bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heat transfer evaluation of return-flow impingement cooling considering inclined sidewall and conical return hole
Authors: Yan Han , Luo Lei , Zeng Fei , Du Wei , Guo Licheng
Published: November 2024

Impingement cooling techniques are extensively utilized on the turbine blade leading edge to mitigate thermal load. This study is an extend of an anti-crossflow return-flow impingement cooling scheme. In this study, the effects of inclined sidewalls and return holes are numerically studied with jet Reynolds number varying from 5,000 to 15,000. Three sidewall schemes (vertical, inward inclined, and outward inclined) and two return hole shapes (constant cross section and conical cross section) are investigated and compared. Numerical results show that by inclining the sidewalls, the interaction and scrape effects from return flow on the sidewalls are changed, causing heat transfer performance and pressure loss vary. To be specific, as the sidewalls are inclined inwards/outwards, the heat transfer is enhanced/weakened accordingly, making a maximum increase by 12.9% and maximum decrease by 14.3% compared to the origin design. The introduction of conical return holes contributes to improving upwards velocity of return flow and subsequently enhancing scraping effects on sidewalls. For case with vertical sidewalls, inward-inclined sidewalls, and outward-inclined sidewalls, the area-averaged Nusselt number is maximum increased by 47.2%, 61.9% and 25.7% with the application of conical return holes.
Experimental and numerical studies on hot streak transportation and attenuation in a 1.5-stage turbine
Authors: Wang Zhiduo , Wang Zhihao , Zhang Wenhao , Li Ruocheng , Wang Yi , Wang Liangliang , Feng Zhenping
Published: November 2024

Research on multicomponent interactions in aero-engine design technology has gained significant attention. The presence of hot streak (HS) at the combustor exit is critical, as it affects the turbine aerodynamic performance and the heat transfer properties of the blades. This paper presents the design of a HS simulator for a 1.5-stage turbine rig, examining the transportation and attenuation mechanisms of HS at two circumferential clocking positions and temperature ratios. Numerical simulations were conducted using commonly employed two-equation turbulence models with varying turbulent Prandtl numbers (Prt). Results show that the choice of turbulence model and Prt value greatly influences the prediction precision of HS dissipation. The numerical method effectively predicts the HS attenuation levels at the exits of stator 1 (S1), rotor (R), and stator 2 (S2), while the radial migration of HS core is not well captured. The HS experiences an overall attenuation rate of 75%–85% in the 1.5-stage turbine. Both clocking positions and temperature ratios significantly impact the HS attenuation levels, although the extent of the effects varies across the three rows of blade. The HS core tends to migrate radially inward within the turbine stage, influenced by curvature, buoyancy, and secondary flow effects. The extent of these influences is still determined by the clocking positions, temperature ratios, and the specific blade rows.
Study of compressor blade wear pattern under transient acceleration
Authors: Pan Yang , Lai Zhengxiang , Zhang Da , Liu Rui , Bin Guangfu , Li Chao
Published: November 2024

In this study, the erosive wear model of blade surface under transient acceleration is derived based on Finnie's wear theory. The parameters for the blade surface wear model under SiO2 particle erosion are derived from experimental studies on erosive wear of aluminum alloy. The wear finite element model of a single runner of compressor blade is established, and the change rule of blade surface wear characteristics is studied under transient accelerated operating conditions. The study demonstrates that increasing the speed from 70,000 to 100,000 rpm causes the severe wear region on the pressure surface of the main blade to extend from 90% span to 55% span toward the center. The region of severe wear at the leading edge of the splitter blade pressure extends from 90% span to 70% span. The findings offer theoretical guidance for designing compressor blades to resist wear and for diagnosing rotor unbalanced vibrations.
Overexpression of AtNHX1 increases leaf potassium content by improving enrichment capacity in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) roots
Authors: Liu Yong , Hou Qian , Dong Kunle , Chen Yi , Wang Zhihong , Xie Shengdong , Wu Shengjiang , Zhang Xiaoquan , Yu Shizhou , Yang Zhixiao
Published: November 2024

The NHX1 gene encodes a Na+/H+ antiporter located in the tonoplast membrane, which plays critical role in regulating plant salt tolerance. It is also involved in the uptake and accumulation of K in plants; however, its precise mechanism is unknown. In this research, we elucidated the physiological basis underlying the increases in K content induced by NHX1. We evaluated main agronomic traits, leaf K content, K+ uptake kinetics, and root morphological and physiological characteristics from field-planted and hydroponic plants. We included a wild-type tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) variety (K326) and three transgenic tobacco lines (NK7, NK9, NK10) that overexpress AtNHX1 from Arabidopsis thaliana. Results demonstrated that the agronomic performance of the AtNHX1-overexpressing tobacco lines was similar to K326 in field and hydroponic settings. The three AtNHX1-overexpressing tobacco lines had significantly higher leaf K contents than K326. Under hydroponic condition, enhanced K uptake capacity and a larger maximum K uptake rate were seen in AtNHX1-overexpressing tobacco lines. AtNHX1-overexpressing lines also exhibited significantly superior root morphological and physiological traits relative to K326, including root biomass, root volume, absorption area, root activity, cation exchange capacity, soluble protein content, and H+-ATPase activity. Overexpression of AtNHX1 in tobacco significantly improves the K uptake and accumulation. Therefore, leaf K content greatly increased in these transgenic lines in the end. Our findings strongly suggest that AtNHX1 overexpression increased leaf K content by boosting the capacity of enriching K in tobacco roots, thereby advancing the understanding of the function of AtNHX1.
The evolving role of Australian community pharmacists in vaccination: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Hart Brenton
Published: November 2024

