) prepreg reinforced polymeric laminas were modelled and analysed under tensile load with fixed-free boundary conditions applied at two ends. Unidirectional (UD) fibre was chosen for UD laminas form the mathematical foundation of all laminated composite analyses. Tensile loads of 1N to 5N were applied at free end with an increment of 1N. In both cases, deflections and strains were non-uniform along the length, maximum near loading-point while reducing towards the fixed end in a stepped manner. This characteristic of laminated composite is different from that of conventional materials like steel or aluminium in which uniform stress and strain is assumed throughout the length in applying SOM approach. It indicates that although SOM approach is essential for some important components design, is not sufficient for analysis and design of GF or CF prepreg reinforced laminated composite components and demands for different approach for analysis and design of such composite parts.
Analysis and correction of crosstalk in the side-on transition radiation detector prototype for HERD
Authors: Yang Yan , Liu Hongbang , Liu Xiwen , Dai Cong , Hu Huijun , Feng Huanbo , Huang Zengxuan , Dong Yongwei , Liang Enwei
Published: November 2024

The side-on Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) is an
essential component of the High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection
(HERD) facility aboard the China Space Station (CSS). Utilizing the
proportional correlation between the Lorentz factor γ and
Transition Radiation (TR) intensity, the side-on TRD collaborates
with the HERD calorimeter for cross-calibration in the TeV energy
range while orbiting. This paper focuses on analyzing and correcting
signal crosstalk in the side-on TRD prototype. A signal caused by
crosstalk, referred to as the “reversed polarity signal”, affects
the particle signal and biases the prototype's energy
measurement. To address the issue of energy deviation and select the
most suitable capacitance for the prototype to correct crosstalk, we
analyze the source of the reversed polarity signal and the
effectiveness of adding a decoupling capacitor to the voltage
divider circuit. Additionally, we use a combination of simulation
and experimentation to investigate the specific relationship between
the reversed polarity signal and the decoupling capacitance. The
comparison between the simulation results and the experimental
results show consistent trends. Measured energy spectra shows that
correcting crosstalk eliminates a maximum measurement deviation of
approximately 10.79% in the prototype. Following this correction,
the side-on TRD prototype completed beam experiments in 2022.
Pollution haven hypothesis and EKC dynamics: moderating effect of FDI. A study in Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries
Authors: Kumar Parveen , Radulescu Magdalena , Sharma Hemlata , Belascu Lucian , Serbu Razvan
Published: November 2024

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the nexus between economic growth and environmental degradation, with a specific focus on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It leverages a dataset spanning from 1991 to 2021, encompassing all 12 member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The investigation includes a wide array of statistical examinations, such as stationarity tests, cross-section dependence, and co-integration analysis. The Johansen Fisher Panel co-integration test is employed to reveal long-term correlations between the variables. Furthermore, the paper adopts the Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality model, which accommodates variations in causal relationships across different countries. Additionally, the study analyses the asymmetric impact of GDP on carbon emissions across various quantiles using quantile regression. The findings of this research yield valuable insights, highlighting a significant positive correlation between GDP and CO2 emissions, suggesting that higher income levels are associated with greater pollution. However, the paper also illuminates more intricate scenarios, such as those characterized by inverted U-shaped and N-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) patterns, revealed through DOLS estimations. These estimations consider FDI, inflation, and industrialization as control variables. This research delves into the Pollution Haven Hypothesis and examines the interaction effects of FDI with other considered variables. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics between economic growth and environmental impact within the SCO member nations.
Prediction of automotive response using supervised machine learning in antilock braking systems and comparison with different models for improved vehicle safety
Authors: Gunjate Shital Suresh , Khot Sanjay A
Published: November 2024

Previous research on predicting automotive response in antilock braking systems faced several common drawbacks. Limited availability of high-quality datasets and computational constraints hindered the models’ ability to generalize and perform effectively in real-time. Additionally, integrating these models into existing vehicle systems is challenging, often requiring extensive calibration and testing to ensure reliability and safety. This study focuses on enhancing automotive safety through the integration of machine learning with advanced braking systems. An antilock braking system model is developed using MATLAB, accounting for key parameters such as speed, mass, wheel radius, and moment of inertia. Various probability ranges are simulated to evaluate the system’s real-time response in dynamic environments. A supervised machine learning approach is applied, with lasso regression used for model validation. Braking response was evaluated at three speeds: 25 km h−1, 45 km h−1, and 65 km h−1. To assess model accuracy, error analysis was conducted using metrics such as mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean squared error (MSE). Results showed a significant improvement in prediction accuracy, with MAPE reduced to 3.2%, MAE to 0.15 s, RMSE to 0.25 s, and MSE to 0.06 s. A comparative analysis is done using the Python Jupyter Framework, further validating the findings. The machine learning model successfully forecasts braking response times, and validates its prediction against random datasets.
Probing coherence properties of shallow implanted NV ensembles under different oxygen terminations
Authors: Fuhrmann Jens , Lang Johannes , Scharpf Jochen , Striegler Nico , Unden Thomas , Neumann Philipp , Bansmann Joachim , Jelezko Fedor
Published: November 2024

