bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions in Fully Mechanized Cut-to-Length (CTL) Harvesting Operations of Industrial Roundwood: A Review
Authors: Kärhä Kalle , Eliasson Lars , Kühmaier Martin , Spinelli Raffaele
Published: May 2024

Purpose of Review

The aim of this literature review was to bring together the most relevant and recent research information on the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions caused by the fully mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) harvesting machinery when applied to industrial roundwood. A specific aim of this review was to describe the effect of different independent variables on fuel consumption in fully mechanized CTL wood-harvesting operations.

Recent Findings

The review showed that the engine power of CTL forest machines accounts for most of the variance in the hourly fuel consumption of both harvesters and forwarders. We underline that the cubic-metre-based fuel consumption of CTL forest machines is correlated to the same factors that affect work productivity. Among all influencing factors, the average stem size, removal intensity and silvicultural treatment have the strongest effect on the fuel consumption per m3 incurred with felling-processing, whereas forwarding distance, removal intensity and payload size are the main drivers of fuel consumption per m3 as incurred with extraction. Further influencing factors are soil type (mineral soil or peatland), use of tracks, assortment type and machine size. Together with those factors, the role of the machine operator remains crucial and is dependent on two separate skills: the capacity to achieve high productivity, and that to apply fuel-saving driving techniques.

The easiest way to reduce the carbon footprint of CTL harvesting machines is to increase the productivity of the harvesting work, for example by giving machine operator-specific training to utilize more efficient work methods and economic energy-efficient driving techniques. Furthermore, several other measures to reduce the carbon footprint of CTL harvesting operations were discussed in this review. Finally, we recommend that all essential variables that have a significant impact on the productivity of harvesting work, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reported in study papers in the future.
Research advances in enhanced coal seam gas extraction by controllable shock wave fracturing
Authors: Fan Chaojun , Sun Hao , Li Sheng , Yang Lei , Xiao Bin , Yang Zhenhua , Luo Mingkun , Jiang Xiaofeng , Zhou Lijun
Published: May 2024

With the continuous increase of mining in depth, the gas extraction faces the challenges of low permeability, great ground stress, high temperature and large gas pressure in coal seam. The controllable shock wave (CSW), as a new method for enhancing permeability of coal seam to improve gas extraction, features in the advantages of high efficiency, eco-friendly, and low cost. In order to better utilize the CSW into gas extraction in coal mine, the mechanism and feasibility of CSW enhanced extraction need to be studied. In this paper, the basic principles, the experimental tests, the mathematical models, and the on-site tests of CSW fracturing coal seams are reviewed, thereby its future research directions are provided. Based on the different media between electrodes, the CSW can be divided into three categories: hydraulic effect, wire explosion and excitation of energetic materials by detonating wire. During the process of propagation and attenuation of the high-energy shock wave in coal, the shock wave and bubble pulsation work together to produce an enhanced permeability effect on the coal seam. The stronger the strength of the CSW is, the more cracks created in the coal is, and the greater the length, width and area of the cracks being. The repeated shock on the coal seam is conducive to the formation of complex network fracture system as well as the reduction of coal seam strength, but excessive shock frequency will also damage the coal structure, resulting in the limited effect of the enhanced gas extraction. Under the influence of ground stress, the crack propagation in coal seam will be restrained. The difference of horizontal principal stress has a significant impact on the shape, propagation direction and connectivity of the CSW induced cracks. The permeability enhancement effect of CSW is affected by the breakage degree of coal seam. The shock wave is absorbed by the broken coal, which may hinder the propagation of CSW, resulting in a poor effect of permeability enhancement. When arranging two adjacent boreholes for CSW permeability enhancement test, the spacing of boreholes should not be too close, which may lead to negative pressure mutual pulling in the early stage of drainage. At present, the accurate method for effectively predicting the CSW permeability enhanced range should be further investigated.
The Introduction of Mandatory Corporate Sustainability Reporting in the EU and the Question of Enforcement
Authors: Pantazi Tania
Published: May 2024

Directive (EU) 2022/2464 introduces mandatory sustainability reporting for all large undertakings in the European Union, as well as third-country undertakings active in the Union. The new rules were mandated by the increase in investor needs, as well as the interest of civil society actors. The present article discusses the relationship of corporate social responsibility with law and the shift from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting. It first presents the main novelties of the Directive with regard to scope of application, issuance of uniform European reporting standards and introduction of mandatory external assurance. It then turns to the question of public and private enforcement of the new sustainability reporting obligations. Public enforcement is, to a certain degree, guaranteed by the amendment of existing rules. The new Directive is silent on private enforcement issues, although it may trigger private litigation, predominantly by shareholders. Other interested groups, such as consumers and civil society actors, will not be able to directly challenge breaches of the new rules, despite the intention of the legislator to foster sustainability reporting and responsible corporate behaviour to the benefit of civil societies.
Unveiling Organic Electrode Materials in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: From Structural Design to Electrochemical Performance
Authors: Li Dujuan , Guo Yuxuan , Zhang Chenxing , Chen Xianhe , Zhang Weisheng , Mei Shilin , Yao Chang-Jiang
Published: May 2024