Community pharmacists in Australia are increasingly at the forefront of public healthcare, expanding their scope of practice since first providing immunisation services in 2014. This article examines the evolving role of pharmacists, highlighting their significant contributions to vaccination efforts. Despite their growing impact, pharmacists face complexities due to varying regulatory frameworks and scope of practice across Australian jurisdictions. These challenges affect service consistency and consumer experience. Opportunities for community pharmacies to enhance and strengthen their care of communities remain, including initiatives like the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP), which enhances vaccine accessibility and affordability and travel advice and vaccination. Community pharmacists also play a critical role in public health promotion, opportunistic immunisation and support when disease outbreaks occur. To maximise their value, the healthcare system must address regulatory inconsistencies and promote multidisciplinary collaboration. By overcoming these barriers, community pharmacies can continue to provide accessible, high-quality care, reinforcing their essential role in public health and vaccination services.
Characterization of the enzyme for 5-hydroxymethyluridine production and its role in silencing transposable elements in dinoflagellates
Authors: Li Chongping , Li Ying , Wang Yuci , Meng Xiangrui , Shi Xiaoyan , Zhang Yangyi , Liang Nan , Huang Hongda , Li Yue , Zhou Hui , Xu Jiawei , Xu Wenqi , Chen Hao
Published: November 2024

Dinoflagellate chromosomes are extraordinary, as their organization is independent of architectural nucleosomes unlike typical eukaryotes and shows a cholesteric liquid crystal state. 5-hydroxymethyluridine (5hmU) is present at unusually high levels and its function remains an enigma in dinoflagellates chromosomal DNA for several decades. Here, we demonstrate that 5hmU contents vary among different dinoflagellates and are generated through thymidine hydroxylation. Importantly, we identified the enzyme, which is a putative dinoflagellate TET/JBP homolog, catalyzing 5hmU production using both in vivo and in vitro biochemical assays. Based on the near-chromosomal level genome assembly of dinoflagellateAmphidinium carterae, we depicted a comprehensive 5hmU landscape and found that 5hmU loci are significantly enriched in repeat elements. Moreover, inhibition of 5hmU via dioxygenase inhibitor leads to transcriptional activation of 5hmU-marked transposable elements, implying that 5hmU appears to serve as an epigenetic mark for silencing transposon. Together, our results revealed the biogenesis, genome-wide landscape, and molecular function of dinoflagellate 5hmU, providing mechanistic insight into the function of this enigmatic DNA mark.
Continuously tunable negative pressure for engineering high-symmetry nanocrystalline phases
Authors: Chakrabarti Arkita , Gawas Ramchandra , Johnson Craig L. , Fafarman Aaron T.
Published: November 2024

In this work, the phenomenon of strain induced by a mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients between a thin film and its substrate is harnessed in a new context, replacing the canonical planar support with a three-dimensional (3-D), nanoconfining scaffold in which we embed a material of interest. In this manner, we demonstrate a general approach to exert a continuously tunable, triaxial, tensile strain, defying the Poisson ratio of the embedded material and achieving the exotic condition of “negative pressure.” This approach is hypothetically generalizable to materials of low modulus and high thermal expansion coefficient, and we use it here to achieve negative pressure in perovskite-phase CsPbI
3
embedded within the cylindrical pores of anodic aluminum oxide membranes. Through controlled thermal hysteresis, the perovskite crystal structure can be continuously tuned toward higher symmetry when confined in a scaffold with pore size <40 nm, in contrast with the symmetry-reducing action of any other mechanical perturbation. We use this effect to control the octahedral rotation angle that is critical to the remarkable photovoltaic attributes of halide perovskites. Under hundreds of megapascals of apparent negative pressure, the bandgap tunability is observed to follow the same quantitative trend observed for hydrostatic positive pressure, exploring the negative pressure region and demonstrating the relative dominance of bond stretching effects over average octahedral rotation angle on electronic structure. This study reveals and quantifies the structural and electronic consequences of 3D tensile strain present by design and provides a framework for understanding adventitious strain present in all nanocomposite materials.
Optimization algorithms for dynamic environmental sensing and motion planning of quadruped robots in complex environments on unmanned offshore platforms
Authors: Liu Kaishu , Gu Jijun , He Xiaoyong , Zhang Long
Published: November 2024