Nitrogen vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond have shown great potential for various applications in quantum technology due to their long coherence times, high sensitivity to magnetic fields and atomic scale resolution. However, one major challenge in utilizing near surface NV centers is the decoherence caused by spins and charges fluctuating on the surface, which affects the spin properties of the sensors. To reduce the induced noise, various oxygen surface treatments such as low power oxygen plasma treatment and annealing under oxygen atmosphere have been explored to terminate the diamond surface and reduce its impact on NV coherence. We showed that the NV center’s coherence time can be enhanced up to a factor of 3 over a large spectral range of noise. Double electron–electron resonance measurements revealed an extra source of decoherence, scaling similarly as the P1 spin bath. The improvement in coherence times is accompanied with an increase in measured ketone/ether content and reduction of sp2 signal in x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. Finally we compared the performance of different NV ensembles and surface treatments for sensing external proton spins. The oxygen annealing is an effective procedure of enhancing the spin coherence times and reducing broad band spin noise experienced by shallow implanted ensemble NV centers in diamond.
Despair, Blurriness, and Change: Rebecca Harding Davis’s Implicit Relational Knowing
Authors: Davis Theo
Published: November 2024

This essay uses attachment and dynamic systems theory to argue that qualities of confusion, despair, and failure in Rebecca Harding Davis’s work are aspects of the process of change. Looking at Margret Howth and her short fiction, especially “John Lamar,” it shows how Davis’s bleak attentions to motion and interaction contain aspects of the implicit relational knowing central to attachment relationships and how they shape her approach to race. In an ideological and aesthetic terrain that does not fall in line with liberal or sentimental approaches to progress, Davis pursues an aesthetic and ethic of attending to compromise, loss, and despair as the grounds of compassion.
Intimations of Empire: John Dos Passos Titles the U.S.A. Trilogy
Authors: Tydal Fredrik
Published: November 2024

This article explores the titling process of John Dos Passos’s U.S.A. trilogy (1938), focusing on the striking title the author discarded at the last moment: “Course of Empire.” Through its allusions and associations, this previously unexamined working title constitutes an implicit critique of US imperialism, a thematic element that Dos Passos evidently saw as central to his novelistic project. Yet when the final decision drew close, he changed his mind, instead opting for a title that would cause the overall work to be regarded as a national epic. Examining the decision in its 1937 context, which saw Dos Passos cast into ideological crisis, I attribute the rejection of “Course of Empire” in favor of U.S.A. to the author’s well-known political shift. In the end, the choice of title was successful insofar as it allowed Dos Passos to continue championing the trilogy even as he turned conservative, rather than having to disavow it as a product of his younger, radical self. But while its title made the work easier to canonize, it also softened its sharp edge.
Emerging challenges in global health dermatology: measuring impact and sustainability
Authors: Zehtab Morvarid , Fuller L Claire , Enbiale Wendemagegn , Wanat Karolyn A , Borradori Luca , Lim Henry W , Freeman Esther E
Published: November 2024

With increasing numbers of initiatives addressing health inequity in dermatology there is growing interest among funders and nonprofits in defining and measuring two key aspects of global health success: impact and sustainability. The demands to clearly describe and demonstrate impact and sustainability in global health dermatology and health equity programmes from funders are to ensure accountability, proper use of funds and mutually beneficial outcomes. There is no one-size-fits-all method for evaluating health interventions. Instead, we highlight approaches that can be tailored to specific global health efforts to better conceptualize areas to improve operational strategies and their implementation internally and communication with funders externally.
Haematogenous seeding in mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome: current evidence and clinical implications
Authors: Gniadecki Robert , Guenova Emmanuella , Querfeld Christiane , Nicolay Jan P , Scarisbrick Julia , Sokol Lubomir
Published: November 2024

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by abnormal neoplastic T-cell growth in the skin. Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common CTCL, manifests as erythematous skin patches and/or plaques, tumours or erythroderma. The disease may involve blood, lymph nodes and rarely viscera. Sézary syndrome (SS) is a unique leukaemia/lymphoma syndrome related to MF, which presents with blood and skin involvement at diagnosis.

The pathogenesis of MF/SS is not fully elucidated. The presence of skin lesions at distant sites underpins a hypothesis that MF/SS lesions may develop through haematogenous seeding. Phenotypic similarities between malignant and normal T cells led to the notion that disease-initiating mutations occur in specific subtypes of mature T cells, which are responsible for most CTCLs. However, this mature T-cell precursor model is not always consistent with clinical observations and research on MF/SS pathogenesis.