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are one of the most compelling alternatives of lithium-ion batteries due to their inherent safety and economics viability. In response to the growing demand for green and sustainable energy storage solutions, organic electrodes with the scalability from inexpensive starting materials and potential for biodegradation after use have become a prominent choice for AZIBs. Despite gratifying progresses of organic molecules with electrochemical performance in AZIBs, the research is still in infancy and hampered by certain issues due to the underlying complex electrochemistry. Strategies for designing organic electrode materials for AZIBs with high specific capacity and long cycling life are discussed in detail in this review. Specifically, we put emphasis on the unique electrochemistry of different redox-active structures to provide in-depth understanding of their working mechanisms. In addition, we highlight the importance of molecular size/dimension regarding their profound impact on electrochemical performances. Finally, challenges and perspectives are discussed from the developing point of view for future AZIBs. We hope to provide a valuable evaluation on organic electrode materials for AZIBs in our context and give inspiration for the rational design of high-performance AZIBs.
Measuring Virtue: An Aristotelian Perspective on Advancing Positive Psychology
Authors: McManus James , Medvedev Oleg N. , van Zyl Liezl , Weijers Dan
Published: May 2024

In philosophical discourse, flourishing is widely thought to require the development and exercise of virtues. Positive psychology, as the science of happiness and flourishing, should, therefore, include the scientific investigation of the virtues. However, the main classification of virtues and strengths, the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), faces major criticisms that, if not addressed, may undermine the credibility of positive psychology as a science. One such criticism is that virtue-based classifications lack a conceptual foundation; another is that these classifications may harm individuals by attaching potentially stigmatising labels to them. In this paper, we propose that positive psychologists can address these critiques by taking an interdisciplinary approach, which involves adopting a philosophically rich Aristotelian theory of virtue, and further developing this approach through empirical research. Adopting a philosophical theory will provide a strong conceptual base for psychologists, guiding the construction of measures and the formation of hypotheses about virtues. However, as many scholars acknowledge, it is difficult to measure all aspects of Aristotelian virtues, such as emotions, reasons, and attitudes. Another aim of this paper is, therefore, to suggest appropriate methods for measuring these aspects of Aristotelian virtues.
Mechanical characteristics of auxetic composite honeycomb sandwich structure under bending
Authors: Xu Hang Hang , Zhang Xue Gang , Han Dong , Jiang Wei , Zhang Yi , Luo Yu Ming , Ni Xi Hai , Teng Xing Chi , Xie Yi Min , Ren Xin
Published: May 2024

Auxetic honeycomb sandwich structures (AHS) composed of a single material generally exhibit comparatively lower energy absorption (EA) and platform stress, as compared to traditional non-auxetic sandwich structures (TNS). To address this limitation, the present study examines the use of aluminum foam (AF) as a filling material in the re-entrant honeycomb sandwich structure (RS). Filling the AHS with AF greatly enhances both the EA and platform stress in comparison to filling the TNS with AF, while the auxetic composite honeycomb sandwich structure effectively addresses interface delamination observed in traditional non-auxetic composite sandwich structures. Subsequently, the positive–negative Poisson’s ratio coupling designs are proposed to strengthen the mechanical features of a single honeycomb sandwich structure. The analysis results show that the coupling structure optimizes the mechanical properties by leveraging the high bearing capacity of the hexagonal honeycomb and the great interaction between the re-entrant honeycomb and the filling material. In contrast with traditional non-auxetic sandwich structures, the proposed auxetic composite honeycomb sandwich structures demonstrate superior EA and platform stress performance, suggesting their immense potential for utilization in protective engineering.
A deep learning approach for prediction of air quality index in smart city
Authors: Binbusayyis Adel , Khan Muhammad Attique , Ahmed A Mohamed Mustaq , Emmanuel W. R. Sam
Published: May 2024

Industrial developments and consumption of massive amount of fossil fuels, vehicle pollution, and other calamities upsurges the AQI (Air Quality Index) of major cities in a drastic manner. Owing to these factors, it is important to take proactive measures for reducing the air pollution in order to avoid life- threatening consequence. Therefore, prediction of air quality is significant for improving the health of living beings as highly polluted regions have a higher concentration of pollutants mixed in the air, affecting the respiratory system and reducing the lifetime. To control pollution, AQI is used as a measure for estimating the pollutant content in the air. Even though many existing techniques have predicted AQI, enhancement is required in prediction algorithms with minimized loss. To address the challenges in traditional algorithms, the proposed smart cities-based AQI prediction intends to utilize the proposed regression algorithm in the dataset, namely Air- Quality-Data, which collected harmful pollutants on an hourly and daily basis from multiple cities in India between 2015 to 2020. To achieve prediction efficiency with reduced loss, pre-processing of input data is being performed using Deep GAN (Generative Adversarial Network). It performs the imputation of data in place of missing values to improve accurate prediction. Additionally, feature scaling normalizes independent real-data features to a fixed scale. With the processed data, regression is done through modified Stacked Attention GRU with KL divergence, which predicts Ernakulam, Chennai and Ahmedabad cities with higher, medium, and low levels of AQI in India. The performance of the proposed regression algorithm is measured using metrics such as MAE (Mean Absolute Error), MSE (Mean Square Error), R2 (Coefficient of determination), MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error), and RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) and better MAE, MSE, R2, MAPE and RMSE obtained by the model is 0.1013, 0.0134, 0.9479, 0.1152 and 0.1156. Internal assessment and comparative analysis performed with existing regression algorithms exhibit lower loss values obtained from the present research, which determines the efficacy of the proposed model.
A Note on Rational Band Moves
Authors: Chen Daren , Hom Jennifer , Kim Min Hoon , Park JungHwan , Wu Zhongtao
Published: May 2024