With the development of reduced-manning and unattended offshore oil and gas fields, quadruped robots have become essential tools for monitoring unattended offshore oil platforms and reducing operational costs. However, the complexity of these platforms makes real-time generation of quadruped robot motion based on environmental information a critical issue. We propose a comprehensive perception, planning, and control pipeline to optimize the robot’s motion in real-time. To enhance environmental perception, we introduce an unsupervised learning clustering algorithm. Addressing the numerical challenges of terrain, we optimize the contact surface selection problem by precomputing terrain traversability and convex hull calculations, minimizing computational workload. Concurrently, a series of contact surface constraints and foothold optimizations are approximated locally and integrated into an online model predictive controller. We solve the optimal control problem using second-order sensitivity analysis and the enhanced generalized Gauss–Newton (EGGN) method. Combined with a filter-based line search method, this provides better convergence performance and numerical stability. In simulations and experimental environments resembling offshore oil platforms, we validated our proposed method using the Aliengo quadruped platform. Results demonstrate that our approach can meet the challenges of offshore oil platforms, which is of significant importance for future engineering applications on unattended offshore platforms.
The Bernoulli property for counter-twisting linked twist maps
Authors: Myers Hill Joe
Published: November 2024

We prove the Bernoulli property for a class of counter-twisting linked twist maps. These compose orthogonal linear shears on the torus, orientated in the opposite sense to their co-twisting counterparts (where the shears reinforce one another). Compared to previous studies we focus on the parameter space corresponding to weak shears, near the critical parameter below which hyperbolicity is lost and the map is non-mixing. The approach developed to deal with this situation appears applicable to a broad range of non-uniformly hyperbolic examples.
Simultaneous studies of K- and L-shell mid-atomic-number plasmas produced by Z-pinches
Authors: Stafford A , Safronova A S , Kantsyrev V L , Shlyaptseva V V
Published: November 2024

Z-pinches have been intensively studied for their applications to high energy density (HED) physics, x-ray sources, astrophysics, and inertial confinement fusion. Alumel (mostly Ni) double planar wire array (DPWA) Z-pinch experiments were performed on the Zebra generator at the enhanced current of 1.6 MA with an advanced setup of diagnostics to measure the temporal evolution of x-ray radiation from plasmas. The implementation of two time-gated spectrometers which recorded hard and soft x-ray radiation allowed for simultaneous studies of K-shell and L-shell radiating plasmas, respectively, in a single experiment. Two almost identical DPWA experiments established a wide observation window around the main x-ray burst. Overall, time-gated plasma spectroscopy provided more information on temporal evolution of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ K-shell radiating plasmas compared to slowly evolving L-shell radiating plasma. In addition, new spectral features such as from hollow ions were observed and studied using the time-gated K-shell plasma spectroscopy, which is important for further investigation of exotic ion states in HED plasmas.
Conventional group analysis of twisted bilayer graphene within the tight-binding framework
Authors: Yu Guodong , Jiao Menggai , Feng Lanting
Published: November 2024

The symmetry of twisted bilayer graphene (tBG) has been extensively studied in the continuum model but somewhat overlooked in the tight-binding (TB) framework. In contrast to the continuum model, which requires operators for both sublattice and layer spaces, the TB framework relies solely on operators in real space. This paper begins by discussing the symmetries of the TB Hamiltonian and the single-valley TB Hamiltonian of tBG. Subsequently, the band structures with specific irreducible representations (irreps) are obtained by diagonalizing the irrep-dependent Hamiltonian constructed through projection operators. We also investigate the impact of symmetry on intervalley coupling and the influence of a non-zero mass term on the

C

2
z

T

symmetry of the single-valley Hamiltonian. To understand the irrep change as the wavevector moves inside the Brillouin zone and the irrep change after considering the intervalley coupling or introducing a non-zero mass term at a fixed wavevector, we derive two kinds of compatibility relationships. The methodology presented here can be applied to other layered materials because the basis functions we employ are generic and unique to twisted bilayers.
Optimizing germination in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seeds through non-thermal plasma treatment
Authors: Guragain Rajesh Prakash , Baniya Hom Bahadur , Guragain Deepesh Prakash , Subedi Deepak Prasad
Published: November 2024

This study explores the efficacy of non-thermal plasma (NTP) treatment in enhancing the germination of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seeds. The experimental setup utilized a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system with specific parameters, including voltage, frequency, and treatment duration. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was employed to characterize the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generated during plasma treatment. Seeds subjected to plasma for durations ranging from 60 to 300 s were assessed for various germination parameters, including germination percentage, mean germination time, and seedling vigor. Our findings demonstrate significant improvements in germination efficiency, particularly evident at 120 and 180 s of exposure, where germination percentages increased by 113.0% and 83.3%, respectively, compared to control (untreated) seeds. Moreover, seeds subjected to NTP showed reduced mean germination times and enhanced synchronization in germination compared to the control group. Optical characterization revealed the presence of reactive species that likely contribute to the improved seed performance. These findings highlight the promise of non-thermal plasma as an eco-friendly method for improving seed germination in agriculture.
A creative hybridization of metamaterial CSRR and multiple-mode resonators for designing a compact wideband bandpass filter for 5G/IOT/WLAN/Wi-Fi 6E applications
Authors: Elbathaoui Mouhssine , Jebbor Nawfal , Das Sudipta , Ali Wael , Algarni Abeer D , Boufounas El-Mahjoub
Published: November 2024