Here, we review evidence supporting an alternative model of pathogenesis for MF/SS involving haematogenous seeding as a key process responsible for the initiation and progression of the disease. According to this hypothesis, malignant transformation occurs at an early stage of T-cell development (probably in bone marrow or thymus), yielding circulating neoplastic T cells which colonize the skin where the microenvironment is most permissive for proliferation and evolution. These mutated precursor cells seed the skin where they find a suitable niche to develop into clinically perceptible disease. Subsequently, malignant T cells can re-enter the bloodstream, re-seed pre-existing lesions and seed new areas of the skin, causing synchronous and convergent changes in the transcriptomic profile of lesions and tumours, and clinical disease progression – ‘consecutive haematogenous seeding’ captures this temporal phenomenon.

This model radically changes the current understanding of CTCL pathogenesis, transforming it from a primarily cutaneous disease with secondary involvement of blood, to a systemic disease, where the spread of malignant cells through the blood to the skin is not a phenomenon of advanced disease but is an essential component of pathogenesis.

This understanding of MF/SS could have several clinical implications, including standardizing our approach to assessing blood tumour burden, potential advances in prognosis and monitoring, and investigating combination treatments to improve patient outcomes.
Outcome prediction comparison of ischaemic areas’ radiomics in acute anterior circulation non-lacunar infarction
Authors: Zhou Xiang , Meng Jinxi , Zhang Kangwei , Zheng Hui , Xi Qian , Peng Yifeng , Xu Xiaowen , Gu Jianjun , Xia Qing , Wei Lai , Wang Peijun
Published: November 2024

The outcome prediction of acute anterior circulation non-lacunar infarction (AACNLI) is important for the precise clinical treatment of this disease. However, the accuracy of prognosis prediction is still limited. This study aims to develop and compare machine learning models based on MRI radiomics of multiple ischaemic-related areas for prognostic prediction in AACNLI. This retrospective multicentre study consecutively included 372 AACNLI patients receiving MRI examinations and conventional therapy between October 2020 and February 2023. These were grouped into training set, internal test set and external test set. MRI radiomics features were extracted from the mask diffusion-weighted imaging, mask apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and mask ADC620 by AACNLI segmentations. Grid search parameter tuning was performed on 12 feature selection and 9 machine learning algorithms, and algorithm combinations with the smallest rank-sum of area under the curve (AUC) was selected for model construction. The performances of all models were evaluated in the internal and external test sets. The AUC of radiomics model was larger than that of non-radiomics model with the same machine learning algorithm in the three mask types. The radiomics model using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator—random forest algorithm combination gained the smallest AUC rank-sum among all the algorithm combinations. The AUC of the model with ADC620 was 0.98 in the internal test set and 0.91 in the external test set, and the weighted average AUC in the three sets was 0.96, the largest among three mask types. The Shapley additive explanations values of the maximum of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score within 7 days from onset (7-d NIHSSmax), stroke-associated pneumonia and admission Glasgow coma scale score ranked top three among the features in AACNLI outcome prediction. In conclusion, the random forest model with mask ADC620 can accurately predict the AACNLI outcome and reveal the risk factors leading to the poor prognosis.
Mutant huntingtin protein decreases with CAG repeat expansion: implications for therapeutics and bioassays
Authors: Landles Christian , Osborne Georgina F , Phillips Jemima , Canibano-Pico Maria , Nita Iulia M , Ali Nadira , Bobkov Konstantin , Greene Jonathan R , Sathasivam Kirupa , Bates Gillian P
Published: November 2024

Huntington’s disease is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion that encodes a polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin (HTT) protein. The mutant CAG repeat is unstable and expands in specific brain cells and peripheral tissues throughout life. Genes involved in the DNA mismatch repair pathways, known to act on expansion, have been identified as genetic modifiers; therefore, it is the rate of somatic CAG repeat expansion that drives the age of onset and rate of disease progression. In the context of an expanded CAG repeat, the HTT pre-mRNA can be alternatively processed to generate the HTT1a transcript that encodes the aggregation prone and highly pathogenic HTT1a protein. This may be a mechanism through which somatic CAG repeat expansion exerts its pathogenic effects, as the longer the CAG repeat, the more HTT1a and HTT1a is produced. The allelic series of knock-in mouse models, HdhQ20, HdhQ50, HdhQ80, HdhQ111, CAG140 and zQ175 with polyglutamine expansions of 20, 50, 80, 111, 140 and ∼190, can be used to model the molecular and cellular consequences of CAG repeat expansion within a single neuron. By western blot of cortical lysates, we found that mutant HTT levels decreased with increasing CAG repeat length; mutant HTT was only 23 and 10% of wild-type levels in CAG140 and zQ175 cortices, respectively. To identify the optimal bioassays for detecting the full-length HTT and HTT1a isoforms, we interrogated the pairwise combinations of seven well-characterized antibodies on both the ‘homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence’ and ‘Meso Scale Discovery’ platforms. We tested 32 assays on each platform to detect ‘full-length mutant HTT’, HTT1a, ‘total mutant HTT’ (full-length HTT and HTT1a) and ‘total full-length HTT’ (mutant and wild type). None of these assays recapitulated the full-length mutant HTT levels as measured by western blot. We recommend using isoform- and species-specific assays that detect full-length mutant HTT, HTT1a or wild-type HTT as opposed to those that detect more than one isoform simultaneously. Our finding that as the CAG repeat expands, full-length mutant HTT levels decrease, while HTT1a and HTT1a levels increase has implications for therapeutic strategies. If mutant HTT levels in cells containing (CAG)200 are only 10% of wild-type, HTT-lowering strategies targeting full-length HTT at sequences 3ʹ to Intron 1 HTT will predominantly lower wild-type HTT, as mutant HTT levels in these cells are already depleted. These data support a therapeutic strategy that lowers HTT1a and depletes levels of the HTT1a protein.
Game on: a performance comparison of interpolation techniques applied to Shamir’s secret sharing
Authors: Voudouris Anastassis , Tressos Aristomenis , Zarras Apostolis , Xenakis Christos
Published: November 2024