We introduce an oriented rational band move, a generalization of an ordinary oriented band move, and show that if a knot K in the three-sphere can be made into the $$(n+1)$$

(
n
+
1
)

-component unlink by n oriented rational band moves, then K is rationally slice.
Parfitian or Buddhist reductionism? Revisiting a debate about personal identity
Authors: Hidalgo Javier
Published: May 2024

Derek Parfit influentially defends reductionism about persons, the view that a person’s existence just consists in the existence of a brain and body and the occurrence of a series of physical and mental events. Yet some critics, particularly Mark Johnston, have raised powerful objections to Parfit’s reductionism. In this paper, I defend reductionism against Johnston. In particular, I defend a radical form of reductionism that Buddhist philosophers developed. Buddhist reductionism can justify key features of Parfit’s position, such as the claims that personal identity is not what matters and can also be indeterminate. Furthermore, Buddhist reductionism can avoid Johnston’s objections to Parfit’s reductionism. I conclude that reductionists have good reasons to favor Buddhist reductionism over Parfit’s version.
Current holistic admission review practices of U.S. doctor of physical therapy programs
Authors: Mazurek R. , Mathieson K.
Published: May 2024

Background

The social, cultural, and ethnic diversity of healthcare workers should match that of the U.S. population to improve health outcomes and decrease health disparities. The population’s diversity is increasing, though many health care professions lack diversity in their academic programs. The holistic admissions (HA) process considers an applicant’s unique experiences, achievements, and traits in addition to academic metrics when making admission decisions. HA has been shown to be an effective strategy to increase cohort diversity by considering the whole person instead of focusing on academic metrics.

Purpose

This study explored the extent to which U.S. Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs are implementing HA in their admissions process to diversify their admitted cohorts. The study further examined how programs defined diversity.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional, descriptive research design, 272 accredited DPT programs were invited to complete an online survey to collect data on admissions practices. Cross-tabulation was used to analyze coded responses. Inductive thematic analysis was used for open-ended responses.

Results

Thirty-five (71.4%) of the 52 respondents reported they were currently or were planning to use HA in their respective DPT program. Most respondents (88.6%) reported a positive experience, including an increase in student cohort diversity without a decrease in graduation rate. Four themes emerged as the definition of diversity: ethnicity (i.e., under-represented minorities), other demographics, life experiences, and challenges overcome.

Conclusion

Although this study represents a sample of DPT programs, the data show most programs using HA and have experienced increased diversity without a risk to academic performance.
A survey on students’ use of AI at a technical university
Authors: Balabdaoui Fadoua , Dittmann-Domenichini Nora , Grosse Henry , Schlienger Claudia , Kortemeyer Gerd
Published: May 2024

We report the results of a 4800-respondent survey among students at a technical university regarding their usage of artificial intelligence tools, as well as their expectations and attitudes about these tools. We find that many students have come to differentiated and thoughtful views and decisions regarding the use of artificial intelligence. The majority of students wishes AI to be integrated into their studies, and several wish that the university would provide tools that are based on reliable, university-level materials. We find that acceptance of and attitudes about artificial intelligence vary across academic disciplines. We also find gender differences in the responses, which however are smaller the closer the student’s major is to informatics (computer science).
Reconstruction of nanoparticle size distribution in laser-shocked matter from small-angle X-ray scattering via neural networks
Authors: He Z. , Lütgert J. , Stevenson M. G. , Heuser B. , Ranjan D. , Qu C. , Kraus D.
Published: May 2024

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has been widely used as a microstructure characterization technology. In this work, a fully connected dense forward network is applied to inversely retrieve the mean particle size and particle distribution from SAXS data of samples dynamically compressed with high-power lasers and probed with X-ray free electron lasers. The trained network allows automatic acquisition of microstructure information, performing well in predictions on single-species nanoparticles on the theoretical model and in situ experimental data. We evaluate our network by comparing it with other methods, revealing its reliability and efficiency in dynamic experiments, which is of great value for in situ characterization of materials under high-power laser-driven dynamic compression.
Outbreak of postpartum group a Streptococcus infections on a labor and delivery unit
Authors: Haden Michael , Liscynesky Christina , Colburn Nora , Smyer Justin , Malcolm Kimberly , Gonsenhauser Iahn , Rood Kara M. , Schneider Patrick , Hardgrow Michele , Pancholi Preeti , Thomas Keelie , Cygnor Anita , Aluko Oluseun , Koch Elizabeth , Tucker Naomi , Mowery Jade , Brandt Eric , Cibulskas Katie , Mohr Marika , Nanduri Srinivas , Chochua Sopio , Day Shandra R.
Published: May 2024