This article presents the design of a metamaterials-based hybrid wideband bandpass filter (WB-BPF) supporting several advanced communication applications. The suggested filter uses multiple-mode resonators (MMRs) and metamaterial complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs). Coupling frequencies are optimized by stretching the coupled lines parallel on both sides. At the same time, the metamaterial complementary split-ring resonator (CSSR) cells are carefully tuned to improve impedance matching, reduce insertion loss, and broaden the bandwidth. The designed compact-sized bandpass filter offers a Quality factor (

Q

L

) of above 1 while maintaining a wide bandwidth of 6150 MHz. The realized structure requires a small physical area of 20.2 × 10 mm2. A parametric study, field distribution analysis, and equivalent circuit model of the proposed hybrid BPF are performed. The resulting filter has an exceptional response with five transmission poles, demonstrating superior performance in the targeted frequency range. This wideband bandpass filter, operating from 3.3 GHz to 9.45 GHz, finds potential applications in the emerging fields of the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless fidelity 6 enhanced (Wi-Fi 6E), and high-speed wireless communications, particularly 5G technology, and 5 GHz wireless local area network (WLAN). This research demonstrates significant advances in the development of bandpass filters, offering compact, high-performance solutions for modern communications systems.
Predicting elastic and electronic properties of quaternary Heusler alloys using machine learning and DFT calculations
Authors: Akhtar Waqas , Ahmed Ishfaq , Huang Jingtao , Mubashir Shanza , Chen Jiaying , Xue Jingteng , Liu Yong , Qu Nan , Zhu Jingchuan
Published: November 2024

The Decision Tree (DT) Regression model is employed to predict the elastic and electronic characteristics of quaternary Heusler alloys using pre-existing and newly developed databases. The previously discussed were used to gather, preprocess, clean, and prepare the data so that the model would be more productive and efficient. The performance of the (DT) model demonstrates its robustness against overfitting, outliers, multicollinearity, and distribution of data points, in addition to being accurate enough to predict the response variables on the test data. The parity plots comparing the machine learning predicted values with the computed values using density functional theory (DFT) exhibit a linear relationship, with adjusted R
2 and MSE values predominantly lying within the range of 0.80 to 0.93 and 0.10 to 0.22 for all predicted properties of the quaternary Heusler alloy. In light of the results anticipated from the model analysis, a Validation is cited comparing ML predicted outcomes with first principle calculations based on (DFT) by selecting MnFeNiAl QHA, indicating the DT model’s excellent precision with a 13% average error, which suggests high accuracy of results predicted by the model.
Extending MGCAMB tests of gravity to nonlinear scales
Authors: Wang Zhuangfei , Saadeh Daniela , Koyama Kazuya , Pogosian Levon , Bose Benjamin , Yi Lanyang , Zhao Gong-Bo
Published: November 2024

Modified Growth with CAMB (MGCAMB) is a patch for the Einstein-Boltzmann solver CAMB for cosmological tests of gravity. Until now, MGCAMB was limited to scales well-described by linear perturbation theory. In this work, we extend the framework with a phenomenological model that can capture nonlinear corrections in a broad range of modified gravity theories. The extension employs the publicly available halo model reaction code ReACT, developed for modeling the nonlinear corrections to cosmological observables in extensions of the ΛCDM model. The nonlinear extension makes it possible to use a wider range of data from large scale structure surveys, without applying a linear scale cut. We demonstrate that, with the 3×2pt Dark Energy Survey data, we achieve a stronger constraint on the linear phenomenological functions μ and Σ, after marginalzing over the additional nonlinear parameter p
1, compared to the case without the nonlinear extension and using a linear cut. The new version of MGCAMB is now forked with CAMB on GitHub allowing for compatibility with future upgrades.
A novel polyurethane-based silver foam dressing with superior antimicrobial action for management of infected chronic wounds
Authors: Rajput Jay Hind , Rathi Varun , Mukherjee Anwesha , Yadav Pankaj , Gupta Tarush , Das Bodhisatwa , Poundarik Atharva
Published: November 2024

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process supported by several cellular events. Around 13 million individuals globally suffer from chronic wounds yearly, for which dressings with excellent antimicrobial activity and cell viability (>70%, as per ISO 10993) are needed. Excessive use of silver can cause cytotoxicity and has been linked to increasing antimicrobial resistance. In this study, HDI Ag foam was synthesized using a safer hexamethylene diisocyanate-based prepolymer (HDI prepolymer) instead of commonly used diisocyanates like TDI and MDI and substantially lower Ag content than that incorporated in other Ag foams. In vitro characteristics of the HDI Ag foam were evaluated in comparison with leading clinically used foam-based dressings. All dressings underwent a detailed characterization in accordance with industrially accepted BS EN 13726 standards. The HDI Ag foam exhibited highest antimicrobial efficiency against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa (static condition), with the lowest amount of Ag (0.2 wt%) on the wound contact surface. The extracts from HDI Ag foam showed superior cell viability (>70%), when tested on the L929 mouse fibroblast cell line. Measurements of moisture vapor transmission, fluid handling, physico-chemical and mechanical properties ensured that the HDI foam was clinically acceptable for chronic wound patients.
Estimates of required impurity fraction for EAST divertor detachment
Authors: OU 欧 Jing 靖 , LONG 龙 Jiamin 嘉敏
Published: November 2024