Public-key encryption is typically managed through a public key infrastructure. However, it relies on a central control point, the certification authority, which acts as a single point of failure. Recent technological advancements have led to the need for decentralized cryptographic protocols. This paper presents a comprehensive study on enhancing public-key encryption via threshold cryptography and multiparty computation to ensure robust security in decentralized systems. The focus lies in exploring various polynomial interpolation techniques within Shamir’s secret sharing scheme, particularly addressing the efficiency and practicality of Newton interpolation, fast Fourier transformation (FFT), and advanced versions of Lagrange’s method. Utilizing SageMath for a dedicated testing environment, the research investigates the swiftest interpolation methods for secret recovery, introducing new shares into the system, and evaluating the impact of optimizations on performance. The findings highlight FFT as the most effective interpolation method in speed and efficiency, albeit with limitations on the number of shares that can be processed. This paper critically evaluates these interpolation techniques against practical constraints and aims to answer pivotal research questions regarding the optimal approach for large-scale scenarios, challenging existing notions on the efficiency of Newton’s method and providing experimental evidence to support the superiority of FFT in specific contexts.
Menaquinone production in genetically engineered E. coli
Authors: Jumpathong Jomkwan , Nishida Ikuhisa , Kaino Tomohiro , Kawamukai Makoto
Published: November 2024

Menaquinone (MK) is an important electron transporter in Escherichia coli. This isoprenoid quinone can transfer electrons to many terminal acceptors, such as fumarate and nitrate, which helps this organism survive under diverse and challenging conditions. As isoprenoid quinones with various lengths of isoprenyl tail are widely distributed in nature, the heterologous expression of polyprenyl diphosphate synthases (PDSs) has been investigated using its counterpart, ubiquinone (UQ). In this study, we investigated the MK production by the expression of various heterologous PDS genes from prokaryotic and eukaryotic species, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae COQ1 (hexa-PDS), Haemophilus influenzae hi0881 (hepta-PDS), Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 slr0611 (nona-PDS), and Gluconobacter suboxydans ddsA (deca-PDS) in E. coli. We detected specific isoforms of MK, including MK7, MK9, and MK10, via the expression of HI0881, Slr0611, and DdsA respectively, but barely detected MK6 via the expression of Coq1. As UQ6 was detected in E. coli harboring COQ1, the acceptance of the side chain lengths by MenA (prenyl transferase for MK) was narrower than UbiA (prenyl transferase for UQ). We also identified a mutation in menA in the E. coli AN386 strain and a transposon insertion of IS186 in menC in E. coli KO229 (∆ispB) and its parental strain FS1576. Taken together, these results elucidate the different nature of MenA from UbiA.
A multidimensional assessment of in-host fitness costs of drug resistance in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida glabrata
Authors: Arastehfar Amir , Daneshnia Farnaz , Hovhannisyan Hrant , Cabrera Nathaly , Ilkit Macit , Desai Jigar V , Gabaldón Toni , Shor Erika , Perlin David S
Published: November 2024

Drug-resistant microbes typically carry mutations in genes involved in critical cellular functions and may therefore be less fit under drug-free conditions than susceptible strains. Candida glabrata is a prevalent opportunistic yeast pathogen with a high rate of fluconazole resistance (FLZR), echinocandin resistance (ECR), and multidrug resistance (MDR) relative to other Candida. However, the fitness of C. glabrata MDR isolates, particularly in the host, is poorly characterized, and studies of FLZR isolate fitness have produced contradictory findings. Two important host niches for C. glabrata are macrophages, in which it survives and proliferates, and the gut. Herein, we used a collection of clinical and lab-derived C. glabrata isolates to show that FLZR C. glabrata isolates are less fit inside macrophages than susceptible isolates and that this fitness cost is reversed by acquiring ECR mutations. Interestingly, dual-RNAseq revealed that macrophages infected with drug-resistant isolates mount an inflammatory response whereas intracellular drug-resistant cells downregulate processes required for in-host adaptation. Furthermore, drug-resistant isolates were outcompeted by their susceptible counterparts during gut colonization and in infected kidneys, while showing comparable fitness in the spleen. Collectively, our study shows that macrophage-rich organs, such as the spleen, favor the retention of MDR isolates of C. glabrata.
The recombination landscape of the barn owl, from families to populations
Authors: Topaloudis Alexandros , Cumer Tristan , Lavanchy Eléonore , Ducrest Anne-Lyse , Simon Celine , Machado Ana Paula , Paposhvili Nika , Roulin Alexandre , Goudet Jérôme
Published: November 2024