A healthcare-associated group A Streptococcus outbreak involving six patients, four healthcare workers, and one household contact occurred in the labor and delivery unit of an academic medical center. Isolates were highly related by whole genome sequencing. Infection prevention measures, healthcare worker screening, and chemoprophylaxis of those colonized halted further transmission.
Starting vortices generated by an arbitrary solid body with any number of edges
Authors: Hinton Edward M. , Leonard A. , Pullin D.I. , Sader John E.
Published: May 2024

The starting vortex generated at the trailing edge of a flat plate, that is impulsively translated at fixed angle of attack, is a widely studied canonical problem. Recent work that examined the effect of plate rotation on this starting vortex found that two new and distinct vortex sheet types can arise. We generalise this work to study the starting vortex generated at any sharp and straight edge of an arbitrary body under a general time-dependent two-dimensional motion. The dimensionless velocity field of the attached flow near any sharp edge is assumed to take the form,$\hat {z}^{-1/2} f(T) + g(T) + o (1)$, where$\hat {z}$is the dimensionless position referenced to the edge,$f(T)$and$g(T)$are functions of dimensionless time,$T$, associated with the local flow perpendicular and parallel to the edge, respectively. This enables starting vortices to be generally calculated and their types related by simply inspecting the forms of$f(T)$and$g(T)$. We elucidate the physics underlying all three vortex types and show that these vortices are generated by pure translation of the sharp edge. Several case studies are explored, including the leading/trailing edge vortices of a flat plate which can simultaneously be of different type (relevant to low-speed aircraft), the vortex formed by translation of a semi-infinite flat plate and the trailing-edge vortex of Joukowski aerofoils. With the ability to calculate the vortices at all edges, the theory is used to develop a general formula for the lift force of a flat plate which can find application in practice.
Long Live Article 2(4) of the UN Charter? Four Ways to Save the Peaceful Rules-Based International Order after Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Authors: Polak Polly Ruth
Published: May 2024

A centralized authority with a monopoly of force is fundamental to eradicate war between states. Unfortunately, due to the outdated power structure of the Security Council, it has once again proven incapable of reacting, this time, to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Given the unprecedented potential that Russia’s unlawful use of force has of restructuring the international scene, this piece considers it crucial to adapt our international peacekeeping institutions to counter the emergence of a new disorderly and war-prone status quo. Thus, four legally and politically viable ways in which the international community can effectively express its outrage, avoid permanent member impunity, and reassert the United Nations’ legitimacy and relevance are proposed.
Optimal decay for solutions of nonlocal semilinear equations with critical exponent in homogeneous groups
Authors: Garofalo Nicola , Loiudice Annunziata , Vassilev Dimiter
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we establish the sharp asymptotic decay of positive solutions of the Yamabe type equation

$\mathcal {L}_s u=u^{\frac {Q+2s}{Q-2s}}$

in a homogeneous Lie group, where

$\mathcal {L}_s$

represents a suitable pseudodifferential operator modelled on a class of nonlocal operators arising in conformal CR geometry.
BRUTALISED, BOUND AND BLED: A CASE OF LATER IRON AGE HUMAN SACRIFICE FROM WINTERBORNE KINGSTON, DORSET
Authors: Russell Miles , Smith Martin , Hambleton Ellen , Cheetham Paul , Tamminen Heather
Published: May 2024

Although the practice of human sacrifice in the British Iron Age is mentioned by multiple authors, both ancient and modern, physical proof of such activity in the archaeological record is comparatively rare. At Winterborne Kingston, in Dorset, the skeletal remains of a young adult female found face down near the base of a cylindrical storage pit provides clear evidence of violent death in the later Iron Age. Analysis of the skeleton suggests an individual who led a hard-working life and who, having suffered an act of violence a few weeks before death, was killed, possibly with her hands tied, by a blade incision to the neck. Placement of the body further suggests that killing was enacted within the pit, execution as spectacle forming the final act in a larger ceremony involving the creation of an animal bone stack or platform.
Physiological and biochemical processes underlying the differential sucrose yield and biomass production in sugarcane varieties
Authors: Martins Tamires Da Silva , Magalhães Filho José R. , Cruz Larissa Prado , Machado Daniela F. S. P. , Erismann Norma M. , Gondim-Tomaz Rose M. A. , Marchiori Paulo E. R. , Silva André L. B. O. , Machado Eduardo Caruso , Ribeiro Rafael Vasconcelos
Published: May 2024