During the EAST radiative divertor experiments, one of the key challenges was how to avoid the occurrence of disruptive events caused by excessive impurity seeding. To estimate the required impurity fraction for divertor detachment, we introduce a reduced edge plasma radiation model. In the model, based on the momentum conservation along the magnetic field line, the upstream pressure is determined by the plasma density and temperature at the divertor target, and then the impurity radiation loss is obtained by the balance of the heat and particle fluxes. It is found that the required impurity fraction shows a non-monotonic variation with divertor electron temperature (

)

when

. In the range of

, the position near the valley of required impurity fraction corresponds to strong plasma recombination. Due to the dependence of the volumetric momentum loss effect on the

in the range of

, the required impurity fraction peaks and then decreases as

is increased. Compared to neon, the usage of argon reduces the impurity fraction by about twice. In addition, for the various fitting parameters in the pressure–momentum loss model, it is shown that the tendency of required impurity fraction with

always increases first and then decreases in the range of

, but the required impurity fraction decreases when the model that characterizes the strong loss in pressure momentum is used.
Spatial distribution of fine particulate matters in urban school classrooms during high-concentration events in South Korea
Authors: Choi Hyeon Seok , Wang Yanjun , Lee Taejung , Jo Youngmin
Published: November 2024

The assessment of indoor fine particulate matter (particularly PM1.0) in classrooms is a recent concern due to its negative effects on the health and performance of young students, most of whom spend 6–8 h per day in schools. A field investigation of 20 urban schools with uncontrolled classroom conditions found that the hourly average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM1.0 in 20 classrooms ranged from 6.5 μg m−3 to 36.9 μg m−3 and 4.3 μg m−3 to 27.4 μg m−3, respectively. The ratios of indoor to outdoor (I/O) concentrations were 0.46 to 1.32 for PM2.5 and 0.43 to 0.97 for PM1.0. The size-based ratios of fine-to-coarse (F/C) were 0.46 to 0.88 for PM1.0/PM2.5 in indoor environments and 0.57 to 0.93 outdoors. During high-concentration events caused by yellow dust and heavy local smog, the F/C ratio (PM1.0/PM2.5) in the classroom was 0.22 and 0.93, respectively, and the respective I/O values for PM2.5 and PM1.0 were 0.68 and 0.60. These findings can inform the development of school guidelines for managing the health of young students.
Design, optimization, simulation, and implementation of a 3D printed soft robotic peristaltic pump
Authors: Totuk Onat Halis , Mıstıkoğlu Selçuk , Güvenç Mehmet Ali
Published: November 2024

This study presents an innovative approach to fluidic pumping using soft robotics, designed to circulate fluid through soft conduits for delicate environments like blood streams where traditional peristaltic pumps may not be feasible. A novel soft robotic peristaltic pump is optimized and implemented, featuring 3D printed ring-shaped actuators and a PDMS pipe housing a Newtonian fluid. The design includes a three-stage actuator ring structure, actuated sequentially for peristaltic motion. A parametric finite element model predicts the required pressure, and the Mooney-Rivlin 5 Parameters hyper-elastic material model ensures accurate material properties. Optimization uses response surface analysis in Minitab and MATLAB Simulink Simscape simulations to achieve maximum flow rate with minimal power and pressure. Experimental validation confirms the simulations, achieving an optimal flow rate of 0.27 ml s−1 at a 450 ms cycle, with minor discrepancies due to friction and measurement errors. This study demonstrates the scalability of linearly sequenced soft squeeze actuators into an effective pump, validated by both simulation and experiments. Future applications include medical devices addressing deep venous thrombosis, with further research exploring control theory for optimization and comparing performance with conventional pumps to enhance practical applicability.
Distributive Justice and Equity
Authors: Olsthoorn Johan
Published: November 2024

This chapter explores why and how Hobbes redefined distributive justice as equity. This unprecedented redefinition serves to safeguard the sovereign from accusations of injustice. Sovereigns, Hobbes admits, can distribute rights and goods iniquitously by failing to treat citizens as equals. However, improper allocations are neither unjust nor injurious: they do not wrong citizens. To support that last claim, Hobbes held that merit in distributive justice is due by grace alone. You deserve what the sovereign gives you: there is no desert prior to and independent of his allocation of rights. Distributive justice does not track but create merit—and distributive laws cannot fail to give subjects their due. The chapter concludes by analysing the character of the limits equity sets to the legal distribution of rights and goods. It argues that these limits are moral and procedural: citizens cannot invoke equity to claim a fair share of distributed goods.
Rights of War
Authors: Olsthoorn Johan
Published: November 2024