Homologous recombination is a meiotic process that generates diversity along the genome and interacts with all evolutionary forces. Despite its importance, studies of recombination landscapes are lacking due to methodological limitations and limited data. Frequently used approaches include linkage mapping based on familial data that provides sex-specific broad-scale estimates of realized recombination and inferences based on population linkage disequilibrium that reveal a more fine-scale resolution of the recombination landscape, albeit dependent on the effective population size and the selective forces acting on the population. In this study, we use a combination of these 2 methods to elucidate the recombination landscape for the Afro-European barn owl (Tyto alba). We find subtle differences in crossover placement between sexes that lead to differential effective shuffling of alleles. Linkage disequilibrium-based estimates of recombination are concordant with family-based estimates and identify large variation in recombination rates within and among linkage groups. Larger chromosomes show variation in recombination rates, while smaller chromosomes have a universally high rate that shapes the diversity landscape. We find that recombination rates are correlated with gene content, genetic diversity, and GC content. We find no conclusive differences in the recombination landscapes between populations. Overall, this comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of recombination dynamics, genomic architecture, and sex-specific variation in the barn owl, contributing valuable insights to the broader field of avian genomics.
Temporal Sequence of Incident Mild Cognitive Impairment, Incident Parkinsonism, and Risk of Death in Unimpaired Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Zammit Andrea R , Yu Lei , Oveisgharan Shahram , Schneider Julie A , Bennett David A , Buchman Aron S
Published: November 2024

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and parkinsonism affect many older adults. The objective of this study was to determine the sequence of their occurrence and associated risk of death.

Methods

A total of 1255 community-dwelling unimpaired participants from 2 epidemiological cohorts were examined annually. MCI was based on neuropsychological testing and parkinsonism was based on the motor portion of the modified Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. A multistate Cox proportional hazards model simultaneously examined incidences of MCI, parkinsonism, and death.

Results

The average age at baseline was 76.5 years (standard deviation [SD] = 7.2) and 73% were female. Incident MCI occurred almost as commonly as incident parkinsonism, yet compared with no impairment, the risk of death was higher for MCI (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.34, 2.47), but it was not different for parkinsonism (HR = 1.29; 95% CI =0.95, 1.75). The risk of death for participants with incident MCI who progressed to parkinsonism (40%) was not significantly different from those with MCI alone (HR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.93, 1.69). However, the risk of death for participants with incident parkinsonism who progressed to MCI (51%) was significantly higher than those who did not progress (HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.27, 2.18), indicating that the risk of death is highest with the incidence of MCI.

Conclusions

The varied patterns of sequential occurrence of cognitive and motor impairment and associated risk of death suggest much greater heterogeneity than previously recognized. Further work is needed to determine the biology underlying the temporal evolution of these phenotypes, and if identification of the various subtypes improves risk stratification.
Local Knowledges in International Peacebuilding: Acquisition, Filtering, and Systematic Bias
Authors: von Billerbeck Sarah , Coleman Katharina P , Eckhard Steffen , Zyla Benjamin
Published: November 2024

There is widespread consensus among peacebuilding practitioners and scholars on the importance of integrating local knowledge into the design, planning, and implementation of international peace interventions. However, the concept of local knowledge remains undertheorized, and the dynamics of local knowledge integration in international activities have not yet been fully explored. This paper reconceptualizes “local knowledge” in peacebuilding as local knowledges in the plural, highlighting seven categories of relevant local knowledge and the contestation within each. We then draw on organizational theory to identify the processes by which particular types of local knowledge become more or less likely to be incorporated into internationally led peacebuilding activities. Specifically, we argue that knowledge incorporation consists of two stages: acquisition and filtering. In both, international actors control who is able to contribute knowledges and which knowledges are recognized. Systematic biases result: knowledges that confirm previously held beliefs or that simplify complexity are incorporated more regularly. We illustrate our argument by focusing on the UN, but suggest that our findings apply to other international actors, including non-governmental organizations, and extend beyond peacebuilding.
Competition law through the lenses of national constitutions: connecting competitive markets with socio-economic and environmental values
Authors: Bernatt Maciej
Published: November 2024