Sucrose yield in sugarcane is a complex process regulated by both environmental and endogenous factors. However, the metabolic balance driving vegetative growth and sucrose accumulation remains poorly understood. Herein, we carried out a comprehensive assessment of carbohydrate dynamics throughout the crop cycle in two sugarcane varieties varying in biomass production, evaluating the carbon metabolism in both leaves and stalks. Our data revealed that the decline in photosynthetic rates during sugarcane maturation is associated not only to accumulation of sugars in leaves but also due to stomatal and non-stomatal limitations. We found that metabolic processes in leaves and stalks were intrinsically linked. While IACSP94-2094 had higher stalk sucrose concentration than IACSP95-5000, this latter produced more biomass. Compared to IACSP95-5000, IACSP94-2094 showed higher sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity in leaves and stalks, along with lower soluble acid invertase (SAI) activity in leaves during the maximum growth stage. Interestingly, IACSP94-2094 also exhibited higher stalk SPS activity and lower stalk SAI activity than IACSP95-5000 during maturation. High biomass production by IACSP95-5000 was associated with higher sucrose synthase (SuSy) and SAI activity in leaves and higher SuSy and soluble neutral invertase (SNI) activity in stalks when compared to IACSP94-2094 during the maximum growth. Despite the contrasting strategies, both varieties displayed similar total sucrose yield, a balance between sucrose concentration and biomass production. This phenomenon implies the presence of a compensatory mechanism in sugarcane, with high biomass production compensating low sucrose accumulation and vice versa.
Degrowth, green growth, and climate justice for Africa
Authors: Okereke Chukwumerije
Published: May 2024

The concept of degrowth aligns with the principles of Climate and Environmental Justice (CEJ) in significant aspects. Both frameworks underline the need for new global structures and social movements that promote ecological conservation, local economic regeneration, and social well-being that goes beyond material accumulation. Therefore, degrowth can reinforce the pursuit of transformative global climate justice. However, I contend that significant contradictions remain between degrowth and North–South climate justice. I argue that on both conceptual and policy grounds, a ‘strong version’ of the green economy provides a better foundation for seeking international climate justice for Africa than degrowth. I also contend that green growth is a more pragmatic and realistic approach to global climate justice because it is more sensitive to the norms, structures, and dynamics of global politics.
IS THERE A PLACE FOR CHOICE IN CRISIS RESPONSE?
Authors: Persad Govind
Published: May 2024

In response to a crisis, policymakers face the decision of whether to enumerate specific actions the public must do or, instead, to aim at an overall outcome while leaving room open for choice. This essay evaluates the merits and demerits of crisis response that leaves room open for choice, with a particular focus on pandemic response. I evaluate two approaches: trades and offsets. Trades allow individuals or groups to exchange protection against harm or entitlement to engage in risky activity. Offsets allow the same actors to pay to mitigate the effects of decisions that increase risk for others. Choice-friendly approaches can free people to better align their actions with their values, harness local knowledge for better social outcomes, and act as natural experiments. However, they also are subject to objections, including negative externalities, agency problems, exploitation, and exacerbating inequality.
RIGHTS AND REVOLUTION: IS THERE A LIBERTY TO “GO IT ALONE”?
Authors: Sreenivasan Gopal
Published: May 2024

John Locke affirms a right to revolt against tyranny, but he denies that a minority of citizens is at liberty to exercise it unless a majority of their fellow citizens concurs in their judgment that the government is a tyranny. In a recent article, Massimo Renzo takes an equivalent position, on which a revolutionary vanguard requires the consent of the domestic majority before being permitted to revolt. Against Locke and Renzo, I argue that a minority of citizens can have a liberty to revolt, whatever the domestic majority may hold. My argument concentrates on the moral force of majority rule, which turns out to presuppose the satisfaction of a number of background conditions. When any of these conditions fails to obtain, no domestic majority can justifiably block a minority’s liberty to revolt against tyranny. For the purposes of the theory of revolution, this minority has to be large enough to have a reasonable prospect of (military) success. Without that prospect, the minority will be anyhow forbidden to revolt, on grounds familiar from just war theory. However, for the purposes of the theory of political legitimacy, prospects of success are irrelevant. All that matters are the conditions under which any citizen is released from their ordinary duty not to overthrow the government.
DOES HOMO SAPIENS NEED A RECIPE FOR SURVIVAL? DO WE HAVE ONE?
Authors: Rosenberg Alexander
Published: May 2024

It is argued that the natural and human vicissitudes of the Northern Hemisphere—or at least western European history between 1315 and 1648—provide a preview of the sort of consequences for humanity and its demography that will result from the serious if not catastrophic climate change that is now anticipated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Game theory suggests that at least some nation-state players in the strategic problem that climate change raises will not choose Nash equilibria that mitigate the problem. The only feasible solution will be the discovery or invention of some non-greenhouse-gas-emitting energy source so cheap that its owner will be indifferent to free-riding by all other users of energy. Recent efforts to develop fusion reactors do not provide much hope for this eventuality.
Unjust equal relations
Authors: Bengtson Andreas
Published: May 2024

According to relational egalitarianism, justice requires equal relations. In this paper, I ask the question: can equal relations be unjust according to relational egalitarianism? I argue that while on some conceptions of relational egalitarianism, equal relations cannot be unjust, there are conceptions in which equal relations can be unjust. Surprisingly, whether equal relations can be unjust cuts across the distinction between responsibility-sensitive and non-responsibility-sensitive conceptions of relational egalitarianism. I then show what follows if one accepts a conception in which equal relations can be unjust, including why it provides a reason to grant some people less political power than others.
Anthropology and the Study of Dance: A Report
Authors: Hanna Judith Lynne
Published: May 2024