‘The right of all men to all things is the right of War’. This chapter argues that Hobbes derived an exceedingly lenient just war theory from the natural right of self-preservation. Any war waged with the intention of heightening personal security is defensive and justified—including first strikes to conquer and subdue innocents. Outside the state, natural law cannot moderate or restrain individual and collective rights of war since these norms bind in practice only when the agent judges their surroundings safe. Pre-statist individuals fulfil morality’s demands by sincerely seeking peace; when peace is deemed out of reach, they may pursue their personal security by violent means instead. By reinterpreting the natural law duties of trust and charity, Hobbes rendered obsolete all received just war standards bar the right-intention condition. Enmity is the default position, the chapter concludes, because people have no natural duty to presumptively trust or aid others.
Morality Among States
Authors: Olsthoorn Johan
Published: November 2024

This chapter reconstructs the normative foundations of Hobbes’s international ethics. Three kinds of moral principles govern conduct of extra-statist actors: (1) natural rights; (2) the laws of nature; and (3) justice. Hobbes had no place for a separate law of nations and subsumed all rights of war under natural rights. De Cive justifies these reductionist moves by arguing that commonwealths somehow ‘take on’ the qualities of pre-statist individuals. Leviathan jettisons this argument. As reflected by its new textual location, jus gentium comes to bind sovereigns (rather than states). It does so in virtue of the sovereign’s duty to protect citizens from foreign threats. In the same move, Leviathan foregrounds that principles of international ethics bind the sovereign in conscience alone. As in interpersonal conflict, a right intention suffices to render resort to international war just. This extremely undemanding just war theory aligns well with Hobbes’s realism about international relations.
Tort Liability in Warfare
Authors: Abraham Haim
Published: November 2024

Tort Liability in Warfare: States’ Wrongs and Civilians’ Rights develops a novel account of the tortious liability of states for wrongs they inflict on civilians during combat. Tort Liability in Warfare challenges orthodoxy by illustrating that ordinary domestic tort law doctrines could apply, as private law rights remain relevant during warfare and their wrongful violation triggers ordinary corrective justice duties. The book asserts that barring tort remedies for losses inflicted during warfare is not necessitated by theory or doctrine but is driven by policy considerations. Tort Liability in Warfare demonstrates that these policy considerations fail to provide adequate justifications for states’ near blanket immunity from tort liability in warfare, and calls for enabling civilians to turn to tort law as a mechanism for accountability and vindication of their rights.
A precision randomized trial to evaluate the impact of tailored hepatitis C treatment adherence support on HCV treatment outcomes among people who inject drugs in India: Design and Baseline Characteristics of the STOP-C Trial
Authors: Mehta Shruti H , Lau Bryan M , Ehrhardt Stephan , McFall Allison , Gunaratne Mihili P , Baishya Jiban , Kedar Ashwini , Srikrishnan Aylur K , Evans Julie , Loeb Talia , Pradeep Amrose , Kumar M Suresh , Thomas David L , Lucas Gregory M , Solomon Sunil S
Published: November 2024

Efforts to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public health problem must include people who inject drugs (PWID). We describe the design and baseline characteristics of the Supporting Treatment Outcomes among PWID (STOP-C) trial which evaluates whether HCV treatment outcomes in PWID can be optimized by tailoring treatment support in 7 PWID-focused integrated HIV/HCV prevention/treatment centers. The design is a 3-arm, individual-level precision-randomized trial. Leveraging empirical data, a prediction model assigned participants as minimal or elevated risk for failure. Minimal risk participants were randomized 1:2:3 to low- (basic services), medium- (patient navigation), and high-intensity (patient navigation + directly observed therapy) support, respectively. Elevated risk participants were randomized 3:2:1 to high, medium, and low-intensity support respectively. All received 12 weeks of oral direct-acting antiviral therapy. The primary outcome is sustained virologic response (SVR) 12 weeks after treatment completion in an intention-to-treat analysis. Three thousand participants were randomized (2048 [68%] minimal risk, 952 [32%] elevated risk of failure). This approach will allow for the estimation of efficacy within treatment failure risk strata while preserving the ability to estimate the average treatment effect and has particular relevance with increasing emphasis of precision medicine in health care delivery.
ADAPT: Analysis of Microbiome Differential Abundance by Pooling Tobit Models
Authors: Wang Mukai , Fontaine Simon , Jiang Hui , Li Gen
Published: November 2024

Motivation

Microbiome differential abundance analysis (DAA) remains a challenging problem despite multiple methods proposed in the literature. The excessive zeros and compositionality of metagenomics data are two main challenges for DAA.

Results

We propose a novel method called “Analysis of Microbiome Differential Abundance by Pooling Tobit Models” (ADAPT) to overcome these two challenges. ADAPT interprets zero counts as left-censored observations to avoid unfounded assumptions and complex models. ADAPT also encompasses a theoretically justified way of selecting non-differentially abundant microbiome taxa as a reference to reveal differentially abundant taxa while avoiding false discoveries. We generate synthetic data using independent simulation frameworks to show that ADAPT has more consistent false discovery rate control and higher statistical power than competitors. We use ADAPT to analyze 16S rRNA sequencing of saliva samples and shotgun metagenomics sequencing of plaque samples collected from infants in the COHRA2 study. The results provide novel insights into the association between the oral microbiome and early childhood dental caries.