This article analyses competition legislation through the lenses of national constitutions, given that these constitutions establish the foundational structures of national legal systems to which competition laws inherently belong. Building on existing constitutional literature, it posits that competition laws should be construed in accordance with the values promoted in national constitutions. The analysis is situated within the contemporary discourse surrounding the ongoing ‘just transition’ towards a carbon-neutral economy, i.e., a process in which socio-economic values (pertaining to the right to work, right to healthcare, and right to food) and environmental values (pertaining to a clean environment, biodiversity, and reducing emissions) constitute guiding tenets. Such a context invites the question of whether competition laws should be built and interpreted in a manner that facilitates the enhanced integration of socio-economic and environmental values enshrined in national constitutions. These contemplations are pivotal, since law plays a constitutive role in designing socio-economic structures, with the structuring of competitive markets being no exception. In light of this, the paper conducts a review of how national constitutions across the world safeguard competitive markets, socio-economic values, and environmental values. Specifically, the article categorizes the regulatory frameworks identified within all 52 national constitutions that explicitly protect competitive markets alongside socio-economic and environmental values. Subsequently, the paper transitions to an examination of two countries—Poland and South Africa—to elucidate how national competition laws reflect constitutional choices. It demonstrates that their constitutions and competition laws were shaped in a manner that offers a different space for incorporation of socio-economic and environmental values in the interpretation of competition laws. The article relies on an analysis of the texts of national constitutions and competition statutes, as well as selected case law of constitutional courts and ordinary courts. Overall, the article seeks to incite an academic discourse regarding the significance of national constitutions in the realm of antitrust. At the same time, it expands upon the literature concerning economic constitutions, especially regarding the European Union and its Member States.
Machine learning-based prediction models in medical decision-making in kidney disease: patient, caregiver, and clinician perspectives on trust and appropriate use
Authors: Sperling Jessica , Welsh Whitney , Haseley Erin , Quenstedt Stella , Muhigaba Perusi B , Brown Adrian , Ephraim Patti , Shafi Tariq , Waitzkin Michael , Casarett David , Goldstein Benjamin A
Published: November 2024

Objectives

This study aims to improve the ethical use of machine learning (ML)-based clinical prediction models (CPMs) in shared decision-making for patients with kidney failure on dialysis. We explore factors that inform acceptability, interpretability, and implementation of ML-based CPMs among multiple constituent groups.

Materials and Methods

We collected and analyzed qualitative data from focus groups with varied end users, including: dialysis support providers (clinical providers and additional dialysis support providers such as dialysis clinic staff and social workers); patients; patients’ caregivers (n = 52).

Results

Participants were broadly accepting of ML-based CPMs, but with concerns on data sources, factors included in the model, and accuracy. Use was desired in conjunction with providers’ views and explanations. Differences among respondent types were minimal overall but most prevalent in discussions of CPM presentation and model use.

Discussion and Conclusion

Evidence of acceptability of ML-based CPM usage provides support for ethical use, but numerous specific considerations in acceptability, model construction, and model use for shared clinical decision-making must be considered. There are specific steps that could be taken by data scientists and health systems to engender use that is accepted by end users and facilitates trust, but there are also ongoing barriers or challenges in addressing desires for use. This study contributes to emerging literature on interpretability, mechanisms for sharing complexities, including uncertainty regarding the model results, and implications for decision-making. It examines numerous stakeholder groups including providers, patients, and caregivers to provide specific considerations that can influence health system use and provide a basis for future research.
Home remedies: flexibilities to onshore pharmaceutical manufacturing under WTO rules
Authors: Mitchell Andrew D
Published: November 2024

In the wake of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, governments globally have intensified efforts to localize the production of pharmaceuticals, leveraging local content requirements and incentives to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities. This shift has revealed tensions with World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations, notably highlighted in Turkey—Pharmaceutical Products (EU). This article explores policy-based flexibilities within the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994, the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures, and the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) Agreement that may justify measures inconsistent with WTO norms under specific conditions. Analysing public health exceptions, national security imperatives, and government procurement policies, the paper elucidates how these flexibilities can be mobilized to support onshoring initiatives while adhering to international trade obligations. The findings suggest a nuanced approach to reconciling public health goals and economic strategies with global trade rules, providing a critical framework for policymakers navigating the complex interplay between national interests and international legal commitments.
A New Sampling Framework for Spatial Surveys with Application to the French National Forest Inventory
Authors: Duong Trinh H K , Bouriaud Olivier , Chauvet Guillaume
Published: November 2024

The French National Forest Inventory (NFI) employs a two-stage two-phase sampling scheme summarized by the following key steps: first, the territory is divided into a spatial grid, and cells are randomly selected from this grid. Within the selected cells, additional random sampling of points is conducted. Subsequently, classification of the selected points is performed using auxiliary information from photo-interpretation. This information is used to draw a sub-sample that leads to field measurements. We evaluate the efficiency of the French NFI’s sampling design when the Horvitz–Thompson and post-stratified estimators for the total are used in the first and second phases, respectively. Given the complexity of the French NFI’s sampling design, a new theoretical framework is introduced for two-stage two-phase sampling schemes to facilitate design-based inference, combining inference methods for both finite and continuous populations. Horvitz–Thompson type estimators for the total and post-stratified estimators are proposed alongside variance estimators. Their performances are assessed through a simulation study, comparing the French NFI’s sampling design using alternative methods. The results indicate that the strategy formed by the French NFIs sampling design and proposed estimators may be effective in practice. The proposed framework is general and can be applied to other forest and environmental surveys.
Magnetic interaction of stellar coronal mass ejections with close-in exoplanets: implication on planetary mass-loss and Ly α transits
Authors: Hazra Gopal , Vidotto Aline A , Carolan Stephen , Villarreal D’Angelo Carolina , Ó Fionnagáin Dúalta
Published: November 2024