ICAES provides an opportunity for anthropologists from throughout the world to assemble every five years. This year, a number of pre-congress conferences were organized to provide settings for intensive interaction among small groups of specialists preparatory to the general Congress sessions. The report I was asked to present to the general ICAES section drew heavily upon discussions by pre-Congress participants in dance, music, oral literature, and visual arts, as well as comments at other contemporaneous formal and informal meetings with dance anthropologists (including two active CORD members, Joann Kealiinohomoku and Anya P. Royce) and two participants from the 1972 CORD conference on Dance and Anthropology (Alan P. Merriam and Beryl Bellman). The report was, of course, also shaped by my own perspectives on the anthropological study of dance. The paragraphs which follow include what is essentially an abstract of my report to the Congress.

The importance of dance as a phenomenon for anthropological study derives from its near universality, its possible biological and evolutionary significance as innate behavior with survival value (Norbeck, ICAES 1973, Blacking, ICAES 1973), its stylistic endurance, episodic nature which is in some sense repeated by other actors, malleability, apparent record in antiquity, interrelation with other behavioral phenomena, accessibility to empirical observation and film recording (Collier 1967, Sorenson 1967, Prost, ICAES 1973, Sorenson and Jablonko, ICAES 1973) and relative lack of systematic study by any of the social science disciplines (see Royce 1973 and Merriam 1973 on approaches to the study of dance). Dance as recurring human behavior thus constitutes a legitimate cultural field of inquiry.
What makes a cognate? Implications for research on bilingualism
Authors: Roembke Tanja C. , Koch Iring , Philipp Andrea M.
Published: May 2024

Cognates are studied in many psychological studies of bilingual language processing. Despite their frequent use, there is no clear operationalized definition of what constitutes a cognate. We conducted a literature search in three major journals to better understand how cognate status is typically defined and operationalized. In these journals, we analyzed similarity of cognate and non-cognate stimuli. We found that approximately 60% of the reviewed studies operationalized cognate status empirically. Stimulus analyses revealed a similarity continuum between cognates and non-cognates without a consistent cut-off. Based on these results, we make recommendations for future research.
Alienated Twins – The Overlooked Private Law Dimension of Global Trade and Investment Governance
Authors: Basedow J. Robert
Published: May 2024

Two scholarly communities work on global trade and investment governance yet communicate little with each other. On the one hand, classic trade and investment scholarship focuses on states' foreign economic policies, trade and investment treaty programs, and participation in the World Trade Organisation. On the other hand, scholars of private and commercial law study how businesses draft and enforce the international contracts of a private law nature that ultimately constitute international trade and investment transactions. This research note seeks to raise awareness for this bifurcation of research on global trade and investment, develops a conceptual framework to better understand the role of private law in shaping trade and investment flows, and proposes a research agenda anchored in economics, political economy, and political science to advance our understanding of the role of private law in global trade and investment transactions and governance.
Risk analysis of a multivariate aggregate loss model with dependence
Authors: Gao Dechen , Ren Jiandong
Published: May 2024

This paper studies a hierarchical risk model where an accident can cause a combination of different types of claims, whose sizes could be dependent. In addition, the frequencies of accidents that cause the different combinations of claims are dependent. We first derive formulas for computing risk measures, such as the Tail Conditional Expectation and Tail Variance of the aggregate losses for a portfolio of businesses. Then, we present formulas for performing the associated capital allocation to different types of claims in the portfolio. The main tool we used is the moment (or size-biased) transform of the multivariate distributions.
A Social‐Ecological Framework to Enhance Sustainable Reforestation Under Geological Constraints
Authors: Yue Yuemin , Wang Lu , Brandt Martin , Zhang Xinbao , Wang Kelin
Published: May 2024

South China Karst faces the challenge of balancing ecological conservation and regional development, a task made more intricate by the geological limitations of carbonate formations. Large‐scale conservation and restoration initiatives have mitigated rocky desertification and positioned South China Karst as a global hotspot for vegetation regrowth over the past two decades. However, challenges stemming from geological constraints and oversights in recognizing the synergies within social‐ecological systems remain. Here, we propose a social‐ecological framework that integrates the extended timescale of both historical and recent human impacts with the corresponding processes of forest evolution. The framework elucidates the enduring and continuous progression of “forest‐deforestation‐reforestation,” offering applicability for optimizing ecological space across diverse social‐ecological contexts. Moreover, it serves to enhance the sustainability of reforestation efforts when faced with geological constraints.
Delamination Magmatism in Eastern Anatolia: A Geochemical Perspective
Authors: Aktağ Alican , Sayit Kaan , Furman Tanya , Peters Bradley J.
Published: May 2024