Availability and implementation

The R package ADAPT can be installed from Bioconductor at https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/ADAPT.html or from Github at https://github.com/mkbwang/ADAPT. The source codes for simulation studies and real data analysis are available at https://github.com/mkbwang/ADAPT_example.
Differences in Trends in Cancer Incidence Rates Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus During 2001–2019 by Race and Ethnicity and by Risk Group in the United States
Authors: Luo Qianlai , Horner Marie-Josèphe , Haas Cameron B , McGee-Avila Jennifer K , Pfeiffer Ruth M , Engels Eric A , Pawlish Karen , Monterosso Analise , Riedel David J , Wu Xiao-Cheng , Gonsalves Lou , Speers Suzanne , Cohen Colby , Shiels Meredith S
Published: November 2024

Background

It is unclear whether cancer risk among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH) has declined equally across all racial/ethnic and transmission risk groups.

Methods

We used data on PWH aged ≥20 years from the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study during 2001–2019. We used Poisson regression to assess time trends in incidence rates for each cancer site by racial/ethnicity and risk groups, adjusting for age, registry, and sex. We also estimated adjusted rate ratios across racial and ethnic and risk groups in 2001–2004 and 2015–2019.

Results

Trends in age-standardized rates differed across racial/ethnic groups and across risk groups for some cancers. For example, liver cancer rates declined 23% per 5-year period among White PWH, 11% among Black PWH, and 18% among Hispanic PWH. Anal cancer rates declined among men who have sex with men, were stable among people who inject drugs, and increased among other risk groups. Between 2001–2004 and 2015–2019, the relative difference in cancer incidence rates by race/ethnicity increased for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and liver cancer but decreased for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); by risk group, relative differences increased for NHL and liver cancer and decreased for HL and lung and anal cancers.

Conclusions

Among PWH in the United States during 2001–2019, HL, lung, liver, and cervical cancer rate trends were different across racial/ethnic groups. HL, lung, anal, and liver cancer rate trends were different across risk groups. Future work should examine underlying causes of the differences in trends.
Bargaining in the Shadow of Awards
Authors: St John Taylor , Langford Malcolm , Chernykh Yuliya , Stiansen Øyvind , Berge Tarald Gulseth , Puig Sergio
Published: November 2024

International investment disputes occupy a curious place in the research programme on compliance. On the one hand, there is a widespread presumption that respondent states generally pay the compensation that they are ordered to pay because not doing so risks more litigation or less investment. On the other hand, these disputes frequently continue long after awards are handed down, there are visible instances of non-payment and there is little evidence about if or how most disputes are actually resolved. Compliance with investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) awards has also been difficult to study because much of what occurs after an arbitral decision falls outside traditional understandings of compliance processes. Therefore, in this article, we introduce a broader term – resolution – and look beyond payment at a wider landscape of post-award dynamics. We also introduce a framework to bring these dynamics into view. This framework places awards in the context of longer-term bargaining and articulates how bargaining is different when it occurs in the shadow of an award. We present three mechanisms through which awards can shape outcomes – as a legitimate outcome, as a coordinating focal point, or as a bargaining endowment – before arguing that the third mechanism is the most common in the context of ISDS.
Defective biological activities of high-density lipoprotein identify patients at highest risk of recurrent cardiovascular event
Authors: Silvain Johanne , Materne Clément , Zeitouni Michel , Procopi Niki , Guedeney Paul , Brugier Delphine , Galier Sophie , Lhomme Marie , Ponnaiah Maharajah , Guillas Isabelle , KC Pukar , Dahik Veronica D , Frisdal Eric , Vicaut Eric , Lesnik Philippe , Rahoual Ghilas , Le Goff Wilfried , Montalescot Gilles , Kerneis Mathieu , Guerin Maryse
Published: November 2024

Aims

Low cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) and elevated levels of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) are both associated with residual cardiovascular risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and may be used as new biomarkers to identify patients at higher cardiovascular risk.

Methods and results

We evaluated potential synergetic effect of CEC and IL-1ß on recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 1 year in 2012 patients with acute ST-segment elevation MI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. In addition, we evaluated the contribution to residual risk of HDL biological functions from 20 patients of the two extreme subgroups, focusing on CEC and anti-inflammatory properties. Patients with MACE during the first year after the MI had significantly lower serum CEC as compared with those without recurrent events and higher level of IL-1ß, and both associations were confirmed after multivariate analysis. We found an inverse relationship between CEC and circulating levels of the inflammatory marker IL-1ß, defining a very high risk (low CEC/high IL-1ß) and a low risk (high CEC/low IL-1ß) group of patients. Patients combining low CEC/high IL-1ß exhibited the highest risk of recurrent MACE at 1 year showing an additive prognostic value of these biomarkers, regardless of all the other clinical or biological factors. In this very high-risk subgroup, patients exhibited reduced HDL efflux capacity and defective ABCA1 and SR-BI with enhanced pro-inflammatory activity as a potential explanation for our clinical findings.