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) erupting from the host star are expected to affect the atmospheric erosion processes of planets. For planets with a magnetosphere, the embedded magnetic field in the CMEs is thought to be the most important parameter to affect planetary mass-loss. In this work, we investigate the effect of different magnetic field structures of stellar CMEs on the atmosphere of a hot Jupiter with a dipolar magnetosphere. We use a time-dependent 3D radiative magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) atmospheric escape model that self-consistently models the outflow from hot Jupiter’s magnetosphere and its interaction with stellar CMEs. For our study, we consider three configurations of magnetic field embedded in CMEs – (a) northward $B_z$ component, (b) southward $B_z$ component, and (c) radial component. We find that both the CMEs with northward $B_z$ and southward $B_z$ increase the planetary mass-loss rate when the CME arrives from the stellar side, with the mass-loss rate remaining higher for the CME with northward $B_z$ until it arrives on the opposite side. The largest magnetopause is found for the CME with a southward $B_z$ component. During the passage of a CME, the planetary magnetosphere goes through three distinct changes – (1) compressed magnetosphere, (2) enlarged magnetosphere, and (3) relaxed magnetosphere for all three CME configurations. The computed synthetic Ly $\alpha$ transit absorption generally increases when the CME is in interaction with the planet for all magnetic configurations but the maximum Ly $\alpha$ absorption is found for the case of radial CME with the most compressed magnetosphere.
Laboratory confirmation and improved accuracy of 4f and 5d energy levels of Fe ii previously identified from stellar spectra
Authors: Ding Milan , Kozuki Hiroki , Concepcion Florence , Nave Gillian , Pickering Juliet C
Published: November 2024

Many energy levels of singly ionized iron (Fe ii, $Z=26$) remain uncertain or experimentally unknown. Their identification and spectral line data are required in reliable astrophysical spectral analyses. In motivation for improving the atomic data of Fe ii, we analysed emission spectra of a Fe–Ne plasma produced by a Penning discharge lamp recorded by high-resolution Fourier transform spectroscopy in the region 9000–27 000 cm$^{-1}$ (11 111–3704 Å). Semi-empirical transition probability calculations and stellar spectra of Fe ii were used to guide the analysis. In total, 24 energy levels of the 3d$^6$4f and 3d$^6$5d configurations of Fe ii lying between 122 351 and 127 881 cm$^{-1}$ were confirmed in the laboratory for the first time, in agreement with their identities proposed by previous investigations involving only stellar spectra. Uncertainties in level energies and transition wavelengths of the 24 levels are improved by up to an order of magnitude compared to previously published values. These results will enable more reliable application of Fe ii in astrophysical spectroscopic analyses and support further investigations of the spectrum and energy levels of Fe ii.
Expanded detection and impact of BAP1 alterations in cancer
Authors: Sturgill Ian R , Raab Jesse R , Hoadley Katherine A
Published: November 2024

Aberrant expression of the BAP1 (BRCA associated protein 1) tumor suppressor gene is a prominent risk factor for several tumor types and is important in tumor evolution and progression. Here we performed integrated multi-omics analyses using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas for 33 cancer types and over 10 000 individuals to identify alterations leading to BAP1 disruption. We combined existing variant calls and new calls derived from a de novo local realignment pipeline across multiple independent variant callers, increasing somatic variant detection by 41% from 182 to 257, including 11 indels ≥40 bp. The expanded detection of mutations highlights the power of new tools to uncover longer indels and impactful mutations. We developed an expression-based BAP1 activity score and identified a transcriptional profile associated with BAP1 disruption in cancer. BAP1 has been proposed to play a critical role in controlling tumor plasticity and normal cell fate. Leveraging human and mouse liver datasets, BAP1 loss in normal cells resulted in lower BAP1 activity scores and lower scores were associated with a less-differentiated phenotype in embryonic cells. Together, our expanded BAP1 mutant samples revealed a transcriptional signature in cancer cells, supporting BAP1’s influences on cellular plasticity and cell identity maintenance.
Effects of Fermented Kimchi Consumption on Anthropometric and Blood Cardiometabolic Indicators: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intervention Studies and Prospective Cohort Studies
Authors: Ahn Seoeun , Darooghegi Mofrad Manije , Nosal Briana M , Chun Ock K , Joung Hyojee
Published: November 2024

Context

Increasing global kimchi consumption has prompted interest in its health impact. However, comprehensive reviews of the influence of kimchi on cardiometabolic risk factors, especially meta-analyses, remain limited.