The Sr‐Nd‐Hf‐Pb isotope geochemistry of the Late Miocene Tunceli Volcanics suggests that they are the products of mixed asthenospheric and lithospheric mantle melts. The combined elemental and mineral chemistry data additionally indicate that a pyroxenite component of lithospheric origin is involved in their genesis. Calculations favor melting depths of ∼2 GPa for the Tunceli lavas, that is, deeper than the current lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary beneath Eastern Anatolia. Geochemical data suggest that during regional Neo‐Tethyan subduction, dense (i.e., pyroxenite‐bearing) domains formed by progressive melt intrusion into the lower lithosphere resulted in gravitational instabilities. This unstable density configuration eventually led to the foundering of the eastern Anatolian lithosphere in the Late Miocene, resulting in progressive melting of fusible pyroxenite‐bearing domains at asthenospheric depths. We demonstrate that these pyroxenitic melts mixed with ambient asthenospheric melts and generated the Tunceli lavas.
Quantitative EEG features during the first day correlate to clinical outcome in perinatal asphyxia
Authors: Tuiskula Anna , Pospelov Alexey S. , Nevalainen Päivi , Montazeri Saeed , Metsäranta Marjo , Haataja Leena , Stevenson Nathan , Tokariev Anton , Vanhatalo Sampsa
Published: May 2024

Objective

To assess whether computational electroencephalogram (EEG) measures during the first day of life correlate to clinical outcomes in infants with perinatal asphyxia with or without hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Methods

We analyzed four-channel EEG monitoring data from 91 newborn infants after perinatal asphyxia. Altogether 42 automatically computed amplitude- and synchrony-related EEG features were extracted as 2-hourly average at very early (6 h) and early (24 h) postnatal age; they were correlated to the severity of HIE in all infants, and to four clinical outcomes available in a subcohort of 40 newborns: time to full oral feeding (nasogastric tube NGT), neonatal brain MRI, Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) at three months, and Griffiths Scales at two years.

Results

At 6 h, altogether 14 (33%) EEG features correlated significantly to the HIE grade ([r]= 0.39−0.61, p < 0.05), and one feature correlated to NGT ([r]= 0.50). At 24 h, altogether 13 (31%) EEG features correlated significantly to the HIE grade ([r]= 0.39−0.56), six features correlated to NGT ([r]= 0.36−0.49) and HINE ([r]= 0.39−0.61), while no features correlated to MRI or Griffiths Scales.

Conclusions

Our results show that the automatically computed measures of early cortical activity may provide outcome biomarkers for clinical and research purposes.

Impact

The early EEG background and its recovery after perinatal asphyxia reflect initial severity of encephalopathy and its clinical recovery, respectively.

Computational EEG features from the early hours of life show robust correlations to HIE grades and to early clinical outcomes.

Computational EEG features may have potential to be used as cortical activity biomarkers in early hours after perinatal asphyxia.
Accuracy, readability, and understandability of large language models for prostate cancer information to the public
Authors: Hershenhouse Jacob S. , Mokhtar Daniel , Eppler Michael B. , Rodler Severin , Storino Ramacciotti Lorenzo , Ganjavi Conner , Hom Brian , Davis Ryan J. , Tran John , Russo Giorgio Ivan , Cocci Andrea , Abreu Andre , Gill Inderbir , Desai Mihir , Cacciamani Giovanni E.
Published: May 2024

Background

Generative Pretrained Model (GPT) chatbots have gained popularity since the public release of ChatGPT. Studies have evaluated the ability of different GPT models to provide information about medical conditions. To date, no study has assessed the quality of ChatGPT outputs to prostate cancer related questions from both the physician and public perspective while optimizing outputs for patient consumption.

Methods

Nine prostate cancer-related questions, identified through Google Trends (Global), were categorized into diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative follow-up. These questions were processed using ChatGPT 3.5, and the responses were recorded. Subsequently, these responses were re-inputted into ChatGPT to create simplified summaries understandable at a sixth-grade level. Readability of both the original ChatGPT responses and the layperson summaries was evaluated using validated readability tools. A survey was conducted among urology providers (urologists and urologists in training) to rate the original ChatGPT responses for accuracy, completeness, and clarity using a 5-point Likert scale. Furthermore, two independent reviewers evaluated the layperson summaries on correctness trifecta: accuracy, completeness, and decision-making sufficiency. Public assessment of the simplified summaries’ clarity and understandability was carried out through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Participants rated the clarity and demonstrated their understanding through a multiple-choice question.

Results

GPT-generated output was deemed correct by 71.7% to 94.3% of raters (36 urologists, 17 urology residents) across 9 scenarios. GPT-generated simplified layperson summaries of this output was rated as accurate in 8 of 9 (88.9%) scenarios and sufficient for a patient to make a decision in 8 of 9 (88.9%) scenarios. Mean readability of layperson summaries was higher than original GPT outputs ([original ChatGPT v. simplified ChatGPT, mean (SD),p-value] Flesch Reading Ease: 36.5(9.1) v. 70.2(11.2), <0.0001; Gunning Fog: 15.8(1.7) v. 9.5(2.0),p < 0.0001; Flesch Grade Level: 12.8(1.2) v. 7.4(1.7),p < 0.0001; Coleman Liau: 13.7(2.1) v. 8.6(2.4), 0.0002; Smog index: 11.8(1.2) v. 6.7(1.8), <0.0001; Automated Readability Index: 13.1(1.4) v. 7.5(2.1),p < 0.0001). MTurk workers (n = 514) rated the layperson summaries as correct (89.5–95.7%) and correctly understood the content (63.0–87.4%).