Conclusion

Impaired CEC and elevated IL-1β synergistically increase the residual cardiovascular risk in MI patients, which could be explained by reduced HDL efflux capacity and enhanced HDL pro-inflammatory activity.
Geophysical visualization of water content distribution in bentonite by joint seismic and radar tomography
Authors: Sollberger David , Manukyan Edgar , Spillmann Thomas , Maurer Hansruedi
Published: November 2024

Bentonite is often considered as buffer material for deep geological radioactive waste repositories. To support decision making and safety assessment of radioactive waste repositories, international agencies and research institutions proposed the implementation of monitoring programmes. While the overall concepts of such monitoring programmes have been largely developed, the selection of key observations parameters, such as temperature, pressure and water content, and the technical implementation are still under development. The direct measurement of such parameters requires the placement of sensors inside a repository, which can significantly affect its safety functions and only provides information at the typically sparse sensor locations. Geophysical tomography can help gaining valuable insights into the state of the repository non-invasively by providing images of the distribution of geophysical parameters from measurements that are purely taken from the outside. However, the extracted geophysical parameters are often difficult to interpret and the geophysical tomography problem is non-unique, meaning that there exist multiple models that explain the data equally well. Here, we demonstrate that this non-uniqueness can be significantly reduced by simultaneously employing multiple geophysical methods in a joint tomography scheme. We simultaneously invert seismic and ground penetrating radar (GPR) traveltimes and amplitudes by imposing structural similarity constraints on the tomographic velocity and attenuation images. The resulting, estimated geophysical parameter maps show a strongly improved correlation when compared to results obtained from individual inversions, which in turn facilitates the establishment of constitutive relationships between the geophysical parameters (seismic and GPR velocity and attenuation) with the water content, as key parameter for the evaluation of the state of a radioactive waste repository. Using data from the full-scale emplacement (FE) experiment, we employ a supervised machine-learning model that enables the translation of the tomographic velocity and attenuation images obtained in bentonite to an image of the distribution of the water content inside the repository, where the machine learning model is trained using direct point measurements of the water content at sparse locations inside the tomographic plane. Due to the lack of direct water content sensors in the FE experiment, we use neutron log data (which are directly linked to water content) to train the machine learning model. Ultimately, this enables us to extrapolate the sparse neutron log data to a spatially cohesive distribution inside the repository corresponding to a visualization of the spatial distribution of water content.
Talin-1 variants associated with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) highlight how even subtle changes in multi-functional scaffold proteins can manifest in disease
Authors: Azizi Latifeh , Otani Yasumi , Mykuliak Vasyl V , Goult Benjamin T , Hytönen Vesa P , Turkki Paula
Published: November 2024

Variants of talin-1 (TLN1) have recently been linked with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) a condition where a tear can form in the wall of a heart artery necessitating immediate medical care. One talin-1 variant, A2013T, has an extensive familial pedigree of SCAD, which led to the screening for, and identification of, further talin-1 variants in SCAD patients. Here we evaluated these variants with commonly used pathogenicity prediction tools and found it challenging to reliably classify SCAD-associated variants, even A2013T where the evidence of a causal role is strong. Using biochemical and cell biological methods, we show that SCAD-associated variants in talin-1, which would typically be classified as non-pathogenic, still cause a measurable impact on protein structure and cell behaviour, including cell movement and wound healing capacity. Together, this indicates that even subtle variants in central mechanosensitive adapter proteins, can give rise to significant health impacts at the individual level, suggesting the need for a possible re-evaluation of the scoring criteria for pathogenicity prediction for talin variants.
Characterisation of LGP2 complex multitranscript system in humans: role in the innate immune response and evolution from non-human primates
Authors: Martinez-Laso Jorge , Cervera Isabel , Martinez-Carrasco Marina S , Briz Veronica , Crespo-Bermejo Celia , Sánchez-Menéndez Clara , Casado-Fernández Guiomar , Torres Montserrat , Coiras Mayte
Published: November 2024

Retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs), including RIG-I, MDA5 and LGP2, recognize viral RNA to mount an antiviral interferon (IFN) response RLRs share three different protein domains: C-terminal domain, DExD/H box RNA helicase domain, and an N-terminal domain with two tandem repeats (CARDs). LGP2 lacks tandem CARD and is not able to induce an IFN response. However, LGP2 positively enhances MDA5 and negatively regulates RIG-I signaling. In this study, we determined the LGP2 alternative transcripts in humans to further comprehend the mechanism of its regulation, their evolutionary origin, and the isoforms functionallity. The results showed new eight alternative transcripts in the samples tested. The presence of these transcripts demonstrated that the main mechanisms for the regulation of LGP2 expression are both by insertion of introns and by the loss of exons. The phylogenetic analysis of the comparison between sequences from exon 1 to exon 3 of humans and those previously described in non-human primates showed three well-differentiated groups (lineages) originating from gorillas, suggesting that the transspecies evolution has been maintained for 10 million years. The corresponding protein models (isoforms) were also established, obtaining four isoforms: one complete and three others lacking the C-terminal domain or this domain and the partial or total He2 Helicase domain, which would compromise the functionality of LGP2. In conclusion, this is the first study that elucidate the large genomic organization and complex transcriptional regulation of human LGP2, its pattern of sequence generation, and a mode of evolutionary inheritance across species.