Objective

This review assessed the impact of fermented kimchi consumption on cardiometabolic risk factors by systematically reviewing human intervention and prospective cohort studies, and conducting a meta-analysis of intervention studies.

Data Sources

A literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, RISS, KISS, and ScienceON databases was conducted through April 30, 2024. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies that examined the effects of fermented kimchi, without any added ingredients or lactic acid bacteria, on health outcomes, including anthropometric measures, blood pressure, cardiometabolic and glycemic indicators, inflammatory cytokines, and the incidence of related chronic diseases.

Data Extraction

Data extraction and quality evaluation were conducted independently by 3 researchers.

Data Analysis

Pooled effect sizes were calculated as weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% CIs employing random-effects models.

Results

Five intervention studies (205 participants) and 4 prospective cohort studies (42 455 participants) were selected. A meta-analysis of the intervention studies revealed a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose (WMD: −1.93 mg/dL; 95% CI: −3.82, −0.03; I2 = 17.4%) following the consumption of fermented kimchi. After excluding studies that contributed to increased heterogeneity, significant inverse associations were observed between fermented kimchi consumption and triglycerides (WMD: −28.9 mg/dL; 95% CI: −53.2, −4.5; I2 = 0.0%), systolic blood pressure (WMD: −3.48 mmHg; 95% CI: −5.95, −1.01, I2 = 0.0%), and diastolic blood pressure (WMD: −2.68 mmHg; 95% CI: −4.75, −0.62; I2 = 0.0%). Prospective cohort studies linked higher kimchi intake with a lower incidence of cancer and metabolic syndrome and an increased likelihood of achieving normal body weight.

Conclusion

This review supports beneficial effects of fermented kimchi on cardiometabolic health. However, due to the limited number of studies, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, highlighting the need for further research in diverse populations.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration No. CRD42024532020.
Trying to be an Early BIRD: An exploration of factors impacting British Columbia’s intervention referral and diagnosis of cerebral palsy
Authors: McIntosh Taylor , Wong Vivian , Sandhu Akshdeep , Cohen-Eilig Mor , Mishaal Ram
Published: November 2024

Objectives

To identify the average age of cerebral palsy (CP) diagnosis and referral for intervention services in British Columbia (BC) and explore key factors that may impact these outcomes.

Methods

This study is a retrospective analysis of the Canadian CP Registry in BC between 2012 and 2021 (n = 187). Chart review recovered additional data on the ages of diagnosis and referral for intervention. The influence of clinical and demographic variables on the two outcomes were explored: Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, presence of non-motor disability, hallmark risk factors for CP, and ethnicity.

Results

The mean age of CP diagnosis in the cohort was 25 months (standard deviation [SD]: 18), and the mean age of referral for intervention services was 3.8 months (SD: 4.6). A child at GMFCS level V was, on average, diagnosed 25.6 months earlier than a child with GMFCS level I (confidence interval [CI]: −39.625, −11.588, P = 0.001). GMFCS was not found to have a similarly high level of association with the age of referral for intervention. Ethnicity and the presence of non-motor disability did not have notable associations for either outcome. Children with hallmark risk factors were referred 7.5 months earlier than those without (CI: −11.4, −3.61, P < 0.005).

Conclusions

GMFCS level is the most significant predictor of an early or late CP diagnosis. This may encourage increased education and resource efforts being placed towards early diagnosis of children with lower GMFCS levels. This project hopes to act as a starting point for further research efforts into facilitating early diagnosis within BC and Canada.
One-Loop Vacuum Energy in 10D Super Yang–Mills Theory on Magnetized Tori with/without 4D N = 1 Supersymmetric Completion
Authors: Abe Hiroyuki , Koichi Akinari , Yamada Yusuke
Published: November 2024

We compute the one-loop vacuum energy in 10-dimensional (10D) super Yang–Mills theory compactified on $\mathbb {R}^{1,3}\times (\mathbb {T}^2)^3$ in the presence of the Abelian magnetic fluxes. Regularization of the infinite Kaluza–Klein (KK) sum is achieved by the use of Barnes $\zeta$-functions, which can be applied to the case in which the KK mass spectrum has the Landau level structure. We apply the technique to two different models of the 10D super Yang–Mills theory: One is to introduce the magnetic flux background to the 10D super Yang–Mills action. The other is to first embed the 10D super Yang–Mills action into 4D $\mathcal {N}=1$ superspace and to introduce magnetic fluxes. The two models built result in different KK mass spectra as well as tree level potentials, and we compute the one-loop vacuum energy of each case. Nevertheless, both of the KK mass spectra have the Landau level structure and we can apply the regularization method in the same way. It turns out that the former model shows UV finite one-loop vacuum energy whereas the latter shows UV divergent one-loop potential that vanish when 4D ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetry is not broken by magnetic fluxes. We discuss the origin of the differences from a higher-dimensional-supersymmetry viewpoint.