Conclusion

GPT shows promise for correct patient education for prostate cancer-related contents, but the technology is not designed for delivering patients information. Prompting the model to respond with accuracy, completeness, clarity and readability may enhance its utility when used for GPT-powered medical chatbots.
Mutant p53 reactivation restricts the protumorigenic consequences of wild type p53 loss of heterozygosity in Li-Fraumeni syndrome patient-derived fibroblasts
Authors: Agarwal Himanshi , Tal Perry , Goldfinger Naomi , Chattopadhyay Esita , Malkin David , Rotter Varda , Attery Ayush
Published: May 2024

The p53 tumor suppressor, encoded by the TP53 gene, serves as a major barrier against malignant transformation. Patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) inherit a mutated TP53 allele from one parent and a wild-type TP53 allele from the other. Subsequently, the wild-type allele is lost and only the mutant TP53 allele remains. This process, which is termed loss of heterozygosity (LOH), results in only mutant p53 protein expression. We used primary dermal fibroblasts from LFS patients carrying the hotspot p53 gain-of-function pathogenic variant, R248Q to study the LOH process and characterize alterations in various pathways before and after LOH. We previously described the derivation of mutant p53 reactivating peptides, designated pCAPs (p53 Conformation Activating Peptides). In this study, we tested the effect of lead peptide pCAP-250 on LOH and on its associated cellular changes. We report that treatment of LFS fibroblasts with pCAP-250 prevents the accumulation of mutant p53 protein, inhibits LOH, and alleviates its cellular consequences. Furthermore, prolonged treatment with pCAP-250 significantly reduces DNA damage and restores long-term genomic stability. pCAPs may thus be contemplated as a potential preventive treatment to prevent or delay early onset cancer in carriers of mutant p53.
Inspiration4 data access through the NASA Open Science Data Repository
Authors: Sanders Lauren M. , Grigorev Kirill A. , Scott Ryan T. , Saravia-Butler Amanda M. , Polo San-huei Lai , Gilbert Rachel , Overbey Eliah G. , Kim JangKeun , Mason Christopher E. , Costes Sylvain V.
Published: May 2024

The increasing accessibility of commercial and private space travel necessitates a profound understanding of its impact on human health. The NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) provides transparent and FAIR access to biological studies, notably the SpaceX Inspiration4 (I4) mission, which amassed extensive data from civilian astronauts. This dataset encompasses omics and clinical assays, facilitating comprehensive research on space-induced biological responses. These data allow for multi-modal, longitudinal assessments, bridging the gap between human and model organism studies. Crucially, community-driven data standards established by NASA’s OSDR Analysis Working Groups empower artificial intelligence and machine learning to glean invaluable insights, guiding future mission planning and health risk mitigation. This article presents a concise guide to access and analyze I4 data in OSDR, including programmatic access through GLOpenAPI. This pioneering effort establishes a precedent for post-mission health monitoring programs within space agencies, propelling research in the burgeoning field of commercial space travel’s impact on human physiology.
Generation of allogeneic CAR-NKT cells from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells using a clinically guided culture method
Authors: Li Yan-Ruide , Zhou Yang , Yu Jiaji , Kim Yu Jeong , Li Miao , Lee Derek , Zhou Kuangyi , Chen Yuning , Zhu Yichen , Wang Yu-Chen , Li Zhe , Yu Yanqi , Dunn Zachary Spencer , Guo Wenbin , Cen Xinjian , Husman Tiffany , Bajpai Aarushi , Kramer Adam , Wilson Matthew , Fang Ying , Huang Jie , Li Shuo , Zhou Yonggang , Zhang Yuchong , Hahn Zoe , Zhu Enbo , Ma Feiyang , Pan Calvin , Lusis Aldons J. , Zhou Jin J. , Seet Christopher S. , Kohn Donald B. , Wang Pin , Zhou Xianghong Jasmine , Pellegrini Matteo , Puliafito Benjamin R. , Larson Sarah M. , Yang Lili
Published: May 2024

Cancer immunotherapy with autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells faces challenges in manufacturing and patient selection that could be avoided by using ‘off-the-shelf’ products, such as allogeneic CAR natural killer T (AlloCAR-NKT) cells. Previously, we reported a system for differentiating human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells into AlloCAR-NKT cells, but the use of three-dimensional culture and xenogeneic feeders precluded its clinical application. Here we describe a clinically guided method to differentiate and expand IL-15-enhanced AlloCAR-NKT cells with high yield and purity. We generated AlloCAR-NKT cells targeting seven cancers and, in a multiple myeloma model, demonstrated their antitumor efficacy, expansion and persistence. The cells also selectively depleted immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenviroment and antagonized tumor immune evasion via triple targeting of CAR, TCR and NK receptors. They exhibited a stable hypoimmunogenic phenotype associated with epigenetic and signaling regulation and did not induce detectable graft versus host disease or cytokine release syndrome. These properties of AlloCAR-NKT cells support their potential for clinical translation.